Candlemas Day

Dear Parishioners,

Back in the old days, only wax candles were used in church to give light to the sacred space to assist the worship. Now we have electric lights and altar and tabernacle candles fueled by oil. However, we still use wax candles on major feasts (Christmas and Easter) in our candelabras, but not as much as before. When items are used at Mass, they need to be blessed such as chalices, patens, baptismal fonts, tabernacles, bells, organs, stations of the cross, etc. So, too, were the wax candles to be used during Mass. Each year, 40 days after the birth of the Lord, on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, all the candles to be used throughout the year were brought into the church and blessed. Their light would be a symbol of Jesus (the Light of the World) about whom Simeon said in Luke’s gospel (Lk 2:22-40), “A light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.” For this reason this day was also known as Candlemas Day.

The gospel presents Jesus not only to his Father but also to Simeon and Anna, two very holy people, who longed to see the Lord. They waited many years and prepared themselves through prayer and fasting. Since we, too, want to see Jesus at the end of our lives, it might be a good idea to incorporate a bit more prayer and fasting into our lives. Although we are no longer obligated to abstain from meat every Friday, we are still to do some form of penance in remembrance of Good Friday.

Fr. Carl

Pray, Pray, Pray

Dear Parishioners,

We Catholic clergy, bishops, priests and deacons, are expected to do the Liturgy of the Hours at least in the morning and in the evening. It consists of the recitation of Psalms, a scripture passage (Old or New testament), Canticles from Luke, Intercessions, the Lord’s prayer, and closing prayers. It begins with a strong statement, “God come to my assistance, Lord make haste to help me,” requesting God’s help as our Master, guide, and Savior. I mention all of this, because this daily exercise leaves me praying a lot. I have a long list of people I know that I pray for. There are those who are facing significant medical issues or those who are going through grief and loss, and those of my family and friends. I pray daily for the Church and for St. Jane Frances parish. I would like to challenge all of you to take some time to pray for those you love and those you know who need prayers. I think that prayer is one important way we affect the world. I know we are busy. I know there is a lot on our plates. I know that money, responsibilities, and expectations—just to name a few—are some of the important factors that impact our lives. But I would like to urge you to pray. Develop a habit of speaking to God in your own words, from your heart, simply and often. As well, being silent in prayer is not a bad thing but opens us up to God speaking to us. Our world needs prayer. Our Church needs prayer. Our families need prayer. Let us pray for each other, and ask God to improve our faith, give us health, support those suffering, and bring us peace. And thank you to those who pray for me. I need all the help I can get!

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Do you think much about the Holy Spirit?

Dear Parishioners,

At the baptism of Jesus, we hear about the Spirit of God coming upon him, resting on him as a dove. The Holy Spirit is one of those more mysterious aspects of God. The Spirit is the third person of God behind the Father and the Son. But it is not a lesser person of God. In our deacon formation, we were told that the Holy Spirit emanates from the love between God the Father and the Son. Their love is so powerful that from it comes the greatest force of the world, the Holy Spirit. There is gravity and magnetism, but the Spirit is the force of God that has powerful effects upon us. I do not think that I could be a deacon without the Holy Spirit. It is that passage in Matthew, where Jesus sends the disciples out and tells them that the Spirit will tell them what to say in times of trouble. The Spirit was given to us by God so that we may walk in the way of Christ.  

Do you think much about the Holy Spirit? It is an energizing power that opens us up and guides us. We receive it in the Sacraments. It is the echo of God reminding us in our hearts and minds to live in peace with love and mercy toward others. It gives us great gifts. It moves us in the way of God. It is a wise counsel. Maybe take a chance and pray to the Holy Spirit. There is a wonderful prayer to the Holy Spirit that goes like this,

“Come Holy Spirit. Fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created and you shall renew the face of the earth.”

We are certainly in need of renewal.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Don’t Overlook Your Blessings

Dear Parishioners,

Sometimes we overlook the blessings we have received from God. We take them for granted. So I thought I would share a beautiful and powerful reflection from Pope Francis on January 7, 2018.

Fr. Carl

Today’s feast of the Baptism of our Lord ends the Christmas season and invites us to think of our Baptism. Jesus willed to receive the baptism preached and administered by John the Baptist in the river Jordan. It was a baptism of penance: all those who approached it expressed the desire to be purified from sin and, with God’s help, committed themselves to begin a new life. We understand then the great humility of Jesus. He who had not sinned put himself in line with the penitents, mixing among them, to be baptized in the waters of the river. What humility Jesus has! And by doing so, He showed what we celebrated at Christmas: Jesus’ willingness to immerse Himself in the river of humanity, to take upon Himself the failures and weaknesses of men, to share their desire for liberation and to overcome all that distances one from God and makes brothers strangers. As at Bethlehem, along the banks of the Jordan, God keeps His promise to take charge of the human beings’ fate, and Jesus is the tangible and definitive sign of it. He took charge of all of us then and now. Today’s gospel says that “when He came up out of the water, immediately He saw the Heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.” The Holy Spirit is the engine that powers Jesus’ Baptism and our Baptism as well. It’s the Spirit that opens the eyes of our heart to the whole truth. He pushes our life on the path of charity. He is the gift the Father gave to each one of us on the day our Baptism. He, the Spirit, sends to us the tenderness of divine forgiveness. And it is He, the Holy Spirit, that makes the revealing Word of God declare, “Thou are my beloved Son.” — Pope Francis

A Beautiful New Reality

Dear Parishioners,

So the new year has begun, the presents have been opened, the eggnog drunk, the fruit cake consumed, the champagne even is done. It’s 2020, and we are again given the task of taxes, work, traffic, homework, and dinner dishes. Sorry! But let us remember what we have been through. Christ has been born to Mary. Mary and Joseph have protected him, nurtured him, educated him, sustained him so that he may be ready to do his Father’s will. He will spend time in the desert, be tempted, be baptized, find followers, cast out demons and bring people back to life. He will share his divine wisdom, teach and exhort, show us the way, and touch the hearts of many. During a brief public ministry, he will give us a new way to live, challenging us to be generous, to turn the other cheek, to love others, and to pray, to pray always. He will show us the love for the Father leaving us the bread and wine turned into his Body and Blood. He will show us the difficult road of discipleship. He will arouse the anger of the religious authorities and be tried and condemned. They will crucify him on a tree, but he will rise and return to his disciples, giving them the lesson of eternal life. And he will start a Church which shall come through the ages and be a place for us of truth, of peace, of communion. His Body and Blood will remain a constant over the centuries, and all people shall be called to abide by his teachings and follow his Way. There will be a time in January 2020 when his people will look around their lives and ask where they are going and how they should live. Christ will answer as always: love God with your whole heart, mind and strength and love each other as I have loved you. And so this is the reality we are called to, a most beautiful reality!

Happy New Year!
Deacon Steve

Being Christian Stewards

Dear Parishioners,

Last Saturday on a rainy dreary day, the doorbell rang and I met a young man who had some packages to drop off for the Giving Tree. He brought in two large boxes and one smaller one filled with brand new gifts for the less fortunate. When I commented on his generosity, he replied, “God has been good to me this year, and I needed to give back.”

At that moment, I realized I had come face to face with a real Christian “steward.” He recognized the good success he enjoyed was a gift from God. He was grateful, and to show his gratitude, he gave back to God by sharing with the less fortunate.

As I have mentioned several times this year, we are all stewards of God’s gifts of time, talent, and treasure. If we are truly grateful, like the young man, we will show it in prayer, service, and charity to the church and less fortunate.

The greatest gift we have been given, of course, is Jesus Christ who came into the world to sacrifice his life for our salvation. Let us be ever grateful and show it in generous service to God and neighbor.

Fr. Carl

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Dear Parishioners,

Today we are excited, because Christmas is only a few days away. The tree is up, the Christmas things are about the house. The little Santa Claus statues, the lights, the dish with red and green M&Ms, the little ceramic sleigh with reindeer, the nativity scene with the animals and the little baby, the beautiful angel hanging, sparkling in the tree lights. Some gifts are under the tree. We are ready. The Christmas dinner menu is organized, and everyone knows what to bring. The card tables are dusted off, the table clothes are ironed. The Christmas music is playing: Bing Crosby, Celine Dion, that George Winston CD. On the TV there is “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “A Christmas Story,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” “Home Alone” and others. The stores all have Christmas motifs. The externals are all in place.

But now, let us pause. Let us be quiet for a moment. Let us stop our rushing about. Let us slow down. Stop and listen. God is whispering something to us.

The young couple, Mary and Joseph, have traveled from afar and have found their place to bring to the world their new born son. Even though it is a crude and dark place, they are excited and anxious. They will be parents, and their relationship will now become a family of three. The world is changing—the sky, dark and filled with stars, will never be the same.

God whispers, “I am with you.” Listen to that still and soft voice. “I love you and send you my Son.” Let us hold in our hearts those simple words of truth and goodness. Indeed, He is with us. He is the embodiment of love. Let us welcome Him in our families, our friends, in our guests. Let us seek him out, guided by that Spirit given to us in Baptism, leading us to goodness and love. Let us adore this child and make Him the center of our Christmas!

Merry Christmas and many blessings to all,
Deacon Steve