"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!!!!