The Most Holy Trinity

Dear Parishioners,

God reveals himself to us in a Trinity, as a gracious Father, giving Son, and guiding Holy Spirit. Jesus is a perfect revelation of God, the presence of God in human form. Jesus became for us the interpreter of who God is, just as the Holy Spirit now interprets for us ways we are to follow Jesus in our day.

The Spirit not only reveals the full nature of Jesus to us, but the Spirit becomes our Advocate saying to others that we belong to God. Today, the Spirit vouches for us, claims us as belonging to Christ, and helps us define who we are as followers of Christ.

- Deacon Robert

“Faith is a gift, it is the Father who
gifts it. We must continue on this path. But
if we travel this path, it is always with our
own baggage – because we are all sinners
and we all always have things that are wrong.
But the Lord will forgive us if we ask for
forgiveness, and so we should always press
onwards, without being discouraged.”
- Pope Francis

Understanding God's Message

Dear Parishioners,

It’s a shame our first reading is not the story of the tower of Babel. As you might remember, in the book of Genesis, the people all spoke the same language using the same words. However, their pride and arrogance led them to build a tower reaching up to the sky so as to be equal to God. Perhaps they intended to go up and talk to God about the world situation and how he could have done a better job. Who knows? Anyhow, according to the story, God gave them different languages to confuse them and prevent them from understanding one another, and thus thwarted their plan. God humbled them in their pride as he does with all of us when we exalt ourselves.

Today in the first reading (Acts 2:1-11), we see a reversal of Babel as the Holy Spirit unifies the people, enabling each one to hear and understand the apostles in their native languages even as the apostles speak only Aramaic (the language of Jesus). That’s one of the roles of the Holy Spirit – to unify us and help us to understand God’s message. Of course, we have to do our part. We have to be open.

Let us humbly pray that the Holy Spirit will unite us to our families, our parish, the Church, and the Holy Trinity. Amen.

- Father Carl

We Are Witnesses

Dear Parishioners,

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he taught his disciples to be witnesses to his life and his love to everyone they met beginning in Jerusalem and then to the far reaches of earth (Luke 24:46-53). The risen Lord’s teaching has been passed on to us to this very day. We are witnesses who have a simple story to tell; we are all created in God’s image, marred by sin, broken by life’s struggles, but lavishly loved and freely forgiven. We are witnesses that in Jesus Christ, God visited planet earth as a human being to show us the only way another person can experience God’s love is through another human being who loves as Jesus taught us to love.

- Deacon Robert

Peace in the Church

Dear Parishioners,

Last Sunday afternoon I attended the Italian Buffet put on by our Youth Group. It was fantastic! I had some of the best Italian food ever thanks to our chefs, Dave Horvath and John Sullivan. Our Youth Group, led by Claire Horvath, served and waited on tables in a most professional manner. Many others told me as well, how good the food and service were. I can’t wait for the next buffet.

Very often people have an idea that, in the early days of the Church, all was bliss and peace. We see in today’s first reading, that was not the case (Acts 15:1-2, 22-29). There was a controversy in Antioch that was sent to the apostles in Jerusalem to be settled. The case was decided and Antioch was informed by letter of the decision. The same is true today. When a controversy cannot be settled on the local level, it is sent to Rome for settlement. Thank goodness we have such a system in place so that justice may prevail, and peace restored to the community.

Finally, as we get ready to celebrate Mother’s Day next week, let us not forget Our Blessed Mother – this is her month. Wouldn’t it be nice to give her the gift of a daily rosary? I suspect she will give us something in return.

- Fr. Carl

Love One Another

Dear Parishioners,

Jesus gives us a new commandment, to love one another as he loves us (John 13:31-33a, 34-35). Being commanded to “love” is difficult for us to understand. Yet, God’s grip on us and Jesus’ command of theology is supreme. God’s love, goodness and mercy knows no limits.

A child afraid to cross a busy street, and standing beside his mother cried for the mother to hold his tiny hand. Mom’s arms were already full so she told the child to reach up and take hold of her outstretched finger. But the child refused to cross the street even with the offer of the mother’s finger to hold. The child protested, “I don't want to hold your hand, I want you to hold my hand.” Mom rearranged her load, and offered her child a full hand into which the child’s hand slipped confidently. And together they crossed the busy street.

You may meet someone fearful of the busyness and chaos in this world and in need of Christ’s love. Why not take their hand and help them to safely cross to the other side?

- Deacon Robert

“No prayer is ever lost.”
~ The Cure D’Ars

Pray for Our Shepherds!

Dear Parishioners,

I hope you and your families all had a joyful Easter and were able to relax a bit during Easter week. This weekend we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday, and rejoice in the fact that we have Jesus as our good shepherd who will give us eternal life and never allow us to perish. This year the Catholic Church on earth has a new shepherd, Pope Francis, who never tires of asking people to pray for him. Of course, between Pope Benedict’s resignation and the election of Francis, there were worries and some apprehensions concerning the future. That’s part of the human condition when any flock is without a shepherd.

Last Monday, April the eighth, the shepherd of our school, Michelle Jones, informed me she and her husband, the principal of Arthur Slade School, were not renewing their contracts. Right now, I imagine there are some concerns and worries here at St. Jane Frances. There need not be. I have formed a search committee to look for a new principal, contacted the Archdiocese to put an ad in the Catholic Review and on the archdiocesan website, and am meeting with human resources to help in our search and selection process. Our school is blessed with great, dedicated, and loyal teachers, has an outstanding curriculum, and has the best STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) program in the Archdiocese. This year, thanks to a new online registration program, we are ahead of last year’s enrollment numbers. While Mrs. Jones’ leadership, hard work, and dedication will be missed, I am not worried at all and quite confident that our school will continue to be a beacon of academic excellence in Pasadena and the surrounding areas. In the meantime, like Pope Francis, I ask for your prayers for the school, the new principal, and the pastor.

- Fr. Carl

Follow Me

Dear Parishioners,

After each of the three times Jesus asked Peter to profess his love, Jesus said, “Feed my lambs… Tend my sheep… Feed my sheep.” Jesus said so much more than the words, “I forgive you.” Jesus gave Peter a ministry. He trusted him again with responsibility, leadership, and care of the Church. And then he said again, the very first words Peter ever heard him say to him, “Follow me.”

If Jesus can forgive Peter for his failures and restore him to great usefulness, both to his fellow man and to God, why can’t he do the same for us? Our risen Lord knows about your past, but you still have a future with him. He rose from the grave to tell us that he still loves us and still has a place of service for each and every one of us. And maybe, like Peter and all his disciples from so very long ago, you will recognize him, hear his voice, and accept his forgiveness. All it takes is your “yes” to accept your ministry and follow him.

- Deacon Robert