Phone: (281) 324-1478
Fax: (281) 715-5533
So that individual liberty may flourish, we citizens mandate our law enforcement institutions to enforce the laws of our society. And for another crucial reason. That the rule of law may be preserved, protected and defended as the defining mark of a civilized people.
We citizens want to be safe in the public square, in our homes, where we work, and wherever we travel. To achieve this, we direct our law enforcement officers to act in approved and reasonable ways to ensure the good order of our communities. Thus we appoint and commission dedicated men and women to take on difficult and often harrowing police work as a way of life. We do not pay them enough for what they do.
When law officers enjoy a sincere and meaningful partnership with the citizens they are sworn to serve and protect, their effectiveness is made possible in the community. The life blood of this relationship is mutual trust and accountability which work both ways. And always mutual respect.
Law enforcement officers want us to know that they are devoted to two families: first, a law officer’s own personal family and second, the family of his or her fellow officers. When both families are confident, strong and supported, an officer is empowered to work effectively in the community.
For their part, law officers want to say that enforcement work is by nature stressful, often very hard and increasingly sacrificial. How true this is. From “sea to shining sea”, officers are being maligned, targeted, physically attacked and assassinated, stymied and betrayed by elected and appointed officials.
Their lives are on the line. Likewise, the minds and hearts of their loved ones are on the line. A grievous wound or death in the line of duty forever changes a spouse and children. It changes fellow officers too. Words cannot explain their feelings. Their memories never fade.
And yet, law enforcement officers everywhere provide a remarkable example to all of us. They have a way of healing, of getting through unspeakable trauma, of comforting their families and each other. They will get up tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, doing what has to be done in small towns and large cities, whether it is nice and easy or nice and rough. They take an oath.
They pull a heavy plow for the sake of a harvest: peace in our homes, peace in our cities, peace in our nation. When I say peace, I mean civility, that a glorious nation such as ours will continue to be deserving of a future because civilized men and women today enshrine this divine-human precept in their minds and hearts: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” [Mt 22:39]
Dear law enforcement officers, we offer today’s morning Mass for you, your spouses and your children. May you be protected always by the angels, the certainty of a blameless conscience, and the compassion of grateful people everywhere. In God alone:
YOU WILL not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, (says the Lord), nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you. For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. [Psa 91:5-7, 11-12]
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Pope Saint John Paul II, of blessed memory, gave an address in Rome to 6,000 students from 43
countries. In this address, he said: “The cross (of Christ) is the living book from which we learn
definitively who we are and how we must act. This book is always open in front of us.” [1980]
We are entering an age of violence and militant atheism in the United States, both which are
utterly opposed to decent human beings and our Roman Catholic Church.
What do you call mobs who attack people for imaginary cultural crimes, who call people
criminals because they exist, who want punishment or death for anybody else but themselves?
You call it: FALSE JUSTICE.
What do you call morally corrupt public figures who despise the people they pledged to serve
and refuse to protect them, who condone mob brutality as a normal expression of “legitimate
grievances” and rampaging thugs as “fiery but mostly peaceful”, who blame and shame
innocent victims, saying they deserve what happens to them? You call them: FALSE
SHEPHERDS.
What is genuine justice? Genuine justice means defending the ideas of God. Genuine justice
means giving to others what God has determined to be their due -- first and foremost the peace
which only Christ can give. [cf Jn 14:27]
What is genuine trust? Jesus himself answered this question. He set the standard for all leaders:
I am the good shepherd (says Jesus). The good shepherd lays down his (very own) life for the
sheep. He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf
coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees
because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd . . . and I lay
down my life for the sheep.” [Jn 10:11-15]
It was not in the Garden of Caiaphus that Peter first denied Jesus. It was at Caesarea Philippi.
Just after Peter said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" [Mt 16:16], he rebuked the
cross of Christ, saying, "God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you." [16:22] Yet, holy
scripture identifies Peter as the very one who, with his sword, severed the ear of the high
priest’s slave Malchus on the Mount of Olives. [cf Jn 18:10] Jesus turned to Peter and cried
out, "No more of this!" And he touched (the slave’s) ear and healed him.” [Lk 22:51]
Cutting off a person’s ear is not what God wants. Nor is sticking one’s head in the sand what
God wants. We have a big election looming before us in November. Do your civic duty.
Regarding the Church, it’s high time that lay and clerical leaders set about to evangelize and
reform society itself. This is what God wants!
“The cross (of Christ) is the living book from which we learn definitively who we are and how
we must act.” Peter wanted to close the “book” before Jesus finished writing it, before anyone
including the Apostles could read it. That’s the great temptation isn’t it?
We cannot let the cross of Christ—the “Living Book”—be shut by violent mobs and passive
leaders. Nor can we allow the ideas of God to be snuffed out inside the Church or outside her.
We cannot stand idly by while decent hardworking people are handed over to inhuman forces
as food for lions.
Pray on your on your knees with the members of your household. Ask God to “give us this day
our daily bread”. [Mt 6:11] Pray that our nation become worthy of its daily bread once again.
Pray for Holy Mother Church, her bishops and priests. Pray for the “family” of human
beings—at once so beautiful and so scarred, so talented and so destructive, so generous and so
selfish, so full of themselves and yet so hungry—for what? That “the 21 st century will be a
Christian century”. Because if it isn’t, said Pope John Paul, it will be “no century at all” [2000].
To the leaders of this nation, in all walks of life, from parents of children to the office of
president, Open your eyes! See Jesus: so very very young, the faithful son of a loving mother, his
best disciple. See Jesus who willingly handed his garments over to greedy Roman centurions
who mocked him with a crown of thorns, who stood naked and bleeding before the jeering
world, the jaws of death wide open behind him, because he dared to say: “Peace I leave with
you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be
troubled, neither let them be afraid.” [Jn 14:27]
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My dear parishioners, I’m keeping you ever in mind and heart as we navigate through difficult times.
St. Therese (the “Little Flower”) tells us that St. Peter’s most important life-lesson was when he learned to ask the Lord for the very first grace!
Follow the example of Peter. Whenever any challenge presents itself to you, pause and ask our Lord Jesus Christ for the “first grace”. Our savior will not fail to grant it.
Pray for one another and for your unworthy pastor. “The Lord goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed”! [Deu 31:8]
Sincerely in the hearts of Jesus and Mary. Your pastor, Reverend Richard Barker
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Dear Parishioners, Kathy Corbett's position at St. Philip is evolving. As our Parish Administrator, Kathy oversees the operational and financial workings of our beloved parish, including secretarial, accounting, and scheduling duties, among others. In addition, I have recently asked Kathy to help care for the pastoral needs of our community in the role of Pastoral Associate. Kathy is a certified Case Sponsor for annulments in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and has assisted with many cases. She also is a facilitator for both the FOCCUS and Prepare and Enrich marriage preparation assessments and has been working for more than 5 years with engaged couples as they prepare for marriage. Kathy has had several years of pastoral experience and training in our Archdiocese, which will be of great value to us at St. Philip. Please continue to pray for our St. Philip community as we look forward to returning soon to the Eucharist as one body of Christ. Sincerely in Christ, Father Barker
Dear parish families, I trust you’re doing okay at this point in the up-down, left-right, fact-baloney, praise-shame Byzantine quarantine. A couple of comments. I’ve written letters to a few Texas officials to protest their ugly power grabs and threats to arrest, jail and fine law-abiding, tax-paying citizens. It seems to be a law. Bullying public officials don’t care about getting adequate supplies of disinfectant, hand sanitizer, gloves and masks to the people they harass.
Our Constitution’s Bill of Rights is sovereign in the life of American citizens. Overreaching elected and unelected officials are not. State and local officials have no authority to abridge our sovereign freedoms of assembly, worship and speech. The covid19 experience has thrown open a “Pandora’s Box” of brittleness and fatigue in America. So many things need to be sorted out. Perhaps we need a national house cleaning at the November ballot box.
More than this, a conversion of hearts is needed. God grants “times of refreshing” [Acts 3:19] to those who embrace his love and goodness. This is the blessed life revealed in the experience of Pentecost. In the meantime, reflect that God’s Word instructs us to be patient in difficult times, obedient to lawful authority and rejoicing always. Eyes and ears of faith never fail to reveal God’s blessings to those who love him with all their mind and heart.
Few words are as comforting as these: “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him.” [1Cor2:9] Celebrate our beautiful world. Celebrate human life. Encourage one another! You have only to trust your “Counselor, the Holy Spirit (who) will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that (Jesus has) said to you.” [Jn 14:26] Sincerely in Christ, Father Richard Barker.
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My dear parish families, today is the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. You’ve been away from your parish for eight months now. My heart goes out to you as we all hunger for the Eucharist. I pray to God to bless and protect you. I do this all the time. I never stop caring for you. St. Philip will continue to be open for private prayer Monday through Friday, 9 am - 1 pm, and Confession is available by appointment. However, St. Philip will not reopen for celebration of the Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses this weekend and for a little while longer.
This is my heartfelt pastoral reason for not reopening at this time. At present, the authorities state that only a small fraction of our people are permitted to attend any obligatory Mass. This means I must turn away many of our parishioners from their own parish. This is not communion but rather division. Instead of being a “welcome home”, such division would be a resounding “unwelcome” many would never forget.
We are a communion in Christ. We look forward to the day when we can celebrate the Eucharist together as the Body of Christ when all are welcomed in his name and no one is turned away. Please be assured that Cardinal DiNardo’s permission to fulfill your Sunday obligation at home continues in effect. I keep all of you in prayer, and I ask that you say one “Hail Mary” for me. We will keep you updated as developments occur. Sincerely in the hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Sincerely in Christ, Father Barker.
St. Philip will be open for PRIVATE PRAYER, Monday-Friday from 9 am - 1 pm. Come and spend some quiet time with our Lord in the tabernacle as we remember his Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Please use discretion and good judgement.
Fr. Barker would like to offer our beautiful playground at St. Philip for your family's private enjoyment, Monday - Friday, 9 am - 1 pm. We have a jungle gym, swings, slides, and more to entertain your children. Please contact Kathy in the parish office to schedule your day and time, 281-324-1478, kcorbett@stphilip.cc.
FR BARKER invites you: "St. Philip's worship area will be OPEN Divine Mercy Sunday April 19, from 2 - 4 PM for individual, silent prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. “THE SANCTUARY area is fully decorated for the Easter season. Please use discretion and good judgement. (During the Easter Octave, the worship area is open from 9 AM to 1 PM.) “OUR LORD Jesus said to Saint Faustina Kowalska: “‘Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of God. All the works of My hands are crowned with mercy." +++
Fr Barker's message: "St. Philip's worship area will be open Good Friday 2 - 4 PM for individual, silent prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. The sanctuary area is fully decorated in remembrance of the sacred Triduum and Easter Sunday. Please use discretion and good judgement. (During the Easter Octave, the worship area will be open from 9 AM to 1 PM.) May God's wonderful blessings, protection and love be yours abundantly during these high holy days. Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!"
Good Friday and Easter Octave
St. Philip the Apostle will be open for private prayer during the following times:
Come and spend some quiet time with our Lord in the tabernacle as we remember his Passion, Death, and Resurrection.
Although we are currently unable to celebrate Mass together, it is especially vital to financially support our home parish of St. Philip.
Here are four ways you can continue to support our community of faith with your donations:
Many thanks for your continued support of St. Philip! If you need help setting up any of the four giving options, please contact our parish office 281-324-1478 for assistance.
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