The Best New Year’s Resolutions

Dear Parishioners,

I wonder why there is such emphasis placed on New Year’s resolutions? I guess for some things, we need a reason to start or a deadline to begin. I don’t know. I am not good with these resolutions. But as far as improvement goes, I can always use some of that! I don’t need the calendar to tell me. Christ holds up such ideals and such wisdom. I can certainly pray more and pray better. There is such pain and suffering in the world, and just with the small group of people that I know. How about the larger society or the bigger world? My prayer could be more intense, too. How many times am I interrupted or my attention sways? They say that God knows what we ask for before we ask. But I think it helps to be on the same page. So, God help me to pray this year. I spend lots of time in the car in silence or with the radio on. Maybe I could do a rosary or listen to a religious CD? God, help me to use my time for you.

I enjoy my perspective of the Mass from the altar, especially at communion. People come to communion with all sorts of expressions and need. But I get distracted and worry about what I have to say or do. God, give me patience and true trust in you. I have done a lot of ministry. I have done retreats and work with men, youth, and couples. But am I present to others who need to hear God’s word or to feel God’s presence? Lord, give me the energy and focus to minister to your people in a way that is healing and faithful. And Lord, help me always to be open to your Spirit who teaches and enlivens and leads us to You! Well how’s that for 2019? I think I will have a busy year!

Blessing,
Deacon Steve

Immitating our Blessed Mother

Dear Parishioners,

Advent draws to a close, it is fitting that we shift our attention from John the Baptist to Mary (Mi 5:1-4a; Heb 10:5-10; Lk 1:39-45). Afterall, if Mary had not said “yes” to the Angel Gabriel (Luke 1:26-38), there would be no Christmas. Mary has just learned that her cousin Elizabeth is pregnant also and in her sixth month. So she sets out in “haste” to visit and help her cousin. That journey was not easy. It took 4 days over the rugged hilly landscape. It goes to show how thoughtful and considerate Mary was to Elizabeth. But she is also that way to us if we call out to her for help.

Let us pray for God’s grace to reach out in compassion and haste to help those who need us as we strive to imitate our Blessed Mother and make her proud to call us her children.

Fr. Carl

Advent… Get Excited About It!

Dear Parishioners,

The season of Advent is when we await the joyful presence of the Christ child. We have much to be thankful for and much to be joyful about. I know that joy is not a common experience these days. But we should be anxious with anticipation and preparation! Can we look at all this differently so we just don’t see the gifts, hectic shopping, food preparation and the family drama?

The God of the universe intentionally sent his Son to us human beings, because He wished to save us from our sinfulness. He transformed himself into a fully human being so that he might walk among us and share in our lives. He did this to teach us, to show us, to walk among us, to be gift, to let himself be known. We celebrate the fact that this really happened, and we are called to participate. We are among the shepherds who see the star. We are among the people at the inn who hear about the couple with child. We are among the people who see the family along the road. This is our Catholic story. This was done for our benefit. Let us get excited about it! Let us feel something beyond our ordinary feelings. Let us stand at the manger, there in front of the beautiful young mother, the firm father, and God’s seed of love, the Christ child; and offer them our thanks, our gratitude, our awe, and our love. In the quiet of the night, let us take in the sight of that young family embarking on a journey that will change our lives. Let us simply watch and take it in!

Let us also be joyful about Fr. Rob’s ordination. Congratulations Fr. Rob!

May God bless you in your vocation. May you minister well in the aura of light coming from the Christ child.

Blessings all for a beautiful and holy Advent,
Deacon Steve

Prepare Your Heart For Christmas

Dear Parishioners,

This week and next, John the Baptist appears on the scene to prepare the people of his time for the coming of Christ (Luke 3:1-6). None of us needs much urging to prepare for Christ’s coming at Christmas. We shop, bake, decorate, and send cards. And while all of that helps put us in the right and generous mood for Christmas, more is required to prepare us for Christ. There are spiritual preparations called for by John the Baptist. We need to level the mountains of pride, arrogance, and greed in our hearts and fill in the valleys of spiritual laziness (sloth) and indifference to the needs of others.

We are called to expand our hearts in generosity to God and neighbor.

Some ways to do this are through family prayer, attend an extra Mass during the week, giving alms or a gift to the poor and needy, or reading a short continuing section from the Gospel of Luke each night before bed. And certainly the most important thing as John proclaims is repentance for the forgiveness of sins through the Sacrament of Confession available each Saturday afternoon from 3:30-4:30pm or by making an appointment with Fr. Carl at the rectory.

May you have a blessed Advent which will lead to a truly Merry Christmas.
Fr. Carl

Happy Advent!

Dear Parishioners,

As we begin our journey through Advent, let us be mindful of the importance of the season. While the Old Testament demonstrates the revelation of God to his people, Advent represents the coming of Christ to us, his people. The birth of Christ is a significant event in our religious heritage. This great news was announced in Isaiah, spoken about by the prophets and prepared for us by the history of the Old Testament. In this beautiful event, God touches us with his presence in the form of a baby, brought about through the intercession of our virgin Mother Mary, with angels singing and shepherds in awe. Here we find our spiritual roots. Here we see our Christian beginnings. On that day of glorious birth, our joys and hopes are made real. This is the day when the heavens open up and the son of God is brought to us. In the utter poverty of a stable, the King of the Nations is born.

So let us prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ. Let us clear out the cobwebs of our weaknesses. Let us sweep clean our so-so lives with renewed practice and sacrifice. Let us wash our dusty homes of doubt and question. Let us pick up our prayer books and clasp our hands in much needed prayer. Christ is coming. Christ is the full revelation of God. Nothing needs to be added or should anything be subtracted. God has given us in Christ all we need to reach heaven. Let this season of Advent bring our faith to a heightened level of strength through love.

Happy Advent everyone,
Deacon Steve

Christ the King

Dear Parishioners,

This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. A recent celebration, it was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 to counter several bad trends. First, there was an overly sentimental view of Jesus. The second trend was the idea or view that Jesus was irrelevant to this world. Religion was one thing; your politics and economics are another matter. Religion should not enter into the discussion. Third, it was a time when totalitarian governments were gaining ground—the Fascists in Italy under Mussolini, the Nazis in Germany, under Hitler, and the Communists in Russia under Lenin and Stalin. The people existed to serve the state and not the state to serve the people which is the way it should be.

Pope Pius XI placed the feast on the last Sunday of October. That was the Sunday closest to All Saints to show Jesus was the King of All Saints. When the liturgical calendar was reformed after the Second Vatican Council, it was moved to the last Sunday of the Church year. It serves as a reminder that at the end of our lives and at the end of the world, we will come before the throne of Jesus to be judged. “The feast is intended to proclaim in a striking and effective manner, Christ’s royalty over individuals, families, society, governments, and nations.” If we all understood this, how much better we and the world would all be. Let us do what we can do to recognize Jesus not just as the King of the World but also as the King of our lives.

Fr. Carl

Sharing Our Time, Talent, and Treasure

Dear Parishioners,

This weekend’s readings deal with the end of the world and God’s judgment (Dn 12:1-3; Heb 10:11-14,18; Mk 13:24-32). It’s a very sobering thought that all of us will be judged by God. For some, the news will be welcome; for others, not so much. As Daniel says about that time of judgment, “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace. But the wise will shine brightly…”

Last week, the readings presented two women who shall live forever and shine brightly. These are the widows who generously, lovingly, and sacrificially gave to God and neighbor. They were good stewards. Last week, as we celebrated Veterans’ Day and the 100th anniversary of World War I, we also celebrated Stewardship Sunday. I talked about the gifts God has entrusted to us in this life—the gifts of Time, Talent, and Treasure. Of course, they ultimately belong to God who has made us their stewards while we live. Like all stewards, we will be called to give an account of how we used them. Hopefully, we will be able to imitate the widows of last week in generously sharing these gifts with God and neighbor.

Fr. Carl

The Widow's Mite

Dear Parishioners,

In this week’s gospel, Jesus tells the famous story of the widow’s mite (Mk 12:38-44). This poor woman without any source of income approaches the Temple and gives her last two coins. It wasn’t much, but it was all she could give. Last week, Jesus said that the greatest commandment was to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” This is what the widow did sacrificing all the money she possessed. What a great example for love to inspire us to greater generosity in giving our time, talent, and treasure.

Let’s contrast her attitude with that of some modern day Catholics. I hear and read in the media that because of recent scandals in the Church, some people are cutting back or stopping their contributions to show their disappointment and anger to the manner in which clerical abuse was handled. Perhaps some are even giving up the church and the faith. How sad that would be. During the widow’s time, the temple authorities were hardly models of virtue. Time and again, Jesus is tested by the religious leaders of his day. The widow could easily have justified keeping the coins for herself, but her love for God led her to give to Him through the Temple. Even has the widow been aware of the faults of the religious leaders, I cannot imagine her doing anything other than she did. Her heart was too full and generous to do anything other than give her coins to God.

Let us not overlook the sins of abuse and coverup. Let us continue to pray for the victims of abuse. But let us be generous to God with our time, talent, and treasure to help build up his kingdom on earth and heaven.

Fr. Carl

Love

Dear Parishioners,

Our readings today illustrate the commandments that Jesus has given us (Mk 12:28b-34). He asks us to love God with all our being and to love each other. Of course, these lead to a beautiful, full and balanced life if we follow them. There is no room for hatred, injustice, selfishness or pride. We are to bow down to worship God our Father, our creator, Jesus His son, our friend and Savior and the Holy Spirit, the gift of power that opens our minds and hearts. We are to love those in our lives who are on the journey with us. We are to love all humanity, for we are all children of God. We all know the commands of God. We know what he expects of us. It is in the doing that we often fail and fall down. It is that little anger or resentment, that selfish desire, that bad habit, that automatic thought that takes us away from God that we need to worry about. It is that stranger we don’t trust, that person who hurts us that we suspect, that individual whom we do not understand that we avoid. In little pieces, here and there, we cut ourselves off from God’s love, and we fail. Let us today hear God’s word, that perfect healing word, that life-giving word that extends us to the fullness of His love. Yes, it is risky. Yes, it is uncomfortable. Yes, it is challenging. But the Church has been carried on the shoulders of those who follow these commands for two millennium. Can we also carry it for a little while?

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Help Me, Jesus

Dear Parishioners,

I hate to admit it but sometimes it is hard to live out my faith.

I hope this isn’t shocking to people. The model of Christ sets a high standard for our thoughts and actions. Life for me contains many distractions and sometimes downright obstructions. I live with a wife, daughter, son-in-law, and their children, one of whom is a special needs child. To say the least, there are moods that flow through our house at times. I’m sure you know what I mean. The 4-year old has a blowout in her diaper which goes everywhere, or the 6-year old breaks something by bouncing her ball, or the daughter, who is pregnant, needs ice cream, or the son-in-law is looking in the crowded garage for a tool he needs to stop the faucet leak. Yeah, and then there is the need to get up early because I have a Communion service, and the phone says there is an accident on Rt. 2, but the Philadelphia Eagles game went late, and they lost, and I didn’t get to sleep until 2. My brother’s caretaker is calling because he can’t find his Medicare card. I put down my prayer book somewhere. And the car needs gas. Have you had those times and kind of lost your Christian attitude? You know you are to trust the Holy Spirit for grace and patience, but it ain’t working this morning! Life and faith sometimes have a head on collision.

At these times, I try to stop (not an easy task), take a breath, and pause for a second or maybe two seconds. I grab my thoughts (another hard one) and focus on the cross. I center on the cross. “Help me, Jesus” I say in a tired but sincere voice. “Help me, Jesus.” And somehow, things get right, and life is restored. For another day at least!

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

No Pain, No Gain

Dear Parishioners,

“No pain, no gain.”

I first heard this phrase 40 years ago from a U.S. Marine gunnery sergeant. At that time, I was at the Navy Chaplain School in Newport, RI. Gunny Crank was leading us through our morning PT exercises, and he noticed some of the chaplains were having difficulties, especially in the running. He was telling us that if we wanted to get in shape, there was going to be some pain in the process.

It’s the same in spiritual growth. Our natural inclination to be admired and valued is to do better than others so as to receive recognition and honor. So we strive to outdo others. That might be the way of the world, but it’s not the way of Jesus. True greatness for Jesus is service, and that’s painful because it hurts our pride for we want to be served. However, Jesus says, “Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant.” (Matt 20:26) Several popes have been given the title “Great” like “Leo the Great” and “Gregory the Great,” but their favorite title is “Servant of the Servants of God.” Now none of us is likely to be called “great” by those who survive us, but if we make it to heaven by serving God and neighbor, we will be great.

Fr. Carl

Respect Life Month

Dear Parishioners,

October is Respect Life month. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has labeled the theme for the month as “Every life: cherished, chosen and sent.” We are cherished by God, created in His image; chosen by God to be in relationship with Him; and sent by God to spread his love. The bishops are using the appearance of Mary, Mother of God to St. Juan Diego in 1531 as the backdrop for the month. If you recall, near present day Mexico City, Juan Diego encountered Mary who, in the form of Our Lady of Guadalupe, instructed him to ask the bishop to build a church for her and her son. This church, now the New Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City displays his cloak with Mary's glorious image.

Abortion is the main issue of Pro-life activities, with others being assisted suicide, issues at the end of life, contraception, persons with disabilities and healing from abortion. There are others.

In response to the encyclical of St. John Paul II called The Gospel of Life, the US bishops wrote in 1998, Living the Gospel of Life. Here they suggest that opposing abortion and euthanasia, “does not excuse indifference to those who suffer from poverty, violence and injustice. Any politics of human life must work to resist the violence of war and the scandal of capital punishment. Any politics of human dignity must seriously address issues of racism, poverty, hunger, employment, education, housing and health issues.” My view of Pro-life includes these many issues that impact Godly living. Let us this month, pray for and cherish the life of the unborn, the elderly, the disabled, the poor, the war torn, the victims of racism, the hungry, the homeless, the imprisoned, the uneducated and those suffering for lack of health care. God asks us, I believe, to go against all suffering and injustice.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

The Case For Marriage

Dear Parishioners,

This week’s scripture readings (Gn 2:18-24; Mk 10:2-16) deal with Holy Matrimony which goes all the way back to creation. In the Book of Genesis, we hear how delighted Adam is when Eve is given to him in the Garden of Eden. “This one at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” Even though Adam was in Eden with total control over the garden, something was missing—a partner that would complete him. And so Eve is created from a rib of Adam’s side to show that she is equal in dignity although different in other ways.

These days people in seeing so many failed marriages are more reluctant to enter into a life-long commitment and dedicating their lives to another person. But when you look at a couple married for a long time, you see how worthwhile it is. I have been reading a book entitled “The Case for Marriage.” The authors describe studies that show married people are happier, healthier, and better off financially. One study found that 40 percent of married men said they are very happy with life compared to 25 percent of unmarried men. Another study showed that marriage improves mental health. While still another study showed that married surgical patients were far less likely to die in the hospital than singles. As for finance, studies show husbands earn 10–40 percent more than unmarried men. In short, marriage is a win-win-win proposition. No wonder Adam was so pleased to be given a wife.

However, as those of you who are married know, a good marriage requires maturity, work, and sacrifice. But the benefits are surely worth the effort.

Finally, one reality not discussed in the book is the purpose of marriage. Actually there are two ends: procreation and mutual support to grow in holiness, so as to get to heaven. May God’s grace help our married couples in achieving those ends.

Fr. Carl

Gratefulness

Dear Parishioners,

Well, we have encountered the beginning of fall. You can feel it in the air, just a little cooler. Some trees agree with a few yellowing and reddening leaves. I appreciate the changing of the seasons. God has given us a world that is immensely interesting and changeable. My wife and I took a long walk on the eastern shore. The diversity of the trees was amazing. What was truly inspiring was the number and diversity of the butterflies we encountered. There were large Monarchs, black and purple ones, white ones. We saw several small, half-inch butterflies. And along the beach were numerous pieces of driftwood. Each was somewhat different in shape and hue. How can this be? The diversity of the world reflects the imagination of God. Just as every face of the people we meet is different, so are the manifestations of life: trees, butterflies, driftwood, clouds. I know that there are many troubles in this world. There are the effects of a terrible hurricane and its devastating and destructive impact on an entire region of the country. There are places in the west lost to raging fires. And there is a 6-year old civil war in Syria that has displaced millions and destabilized Europe. Yet in the midst of this turmoil, which we pray for, God offers us a simple and beautiful piece of the world to be in. Amid the strife and agony, there are small places of joy locked up in the presence of a small butterfly. Thank you Lord for your beauty and diversity.

Your wondrous imagination leads us to appreciate your greatness and creation. Thank you for the world you have given us. Help us to live in it with respect and appreciation, seeking not to destroy it with our selfishness and desire. It is a gift that sustains us. Make us wise in our use of it.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Pray, Hope, and Don’t Worry

Dear Parishioners,

Those of you who keep up with the news are aware of the problems in the Church. In the fifty years leading up to the year 2000, there were some priests, deacons, and seminarians who behaved shamefully. And the bishops failed in their responsibility to take appropriate corrective action and tried to cover up the problems. As we read in this week’s Gospel (Mk 9:30-37), the apostles Jesus chose acted poorly as they discussed who was the greatest. When questioned by Jesus, they were too embarrassed to tell him what they were discussing. The Church has always had a good portion of weak, sinful men and women.

But the Church has also had some great, wonderful saints! This weekend—Sept. 23rd—is the feast day of one of the great ones of the 20th century, St. Pio of Pietrelcina. He was more readily known as Padre Pio. Ordained in 1910, he spent a short time in the Italian army during WWI. In 1917, he was sent to the friary of San Giovanni Retondo on the Adriatic coast. A year later, while praying after Mass, he had a vision of Jesus. When it ended, he had the wounds of Jesus (the stigmata) on his hands, feet, and side. The stigmata has been given only to a few saints in the history of the Church and is a sign of sanctity. As news of him spread, busloads of people came to his 5:00am Mass and went to him for confession. Often he heard confession for 10–15 hours a day! One special gift was of bilocation or being in two places at the same time. Allied pilots during WWII while attempting to bomb the area around San Giovanni Retondo report seeing a Franciscan friar in robes flying along with their planes and were too intimidated to drop the bombs!

He so loved the Mass saying, “It is easier for the earth to exist without the sun than the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.” His motto was “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” That’s good advice for us all today.

God Bless,
Fr. Carl

Let Us Pray

Dear Parishioners,

We are a church of prayer. Prayer weaves through the other important areas of our faith such as liturgy, ministry, sacraments, and stewardship. We have unveiled a wooden box for prayer requests at the back of church. Father will check it weekly and personally pray over each request.

For me, we are a church of ministry and action, going out to the world to do what God has asked us and which Christ has amply demonstrated. But first and foremost, any action must be grounded in prayer. We pray. Right now in the history of our church, it is a time of prayer. It is time to focus on what our mission is—to live out the commandments of Christ and to believe in him in faith and love. We are to turn away from sin and seek the good and the holy. We are to love one another being examples of Christ’s love to all we meet.

Our church has been scandalized by forces of sin and evil, selfishness and betrayal. Is this the first time? These negative forces have always been present in one form or another. Our church has survived not because of its people, however wonderful and faith-filled they have been. No, it is the Holy Spirit who has brought us beyond our human weaknesses. We are the bride of Christ, the Church, and at times the bride has been unfaithful. So, let us pray. Let us look at our faith. Let us be strong and caring members of this wounded church. May the Holy Spirit be strong in our midst, guide us and perfect in us our role as members of the Catholic Church.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Discrimination

Dear Parishioners,

Discrimination has been very much in the news over the last 50 years. I remember hearing about the race riots in 1968 (I was away in the U.S. Navy at the time). And hardly a day goes by that you don’t hear about some form of racial, sexual, or religious discrimination. In today’s reading from the Letter of James (James 2:1-5), we hear of a different kind of discrimination. It’s called favoritism. St. James describes a rich man fashionably dressed with gold rings entering an assembly and being well received. Whereas a poor man who enters the same assembly being rudely treated. They should both be treated with respect and dignity since they are both created in the image and likeness of God. Of course, it’s natural to behave like the assembly as we are attracted to some people and unattracted to others. Still we are rational creatures, and our minds should override our feelings. That’s why God gave us one.

However, there are times when our failure to discriminate leads us astray. Power and money can blind us from seeing the difference between good and evil, obeying the law or skirting the law, going along with the crowd or going away from it. In the news, we see how those failures to discriminate have resulted in tragic consequences for those who fail to do so.

Let us pray for an end to unjust discrimination and the wisdom to discriminate between sinful and unethical moral choices. We will be happier if we do.

Fr. Carl

Prayer

Dear Parishioners,

We had a Bridge to Christ prayer service last Sunday evening. A number of people attended, each with prayer requests for people they love and are concerned about. It is a reverent service where we name individuals and pause to pray.

Prayer is a major work of our faith. In prayer, we connect with Christ directly through the Holy Spirit. Prayer allows us to open our heart to God and allows us to enter into God's heart. He hears us and although he doesn't often respond immediately; in prayer we are in His presence. This is good for us. It is refreshing and healing simply to pray as it is opens us up to the greater good of God and gets us out of ourselves. Prayer teaches us that we can’t do this life by ourselves. We are in relationship with others and with God. This is most evident in prayer. It is also the easiest action we can take. It only requires focused attention, silence and time. It can be short and to the point or a slow unwinding of deep care and thanksgiving. I believe and hope that God appreciates our efforts in prayer. Please consider attending our next Bridge to Christ prayer service in October. It will be advertised in the bulletin. In the meantime, exercise your spirit, and talk with God. He and you will appreciate the conversation.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

To Whom Shall We Go?

Dear Parishioners,

“This saying is hard, who can accept it?” These words spoken by the disciples at the beginning of today’s gospel (John 6:60-69) come at the end of a long sermon given by Jesus (John 6:22-59). Basically, he has been saying that if the people want real nourishment, they must come to them. He will feed them with his word and wisdom and especially with his very own flesh and blood. Several times his listeners have questioned how this could be, but Jesus continues to affirm his claim to feed them through his word and sacrament. However, many could not accept his teaching and left finding the teaching too hard. When Jesus questions the twelve if they too want to leave, Peter speaks up and says, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

The past several weeks, the Catholic Church has been shamed by the revelation that some clergy, including priests and bishops, have been guilty of abuse of seminarians and adolescents. Furthermore, there were often attempts to cover up the abuse. While the Church in America has made significant strides in the past 20 years to eliminate abuse, those who were victimized in the past still suffer the after effects. We need to pray for them and their healing.

In the wake of these scandals, one might be tempted to leave the faith. To paraphrase the opening of the gospel in regard to our belief that the Church is the Body of Christ, one might ask: “This saying is hard, who can accept it?” But then we are reminded that Jesus likened the Church to a dragnet cast into the sea to bring in bad fish as well as good (Matt 13:47-50), and a field that had tares mixed up with wheat (Matt 13:24). In a different vein, he said to the apostles in Luke’s gospel, “He who hears you hears me and he who rejects you rejects me.” And in Matthew’s gospel, he ends with these promising words, “And know that I am with you until the end of the world.” (Matt 28:20)

Besides… “to whom shall we go? You (Jesus) have the words of eternal life.”

Again, let us pray for the victims and the development of a process in the Church and wider society to ensure the safety of our young people.

Fr. Carl

We Are Not Alone

Dear Parishioners,

We recently had a Clergy Appreciation breakfast where I received a stone cross that bore the scripture, “Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God is with you always...” (Joshua 1:9). Those are beautiful words of reassurance inspired by God. I find myself needing them from time to time. It is easy to become discouraged, to lose confidence, to grow timid in the face of difficulty and stress. There are many sources of conflict and pressure that add to anxiety and stress. Sometimes life just throws stuff at you that you cannot control, and you must find a way to deal with situations not of your choosing, out of your comfort zone, or something for which you are not prepared. Why should we think that this great world we find ourselves in should meet our expectations or go the way we planned?

Life has a way of testing us with surprises and bends in the road that are unexpected. But then we are reminded by God not to get discouraged, to keep the faith, and to believe that all will be well. If God is at our side, then we should not be afraid or discouraged. Even though our feelings don’t often listen to our brain! Let this truth sink in. God is with us always, even to the end of time. Let us be reassured that darkness will be followed by light. The candle of God’s love extends even to the coldest night. We are not alone. God’s spirit is upon us even when we feel alone and afraid. That is the best time for a simple prayer asking for comfort and reassurance. “God be with me in my time of trial and struggle. Do not leave me alone.” Take a breath and breathe in His presence.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Food For The Journey

Dear Parishioners,

First, my email has been hacked again. If I ask you for money, gift cards, or favors, please delete the email, it is not me!

If you feel stressed out, you might want to talk to the prophet Elijah. He has just won a contest with the false prophets of the pagan God, Baal. Elijah then punished them by having them killed. However, King Ahab and Queen Jezebel were unhappy and wanted Elijah killed as well. So today’s first reading (1 Kgs 19:4-8) shows Elijah on the move to get away to God on Mount Sinai.

He is completely worn out, hungry, and thirsty. He is ready to die until the angel of God gave him food and drink which allowed him to walk 40 days and 40 nights to God’s mountain. In a real sense, our life is a journey to God’s mountain. We need not just food and drink; we need the bread of life, Jesus, if we are going to make it. Each week at Mass, Jesus offers us the nourishment we need, the Word of God in the scriptures and his body and blood in the Eucharist. What a great blessing! If we continue to take advantage of these gifts, we can be confident of our safe arrival no matter what difficulties we meet along the way.

Fr Carl

Reaching Our Full Potential

Dear Parishioners,

I heard a story from a colleague at the NCEON Food Pantry recently. It was about a mom and two little boys. The mom bought glow sticks for the older boy. The little one made a big fuss in the store so the mom opened up the package and gave him one. A little while later the older boy took it from the younger boy, and he started fussing again. Before the mom could say anything, the older boy bent the glow stick and handed it back to his brother. The stick was now glowing to the delight of the younger boy. The older boy told his mom that he had to break the stick so that it would glow, that was what it was supposed to do. The story goes on to say that this is also a part of our relationship with God. God gives us challenges that “break us” so that we may fulfill the reason we were created, to fulfill our purpose. The baby thought the glow stick was fine unbroken and not glowing, just as some people are content with “being” and getting by. But God uses our brokenness, uses our sickness, the divorce, the death of our spouse, parent, best friend or child, or the trauma of the accident or job loss, even though these are especially difficult and painful, to further reach our full potential in God. In our brokenness, in our sensitivity to suffering, our own and that of others, we can better see our purpose or be more useful in God’s design and plan. Remember Christ took on our sin, was broken and died on the cross, only to assure us of salvation.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Sharing Our Gifts

Dear Parishioners,

Last week we saw Jesus as the good shepherd (Mk 6:30-34). Even though he was tired and ready for rest, when he saw the needs of the people, he forgot his needs and ministered to them. He gave generously of his time and talent to serve them.

This week we see the generosity of God working through Elisha and Jesus (2 Kgs 4:42-44 and Jn 6:1-15). We have come to take that kind of generosity for granted sometimes. That’s why we need the Eucharist. This Greek word means “thanksgiving,” and it’s why we come to Mass each weekend—to give thanks to God. But we also come to learn what God expects from us. His generosity is the big clue. He expects us to be generous stewards of the time, talent, and treasure he has given us. From time to time, we need to ask ourselves how we can better share these gifts.

I have come to realize that the happiest people I know are not those who have the most but those who give and share the most.

Fr. Carl

How Big Is Your God?

Dear Parishioners,

I remember reading a book called How Big Is Your God? by Paul Coutinho, SJ. He says, “God is beyond names. God is tremendous, God is awesome, God is personal. God is very close to me but he is also the big thing out there, the transcendent God, the omnipotent God, the mysterious God” (pg. 58). It is easy to think we know who God is. We all have our ideas based upon what we were taught, our reading of scripture and our experience of God. But God is above all that. He is transcendent. We know God by his abundant revelation. He has revealed himself.

In deacon formation, we were told that if we think we have a grasp of God, let it go for God is more than that. At a recent Cherish event, Fr. Vin Ariskwu of Christ the King Parish spoke about the magazine he started called The Family Apostolate, an informative and well done production certainly informed by Holy Spirit! Recently I was at a meeting where several parishioners reported on their experiences at the Divine Revelation Conference in Nova Scotia. They were on fire from the presence of the Holy Spirit at the conference. My granddaughter is back home from a month long stay in the hospital and is getting back to her old self, thank you Lord! Do we know where and how God will manifest himself in our lives? Do we really understand the creative power of God or what his sovereignty really means? His Spirit is working in the world, all over the place and has been from eternity. This is something we should glorify, be thankful for, and acknowledge clearly and strongly with our lives. Let us open ourselves up to that power of goodness that is God and trust in Him.

“Happy those whose trust is the Lord” – Psalm 40

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Making Prophets

Dear Parishioners,

The Church is a “non profit” organization, but it is a “prophet” making organization. In other words, the Church does not exist to make money but in order to evangelize through her prophets. By the way, it’s not just Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Amos who are called by God to bring his message into the world by word and example. It’s you and me—us. In the sacrament of baptism immediately after the water is imposed, we are anointed with Holy Chrism oil. The minister then prays, “As Jesus was anointed priest, prophet, and king, so may you live always as members of his body sharing everlasting life.”

As prophets, we are not meant to travel far and wide preaching reform and repentance. We act as prophets by taking the faith we profess each week and bringing it into our life experience with others. As kings, we are meant to rule over our feelings and emotions, not letting them rule over us as we live out the Gospel message. And as priest, we are called to sacrifice our wants, desires, and comforts as we imitate and follow Jesus. Of course, like Amos (Am 7:12-15), Jesus and the disciples, we can from time to time expect rejection in this life. But when we die, the reward is out of this world!

Fr. Carl

Family

Dear Parishioners,

My wife and I recently took a trip to Alaska. It was beautiful with tall majestic mountains, silver rushing rivers, and big animals like moose walking around like they owned the place! But beyond the vast scenery espousing God’s presence, there was a theme of family everywhere we looked. We stayed with an old dear friend of ours who lives with her husband and 16-year old son. This took us back to our own children as teenagers, a little funny, a little defiant, but always engaging! There were dinners with aunts who had great spunk and humor. We stayed at a bed and breakfast with the owner and her daughter. The mom spoke about leaving soon for Las Vegas to be with her cancer stricken husband. While we were gone, our granddaughter remained in the hospital. Helping to alleviate our guilt about leaving, my wife’s sister came to help out and then my son-in-law’s parents came until we returned. The Church places much weight on the importance of family, the domestic church. It is the caring and safe place where children grow out of their vulnerability to become their own persons. Christ knew this with his support of marriage, his commandment that we love one another, and his own respect and care for his mother. He showed this when he gave her away to his beloved disciple to protect and cherish at his crucifixion. Family is the place where we all start, learning the faith, developing religious habits, and testing the tenets of sharing and communicating. It is the place where life and faith begin. Those relationships and that learning are tested hard these days. But I have my money on the family! It is a resilient and powerful institution. It stands tall and strong, like the snow capped Alaskan mountains.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Offer It Up

Dear Parishioners,

The mystery of human suffering and death has puzzled the human race for centuries. We understand when wicked people suffer but not when it happens to the innocent. There has to be a reason. The first reading (Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24) states that death and suffering came into the world through the devil (original sin), and once having entered the world, they don’t discriminate between the good and the bad. Otherwise, it would have been unjust for Jesus and Mary to have suffered and died. However, the suffering and death of Jesus redeemed humanity and opened the gates of heaven. It had meaning and value. So, too, can ours if we offer it up to God as a participation in the suffering and death of Jesus. When we suffer pain or disappointment in life, we can either whine and moan or “offer it up” in imitation of Jesus. If we follow our Lord’s example, we can expect to be raised up at the end of our lives. What Jesus did in the gospel with the daughter of Jairus (Mk 5:21-43), he wants to do for us.

Fr. Carl

Happy Birthday, St. John!

Dear Parishioners,

“He must increase while I decrease.”

The Church only celebrates the birthday of three people: Mary, Jesus, and John the Baptist. Since Mary visited Elizabeth right after the Angel Gabriel appeared, and Elizabeth was in her sixth month (Luke 1:36), John was born six months before Jesus on June 24th.

Near the end of John’s ministry as Jesus’ was gearing up, John said of himself and Jesus, “He must increase while I decrease.” (John 3:30) Interestingly that’s what happens these days. The days grow longer after our Lord’s birth; while the days grow shorter after John’s birth on June 24th.

Our attitude should be like John’s. Jesus should increase in importance in our life while our pride and ego should decrease. Then we can give a better witness to our faith as John did.

Fr. Carl

You Are God's Beloved

Dear Parishioners,

The opening line to Henri Nouwen’s book, Life of the Beloved is this: “Dear Friend, being the Beloved is the origin and the fulfillment of the Spirit.” This line starts a beautiful journey into Nouwen’s view of how God sees us as his Beloved. Nouwen articulates the desire of God for us, his children in this one word, Beloved. He describes this relationship of us to God through four other words: Taken, Blessed, Broken, Given. These words mark his actions as a priest during the liturgy but also his relationship as a Christian, whose life is bread for others, taken, blessed, broken and given. I have to say that this book with its beauty, love and wisdom changed my life and opened me up to God in a way that was deeper than I had ever risked before.

As children of God, we are all seeking to understand our role with God, Father, Jesus, and the Spirit. Nouwen’s view doesn’t see that relationship as static but places it in a giving and dynamic transaction. We are in relationship with God and with one another, and there are phases to it, movement in it, and changes as a result of it. Are any of us the same as we were when we first took communion, were baptized or converted? Being open to God has a way of moving us, deepening, teaching, challenging and refining us. And I am forever in God’s debt for the gifts I have been given, the wonderful ones and the challenging ones. I am not going to say more about the book which I believe is Nouwen’s finest work. But if you are looking for something to take on vacation, it is an easy and quick read that may just offer you some needed insight into your spirituality as God’s Beloved.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Seeking Mercy and Forgiveness

Dear Parishioners,

“With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.”

In the first reading (Gn 3:9-15), God has just discovered Adam and Eve disobeyed him. After God had given them the gift of life and a beautiful garden in which they lived, and the only condition being not to eat the fruit of one tree, they caved in to temptation and disobeyed. But what does God do next? Does he punish them right away? No, he starts his plan to redeem the human race. In condemning the snake to crawling on the ground, he predicts the coming of a redeemer, a savior who will do battle with the devil. “He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.” In other words, the heel of Jesus will crush the head of the serpent.

God’s first thought is redemption, for with him there is mercy and fullness of redemption. Let us never grow tired of seeking his mercy and forgiveness as we extend the same treatment to those who offend us.

Fr. Carl

Building Up the City of God

Dear Parishioners,

My wife and I returned to Indiana recently for some routine medical checkups and to visit old friends. The trip back is a long one but well worth it. It is a busy several days. Rochelle goes back to her high school where she worked as a Guidance director and participates as a volunteer on senior projects, a necessary project and presentation for seniors. I met up with some of my fellow deacons who were with me during our 5 years of formation. We call it a “fishing tournament,” but it is really an opportunity to be together and share stories and catch some fish at Deacon Tim’s grand mom’s pond. We saw the priest who was our pastor for over 16 years and met up with other friends. The power of this time for us is that here we renew old relationships. Here we are known and we know. These folks are not members of our current church, St. Jane, but they are members of our Church family. We share beliefs and faith, traditions and love for Christ. It is a long way to travel to fulfill the second commandment of Jesus, to love one another. But that is the benefit and the motivation to be here. To be known and to know are qualities at the heart of “love one another.” That is the stuff that sustains relationships. That is the stuff that lets you sit down with someone you haven’t seen in a while and pick up where you left off. That is the fabric of church. Let us work to be known and to know each other. And in the process, let us sustain and heal each other, hear our stories and share our joys, pains and faith. That’s how we build up the city of God.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

The Most Holy Trinity

Dear Parishioners,

One of the two central mysteries of our faith is the Trinity. The other is the Incarnation (the 2nd person of the Trinity becomes man in Jesus Christ). The word Trinity comes by combining the prefix “tri” with the word “unity” and dropping the “u.” The word formed is “Trinity.” It means three persons in one God. But the Trinity means more than that, for the bible teaches that we are all created in the image of God and so should try to live as the Trinity. We are meant to live in a loving relationship with God and our neighbor.

The Trinity is so central to our faith that we begin and end all our prayers acknowledging the Trinity as we make the sign of the cross (Matthew 28:18-20). Yet how often do we reflect on this great mystery? One way would be to pray the Glory Be each day when we say our morning and evening prayers as we honor God as he truly is.

“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.”

Father Carl

Happy Birthday!

Dear Parishioners,

As we move from the Ascension to Pentecost, it is quite a marvel what the apostles went through. Imagine just fishermen trying to make a living, plying the waters around Canaan. Probably simple people, not greatly political, not rich, not well educated. They encounter this man who captures their attention and interest by his calling. They risk and leave their family and boats, their livelihoods, to follow him. And imagine yet what they have seen—the miracles, the healings, the bread appearing out of empty baskets, the calming of the sea, the wondrous stuff that God can so easily do. There is also the political tension, the Pharisees and the Authorities. Yet throughout it all, Jesus is calm and directed, passionate and wise, loving and challenging. They feel things about him and themselves they never knew. And then there is Jerusalem, the high place of power, the history, people, the foreboding predictions by Jesus himself. They are given the Bread of Life, the wine that is Blood, the commandment to love, the instruction to be last not first. Then a whirlwind of joy turned protest and condemnation and ultimately the Cross, only one could witness. But through the locked doors of their fear, God rescues them, showing them his hands and side. They are taken to a new realization, a new confidence and a new teaching. My, have they been on a wild ride! He leaves them rising into the sky, and they are by the sea again. But now with a different mission, a task so large as to be incomprehensible. “Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.” With tongues of fire, they take it on. (Acts 2:1-11)

And they hand it over to us! And we are bewildered and confused, elated and wild with hope. We say “yes” and breathe in God’s peace and love, so that with God’s grace and the power of the Spirit, we may keep the faith and add to the number of the baptized. We are God’s new “fishers of men!”

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Happy Mother's Day

Dear Parishioners,

This weekend is a two-fold celebration—the Ascension of Jesus into heaven and Mother’s Day. The Ascension is a reminder of our destiny. Where Jesus went 2000 years ago is our future home. Let us strive to follow Jesus on our journey there.

We also salute our mothers for all they have done to raise us, teach us, and give us a good home. Their sacrifices were many and came in all shapes and sizes, many of which we never knew about or simply took for granted. Today more than ever, we need to recognize their importance in society and the home especially when radical feminism holds up career women as the ideal and laments the homemaker as a wasted, unfulfilled life of drudgery. We need to reaffirm that what a woman does at home for her family is far more important than a career or job. She supplies the love, support, encouragement, and tenderness that each family needs and no amount of money can buy. In short, the mother is the heart of the family. God bless our mothers.

And let us not forget our spiritual Mother Mary, as we turn to her in prayer for continued guidance and assistance.

Father Carl

Triumph Of The Cross

Dear Parishioners,

As we continue our observation of Easter, I am reminded of the triumph of the Cross. I have a cross on a chain I wear around my neck. My granddaughter asked me why I have it. It brings up the question of the meaning of the cross. I told her that it reminds me that I am a Catholic, that I am a child of God and a follower of Christ. It is close to my heart, and so I feel close to Christ with it. It reminds me as well of the crosses I bear, that we all bear, that we are given to perfect our discipleship.

We all have crosses that we don’t like talking about but which we must deal with as we make our way through life. It points to the suffering which the Son of God endured for our sake. He was innocent and even more, sinless and incorruptible, not deserving of such vile consequences. Yet he endured his suffering with determination and purpose. He knew what it was all about. He is no stranger to pain and suffering and so knows our suffering, making his consolations to us powerful and grace filled. The cross points to the torturous evil we humans can visit on each other through rejection, condemnation, and vilification. Some of our crosses are brought by others in the form of oppression and prejudice. For some people, we don’t care what their crosses are. And yet for those we love, we share crosses and make the load lighter. The cross also points to the fact God can take any dire, desperate, and hopeless situation and make something good come from it. Even in death, there is room for hope as even death cannot diminish God’s bright light of love. So let us continue to be mindful of God’s grace, love and mercy in this beautiful season of Easter.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Funerals: Plan Ahead

Deacon Robert Vlcej†

Dear Parishioners,

Last weekend we had a funeral for Deacon Robert Vlcej, who ministered here for about a decade. And it was done the way Catholic funerals are supposed to be done—in stages. First was the wake service (a prayer service) on Friday night. The second stage was the Mass on Saturday morning. The third stage will take place when his cremains will be put in a columbarium or small vault at Crownsville Veteran’s cemetery. These three stages provide an opportunity for the deceased to receive prayers for the forgiveness of sins as well as provide consolation for the family and friends who remain behind.

Deacon Robert was responsible for planning everything [for his funeral]. He left detailed instructions for the scripture readings, the music, and the names of those to participate in the readings, presentation of the gifts and the prayer of the faithful. He left nothing to chance. His planning is an example for all of us, because it made things easier for his family and gave his soul all the spiritual benefits the church could offer.

Like Deacon Robert, I made my funeral arrangements a number of years ago as I want all the help I can get before I meet the Lord. I encourage you all to do the same.

God Bless,
Fr. Carl

Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations

Dear Parishioners,

On Saturday and Sunday of this weekend, St. Jane Frances is having 24 hour Adoration in the Chapel. Many of you signed up for it last weekend. Adoration has as its basis, our call to praise and worship God. As Psalm 34 states:

“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall always be in my mouth. My soul will glory in the Lord.”

Christ’s first commandment is that we should love God with all our heart, our soul, our mind and our strength. As we enter Church, we genuflect to the presence of God in the tabernacle which is a sign of adoration. Let me share with you a description I have seen of Adoration: Adoration, Reparation, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. These terms point to the adoring attitude we are to have in the presence of the God of the Universe. We seek his healing and perfection as antidotes to our brokenness. We give thanks for his many gifts. Finally, we recognize our unworthiness in the face of His creative, healing and merciful power. All of these come together when we are in His exposed presence in the chapel during Adoration.

Now people do many things during their Adoration hour. Reading scripture or religious material, praying a rosary, going down the list of friends and family you know in need of prayer, making petition to God for the needs of our faith, community, country, world, and the poor and homeless, going over our joys and failures, giving over to God a problem we are having, seeking input from God, or just sitting in silence and listening for the movement of the Spirit within us. Please find time to sit with Jesus. Lay out your life before Him, not in shame but in thanksgiving. Adoration goes on until 6pm on Sunday. The chapel is always open from 9am to 3pm.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

In The Breaking Of The Bread

Dear Parishioners,

Thank you, Atlantic Maintenance Group. Again you generously donated time, materials and labor to help clean up and beautify our grounds and flower beds. We appreciate these services.

Today’s gospel uses a curious phrase as the disciples describe their encounter with Jesus on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24:35-48). It tells “how they had come to know Jesus in the breaking of bread.” “The breaking of bread” was the term St. Luke used for the Eucharist or Holy Communion. He uses that term again in describing the communal life of the followers of Jesus, after the descent of the Holy Spirit, “who devoted themselves to the apostle’s instruction and communal life, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42) In other words, they regularly gathered for Mass. These gatherings were essential for the building up of the Church and the faith of Jesus’ followers.

The old Baltimore catechism asked “Why did God make me?” The response was “God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world so as to be happy with him in the next world.” We can read and study for years about God, but to know Him personally and intimately we need the Eucharist, we need the “breaking of bread.” In the early Church, Christians understood this and were willing to die rather than give up the Eucharist. Today so many Catholics find other things more important. How sad, how foolish, how suicidal!

In the next few weeks, our young boys and girls will be receiving their first communion. Let us pray they will continue growing in their relationships with Jesus and “come to know Jesus in the breaking of bread.”

Father Carl

Divine Mercy

Dear Parishioners,

As we allow the reflection of God’s mercy and love to continue to brighten us in the afterglow of Easter, we are given another gift in the second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday. This important day was set aside by St. John Paul II in 2000 in the light of the canonization of Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska. This Polish nun received revelations from God concerning His mercy that needed to be proclaimed to all peoples. In His communication with her, God made clear the need to set aside a day to reflect on God’s deep gift of mercy that can overcome even the most hideous sin. In her diary, she wrote of God that this day may “be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the Fount of My mercy… let no soul fear to draw near to me.”

The quality of mercy is evident abundantly in the Old and New Testaments. Psalm 118 states, “Let the house of Israel say, ‘His mercy endures forever.’ Let the house of Aaron say, ‘His mercy endures forever.’ Let those who fear the LORD say, ‘His mercy endures forever.’” God’s mercy follows the actions of the Old Testament prophets who urge Israel to repent and return to God who takes them back in his mercy. God’s mercy is powerfully reflected in the love of the Father who runs to welcome back the especially sinful Prodigal Son. Jesus himself in Matthew raises mercy to the heights in the Sermon on the Mount when he says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Christ in his life, death, and resurrection bears complete obedience to God’s mercy toward us. Let us be mindful of God’s mercy this day and the undeserved gift of His love. As we go through our day, let us thank our God and remember that we are to “Be merciful just as your father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Easter Joy

Dear Parishioners,

As I write these words to you, the first day of Spring has arrived. But looking out my window, what do I see? Snow! While I enjoy a snow day as much as anyone else, I was rather hoping to see grass, buds on bushes, birds (robins) in trees, and the emergence of daffodils. It had been a long dreary and cold winter. So it was time for a change. Hopefully, Easter Sunday will give us that change in weather we all long for. However, whatever weather we find that (this) day, the joy of Easter will certainly warm our hearts. Jesus is risen from the dead, Alleluia! It means that life conquers death, good defeats evil, and sadness gives way to joy. It means that Jesus wants to raise our hearts as we face challenges, difficulties, and disappointments in life. And at the end of time, he wants to raise our bodies up to join his in the kingdom of heaven to share an eternity of joy. And we can experience some of that joy right now if we continue to stay connected with Jesus through prayer and sacrament. May you and your families keep the Easter joy throughout the year.

God Bless,
Fr. Carl

Are You Ready?

Dear Parishioners,

Are you ready? It is here, Holy Week. Do you think you are prepared? Has Lent gone well for you? Have you felt some sacrificial pain at giving up chocolate or Facebook or some TV? Do you feel cleansed at praying more or being more diligent during Mass or engaging more in acts of charity?

Well Holy Week is upon us, and our disciplines of Lent will soon see their goal. Holy Week, the Chrism Mass, Tenebrae, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil, Easter Sunday, these are the mountains that our workout on the hills of our life have prepared us for. These are the high places that the Church holds before us to give our lives light and warmth, mercy and love. These are the remembrances of the life and times of Jesus that are to propel us forward as our life progresses in holiness.

Are you ready? Can you smell the incense? Can you hear the sacred hymns? Can you feel the tears of Christ in the garden? Can you stand with Peter in the cold by the fire denying Christ? Can you be a part of that crowd shouting for his execution? Can you stand at the cross with John and the Blessed Mother Mary and Mary Magdalene when he says it is finished? Can you sense the confusion with the open empty tomb? (Mark 14:1-15:47) What would you think if you heard the word of the man dressed in white, “He is not here, for he has been raised”? (Mark 16:1-7) This next week is the occasion of events that make our lives worthwhile, give meaning to the endless toil in this life, and allow us mere humans to touch upon the life of God. I cannot with words measure the enormity of those events which we will celebrate this week. You better be ready!

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Dear Parishioners,

Last weekend I visited our sister parish in Haiti, St. Guillaume (William), in the remote town of La Chapelle. It was a long, five-hour ride to get there with the last hour over a rocky, bumpy, dirt road that had been washed out in several places. Along the way, we found pick-up trucks with benches serving as transportation. People not only sat on the benches but stood on the bumpers, and some sat on the roofs; so crowded were many of these trucks. Many could not afford to pay, so they traveled the two lane highway by foot, carrying the 40 pound water containers on their heads (due to no inside running water) as well as sacks of grain, tubs of clothes, and whatever else they needed. Motorcycles were very popular, with usually three riders and sometimes four on a single motorcycle. Yet they were in good spirits, because they had God and one another. They were a very social people who gather in the streets at night talking, singing, and listening to music.

In one sense, they have so little, but they also have so much. May we become more appreciative of the many blessings we have rather than worrying about the things we lack. If so, perhaps we can acquire some of the spirit of Haiti where the problem of depression doesn’t exist.

God Bless,
Fr. Carl

Building the Kingdom of God

Dear Parishioners,

My wife and I were at a Deacon Retreat last weekend directed by Sr. Geralyn Schmitt from the Diocese of Harrisburg. The theme was about building the Kingdom of God. As a man, a husband, and a deacon, I am to build the Kingdom of God by expressing authentic and courageous love to all I meet. As we go through Lent, let us remember that our purpose in bettering our spiritual selves is to imitate Christ in his self giving love. It is for us to make our world a better place by showing dignity to others. It is for our church to become more alive in Christ.

The purpose of our Lenten sacrifices are so that our family may show love more readily and freely to one another. We are seeking that our love for God will take up a greater part of our life. The song we try to sing during Lent is a song of gracious love for God's benefit, to glorify and praise Him. I think because we sing to God our little song, rooted in honest care for each other, the Holy Spirit responds in harmony. The more beautiful our melody, the greater the melody that God sings in return. God's love is why we pray, why we go to Mass, why we serve the poor and why we care for each other. We know in our hearts that this love comes through God’s Spirit speaking to us and filling us. Our dance with God is such that the more we invite him in our life, the more we can see him at every turn. Therefore, the Kingdom of God is reflected in our good actions to one another. Let us know and serve God this Lent by becoming more like Him. Our imitation of Christ will surely make our little part of the world a better place.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Fanatics

Dear Parishioners,

A fanatic is a person filled with excessive and single-minded zeal. While it’s ok to be a fanatic about your sports team– the Orioles, the Ravens, the Terps, people are uncomfortable with and look down on religious fanatics. As a result, many people are reluctant or shy about bringing their faith into the conversation. This is especially the case with Catholics. Perhaps some of that has to do with the discrimination so many of our ancestors encountered in America. The noted Harvard historian Arthur Schlesinger, Sr. referred to the prejudice against Catholics as “the deepest bias in the history of the American people.” Or maybe it’s the politically correct thing to keep faith and religion out of the conversation. And so we tend to hide the light of our faith under a bushel basket contrary to the teaching of Jesus. Yet in today’s Gospel, Jesus’ disciples refer to our Lords’ actions as zeal for his Father’s house. Today Jesus invites us to be less politically correct and more zealous and a bit more enthusiastic about our faith. He wants to inflame us with a loving faith that will be like a light on a stand “where it gives light to all in the house…”. (MT 5:15)

Fr. Carl

Winning Gold During Lent

Dear Parishioners,

I have been watching the Olympics on TV in the evenings. There is sometimes great drama and suspense as well as huge disappointment as these athletes compete in a variety of winter sports. Although I am still not sure why curling is in the Olympics!

While some Olympians win a medal, many do not, but their competitive spirit is inspiring. Their energy to push ahead even when the odds are against them is powerful to watch.

We likewise are in a challenging situation during Lent. We are seeking to become more holy by our observance of fasting, penance, self denial, and almsgiving over these 40 days. There are distractions and challenges with everyday life getting in the way sometimes. There is competition for our attention and energy coming from many directions. But ultimately, we are trying to better ourselves. We have to let go of some habits or behaviors and take up some new behaviors we hope will become habits. We are in a race of sorts not against others but against our old selves, our old lackadaisical selves. So let me be the coach urging you onward. Keep the faith! Keep your focus on God! Reach for the prize! Seek out our Lord whom we will meet at Calvary. Let us end this Lent with the gold of God’s love and be in a better relationship with Him. You can do it!

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Valetine's Gifts

Dear Parishioners,

February 14th is always Valentine’s Day and a time when couples show their love for one another through gifts of one kind or another. Of course, not every one has a significant other of the human kind, but we all have a significant other of the divine kind—God. This year, Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day and provides an opportunity for us to give God some special gifts to show our love for Him. The traditional gifts of chocolate and flowers don’t mean anything to God. Instead, He wants our prayers, almsgiving (money to the poor), and sacrifice. However, God doesn’t want these gifts just on Valentine’s Day. Because it’s Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, He desires 40 days of prayer, sacrifice, and almsgiving.

In sharing gifts with our human significant others, we receive their love in return for a number of days, weeks, months, and years at the most. But in sharing our gifts of sacrifice and love with God, we receive his gifts of grace and love, and we can keep them for eternity. That’s love worth winning.

Father Carl

Lent: A Time Of Renewal

Dear Parishioners,

I think that the seasons of Lent and Easter are my favorites. They carry great power and meaning. Lent prepares us for the greatest mystery of the Church and its most profound events. The Passion of our Lord manifested within the context of Holy Week is a special time, extraordinary time, a time when the world stood still and when the world was immeasurably and irrevocably changed. But I am jumping ahead. This week, we experience the opening scene of Ash Wednesday that in and of itself should set our minds whirling. We declare that we are dust, we are reminded of our mortality, and we come face to face with the meaning of our death. If we truly let that settle into our psyche, it calls for an examination of our lives. What am I doing with my life? Where are my commitments taking me? How am I spending my time and energy?

The dark mark placed on our foreheads serves as a sign that we are marked as a people. We have a calling beyond ourselves. We know who we are and what we stand for. We are men and women of Christ. Our lives are not ours but are His. As we have these several weeks to prepare for the Easter days ahead, let us make sacrifices, take ourselves out of the ordinary, and open a space within our lives in a new way for Christ. Let us open ourselves to God with a new devotion, a new habit, a new prayer, a new energy. Let this time be one of renewal. Let us take hold of ourselves and focus our time in cleansing preparation so that we may walk fully with Christ during his last days. He gives us the gift of salvation. Let us be ready to fully know this gift in our souls.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Suffering

Dear Parishioners,

In today’s first reading, Job is down in the dumps (Jb 7:1-4, 6-7). He sees his current life as one of drudgery and misery. Many of us have had times in our lives where we feel the same. And when the weather is dreary and overcast as it has been recently, our morale is impacted even more. If we are not careful, those feelings can lead to depression. However, when we look at the passion and death of Jesus, we realize our problems can’t compare. Furthermore, we can see our suffering as an opportunity to connect more intimately with Jesus. As St. John Vianney said, “We complain when we suffer. We have more reason to complain when we do not suffer, since nothing so likens us to the Lord as the bearing of His cross.” When looked upon this way, our suffering and misery quickly fade into the background.

Fr. Carl

How Is Your Prayer Life?

Dear Parishioners,

How is your prayer life? I know it is a simple question, but it can be hard to answer. Are you spending enough time in prayer? I know, I know that there is a lot going on in your life. Time is in short supply. But one of the pillars of our faith is prayer. Christ got away often and prayed, so much so that his disciples would go looking for him. He left the crowds following him so he could pray.

Prayer is our primary communication channel with God. He hears our prayer. Now we may not get a quick response, but God is always on the other end of the line. It has also been said that God knows what we are praying about even before we pray. Prayer centers us and yet also takes us outside ourselves into the reality of God to whom we speak in our prayer.

Prayer opens us up to God who easily reads our heart. Our attitude in prayer is akin to contemplation, a quiet consideration, a flowing dialogue with God, an openness to something larger than ourselves. We grow through prayer into a greater relationship with God. Our spiritual vocabulary increases as we pray. The depth of our relationship with Christ increases as we ask, express, honor, complain, and give thanksgiving to God. Of course, the Holy Spirit is involved with all of this, because it is the Spirit who helps us to speak and to listen to God. The Spirit softens the ground of our being, so we are ready to be in relationship with God.

On Sunday evening, February 11 at 6:30 in the church, we will hold another prayer service under the title of Bridge to Christ. This is an opportunity to pray for someone in your family, a colleague, or friend who has drifted from God. We are the bridge that can connect others to Christ. That bridge is prayer and the example of our lives. Please consider attending.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Depend on Change

Dear Parishioners,

I have been around long enough to know that things change—always. I thought a lot about retirement as it got closer, and frankly, it isn’t what I had envisioned. Things change. But I am reminded as well, that God does not change. He is fundamentally and essentially the same. His Law of Love continues to shroud us in warmth and care. Even when times are rough, his presence is reassuring, his consolation strong and supportive.

Scripture remains a source of wisdom and insight into life. It is still the greatest story ever told, a view of the divine none of us have access to on our own. God is always available to us, as close as prayer. I believe he is also in the kind words we say to each other, in those moments of quiet giving, in our sacrifices, in our gentleness, in our care to one another. God’s strength is not something that gets used up. Rather it is like the flame of a candle that is shared with other candles. It does not diminish or lose its luster when given away. God’s energy is endless. His desire for goodness in us and for us is always available. We cannot sap God’s energy. Even when we sin, he continues to hope for our turning again toward him. He judges our weaknesses and prunes us if necessary, but then is there with mercy and love. Our world is not perfect nor are we, but God continues to push us to be perfect, perfect in love, perfect in joy, perfect in our kindness and generosity. And as we call out to him in our need, God will hear us and offer us his consolation. Let us trust and depend upon this great God of the universe, this creator God, this loving God, this God who was incarnate and walked among us. In him, we can depend.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Use Time Wisely

Dear Parishioners,

This week after the Christmas season, we return to what the Church calls “Ordinary Time” and so called after ordinal numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. It does this to distinguish it from the liturgical seasons – Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter. Actually, time isn’t ordinary at all. Along with space and matter, it was created by God. Before the creation of the world, time didn’t exist. We often take time for granted, but we shouldn’t. We are only given so much of it in this life, and unlike money, we can’t get any more of it. Queen Elizabeth I as she lay dying allegedly said, “I would give away all my possessions for just one more day on earth.” Hopefully, we will use our time wisely so that we will look forward to leaving time here to enter eternity with Jesus, Mary and the saints.

In the gospel today (John 1:35-42), we see John, Andrew, and Peter using their time wisely by spending it with Jesus, not only that day but every day. Is there a message there for you and me?

Fr. Carl

“Ask our Lord for the grace to think only of him and to desire only to please him in all you do during your whole life.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

Happy New Year!

Dear Parishioners,

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a blessed Christmas and that 2018 has started out well for you and your family.

In spite of the frigid weather, my heart was warmed by the crowds at the Christmas Masses and your generous donations. One unexpected blessing came from the estate of a deceased parishioner. It was a very substantial amount for which I am very grateful. It also reminded me to review my own will and make a few revisions. If you are looking for a good practical resolution for 2018, I recommend you do the same. In the process, please don’t forget St. Jane’s who connects you to Jesus. After all, she is our mother having given us life through baptism and nourishment through the sacraments.

May God bless you and your family throughout 2018.

Fr. Carl

“All the angels and saints are engaged in trying to prevent us from committing sins.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars