From the Desk of Father Jason - November 2, 2025

Dear Saint Francis Xavier Parishioners,

 “Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Matthew 6:21).

For me, this treasure includes my bank accounts, IRAs, car, books, and even my cat, Thomas. I am very, very tempted to say that these are my treasures, with the emphasis on “my.” After all, I have been working hard since I was 14 years old.

But then I remember, I am not the owner. Rather I am a Christian steward. Just as much as my time and talents are on loan to me from the Lord God, so is my treasure. 

What does God expect us to do with our treasure?  

Sharing.

God expects us to share some of the treasure we have for His mission. God’s mission is to seek out and save the lost through Jesus Christ. It is in the local parish that this mission is primarily done. St. Francis Xavier Parish does God’s mission by worshiping Him through Jesus Christ, forming His disciples, and spreading His Gospel in De Pere.

What should sharing with God look like? There are 4 Ps: Priority, Planned, Percentage, and Progressive. We will look at the first two Ps.

Priority. When I was in college in Arkansas, I shared with the local parish. I would give whatever was left in my wallet after doing my weekend activities: football, pizza, beer, etc. My sharing with God was not a priority. If I had $5 leftover by the time of Sunday Mass, God got $5. If it was $15, He got $15. If it was nothing, God got nothing. What should I have done? When I was paid, I should have set aside something for God’s mission, making God a priority.

Planned. In college, I did not plan how much I shared each week. God got what He got. I should have planned what I shared with God. If God was calling me to share $40 a week, I should follow the plan to give $40 a week to the best of my ability.

Other News. Last week, Saint Francis Xavier Parish had a ministry fair. Thank you to all the parishioners who had a hand in this event. Thank you to those who stayed after Mass and signed up. We had fifty-eight sign-ups! That is almost three times the amount we had last time we did the ministry fair.

Sincerely through Jesus,

Fr. Jason