Dear Parishioners,
Last weekend I visited our sister parish in Haiti, St. Guillaume (William), in the remote town of La Chapelle. It was a long, five-hour ride to get there with the last hour over a rocky, bumpy, dirt road that had been washed out in several places. Along the way, we found pick-up trucks with benches serving as transportation. People not only sat on the benches but stood on the bumpers, and some sat on the roofs; so crowded were many of these trucks. Many could not afford to pay, so they traveled the two lane highway by foot, carrying the 40 pound water containers on their heads (due to no inside running water) as well as sacks of grain, tubs of clothes, and whatever else they needed. Motorcycles were very popular, with usually three riders and sometimes four on a single motorcycle. Yet they were in good spirits, because they had God and one another. They were a very social people who gather in the streets at night talking, singing, and listening to music.
In one sense, they have so little, but they also have so much. May we become more appreciative of the many blessings we have rather than worrying about the things we lack. If so, perhaps we can acquire some of the spirit of Haiti where the problem of depression doesn’t exist.
God Bless,
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, March 16, 2018
Friday, March 9, 2018
Building the Kingdom of God
Dear Parishioners,
My wife and I were at a Deacon Retreat last weekend directed by Sr. Geralyn Schmitt from the Diocese of Harrisburg. The theme was about building the Kingdom of God. As a man, a husband, and a deacon, I am to build the Kingdom of God by expressing authentic and courageous love to all I meet. As we go through Lent, let us remember that our purpose in bettering our spiritual selves is to imitate Christ in his self giving love. It is for us to make our world a better place by showing dignity to others. It is for our church to become more alive in Christ.
The purpose of our Lenten sacrifices are so that our family may show love more readily and freely to one another. We are seeking that our love for God will take up a greater part of our life. The song we try to sing during Lent is a song of gracious love for God's benefit, to glorify and praise Him. I think because we sing to God our little song, rooted in honest care for each other, the Holy Spirit responds in harmony. The more beautiful our melody, the greater the melody that God sings in return. God's love is why we pray, why we go to Mass, why we serve the poor and why we care for each other. We know in our hearts that this love comes through God’s Spirit speaking to us and filling us. Our dance with God is such that the more we invite him in our life, the more we can see him at every turn. Therefore, the Kingdom of God is reflected in our good actions to one another. Let us know and serve God this Lent by becoming more like Him. Our imitation of Christ will surely make our little part of the world a better place.
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
My wife and I were at a Deacon Retreat last weekend directed by Sr. Geralyn Schmitt from the Diocese of Harrisburg. The theme was about building the Kingdom of God. As a man, a husband, and a deacon, I am to build the Kingdom of God by expressing authentic and courageous love to all I meet. As we go through Lent, let us remember that our purpose in bettering our spiritual selves is to imitate Christ in his self giving love. It is for us to make our world a better place by showing dignity to others. It is for our church to become more alive in Christ.
The purpose of our Lenten sacrifices are so that our family may show love more readily and freely to one another. We are seeking that our love for God will take up a greater part of our life. The song we try to sing during Lent is a song of gracious love for God's benefit, to glorify and praise Him. I think because we sing to God our little song, rooted in honest care for each other, the Holy Spirit responds in harmony. The more beautiful our melody, the greater the melody that God sings in return. God's love is why we pray, why we go to Mass, why we serve the poor and why we care for each other. We know in our hearts that this love comes through God’s Spirit speaking to us and filling us. Our dance with God is such that the more we invite him in our life, the more we can see him at every turn. Therefore, the Kingdom of God is reflected in our good actions to one another. Let us know and serve God this Lent by becoming more like Him. Our imitation of Christ will surely make our little part of the world a better place.
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
Friday, March 2, 2018
Fanatics
Dear Parishioners,
A fanatic is a person filled with excessive and single-minded zeal. While it’s ok to be a fanatic about your sports team– the Orioles, the Ravens, the Terps, people are uncomfortable with and look down on religious fanatics. As a result, many people are reluctant or shy about bringing their faith into the conversation. This is especially the case with Catholics. Perhaps some of that has to do with the discrimination so many of our ancestors encountered in America. The noted Harvard historian Arthur Schlesinger, Sr. referred to the prejudice against Catholics as “the deepest bias in the history of the American people.” Or maybe it’s the politically correct thing to keep faith and religion out of the conversation. And so we tend to hide the light of our faith under a bushel basket contrary to the teaching of Jesus. Yet in today’s Gospel, Jesus’ disciples refer to our Lords’ actions as zeal for his Father’s house. Today Jesus invites us to be less politically correct and more zealous and a bit more enthusiastic about our faith. He wants to inflame us with a loving faith that will be like a light on a stand “where it gives light to all in the house…”. (MT 5:15)
Fr. Carl
A fanatic is a person filled with excessive and single-minded zeal. While it’s ok to be a fanatic about your sports team– the Orioles, the Ravens, the Terps, people are uncomfortable with and look down on religious fanatics. As a result, many people are reluctant or shy about bringing their faith into the conversation. This is especially the case with Catholics. Perhaps some of that has to do with the discrimination so many of our ancestors encountered in America. The noted Harvard historian Arthur Schlesinger, Sr. referred to the prejudice against Catholics as “the deepest bias in the history of the American people.” Or maybe it’s the politically correct thing to keep faith and religion out of the conversation. And so we tend to hide the light of our faith under a bushel basket contrary to the teaching of Jesus. Yet in today’s Gospel, Jesus’ disciples refer to our Lords’ actions as zeal for his Father’s house. Today Jesus invites us to be less politically correct and more zealous and a bit more enthusiastic about our faith. He wants to inflame us with a loving faith that will be like a light on a stand “where it gives light to all in the house…”. (MT 5:15)
Fr. Carl
Friday, February 23, 2018
Winning Gold During Lent
Dear Parishioners,
I have been watching the Olympics on TV in the evenings. There is sometimes great drama and suspense as well as huge disappointment as these athletes compete in a variety of winter sports. Although I am still not sure why curling is in the Olympics!
While some Olympians win a medal, many do not, but their competitive spirit is inspiring. Their energy to push ahead even when the odds are against them is powerful to watch.
We likewise are in a challenging situation during Lent. We are seeking to become more holy by our observance of fasting, penance, self denial, and almsgiving over these 40 days. There are distractions and challenges with everyday life getting in the way sometimes. There is competition for our attention and energy coming from many directions. But ultimately, we are trying to better ourselves. We have to let go of some habits or behaviors and take up some new behaviors we hope will become habits. We are in a race of sorts not against others but against our old selves, our old lackadaisical selves. So let me be the coach urging you onward. Keep the faith! Keep your focus on God! Reach for the prize! Seek out our Lord whom we will meet at Calvary. Let us end this Lent with the gold of God’s love and be in a better relationship with Him. You can do it!
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
I have been watching the Olympics on TV in the evenings. There is sometimes great drama and suspense as well as huge disappointment as these athletes compete in a variety of winter sports. Although I am still not sure why curling is in the Olympics!
While some Olympians win a medal, many do not, but their competitive spirit is inspiring. Their energy to push ahead even when the odds are against them is powerful to watch.
We likewise are in a challenging situation during Lent. We are seeking to become more holy by our observance of fasting, penance, self denial, and almsgiving over these 40 days. There are distractions and challenges with everyday life getting in the way sometimes. There is competition for our attention and energy coming from many directions. But ultimately, we are trying to better ourselves. We have to let go of some habits or behaviors and take up some new behaviors we hope will become habits. We are in a race of sorts not against others but against our old selves, our old lackadaisical selves. So let me be the coach urging you onward. Keep the faith! Keep your focus on God! Reach for the prize! Seek out our Lord whom we will meet at Calvary. Let us end this Lent with the gold of God’s love and be in a better relationship with Him. You can do it!
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
Friday, February 16, 2018
Valetine's Gifts
Dear Parishioners,
February 14th is always Valentine’s Day and a time when couples show their love for one another through gifts of one kind or another. Of course, not every one has a significant other of the human kind, but we all have a significant other of the divine kind—God. This year, Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day and provides an opportunity for us to give God some special gifts to show our love for Him. The traditional gifts of chocolate and flowers don’t mean anything to God. Instead, He wants our prayers, almsgiving (money to the poor), and sacrifice. However, God doesn’t want these gifts just on Valentine’s Day. Because it’s Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, He desires 40 days of prayer, sacrifice, and almsgiving.
In sharing gifts with our human significant others, we receive their love in return for a number of days, weeks, months, and years at the most. But in sharing our gifts of sacrifice and love with God, we receive his gifts of grace and love, and we can keep them for eternity. That’s love worth winning.
Father Carl
February 14th is always Valentine’s Day and a time when couples show their love for one another through gifts of one kind or another. Of course, not every one has a significant other of the human kind, but we all have a significant other of the divine kind—God. This year, Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day and provides an opportunity for us to give God some special gifts to show our love for Him. The traditional gifts of chocolate and flowers don’t mean anything to God. Instead, He wants our prayers, almsgiving (money to the poor), and sacrifice. However, God doesn’t want these gifts just on Valentine’s Day. Because it’s Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, He desires 40 days of prayer, sacrifice, and almsgiving.
In sharing gifts with our human significant others, we receive their love in return for a number of days, weeks, months, and years at the most. But in sharing our gifts of sacrifice and love with God, we receive his gifts of grace and love, and we can keep them for eternity. That’s love worth winning.
Father Carl
Friday, February 9, 2018
Lent: A Time Of Renewal
Dear Parishioners,
I think that the seasons of Lent and Easter are my favorites. They carry great power and meaning. Lent prepares us for the greatest mystery of the Church and its most profound events. The Passion of our Lord manifested within the context of Holy Week is a special time, extraordinary time, a time when the world stood still and when the world was immeasurably and irrevocably changed. But I am jumping ahead. This week, we experience the opening scene of Ash Wednesday that in and of itself should set our minds whirling. We declare that we are dust, we are reminded of our mortality, and we come face to face with the meaning of our death. If we truly let that settle into our psyche, it calls for an examination of our lives. What am I doing with my life? Where are my commitments taking me? How am I spending my time and energy?
The dark mark placed on our foreheads serves as a sign that we are marked as a people. We have a calling beyond ourselves. We know who we are and what we stand for. We are men and women of Christ. Our lives are not ours but are His. As we have these several weeks to prepare for the Easter days ahead, let us make sacrifices, take ourselves out of the ordinary, and open a space within our lives in a new way for Christ. Let us open ourselves to God with a new devotion, a new habit, a new prayer, a new energy. Let this time be one of renewal. Let us take hold of ourselves and focus our time in cleansing preparation so that we may walk fully with Christ during his last days. He gives us the gift of salvation. Let us be ready to fully know this gift in our souls.
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
I think that the seasons of Lent and Easter are my favorites. They carry great power and meaning. Lent prepares us for the greatest mystery of the Church and its most profound events. The Passion of our Lord manifested within the context of Holy Week is a special time, extraordinary time, a time when the world stood still and when the world was immeasurably and irrevocably changed. But I am jumping ahead. This week, we experience the opening scene of Ash Wednesday that in and of itself should set our minds whirling. We declare that we are dust, we are reminded of our mortality, and we come face to face with the meaning of our death. If we truly let that settle into our psyche, it calls for an examination of our lives. What am I doing with my life? Where are my commitments taking me? How am I spending my time and energy?
The dark mark placed on our foreheads serves as a sign that we are marked as a people. We have a calling beyond ourselves. We know who we are and what we stand for. We are men and women of Christ. Our lives are not ours but are His. As we have these several weeks to prepare for the Easter days ahead, let us make sacrifices, take ourselves out of the ordinary, and open a space within our lives in a new way for Christ. Let us open ourselves to God with a new devotion, a new habit, a new prayer, a new energy. Let this time be one of renewal. Let us take hold of ourselves and focus our time in cleansing preparation so that we may walk fully with Christ during his last days. He gives us the gift of salvation. Let us be ready to fully know this gift in our souls.
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
Friday, February 2, 2018
Suffering
Dear Parishioners,
In today’s first reading, Job is down in the dumps (Jb 7:1-4, 6-7). He sees his current life as one of drudgery and misery. Many of us have had times in our lives where we feel the same. And when the weather is dreary and overcast as it has been recently, our morale is impacted even more. If we are not careful, those feelings can lead to depression. However, when we look at the passion and death of Jesus, we realize our problems can’t compare. Furthermore, we can see our suffering as an opportunity to connect more intimately with Jesus. As St. John Vianney said, “We complain when we suffer. We have more reason to complain when we do not suffer, since nothing so likens us to the Lord as the bearing of His cross.” When looked upon this way, our suffering and misery quickly fade into the background.
Fr. Carl
In today’s first reading, Job is down in the dumps (Jb 7:1-4, 6-7). He sees his current life as one of drudgery and misery. Many of us have had times in our lives where we feel the same. And when the weather is dreary and overcast as it has been recently, our morale is impacted even more. If we are not careful, those feelings can lead to depression. However, when we look at the passion and death of Jesus, we realize our problems can’t compare. Furthermore, we can see our suffering as an opportunity to connect more intimately with Jesus. As St. John Vianney said, “We complain when we suffer. We have more reason to complain when we do not suffer, since nothing so likens us to the Lord as the bearing of His cross.” When looked upon this way, our suffering and misery quickly fade into the background.
Fr. Carl
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