Every few months it seems that a number of you as parishioners are targeted with a scam that purports to come from me your Pastor.
They usually go like this by text or email: there is an urgent message pressuring you to go out immediately and buy gift cards, scratch off the numbers on the back, and then transmit them by email or text back to this person claiming to be me. You are not permitted to call/visit or speak with this person (me).

Such a scam presumes upon the good bonds and relationship that Jesus intends His priests and people to have. 

Please do not fall for these scams. Check the e-mail and the text since they would not be from me, but are new accounts created to pretend to be me and even say they are me.
If you have any questions, please call or email the Rectory.

It makes me angry that people would do such devilish things and it breaks my heart if people have fallen for these traps or when others have spent time agonizing over these false requests thinking that I am pressuring them for these requests.
IHM is a generous parish and seeks to reach out to the needs of others truly in need, but always in charity never trickery.

We should certainly pray for the one(s) doing this. 

What can we learn from it? Except if we are running away from danger (or fighting it), our decisions human, moral and spiritual should never be pressured, rushed or coerced, but come from a place of peace and freedom.

Have a good evening!

-Msgr. Luke Sweeney

(the real one!)