New Beginnings

We have arrived at the beginning of a New Year, 2013!!! People are always asking, "Where does the time go?" It seems like time is moving faster and faster. These new beginnings give us a wonderful opportunity to look at our lives and see what we need to do better. Many people make New Year's resolutions, but how far do we get with those? The Church provides us with many opportunities to begin again, especially with the Liturgical seasons. We have concluded the Advent season, which is like a mini-Lent, preparing us for the birth of Our Lord. Now, we are in Christmas Time, rejoicing at the coming of the newborn King. In over a month, we will begin the Season of Lent, since Easter is early this year. As we mark these new beginnings, we know that we are not alone. How appropriate to begin the New Year by celebrating the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. We know that the mother of God's only Son is also our mother as well. She watches over us with her maternal hand, love, and prayers. We also have the communion of saints that we can turn to for assistance. Ultimately, we have the grace of God to help us in all things. Yes, new beginnings afford us a wonderful opportunity to begin again and when we fall short, we know that we can pick ourselves up again and resolve to move forward with a renewed effort. May God bless us as we begin this New Year of 2013. Mary, the Holy Mother of God, Pray for Us!!!

Saint John

The Church celebrates the feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist. He is a saint for this Christmas Time and a saint for the Year of Faith, because we are all called to be evangelizers and live and share the Good News with others. We come to know Christ through John's own experience. This is what one of the Entrance Antiphons for Mass said, "This is John, who reclined on the Lord's breast at supper, the blessed Apostle, to whom celestial secrets were revealed and who spread the words of life through all the world" (Magnificat, 405). There are also two quotes that the Magnificat has for our consideration: our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI says, "Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person." Saint Edith Stein says, "Through John we know how we are to participate as our destiny in the life of Christ" (405). John had a personal encounter with our Lord and that is what he expresses in his gospel and in his preaching. During the Year of Faith, we are asked to work on our deep, personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. We are the evangelizers, the disciples asked to continue our Lord's mission in our present day. Like Saint John, may we be "Joy-Filled Witnesses to Christ" and live and share what the Lord has done in our lives. May our example touch the life of another so that we can make the presence of Christ known to all peoples!!! Saint John, Pray for Us!!!

Saint Stephen

On this day after Christmas, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Stephen, the First Martyr. This passage from scripture says it all, "You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved" (Matt. 10:22). The virtues of patience and perseverance are key because we are living on God's time and following the will that He has set for us. We may not know where the will of God will lead us, but we need to rely on our faith and trust to sustain us in all circumstances and at all times. The following commentary also puts this feast into perspective as we celebrate it at this time of the year: "Lest we be tempted to sentimentalize the mystery of Christ's birth, the Church today sets before us the example of Stephen, first of martyrs, icon of the Crucified. Bethlehem is the prelude to Calvary. We may not merely stand adoring at the crib; we must also follow to the cross" (Magnificat, 394). A very powerful statement, but it is true. As I mentioned at the Christmas Mass, "To get to the cross and the resurrection, we need to celebrate the birth of Our Lord." God became one of us to set us free and to lead us to safety. As we live our lives, our faith to the fullest, we pray for the intercession of Saint Stephen, so that we will not be afraid, but persevere in the journey to the kingdom!!! God Bless You!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Blessed and Merry Christmas from me to all the blog readers!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to read the blogs and I pray that each entry brings a message of hope, faith, and inspiration to your lives. A beautiful solemnity to celebrate, the birth of Our Lord: the Savior of the world, Prince of Peace, the Light that dispels all darkness. The message that I gave to my parishioners in preparation for Christmas is from our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, and I want to leave his words with you today. "God's sign is the baby in need of help and in poverty. Exactly the same sign has been given to us.... God's sign is simplicity.... God's sign is that he makes himself small for us. This is how he reigns. He does not come with power and outward splendor. He comes as a baby - defenseless and in need of our help. He does not want to overwhelm us with his strength. He takes away our fear of his greatness. He asks for our love: so he makes himself a child. He wants nothing other from us than our love, through which we spontaneously learn to enter into his feelings, his thoughts, and his will - we learn to live with him and to practice with him that humility of renunciation that belongs to the very essence of love. God made himself small so that we could understand him, welcome him, and love him... Christmas has become the Feast of gifts in imitation of God who has given himself to us. Let us allow our heart, our soul, and our mind to be touched by this fact" (Magnificat, 384-85)! May the joy of this Christmas Time fill your minds and hearts with comfort and peace!!!

Light of Christ

"O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death" (Traditional "O" Antiphon). To show how the liturgical year goes in cycles, we look to the Easter Vigil and the lighting of the Paschal Candle. After the candle is lit we process into the dark church and intone "Christ our Light"! Jesus is the Light of the world that dispels the darkness of sin and death. What we await at this Christmas Time is the light to come into the world as we read in the "O" Antiphon for this day! Of course, the light has come and now we ultimately await Our Lord's coming in glory. As we continue our journey may the light of Christ shine in our lives and in our hearts so that we may radiate that light in all we do! Have a blessed day!!!

Open Wide the Doors to Christ

"O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel: you open and no one shuts; you shut and no one opens. Come and lead forth from his prison the captive sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death" (Traditional "O" Antiphon). The title of this post was the theme of the new milleniuum when we went from 1999 to 2000. It was a Holy Year in the Church and the Holy Doors were open at various basilicas and churches throughout the world. The symbolism of the Holy Door is to open our minds and hearts to Christ. This is what we are doing as we prepare for the coming feast of Christmas. We are opening our minds, our hearts, our very lives to the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Our Lord will come inside and dwell in our very being. He is the Light of the world who will dispel all darkness. That is a gift that we need in our lives at all times! Do not be afraid to open wide the doors to Christ. He is Savior of the world, Prince of Peace. Our lives will truly be transformed. Let us not be afraid to open the door and welcome Christ because he will work in our lives in a very beautiful and special way!!! Have a blessed day!!!

December 19

"O Root of Jesse, who stood as a sign for the people, before you kings shall remain silent, and to you the Gentiles shall make supplication: come to deliver us, and delay not" (Traditional "O" Antiphon). As I see the word "silent" in our "O" Antiphon, I cannot help but think about the Gospel for today, Luke 1:5-25. The Gospel presents us with Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. He was a priest and was chosen to burn incense in the sanctuary of God. While he was in there the angel of the Lord, Gabriel, appeared to him and brought him the great news that his wife Elizabeth would conceive and bear a son. The angel even told Zechariah to not be afraid, but he did not believe what was being said. Thus, Gabriel said this, "I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things thake place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time." Zechariah waited in silence for these things to happen. Once they occurred and he wrote to the people the name of the child, his tongue was freed and he was able to speak. In the midst of our busyness and all the voices around us, we need to find that silence and listen to the voice of God. We look forward to the day when all these things will take place. Let us be silent, listen, and wait with joyful anticipation and hope! Have a blessed day!!!

December 18

"O Adonai, and Leader of the house of Israel, you appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: come, and with an outstretched arm, redeem us" (Traditional "O" Antiphon). As we know from the Scriptures, Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. God made a covenant with His people and by the coming of His Son, Jesus, we have been renewed and redeemed. We continue to pray for God's unconditional love, mercy, and forgiveness. That will be made manifest as we celebrate the birth of Christ. Let us continue to prepare ourselves for the coming of Christmas by turning away from sin and turning back to God through the gift of reconciliation! Have a blessed day!!!

Preparing for Christmas

"O Wisdom, you came forth from the mouth of the Most High, and reached from end to end, and disposed of all things sweetly and mightily: come and teach us the way of prudence" (Traditional "O" Antiphon). Beginning today, December 17 and going to December 24, we begin our preparation for the Nativity of Our Lord. One of the ways that we prepare is with the "O" Antiphons. According to Magnificat, "The great "O" Antiphon verses traditionally sung before and after the Canticle of Mary each evening at vespers, begin this evening. The popular Advent hymn 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel' paraphrases them" (258). In the first antiphon, we pray for Wisdom and that we may be taught the ways of prudence. As this passage says, "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways" (Rom. 11:33)! Wisdom is a Gift of the Holy Spirit that we receive at Confirmation! We pray that it will be a gift that guides us in all that we do. May God open our minds and hearts to receive wisdom and prepare for the birth of Our Lord! Have a blessed day!!!

Gaudete Sunday

Let us rejoice and be glad!!!! We have arrived at the Third Week of our Advent journey!!!! We are getting closer to the Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord!!!! The words that you heard from the readings today are "Joy" and "Rejoice"!!! The rose candle is now lit and we can rejoice in God' s great love and what He has done for us. We are mindful that people need joy in their lives, especially when tragedies arise, like the sad events of Friday in Connecticut. We remember the victims and their families in our prayers!!! At times like these, people come together to bond and support each other! We know that we need to be there for people in all circumstances and that God is always with us!!!! Let us radiate the light of Christ in all that we do and may all people's be filled with joy and rejoice!!!!!

Saint Lucy

In this Advent Time, the Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Lucy, a Virgin and Martyr. Her biography in one resource was brief, but I want to focus on a commentary that was written because it puts her life into perspective and calls us to live the gift of faith. "Saint Lucy is said to have chosen blindness rather than betrayal of the Lord she loved and longed to see. In her suffering courage we catch sight of the light of faith that cannot be quenched by any darkness" (Magnificat, 171). Jesus Christ is the Light of the world, the Prince of Peace, the Savior of all!!! He is the light that dispels the darkness of sin and death. We have been saved through the death of our Lord and given the promise of eternal life through his resurrection. As we observe the Year of Faith, may our faith be enlightened because it is the gift that sustains us in all circumstances. May Saint Lucy intercede for us for in living our faith to the fullest, we can radiate the light of Christ to others!!! God Bless You!!!

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Several days removed from the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, we celebrate another beautiful feast to honor our Blessed Mother under the title, Our Lady of Guadalupe. One of the gifts that I received as State Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus came when I attended the Supreme Convention in 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona. After the convention, the Order help sponsor the first conference on Our Lady of Guadalupe and it concluded with the Guadalupe Festival at the local hockey arena. For the Masses during the conference, the concelebrants wore an off-white chausable with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the front and the K of C emblem on the back. The Order let us keep those vestments as a reminder of this great event. I proudly wear that vestment on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our Lady of Guadalupe is venerated as the Patroness of America and Protectress of the Unborn. As Blessed John Paul II prayed, "Virgin of Guadalupe, intercede with the Lord that he may instill a hunger for holiness in the whole people of God." Our present Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI says, "I invoke the maternal protection of Our Lady of Guadalupe so that she may protect and inspire those who govern in their difficult task as promoters of the common good, and renew the bonds of Christian fellowship for the good of all people" (Magnificat, 161). During this Year of Faith, may we grow in living our faith and the Universal call to holiness. Let us be assured that the prayers and intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be with us!!! Have a blessed day!!!

Second Week of Advent

This week of Advent began with the appearance of John the Baptist. He is the voice crying out in the wilderness, prepare the way of The Lord. Over the centuries many prophetic voices have prepared people for the coming of The Lord. The call is still the same in our present day, but the question is, "Are people listening "? I would hope so, but think how different the world would be if we took to heart how we are to prepare for the Lord's coming. This Year of Faith calls us to reinvigorate, reawaken our faith and we need to grow in our intimate relationship with Jesus Christ! There is a lot that we need to work on and now is the time. As John the Baptist preached a message of repentance so we need to heed that call and make sure our lives, our house is in order!!! Let us make the most of our Advent Time because this is a gift to us from God and the Church!!!! May God Bless Our Journey!!!!

Immaculate Conception

A Happy and Blessed Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception!!!! We have a few hours to enjoy this feast before we focus on the Second Sunday of Advent! We thank God for the gift of Mary and for her "YES" in becoming the mother of His only Son! Of course, this feast celebrates Mary being immaculately conceived in the womb of her mother, Saint Anne. Our Blessed Mother is a tremendous example for us and we pay that she will intercede for us and help us to follow the will of God in our own lives!!! Have a blessed feast!!!!

Saint Ambrose

As I write about Saint Ambrose today, this will be my 600th blog post! It is amazing to see how far we have come in the last few years. It is a joy to send out spiritual and inspirational messages because this is a great way to evangelize since everyone is using computers to stay connected and informed. I told my listeners at Mass that we have been celebrating some exemplary saints this week: Saint Francis Xavier- a missionary, Saint Nicholas- with his model of stewardship and generosity, and Saint Ambrose- defender of the faith. I said that these holy men are Advent saints. Since we are discussing Saint Ambrose, you might wonder what makes him an Advent saint. I think the commentator answers that very well: "Saint Ambrose proclaimed the coming of Christ, the long-awaited Savior, in troubled times not so different from our own. When others were abandoning the true faith for falsified concepts of Christ, Ambrose remained steadfast and taught his people fidelity by means of his preaching, writing, and creating inspiring hymns" (Magnificat, 96). We can say that Saint Ambrose is an Advent saint because he proclaimed the coming of Christ, which we need to do in our present day. He is also a saint for the Year of Faith because of his steadfastness and determination to live, preach, and teach the faith. We also need to be doing that because we are living in critical times and people need to listen to the Good News and see us put our faith into action. May Saint Ambrose intercede for us as we prepare for the coming of Christ and as we live our faith to the fullest!!! May God Bless Our Journey!!!

Saint Nicholas

In this Advent Time, we celebrate the memorial of Saint Nicholas. Two memories come to mind as we celebrate this memorial. The first was during my days in the seminary. The night before this feast we would sit our shoes outside our doors and in the morning there would be candy and fruit. That is how Saint Nicholas would work. When we were fast asleep his generosity truly shined forth as he left us gifts to enjoy. Saint Nicholas would be a wonderful example of stewardship because giving of our time, talent, and treasure is a way of life. The second memory is that as a priest, I have dressed up as Saint Nicholas for the Catholic Schools or Religious Education programs I have served. The children always enjoyed the visit of Saint Nicholas and they also received a gift they could enjoy as well. Usually candy canes which is a wonderful symbol because it looks like a shepherds staff and Saint Nicholas was a bishop who served his flock very well. This is a time of great joy as we look forward to the coming of Christ and we thank God for the gift and example of Saint Nicholas. May we always be generous and charitable in all that we do as we share God's love with others!!! Have a blessed day!!!

Seeing the face of Christ!

This title, "Seeing the face of Christ" is a favorite theme of Saint Benedict's and it is mine as well. That is one of the things that Saint Benedict told his monks, to see the face of Christ in all whom they meet. In a recent gospel, Jesus told his disciples, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see." The purpose of that statement is that the disciples of Jesus were at the right place at the right time. They were able to witness Christ first hand, see his ministry unfold, and listen to his words in person. Of course, we are blessed as well because the presence of Christ is still with us and that is the Good News that we proclaim everyday. "Whoever listens to you, listens to me" (Luke 10:16). "Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me" (Matt 10:40). "Whatever you do for one of these least ones, you do for me" (Matt 25:40). The commentator goes on to say after speaking of Saint Benedict seeing Christ in all peoples, "We see Christ in the abbot, in the guest, in the sick. But we are not always aware of what we see. Blessed are the eyes that see Christ in the poor, in the friend in need, in the elderly relative. Blessed are the eyes that see Christ in the stranger, the immigrant, the one whose faith or culture is different from ours. We are truly blessed if we see Christ in every person we meet" (Loose-Leaf Lectionary, 3033). The single sentence that concludes the commentary is a prayer for all of us, "May Christ give us eyes to see" (3033). As we begin this Advent Time, may our eyes be opened to see the presence of Christ, the face of Christ in one another. Just think how differently our world, our communities would be if we took this message of seeing Christ in others to heart! Have a blessed day!!!

A Blessed Time

We thank God and the Church for this blessed time of Advent. It is a great way to prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ, not just at Christmas, but ultimately his return in glory. This past First Sunday of Advent I used this piece, "It's the most wonderful time of the year with the kids jingle belling and everyone telling you 'Be of good cheer' it's the most wonderful time of the year it's the hap-happiest season of all with those holiday greetings and gay happy meeting when friends come to call it's the hap-happiest season of all." Those lines are from the song "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" made famous by Andy Williams, who passed away this year. The commentary went on to say that what was missing from the song was any mention of God. It also talked about the gospel from Luke 21:25-28, 34-36, which focuses on the end times. The question was asked, "Why does the Church give us a vision of the apocalypse on the First Sunday of Advent?" The answer: "It is because Christmas would make no sense unless we ponder how much we still need God" (Source: The Priest, November 2012). That is so true because we need God in our lives at all times. Many people will call on God when something has gone wrong in their lives, the lives of others, or they are faced with an illness. No matter the circumstance in our lives- happy, sad, joyful, sorrowful, we need God and we need to call upon Him in prayer. This Advent Time is a blessed time to work on our relationship with God because we need Him. Plus, He is always with us because Jesus is Emmanuel, God-with-us. Let us make the most of this blessed time because each day brings us closer to the coming of the kingdom. Have a blessed day!!!

Advent Time

The Church has arrived at the beginning of Advent Time!!! This is a joyful time for us, as well as a penitential time, because we are preparing ourselves for the coming of Christ, not just at Christmas, but his glorious return. The readings for this First Sunday of Advent speak of the days that are to come. Of course, no one knows the day nor the hour, only the Father. We are all in God's hands and we are living on God's time, so the call to be ready and prepared is with us every day of our lives. The Church gives that preparation special attention during this Advent Time. Since we do not know when these events will take place, we need to live our lives and our faith to the fullest. As the commentator writes, "In the apocalyptic tradition, the signs of Christ's coming at the end of time are terrifying spectacles of nature. In the sacramental vision, the signs of Christ's coming in daily life are the kind of acts of love described in the Word of God for this morning's prayer. Let us be vigilant to see Christ in whatever good is done for us and to make him manifest in the good we do for others" (Magnificat, 39-40). This is a special Advent since it is coming during the Year of Faith. May this be a special time to renew our efforts in living our faith, our call to holiness, and following the Lord has his close disciples. Have a blessed first Sunday of Advent!!!

Joyful Hope

We are waiting in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. This sounds like a statement we might hear for Advent, which is coming soon, but it is a way of life that we need to live everyday. One of my parishioner's always tells me, "We live in hope." Yes, we do!!! Even though we see a troubled world and a society and culture that needs to be changed, we live in hope because we know that God is in control and He will have the final say whenever it is said and done. Our readings today focus once again on things that are to come, Revelation 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a and Luke 21:20-28. As the commentator writes, "The Lord describes the unfathomable terrors of the last days. And yet he enjoins us to 'stand erect and raise your heads.' No terror on earth can overshadow the fact that we 'have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.' While the world remains 'perplexed by the roaring of the sea,' we listen with confidence to the loud voice of the 'great multitude in heaven'" (Magnificat, 388). Jesus always told his disciples, "Do not be afraid." That phrase has flowed down through the centuries and we continue to say it in our present day. Do not be afraid because God is in control. The timing is His and He will prevail and we look forward to that banquet feast in heaven. May this joyful hope fill our lives and hearts with gladness, not just during this Advent Time, but each day of our lives!!! May God Bless Our Journey!!!

Firmness of Faith

The suggested prayers for Mass today, according to the Ordo, is for Persecuted Christians. The prayers speak beautifully of hope and eternal life in the midst of trial and tribulation. Jesus even brings this up in the gospel for today, Luke 21:12-19. The caption reads, "You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed." Our Lord concludes that statement with, "By your perseverance you will secure your lives." Even the gospel acclamation expresses our hope, "Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." We may not experience persecution ourselves but we know that faithful disciples throughout the world are being persecuted for the faith. We even know that people are being martyred for the faith. In the midst of trial, tribulation, persecution, we cannot waver in our resolve to be firm in the faith. During this Year of Faith, we pray that our faith will be revitalized, reinvigorated, so that whatever comes down the road, we will be ready. May God Bless Us on Our Journey!!!!

Peace and Justice!!!

"If you want peace, work for justice." This is a quote from Pope Paul VI, who was pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1963-1978. Working and Praying for peace is something that we do on a daily basis. People want to live in harmony and peace. We pray for peace around the world, in our communities, and in our very lives. I have been a firm believer that for peace to exist it has to begin with us. We need to know peace in our lives and hearts and that will compel us to share peace with others. The Mass prayers that I used this morning were from those titled, "Preservation of Peace and Justice." Even the Entrance Antiphon for Mass was a good beginning, "The Lord speaks of peace to his people and his holy ones and to those who turn to him" (Ps.85:9). As Advent Time quickly approaches, we need to prepare our minds and hearts for the coming of the Prince of Peace. Our Lord offers peace to us and we need to share that peace with others! May we do our part to create a peaceful environment by working for justice for all!!! Have a blessed day!!!

Building Up the Kingdom!!!

Each day when we say "The Lord's Prayer," we pray for the kingdom to come. This is exactly what all believers are waiting for, the full reality of God's Kingdom. As we await the coming of the kingdom, we know that we are to do our part in building up the kingdom of God right here in our midst. On the heels of celebrating the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, we can take to heart these words of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, "The feast of Christ the King is therefore not a feast of those who are subjugated, but a feast of those who know that they are in the hands of the one who writes straight on crooked lines" (Magnificat, 345). God brings us together at this particular time to build up His kingdom even though we are weak, sinful, have our failings, shortcomings, and imperfections. God truly writes straight with crooked lines. We are called to be the family of God, the body of Christ, a community of disciples and we need to do our part to bring the message of God's mercy and love to a world that is in desparate need of receiving a message of love, hope, and peace. Perhaps this why we don't know when the kingdom will come because God is entrusting us to do our part to build that kingdom up here and we can do just that by living lives of faith, holiness, prayer, reconciliation, love, peace, and hope. There are many beautiful qualities that God gives us to live our mission to the fullest. Let us not miss the opportunities to preach the Good News and build up the Kingdom of God right here and right now!!! May God Bless Us on our journey!!!

The House of God

I learned many valuable lessons as a seminarian at Saint Meinrad School of Theology in Indiana. During my six years there, I grew to love the Benedictine spirituality and how they live their motto of "Ora et Labora", "Prayer and Work". We all know that we need prayer in our lives and we need to use that gift everyday and hopefully many times during the day! On the campus map at Saint Meinrad, all the buildings were numbered so people could find their way around. The number one building on campus is the Archabbey Church. That is where the monks and faithful can gather to pray and be renewed to live their lives and faith to the fullest. Since I became a pastor several years ago, I put the number one building into focus. Whenever parishioners would talk about projects that needed to be completed I would say, "Let's focus on the church because it is God's House and we need to keep it looking beautiful because God deserves the best." The church building is our central place for worship and prayer. As Jesus said in the gospel for today, Luke 19:45-48, when he was driving the money-changers out, "My house shall be a house of prayer..." The church is the House of God, it is a house of prayer!!! It is a great joy to see people come into church at all different times of their day just to spend a little time with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament or to light a votive candle. We have a rich history with wonderful customs and traditions. For ourselves, we are temples of the Holy Spirit and we pray that we can keep ourselves beautiful and pleasing to God. Many people express pride in their churches. May we do what we can to keep God's House looking beautiful and always keep it as a house of prayer!!! God Bless You!!!

THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS!!!!

A Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving to you!!!!!!! I am thankful for those who take the time to read the blog!!! I know at times it is not always daily but I thank you for your patience and understanding. These are tools that we can use to boost the New Evangelization that is being called for during this Year of Faith!!! May we do all that we can for the glory of God. I want to share with you the Pastor's Message that I wrote for our bulletin in preparation for this celebration of Thanksgiving. "I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth" (Psalm 138:1). This passage from Scripture comes from the Communion Antiphon for the Mass of Thanksgiving Day. Like many passages that speak about giving thanks, it truly says it all. We thank God for our many gifts and blessings from our heart, but ultimately, from our whole being. Thanksgiving Day is upon us once again, but everyday of our lives is a day to give thanks. Our thanksgiving to God cannot be confined to one day, but everyday. In a special way, as we gather around the family table on Thanksgiving Day, let us be thankful for what God has blessed us with. If you can, and hopefully you were able to do so, begin your time of thanksgiving around the table of the Lord at Mass. Eucharist means "Thanksgiving" and that is what we do every time we gather around the Lord's table. If you are traveling, please be safe. Have a blessed and joyous Thanksgiving!!!! God Bless, Dear Friends- Fr. David

Presentation of Mary

"The story of the presentation of Mary in the Temple as a child captures the essential Gospel portrait of Mary as a woman entirely dedicated not merely to doing but to living the will of God. Her own willing obedience, unhesitatingly given and never revoked, lies at the heart of her life of self-sacrifice offered in love" (Magnificat, 293). This quote truly says it all as the Church celebrates the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her life is a beautiful example for all of us. Mary was a young girl when the angel Gabriel appeared to her and announced the Good News that she had found favor with God and would be the mother of His only Son. Mary totally gave herself to God's will and her example is one of complete faith and trust. We pray that Mary will intercede for us as we strive to live and follow the will of God in our own lives. May God bless us in following His will!!!

"Let Go, Let God"!!!

The phrase or way of life, "Let Go, Let God," came from the book, "The Gift of Peace," written by the late Cardinal Joseph Bernadin of Chicago. This is a way of life because we cannot hold on to our worries, our fears, our anxieties. Instead, we need to place our complete faith and trust in God and that is a challenge. I thought of that phrase when I saw the following scripture passage, "So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?'" (Mt 6:31). From that passage, the commentator writes, "God did not create the world only to abandon it to its own devices. He cares day by day for all that he has made, though we do not always recognize his hand at work" (Magnificat, 281). Even Saint Padre Pio exhorts us, "Pray, hope and don't worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful adn will hear your prayer." I know these are messages that I need to listen to in my own life because I have a tendency to worry, which I am sure is common for most people. We need to realize that we are not in control, God is and everything goes according to His will. That is why we need to trust and have faith. May these messages become a way of life for us because God is always with us and we can see the work of His hand everyday of our lives!!! God Bless You!!!

Sacrament of Reconciliation

One of the ten things that Catholics can do to observe the "Year of Faith" is go to confession. We know that the Sacrament of Reconciliation has seen a decline over the years. At one time there were long lines for confession but now we hardly see anyone, except during Advent and Lent. Sin and evil still exists. Mortal and venial sins still exist, but yet, no one takes advantage of the healing and forgiveness that comes with the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In his opening address to the bishops of the United States last week at their annual meeting, conference president Cardinal Timothy Dolan, challenged the bishops to undergo their own conversion and renewal. Of course, as bishops, priests, and deacons, we need to lead by example. If we are going to preach on the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we need to take full advantage of the sacrament ourselves. As Cardinal Dolan said, "This is the sacrament of the new evangelization, for as Pope Benedict reminds us, 'We cannot speak about the new evangelization without the sincere desire to conversion.'" Over the weekend, the priests of the Diocese of Salina preached on the Sacrament of Reconciliation and how we are going to implement the Rite of Penance that was promulgated in 1975. The rite has a liturgical structure: sign of the cross, greeting, liturgy of the word, celebration of the sacrament, blessing, and dismissal. Hopefully people will feel comfortable in approaching the sacrament because they will not be on their own, the priest will help them each step of the way. I am sure there are many reasons people do not participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but they need to make that decision to receive it and allow the grace of God to work in their lives in a special way! May God Bless Us on Our Journey as we seek His mercy, healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation!!!

Being Prepared!!!

The blog from November 15 can be associated closely with the blog of today because the gospel, Luke 17:26-37, also deals with the days to come. As Jesus says towards the end of the gospel, "Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it. I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. And there will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken, the other left." The commentary for that gospel speaks of the Rapture, where God will snatch certain people to Himself, but that is not Catholic thought. Instead, we need to be prepared and ready at all times. That same commentator talked about a "Spiritual Laziness" that we can fall into. We get caught up in the culture around us and forget what really matters, spending eternity with God. These days of late fall and early winter are reminders of death. Everything goes dormant but we know that with spring comes new life. The same is true for all believers, death is not the end, but the beginning. Through Jesus death and resurrection, we have the forgivness of our sins and the promise of eternal life. Again, it begins with us, we need to prepare ourselves through prayer, getting to church, receiving the Sacraments, reading Sacred Scripture, and spiritual reading. The resources are there and hopefully this Year of Faith will revitalize us to learn and grow in the faith that has been instilled in us. Faith is the gift that sustains us in life, so let us live it to the fullest. Do not be afraid as Jesus says, but always be ready and prepared! God Bless You!!!

Be Vigilant!!!

There was a bumper sticker that simply read, "When the Rapture occurs, this car will be unmanned"!!! Namely, when the Lord calls his church home I am going to be one of those lifted up. We look forward to the day when we will be united with our Lord and with those who have gone before us, especially our loved ones. One thing that we cannot do is predict when the world is going to end as we know it. That is the message in the gospel for today, Luke 17:20-25. The Pharisees wanted to know when the Kingdom of God would come. Like Jesus said, "The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, 'Look, here it is,' or 'There it is.' For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you." The day is coming but we do not know when that will occur. I believe there is a reason we do not know when the Lord will return or when the hour of our own death will happen. We have been entrusted with a great mission to build the kingdom of God here in our midst by lives of faithfulness, love, and service. If we knew when the end was coming we would be worrying about that day. Since we do not know, we need to keep living in the present moment and live out the will God has for us. Like Saint Padre Pio says, "Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry"!!! Let us be vigilant because that day is coming that the Lord talked about, but do not be afraid! Jesus has told us what to expect, we just need to be ready when it takes place. God Bless You!!!

Always Thankful!!!

"In all circumstances, give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." This is the Gospel acclamation for the Mass on November 14. It truly says everything that we need to know. Even the psalmist for today tells it all when he says, "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want" (Ps. 23). We truly have it all brothers and sisters!!! God has blessed us in so many ways. There is a struggle that goes on however, and that struggle concerns our head and our heart. Our heads will tell us the things that make us human, but the heart concerns what is eternal. The struggle lies in the fact that we need to connect our head and our heart so that they are on the same page. Our head will tell us what we want but the heart will say that we have it all because with the Lord there is nothing I shall want. To develop an "Attitude of Gratitude" that comprises both head and heart. We need to fill our heads and hearts with the joy and thankfulness that only God can give. The example in the Gospel for today, Luke 17:11-19, is one that we need to take to heart, especially in the society in which we live. Our society has become to "I-Centered" instead of seeing everything is a gift from God. It is not about me, but it is about all of us for we have all been created in the image and likeness of God. If we truly developed that Attitude of Gratitude and treat people as God treats us, our communities, our churches, our world would be a totally different place. Ten lepers were healed in the gospel, but only one returned to give thanks to God. We need to return and give thanks because of all that God has done for us. Just think, our example of thankfulness may touch the head and heart of another. Yes, in all circumstances, always be thankful because with the Lord we have everything that we need! Have a blessed day!!!

Mother Cabrini

I have always enjoyed visiting different shrines and grottoes. It is amazing how many of these holy places can be found and they are a great place to visit, especially for prayer, peace, and tranquility. Heading west of Denver, CO on I-70 you will see a sign pointing to the Mother Cabrini Shrine. It is a very majestic place to see and spend time in prayer. You can even walk up the mountain side, praying the Rosary or following the Stations of the Cross, and come to a tall statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The shrine celebrates one of our own! November 13 is the memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini. She was born in Italy and founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. At the encouragement of Pope Leo XIII, she came to the United States in 1889. She spent 28 years establishing schools, hospitals, and orphanages. Her missionary zeal also led her to South America. Mother Cabrini returned to the United States and she died in Chicago in 1917. On July 7, 1946, she became the first United States citizen to be canonized a saint. (See Magnificat, 171-72). We thank God for the blessing and example of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini. May she intercede for us as we live our faith and truly put the Gospels into practice. God Bless You!!!

Vocations

This weekend, the Diocese of Salina is highlighting vocations, especially those to the priesthood and religious life. Also, we think about other vocations like the permanent diaconate and lay ministry. A brochure has been put together for the people to read and pray about, especially if they feel called to serve the Church in a special way. We are in the second phase of our diocesan pastoral plan, Stewards of Hope, and we are to promote vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, and lay ministry! At Masses this weekend, a second collection will be taken for our seminarians. We have 12 men studying for the priesthood. We pray for them and all those discerning a vocation in the Church. During this Year of Faith, may we do our part to pray for and promote vocations because that is an important part of the mission of the Church! May god bless our efforts in the area of vocations! Have a blessed weekend!!!

Re-Dedication!!!

God and the Church always gives us the opportunities to re-dedicate our lives and our faith. The "Year of Faith" is a beautiful example right now. This observance is our opportunity to grow into a deeper, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. It is also a time for us to reawaken, reinvigorate, revitalize our faith. Our lives and our faith are a work in progress. As it has been said, "Conversion is a life-long process." We are always growing and learning in life and how to live our faith. The Church celebrates the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica on this November 9. As one resource says, "The Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the Cathedral Church of Rome and mother church of all churches in the Latin rite, has more than one layer of meaning. Its bricks and mortar remind us that we are living stones and, as such, our lives are meant to help build up the Church and give glory to God" (Commentary and General Intercessions, 468). The church building, the house of God, is where the faithful gather to praise and worship, where we are fed by God's word and nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ. What we receive at Mass, either on a daily or weekly basis, we are called to take with us and live it in the world and in our very communities. As the focus for this day reminds us, "We are to live in a way that helps build up the Church and gives glory to God" (468). This is a beautiful feast that the Church celebrates today and it reminds us that we need to live our calling everyday to be church, for we are the living stones, called to build up the Kingdom of God in our midst. May God bless us as we re-dedicate ourselves to living our faith to the fullest and bring the Good News to our brothers and sisters!!! Have a blessed day!!!

Been Out!

Sorry for being away from the blog for several days! I have been under the weather, but am feeling some better and will plan to be back online soon! We pray for our country and our elected leaders after the election that has concluded! We realize that we cannot give up because of the results! Our voices count and we need to be heard because the fight for life and religious liberty will continue! As disciples let us not be afraid to carry our cross and proclaim the Good News with determination and boldness! May God continue to bless our work and the mission our Lord has entrusted to us! May God Bless Us All!!!

ALL SOULS DAY

As this day dawns, we remember the faithful departed who have gone before us. In fact, this entire month of November is a time to remember the souls of our beloved dead. This time of prayer and remembrance is not confined to one month but we observe it everyday because we are always praying for our loved ones. As the commentary in the "Magnificat" states: "The commemoration of All Souls is rooted in the Church's strong conviction that we, the living, have a serious responsibility in love to accompany with prayer those who have died but who must yet complete the purificatory preparation every human being needs to be able to dwell in the all-encompassing love of God" (42). We remember the faithful departed in our Masses and our daily prayers. This is a beautiful gift that we can give to those whom God has called to Himself. It is also customary to visit a cemetery during this time to pray for our beloved dead. Walking through a cemetery can bring one a sense of comfort and peace. We profess and live everyday our faith and belief in the resurrection because Jesus has broken the bonds of sin and death and given us all the hope and promise of eternal life. We still need to do our part by living the teachings of our Lord in hope of getting to Heaven ourselves. We pray for ourselves that our faith in the resurrection will always be strong! We pray for our faithful departed that God may welcome them into His eternal presence! Blessings on this day to you!!!

ALL SAINTS DAY

A Happy and Blessed Solemnity of All Saints to you!!! This is truly a beautiful day and a great reminder to call upon the saints who enjoy the presence of God and who are interceding for us. I saw a post on Facebook that had the picture of four saints and then an open spot with the question, "Are you next?" We are all called to be saints! We may not be canonized by the Church, but how we live our lives and our faith truly speaks volumes. We have received the "Universal Call to Holiness!" To be holy as our Heavenly Father is holy. Our words and our actions can make a difference in peoples lives and hopefully they inspire and touch others to strive for holiness. A beautiful thought was given in the FOCUS from the publication, "COMMENTARY AND GENERAL INTERCESSIONS": "The people you'll meet in heaven" (456). That thought can send chills up and down your spine but it is true. The saints are praying for us and looking forward to having us join them in heaven. Of course, there is a reality that we are up against and that is our society and we pray that God will change peoples minds and hearts. The commentary from the FOCUS continues: "Many in the world today view great beauty, fame, or being wealthy as things which bring happiness and fulfillment. Jesus taught a distinctly different way of living - being poor in spirit, being merciful, being pure of heart, and working for justice and peace. Living these blessings can bring peace, joy, and the promise and hope of salvation" (456). This "Year of Faith" is so important for us because we need to reawaken, reinvigorate our faith and strengthen our deep, intimate relationship with Christ. The saints walked the journey before us and now they are interceding for us. Let us take courage in their presence and prayers and may we one day come to the joys of God's Kingdom where we will meet those who are helping and guiding us!!! Have a blessed Feastday!!!

"God is Faithful in His Promises"

This is the caption from the second reading found in the Office of Readings for this Tuesday, the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time. The second reading is a letter to the Corinthians by Saint Clement, pope. The paragraph that stood out for me is this: "In this hope, then, let our hearts be bound fast to him who is faithful in his promises and just in his judgments. He forbade us to tell lies; still less will he himself tell a lie. Nothing is impossible for God except to tell a lie. Then let our faith in him be awakened; let us reflect that everything is close to him" (Liturgy of the Hours, 448). The line in particular, "let our faith in him be awakened," is important during this "Year of Faith." We need to revitalize, renew our faith and this is a wonderful time that God and the Church has given to us. God is faithful in all that He does for us and He asks us to do the same. All things are possible with God and just think how much our faith will grow and be strengthened if we put our entire faith and trust in Him!!! Have a blessed day!!!

Called to Serve

We have all been called by Jesus Christ to serve our brothers and sisters with love. Saint Paul highlights our call to serve in his letter to the Ephesians, 4:1-6. He writes, "I, a prisoner of the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace..." He concludes with, "You were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all..." Being called is important since Paul mentions it several times in this reading alone. Jesus is the one who does the calling and we see that throughout the Gospels, "Come, follow me..." The quote that I always like to use is, "God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called." We are not perfect, we are all sinners, but God calls us to continue the mission entrusted to us and He gives us the grace and strength that we need to fulfill our duties. Today is a special day for me!!! It was on October 26, 1996 that I was ordained a transitional deacon. I look back on that day with great fondness and thank God for the call that led me to the diaconate and ultimately to the priesthood. I pray everyday for an increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Hopefully we can join each other in prayer as we pray for vocations to the Church. May we also pray for the call that we have received as disciples. Let us listen to the voice of the Lord in our lives and follow where he leads because he truly has the words of everlasting life!!! Have a blessed day!!!

Prayer of Faith

In his letter to the Ephesians, Saint Paul writes a prayer that we can make our own. The prayer is found in chapter 3, verses 14-21. To begin with, Paul says that he is kneeling before the Father and continues, "From whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." That is a beautiful prayer and it mentions faith. How important it is to pray for the gift of faith and to know that our Lord is with us at all times. During this Year of Faith, that prayer takes on a special meaning because we want to renew and revitalize our faith so that our faith will continue to sustain us in the future. The holy men and women who have gone before us have given us an example of prayer and of faith. Pray that we may put these examples into practice and live them to the fullest!!! God Bless You!!!

Missionary Zeal

The call to be a missionary is with us everyday of our lives. As we have established, by virtue of our baptism, we are called to be missionaries and being called means to put our faith into practice by our works of charity. Being a missionary means that we are also evangelizers, called to proclaim the Good News with word and deed. In his Apostolic Letter on the Year of Faith, "Porta Fidei, n. 7, our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI writes, "Today as in the past, He (Christ) sends us through the highways of the world to proclaim His Gospel to all peoples of the earth." I remember listening to Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York on television tell about a pilgrimage that he was on to the Holy Land. The tour guide asked if there was anything else he would like to see and he said the road to Emmaus. The guide told the Cardinal that he could not do that because they really don't know where that road is. The moral of the story is that the road to Emmaus is any road that we travel. We encounter Christ in our brothers and sisters and we are to make Christ known to all peoples. As the guide for Mission Sunday states, "The encounter with Christ as a living Person, who satisfies the thirst of the heart, cannot but lead to the desire to share with others the joy of this presence and to make Him known, so that all may experience this joy." The highways that Christ sends us out to are the roads that we travel in life and the people that we encounter. Pray that during this Year of Faith, God will strengthen our missionary zeal so that we will not be afraid to evangelize and bring the presence of Christ to those whom we meet. Have a blessed day!!!

Missionaries of Faith

This was the theme for the observance of World Mission Sunday that was held on October 21. We are all missionaries and as missionaries, we are called to proclaim the Good News not just with words, but with our very lives. The theme, "Missionaries of Faith" is very appropriate for this "Year of Faith" that we are presently in. Two things that were printed in the pamphlet for World Mission Sunday stated, 1) "Our own life's witness should offer others an example of Christ-like strength and His selfless love and compassion." 2) "Missionaries serve throughout the world, bringing hope to the poor and suffering - and inspiring us by their faith-filled witness to our Lord!" That is what the "Year of Faith" is all about. We are to be joy-filled witnesses of Christ in the world. There are people in our world and in our communities who may not know Christ as they would like. We need to bring them a message of God's love and of hope. However, it has to begin with us. We need to work on our faith, on our personal relationship with Jesus Christ before we preach the Good News to others! Yes, we are missionaries of faith, but in order to be good missionaries, we need to take care of ourselves and our faith, so that compelled by our renewed faith, we can truly minister to the needs of others! Have a blessed day!!!

Blessed John Paul II

I saw a recent announcement that October 22 is the Feast Day of Blessed John Paul II. Happy Feast Day of our beloved Holy Father, the pope that many of us grew up with! I have a great devotion to John Paul II! In my private chapel, I have a small shrine with different prayer cards to our Holy Father and a framed relic! A picture that I have in that shrine is a memory that I will have forever. In 1996, a group of us from the seminary were in Rome for our January interterm and we had the great honor and privilege of having a private audience with the pope. We were taken to the Clementine Hall in the Vatican and put in a semi-circle. Directly, the Holy Father came out through the door and greeted each of us individually. He had photographers with him taking pictures. Later that day, the pictures were developed of our encounter with the pope and we were able to purchase the ones we thought were good. It was a beautiful experience and a cherished memory! Just think, we met a "Blessed" of the Church and he is one miracle away from Sainthood. We pray that God will soon raise Blessed John Paul II to the altars of sainthood. We know that as we pray for him, our beloved Holy Father is praying for us! Have a blessed day!!!!!

Messages of Comfort

I want to go back to October 18, the Feast of Saint Luke, Evangelist. Saint Luke was a physician and appropriately, I had to take my mother back to see the surgeon for a follow-up visit from her surgery and was not able to blog about this feast day. However, Saint Luke provides us with messages of comfort and we truly need to hear those in our world today. A world that seems broken, divided, hurting needs to hear the message of God's love and be assured that we live in hope. In speaking about Saint Luke, one writer states, "Saint Luke highlights Jesus' proclamation of God's healing word to all sorts of sinners and sufferers, from the grieving widow of Nain to the semi-comical tax collector, Zacchaeus, to the dramatic and anonymous woman who washed his feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair" (Magnificat, 258-59). The phrase that stands out is, "Jesus' proclamation of God's healing word to all sorts of sinners and sufferers." We are all sinners in need of God's mercy and forgiveness so we need to bring a message of healing and reconciliation. Then from Luke's Gospel, this passage, "Jesus received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed to be cured" (9:11). The commentator continues, "Alone of the Evangelists Saint Luke, the 'beloved physician' (Col 4:14), preserves some of Jesus' best-known stories of God's merciful and healing love for all peoples, whether respected or despised. Among them are the parables of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son" (Magnificat, 266). Again, "God's merciful and healing love for all peoples." These are beautiful messages that we need to listen to. We need to take God's word to heart because it is living and effective. Saint Luke, intercede for us!!!

Saint Ignatius of Antioch

The Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr. Saint Ignatius offers these words, "I am God's wheat and shall be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts so that I may become Christ's pure bread." The commentator picks up on this quote as they write, "Only one wine and one bread filled Saint Ignatius with joy; the living bread and the cup of the new covenant, offered on the altar of the cross. This faithful bishop pleaded with his people to draw from this true worship the oneness of mind and heart which identifies disciples of Christ" (Magnificat, 254). The Mass is our central act of worship! The Eucharist means "Thanksgiving." Participation at Mass is the number one way that Catholics can live the Year of Faith. Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay, WI, chairman of the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops offers the "10 Ways Catholics Can Live the Year of Faith." As was mentioned, "Participate in Mass" is number one and here is the explanation for that participation: "The year is meant to promote the personal encounter with Jesus. This occurs most immediately in the Eucharist. Regular Mass attendance strengthens one's faith through Scriptures, the Creed, other prayers, sacred music, the homily, receiving Communion and being part of a faith community." The saints found great joy in receiving the one bread and the one cup because they were truly receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. The same is true for us as Catholics. We believe in the Real Presence and we believe that we receive the Body and Blood of Christ each time we receive Holy Communion. That same joy can be ours! May this memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch renew us in receiving the Body and Blood of Christ! May this Year of Faith lead us to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and renewed attendance and participation in the Mass. God Bless You on Your Journey!!!

Sacred Heart

There are two saints that can be celebrated today: Saint Hedwig and Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. Of course, I was wondering which one to celebrate at Mass and then it came to me. On Tuesdays I celebrate Mass at my mission parish in Greenleaf, Kansas which is under the patronage of the Sacred Heart! Thus I will use the Mass for Saint Margaret Mary because she is the saint who promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She also promoted the First Friday devotion! Looking at the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus we know how much God truly loves us! The heart of Our Lord radiates the love that God has for us and we are called to share that love with one another! May we grow in our devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and may Saint Margaret Mary intercede for us that we may bring God's love to all peoples! Have a blessed day!!!

Blessed with Faith

Saint Paul writes in his letter to the Galatians, "Those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham who had faith" (3:7-14). We are truly blessed by the gift of faith that God has given to us and that has been handed on to us by our families. The gift of faith is truly a way of life. We need to live our faith everyday, no matter what is going on in our lives, because it is our faith that sustains. Of course, we always need a boost when it comes to living our faith and the "Year of Faith" gives us that energy we need. Yes, we are in the very early stages of the "Year of Faith" and hopefully what we encounter during this year will last long after the "Year of Faith" concludes. As the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith says, "The Church is well aware of the problems facing the faith" and recognizes that without a revitalization of faith rooted in a personal encounter with Jesus, "then all other reforms will remain ineffective" (The Register, 10/5/12). The "Year of Faith" is a time to revitalize the gift that we have been blessed with. A good starting point is with the "10 Ways Catholics Can Live the Year of Faith" which was put together by Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay, Wis, who is chairman of the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The 10 Ways have been published in different periodicals and can be found on the bishops website, www.usccb.org. I would encourage you to read over the 10 Ways, but also put them into practice. Our faith is a blessing and a very beautiful gift and we need to live it each day and to the fullest. May God Bless Our Journey!!!

Year of Faith Dawns

The "Year of Faith" has officially begun!!! It is more than just a title, it is a way of life because we need to make the most of this time as we renew our faith and grow stronger in our relationship with Jesus Christ!!!! May this be a fruitful time for all of us! Always remember, when the Year of Faith concludes next year, that does not mean we stop living, loving, learning our faith, but hopefully it will enrich us to keep doing more. May God bless you as the Year of Faith dawns and may God bless our journey!!!

Eve of the "Year of Faith"

We have arrived at the Eve of the "Year of Faith" which begins on October 11. It is more than just a year because it will last until November 24, 2013. This Year of Faith coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the beginning of the Second Vatican Council, October 11, 1962, and the 20th Anniversary of the publication of the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" in 1992. The Responsorial Psalm and Gospel for October 10 are appropriate on this eve of the Year of Faith. A highlight of the Year of Faith is the "New Evangelization". As our psalmist says, "Go out to all the world and tell the Good News." Yes, we take the message of Jesus Christ to all the world and even in our very communities. As I told the Catholic School students and adults at Mass today, there are people in our communities or maybe in our midst who need to hear the Good News, they need to have a strong, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and they need a message of hope. It is our task to go forth and proclaim the Good News, not just with words, but with our very lives. That is where I tied in the gospel for today, Luke 11:1-4. The disciples witnessed Jesus at prayer and one of them asked, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." One meditation said that the disciples saw something in Jesus' eyes and they knew that they wanted to have what our Lord had. The same is true in living our faith and proclaiming the Good News. Perhaps the people we evangelize can see the joy of discipleship in our eyes and would like to be a part of it. This Year of Faith needs to do something for us personally. We are being asked to renew, revitalize, confirm, and profess our faith and have a strong relationship with Jesus Christ. Prayer is a beautiful gift and a great place to begin, as well as our participation in the Sacraments. The door on the "Year of Faith" is about to open!!! Let us make the most of this time that God and the Church is giving us and may our efforts bear much fruit so that we can truly live our faith to the fullest!!! Have a blessed day!!!

No Excuses!!!

When I preached about being a disciple and a missionary, I told the listeners that the Lord does not want excuses. He wants us to be faithful, dedicated, committed followers and disciples. I am referring to the gospel where Jesus called different people to follow him and one had to bury his father, another had to say good bye to his family. Those are important, but when Jesus calls us to be his followers, there is no looking back, we move forward. Having a strong relationship with Jesus takes a lot of work. How many times do people make excuses for why they don't pray or why they don't attend Mass? The gospel for today, Luke 10:38-42, shows Martha being caught up with the busyness of hospitality, while Mary sits at the feet of Jesus and listens to his words. Martha put it bluntly when she said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me." Jesus in turn replies, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her." Yes, the need for work and service is always there, but we cannot forget the work that needs to be done to keep our relationship with Jesus Christ strong. With the upcoming "Year of Faith", hopefully we take the time everyday to sit at the feet of the Lord and listen to his words, for he has the words of eternal life. God and the Church has given us this wonderful time to renew our faith and strengthen our relationships. Let us make the most of this opportunity, for there is work to be done, and no excuses are necessary!!! Have a blessed day!!!

RESPECT LIFE!!!

October is "RESPECT LIFE MONTH"!!!! When it comes to God's precious gift of human life, respecting life cannot be contained to just one month, it needs to happen everyday of our lives. We need to do our part to stand up, defend, and protect the beautiful gift of human life. Human life means all of us: the child that has been conceived to the person that has reached old age. I remember an intention that used to be prayed when I was in the seminary, "For a greater respect for all human life, especially the unborn and the elderly." We are a precious gift in God's eyes and we need to see our brothers and sisters as God sees us. Each human being deserves dignity and respect. The theme for the observance of Respect Life is: "FAITH OPENS OUR EYES TO HUMAN LIFE IN ALL ITS GRANDEUR AND BEAUTY"!!! Our faith is also a beautiful gift from God. That is why the Catholic Church will be opening the "Year of Faith" this Thursday, October 11. According to the brochure from the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, an office of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Pope Benedict XVI said this in announcing the "Year of Faith": "The Holy Father spoke of the grave difficulties of our time, and the need for the Church to lead people out of the desert and clasp sinners to its bosom. He suggested a path of penance and renewal and called for authentic conversion and witness to charity so the Church might be the visible community of God's mercy." We need to see not just with our physical eyes, but with the eyes of faith. May our observance of Respect Life Month and the Year of Faith open our eyes to renewal so that we can live our faith to the fullest and truly see the beauty and grandeur that God sets before us each day!!! God Bless You on Your Journey!!!

Take Time for God

This is a call that we need to heed in our lives!!! Take Time for God many times throughout the day, everyday!!! Prayer is a beautiful gift from God for it gives us a communication line with Him. The image that I like is prayer being like an electrical outlet. Everyday we plug into the continual conversation that is going on between the Father and the Son. One of the commentaries for this morning led me to reflect on this topic. The Scripture passage is this, "The Lord is slow to anger and rich in kindness, forgiving wickedness and crime" (Nm 14:18). From that passage, the commentator makes the following statement: "So wide is God's mercy that no sin is too great or too small for forgiveness. So much narrower is our charity that we often find the small annoyances the hardest to forgive. The more often we turn in prayer to the all-forgiving God, the more we will become like him in extending the hand of pardon to others in every daily circumstance" (Magnificat, 77). This is something that we need to think about and pray about because the more we turn to God in prayer the more we will become like Him in all things. God can touch our lives and hearts in a very beautiful and special way. All we need to do is be open to God working in our lives and take the time to be with Him in prayer!!! Have a blessed day!!!

Saint Francis of Assisi

At Saint John the Baptist in Hanover, one of the parishes I serve, there is a statue of Saint Francis of Assisi! What makes him unique is that his robe is worn and tattered. Apparently it was not a good batch of paint because all the other statues have kept their paint well! As someone told me one time, it really fits Saint Francis because he was a simple, humble person and he wouldn't want anything flashy! I have always enjoyed the saying of Saint Francis, "Preach the gospel at all times and use words if necessary." How true that is because we need to practice what we preach and be an example to others! Saint Francis of Assisi is a tremendous example for us and may we follow that example as we proclaim the Good News each day! Saint Francis of Assisi, Pray for Us!!!

Committed Discipleship

The question was asked, "What does it mean to be a disciple?" The answer given was, "To be a follower of God!" Yes, to be a follower of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Our Lord tells us in the gospels that if we wish to be his disciple, we must deny our very selves, take up our cross, and follow him. The gospel for today, Luke 9:57-62, presents different answers when it comes to following Christ. One person said to Jesus, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father." Jesus answered, "Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God." Another told Jesus he would follow him but needed to say farewell to his family. To that Jesus replied, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God." Those might have been considered excuses in those days and surprisingly enough, those excuses continue in our present day. Times have changed but people still come up with reasons for not following the Lord. Many excuses come with our spirituality especially in our prayer life and Mass attendance. We come up with reasons for not praying and for not going to Mass and that is not what our Lord wants. He wants us to be committed, faithful, dedicated disciples. God has given us the tools and resources that we need to live our lives and our faith but we always choose the contrary. One commentator said that we need to have the commitment that the first person in today's gospel had, "I will follow you wherever you go." Saying that and living it takes total faith, trust, commitment and that is what discipleship is all about. We need to get our priorities straight and putting God number one in our lives is where we need to start. As for the disciple in the gospel, are you, am I willing to make that commitment in following the Lord wherever he goes?

Guardian Angels

Our psalmist puts this memorial into perspective for us when he writes, "The Lord has put angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways" (Ps. 91). How blessed we are knowing that we have an angel to watch over us in all things. I am sure many times a day we are reminded of our guardian angel when something that can cause us harm does not happen. That was very evident this morning as I was driving back from my mission parish, Sacred Heart in Greenleaf, Kansas. I was about ready to pass a grove of trees when all of a sudden a deer appeared out of nowhere but thankfully it bounded back into the trees and waited until I passed by to cross the road. Thank you God and Thank you to my Guardian Angel. As in the words of Saint Basil the Great, "Each and every member of the faithful has a Guardian Angel to protect, guard, and guide them through life" (Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy #216). We are a couple days removed from celebrating the Feast of the Archangels- Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, so today we celebrate the angels who watch over us and are with us each step of the way. As the Collect says, "O God, who in your unfathomable providence are pleased to send your holy Angels to guard us, hear our supplication as we cry to you, that we may always be defended by their protection and rejoice eternally in their company" (Magnificat, 45). A great prayer for us today and everyday as we walk our journey of life and faith knowing that God and our Guardian Angels are by our side each step of the way. Have a blessed day!!!

Month of the Rosary

As we begin a new week, we also begin a new month, October! Hard to believe how time is going by quickly. However there are those beautiful traditions that do not change and they are a constant in our lives and our faith! October is traditionally the Month of the Rosary! It is a special month where we can honor Our Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary! The Rosary is a beautiful prayer that can enrich our lives and faith and hopefully we take the time each day to offer this prayer! We have four beautiful mysteries to meditate on: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, Luminous! These mysteries reflect on the life of Our Lord and Our Blessed Mother! May the beginning of this Month of the Rosary inspire us to work on our prayer lives and grow in our love and devotion for Our Blessed Mother Mary!!! October is also Respect Life Month. We pray that God and Our Blessed Mother will help us in our efforts to be a pro-life people! Let us show our love, respect, and dignity for the precious gift of human life because it is truly a gift from God!!!! Have a blessed day!!!

Our Call- Part 2

The other morning I asked our Catholic School students and the adults in attendance, "How many of you are missionaries?" Some of the students raised their hands but most in attendance did not. This led me to say that we are all missionaries, called to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. The gospel reading for that day was Luke 9:1-6. As the caption reads, "He sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick." The commentator for that day asked the following question: "Who are misisonaries and what do they do?" "All the baptized are missionaries, and they are called upon to continue the mission of the Twelve in today's gospel to the extent that they can" (Loose-Leaf Lectionary, 2785). As the people of God, the body of Christ, we all have a role to play in continuing the mission of the Church and proclaiming the Good News. Just like the first part of "Our Call," being a disciple and being a missionary go hand in hand. Jesus calls us to be his disciples, to deny our very self and pick up our cross and follow him. As disciples, Jesus sends us out to be missionaries in bringing the love of God and the Good News to all peoples. Let us heed the call to be disciples, to be missionaries and may God give us the grace and strength that we need to live Our Calls to the fullest! Have a blessed day!!!

Our Call - Part 1

We cannot contain the call that we have received from our Lord. Jesus calls us to be his disciples by picking up the cross and following him. There are many parts to our call as disciples. From the gospel reading on September 25, Luke 8:19-21, Jesus was proclaiming the Good News and his mother and brothers showed up. Someone got word to Jesus that they were there and he said in reply, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it." The commentator for these readings in the Loose-Leaf Lectionary asks the following question, "What does a real disciple look like?" "Luke responds to this perceptive question by proposing Mary, the mother of Jesus, as the model disciple" (2782). The commentator also lists other passages in Luke's Gospel where Mary is what a real disciple looks like: Luke 1:45, 11:27, 11:28. Since Luke is also attributed as writing the Acts of the Apostles, the commentator includes Acts 1:14. Mary is a tremendous example for us because she truly gave herself to the will of God from the very beginning. The angel told Mary that she had found favor with God and would be the mother of His only Son. From that time on, Mary lived her call to discipleship to the fullest. Like Mary and the other disciples, we need to hear the word of God and put it into practice. That is an important part of our call, to practice what we preach. Of course, when it comes to proclaiming the Good News, we do so not just with words, but with our very lives. Being a disciple means to be an example to others so we cannot hide our discipleship like a light under a bushel basket. We need to set the light on a stand for all to see. Do not be afraid to answer the call to discipleship and live it to the fullest. We have many beautiful examples throughout the centuries beginning with Mary, the first disciple. Just think, God gives us that divine assistance to guide and help us in our journey. May God bless us as we listen to His voice and follow His call and will in our lives!!!

Call to Serve!!!

In light of the feast day of Saint Padre Pio on September 23, I want to share a piece of the homily that Blessed John Paul II gave at the canonization Mass. "I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because... these things...you have revealed to little ones (Mt 11:25)." "How appropriate are these words of Jesus, when we think of them as applied to you, humble and beloved Padre Pio. Teach us...humility of heart so we may be counted among the little ones of the Gospel, to whom the Father promised to reveal the mysteries of His Kingdom" - from Pope John Paul II's homily for the canonization of Padre Pio, June 26, 2002 (August 2012, "The Priest," 29). Saint Padre Pio gave of himself in service to Christ and his Church. He was a very faithful, dedicated, humble servant of the Lord. As Saint Padre Pio used to say of himself, "I am a poor Franciscan who prays." He touched many lives during his time on earth and he continues to do so among the saints in heaven. The article from "The Priest" magazine also pointed out, "The Church is putting us on this journey aas well. Although it is nine weeks away, the Church is putting us on the pilgrimage to the Second Coming, a journey to the feast of Christ the King. To get there, we must understand who Jesus is and what it means to be His disciple" (29). We are called to be a disciple of Jesus, to pick up our cross and follow him. We are called to serve. Again, we seek the intercession of the holy men and women who have gone before us as we strive to live our call to holiness and to service. God Bless You!!!

Saint Padre Pio

I have quite a few favorite saints and Saint Padre Pio is one of them. Some years ago, I bought my parents a statue of Saint Padre Pio that sat in front of their fireplace for a long time. Then, when we sold everything so they could move here when my dad's health began to fail, the statue found a home in the upper level of the rectory. I used that statue for my homily this weekend as I talked about Saint Padre Pio and the call to serve. Jesus told his disciples in the gospel for this weekend, Mark 9:30-37, they should not strive for greatness but be the servant of all. Saint Padre Pio was truly a servant of the Lord. He was ordained a priest in 1910 and received the stigmata or wounds of Christ in 1918. The stigmata remained with him throughout his life until his death in 1968. Something that Padre Pio would say of himself is, "I am a poor Franciscan who prays" (August 2012, The Priest, 29). Being a servant means that we are humble and that we share the love, mercy, compassion of God with all of our brothers and sisters. The article that I used from "The Priest" magazine was appropriately titled, "Aspire Only to Serve." We are called to serve and we pray that we may have the grace and strength to share the Lord's goodness with others. May the holy men and women who have gone before us, like Saint Padre Pio, intercede for us that we may live the Lord's call to serve each day!!! God Bless You!!!

Day with Saint Francis

I know the feast day of Saint Francis is coming up next month. However I got an early start with Saint Francis by being at a building where he is the patron!!! Long before my dad passed away, my mom was in need of back surgery to help her spinal stenosis. The surgery date has been moved around several times but today is the day. As I write this my mom is presently being operated on at Saint Francis Hospital. Today is also the Feast of Saint Matthew. I was able to attend Mass in the chapel and heard a wonderful homily about the "Mercy of God"! A message that we can all use because of God's great love and mercy for us. Please keep my mom in your prayers!!! May Saint Matthew and Saint Francis intercede for us. Blessings to you!!!

Feeling the Love!!!

We need to feel the love of God each day of our lives because His love is unconditional. We were created, male and female, out of love. God sent His only Son to be our Savior out of love. Jesus' great commandment to us: to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We can feel the love that God has for us and we pray that we can show our love to God in return and we can do that by loving others. Our first reading for today is a familiar one to us, especially if you have been to weddings. The first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, 12:31-13:13, is very popular with the wedding liturgies. Saint Paul tells us that he could have all the gifts of the world but if he does not have love, then he is nothing. He tells us all the great qualities of love and he assures us, "Love never fails." In conclusion, St. Paul writes, "So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love." Let us pray that we may always feel and know the love of God in our lives and in turn, share His love with one another!!! Have a blessed day!!!

The body of Christ!!!

"Now you are Christ's body, and individually parts of it" (I Corinthians 12:27). We are the people of God, the body of Christ. Yes, we are many parts but we make up the one body of Christ. In the "Living Faith" devotional, Amy Welborn reflects on what it means to be the body of Christ, whether we are a large or small group gathered in prayer. She writes, "For here we are: a small group enriched by each other's presence and by the Real Presence among us most of all. But we're not floating here in isolation. Around the world millions of others are gathered in other small groups of just this sort, listening to the same revealed Word - individual, distinct, yet so marvelously one - that Body, the Body of Christ" (Welborn, "Living Faith, 9-18-12). That is awesome to think about, people around the world gathering around the table of the Lord to be fed and nourished by Word and Eucharist. We come from all different walks of life, we all have a story to tell, but most importantly, God brings it all together and makes us the body of Christ. May God Bless Our Journey!!!

"Doing It"!!!

When I was in the seminary one of the priests gave a homily that was definitely short and to the point. He proclaimed: "God said it, You heard it, Now do it"!!! That really says it all because when it comes to living our faith WE NEED TO DO IT!!!! The gospel for this weekend was Mark 8:27-35. It is a 3-part gospel! First of all Jesus asks his disciples who people say that he is. Then he narrows it down by asking, "Who do you say that I am"? Peter answers by saying that Jesus is the Christ!!! From there, Jesus tells the disciples what is going to happen to him when he is handed over and Peter rebukes him. Jesus responds to him, "Get behind me Satan. You are not thinking as God does, but as human beings do"! Then Jesus invites us to be his disciples by denying ourselves and picking up our cross and follow him. Living our faith, following the Lord as disciples. We are called and We just need to do it!!! God Bless You!!!

Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Today and everyday we rejoice in the cross of Christ!!! It is no longer a tree of punishment, shame, and torture, but it is the tree of life!!! Through Jesus' death on the cross, our sins are forgiven and through his resurrection we have the hope of eternal life!!! As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "The event of the cross and Resurrection abides and draws everything toward life" (CCC 1085). Each time we look at the cross or crucifix we are reminded of God's great love for us! Of course our call as disciples is to pick up our crosses each day and follow in the footsteps of our Lord. May we do so with courage, patience and perseverance, knowing that our Lord has paved the way for us and he walks with us, by our side!!! Let us boast in the cross of Christ for it is the tree of life and salvation!!! Have a blessed Feast day!!!

Preaching the Word

We are all familiar with the line, "Practice what you preach"! If you are going to proclaim the word to people you need to back it up with action. There have been many wonderful examples of preaching in the history of the Church. Today, we celebrate one of those saints, John Chrysostom. One commentary says it all: "Chrysostom " means "Golden Mouth". Saint John is remembered for his eloquence in preaching God's word to small and great alike (Magnificat, 170). Let us ask Saint John Chrsostom to intercede for us that we may be eloquent and not be afraid to preach the word. God Bless You!!!

The Beauty of Our Blessed Mother

May and October are traditionally months to celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary but September is also a special month. On September 8, the Church celebrates the birthday of Our Blessed Mother. Just think, 9 months earlier on December 8 is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, which is a feast about Mary. Today, we celebrate the memorial of the Most Holy Name of Mary. The antiphons for our Mass put this memorial into perspective. From the Entrance Antiphon: "Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, by the Lord God Most High, above all women on the earth; for he has so exalted your name that your praise shall be undying on our lips" (Jdt 13:18-19). The Communion Antiphon states: "All generations will call me blessed, for God has looked on his lowly handmaid" (Lk 1:48). The name of Our Blessed Mother is holy and we call upon her everyday as we seek her prayers and intercession. Have a blessed day!!!

The Gift of Listening!

Listening is truly a great gift from God because it is an acquired discipline. To hear is one thing, but listening is another. People have told me when we hear, we let it go in one ear and out the other, but when we listen, we truly take those words to heart. Here is the complete story that I used for my homily this past weekend: "Two psychiatrists meet for a drink after a very long, hot day. One is utterly wilted and exhausted: his hair tousled, his face drawn, his clothing rumpled. His colleague, however, is composed, smartly dressed and completely at ease. 'For heavens' sake, Douglas,' the first psychiatrist says incredulously, 'how do you do it? I'm completely done in and you look as fresh as a spring morning. How can you look so great and be so composed after listening all day to peoples' problems, fears, angers, unhappiness and neuroses?' The second doctor smugly sips his highball and then responds, 'So who listens?'" (Cormier, Connections, 9/9/12). That is the key to that story, who is doing the listening, the psychiatrist or his patients? The pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer offers this, "The first service one owes to others [as Christians] consists in listening to them. Just as the love of God begins with listening to his Word, so the beginning of love is learning to listen to [one another]. It is God's love for us that he not only gives his Word but also lends his ear ... Christians so often think they must always contribute something when they are in the company of others ... They forget that listening can be a greater service than speaking." (Connections, 9/9/12). Listening is a great gift and it is a gift that we pray for each day. We pray that we will listen to one another and always listen to the voice of God. Have a blessed day!!!

Take a Pilgrimage

If you look around the country there are many hidden treasures of our Catholic Faith. One treasure in particular are the various shrines that have been built to show how much our Catholic Faith means to us and to others. I have been to several shrines here in the midwest and September 6 was another great opportunity to visit a shrine that I had never been to. Two friends and I traveled to the Holy Family Shrine in Nebraska. The shrine is located between Omaha and Lincoln, right off of I-80 at Exit 432. The shrine sits on a hillside and there is a magnificent crucifix that overlooks the valley. It is truly a peaceful, restful place. When I was looking at the website, www.hfsgretna.org, what caught my attention in the opening paragraph about the shrine is that it is a place of comfort, peace, and healing. I thought those are great gifts to have, especially after losing a loved one, so I encouraged my friends to go with me and we were not disappointed. As the poster for Holy Family Shrine reads, "Make a Pilgrimage to celebrate your faith." That is what we did and it truly made a difference in our lives. I would encourage you to take a pilgrimage to a shrine or grotto and experience the hidden treasures and the beauty of our Catholic Faith. When we make that pilgrimage we truly celebrate our faith and both our lives and our faith will be touched in a beautiful and special way!!! God Bless You!!!

Consoling Message

Since the passing of my dad, I have had a graveside service; a funeral Mass; and another funeral Mass to conduct, so it has been a busy time for sure. Having gone through a recent loss of someone so close, I can relate to those who are grieving because I am still going through that process. The outpouring of love, thoughts, and prayers can bring tremendous comfort and peace. I also think of the many wonderful Scripture passages that give us hope as we think about our loved one. One of those passages is Saint Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians 4:13-18. He writes at the very beginning, "We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep." Saint Paul concludes by writing, "Therefore, console one another with these words." This is our faith!!! We profess each week in the Nicene Creed our belief in the resurrection of the dead. These are words, our profession of faith that we need to take to heart and live each day. Granted, it is difficult to see through the sorrow and tears when you are grieving but ultimately we know what is right and true. In time, the loss that we feel will be filled by God's great love, comfort, and peace but it seems like time is too long. That is why we pray for one another and we console one another with this message of faith because we know that in the midst of our sadness and loss, the risen Christ is always with us. God Bless You!!!

All in God's Hands

As I tell people on many occasions, "We hear the voice of God in different ways. God's voice comes across in our prayer, through the words of Scripture, and in the voices of others." It is up to us to discern what God is saying to us. One thing that people have told me is that everything runs on God's time. That is true, we are all in the palm of His hand. Our gospel for today is a beautiful reminder that we always need to be ready, always need to be prepared. I would invite you to read Matthew 25:1-13 for your time of prayer and reflection. Jesus tells the parable about the ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom. Five of the virgins were wise and five were foolish. When the bridegroom came, the wise virgins were prepared, but the foolish ones were not and they were not welcomed into the wedding feast. That is why Jesus says in conclusion, "Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour." It has been a week since my dad passed away. My mom and I knew it was coming because of his declining health but when everything happened so fast it was hard to expect the unexpected. The comfort and peace comes from knowing that we were both there when dad drew his last breath. We know that we are to live each day as if it were our last. As Saint Benedict says, "Keep death before you daily." We need these friendly reminders as we live our lives and our faith, always keeping in mind that everything is in God's hands. Have a blessed day!!!

My Father's Passing

I am taking some time away from the blog. My father passed away on Friday evening and there has been a lot going on with planning. I will resume later this week and my family and I appreciate your prayers. Eternal rest, grant unto him O Lord! Let perpetual light shine upon him!

Saint Bartholomew

The first Catholic School Mass of the year began with the Feast of Saint Bartholomew. Several weeks ago, I was looking ahead to this Mass and realized this was the feast we would be celebrating and how appropriate. As Jesus sent the disciples out into the world to proclaim the Good News, we are called to do the same. I see our Catholic Schools as a very important ministry. We are forming our young people in the faith and hopefully their faith will guide and sustain them as they grow. I also focused on our Catholic identity. What it means to be Catholic and how we are called to live our faith. I used the following commentary because it really says it all: "Bartholomew is one of the 'anonymous' Apostles: all the personal details of his life have disappeared behind the Gospel he proclaimed. Like John the Baptist, he decreased to nothing so that Christ might increase" (Magnificat, 322). I shared with the students and adults present this is what we are called to do. We cannot let ourselves and our will get in the way of proclaiming the Gospel. We need to decrease so that Christ will increase. Let us pray that Saint Bartholomew will intercede for us and guide us in being the disciples of our present day so that Christ will always shine forth. God Bless You!!!

Queenship of Mary

Just a week after celebrating the Solemnity of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother, the Church celebrates her Queenship in heaven. The Queenship of Mary is also a recently named feast. Even though the Assumption of Mary had been believed for centuries, it did not become official Church teaching until 1950, under the Pontificate of Pope Pius XII. The same is probably true for the Queenship of Mary, which Pius XII initiated in 1954. This brief commentary puts this memorial into perspective for us: "Today's feast reminds us that holiness means depending on God. The Queenship of Mary invites us to exercise our obedience to God in a way that results in, not submission, but likeness" (Magnificat, 299). As we celebrate this memorial may we be strengthened by the intercession of our Blessed Mother and continue to live our universal call to holiness. Have a blessed day!!!

Saint Pius X

We celebrate today a saint for our time. Saint Pius X was pope in the early years of the twentieth century. He died on August 20, 1914. The motto that he chose for his time as pope and for his life was "Restore All Things in Christ.". That is a beautiful motto to live by and use as we live our faith to the fullest. I reflected on that motto after celebrating Mass this morning and it brought joy to my mind and heart! Every aspect of our lives can be transformed if we restore all things in Christ! Let us take this motto to heart and may it become a way of life for us all! Saint Pius X, Pray for Us!!!

Saint Bernard

The Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Bernard, a monk and abbot. Saint Bernard joined the Cistercians in 1111 and later was chosen abbot of the monastery of Clairvaux. At the monastery, he directed his companions in the practice of virtue by his own good example. Because of schisms which had arisen in the Church, he traveled all about Europe restoring peace and unity. He died in 1153 (Magnificat, 276). As another commentary states, "Saint Bernard fostered the renewal of monastic life through the Cistercian observance of the Rule of Saint Benedict, which uses Psalm 15 to describe the holiness required of one who seeks to dwell in God's presence" (Magnificat, 274). Along with that commentary, there is a scripture passage from Matthew's Gospel, "Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect" (5:48). There is a Universal Call to Holiness for all of us. We strive to be holy and perfect as our heavenly Father is holy and perfect. Let us look to Saint Bernard who is a tremendous example for us because he had a zeal for holiness and renewal. May he intercede for us as we continually renew our faith and strive to live our call to holiness. Saint Bernard, Pray for Us!!!!

Unconditional Mercy

The love, mercy, compassion of God is unconditional!!! Once again, we see that in our readings for today. Ezekiel 16:1-15, 60, 63 shows the love and mercy of God in a special way. The Lord God took care of Jerusalem from a very young age but as they got older they turned away from God. However, God remained faithful to the covenant He had established. That is true with us, God is always faithful and He continually calls us back into a relationship with Him. We have strayed because of our own weaknesses and sinfulness but God is always patient and awaits our return. Hopefully we do not wait long in our return to the Lord. We always need to be ready, always need to be prepared, so it is good to keep our house in order at all times. As God shows us unconditional mercy, love, compassion, and forgiveness, so we are called to share those beautiful qualities with others. May we pray for the grace to be perfect and holy as our Heavenly Father is perfect and holy. Always know that when we stray, God is always faithful and will welcome us back with a loving and merciful embrace. Have a blessed day!!!