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
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, October 19, 2012
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
Friday, September 28, 2012
A Year of Faith
Dear Parishioners,
Pope Benedict XVI has called the Church to a Year of Faith starting October 11th – the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Second Vatican Council. We are all invited, young and old alike, to grow deeper in our knowledge and practice of our faith. If we are to do what Jesus calls us to do, evangelize, we must grow in our understanding of the Catholic faith. There will be many opportunities to do that starting on Monday, October 1st at 7:30 p.m. in the Muth Room, with our RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults), a series of talks and explanations about our beliefs and practices.
Beginning Thursday, October 11th at 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, October 13th at 9:00 a.m., we will present the conversion story of Tim Staples, “Jimmy Swaggert Made Me a Catholic” followed by Rev. Robert Barron’s series, “Catholicism,” which appeared on PBS last year.
Finally, if you want to do some home study, I recommend subscribing to Our Sunday Visitor or getting a copy of The Catechism of the Catholic Church. After all, the answer in the old Baltimore Catechism to the question of why God made us was “to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this life so as to be happy with Him in the life to come.” It all starts with knowing Him.
- Fr. Carl
Pope Benedict XVI has called the Church to a Year of Faith starting October 11th – the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Second Vatican Council. We are all invited, young and old alike, to grow deeper in our knowledge and practice of our faith. If we are to do what Jesus calls us to do, evangelize, we must grow in our understanding of the Catholic faith. There will be many opportunities to do that starting on Monday, October 1st at 7:30 p.m. in the Muth Room, with our RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults), a series of talks and explanations about our beliefs and practices.
Beginning Thursday, October 11th at 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, October 13th at 9:00 a.m., we will present the conversion story of Tim Staples, “Jimmy Swaggert Made Me a Catholic” followed by Rev. Robert Barron’s series, “Catholicism,” which appeared on PBS last year.
Finally, if you want to do some home study, I recommend subscribing to Our Sunday Visitor or getting a copy of The Catechism of the Catholic Church. After all, the answer in the old Baltimore Catechism to the question of why God made us was “to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this life so as to be happy with Him in the life to come.” It all starts with knowing Him.
- Fr. Carl
Friday, September 21, 2012
Are You No. 1?
Dear Parishioners,
Jesus tells us that greatness is not something one seeks, but a gift that seeks the person (Mark 9:30-37). History's most effective leaders have often been men and women who had greatness thrust upon them by events not of their own making. Rather than positioning themselves to be number one, they served others well, faithfully and generously only to discover they were the leader all along. Let's not miss the child being held in our Lord's arms. What if being number one boiled down to living in such a trusting naive relationship with Jesus Christ that we could freely serve others knowing that our needs have already been met? What if winning in life actually meant making others number one because we knew in our soul that God had already claimed us all for his very own?
- Deacon Robert
Jesus tells us that greatness is not something one seeks, but a gift that seeks the person (Mark 9:30-37). History's most effective leaders have often been men and women who had greatness thrust upon them by events not of their own making. Rather than positioning themselves to be number one, they served others well, faithfully and generously only to discover they were the leader all along. Let's not miss the child being held in our Lord's arms. What if being number one boiled down to living in such a trusting naive relationship with Jesus Christ that we could freely serve others knowing that our needs have already been met? What if winning in life actually meant making others number one because we knew in our soul that God had already claimed us all for his very own?
- Deacon Robert
Friday, September 14, 2012
Who Do You Say That I Am?
Dear Parishioners,
Thirty miles north of the Sea of Galilee in the northern part of the Tetiarchy of Philip, lies the area called Caesarea Philippi. It was a town with an amazing history. It had once been a great center of worship to pagan god Baal. It had also been said to be the birthplace of the Greek god Pan and the source of the Jordan River. Furthermore, Philip had built a gleaming temple to the godhead of Caesar, the Roman emperor, who was regarded as a god. It was amazing with all these claimants to divinity that the Son of God should ask who his disciples thought him to be. And it was even more amazing that Peter got it right – “You are the Messiah.” But then Peter got it wrong when Jesus revealed what lay in store for him. We, like Peter, get it right when we look upon the promises of God with great joy and enthusiasm. But then we get it wrong when we try to avoid the hardships along the way. Later on, Peter would accept his cross. May we do the same as we remember Jesus’ words “whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8:27-35)
- Father Carl
Thirty miles north of the Sea of Galilee in the northern part of the Tetiarchy of Philip, lies the area called Caesarea Philippi. It was a town with an amazing history. It had once been a great center of worship to pagan god Baal. It had also been said to be the birthplace of the Greek god Pan and the source of the Jordan River. Furthermore, Philip had built a gleaming temple to the godhead of Caesar, the Roman emperor, who was regarded as a god. It was amazing with all these claimants to divinity that the Son of God should ask who his disciples thought him to be. And it was even more amazing that Peter got it right – “You are the Messiah.” But then Peter got it wrong when Jesus revealed what lay in store for him. We, like Peter, get it right when we look upon the promises of God with great joy and enthusiasm. But then we get it wrong when we try to avoid the hardships along the way. Later on, Peter would accept his cross. May we do the same as we remember Jesus’ words “whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8:27-35)
- Father Carl
Friday, September 7, 2012
What Can God Do For You?
Dear Parishioners,
What could happen in our lives if we would simply, humbly let God do for us what only God can do for us? If we would, if we dared to let God be God in our lives, dreams might become reality. All the silent, deaf, lonely places in our lives could hear, and for the first time, we might have a tongue made new with words worth speaking. God has a dream for us. Would you let Jesus do the work only he can do? And what dream would come alive in you today and in all the days to come if you would simply say “yes”? Loving God, release our fears, assure us of your healing gifts, open our ears, loose our tongue and let the dream come alive.
- Deacon Robert
What could happen in our lives if we would simply, humbly let God do for us what only God can do for us? If we would, if we dared to let God be God in our lives, dreams might become reality. All the silent, deaf, lonely places in our lives could hear, and for the first time, we might have a tongue made new with words worth speaking. God has a dream for us. Would you let Jesus do the work only he can do? And what dream would come alive in you today and in all the days to come if you would simply say “yes”? Loving God, release our fears, assure us of your healing gifts, open our ears, loose our tongue and let the dream come alive.
- Deacon Robert
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