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Below is the most recent email.
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A Great Guy…
Pope Saint Gregory
Thursday, September 3, 2026
Dear Friends in Christ,
Only three Popes are called “Great”: Nicholas, Leo, and today’s saint, Pope Gregory I. (Some refer to John Paul II as “Great,” but that still needs to stand the test of time before it’s “official.”)
By human standards alone Gregory was, well, great. Born in 540, of Roman nobility, having received the best education of the time, he could have easily embarked on a successful secular career in the Empire. Instead, he went into monastic life, establishing a monastery on his family’s palatial property (as one does).
His reputation for competence and wisdom meant that he didn’t last long in monastic life. Pope Pelagius II snatched him out of the monastery to help in various capacities, including as ambassador to the imperial court in Constantinople. When Gregory eventually returned to his monastery years later, he was again taken away, this time to be elected Pope.
Gregory governed the Church as the Roman Empire was unravelling and her enemies invading time and again. In the midst of it all, he confronted heresies, encouraged missionaries, reformed the liturgy (hence, “Gregorian” Chant), and wrote many spiritual and theological works.
But we miss the point entirely if we think that Gregory was great on his own. The whole lesson is that he allowed God’s grace to penetrate and possess his natural gifts and order them to the supernatural.
He thus exemplifies the importance principle that grace perfects nature. God doesn’t disdain or ride roughshod over the natural gifts and talents He Himself has given us. Rather, He desires to imbue those gifts with His grace and raise them to supernatural service and glory. Which also means that the highest use of our natural gifts is not for material gain or worldly honors but, in union with divine grace, to glorify the God Who gave them.
Not many of us have the natural gifts that Gregory had. But his greatness is a lesson that the good gifts we’ve received are best used in union with the Giver and His divine grace — and for His glory.
Updates…
First Friday Food Distribution is tomorrow, September 4th. Please consider donating the following nonperishable items by tomorrow morning (1 lb bags of white rice, boxes of pasta, canned chicken, canned fruit, and/or bags of beans).
First Friday adoration vigil begins with Vespers at 730pm tomorrow. Come, keep vigil with our Lord. Go here to sign up for an hour of adoration.
Prep Registration-Our Parish Religious Education Program is accepting registrations for new students for the 2026-2027 religious education program. Go here for more info.
Interested in becoming Catholic? The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) program is for non-Catholic adults who desire to become Catholic or just to learn more about Catholicism. OCIA begins Wednesday, September 9th, 7:00pm-8:30pm. We ask that people who intend to enter the Church attend the classes regularly, live in a manner consistent with the faith, and discern prayerfully their calling. To learn more about OCIA, click here. To register or speak with Father Pavlick about the OCIA program, contact him at 703-532-8815 or [email protected]
Our Parish Picnic is around the corner – September 26th. Please consider volunteering for this parish-wide celebration.
The 21st Annual SJS Nun Fun Run is Saturday, September 26th at 7:30am. To participate as a runner, a donor, or a cheering bystander, visit the PTO’s Great Giving link. All proceeds will be donated to Camilla Hall, the Convent Home and Healthcare Center for our IHM Sisters. If you prefer to donate by check, please make it payable to Saint James Catholic Church with “Nun Fun Run” in the memo line and mail it to Kathleen Anderson, Saint James Catholic Church, 905 Park Ave, Falls Church, VA
Keeping Kids Catholic in College…is the theme of the next installment in our Parish Speaker Series. Parishioners Peter and Ellen Loesel will share their experience as FOCUS missionaries. Come join us on Monday, September 28th, at 7pm.
Our Business Manager, Rich Blickendorfer, has announced his retirement. In the months to come, I will have more to say about his wonderful service to the Parish. We will be sad to see him go! Meanwhile, we are now in the market for a new business manager. Please check out the ad.
The 1% Prayer Challenge-Sounds easy, right? Just one percent. Go here to learn more.
It’s Back to School…for everybody! Point is, we should continue to study and learn our faith. Take a look at the various options for study groups and bible studies in the parish.
Suspicious Humor
I asked the librarian if the library had any books on paranoia. She whispered, “They’re right behind you.”
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Scalia