Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 4, 2026 Bulletin Column Father De Celles News
SNOW. As the Canticle of Daniel prays: “Bless the Lord, ice and cold….Bless the Lord, frosts and snows; sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.” While there was much bad news during the storm last weekend, we can also see in it the magnificent power of God that, try as he might, man cannot resist or overcome. Moreover, no matter what man wills, God’s will cannot be denied. So we are reminded of the power of God’s grace and the necessity of seeking His will in everything we do.
I hope that none of you were terribly adversely affected by the storm—I haven’t heard of any parishioner suffering severely. But remember to look out for each other—check with your neighbors and call folks you know from the parish to make sure they’re okay. Be generous: don’t hesitate to offer a hand and shoveling your neighbor’s driveway or sidewalks and steps. And don’t hesitate to let the Parish office know of any particular needs you encounter.
Mass Attendance. I was very heartened to hear that most of our regular Sunday Mass-goers were able to attend one of the two Vigil Masses on Saturday evening. It sounds like over 1,000 of our 1,600 regulars personally attended Mass. I’m proud of you. But for those who were unable to attend Mass because of safety concerns, remember you were dispensed from the obligation, so there is no sin.
I have to Admit…. I was on vacation in Florida last Sunday. But my nagging sinus infection kept me from playing any golf, among other things. What a very strange vacation. But God’s will be done. Praised be Jesus Christ.
MINNEAPOLIS. All of us are distressed by the events that have unfolded in Minneapolis over the last few weeks. We pray for the dead and injured and for peace. We also witnessed the display of two different perspectives on proper response to the enforcement of immigration laws. Many of these differences involve legitimate exercise of conscience and prudential judgment: we can disagree with each other without sinning. But the conscience must always be formed and ruled by logic and truth, bound by certain moral principles in making a prudential judgment.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church lays out some of these principles:
2234 God’s fourth commandment also enjoins us to honor all who for our good have received authority in society from God. It clarifies the duties of those who exercise authority as well as those who benefit from it….
2238 Those subject to authority should regard those in authority as representatives of God, who has made them stewards of his gifts:[ Cf. Rom 13:1-2.] “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution…. Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God.”[1 Pet 2:13,16]. Their loyal collaboration includes the right, and at times the duty, to voice their just criticisms of that which seems harmful to the dignity of persons and to the good of the community.
2239 It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom. the love and service of one’s country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity. Submission to legitimate authorities and service of the common good require citizens to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community.
[Comment: These two paragraphs require the default position that everyone must normally obey those in authority and laws they enact.]
2240 ….The Apostle exhorts us to offer prayers and thanksgiving for kings and all who exercise authority, “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way.”[ 1 Tim 2:2.]
[Comment: notice the normal requirements of the Scripture: “quiet” “peaceable” “respectful in every way.”]
2241 ….Political authorities….may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.
[Comment: The government has a right and duty to regulate the terms of legal immigration: the right to immigrate is not absolute. Immigrants must obey the “laws and assist” the government of their host country, which would include surrendering to authorities, not resisting arrest and cooperating when they are detained.]
2242 The citizen is obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or the teachings of the Gospel. Refusing obedience to civil authorities, when their demands are contrary to those of an upright conscience, finds its justification in the distinction between serving God and serving the political community. “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” “We must obey God rather than men’:….
[Comment: This acknowledges that rare exceptions may be made to obeying authority, but only when laws or actions are against the three principles enumerated above. Applying the Catechism above, the current conditions do not violate these three principles, so that “civil disobedience” would not seem to be justified.]
Church Invasion. Is this who we’re dealing with? As the Washington Times reported:
“The agitators who invaded a church service on Jan. 18 in St. Paul, Minnesota, verbally terrorized children and sent parishioners running for their lives, an unsealed court affidavit says. …Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrests of three invaders on civil rights violations. …The document bears new information based on interviews …conducted with parishioners.
….’Victim 4 ….members of their parish attempted to retrieve their children from the childcare area located downstairs, but the agitators were blocking the stairs….Additionally, this agitator was screaming and getting in people’s faces….continued to scream in the faces of young children while they were crying.’
….’Victim 6 recalled people shouting and running, children crying, as well as people singing and praying.’
….’Victim 6 recalled [William Scott Kelly, a ringleader] screaming ‘Nazi’ in people’s faces, in addition to confronting children saying, ‘do you know your parents are Nazis, they’re going to burn in hell,’’ …
‘Victim 6 was scared the agitators were not going to let people leave …Victim 6 later stated protesters followed and surrounded them in their car and would not let them leave,’ the affidavit reads. ….Victim 6 recalled his child stating to him ‘Daddy, I thought you were going to die.’ …
…’Victim 5 later expressed fear that the agitators may have guns underneath their jackets. Additionally, when the agitators began shouting, all the parishioner could hear was ‘shoot.’’
In addition to Mr. Kelly, the Justice Department announced charges against Nekima Valdez Levy-Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen. ….Ms. Levy-Armstrong is a civil rights activist and former president of the NAACP, Minneapolis chapter. Ms. Allen heads Black Lives Matter, Twin Cities, and sits on the St. Paul School Board.”
Oremus pro invicem. Fr. De Celles