Dear Parishioners,
In the Meantime... So what does it mean to live in the meantime? It means many things, depending on where you are in life’s journey and what you believe life’s circumstances are calling from you. If we believe as Daniel and Jesus believed that heaven and earth will one day pass away (Daniel 12:1-3; Hebrews 10:11-14, 18; Mark 13:24-32); if we believe there is coming a day when days will be no more and God's Kingdom will be our great hope and home, then we believe what we do and how we live matters in the meantime.
Be of good courage. See with eyes of faith that God’s coming Kingdom is as certain as green leaves in the spring time opening up from tiny buds. And in the meantime, as we await that coming day, be a person celebrating life and living your faith. For when you do, you bear witness to this age that a new day is coming in God's Kingdom.
- Deacon Robert
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. John Belinki, Deacon Howard Klohr, and Deacon Rick Clemens. To learn more about our pastorate, please visit www.catholicpasadena.org.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Friday, November 9, 2012
How Generous Have We Been?
Dear Parishioners,
What faith, what love, what sacrificial generosity we see in the two widows in today’s scripture readings (Mk 12:38-44). They had so little jet they gave so much; they gave their all. How many of us would have even come close to matching them? During this month, we celebrate Thanksgiving and the many blessings we enjoy in our wonderful country. We are the beneficiaries not only of our American forefathers, but also of the Catholic Church which nourishes our immortal souls. It is a good time to reflect on our response to God. Have we expressed our gratitude through prayer and worship? Have we given our family the time they need? Have we given God time in daily prayer and worship? How have we used our talents to benefit our families, our communities and the church? And finally, how have we shared our treasure with the poor, the needy, and the church? In short, how generous have we been?
- Fr. Carl
P.S. I would like to thank Cub Scout Pack 414 for raking and cleaning up the entrance areas in front of the church. They generously gave of their time and talent on a chilly and blustery Saturday morning to make our grounds more attractive. Thank you!
What faith, what love, what sacrificial generosity we see in the two widows in today’s scripture readings (Mk 12:38-44). They had so little jet they gave so much; they gave their all. How many of us would have even come close to matching them? During this month, we celebrate Thanksgiving and the many blessings we enjoy in our wonderful country. We are the beneficiaries not only of our American forefathers, but also of the Catholic Church which nourishes our immortal souls. It is a good time to reflect on our response to God. Have we expressed our gratitude through prayer and worship? Have we given our family the time they need? Have we given God time in daily prayer and worship? How have we used our talents to benefit our families, our communities and the church? And finally, how have we shared our treasure with the poor, the needy, and the church? In short, how generous have we been?
- Fr. Carl
P.S. I would like to thank Cub Scout Pack 414 for raking and cleaning up the entrance areas in front of the church. They generously gave of their time and talent on a chilly and blustery Saturday morning to make our grounds more attractive. Thank you!
Friday, November 2, 2012
Actually, That Is NOT A Fact
Dear Parishioners,
“The facts ma’am. Just the facts.” Those of you who remember the 1950’s TV show, Dragnet, remember Sgt. Joe Friday saying those words week after week. In the vice-presidential debate, the Democratic candidate said:
“With regard to the assault on the Catholic Church, let me make it absolutely clear. No religious institution – Catholic or otherwise, including Catholic social services, Georgetown Hospital, Mercy Hospital, any hospital - none has to either refer contraception, none has to pay for contraception, none has to be a vehicle to get contraception in any insurance policy they provide. That is a fact. That is a fact.”
Actually that is not a fact. The facts are these: Catholic institutions ranging from dioceses to Catholic Charities to Catholic hospitals – and non-Catholic institutions as well – are being forced to provide such coverage for their employees. When a company or institution like many dioceses are self- insured, it is being forced to pay for those services directly.
Those are the facts relating to the HHS legislation, and is the reason the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops are against this part of the HHS initiative. It’s also the reason why so many suits have been brought into the courts by dioceses, hospitals, and individual companies.
Let us pray that healthcare may be improved, made more affordable and more available to all. However, pray that that part of the HHS which violates freedom of religion and freedom of conscience may be eliminated.
- Fr. Carl
“The facts ma’am. Just the facts.” Those of you who remember the 1950’s TV show, Dragnet, remember Sgt. Joe Friday saying those words week after week. In the vice-presidential debate, the Democratic candidate said:
“With regard to the assault on the Catholic Church, let me make it absolutely clear. No religious institution – Catholic or otherwise, including Catholic social services, Georgetown Hospital, Mercy Hospital, any hospital - none has to either refer contraception, none has to pay for contraception, none has to be a vehicle to get contraception in any insurance policy they provide. That is a fact. That is a fact.”
Actually that is not a fact. The facts are these: Catholic institutions ranging from dioceses to Catholic Charities to Catholic hospitals – and non-Catholic institutions as well – are being forced to provide such coverage for their employees. When a company or institution like many dioceses are self- insured, it is being forced to pay for those services directly.
Those are the facts relating to the HHS legislation, and is the reason the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops are against this part of the HHS initiative. It’s also the reason why so many suits have been brought into the courts by dioceses, hospitals, and individual companies.
Let us pray that healthcare may be improved, made more affordable and more available to all. However, pray that that part of the HHS which violates freedom of religion and freedom of conscience may be eliminated.
- Fr. Carl
Friday, October 26, 2012
Feast of All Saints
Dear Parishioners,
On this last Sunday of October, as we look in just a few days to the Feast of All Saints, would that we of faith would learn from this Jericho beggar, who like all the saints of God, sees in Jesus the One worthy of our devotions. And what would that lesson be? That no matter what life kicks up in our faces, all of us are poor and blind and just a bit weary from what life's road has done to us. But Jesus passes by, and if we dare shout his name, he would give us the gift of sight, the gift to “look out” and see a world made new by the touch of his loving hand.
- Deacon Robert
On this last Sunday of October, as we look in just a few days to the Feast of All Saints, would that we of faith would learn from this Jericho beggar, who like all the saints of God, sees in Jesus the One worthy of our devotions. And what would that lesson be? That no matter what life kicks up in our faces, all of us are poor and blind and just a bit weary from what life's road has done to us. But Jesus passes by, and if we dare shout his name, he would give us the gift of sight, the gift to “look out” and see a world made new by the touch of his loving hand.
- Deacon Robert
Friday, October 19, 2012
Mission Sunday
Dear Parishioners,
This weekend is Mission Sunday, a time we call attention to those brave men and women who go out of their way to bring the gospel to those living in remote areas around the globe. These missionaries have been responsible in the past for Christianizing so much of Africa, the Americas, and parts of Asia. Today, they face continued hardship and persecution in the Mid-East and China. Nevertheless, they persevere. Today in the U.S., there are still missionaries serving the material and spiritual needs of God’s people. Let us not forget that it was the efforts of missionaries that helped the faith to spread in our country.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the good Irish, German, Italian, French, Polish, and Spanish missionaries from days gone. Since we were blessed by their efforts, let us show our gratitude by praying for our current missionaries and giving them the financial support they need.
- Fr. Carl
This weekend is Mission Sunday, a time we call attention to those brave men and women who go out of their way to bring the gospel to those living in remote areas around the globe. These missionaries have been responsible in the past for Christianizing so much of Africa, the Americas, and parts of Asia. Today, they face continued hardship and persecution in the Mid-East and China. Nevertheless, they persevere. Today in the U.S., there are still missionaries serving the material and spiritual needs of God’s people. Let us not forget that it was the efforts of missionaries that helped the faith to spread in our country.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the good Irish, German, Italian, French, Polish, and Spanish missionaries from days gone. Since we were blessed by their efforts, let us show our gratitude by praying for our current missionaries and giving them the financial support they need.
- Fr. Carl
Friday, October 12, 2012
What’s in it for me?
Dear Parishioners,
In recent years have you noticed something missing in political campaign speeches? Candidates invariably talk about family values, concern for the elderly, education and poverty. They make extravagant promises, assuring well being, if not prosperity, for essentially everybody. These campaigns of promise-making aim almost exclusively at our wants and desires. What is often missing is a call to service.
“And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” This famous quote for the inauguration of John Kennedy echoed similar words from Oliver Wendell Holmes in 1884. “We pause to recall what our country has done for each of us and to ask ourselves what we can do for our country in return.” Such challenges are seldom heard in political speeches that promise everything and ask for nothing but a vote. You have to be suspicious, because even our gracious God is not all promise! What should concern us most is the likelihood that such speeches merely reflect the culture to which they are appealing for support.
When the only question is, “What’s in it for me?” aren’t we suffering from arrested development spiritually? Jesus pointed his eager disciples away from the immaturity of “It’s all about me, my possessions and the clutter in my life” toward the maturity of the person who has developed a heart to serve.
- Deacon Robert
In recent years have you noticed something missing in political campaign speeches? Candidates invariably talk about family values, concern for the elderly, education and poverty. They make extravagant promises, assuring well being, if not prosperity, for essentially everybody. These campaigns of promise-making aim almost exclusively at our wants and desires. What is often missing is a call to service.
“And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” This famous quote for the inauguration of John Kennedy echoed similar words from Oliver Wendell Holmes in 1884. “We pause to recall what our country has done for each of us and to ask ourselves what we can do for our country in return.” Such challenges are seldom heard in political speeches that promise everything and ask for nothing but a vote. You have to be suspicious, because even our gracious God is not all promise! What should concern us most is the likelihood that such speeches merely reflect the culture to which they are appealing for support.
When the only question is, “What’s in it for me?” aren’t we suffering from arrested development spiritually? Jesus pointed his eager disciples away from the immaturity of “It’s all about me, my possessions and the clutter in my life” toward the maturity of the person who has developed a heart to serve.
- Deacon Robert
Friday, October 5, 2012
Marriage Is In Trouble
Dear Parishioners,
This week the scripture readings deal with the topic of marriage (Genesis 2:18-24; Hebrews 2:9-11Mark 10:2-16). How timely it is that these particular readings, which only occur every three years, are being read this election year. As most of you know by now, our legislature has enacted a law redefining marriage so that two members of the same sex may be married. Society has always, even before Christianity, seen marriage as the union between a man and a woman, as the basic cell to stabilize families, generate and raise children, and help civilization to grow and flourish. The current legislation will threaten the basic welfare. Recently, in Australia, the government, including the Prime Minister, overwhelmingly defeated the concept of same sex marriage. I encourage you to read the inserts you’ll find in the bulletin in the weeks ahead, along with the green pamphlets found at the doors of the church. Marriage is in trouble, and as a result, so is our culture. Please become informed so that you may vote to protect marriage as society and the church have defined it since the beginning of time.
Nevertheless, in our defense of authentic marriage, we cannot detract or demean those who disagree with us. Instead, we must be civil, courteous, and charitable while standing tall for what we believe and the church teaches.
- Fr. Carl
This week the scripture readings deal with the topic of marriage (Genesis 2:18-24; Hebrews 2:9-11Mark 10:2-16). How timely it is that these particular readings, which only occur every three years, are being read this election year. As most of you know by now, our legislature has enacted a law redefining marriage so that two members of the same sex may be married. Society has always, even before Christianity, seen marriage as the union between a man and a woman, as the basic cell to stabilize families, generate and raise children, and help civilization to grow and flourish. The current legislation will threaten the basic welfare. Recently, in Australia, the government, including the Prime Minister, overwhelmingly defeated the concept of same sex marriage. I encourage you to read the inserts you’ll find in the bulletin in the weeks ahead, along with the green pamphlets found at the doors of the church. Marriage is in trouble, and as a result, so is our culture. Please become informed so that you may vote to protect marriage as society and the church have defined it since the beginning of time.
Nevertheless, in our defense of authentic marriage, we cannot detract or demean those who disagree with us. Instead, we must be civil, courteous, and charitable while standing tall for what we believe and the church teaches.
- Fr. Carl
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