Dear Parishioners,
The Christmas services were beautiful, as always, thanks to the efforts of the Liturgy Committee, the Sanctuary Society, the volunteers who decorated the worship area, the Ushers, the Sacristans, the Altar Servers, the Lectors, the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, the Greeters, the Parish Choir, Cantors and our Music Director/Organist, Diane Kinsley.
At Christmas Jesus, the Messiah, was revealed to Israel through the witness of the shepherds. Today on the Epiphany (it means manifestation), Jesus is revealed to the gentiles (non Jews) through the witness of the Magi. That’s good news to those of us who aren’t Jews. In other words, Jesus came to save all peoples. He doesn’t discriminate. Perhaps that should be our challenge for the coming year. Most of us discriminate in one way or another. It could be by nationality, race, gender, intelligence, athletic ability, social status, etc. Let us, in the coming year, resolve to see each person we meet as one of Jesus’ special friends. It would be a gift to Our Lord more precious than gold, frankincense, or myrrh.
- Fr. Carl
Rev. Stephen Hook is Pastor of the Pastorate of the Visitation which includes the Catholic Churches of Pasadena, Maryland: St. Jane Frances de Chantal (Riviera Beach) and Our Lady of the Chesapeake (Lakeshore). He is assisted by Associate Pastor Rev. Kevin Farmer, Deacon Howard Klohr, Deacon Phil Snyder, and Deacon Rick Clemens. To learn more about our pastorate, please visit www.catholicpasadena.org.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Friday, December 24, 2010
All in the Family
Dear Parishioners,
As we hear about family life today, more and more we hear about dysfunctional families, whose members cannot get along with one another. There is spouse abuse, child abuse, drug abuse, and even parent abuse by children. In short, American families are having problems.
Today as we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, we need to examine ourselves and ask how we can better contribute to the peace and harmony of our own families. Then we need to pray for God’s grace to become better family members and imitate the Holy Family – Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
- Fr. Carl
As we hear about family life today, more and more we hear about dysfunctional families, whose members cannot get along with one another. There is spouse abuse, child abuse, drug abuse, and even parent abuse by children. In short, American families are having problems.
Today as we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, we need to examine ourselves and ask how we can better contribute to the peace and harmony of our own families. Then we need to pray for God’s grace to become better family members and imitate the Holy Family – Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
- Fr. Carl
Come, come, my dear, don’t be
frightened at your burden; our Lord
will help you to carry it.
- The Saint Cure D’Ars
Friday, December 17, 2010
What's your sign?
Dear Parishioners,
Since the beginning of time, people have looked for signs of approval from God. Sacrifices were offered to win that approval and receive a sign of that approval from God.
In the Old Testament, God gave signs of his approval and love to Abraham, Moses, and David, etc. But the ultimate sign is the virgin who will give birth to the Messiah. That was fulfilled in Mary’s giving birth to Jesus.
Since we have received the grace of this sign in baptism, we are called upon to be signs to all we meet. Let us be good and inviting signs to all.
- Fr. Carl
Since the beginning of time, people have looked for signs of approval from God. Sacrifices were offered to win that approval and receive a sign of that approval from God.
In the Old Testament, God gave signs of his approval and love to Abraham, Moses, and David, etc. But the ultimate sign is the virgin who will give birth to the Messiah. That was fulfilled in Mary’s giving birth to Jesus.
Since we have received the grace of this sign in baptism, we are called upon to be signs to all we meet. Let us be good and inviting signs to all.
- Fr. Carl
When we give alms, we should
think that we are giving to our Lord,
and not to the poor. We often think
we are relieving a poor person, and we
find it is our Lord.
The Saint Cure D’Ars
Friday, December 10, 2010
The Lord is Near
We call this Third Sunday of Advent “Laetare Sunday.” Laetare is a Latin word meaning “rejoice” from the entrance antiphon “Rejoice in the Lord always; I say it again. The Lord is near.” Furthermore, the scripture readings are more up-beat than the first two Sundays of Advent.
People naturally rejoice when something good comes their way – holidays, family reunions, special dinners, and exchanging gifts. However, something better is coming in Jesus. Let us prepare for his coming and roll out the welcome mat through a little extra prayer, donations to the poor, and the sacrament of penance.
- Fr. Carl
People naturally rejoice when something good comes their way – holidays, family reunions, special dinners, and exchanging gifts. However, something better is coming in Jesus. Let us prepare for his coming and roll out the welcome mat through a little extra prayer, donations to the poor, and the sacrament of penance.
- Fr. Carl
Our Lord is never found in
Pomp, Pleasure, Luxury, but in
lowliness and humiliation.
The Saint Cure D’Ars
Friday, December 3, 2010
“I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.”
A Special Message from Our Deacon
NCEON
There are times in our lives when we step up to meet a challenge. The challenge may be simply an individual effort or a team effort. We always try to do our best, but sometimes the challenge is difficult and maybe we don’t quite know how others will respond. That’s when we reach deep down inside ourselves and put that extra effort into the task at hand. After the event, we find that family, friends and perhaps our team mates tell us, “WOW, you were really great, you inspired us to do our best.” Those are the times I call, “A personal best.”
I can tell you that in all my years as a Deacon and in all the parishes I have visited, none can exceed the experiences I have had in ministry with the people of Saint Jane Frances. Not that those other parishes haven’t stepped up to the needs of the community, but not to the level I have experienced here.
November was a crucial month with the Thanksgiving celebration in front of us. NCEON provides people with something to be thankful for including GOD for being there when they and we need Him the most. Never before have the people of Saint Jane’s accomplished what was accomplished for the month of November. I call it “a personal best!” We were able to deliver 300 bags of groceries to care for others...and just in time for Thanksgiving.
There are those you will never know, or who will never know you, that you have cared for. So thank you and may God continue to watch over you, care for and bless you.
- Deacon Robert
NCEON
There are times in our lives when we step up to meet a challenge. The challenge may be simply an individual effort or a team effort. We always try to do our best, but sometimes the challenge is difficult and maybe we don’t quite know how others will respond. That’s when we reach deep down inside ourselves and put that extra effort into the task at hand. After the event, we find that family, friends and perhaps our team mates tell us, “WOW, you were really great, you inspired us to do our best.” Those are the times I call, “A personal best.”
I can tell you that in all my years as a Deacon and in all the parishes I have visited, none can exceed the experiences I have had in ministry with the people of Saint Jane Frances. Not that those other parishes haven’t stepped up to the needs of the community, but not to the level I have experienced here.
November was a crucial month with the Thanksgiving celebration in front of us. NCEON provides people with something to be thankful for including GOD for being there when they and we need Him the most. Never before have the people of Saint Jane’s accomplished what was accomplished for the month of November. I call it “a personal best!” We were able to deliver 300 bags of groceries to care for others...and just in time for Thanksgiving.
There are those you will never know, or who will never know you, that you have cared for. So thank you and may God continue to watch over you, care for and bless you.
- Deacon Robert
Friday, November 26, 2010
Let us go to the house of the Lord
Dear Parishioners,
Today as we mark the beginning of the new liturgical or church year, we are invited to look also to the end. Both the first reading and the gospel talk about our Lord’s coming at the end of the world. Of course nobody knows when that will happen. Therefore the wise man or woman will try and live today as if the Lord will be coming tomorrow. That means we turn away from sin and selfishness and turn toward God. If we live that way, we will not have to worry; we can live in peace and joy. When we are called to that final judgment, we can echo the words in today’s psalm, “I rejoiced when I heard them say let us go to the house of the Lord.”
- Fr. Carl
Today as we mark the beginning of the new liturgical or church year, we are invited to look also to the end. Both the first reading and the gospel talk about our Lord’s coming at the end of the world. Of course nobody knows when that will happen. Therefore the wise man or woman will try and live today as if the Lord will be coming tomorrow. That means we turn away from sin and selfishness and turn toward God. If we live that way, we will not have to worry; we can live in peace and joy. When we are called to that final judgment, we can echo the words in today’s psalm, “I rejoiced when I heard them say let us go to the house of the Lord.”
- Fr. Carl
Friday, November 19, 2010
The Man Who Would Be King
Dear Parishioners,
In Rudyard Kipling’s fictional story, “The Man Who Would Be King,” we are told of two English soldiers of fortune. They are petty, greedy, and dishonest as they use their wiles and wits to become King of Kafiristan near the end of the 19th century. Today’s Solemnity of Christ the King is a reversal of that story (only it’s true), for it celebrates The King Who Would Be Man – Jesus! He shows us what it is to be a real man – a real woman – a real human being as God intended all of us to be. Today we celebrate his manly example of loyalty, obedience, humility, and self-sacrifice by which he established his kingdom. May we, his subjects here on earth, imitate his example and so prove to be worthy as to be his subjects in heaven as well.
- Fr. Carl
In Rudyard Kipling’s fictional story, “The Man Who Would Be King,” we are told of two English soldiers of fortune. They are petty, greedy, and dishonest as they use their wiles and wits to become King of Kafiristan near the end of the 19th century. Today’s Solemnity of Christ the King is a reversal of that story (only it’s true), for it celebrates The King Who Would Be Man – Jesus! He shows us what it is to be a real man – a real woman – a real human being as God intended all of us to be. Today we celebrate his manly example of loyalty, obedience, humility, and self-sacrifice by which he established his kingdom. May we, his subjects here on earth, imitate his example and so prove to be worthy as to be his subjects in heaven as well.
- Fr. Carl
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