My parents owned a pair of metal detectors they used to search for lost items buried in the ground. They found coins, rings, bracelets and the
like. Most of the time they found junk. It was a fun hobby anyway and always exciting because
one day they might find a buried treasure.
Their hobby came to mind because of the opening parable Jesus told in this Sunday’s gospel.
The kingdom of heaven, he said, is like a treasure buried in a field which a person finds and
hides again. He goes to sell all that he has in order to buy the field to own the treasure.
Parables are simple stories that pack a profound meaning. The man obviously found a treasure
of great value. In order to have it, he had to give up what he had to obtain the treasure. There
was a profound risk in selling everything he had in order to obtain the treasure. One message
the parable has is that something can be so valuable that it is worth risking everything to have it.
I think that the treasure Jesus was talking about is faith. There’s a lot to our faith, but I can offer
it to you in a concise kernel. Jesus became incarnate to save us from our sins and reconcile us
with our heavenly Father. That’s why he died. He conquered death so that we wouldn’t be
dominated by it any longer. The wages of sin is death, which Jesus paid for through his death on
the cross. His resurrection from the dead means that even if we die believing in him, we will rise
to new and everlasting life. Because of Jesus, death doesn’t have a stranglehold on us.
How important is your faith to you? What are you willing to give away in your life or leave behind
that currently obstructs or hampers your faith in God? What has become more important in your
life than the death and resurrection of Jesus, your salvation from sin and eternal life? What is so
important that you would be willing to give up heaven for it? Eternity is forever while the things in
this world will pass away.
Something that helps me when I struggle with matters in my own life is I ask myself a simple
question. Is what I am doing, saying, thinking, feeling, craving or possessing going to help me
on the road to heaven? Will it open heaven to me or cause me to turn away from it. The answer
is usually simple. No, what I am worrying about, craving, mad about or want to change isn’t
necessary for my salvation and it is not helping me to heaven. These things become a stumbling
block. I am not treating heaven like the treasure that it is, worth getting rid of anything that
hinders me from eternal life with God.
With the implementation of the Journey in Faith pastoral plan underway, we can begin to see the
benefits and the sacrifices that the plan entails. One immediate benefit I heard people say is that
they noticed that the churches were fuller than last week. The singing was noteworthy, too, as
more voices filled the church. Regarding the sacrifices, I heard from folks displeased with Mass
times and how the weekend and weekday Masses were distributed in the pastorate. Others
wanted no change at all.
God’s timing is perfect and this gospel comes at the right time for our new pastorate. We are
being called to treasure our faith and not the pocket change of what seems to be most
important. This is a time when we are all being challenged to grow, that we leave the old behind
and embrace the new.
The Mason City Area Pastorate News—
The priests are now situated in their living spaces in the pastorate
Frs. Dave, Peter and Georges will be living at the Holy Family Rectory, Mason City
Fr. Paul is living at the St. Patrick Rectory, Hampton
The pastorate weekend and weekday Masses are on an interim basis until January 2027

The number of weekend Masses, where they will be celebrated and in which language was
determined by the archbishop.
The priests of the pastorate will rotate Masses in the pastorate so that they will reach each
parish at least on a monthly basis.
The weekday Masses and locations were determined by me after consultation with
departing pastors and they with their pastoral councils and/or other parish leadership. The
weekday Masses were determined while considering the overall needs of the pastorate,
the schedules before the pastorate was implemented, the number of Masses per day that a
priest is canonically (according to canon law) permitted and the average number of
funerals and weddings per each parish in the pastorate.
Care facilities, hospice and home visits
Based on the information gathered from the parishes in the pastorate, we have a current
list as of July 1, 2026, of parishioners in care facilities and homebound. We will be
organizing visitation of these individuals on a rotating basis.

I have received some requests of care facility Masses. This will be assessed on a case-
by-case basis.

Emergency calls requiring the presence of a priest.
An emergency means
That there has been a serious trauma or accident where the ministry of a priest is
essential.
That a person is in danger of death, imminently dying or is on the verge of death
and a priest is needed to administer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and
bestow the Apostolic Pardon.
When an emergency occurs and meets the above criteria, please call the Epiphany Parish
office (641-423-5001). When you call, you will either speak to someone in the office or be
given the opportunity to leave a message. It would be helpful if you had this information
ready when you call
The caller’s name
The caller’s phone number or the best number to reach someone when the priest
returns the call
The address of the location where the priest is needed
The name(s) of the person(s) who are involved with the emergency, and in
particular, the name of the person who needs to be anointed.
General information about the situation in which the priest will be offering his
ministry (the person is dying; the person is able or unable to receive Holy
Communion, etc.) and anything else you would want him to know