This weekend our scriptures remind us of the cost of discipleship. As we strive to follow in the footsteps of Christ, the way is sometimes difficult, and sacrifices must be made. Christ gave all that he had, including his life, in sacrifice for us, that we might have a destiny of fulfillment with God. As disciples, the choices that we make and the ways we interact with our fellow human beings must reflect the selfless love of Christ, as difficult as this may be. This gospel message is all the more poignant as we celebrate Father’s Day this weekend. With thanksgiving to God, we remember the men in our lives who have strived to be good and loving parents, and have made, and continue to make loving sacrifices for their children. May God bless all the fathers among us.
- Fr. John
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.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
"Your sins are forgiven… Go now in peace."
“Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” That was the famous line of Jenny in the movie, “Love Story” a good number of years ago. Of course that’s not at all true as the first reading and gospel clearly indicate. In the gospel, the woman shows her love for God through the tears she spilled on the feet of Jesus as she washed them, dried them with her hair, and perfumed them with oil. Jesus holds her up as a model of great love and humility. In the first reading, the mighty King David, by admitting his guilt, expresses his love for God.
We human beings can take a lesson from the sinful woman and David because we find it difficult to express our sorrow to those people we offend or hurt. Either our pride gets in the way or our fear of embarrassment keeps us from approaching the person offended. The same holds true when we sin and offend God. We are reluctant to approach him in the sacrament of Confession. That’s so tragic because when we do go, we hear the words of Jesus “Your sins are forgiven… Go now in peace.”
- Fr. Carl
We human beings can take a lesson from the sinful woman and David because we find it difficult to express our sorrow to those people we offend or hurt. Either our pride gets in the way or our fear of embarrassment keeps us from approaching the person offended. The same holds true when we sin and offend God. We are reluctant to approach him in the sacrament of Confession. That’s so tragic because when we do go, we hear the words of Jesus “Your sins are forgiven… Go now in peace.”
- Fr. Carl
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Reflections on a Pilgrimage
Having just returned from a pilgrimage to Europe, I was privileged to see some amazing sights and partake of some wonderful experiences with Archbishop O’Brien and our tour group. I celebrated Mass in the Cathedral in Milan where the great St. Ambrose served as archbishop and baptized St. Augustine. I was able to see the Shroud of Turin, the burial cloth of Jesus. And you could see the image of his face and body visible to the naked eye. We traveled through the beautiful Italian Dolomite mountains where Pope Benedict liked to vacation in the summer on our way to Innsbruck in the German Alps. We attended the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany. This play is put on only every 10 years since 1634 in thanksgiving for having been spared from the Black Plague that was ravaging Europe at the time. The play was a spectacle the likes of which I had never seen before. The actors were all townspeople with goats, donkeys, and camels on stage as well, when called for the the scene. There was a wonderful chorus of fifty men and women with an excellent orchestra. At times there were as many as three hundred people on the stage. The Passion Play lasted five and a half hours. Fortunately, there was a three hour intermission for dinner. It was truly a memorable experience.
The pilgrimage ended with a visit to Salzburg, Austria and then Munich, Germany before returning to Baltimore. But as amazing as this trip was, it can’t begin to compare with what happens here every Sunday when Jesus descends upon the altar where the bread and wine become his body and blood to nourish us. This weekend, Corpus Christi (the Body of Christ), we especially celebrate this miraculous gift. May we never take it for granted; may we always cherish and hunger for the Body of Christ which alone can satisfy our deepest hunger.
- Fr. Carl
The pilgrimage ended with a visit to Salzburg, Austria and then Munich, Germany before returning to Baltimore. But as amazing as this trip was, it can’t begin to compare with what happens here every Sunday when Jesus descends upon the altar where the bread and wine become his body and blood to nourish us. This weekend, Corpus Christi (the Body of Christ), we especially celebrate this miraculous gift. May we never take it for granted; may we always cherish and hunger for the Body of Christ which alone can satisfy our deepest hunger.
- Fr. Carl
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Memorial Day Thanks
This weekend we celebrate Trinity Sunday, giving thanks to the God we know as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As our schedules grow more hectic with graduations, weddings, and all sorts of warm weather events, it is good to take some time to pause and think about how God in the three persons of the Trinity continues to guide our lives and take care of us. Scheduling in time to read the scriptures, or perhaps attend one of our weekday morning masses, or dropping in for Monday or Friday Eucharistic Adoration are some ways to do this.
If you recall, last weekend the election of new parish council members was held. The votes have been tallied, and I congratulate Mary Brodowski, Tony Topita, Bernard Kreitzer, and Phyllis Kreisher who are our new council members. It is very gratifying to see that our parish has folks who are willing to block out time each month to discuss, share their wisdom, and offer advice to the pastor, regarding many, many parish issues.
You may have noticed that the statue of St. Anthony has moved from behind the bushes at the rear of the Rectory, to a much more visible spot at the garden at the rear entrance of the Parish Center. Our High School Youth took care of moving the statue, and replanting the garden at the parish center, thus providing a very nice spot to honor St. Anthony. The Boy Scouts will be adding mulch to the garden in a week or so. The St. Anthony garden also makes the Parish Center rear entrance a very welcoming place for all who enter the building. I know I speak for all of us as I thank Youth Minister Melissa Boyle and all the youth who took part in this effort. We’re also very grateful to the Girl Scouts who planted flowers in front of the Rectory, and at the Mary Garden, and the Boy Scouts who planted vegetables adjacent to the parish garage.
Monday is Memorial Day. St. Jane’s will remember those in our armed forces who have died preserving the freedoms we enjoy in this country at a memorial mass at 8:30 am. All are invited to place the names of those who have died in service to our country in the memorial book on the Holy Family side of the sanctuary in the church.
- Fr. John
If you recall, last weekend the election of new parish council members was held. The votes have been tallied, and I congratulate Mary Brodowski, Tony Topita, Bernard Kreitzer, and Phyllis Kreisher who are our new council members. It is very gratifying to see that our parish has folks who are willing to block out time each month to discuss, share their wisdom, and offer advice to the pastor, regarding many, many parish issues.
You may have noticed that the statue of St. Anthony has moved from behind the bushes at the rear of the Rectory, to a much more visible spot at the garden at the rear entrance of the Parish Center. Our High School Youth took care of moving the statue, and replanting the garden at the parish center, thus providing a very nice spot to honor St. Anthony. The Boy Scouts will be adding mulch to the garden in a week or so. The St. Anthony garden also makes the Parish Center rear entrance a very welcoming place for all who enter the building. I know I speak for all of us as I thank Youth Minister Melissa Boyle and all the youth who took part in this effort. We’re also very grateful to the Girl Scouts who planted flowers in front of the Rectory, and at the Mary Garden, and the Boy Scouts who planted vegetables adjacent to the parish garage.
Monday is Memorial Day. St. Jane’s will remember those in our armed forces who have died preserving the freedoms we enjoy in this country at a memorial mass at 8:30 am. All are invited to place the names of those who have died in service to our country in the memorial book on the Holy Family side of the sanctuary in the church.
- Fr. John
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Tongues of Fire
Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to his apostles shortly after his resurrection. We receive the Holy Spirit with each sacrament even though Confirmation gives us the Holy Spirit in a special way. On Pentecost, fifty days after Easter, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles in a most dramatic way like tongues of fire setting their tongues and spirits ablaze with courage and enthusiasm. The Holy Spirit made effective the New Covenant of Christ. The Spirit changed weak, timid people into zealous persons who were eager to proclaim the Good News. May God give us the courage to boldly live the Good News in all we say and do.
- Fr. Carl
- Fr. Carl
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