A Light Brightly Visible

Dear Parishioners,

Several months ago, Archbishop Lori wrote a pastoral letter entitled A Light Brightly Visible which he released this past Pentecost. It deals with the new evangelization and parish planning. Inspired by the thoughts of Pope Francis, Vatican Council II, and all the popes in between, it is an invitation to all of us to look at the Church today and what must be done for the Church of tomorrow in carrying out her mission. The pastoral letter is a good read and can be found here: A Light Brightly Visible. I encourage you to read it.

As part of the archdiocese’s planning for the future, the Archbishop would like to know your thoughts. As such, the Archbishop has asked us to take part in a survey about our experiences with our parishes. This can be done either on-line at www.bemissionarydisciples.org or by paper. The on-line survey can be done now; paper survey will be made available at a later date.

Thank you for taking the time to help.

- Fr. Carl

“O My God, I desire to love you more than all the angels
and all the saints put together. I adore you with them,
and unite my love with that which your Blessed Mother
had for you, when she was on earth.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

Entitled

Dear Parishioners,

Ours is not an entitled existence but rather a gift that understands birth itself as a gift. Entitled? Not in the least. We are temporary, soon forgotten in the long reach of time and history, centuries and millennia. But there’s more to consider, isn’t there?

In the end, we have to face the troubling fact that only God can give us what God alone gives. This gift, call it grace, salvation, eternal life is ours not by right but by God’s generosity.

Some still believe and live as if we are entitled. “Come follow me” may be the most powerful words ever uttered on this earth. God offers us a gift. Receive the gift that God gives, follow the teachings of Jesus.

- Deacon Robert

“We are permitted to love our relations, our possessions,
our health, our reputation; but this love must be subordinate
to the love we should have for God, so that we may be
ready to make the sacrifice of it if He should require it.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

Proud To Be Catholic!

Dear Parishioners,

What a great week it was to be a Catholic! Pope Francis was magnificent as the love of Jesus seemed to radiate from his very being. While I did not get to see the pope personally, I remember being in the presence of Pope St. John Paul II several times. Whether you were up close or far away in the crowd, you could feel something in the air that you never felt anywhere else. God was there in a very special way in the person of his vicar, the pope.

Each of the last three popes with whom the Church has been blessed has brought something unique to the papacy. St. John Paul II brought energy, charisma, and a dynamic yet prayerful personality. He was a great philosopher. Benedict XVI, a great theologian, brought a continuity of his predecessor’s missions along with a more reserved and shy manner. Pope Francis brings a wonderfully gentle humility along with a real concern for the poor around the globe. He speaks the truth with love on the important issues of the times: religious freedom, the sanctity of life, the environment, immigration, and the family. While he voices his concerns over these issues, he does so with encouragement, humility, gentleness, and confidence that people of good will can work together for solutions.

Let us pray for an end to the strident debates going on in our country, that different viewpoints will be aired with civility, and that solutions to our problems can be reached through negotiations and compromise that truly benefits our nation.

- Fr. Carl

“He who does not pray is like a hen or a turkey that cannot
rise into the air. He who prays is like an intrepid eagle!”
~Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

Who’s With Us?

Dear Parishioners,

Jesus offers us a more inclusive way to view the world. He says, “Whoever is not against us is for us.” (Mark 9:38-43,45,47-48) What difference this perspective makes on the way we see the world and the way we interact with those around us! All of a sudden the world is filled with companions, friends, and actual or potential allies.

Who needs to belong to an exclusive club or circle of friends when we could have a great family of friends and companions to share our journey and our mission? Ask yourself, how much more optimistic and less judgmental is this way of life and service to our Lord?

- Deacon Robert

We ought to say to God: “I can do nothing of myself.
I can only give you my desire to love you. Here it is!
O my god, uphold me and do all yourself.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

A Word From Our Pastor

Dear Parishioners,

About a month ago, our music director and organist, Mia Coyne, suffered a hemorrhage to the brain and taken to the Washington Medical Center where she underwent treatment for a number of days. She has been home for several weeks, but the recovery process will take some time. So she will not be returning to St. Jane’s. She has been a dedicated, hard-working, and knowledgeable worker in the parish, and she will be missed. I ask for your prayers so that she will have a full and complete recovery. It was fortunate that I found the organist from my previous parish taking a several year break from parish music, and she agreed to come here to replace Mia. Her name is Marianne Gregory, and she has been a parish music director/organist with over 30 years of experience. She has an upbeat, enthusiastic attitude and should be a blessing here at St. Jane’s. I look forward to working with her in the coming years.

- Fr. Carl

“Nothing afflicts the Heart of Jesus so much as to see all
his sufferings of no avail to so many… Pray then for the
conversion of sinners.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

Redemptive Suffering

Dear Parishioners,

Jesus commanded those who would follow him to take up their cross, to love God more than life itself (Mark 8:27-35). It is an open palm that a fisted world needs to see. It is acceptance and forgiveness that provokes repentance. It is mercy in the face of mercilessness that trumps justice and beaks the cycle of revenge and violence. God redeems the world through the suffering and sacrifice of the cross. But God also calls each of us to bear witness to Christ’s redemptive suffering, to be “Christians.”

- Deacon Robert

“When God sees us coming to Him in prayer, He leans His
heart down very low to his little creature, like a father who
bends down to listen to his child when it speaks to him.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

It’s Sunday… Take A Break!

Dear Parishioners,

“Every worthwhile gift, every genuine benefit comes from above, descending from the Father…” These words we heard last week from the letter of James (James 2:14-18). This week, the readings deal with those lacking some of the gifts we often take for granted (Isaiah 50:5-9a; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35). The gifts of sight, hearing, speech, and society’s approval. The sign of the Messiah’s arrival would be the healing of eyes of the blind, the ears of the deaf, and the legs of the lame. The disadvantaged will be made whole and restored to health. Jesus, in healing the deaf man’s hearing and speech impediment, serves notice that the Messiah has arrived.

It is a hardship for a person lacking hearing and the ability to be understood. However, the greater tragedy is the inability to hear the word of God and to give praise, glory, adoration, and Thanksgiving to the Trinity. And that is our disability when we shut God out of our lives because of our busy schedules.

This weekend is Labor Day, a holiday during which we can rest from our work, spend leisure time with our families, and recharge our emotional and physical batteries. Come to think of it, isn’t that the purpose of each Sunday, worshiping God and resting from unnecessary work? If we make God a priority over the weekend, God will help us through the week.

May you and your families have a blessed Labor Day weekend.

- Fr. Carl

“One serves God better by doing things in which one
takes neither pleasure or delight.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars