Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time | Bulletin of July 19, 2026 Message from Msgr. Schwanger

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Mt 5:4)

When news of the passing of my brother, Tim, was made known to people of Our Lady of Lourdes, we were blessed by an outpouring of concern, love, support, and prayers for Tim and for us. Many were on pilgrimage at Lourdes at the time and prayers for Tim and for us immediately became part of the life of those at Lourdes. We experienced the same love and support among those I see regularly at daily Mass. I am sure that there was much love and support from others in the parish that I did not see but that I know was there. That, too, gives us comfort.

For highly personal reasons, I turned to the Beatitudes as part of my own response to Tim’s death. In the hope of bringing comfort to others, I am sharing some reflections on the Beatitudes with others of my family and with Tim’s personal circle of family and friends. I am also sharing with them the comfort your prayers and expressions of love have brought to us.

The Beatitudes remind us that those who mourn will be comforted. Your concerns for us and your prayers for us and for Tim have been a great comfort to us during this diHicult time. Blessed are you who give comfort to those who mourn. Thank you for these blessings.

Thank you, Monsignor Schwanger for this opportunity to express our gratitude to the great and holy people of Our Lady of Lourdes for their part in comforting those who mourn.

Michael Plummer
Deacon

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