Friends in High Places

Dear Parishioners,

One of the most memorable gospel stories is that of the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11). There Mary encourages Jesus to save a newly married couple from a disastrous wedding reception. Back in those days, the reception went on for days, not just a few hours as is the case today. Today it would be a bit embarrassing—2,000 years ago it would have been a catastrophe that would not soon be forgotten. Hence, Mary’s concern and our Lord’s reluctance. It reminds us of our Blessed Mother’s influence on Jesus and the importance of maintaining a close relationship with our Blessed Mother. You and I are bound to face difficulties in the coming years. How comforting it would be if we had someone like Mary interceding for us. Despite whatever difficulties we might encounter, 2016 would be a Happy New Year. So pray Mary’s prayer, the rosary.

God bless,
Fr. Carl

“Happy is he who lives and dies under the protection of
the Blessed Virgin.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

Good Things to Come!

Dear Parishioners,

As we come to the end of the Christmas season, I am grateful for all who worked so hard to make our church and our Masses so beautiful and joyful. Thank you also for your generous donations at Christmas and throughout 2015.

I see good things ahead for 2016. The kitchen renovation promised for the rebates that we have received and will continue to receive out of the Embracing Our Mission capital campaign have allowed us to begin. Thus far, we have received our kitchen outlets, installed additional lights, installed a 220 amp outlet for a 50 gallon coffee pot, and put in a stainless steel backing behind the stove. Later this year we will put down some new flooring and install some new ovens and kitchen equipment.

Those of you who are observant may have noticed some changes in the church vestibule as the votive candle area has been revitalized, the bulletin boards have been spruced up, and a pew has been installed for parents with restless babies or children. A new display stand for religious CDs should be up by early Lent. So while the weather finally becomes more winter-like, we have reason to have warm hearts.

May the warm glow of Christmas joy continue to warm the hearts of you and your families through this new year.

God bless,
Fr. Carl

“When one has no consolations, one serves God for
himself alone; but when one has them one is liable to
serve him out of love for self.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

Happy Epiphany!

Dear Parishioners,

This weekend we meet the Magi (Three Kings) coming to adore the Christ Child (Matthew 2:1-12). They traveled and searched far and wide to worship Jesus. They spent a lot of time in their efforts, and they bring costly gifts as befitting another King, the King of the World, Jesus. There’s a lesson for all of us. If we want to meet Jesus and be with him, it requires time, effort, and sacrifice. Let us learn from the Magi and imitate their wisdom by using our time in daily prayer and weekly worship. Jesus is always waiting for us to come and be with him.

Happy Epiphany,
Fr. Carl

“God allowed the Blessed Virgin to be both in poverty,
to the end that her nativity should more closely
resemble that of her Divine Son, of whom the Prophets
had foretold that he would have no place to lay his head.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

Holy Family Sunday

Dear Parishioners,

We are all children of God and members of God’s holy family, the church. We rightly celebrate Christmas in our culture as a time to gather family close, make memories, and to exchange gifts. Perhaps God is inviting us today, this Holy Family Sunday, to see ourselves as members of God’s family now and forever. Look around you and see in the faces and lives of those who worship with you, the family God calls holy. Such a gift has Christmas written all over it!

- Deacon Robert

“In the morning we should behave towards God like an
infant in its cradle. As soon as it opens its eyes, it looks
quickly through the room to see its mother. When it
sees her, it begins to smile. When it cannot see her, it cries.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

Mary, Pure and Fruitful

Dear Parishioners,

As the season of Advent comes to an end and we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, it is only fitting that the gospel focuses on our Lord’s mother Mary (Luke 1:39-45). She is the woman God chose before all ages to give birth to His son. Although she was lowly in the eyes of the world, her humility, faith, and obedience make her great in the eyes of God and a fitting mother for Jesus. She is a role model for all Christians and the image of the Church—pure and fruitful.

May we try to imitate her virtues of humility, purity, fidelity, and obedience so as to welcome Jesus into our hearts, so that we may be faithful disciples and bring him into the world by our thoughts, words, and deeds.

- Fr. Carl

“Humility is like a pair of scales: the lower one side falls,
the higher rises the other. Let us humble ourselves like
the Blessed Virgin and we shall be exalted.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

Repentance

Dear Parishioners,

John the Baptist calls people in the first century and us today to repentance (Luke 3:10-18). But what is repentance? John told his listeners to be generous, honest, and content. What would it be like if we practiced repentance like this… becoming more generous, more honest and more content? Wouldn’t that be a sign to the world that something out of this world was beginning? And maybe, just maybe the Kingdom will come a step closer to our world because we took a step closer to the Kingdom with our actions. Repentance is not necessarily a penance, it is a practice. The world is waiting.

- Deacon Robert

“Offer your temptations for the conversion of sinners.
When the Devil sees you doing this he is beside himself
with rage and makes off, because then the temptation is
turned against himself.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

Prepare the Way of the Lord

Dear Parishioners,

Every year on the second Sunday of Advent, our old friend John the Baptist comes to remind us it’s time again to repent (Luke 3:1-6). His message is just as timely today as it was 2,000 years ago. We have a continuing need to level the mountains of pride, arrogance, and selfishness that crop up in our hearts like the weeds appearing on a well-kept lawn. At the same time, we need to fill in the valleys of our spiritual laziness and indifference to God’s call to holiness. If we prepare, then God can “come” into our hearts. The best preparation is the sacrament of reconciliation or penance or confession. Confession is available [at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Church] each Saturday from 3:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. or by calling the parish office for an appointment. If you prepare in this way, the Lord will surely bless your Christmas celebration.

- Fr. Carl

Confession Links:

• Rediscovering the Sacrament of Confession
• Examinations of Conscience

“The saints love everyone… Their hearts, inflamed with
Divine love, are dilated in proportion to the number of
souls that God puts in their way.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars