Sr. Phyllis Jaszkowiak
February 19, 2023

“Be holy, for I your God am Holy.”  Leviticus 
“Be perfect just as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”  Matthew.

​Sitting here in isolation from COVID, it seems practically impossible to be holy or perfect as God is.  How can one love the enemy, turn the other cheek, or offer to go 2 miles when there is no one around to respond to?

Sr. Phyllis Jaszkowiak
January 22, 2023

​I read a story of a young child maybe 4 years old.  The night turned stormy, with lightning and then the thunder was unusually loud.  The child came into the parents bedroom.  As the child was crawling into the parent’s bed, the mother said, “Honey, you do not need to be afraid for Jesus is with you.”  The child said “Yes” and then added, “But sometimes I just need someone with skin on.”

Sr. Phyllis Jaszkowiak
November 13, 2022

As I read the readings for this Sunday I thought of all that our world, and our countries, are going through right now.  War, profiteering from war, threat of nuclear disaster, famine, drought, floods, hurricanes, tornados, dry arid farmlands that can grow nothing now, deforestation, gas and oil profits skyrocketing while wages stagnate, attack on elected leaders, trying to cut Medicare and Medicaid funds, trying to cut Social Security, climate change, and homelessness.

August 7, 2022
Sr. Phyllis Jaszkowiak

​In the Gospel today there seems to be 2 themes.  If we are good the Master will serve us, the Prosperity Gospel.  If we are bad we will be severely punished, Hellfire and Brimstone Gospel.  Neither are true.

Leif Kehrwald
July 17, 2022

Good morning. My name is Martha. Back in the day, I lived with my sister Mary and brother Lazarus in Bethany, just outside Jerusalem. We were followers of Jesus, though we didn't go on the road with him like so many others. He was a good friend to all three of us, and he would come visit on occasion.

June 12, 2022
​Joseph reflects on his journey with Parkinson't disease.

Sr. Phyllis Jaszkowiak
April 6, 2022

Today’s readings tell us that God does not count or measure, God just comes to us to help us become who we were created to be – a son or a daughter of God.  The secret to growing into being a son or daughter of God is living with an open heart that is ready to receive the gifts that God continually gives us, using them well, and then giving them away.

Tom Ficker
​February 27, 2022

Thank you for spending time with me this morning and being brave enough to listen to me for the next few minutes reflecting on this Sunday’s readings. Trust me Sr Phyllis, Fr Jerry, and Leif are hard acts to follow.

I have often heard from friends is that it would be easier to speak in front of an audience than to sing in front of an audience. I am the opposite with music you count the beat know where to start and where to end it’s right there in front of you. Seriously friends here at St Charles, we all have something to say, and we all learn from each other.

​Sometimes miracles happen, and when we notice them we respond with thank you God, or as Peter did, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”  Both responses acknowledge the goodness of God and our awareness that we have more growing to do to realize that God acts for our good and God is always with us.

Let me tell you about the four people keeping vigil over my good friend Tom as he lies on his deathbed, waiting . . . waiting to go on home to heaven. It’s not an unusual story, but it is one of extraordinary love and devotion on the part of his stepson Bud, his sisters Mary and Ann, and his beloved partner Sharon.