At the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Belmont, Father Tony Pelak encouraged his parishioners to not be worried about what is going on in today’s world.

"Paul exhorts the Philippians, and by extension us, not to be overcome with worry,’’ Pelak said in the parish's Oct. 4 bulletin. "Whenever we find ourselves troubled we are to bring our problems to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Our prayer and faith assures us that the peace of God always far surpasses our human capacity to understand and it will guard the hearts and minds of those who are in Christ Jesus; that is, those who are intimately united with Christ through baptism into his death and resurrection."

Pelak noted that peace is often a negative concept referring to the absence of war or conflict. But the Biblical term of peace ('shalom' in Hebrew) is a much more positive and richer concept.

"It refers to one’s overall well-being; to being in harmony with God, with one’s self and with our fellow human beings," Fr. Pelak said. "Paul urges us to entrust ourselves to this gift of God’s peace by holding on to what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely and gracious. There are plenty of problems around us, but Paul invites us to also remember what is worthy of praise— then the God of peace will be with us."