Remembering On Memorial Day

Dear Parishioners,

This weekend, our country celebrates Memorial Day as we remember and pay tribute to all the men and women who have sacrificed their lives in war serving our country to keep us free and safe. Initially, they fought and died to liberate us from the tyranny of the English crown; but later on, it was to defend not only our rights but the freedoms of other nations from unjust aggression and conquest. Today, we see that continuing in the Ukraine, and pray for an end to hostilities over there.

Of course, this Sunday and every Sunday, we Catholics should focus on Jesus who is the model of self-sacrifice for the good of others, namely the human race. He defeated the unjust aggression of Satan, not by the force of arms but by stretching out his arms on the cross and surrendering his life in obedience to the Father’s will. So today we celebrate the final act of the Paschal mystery the Ascension of our Lord following the Resurrection, Death, and Passion of Jesus.

Several weeks ago, we celebrated V E Day, the victory of the allies in Europe that put an end to war over there. But while Satan and the forces of evil have been overcome, they continue, in a diminished way, to do battle with us. And the only way we can win is by following the example of Jesus and surrendering our wills in obedience to that of the Father.

Happy Memorial Day!
Fr. Carl

The Gift Of Peace

Dear Parishioners,

We might think that peace is the absence of war or chaos around us which is totally conditional and fleeting; but the peace Jesus gives is a lasting, deep inner calm that is available to anyone who accepts it.

One of the profound verses in the Gospel this week is: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (Jn 14:23-29) Peace is a commodity we sorely need in our world and is absent for far too many people. But into this passage, Jesus reassures the disciples—and us—that they will never be alone, and bestows peace on them.

However, He does more than gently wish them peaceful lives—He gives them peace. This is not a wish. This is a gift. It is a gift of profound importance. And like love, peace is a mark of true discipleship that is required of His disciples, then and now. Jesus’ presence with us brings His peace into our present circumstances.

The presence of this peace reminds me of a wonderful quote for life: “Breathe in peace, breathe out love.” It is with the presence of this peace, given by God in Jesus’ name, which enables the disciples—and us—to live lives of faithfulness. May Christ’s peace be with you.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

Good Relationships

Dear Parishioners,

A number of weeks ago, I wrote about the trees alongside the Church. While they are attractive, they have also caused some problems. The leaves clog the roof gutters and window well drains; the roots have broken through and clogged sewer and drainage lines; and they have also pushed up parts of the sidewalk creating trip hazards and potential dangers to young and old alike. As per the recommendation of the Maintenance Committee and Parish Council, the trees will soon be removed. Afterwards, the ground will be seeded and given time to settle before planting some shrubbery and small trees. The work should commence within the next several weeks.

It’s now May, and Spring should have arrived last weekend but didn’t. Today it has. Whether Spring is here to stay remains to be seen. Still, May remains the month of Mary, who always brightens our lives and comforts us when dark clouds appear on our door step. So let us make an extra effort to bring Mary into our lives by praying the rosary or spending some time before her in the parish garden or chapel. No matter the weather, a good relationship will brighten your life.

Fr. Carl

Voices

Dear Parishioners,

What voice or voices echo in your mind most of the time? In our world today, there are many influences we receive on a regular basis. We are pressured by the voice of the media, pop culture, love of money, a desire for recognition, and so much more. These are powerful influences, and whether we want to believe it or not, they do affect us. We will follow the voice of which we are most familiar. Whatever it is that we immerse ourselves in each and every day will grow on us and draw us, even unknowingly, to follow.

Sheep are easily taught and conditioned. They learn the voice of their shepherd, because it was common practice for shepherds to regularly speak and care for their sheep. Once the sheep became used to the shepherd’s voice, they would turn and follow him when he called.

Are we spending sufficient time in prayer and in God’s Word, learning His voice? Are we dedicating a portion of each day with God? As we do this, we build a habit of hearing Him speak and we become comfortable with and recognize His voice.  So, when the Lord does speak to you, let His voice grab your attention so that you can follow. Don’t let the many other voices in our world drown out God’s voice.

God Bless,
Deacon Howard

Importance Of The Eucharist

Dear Parishioners,

Last week was First Communion for our boys and girls and a time of great joy for our young ones as they experienced receiving Jesus for the very first time. It was also a day of pride and nostalgia for their parents as they witnessed this important milestone in their children’s lives and remembered their own First Communion years ago.

While we do well to emphasize what the Eucharist does for us—it unites us to Jesus and those in communion with Him through the Church, gives us sanctifying grace, and provides us with the strength and energy to make the sacrifices necessary to live as authentic Christians, it helps us remember clearly and appreciate God’s loving deeds and blessings of the past with His promise to be with us in the future.

This year the Catholic Church in the United States is encouraging the faithful to reflect on and remember the importance of the Eucharist in the lives of her people. In the last 75 years, so many Catholics have lost faith in the Church and the Eucharist. From 70% of Catholics coming to Mass on Sunday in the 1950s, to only 21% currently, and only 31% who believe in the real presence ie, the Eucharist is not bread and wine but the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

From time to time, people have had some difficulty believing in the real presence; so God has worked miracles through the Eucharist one of which established the Feast of Corpus Christi (the Body and Blood of Christ). Google “The Origins of the Feast of Corpus Christi.” If you look up Carlo Acutis, you can find over 100 of these miracles of the Eucharist.

However, the greatest miracle and most important thing to remember is that Jesus can come into our hearts and change us to become more and more like Him if we just give Him the opportunity to do so.

Fr. Carl

Doubt

Dear Parishioners,

The Apostle Thomas is the very symbol of each and every one of us. He is an ordinary person with all his fears and doubts. As the case of Thomas illustrates (Jn 20:19-31), even the disciples who walked with Jesus sometimes had doubts. Jesus meets us wherever we are on life’s journey and removes our doubts. He knows that in our walk of faith we face many challenges. But as we observe the method Jesus used with Thomas, it is not unusual in his dealings with us. His understanding of Thomas was perfect and he patiently brought him to a deep faith. You may ask, how can we believe unless we actually see the Lord? How do we encounter him without seeing him with our eyes? Jesus says that we do not have to see him to believe in him when he says: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” This is a new beatitude for those who believe in the resurrection based on the testimony of the Apostles. This is our beatitude. We are invited by Jesus himself to believe by reading the first  hand accounts given to us by the Apostles in sacred scripture. We also encounter Him through prayer and the sacraments. This shows us that Easter faith can only come through a personal encounter with the Risen Lord.

I pray that when we encounter trials and doubts in our life, we still have the courage to proclaim our act of faith and trust in the Risen Lord. Jesus be patient with us as you were with Thomas to strengthen our faith and remove any of our doubts. Lord we do believe, change our unbelief.

Easter joy to you!
Deacon Howard

Happy Easter!

Dear Parishioners,

Alleluia! He is risen! And since He is risen, so must our spirits as well. Sin and death, evil and suffering no longer have the last word. Jesus Christ, the Word of God, now has the last word. That word is an invitation to a better life, a risen life, a happy life with the Lord. The Easter dinners, bonnets, dresses, and egg hunts are wonderful ways to celebrate the day. Of course, it goes without saying that the Mass is the most appropriate and indispensable way to celebrate the day and give thanks to God for Jesus.

After the day is over, Easter is not over. It’s too great a feast to be finished in a day, and so we extend the feast for 50 days until Pentecost. And then the Easter season ends. Yet—maybe not. Since Jesus rose on Easter Sunday, every Sunday is a “Little Easter.”

With Lent long past and Easter fading from memory, there is the temptation to return to our past way of life. And while I am not suggesting we return to all the disciplines of Lent, it would be good to retain one or two. Perhaps Friday, the family could gather to pray the rosary, or once a month or every other month, you could go to confession, or perhaps 5 minutes a day with the Bible, or a weekly 5-minute visit to the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel. As St. Paul reminded us last week, our journey in life is a long race and our attention should be on the finish line and the prize, “life on high with Christ Jesus.”

Fr. Carl