Dear Parishioners,
I have been thinking about the word, “Alleluia.” It comes from Latin around the 14th century and means, “Praise God!”
In the Psalms, it is a request for the congregation to join in praise of God. In the Mass, it comes before the Gospel reading and accompanies an antiphon or phrase from the Psalms among other times. It is withheld during the penitential time of Lent, signifying that the kingdom of God is not yet here. It is a joyous statement of our faith and belief in God the Almighty. Alleluia is a statement of thanksgiving for all that God has done for us. We acknowledge God’s greatness and goodness in our enthusiastic alleluia. We join with the angels in heaven in proclaiming, “Alleluia!” We probably can’t say it quietly or with a stern face, it has to come deeply with enthusiasm. Yet I know at times it is hard to be in an “alleluia” mood. Sometimes we can’t get to the place where alleluia fits us and where we can honestly and joyfully proclaim it. Maybe we need to pause then and turn to God asking for his help and support. Maybe it is then that we need to see that God is present even in our struggles, that he is at work in us, shaping us, clarifying us, focusing us. For we cannot praise God only when things are good and we feel blessed. He is present at all times, and I believe cries with us, knows our sorrow and our pain, our laughter and joy.
Therefore it is alleluia at all times. It is praise this God of ours who knows us and who always walks with us. And when we are most crippled by our difficulties, he carries us. So, alleluia, alleluia! Praise God for his companionship and salvation, his creative force in our lives and his great mercy!
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
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, May 24, 2019
Friday, May 17, 2019
Sacramental Sponsors
Dear Parishioners,
From time to time, we get requests from people who have been asked to be sponsors for the Sacraments of Baptism or Confirmation. However, I am not always here to sign these letters of eligibility. But, if the person has been using the envelopes on a regular basis or has a history of on-line giving, the office can issue that letter provided all the other requirements are met.
The sponsor must be a Catholic who is at least 16 years old, not the parent of the candidate, and has received the Sacraments of Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation. If married, the sponsor must be in a valid marriage (i.e, marriage recognized by the Catholic Church). Basically, the sponsor is to be a good Catholic role model to assist in the candidate’s growth and maturing in the faith.
Before asking a person to serve as a sponsor, it’s always good to explain the role and requirements beforehand, so that any subsequent embarrassment might be avoided. While it’s an honor to serve as a sponsor, it’s much more. It’s an important responsibility that will play a significant role in the faith development of the candidate for Baptism or Confirmation. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call me.
Fr. Carl
From time to time, we get requests from people who have been asked to be sponsors for the Sacraments of Baptism or Confirmation. However, I am not always here to sign these letters of eligibility. But, if the person has been using the envelopes on a regular basis or has a history of on-line giving, the office can issue that letter provided all the other requirements are met.
The sponsor must be a Catholic who is at least 16 years old, not the parent of the candidate, and has received the Sacraments of Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation. If married, the sponsor must be in a valid marriage (i.e, marriage recognized by the Catholic Church). Basically, the sponsor is to be a good Catholic role model to assist in the candidate’s growth and maturing in the faith.
Before asking a person to serve as a sponsor, it’s always good to explain the role and requirements beforehand, so that any subsequent embarrassment might be avoided. While it’s an honor to serve as a sponsor, it’s much more. It’s an important responsibility that will play a significant role in the faith development of the candidate for Baptism or Confirmation. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call me.
Fr. Carl
Friday, May 10, 2019
Yes, Lord
Dear Parishioners,
We are in the fullness of May. The spring rains have come. The daffodils, hyacinths, and forsythia have bloomed and are gone. We have had the May Crowning. I have on my desk in front of me a small statue of Mary, with her arms open wide, eyes closed, in a pose that suggests she is in prayer. It is the perfect example of her contemplating the mysteries of her life, the things she pondered in her heart, the special relationship she had with Jesus. What an example for us! The Mother of our Lord quietly contemplating her love for her son, thanking God for the gift of her life, saying “yes” again to the Father in obedience and trust.
I have had my own issues of trust, and so to think about Mary’s “Yes” opens up in me an important avenue for spiritual growth. To say yes is to lay down my will, to believe, to trust in the will of God, to say “yes” to walking into the unknown, to going not where I want but where I am led by God. This was Mary’s journey, and it is ours as well. Can we close our eyes and say yes to the power of God to lead us, to guide us, to carry us? Can we open our hands, lift up our arms, close our eyes, and say to God, “I am yours?” Can we live out the saying, “Not my will, but yours Lord?” Mary did. Mary did, and marvelous things happened, miraculous things, transforming things. Her life was not the same, nor will ours be. There is a popular Christian song whose refrain is “Yes Lord, yes Lord, Yes, Yes Lord, Amen.” It is a simple, yet profound refrain. Let us seek Mary’s courage, openness, and love. Let us “let go and let God!” It’s Mary’s month. Why not now?
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
We are in the fullness of May. The spring rains have come. The daffodils, hyacinths, and forsythia have bloomed and are gone. We have had the May Crowning. I have on my desk in front of me a small statue of Mary, with her arms open wide, eyes closed, in a pose that suggests she is in prayer. It is the perfect example of her contemplating the mysteries of her life, the things she pondered in her heart, the special relationship she had with Jesus. What an example for us! The Mother of our Lord quietly contemplating her love for her son, thanking God for the gift of her life, saying “yes” again to the Father in obedience and trust.
I have had my own issues of trust, and so to think about Mary’s “Yes” opens up in me an important avenue for spiritual growth. To say yes is to lay down my will, to believe, to trust in the will of God, to say “yes” to walking into the unknown, to going not where I want but where I am led by God. This was Mary’s journey, and it is ours as well. Can we close our eyes and say yes to the power of God to lead us, to guide us, to carry us? Can we open our hands, lift up our arms, close our eyes, and say to God, “I am yours?” Can we live out the saying, “Not my will, but yours Lord?” Mary did. Mary did, and marvelous things happened, miraculous things, transforming things. Her life was not the same, nor will ours be. There is a popular Christian song whose refrain is “Yes Lord, yes Lord, Yes, Yes Lord, Amen.” It is a simple, yet profound refrain. Let us seek Mary’s courage, openness, and love. Let us “let go and let God!” It’s Mary’s month. Why not now?
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
Friday, May 3, 2019
A Season Of Change
Dear Parishioners,
This past Holy Week was wonderful! The liturgies were all so beautiful and inspiring thanks to our musicians, lectors, altar servers, extra ordinary ministers of Holy Communion, decorators, sacristans, and you, our parishioners who came out to worship. In spite of the negative press the Church has been getting, our attendance remained steady – 1638 this year and 1637 last year. And again, our parishioners were just as generous as last year. My thanks to everybody.
Summer time is the time of personnel changes. We will be seeing a number of priests retiring and/or receiving new assignments, but thankfully, I will not be among them. However, there will be some changes here among the staff. Our Director of Religious Education, Katie Torrey—who has done such good work here—will be taking a position with the Archdiocese in Missionary Discipleship aka Faith Formation. We will miss her but know the Archdiocese will be fortunate to have her talents and make good use of them. Taking her place will be our current youth minister, Claire Horvath, who having worked with Katie the last 8 years, will bring continuity to the program along with energy and enthusiasm. Taking Claire’s place will be Melissa Boyle who had the Youth Ministry job when I arrived here 10 years ago before taking several high school teaching assignments. She, too, has a great deal of energy, enthusiasm, and experience in working with young people. We are blessed to have her back.
Finally, our organist/choir director, Marianne Gregory, is retiring to spend more time with her family. Having worked with her 9 years at my previous parish as well as the past 4 years here, I will miss her. Taking her place will be J.J. Klapa who brings a wealth of experience as an organist and choir director in several other parishes. I look forward to working with him in the years ahead.
Hopefully, things will settle down now and for the foreseeable future. May the rest of the Easter season be good to you and your families.
Fr. Carl
This past Holy Week was wonderful! The liturgies were all so beautiful and inspiring thanks to our musicians, lectors, altar servers, extra ordinary ministers of Holy Communion, decorators, sacristans, and you, our parishioners who came out to worship. In spite of the negative press the Church has been getting, our attendance remained steady – 1638 this year and 1637 last year. And again, our parishioners were just as generous as last year. My thanks to everybody.
Summer time is the time of personnel changes. We will be seeing a number of priests retiring and/or receiving new assignments, but thankfully, I will not be among them. However, there will be some changes here among the staff. Our Director of Religious Education, Katie Torrey—who has done such good work here—will be taking a position with the Archdiocese in Missionary Discipleship aka Faith Formation. We will miss her but know the Archdiocese will be fortunate to have her talents and make good use of them. Taking her place will be our current youth minister, Claire Horvath, who having worked with Katie the last 8 years, will bring continuity to the program along with energy and enthusiasm. Taking Claire’s place will be Melissa Boyle who had the Youth Ministry job when I arrived here 10 years ago before taking several high school teaching assignments. She, too, has a great deal of energy, enthusiasm, and experience in working with young people. We are blessed to have her back.
Finally, our organist/choir director, Marianne Gregory, is retiring to spend more time with her family. Having worked with her 9 years at my previous parish as well as the past 4 years here, I will miss her. Taking her place will be J.J. Klapa who brings a wealth of experience as an organist and choir director in several other parishes. I look forward to working with him in the years ahead.
Hopefully, things will settle down now and for the foreseeable future. May the rest of the Easter season be good to you and your families.
Fr. Carl
Friday, April 26, 2019
Love, Love, Love!
Dear Parishioners,
The theme for this Sunday is Divine Mercy. We reflect this day on God’s merciful nature. We know that the God of the universe is an all powerful being. Yet God holds this power in check and shows us at times His mercy. When He could crush us, He rather holds us gently in His hand. How easy it is for us to abuse our power, to push it to the limit and beyond. Yet God with His great power seeks to love us in our failings.
I have a story. First I want to thank all who have sent my wife and I cards and notes after the death of my wife’s sister. Thank you all. But let me point to God’s mercy in this. Laura was wracked with cancer and in her last days was on a morphine drip. She was in and out of consciousness and was at first agitated at this, her last, hospital stay. With all but one of her 8 siblings and others around her, she awoke and spoke to her stepdaughter of what Grandma Lena, long deceased, said about improving baking a cake. This was the first taste of something extraordinary going on. At a later time, she voiced how beautiful heaven was with “Wow!” Finally, after waiting for her brother to arrive, she spoke calmly of seeing the face of God and Him saying to her, “Love, love, love!” She passed away shortly afterward.
I submit to you that this is the mercy of God in action. God came to this dying woman and consoled her with visions of His heaven and spoke directly to her. He also gave a strong and beautiful message to her grieving family, that she would be ok and so would they.
This is the mercy of God.
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
The theme for this Sunday is Divine Mercy. We reflect this day on God’s merciful nature. We know that the God of the universe is an all powerful being. Yet God holds this power in check and shows us at times His mercy. When He could crush us, He rather holds us gently in His hand. How easy it is for us to abuse our power, to push it to the limit and beyond. Yet God with His great power seeks to love us in our failings.
I have a story. First I want to thank all who have sent my wife and I cards and notes after the death of my wife’s sister. Thank you all. But let me point to God’s mercy in this. Laura was wracked with cancer and in her last days was on a morphine drip. She was in and out of consciousness and was at first agitated at this, her last, hospital stay. With all but one of her 8 siblings and others around her, she awoke and spoke to her stepdaughter of what Grandma Lena, long deceased, said about improving baking a cake. This was the first taste of something extraordinary going on. At a later time, she voiced how beautiful heaven was with “Wow!” Finally, after waiting for her brother to arrive, she spoke calmly of seeing the face of God and Him saying to her, “Love, love, love!” She passed away shortly afterward.
I submit to you that this is the mercy of God in action. God came to this dying woman and consoled her with visions of His heaven and spoke directly to her. He also gave a strong and beautiful message to her grieving family, that she would be ok and so would they.
This is the mercy of God.
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
Saturday, April 20, 2019
Alleluia!
Dear Parishioners,
“We need a little Christmas” is the title of a popular song in December leading up to the days of Our Lord’s birth. The days leading up to Christmas had been getting darker and darker, so it seemed right to yearn for some brightness in our lives.
As we trudged through Lent with our penitential practices, we have come from the dark days of winter into a brighter season of the year. Still, we need the brilliance of Easter to bring us into the light of Christ to lift up our hearts and spirits to experience what the resurrection bodes for us. For the world 2,000 years ago, it was the proof that Jesus conquered sin, death, and evil by obeying his Father’s will.
For us today, it is the sign that God will be with us in our struggles through life and that our faithfulness in their midst will lead us to share in the resurrection of our Lord.
Jesus Christ has risen—Alleluia!
So too shall we—Alleluia!
Fr. Carl
“We need a little Christmas” is the title of a popular song in December leading up to the days of Our Lord’s birth. The days leading up to Christmas had been getting darker and darker, so it seemed right to yearn for some brightness in our lives.
As we trudged through Lent with our penitential practices, we have come from the dark days of winter into a brighter season of the year. Still, we need the brilliance of Easter to bring us into the light of Christ to lift up our hearts and spirits to experience what the resurrection bodes for us. For the world 2,000 years ago, it was the proof that Jesus conquered sin, death, and evil by obeying his Father’s will.
For us today, it is the sign that God will be with us in our struggles through life and that our faithfulness in their midst will lead us to share in the resurrection of our Lord.
Jesus Christ has risen—Alleluia!
So too shall we—Alleluia!
Fr. Carl
Friday, April 12, 2019
The One Guarantee In Life
Dear Parishioners,
Back in late February, it seemed as though Lent would never begin. Now it is hard to believe that it is almost ended. We are headed down the home stretch as we celebrate Palm Sunday this weekend and launch into Holy Week. Palm (Passion) Sunday is a stark reminder of how life can change very, very quickly. Jesus enters Jerusalem as a hero to the acclaim and adulation of hundreds of people. But only a few days later these same people will turn on him and cry out for his death. But this wasn’t to be a normal form of execution but the cruelest most humiliating form known to man - crucifixion.
It is a reminder that bad things can happen to us even tragic events. There are no guaranties in life except for one. If we are faithful to God, he will raise us up after death. That’s what happened to Jesus and what is in store for us. If we put our trust in worldly treasures and success, we will ultimately find disappointment, but if we trust God, we will be happy now and forever.
Fr. Carl
Back in late February, it seemed as though Lent would never begin. Now it is hard to believe that it is almost ended. We are headed down the home stretch as we celebrate Palm Sunday this weekend and launch into Holy Week. Palm (Passion) Sunday is a stark reminder of how life can change very, very quickly. Jesus enters Jerusalem as a hero to the acclaim and adulation of hundreds of people. But only a few days later these same people will turn on him and cry out for his death. But this wasn’t to be a normal form of execution but the cruelest most humiliating form known to man - crucifixion.
It is a reminder that bad things can happen to us even tragic events. There are no guaranties in life except for one. If we are faithful to God, he will raise us up after death. That’s what happened to Jesus and what is in store for us. If we put our trust in worldly treasures and success, we will ultimately find disappointment, but if we trust God, we will be happy now and forever.
Fr. Carl
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