Milestone!

According to the home page when I open up to post a blog, it reads that today's entry is #200. Hard to believe that I have been writing this blog since mid June of 2010 and I am already at the 200th posting. The blogs have not always been daily because of scheduling or being away from the computer for a time, but I have tried to do my best to keep them going and to give a positive message for people to read. I receive wonderful comments about the entries and even on facebook, it is good to see people write comments or even hit the "Like" command. I want to thank you who follow the blog and thank you for reading the message each time it is posted. This type of media outlet is part of the New Evangelization going on within the Catholic Church. We are living in critical times, but these times are full of hope because of our faith and trust in the Living God. Jesus promised to be with us until the end of the age and that promise is still being fulfilled. We need to do our part as we continue our journey here on earth to proclaim the Good News. We need to proclaim that Jesus Christ is the same: Yesterday, Today, and Forever and that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. As the psalmist tells us today, "If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts" (Ps. 95). The voice of God continues to call out to us and we need to listen to His voice everyday. Let us always do our part to continue Jesus' mission here on earth and bring the Good News to all peoples. Thank you for reading!!! Have a blessed day!!!

The Commandments!!!

The Ten Commandments- they are what they are! The ten commandments are not suggestions, they are not recommendations, they are commandments, God's Law, and we need to live them each and every day. As law-abiding citizens of the United States, we have to live by the laws that are in place because they help to create structure and order. Ultimately, our citizenship is in heaven and we need to abide by the laws that God has given to us, the ten commandments. Our readings for today focus on the commandments: Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9 and Matthew 5:17-19. In Deuteronomy, Moses was teaching the people to live the commandments. Like the caption to the reading says, "Keep the commandments and your work will be complete." Jesus says in the gospel that he did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. We need to teach and obey the commandments for Jesus says, "Whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven." Even Saint Leo the Great says, "Every teaching of the divine commandments greatly emphasizes that honest love may overcome a perverse love, and that delight in justice may destroy the desire for sin" (Magnificat, 405). Jesus says that we are to love God and to love our neighbor as ourself. These are the two great commandments, but in living them, we are living the ten commandments. Let us do our part to teach and obey the commandments because they are God's Laws and they help us to live our lives every day. Have a blessed day!!!

Founder's Day!

I am going to switch gears on this Lenten day and talk about a church and community organization that has made a difference in peoples lives for 129 years. That organization is the Knights of Columbus. Today is "Founder's Day and it marks the anniversary of the Order receiving its charter from the State of Connecticut in
1882. The founder of the Knights of Columbus is Venerable Michael McGivney, a diocesan priest who set forth this organization to take care of its members, as well as their families. You see Knights of Columbus at service in many areas throughout the world. The most recognizable is the Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus when they are in their full regalia. That catches a lot of peoples attention and it can lead to men inquiring about the organization. I have been a proud member of the Knights of Columbus for 18 years. My greatest honor and privilege with the Knights of Columbus was to serve at State Chaplain for the State of Kansas from 2008-2010. A tremendous experience and I would encourage any young man, 18 years or older to consider joining the Knights of Columbus. Presently, I serve at State Father Prior for the Columbian Squires, which is the youth division of the Knights of Columbus. It is a good system to bring young men into the Order. Membership has been an important theme in the State of Kansas and hopefully in other areas as well. Contact the Grand Knight or any Knight you may know in your parish and ask them what it means to be a Knight and how they can join. Also, our Knights have to offer that personal invitation as well. Let us continue to pray for Venerable Michael McGivney, that a miracle will attributed to his intercession and hopefully we can celebrate his beatification very soon. Ultimately, we are praying for his canonization to be a saint. Thank you my brother Knights for all you do, for the church and your respective communities. Vivat Jesus!!!

Water of Life!

Naaman the Syrian is a common name in our readings today, II Kings 5:1-15b and
Luke 4:24-30. Naaman had leprosy and he was looking to be healed. In Kings, Naaman went to the man of God, Elisha, who told him to go and bathe in the Jordan River seven times. Naaman was hoping to be healed on the spot by Elisha so when the prophet told him what to do, he was not happy. However, those around Naaman pleaded with him to listen to the words of the prophet. Once he did, Naaman was healed. Jesus reinforces that story in the Gospel from Saint Luke, "There were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian." That image of water is important because we heard it over the weekend with the woman at the well. She was also healed by her encounter with Jesus who said that he is the living water. Like Jesus says in
John 13:8, "Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me." The commentary from that passage goes on to say, "Naaman the Syrian doubted but obeyed; the leper of the Gospel believed and asked. The Lord washes clean in the waters of life all who approach the stream of living waters seeking pardon, healing, and peace" (Magnificat, 378). Jesus invites us to come to the living water and drink. Let us accept that invitation and drink of the living water that Jesus provides because it is the water of life. God Bless You!!!

The First Scrutiny

Congratulations to those in our RCIA programs who have recently become the "Elect." In recent weeks, many dioceses have celebrated the Rite of Election. I have four individuals who will receive full communion at the Easter Vigil (Confirmation and Holy Communion). The Diocese of Salina, Kansas is divided into four vicariates (East, East Central, West Central, West). Last Sunday, our vicariate went to the cathedral in Salina to celebrate the Rite of Election. This weekend, the Third Sunday of Lent, we begin the Scrutinies for those in the RCIA process. These next three weeks are a time to really examine our lives, to scrutinize them, and ready ourselves for the coming feast of Easter. We will listen to the gospel readings that will help us to examine our lives more deeply. Since we are in the "A" Cycle of readings, everyone will listen to these gospels. The gospel for this weekend is, John 4:5-42, the woman at the well. I am also continuing my series on the Sacrament of Reconciliation this weekend and focusing on the role of the confessor. Jesus is a great example for us as priests on how to be confessors and how we can treat those that come to us with mercy, love, compassion, genleness, and patience. In the gospel, Jesus tells the woman what she has done in her life because that is what she tells the people when she goes back to town, "He told me everything I have done." Our Lord was thirsting for her faith. He wanted her to drink from the living water that only he can give. That invitation is given to us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Come to Jesus, the living water, wash your sins away in his redeeming love, and feel the mercy and forgiveness that he gives. Let us listen to the gospel for this weekend and use it in our time of prayer. We can receive the living water that this Samaritan woman received, all we have to do is accept Jesus' invitation to come to the water and drink. Have a blessed weekend!!!

Solemnity of the Annunciation!

Happy Feast Day to all the blog readers! This is indeed a beautiful feast to celebrate in the midst of the Lenten Season. The Annunciation is where it all began. The angel Gabriel being sent from God to a virgin named Mary. The message is that you have found favor with God and will be the mother of God's only Son. What a powerful message to receive. Of course, Mary did have a concern how all this was possible and the angel assured her that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her and hence the holy offspring would be born. If you are in to numbers you will see that nine months from today is Christmas and we have not celebrated Easter yet. This shows how the liturgical year goes in circles. We continue to celebrate these great events of salvation history. In celebrating the feast of the Annunciation, we also receive a tremendous example from our Blessed Mother. Listen to this commentary, "The Blessed Virgin Mary's willing yes prepares the way for God to reveal his extraordinary love for all humanity. She trusts in God, even though she is unsure of the outcome. Mary is an example to us in good times and in times of uncertainty. Her words echo through the ages and remind us that God cares for us in all times and circumstances" (Commentary and General Intercessions, 115). The moral of this quote is found in the FOCUS of the day: "The Blessed Virgin Mary's life and example show us that trusting God brings abundant blessings" (115). What a beautiful example we have from our Blessed Mother. We pray that Mary will intercede for us, especially during this Season of Lent, that we may be open to God working in our lives and following His will each day. God Bless, Dear Friends!!!

The Time is NOW!!!

Remember this line from Saint Paul's second letter to the Corinthians, 5:20-6:2, "In an acceptable time I heard you and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." This is from the second reading that was read on Ash Wednesday. It comes to mind as I listen to the gospel for today, Luke 16:19-31. The gospel is about the rich man and Lazarus the beggar. Lazarus would lay at the door of the rich man hoping to receive the scraps of food that fell from the rich man's table. Then, both of them died. Lazarus was taken to the bosom of Abraham and the rich man was sent to the netherworld where he said that he was suffering torment in the flames. There is nothing that could be done now. The rich man should have done something for Lazarus while they were alive on earth but he waited until is was too late. That same rich man wanted Abraham to send Lazarus to his brothers so they would not end up where he was. Abraham said those brothers have Moses and the prophets. If they will not listen to them they certainly won't listen if someone goes to them from the dead. Our time to listen is now, while we have the time. Lent is our time to change, to live that conversion of heart. Do not wait until tomorrow because there is no guarantee. Instead, the time to begin is... right now! God bless you in this Lenten journey!!!

Sons of Thunder!

That is a name commonly associated with the apostles, James and John. We see it again in our gospel for today, Matthew 20:17-28. Jesus is telling the disciples about what is going to happen to him but the disciples miss the picture. Instead, the mother of James and John approaches Jesus with this request, "Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom." That is a bold request and Jesus has the proper response, "You do not know what you are asking." Then Jesus poses this question to them, "Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?" Can you experience the suffering that I am going to endure? According to the gospel, without any hesitation, they say, "We can!" That is unwavering faith to give a quick answer like that one. Jesus tells them that they will drink of the chalice, but to sit on my right or on my left is not mine to give, only my Heavenly Father. One of the points of this gospel is about service. The disciples got caught up in the honor and glory part, but Jesus is telling them there is a bigger picture, one that he will show at the Last Supper when he washes the feet of his disciples. As Jesus says to conclude the gospel, "The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." Our call today is one of faith and service. Do not be afraid to pick up your cross and follow in the Lord's footsteps. Do not be afraid to share the love of God in service to our neighbors. Have a blessed day!!!

Sacrament of Reconciliation!

I began a series in my three parishes on the First Sunday of Lent on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Now is the time to fall in love again with this sacrament, to be renewed by the grace, healing, and strength that comes with it. The readings from that first Sunday were a perfect beginning: the fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve and Jesus being led by the Spirit into the desert for 40 days and 40 nights. The illustration that I used was a classic. It came from one of my favorite church people, the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. Archbishop Sheen said, "I once gave a retreat in a maximum security prison, where there were 1,979 inmates. All of them though, of course, that I had on a white hat and they had on black hats, that I was good and they were bad. How could I begin? Well, I began by saying, 'Gentleman, I want you to know that there is one great difference between you and men. You got caught, I didn't.' In other words, we are all sinners" (Through the Year with Fulton Sheen, 54). That gives us something to think about because we are all sinners in need of God's mercy and forgiveness. This is where we need to begin, recognize that we are sinners and then approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation to receive forgiveness and healing and get back on the right path to living holy and faithful lives. Blessings to you this day!!!

Call to Forgiveness!

I remember a number of years ago, when I was in the seminary, a confessor telling me that the hardest person to forgive is yourself. That is true, but we always need to be open to the great love and mercy that God has for us. As I told the people during the weekend Masses, "Do not be afraid to approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation. God's love and mercy is greater than any sin we have committed." The passage from Daniel 9:5 says, "We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws." The commentary that follows says this, and it is key to our call to forgiveness, "Admitting sin is one of the hardest things in the world to do. We are not so reluctant to confess the small sins or the sins that matter very little to us, but we struggle to present honestly to God the sins most deeply woven into the fabric of our lives and, in confessing them, to let them go. During Lent, we call on the power of Christ's cross to free us from these bonds that hold us" (Magnificat, 292-93). We hold on to things that we have done because it is easy, but we need to make the effort to let them go. We know that we are sinners in need of God's mercy and forgiveness and our sinfulness should not hinder us in our relationship with God. This is a message for all of us during this Lenten Season, let go of those sins, our faults and failings that hold us back, and let God do wonders in our lives. May we answer that call to repentance and forgiveness. God bless you!!!

Glimpse of Glory!

How many remember when the statues in church were covered during Lent or maybe just during Holy Week? I have had people tell me about their experience of seeing the statues covered and I even witnessed that in some of the parishes I have been in. It is said that the statues of Our Lord, the Blessed Mother, and Saints give us a glimpse of glory. They are already experiencing what we all hope for one day. One of the hallmarks or pillars of Lent is "Fasting." That is what we are doing when we cover the statues in our church. We are fasting from that glimpse of glory. Our fasting also gives us that longing for the full glory of God to be revealed when His Kingdom comes. Fasting helps us to grow in faith, holiness, and prayer. It is a good practice for our spiritual lives. Here we are, the Second Sunday of Lent, still weeks away from celebrating the Solemnity of Easter and Jesus gives us a glimpse of glory with the Transfiguration, Matthew 17:1-9. We know that the disciples wanted to stay in that moment as they witnessed Moses and Elijah speaking to Jesus. Peter said that three tents should be built there. Once the Transfiguration ended, reality returned. There is still a mission to do, proclaiming the Good News. The glimpse of glory gives us hope, it spurs us on in our faith, but we know that while we are here on earth, Jesus has entrusted a mission to us. During this Lenten Season, let us resolve to continue the mission of the Church and through our fasting may we be renewed in faith, holiness, and prayer. As we know, fasting is only for a time, but the glory that is to come is eternal. Have a blessed weekend!!!

Remember to Pray!!!

This topic came up a couple days ago when Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. He told the disciples that the Father knew what they needed before they asked. That should not deter us in our prayer. We need to pray every day and not be afraid to keep those communication lines open. Our readings for today reinforce the need to pray. In the Old Testament, Queen Esther seeks the Lord God in prayer, C:12, 14-16, 23-25. She realizes that she is alone and no one to help her, but God, so she turns to Him in prayer. Jesus in the gospel, Matthew 7:7-12, tells the disciples, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." That means we need to pray and always be mindful that God listens to our prayers and answers them, maybe not in the way we think it should be, but God knows what is best for us. Even the psalmist voices that hope when he says, "Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me" (Ps. 138). It is good to listen to these readings over and over again. Sometimes we need a friendly reminder that says to us, "Remember to Pray!" God Bless You!!!

Repent!

There are some good words and phrases that define the Season of Lent. However, they are not confined to the Lenten Season, but everyday of our lives. Repent is one such word that we hear during this penitential time but it is a way of life that we are called to daily. Our readings today, Jonah 3:1-10 and Luke 11:29-32, are closely tied together because Jesus talks about Jonah in the gospel passage. The key to these readings is repentance. The people of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah. They turned from their evil ways and God repented of what He was going to do to the people since they had turned away from Him. Jesus talks about Jonah, but he tells the people that are listening to him that one who is greater than Jonah is in their midst. Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior of the World, who redeemed mankind by his death and resurrection. We live each day mindful of God's great love and mercy. Of course, each one of us has to do our part. We need to avoid all temptation and sin. When we sin, we need to repent of what we have done, do our penance, make amends, and make that conscious effort to do better. The goods of Lent are a way of life each day. Let us pray for the grace of repentance, to repent of the sins we have committed, and turn back to God, who as the psalmist says, will not spurn a humbled and contrite heart. Have a blessed day!!!

"Our Father..."

One of the three hallmarks or pillars of Lent is "Prayer." That is the theme of our gospel for today, Matthew 6:7-15. Jesus tells his disciples how they are to pray and not be like the pagans who keep going on and on with words. He even says, "Your Father knows what you need before you ask him." That line should not deter anyone from prayer. Yes, the Father knows what we need before we ask, but He wants to hear it from us. We need to keep those communication lines open with God. I always like the analogy that one of my seminary professors gave to our class one day. He said, "Prayer is like an electrical outlet. Each time we pray we plug into the continuous conversation that is going on between the Father and the Son." We need to stay connected to our Heavenly Father and be persons of prayer. In the gospel, Jesus teaches the disciples and us how to pray, the "Our Father..." There are many things that we are praying for in this prayer: the kingdom to come, that God's will be done, our daily bread, God to forgive us, the grace to forgive others, and to stay away from all temptation and evil. These are petitions that we voice to the Father and we know the He listens to us. The answers to our prayers are not what we always expect but God knows what is best for us. Let us stay connected to the Father and stay close to the pillar of prayer, not just during this Lenten Season, but every day of our lives. Have a blessed and prayerful day!!!

Questions for Life???

Our gospel today, Matthew 25:31-46, gives us some food for thought. It also asks us to put our faith into action. Like the Son of Man says, "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me." He goes on to say, "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." These are the questions that we need to ask in life! Have I lived the commandments of love that Jesus gave to us, love of God and love of neighbor? Have I seen the face of Christ in my brothers and sisters? Have I treated my brothers and sisters with love, mercy, and compassion? These are good questions to reflect on in our time of prayer. Most of all, these are questions that need action. We are called to live our faith, to practice what we preach. Lent is about taking something on, to help us grow in our faith and holiness. Perhaps we can see where God will lead us in our prayer and be open to the opportunities that come our way as we see the person of Christ in our brothers and sisters! Have a blessed day!!!

"Lead Us Not Into Temptation..."

This line is familiar to all of us because we say those words when we pray "The Lord's Prayer- Our Father..." We pray that our Heavenly Father will keep us away from all temptation and all evil. I think of this phrase as we prepare to enter this first full week of Lent. Our readings for this weekend speak of temptation and how we need to avoid it at all cost. The devil is always at work, trying to derail us in our relationship with God and one another. We need to remain strong and firm in our faith, values, and convictions. The first reading that we will listen to this weekend is where it all began, Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7. God gave man a very clear instruction of where he could eat in the garden and not eat. As the author writes, "Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the animals that the Lord God had made." It was the serpent who tricked the woman in getting her to believe that if they ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would become like gods. It was that temptation that led to the fall of our first parents and the existence of original sin that we are all conceived with and cleansed of at baptism. In the Gospel, Matthew 4:1-11, we have the basis for our Lenten Season, Jesus being led into the desert where he was tempted by the devil and fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. Jesus, the new Adam, did not give in to the devil's temptings. Our Lord had a comeback for each of the things that the devil did. That is the resolve that we all pray for, that God will keep us from giving into temptation and keep us away from all sin. As we pray the "Our Father," may these words flow in our mind and heart and pray that the grace of God will keep us free from all temptation and sin. Have a blessed weekend!!!

Choices and Options!!!

I remember from my seminary days one of the priests in his homily said, "We all have choices and options." That is true, we have choices and options and our free will helps us with those, as well as, the knowledge to choose between good and evil. Hopefully goodness is the choice and option that we always take. The readings to begin these days after Ash Wednesday show us the choice and option. Our first reading is, Deuteronomy 30:15-20, while the gospel is, Luke 9:22-25. As our commentator writes, "Through Moses, God offers Israel a choice. They can choose life by loving Him and walking in his ways, or they can turn away from him, in which case they will certainly perish. In the Gospel, Jesus invites us to take up our cross each day and follow him. Whoever gives his life for the sake of Christ will save it" (Commentary and General Intercessions, 94). I believe the focus paragraph on that same page tells us what we need to do. "As we observe Lent, let us reflect on the choice set before us: to walk in the Lord's way, which brings life; or to live in sin, which brings death. Let us choose to spend these days of Lent wisely, to renew our love of God and turn more completely to him." Let us make our choice, our option for God, because it brings us new life. Have a blessed day!!!

Ash Wednesday!!!

With the celebration of Ash Wednesday, we have begun our journey into the 40 days of Lent. This is a penitential time, a time to be renewed and refreshed in our faith and spiritual lives. The ashes in the form of a cross remind us to keep our focus on the cross, not only during Lent, but each day of our lives. To get to the resurrection we have to go through the cross. Those ashes on our foreheads remind us that we are also witnesses. People will say to us during this day, at one time or another, "Do you know you have dirt on your forehead?" That is a perfect time to evangelize and catechize the person making the statement. We can tell them what the ashes are for, where they come from, and what they remind us of. The Season of Lent is about an individual, as well as, a communal journey. We are trying to grow in our relationship with God and one another. Hopefully we know what we are going to do for this Lenten Season. May God bless you as we begin this journey and may He bring the good work that has begun to fulfillment. Peace be with you!!!

Alleluia!!!

The Tuesday before Ash Wednesday is a celebratory time, but its also a time of preparation for what is to begin with the Season of Lent. In the seminary, we would sing the "Alleluia" good and loud at Mass because it was the last time that we would use that glorious word until Easter time. At the conclusion of Mass, a banner with "Alleluia" on it was folded up, put in a box, and buried in the courtyard, but I don't think it was buried all that long because of the weather. It was a symbolic burial for the "Alleluia" since Lent is a penitential time and it takes on a more somber tone, even though Lent does bring joy. During the Season of Lent, we are called to get our house, our lives in order. It is a time of prayer, penance, and renewal. Lent calls us to do what we should be doing everyday, making sure we have a good relationship with God and one another. Lent is a time to build on the good things in our lives and get rid of what is bad. Hopefully once Lent concludes, those good things will continue. Let us sing the "Alleluia" good and loud today and rejoice and be glad because this is the day the Lord has made. The Season of Lent is a time that has been made for us. Let us make the most of it. God Bless You!!!

Saints Perpetua and Felicity

Whenever the Roman Canon, Eucharistic Prayer I, is used at Mass, you will hear the names of the saints that we celebrate today. That is, if the priest, goes through all the saint names that are listed. Saints Perpetua and Felicity are found in the second listing of saints in that Eucharistic Prayer. Not much is known about their lives. One source states: "Saints Perpetua and Felicity suffered martyrdom in the persecution of Septimus Severus in Carthage in 203. A most accurate account of their death still exists, derived partly from their own testimonies and partly from a writer of the period" (Magnificat, 99). We remember them in our prayers and look to their example because they were not afraid to suffer for the sake of Christ and his Church. The opening prayer even says that the Heavenly Father, through His love, gave them the courage to suffer martyrdom. We pray that their intercession will be with us, to help us on our journey of faith, and to have a strong love for God and our neighbor. Saints Perpetua and Felicity, pray for us. Have a blessed day!!!

Building on the Rock!!!

As we gather at Church this weekend, we will be invited to build our house, our lives on the rock, Jesus Christ. The word "rock" is nothing new to the scriptures. In Psalm 31 we will hear, "Lord, be my rock of safety." One of the stanzas will also say, "Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety. You are my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake you will lead and guide me." The invitation to build our lives on the rock comes from Matthew's gospel, 7:21-27. Jesus wants us to listen to his words and act on them. He says, "Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock." Of course, the person who built his house on sand lost everything. That is why Jesus wants us to build our house on rock. Jesus we know is the cornerstone, but he is also the rock upon which we find our strength, our safety, and our refuge. This weekend will also be preparing us for the Season of Lent which begins on Wednesday. Lent is a good time for us to get our house, our lives in order and hopefully carry that momentum long after the Lenten Season has ended. If we find that we have not been listening to our Lord and building our house on rock, now would be a good time to begin, the invitation is there! Have a blessed weekend!!!

Saint Casimir

We celebrate the memorial of Saint Casimir! He was born in 1458 and was the son of the king of Poland. During his life, he practiced the Christian virtues with special regard to chastity and kindness to the poor, and was zealous in his faith. Casimir had a wonderful devotion to the holy Eucharist and the Virgin Mary. He died in 1484 (Magnificat, 64). In the gospel for today, Mark 11:11-26, Jesus talks about faith, "Have faith in God. Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him." Let us look to Saint Casimir today, who was zealous in his faith, and pray that through his intercession our faith will always be strong. Have a blessed day!!!

Saint Katharine Drexel

Today we celebrate the memorial of a saint for our time. She is a saint of the United States and her name is Saint Katharine Drexel. Katharine was born in Philadelphia in 1858. From a young age, Katharine learned what it meant to love God and to love our neighbors. This prepared her for the future work that she undertook by helping the African-American and Native American peoples. Saint Katharine was the foundress of the Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. She established some forty nine foundations, including Xavier University in New Orleans. She died on this day, March 3, 1955 and was canonized by the Venerable Pope John Paul II on October 1, 2000 (Magnificat, 53). As Jesus said in a recent gospel, "The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve" (Mark 10:45). We look to the saints who followed this example and were not afraid to live their faith and share the love of God with others. On this day we look to Saint Katharine, a saint of the United States, a saint of the last two centuries and canonized at the beginning of this new millenium, as she continues to intercede for us and helps us to live the example of love and service. God Bless You!!!

Countdown to Lent!!!

We are now a week away from beginning the 40-day Season of Lent. This is our penitential time, a time of renewal and hope. What are you going to do to make this a meaningful season? It is not about giving things up but about takings things on. Things that will help us to live a happy, holy, faith-filled life. Our focus during this Lenten Season, as we can say everyday of our lives, is on the cross. Here is the opening paragraph from a quote by Father John Tauler, O.P., a German Dominican priest. The title of his piece is: "Participating in Christ's Passion": "Although we have many afflictions to suffer and each of these crosses has its length, breadth, depth, and height, yet we should clearly understand that it is only by the cross of Christ's holy humanity that we are saved. To this cross is joined - if we may so express ourselves - the cross of Christ's divinity, all painless and elevated in heavenly joy" (Magnificat, 45)... To get to the Resurrection we have to go through the cross. Jesus calls us to be his disciples and in doing so we are to pick up the cross and follow him. We have a week to think and pray about what we would like to do for Lent. Let us make the most of this time as we prepare for the season that will help us to prepare for the glorious Solemnity of our Lord's Resurrection at Easter. Have a blessed day!!!

Follow Me!!!

That is the continual call that we receive as disciples of Jesus, come, follow me. In today's gospel, Mark 10:28-31, we hear Peter say, "We have given up everything and followed you." Jesus assures Peter, the other disciples, and us, that our giving up everything to follow him will not be in vain. We will receive what is coming to us, not in this present time, but in the eternal life to come. Here is a quote to give us hope as we follow the call of Jesus in our lives: "Christ sends his disciples out to sow the seed of the Gospel in a world still governed by sin, pain, exile, and death. When the burden seems too great to bear, let us put our hope in his promise that joy awaits those who follow the road faithfully to the end and bring home the harvest of life" (Magnificat, 35). God Bless You!!!