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
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. Kevin Farmer, Deacon Howard Klohr, Deacon Phil Snyder, and Deacon Rick Clemens. To learn more about our pastorate, please visit www.catholicpasadena.org.
Friday, November 2, 2012
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
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
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