New Beginnings

Many programs have been looking back to the year that we are about to conclude.  We look at what has happened, the good and the bad.  Each situation shows why we need our faith and our trust in God.  Let us thank God for the gifts and blessings that we have received.  Now we move to a new year, 2014!  What will happen in this year?  What lies ahead?  Many questions, but no answers.  One thing is certain, God is there every step of the way and we need to do our part to move out of the way and let God work in our lives!  We like to be in control or we think that we don't need God until something happens!  My friends, it would be worth our while to get out of that mind set right here and right now, because everything is in the palm of God's hand and it goes according to His time.  I need God every second, minute, hour of every day and I would presume, you do too, but many are lax to recognize it.  Our lives and our reactions would be a lot different if we looked at life from this perspective, God is in control and we need Him!!!!  I ask our loving and merciful God to bless you as we begin this new year.  Mary, the Holy Mother of God, pray for us!!!!

CHRISTMAS Time

We have arrived at CHRISTMAS week!!!!!  I want to wish everyone a Blessed and Joyous CHRISTMAS!!!  When I think of this time being joyful, I think of the word JOY!!!  It is more than just a word, it is a way of life.  A friend told me some time ago this is what JOY stands for J=Jesus, O=Others, Y=You!!!!!!!  Perhaps is we put Jesus first in our lives, along with others, than we can be a well rounded you!!!  I pray that the newborn King will bless you and yours during this CHRISTMAS Time!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Blessed Virgin Mary

This week, we celebrate our Blessed Mother in two feasts.  December 9 is the transferred Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.  Since the Second SUNDAY of Advent fell on December 8, the SUNDAY took precedence, so the feast was moved to today.  With the Immaculate Conception, we celebrate Mary being conceived without original sin in the womb of her mother, St. Anne.  Mary was kept free from sin so that she would be a worthy dwelling for God's only Son.  The Gospel from Luke on this day is the Annunciation and Mary's "Yes" to the will of God.  Her example is one that we can follow in our lives because we are called to say "Yes" and follow God's will in our own lives.  On Thursday, December 12, the Church will celebrate the memorial do Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Mary is the mother and patroness of the Americas.  Truly a great week to rejoice and give thanks to God as we continue our journey to the CHRISTMAS Season.  Mary is a great model and example for us.  May she intercede for us as we live our lives and faith each day!!!

Prepare the Way!!!!

Saint John the Baptist appears in the desert proclaiming a message of repentance and telling his hearers to prepare the way of The Lord!!!  That is what this Advent Time is about.  Of course, everyday for that matter.  We need to be prepared for the coming of The Lord.  We need to make sure our house is in order so that when The Lord returns he will find us watching and waiting.  There are a lot of distractions in the world today.  Many voices calling out to us to seek the goods of this world.  Ah, but there is only one voice we need to listen to and that is the voice of The Lord.  Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.  He has the words of everlasting life.  Another important point that we need to remember is that in preparing for The Lord, it is not just his return, but also the hour of our death.  Those are two unknowns, so let us make sure we are ready for both.  The message from John the Baptist and Jesus is still the same.  Are we listening?

Advent Begins!!!!

This is a new beginning for us as we begin the Advent Season!!!!  What can we do to make this a meaningful time for each of us?  I think the readings for this First SUNDAY of Advent set the tone.  We need to be alert, prepared, and ready.  Jesus is coming again, not as an infant which we celebrate at CHRISTMAS time, but in all his glory.  There are two unknowns that we need to prepare for- the return of our Lord or the hour of our death.  The Lord did not tell us when or how this will happen, but we need to be ready and that means to live our lives accordingly.  Let this Advent Season be a time of renewal.  Take the time to examine your lives and your conscience and when the Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered, get there to be reconciled with God and the body of Christ.  God and the Church gives us the graces and sacraments that we need so do not take them for granted.  Being prepared and ready is the key message for all of us because we do not know so tell your family and friends how much you love them, care about them, and how important they are to you.  Do not let this time be one of regret but one of hope and renewal.  May God bless us as we begin this Advent journey!!!

Thanksgiving Blessings!!!!!

I want to wish everyone a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!!!!  May this time remind us to always be thankful for the gifts and blessings that God gives to us!!!!  Thanksgiving is more than one day a year, it is everyday!!!!  Many of us are taken aback because of how consumerism and materialism has taken hold of our society and many people who fall into the trap.  That stores are opening up on Thanksgiving Day is a tragedy.  Individuals should be able to enjoy these holidays with family and friends.  Unfortunately the power of money takes hold and everyone has to make it and spend it.  Some day, all of that will not make any difference.  Like a friend told me years ago, "In a 100 years will it really matter?"  No it will not because we cannot take anything with us.  We came into the world with nothing and we will live the world with nothing.  We send a very disturbing message, especially to our young people when we focus on the things of this world and not of God.  Let us realize that everything we have is a gift from God and some day we will stand before Him and be held accountable for our very lives.  We all have choices and options.  Let them be the right ones because how we live our lives and the decisions we make have eternal consequences.  May God bless you during this Thanksgiving time and let us make every second, minute, hour of everyday be a time to give thanks!!!

Where Am I Going?

That is a question that probably has numerous answers.  We are always on the move because our lives have become busy, but this question has an eternal answer.  Where are we going to spend eternity?  We have two options, Heaven or Hell.  As Catholics, we believe in Purgatory because who of us is worthy to go directly to Heaven?  The saints are there but for many we will need to be purified of the sins that were on our soul at the time of death.  The time to be answering that question is now, not later, because there are no guarantees.  Thank God for the gift of faith because we believe in the Resurrection.  Jesus is the firstborn of the dead.  He has broken the bonds of sin and death by his own death and resurrection.  As a priest said years ago, "Do you know why the Saducees were sad u see? Because they did not believe in the resurrection"!  We believe and we profess that faith each week in the Nicene Creed.  However, do we truly believe?  Our lives, our actions, our decisions, our choices, our options all have eternal consequences.  So do you, do I, know where we are going?  

A Lifelong Process

Conversion is a lifelong process!!!!  We always need that conversion of mind and heart so that we can live happy, holy, faithful, prayerful, dedicated lives.  Over the weekend, Zacchaeus was a great example of conversion.  His intention was just to see Jesus, but because he was short in stature he climbed a sycamore tree and when Jesus arrived at the spot, instead of passing by, he called Zacchaeus down and stayed at his house.  Zacchaeus' life was changed and in the gospel he told our Lord what he would to make amends.  We know that Jesus is all loving and merciful and that is the look that he gives to us.  As we live the call to conversion, we are also called to live and share the gift of God's love.  Last week, at the closing Mass of our evangelization workshop, Bishop John Brungardt of the Diocese of Dodge City gave us a homework assignment.  He told us, "Go forth and tell someone, Jesus loves you more than you can ask or imagine."  That has been his trademark saying and he is inviting us to go forth and announce the same.  I say that to you as you live your lives, your faith, and your continuing call to conversion: "Jesus loves you more than you can ask or imagine."

New Evangelization

This is a term we are becoming familiar with in our present day!  Even though evangelization has been around since the early days of the Church it is becoming new!  The reason that it is new is because we need to evangelize our own, the brothers and sisters who have fallen away from the practice of the faith!  As I write this blog, the priests of the Salina Diocese and Dodge City Diocese are meeting in Great Bend, Kansas to talk about the new evangelization and how we can reach out to our brothers and sisters!  There is a lot of work to do and we need to begin now!  Let us pray for one another that our efforts and ministry will bear much fruit!!!!

World Priesthood SUNDAY!!

The Sacraments of service are: Marriage and Holy Orders!  Both go hand in hand because through these vocations we are sharing the love of God with others!  The involvement I had with Marriage Encounter showed me how close knit these vocations are.  It was the Worldwide Marriage Encounter organization that initiated World Priesthood SUNDAY as a way to show love and support to priests worldwide.  Yesterday, I celebrated my anniversary of being ordained a Deacon and now as a priest I celebrate the vocation that God has called me to live.  Prayer was a key word in the readings for this weekend.  I ask you to pray for me and my ministry because I trust in the power of prayer and the grace of God to help me in all things!  Please know that you are in my prayers!!!!  Please pray for our priests and may God bless them and their ministry!!!!

Being of Service!

The time of pilgrimage and vacation has come to a close and ministry begins in full force!  We got back several days ago but the ministry started right away with two funerals back to back.  Now the weekend is here and time to reflect on this past week and what comes to mind is service.  Today is a special day for me, October 26, because it was 17 years ago today that I was ordained a transitional Deacon.  That means the diaconate was only temporary because I was on my way to be ordained a priest!  Being a Deacon reminds us of the call to service and of course, we are all called to serve, no matter what vocation God calls us to.  One of the things that I love to do is at funeral dinners and that is going around with tea, water, or coffee and offering refills to those who are eating.  It gives me a chance to interact with the people who were present and just provide that ministry of presence and service.  Usually people will tell me that I should be eating, but I say no, I love to serve and the servant waits until the end so that others can partake.  Sometimes it is those small things that people remember and it can touch lives and hearts.  I thank God for the gift of ordination and for the gift of service.  May God bless us as we continue to bring His love to our parishes and communities!!!

Where It All Began!!!!!

Our journey today took us to the grounds of the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN)!  We arrived in time for the noon Mass in the chapel that we see on television everyday.  However, we were not on the televised Mass.  That Mass is offered at 7:00am, and then replayed throughout the day.  This is the setting that Mother Angelica came to in 1962. The network started in 1981!  As a speaker said the other day at the Shrine, "With the hustle and bustle of the network, it was getting quite busy around the monastery, so Mother set out to find a place where the nuns could focus on God, prayer, and work."  That is how the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Our Lady of the Angels Monastery came to be built out of Hanceville.  It was an awesome experience to visit these sites and to see how it all began.  We pray for the ministry of EWTN and those involved in bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.  Even though the second part of our journey has changed focus (mom and I are going to the NASCAR race at Talladega), we will not forget the initial purpose of why we came to Alabama.  If you ever have the chance to visit the Shrine in Hanceville or the EWTN grounds in Irondale, I would highly recommend it.  God Bless You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Prayerful Day!!!!

Everyday at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament has been a prayerful day!  Mom and I had nothing planned for today!  It was a day of rest before we move on to the next place for our vacation!  I decided to take a long walk back to the shrine grounds!  It was a prayerful walk as I said a Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet!  I saw some of the statues that I had not been up close to since we arrived!  I also walked the Twelve Eucharistic Stations!!!  These stations follow a path that is designed from the monstrance that the nuns wear around their neck in conjunction with their habit!  These stations follow the Eucharist from the Old Testament to the New Testament!  A very prayerful walk to be thankful for the gift of the Eucharist!  I am thankful for the days that we had here at the shrine and for the graces that we have received!!!  

The Dream Pilgrimage!

After our first day on the grounds of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the comment was made, "It seems like a dream"!  We have seen this beautiful shrine on television and now to be here in person!  Today we had another beautiful moment and that was attending the Conventual Mass with the Poor Clare Nuns!  Just like television, the Mass was very prayerful, the music was very good, and there was a lot of Latin!  The presider has his back to the people and for communion we go up and kneel at the communion rail!  It truly is an awe inspiring experience!!!!  We went to the Lourdes Grotto on the grounds as well!  We also went to the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Bernard to see the Ave Maria Grotto!  This grotto was built by a Benedictine brother for a number of years!  There are stone miniatures of Jerusalem and St Peter's Basilica and so much more!  It is an amazing area to see!  It may see like a dream, but it is a blessing to be here!!!

Pilgrimage- Day One

Thank you readers for your comments and likes as my mom and I make this pilgrimage!!!!  After two days of driving we took a breather in the morning but made it over for noon Mass at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament!!!  When I knelt down in prayer, it felt like a weight was on my legs because I was in awe in the presence of our Eucharistic Lord and did not want to move from the kneeling position!  The Mass was very peaceful and reverent!  The Mass was in the lower Church of the Shrine and afterwards we went upstairs to see the beautiful upper Church!!!!  We listened to a pilgrimage talk on how everything began, from Mother Angelica coming to Alabama in 1962 to the dedication of the shrine in 1999!  A wonderful start and we look forward to more sites and memories tomorrow!!!  God Bless

Being A Pilgrim

Vacation time has arrived, but it is also a pilgrimage!  My mom and I set out yesterday to journey to the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament outside of Hanceville, Alabama!  This is the shrine that Mother Angelica, from EWTN built some years ago!  This is a destination that we have talked about many times and we decided to do it!  It was a beautiful but long drive yesterday (Sunday) and today (Monday)!  We will regroup and make the most of our time in this beautiful setting!  When Jesus talks about getting away for some prayer and rest this just might be one of the places to come!  Definitely away from the hustle and bustle of daily life!  Please be assured of my prayers and look for other posts as we continue our journey as pilgrims!!!  God Bless You!!!!!

"Angels Among Us"

Even though the feast of the Archangels- Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and the Guardian Angels has passed, we can still be assured of the divine assistance that God gives to us each day!  The song "Angels Among Us" is a beautiful piece and a reminder that angels come when we least expect them.  We think of the angels who see the face of God but sometimes there are people who come into our lives and they become angels.  As Saint Basil the Great taught, "Each and every member of the faithful has a Guardian Angel to protect, guard, and guide them through life" (Magnificat, 46).  God always takes care of us and we need to be thankful for everything that God does for us because all that we have are His gifts to us.  Thank you God for the angels among us.  May we always trust in their unconditional presence!!!

Blessed News!

We arose this morning to the joyful news that Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII will be canonized as saints on April 27, 2014!  Pope Francis made the announcement this morning in Rome.  We rejoice that two popes from the last century will be raised to the altars of sainthood.  April 27 is also a special day in the life of the Catholic Church because it will be Divine Mercy Sunday, the Sunday following Easter Sunday!!!  Blessed John XXIII was pope from 1958-1963!  He is the pope who inaugurated the Second Vatican Council and we are marking the 50th anniversary of the Council during this Year of Faith.  Blessed John Paul II was pope from 1978-2005 and many accomplishments were made during his pontificate.  We thank God for these two popes and their lives of service to the Church.  Now we look forward with great joy to their canonization in 2014!

The Call to Prayer!!!

As I write this blog, the bells of St. John the Baptist are ringing noon, followed by the Angelus.  Ever since my days in the seminary at St. Meinrad, I have loved bells.  I learned while I was at St. Meinrad that bells are the voice of God calling people to prayer!!!!  Churches throughout the world with bells will let them ring out to announce services, but think of it in this light, the bells are God's voice calling us to pray.  On Wednesday evening, I had the chance to visit some of the religious education classes at St. Augustine.  I took along a statue of one of my favorite saints, St. Padre Pio.  Of course, we celebrated St. Padre Pio's feast day this past Monday!  Two of his quotes that I hold dear are: "Pray, hope and don't worry" and "Prayer is oxygen for the soul!"  We need to pray every day of our lives and hopefully many times a day, not just a meals or bedtime, but all the time.  God wants to hear from us and prayer takes a lot of work.  Hopefully you have good models of prayer, but know that prayer is up to you to do.  Whether the bells are ringing or not, prayer is definitely a necessity.  Let us answer the call of God in our lives and please, answer the call to prayer!!!!

Saint Padre Pio

As we begin this new week, we begin with the memorial of one of my favorite saints, Pius of Pietrelcina, or as he is commonly known as, Padre Pio.  I don't know when my devotion for Padre Pio started, but what stood out was that he was a saint in our own time.  He was born in 1887 and died in 1968.  What also got my attention was that for fifty years, he bore the Stigmata, or the wounds of Christ.  He was also sought after for spiritual direction, confession, and even the Masses he celebrated, which would last for several hours.  Throughout his life, many miracles were attributed to his intercession and he was known to bi-locate, or be seen in one place, when he was known to be in another.  Definitely a holy and saintly man and priest for our time.  I have talked about and preached on Padre Pio many times.  I even use the quote that I have anywhere I can put it.  Padre Pio says, "Pray, hope and don't worry."  There is more to the quote but that is the main theme and it is a way of life that we need to accept.  We thank God for the gift of Saint Padre Pio and for his example of faith, holiness, and prayer.  May Padre Pio intercede for us as we continue our journey of life and faith.  Help us Padre Pio not to worry, but to always be a people of prayer and hope.  Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Pray for Us!!!

Come Holy Spirit!!!

On Wednesday evening, I celebrated Mass for the beginning of the Religious Education program at St. Augustine in Washington, KS.  Since there was no particular feast for today, I took the prayers for the Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit.  We can always use the guidance of the Holy Spirit and we pray that our faith will be ignited by the Holy Spirit.  We are in a tough battle with our society and there are so many voices calling out to us, but only one voice is loud and clear and that is the voice of God.  We really need to work with and guide our young people for they are the future of the Church, but they are also the Church of today!  In all that we do, may the Holy Spirit guide us and help us as we continue to build the kingdom of God in our midst!  

Pray for Peace!!!!

Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, is calling for a day of prayer on this September 7!  We need prayer everyday!!!! There are many things that we need to bring before our Lord.  In doing that, we also need to listen.  Just think of the song: "The Prayer of St. Francis"!!!  It says, "Make a me a channel of your peace...."  Also, "Let this be the moment now, let is begin with me..."  What is that song saying to us?  For peace to exist, it needs to begin with me.  We need to know the peace of Christ in our own lives and then we can share it with others.  Think of the Gospel for this weekend, Luke 14:25-33!  Jesus calls us to be his disciples.  What does that mean for us!  We need to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Jesus!!!!  The voice of God is always speaking to us.  The question is, How well are we listening?  Our times are critical, just like other time periods, just that times and situations change.  These times, like others call us to stand up and be faithful, dedicated, committed disciples and bring the love of God and peace of Christ to all whom we meet.  It is a challenge, but with God and our unwavering faith and trust in Him, all things are possible!!!!

A Blessed Labor Day!

This is the last official holiday of the summer.  On Labor Day we thank all workers for their service.  We pray for those who are seeking employment.  May God bless us all and bless our work that we continue to do.  It has been announced that Pope Francis will lead a global day of prayer for peace on September 7!  There is so much that we need to pray for as this day and this week dawns.  A post that I recently read said that we need to make our communication with God a top priority on a daily basis.  Last week's visit to Saint Meinrad renewed in me that call to prayer.  Watching the monks as they pray several times a day again made me realize how important prayer is.  I am proud to be a Benedictine Oblate so I need to renew my prayer life.  Prayer also takes work, so let us make the most of this beautiful gift that God has given to us!  Thank God for this day and may we be blessed as we continue to do our part to build up the kingdom of God in our midst!!!

Reflecting!!!!

This past week, I had the opportunity to make a return visit to Saint Meinrad, Indiana and spend time at the seminary where I graduated from, twice.  I am a 1993 graduate of the college seminary, so this is my 20th anniversary.  I graduated from the School of Theology in 1997 and ordained the same year. I have always enjoyed Saint Meinrad and being able to visit is very rewarding.  I had the chance to pray with the monastic community during morning office and at Mass.  A lot of work has been done on the campus and to the buildings so it was nice to see how things have changed.  After the stay at Saint Meinrad, the next stop was to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois.  It is also a peaceful and prayerful place to stay.  With the busyness of our lives, we need to take time for God and hopefully quite a few times during the day.  With God, we live, move, and have our being.  Let us make the most of the time God has given to us and always be thankful for the many blessings and gifts in our lives!!!!

Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A week ago the Church celebrated the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary!!! Today, our rejoicing continues as Mary is crowned queen of heaven and earth. As the psalmist writes, "At your right stands the queen in robes of gold, finely arrayed" (Ps 45:10). Even this beautiful commentary reminds us what this memorial is all about. "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, 307). The gospel that was proclaimed at Mass was that of the Annunciation! Mary was troubled by the angel's message and wondered how all of this could be. The Angel of the Lord assured Mary that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her and thus the holy offspring would be conceived. Once she had that assurance she totally gave herself to the will of God. A beautiful example for us. Like the quote said, it is not submission, but likeness. To imitate the life of our Blessed Mother and know that God is always with us and that His grace is always enough. From her place in heaven, Mary continues to pray and intercede for us. Let us take comfort in her intercession and know that she is always guiding us with a loving, caring maternal hand! Our Lady, Queen of Heaven and earth, pray for us!!!

School Year Theme!

Today was the opening Mass for St. John the Baptist School in Hanover. What a great memorial to celebrate, that of Saint Pius the Tenth. Saint Pius was elected pope in 1903 and he died on August 20, 1914. As I told the students and adults present, God willing, later this year, we will witness the canonization of two popes, Blessed John XXIII and Blessed John Paul II. These popes made an impact in the church and in the world during their time as the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. Following Mass, I went to the school building and blessed the students, teachers, and the classrooms. I gave a little lesson about Saint Pius the Tenth and then reminded the students of his motto as pope, "To Renew All Things in Christ!" I told them that is a wonderful theme for our school year because we are called to renew all things in Christ, especially our lives and our faith. We need to do what this commentator writes, "Saint Pius X worked tirelessly to build God's house, the Church, into a community of true faith and reverent worship in Jesus Christ. His motto was 'to make all things new in Christ'" (Magnificat, 302). Let us follow the example of Saint Pius the Tenth and may we be assured of his prayers and intercession for us so that we can live our faith to the fullest and truly renew all things in Christ.

Our Blessed Lady!!!

As Mary says in the Magnificat, her prayer of thanksgiving: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed..." Yes, we call Our Lady "Blessed" because of the great things that God has done for her. God called her to be the mother of His only Son and through her "Yes" we have the forgiveness of our sins through our Lord's death on the cross and the promise of eternal life through his resurrection. Of course, on the 15th, we celebrated the beautiful Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As Saint Modestus of Jerusalem says, "She who is higher than cherubim and seraphim, being truly designated Mother of their Lord, has now come to live in the Kingdom of Heaven. When she had completed her life's voyage happily, that spiritual vessel of God dropped anchor in her new, safe harbor, near to the Helmsman of the world" (Magnificat, 183). There is some beautiful imagery in that quote because now Our Lady is next to her Son, the Savior, the Helmsman of the world. We rejoice in the gift of Our Blessed Lady and we pray that her intercessions will be with us as we continue our journey of life and faith. "Pray for us O Holy Mother of God," "That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ."

Point to Remember, Part II

Several years ago, I presided at a funeral for a man who passed away unexpectedly. With the sudden nature of everything, the family was visibly upset but they had a wonderful support network. While I was standing in the cemetery with the other funeral home people, the secretary told me a story that I have not forgotten. She said that one of the former morticians was leaving for vacation. He came into her office and asked if anyone was pending. Her response was, "Aren't we all!" She said the mortician really did not know what to say, but there is definitely truth in those words. Just like the story that I used this past weekend, a man found an article that said that the average life span for people is 75 years of age. He was already 55. When he totaled up the 52 weeks of the year, he found that he had 3,900 Saturdays left. He went to several toy stores, bought marbles and put them in a jar. Then every Saturday he would take a marble out until one Saturday, 20 years later, he had one marble left. Instead of being sad, he was grateful for the extra Saturdays would be gifts from God. The bottom line is, we are given a number of marbles in our lifetime and when those marbles are used up then life as we know it here ends. Only God knows the day and the hour! That is why being prepared is so important. Hopefully those passages about preparation are not heard just when we come to church, but that we keep them in mind everyday because it is a reality and we are pending! God Bless our journey!!

A Topic to Remember

"One thing is certain, that is death.  What is uncertain is its hour!"  That is a quote from Saint Anselm, a Doctor of the Church.  It is also a quote that is a way of life.  Death is a reality that we have all faced because we have lost people who have been close to us and whether we want to hear it or not, we will all die.  There is no escaping this reality and fact of life.  As it says elsewhere in the Scriptures, "The wages of sin is death."  In the Gospel from this past weekend, Jesus told his disciples and us, that we need to be prepared because the Son of Man will come on a day and an hour that we least expect.  The same can be said of the hour of our death.  We do not know and I believe there is a reason for that.  God wants us to live in His love and share that love with others so we can live out that mission however long we have on this earth.  God is the only one that knows how everything will transpire and there is no need to worry because everything is in His hands.  I preached about death over the weekend and one of the parishioners told me what he observed sitting in church.  People were focusing on what I was saying, but they weren't.  Others on the hand were looking down.  Why?  This is a topic we all know about, but no one wants to hear about it or talk about it.  My recommendation is that we need to talk about because death will come when we least expect.  Hopefully we will be ready, but that is why these reminders from Scripture and our Lord need to be talked about at all times.  The topic of death is one that we need to remember at all times.  Like Saint Benedict told his monks, "Keep death before you daily!"  God Bless You!!!!

Called to Preach!!!

August 8 is the memorial of Saint Dominic.  He is the founder of the Order of Preachers (O.P.)!  This order is traditionally known as, the Dominicans.  The religious men and women who follow the charism of Saint Dominic do as he did, they preach.  Of course, they preach not only with words, but with their lives and example.  The same is true for us disciples of The Lord.  We are called to preach the Good News and like Saint Francis said so well, "Use words if necessary!"  Do not be afraid to live your faith and proclaim the Good News!!!  Our world needs many positive examples and it can begin with us!  Let us heed the call to preach and let us do so at all times!!!  Saint Dominic, Pray for Us!!!

Transfiguration of the Lord

In the Preface for the Transfiguration we hear, "For he revealed his glory in the presence of chosen witnesses and filled with the greatest splendor that bodily from which he shares with all humanity, that the scandal of the Cross might be removed from the hearts of his disciples and that he might show how in the Body of the whole Church is to be fulfilled what so wonderfully shone forth first in its Head" (Magnificat, 87). The Transfiguration is a glimpse of glory and for the disciples, it would give them hope after they witnessed the death of our Lord on the cross. It is amazing to know from the Ordo, "August 6 occurs forty days before the feast of the Triumph of the Cross on September 14" (171). We can see that 40 is a perfect number because it is in Sacred Scripture and it is in the traditions of the church. We know that to get to the resurrection, we have to go through the cross. That is why Jesus tells us as his disciples, "You must deny your very self, take up your cross, and follow me." The cross is the tree of life and the resurrection is key to our faith because Jesus Christ has broken the bonds of sin and death by his own passion, death, and resurrection. The transfiguration of Jesus gives us hope for the glory that is come. May this feast fill us with hope because the crosses will come, but we know that they will not have the final say. Eternal life in God's Kingdom will be victorious.

Peace and Quiet

This post happens to be my 700th! I know I need to get back to the daily routine but maybe there is a reason why today was chosen for this 700th post. Today is the feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. This basilica is one of the four main basilicas in the world. The other three are: St. Peter's, St. John Lateran, and St. Paul Outside the Walls. I had the joy of seeing the Basilica of St. Mary Major when I was in Rome in January of 1996. The confessio, below the main altar, has a glass coffin containing pieces of wood which are believed to be from the manger of our Lord. Truly an awesome sight to see. This feast day is also synonymous with a title of our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of the Snows. Our Lady showed where she wanted this basilica to be built with the miracle of snow on a warm, August day. All things are possible with God. Why I titled this blog, "Peace and Quiet," I am always reminded of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois. The shrine is across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri. To get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and find some rest, peace, and quiet at this beautiful shrine. The shrine has always been a favorite vacation spot of mine and it is true, once you get on the grounds, there is a peaceful, quiet feeling. If you are ever looking for a beautiful shrine to stay and visit, the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows is just such a place. We thank God and our Blessed Mother for this beautiful gift and miracle! Our Lady of the Snows, Pray for us!!!

Pillar of Fire!

The pillar of fire is the image that we see in the Book of Exodus.  As Moses was leading the Israelites through the desert, God went ahead of them as a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night!  Light is very important because it allows us to see and it guides our path.  Thinking of light always reminds me that Jesus Christ is forever the light of the world.  I am also reminded of the baptismal candle we receive at the Sacrament of Baptism.  The priest or deacon says to the parents and godparents, "Receive the light of Christ..."  He goes on to say, "This light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly..."  We need to do our part through prayer and the sacraments to keep the light of Christ burning brightly!  The pillar of fire is a great image and now the light, Jesus Christ, has come into the world to dispel all darkness.  Let us do our part to radiate the light of Christ to all we meet!

A Ministry to Remember!!!!

The Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Martha on this July 29!  We know Martha as the one who was preoccupied with all the serving while her sister Mary sat at the feet of our Lord.  Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen the better part.  However, prayer and service go hand in hand.  In order to do our service, we need to pray!  Today, I want to reflect on a life of service and ministry.  On Sunday, the Diocese of Salina received the sad news that Bishop Emeritus George Fitzsimons had passed away.  As Bishop Edward Weisenburger wrote in his note to us, it is with sadness, but Resurrection joy....  That is the key to our faith, yes we are sad, but we live in faith and hope of the Resurrection.  Bishop Fitzsimons had been a priest for 52 years, a bishop for almost 40 years, and the bishop of Salina for 20 years before his retirement in 2004!  He chose to stay in the diocese after his retirement and help out wherever he could.  It will soon be a year ago that he helped me out in a caring way.  He came to Washington, Kansas and had the weekend Mass there after my dad passed away.  Then he came back and con celebrated his funeral.  I think back to 1991 when I was a junior in the college seminary at Saint Meinrad when I met Bishop Fitzsimons for the first time.  I was applying to the diocese for acceptance and I met with him when he visited the seminarians from Salina that were there.  The following summer, I was accepted by the diocese and the rest we say is history.  Bishop Fitzsimons ordained me on May 31, 1997 and in his homily he talked about service and specifically said to me, "Do not be afraid to wash windows!"  Meaning I have the priestly responsibilities, but don't forget the other tasks that happen in life.  All of us who knew Bishop Fitzsimons are grateful for his life and ministry.  May God welcome him into his eternal Kingdom.  Eternal rest, grant unto him O Lord.  May perpetual light shine upon him.  May he rest in peace.  Amen.

Saints Joachim & Ann

Today we celebrate the memorial of the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the grandparents of Jesus, Saint Joachim and Saint Ann!!!!  It is a beautiful feast to call the family to mind.  We know that family life, marriage, and human life is under attack.  We need to do our part to protect and defend these precious gifts!!!!  These gifts from God deserve our dignity and respect.  These are critical times in which we live and the Church holds up these holy men and women as an example so that we can live holy, faithful, and prayerful lives!!!!  May Saint Joachim and Saint Ann intercede for us so that we will remain firm in the faith and do all we can for the glory of God!!!!!

Saint James

The Church celebrates the Feast of Saint James the Apostle!  He is the first of the Apostles to drink from the chalice that The Lord mentioned in the gospel!  He planted the word of God as he proclaimed the Good News and that word was nourished by his blood!  James was not afraid to give up everything for Christ!  In fact, when Jesus called James and his brother John they gave up everything, leaving behind their father and their fishing trade and followed  Jesus!  We pray that Saint James will intercede for us that we may have the grace to deny ourselves, pick up the cross, and follow The Lord!!!  Saint James, pray for us!!!!

World Youth Day!!!

World Youth Day 2013 has arrived in Rio de Janiero, Brazil!!!  Pope Francis is making his way for the gathering and we pray for his travels and safety during his first international trip!  I just saw a post on Facebook showing Pope Francis walking up the staircase to the plane entrance and he was carrying his own bag.  The person posting the picture even made note of that.  Pope Francis is a pope of the people and he continues to give us an example of how we need to live our lives and our faith.  His presence at World Youth Day will inspire all those gathered, especially the young people because they are the Church of today, as well as tomorrow!!!  We prayed over the weekend that young Christians will become missionaries and heralds of the Gospel as they go forth from this World Youth Day!!!  Let us keep in prayer our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and all the young people and adults attending this World Youth Day!!!!  May God inspire us all to be missionaries and heralds of the Gospel, not just with words, but with our lives!!!!

Jesus' Invitation

Another beautiful Gospel passage that I enjoy was proclaimed at Mass today, Matthew 11:28-30. I call this passage, "Jesus' Invitation!" Our Lord says very powerfully, "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." I use this passage whenever I administer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. It is a reminder for all of us, whether we are well, sick, suffering, or dying that our Lord is always present. It is a beautiful invitation to come to Jesus with faith and in prayer. This passage is also appropriate for today because it is the memorial of Saint Camillus de Lellis. After his conversion, he devoted himself to caring for the sick. Once he was ordained to the priesthood, he found a society that established hospitals and cared for the sick. Matthew 11:28-30 is a passage that we can share with all peoples. Come to Jesus if you are feeling labored, burdened, worried, stressed, or whatever the case may be, because he will refresh us and give us rest. Saint Camillus de Lellis, Pray for Us!!!

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Do you wear a brown scapular? I wear my scapular on a regular basis and it is encouraged by our Blessed Mother. This memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel "commemorates the anniversary of the day in 1251 when the Blessed Mother gave the brown scapular to Saint Simon Stock. 'The scapular is an external sign of the filial relationship established between the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother and Queen of Mount Carmel, and the faithful who entrust themselves totally to her protection, who have recourse to her maternal intercession, who are mindful of the primacy of the spiritual life and the need for prayer'" (Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy 205) (Magnificat, 235-36). We also remember in a special way the Order of Carmelites, who number about 1,930 religious, as they live the example of Our Lady! May the Blessed Mother intercede for us and may she guide us always with her maternal and protecting love. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Pray for Us!!!

Who is my neighbor?

That is a wonderful question to ask ourselves, to pray and think about!  This question is our challenge as we live the call to discipleship.  It was also the question the scholar posed to Jesus in our gospel from this past Sunday.  The scholar knew what the law said, to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbor as ourself.  We can always use that positive reinforcement, but he wanted to justify himself and so he said to Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?"  Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan.  As one commentator mentioned, the parable of the Good Samaritan is the "epitome of Gospel charity."  Our world, our communities need Good Samaritans.  People who are not afraid to live the call of discipleship and are not afraid to live the virtue of charity.  Just think what life would be like if every living human being did this.  The Kingdom of God is where we will experience this, but until the full reality of the kingdom comes, we need to do our part in building the Kingdom of God in our midst.  Let us pray for the grace to be Good Samaritans and let us not be afraid to answer the question, "Who is my neighbor" by our lives of service and charity.  God Bless You!!!

Saint Benedict

One of my favorite saints is celebrated on July 11, Saint Benedict! My thoughts and prayers are with those men and women who live the Benedictine Rule and way of life in the world. I am blessed and thankful to have been trained by the Benedictine Monks in the seminary. I have strived to live the Benedictine spirituality and I am an oblate, associated with Saint Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana! The Entrance Antiphon for Mass puts this memorial into perspective: "There was a man of venerable life, Benedict, blessed by grace and by name, who, leaving home and patrimony and desiring to please God alone, sought out the habit of holy living." Our journey of life and faith is to please God and Him alone. That is why I always go back to the image of the gate at the Trappist Monastery in Kentucky where the words, "God Alone" are etched in stone. As we grow in our relationship with God, we need to grow in holiness. Each one of us has a universal call to holiness. We pray that Saint Benedict will intercede for us! May we always please God alone and live a holy way of life!!! Saint Benedict, Pray for Us!!!

The Holy Apostles

An option for today's celebration of the Mass was the Votive Mass for the Holy Apostles. The reason being, I am sure, is that the gospel of the day, Matthew 10:1-7, listed the Twelve disciples. Just like the 72 disciples over the weekend, Jesus sends out the Twelve to proclaim the Good News. To tell the people that the Kingdom of God is at hand. The Church is built upon those Apostolic foundations and we continue the mission in our present day! However, we are in a tough battle right now with secularism. Maybe it has always been an issue, but with everything growing by leaps and bounds, I am afraid the next generation may have a challenge if they don't get it now. That is why we are praying for the intercession of the Apostles. As they lived their faith and trusted in the continuing presence of the Lord, we need to do the same and pass it on to our young people. These are critical times in which we live and the word of God needs to be preached, by word and example. May the example and witness of the Apostles touch our lives in a special way and may we continue to build the church on those strong foundations, for we are the living stones! May the Holy Apostles pray for us!!!

Sending Forth!!!

One of my favorite endings from the Mass in the Roman Missal is: "Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life." That truly says what our call to discipleship is all about. What we receive at Mass each week needs to be lived every day of our lives. Discipleship is a way of life and we live it 24/7, 365 days. There is no break or vacation in being a disciple of Jesus. For two weeks, Jesus told us, "If you wish to be my disciple, you must deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow me." Then he said very simply, but challenging, "Follow me!" If Jesus was standing before us and said, "Follow me," how many of us would be able to do it? Being a disciple takes total focus, commitment, and dedication. Jesus is counting on us to continue his mission on earth. A wonderful example for us in this present day has been the life and ministry of Pope Francis. He is truly the pope of the people and has reached out to all peoples. He invites us to have the best interest of our brothers and sisters in mind. Here is a quote from our Holy Father that I shared this past weekend in my homily: "God does not want a house built by men, but faithfulness to his word, to his plan. It is God himself who builds the house, but from living stones sealed by his Spirit. ... Today..., amid so much darkness, we need to see the light of hope and to be men and women who bring hope to others. To protect creation, to protect every man and every woman, to look upon them with tenderness and love is to open up a horizon of hope; it is to let a shaft of light break through the heavy clouds; it is to bring the warmth of hope" (Pope Francis, Homily at Installation Mass, The Priest, 26)! We are sent forth to be a beacon of hope to a troubled world. Being a messenger of hope is the primary work of the church. Let us do our part as we are sent forth, so that we can be faithful disciples and messengers of hope! God Bless our journey!!!

Blessed News!!!

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Fourth of July!!!!  It is a time to be thankful for the gifts and blessings that we have received from Almighty God.  I had a wedding rehearsal last evening and at the dinner that followed I offered the grace before meals and thanked God for the blessing of freedom that we live and share on this Independence Day!  Right now, there are a lot of attacks on our freedoms, religious liberty and the sanctity of marriage.  We cannot give up on the battle.  We need to proclaim the Good News, not just with words but with our very lives.  That leads to the blessed news of today which is being reported.  Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has signed off on the canonization decree for Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII.  A second miracle has been attributed to Blessed John Paul and the Holy Father waived the second miracle for John XXIII so both popes can be canonized at the same time.  We are thankful for the gifts of these two popes in recent church history and we look forward to them being raised to the altars of sainthood.  Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII, pray for us!!!

St. Thomas the Apostle

When my dad was growing up in the Armourdale area of Kansas City, Kansas, the parish his family attended was St. Thomas the Apostle.  Saint Thomas is the feast that the Church celebrates on July 3 and he is also one of my favorite saints.  We are all familiar with what happened after our Lord's resurrection when Thomas was gone and the risen Jesus appeared.  The disciples kept telling him they had seen The Lord but he would not believe.  Thomas said that he needed to put his finger in the nail marks and his hand in the Lord's side.  When Jesus appeared again, he called Thomas forward and told him not to persist in his unbelief, but believe.  That is our call as well, "Blessed are those who have not seen but have believed."  When we have doubts, questions about our faith, we can go to Saint Thomas and seek his intercession.  May the renewed faith of Thomas be ours as we live our lives and our faith to the fullest!  Saint Thomas the Apostle, Pray for Us!!!!

Follow me!!!!

This weekend, we have a continuation of the call to be a disciple of our Lord!  Last weekend, Jesus said that to be his disciple we must "deny ourself, pick up our cross, and follow him."  Now, our Lord says very simply, but powerfully, "Follow me"!  Being a disciple of Jesus is not a job or a career, but it is a way of life.  We have our respective vocations that we live: married life, single life, priesthood and religious life, but the overall banner is "Discipleship!"  Being a disciple in all that we do: our thoughts, words, and actions.  It is the call to also love God and love our neighbor.  We can be enthusiastic disciples or tired disciples but one thing is certain, we always need to go to Jesus to stay energized and become renewed.  The sacraments are a great opportunity for us to be fed and nourished.  Let us come to Jesus and in all that we do, let us follow him.  God bless us on our journey!!!!

Saints Peter & Paul

On this Friday evening, the Church begins the Vigil of the Solemnity of Saint Peter & Saint Paul!!!!  We remember the Archbishops who were installed this past year because they will receive the pallium from Pope Francis at Saint Peter's in Rome.  These saints go hand in hand!!!  I remember fondly my pilgrimage to Rome in 1996.  The statues of Saints Peter & Paul were always together.  They are key figures in the early Church and saints that we can turn to for their intercession as we live our faith to the fullest!!!!!  We thank God for these two saints and their example of never giving up and living that call to conversion on a daily basis!!!!!  Saints Peter & Paul, Pray for Us!!!!!

Keeping the Faith!!!

The commentary from the Loose-Leaf Lectionary once again gives us something to think and pray about.  The author begins with a good question: "Do you dare to believe?"  In Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Abram has a vision from the word of The Lord.  This passage has three components: the promise of a son, the promise of countless offspring, the promise of land (3884).  With all of these, Abram put his faith in The Lord.  Here is a great quote to remember: "Faith means becoming firm or secure by leaning upon The Lord" (3884).  Living our faith is a way of life and we always need to keep the faith no matter what we encounter in life.  The Lord is always with us, so take comfort, lean on him, and, have faith!!!!  God Bless You!!!

A Blessing to You!!!

The opening line for my homily at the morning Mass was from the commentator in the Loose-Leaf Lectionary, "Be a source of blessing for others." How true that is!!! The examples that we have from Sacred Scripture was the reading from Genesis, where Abram and Lot were able to avoid conflict and live in the land given to them. In the gospel, Jesus tells us to do to others what we would have them do to us. If you want to be treated with kindness, dignity, and respect, then that is how we need to treat others. Sometimes people will say, "They are just getting a taste of their own medicine..." If you are unkind, rude, inconsiderate of others, than you might receive the same treatment. However, we can make a difference in peoples lives. All human beings are created in the image and likeness of God and deserve our total dignity and respect. When we treat others in a dignified and respectful manner, than we can truly be a source of blessing for them. God has blessed us in many ways! Hopefully we can take those blessings and share them with others so they can know what it is like to receive a blessing and in turn, be a blessing to others!!!

Saint John the Baptist!!!!!

Today the Church celebrates the birthday of Saint John the Baptist!!!  One of the parishes that I serve is under the patronage of Saint John the Baptist so it is a day for all parish communities with this patron to celebrate.  The Church only celebrates three birthdays: Our Lord, the Blessed Mother, and John the Baptist.  All three have a role in salvation history.  Mary said yes to God's will and became the mother of His only Son.  John was the herald of the Messiah.  He said a phrase that I think of often, "I must decrease, so he can increase."  Jesus is the Savior of the world!  As we celebrate John the Baptist, we can think of our call to discipleship and be the heralds of the Good News.  Like John, do not be afraid to preach the gospel, do not be afraid to live your faith, and do not be afraid to live the truth.  We need faithful, committed disciples.  In all that we do, remember, we are to decrease so that The Lord will shine forth and increase in the lives and hearts of all people's.  Have a blessed day!!!!!

Giving All for God's Glory!

The Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, a religious and a holy man. As he was being raised, Aloysius' mother instructed him in piety and he had a desire to become a religious. Aloysius eventually joined the Society of Jesus, Jesuits, but what he did before joining speaks volumes. He relinquished his inheritance to his brother so he could devote his time to serving God and people who were sick during the plague. Aloysius also contracted the disease and he died in 1591. Giving up all for the glory of God, for the sake of Christ, and the gospel. Truly an example to be imitated. Jesus says in the gospel for today, Matthew 6:19-23, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven." Our Lord goes on to say, "For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be." Even Saint Paul tells his listeners to focus on the things that are above, rather than what is below. Our true home is heaven, while we are just passing through earth. We pray for Saint Aloysius Gonzaga to intercede for us that we may have the grace to give up all for the glory of God and focus on what is eternal. Here is a beautiful prayer that we can use to focus our minds and our hearts: "O Lord, you give all spiritual gifts. You brought together in the young Saint Aloysius Gonzaga the practice of penance and an admirable purity of life. If we have not imitated his innocence, grant us by his prayer and example the grace to imitate his renunciation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen" (Magnificat, 295). God Bless You!!!

Unconditional Forgiveness!!!

A commentary stated that we need to "Imitate the Father- Forgive Relentlessly"!!! Forgiveness, like love, is unconditional!!! God loves us so much that He gave His only Son to be our Savior. Look at what Jesus did on the cross, he forgave those who had crucified him, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." That example of forgiveness continues to reverberate to our present day. Of course, I always think about the example that Blessed John Paul II gave us after the assassination attempt on his life. He went to the prison where the would be assassin was incarcerated and forgave him. Another example of forgiveness heard around the world. In Matthew's Gospel, 6:7-15, Jesus gives his disciples the "Our Father." Our Lord tells the disciples that they do not need to babble. Instead, say this prayer because your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. At the conclusion of the prayer Jesus says, "If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions." Forgiveness takes grace and we pray for that everyday. Maybe there are people in our lives that we need to forgive or maybe we need to forgive ourselves and we struggle to do that. Let us turn to God and ask Him for the grace to forgive unconditionally. His forgiveness is a great example to imitate. God Bless You!!!

"God Alone"

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to baptize two sets of twins. On Saturday afternoon, I baptized twin boys in Greenleaf, KS. Then, on Sunday afternoon, I baptized twins, a boy and a girl, in Munjor, KS. Following the baptism, I took a few days off but now I am back online and focusing on the memorial of the day, Saint Romuald, who was a religious, an abbot, and a hermit. When I read his short biography, all I could think about was the stone gate at the Trappist Monastery in Gethsemani, Kentucky which says, "God Alone"!!! Saint Romuald was searching for quiet and solitude and so are we as we journey through our busy, hectic lives. We are always looking for that time where it can be God Alone and that needs to be our top priority!!! We need to grow in our relationship with God and always keep those communication lines open! We ask Saint Romuald to intercede for us! May we make the most of the time that God gives us and let us find the peace, quiet, solitude that we need to truly make it, "God Alone"!!! Saint Romuald, Pray for Us!!!

Time to Remember!

It will soon be a year since my father passed away! This day, June 14, would have been my parents 44th wedding anniversary. Then Sunday will be Father's Day. As I wrote about in my message for our parish bulletin, it has been a year of firsts, celebrating the important holidays and days without my dad. Even though his physical presence is gone, I know he is with mom and I in spirit. It is a time to remember and to give thanks because God has truly blessed us. We know that separation is for a time, but rejoicing comes with the resurrection and the promise of eternal life! God Bless You!!!

Saint Anthony of Padua

We celebrate the memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, a saint that is known by many. Yes, Saint Anthony is the one that people will pray to when they are looking for lost items. I know I have said it on many occasions when I have lost something, "Saint Anthony, help me"!!! True to form, Saint Anthony always comes through! As the Opening Collect stated, "Almighty ever-living God, who gave Saint Anthony of Padua to your people as an outstanding preacher and an intercessor in their need, grant that, with his assistance, as we follow the teachings of the Christian life, we may know your help in every trial" (Magnificat, 175). We have already established that Saint Anthony is a wonderful intercessor in our time of need. He is also an outstanding preacher and that is a great example for us. Take for example the gospel reading for this day, Matthew 5:20-26, Jesus says, "Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift." Reconciliation and Forgiveness is a message that we need to preach at all times, not just with words, but with our very lives. Saint Anthony did that in his own life. He left the Augustinian Order and joined Saint Francis as a Franciscan Friar. We know that Saint Francis made that statement known, "Preach the gospel at all times, use words if necessary." Practice what you preach!!! Saint Anthony has done that and now we need to do it in our present day. We have Saint Anthony to intercede for and guide us in all circumstances. Saint Anthony helps us find what is lost, but he does so much more for us as we live our lives, our faith, and the New Evangelization, which is a way of life. Saint Anthony of Padua, Pray for Us!!!

Being Qualified!!!

As I mentioned yesterday, we can all use the encouragement of Saint Barnabas, since his name means "son of encouragement." Today, Saint Paul tells us in his second letter to the Corinthians, 3:4-11, "Such confidence we have through Christ toward God." We can always use confidence, courage, grace, and trust as we live our lives and our faith. Paul also writes, "Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit for anything as coming from us; rather, our qualification comes from God, who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant." That always reminds me of the saying, "God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called." God blesses us with different gifts and talents. The gifts and talents I have may not be found in someone else and vice versa. However, we bring those gifts and talents together as the body of Christ and we make them work for the glory of God and the good of one another. Yes, we are qualified for the mission and we are being qualified each day with the blessings, gifts, grace, and strength that we need to bring the work of God to completion. Have a blessed day!!!

Saint Barnabas

Today, the Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Barnabas, an apostle of the Lord. His name means, "son of encouragement." That is a great meaning because we can all use encouragement as we journey through life and strive to live our faith and the Gospel to the fullest. As the Acts of the Apostles says about him, "He was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith" (11:24). This led one commentator to write this: "Barnabas was one of those just and faithful servants to whom the success of the Gospel was far more important than his own. He willingly sought and sponsored Saint Paul until the latter outshone him in renown, apparently without any thought to seeking the competitive edge. Humility in God's service brings its own success" (Magnificat, 150). When I read that commentary, I thought about the words of Saint John the Baptist when Jesus came upon the scene, "I must decrease, so that he will increase." We need to move out of the way so that the work of Christ can be done. Our Lord will guide and direct in all things. As we celebrate Saint Barnabas, let us not give up or lose hope, but let us be encouraged so that in all things, God will be glorified! Saint Barnabas, Pray for Us!!!

The Two Hearts of Love!!!

On June 7 & 8, the Church celebrates two beautiful feasts: The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. These hearts are filled with unconditional, merciful, forgiving, compassionate love. As the psalmist writes, "The designs of his Heart are from age to age, to rescue their souls from death, and to keep them alive in famine" (Ps. 33:11,19). The quote that really says it all for the feast of the Sacred Heart and I believe for the Immaculate Heart of Mary as well, is this one from Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, "The essential nucleus of Christianity is expressed in the Heart of Jesus: in Christ the whole of the revolutionary newness of the Gospel was revealed and given to us: the Love that saves us and already makes us live in God's eternity. Even our shortcomings, our limitations, and our weaknesses must lead us back to the Heart of Jesus. His divine Heart calls to our hearts, inviting us to come out of ourselves, to abandon our human certainties to trust in him and, following his example, to make of ourselves a gift of love without reserve" (Magnificat, 101). The Blessed Virgin Mary leads us in the direction of her divine Son! May our hearts be transformed so that they will become like the hearts of Jesus and Mary and we can share that unconditional love with others!!!

The Blessed Eucharist

Last week, the priests of the Salina Diocese were on retreat.  We had a wonderful speaker in the retired Archbishop of San Francisco, Archbishop John Quinn.  He spoke to us as priests and on the last day he gave us 10 commandments in living our lives as priests, as well as human beings.  Central to our lives needs to be our relationship with Jesus Christ and him present in the Eucharist.  Today we celebrate the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.  This is a topic that we can talk about everyday.  God loves us so much that He sent His only Son into the world and Jesus gave us his Body and Blood.  Jesus says that we will offer this in memory of him until the day he returns.  The Mass is our central act of worship and the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith.  Let us be thankful for the gift of the Eucharist and always receive our Lord with love, reverence, and respect!!!!

Trinity Sunday

The calendar uses the title, "The Most Holy Trinity"!!!  The Trinity is a beautiful gift of love.  God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to be our Savior.  Before he returned to the Father, Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would come.  The Spirit shows the love that the Father and the Son has for us.  The Trinity is a great mystery of our faith.  In fact, I had a semester long course on the Trinity in the seminary.  At the end of the semester the only thing that came  to our mind is that the Trinity is a mystery.  It is a beautiful mystery of love.  As we celebrate the Holy Trinity, let us thank God for the gift of love and always share that love with others!!!!!!!  Have a blessed weekend!!!

Saint Rita of Cascia

"The Lord has taken her as his bride for ever in faithfulness and mercy" (Hos 2:21-22). This is the Entrance Antiphon for the memorial of Saint Rita of Cascia. She can be a saint for our time, being canonized in 1900. Saint Rita is an example of determination, strength, and perseverance. As one commentary stated, her marriage was decided by her parents. Her husband turned out to be violent and unfaithful. Following his death and the death of her sons, Rita followed her original plan and became a nun. Another commentary says, "Suffering bitter trials throughout her life, she was sustained by a deep devotion to the Passion of Christ" (Magnificat, 315). Now, Saint Rita is a patron saint for those going through difficult cases, especially those of marriage. In our society today, we see the attack on our religious freedom and on marriage and family. We need the prayers and intercession of Saint Rita so much! As we celebrate this memorial, may we trust in her intercession before the throne of God and be assured that the saints are with us in our journey on earth. Like Saint Rita, when we encounter trials, may we focus on the Passion of Christ, because our Lord has gone before us and he invites us to follow in his footsteps with the promise of eternal life ever before us. Saint Rita of Cascia, Pray for Us!!!

Prayers for Oklahoma!

Our thoughts and prayers this morning are with the community of Moore, Oklahoma as they begin the healing and clean up process in the wake of the devastating tornado on May 20. Many areas have been dealing with severe weather, including our own this past weekend, but to see the devastation and loss of life is heartbreaking. As one reporter said, there is only so much that you can see through a television tube, but to be on the ground here really shows the magnitude and impact of this event. Another person with a home video simply said, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away"! Some of the people that television reporters talked to spoke of prayer and faith. Those are the gifts that sustain us in our journey, especially when we encounter trials and tribulations. I would also refer you to scripture, especially Sirach 2:1-11, which is the first reading for today's Mass. The caption before the passage says very simply, "Prepare yourself for trials." The conclusion to the first paragraph gives us another gift that we need, "Trust God and God will help you; trust in him, and he will direct your way; keep his fear and grow old therein." No matter what we encounter in life: personal, spiritual, emotional, natural disaster, etc., we need our faith, our prayer life, and trust. Sometimes things are easier said than done, but we cannot give up or lose hope. We keep trying and with God's grace we will succeed. We turn our prayers and support to the community of Moore! May God bless them and grant them the faith, strength, hope, and trust to endure and re-build!

May Birthdays

May has always been the month of Mary.  Many places celebrate May crownings at the beginning of the month.  The Rosary is a common prayer to pray during May and hopefully everyday as Our Lady has requested.  May, like any other month, is a time to celebrate birthdays.  I have several friends who celebrate birthdays in May.  Of course, my birthday is also in May, so why not talk about these celebrations of our birth.  Over the weekend, two birthdays were remembered.  On Saturday, May 18, it would have been Blessed John Paul II 93rd birthday.  What a beautiful gift our Holy Father was of the Church.  Now, we await his canonization to the altars of sainthood.  Then, on May 19, the Church celebrated her birthday with the Solemnity of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.  The Holy Spirit guides the Church in her day to day mission of proclaiming the Good News and sharing the love of God with others!  This is a wonderful time to celebrate and thank God for the many blessings He bestows upon us.  Let us not forget, in the midst of our celebrations to recommit ourselves to live our lives, our faith to the fullest.  May God bless us in all we do for His glory and the good of others!  

Nothing to be sad about!

"For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, while the Pharisees acknowledge all three" (Acts 22:30; 23:6-11).  When I was in the seminary, a monk was on the staff who had a great sense of humor.  He would say on occasions, "The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, that is why they are sadd-u-cee"!  Even though time has past, that is still a quote that I remember.  Of course, there is no reason to be sad because we believe in the resurrection and we know that Jesus is victorious over sin and death.  In the same passage from the Acts of the Apostles, Paul is told to have courage.  As he was a witness in Jerusalem, so he will be a witness in Rome.  We are called to be witnesses of the Lord's resurrection.  Belief in the resurrection is a major component of the faith and we are filled with hope and joy.  Yes, we experience sorrow and sadness in our lives but hopefully it does not take hold and let go because we have hope and joy.  Let us be those faithful witnesses in the world because we are truly a resurrection people.  God Bless You!!!

Saint Isidore!

My mom was born and raised on a farm in Northeast Oklahoma. Every year, my parents and I spent our vacation time with my grandmother, uncle and aunt on the farm. It was definitely a nice change of pace and being able to experience farm life on a daily basis was a wonderful experience. Serving in a rural diocese and in farming communities gives me a wonderful appreciation for what farmers and their families go through as they live their vocation. Farming takes a lot of faith and trust. The farmer can do their part by tilling the soil, planting the seed, and doing the jobs that need to be done, but when it comes to the weather and making sure everything falls right, that is up to God. Today, the Church in the United States celebrates the patron saint of farmers, Saint Isidore. As the biography states: "Isidore was a pious layman who would pray for long periods while guiding his plow. He often spent holidays on pilgrimage to local shrines. There are legends about angels assisting him in his farm labors. He was caring toward animals and generous to the poor. Isidore's wife, Maria de la Cabeza, is also a saint. He is patron of Madrid, of farmers, and of rural communities" (Magnificat, 198). Another source said that Isidore is the patron of the National Rural Life Council for the United States. We can say that Isidore is a tremendous example of stewardship because he took care of the gifts and resources that God gave to him. We are called to be good stewards of God's creation and bear fruit in everything that we do. May God bless our farmers, their families, all who work the land, and their crops. May God provide the weather and conditions needed to produce an abundant harvest. Saint Isidore, Pray for Us!!!

Saint Matthias

"Because he had been a witness to the Lord's resurrection, Saint Matthias was chosen by the other apostles to take the place of Judas. The Acts of the Apostles (1:15-26) tells of how he was numbered among the Twelve" (Magnificat, 184). There were two individuals to consider, Joseph called Barsabbas and Matthias. When the lots were cast they pointed in the direction of Matthias and so he became the next apostle. One of the other commentaries talked about how those early apostles cast lots for their new member and the College of Cardinals still have the Conclave to elect a new Pope. That commentator went on to write that we may never be appointed a bishop or elected to be pope, but we can be a witness like Saint Matthias. We don't aspire to great things, but its the small things that make the difference. In the gospel for today, John 15:9-17, Jesus gives us the commandment of love. If we love one another, then they will know that we are Christians and disciples. Let us go forth to be those witnesses of the Lord in the world and share the love of God with one another! Saint Matthias, Pray for Us!!!

Our Lady of Fatima

The Blessed Virgin Mary has many beautiful titles and today we celebrate one of them, Our Lady of Fatima.  This is truly a title for our time because Our Lady appeared to the three shepherd children during a period of months in 1917!  Two of the children, Jacinta and Francisco, died early, but Lucia, who became a nun lived until 2005.  She passed away several months before Blessed John Paul II.  Who can forget May 13, 1981, when Pope John Paul II was shot as he went around St. Peter's Square.  I was in grade school at the time and I remember the teacher bringing a television into the class room so we could see the coverage.  Thankfully, the Holy Father recovered, and he always thanked Our Lady of Fatima.  As he said, "It was a motherly hand that guided the bullet through his body."  Our Lady always takes care of us!  Mary is the Mother of God and the Mother of us all.  We have a great intercessor and today we can say, Our Lady of Fatima, Pray for Us!!!

Ascension Sunday!!!

Several provinces in the United States retained the holy day of Ascension on Thursday, while the other provinces transferred the feast to Sunday.  That rings true for us in the Diocese of Salina as we gather this weekend in our parishes to celebrate the Ascension of The Lord.  This is a solemnity that calls to mind our mission as disciples of Jesus.  The disciples went out to meet The Lord and has he blessed them he ascended into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of the Father.  The disciples still remained until the angel told them to go back into the city because Jesus will return.  We are witnesses of the resurrected and ascended Lord and we have work to do as we proclaim the Good News, not just with words, but with our lives!!!  Have a blessed Ascension and weekend!!!  Happy Mother's Day to all mothers!!!  God bless you all!!!!

A Faithful Resource!

As a gift to my parishioners, I purchased a subscription to the bulletin insert, "Growing in FAITH". The insert comes out monthly and I always try to put it in our bulletins the first of the month. The title reads very simply, "Discovering hope and joy in the Catholic faith." I used that title in my homily this morning as I spoke about Saint Damien of Molokai, whose memorial is celebrated today. Saint Damien is a saint for our time and a saint for the Year of Faith. He was beatified by Blessed John Paul II in 1995 and canonized a saint by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in 2009. Saint Damien came from Belgium to the United States, namely Hawaii, and ministered to people who had leprosy. As it states in "Growing in FAITH", "Horrified by the conditions, Fr. Damien built schools, churches, hospitals, and sanitation facilities. He bestowed dignity and hope and served until his death from the disease in 1889." Saint Damien is a faithful example for all of us. He truly brought the hope and joy of the risen Christ to those whom he ministered to! As a resurrection people and witnesses, we are called to bring hope and joy to all whom we meet. May Saint Damien intercede for us, that no matter what we encounter in life, we may have the grace and strength to proclaim the Good News to all peoples and in all situations! God Bless our journey!!!

Knights of Columbus

I have been a member of the Knights of Columbus for 20 years. I joined the Knights in June of 1993 while I was a seminarian and working at a parish in Manhattan, Kansas. Soon after ordination as a priest, I received the second and third degree of the Order. Then in 1999, I became a Fourth Degree Knight. It has been a wonderful journey and to be associated with some wonderful councils in the parishes I have served. In 2008, I was appointed State Chaplain for the Kansas State Council and served until 2010. From there I became the State Father Prior for the Columbian Squires and served until 2012! I have a great love and respect for the Knights of Columbus and still enjoy getting together for the State Convention. I was not able to attend the full convention this year but went to Overland Park for the golf tournament which was cold, windy, wet. We made it through six holes before calling it quits. I was able to see the state officers that evening and renew those friendships in person. For those men who read this blog and are not a member of the Knights of Columbus I would encourage you to join. Become part of the right arm of the Church and do what you can for the local church and community. If you are a Knight, consider attending the meetings and let us work to make our local councils active and involved as much as we can. Let us continue to seek the intercession of the founder of the Knights of Columbus, the Venerable Servant of God, Father Michael J. McGivney. May God soon raise him to the altars of sainthood. Vivat Jesus!!!!

Have Faith!!!

Jesus says in the gospel for today, "Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid" (John 14:27-31a). Another translation would read, "You have faith in God, have faith also in me." Our Lord is thirsting for our faith, just like the Samaritan woman at the well. We live in a troubled world and society but these words of Jesus are loud and clear. Yes, we may have fear, questions, and doubts but Jesus tells us to have faith. Today is also the memorial of Saint Pius V, a Dominican who went on to become Pope. As the Roman Pontiff, Pius V, implemented the reforms that were begun at the Council of Trent, he promoted the spread of the faith, and renewed divine worship (Source: "Magnificat, 417-18). Even though times, situations, and circumstances have changed we need to live our faith and live it to the fullest!!! May Saint Pius V intercede for us and may this Year of Faith be a time to renew and strengthen our relationship with Christ so that we will take his words to heart and have faith. God Bless You!!!

Return to Blog!!!!

I apologize for the long delay in getting another blog posted. Since my last entry, there was a lot going on in the parishes and school. Then, last week, I was able to go on a much needed break. I spent the week in North Little Rock, Arkansas visiting Father Tom. I am grateful for his friendship and his hospitality. It was a great time to get away and get the batteries recharged. Over the weekend, our parishes hosted our Mission Coop Appeal, and we were happy to welcome a lay missionary from the Maryknoll Missionaries. He talked about his experience in Kenya, our role as missionaries, and the commandment of love that Jesus gave to us in the gospel. Today, we celebrate the memorial so Saint Catherine of Siena. Her biography said that she was on fire with the love of God and others. We pray that we may be on fire with God's love and be an example to one another. Thank you for your patience and it is a joy to proclaim the Good News with the technology at our fingertips. We need to do our part to be missionaries, to live the love of God and neighbor, and proclaim the Good News, not just with words, but with our very lives!!!! God Bless You!!!!!!!!

Saying "YES" to Discipleship!

Jesus tells us in the gospels that if we want to be his disciples, we need to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow him. Following our Lord is saying "YES" to his call and the call to live discipleship. Being disciples of the Lord is a way of life and it calls for faith, trust, commitment, and dedication. The first reading from Mass today is from the Acts of the Apostles, 7:51-8:1a. This passage is about the stoning of Saint Stephen. There is a wonderful commentary that speaks to what the Easter season is about, the life of St. Stephen, and what it means to be a disciple. "Lest the Easter season, with its emphasis on life, tempt us to euphoria, the Church today sets before us the example of Stephen, first of martyrs, icon of the Crucified. The tomb remains the prelude to the glory until the end of time. Life in Christ is always costly, and always worth the cost" (Magnificat, 247). That concluding line really stood out for me, "Life in Christ is always costly, and always worth the cost." We never know what crosses we will carry in our lives but we have the assurance that the Lord is always with us. He will give us the grace and strength that we need to persevere! Do not be afraid to follow Christ! Do not be afraid to say "YES" to being his disciple!!! Following Christ is costly, but always worth the cost! God Bless You!!!

The Presence of God!!

As one commentator states, "Signs point to the presence of God" (Loose-Leaf Lectionary, 3600). In the gospel for this Friday of the Second Week of Easter, John 6:1-15, Jesus feeds five thousand. As we journey through life, all we need to do is look around us and we can see the presence of God! The Author and Creator of life works miracles and gives us signs and wonders to show us that He is around and that He is in control. The gospel acclamation for today even proves that point, "One does not live on bread alone, but one very word that comes forth from the mouth of God." With God, we live, move, and have our being. Of course, we need to do our part as well. The commentator from the beginning concluded the commentary by offering this: "Ultimately the challenge present in today's liturgy is the following: to be a sign of God's love for others or not to be a sign of this love. That is really the question" (LLL, 3600). As we continue celebrating the glory of Easter, we are witnesses to God's love in the world and of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Being renewed by word and sacrament, let us continue to do our part to bring God's love and the joy of the resurrection to others. When we live our lives and our faith, we can truly make the presence of God known!!! Bless You!!!

Easter Joy

The feelings of Easter joy are not confined to just the Easter Season, but everyday of our lives. Every Sunday is a celebration of The Lord's Resurrection, so why is Easter Sunday the most crowded day at church, next to Christmas? As I was watching the people set up chairs for the overflowing crowds on Easter Sunday I said, "It would be nice if we had to do this every Sunday!" This past weekend for example at one of the Masses someone asked me why it was a small crowd and I responded, "It's the post-Easter crowd." Just think what our Lord did for us by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. God loves us so much and just thinking of that every minute of every day needs to provide us with daily Easter joy! God Bless You!!!!!!!

We Are the Messengers!!!

In the gospel from Easter Monday, Matthew 28:8-15, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away from the tomb to announce the news to the disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead. From our gospel today, John 20:11-18, Mary Magdalene is at the tomb and she encounters our risen Lord. She did not recognize him at first but when he called her by name, then she knew it was Jesus. Our Lord instructed her to go and tell the news to his disciples. It was the women who announced the Good News with great joy, Jesus Christ has broken the bonds of sin and death and has risen from the tomb! As one commentator wrote, we need to follow the example of Mary Magdalene and proclaim this Good News in our present day!!! Many people are thirsting for God and thirsting for the message that Jesus has risen from the dead and we need to be those messengers! As Jesus says to us, "Do not be afraid!" May we have the courage to proclaim the Good News like the early disciples and let the world know that Jesus Christ has arisen- Amen, Alleluia!!!

Blessings of Easter

A Happy and Blessed Easter to everyone!!!! We had two wonderful themes during Lent and Holy Week, "Let Go, Let God," and "Jesus loves you, and there is NOTHING you can do about it"!!!!! Now we gather at the empty tomb for The Lord has truly risen!!!! God is still working in our lives and hopefully we can feel His presence at all times. Of course, His love is unconditional, so let us be open to what God has in store for us as we continue our journey of life and faith!!! Christ is Risen, Amen, Alleluia!!!!!!!

Holy Week Theme

On Saturday, as I was making my last preparation for Palm Sunday, I received a message that made me think and it is a great theme for us, not just this week, but every day of our lives. The person that sent the message heard it in a Catholic radio station where they live. The message is this, "Jesus loves you and there is NOTHING you can do about it"!!! That is how I began my homily for Palm Sunday. I went on to say that Jesus invites us and he wants us to come along on this journey with him! Do not be afraid because to get to the resurrection we need to go through the cross. No matter the crosses we carry in our lives, Jesus is always there. May God bless us in our journey through Holy Week!!!!

Chrism Mass 2013

Yesterday, with our bishop, the priests and faithful of the Diocese of Salina gathered at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Salina to celebrate the Chrism Mass. The Mass is a beautiful one and I always look forward to it. One, we get to witness the bishop blessing the holy oils that will be used in our parishes over the next year- Oil of Catechumen, Oil of the Sick, and Sacred Chrism. Secondly, the priests of the diocese renew their promises of priestly service. As I type this blog today, there is the feeling of joy and of being renewed in the priesthood that God has called me to live. We are also grateful for the jubilarians who offer an example to all of us. One priest is celebrating 50 years, two priests are celebrating 40 years, and one priest is celebrating 25 years. This year of 2013 marks my 16th year as a priest. As our bishop talked about in his homily, the senior priests have much to offer to our junior priests, while the junior priests have much to offer to our senior priests! We can learn from each other as we live this priestly fraternity together. If you ever get the chance to attend the Chrism Mass, I would encourage you to do so. It is a wonderful time to thank God for the gifts that He has given to the Church and to thank Him for the call to the priesthood! The Chrism Mass prepares us to enter fully into Holy Week next week. May God richly bless our journey!!!

Psalm 51

Last week, the Sacrament of Reconciliation was offered to the students at the Catholic School where I am pastor. I put together a prayer service to set the tone and give them an opportunity to listen to God and allow Him to work in their lives in a special way. The service that I had for them began with Psalm 51. I used the shorter version that was in the missalette, but for the penance services that I have had for the parishes, we have recited the entire psalm. I fell in love with this penitential psalm when I was in the seminary. It is the first psalm that is used for morning prayer every Friday in the Liturgy of the Hours. The psalm calls to mind our sinfulness, but it also reminds us of the great love and mercy that God has for us. I would encourage you to take the time and pray Psalm 51. Hopefully it will touch your heart like it has touched mine. God Bless You on your journey!!!

Saint Joseph

Today is the beautiful Solemnity of Saint Joseph, the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary!!! This also happens to be my patronal feast day since Saint Joseph is not only my patron saint, but it is also my middle name!! I am blessed to have a wonderful patron like Joseph because of his example and how he lived as the husband of Mary and the foster-father of Jesus. We know that Joseph was an upright man and he was going to divorce Mary quietly because she was with child. However the angel of The Lord appeared to him and told him to not be afraid and take Mary as his wife. Joseph followed the dream and accepted the will of God in his life. The call to not be afraid is a beautiful one. The angel told Mary and Joseph to not be afraid, Jesus told his listeners to not be afraid, and in our own time, Blessed John Paul II said do not be afraid. May we follow the example of Saint Joseph, to not be afraid, and allow God to work in our lives in a special way! Saint Joseph, Pray for Us!!!!

Ministry of Reconciliation!

Since Lent began, I have been encouraging the faithful to experience the love, mercy, forgiveness of God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is a ministry that has been entrusted to us. It is a very beautiful and moving ministry because many times you will encounter someone who has been away from the sacrament for a long period of time. The feelings they have and the emotions they share is a gift because God is truly working in their life in a special way! If you have been away from the Sacrament of Reconciliation for a long time, please consider making going this Lent. We are a week away from Holy Week and the celebration of the Paschal Festivities. What a great way to enter into the Easter Time with mind and heart renewed! Let us make time for God because He always has time for us! God needs to be number one in our lives because with God all things are possible. Let us make the move to get our relationship with God on track because when we get our spiritual lives in order, than everything else should fall into place. May the ministry of reconciliation be a blessing to you and your journey of faith!!!

Pope Francis

Today, the Church truly rejoices in the election of Pope Francis as the 266th Successor of St. Peter! What a joy to mention the Holy Father's name in the Eucharistic Prayer! I pray that God will bless Pope Francis and bless his ministry as he begins his Pontificate!!!

Conclave 2013

This is a significant and historic time in the Church. As I write this blog, the Conclave has begun and the first vote did not elect a Pope. I made the comment with it being dark in Rome if we could see the black smoke come out and lo and behold it came rolling out. Only one vote was scheduled on the first day and four the next however many days. The bottom line is, let us keep the Cardinal-electors in prayer as the Conclave continues and let us look forward to the white smoke announcing that a new Holy Father has been elected. Come Holy Spirit, and guide the Cardinals and the Church as we continue the mission entrusted to us by our Lord!

The Love of God

God's love is unconditional!!!!!! The most beautiful example of God's love is that He sent His only Son to be our Savior and Redeemer!!!! Jesus loves us so much that he endured his passion and death so that we would have forgiveness of our sins and through his resurrection the hope of eternal life!!!! We have all been created out of love because God, the Creator of all human life wanted to share His love with others. Jesus speaks about the great commandments of love, to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbor as ourself!!! When we live the great commandments of love, we are ultimately living the Ten Commandments. The first three commandments focus on love of God while the final seven focus on love of neighbor. Love is a gift that we pray for every day! As God loves us, so may we love one another! God Bless You!!!

The Voice of God!

The caption for the prophet Jeremiah says today, "This is the nation that will not listen to the voice of the Lord God." The prophet goes on to say what the Lord said, "This is what I commanded my people: Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper" (Jeremiah 7:23-28). The Psalmist picks up on this in Psalm 95: "If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts." How true all of this is. The voice of the Lord is always speaking to us. We can listen to His voice in Sacred Scripture, in prayer, and in the voices of others. I remember being at a vocation event some years ago and one of the priests that was speaking said this, "I do not believe there is a shortage of vocations, but a shortage of listeners." That makes sense because if God is calling us to a respective vocation, we need to listen and discern His voice. The same is true in all aspects of life, God is calling out to us, He is speaking to us, but, are we listening? That is the key and we know that listening is an acquired discipline. Let us pray for the grace to hear with our physical ears, as well as the ears of faith, because the voice of God is speaking to us! God Bless You!!!

No Counting Forgiveness!

One of the commentaries for today started out with this line, "Forgiveness cannot be calculated." It went on to say that if we are keeping a tally of how many times we forgive and are getting close to Jesus' comments about forgiving seventy-seven times, then we are not forgiving at all. The context for today is the Gospel of Saint Matthew, 18:21-35. Peter approached our Lord and asked, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus responded by saying, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy seven times." Truly, we cannot put a count on forgiveness, it is an unconditional gift. Our ultimate example is Jesus on the cross when he forgives those who have done this to him, "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do." Those examples continue down to our present day. The one example I always like to reference is when Blessed John Paul II went to visit the man who tried to assassinate him in 1981. I call that the example of forgiveness heard around the world. I don't know how many would do that because in our world we think of violence and revenge, instead of forgiveness. However, this Lenten Time is a great reminder of how much God's loves us and how His forgiveness is unconditional. We experience the love, mercy, compassion, forgiveness of God in a special way when we approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation. As God forgives us, may we have the grace and courage to do the same. There is no counting when it comes to forgiveness, it is unconditional! God Bless You!!!

Whose in Charge?

This is the first weekend that we will not say Benedict's name in the Eucharistic Prayer. Our prayer is that God will grant Benedict XVI special graces and good health. We also pray for the College of Cardinals as they begin their meetings on Monday in preparation for the Conclave. The Cardinals are in charge of the Church while we are in the "Interregnum" period. However, in his final address, Benedict XVI told us who is in charge: "Christ is in the boat. The bark of Peter is not mine, it is not ours, but it is his, and he will not let it sink." As we heard in the gospel from Friday, Jesus is the cornerstone. It is him that we place our faith and our trust. When we listen to the gospel of the woman at the well, which we hear for the First Scrutiny, we know Jesus has the words of eternal life and he is the water that we drink from and we will never be thirsty. God is ultimately in charge of the Church and everything else as the Creator of all. He sent His only Son to be our Savior and we truly rejoice and are glad. God is in charge! Jesus is in the boat! With that, we have nothing to be afraid of. Have a blessed weekend!!!!

Strong Foundation!!!

Jesus says, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes." This passage came from Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46. The context is the landowner who planted the vineyard and went on a journey. When it came time for harvest, the landowner sent servants to the tenants and they killed them. The landowner finally sent his son but he received the same fate. Of course, Jesus asks his listeners what the landowner will do to those tenants. Our Lord's parable speaks of him and what our Heavenly Father has done. God sent His only Son into the world to save us and His only Son was put to death. However, three days after his crucifixion, the Son rose from the dead. Jesus is the cornerstone, the strong foundation that we build our lives and our faith upon. In all circumstances, Jesus Christ will always be with us. Let us place our whole faith and trust in him who has saved us by his death and resurrection, and let us not be afraid! Have a blessed day!!!