GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE

August 9, 2026

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 14:22-33

As a young, newly ordained priest, I admired a senior priest who was gifted, beloved, and had changed countless lives. But soon I learned that he had fallen in catastrophic and destructive ways. The painful juxtaposition of good and evil was complex to process. How could someone so seemingly good also be so broken and deceptive? It forced me to confront a sobering truth: leadership in the Church is no guarantee against weakness or sin.

Peter teaches that truth in this week’s Gospel. When he sees Jesus walking on the sea, Peter does what leaders do. He goes first. “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” But when he sees how strong the wind is, he becomes frightened and, beginning to sink, cries out, “Lord, save me.” Immediately, Jesus stretches out his hand and catches him.

St. Thomas Aquinas observes that Peter overcomes the greater danger of the waves but falters before the lesser threat of the wind. This is the paradox leaders often face. It is not always the great trials that undo us, but the smaller, quieter temptations, such as subtle fears and compromises, that lead us to sink.

The good news is that Jesus does not abandon Peter. He saves him before it is too late. Our frail humanity lives within a rhythm of grace, risk, failure, and mercy. Jesus helps Peter overcome both the obvious and hidden sources of fear, and he promises to do the same for us. So, let us pray for all, especially our spiritual leaders.

— Father John Muir

 


FAITH FORMATION CLASSES WILL BE STARTING SOON

  • North American Martyrs Parish - Colebrook, W. Stewartstown & Errol 
  • Catechesis Sunday: There will be ONLY Eight in-person sessions from September 2026 through April 2027. Parents and youth are expected to attend the Sunday 10:00 am Mass at St Brendon Church (or another parish Mass time, regularly) and stay for faith formation in the lower church hall from 11:00 am to about 12:30 pm. As this is family faith formation a parent or grandparent is to attend the 8 sessions with the child and ensure the take home reading is accomplished each month. There are only 8 in-person class sessions, so I ask that you mark your calendars and make these dates a priority.
    Spiritual activities and/or Liturgical Events: Throughout the year our families are invited to be active in parish events, outreach, and liturgical celebrations. 
  • registration 
  • A: Returning family/student from last year please us the brief re-registration https://berlingorhamcatholics.org/returning-families-registration
  • B: New family/student Registration please do so https://berlingorhamcatholics.org/returning-families-registration


Virtues, EXPLAINED!

What is serenity? It is an attitude of calm, one that can only be identified when contrasted with turmoil. It is stillness in a storm. It is Christ, walking steadily across the raging waves. It is the feeling we find when we are reconciled to God’s mercy.




Patron Saints

Question:

Why are some saints honored as “patron saints”?

Answer:

Each person is unique and each of us has different gifts, interests, talents, and, yes, even struggles and areas where we need to grow. This is no less true of those holy women, men, and children who have been canonized or beatified.

Because we believe that the saints and blesseds are both models of faith and intercessors, Christians have looked to certain holy people as role models and heavenly protectors for occupations, spiritual charisms, and even places. Although the Church sometimes names a person as a patron saint (e.g. Saint Philip Neri as the patron of Rome, Saint Clare of Assisi as the patroness of television, or Saint Aloysius Gonzaga as the patron of youth and young adults), more often it is popular devotion that inspires lay Christians to turn to a particular saint or blessed for heavenly help and support. This is how, for example, Saint Cecilia came to be honored as the patroness of musicians, Saint Toribio Romo as patron of migrants coming into the United States, and Saint Gertrude of Nivelles as patroness of cat lovers. Although there are official and unofficial lists of patron saints, we should always feel free to ask any and all the saints to give us their patronage and protection in whatever it is that we need.



Looking for God

What do we think when we see Jesus coming to save us?

The first thing the Apostles scream is “Ghost!” when they catch sight of Jesus walking towards them on water. That always makes me laugh. After all they have witnessed thus far as the companions of the Messiah, they see someone walking on water and they still react like extras in a bad episode of Scooby-Doo.

We are always more quick to believe a bad thing than a good thing. We can easily believe gossip and hearsay about a friend, but we fear being taken for a fool when it comes to faith. We would rather look cynical than stupid.

“Save me, God, for the waters have reached my neck,” reads Psalm 69. “My eyes fail, from looking for my God.”

I think back on my life, on all the various ways that God has rescued me from slipping beneath the surface. Rarely did it ever occur to me, in the midst of it, that I was being rescued. In fact, I usually thought I was being held underwater. Did I hear His voice directing me, or did I only hear my own despairing? “Save me, God.” Was I looking for Him, or were my eyes shut in fear? “My eyes fail, from looking for my God.”

It’s never until after the fact — sometimes years after, or decades — that we see things clearly. That we see Christ in the situation, making his way toward us, hand outstretched.


St. Jane Frances de Chantal


Biography

St. Jane Frances de Chantal was born to a noble family in Dijon, France, on January 28, 1572. Her mother died when she was an infant. Her father raised her and provided for her education. In 1592, she married the Baron de Chantal; the couple was devoted to each other. They had six children, three of whom died in infancy. As Baroness, St. Jane Frances restored the custom of daily Mass and was famous for her charitable works. Unfortunately, her husband died in a hunting accident only eight years after their marriage. Devastated, St. Jane Frances was forced to live in her father-in-law’s strict household, where she took a vow of chastity.

In 1604, while visiting her father in Dijon, she met St. Francis de Sales, and he became her close friend and spiritual director. Although few of their epistles have survived, the pair had a lively correspondence that lasted until St. Francis died.

Under the direction of St. Francis de Sales and with his partnership, she established the Congregation of the Visitation at Annecy in 1610. This was a unique order, without the extreme ascetical practices typical in other religious orders, accepting women and girls and those rejected by other orders because of poor health or age. The new order was also unusual in its public ministry, rather than a strictly cloistered life. St. Jane Frances transformed her convent at Annecy into a hospital during the plague of 1628.

The saint died at the Visitation Convent in Moulins on December 13, 1641. At the time of her death, there were 86 convents of Visitation nuns. She was canonized in 1767 by Pope Clement XIII.

St. Jane Frances de Chantal, pray for us!


WELCOME ONE AND ALL TO NORTH AMERICAN MARTYRS PARISH

Our Mission Statement:

We, the North American Martyrs Parish, a strong community of faith, Nourished by the Holy Eucharist, Guided by the Holy Spirit and Trusting in the grace of God, Dedicate ourselves to live God’s Word and Let the light of Christ shine through our Community. We strive to provide sound religious formation for people of all ages; To care for the spiritual, social well-being of one another With particular attention to the stranger and the poor in our midst.

 

“As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ John 20:21

Upcoming Events

ASSUMPTION OF MARY

MASS AUG. 14TH

6PM ST ALBERT

Mass Intention

for

People of Our Parish


ST ALBERT'S SUMMER RAFFLE / BAKESALE AT PITTSBURGS OLD HOME DAY

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15TH DRAWINGS WILL BE THAT DAY

NO NEED TO BE PRESENT WE WILL CALL YOU IF YOU WIN


MAKE PLANS TO JOIN US AT ONE OF OUR CEMETERIES ON SEPTEMBER 1ST AT 6PM AS WE PRAY FOR THE REPOSE OF THE SOULS OF OUR LOST ONES.

ST ALBERT ------ ST BRENDAN ------ ST PIUS X

Fr Cheney's new address:  Fr. Craig Cheney

                                                Room #124

                                               St. Vincent de Paul Home

                                                29 Providence Ave

               Berlin, NH 03570