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Good Shepherd Sunday!

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:25:54 GMT

Good Shepherd Sunday!

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is Good Shepherd Sunday, and World Day of Prayer for Vocations.” Jesus, our Good Shepherd, offered his life for us, so we can have an abundant life. Last year, this time, our shepherd Pope Francis died, and we are waiting for the new shepherd. This year, as we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday, our new shepherd, Pope Leo XIV, an Augustinian Pope, is visiting several countries on the African continent. Especially, he visited Hippo, Algeria, where St. Augustine lived most of his life, preached, and died. Pope’s repeated message was about our search for God, the search for truth, and the dignity of every human person — a reminder of Augustine’s own restlessness and need in the present world.

On this Good Shepherd Sunday, let us pray for Pope Leo, Bishop Powers, all bishops, priests, religious, deacons, and seminarians. We were reminded of the need to pray for vocations on World Day of Prayer for Vocations.

We see in the Old Testament the theme of the Good Shepherd. Today’s responsorial Psalm 23 speaks explicitly of the Lord as the shepherd who guards, protects, and cares for his sheep. Isaiah 40:11, “Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, leading the ewes with care.” In the Book of Numbers 27:15-17, we read Moses’s request to the LORD for a leader “who will be their leader in battle and who will…that the LORD’s community may not be like sheep without a shepherd.”

In today’s gospel of John 10:1-10, Jesus spoke of himself using two images: 1. He is the Good Shepherd who guides his flock and is willing to lay down his life for them. 2. He is the Sheepfold, the gateway by which his sheep enter eternal life. When Jesus said this, people could picture it in their minds because they were very familiar with the shepherd and the sheepfold. Jesus is our shepherd, who lays down his life for us. The sheepfold would be a stone enclosure with one gate or entryway. So, the shepherds could bring their sheep there for the night, lock the gate, and then a gatekeeper would watch over the sheep so that thieves or strangers wouldn't break in and steal them. Jesus says that when he would go in the morning to collect his sheep, he would “call out his own sheep by name” and then “lead them out of the sheepfold.”

In Ezekiel 34, we read the parable of the shepherds. Here, the prophet paints the wicked shepherds, who fed on their flock rather than feeding them. God declares divine kingship over Israel: “I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest—oracle of the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 34:15). When Jesus presented the two types of shepherds, people of the time could picture this scene in their mind. It was part of their life. They have lived with and seen both groups. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. At the Last Supper, Jesus broke the bread and said to his disciples, “This is My Body. Take and eat it. Then he gave them a command, “Do this in remembrance of me.”

Today, the first reading from Acts 2:14, 33-6-41 is the second part of the homily of Peter on the feast of Pentecost. Pentecost was life-changing for them. They proclaimed the Risen Lord. Thousands and thousands of people received the faith and gathered at the table for the breaking of the bread. They followed Jesus' command and handed it over to us. Every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, the Good Shepherd shares with us His very life, the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

When we become the Eucharistic people, we are following the example of our Good Shepherd – Jesus. At the end of every Mass, we are sent out to live the Eucharist – break and share our lives with others.

Let us renew our commitment, as we receive Holy Communion, and go out to make his name known and loved by sharing our lives with others.

The Emmaus Experience!

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:46:35 GMT

The Emmaus Experience!

"Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?" The two disciples are leaving Jerusalem for a village named Emmaus. When they recognized the Risen Lord, at the breaking of the bread, they asked each other this question. I am sure we all may have a spark of an idea, but sometimes we ignore it. I can share one of my experiences with you. Last time I visited my family, my dad, brother, and I went to see some of my relatives, and on the way we stopped at my mom’s home parish where a Eucharistic miracle took place. In 2013, during the celebration of the Eucharist, the face of Jesus was made visible on the host. While we were in the presence of the miraculous Eucharist, I felt something deeper, but I didn’t know what it was at the time. When I came back, I expressed the view that we need to hold a Eucharistic procession. Everyone was excited, and we had a Eucharist procession.

Two parts of the Emmaus experience are interpreting the scripture and breaking the bread. These are the two main parts of the Eucharistic celebration: Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist. Let us take a moment to walk with those two disciples on the way to Emmaus. One of them was Cleopas. In the Gospel of John 19:25, we see Cleopas at the foot of the cross. While they were leaving, they talked about everything that had happened: Jesus’ passion and death, the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus, like a stranger who knew nothing, drew closer to them. Jesus is the only person in Jerusalem who knows exactly what has happened. But he asked what sorts of things they were debating. They were surprised that he didn’t know everything that happened to Jesus of Nazareth three days ago. They also told him about the announcement of women, which surprised them. Jesus told them while he was with them that he had to go through passion and death, and on the third day he would be raised. Even though Cleopas knew about the empty tomb and the vision of angels, he decided to turn his back on the city and leave. Jesus addressed them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” Then he reminded them that His suffering, death, and resurrection from the dead are the fulfillment of the scripture.

They might have felt comfortable with this stranger upon reaching their destination, so they invited him to stay with them. At the breaking of the bread, they recognized Jesus. And he vanished from their sight. Our God walks with us always, even in the moments we do not recognize him. Jesus vanished from the sight of Cleopas and the other disciples; he revealed himself in the Eucharist. After recognizing Jesus in the breaking of the bread, they recalled their experience while Jesus was interpreting the scripture: their hearts were burning.

Last weekend, I told our First Communion children to pay attention and when they receive Holy Communion to go back to the pew and spend one-on-one time with Jesus. This Sunday's Gospel reading reminds us to pay deeper attention when we receive Holy Communion.

Jesus instituted the Eucharistic Sacrifice of His Body and Blood. He did this to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until He comes again. In this Sacrament, Jesus entrusts to His Church a memorial of His death and Resurrection, the sacrament of love, a sign of unity and a bond of charity, in which Christ is consumed, and our minds and souls are filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory. At the end of the Mass, we are sent out to share His love with others.

Pope Francis, in his Apostolic Letter Desiderio Desideravi (“I have earnestly desired”) writes, “The content of the bread broken is the cross of Jesus, his sacrifice of obedience out of love for the Father. If we had not had the Last Supper, that is to say, if we had not had the ritual anticipation of his death, we would have never been able to grasp how the carrying out of his being condemned to death could have been in fact the act of perfect worship, pleasing to the Father, the only true act of worship, the only true liturgy. Only a few hours after the Supper, the apostles could have seen the cross of Jesus, if they could have borne the weight of it, what it meant for Jesus to say, “body offered,” “blood poured out.” It is this of which we make a memorial in every Eucharist. When the Risen One returns from the dead to break the bread for the disciples at Emmaus, and for his disciples who had gone back to fishing for fish and not for people on the Sea of Galilee, that gesture of breaking the bread opens their eyes. It heals them from the blindness inflicted by the horror of the cross, and it renders them capable of “seeing” the Risen One, of believing in the Resurrection.”

Divine Mercy Sunday! Congratulations to all of our First Communicants!

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:01:28 GMT

Divine Mercy Sunday! Congratulations to all of our First Communicants!

First of all, I would like to congratulate all of our First Communicants! I am sure all of you are excited to receive the Eucharist, the Body of Christ. Look at the Cross, and it tells you how much God loves you. Look at the Easter Candle, and it tells you He loves you and wants to be the light of your life. Look at the Altar. Just as your parents feed you so that you can be strong physically, God feeds you from the Altar so that you can be strong spiritually. At your Holy Communion, Jesus comes to you. He wants your communion/relationship with him to be holy. He wants your communion/relationship with everybody to be Holy.

On the 30th of April 2000, the Second Sunday of Easter, St. Pope John Paul II celebrated the Eucharist in Saint Peter’s Square and proceeded to the canonization of Blessed Sister Faustina, declaring the Second Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday. St. Faustina invited us, through the witness of her life, to keep our faith and hope fixed on God, the Father, rich in mercy, who has saved us by the precious blood of His Son. St. John Paul II has a great role in spreading the message of Divine Mercy.

In a dream, St. Theresa of Lisieux asked St. Faustina, an apostle of Divine Mercy, to trust in Jesus and to be a saint (Diary 150). Later, St. Faustina wrote in her diary 1588, "In the Old Covenant I sent prophets wielding thunderbolts to My people. Today I am sending you my mercy to the people of the whole world. I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My Merciful Heart." God entrusted St. Faustina a mission: 1) to remind the world of the truth of our faith revealed in Holy Scripture about the merciful love of God towards every human being, even the greatest sinner; 2) conveying new forms of devotion to Divine Mercy; 3) initiating a great movement of devotes and apostles of Divine Mercy who would lead people toward the renewal of Christian life in the spirit of this devotion, means childlike confidence in God and an active love of neighbor. Pope Francis continues to spread the message of Mercy. During the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis said in one of his homilies, “Dear brothers and sisters, I have often thought about how the Church might make clear its mission of being a witness to mercy. It is a journey that begins with a spiritual conversion.” Pope Leo XIV echoes this message of mercy. At Holy Thursday Mass at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Pope Leo said, “He loves us first, and in that love, he forgives and restores us. His love is not a reward for our acceptance of His mercy; instead, He loves us, therefore cleanses us, thereby enabling us to respond to His love.”

On the Second Sunday of Easter, we are looking at the Gospel of John 20:19-31, the well-known story of Jesus’ appearance to the disciples without Thomas, and then his appearance with Thomas—the story of Doubting Thomas. In the first part of the Gospel, Jesus said to his disciples, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Here we see the institution of the power of the Sacrament of Confession – the Sacrament of Divine Mercy. This reading is fitting and meaningful on the day of Divine Mercy. Jesus tells St. Faustina: I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the Fount of My Mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet (699). When Jesus appeared to the Apostles, he breathed on them. We read in Genesis 2:7 that God breathed on the first man and gave him life. We read in the book Ezekiel 37:9, where God raises an army of corpses to new life by the breath of the Spirit. In the first book of Kings 17:21, we see Elijah revive the widow of Zarephath's dead son. After the resurrection, Jesus breathed on the Apostles and gave them new life. In the Gospel, Jesus showed Thomas his wounds and asked him to put his finger. Jesus carries the marks of earthly sacrifice with him even when he ascends into heaven. Thomas experienced the love and mercy of Jesus and proclaimed his faith, “My Lord and My God.”

We exist because of God’s mercy. At the end of the Mass, we are sent out to be an instrument of mercy. Today, Sunday, April 7, at 2:30 pm, our cluster will have a Divine Mercy Sunday service at St. Francis. It includes Adoration, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which will be available. Please come and join. Thank you.

Happy and Blessed Easter to Everyone!

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:14:52 GMT

Happy and blessed Easter to everyone!

Easter brings hope, victory over sin and death. Today, we may look around and wonder whether there is a place for hope. We see so much pain, dehumanization, suffering, and death. On one side, thousands of people die in the war zone. On the other side, we see people die of starvation or other reasons. In many circumstances dignity of life is diminished. Violence and death became part of our daily lives. We may be tempted to say it is the end of everything.

The empty tomb is a sign of Hope. It says beyond the grave, there is life. We read in the Gospel of Matthew 28:5&6, the angel said, "Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said.” He has Risen! Alleluia!! I wish you all a Blessed Easter!

It is beautiful to walk through the Easter reading. The Old Testament readings of the Easter Vigil tell us the covenant history of salvation: beginning with creation and extending to the prophetic promises of a new covenant. The first reading from the Book of Genesis (1:1-2:2), narrates the fundamental doctrine of creation and prepares us for the renewal of Baptismal promises as a new creation. In the second reading, also from the book of Genesis 22:1-18, Abraham was asked to sacrifice his only son. It is the high point of Abraham’s covenant relationship with God and a blessing on his descendants. On Good Friday, our Heavenly Father allows his only begotten Son to be crucified on Calvary. In the third reading from the book of Exodus, the Israelites marched on the dry land through the midst of the sea (14:15-5:1). The parting of the sea is a critical Old Testament type of baptism.

The next two readings are from the book of Isaiah. In the fourth reading, the Lord will, with his enduring love, resume his covenant love for Zion and rebuild with precious stones and grant it righteousness and prosperity (54:5-14). This reading shapes the minds of believers, especially those receiving the Sacraments, about the Church's dual reality as both Bride and Temple. The fifth reading is an invitation for a meal. The Lord’s thoughts and ways are higher, and His words will not return empty (55:1-11). This passage is associated with the Gospel of Matthew (14:13-21), the account of the feeding of the five thousand. Ultimately, it leads to the Eucharist. This reading prepares us to reaffirm our faith, particularly those who are prepared to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time. The next reading is from the book of the prophet Baruch, which talks about wisdom and law (3:9-15, 32-4:4). It is an invitation to walk towards the splendor of the Lord and live the faith to the full. The seventh reading from the Book of Ezekiel discusses the restoration of Israel (36:16-17, 18-28). The Lord will gather the Israelites from exile, cleanse them by sprinkling the clean water, and give them a new heart and a new spirit, so they can grow in the law of love. The Sacrament of Baptism is the new cleansing and the Holy Spirit renewing the heart to grow in the law of love.

A couple of years ago, I had the privilege of going on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We made the Way of the Cross to Calvary and visited the place where Jesus was crucified and buried. We celebrated Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. In the Church of the Sepulcher, we can see the place where Jesus was crucified, “Golgotha,” and next to it is a small church within the Church of the Sepulcher, which is the empty tomb of Christ – the Church of Resurrection.

Easter Sunday Gospel reading from John (20: 1-9) starts with “On the first day of the week.” The Gospel for Easter Vigil Mass (Matthew 28:1-10) starts by saying, “After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning.” Here, Matthew and John highlight the connection between Easter and Sunday: the Sabbath was over, and the first day of the week. In other words, it was on Sunday that Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead. The book of Genesis, chapters one and two, gives us a creation account. God created everything, and finally human beings as the crown of creation, and on the seventh day God rested. We read in Genesis 2:3, “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation.”

The first day of the week recalls the first creation. After the Sabbath, the first day of the week, Christ, through his death and resurrection, made everything new. God didn’t just come to save us; he came to make all things new – New Creations. Let us rise with him on Easter and become his new creation. He has Risen! Alleluia!! Happy Easter!

Thank you to everyone who helped with Holy Week liturgies. Decorators, musicians, readers, greeters, servers, all those who donated the Easter Lilies and plants, all those who actively participated, and the list goes on and on. Thank you!

33 Days of Eucharistic Glory prepares us for the Holy Week celebration...

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:15:54 GMT

33 Days of Eucharistic Glory prepares us for the Holy Week celebration...

This Lent, we were making our way through 33 Days of Eucharistic Glory. As we come to the close of 33 Days of Eucharistic Glory, on this Palm Sunday, we are making our Eucharistic Consecration. What does it mean? It is a radical act of love. We are responding to Jesus' sacrificial love. He instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper and gave us a command, “Do this in remembrance of me” Luke 22:19. Every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, he shares with us the greatest gift. During these 33 days, we prayerfully read and meditate on our pilgrimage in this world and how we receive the grace in the Eucharist, at Mass, or in adoration, to focus and follow Jesus. Then we prayed about the lives of the saints, who received the grace to live a sacrificial life. They all proclaimed the answer is Eucharist. We looked at the Eucharist throughout history, from Jesus’ teaching through present-day life. Also looked at the Eucharist and our life. There we prayed about our First Communion. And in the final days, we prayed on the moment of surrender, preparation for the Consecration.

Today, as we make our Eucharistic Consecration, we begin our Holy Week. The Church celebrates today as both Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday. Palm Sunday is when we process with palms into the Church—Jesus' solemn entrance to Jerusalem. Passion Sunday is a Sunday when we read the entire passion narrative from one of the first three Gospels—this year, the Gospel of Matthew. Then, we hear it from the Gospel of John on Good Friday again every year.

On Holy Thursday, there is a Chrism Mass in Cathedral Churches, as it is a solemn observance of Christ's institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood. To make the opportunity for most priests and laity to attend this Mass in our Diocese to celebrate before the Holy Week. At this 'Chrism Mass,' the bishop blesses the Oil of Chrism used for Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination, and Anointing of the Sick. On Holy Thursday, we celebrate three things: The institution of the Eucharist, the Institution of the Priesthood, and Jesus' promulgation of the new commandment of Love. "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:3). The original meaning of this feast is celebrating the passing of the angel of death over the Israelites and their escape from Egypt ((Exodus 12:3). In the new Passover, Jesus will pass over to the Father through the upcoming events of his Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension. The Old Testament Passover started in Egypt and ended in Jerusalem – the Holy City. The new Passover started in Jerusalem and, by the resurrection and ascension, ended in heavenly Jerusalem.

The Holy Thursday liturgy in the parish communities is celebrated in the evening because Passover begins at sundown. Washing of the feet takes place in this Mass. In the Old Testament time, it was a gesture of hospitality, normally performed by household slaves. In John chapter 13, Jesus washes the disciples' feet. The foot washing may signify priestly ordination, as in Exodus 40:12. Food for the poor will be brought at the offertory. After the Holy Thursday evening Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is carried in solemn procession to the flower-bedecked Altar of Repose, where it will remain 'entombed' until the communion service on Good Friday. And finally, there is the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament by the people after the Holy Thursday Mass, just as the disciples stayed with the Lord during His agony on the Mount of Olives before Judas's betrayal. No Mass will be celebrated again in the Church until the Easter Vigil proclaims the Resurrection.

On Holy Thursday, at the institution of the Eucharist, Jesus said to his disciples, “This is my body broken for you; this is my blood and shed for you.” On Good Friday, we see that the sacrifice is completed on the cross. He broke himself for us and fed us. This is also the week when we should lighten the burden of Christ’s passion, as daily experienced by the needy, through our corporal and spiritual works of mercy: break and share. Jesus completed the sacrifices on the Cross. The water and blood came from the side of Jesus. In the book of Numbers, the water came out when Moses struck the rock (20:10-13). Paul interprets this rock as Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4), from which flows the spiritual drink of the Eucharist. St. John Chrysostom says, “The water and blood symbolize Baptism and Holy Eucharist. From these two Sacraments the Church is born: from Baptism, the cleansing of water that gives rebirth and renewal through the Holy Spirit, and from the Holy Eucharist.” Since the baptism and the Eucharist flowed from his side, it was from his side that Christ fashioned the Church, as he had fashioned Eve from the side of Adam. Holy Week can become ‘holy’ for us only if we actively take part in the liturgies of this week. Let us meditate on these beautiful liturgies and renew our own faith.

Pope Leo the Great reminds us that Christ's actions—his suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension—are not only historical events but also present in the sacraments we celebrate. His words emphasize that the mysteries of Christ's life remain real for us in the Eucharist and other sacraments.

Death leads to new life...

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:47:39 GMT

Death leads to new life...

On the fifth Sunday of Lent in Year A, the central theme is death and life. In the first reading, the prophet Ezekiel gave the Israelites hope. The divided kingdoms of Judah and Israel represented a chasm that seemed a long way from healing. Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones revealed God’s power to turn Israel's defeat and destruction into an occasion of renewal and restoration. It also gives hope to the people of Israel who die before the new exodus. The Church Fathers saw that Ezekiel’s vision, the bones coming to life and being covered with flesh, could also point to the new life in Christ and resurrection on the last day. St. Paul, in the second reading, assures us that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead and dwells within us will give life to our mortal bodies.

In the Gospel, the resurrection of Lazarus is a sign anticipating the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus cries at the tomb of Lazarus. When confronted with death, Jesus reacted the same way you and I react. He cried. Christ does not diminish the reality and the horror of suffering by redeeming it. He fully participates in that, and he shows us that to weep and to mourn over the suffering and death of the world is natural and it's a good thing. He himself does it. His tears are not of despair, but of love and sympathy for Lazarus and his family. Jesus, who became man, experienced a full range of human emotions except for sin.

But then Jesus did something. He called Lazarus out of the grave. He did this not just because he wanted his friend to live. He did this to show us that he was the Lord of Life. In the light of Ezekiel, the raising of Lazarus proves that Jesus is the Lord, since he can raise Israelites from their graves. Similar miracles are recorded in the Synoptic Gospels, such as the raising of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:21-43) and the raising of the widow’s son from Nain (Luke 7:11-17).

Christ waited two days before leaving for Bethany, knowing that Lazarus would already be dead. When he arrived, he worked the most amazing miracle by bringing Lazarus back to life. In the raising of Lazarus, Christ showed not only that he has power to raise the dead to life but also that he himself is the Resurrection and the Life. He has the power to raise Lazarus from the dead even after the tomb has been closed for four days and Lazarus's body has begun to decompose. In other words, it's a sign pointing forward to the resurrection of Christ, which we will be celebrating on Easter Sunday.

Death and resurrection take place in our daily lives. There are times we feel powerless, but he has the power to call us and say, "Lazarus, come out.” Ezekiel gave hope to the Israelites by saying that God would take them back home and, at the same time, gave them hope in the resurrection on the last day. Our ultimate goal is to get to heaven. Lent invites us to die to whatever keeps us away from God, and then we will have an abundant life with Him. Today, Jesus continues to call us out of the grave and gives us life through the Sacraments.

During this Lent, we are making the journey through the 33 Days of Eucharistic Glory. This week's theme is ‘The Eucharist and History.’ Eucharist is food for our journey as pilgrims. When we walk through history this week, we start with Jesus’ ‘Bread of Life’ discourse in the Gospel of John chapter 6. So many listeners said that it is difficult to teach. Jesus stayed with his teaching, and the day before the Crucifixion, he gathered with the Apostles, washed their feet, instituted the Eucharist, and gave them a command, “Do this in memory of me.” Since then, Catholics gather to celebrate the Eucharist, the nourishment for the journey. When we look up the history, even early Christians were not perfect. They had their own struggles. But they trusted in the Lord and followed the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life. Throughout history, several Eucharistic miracles have occurred. One of them was in the year 700, a miracle took place in Lanciano, Italy. We can go and see the Flesh and Blood from the miracle. This week reminds us to reflect on our First Communion. A historic moment in our lives as a pilgrim in the world. Mary carried Jesus in her womb first; today, we all get to receive him in the Eucharist. Mary leads us to Jesus and teaches us to love him more.

Rejoice Sunday!

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 19:24:13 GMT

Rejoice Sunday!

We are on the Fourth Sunday of Lent. Traditionally, this Sunday is known as “Laetare Sunday,” from the Latin word for “Rejoice!” It sets a tone of joyful anticipation of the Easter mystery. I hope everybody is reading 33 Days of Eucharistic Glory. Still there is time to catch up. Our Lenten preparations lead us to Eucharistic Consecration on Palm Sunday Weekend and begin the Holy Week.

The fourth Sunday of Lent gives us a review of salvation history. The first reading is a historical moment of salvation history. Israelites were governed by Judges. They looked at the surrounding kingdoms and asked God for a King. Saul was their first king, but he offended God, and the kingship was taken from him. The Lord asked Samuel, the last Judge in Israel, to go to Bethlehem to anoint Jesse’s son the next king. We read in the Book of Psalms 78:70-71, “He chose David his servant, took him from the sheepfolds. From tending ewes God brought him, to shepherd Jacob, his people, Israel, his heritage. He shepherded them with a pure heart; with skilled hands he guided them.” Samuel followed God’s command and anointed David and the Holy Spirit came upon him. This anointing is a type of baptism. We read in the book of Isaiah 1:1-2 “A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots, a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him.”

David’s anointing is a type of baptism and the Gospel of John 9:1-41 is also a symbolic catechesis on baptism. Isaiah prophesied and Jews believed that when Jesus comes, he would heal the blind and other diseases. We read in Isaiah 42:7, “To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.”

Jews believed that wherever there is suffering there is sin. Book of Exodus 20:5 “…inflicting punishment for their ancestors’ wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation.” So, the disciples brought up this question to Jesus. Jesus denies such cause and tells them it is a providential plan of God. God has a higher purpose in allowing this man to be blind, but it is not the result of his own personal sin. Jesus gave the physical sight to the man who was blind; it is a sign that Jesus gives spiritual sight to see the world in the light of heaven. Jesus says, “I am light of the world.” Jesus is the source of truth, faith, and life. The Man who received the sight, received the light of faith.

Jesus applied the clay mixed with saliva on man’s eyes and asked him to go and wash in the 'Pool of Siloam.’ In the 2nd book of Kings (5:10-14) Elisha commanded Naaman the Syrian to “go and wash” in the Jordan River to be restored to health. The pool of Siloam was in the southern district of ancient Jerusalem to serve as a water supply for the city. Siloam means sent. Here Jesus is the source of living water. This miracle anticipates the administration of baptism.

Jews said that it is unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of a person who was born blind. When they threw him out, Jesus found him and asked him whether he believed in the Son of Man. He made the profession of faith: "I do believe, Lord," and he worshiped him.”

This Gospel passage is associated with baptism. Most of us received Baptism as a young child. Our parents and grandparents made the profession faith. If you received baptism as an adult, you made the profession faith yourself like the man who was blind, “I do believe, Lord.”

As I mentioned last week, three of the sacraments are Sacrament of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. This week's theme for the 33 Days of Eucharistic Glory is Eucharist and You. The reading for this week emphasizes the need of prioritizing our time, especially attending the Mass. Jesus forgave sinners and healed the sick, liberated the oppressed, fed the hungry and so on. The question the reading for this week raises us to reflect, whether we long for healing. Jesus breaks and shares with us at every Eucharist. Do we place ourselves in the place of the man who was blind? Do we need physical healing or spiritual healing?

We need to prepare for Eucharist beforehand and bring our lives to Jesus and offer at the Mass. We receive their healing, restoration of our lives, then we are sent to live the Eucharist. It involves sacrifice. This week readings remind us that the Mass is the model of self-sacrifice to learn from him. Reading listed some of the fruits of the Eucharist: friendship with Jesus, desire to know and do the will of God, hunger for virtue, grace to avoid sins in the future, cleansing of venial sins, a heart that listens to the Holy Spirit, and desire to know and live God. When we grow in appreciation for Eucharist, that love prepares us to rearrange our priorities and decide to encounter Jesus in the Eucharist.

Sacraments of Christian Initiation

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:48:45 GMT

Sacraments of Christian Initiation

The Sacraments of Christian Initiation are Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1212 says, "The sharing in the divine nature given to men through the grace of Christ bears a certain likeness to the origin, development, and nourishment of natural life. The faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life. By means of these sacraments of Christian initiation, they thus receive in increasing measure the treasures of the divine life and advance toward the perfection of charity."

The third Sunday of Lent invites us to reflect on Baptism and Eucharist. The readings for the Mass are centered on Baptism, and as we close the second week of 33 Days of Eucharistic Glory, the theme is the Eucharist and the Saints.

The first reading, from Exodus 17, tells us that the Israelites complained of their thirst and were given water from the rock at Horeb. In Deuteronomy 32, Moses calls God the Rock. St. Paul in First Corinthians (10:4) says that the rock is Christ. The spiritual rock followed the Israelite and satisfied their thirst.

In the Gospel of John (4:5-42), Jesus was talking to a Samaritan woman at the well. This well was located on a piece of land that had been bought by Jacob (Genesis 33:18-19), and later given to Joseph (48:22). Samaritans were half Jews, ritually impure, and therefore Jews were forbidden to drink from any vessel used by Samaritans. They didn’t have anything in common. Jesus oversteps the boundaries of Jewish tradition by conversing with a Samaritan woman and asking her for water.

In the Old Testament we read the stories of the meeting of future spouses at the well. Isaac meets Rebekah (Genesis 24: 10-67), Jacob meets Rachel at the well of Haran (Genesis 29:1-30), and Moses and Zipporah meet at a well in Midian (Exodus 2:15-21). In the Gospel, Jesus is the divine bridegroom seeking believers to be his covenant bride. Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “Give me a drink.” His thirst was for her soul.

Normally, women used to go fetch water in the morning or evening when it was not too hot. But she came to fetch water at noon. She may be trying to avoid the crowd. Jesus came to her level to reach out, walk with her, and lead her to faith. Jesus reveals himself as the source of Living Water.

The liturgy uses the symbol of water to refer to our relationship with God. It represents God’s Spirit, which comes to us in Baptism. The water that Jesus promises is closely linked to conversion and the forgiveness of sin. In the second reading, Saint Paul asserts that, as the savior of mankind, Jesus poured the living water of the gift of his Holy Spirit into our hearts. In the Gospel of John, the Samaritan woman once embraced the faith. Jesus, the living water, becomes a missionary who brings others to Jesus. Once she had a life-changing experience, she couldn’t hold it in for herself.

In 33 Days of Eucharistic Glory, we looked at the lives of Saints Mother Teresa, John Paul II, Therese of Lisieux, Maximilian Kolbe, Thomas Aquinas, Sister Faustina, and Mary. Several times, I had the great privilege to participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when Pope John Paul II celebrated in Rome. When I read about his canonization, my first thought was, “I had the privilege to meet and greet a saint.” He wrote, “The Eucharist is the secret of my Day. It gives strength and meaning to all my activities in service to the Church and to the whole world.” Mary said yes to the Lord and became the first Tabernacle to carry the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. What did she do first? She got up and hurried to see her cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant. When Mary greets Elizabeth, the child John the Baptist leapt for joy in Elizabeth’s womb. St. Maximilian Kolbe volunteered to take the place of another person to be starved to death in an underground bunker. All the saints demonstrated and lived the Eucharistic life. Another aspect of the saints' lives is spending time with Jesus in silence. Matthew Kelly describes a life-changing moment when he witnessed Pope John Paul II enter a deep moment of thanksgiving after Holy Communion. And St. Mother Teresa drew inspiration from St. Therese of Lisieux, who did little things. They received grace through time with Jesus in Adoration and at the celebration of the Eucharist.

At every Mass, after the Holy Communion, we have the great privilege to enter into intimacy with Jesus, whom we received and give thanks. We have the privilege to visit Jesus, who is waiting for us in the tabernacle. Every Mass, a commissioning and sending out takes place. Jesus breaks and shares his very life with us and sends us out to live the Eucharistic life, like the saints we meditated on this past week.

The Last Four Things....

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:25:30 GMT

The Last Four Things....

We started 33 Days of Eucharistic Glory on February 23rd, and we will complete it on March 27th. I hope everyone is prayerfully reading every day. If you didn’t start, it is not too late. For any days you missed, try to catch up and complete by March 27th. The first week, the message is the Eucharist and the Pilgrim. I am writing this message on the 3rd day, and the reading talks about The Last Four Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell. It is very much connected to the Lenten season and especially the Gospel reading for the second Sunday of Lent.

Today’s Gospel from Matthew (17:1-9) narrates the transfiguration of Jesus. Jesus took Peter, James, and John to a high mountain, and transfigured before them. At the transfiguration, Jesus was conversing with Moses and Elijah, the two figures of the Old Testament law and the prophets. Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. They talked about Jesus' New Exodus. At the first exodus, there was a lamb shed blood (Exodus 12). In the new exodus, Jesus is the new lamb who is going to shed the blood for all of humanity. The old exodus started from Egypt, traveled through the wilderness for forty years (Joshua 5:6), and reached the earthly Promised Land, and finally built Jerusalem. Jesus came to Jerusalem to begin a new exodus to lead us to the heavenly Promised Land, the New Jerusalem, heaven. His exodus is passion, death, resurrection, and ascension. It is a great exodus.

Now, let me go back to the 33 Days of Eucharistic Glory, day 3, reading reminds us that we are pilgrims here on earth and need to “live like you are dying.” God created us for lasting happiness, and it is within heaven forever. Jesus’ transfiguration took place between the prediction of the passion and the journey to Jerusalem. Jesus conversed with Moses, who died, and Elijah, who was taken up, about his passion, death, and resurrection. Also, they witnessed the surpassing glory of Jesus as the lawgiver and prophet of the New Covenant. The transfiguration tells us that death does not have the final word. The disciples were strengthened by the scandal of the Cross.

The one revealed in Glory will be the same one who comes at the Last Judgment. At the transfiguration, we hear the Father’s voice to “Listen to him.” At the transfiguration, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents…” Peter loved that mountain-top experience and wanted to remain there. Heaven is the state of supreme and definitive happiness, the goal of the deepest longing for humanity (CCC1023). Hell is a state of self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed, reserved for those who reject by their own free choice to believe and convert from sin, even to the end of their lives (CCC1033).

Death leads to life, Judgment reveals the truth, Heaven fulfills the longing, Hell warns of the freedom misused. While we are on earth as pilgrims, Jesus gives us the Eucharist, food for the Journey. Every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, it is our opportunity to participate in Jesus’ new exodus, his passion, death, resurrection, and ascension. Every time we kneel in front of the Blessed Sacrament, we have a great opportunity to adore and praise him.

Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us about the Four Last Things:

.Every person receives his eternal recompense in his immortal soul from the moment of his death in a particular judgment by Christ, the judge of the living and the dead (CCC 1051).

Those who die in God's grace and friendship imperfectly purified, although they are assured of their eternal salvation, undergo a purification after death, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of God (1054).

Following the example of Christ, the Church warns the faithful of the "sad and lamentable reality of eternal death", also called "hell" (1056).

At the end of time, the Kingdom of God will come in its fullness. Then the just will reign with Christ forever, glorified in body and soul, and the material universe itself will be transformed. God will then be "all in all" (1 Cor 15:28), in eternal life (1060).

First Sunday of Lent- Safe Haven Sunday!

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:27:02 GMT

First Sunday of Lent-Safe Haven Sunday!

God created everything and “God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1). God created mankind, blessed them, and gave them dominion over all creatures (Genesis 1:27 & 28). The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “Basic scientific research, as well as applied research, is a significant expression of man's dominion over creation. Science and technology are precious resources when placed at the service of man and promote his integral development for the benefit of all. By themselves, however, they cannot disclose the meaning of existence and of human progress. Science and technology are ordered to man, from whom they take their origin and development; hence they find in the person and in his moral values both evidence of their purpose and awareness of their limits.” One of humanity's many inventions is the internet, which revolutionized computing and communication. Today, our everyday life is so dependent on the internet, but we have to be conscious of its dark side.

First Sunday of Lent, we are celebrating our first annual Safe Haven Sunday themed Equipping the Family, Safeguarding Children. Every year, we will be celebrating this awareness weekend in our Diocese. The Internet offers us many opportunities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw much greater use of it. Safe Sunday is to remind us that there is a dark side to it, and it could destroy our lives and the lives of others. What are they? There are numerous dark sides, but we focus on pornography. In 2015, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released a pastoral letter, in response to this crisis, called “Create in Me a Clean Heart.” This is the third year we are celebrating Safe Haven Sunday. We gave our religious education families a copy of the book Connected. Those who would like a copy of this book can find it at the entrances. This book is published by Covenant Eyes, an organization that provides software to help protect and hold accountable those who use technology. We cannot avoid the internet, but we can train our children and ourselves to use it wisely. The Lenten season invites us to discover our true selves. What are the obstacles in our lives to discovering our true selves?

The first Sunday of Lent is about temptation and how to resist and overcome. Do you think there is an evil spirit in the world? Yes, there is. This weekend's reading invites us to reflect on our daily lives and the challenges they present. Are we tempted to do…..or to say….or to see….or to listen….? If so, you proved yourself to be a human being. But Lent invites us to repent and receive grace to embrace new life. Lent is a time to set aside our minds' tendencies and focus on Jesus.

In the first reading from the book of Genesis (2:7-9; 3:1-7), the fall of the crown of creation, Adam and Eve. St. John Paul II writes in his theology of the body that, in the beginning, God created Adam and Eve and gave them a perfect world to live in. Their love was so perfect. God blessed them with the gift of caring for each other and for all of God’s creation. The first man and woman joined in love, a union in which they were “naked without shame.” There was no need for shame or embarrassment, because they were perfect in love. As we read in the first reading, they lost the unity, peace, and perfection of love as soon as they fell into the temptation and sinned.

The Gospel of Matthew narrates the Temptation of Jesus in the desert. Jesus goes into the wilderness to rescue man from his exile in sin. In the book of Genesis, Satan tempted the first Adam amid the beasts in paradise, and he failed. But even though Satan tempted the new Adam, Jesus, among the wild beasts, he won the victory. In the old exodus, the Israelites spent forty years in the desert and were tested. In the new exodus, Jesus was being led by the Spirit into the wilderness and tested for forty days. The presence of ministering angels to sustain Jesus in the new exodus recalls the angel who guided the Israelite in the desert in the first Exodus. We read in Exodus 23:20, “See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared.” The first Adam’s fall brought death and alienation. The new Adam, Jesus, through His filial love for the Father, brought forth the new Israel of God. Jesus began the campaign against demons, death, and disease in the desert and continues it through his proclamation of the Gospel. Jesus trained his disciples on how to overcome the devil. He offered on the Cross for our offenses and led us to new freedom. God led the Israelites from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land. In the new exodus, Jesus, the new Moses, leads us to slavery of sin to life.

In the Lenten message, Pope Leo invites us to embrace this season of conversion, this season of grace, with an open heart. He says, “I would first like to consider the importance of making room for the word through listening. The willingness to listen is the first way we demonstrate our desire to enter into a relationship with someone.” Then he states that God listens to us by quoting the book of Exodus (3:7), “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry.” Then discuss the ancient practice of fasting. He says, “Precisely because it involves the body, fasting makes it easier to recognize what we 'hunger' for and what we deem necessary for our sustenance. Moreover, it helps us to identify and order our “appetites,” keeping our hunger and thirst for justice alive and freeing us from complacency. Thus, it teaches us to pray and act responsibly towards our neighbor.” In addition, he says, “I would like to invite you to a very practical and frequently unappreciated form of abstinence: that of refraining from words that offend and hurt our neighbor. Let us begin by disarming our language, avoiding harsh words and rash judgment, refraining from slander and speaking ill of those who are not present and cannot defend themselves. Instead, let us strive to measure our words and cultivate kindness and respect in our families, among our friends, at work, on social media, in political debates, in the media, and in Christian communities. In this way, words of hatred will give way to words of hope and peace.” He closed his message by emphasizing the communal aspect of the Lenten season, “In which listening to the word of God, as well as to the cry of the poor and of the earth, becomes part of our community life, and fasting a foundation for sincere repentance. In this context, conversion refers not only to one’s conscience but also to the quality of our relationships and dialogue. It means allowing ourselves to be challenged by reality and recognizing what truly guides our desires — both within our ecclesial communities and as regards humanity’s thirst for justice and reconciliation.”

Lent-an invitation to open our hearts to God's grace!

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:16:11 GMT

Lent-an invitation to open our hearts to God's grace!

Ash Wednesday is the Church’s ‘Day of Atonement’. It is not only the first of the forty days of Lent, but along with Good Friday, the Church describes it as a day of complete fasting and abstinence from meat for Catholics from the age of 18 to 59, meaning only one full meal and two smaller meals not equal to a full meal are permitted. Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence from meat. These are not just a rule for the season of Lent but a means to grow in our relationship with God and others, so as Pope Francis said in his last year’s message, “We can celebrate with great joy the paschal victory of Christ the Lord over sin and death.”

The readings for Ash Wednesday remind us of the spiritual nature of the Lenten season. The first reading is from the book of the Prophet Joel. The message of the book of Joel can be summed up as a call to repentance in the face of coming judgment, which the prophet refers to as “the day of the Lord.” He insists in the reading that we should experience a complete conversion of heart and not simply sorrow for our sins. In the book of Leviticus 16:30, we read, “For on this day atonement is made for you to make you clean; of all your sins you will be cleansed before the LORD.”

In the second reading, Saint Paul says that Christ took on our humanity and became the victim in a sacrificial act so “we might become the righteousness of God.” The sacrifice of Christ has infinite value and enables us to be reconciled to God.

Today’s Gospel instructs us to embrace the true spirit of prayer, fasting, and alms giving. This passage is part of the Sermon on the Mount, which begins in chapter 5 and ends in chapter 7. In this Gospel reading, the sermon continues with a warning against doing good to be seen and gives three examples: almsgiving (Mt 6:2–4), prayer (Mt 6:5–15), and fasting (Mt 6:16–18).

Forty days of prayer, fasting, and alms giving are a way to remove the obstacles to loving God and others. They are also a time to experience the spirit of poverty and come closer to those in need. Lent is a time to die so we can rise with Christ at Easter with a renewed spirit of life.

We all received the book “33 Days to Eucharist Glory” as a Christmas gift in 2024. Please find the book; if you cannot, we have a couple available at the entrance. The evangelization team invites you to join for an initial meeting on Sunday, February 22nd, at 4 pm. We start the assigned reading on the 23rd and complete it on March 27. On Palm Sunday, March 28/29, Masses, we will Consecrate to Eucharist.

What can I do this Lent? A simple suggestion: 1. Daily find time to prayerfully read the 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory. 2. Find time to attend Mass every Sunday. And if you go every Sunday, try to find time for weekday Mass at least once or twice. Or join for the Stations of the Cross. 3. Pray for one or two of your friends/families each week and invite them to the weekend Mass.

Once again, I will be posting a Lenten message on the YouTube and Facebook pages. This year, the message will be centered on the Eucharist. 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory, Stations of the Cross, Confession, retreat, etc., are wonderful opportunities to invite friends who do not regularly go to Mass or even non-Catholic friends. Evangelization starts with prayer, which leads to a personal invitation.

Perfection in Love: On the Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time, we read the continuation of the Sermon on the Mount from the Gospel of Matthew (5:17-37). Today’s Gospel starts with a statement, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill…whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.” In Old Testament times, whenever the Jews spoke of scripture, they referred to The Law and The Prophets. Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic Law and the Prophets. The new Moses, Jesus, is taking us to a higher standard. The scribes and pharisees kept the letter of the law, but not its spirit; both are necessary for salvation (CCC 5024).

We remember Matthew 22:36, one of the scholars of the Law asked Jesus, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Jesus quoted two Old Testament passages and gave the greatest Commandment: Deuteronomy 6:5, “You shall love the LORD, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength,” and Leviticus 19:18, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The first one summarizes the first three Commandments, and the second one summarizes the rest of the seven Commandments. The true spirit of the Law is “love.”

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus focuses not so much on action as on the interior space from which actions flow. Here we find the very essence of who we are. Jesus came to fulfill the law by revealing its true spirit: love.

Salt of the Earth and Light of the World!

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 14:04:30 GMT

Salt of the Earth and Light of the World!

Mother Teresa of Calcutta did all she did out of love, and it brightened the whole world. Commenting on this point, former British TV star Malcolm Muggeridge said in effect: “I can’t tell you how much I owe to Mother Teresa. She showed me Christianity in action. She showed me love in action. She showed me how the love of one person can start a tidal wave that can spread across the world.” Indeed, Mother Teresa shows how one can be the light of the world. Mother Teresa simply set out to love. And in love, she became a light for the whole world.

Last Sunday, we began reading from the Sermon on the Mount and reflected on the Beatitude. This Sunday’s Gospel is a continuation of last Sunday's meditation on Jesus’ calling to be the salt of the earth and light of the world. In today’s Gospel, Jesus says to his disciples, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). The disciples are not the salt and light of Israel but of the whole world. This foreshadows the final commission of the Risen Lord: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Pope Benedict XIV says, Jesus takes his seat on the cathedra as the teacher of people everywhere. Jesus sits on the cathedra of Moses. But he does so not in the manner of teachers trained for the job in a school; he sits there as the greater Moses, who broadens the Covenant to include all nations.

Salt is a precious commodity in the biblical context. The word “salary” comes from the Ancient Roman era, when soldiers were paid in salt. Salt was an essential requirement for all sacrifices. We read in Leviticus 2:13, “You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not let the salt of the covenant with your God be lacking from your grain offering. On every offering, you shall offer salt.”

Salt added flavor to the food. Job 6:6 “Can anything insipid be eaten without salt?” Ben Sira includes salt among the essentials of life: "The prime needs of human beings for a living are water, fire, and salt, wheat flour, milk and honey, the use of grapes, oil, and clothing." Ecclesiasticus 39:26.

Salt is used for cleansing and hygiene. 2King 2:20-21 says, Elisha said, “Bring me a new bowl and put salt into it.” When they had brought it to him, he went out to the spring and threw salt into it, saying, “Thus says the LORD: I have purified this water. Never again shall death or sterility come from it.” Ezekiel 16:4 says, “As for your birth, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut; you were not washed with water or anointed; you were not rubbed with salt or wrapped in swaddling clothes.” Salt is still used as a preservative, and for cleansing, and blessed salt protects against evil.

Jesus told his disciples, "You are the salt of the earth,” and warned them not to lose their taste. Then he told them, “You are the light of the world.” In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah, on several occasions in Isaiah chapters 42 and49, describes Israel as being called by God to be a “light to the nations.” The light was also associated with the Temple. Based on Zechariah 14:7-8, Jews believed that in the end time, the Temple would be the continual source of light. During the Feast of Tabernacles, the Temple court was lit up twenty-four hours a day by a huge menorah. We can imagine that it would be a beautiful sight. Jewish tradition says there was no shadow in Jerusalem. The Gospel of John, chapter 7, begins with the Feast of Tabernacles. After this Feast, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world” (8:12).

“A city built on a hill cannot be hidden” (5:14), Jerusalem was on Mount Zion. “Light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket,” it is visible and attracts others. The salt and light describe the divine mission. The role of disciples, Christians, is to bring out the best in others by leading them to Christ. In the first reading, Isaiah conveys the same message as Jesus did: that good works and acts of charity can be a light to others. By being salt and light, we enable others to see the way from the darkness of sin to the splendor of Heaven.

National Marriage Week, February 7-14: The second Sunday of February is World Marriage Day. As we celebrate National Marriage Week, it shows the fundamental importance of marriage and the family to the life of Christianity. The communion of persons: husband, wife, and child is an icon, and a reflection of the communion of Persons that is the Holy Trinity. Let us pray for our married couples, engaged couples, and families. Let us care for one another and build stronger families. Happy Valentine’s Day! Happy Marriage!!

Beatitudes....

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 19:06:22 GMT

Beatitudes....

Beatitudes…

On the fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time, we begin to read the famous Sermon on the Mount, which begins in the 5th chapter and continues through chapter 7 of Matthew. Until Lent, we will be at the Sermon on the Mount. It is the proclamation of salvation, beginning with the Beatitude, which is the center of the good news.

In Exodus 19-24, Moses brought the Law down from Mount Sinai. Jesus, the new Moses, ascended the mountain and summarized the Law of the New Covenant in the Sermon on the Mount.

Saint Augustine, in his commentary on the Sermon on the Mount, says that the mountain signifies the higher precepts of righteousness, for precepts given to Israel were lower. God gave lesser laws to those requiring the bonds of fear, but higher laws to those ready to be set free by love. The higher precepts are for the kingdom of heaven, just as the lower precepts were for a kingdom on earth. The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls the beatitudes “the heart of Jesus’ preaching.”

Let us look at each one of them. The poor in spirit: we recognize our need for God and grace. St. Gregory of Nyssa compared poverty in spirit with humility. The one who lives this beatitude will be rich and acquire full possession of the kingdom at the final judgment.

Those who mourn: It includes those who suffer for the faith, those who suffer out of love for others, and those who weep for their own sins. They receive comfort in the presence of God, who wipes away every tear (Revelation 7:17).

The Meek: The meek possess an inner strength to restrain anger and discouragement during adversity. They may appear powerless and insignificant in the sight of the world. Meekness is exemplified in the life of Moses (Numbers 12:3) and especially in Jesus (Matthew 11:29, 21:5). They imitate Jesus by showing kindness and gentleness towards their neighbors.

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: Their priority is to seek the Lord’s kingdom and righteousness. They see the urgency of both living the Gospel and spreading it to others. Ultimately, they will be satisfied in eternal life (Matthew 25:46).

The merciful: They imitate Father’s mercy (Luke 6:36) by overlooking and forgiving others (Matthew 18:21-22,33). The merciful are patient and understanding in bearing with others’ faults, and they are compassionate with respect to the suffering, defects, and needs of others (Matthew 6:2-4; 25:34-40). At the final judgment, they will receive mercy that lasts forever (Matthew 6:14).

The pure heart: They act with integrity and serve the Lord unselfishly. The heart is the center of one person’s thoughts, words, actions, and emotions. They have the purity of intention to associate their wills and minds with God’s. They will avoid evil thoughts and be chaste because it is a liberating virtue that leads to contemplative prayer and charity (Matthew 5:27-30). They find treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). In eternity, the pure in heart will see God as the angels do even now (Matthew 18:10; 1 Corinthians 13:12; Rev 22:4).

Those who are persecuted: They persevere staidly in the faith and suffer for their faithfulness to Christ (CCC 886, 1967). They are targets of the world’s hatred (John 15:18-19) because of their commitment to the Gospel (1 Peter 3:14). They will receive a great reward in the coming kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:12).

We can see the perfection of the beatitude in the life of Christ. He invites us to follow his example.

The Sunday of the Word of God!

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:19:28 GMT

The Sunday of the Word of God!

On September 30, 2019, on the Feast of St. Jerome, Pope Francis declared the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time as Sunday of the Word of God. On this day, he published an Apostolic Letter, the Motu Proprio "Aperuit illis", which also marks the 1600th anniversary of the death of St. Jerome, who translated the Bible into Latin. St. Jerome said: "Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ." The Sunday of the Word of God is dedicated to the celebration, study, and dissemination of the Word of God. The Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Dei Verbum, was solemnly promulgated by Pope Paul VI on November 18, 1965. Pope Francis says that Dei Verbum makes clear that “the words of God, expressed in human language, are in every way like human speech, just as the Word of the eternal Father, in taking upon himself the weak flesh of human beings, also took on their likeness” (No. 13).

In No. 8, Pope Francis says, “As the Second Vatican Council teaches, “the Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures as she has venerated the Lord’s body, in that she never ceases, above all in the sacred liturgy, to partake of the bread of life and to offer it to the faithful from the one table of the word of God and the body of Christ” (Dei Verbum, 21).” The Gospel of John chapter 1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (1:1) … “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (1:14).

Today, we have thousands and thousands of missionaries proclaiming the “Word of God” around the world. We are the missionaries sent out in our neighborhood. Through the Baptism, we are called to continue Jesus’ ministry – proclaiming the Good News. Every time we gather to celebrate Eucharist, we receive Jesus, in the “Word of God,” and in the “Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.” Then we are sent out to live the Eucharist and to share our mission with many.

The Sunday of Word of God reminds us to spend time with the Word of God. As Catholics, we are privileged to hear the entire Bible read over three years during Mass. If we take time to read the Sunday readings prior to Mass and read them again after the Mass, we will have a great understanding of the Bible in three years.

Tourists were visiting the famous Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. While they were below ground in the giant cave, the lights went out. Among those trapped in the darkness were two children: an eight-year-old boy and a five-year-old sister.

The situation was scary, especially for children. Suddenly, the little girl began to cry. The eight-year-old brother was heard saying, “Don’t worry, Amy. There is a man up there who knows how to turn the lights on again.”

The story is a beautiful illustration of the prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading. In the Gospel of Matthew, it says this prophecy is fulfilled: ‘the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen.’ Matthew 5:17, Jesus says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”

A thousand years before Jesus, God promised King David that his kingdom would last forever (2 Samuel 7). David’s kingdom consisted of the 12 sons of Jacob and their descendants, which made the 12 tribes of the kingdom of Israel. However, by 922 BC, after the death of Solomon, the kingdom of Israel was divided into two: the 10 tribes in the north formed the kingdom of Israel, and the two tribes in the south formed the kingdom of Judah. Isaiah lived in a divided Israel.

Invaders like Assyrians, Babylonians, and Romans always came through the north. It was the trade route. What were. The tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali were the first two tribes to go into exile. In 722 BC, the Assyrian exile, most of the tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel were wiped out from the face of the map. In 587 BC, the remaining two tribes, the Kingdom of Judah, were taken into exile by the Babylonians. Around 537 BC Persians defeated the Babylonians and liberated the two tribes in the south. For sixth-century Jews, all of God’s promises were broken, and the kingdom was ruined. Isaiah says, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (9:1). Isaiah proclaimed that God’s power is greater than the power of darkness and assured them of great light. Matthew sees here, through the coming of the Messiah to Zebulun and Naphtali, that this prophecy is fulfilled. Precisely where the exile began is where Jesus will start the restoration, undoing its effects. Jesus started the restoration by announcing, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.” The Greek word “metanoia” means a profound change of heart.

In the second part of the Gospel, Jesus called four of the Apostles, two pairs of brothers, to follow him. They left everything and followed him. Jesus told them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They found the “great light” and learned everything from him.

The question is, how is Jesus going to gather the twelve tribes of Israel? He chose twelve apostles and prepared them to gather the people of the new Israel. He entrusted the light to the twelve to carry to the end of the world. Today, we are counted among the twelve to carry the light to those who are in darkness. Today, we, the new Israel, gather in celebration of the Eucharist, the nourishment for our journey, and send out to proclaim the Good News in our daily lives.

Behold, Lamb of God.....

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:59:34 GMT

Behold, Lamb of God.....

The Christmas season is over, and we are back to the Ordinary Time. Last Sunday we celebrated the Baptism of the Lord, and on Monday we began Ordinary Time, which continues through Tuesday, February 17th. We begin Lent with Ash Wednesday on February 18th.

We began 9 Days of prayer on January 16th. January 18 through 25, we pray for Christian unity. January 25 through 31st, we celebrate Catholic Schools Week.

Once upon a time, there was a boy who spent many hours building a model sailboat. When he put it in the local river, however, it quickly moved away from him. He chased it along the bank, but the strong wind and current carried the boat away. The heartbroken boy knew how hard he would have to work to build another sailboat. Downriver, a man found the beautiful boat, took it to town, and sold it to a toy store. Later, the boy was walking through town and noticed the boat in the store window. He explained the situation, but the shopkeeper didn't believe him and said that the only way to get the boat back was to buy it. The boy wanted it back so much that he did exactly that. Then he looked at the boat and said, "Little boat, now you're twice mine: I made you, and I bought you."

God created us in his image and likeness. And when we were lost, He came to bring us back; He paid with His blood. Today, John the Baptist introduces Jesus, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." The title " Christ as the Lamb of God" is familiar to us.

The first place we come upon the concept of the Lamb of God is in the 53rd chapter of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. Although this was written 600 years before Jesus, it describes the feelings of God’s people as they gaze on Jesus on the cross. It’s short, so let me quote it:

“It was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, upon him was the chastisement that made us whole; by his stripes, we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; But the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all. Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers; he was silent and opened not his mouth.”

The phrase 'Lamb of God' was not new for the Jews; it was a reference to the Passover lamb, the lamb in Exodus, who was slain and whose blood set the people free from slavery in Egypt. Every year at Passover, the Jews recalled this event, and a lamb was slaughtered in the Temple. Here in Jesus, says John the Baptist, we have the real "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." This phrase also echoed Isaiah's prophecy about the Suffering Servant: "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that led to the slaughter" (53:5).

The ancient instructions for killing and eating the Passover lamb said, "You must not break any bone of it" (Ex 12:46). And so, John says, the soldiers did not break Jesus' legs as Jesus hung on the Cross but pierced him instead with a lance. Later, near the end of the century, in John's apocalyptic vision, he saw "between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered" (Rev 5:6), that is, dead and raised up again. We read Isaiah 53, the prophecy of the suffering servant. Although this was written 600 years before Jesus, it describes the feelings of God’s people as they gaze on Jesus on the cross.

In the Eucharist, at "the breaking of the bread," we proclaim the Baptist’s testimony. Our traditional fraction anthem is the Agnus Dei – “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, has mercy on us/grants us peace.” In this prayer, we express our deepest understanding of the identity and purpose of Jesus Christ as our Lamb and Lord. By his life of love and sacrifice, we believe and affirm that he is the one who came and continues to come into a broken life/world to take our sins upon himself.

The Baptism of the Lord!

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 19:49:24 GMT

The Baptism of the Lord!

Do you remember your baptism? I don’t. But we have all witnessed someone's baptism. Once, I was baptizing a baby. When I poured the water on his head by saying in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, he turned his head and looked at me with a question on his face: “Where is this water coming from?” Another time, a baby was ready to jump in the baptismal font. He looked content and happy. What did you do at your baptism? No matter what we did that moment, our parents and Godparents professed faith in us, and our sins were washed away.

St. Pope John Paul II wrote on Baptism, "We were anointed with the oil of catechumens, the sign of Christ's gentle strength, to fight against evil. Blessed water was poured over us, an effective sign of interior purification through the gift of the Holy Spirit. We were then anointed with chrism to show that we were thus consecrated in the image of Jesus, the Father's Anointed One. The candle lighted from the paschal candle was a symbol of the light of faith which our parents and godparents must have continually safeguarded and nourished with the life-giving grace of the Spirit."

Last Sunday, we celebrated Epiphany – revelation – of the Lord. This Sunday, we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. At the Baptism of the Lord, Jesus Christ, the second person of God, stood at the Jordan River. We hear the voice of the Father from heaven and the Holy Spirit descending in the form of a dove. The baptism of Jesus is also an epiphany because it reveals Jesus' divine nature and that God is literally present in the person of Jesus.

We are familiar with the story of Exodus from the Old Testament, which is a journey from slavery to the Promised Land. In that journey, the Israelites crossed the Red Sea. It was in the beginning part of the Exodus story. At the end of the Exodus story, they crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land. John invited people to receive the baptism of repentance in the Jordan River to prepare the way of the Lord, the new Moses, to begin the new Exodus. The Book of Malachi 3:1 says, “Now I am sending my messenger – he will prepare the way before me.” Jews believed that Elijah would come to prepare the way of the Lord (3:23). John invited them to the baptism. Washing or a purification ceremony was ordinary for Jewish people. It is called Mikveh, and it is the pool they went to for the washing ceremony. In the Gospel of Matthew (3:13-17), Jesus came to John for baptism. First, John tried to prevent him, but Jesus told him to allow it now.

Even though Jesus is sinless and has no need for repentance, Jesus chooses to be baptized to identify himself with his people, sinners, as part of the Father’s plan to save them. Jesus' baptism inaugurated the reconciliation of God with humanity. St. Gregory of Nazianzus says, “Perhaps he comes to sanctify his baptizer; certainly he comes to bury sinful humanity in the waters… Jesus rises from the waters; the world rises with him.” John baptized Jesus at the Jordan, it was an acceptance of the baptism on the Cross. He poured out the blood and water from his side to set us free. John said, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

In the Gospels, Jesus prayed in preparation for important decisions and events in his mission. Today’s Gospel: when he came up from the water, heaven opened, confirming his divinity and revealing the three persons of the Trinity. “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (3:17). The Father’s announcement echoes several Old Testament passages. In the first reading from the book of Isaiah 42:1-4, 6&7, we see prophecy that the coming of God’s pleasing servant, who will rescue Israel and be the nation's light. Jesus fulfills this role as a suffering servant and light of the world (John 8:12). Psalm 2:17 portrays King David as the anointed son of God. Jesus is here from the house of David, anointed by the Spirit and Father, revealing Jesus' identity, “This is my beloved Son.”

The Baptism of the Lord inaugurated the new Exodus. Then began his ministry of the miracle at Cana, opening the eyes of the blind, healing the sick, bringing out prisoners from confinement, feeding the five thousand, instituting the Eucharist to remain with us forever, and offering on the cross, pouring out blood to give us the new baptism, to wash away our sins. Through his passion, death, and resurrection, he gave us the Sacraments to prepare us to go out and bring the same ministry he did.

Every time we enter the Church, we dip the fingers of our right hands into the holy water font and bless ourselves. This blessing is supposed to remind us of our baptism. And so when we bless ourselves with holy water, we should be thinking of the fact that we are a child of God, that the Cross of Christ has redeemed us, that we have been made a member of God’s family, and that we have been washed, forgiven, cleansed, and purified by the blood of the Lamb. We have been sent out to bring the Good News by sharing the gift we received and making Jesus' name known and loved.

Epiphany of the Lord!

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 15:24:31 GMT

Epiphany of the Lord!

Epiphany of the Lord

An 8-year-old asked, "How come the kings brought perfume to Jesus? What kind of gift is that for a baby?" His 9-year-old sister answered, "Haven't you ever smelled a barn? With dirty animals around, Mary needed something to freshen the air."

Merry Christmas! We celebrate 12 days of Christmas from December 25 (Christmas) to January 6th (Epiphany). The word “Epiphany” comes from two Greek words: “epi,” which means “on, upon,” and “phaino,” which means “to appear to shine.” Epiphany is a manifestation of Jesus' divinity or the divinity of Jesus shining upon the earth. Jesus was born in the house of David. He revealed himself first to his Israelites, but he came for all of humanity. On Christmas, we heard the reading in which the angel announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. On Epiphany, we listened to the story of the Magi's visit, who were from distant nations.

St. Bernard, an 11th-century Cistercian monk, said that God sent to earth a bag bulging with his mercy, a bag that, at the passion, is torn open so that our ransom pours out of it onto us. It is a small bag, but a full one: for it was a small child that was given to us, but in him dwells the fullness of the Godhead. In St. Bernard’s image, the infant Jesus is depicted as a little bag bulging with mercy.

The Magi show us that there is no substitute for an open heart and mind. Jews knew about the coming of Jesus, but they did not recognize his birth. But Magi came looking for the Newborn King. In 2023, on Epiphany, Pope Francis said that, like the Magi, Christians need to ask questions, set out on a journey, and learn to worship Jesus. Pope Francis said in his homily Jan. 6, the feast of Epiphany.

The wise men are from the East, but from where in the East? There are three predictions about the place. Some say they are from Persia; others say they are from Babylon. The third prediction is from Arabia. Today’s first reading from the book of Isaiah (60:1-6) gives us further confirmation of the third prediction, which is about Arabia. In the first reading, we read, “Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.” In Psalm 72, today we read that “The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts; the kings of Arabia and Sheba shall bring tribute. All kings shall pay him homage, all nations shall serve him.”

In the first reading, the light Isaiah proclaims to Zion symbolizes the blessing to come to her: the glory of the Lord, the return of her children, and the wealth of nations that will themselves walk by her light. If we want to understand the meaning of this passage, we need to look at the background of this passage. Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians 57 years before Christ. Fifty years later, the Persians conquered the Babylonians, and they allowed the Jews to return home. They found that their city and homeland were ruined, and rebuilding was tough. The prophet was encouraging them and telling them that Jerusalem would become the center of spirituality and the light of the world. St. Matthew sees this vision fulfilled in the birth of Jesus and the coming of the magi. Through Jesus, God’s love and salvation will radiate to the whole world.

Magi were the priestly class and were astrologers. It was a common ancient belief that a new star appeared at the time of a ruler’s birth. Matthew also draws on the Old Testament story of Balaam, who prophesied that “A star shall advance from Jacob” (Numbers 24:17). The Magi were not members of the Chosen Jewish People, so the Epiphany today shows that Jesus came for all people. The Magi show us that there is no substitute for an open heart and mind.

In the Gospel, the magi came to King Herod seeking the newborn King, Jesus. Herod reigned from 37 to 4 B.C. He was not popular among the Jews because he was in the company of Romans. So, for Herod, the message of the Newborn King's birth brought fear. He closed his mind and heart to Jesus, but he pretended to be eager to see him and to do homage. We know the rest of the story.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the house of bread, laid in a manger where the animals were fed, to become the bread of life for us. He reveals and comes to us in every celebration of the Eucharist and sends us out to live and share that gift with everyone around us. On this Epiphany, let us ask him to give us the ability to open our hearts to encounter him in the Eucharist in a deeper way and the ability to share with many people and make his name known and loved.

Happy Feast of the Holy Family! Happy New Year 2026!

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:25:17 GMT

Happy Feast of the Holy Family! Happy New Year 2026!

Young people announce their engagement and begin wedding preparations. They are excited, but they also have questions and concerns about the future. What makes a man a real man, what makes a woman a real woman? And we can add, what makes a child a real child? The answers are found in the Holy Family.

The mission of Mary and Joseph was to bring to the world. It was not an easy journey for them. They had lots of unknown factors in their lives. We read in the Gospel that the angel told Joseph in a dream to take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you (Matthew 2:13). Consider the time of their betrothal. Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but they didn’t live together. According to their custom, after the betrothal, they are legally married. They didn’t live together until the wedding ceremony, which could be a year later. When Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant, he struggled to accept Mary as his wife. Mary and Joseph followed God's will. Joseph took Mary as his wife, and at the birth of Jesus, a holy family was founded.

In the first reading, Ben Sirach reminds us of the Fourth Commandment, “Honor your father and mother.” In the book of Exodus 20:12, we read, “Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” Ben Sirach reminds us that those who honor their parents will gain riches and long life. In the second reading from Colossians, St. Paul speaks about virtues in life. He describes a family code.

In today’s Gospel (Matthew 2:13-15,19-23), Joseph leads the family to Egypt as the angel warned him. It reminds us of the Old Testament Exodus. Hosea (11:1-2) dates the real beginning of Israel from the time of the exodus. It applies to the return of Jesus from Egypt (Mt 2:15). Jesus is the new Moses who came to lead his people from bondage and oppression to light. The Holy Family lived in Egypt as refugees, where their forefathers were slaves. After the death of Herod, again the angel told them to go back home. Joseph had his concerns, but he followed the angel's direction.

God works miracles through families – young and old. Abraham and Sarah, Zachariah and Elizabeth were faithful for many years. God’s promises were fulfilled in their old age. Mary was chosen at a young age to become the mother of God, and Joseph was selected to be her husband. On this feast of the Holy Family, let us take a moment to reflect on our families. God brought miracles into our lives and our families.

Happy New Year! January 1st, we embrace the New Year 2026, and celebrate the solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. The Feast of Mary is a very appropriate way to begin a new year, reminding us to rely on the powerful intercession of our heavenly mother. The church also observes this day as the World Day of Peace and invites us to pray for lasting peace throughout the New Year. Let us pray that the Lord Jesus and his mother Mary may enrich our lives during the New Year with an abundance of God’s blessings. 2025 is gone, and 2026 is born! Every birth is filled with possibilities.

Let us take the passage from the book of Numbers and bless each other in the New Year 2026!

The LORD bless you and keep you!

The LORD let his face shine upon

you, and be gracious to you!

The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!

Blessed New Year 2026 and Happy Feast of Mary, Holy Mother of God!

Thank you! I want to express my gratitude to cluster parishioners, councils and committees, organizations, cluster parish staff, deacons, musicians, volunteers, and well-wishers who participated in different ministries. Thank you!

Merry Christmas!

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:16:04 GMT

Merry Christmas!

Let us imagine that one evening, thousands and thousands of people came to the little towns of Park Falls, Butternut, and Fifield, looking for accommodations. What will be the situation? Inns and motels will be filled. Where do the rest of the people find accommodations? Maybe some people open up their homes? Some may have company, so they are not able to accommodate anyone. Others may think, do I need a stranger in my house? Some may offer a garage with lots of blankets. Do they survive in the cold? People will be knocking on doors for a place. It will be chaos.

Something similar happened on Christmas Eve in Bethlehem. The houses were full, there were no rooms in the inns, and people were everywhere. Everyone was trying to find a comfortable place to lay their heads that night. A poor family couldn’t find a place to stay in town, so they had to rest in a cave in the countryside. On the other side of the hill, shepherds were “keeping the night watch over their flock” Luke 2:8. Angel said to them, “…For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord” Luke 2:10. The multitude of the heavenly hosts with angels sang: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” Luke 2:14. When the shepherds came Mary and Joseph were with the Newborn Baby in the cave. Animals were their company. Magi followed the star and came from the far East. The rest of the world was busy, and they missed the Newborn Baby – “Emmanuel” – God is with us.

Can he find room in our hearts this Christmas? Let us give special attention to the scripture reading at the Christmas Mass and meditate on it to welcome and adore the Newborn King. First, let us look at the first readings from the book of Isaiah. For Christmas Eve and Dawn, the readings are from Isaiah 62. Isaiah uses imagery to describe Israel's conversion from gloom to joy. The prophet tells them their God is a saving God who extends his redemption to the Holy City. The incarnation represents the marriage of divine and human nature. This passage expresses the joy of the bridal people of God at the arrival of Christ, our Bridegroom.

For midnight Mass, the reading is from the book of Isaiah (9:1-6), where the prophet says that people who walk in the darkness, oppressed by Assyria, will eventually see the light and the restoration of Israel. Prophets brought hope to the Israelites. The Gospel of Matthew 4:12-23 records the fulfillment of the prophecy as Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee, the tribal territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, the territory destroyed by Assyria. They were the first people to witness the spiritual restoration of Israel through Jesus Christ. For the Mass during the day, Isaiah (52:7-10) proclaims the good news of the coming of the Lord. The prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, King of Kings, who will come to Jerusalem for the restoration. And that truly is good news.

We have the Gospel readings from Matthew, Luke, and John for Christmas. On Christmas Eve Mass, we read the genealogy of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew’s Gospel summarizes that Joseph is from the family of David and that Jesus is from the stump of Jesse. Jesus was born into a royal family. Joseph was a carpenter, but he was a member of the Davidic royal family. The Gospel of Luke is read at midnight and at dawn, which emphasizes Mary's role: she listens to the angel's message, obeys, and shares that joy with her cousin Elizabeth. While Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, the birthplace of David, Mary gave birth to Jesus. We have the Gospel of John for the Mass of the day. John says the Word was with God, that the Word was God, and that he was the eternal Word of the Father. John says Jesus is the Eternal Word through whom everything was created, and in the fullness of time, the Word made flesh.

A child was born in Bethlehem – a house of bread – laid in a manger – where animals were fed – during his public ministry he fed thousands of hungry people – taught us, “I am the living bread” – many were forgiven, healed, liberated, raised from the dead – instituted the Eucharist and told the disciples about the Sacrifice on the Cross, Resurrection, Ascension and promised Holy Spirit and told them, he will come back again. He is with us always; at the last supper, he said to his disciples, “Do this in memory of Me.” He continues to feed us at the Eucharist and heal, liberate, forgive, and send us out to share with others. This Christmas again, God is looking for hearts to be born. Let us invite him into our hearts, homes, and every aspect of our lives. Listen to Him…! Don’t miss the little Child’s whispering! I pray that each of us finds Him this Christmas and watches his smile, listens to his whispering, and experiences his love, forgiveness, and healing. Christmas is not just on December 25th; it should happen every day of our lives.

Thank you! I want to express my gratitude to everyone who made our Christmas celebration beautiful: our children and families, decorators, donors of poinsettias, trees, wreaths, and ornaments; musicians; and all other ministers. I would also like to thank all of you who sent cards and gifts, brought goodies, and so on. I really appreciate it. Thank you, everyone, and I will keep you all in my prayers. Please keep me in your prayers.

Gaudete Sunday

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:27:57 GMT

Gaudete Sunday

The third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday. Today’s Mass begins with the opening antiphon: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” The theme for this weekend is joy and encouragement. We light the Rose Candle and rose vestment, a sign of joy.

In the first reading, Prophet Isaiah (35:1-6,10) encourages the exiled Jews in Babylon to believe that God will save them and transform their lives. The desert shall blossom; the blind, deaf, lame, and dumb will be healed; the ransomed of the Lord will return with singing to Zion. Isaiah promised them a new exodus and gave them hope. The assurance of this second exodus is chosen for Advent because both Exodus events foreshadow the coming of the Messiah.

In the Gospel of Matthew 11:2-11, when John heard in prison about the deeds of Christ, and he knew the messianic prophecies, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?” Jesus knew the prophecies and quoted from our first reading (Isaiah 35:4-6), telling John’s disciples that the prophecies are being fulfilled before their eyes, indicating that the kingdom of God has arrived. We see similar prophecies in Isaiah 26:19; 29:18; and 61:1-2. The people rejoiced because their lives were restored; they could see, hear, talk, and walk. They are physically, emotionally, and spiritually healed and restored. They are rejoicing.

When John’s disciples left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.” John the Baptist’s ministry recalls Malachi 3:1 “Now I am sending my messenger-he will prepare the way before me; and the lord whom you seek will come suddenly to his temple; the messenger of the covenant whom you desire-see, he is coming! says the LORD of hosts” As in Isaiah 40:3 (Matthew 3:3) the messenger is the Lord’s forerunner.

Malachi’s prophecy associates the Lord’s forerunner with Elijah, the great prophet of the Old Testament (Malachi 3:23). Jesus views John the Baptist, who preaches repentance in the spirit of Elijah (Luke 1:17). Jesus says John is the greatest prophet of the Old Testament, “yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." In the heavenly Jerusalem, they are greater than John, because they see God face to face.

In the second reading, James encourages the early Christians to be patient, “because the coming of the Lord is at hand.” He says, as an example of suffering and patience, brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. (James 5:10).

Now, why are the prophets an example of patience? Two key reasons. First, most of them never saw their prophecies come to fulfillment. That’s the first thing. So, think about Isaiah, Ezekiel or Jeremiah’s prophecies of the coming Messiah. They all died before any of those things ever came to pass.

On this Sunday, God invites us to embrace the joy he shares with us. He is with us to heal, to liberate, to renew. In this Advent, let us approach him with an open heart and mind; he will bless us and send us out with a mission to bring the Good News to others.

As St. Teresa of Avila would say, “Christ has no body on earth now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion is to look out to the earth. Yours are the feet by which He is to go about doing good, and yours are the hands by which He is to bless us now.”

Advent-a time to wait in hope and prepare with Mary Immaculate...

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 20:51:15 GMT

Advent-a time to wait in hope and prepare with Mary Immaculate...

First, let me take the opportunity to wish you a Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception, especially to parishioners of Immaculate Conception as they celebrate their patron saint day. Every year during Advent, we have an excellent opportunity to celebrate the Immaculate Conception and ask her intercession for us so we may follow her example while joyfully waiting for the birth of baby Jesus.

We are familiar with the story of Bernadette Soubirous, who received a vision. At 14, Mary appeared to Bernadette in a cave above the banks of the Gave River near Lourdes. She was poor and young, so no one believed her. However, the vision continued. Finally, the local priest told Bernadette to inquire about the woman's name. She followed his directions and asked the woman, and she answered, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” Today, thousands of people go on pilgrimage to Lourdes and receive many blessings. In 2001, I had the privilege of being one of the pilgrims and praying in that beautiful, holy place.

The Immaculate Conception is a dogma originating from sound Christian tradition. Monks in Palestinian monasteries began celebrating the feast of the Conception of Our Lady by the end of the 7th century. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception spread in Italy (9th century), England (11th century), and France (12th century). Pope Leo VI propagated the celebration, and Pope Sixtus IV approved it as a feast. Finally, in 1854, Pope Pius IX, in his Apostolic Constitution, “Ineffabilis Deus,” meaning “God ineffable,” defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Mary approved it by declaring to Bernadette at Lourdes, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” In 1846, the US Bishops chose Our Lady in her Immaculate Conception as the Patroness of the United States.

The first reading is from Genesis (3:9-15,20), for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception narrates God's promise. Adam and Eve were in perfect communion with God. At the time of their fall, God made a promise, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel” (3:15). From the Gospel of Luke (1:26-38), we read about that woman. God sent the angel Gabriel to her and said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you" (1:28). Mary was full of grace; there was no place for the corruption of sin. Mary is the new Eve who gave birth to the new Adam, Jesus. These readings for the celebration of the Immaculate Conception are extra beautiful, especially when we are in the Advent season.

For the Second Sunday of Advent, the theme is waiting in hope and preparing the way for the coming of Jesus. In the first reading from the book of Isaiah 11:1-10, a prophecy of the coming of the Messiah speaks about Jesse, the father of David. A shoot from the stump of Jesse is a metaphor for the Kingdom of David. The Babylonians and Assyrians destroyed the kingdom of David, but a branch is going to come from the house of Jesse, and that branch is the Messiah to restore it. The new king, the Messiah, would be filled with the gift of the Holy Spirit. The weapon of the new king is His Word. Revelation 1:16, we read, “A sharp two-edged sword came out of his mouth, and his face shone like the sun at its brightest.” And St. Paul brings the image of the Word of God in Ephesians 6:17. He says, “Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Isaiah says, in the new kingdom, there will be peace and harmony, “The wolf shall be a guest of the lamb….” It is the image of returning to the original peace of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:30). The animals were present in the cave with the newborn king: a kind of new Eden on the night of Jesus’ birth. Jesus is our new Adam, bringing us back to Eden. He made it possible to have access to the Tree of Life through the Eucharist. Moses led the Israelites from slavery to the promised land. Jesus is the new Moses, who led us from slavery to sin to freedom.

In the Gospel reading from Matthew (3:1-12), John the Baptist was preaching in the Judean desert by the bank of Jordan. It was not far from Jericho. Jericho was a significant trade route, so many more people could come to hear John the Baptist. John asked them to prepare for the new exodus. We know the Old Testament exodus ended by the Jordan, and they entered the Promised Land. John heralded the coming of the new exodus. People kept coming to listen to John and receive baptism of repentance.

John was proclaiming one who is to come and invited them to prepare the way, to repent, and to bear fruit. He told them, “Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.” He said, “…the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals.” In those days, a slave carried the sandals. John was saying he is not even worthy to be Jesus’s slave. John was pointing to Jesus and said, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

As we prepare for Christmas and ultimately for the Second Coming, we need to listen to John the Baptist and embrace the invitation for the baptism of repentance. It is a call for a change of mind and heart. Every day, we need to allow our newborn King, a shoot from the stump of Jesse, reborn in our minds and hearts, so that we may live in harmony. We listen to John the Baptist; at the same time, we are sent out to share the Good News and invite others to celebrate the birth of the newborn king with us.

Advent! A Season of Hope!

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 18:57:56 GMT

Advent! A Season of Hope!

On the First Sunday of Advent, we begin our yearly pilgrimage through the scenes and events of our salvation history. This year, we return to the A cycle readings, with the Gospel focus primarily on Matthew. The first Sunday of Advent, the ‘Sunday of Hope’ in God and His Son, Jesus Christ, through whom God has promised to save and redeem His people.

The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. Their light represents Christ himself, who is the light of the world. We light the candles gradually throughout Advent because we know that the joy of salvation doesn't come fully into our lives all at once. Our life is a journey, a relationship with Jesus that has to be constantly renewed, just as a new candle is lit each week.

In the first reading (Isaiah 2:1-5), Isaiah reports an eschatological vision of the pilgrimage of nations to Mount Zion, as described also by Micah (4:1-3). In Isaiah's vision, Judah is shown as the place to which all nations will come for “instructions in righteous living.” The result will be universal peace. This prophecy, which explicitly concerns the restoration of Jerusalem, also applies to the one true Church founded by Christ. The new Temple would not only serve the Jewish people but also draw Gentiles.

Jesus teaches us in St. Matthew’s Gospel (24:37-44) that Christ’s second coming would take place without much or any warning at all. Therefore, we should be vigilant and ready to meet him at any time. The lesson from the flood is that an unexpected catastrophe can befall those who are unprepared for it. Noah and his family were ready, but the rest of them were distracted by the concerns of the world and were destroyed in God’s judgment. Again, Jesus explains that “one will be taken…one will be left” means the righteous will be left, as Noah and his family were spared, and the wicked will be taken, as the rest of them were in Noah’s time. The Gospel also reminds us of the unexpectedness of the Final Advent – the Second Coming of the Lord.

The only thing we have to do, according to the conclusion of the first reading, is walk in the light of the Lord. The second reading, St. Paul (Romans 13:11-14), motivates the love that is encouraged in Romans 13:8, 10 to follow the commandment of love. The moral law must be kept, but we should do so out of love for God and neighbor rather than merely out of fear or obligation.

God comes again and again in special ways throughout our lives. To meet him, we need to walk in the Light of the Lord. We need to grow in the love of love. We need to stay awake and be ready. Advent reminds us of and helps us to grow in love and walk in the light of the Lord. Each week when we light the light, it removes the darkness, brightens our lives, and prepares us to celebrate Christmas. Let us prepare for it.

On Sunday, December 12, 2021, Pope Francis, in his Angelus, told his audience, “The Season of Advent is meant for this: to stop and ask ourselves how to prepare for Christmas. We are so busy with all the preparations, with gifts and things that pass. But let us ask ourselves what we should do for Jesus and for others!” Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said, "Whatever you do in your family, for your children, for your husband, for your wife, you do for Jesus." The Advent reading tells us to stay awake. Stay awake in doing good to others and Jesus to prepare for the coming of the Child Jesus. Stay awake in living the love of God and sharing for the end of time. Stay awake in sharing the good news for the end of our own times. Walk in the light of the Lord.

We are entering the busy season – the season of preparation. In this season, we engage in all kinds of preparation – writing cards, wrapping gifts, and so on. In the midst of all these things, let us also find a little quiet time too, to say a prayer, to read a scripture passage, to attend Mass, and so on. We will have in the bulletin about the Jesse Tree. Every week, we will post the scripture passage to read and to make an ornament and hang on the tree. Also, I will be posting a short video on social media on the same theme as the Jesse tree. Let us stay awake, pray together, and prepare for the birth of the Child Jesus.

Happy Feast of Christ the King: King of our Heart! Happy Thanksgiving!

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:43:30 GMT

Happy Feast of Christ the King: King of our Heart! Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Feast of Christ the King! Polycarp, the second-century bishop of Smyrna, was brought before the Roman authorities and told to curse Christ; if he did, he would be released. He replied, "Eighty-six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong: how then can I blaspheme my King, Jesus Christ, who saved me?" The Roman officer replied, "Unless you change your mind, I will have you burnt." But Polycarp said, "You threaten a fire that burns for an hour, and after a while is quenched; for you are ignorant of the judgment to come and of everlasting punishment reserved for the ungodly. Do what you wish."

Thirty-Fourth Sunday, we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King! In 1925, Pope Pius XI instituted the Feast of Christ the King at the close of the liturgical year, and he proclaimed: “Pax Christi in regno Christi” (“The peace of Christ in the reign of Christ”). This feast asserts the sovereignty of Christ the King. The disciple of Christ, the citizen of His Kingdom, is called to obey the commandment of love: love the Lord your God with all your being and love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31).

In the first reading from the book of Samuel, all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron, David made a covenant with God, and he was anointed as the King of Israel. Saul was the first King, and he disobeyed God, so God chose David. David was anointed King of Israel with all the tribes united under him. In this role, he was the type of Christ who all bear the title “King of Israel,” although his Kingdom is “not of this world” (John 18:36).

The Gospel reading (Lk 23:35-43) reminds us that Christ’s kingship in this life is manifest through the suffering of the Cross. Jesus willingly accepted the punishment of humanity’s offense and, through his sacrifice, brought us redemption. Our King is he who laid down his life for his people. Throughout the Old Testament, we can read the messianic prophecies. At the royal entrance to Jerusalem, the people shouted, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" (Luke 19:38). Later when Jesus was arrested the same people shouted, “Crucify, Crucify him” (Luke 23:21). Based on the Gospel of Luke one of the criminals who were hanged railed at Jesus, but in the Gospel of Mark 15:32, both railed at him. However, the penitent thief receives salvation through Jesus, who was crucified. Jesus’ words to the repentant thief reveal that the destiny of the Christian is “to be with Jesus.”

Jesus invites us to establish His kingdom in our hearts, in our homes, in our churches, and in our communities. It is an invitation to live in the presence of God. The curtain in the Temple separated the presence of God in the Holy of Holies from the people. It tears from top to bottom, signifying that the sacrificial death of Christ opens the path for people to the very presence of God. While we are here, we are called to establish his kingdom in our hearts, but through our union with the resurrection of Christ, the gates of paradise is open for us.

There are corporal and spiritual works of mercy. When we celebrated the Year of Mercy, we reflected on this in detail. On November 17th is the feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, who is known for her corporal works of mercy. She is the patron saint of Catholic charities. Our deeds that provide for the physical or spiritual needs of others are called works of mercy. These works of mercy are an extension of the second commandment of love – love our neighbor. As we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, we reflect on the Last judgement. It will be according to our corporal and spiritual works of Mercy. Works of Mercy is the Eucharistic life. Let us ask God to bless us so that we can live this gift He shares with us – the Eucharist- and share it with many.

This week, we celebrate Thanksgiving. May our hearts be filled with gratitude for the unending blessings God pours into our lives. We gather to celebrate the Eucharist, the highest form of Thanksgiving prayer. Let us offer thanks for what He has given, and for who He is: our King, our Savior, and our constant Hope.

Mother Teresa shared a life story. One evening, a gentleman told Mother Teresa that there was a Hindu family with eight children who had not eaten for a long time. Do something for them. She took rice and immediately gave it to them. Then the mother took the rice, went inside, returned with a small bag, gave it to one of her children, and said something. That child took off with the bag. Mother Teresa was curious and asked the mother where the child had gone. She told Mother Teresa that her next-door neighbor, a Muslim family, didn’t have anything for a couple of days. So, she shared half of the rice she had received from her mother with them. Give thanks for the blessing and share the blessing with others. Happy Thanksgiving!

Being prepared.....

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:28:01 GMT

Being prepared.....

First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our First Reconciliation Children and their families. We witnessed their commitment ceremony today. We, the faith community, along with their families and teachers, have asked to commit to praying for them and supporting them in their preparation for their First Reconciliation.

Do you think the end of the world is near? We hear people talk about this subject over and over again. Whenever something unexpected happens, we tend to believe that it is the end. Do you remember the movie "2012?" The premise was that the world was going to come to an end in 2012. As Hollywood hoped, a significant number of people believed that there might be some truth to it. How many of us stopped for a moment and questioned or worried? Every century, there were predictions of the end of time.

As we approach the end of the liturgical year, the readings invite us to reflect on the end time, death, and final judgment. The first reading from the book of Malachi (3:19-20) warns the Jews that the day of the Lord is coming. The prophet Malachi lived 470 years before Christ. The Jews had just returned from the Babylonian exile, and they were tempted to return to their former lives. Many Jews were not keeping the Commandments and doing their religious duties. He warned them that the day of the Lord is coming, to burn up the evildoers like chaff, but a sun of justice will arise for those who fear his name.

In the Gospel, Luke (21:5-19) narrates the eschatological discourse. Jesus portrays for us, graphically, the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. They asked him, "Teacher, when will this happen?” For Jews, the destruction of these two things was equivalent to the end of the world. There were three reasons behind this, because for them, the Temple was 1) the dwelling place of God. In 1 Kings 8, we see the dedication of the Temple, and the Lord came from heaven to dwell in it. 2) It was the sole place of sacrifice. Deuteronomy 12 states that the center of worship is the Jerusalem Temple. 3) Jerusalem and the Temple were symbols of heaven and earth (Isaiah 65:17 & 18). So they believed that the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple is the destruction of the universe, the destruction of heaven and earth.

The Temple was the joy of the People of Israel. Its stones were decorated with jewels. The disciples marveled at it. Jesus said it would be torn down, as it was in the year 70 AD. A section of the Temple still stands. It’s called the Wailing Wall. Jewish people still go there and mourn the fate of the people, and the fate of all who are persecuted.

When Jesus talked about the destruction of the Temple, the disciples asked the big question, “When?” We may all like to hear the time. Jesus didn’t give a time. All he will tell us is that there are signs of the end. Jesus' point is that his faithful followers should not be concerned about when the end is; they should only be worried about living in the present.

God works through many events and signs to purify and renew us in hope, and to help us set our hearts more firmly on Him and Him alone. The reading wants us to reflect on preparedness. Despite of the signs, no one knows the precise moment of the end. We must live in the presence of the Lord, so we will be ready always. Next Sunday we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, which is the last Sunday of the liturgical year. The end brings a new beginning.

The World Day of the Poor: In 2016. Pope Francis designated the Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time as the World Day of the Poor. In his Apostolic Letter, Misericordia et Misera, he wrote, “It will be a day that helps communities and each baptized person to reflect on how poverty is the heart of the Gospel and on the fact that, as far as Lazarus lies at the door of our homes (Cf. Lk 16:19-21), there can be no justice or social peace. This day will represent a genuine form of new evangelization in her perennial activity of pastoral conversion and witness to mercy” (21). Pope Leo XIV published this year's theme, which is “You are my hope” (Cf. Ps 71:5). These words of the Psalm remain timely. They express a profound truth that faith impresses above all on the hearts of the poor, restoring lost hope in the face of injustice, suffering, and the uncertainties of life. The Eucharistic table is the perfect example of Jesus’ self-giving – He feeds the hungry.

In our cluster, there is a tradition of donating nonperishable food items to the food pantry, especially around Thanksgiving. It will be a great opportunity as we celebrate World Day of the Poor.

Feast of John Lateran! Veteran's Day!

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:48:31 GMT

Feast of John Lateran! Veteran's Day!

On Tuesday, we celebrate Veterans Day, a national day to recognize the sacrifices of our nation’s heroes. I read a prayer by St. Ignatius of Loyola, a veteran, a prayer about heartfelt generosity. It goes like this: “Dear Lord, teach me to be generous; teach me to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil, and not to seek for rest; to labor, and not to ask for any reward except that of knowing that I am doing your holy will. Amen.” Veterans Day is a day to honor them for their love and sacrifices in ensuring our safety. Our men and women in uniform in the past, present, and the future, God bless you and Thank You!

This year, the Feast of Dedication of St John Lateran falls on this Sunday. The most important temple is the temple of a person’s soul because God dwells within each one of us: the sacred sanctuary where we meet God. Saint Teresa of Ávila called it the Presence Chamber, the most central and interior dwelling place within us.

The first reading from the book of Ezekiel (47:1-2,8-9,12), the prophet sees the river of life flowing from the Temple threshold, bestowing life wherever it reaches. The river flows from the Temple and rushes into the Dead Sea. It was a powerful image for people who had suffered from famine and drought for a long time. These words are paraphrased at the Easter Vigil Mass, when the renewal of baptismal promises and the sprinkling of the newly blessed water take place.

In the second reading from 1 Corinthians (3:9-11,16-17), St. Paul asks: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.”

In the Gospel of John (2:13-22), in the first part, Jesus cleanses the Jerusalem Temple and says, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father's house a marketplace.” In the second part of the Gospel, Jesus’ body is identified as the new Temple, from which the river of the Holy Spirit flows.

Why do we celebrate the dedication of a church building in Rome? In addition to the temple of the soul, there are many sacred places throughout the world: shrines, churches, basilicas, grottos, cathedrals, and other holy places that are set aside for the sole purpose of worship of God, where we join with the Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones in their angelic praises of the Most Holy Trinity. Every year on November 9, we celebrate the dedication of St. John Lateran.

During its first three hundred years of existence, the Church faced persecution throughout the world. Christians had to meet in people’s homes or in underground cemeteries, such as the catacombs. They could not build Churches; the authorities would know where they were. But Christianity continued to spread throughout the Roman Empire. In the year 313, Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, declaring that Christianity would no longer be persecuted. His mother, St. Helena, had become a fervent Christian. He would become a Christian himself. Now, Constantine and his mother lived in a palace in Rome that had previously belonged to the Laterani family. Constantine turned a wing of that palace over to the Church. This was the first Christian Church in Rome. It is known as the Basilica of St. John Lateran. It is the pope’s official ecclesiastical seat in Rome. He teaches and shapes the entire Church from St. John Lateran Basilica.

When we attend church, we are not just going to a building, but to the people of God. The people who first walked into St. John Lateran were overjoyed to have their own Church building. They courageously remained faithful to Christ throughout the Roman persecution. Can you imagine their immense joy in that moment?

Today's readings and theme focus on commitment and dedication. Jesus told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a market-place!” Jesus’ commitment and zeal for the house of God are shown in the Gospel. When we reflect on the feast of St. John Lateran, Veterans Day, it invites us to look at ourselves, the house of God, and renew our commitment to our faith.

All Souls' Day! And Vocation Awareness Week!

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 16:17:57 GMT

All Souls' Day! And Vocation Awareness Week!

Sometimes we think the church means those of us on earth. The Church has three realms. The church on earth is called the militant church because we are in a battle between good and evil; the souls in purgatory are called the suffering church because they are purifying to experience God’s glory fully, and the saints who have already entered the heavenly glory are the victorious or triumphant church.

In November, we celebrate Life Eternal…November 1st is all Saints' day and all Souls' day. The month of November is dedicated to praying for our loved ones who have gone before us. We ask the intercession of Saints for us, and we pray for the souls in purgatory. The Church is not just here in this world. We are connected to the Saints and to all those who have gone before us.

November 1st is All Saints Day, the day to honor those who have gone before us who now see God face to face in the Beatific Vision. The Church canonizes saints based on evidence and specific reasons. At the same time, the Church believes that a lot more saints are in heaven. So the Church celebrates All Saints Day to honor all saints in heaven.

November 2nd is All Souls Day, we turn our eyes to all those who have gone before us in death but died before being fully purified of all of sin’s effects. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains it this way: “All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned” (1030–31). The month of November is dedicated to calling us to pray for all those who are being purified to enter the beatific vision. Though God does not need our prayers, it is His divine will that we participate in distributing His grace. For that reason, we need to pray as active instruments of His purifying grace required for those in this world and in Purgatory.

Pope Benedict XVI says the Soul corresponds to our capacity for a relationship with God. Normally, we all want to see, touch, smell, and taste everything. In other words, we like firsthand experience. But are we satisfied with that? Don’t we have a craving for something in our hearts? There is an inner capacity to relate to God. We feel in our heart, something beyond this world. Our souls long for something beyond this world.

This Sunday's readings invite us to reflect on eternal life. In the book of Wisdom, chapter three, the author elaborates on the nature of the afterlife for both the righteous and the sinful. The first reading from the book of Wisdom (3:1-9) says that the righteous seem dead, but they are at peace. The righteous will rule in glory in the world to come. Those who trust in God in this life may find comfort in his care for his faithful ones. The second reading from Romans (5:1-11) says that God’s love has been poured into our lives through the Holy Spirit. The theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity are a gift from God. It requires our cooperation to put them into practice. Our trust in God may be put to the test in times of hardship and suffering, which helps us to grow in our interior spiritual growth. God’s love is unconditional, and his sacrifice on the Cross is the greatest example. The Gospel of John (6:37-40) is part of the Bread of Life discourse, which leads to the invitation to come to Jesus and believe in his salvation. “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me” (37) alludes to the mystery of predestination. Paul tells us about predestination in Romans 8:29. We are called to holiness and live in harmony with God. Jesus promised us life eternal.

This week, we celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week. We are all called to holiness, but in different ways: as a priest, married couple and family, singles, religious, and so on. I remember one time, one of our CCD classes invited me to the Vocation Awareness Week and asked me why I became a priest. I told them the short answer is that God called me. Then I explained to them how I found out God was calling me. It was through my family, my pastor, the nuns, my youth group, and so on. We have to talk to our children about vocations. Vocation in general is openness to God’s call. How do we foster this call? One of the brochures for this week talks about seven ways family can foster vocation: 1) snuggle up and read fascinating age appropriate saints story at bedtime; 2) watch a better movie as family (e.g. life of St. John Bosco); 3) Set the record straight, means tell children about genuine happiness, instead TV tells them what is happiness; 4) Play dress up, let children imagine being a priest or nun and play it out, 5) pray from the heart, have family prayer time and during the family prayer pray for the families, priests and nuns too; 6) Talk about vocations openly, marriage, priesthood and religious life; 7) Befriend priest and religious, invite a priest or nun at your home.

These are the little steps we can take to teach our children about vocation. Not everybody is going to be a priest or a nun. It is their choice, but it is our duty to teach them about different vocations and give them the opportunity to talk about them and to get to know about different vocations. It always starts with prayer. Let us pray for the vocation. We are all called to holiness in different paths.

October reminds us of prayer: Rosary, Prayer for every stage of life.

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 15:34:23 GMT

October reminds us of prayer: Rosary, Prayer for every stage of life.

Last Sunday, Pope Leo XIV canonized seven new saints for the Church, among them St. Bartolo Longo. St. Bartolo was an Italian lawyer, a former satanic priest who converted to the true faith. He returned to the Catholicism of his youth. At that point, he thought that he had to do reparation for his past and decided to share the faith with others (evangelization). I heard a story that St. Bartolo went to Pompeii and started evangelizing. He asked someone about his faith in God. The person's answer was “Yes.” Then the saint asked about the Holy Trinity. The person answered that only one was left, one got married, and the other one died. So St. Bartolo prayed for how to evangelize these people, because they need to learn the basic things. Then he decided to teach them to pray the Rosary and evangelize the community. Through which he became a great promoter of the recitation of the rosary. The rosary saved him, and he is the founder of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary in Pompeii. As we come to the close of the Month of Rosary, it is an excellent opportunity to look to St. Bartolo Longo’s life and example for strength, hope, and inspiration.

Last Sunday, we reflected on persevering in prayer life. This Sunday's readings are on genuine and humble prayer. The first reading from the Book of Sirach (35:12-14;16-18) reminds us that “The one who serves God willingly is heard, his petition reaches the heavens.” We see in this passage the complementarity between liturgical worship and social justice. During the time of Ben Sirach, many Jews were living in the midst of pagans. Eventually, unknowingly, the Jews assimilated the pagan culture. So, Ben Sirach taught them how to lead a good life and be faithful Jews. Sirach asserts that God shows no favoritism. He listens to the humble prayers of the poor, fatherless, and widows. Ben Sirach says, three kinds of offerings please God: alms-giving, fidelity to the law, and generous sacrifices.

Luke’s Gospel (18:9-14) says that true and effective prayer demands a humble disposition. In the Gospel, we see a Pharisee and a tax collector in prayer. The self-righteous, critical attitude of the Pharisee and the tax collector’s humility and dependence on God guide us to form true and effective prayer. The fundamental attitude of the Christian disciple must be the recognition of sinfulness and complete dependence on God’s graciousness. Jesus warns in Matthew 6:5, “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.”

The Pharisee in the parable offered thanks to God for his own qualities and success, but arrogantly contrasted his virtues against the tax collector’s sins and shortcomings. Pharisee came with a checklist of his performance. On the other hand, the tax collector came with a humble and contrite heart. This is the attitude we are called to have when we come to Mass. Every Eucharist starts with a moment of recalling our sins and asking God’s mercy: “Kyrie/Christe, Eleison.” Jesus tells his audience and us that, as a result of the tax collector’s humble prayer for mercy, he received mercy and went home truly “justified,” i.e., “reconciled with God.” St. Paul reminds us in Titus 3:5: “Not because of any righteous deeds we have done but because of His mercy, He has saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”

In the second reading (2Thimothy 4:6-8; 16-18), Paul sensed the proximity of his own death, like a runner running a race, and that he had kept the Faith right up to this point. He humbly awaits “the crown of righteousness,” which is through the grace of God. Paul says, “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith!”

The last weekend of Respect Life month, we are praying for victims of Domestic violence and human trafficking. It is against the commandment of love. The violence against another person is a failure to treat that person as someone worthy of love. An article from the United States Bishops says, “We focus here on violence against women, since 85 percent of the victims of reported cases of non-lethal domestic violence are women. Women's greatest risk of violence comes from intimate partners—a current or former husband or boyfriend.”

Today, human trafficking is a new form of slavery. The United States Bishops’ Conference says, “Human trafficking violates the sanctity, dignity, and fundamental rights of the human person.” They state that every nation is affected by this disease, and the United States is no exception. We are all called to love God and love one another. It is the essence of our discipleship. In October, we were reflecting and praying, especially through the devotion to the Rosary, on the dignity of human life from the womb to the tomb.

World Mission Sunday! Respect Life--prayers for those who are sick and for Healthcare Professionals!

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 16:25:18 GMT

World Mission Sunday! Respect Life--prayers for those who are sick and for Healthcare Professionals!

When you are impressed with any product or business, you might share it with others. You would like to share the good news with others. As a Catholic Christian, we have Good News – we have Sacraments – we gather to celebrate the Eucharist - we receive His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. We have Good News. Do we share with others? Do we invite others to celebrate with us?

For some time, we were talking about the transition from Maintenance to Mission. We all received the Bishop's Pastoral letter, which the whole cluster of parishes and the Diocese is starting to look into more deeply. When we first began to talk about evangelization, I recollect some of you raised a question, “Does it mean we are going to knock at the stranger's door?” I am sure we all have a much better understanding of evangelization. Our Northwoods Catholic Community Evangelization Team played a remarkable role in bringing that message in so many ways, especially in the recent Parish Mission Apostolate in September.

Every year in October, we reflect on World Mission Sunday. Through our baptism, we are called to be missionaries. In the local church, we can participate in the mission of the parish/diocese in person, in world mission; most of us participate by praying and giving. Pope Leo XIV released a video message on the occasion of World Mission Sunday, "I urge every Catholic parish in the world to take part in World Mission Sunday….When I served as a missionary priest and Bishop in Peru, I saw firsthand how the faith, the prayer, and the generosity shown on World Mission Sunday can transform entire communities." He urges us that "This October 19th, as we reflect together on our baptismal call to be 'missionaries of hope among the peoples,'" the Pope inspires, "let us commit ourselves anew to the sweet and joyful task of bringing Christ Jesus our Hope, to the ends of the earth." Mission Sunday brings us together to celebrate our faith and support Pope Leo's mission through our prayers and financially.

October is the Month of the Rosary and Respect Life Month. On October 18th, we celebrate the feast of St. Luke, who was a physician and patron saint of the medical profession. We ask for the intercession of St. Luke, patron saint of the medical profession, and pray for all the healthcare professionals and caregivers, and especially those who are seriously ill. We all need healing one way or another, physically, spiritually, emotionally, or intellectually. There will be an opportunity to receive the Sacrament of the Sick. The best way to receive this Sacrament is first to go for the Sacrament of Confession and then receive the Anointing of the Sick.

This Sunday, the readings bring the message of persistence in prayer. A couple of years ago, I came across a story. It goes like this, once there was a little boy who wanted more than anything to play in the band at school. The boy went home from school one day and asked his parents if they would buy him an instrument and let him sign up to play in the band. Well, the boy's parents didn't say yes or no. They said, "We'll have to think about it. After all, a musical instrument costs a lot of money, and we aren't sure you will stick with it." A few days went by, and the boy's parents still hadn't said anything, so he decided to ask again. The boy's parents didn't say yes or no. They said, "We are still thinking about it."

The next day, on his way home from school, the boy decided to stop by the local music store to check out the musical instruments. When he walked in the store, the first thing that caught his eye was a beautiful, shiny trumpet. It wasn't new, but it was in excellent condition, and it had a really cool fake alligator skin case. It was just what he wanted. That night at supper, the boy said to his parents, "I went by the music store today after school, and they have a really nice used trumpet. It is exactly what I want, and it only costs $100." The boy's father turned to his wife and said, "I guess we had better go take a look at that trumpet or we are never going to hear the end of this." The next day, the boy went to the music store with his parents and they bought him that trumpet. The boy in the story was persistent. If he had asked his parents for that musical instrument one time and never mentioned it again, the story could be totally different.

The first reading from the Book of Exodus (17:8-13) and the Gospel reading from Luke (18:1-8) both speak about perseverance in prayer. In the battle against Amalek, the forces of Israel were winning as long as Moses held his hands up. The ancient way of praying, and the way many of us pray at times, is to lift our hands to the Lord. When Moses let his arms fall, Amalek succeeded. When Moses stopped praying, Amalek succeeded. He needed the help and support of Aaron and Hur to keep his arms up. He needed the support of others to persevere in prayer. Jesus tells a humorous story of an unjust judge and a persistent widow. Judge says, “While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me, I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.”

The readings remind us that we need to be persistent in prayer for our life, family, church, community, and the world. As we celebrate Mission Sunday, it serves as a reminder that mission starts with prayer. Mission in our local church or universal church begins with prayer. Let us pray for the mission of the church, for missionaries around the world, and for the sharing of our resources. At the same time, let us encourage each other to grow in our faith. Let us be missionaries!

Respect Life Month: Inclusion Awareness

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 19:22:15 GMT

Respect Life Month: Inclusion Awareness

Respect Life Month invites us to meditate on the dignity of life. The second weekend of October marks the celebration of Inclusion Awareness Day. We celebrate life with our abilities and disAbilities, our strengths and weaknesses. We are one family. Because we often like to see ourselves as young, healthy, and wealthy, we sometimes forget to appreciate the rest of the community. Inclusion Awareness Sunday is an opportunity to reflect on how we include everyone in the community by looking at our abilities, rather than focusing on disabilities, and how we appreciate the gifts of everyone. In other words, how we celebrate our differences. This weekend’s reading invites us to “do something beautiful for God” by reaching out to others.

Last weekend, we reflected on Faith. Jesus told his disciples, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.” Luke 17:6. Today, the reading invites us to reflect on faith and gratitude. Luke 17:11-19 recounts an incident that highlights the faith and thankfulness of the cleansed Samaritan leper. This incident is only in Luke’s gospel. Those who suffered from leprosy were outcasts. They were considered ritually unclean and believed they be contagious. Leviticus chapter 13 explains what to do if someone has an infectious disease. Leviticus 13:45 says, “The garments of one afflicted with a scaly infection shall be rent and the hair disheveled, and the mustache covered. The individual shall cry out, “Unclean, unclean!” The ten lepers stood at a distance and lifted their voice and said, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!" And his reply was "Go show yourselves to the priests." Leviticus chapter 14 explains the purification after a scaly infection. Leviticus 14:2 says, “This is the ritual for someone that had a scaly infection at the time of that person’s purification. The individual shall be brought to the priest.” So, Jesus asked them to show the priest. The lepers were not cleansed, but they believed and followed his instruction.

Samaritan, a non-Jew, is the one who came to express gratitude and be an example to his Jewish contemporaries. They have so much to be thankful for, because it was more than physical healing that took place there. Because of the leprosy, those ten were separated from their family and community. Jesus healed them so that they could return to their families and communities. Just imagine what a joyful moment that will be. In the Gospel, we see only the Samaritan express that joy and come back to Jesus to express his gratitude. The Gospel says, he came back “Glorifying God in a loud voice” (15). This foreigner was not just cleansed, but he was healed and received salvation.

Jesus’ action recalls the incident in the first reading. Naaman, the foreigner, plunged into the Jordan River seven times and was healed from leprosy at the word of Elisha. When he received healing, he received faith and worshiped the true God. Jesus initiates welcoming the foreigners into God’s covenant family as prophesied in Isaiah 56:3-8, “…And foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, to become his servants…” It is the faith in Jesus manifested by the foreigner that has brought him salvation. In Luke 7:36-50, a sinful woman expressed her pain, and Jesus said to her, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

In the second reading, Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, offered up his imprisonment as an intercessory prayer for the faithful. Likewise, we must be willing to suffer for the sake of our faith. Suffering accepted in union with Christ’s cross. Paul used every occasion to proclaim the Gospel, even chains were not an obstacle. The Word of God could not be chained.

Every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, Jesus touches our lives with his love and mercy. He wants us to receive healing and forgiveness, so we can grow in our faith more deeply and go out to share with others.

Let us pray, Lord, give us the grace to ever grow in faith, never fail to recognize your love and mercy, and glorify your name and proclaim the Gospel. Lord, give us strength to bring others closer to you. Amen.

October invites us to reflect on Respect Life, Rosary, The Life of St. Francis, and much more....

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:40:36 GMT

October invites us to reflect on Respect Life, Rosary, The Life of St. Francis, and much more....

OCTOBER INVITES US TO REFLECT ON RESPECT LIFE, ROSARY, THE LIFE OF ST. FRANCIS, AND MUCH MORE….

First, let us wish our St. Francis parishioners a happy Feast of St. Francis. The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi is on October 4th. St. Francis of Assisi loved the whole universe. The custom of blessing animals originated from St. Francis’s love of all creatures. Animals used to come and listen to St. Francis' preaching. St. Francis loved all God’s creation; in other words, he loved all life.

The month of October is dedicated to the Rosary and Respect Life. Pope Leo XIV invites us to join him in saying the Rosary daily for peace in this world and to be an instrument of reconciliation in our daily lives. In his message, he reminded pilgrims that Christians are called "to witness that love and pardon are greater than every wound and stronger than every injustice."

This year's theme of Respect Life is inspired by the celebration of the Jubilee Year “Life: Our Sign of Hope,” which reflects the call to be a sign of hope to all facing trials and difficulties. Our life from womb to tomb is a gift from God, and He is our Hope. As I mentioned above, October is the month of the Rosary, a devotion to our Mother Mary, which very well connects with Respect Life Month. When we meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary, we walk through the life of Jesus: from the very moment of his conception in the womb of Mary, through how Joseph protected Mary and the child Jesus. King Herod was searching for baby Jesus to kill, so Joseph took the infant Jesus and his mother fled to Egypt as refugees. Further, we go through the public life of Jesus: passion, death, and resurrection to his ascension and coming of the Holy Spirit. Through his salvific action, He restored the dignity of our lives.

October 3rd is the anniversary of Pope Francis's encyclical letter Fratelli Tutti. On this anniversary, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, encourages every American to reflect on the value of every human life and see Christ in every person. He challenges us that “Each of us should examine our hearts, our thoughts, and our actions and ask ourselves how we contribute to the polarization and animosity plaguing our nation. We should also put into practice those behaviors that can help us begin to heal the rifts between us.” By echoing the messages of Fratelli Tutti and Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, I pray that during this Respect Life month, we will reflect on the dignity of life at every stage, from conception to natural death, and rediscover our Christian brotherhood and sisterhood in Christ.

The first Sunday of Respect Life Month, we pray for unborn babies, pregnant mothers, and babies aborted, and the healing of their parents. In the second week, we will be praying for people with various abilities (including those with disabilities). We call it Inclusion Awareness Sunday. If you know someone who has not received a Sacrament at the appropriate age, please contact the office, and we can prepare them for the Sacraments. If you know someone who would like to read or greet, please call the parish office. We will train and prepare them for the ministry.

On the third Sunday of the month, we celebrate World Mission Sunday. We have a Missionary Pope, Pope Leo XIV. It is a call to respond to our baptismal call to mission. October 18th is the feast of St. Luke, who was a physician and patron saint of the medical profession. On the third Sunday, we pray for all those who are sick and offer a special prayer for caregivers and healthcare professionals. They dedicate their lives to honor and value the lives of those who are ill. Fourth Sunday, we pray for domestic violence and human trafficking. Again, it is an opportunity to reflect on the dignity of life in our day-to-day lives.

The first reading from Habakkuk (1:2-3;2:2-4) is from the period of Babylonian exile. He asked God for relief. God answered that He would come and ask the Israelites to place their trust in the Lord. In the Gospel reading from Luke (17:5-10), the Apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith. If we look at our surroundings, we have every reason to lose our faith, but we need to ask the Lord to increase our faith. Jesus says that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, He can give us the power to do incredible things in the service of the Gospel.

October 1, we celebrated St. Therese of the Child Jesus. The Martin family was considered a school of love because they were a place of learning and training in virtue. Let us ask St. Therese for her intercession for our families to grow in holiness. Let us pray for families.

Catholic Services Appeal 2025-2026

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 15:47:50 GMT

Catholic Services Appeal 2025-2026

First, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your generous support of our parish and the annual Catholic Service Appeal (CSA). Your generosity makes a difference. This weekend is the KICK-OFF of our annual CSA 2025-2026. The theme for this year's appeal is “Encountering Christ, Transforming Lives.”

Sometimes we ask why I need to give my money to the diocese. It can be used in my local church. It is a valuable thought. The reality is that we are part of the universal church; we are part of the bigger mission. Whether promoting vocations, educating future priests, providing lay ministry formation, teaching, evangelizing, and ministering to youth, young adults, and those in need, diocesan ministries extend beyond the capacity of any single parish to support. We benefit from the diocese in so many ways. You should have received the CSA booklet in the mail. It will give you pictures and explanations of how our money is used and how many lives you have touched.

The goals for this year for our parishes are St. Anthony, $32,619.00; Immaculate Conception, $12,489; and St. Francis, $4,371. Let us respond to Bishop Power’s invitation and make it a successful one. If everyone commits, we can reach the goal in two or three weekends. Let us be part of a miracle and witness a miracle.

Parish Mission Apostolate! Thank you to everyone who joined for the Parish Mission—a special thanks to our evangelization team, and all those who helped them to make it happen. I hope you enjoyed the time of prayer and worship, talks, and the opportunity for Confession and Holy Hour. For those who were unable to participate, I would like to provide a snapshot of the main presentation. It was based on Fr. John Ricardo from ACTS XXIX Ministries. If you read Bishop Power’s pastoral letter, it is summarized in his letter. Fr. Ricardo summarizes the Gospel into four stages: 1. Created – God loves you. God Himself says that He formed your inmost being (Psalm 139:13), counted the hairs on your head (Matthew 10:40), and knows your heart (1 Samuel 16:7). 2. Captured – We alone cannot overcome the power of evil, but with God, everything is possible. We need God. 3. Rescued – From the moment of the fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve, God has been searching for us to bring back His love and companionship. So, God the Father sent his only begotten Son to pay our debt and make us free. 4. Response – Christ won the victory for us, and it's our turn to respond. We may respond in two primary ways: “we can ignore his saving work, or we can surrender to the Lordship of Jesus in a life of discipleship and worship.” The question is, which is our way?

Reading: Today’s reading invites us to reflect on sins of omission. The first reading is from the prophet Amos (6:1a, 4-7). During the time of Amos, the Davidic kingdom was divided into two: Israel, the northern kingdom with its capital at Samaria, and Judah, the Southern kingdom with its capital at Jerusalem. Amos was a sheep breeder of Tekoa in Judah, but God called him to prophesy in the northern kingdom during the prosperous reign of Jeroboam II. They delighted in the pleasures that money could buy, and yet they gave no thought to the misery they had brought upon others. Amos warns them that they shall be “the first of those to go into exile” (6:7).

Today’s Gospel (Luke 16:19-31), the story of the rich Man and Lazarus, tells us what is expected of us as disciples of Christ. In Jewish tradition, they believed that poverty and sickness are the result of God’s punishment. Deuteronomy 28:58&59, “If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law which is written in this book, and to fear this glorious and awesome name, the LORD, your God, the LORD will bring upon you and your descendants wondrous calamities, severe and constant calamities, and malignant and constant sicknesses.” For the rich, wealth is God’s blessing so that they can live a luxurious life. We read in Luke 6:24, “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.” In the character of the rich man, we can see the evidence of love for money and lack of mercy for the poor Lazarus. We don’t see in the Gospel that he is doing anything against Lazarus. However, we can see that he ignored Lazarus and did not help him in his time of hardship.

The interesting aspect of this story is that God gave the poor man a name, Lazarus, which means God is my help. Despite a life of misfortune and suffering, Lazarus placed his trust in God. In the second part of the story, Lazarus enjoys heavenly bliss as a reward for his fidelity to God despite his poverty and suffering. At the same time, the rich man is thrown down into the excruciating suffering of Hell as punishment for not showing mercy to Lazarus, who was in need.

The question may come to our mind: why was the rich man punished? Did he commit any sin? The sins of the rich man are the sins of omission, although he did not drive either the poor Lazarus or the stray dogs from in front of his door, nor did he prevent either from sharing the discarded crumbs and leftovers from his table. He did not kick Lazarus. He was not cruel to him. But he failed to recognize Lazarus as a human being and a brother. He did no wrong, but he did nothing good, either. In the Catholic teaching, that is the sin of omission: not doing what one is supposed to do.

What is the sin omission? If we leave undone the good or the duties to which those obligations bind us, we commit sins of omission. In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man does not recognize the needy. What are some of our sins of ommission?

Catechetical Sunday!

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 14:03:21 GMT

Catechetical Sunday!

Once, I read a story about three men in England who were pouring a mixture of water, sand, lime, and other ingredients into a trough. A passerby asked them what they were doing. The first said, "I am making mortar." The second: "I am laying bricks." But the third said, "I am building a cathedral." They were doing the same thing, but each looked at it differently. And what a difference that made!

Catechetical Sunday is an excellent opportunity to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. Catechetical Sunday is an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to this mission as a community of faith. Each one of us is a catechist. There are a good number of people who volunteer to teach our faith to our young people. We recognize them and we thank them for their generosity.

I would like to thank all parents who take the time to walk with your child/youth on their faith journey. Parents are the primary teachers. I encourage you to take a few minutes every week to discuss your child/youth's religious education class, as it helps parents refresh their faith journey. It is called the New Evangelization, which means relearning our faith. Another request is to take time to pray together at home and come to Mass as a family. I would like to thank all the families who come together for Mass.

In an article, "Partnering with Parents to Nurture Family Faith-Insights from Research, John Roberto states, “There is no more urgent task for the Church today than strengthening parental and family faith and practice.” Then he illustrates four points.

#1. PARENTS ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE ON THE RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL OUTCOMES OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

#2. THE PRIMARY WAY BY WHICH CATHOLIC IDENTITY BECOMES ROOTED IN CHILDREN’S LIVES ARE THE DAY-TO-DAY RELIGIOUS PRACTICES OF THE FAMILY AND THE WAYS PARENTS MODEL THEIR FAITH AND SHARE IT IN CONVERSATION, COLLABORATION, AND EXPOSURE TO OUTSIDE RELIGIOUS OPPORTUNITIES.

#3. THE FAMILY IS THE PRIMARY COMMUNITY WHERE CATHOLIC FAITH PRACTICES ARE NURTURED AND PRACTICED.

#4. THE QUALITY OF A PARENT’S RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR CHILDREN OR TEENS AND THE PARENTING STYLE THEY PRACTICE MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN FAITH TRANSMISSION.

You can read the full article on the USCCB website: Partnering with Parents to Nurture Family Faith - Insights from Research | USCCB.

Today’s reading reminds us to be a faithful steward. The first reading from the Book of Amos (8:4-7) reminds us to be God’s faithful stewards and show justice and mercy to all. During the time of Amos, Israel was divided into two kingdoms: Israel and Judah. They were blessed with prosperity. It turned their minds away from God. They worked on holidays so they could make more money. They were new to scripture and aware of what God expects from them, but they disregarded it. Deuteronomy 25 gives various precepts. They knew how to treat each other, but they disregarded it. Injustice against the poor is a sin. So, the Lord warned the people through Amos of the coming downfall of the kingdom because they were not good stewards.

The Gospel of Luke 16:1-13 presents to us the story of the unrighteous steward to teach us the importance of urgency and preparedness. The parable of the dishonest steward must be understood in the context of the Palestinian custom of agents acting on behalf of their masters and the outrageous practices typical of such agents. About the loss of his position, the steward makes use of finding favor with his master’s debtors and preparing for his future. The steward's last-minute effort was successful in winning the favor of the debtors and securing his financial future.

Jesus points to the steward as both an example and a warning. Jesus says, “No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Mammon is the Greek transliteration of a Hebrew or Aramaic word that is usually explained as meaning “that in which one trusts.” The dishonest steward expresses a tendency for wealth to lead one to dishonesty. Investing in God’s kingdom means investing our treasures properly. Through our baptism, we are called to be good stewards, a life centered on the Eucharist, to be caretakers of God’s gift, to live a life of service, to participate in the Church's mission, and ultimately, to commit to Holiness. Our parish Mission today and tomorrow will be a good opportunity to reflect and discern our faith life. If you didn’t register, there is still time to do it. Thank you.

Catholic Service Appeal (CSA): You might have received CSA envelopes. Thank you, you have already pledged. We will be watching the kick-off video next Sunday. If everyone participates, we can reach the goal. I want to thank you in advance for your commitment.

The Exaltation of The Holy Cross!

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 14:46:49 GMT

The Exaltation of The Holy Cross!

On September 14th, we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. This year it falls on Sunday, so we all get the opportunity to celebrate this beautiful feast. The early Christians faced persecution. The Edict of Milan, issued in 313, granted religious freedom across the Roman Empire. This was a mutual agreement between Roman Emperors Constantine I in the West and Licinius in the East.

In 326, Constantine’s mother, Saint Helena, a devout Christian, embarked on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to identify significant sites from Christ’s life and establish churches at those locations. Until then, there was little established in the way of shrines and churches at the places where Jesus had lived, walked, preached, performed miracles, and especially where he suffered his Passion, Death, and Resurrection. When Saint Helena identified Mount Calvary and the empty tomb, she discovered three discarded and buried crosses. After an investigation, the local bishop confirmed they were the crosses used to crucify Jesus and the two thieves. Since Helena did not know which cross was Christ’s, she arranged for a sick woman to touch all three. The woman was immediately healed upon touching one of them, indicating that it was the True Cross. Then she built a church over the sites of Mount Calvary and Jesus’ tomb, known as the Holy Sepulchre. In 2014, I had the opportunity to go on a pilgrimage and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. There is a small church located inside the Holy Sepulchre, where Jesus' tomb is believed to be.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was erected and dedicated on September 13, 335. As the legend goes, the following day, Christ’s Cross was brought outside the newly built church for the faithful to venerate. Thus, the first showing, or Exaltation of the Holy Cross, might have occurred on September 14, 335. Over the next three centuries, because liturgical celebrations were not widely centralized, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was likely celebrated annually in Jerusalem, and its observance varied in other ecclesiastical jurisdictions.

In 614, the Persians invaded Jerusalem and took the True Cross as a trophy. The Persians, primarily followers of the ancient Zoroastrian religion, were not Christians. Eight years later, in 622, Eastern Roman Emperor Heraclius initiated military campaigns to recapture Jerusalem and the True Cross. Finally, in 628, he triumphed, and the following year, Emperor Heraclius entered Jerusalem with the True Cross, restoring it to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. After that, the Feast of the Holy Cross became a universal celebration within the Church, starting in Rome and subsequently spreading throughout the entire empire, and has been celebrated annually on September 14 ever since.

The first reading from the Book of Numbers (21:4-9) describes how God healed the complaining Israelites by means of the brazen serpent. In this event, the Israelites were bitten by serpents in the desert after having challenged Moses and complained to God. Once they recognized their sin, God instructed Moses to hang a bronze serpent on a pole, and those who looked at it received healing. This snake on a pole is “raised up”, like Jesus will be raised up in the future.

In the Gospel passage from John (3:13-17), Jesus refers back to the book of Numbers as answering the question raised by Nicodemus. Jesus cites the example of how, when the Israelites were in the desert, the impaled brazen serpent (representing the healing power of God), which God commanded Moses to raise, saved from death the Israelites bitten by serpents who looked at it (Nm 21:4-9). Then Jesus explains how He will save the world by dying on the cross. The second reading (Phil 2:6-11) reminds us that Jesus, “… humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” St. Andrew of Crete wrote, “The cross stands for his suffering because on it he freely suffered unto death. But also his trophy because it was the means by which the devil was wounded and death conquered: the barred gates of hell were smashed and the cross became the one common salvation of the whole world.”

The Cross of Christ reminds us of God’s love for us. It transforms us and makes us new. First and foremost, this happens when we open ourselves to the infinite mercy of God flowing from that selfless Sacrifice. It also occurs when we allow every one of our sufferings, the injustices we endure, the crosses, hardships, and most undesirable aspects of our lives to share in the redemptive power of Christ. Last Sunday, we meditated on the Gospel of Luke. Jesus said, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple” (14:27). When we embrace Jesus’ commands to share in His sufferings, unite them with His own, and allow Him to bear an abundance of good fruit through us.

Note: Please remember to register for the Parish Mission on September 21st and 22nd. Also, could you consider inviting your friends and family to join you?

Remembering 9/11, celebrating Canonization of Blessed Acutis and Blessed Frassati, and reflecting on Discipleship

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 15:45:31 GMT

Remembering 9/11, celebrating Canonization of Blessed Acutis and Blessed Frassati and reflecting on our Discipleship

Abraham Lincoln was debating whom to hire as the Indian Commissioner. He called his advisors Ben Wade and Senator Daniel Voorhees for assistance in selecting the right man. “Gentlemen,” said President Lincoln, “I want an honest, decent, caring, moral Christian man, a man frugal and self-sacrificing!” “Mr. President, I feel certain you won’t find him,” said Voorhees. “And why not?” asked the President. “Because he was crucified more than eighteen hundred years ago,” said the Senator.

During the ordinary season, readings highlight the formation of discipleship. In the Gospel, Jesus says, “Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27). The senator may be right in a certain sense; however, the church proves again and again that there are people who follow him diligently and faithfully. This Sunday, September 7, Pope Leo XIV is canonizing two young people who lived the faith remarkably: Blessed Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati.

Blessed Carlo Acutis, born in 1991 and raised in Milan, utilized his technical skills to evangelize and was noted for his joyful faith and compassion for others before dying of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15. Blessed Acutis' mother, Anthonia Salzano, publicly shared on several occasions that she and her husband, who were not devout Catholics, grew in faith because of their son. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati was born in 1901 into a prominent family in Turin, Italy. He was admired for his deep spirituality, love for the poor, and enthusiasm for life. He was a member of the Dominican Third Order and served the sick through the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He died at age 24 after contracting polio, most likely from one of the people he served.

In the Gospel of Luke 14:25-33, Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem. Luke says that a great crowd was following him. He knew his destination and was fully aware of the cost he would have to pay. It is a total commitment. At the same time, the crowd expected him to liberate them from the Romans and regain control of their land. He would be their Messiah and savior. Jesus turned around and told them they cannot follow me unless you hate your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even your own life. Did he really mean hate? It is an idiomatic expression, “To love less.” We read in the Gospel of Matthew 10:37, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me , and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Jesus is not asking his disciples to “hate” their families but rather to make him their first love. There should be nothing to stop us from our commitment to the Lord.

Let us take a moment this week to think about the moments I/you profoundly lived his teaching. This week, we remember September 11, 2001. Let us try to imagine what it would be like if we were on the ground, running to save someone else. What will be our mental and emotional condition? It is hard to explain, isn’t it? It is about call, it is about commitment.

Discipleship is a commitment. Jesus says, “Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion?” (28). We read in the Gospel of Matthew 10:38, “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.” Since Romans used crucifixion to torture the criminals, Jews needed no explanation. The difference is that before Jesus’ crucifixion, the cross was a sign of shame and rejection, and afterwards it became a sign of victory. Christ clearly instructed his listeners about the call to discipleship.

The first reading from the book of Wisdom (9:13-18) reminds us that as disciples of Christ, we need the gift of wisdom from the Holy Spirit. Wisdom cannot be acquired by human effort alone; it requires correct disposition of humility and openness. God gives us this Divine Wisdom directly in the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, and the Spirit empowers and instructs us through Divine Revelation in Scripture and Sacred Tradition. We need the gift of wisdom to understand God's way and to live a life of discipleship.

We are disciples of Christ through our baptism. It is a journey to grow in our discipleship. Pope St. John Paul II began to emphasize the New Evangelization, and since then, every Pope has developed this process. You read in the bulletin and Catholic Herald regarding the Evangelization process in our Diocese. Our Diocese produced a booklet called Parish Discipleship Pathways. It notes four steps of the discipleship process: Pre-Evangelization, Evangelization, Discipleship, and Apostolate. These four steps can be summarized in two: share our faith with others and invite them to join us, and grow in our discipleship by taking it to the next level through carrying out the Christian mission in our sphere of influence, known as apostolate.

In our cluster, there is a great opportunity on September 21st and 22nd , the Parish Mission Apostolate. It starts with a meal at 4:30 both days and a program from 6 to 8:30 pm. We have great speakers for adults and youth, music, time for Adoration, and opportunities for confession, among other things. It is an opportunity for everyone to pray, reflect, and grow in our discipleship and invite others to join with you. Please register by calling the office or scanning the QR code and registering online.

Happy Labor Day!

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 13:13:31 GMT

Happy Labor Day!

Every human being should be respected because we are created in the image and likeness of God. Labor Day is the day we can take pride in what we do and show respect for others' excellent service. Pope Francis pointed out, "Work is fundamental to the dignity of a person. It gives one the ability to maintain oneself, one's family, and to contribute to the growth of one's own nation."

After Labor Day, schools reopen, we become more active, and society becomes more engaged and busy. It is an opportunity for us to pray for each one of us, our labor, and whatever field we are engaged in. It is also a special moment to pray for our children and youth as they return to school and college. That’s their labor; studying well prepares them for the future. Let us pray for them, their families, and teachers. Soon we will be starting our faith formation program, and especially, we pray for catechists and families on Catechetical Sunday, September 21.

This Sunday's readings warn us against all forms of pride and self-glorification. I read an interesting story about Don Shula, the coach of the Miami Dolphins. He was vacationing with his family in a small town in northern Maine. One afternoon, it was raining. So, Shula, his wife, and their five children decided to attend a matinee movie at the town’s only theater. When they arrived, only six other people were present. When Shula and his family walked in, all six people stood up and applauded. He waved and smiled. As Shula sat down, he turned to his wife and said, “We are thousand miles from Miami and they are giving me a standing ovation. They must get the Dolphins on television all the way up here.” Then a man came up to shake Don Shula’s hand. Shula beamed and said, “How did you know me?” The man replied, “Mister, I don’t know who you are. All I know is that just before you and your family walked into the theatre, the manager told us that unless four more people showed up, we wouldn’t have a movie today.”

There is a journey we all have to make, a pilgrimage we are all called to undertake, and that is the journey from pride to humility. In our story, there was a man whose reputation extended across the country not only as an excellent coach but also as an excellent human being. It was only natural for Shula to think that the man who came over to shake his hand knew who he was. When it turned out that he didn’t, Shula was the first to laugh at himself and shared with others.

The first reading from the book of Sirach reminds us of our call to be humble. Ben Sira may be warning his students against the dangers of Greek philosophy, which emphasized reason as the sole arbiter of truth. However, Jews recognized that faith played a significant role as well. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (159) states that faith and reason compliment each other and work in tandem. The virtue of humility has two aspects: being humble before God and opening our hearts and hands to others. We read in Matthew 23:12, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” The prayer before communion should exemplify our inner mode before God, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed” (Matthew 8:8).

In the Gospel, Jesus talks about a wedding banquet, using phrases such as "When you go to a banquet" and "When you give a banquet." Jesus offered a lesson on humility and charitable generosity without seeking either honor or reward. C.S. Lewis writes, "Humility is 'not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” Jesus instructs us to sit in the lowest place – a lesson of humility – greatness measured by the concern for the other.

The second reading from Hebrews compares the two covenants, of Moses and Christ. This passage presents an image of the heavenly liturgy. In contrast to the theophanies of God at Mount Sinai that so terrified the Israelites, the new covenant, in which the faithful participate at every Eucharist, is one of celebration and unity. Our weekly participation in the Mass is so vital to our spiritual lives that it is a Precept of the Church. Jesus humbled himself and offered on the Cross to bring us forgiveness of sins and salvation. The true humility we can see on the Cross. At the Mass, as the priest offers bread and wine, let us offer each one of us with our blessings and needs, strengths and weaknesses, and ask God to bless us and give us nourishment so we can grow in humility by opening our hearts to God and to one another.

Narrow Gate

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 20:06:54 GMT

Narrow Gate

The readings take us to reflect on God’s extravagant love and mercy. He is patient with us and generous in sharing his mercy. Ultimately, he wants us all in his heavenly kingdom.

The first reading from the book of Isaiah (66:18-21) comes from the time when the Jews were recovering from the Babylonian exile. They were trying to rebuild their cities, farms, and homes. It was not an easy time for them. The prophet sees great things for Jerusalem. He tells the people that one day, people of all nations will come to worship. The third part of Isaiah (56-66) tells us that He is God for all people rather than just the Jews. It shows us that God wants all people to be saved.

In the Gospel (Luke 13:22-30), Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, and he was teaching. Some asked him an interesting question, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" We may want to know the answer too. First, we have to depend on the grace of God. We read in Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God…” Second, it depends on our cooperation and obedience. We read in Philippians 2:12, “So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

Jesus stresses the difficulties of entering through the narrow gate. There is a story behind the narrow gate. Narrow Gate was a small gate built into the much larger city gates. It allowed someone to enter after hours when, for security reasons, the main gates had been closed and locked. The gate was too small to enter with more than a few items. Animals, carts, weapons, and other large items had to remain outside the gate until the opening of the main gate in the morning. The night gate for the city of Jerusalem was nicknamed the “needle’s eye”. Jesus doesn’t answer the question regarding how many people will be saved. He was not interested in statistics. His answer was more personal…here’s how YOU can be saved. It is not easy to go through a narrow gate. You may have to wait or bend yourself. There will be challenges.

In the Gospel, Jesus used the image of the closed door. It was/is a warning to the Jews not to take their position as “chosen people” for granted. It is a similar warning for all of us, and the closed door reminds us that time will run out. Life is short, and none of us knows how long it will last.

There are challenges, but at the same time, God is patient and generous. This past Wednesday, we had the reading from the Gospel of Matthew 20:1-16 in which Jesus speaks about his generosity. He hired laborers at different hours of the day, but they all received the same wage. Those who came in the morning were not happy about the wage. The point is, God is generous. Those who worked their entire life and those who worked the last hour get the same wage. The same wage is eternal life.

Isaiah shared with the Israelites God’s message, saying, “I come to gather nations of every language; they shall come and see my glory.” The words of Isaiah are fulfilled in Jesus. He came to save everyone through the Cross. In the Gospel, Jesus says, “People will come from the east and the west and the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God.” God wants all people to be saved.

The narrow gate is not easy. But we don’t have to be discouraged; however, he tells us this because he loves us. We needed to focus on the relationship with God. We have every means to enter the gate. All we need to look at the crucifix to know and experience his love for us. He gave us the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, food for our journey: we listen to his words, eat His body, and drink His blood. The question is “Do we have a strong relationship with him”? Are we ready to face the challenges to build up the relationship?

The Fire of Love

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 19:53:11 GMT

The Fire of Love

In 2016, Fr. Jacques Hamel was murdered in France by ISIS terrorists. Recently, Christians in Nigeria were murdered. Seminarians, priests, and faithful were captured and found dead. This Sunday's readings encourage us to live our faith courageously. It raises the two questions: are we able to live our faith in our daily lives?

The first reading from the book of Jeremiah (38:4-6;8-10) takes us back 600 years before Christ, when the land we now know as Iraq was named Babylon. The Babylonians were powerful at that time. Jeremiah showed the courage of his prophetic conviction by telling King Zedekiah that the Lord God said he had to surrender to the mighty army of the Babylonian Empire to save Israel. Such talks were viewed as unpatriotic, and Jeremiah was considered a traitor. The prophet was cast into a cistern but was saved from death by the Ethiopian official Ebed-melech, whose name translates to “Servant of the king.” Since the king did not listen to God’s counsel given by his prophet, Babylon captured and destroyed Jerusalem. Jeremiah faced suffering and opposition for following God’s word. His life was not easy. In chapter 20, we see that Jeremiah was going through an internal crisis and cursed his own life. “Cursed be the day on which I was born! May the day my mother gave me birth never be blessed!” (20:14).

The conflict that Jeremiah provoked within his own household and his ministries illustrates Jesus’ teaching in the Gospel reading (Luke 12:49-53) that he came “to set the earth on fire,” not peace, “but rather division,” and that the household will be divided against each other. The fire is a symbol of God’s presence and love (Deuteronomy 4:24; Acts 2:3); God’s judgment on sinners (Leviticus 10:2, Matthew 22:7) and divine purification (Luke 3:16; 1 Peter 1:7).

God offers us his love, mercy, and salvation, and desires that we accept and respond to his gifts. God provides these gifts freely and generously, but not everyone is willing to accept them so that the division will occur even within families. Luke 14:26, Jesus says, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” Peace is possible only if we embrace him in faith (John 14:27).

The second reading from the Hebrews, which Paul wrote to the Judeo-Christians who had been rejected by their fellow Jews, expelled from their synagogues, and cut off from family and old friends. Christ presents the ultimate example of patient perseverance and fidelity to the will of the Father through his suffering and death on the Cross. He went to Jerusalem knowing that he would be arrested and crucified.

We may not see these readings so real in life, but there are places where faithful Christians are kidnapped, shot to death, slaughtered, and so on. It says that on average, 12 Christians are killed for their faith. We have the privilege to live the faith. Do we celebrate and live our faith?

We need to pray for ourselves, others in our family, and neighborhood for the courage to live the faith. Today, for some reason, many are not practicing their faith. We have an excellent opportunity to pray for them, inspire them, and invite them to the Parish Mission Apostolate on September 21st and 22nd. First, pray for this event and register today. Second, inspire others you would like to invite by telling them you are registered. Third, invite them and ask if they'd love to join you for this Parish Mission Apostolate. Pray for them and help them to register.

Jesus tells us today that when we immerse ourselves in Christ’s fire of love, it burns the selfishness of our lives and transforms our lives into the likeness of the Holy Spirit’s fire. He also gave us fellow Christians to support each other in our faith journey. Let us grow in love for our faith and share with many.

Are we ready for the journey?

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 19:09:42 GMT

Are we ready for the journey?

Recently, Pope Leo XIV gave a short reflection on the parable of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10. “The priest and the Levite represent all of us—in a hurry to get home. This hurry can keep us from being compassionate because, the Pope warned, people "who believe their journey takes priority are not willing to stop for others." The reason I thought of bringing it up is that this Sunday's readings invite us to be ready for the second coming of Christ. How can we be ready? The Gospel passage from Luke (12:32-48) begins with these words, “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your belongings and give alms.” We are his flock, he is our shepherd. This reflects the Gospel of John chapter 10, Jesus the Good Shepherd. We don’t have to be afraid; he is our shepherd, and the Heavenly Father is going to give us the kingdom. Then he says – Give alms. The word alms comes from the Greek word “eleemosyne,” which means mercy. We need to give mercy so we can have purses that do not grow old, which means we can have treasure in heaven, which is eternally safe. Generosity is an expression of spiritual poverty.

The Gospel warns Christians to be ready for the second coming, like servants who are waiting for the master’s return to the house. The parable of the faithful and the unfaithful servant is about leadership and responsibility. The apostles were compared to domestic servants who were charged with various duties in the household of the kingdom.

The Gospel talks about the necessity of watchfulness. The Romans divided the nights into four watches, and the Jews divided them into three watches. If the master comes during the second watch, which is between 10 pm and sunrise, the faithful servant would be ready to receive him. We can see a similar message in the Gospel of Matthew 25:1, “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.” The message is to be prepared and be vigilant.

In the First reading from the Book of Wisdom (18:6-9), they were warned of the coming Passover; they were made known beforehand: Israel’s departure from Egypt as foretold to Abraham (Genesis 15:13-14) and Jacob (Genesis 46:3-4). The first reading reflects the Exodus chapters 11 and 12. While the angel of the Lord was striking down the first-born of Pharaoh and other Egyptians, Israelites were vigilantly offering righteous sacrifice to the Lord and eating the meat of the lamb to fortify themselves for their coming escape. That night was the first Passover. They were full of hope and confidence in their God, the liberator. At the end of the Passover meal, they praise God by singing the Psalms. We read in the Gospels that Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples. In Matthew 26:30, we read, “Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” We read in the Gospel of Mark 14:26, the same. The firstborn males of the Israelites were spared by the blood of the sacrificial lamb, which is a type of Christ, the Lamb of God (John 1:29), who leads us to heaven.

As Christians, we are foretold the second coming of Christ, but we do not know the time. We are asked to live the Gospel and be watchful. According to the Fathers of the Church, Jesus’ words in this Gospel passage have two senses. In the narrower sense, the words refer to the Second Coming of Jesus, but in the broader sense, they refer to the time of our death, when God will call us to meet Him and to give Him an account of our life on earth. The question for reflection is, how do we prepare? In a nutshell: Be prepared by loving God and loving one another. Pope Leo XIV's reflection on the Good Samaritan is relevant here: “The priest and the Levite represent all of us—in a hurry to get home. This hurry can keep us from being compassionate because, the Pope warned, people who believe their journey takes priority are not willing to stop for others."

The exterior renovation project is completed at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Butternut.

Little more than a year ago, you heard the announcement of the exterior renovation of our beautiful church. Additionally, you might have received a letter recently regarding the project. As most of you noticed, last week Krause Konstruction completed the renovation project. We have received $18,500 as of August 4, 2025, toward this project. I would like to join the Parish and Finance Councils and the Building Committee to express our gratitude for your generosity. If you didn’t get a chance to donate to this project, there is still time to do it. As you noticed, we have taken a couple of trees based on the suggestions of the engineers. It helps the church building get sunlight and dry the walls. As we mentioned in the announcement and recent letter, there are interior works that need to be done, but they need to wait for 6 months to a year. If the bricks dry well, the interior work will last longer. We will keep you posted. Thank you, everyone, for your generosity through prayer and financial contribution. Thank you!

Where do we invest?

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 13:00:14 GMT

Where do we invest?

Philip Arthur Fisher was an American stock investor best known as the author of Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits, a guide to investing that has remained in print ever since it was first published in 1958. He says, “The stock market is filled with individuals who know the price of everything, but the value of nothing."

This Sunday's reading talks about spiritual investment. The first reading from the book of Ecclesiates (1:2,2:21-23), which is one of the Wisdom books. In this passage, the voice of the narrator (Qoheleth) talks about “Vanity.” Qoheleth means one who gathers or a preacher. The author identifies himself as “Son of David, king of Jerusalem.” According to the scriptural scholars, the author is Solomon.

Qoheleth said, “All things are vanity.” The Hebrew word used for vanity means something without substance. He describes his pursuits of pleasure, wealth, and accomplishments, and the emptiness he found in it all. The idea developed throughout the book is that it is vain and futile to pursue wisdom that is not rooted in the fear of God. An excessive concern for the goods and pleasures of earthly life leads to futility.

Solomon sets out to pursue three common human goals, three pursuits to which many people devote their entire lives: 1. Pleasure or joy, which we see in Ecclesiastes 2:1 “Come, now, let me try you with pleasure and the enjoyment of good things.” See, this too was vanity. 2. Wisdom which we read in 2:12-17, “What about one who succeeds a king? He can do only what has already been done. I went on to the consideration of wisdom, madness, and folly… Therefore, I detested life, since for me the work that is done under the sun is bad; for all is vanity and a chase after wind.” 3. Toil or labor for possessions which we read in 2:18-26, “I detested all the fruits of my toil under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who is to come after me… For to the one who pleases God, he gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the one who displeases, God gives the task of gathering possessions for the one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chase after the wind.”

In 2016, at World Youth Day in Kraków, Pope Francis mentioned the sport, and young people cheered. He was a big soccer fan. When he referred to the World Cup, it brought even louder cheers. Then he paused, looked at the sea of youth, and said, "Jesus is the true champion. Jesus is the true Lord. And I ask you: Is Jesus the Lord of your life?" And then, he said, "Jesus is a greater prize than the World Cup!" Young people stood, raised their hands, and gave a sustained cheer.

Jesus is the one grand prize. That's what we see in today's readings. In comparison to Jesus, everything else in this world is vanity. Only Jesus has ultimate worth, and only in him does anything have value. Ecclesiastes says, “Vanity of vanities, All is vanity.”

In the Gospel (Luke 12:13-21), Jesus tells us the parable of the rich fool. This parable teaches that life centered on greedy ambition and satisfaction is empty of meaning. The fool is oblivious that his life will end, together with all his accumulated material possessions. Rich tells “…so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry” (Luke 12:19).

Jesus is not disregarding his skills and ability to acquire wealth, but instead of his greed. Greed is undoubtedly dangerous. IT is one of the capital sins. Jesus was called the rich fool because he lost his aptitude to invest wisely. His life was consumed with his possessions, and his only interests were in himself. WE don’t see the farmer did any wrongdoings, but it is about sins of omission. We have to be careful in how we use God’s blessings. Jesus is not talking against wealth, but he is talking about how it is used. A fruitful life involves charity towards others and detachment from material goods.

Christian life is about happiness. We are happy people. The question is where we find happiness. Our ultimate goal in life is to achieve eternal happiness. Without God, all life is meaningless. But with God, every aspect of our lives proclaims the reason for our creation: to know him, to love him, to serve him. He is our true treasure.

World Day of Grandparents! Happy Pioneer's Day!

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 20:26:59 GMT

World Day of Grandparents! Happy Pioneer's Day!

There is a lot to celebrate this weekend. We are celebrating Pioneer Days: a celebration of the spirit of community, family, and friends. Today, on the fourth Sunday of July, we celebrate Grandparents Day.

On January 31, 2021, Pope Francis announced the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, to be observed on the fourth Sunday of July, coinciding with the feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s parents and Jesus’ grandparents, Sts. Joachim and Anne. Vittorio Scelzo, the dicastery’s coordinator for the pastoral care of the elderly, said that Pope Francis’ announcement of the celebration of the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly is connected to the Days established for the Word of God and for the Poor. Pope Francis said, “Grandparents are often forgotten, and we forget this wealth of preserving roots and passing on.” Vittorio Scelzo said in an interview that Pope Francis reminded us, “Young people, adults, and our society cannot save themselves without the elderly.”

Pope Leo XIV wrote in his message for the VI World Day of Grandparents and Elderly, “The life of the Church and the world can only be understood in light of the passage of generations. Embracing the elderly helps us to understand that life is more than just the present moment, and should not be wasted in superficial encounters and fleeting relationships. Instead, life is constantly pointing us toward the future. In the book of Genesis, we find the moving episode of the blessing given by the aged Jacob to his grandchildren, the sons of Joseph; his words are an appeal to look to the future with hope, as the time when God’s promises will be fulfilled (cf. Gen 48:8-20). If it is true that the weakness of the elderly needs the strength of the young, it is equally true that the inexperience of the young needs the witness of the elderly in order to build the future with wisdom. How often our grandparents have been for us examples of faith and devotion, civic virtue and social commitment, memory and perseverance amid trials! The precious legacy that they have handed down to us with hope and love will always be a source of gratitude and a summons to perseverance.” Let us honor our grandparents and receive their blessings.

This Sunday reading invites us to reflect on prayer. Fr. Tommy Lee wrote in one of his sermons, “When I was in Florida recently, I visited the Kennedy Space Center. I saw Cape Canaveral and the launch site for the space shuttle. In the Space Center, I was able to look at and touch moon rock. Through the miracle of modern science and space travel, I reached out and touched the moon! When we pray, we leave this world and touch God.”

In the first reading, we see Abraham’s intercession for God’s mercy on behalf of the city of Sodom. He pleads for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah by talking directly to God and asking God to change his plans. He doesn’t just ask; he is persistent in asking, pushing for more mercy each time. It may look like a comical dialogue. Like a little child who keeps asking and asking until they get what he/she wants. On the other hand, God is gentle and merciful.

The first reading pairs with the Gospel, Luke 11:1-13, which recounts the Lord’s Prayer and Jesus' teaching on prayer in general. This passage begins with Jesus in prayer, an intimate moment with his Father. Then one of his disciples said, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." Jesus taught them to pray by using the intimate word “Abba,” “Father,” to address God. Our Father is Father who listens to us; he is merciful. Psalmist says that God is true, he has a long memory for His promises and a short memory for our failures to keep ours. We must trust in His love and mercy.

This prayer we all pray every day. This prayer begins with God, calling me Abba, Father —a deep relationship between God and me. Then God’s purpose in my life is, “Thy kingdom come and thy will be done.” Then it goes to our needs: “Give us each day our daily bread.” Then we say, “Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us.”

Then we pray “Lead us not into temptation.” In 2019, Pope Francis officially approved a change to the translation of the Lord's Prayer, replacing "lead us not into temptation" with "do not let us fall into temptation," a translation that many scholars consider more accurate to the original text. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2846, states,...God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one”; on the contrary, he wants to set us free from evil. We ask him not to allow us to take the way that leads to sin. We are engaged in the battle "between flesh and spirit"; this petition implores the Spirit of discernment and strength.”

In the Gospel, Jesus continues after the prayer, further explaining the intimacy that God longs for us. He tells the story of a man who wants to be hospitable and asks his neighbor to lend him some food to give to his guests. At the end of the story, Jesus reminds us that God is there for us beyond our understanding. Every time we pray we touch God. Every time we come together to celebrate the Eucharist, heaven meets earth, God comes to us and becomes part of our life. Prayer changes us and others, making us ready to receive God's grace.

Prayer can change the course of history. So let us pray, pray, pray. “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:9-

Hospitality!

shajij2002@gmail.com (Fr Shaji Pazhukkathara) — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 13:21:20 GMT

Hospitality!

The one theme for this weekend is hospitality. The second theme could be a personality check. The first reading and the Gospel beautifully portray hospitality to God.

Andrei Rublev, the renowned Russian icon painter, is famous for his work on the ‘Old Testament Trinity’, depicting the three angels welcomed by Abraham (Genesis 18 – today’s first reading). This icon is also called ‘Welcome to the Stranger’. The table where they are seated has four sides. There are three seated figures; the fourth is an invitation to join them. Anyone praying with this icon for any length of time will feel that the invitation is somehow mutual: as you welcome the Divine Persons into your heart, they are inviting you to sit at the table with them. They are inviting you into the heart of God.

On a hot day, Abraham sat at the entrance. He might have been enjoying the breeze on that hot day. Suddenly, he saw the three men and recognized that they were the Lord. Some of the Fathers of the church and Eastern iconography suggest that the three figures may be the manifestation of the Trinity. In the reading, Abraham begged the visitors not to pass by, but to stay so that he could serve the Lord. Then he ran to the tent and asked Sarah to prepare food for them. They both prepared a delicious meal, and Abraham set this before the visitors. Both the ancient Jews and early Christians believed that the best way to demonstrate their devotion to God was through hospitality. In the book of Hebrews 13:1-2, we read, “Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.”

After the meal, one of the mysterious visitors told Abraham, “I will return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will then have a son” (Genesis 18:10). If we continue reading, we can see that Sarah was listening and laughing. In Genesis 21, we read that God did what He promised, and they had a son named Isaac. In Romans 9, St. Paul discusses promises and free will. He quotes from the book of Genesis 18:10 to mention the promise of Isaac's birth. The visitors who announced that Sarah would bear a child prefigure the Annunciation made by the Archangel Gabriel to Mary. What is not possible from a human perspective can become reality through the power of God.

In the first reading, Sarah was mainly involved in preparing the food. We don’t see her outside the tent. Abraham was the one who spent time with visitors. In Luke’s Gospel 10:38-42, we see that Martha was engaged in serving, while Mary was seated at Jesus' feet. Martha honored God in work, and Mary through her single-minded devotion. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, which means she surrendered herself and gave total attention. It is part of learning. We read in the Acts of the Apostles 22:3, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city. At the feet of Gamaliel, I was educated strictly in our ancestral law and was zealous for God, just as all of you are today.”

Two aspects of spirituality: first, doing something like Martha, and second, sitting next to and listening like Mary. Martha has become a symbol of action-oriented, responsible people who get the job done. Our world and our parish churches need such dynamic and generous men, women, boys, and girls who get the job done. At the same time, we must also adopt Mary into our lives. The key to the Christian life is SETTING PRIORITIES: Jesus Christ first, then everything else. Are you an active and busy personality type? There is nothing wrong; at the same time, find time every day to listen to God, your spouse, your kids, and your neighbors. Listening and quiet caring are essential for the success of pastoral life, family life, and every aspect of our lives. Human love begins at home, and it starts with listening. If you are a type of Mary, one who is contemplative, embrace some of Martha’s qualities.

Pay attention, God is passing by my/your home. Should we invite him? Our heart is the place where he needs to be welcomed. Mother Teresa often spoke about God appearing in disguise, as the poor and the needy. Once she was asked who she could serve the poor day after day. She answered that she spent time with Jesus in the morning, participated in the celebration of the Eucharist, and went out and saw the face of Jesus in them. We can see how beautifully Mother Theresa embodied the qualities of Martha and Mary. We don’t have to try to be Mother Teresa, but we can also embrace these qualities in our way. We need to give attention to seeing who is passing by us. Abraham paid attention, so he didn’t miss the Lord.

Who is my neighbor?

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 18:34:10 GMT

Who is my neighbor?

On the Fifteenth Sunday, the readings answered a question "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 10:25). The first reading of Deuteronomy reminds us that God gives us His Commandments in Holy Scriptures, it is not away from us, but it is “Already in your mouths and in your hearts; you have only to carry it out." (Deuteronomy 3:14).

Moses had led the Israelites from the slavery of Egypt and was with them for many years as they traveled through the Sinai desert. The book of Deuteronomy is a series of speeches by Moses to the second generation of Israel, just before they were to enter the Promised Land. It expresses three discourses largely: The first discourse (1:6-4:43) reflects on the lessons of the early part of the journey through the desert. The second discourses (4:44-28:68) remind the people of the law, the Ten Commandments, their call to fidelity, and their special relationship with God, and the details of the covenant with God and its religious, ritual, and moral regulations. The third discourse (28:68-30:20) issues another call to the people to “choose life” – to remain faithful to the covenant – rather than choosing death by turning away from God and removing themselves from His protection.

Moses knew he would die before entering the Promised Land, so he gave them his last words of wisdom. The first reading begins with these words, “If only you would heed the voice of the LORD, your God” (Deuteronomy 30:10). Moses told them that God would bless them greatly, but one condition is that they need to follow the voice of the Lord. What do we need to do to inherit eternal life? We need to heed the voice of the Lord.

In the Gospel, Jesus answers this question. Love God with all your being, mind, heart, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself. Then Jesus explains the following question: Who is my neighbor? Jesus illustrates the superiority of love over legalism through the story of the good Samaritan. When the scribe in this passage tries to test him, Jesus engages him in conversation. He praises the scribe for the summary of the law.

The parable of the Good Samaritan presents both a moral and a theological lesson. Morally, Jesus teaches that love for our neighbor must accompany our love for God. Theologically, Jesus illustrates that the holiness of the New now surpasses the holiness as defined by the Old Covenant. In this parable, the priest and Levite didn’t help the victim. They had their reason. The book of Leviticus 21 explains the purity laws. The book of Numbers 19 gives further explanation of the law of purity. The law priest and Levite were forbidden to touch the corpse of anyone other than immediate family members. If they become impure, they are supposed to purify themselves by offering the sacrifice. Additionally, they will be disqualified from participating in the Temple service. Thus, they saw the wounded man on the road, not as a person in need of help, but as a possible source of ritual impurity.

Samaritans have nothing in common with Jews. If Jews have to go from north to south or from south to north, they go around Samaria. The Samaritan in this story disregarded the long history of enmity between his people and the Jews, opening his heart and mind to help the needy. Since the robbers who had assaulted the traveler might still be nearby, the good Samaritan decided to take the risk. He gave first aid to the wounded Jew, took him to a nearby inn, and made arrangements for his food and accommodation by providing the innkeeper two denarii. Two denarii were equivalent to two days' wages, which could be sufficient for several days of lodging.

St. Augustine says the parable signifies Christ’s restoration of mankind. Adam is the man attacked by Satan and his legion; he is stripped of his immortality and left dead in sin. The priest and Levite represent the Old Covenant and its inability to restore man to new life. Jesus Christ comes as the Good Samaritan to rescue man from death and brings him to the inn of the Church for refreshment and healing through the Sacraments. Every time we gather for the celebration of the Eucharist, the good Samaritan, Jesus, shares with us His life—the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity —then we are sent out to be good Samaritans. Who is my neighbor who needs me today?

He depends on you and me!

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 17:56:56 GMT

He depends on you and me!

This weekend's reading reminds us that even in a broken world, even in our weakness, God is at work. He heals, transforming and sending us out.

The first reading from the book of Isaiah is from the third Isaiah (56-66). The passage for this weekend from chapter 66 is about comfort and hope. They were in exile for fifty years, and when the Persians conquered the Babylonians, they allowed the Jews to return home. They are back in Jerusalem, but things were not as they had expected. When they came back, it was a discouraging scene: their cities and homes were ruined. God engages with them through Isaiah and insists that they rejoice. He promises that Jerusalem will be like a mother once again, nurturing them and caring for them. We see the same message about Jerusalem in several passages of the Old Testament. We read in Tobit 13:14, “Happy are those who love you, and happy are those who rejoice in your peace. Happy too are all who grieve over all your afflictions, for they will rejoice over you and behold all your joy forever.” God told the Israelites they would enjoy prosperity once again. Psalm 66, our responsorial psalm, echoes this call to rejoice.

Second reading from Galatians 4:14-18, Paul concludes with a clear and strong statement of faith. He proclaimed that he never boasts except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the modern world, we are familiar with boasting through social media and other means. Paul says that he is boasting only in what Jesus did for us on the Cross. Because the cross is where real sacrifice and love happened. We are saved by the cross, not by our merits.

The Gospel passage (Luke 10:1-12, 17-20) is paired with the mission of the seventy-two. He sent them to prepare the way for him. They were ordinary people sent with an extraordinary task: to bring peace, heal the sick, and preach the Kingdom of God. Jesus gave them practical advice: travel lightly, stay with those who welcome you, and keep moving if you are rejected. He does not promise comfort or success; he prepares them for the challenges. They had to trust in God's provision.

The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name" (Luke 10:17). Jesus joined their enthusiasm and redirected them, "I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky… Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:18&20). The actual value is not what they accomplished, but in their/relationship with God.

In the Gospel of Luke, in chapter 9:1-6, we see Jesus sending the twelve with power and authority over all demons and diseases, and in chapter 10:1-20, sending seventy-two in pairs, which is only in Luke’s Gospel. Jesus patterned his missionary effort on Moses (Numbers 11:24-26). Here, Moses chose seventy elders and asked them to stand around the tent. God took some of the spirit that was on Moses and bestowed it on the Seventy. But two men, Eldad and Medad, also received the spirit in the tent. The seventy-two bring Good News and love the people of whatever town they enter. They showed those people that evil is being defeated by curing the sick and liberating them from demons. The seventy-two returned with great joy, and Jesus rejoiced with them.

Jesus sent them out like lambs among the wolves. In the time of Noah, God certainly could have recreated the world from nothing as in the beginning. Instead, he decided to have pairs of animals in the ark and depended on their fruitfulness to propagate the new covenant after the flood. Similarly, God relied on the missionary journey of the seventy-two. They went out to their mission territory and wished them peace, cured the sick, and proclaimed the kingdom of God.

We are seventy-two who are sent out to spread the Good News of peace, comfort, and hope. He depends on us today to bring his message to the world. Jesus Christ has conquered evil through his passion, death, and resurrection. He is with us. He gave us the Sacraments to provide us with life, nourishment, healing, forgiveness, and to prepare us for service. Every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, he gives us nourishment and sends us out to proclaim the Good News. Let us be one of the seventy-two to bring peace, comfort, and hope.

Happy July 4th!

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 16:01:40 GMT

Happy July 4th!

We are grateful for our country, and we want to be good citizens. Thomas Jefferson, on July 4th, 1826, wrote in a letter: “May it be to the world, what I believe it will be... the signal of arousing men to burst the chains... and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. That form, which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man… For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them." The best thing we can do to become better citizens is to be better Christians. Every year around July 4th, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops invites us to pray for religious freedom. We are excited to celebrate July 4th, but we need to hold on to that spirit every day, in every aspect of our lives.

This Sunday, we are celebrating the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. Saint Augustine of Hippo wrote of these saints, “Both apostles share the same feast day, for these two were one; and even though they suffered on different days, they were as one. Peter went first, and Paul followed. And so we celebrate this day made holy for us by the apostles’ blood. Let us embrace what they believed, their life, their labors, their sufferings, their preaching, and their confession of faith.”

Simon was born in Bethsaida, near the Sea of Galilee. He was a fisherman by trade, along with his brother Andrew. After Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and completed His forty days of prayer and fasting in the desert, He went to the Sea of Galilee, saw Simon and Andrew fishing, and called to them saying, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). They dropped everything and became Jesus’ first disciples. Jesus said to Peter, “I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19). After Pentecost, Peter led the Church courageously. He began in Jerusalem and eventually traveled to Rome, where he established the Church and became its first bishop. Around the year 64, he was martyred during the persecutions of Emperor Nero. Peter requested to be crucified upside down because he did not consider himself to be worthy of dying the same way Jesus died. His tomb is located under the main altar of Saint Peter’s Basilica.

We are familiar with the story of Saul becoming Paul. Saul was born as a Roman citizen in Tarsus, modern-day Turkey. He became one of the persecutors of the early Church, being partly responsible for the death of Saint Stephen (Acts 7:58). However, as Saul was traveling to Damascus to persecute other Christians, he was knocked to the ground and struck blind. He heard Jesus say to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4). Jesus then directed him to a disciple of the Lord in Damascus named Ananias, who baptized Saul. Saul spent about three years in Arabia, where he went through an intense time of prayer and study, eventually returning to Damascus and then to Jerusalem, where Barnabas introduced him to the other disciples, testifying of his conversion. Saul began to use his Roman name, Paul, in Jerusalem, and then spent almost the next ten years doing missionary work throughout the Mediterranean. When he returned to Jerusalem, he was imprisoned for a couple of years and then sent to Rome for trial, as he was a Roman citizen. In Rome, he met up with Saint Peter. Paul was beheaded just outside the city of Rome. When his head fell to the ground, it bounced three times, each time giving rise to a spring of water. The place is marked today by the Abbey of the Three Fountains. Saints Peter and Paul are considered the foundational pillars of the Church. Peter represents the office of the Vicar of Christ. Paul represents the mission of evangelization that was entrusted to the Church by Jesus Himself. His letters are evidence of his knowledge and theology. One tradition states that they were both martyred on June 29, in Rome, making them twin martyrs. Their twin martyrdom reminds us that the Church must be both stable and mission-oriented.

The Mass: We approach the final part of the Mass, which includes Holy Communion and the Final Blessing. Every Eucharist, especially in Holy Communion, bridges: Calvary (past), Real Presence (present), and Heavenly Banquet (future). At every Mass, we are mystically participating in what will only be fully revealed at the end of time. When we receive the Holy Communion, we say “Amen”; it’s a solemn “yes” to the reality of Christ’s presence and an affirmation of being rightly disposed to receive Him.

In preparation for the Holy Communion, the Priest says, "Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb." John the Baptist pointed to Jesus as the Lamb who takes away sin (John 1:29). In Revelation 19:6-9, "Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." It’s a wedding feast, prefiguring the final union of heaven and earth. Everyone responds: "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed." It is from the Gospel of Matthew 8:5-11, where the centurion's profound humility and faith are highlighted. The final blessing is not just a farewell; it is a divine commissioning. Aaron blessed the people after the offering of sacrifice (Leviticus 9:22-23), and just as Christ blessed the Apostles before ascending into heaven (Luke 24:50-52), so the priest — in persona Christi — blesses the people at the culmination of the Eucharistic sacrifice. The dismissal, then, is not an end but a sending (missio): "Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord." The Mass doesn't conclude our worship; it sends us to live it. The word "Mass" itself is derived from missa, meaning "dismissal" or "sending," reinforcing that the whole liturgy culminates in mission.

We have the Eucharist Procession on this Sunday, June 29th, at 2 pm at Immaculate Conception. Pope Francis has emphasized on several occasions that Eucharistic processions are not just religious rituals but powerful public witnesses of faith. He says, “When we take part in a Eucharistic procession, we are saying: Jesus is in our streets; He walks with us and among us.”

Happy Corpus Christi Sunday! And Blessed Cluster Picnic!

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 19:48:54 GMT

Happy Corpus Christi Sunday! And Blessed Cluster Picnic!

Today we celebrate the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ! The Eucharist is a great gift. The Bishops of the United States reminded us of this truth by calling for Eucharistic Revival, which is launching on June 19, 2022, Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Bishop James Powers invites us to hold a Eucharistic Procession on the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Because we are having a cluster picnic this weekend, we will have the Eucharistic procession next Sunday, June 29, at 2 pm at Immaculate Conception in Butternut.

In the first reading from the book of Genesis (14:18-20), Melchizedek, king of Salem, appears to recognize Abraham’s great victory, which the five local kings were unable to achieve. He brought bread and wine and blessed Abraham and declared him blessed or made powerful by God Most High, evidently the highest God in the Canaanite pantheon. Abraham acknowledges the blessing by giving a tenth of everything as a tithe to Melchizedek. We read this passage in Hebrews chapter 7, and it interprets Melchizedek as a prefiguration of Christ. The sacrifice offered by Abel, Abram, and Melchizedek are invoked in the Eucharistic prayer I (the Roman Canon): “Be pleased to look upon these offerings…and to accept them, as once you were pleased to accept the gift of your servant Abel the just, the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith, and the offering of your high priest Melchizedek.”

The second reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (11:23-26) is the account of the institution of the Lord’s Supper in the New Testament. Paul quotes Jesus' words and says after the Body of Christ has been given, Jesus’ command is to “do this in memory of me,” and after the cup, “Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Today, the Gospel reading (Luke 9:11-17), which recounts the multiplication of loaves and fishes, a miracle, foreshadows the institution of the Eucharist. In this scripture, the twelve asked Jesus to send these people away, and he asked them to give some food themselves. Their reply was, "Five loaves and two fish are all we have.” In a way, they said, we don’t have much, but in Jesus' hands, it was plenty. When they gave what they had, a miracle took place. Jesus took the bread, looked up to heaven, said the blessing, and gave it to the disciples to give to the crowd. All were eaten and satisfied.

I'd like to share a story from my time in hospital ministry. One Corpus Christi Sunday, I was celebrating Mass in the Hospital, and a lady was sitting in a wheelchair in the center of the chapel. During the consecration, she started to cry. I assumed that she might be in pain. After the Mass, I asked her how she was doing. She told me that it was not tears of pain, but tears of joy. She was suffering for a long time; she had thoughts of committing suicide from time to time, but every time something intercepted her. She continued that she was thinking about the reading and the homily, and at the consecration, she visualized Jesus’s sacrifice. She said her faith gave her the strength to live. She realizes that there is a purpose for her life. She said she may not have much to share, but in Jesus’ hands, it is more than enough. She realized that God needs her for her husband and children. She said that day, she felt her life was so meaningful. At the end of every Mass, we are sent out to break and share our lives with others.

The Mass: On Corpus Christi Sunday, it is beautiful to reflect on the Fraction Rite and Agnus Dei (Lamb of God). This is the moment when the priest breaks the consecrated host (Corpus Christi) over the paten. A small piece is placed into the chalice—a gesture called the commingling, which symbolizes the unity of Christ’s Body and Blood, and hence the unity of His sacrifice and Resurrection. The phrase "breaking of the bread" became an early name for the entire Eucharistic celebration. It demonstrates that the fraction is not merely symbolic but essential to Eucharistic identity from the outset. During the fraction, priests say a quiet prayer while placing a particle of the host into the chalice: “May the mingling and consecration of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it.” On the road to Emmaus, "He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him" (Luke 24:30-31). The breaking of the bread leads to recognition of the Risen Lord, paralleling what happens in the liturgy.

Agnus Dei (Lamb of God): This is a chant that occurs during the Fraction Rite. The people and the choir sing: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us (x2), followed by grant us peace. "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). This is the direct source of the Lamb of God (Agnus Deii). John identifies Jesus not just as the Messiah but also as a sacrificial lamb—echoing the Passover lamb and temple sin offerings in Jewish tradition. Pope St. Sergius I (r. 687–701) formally introduced the Agnus Dei chant during the Fraction. The “Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world” is not just symbolic — it is sacramentally effective. Catechism of the Catholic Church §1394 says,“This living charity [of the Eucharist] wipes away venial sins.”

The Solemnity of The Most Holy Trinity! And Happy Father's Day!

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 19:37:33 GMT

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity! And Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father’s Day to all the Fathers! Five weeks ago, we honored our moms. Today, on this Father's Day, we are doing the same: offering our dads – those who are with us or have gone before us, or those who are like fathers in our lives – on the altar of God during this Holy Mass, invoking our heavenly Father’s blessings on them. Fathers are a blessing, and we thank them for blessing us with lives of dedication, endurance, and love. Happy Father’s Day!

Last weekend, we celebrated Pentecost. I would like to thank everyone who served Mass to make the celebration of Pentecost beautiful. Special thanks to all those who did reading in different languages: Marcia Lalonde, Elizabeth Warren, Stacy Santos, Terry Palecek, and Robert Lobermeier. If any of you can do a reading in a different language, please call the office; it will be helpful in the future. On Pentecost Sunday, we reflected on how the animating power of love (Holy Spirit) transformed the lives of the apostles and the Church.

The Sunday after Pentecost, we celebrate the Holy Trinity. Trinity is a mystery, but Jesus makes it easier for us. Today’s Gospel (John 16:15) says “Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” In the Gospel of Matthew (28:16-20), Jesus speaks to his disciples about the mission. Jesus says, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Genesis 1:26, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” In Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength.”

A simple definition of the Holy Trinity is that One God subsists in three persons. We see in the Gospel of Luke 1:26-38, God the Father sent the angel Gabriel to Mary and told her the Holy Spirit would come upon her and she would conceive in her womb and bear a son, whom she would name Jesus. Luke 3:21-22 describes the event when Jesus, the Son, was baptized. The heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit came down like a dove, accompanied by the voice of the Father from heaven, saying, “You are my beloved Son; with you, I am well pleased.” In the Gospel of John 15:26, at the Last Supper discourse, Jesus says, “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me.”

If we look at the Book of Genesis 1:1-3, God created heaven and earth by uttering the Word and the Spirit of God, moving the face of the waters. Gospel of John 1:1-5 says, The Word was in the beginning, the Word was God, and all things came through him. God the Father sent his only begotten Son, through him we may have eternal life (John 3:16). The Holy Spirit came upon Mary and she gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1) – means house of bread – and laid in a manger (Luke 2:7) – where animals were fed. In the Gospel of John 6:35, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.”

St. Patrick uses the shamrock to explain the doctrine of the Holy Trinity to his flocks in Ireland. Each of the leaves represent one of the three persons, but yet, it was still only one shamrock. Trinity is a community of self-giving love; an intimate relationship. We are made to love as the Holy Trinity loved.

A family is a simple form of community; it grows into a church, different organizations, and it grows into a wider community. The Holy Trinity is perfect unity and love. While modeling family life after the Holy Trinity is a beautiful and powerful vision, centered on love, unity, and mutual self-giving, it remains a profound challenge. We all live through those challenges in our daily lives. Yet, through grace, prayer, and commitment to growth, families can begin to mirror this divine communion in real, meaningful ways. We can call God our Father, Son Jesus, “Emmanuel,” and Holy Spirit to give strength in those struggles.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Mass: The Sign of Peace – Rite of Peace occurs after the Lord’s Prayer during the Communion Rite. It is rooted in Christ’s words to His Apostles: “Peace I leave you, my peace I give you.” In the biblical context, John 14:27, Jesus gives His peace to the Apostles at the Last Supper. Matthew 5:23-24 – Reconcile with your brother before offering sacrifice. 1 Corinthians 16:20; Romans 16:16; 1 Peter 5:14 – Paul and Peter encourage Christians to greet one another with a holy kiss, which became a liturgical gesture.

Pope Innocent I (5th c.) asserted the Roman custom of placing the Sign of Peace after the Eucharistic Prayer, as a ratification of the Eucharistic mysteries. He insists it should be shared by both clergy and laity. Later it taken away from the laity. Paul VI (1970) restores the exchange of peace to all the faithful, and locates it in the Communion Rite, after the Eucharistic Prayer and before Communion.

Totus Tuus: Let us welcome our Totus Tuus Team. Please encourage all our children and youth to register for Totus Tuus and celebrate faith.

Pentecost Sunday!

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 18:51:05 GMT

Pentecost Sunday!

We all enjoy celebrating our birthdays. Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. The name Pentecost comes from the Greek word "pentekoste," meaning "fiftieth." It concludes the 50 days of the Easter season. The Jews celebrated the Feast of Pentecost fifty days after the Passover. Initially, it was an agricultural feast, and later, the giving of the law at Mount Sinai. Now we celebrate the new Pentecost, fifty days after Jesus' resurrection, marking the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. The second reading for the Vigil is from the book of Exodus (19:3-8a,16-20b). There, when God came to Mount Sinai, there was fire and a loud sound with a trumpet blast (19:18-20). In the new Pentecost, there was a mighty wind, and tongues of fire came upon the apostles (Acts 2:1-11).

We can see the presence of the Holy Spirit from the beginning of the Bible. In the Book of Genesis (1:2) we read, “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the earth” (2:7). We read, “The Lord God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.” In the Gospel of John 20:21 & 22, Jesus, after the resurrection, appeared to the disciples and said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” In the book of Genesis, we see the first creation of man, and in the Gospel of John, we see the recreation.

The first reading for the Vigil Mass is from the book of Genesis, chapters 11:1-9, which provides the background for understanding Pentecost as a reversal of the story of Babel. The word babel means confused voice(s). The story of the Tower of Babel tells us that the sinful pride of the human beings separates them from God, and to show their pride, they decided to build the tower to reach the sky. They all spoke the same language, but God confused them, and that prevented them from building the tower. The first reading for the Mass of the day (Acts 2:1-11) is notable, as it describes how people from many nations overcame the language barrier. All of them were able to understand the Apostles when they were filled with the Holy Spirit. The Christian tradition views Pentecost as the undoing of the Tower of Babel, and the reunification of the human family through the mission and witness of the apostolic Church.

The second reading for vigil is from Ezekiel 37:1-14, he sees the resurrection of the valley of dry bones. God will raise the Israelites from their graves and put His Spirit within them. The twelve Apostles, who are the twelve patriarchs of the reconstituted tribes of Israel, received the Holy Spirit and preached the Gospel (Acts 2:1-11). In the light of Ezekiel, we recognize Pentecost as the resurrection of Israel.

In the reading from the book of Joel (3:1-5), he anticipates that the Lord will someday renew the faithful with the divine spirit. In Acts 2:17-21, Peter addresses the people, citing Joel’s words to suggest that the newly constituted Christian community, filled with divine life and power, inaugurates the Lord’s Day, understood as salvation for all who believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ. The Epistle for Vigil Mass from Romans (8:22-27), the Holy Spirit deep within moves us to pray. Like a woman endures labor pain, humanity suffers in this life, even looking for liberation and the fulfillment of everlasting life. Acknowledging that we do not know how to pray is the first step in obtaining the help of the Holy Spirit in prayer. After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to the Apostles, wished them peace, breathed on them, and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn 20:19-23). It was a gradual process, and on Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon them and transformed their lives.

We received the Holy Spirit at our Baptism and were strengthened by the Sacrament of Confirmation by the laying of hands. The anointing of the Holy Spirit takes place within us when we eagerly ask for it. Sometimes we may attempt to think that it is for the saintly people. It is not a wrong concept. Anointing of the Holy Spirit is for all of us to grow in holiness. Jesus promised the apostles an advocate, a helper. When they received the Holy Spirit, it changed their lives; they were freed from fear. They went out to the street and proclaimed the Good News. We are the missionary disciples who are sent out to proclaim the good news. It may be our homes, our neighborhood, our workplace, and our son. Suppose you didn't see your friend at Mass, do you feel the need to call? Perhaps I should rephrase that question: “Do you miss them?” Pentecost reminds us to ask the Holy Spirit to inspire us to reach out to others, as we are sent out to evangelize.

The Mass: After the Eucharistic Prayer concludes with the doxology “Through Him, with Him, and in Him,” the Communion Rite begins, starting with the Lord’s Prayer. The priest introduces the Our Father: “At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say…” and we all recite together the prayer. After the Our Father, the priest says the embolism, a prayer that elaborates on the final petition (“deliver us from evil”). A doxology follows this: “For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever.” The prayer “Our Father…) comes from the Gospel of Matthew 6:9-13 and a shorter version in the Gospel of Luke 11:1-4. The final doxology (“For the kingdom…”) is not in the biblical texts but is a traditional part of Christian liturgy. Protestants use it, but it originates from the Roman Rite of the Apostolic era. St. Cyprian, St. Jerome, and St. Augustine all describe it as a bold or daring prayer, permissible only because baptism makes Christians sons/daughters in the Son, granting them the right to pray as Jesus does. In the East, the faithful prayed this prayer alongside the priest, but in the West, the priest alone recited this prayer until Vatican II.

Ascension of the Lord!

Thu, 29 May 2025 15:48:40 GMT

Ascension of the Lord!

First of all, let me wish you all a Happy Ascension of the Lord. Also, wish you a feast of St. Anthony as we anticipate the celebration of St. Anthony. Who is St. Anthony of Padua? He was born into a wealthy family in Lisbon, Portugal. He had all the comforts of life and was a joint Augustinian. Later, upon examining the lives of the Franciscan Martyrs, he decided to join the Franciscan order. Anthony was an excellent preacher and traveled to Morocco to spread God's truth, but became extremely sick and was returned to Portugal. The ship was blown and ended up in Sicily. It was said that he was a cook for a while and was attending an ordination during that period, and no one was prepared to give the homily at the ordination, and Anthony accepted the task. His speech was astounding, and since then, his fame has spread. Anthony emphasized in his sermons about the ‘Crucified Lord.’ Once he wrote: “Christ, who is your life, is hanging before you, so that you look at the cross as in a mirror. There you will be able to know how mortal were your wounds that no medicine other than the Blood of the Son of God could heal… Nowhere other than looking at himself in the mirror of the cross can better understand how much he is worth.” Let us ask the intercession of St. Anthony for our parish, school, and cluster. St. Anthony, pray for us!

On the 7th Sunday of Easter, we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord. During forty days of Easter, Jesus walked with his disciples and prepared them for Pentecost and future mission before his Ascension. Luke gives us two books in the New Testament: the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Luke concludes the Gospel (24:46-53) with the Ascension of the Lord, and the Acts of the Apostles begins with the Ascension of the Lord (1:1-11), which serves as our first reading and Gospel. Acts 1:9 and Mark 16:19 say that the Ascension of the Lord culminates with his heavenly enthronement at the right hand of the Father. The Ascension took place on the Mount of Olives. In the first reading we read, “A cloud took him from their sight.” In the Bible, the cloud represents the divine presence. We can see references in the Book of Exodus 13:21, Isaiah 63:11, and Daniel 7:13. In Acts 7:56, Stephen said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Jesus departed from them, but at the same time, he promised to be with them always, and he pledged his future return. Christ’s kingdom began with his coming, is now present in the Church, and will be fulfilled in the return of Christ in glory. Jesus entrusted the Church to the Apostles and asked them to continue the mission with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The Mass: Over the last two weeks, we have been exploring the Liturgy of the Eucharist. There is much more to ponder. The words of institution spoken by the priest are not taken verbatim from one Gospel but are a synthesis of all four biblical accounts: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and 1 Corinthians. Each Gospel and Paul’s epistle emphasizes slightly different elements: “This is my body…” (Matthew); “Given up for you…” (Luke); “Do this in remembrance of me…” (Paul); “Poured out for many…” (Matthew). The priest then elevates the host and the chalice, showing them to the people, and genuflects in adoration. This action is followed by the proclamation "The Mystery of Faith", inviting the congregation to respond with an acclamation. This acclamation draws from 1 Corinthians 11:26, where Paul says:

“As often as you eat this bread and drink the chalice, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” “The Mystery of Faith” - its biblical origin is in 1 Timothy 3:9, referring to the deacons who must “hold the mystery of faith with a clear conscience.” The bells ringing at the elevation recall Exodus 28, where the high priest wore bells as he entered the Holy of Holies. This parallels the priest's entrance into the sacred mystery at consecration—a moment of divine encounter. The bells serve as both a practical signal and a symbolic echo of the priestly liturgy of the Old Covenant.

There are four Eucharistic prayers to choose from. The Eucharistic Prayer I (Roman Canon) is the longest one and was composed over time by multiple authors, including contributions traditionally attributed to Pope St. Gelasius, St. Leo I, and St. Gregory the Great. Prayers for the Church: Includes prayers for unity, the Pope, the local bishop, and all the faithful. The structure and theme of the Eucharistic Prayer I: Prayers for the Church: Includes prayers for unity, the Pope, the local bishop, and all the faithful; Communion with Saints: Acknowledges the communion of saints, especially Mary, Joseph, and early Church martyrs; Paschal Mystery: Celebrates Christ’s Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension—collectively known as the Paschal Mystery; Sacrificial Language: Repeated references to the offering as a “pure, holy, and spotless victim;” Biblical Allusions: Mentions Abel, Abraham, and Melchizedek, linking the Eucharist to Old Testament sacrificial figures; Heavenly Offering: Prays for the offering to be accepted at the heavenly altar by God’s angel, connecting earthly worship with the divine.

The Second Eucharistic Prayer begins with the preface unique to this prayer, praising the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; moves through the Epiclesis, Institution Narrative, Anamnesis (memorial of Christ's Passion and Resurrection), Intercessions, and concludes with a doxology and the Great Amen. It includes prayers for the Pope, the local bishop, and the dead.

The Eucharistic Prayer III is renowned for its rich liturgical content. Its structure begins with Opening & Epiclesis: “From the rising of the sun to its setting, a pure sacrifice may be offered to your name…”. Institution Narrative & Anamnesis: “Therefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial…”; Anamnesis ("memorial") connects the Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension with the present sacramental reality; the sacrifice is not repeated but made present, drawing worshipers into Christ's eternal offering. Sacrificial Language: “this holy and living sacrifice,” “sacrificial victim,” “oblation of your Church,” “make of us an eternal offering,” Communion with Saints: Lists Mary and Joseph, the Apostles, and Martyrs — though abbreviated compared to the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I), St. Joseph was only added in 2013 by Pope Francis, reflecting his growing prominence in Church devotion. Ecclesial Unity and Eschatological Hope: “Confirm in faith and charity your pilgrim Church on earth…”

The Eucharistic Prayer IV is the most Johannine of all four of the Eucharistic Prayers. The Gospel of John, the three letters of John (First, Second, and Third John), and the Book of Revelation are called Johannine writings. The Johannine theology is very consistently present throughout Eucharistic Prayer IV. In structure, it is Trinitarian, uniquely emphasizing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. A great Emphasis on salvation history narrates the complete account of God's relationship with humanity, from creation and the Fall, through Old Testament covenants, to Christ’s Incarnation, Paschal Mystery, and the sending of the Spirit. It is a combination of ancient and new. It is based in part on the Anaphora of St. Basil (4th century), but significantly expanded and updated. It is created by Fr. Cyprian Vagaggini, a key figure in post-Vatican II liturgical reform. The Eucharistic Prayer IV is the least frequently used of the four major Eucharistic Prayers. It has a fixed preface, so it is only used when no proper preface is prescribed, especially on Sundays in Ordinary Time.

Easter Season prepares us to celebrate the Ascension and Pentecost!

Thu, 22 May 2025 15:43:30 GMT

Easter Season prepares us to celebrate the Ascension and Pentecost!

Easter season prepares us to celebrate the Ascension and Pentecost.

Each season, reading from the Acts of the Apostles gives us a glimpse of the life of the early Church. Today’s first reading (Acts 15:1-2;22-29) tells us about the great internal struggle of the early Church. The book of Leviticus 12:3 says, “On the eighth day, the flesh of the boy’s foreskin shall be circumcised.” One group in the early Church argued that the Gentiles should follow the Mosaic Law and need to be circumcised to become Christian. The Holy Spirit guided the apostles to solve the doctrinal problem about the Gentiles becoming Christians, which shook the very foundation of the Church. The second reading from the book of Revelation (21:10-14;22-23) describes heaven. Early Christians were persecuted. John’s vision gave them hope. We see that the description of heaven is detailed. There were twelve gates, one in each of the four directions, three each. God’s kingdom is open for all. The Gospel reading from John (14:23-29), Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give it to you.” He breathed on them the Holy Spirit. At the Ascension, he told them to remain in Jerusalem until they receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:1). After Pentecost, they embraced the peace Jesus gave them, they understood Jesus’ teaching, and they were ready to go out and proclaim the Gospel. Jesus offered them peace; it was not the absence of struggle; it was inner strength. Jesus promises to his followers that the Holy Spirit will come and instruct them in everything they need to know.

Main Parts of the Eucharistic Prayer

1. Preface – Gives thanks to God and leads into worship with the angels. 2. Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) – The hymn of the angels, sung or said by all. 3. Epiclesis – The calling down of the Holy Spirit upon the gifts. 4. Institution Narrative & Consecration – The priest speaks Jesus’ words from the Last Supper: “This is my Body…This is my Blood…” 5. Anamnesis (Memorial) – We remember and proclaim Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection. 6. Intercessions – Prayers for the Church, the pope, clergy, the faithful (living and dead), and unity. 7. Doxology & Great Amen – A final praise of the Trinity, with the people affirming it all with a resounding Amen.

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer:

Opening Dialogue in the Mass: *The exchange "The Lord be with you" / "And with your spirit" is rooted in Scripture. *"The Lord be with you" comes from Ruth 2:4, where Boaz greets his workers. *"And with your spirit" is based on 2 Timothy 4:22, where Paul addresses Timothy, acknowledging his ordained ministry and the gift of the Spirit received through the laying on of hands. "Lift up your hearts" is also part of the preface dialogue, with biblical roots in Lamentations 3:41, which encourages the faithful to lift their hearts and hands to God.

Lifting Hands in Prayer: *In ancient Judaism, lifting hands was a common posture during prayer. *This external gesture symbolized an internal lifting of the heart to God. *The Catholic Mass reflects this in the priest’s invitation: “Lift up your hearts”, emphasizing intentional, focused prayer.

"Holy, Holy, Holy" in the Mass: *This chant originates from Isaiah 6, where the prophet has a vision of God in the heavenly temple. *In the vision, seraphim (fiery angels closest to God) chant “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts”—a superlative in Hebrew expressing God’s supreme holiness. *"Hosts" refers to the angelic armies, indicating God's lordship over all heavenly beings. *The chant is deeply angelic and liturgical, and its inclusion in the Eucharistic Prayer connects the earthly Mass with heavenly worship. *The term "Sanctus" in Latin maintains the original meaning, even preserving the Hebrew “Sabaoth” as a proper name for God. *Isaiah’s Vision: The prophet Isaiah, upon hearing the angelic hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy," is filled with fear and awe because he is a sinner in the presence of divine holiness. An angel purifies his lips with a burning coal from the altar, symbolizing his cleansing to stand before God. This emphasizes that singing "Holy, Holy, Holy" signifies entering God's heavenly presence, just like Isaiah did. *Heavenly and Earthly Worship: The Sanctus reflects the heavenly hymn of the angels, while the phrase "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" recalls the earthly cry of the crowds welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Matthew 21:9, Psalm 118). Together, these hymns represent both heavenly and earthly praise, uniting the Church on earth with the worship of heaven.

St. Cyprian of Carthage (3rd century) gives a spiritual interpretation of “Lift up your hearts”: *It's a call to attention—to focus, to detach from earthly concerns, and to engage fully with the heavenly reality about to unfold. *The Eucharistic Prayer is not merely a recitation, but an entry into divine mystery, requiring inward preparation and spiritual attentiveness.

St. John Chrysostom (4th century) in the Eastern tradition sees the Sanctus as a cosmic moment: *Heaven and earth sing in unison. *The liturgy unites the Church militant (on earth) and the Church triumphant (in heaven). *A mystical symphony of angels and mortals praising God together. *St. John Chrysostom assumes the Sanctus should be sung, not just recited. While the Church permits both, singing is ideal because it reflects the angelic hymn of heaven, making this moment a mystical union of heaven and earth. Gregorian chant, with its timeless rhythm and lack of time signature, symbolizes the eternal, heavenly nature of the liturgy.

The Commandment of Love!

Thu, 15 May 2025 13:42:44 GMT

The Commandment of Love!

Little Johnny asked his dad, “What is love?” Dad replied, “Love is giving away your life for someone.” Often we sing a beautiful hymn at the Mass, “They’ll know we are Christians by our love.” Next time, when we sing that hymn, give special attention to those words, it is beautiful and profound.

On the fifth Sunday of Easter, we read the Gospel of John 13:31-33a, 34-35, which is part of Jesus’ Last Supper discourse. This passage summarizes his entire body of teaching in the New Commandment: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” In the book of Leviticus 19:18, it is written, “Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your people. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” It teaches us about human love for ourselves and others. In the Gospel, Jesus asked his disciples to love others with his own heart – the heart of Christ.

The second reading is from the book of Revelation. John had a vision of the New Heaven and Earth. It is not entirely new, but wholly renewed. John sees that all creation is transformed and made radiant with the glory of God. In Genesis 3:17 and 18, the world is subjected to death and decay, but in John’s vision of Christ, everything is made new. Isaiah prophesied the new beginning of Israel. Isaiah 65:17 says, “I am creating a new heaven and earth; the former things shall not be remembered nor come to mind.” God is the builder of the heavenly city (Hebrews 11:10). John heard a loud voice saying that God dwells among his people. The saints look forward to a joyous and painless existence with God. The hope that God will dwell among his people (Ezekiel 37:27). John says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away” (Revelation 21:4). It recalls the messianic banquet (Isaiah 25:8).

Jesus, through his passion, death, and resurrection, made us new and gave us a new commandment, “Love one another, as I have loved you.” At the Last Supper before his farewell speech, Jesus washed their feet and instituted the Eucharist and taught a new way of life. He continues to wash our feet at every Eucharistic celebration and shares with us his very life: Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

The Mass- In last week's bulletin, I began the second half of the Mass, which is called the Liturgy of the Eucharist, beginning with the Offertory, which involves the Preparation of the Altar and the Presentation of the Gifts (bread and wine). On Sundays, while the hymn is sung, ushers take a collection. In the Roman Missal order of Mass, paragraph 22 says, “It is desirable that the faithful express their participation by making an offering, bringing forward the bread and wine for the celebration of the Eucharist and perhaps other gifts to relieve the needs of the Church and of the poor.” Offertory is a moment where the whole Church—head and members—participate in Christ’s self-offering, making the Mass a sacrifice as well as a sacrament. The faithful are called not just to receive, but also to offer themselves, making the Mass a full, active, conscious participation in Christ’s redemptive act.

After the Offertory, the Eucharistic prayer, Anaphora, comes, which is the pinnacle of the Mass. The term “Eucharistic Prayer” comes from the Greek “eucharistia” (thanksgiving). It is also called the Canon, from kanon (rule/measure), emphasizing its role as the norm of liturgical prayer, especially once standardized by Pope St. Gregory the Great in the 6th century. The Eucharistic Prayer is rich in Scriptural and Traditional roots and is deeply Trinitarian, offering thanks to the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit. The Eucharistic Prayer begins with the Preface. The preface starts with a dialogue: “The Lord be with you… Lift up your hearts…Let us give thanks…” The entire Eucharistic prayer can be summarized as follows: The Preface, The Sanctus (“Holy, Holy, Holy”), The Institution Narrative (Jesus’ words at the Last Supper: “This is my body… This is my blood”), The Memorial (recalling Christ’s Passion, death, and Resurrection), Intercessions, The Doxology (“Through Him, with Him, and in Him…”), The Great Amen.

The preface varies according to the liturgical season, feast, or special occasion. In the present Roman Missal, there are 50 different prefaces. The Sanctus (Latin), (Holy Holy Holy) immediately follows the preface. This part of the Mass originates from Isaiah 6, where the prophet has a vision of God's heavenly temple and hears the Seraphim (the highest angelic beings, also known as the "burning ones"). The Eucharistic Prayer is described as a tapestry woven with Scripture, especially evident in the Preface and Sanctus, merging both Old and New Testament imagery. In both East and West, the Eucharistic Prayer reflects a mystical union of heaven and earth, of angels and men, of time and eternity. The Mass reenacts both Christ’s heavenly glory and his earthly passion – Mystical Liturgy.

Happy Mother's Day! Good Shepherd Sunday!

Wed, 07 May 2025 15:03:00 GMT

Happy Mother's Day! Good Shepherd Sunday!

Happy Mother’s Day! Good Shepherd Sunday!

There is a beautiful Spanish proverb: "An ounce of mother is better than a pound of clergy." The word “mom” is synonymous with sacrificial love in its purest form as given by Jesus in his farewell speech: "love one another as I have loved you.” Mothers leave a legacy with us. They live in and through us. The month of May is traditionally the month of Mary. Through Mary, the work of Motherhood is glorified and sanctified. On this Mother’s Day, presenting all mothers on the altar, let us sing the beautiful song we sing on the Feast of the Presentation, “Gentle woman, peaceful dove, teach us wisdom, teach us love.”

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is Good Shepherd Sunday, also known as the “World Day of Prayer for Vocations.” Over the last twelve years, Pope Francis has shepherded the Church. As I write this message, we are praying for the new shepherd. The upcoming Conclave will start on Wednesday, May 7, in the Sistine Chapel to elect the 267th Pope. I am hoping that we will have a Pope before this Sunday. Let us pray for the Cardinals and for the future Pope. We may not know who is, but the Holy Spirit already knows who will be the next Pope. On this Good Shepherd Sunday, let us pray for Bishop Powers, all bishops, priests, religious, deacons, and seminarians. We already pray for a vacation. We were reminded of the need to pray for vocations on World Day of Prayer for Vocations.

Every year on the fourth Sunday of Easter, we reflect on the image of Jesus, our eternal good shepherd, who cares for his flock. In the responsorial psalm (100:3), we repeat “We are his people, the sheep of his flock.” In the Gospel, Jesus says, “No one can take them out of my hand” John 10:29. The Israelites were very familiar with shepherding. Jesus said, “My sheep will hear my voice” (John 10:27). They could picture a sheep listening to the shepherd's voice. Jesus is our eternal shepherd who laid down his life for us.

The Mass: During Lent, we were learning the meaning of Mass in depth. Before Holy Week, we reflected on the Liturgy of the Word. The second half of the Mass is called the Liturgy of the Eucharist, beginning with the Offertory, which involves the Preparation of the Altar and the Presentation of the Gifts (bread and wine). This part of the Mass is rich with symbolic actions and prayers that emphasize the sacrificial nature of the Mass, not just its role as a meal. Key actions include setting up the altar (e.g., laying out the corporal, preparing the chalice, placing the missal), and presenting gifts, either by the priest or through a procession by the faithful—a recommended but not required tradition. Additional Offertory signs include mixing water and wine and washing the priest’s hands, signifying purification. Many prayers are said during this time, some aloud and others quietly, depending on whether music is present. These prayers deepen the understanding that the Mass is a Holy Sacrifice.

The Offertory during the Catholic Mass highlights both the spoken prayers and the quiet, "secret" prayers said by the priest over the bread and wine. These include blessings like “Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation…”, with the congregation responding, “Blessed be God forever.” It also covers the priest's quiet, personal prayers, such as “Wash me, O Lord…” and “May our sacrifice be acceptable…”

The text then explores why these rituals matter, emphasizing that they express the sacrificial nature of the Mass, not just as a meal but as a liturgical offering. Dr. Brant Pitre explains the Old Testament connection and the Jewish roots of the Mass. There is both biblical and Jewish traditions, especially the story of Melchizedek in Genesis, who offered bread and wine as a priestly, unbloody sacrifice. Other Old Testament references (e.g., Numbers 15, Leviticus 17) also show the people bringing grain and wine offerings to the priests, reflecting the early Jewish foundations of the Offertory. These were signs of their own offering of themselves to God. The Mass mirrors this: bread and wine aren’t just "items" but stand-ins for our lives, labor, and ultimately, hearts.

Exodus 30 is explicit: the priest must wash hands and feet before offering sacrifice—“lest he die.” In the Mass, the priest’s hand-washing is not just practical, but theological and liturgical. It symbolizes the need for interior purity before standing in God’s presence to offer the Eucharistic sacrifice.

Secret Prayers = Mystical Participation in Scriptural Prayers. Azariah’s prayer (Daniel 3) emphasizes inner contrition and self-offering, a “living sacrifice.” David’s prayer (Psalm 51) is about penitence and cleansing. Together, these prayers reflect the dual attitude required in offering: humble surrender and penitent purity.

The Offertory is a pivotal part of the Mass that highlights its sacrificial nature. Over the centuries, these prayers have been formed and used in their current form. During the Council of Trent, the people’s response was delegated to the altar server, diminishing the laity’s active verbal participation—until it was restored after Vatican II, reflecting its original communal intention.

This prayer emphasizes the dual yet unified sacrifice: that of the priest offering the Eucharist, and the people offering themselves—their work, sufferings, and lives—in union with Christ. This unity is symbolized in ancient rituals like the mingling of water and wine, which early theologians like St. Cyprian interpreted as the union of Christ (wine) and the Church (water). Similarly, Amalar of Metz in the 9th century described these outward signs as reflections of inner spiritual realities, such as purification and heartfelt offering.

Ultimately, the Offertory is not just preparation for Communion but a moment when the whole Church—head and members—participates in Christ’s self-offering, making the Mass a sacrifice as well as a sacrament. The faithful are called not just to receive but also to offer themselves, making the Mass a full, active, conscious participation in Christ’s redemptive act.

3rd Sunday of Easter - Jesus says - Feed my Sheep! Congratulations to all of our First Communicants!

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 15:12:58 GMT

3rd Sunday of Easter - Jesus says - Feed my Sheep! Congratulations to all of our First Communicants!

"Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" When Peter answered “Yes” three times, Jesus said, "Feed, tend, and feed my sheep. Our first Pope Peter was commissioned. As we read this Gospel, we are waiting for a new Pope. Let us pray for all the Cardinals waiting to start the Papal Conclave. The word conclave comes from the Latin cum clave, meaning “with a key.” The cardinals are locked inside the Sistine Chapel to avoid any interference from outside until a new pope is elected. All the communication from the outside world will be cut off. A two-thirds majority is needed to elect a pope. Voting is done secretly and can go up to four rounds a day. If no decision is made, black smoke will come, and white smoke will signal a successful election. Once the new pope chooses a papal name, the senior Cardinal will come to the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and announce, “Habemus Papam” – we have a pope. Let us wait in prayer.

When Peter met Jesus for the first time, Jesus asked Peter and his friends to lower the net for a catch. Peter replied, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command, I will lower the nets.” They caught a number of fish, and when Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus's knees and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8).

Today’s Gospel: Peter told his friends, "I am going fishing." The rest of them went with him. They spent the whole night but caught nothing. At dawn, they saw someone at the shore with fire; he asked them, "Children, have you caught anything to eat?" They answered him, "No." So he said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something." Next, they were working hard to pull the net with all the fish. John said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” Peter tucked his clothes and jumped into the water to be with Jesus. We see a different Peter.

In the Gospel of Luke (22:32-34), after the Last Supper, Peter told Jesus that he was prepared to go to prison and die with Jesus. Jesus replied that Peter will deny Jesus three times before cock crows. After the third denial, Jesus turned and looked at Peter. Their eyes met. What a decisive moment. The gospels say that he wept bitterly (22:54-62).

In today’s Gospel, Jesus makes breakfast at the shore early in the morning and shares it with them. Then Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Peter replied, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus did not ask Peter to prove his love. He just asked him to feed the Lord’s sheep. The rest of Peter’s life would be spent feeding the Lord’s sheep. That morning, the disciples caught one hundred fifty-three fish. It says it was the number of countries that existed in those days. Jesus was commissioning Peter for a great mission.

Today, Jesus asks us the same questions: “Do you love me more than these?” and sends us on a mission: “Feed my lambs.” We all answer this question differently: as priests, religious people, married couples, families, singles, young men, and women. The risen Christ is present on our altar during the Holy Mass to feed us, to share his life with us; he is present in the words of the Holy Scripture; he is there in the sacraments and he is there where two or three are gathered in his name (Matthew 18: 20). At the end of every Mass, we are commissioned and sent out. The priest will say, Go forth, the Mass is ended, Alleluia! Alleluia! And everyone responds, Thanks be to God, Alleluia! Alleluia!

First Communion story: Once, a gentleman was visiting his son. On Sunday, when he went to church, he took his little granddaughter with him. While they were in the church, the little girl was observing everything. Finally, they went to receive communion. Grandpa received communion, and she got a blessing. On the way back to the pew, she asked, “Grandpa, when am I going to get one of those?” Grandpa told her, “I will make sure you receive First Communion in a couple of years.” She kept watching the priest, and Grandpa knelt and prayed. When the priest went to the tabernacle to keep the Blessed Sacrament, she asked grandpa, “What is he doing? Is he putting it in the microwave?”

First of all, I would like to congratulate all of our First Communicants! You are excited to receive the Eucharist, the Body of Christ. Look at the Cross; it tells you how much God loves you. Look at the Easter Candle; it tells you He loves you and wants to be your life's light. Look at the Altar. Just as your parents feed you to be strong physically, God feeds you from the Altar so that you can be strong spiritually. At your Holy Communion, Jesus comes to you. He wants your communion/relationship with him to be holy. He wants your communion/relationship with everybody to be Holy.

The month of May is dedicated to Mary. The Catholic Church proclaims the great nobility of the mother of Jesus and presents her as the supreme model for all mothers. She was born into humble surroundings, she was called by God to be the mother of the Son of God. She affirmed her obedience to the call of God and lived out her vocation throughout her entire life. Mary, the mother of Jesus, our Blessed Mother, is the true model of motherhood. Let us ask her intercession for our First Communicants and families.

Divine Mercy Sunday! Congratulations to our Confirmandi!

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 19:57:09 GMT

Divine Mercy Sunday!

Congratulations to our Confirmandi!

On Easter Sunday evening, I joined via TV for Pope Francis’ Urbi et Orbi message and blessing. “Urbi et orbi” means “To the city [of Rome] and to the world.” Urbiet Orbi is a special apostolic blessing the pope gives yearly on Easter Sunday, Christmas, and other special occasions. When I took the phone on Monday morning, I saw the breaking news about Pope Francis’ passing. I told myself that it was not true and disregarded the news. When I saw it repeatedly, I switched on the TV and realized it was true. One of many prominent messages of Pope Francis was on mercy. We began the Divine Mercy chaplet on Good Friday and celebrated Easter, the culmination of God’s Mercy. In his Urbi et Orbi message on Easter Sunday evening, he stated that the resurrection is the basis of our hope. He said, "Hope is no longer an illusion." He thanked Christ for His crucifixion and resurrection and said, “Hope does not disappoint! (cf. Rom5:5). That hope is not an evasion, but a challenge; it does not delude but empowers us.”

We celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday on the Second Sunday of the Easter season. Pope St. John Paul II declared that the second Sunday of the octave day of Easter should be Divine Mercy Sunday. On the 30th of April 2000, the Second Sunday of Easter, St. Pope John Paul II celebrated the Eucharist in Saint Peter’s Square and proceeded to the canonization of Blessed Sister Faustina. St. Faustina invites us to keep our faith and hope fixed on God, the Father, rich in mercy, who has saved us by the precious blood of His Son. St. John Paul II has a great role in spreading the message of Divine Mercy. In a dream, St. Theresa of Lisieux asked St. Faustina, an apostle of Divine Mercy, to trust in Jesus, and she would be a saint (Diary 150). Later, St. Faustina wrote in her diary 1588, "In the Old Covenant, I sent prophets wielding thunderbolts to My people. Today, I am sending you with my mercy to the people of the whole world. I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My Merciful Heart."

God entrusted St. Faustina a mission: 1) to remind the world of the truth of our faith revealed in Holy Scripture about the merciful love of God towards every human being, even the greatest sinner; 2) conveying new forms of devotion to Divine Mercy; 3) initiating a great movement of devotes and apostles of Divine Mercy who would lead people toward the renewal of Christian life in the spirit of this devotion, means childlike confidence in God and an active love of neighbor.

Pope Francis continued to spread the message of Mercy. On April 24, 2022, on Divine Mercy Sunday, the Pope reflected on the Gospel of John 20:19-31, and highlighted three ways Jesus imparts mercy to His disciples: 1. Peace- Jesus' greeting, "Peace be with you," brings joy and forgiveness beyond the disciples’ fears and failures. The peace transformed the disciple to encounter the risen Christ. 2. Forgiveness- Pope said, “Jesus shows mercy, the Pope said, is by bestowing the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins.” Pope Francis described confession as "the Sacrament of resurrection, pure mercy," emphasizing that it is not about our sins but God's mercy. 3. Comfort in the wound- Pope Francis said, the wounds of Jesus are “open channels between Him and us, shedding mercy upon our misery.” Jesus allowed Thomas to touch his wounds, which the Pope said happens at every Mass, where “Jesus offers us His wounded and risen Body.” Today, Sunday, April 27, at 2:30 pm, our cluster will have a Divine Mercy Sunday service at Immaculate Conception. It includes Adoration, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available. Please come and join. Thank you.

Confirmation: Our young women and men were preparing for a long time to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please come and join them for the confirmation, which is on Wednesday, April 30th, at 6 pm. Apostles received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It was life-changing for them. They received the gift of the Holy Spirit. What are they? There are seven of them: 1. Wisdom, which helps to understand things from God’s point of view; 2. Understanding which allows us to understand the deeper meaning of supernatural truth; 3. Knowledge helps us to appreciate the life God has given: begin to see God’s presence in people, things, and nature, and treat them with proper dignity; 4. Right Judgment or Counsel helps to make the right decision God wants us to make; 5. Reverence or Piety, which allows one to trust God more, strengthens relationships; 6. Courage or Fortitude helps us stand up for what we believe; 7. Fear of the Lord or Awe and Wonder helps stay on the right path to heaven. Fear of the Lord is because I love God and I want to please Him.

Please join me in congratulating our young men and women on their Confirmation. Continue to pray for them, and let us reaffirm our commitment.

Happy and Blessed Easter to everyone!

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 15:06:42 GMT

Happy and Blessed Easter to everyone!

Passion Reading from the Gospel of John. If we look around, we can see that Good Friday is repeated in different forms and shapes. There is so much pain, dehumanization, suffering, and death in the world. Thousands of people were wounded or died in the war zone; people were injured or killed through natural calamities-fire, flood, earthquake, etc. Many people die of starvation or other reasons. In many circumstances, the dignity of life is diminished. Violence and death have become part of our daily lives. Jesus continues to suffer in the sufferings of our brothers and sisters. We may be tempted to say it is the end of everything.

The empty tomb is the sign of Hope. On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary, James' mother, visited the tomb early in the morning (Luke 24:12), and they saw the empty tomb. The empty tomb tells us a story, a story of life. The two men in the tomb said to the women, “He is not here, but he has been raised” (24:6). He has Risen! Alleluia!! I wish you all a Blessed Easter!

It is beautiful to walk through the readings for Easter. The Old Testament readings of the Easter Vigil tell us the covenant history of salvation, beginning with creation and extending to the prophetic promises of a new covenant. The first reading from the Book of Genesis (1:1-2:2), narrates the fundamental doctrine of creation and prepares us for the renewal of Baptismal promises as a new creation. In the second reading from the book of Genesis 22:1-18), Abraham was asked to sacrifice his only son. It is the high point of Abraham’s covenant relationship with God and blessing on his descendants. On Good Friday, Our Heavenly Father allows his only begotten Son to be crucified on Calvary. In the third reading from the book of Exodus, Israelites marched on the dry land through the midst of the sea (14:15-15:1). The parting of the sea is a critical Old Testament type of baptism.

The next two readings are from the book of Isaiah. In the fourth reading, the Lord will, with his enduring love, resume his covenant love for Zion, rebuild it with precious stones, and grant it righteousness and prosperity (54:5-14). This reading shapes believers' minds, especially those receiving Sacraments, about the dual reality of the Church as both Bride and Temple. The fifth reading is an invitation for a meal. The Lord’s thoughts and ways are higher, and His words will not return empty (55:1-11). This passage is associated with the Gospel of Matthew (14:13-21), the account of feeding the five thousand. Ultimately, it leads to the Eucharist. This reading prepares us to reaffirm our faith, particularly those prepared to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time. The next reading is from the book of the prophet Baruch, which talks about wisdom and law (3:9- 15, 32-4:4). It is an invitation to walk towards the splendor of the Lord and live the faith to the fullest. The seventh reading from the Book of Ezekiel talks about the restoration of Israel (36:16-17, 18-28). The Lord will gather the Israelites from exile, cleanse them by sprinkling the clean water, and give them a new heart and a new spirit so they can grow in the law of love. The Sacrament of Baptism is the new cleansing and the Holy Spirit renewing the heart to grow in the law of love.

A couple of years ago, I had the privilege of going on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We made the Way of the Cross to Calvary and visited where Jesus was crucified and buried. We celebrated Mass at the Church of Holy Sepulcher. In the Church of Sepulcher, we can see the place where Jesus was crucified, “Golgotha.” Next to it is a small church within the Church of Sepulcher, which is the empty tomb of Christ—the Church of Resurrection.

Easter Sunday Gospel reading from John (20: 1-9) starts with “On the first day of the week.” The Gospel for Easter Vigil Mass (Luke 24:1-12) starts by saying, “At daybreak on the first day of the week.” Here, Luke and John highlight the connection between Easter and Sunday. Last year, we read from the Gospel of Mark, which says that when the Sabbath was over. In other words, it was Sunday that Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead. In the book of Genesis, chapters one and two give us a creation account. God created everything, and finally, human beings as the crown of creation, and on the seventh day, God rested. We read in Genesis 2:3, “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation.”

The first day of the week recalls the first creation. After the Sabbath, the first day of the week, Christ, through his death and Resurrection, made everything new. God didn’t just come to save us; he came to make all things new—new Creations. Let us rise with him on Easter and become his new creations. He has Risen! Alleluia!! Happy Easter!

“Congratulations” to Michael and Tobias Scharenbrock as they receive the sacraments on Easter Vigil. May the Risen Christ bless them and their families.

Thank you to everyone who helped with Holy Week liturgies: decorators, musicians, readers, greeters, servers, all those who donated the Easter Lilies and plants, all those who actively participated, and the list goes on and on. Thank you!

Holy Week

shajij2002@gmail.com (Fr Shaji Pazhukkathara) — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 20:28:52 GMT

Holy Week

The readings during Lent remind us of God’s Covenant with his people and his mercy. We are entering Holy Week with Palm/Passion Sunday. The days of Holy Week, from Monday through Thursday inclusive, have precedence over all other celebrations.

The Church celebrates today as both Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday. Palm Sunday is when we process with palms into the Church - Jesus' solemn entrance to Jerusalem. Passion Sunday is a Sunday when we read the entire passion narrative from one of the first three Gospels—this year, the Gospel of Luke. Then, we hear it from the Gospel of John on Good Friday again every year.

It is on Palm Sunday that we enter Holy Week. Jesus entered the Holy City of Jerusalem in the midst of thousands of pilgrims who came for the annual feast of Passover (Exodus 12:1-13). Prince Solomon used his father David’s royal donkey for the ceremonial procession on the day of his coronation (1 Kings 1:32-40). Jesus entered the Holy City as a king of peace, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah (21:1-11).

On Holy Thursday, there is a Chrism Mass in Cathedral Churches because it is a solemn observance of Christ's institution of the Eucharist and priesthood. To make the opportunity for most priests and laity to attend this Mass in our Diocese celebrated before the holy week. At this 'Chrism Mass,' the bishop blesses the Oil of Chrism used for Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination, and Anointing of the Sick. On Holy Thursday, we celebrate three things: The institution of the Eucharist, the Institution of the Priesthood, and Jesus' promulgation of the new commandment of Love. "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:3). The original meaning of this feast is celebrating the passing of the angel of death over the Israelites and their escape from Egypt ((Exodus 12:3). In the new Passover, Jesus will pass over to the Father through the upcoming events of his Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension. The Old Testament Passover started in Egypt and ended in Jerusalem – the Holy City. The new Passover started in Jerusalem and, by the resurrection and ascension, ended in heavenly Jerusalem.

The Holy Thursday liturgy in the parish communities is celebrated in the evening because Passover begins at sundown. Washing of the feet takes place in this Mass. In the Old Testament time, it was a gesture of hospitality, normally performed by a household slave. In John chapter 13, Jesus washes the disciples' feet. The foot washing may signify priestly ordination as in the Book of Exodus 40:12. Food brought for the poor will be brought at the offertory. After the Holy Thursday evening Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is carried in solemn procession to the flower-bedecked Altar of Repose, where it will remain 'entombed' until the communion service on Good Friday. And finally, there is the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament by the people after the Holy Thursday Mass, just as the disciples stayed with the Lord during His agony on the Mount of Olives before the betrayal by Judas. No Mass will be celebrated again in the Church until the Easter Vigil proclaims the Resurrection.

On The Holy Thursday institution of Eucharist, Jesus said to his disciples, “This is my body broken for you; this is my blood and shed for you,” we see on Good Friday that sacrifice is completed on the cross. He broke himself for us and fed us. This is also the week when we should lighten the burden of Christ’s passion as daily experienced by the needy people through our corporal and spiritual works of mercy: break and share. Jesus completed the sacrifices on the Cross. The water and blood came from the side of Jesus. In the book of Numbers, the water came out when Moses struck the rock (20:10-13). Paul interprets this rock as Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4), from which flows the spiritual drink of the Eucharist. St. John Chrysostom says, "The water and blood symbolize Baptism and Holy Eucharist. From these two Sacraments the Church is born: from Baptism, the cleansing of water that gives rebirth and renewal through the Holy Spirit, and from the Holy Eucharist." Since the baptism and the Eucharist flowed from his side, it was from his side that Christ fashioned the Church, as he had fashioned Eve from the side of Adam. Holy Week can become "holy” for us only if we actively and consciously take part in the liturgies of this week. Let us meditate on these beautiful liturgies and renew our own faith.

Pope Leo the Great reminds us that Christ's actions—his suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension—are not just historical events but are also present in the sacraments that we celebrate. His words emphasize how the mysteries of Christ's life continue to be made real for us in the Eucharist and other sacraments.

As we enter Holy Week, it's a time for deep reflection on how Christ's sacrifice has transformed our relationship with God. The cross is a central symbol of that transformation, reminding us of Christ's immense love for humanity and the hope of resurrection that we share. On Good Friday, we start nine days of novena for Divine Mercy Sunday. On Good Friday, we see Jesus open his heart on the Cross and pour out his love and mercy for each one of us.

New Life....

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 18:22:14 GMT

New Life....

On the fifth Sunday of Lent in Year A, the central theme is new life. In the first reading, Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones reveals God’s power to transform the Israelites' defeat and destruction into an occasion of renewal and restoration. It also gives hope to the people of the Israelites who died before the new exodus. The Church Fathers saw Ezekiel’s vision, in which the bones coming to life and being covered with flesh could also point to the new life in Christ and the resurrection on the last day.

In the Gospel, the revival of Lazarus is a sign anticipating the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus cries at the tomb of Lazarus. When confronted with death, Jesus reacted the same way you and I react. He cried. Christ does not diminish reality. Then he called Lazarus out of the grave. He did this because he wanted us to know that he was the Lord of Life. In the light of Ezekiel, the raising of Lazarus demonstrates that Jesus is the Lord, as He can raise Israelites from their graves. Similar miracles are recorded in the Synoptic Gospels, such as the raising of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:21-43) and the raising of the widow’s son from Nain (Luke 7:11-17). In the raising of Lazarus, Christ demonstrated not only that He has the power to raise the dead to life but also that He is the Resurrection and the Life.

The Mass: We completed the Introductory Rite and proceeded to the Liturgy of the Word, also known as storytelling. When we gather at a friend’s home for a meal, we always begin with conversation, telling our stories. At Mass, after the rites of gathering (introductory rites), we sit down and listen as readings from the Word of God are proclaimed. They are the stories of God’s people.

Before the Vatican Council II, the cycle was one year, meaning we heard the same reading every year. The Vatican Council II decided to have a three-year cycle. On Sundays, there are three readings and a psalm. Over the course of a three-year cycle, we cover the entire Bible. “…the word of God unceasingly calls to mind and extends the economy of salvation, which achieves its fullest expression in the Liturgy” (Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass).

Liturgy of the Word of God includes the First Reading, Responsorial Psalm, Second Reading, Gospel, Homily, Creed, and Prayers of the Faithful. Most of the time, the first reading will be from the Old Testament and will have a direct connection to the Gospel. During the Easter season, the first reading will be from the Acts of the Apostles. Then, a passage from Psalm, which encouraged to be chanted/sung. The second reading is from one of the writings of the Apostles; most of the time, it comes from the writings of Paul. Then, the Gospel, which means Good News. We read the first year (A) from the Gospel of Matthew, the second year (B) from the Gospel of Mark, and the third year (C) from the Gospel of Luke. We hear from the Gospel of John every single year, especially during the Lent and Easter seasons.

During Mass, we use different postures at different times, and each posture has its meaning. In the Old Testament time, Jews gathered in the Synagogue on Sabbath; they sat and listened to the reading. Jesus went to the Synagogue on the Sabbath. In the Gospel of Luke 4:16-21, we see Jesus in the synagogue on the Sabbath day, reading from the book of Isaiah. Luke says, he stood up and read. After the reading, Jesus did the shortest homily; he said, “Today, this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” We are seated during the first reading, the responsorial Psalm, and the second reading. For the Gospel, we all stand, Gospel acclamation is sung; if the Deacon is present, the priest blesses the deacon; if the deacon is not present, the priest says a prayer and prepares himself to read the Gospel. Roman Missal says, “The reading of the Gospel constitutes the high point of the Liturgy of the Word. The Liturgy itself teaches the great reverence that is to be shown to this reading by setting it off from the other readings with special marks of honor, by the fact of which minister is appointed to proclaim it, and by the blessing or prayer with which he prepares himself; and also by the fact that through their acclamations the faithful acknowledge and confess that Christ is present and is speaking to them and stand as they listen to the reading; and by the mere fact of the marks of reverence that are given to the Book of the Gospels” (paragraph 60). Reading the Gospel is the high point of reading. There could be incense used, candles carried, and the Gospel carried in procession. At the end of the Gospel, the priest/deacon may kiss the Gospel and quietly say, “Through the words of the Gospel, may our sins be wiped away.” Homily follows. Roman Missal says, “...On Sundays and holidays of Obligation, there is to be a Homily at every Mass that is celebrated with the people attending, and it may not be omitted Roman Missal, The Order of Mass, no. 17. 1 1 without a grave reason…” (65). After the homily, the Creed. It could be called Symbol (from Greek, which means summary), the Profession of Faith (believers profess it), or Creed (from Latin, Credo). We bow when we say, “by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man…” It is a summary of our faith. The final part of the Liturgy of the Word is Prayers of the Faithful or Universal Prayer. In this, we pray for the Universal Church, authorities, and salvation of the world, for those who are burdened, and for the local community. After the prayers of the Faithful, we begin the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Rejoice Sunday!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 19:13:31 GMT

Rejoice Sunday!

The fourth Sunday of Lent gives us a review of salvation history. The first reading from the book of 1 Samuel (16:1; 6-7; 10-13) is a pivotal moment in salvation history. Judges governed Israelites. They asked God for a King and gave them Saul, the first king, but he offended God, and the kingship was taken from him. The Lord asked Samuel, the last Judge in Israel, to go to Bethlehem to anoint Jesse’s son, the next king. We read in the Book of Psalms 78:70-71, “He chose David his servant, took him from the sheepfolds. From tending ewes, God brought him to shepherd Jacob, his people, Israel, and his heritage. He shepherded them with a pure heart; with skilled hands, he guided them.” Samuel followed God’s command and anointed David and the Holy Spirit came upon him. This anointing is a type of baptism. We read in the book of Isaiah 1:1-2 “A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots, a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him.”

The Gospel reading also serves as a symbolic catechesis on baptism. Isaiah prophesied, and Jews believed that when Jesus came, he would heal the blind and other diseases. We read in Isaiah 42:7, “To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.”

Jews believed that wherever there is suffering, there is sin. Book of Exodus 20:5: “…inflicting punishment for their ancestors’ wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation.” So, the disciples brought up this question to Jesus. Jesus denies such a cause and tells them it is a providential plan of God. God has a higher purpose in allowing this man to be blind, but it is not the result of his own personal sin. Jesus gave the man who was blind physical sight; it is a sign that Jesus gives spiritual sight to see the world in the light of heaven. Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” Jesus is the source of truth, faith, and life. The Man who received the sight received the light of faith.

Jesus applied the clay mixed with saliva on the man’s eyes and asked him to “go and wash” in the 'Pool of Siloam.’ In the 2nd book of Kings (5:10-14) Elisha commanded Naaman the Syrian to “go and wash” in the Jordan River to be restored to health. The Pool of Siloam was situated in the southern district of ancient Jerusalem, providing a vital water source for the city. Siloam means sent. Jesus told him, “Go and wash.” Sacrament of baptism that our sins are washed away. The Rite of Baptism has many references to the life-giving qualities of water. Here, Jesus is the source of living water. This miracle anticipates the administration of baptism.

As we saw last Sunday, the Samaritan woman, who was initially questioning yet ultimately recognized Christ and received the living water (John 4:7-42), the blind man’s language reflects his growing faith and understanding of Christ's identity. In the early part of this passage, he refers to Jesus as a man; as the passage progresses, he refers to Jesus as a prophet from God, and at the end, he proclaims his faith and worships him.

This Gospel passage is associated with baptism. Just as the blind man went down into the waters of Siloam and came up whole, so also believers who are immersed in the waters of Baptism come up spiritually whole, totally healed of the spiritual blindness with which all of us are born.

Through our Baptism, we are called to be a missionary. As you are aware, we are currently amid the Eucharistic Revival and the Transition to Mission. Our parents and grandparents lived in Christendom, which meant their children received the Sacraments, and everyone attended church and lived their faith. Today, this is not the case. In the United States, the fastest-growing group is NONE. We are shifting from Christendom to an Apostolic mission. Therefore, we need to shift to an Apostolic Mission – we are the missionaries – and actively share our faith, inviting others to join us in celebration. We are a Eucharistic community. Every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, Jesus shares with us His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity for our nourishment, and then we are sent out to proclaim the Good News. As we reflect on these readings, let us pray for those preparing to receive the Sacraments and for one another.

The Mass: As part of our Lenten journey, we were going through the Mass. We completed the Introductory Rite and moved to the Liturgy of the Word or Storytelling. When we gather at a friend’s home for a meal, we always begin with conversation, telling our stories. At Mass, after the rites of gathering, we sit down and listen as readings from the Word of God are proclaimed. They are the stories of God’s people. On Sundays, there are three readings and a psalm. Over a three-year cycle, we cover the entire Bible. “…the word of God unceasingly calls to mind and extends the economy of salvation, which achieves its fullest expression in the Liturgy” (Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass). We will look at this session in detail next Sunday.

Sacrament of New Life------Baptism!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 13:19:34 GMT

Sacrament of New Life----Baptism!

We will be reading year A this Sunday and the coming two Sundays. These coming weeks, we pray and walk with all those preparing to receive Sacraments. The first reading, from Exodus 17, tells us that the Israelites complained about their thirst and gave them from the rock in Horeb. In Deuteronomy 32, in Moses’ song, he calls God the Rock. In First Corinthians (10:4), St. Paul says that the rock is Christ. The spiritual rock followed the Israelites and satisfied their thirst.

In the Gospel of John (4:5-42), Jesus was talking to a Samaritan woman at the well. This well was located on a piece of land that had been bought by Jacob (Genesis 33:18-19) and later given to Joseph (48:22). Samaritans were half Jews, ritually impure, and therefore Jews were forbidden to drink from any vessel used by Samaritans. They didn’t have anything in common. Jesus oversteps the boundaries of Jewish tradition by conversing with a Samaritan woman and asking the Samaritan woman for water.

In the Old Testament, we read stories of meeting future spouses at the well. Isaac meets Rebekah (Genesis 24: 10-67), Jacob meets Rachel at the well of Haran (Genesis 29:1-30), and Moses and Zipporah meet at a well in Midian (Exodus 2:15-21). In the Gospel, Jesus is the divine bridegroom searching for believers to be his covenant bride. Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “Give me a drink.” His thirst was for her soul.

Usually, women would fetch water in the morning or evening when it was not too hot. But she came to fetch water at noon. She may be trying to avoid the crowd. Jesus came to her level to reach out, walk with her, and lead her to faith. Jesus reveals himself as the source of Living Water.

The liturgy uses the symbol of water to refer to our relationship with God. It represents God’s Spirit, which comes to us in Baptism. The water that Jesus promises is closely linked to conversion and the forgiveness of sin. In the second reading, Saint Paul asserts that, as the savior of mankind, Jesus poured the living water of the gift of his Holy Spirit into our hearts. In the Gospel, the Samaritan woman once embraced the faith, Jesus, the living water, becomes a missionary who brings others to Jesus. Once she had a life-changing experience, she couldn’t hold it back for herself.

The Mass: We looked at the Penitential Act, which has three forms: Confiteor (I Confess), brief dialogue or litany, and invocation, and the congregation responds the Lord have mercy, and Christ have mercy. Here we say to God we are sinners and recognize that God is infinite mercy. You might have noticed we didn’t have a penitential act on Ash Wednesday. The reception of ashes is a penitential act. When sprinkling rites occur, especially during Easter Time, it replaces the penitential act.

After acknowledging our sins and God’s infinite mercy, we sing/say, Gloria, the angel's song, and express our joy. We praise God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for the gift of the Incarnation, for the mystery of the Christ who has come as the Son of David and as a Savior. In the Gospel of Luke 2:8-14, the account of announcing the birth of Jesus to the shepherd in the field. Gloria takes us to the song of angels at the birth of Jesus. It is the prayer of praise to God in so many ways for the wonderful things he has done in our lives. We say in this prayer that God is the “Holy One,” we call him Lord, and we ask him to “receive our prayer” and “have mercy on us.” When we sing Gloria, we are entering not only the mystery of Calvary but also the mystery of Christmas. We join with angels to sing and praise God like shepherds. Pope Telesphorus added the Gloria to the Roman liturgy in the 2nd century AD. But it was sung only on special occasions like Christmas. In the 5th century, Pope St. Symmachus decreed that Gloria would be sung on Sundays or other occasions. During Advent, Lent, and weekdays, we don’t say Gloria.

The introductory rite concludes with Collect. The word collect comes from Latin roots, meaning “to bring together.” It is an important prayer of the introductory rite. The purpose of this prayer is to bring our scattered thoughts and minds together to this sacred place/assembly. Priest offers them to the Father in a petition through the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit. This prayer will lead us to the core message of that day of Mass. The priest will say, “Let us pray.” At this point, all will join the priest for a moment of silence, then with extended hands. The priest says the collect, and everyone responds to this prayer by saying Amen. The extended hand is a visible gesture of offering a prayer to God.

Collect is ancient and is associated with Pope St. Leo the Great, who was the 5th-century Pope. Pope St. Paul VI restored some of the ancient prayers from the ancient Roman Collects after the Vatican Council II. In the Old Testament, we can see something similar to the collection in the Mass. King David was king and a priest at the same time. In the book of Psalm 141:1-2: “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice!” In 1 King chapter 8, Solomon says a prayer for the dedication of the Temple.

The New Exodus!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 16:22:07 GMT

The New Exodus!

On the second Sunday of Lent, we hear from the Gospel of Luke, the Transfiguration story: Jesus, Peter, John, and James go up a mountain to pray. Jesus’ face changes, his clothes become dazzling white, and Moses and Elijah appear. What do they talk about? They talk about the New Exodus. We know that in the first Exodus, Moses led the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land and finally built the city of Jerusalem.

Today’s Gospel passage, we see Jesus was conversing with Moses and Elijah. They talked about Jesus' New Exodus. At the first exodus there was lamb shed blood. In the new exodus Jesus is the new lamb who is going to shed the blood for the entire humanity. The old exodus started from Egypt, traveled through the wilderness for forty years and reached the earthly Promised Land, and finally built Jerusalem. In the new exodus Jesus came to Jerusalem to begin a new exodus to lead us to heavenly Promised Land, the New Jerusalem; heaven. His exodus is passion, death, resurrection and ascension. It is the greater exodus.

At the transfiguration, Jesus revealed His glory. Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents…” Peter loved that mountaintop experience and loved to remain there, but they had to go down for the new exodus. Jesus shows his glory at the transfiguration, but the transfiguration points us to the Cross, the Sacrifice, death, resurrection, and ascension.

Every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, it is our opportunity to participate in Jesus’ new exodus, his passion, death, resurrection, and ascension. Every time we kneel in front of the Blessed Sacrament, we have the excellent opportunity to adore and praise him. We need to ask whether I use the opportunity to prepare and celebrate Eucharist? Do I use the opportunity to spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament? We are taking time in this Lent to reflect on the Mass so that we can celebrate in a more meaningful way.

The Mass: Mass is a mystery, a meal, sacrifice, sacred ritual, celebration of the Last Supper, and Eucharist-thanksgiving. There is an order for Mass. There are so many ways to explain the order. Mainly we can say: 1) interlocutory rite or gathering: bring us together into one body, ready to listen and to break bread together. 2) liturgy of the Word or storytelling: we listen to the stories of God’s people. 3) liturgy of the Eucharist, meal sharing or Canon of the Mass: the core of the Mass. We recall the memorial Jesus left for us. And 4) concluding rites or commissioning: we are sent out to live the Eucharistic life into our daily life.

Introductory Rite: The first part of the introductory Rite is “Entrance Procession.” The Roman Missal (Order of Mass, no. 1) says, “When the people are gathered, the Priest approaches the altar with the ministers while the Entrance Chant (Latin introit) is sung. When he has arrived at the altar, after making a profound bow with the ministers, the Priest venerates the altar with a kiss and, if appropriate, incenses the cross and the altar. Then, with the ministers, he goes to the chair.”

When the Entrance Procession begins, everyone stands up. In Exodus 33:8 “Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose up, and every man stood at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he had gone into the tent.” Standing is the traditional posture of the Christian at prayer: It expresses our attentiveness to the word of God and our readiness to carry it out. We begin by singing together. The entrance chant reflects the theme of the Mass, it also reflects the Liturgical season. What better way to gather than to unite our thoughts and voices in common words, rhythm and melody. The color of the vestment reflects the season and theme of the Mass. In Solemn Mass, during the Entrance Chant the priest may incense the Altar. Normally, the server carries the Cross and leads the procession. Candles can be carried in the procession.

Throughout the Mass we pray from the Scripture. When the Entrance Chant is concluded, the Priest invites the faithful to sign with the sign of the Cross. In the Gospel of Matthew 28:19 Jesus commissioned his disciples before the ascension and said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” We begin the Mass by using the words of Jesus from the Great Commission. The priest's greeting comes from 2 Corinthians 13:14, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship (communion) of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

Penitential Rite: The penitential act brings out different aspects of reconciliation: personal shortcomings against God and other people, God’s forgiveness, and the communal aspects of sin. We admit our unworthiness and ask him to bless us with forgiveness. In the Roman Missal there are three different forms and the priest chooses one of the forms for the Mass and invites the faithful to prepare for the sacred mysteries. At the end, the priest will give absolution by saying: “May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.” If we commit mortal sin, we need to go for Confession. In the Gospel of Luke 15:11-20, we read the story of the prodigal son. When the prodigal son comes back, he says to the father, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.” Luke 18, we read that a Pharisee and a tax collector came to the temple to pray, and the tax collector said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”

First Sunday of Lent--Safe Haven Sunday!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 19:04:33 GMT

First Sunday of Lent--Safe Haven Sunday!

God created everything and “Saw that it was good” (Genesis 1). God created Mankind, blessed them, and gave them dominion over all creatures (Genesis 1:27&28). The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “Basic scientific research, as well as applied research, is a significant expression of man's dominion over creation. Science and technology are precious resources when placed at the service of man and promote his integral development for the benefit of all. By themselves, however, they cannot disclose the meaning of existence and of human progress. Science and technology are ordered to man, from whom they take their origin and development; hence they find in the person and in his moral values both evidence of their purpose and awareness of their limits.” One of many inventions of humanity is the internet, which revolutionized the computer and communication world. Today our everyday life is so dependent on the internet, but we have to be conscious of the dark side of it.

On the first Sunday of Lent, we are celebrating our first annual Safe Haven Sunday, which is themed Equipping the Family, Safeguarding Children. Every year, we celebrate this awareness weekend in our diocese. The Internet provides us with lots of opportunities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we explored using it a lot more. Safe Sunday is to remind us there is a dark side of it that could destroy our life and the life of others. What are they? There are numerous dark sides, but we focus on pornography. In 2015, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released a pastoral letter, in response to this crisis, called “Create in Me a Clean Heart.” We gave our religious education families a copy of the book Confident: Helping parents navigate online exposure. Those who want a copy of this book are available at the entrances. This book is published by Covenant Eyes, an organization that provides software to help provide protection and accountability for those who use technology. We cannot avoid the internet, but we can train our children and ourselves to use it wisely. The Lenten season invites us to discover our true self. What are the obstacles in our life in discovering our true self?

Reading: Every year, the first Sunday of Lent invites us to reflect on The Temptation of Jesus. Jesus goes into the wilderness to rescue man from his exile in sin. In the book of Genesis, satan tempted the first Adam amid the beasts in paradise, and he failed. But even though satan tempted the new Adam, Jesus, among the wild beasts, he won. In the new exodus, Jesus was being led by the Spirit into the wilderness and tested for forty days. In the old exodus, the Israelites spent forty years in the desert and were tested. The presence of ministering angels to sustain Jesus in the new exodus, recalls the angel who guided the Israelites in the desert in the first Exodus. We read in the book of Exodus 23:20, “See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared.” The first Adam’s fall brought death and alienation. The new Adam, Jesus, through His filial love for the Father brought forth the new Israel of God. Jesus began the campaign against demons, death, and diseases in the desert, and continues through his proclamation of the Gospel. Jesus trained his disciples on how to overcome the devil. He offered on the Cross for our offenses and led us to new freedom. God led the Israelites from the slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land. In the new exodus, Jesus, the new Moses, leads us from slavery to sin to life.

I am sure everyone experiences every time you renew our Baptismal promise and try to live it, the tempter attacks more aggressively than before. Jesus assures us on this Lent that the victory is ours through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We would increase our prayer to grow in the virtue of humility, intensify our giving of alms to detach from the possessions, fast to overcome attachments, and recognize our own poverty.

The Mass: As we continue the Maintenance to Mission and Eucharistic Revival, it is appropriate and beneficial to understand the meaning of Mass. As Catholics, all of us know what to do, what to say, when to stand, when to sit, when to kneel and so on. But we often don't know why we do it or what the deeper meaning of these rites and rituals, postures, ceremonies, and formulas of the Mass actually point to. So during Lent we are going to learn/relearn the Mass.

Eucharist is the Sacrament of the Sacraments. The Catechism of the Catholic Church 1322 says, “The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." Most of the Sacraments take place in the Sacrament of Eucharist. Mass is Jesus' passion, death, and resurrection. In other words, it is Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. It is a meal, sacrifice, sacred ritual, celebration of the Last Supper, Eucharist, and Mass.

Mass is a mystery. Mass itself says there is a mysterious aspect in the Mass. There is an invisible reality behind the visible signs and symbols, rites, and words of the Liturgy. At the beginning of the Mass, the priest invites everyone to prepare to celebrate the sacred mysteries. While the priest pours water into the wine during the offertory, he quietly says, "By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity." Then, after the Consecration, the priest sings, most of the time, “The mystery of faith.” And everyone sing the response. It is a solemn one, so we sing.

The overall structure of the Mass follows: 1) interlocutory rite or gathering: bring us together into one body, ready to listen and to break bread together. 2) liturgy of the Word or storytelling: we listen to the stories of God’s people. 3) liturgy of the Eucharist, meal sharing or Canon of the Mass: the core of the Mass. We recall the memorial Jesus left for us. And 4) concluding rites or commissioning: we are sent out to live the Eucharistic life into our daily life.

During Lent, we will learn and relearn the Mass.

Lent---an invitation to open our hearts to God's grace!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 21:09:57 GMT

Lent---an invitation to open our hearts to God's grace!

Lent is forty days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday. The season of Lent is a season of preparation to celebrate the Lord’s resurrection at Easter. It is a time of renewal of faith and faithfully following his footsteps. Pope Francis began his 2025 Lenten message with these words: “We begin our annual pilgrimage of Lent in faith and hope with the penitential rite of the imposition of ashes. The Church, our mother and teacher, invites us to open our hearts to God’s grace, so that we can celebrate with great joy the paschal victory of Christ the Lord over sin and death, which led Saint Paul to exclaim: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor15:54-55).

Ash Wednesday is the Church’s ‘Day of Atonement’. It is not only the first of the forty days of Lent, but along with Good Friday, the Church describes it as a day of complete fasting and abstinence from meat for Catholics from the age of 18 to 59, meaning only one full meal and two smaller meals not equal to a full meal are permitted. Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence from meat. These are not just a rule for the season of Lent but a means to grow in our relationship with God and others, so as the Pope said, “We can celebrate with great joy the paschal victory of Christ the Lord over sin and death.”

In his Lenten message, Pope Francis invites us to reflect on three points. He says, “First of all, to journey.” Then, he reminds us about the first exodus from slavery to freedom. Then he gives us these questions: “Am I really on a journey, or am I standing still, not moving, either immobilized by fear and hopelessness or reluctant to move out of my comfort zone? Am I seeking ways to leave behind the occasions of sin and situations that degrade my dignity?” Then he says, “Second, to journey together” – an invitation to walk together – a synodal journey. His final point is, “Third, let us journey together in hope, for we have been given a promise. May the hope that does not disappoint(cf.Rom5:5), the central message of the Jubilee, be the focus of our Lenten journey towards the victory of Easter.” He says it is a call to conversion. Then he asks us a couple of questions: “Am I convinced that the Lord forgives my sins? Or do I act as if I can save myself? Do I long for salvation and call upon God’s help to attain it? Do I concretely experience the hope that enables me to interpret the events of history and inspires in me a commitment to justice and fraternity, to care for our common home and in such a way that no one feels excluded?”

The readings for Ash Wednesday remind us of the spiritual nature of the Lenten season. The first reading is from the book of Prophet Joel. The message of the book of Joel can be summoned up as a call to repentance in the face of coming judgment, which the prophet refers to as “the day of the Lord.” He insists in the reading that we should experience a complete conversion of heart and not simply sorrow for our sins. In the book of Leviticus 16:30, we read, “For on this day atonement is made for you to make you clean; of all your sins you will be cleansed before the LORD.”

Today’s Gospel instructs us to embrace the true spirit of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. This passage is part of the Sermon on the Mount, which begins in chapter 5 and ends in chapter 7. In this Gospel reading, the sermon continues with a warning against doing good to be seen and gives three examples: almsgiving (Mt 6:2–4), prayer (Mt 6:5–15), and fasting (Mt 6:16–18).

Forty days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are a way to remove the obstacles to loving God and others. They are also a time to experience the spirit of poverty and come closer to those in need. Lent is a time to die so we can rise with Christ at Easter with a renewed spirit of life.

What can I do this Lent? A simple suggestion: 1. Take a few minutes for daily prayer (please include praying on our prayer card, which is a prayer for our cluster community). 2. Find time to attend Mass every Sunday. And if you go every Sunday, try to find time for weekday Mass at least once or twice. Or go for the Stations of the Cross. 3. Pray for one or two of your friends/families each week and invite them for the weekend Mass and come with them for Mass. The evangelization team is preparing a lot more opportunities, like book study, retreat, prayer cards, etc, to make this Lenten season meaningful.

Once again, I will be posting a weekly Lenten message on YouTube and my Facebook page. Lenten book study, stations of the cross, retreat, etc., are wonderful opportunities to invite friends who do not regularly go to Mass or even non-Catholic friends. Evangelization starts with prayer, which leads to a personal invitation.

Invitation to school of Love!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:57:22 GMT

Invitation to school of Love!

The seventh Sunday reading invites us to reflect on Christian Love. Do we make choices on a daily basis out of love? In the first reading from the first book of Samuel (26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23)narrates David’s love and respect for God’s authority. Israelites compared themselves to neighboring kingdoms and wished for a king. They approached Samuel, the last Judge, to ask God for a king, and God gave them Saul as their first king. We know the story of David and Goliath. David defeated Goliath and gained the people's admiration and King Saul's jealousy. Saul and his “three thousand picked men” went to kill David. But David and Abishai saw Saul and the soldiers asleep. Abishai whispered to David: “God has delivered your enemy into your grasp this day.” David said to Abishai, “Do not harm him, for who can lay hands on the LORD’s anointed and remain unpunished?” This passage is parallel to chapter 24, David’s first opportunity to kill Saul. David had cut off Soul’s skirt, then he repented and said, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Lord’s anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is Lord’s anointed” (24:6). Both times David didn’t want to kill Saul because God anointed him as King of Israel. David is an image of Christ, a great example of loving and forgiving his enemy. David’s love for God led him to make the right choice.

The first reading leads us to Jesus' teaching in the Gospel of Luke (6:27-38) to love your enemies. It is a continuation of last Sunday’s Sermon on the Plain (Beatitudes), which is the perfect direction to follow the Ten Commandments. There are three different words for love in Greek – Philia is an affectionate love or friendship; Eros is an affectionate desire; and Agape is an unconditional/sacrificial love. Jesus taught us to love our enemies, and from the cross, he prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

In the Old Testament, we see retaliation: “Eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (Exodus 21:24); “Anyone who inflicts a permanent injury on his or her neighbor shall receive the same in return” (Leviticus 24:19); “Do not show pity. Life for life, eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” Deuteronomy 9:21. Jesus tells us, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27). St. Thomas Aquinas wrote that love consists in two desires: one, a desire for the good, for the beloved person; and two, a desire for union with that person. Jesus invites us to desire the good of the other – LOVE and grow in our relationship with God.

Maintenance To Mission update: We have been talking about Maintenance to Mission for the last couple of years. Bishop started this process in 2020 with the creation of the Office of Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship. The first year was for the priests, and the second year was for priests, Deacons, and then the parish/cluster leadership team. At the same time, we organized an Evangelization Team. They went to a workshop and participated in different events. In 2023, the Bishop's Pastoral letter, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you,” opened for the entire parish/cluster/diocese. In the letter, the Bishop talks about Christendom and the Apostolic Mission. During Christendom, all who were born into Christian families received Baptism and other Sacraments. They all went together for Sunday Mass. In Apostolic Mission – as we read in the New Testament – there were no Christians on the day of Pentecost – they went out and proclaimed the Gospel. On the first day, 3000 people received the faith. We are slowly moving through that period. These days, even though children are born in a Christian family, it is not necessary for everyone to receive baptism. Everyone who received Sacraments does not go to Church. So, the Bishop is inviting us to live our baptismal call – sharing the faith, encouraging others to grow in faith, and inviting them to celebrate with us. The Bishop quotes Pope St. Paul VI and says, “The Church exists in order to evangelize.”

You might have read in the Catholic Herald from February 13, 2025 – about the release of a new plan on February 18. I was present at the February 18th meeting and discussion about the new plan. The next step is parish training, which will occur regarding parish planning and re-calibration in light of the mission. Before that, the evangelization team will have a workshop. You will be getting more information on the new plan. The new plan is not totally new, but most of the existing mission is focused on doing things in a renewed spirit. Catholic Herald will be a good source for more information. If you are not getting it, there will always be one at the entrance with extra copies. We will have more information coming in the bulletin. The evangelization team will be taking different steps. Please come and participate in those events and invite others. As part of the Eucharistic Revival Years, we talked about the idea of “Walk with One.” It is evangelization. It starts with prayer, befriending, and inviting. The final stage of the Maintenance to the Mission will be Parish Goal setting and Plans. When we hear the final stage, we think it is over. It is just the opposite – it is the starting point. Evangelization is an ongoing process. We need to remind ourselves every day that it is our baptismal call. We need to renew that every Sunday we gather for the Mass. As I always say, we are sent out to live out the mission at the end of every Mass.

The Beatitudes!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:05:18 GMT

The Beatitudes!

Today’s readings teach us that true happiness, or beatitude, lies in God first and placing everything else second. The first reading from the book of Jeremiah (17:5-8) tells us that true beatitude consists in placing our trust in God and in putting our trust in His promises. Here we see a contrast between the wickedness of Judah “like a barren bush in the desert that enjoys no change of season” (17:6) and the happiness of one who trusts in the Lord, is “like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream” (17:8). The responsorial psalm (1) affirm that blessedness is rooted in trusting in the Lord. Psalm says, “He is like a tree planted near streams of water, that yields its fruit in season; Its leaves never wither; whatever he does prospers” (Ps 1:3). Catechism of the Catholic Church #150 says, “Faith is first of all a personal adherence of man to God. At the same time, and inseparably, it is a free assent to the whole truth that God has revealed. As personal adherence to God and assent to his truth, Christian faith differs from our faith in any human person. It is right and just to entrust oneself wholly to God and to believe absolutely what he says. It would be futile and false to place such faith in a creature.”

In the second reading, St. Paul (1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20) warns those who don’t believe in resurrection. He says, “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (15:20). So Christ’s resurrection is the reason for our assurance of reaching heaven for an everlasting life of happiness.

In the Gospel of Luke (6:20-26) presents the “Beatitudes.” We are more familiar with Matthew’s version. The main difference between Matthew and Luke is that they are about a sermon on the mount vs. a sermon on the plain. Matthew says the sermon on the mount, and Luke’s version is the sermon on the plain. Still, it could be on the mountain, but somewhere, it is a flat area.

Matthew’s gospel has 8 Beatitudes, which are happiness in the new covenant to disciples of Jesus. whereas Luke has only four Beatitudes and four Woes. Woes are warnings that tell that those who excess in earthly pleasure may experience a temporary joy but ultimately find life empty. St. Ambrose saw in the four Beatitudes of Luke the four cardinal virtues of temperance, justice, prudence, and fortitude.

Jesus instructs his disciples in the paradoxical blessedness of poverty, hunger, sorrow, and persecution because they contradict our natural expectations in every way. Matthew says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” whereas Luke says, “Blessed are you poor.” Matthew’s gospel, the Beatitudes, is formulated in the third person, whereas, in Luke’s account, it’s second person. Another difference is Matthew says ‘poor in spirit,’ whereas Luke says just ‘poor.’ Matthew focuses on the interior aspect, whereas Luke focuses on the social aspect. Catechism of the Catholic Church 2444 says, “The Church's love for the poor . . . is a part of her constant tradition." This love is inspired by the Gospel of the Beatitudes, of the poverty of Jesus, and of his concern for the poor. Love for the poor is even one of the motives for the duty of working to "be able to give to those in need."

If the poor, the hungry, the sorrowful, and the hated are all blessed, then why should anyone attempt to help them improve their lot? The answer is that there is a difference between choosing poverty and being plunged into it without one’s choice due to an unjust socio-political situation. Millions are starving, persecuted, homeless, and leading hopeless lives. The only way the promises of the Beatitudes can become a reality for them is through our effort. Blessed Mother Teresa and her Sisters have accepted this challenge and demonstrated that we can “live the beatitudes” in the modern world. Hence, let us remember that each time we reach out to help the needy, the sick, and the oppressed, we share a foretaste of the promises of the beatitudes here and now.

Recently, Pope, United States Bishops, and Wisconsin Catholic Bishops published letters on immigration. Wisconsin Bishops quotes the Gospel of Matthew 25:35,40 and says, “The Catholic Church’s position on immigration is based in the Gospel. Our Lord Jesus Christ insisted that when we welcome the stranger, we welcome Him.” It is about living the beatitude.

Every Mass is the expression of beatitudes. Jesus came to be with us and gave us Eucharist, his very life. Then he sends us out to live those gifts in our daily surroundings. We may not wipe out poverty from the entire world, but we can make a difference through our efforts. Let us ask God to bless us in the celebration of the Eucharist so that we can live the beatitudes.

Transformation of Discipleship!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:17:02 GMT

Transformation of Discipleship!

The 5th Sunday readings invite us to reflect on our baptismal call. The first reading from the book of Isaiah (6: 1-2a;3-8) describes his call from God to be a prophet. He lived around 725 years before Christ. While he was in the Jerusalem Temple, he had a vision of God seated on a throne surrounded by angelic beings who proclaimed the glory of God. In the first book of Kings (6:23), we read the building of the Jerusalem Temple. A high and lofty throne within the holy of holies of the Jerusalem Temple stood two cherubim, or winged sphinxes, whose outstretched wings served as the divine throne. They sang Holy, holy, holy… this verse comprises part of the familiar Sanctus, which is prayed at Mass at the beginning of the Eucharistic prayer. St. John Chrysostom says that initially, this hymn was sung only in heaven, but when the Lord came to earth, he brought this music to us. When the high priest stands at his holy table, offering spiritual worship and performing the unbloody sacrifice, he urges all to sing this majestic chant and lift our thoughts from earth to heaven.

During the vision of God’s perfection, Isaiah was aware of his unworthiness and sinfulness. Isaiah said, “Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” Then, a seraph purifies his lips with a coal from the heavenly altar. After the purification, Isaiah volunteered to answer the divine call and said, “Here am I! Send me!” Isaiah was called to bring the people of Israel and Judah to trust the Lord. In those days, the chosen people cooperated with neighboring kingdoms for their security instead of trusting in the Lord. Isaiah asked the people to trust in the Lord.

The Gospel story (Luke 5:1-11) occurred at the Lake of Gennesaret, another name for the Sea of Galilee. When Jesus asked Simon to lower the net, he said, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command, I will lower the nets." Luke presents the miraculous fish catch through which Jesus manifested the divine power. Simon Peter’s response was similar to Isaiah's: "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." Look at Jesus; he didn’t respond to it; he told him, "Do not be afraid; from now on, you will be catching men." It is the call of the first three disciples. Look at the science, they left everything and followed him.

Isaiah and Peter recognized their unworthiness, and God made them worthy. After purification, Isaiah took the mission and led the chosen people. Peter proclaimed the faith and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 26:72). The Gospel of John (21:1-11) presents another miraculous catch after the resurrection. Both times, Peter lowered the net and had a great catch, but the response was different. The first time Peter said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8), and the second time, when John said, “It is the Lord,” Peter jumped into the sea. He was anxious to get faster to the Lord. The transformation of the discipleship.

What does our discipleship look like? What is our story? Catechism of the Catholic Church 850 says, “The Lord's missionary mandate is ultimately grounded in the eternal love of the Most Holy Trinity: "The Church on earth is by her nature missionary since, according to the plan of the Father, she has as her origin the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit." The ultimate purpose of the mission is none other than to make men share in the communion between the Father and the Son in their Spirit of love.”

There are three steps in evangelization: 1. Pre-Evangelization: The first step is inviting our friends to come to our church; it is not necessary to go directly to faith. It could be social events. 2. Evangelization-it is directly faith-based. Inviting friends and family to learn faith. It could be RCIA, prayer group, or celebration of the Eucharist. It is an invitation to respond by deciding to follow Jesus. 3. Discipleship and 4. Apostolate – we are in this area – discipleship is Christian life, and Apostolate – growing in discipleship carries out the mission of the Church in our sphere of influence.

Every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, God gives us nourishment through His Word, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. At the end of Mass, we are sent out to proclaim the Good News. Once God called Isaiah, Jesus chose his disciples, and today, He asks each one of us with the same message. New Evangelization invites us to relearn our faith, renew our relationship with Christ and His Church, and share with others.

The Presentation of the Lord!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 19:38:58 GMT

The Presentation of the Lord!

February 2nd, we celebrate the presentation of the Lord! On the eighth day after Christmas, the circumcision took place. Forty days after Christmas, on February 2nd, we celebrate the feast of The Presentation of the Lord! This year it falls on Sunday. The Feast of presentation of the Lord is observed as World Day of Consecrated Life. The religious men and women did great work for the church and the world. We know from our experience with Sisters of Francis, Precious Blood Fathers, or Benedictine Fathers. Their dedication made a difference in St. Anthony Catholic School and Parish, Immaculate Conception, and St. Francis parishes. So this celebration reminds us to pray for them and for all the religious and, at the same time, pray for vocation. Another name for the feast is Candlemas, the Mass of Candles, because there is a custom of a solemn blessing of candles that symbolizes the light of the world coming into the temple and into the world through Christ.

Why do we celebrate this feast? To understand this feast, we need to know some Jewish laws. In the book of Exodus, chapter 13:2 says, “Consecrate to me every firstborn; whatever opens the womb among the Israelites, whether of human being or beast, belongs to me.” Then Exodus 13:14, Moses says, “When your son asks you later on, ‘What does this mean?’ you will tell him, ‘With a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of a house of slavery.” In Leviticus 12:6, the Lord says to Moses, “When the days of her purification for a son or a daughter are fulfilled, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a yearling lamb for a burnt offering and a pigeon or a turtledove for a purification offering.”

The first reading from the book of Malachi (3:1-4) says the sudden coming of the messenger of the Lord. The Lord will arrive at the temple to purify the temple and all those who serve there. In 1 Kings chapter 8, Solomon builds the temple, and the great glory cloud comes down into the temple as a sign of God’s presence. Babylonians destroyed the Temple of Solomon. After the Babylonian exile, they rebuilt the temple. But the glory cloud was not returned. It was a symbol of God’s presence.

In the Gospel of Luke (2:22-40), we see the fulfillment of the Old Testament. According to the law, Mary and Joseph offer sacrifices for the purification of Mary and the presentation of baby Jesus. Mary and Joseph could not afford the customary offering of a lamb, so she gave two pigeons instead as an offering to the poor. Like all godly parents, Mary and Joseph raised their sons in the fear and wisdom of God. He, in turn, was obedient to them and grew in wisdom and grace.

As said in Isaiah 40:9, the Good News is that God is coming to forgive His people’s sins and to set them free. In the temple, Simeon waits to see salvation. He’s waiting for the consolation of Israel, but he’s waiting for the coming of God to do it. Every day, during the night prayer, Simeon’s words are recited. In Latin, it’s known as the Nunc Dimittis, which means “now allow”— Simeon says allow your servant to depart in peace.

The Danish Philosopher Kierkegaard said that a saint is someone whose life is about one thing. That means the whole being is to serve God. Jesus was brought to the temple to purify the temple, and everyone serves there. He came to this world to purify all of us who receive him. He followed the law of Moses; he identified as one among all except sin. He brought us salvation through his passion, death, and resurrection. Every time we celebrate Eucharist, he shares His Word and Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity with us and remains with us – the temple of the Holy Spirit. The light of the world is coming to us. As we celebrate the Candlemass, let us ask him to bless us and remain with every moment of our life so we can serve him with our undivided minds and hearts.

The Sunday of the Word of God!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 17:35:31 GMT

The Sunday of the Word of God!

On September 30, 2019, on the Feast of St. Jerome, Pope Francis declared the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time as Sunday of the Word of God. On this day he published an Apostolic Letter, Motu Proprio "Aperuit illis" which also marks the 1600 death anniversary of St. Jerome, who translated the Bible into Latin. St. Jerome said: "Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ." The Sunday of the Word of God is dedicated to the celebration, study, and dissemination of the Word of God. The Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verbum solemnly promulgated by Pope Paul VI on November 18, 1965. Pope Francis says that Dei Verbum makes clear that “the words of God, expressed in human language, are in every way like human speech, just as the Word of the eternal Father, in taking upon himself the weak flesh of human beings, also took on their likeness” (No. 13).

As we celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God, the readings are about the importance and the power of the Word of God. The first reading from the book of Nehemiah (8:2-4a;5-6;8-10), Ezra reads from the book of the Law of God – covenant renewal at the feast of Tabernacle after the completion of the walls. A public reading of the Law was called in the Book of Deuteronomy (31:9-13) during every sabbatical year to make Judeans mindful of the law as well as to reestablish its full observance. The book of Ezra and Nehemiah have been merged to some degree and chapter 8 includes one of the Ezra memories. King Cyrus of Persia liberates Israelite, who were in Babylonian exile for seventy years. Then they rebuilt the ruined Temple (Ezra 6:15-17), finished rebuilding the walls under Ezra, the priest and Nehemiah, the governor. Ezra came to the WaterGate and proclaimed the Word of God and led the people in the covenant renewal and gave the instruction to the people.

The Mosaic Law of the Old Covenant is the first stage of revealed law. Its moral prescriptions are summed up in the Ten Commandments (CCC1980). The fullness of Divine Revelation through the New Covenant in Christ. In the Gospel (Luke 4:14-21), Jesus reads from the book of Isaiah in the synagogue and Christ, the anointed one, said, Jesus will lead people into the definitive covenant renewal.

Jesus came to the synagogue according to their custom and stood up to read. The Gospel reading tells us that reading the Scripture and interpreting was common practice among the Jews. Jesus read the Isaiah’s prophecy about himself, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Then he said, "Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing" (21). This short sermon inaugurates the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy. Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection are the fulfillment of the Scripture. In the Gospel of Luke 25:27 reads, “Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures.”

We are in Eucharistic Revival and Maintenance to Mission Years. In Bishop Powers Pastoral Letter on Evangelization, he quotes Pope St. John Paul II, “I sense that the moment has come to commit all the Church’s energies to a new evangelization…No believer in Christ, no institution of the Church can avoid this supreme duty: to proclaim Christ to all people.”

Today, we have thousands and thousands of missionaries proclaiming the “Word of God” around the world. We are the missionaries sent out in our neighborhood. Through the Baptism, we are called to continue Jesus' ministry – proclaiming the Good News – freedom, joy, healing and so on. Every time we gather to celebrate Eucharist, we receive Jesus, in the “Word of God,” and in the “Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.” Then we are sent out to live the Eucharist and share with many – our mission.

Mission requires preparation. We need to participate in the Eucharistic celebration, we need to learn the scripture. Reading the Bible and learning the story of our faith is very important. Jeff Cavin in a video presentation, says that reading the Bible is not easy. Each one of us might have experienced this reality. There are 73 books in the complete Bible: 46 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Jeff Cavin reveals a secret to reading the Bible. He picks 14 books as narrative books and tells the story of salvation history. And he placed the rest of the 59 books in the historic context. There are many sources to do a personal/family Bible study. The FORMED web website will be one resource.

As we celebrate “The Sunday of the Word of God,” the readings invite us to take with us three points: 1. Find time to read, study and meditate the “Word of God”; 2. Live and Proclaim the Word of God in our daily life; 3. Pray for missionaries around the world and for one another.

Mary said, "They have no wine" ....a powerful intercession!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 14:20:49 GMT

Mary said, "They have no wine"...a powerful intercession!

For the last two weekends, we celebrated Epiphany and Baptism of the Lord: epiphany moments. Today, another epiphany moment we hear from the Gospel of John (2:1-11), Jesus revealed his glory at the wedding of Cana. Pope St. John Paul II gave us a beautiful gift when he introduced the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary. The second mystery is the subject of today’s Gospel, the Wedding Feast at Cana, where Jesus changed water into wine. The miracle at Cana is the first of seven “signs” in John’s Gospel – miraculous events by which Jesus showed forth his Divinity.

Throughout the Bible, marriage is the symbol of the Covenant relationship between God and His chosen people. God is the faithful Groom, and His people, the beloved bride. We hear about divine marriage in the first reading (Isaiah 62:1-5). God is like a bridegroom who rejoices in his bride. Israel is God's bride. Jesus begins his public ministry by calling himself "the bridegroom." And in today's Gospel, Jesus, the divine bridegroom, attends a human wedding feast and performs his first miracle on behalf of a young bride and groom.

When couples get married, most of the time, they choose this Gospel passage. The presence of the Lord at this marriage feast and Mary’s intercession removed an embarrassing predicament for the young couple. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1613 says, “On the threshold of his public life, Jesus performs his first sign — at his mother's request — during a wedding feast. The Church attaches great importance to Jesus' presence at the wedding at Cana. She sees in it the confirmation of the goodness of marriage and the proclamation that marriage will be an efficacious sign of Christ's presence.” Those days, the wedding lasted for a week, and not having wine is difficult. Mary reveals her care and love for the joy of the bridal party. Vatican Council II affirms the priority of the title “Advocate” for the Mother of Jesus (Lumen Gentium, 62). Her maternal concern continues for each one of us through her powerful intercession. The Memorare is one of my favorite Marian devotion:

“Remember O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother, to you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petition, but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.”

We cannot read this miracle more without connecting the Eucharist, sacrifice on the cross, and resurrection. The first sign, the miracle at Cana, points to the Final Sign in the Gospel of John, the crucifixion when Jesus is raised upon the Cross. Its completion is at Calvary. Every reception of the Eucharist is a union with the crucified Savior whose blood has defeated the power of evil and transformed our world. Mary’s instruction is very important, "Do whatever he tells you." These final words of Mary are a spiritual testament to all disciples.

The Gospel says, there were six stone jars. The use of the stone jars is described in the book of Numbers 19:11-22. Those who touch the dead must be purified with water on the third day and seventh day. Now, Jesus turned around and asked them to fill the six stone jars with water. They might have chuckled or been confused by hearing Jesus' command. But they followed his command; they saw the miracle.

The first sign of Jesus, water into wine, recalls the first sign performed by Moses – at the plague, Moses and Aaron did exactly as the LORD had commanded, and the water of the Nile changed into blood (Exodus 7:14-24). The wine is called the blood of the grapes in Genesis 49:11 and Deuteronomy 32:14.

The miracle at Cana invites us to become Jesus and Mary. The question is how? Let us look at tragedies around our lives. Most of the time, we wonder about it and try to find an answer. It is okay; beyond that discussion, the miracle at Cana invites us to perform another miracle by giving a helping hand through our thoughts, prayers, and actions. It is an invitation to become Mary. Jesus breaks and shares with us at every Mass, and we send out the same. When our hearts move towards the needy, the miracle happens, and this celebration of Mass becomes meaningful… the celebration of Mass will continue in our life. Mary told Jesus, “They have no wine”….a thought for the other!

Baptism of the Lord!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 16:37:14 GMT

Baptism of the Lord!

Do you remember your baptism? I don’t. But we all have witnessed the baptism of someone. Once, I was baptizing a baby. When I poured the water on his head in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, he turned his head and looked at me with a question on his face: “Where is this coming from?” A baby was ready to jump in the baptismal font at another baptism. He looked content and happy. What did you do at your baptism? No matter what we did that moment, our parents and Godparents professed faith for us, and our sins were washed away.

On the day of our baptism, as in St. Pope John Paul II’s writings, "We were anointed with the oil of catechumens, the sign of Christ's gentle strength, to fight against evil. Blessed water was poured over us, an effective sign of interior purification through the gift of the Holy Spirit. We were then anointed with chrism to show that we were thus consecrated in the image of Jesus, the Father's Anointed One. The candle lighted from the paschal candle was a symbol of the light of faith which our parents and godparents must have continually safeguarded and nourished with the life-giving grace of the Spirit."

Last Sunday, we celebrated Epiphany – revelation – of the Lord. This Sunday, we celebrate the Baptism - revelation – of the Lord. At the Baptism of the Lord, Jesus Christ, the second person of God, stood at the Jordan River. We hear the voice of the Father from heaven and the Holy Spirit descending in the form of a dove. The baptism of Jesus is also an epiphany because it reveals Jesus' divine nature and that God is literally present in the person of Jesus.

We are familiar with the story of Exodus from the Old Testament, which is a journey from slavery to the Promised Land. In that journey, the Israelites crossed the Red Sea. It was in the beginning part of the Exodus story. At the end of the Exodus story, they crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land. John prepared a new exodus in the desert and invited people to receive the baptism of repentance in the Jordan River. The Book of Malachi 3:1 says, “Now I am sending my messenger- he will prepare the way before me.” Jews believed that Elijah would come to prepare the way of the Lord (3:23). John invited them for the baptism. Washing or a purification ceremony was ordinary for Jewish people. It is called Mikveh, and it is the pool they went to for the washing ceremony. In the Gospel of Luke (3:15-16;21-22), people were in great expectation. John clarified that he was not Messiah and also clarified that his baptism was only with water, but Jesus would be baptized with the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit. John was giving the baptism of repentance at the Jordan River to prepare the way for the Lord.

Even though Jesus is sinless and has no need for repentance, Jesus chooses to be baptized to identify himself with his people, sinners, as part of the Father’s plan to save them. Jesus' baptism was the inauguration of the reconciliation of God with humanity. St. Gregory of Nazianzus says, “Perhaps he comes to sanctify his baptizer; certainly he comes to bury sinful humanity in the waters… Jesus rises from the waters; the world rises with him.” John baptized Jesus at the Jordan, it was an acceptance of the baptism on the Cross. He poured out the blood and water from his side to set us free. John said, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Luke often points out that Jesus prayed in preparation for the important decisions or events of his mission. Today’s Gospel, while he was praying, heaven opened and confirmed his divinity and revealed the three persons of the Trinity. “This is my beloved Son,” the Father’s announcement echoes several Old Testament passages. In the first reading from the book of Isaiah 42:1, 6&7, we see prophesy that the coming of God’s pleasing servant, who will rescue Israel and be the nation's light. Jesus fulfills this role as a suffering servant and light of the world (John 8:12). Psalm 2:17 portrays King David as the anointed son of God. Jesus is here from the house of David, anointed by the Spirit and Father, revealing Jesus' identity, “This is my beloved Son.”

The Baptism of the Lord was the inauguration of the new Exodus. Then began his ministry of the miracle at Cana, opening the eyes of the blind, healing the sick, bringing out prisoners from confinement, feeding the five thousand, instituting the Eucharist to remain with us forever, and offering on the cross, pouring out blood to give us new baptism, to wash away our sins. Through his passion, death, and resurrection, he gave us the Sacraments to prepare us to go out and bring the same ministry he did.

Every time when we enter the Church, we dip the fingers of our right hands into the holy water font and bless ourselves. This blessing is supposed to remind us of our baptism. And so when we bless ourselves with holy water, we should be thinking of the fact that we are a child of God, that the Cross of Christ has redeemed us, that we have been made a member of God’s family, and that we have been washed, forgiven, cleansed and purified by the blood of the Lamb. We have been sent out to bring the Good News by sharing the gift we received and making Jesus' name known and loved.

The Epiphany of the Lord!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 16:25:31 GMT

The Epiphany of the Lord!

Merry Christmas! We celebrate 12 days of Christmas between December 25, Christmas, and January 6th Epiphany. Usually, it is transferred to Sunday; this year, it is on January 5, 2025. The word “Epiphany” comes from two Greek words: “epi,” which means “on upon,” and “phaino,” which means “to appear to shine.” Epiphany is a manifestation of Jesus' divinity or the divinity of Jesus shining upon the earth. We meditate on Epiphany, the visit of the Magi.

Jesus was born from the house of David. He revealed himself to his Israelites first, but he came for the entire humanity. On Christmas, we heard the reading that the angel announced the birth of Jesus to shepherds. On Epiphany, we heard the visit of the Magi, who were from distant nations.

The wise men are from the East, but from where in the East. There are three predictions about the place. Some predict they are from Persia; others say they are from Babylon. The third prediction is from Arabia. Today’s first reading from the book of Isaiah gives us more approval from the third prediction, Arabia. In the first reading, we read, “Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.” Matthew is looking at the prophecy of Isaiah, which tells us about the non-Israelites bringing gifts to the Lord. In Psalm 72, today we read, "The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts; the kings of Arabia and Sheba shall bring tribute. All kings shall pay him homage; all nations shall serve him.”

Isaiah 60 is a prophecy of the new Jerusalem, and Psalm 72, which the Jews read as a prophecy of the future King of the Messiah. In the first reading, the light Isaiah proclaims to Zion symbolizes the blessing to come to her: the glory of the Lord, the return of her children, and the wealth of nations who themselves will walk by her light. If we want to understand the meaning of this passage, we need to look at its background. Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians 57 years before Christ. Fifty years later, the Persians conquered the Babylonians and allowed the Jews to return home. They found their city and homeland ruined, and rebuilding was extremely difficult. The prophet was encouraging them and telling them that Jerusalem would become the center of spirituality and light of the world. The prophet foresees a day when divine light shall shine upon all God’s people, attracting the nations who will be grateful for this light.

In the Gospel of Matthew (2:1-12), magi came to King Herod in search of the newborn King, Jesus. Herod reigned from 37 to 4 B.C. Magi were the priestly caste, and they were astrologers. It was a common ancient belief that a new star appeared at the time of a ruler’s birth. Matthew also draws upon the Old Testament story of Balaam, who had prophesied that “A star shall advance from Jacob” (Numbers 24:17). The Magi were not members of the Chosen Jewish People, so the Epiphany shows Jesus came for all people. The Magi shows us that there is no substitute for an open heart and mind. For Herod, this message about the Newborn King brought fear. He closed his mind and heart towards Jesus but pretended to show he was eager to see him.

The identity of Christ is revealed to different people at different times: First, prophets told us in general about the coming of the Messiah. Then, in an intimate way told Mary and Joseph, then to shepherd and magi, and later to John the Baptist and then to disciples. The shepherds represent the poor and ignorant, and the magi represent pagan believers and intellectuals. The Good News is for everyone. God revealed himself to each one of us. The mission of the Church is to make Christ known to all nations (Matthew 28:19).

We are in the Jubilee year of Hope: “Hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5). On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis opened the Holy Doors of St. Peters’ Basilica and said at the Mass, "The Jubilee calls us to spiritual renewal and commits us to the transformation of our world, so that this year may truly become a time of jubilation." On May 9, 2024, Pope Francis announced the 2025 Jubilee year by reading the Jubilee’s papal bull of indication, which is titled “Spes Non Confudit,” which means “Hope Does Not Disappoint” (Romans 5:5). The Pope prayed that "During the Holy Year, "may the light of Christian hope illuminate every man and woman, as a message of God’s love addressed to all! And may the Church bear faithful witness to this message in every part of the world!" It is the message of Christmas and Epiphany. Jesus revealed himself to the shepherds and the Magi. They need to take the Good News to the rest of the world – pilgrims of Hope. Bishop Powers, at the Jubilee celebration homily, said that in the last couple of years, we have been talking about evangelization in our diocese. The Pope’s challenge to become pilgrims of Hope helps us to grow in our journey of sharing the Good News with others.

Jubilee Year 2025! Feast of Holy Family and Mary, Mother of God! Blessed New Year 2025!!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:07:21 GMT

Jubilee Year 2025! Feast of Holy Family and Mary, Mother of God! Blessed New Year 2025!!

The Jubilee year – Year of Hope – officially began on Christmas Eve with Pope Francis's opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica. Pope writes in his letter, “For everyone, may the Jubilee be a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the “door” (cf. Jn 10:7.9) of our salvation, whom the Church is charged to proclaim always, everywhere and to all as “our hope” (1 Tim 1:1).”

Every cathedral around the world will celebrate the Jubilee Year this Sunday, December 29th. In Christ the King Cathedral, Superior, it will take place at 3 p.m.

During the Jubilee year, we will be able to attain plenary indulgence. A plenary indulgence is a grace the Catholic Church grants through the merits of Jesus Christ to remove the temporal punishment due to sin. What are the ways we can get these graces? During the Jubilee year, make a pilgrimage to Rome, or with this intention, to a specific Church and through the Work of Mercy. Our diocese has two designated pilgrimage centers: Christ the King Cathedral in Superior and St. Joseph Catholic Church, Bayfield (Madeline Island). You can find more information about the Jubilee year at https://catholicdos.org/2025-jubilee-year

Happy Feast of the Holy Family! The mission of Mary and Joseph was to bring up the child Jesus and give Him to the world. It was not an easy journey for them. They had lots of unknown factors in their lives. We read in the Gospel that Mary kept pondering on them (Luke 2:19). Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but they didn’t live together. According to their custom, after the betrothal, they are legally married. They didn’t live together until the wedding ceremony, which could be a year later. When Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant, he struggled to receive Mary as his wife. Mary and Joseph followed the will of God. With the taking of Mary as his wife and the birth of Jesus, a new family is founded, which is a holy one.

In the first reading, Ben Sirach reminds the Fourth Commandment, “Honor your father and mother.” In the book of Exodus 20:12, we read, “Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” Ben Sirach reminds us that those who honor their parents will gain riches and long life. In the second reading from the Colossians, St. Paul tells us about virtues in life. He describes a family code.

In today’s Gospel (Luke 2:41-52), Luke alone provides the episode of Jesus' boyhood. It brings more completion to Luke’s infancy narrative. After this episode, we don’t see Jesus until his public ministry. At the time of Christ all Jewish men were required to pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem. Some men take their families with them. In the Gospel, Mary and Joseph go to the temple with their twelve-year-old Jesus for Passover. They lost Jesus, and then they began their search for three days with great anxiety. St. Ambrose says the discovery of Jesus in the Temple prefigures his resurrection. Jesus spent three days in the tomb and was resurrected on the third day. When they found him, he asked them, “Did you not know I must be in my Father’s house?” If you are a parent, how does it sound to you? Mary kept everything in her heart and pondered over it.

Happy New Year! January 1st we embrace New Year 2025, and celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. It is also World Day of Peace. Let us ask the blessing of the Holy Family as we embrace New Year 2025. New Year is a time to thank the past, a time to ask blessing…

In this New Year 2025, we have the Jubilee Year – Year of Hope; we continue the Maintenance to Mission by living the Eucharist, praying, and walking with one whom we would like to see with us at the Mass. Let us grow in love for the Eucharist and live the Eucharist in our daily lives. We are Eucharistic people, and it is our mission. Women from our cluster bought a Christmas gift for us, “33 Days of Eucharistic Glory.” If you didn’t get one, please pick one up and read it. Let us thank them for the gift.

Let us take the passage from the book of Numbers and bless each other in this New Year 2025!

The LORD bless you and keep you!

The LORD let his face shine upon

you, and be gracious to you!

The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!

Blessed New Year 2025 and Happy Feast of Mary, Holy Mother of God!

Thank you! I would like to express my gratitude to cluster parishioners, councils and committees, organizations, cluster parish staff, deacons, musicians, and those who participated in different ministries, volunteers, and well-wishers. Thank you!

Merry Christmas!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 19:35:14 GMT

Merry Christmas!

One special evening in a small town, everybody was very busy. There were lots and lots of people traveling towards that town. Families were busy receiving relatives and friends and finding accommodations. The houses were full, there were no rooms in the inns, and people were everywhere. Everyone was trying to find a comfortable place to lay their heads that night. A poor family couldn’t find a place to stay in town, so they had to rest in a cave in the countryside. On the other side of the hill, shepherds were “keeping the night watch over their flock” Luke 2:8. Angel said to them, “…For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord” Luke 2:10. The multitude of the heavenly host with angels sang: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” Luke 2:14. When the shepherd came Mary and Joseph with the Newborn Baby in the cave. Animals were their company. Magi followed the star and came from the far East. The rest of the world was busy, and they missed the Newborn Baby – “Emmanuel” – God is with us.

Can he find room in our hearts this Christmas? Let us give special attention to the scripture reading at the Christmas Mass and meditate on it to welcome and adore the Newborn King. First, let us look at the first readings from the book of Isaiah. For Christmas Eve and Dawn, the readings are from Isaiah 62. Isaiah uses imagery to describe the conversion of Israel from gloom to joy. The prophet tells them their God is a saving God who extends his redemption to the Holy City. The incarnation represents the marriage of divine and human nature. This passage expresses the joy of the bridal people of God at the arrival of Christ, our Bridegroom.

For midnight Mass, the reading is from the book of Isaiah (9:1-6), where the prophet says that people who walk in the darkness, oppressed by Assyria, eventually will see the light and restoration of Israel. Prophets brought hope to the people of the Israelites. The Gospel of Matthew 4:12-23 records the fulfillment of the prophecy as Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee, the tribal territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, the territory destroyed by Assyria. They were the first people to witness the spiritual restoration of Israel through Jesus Christ. For the Mass during the day, Isaiah (52:7-10) proclaims the good news of the coming of the Lord. The prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, King of Kings, who will come to Jerusalem for the restoration. And that truly is good news.

We have the Gospel readings from Matthew, Luke, and John for Christmas. On Christmas Eve Mass, we read the genealogy of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew’s Gospel summarizes and tells us that Joseph is from the family of David, and Jesus is from the stump of Jesse. Jesus was born into a royal family. Joseph was a carpenter, but he belonged to the Davidic royal family. The Gospel of Luke is read for midnight and at dawn, which emphasizes the role of Mary, how she listens to the message from the angel, obeys, and shares that joy with her cousin Elizabeth. While Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, the birthplace of David, Mary gave birth to Jesus. We have the Gospel of John for the Mass of the day. John says the Word was with God, that the Word was God, and that he was the eternal Word of the Father. John says Jesus is the Eternal Word through whom everything was created, and in the fullness of time, the Word made flesh.

A child was born in Bethlehem – a house of bread – laid in a manger – where animals were fed – during his public ministry he fed thousands of people who were hungry – taught us, “I am the living bread” – many were forgiven, healed, liberated, raised the dead – instituted Eucharist and told the disciples about the Sacrifice on the Cross, Resurrection, Ascension and promised Holy Spirit and told them, he will come back again. He is with us always; at the last supper, he said to his disciples, “Do this in memory of Me.” He continues to feed us at the Eucharist and heal, liberate, forgive, and send us out to share with others. He was born in the manger to give us the bread of life.

This Christmas again, God is looking for hearts to be born. Let us invite him into our hearts, homes, and every aspect of our lives. Listen to Him…! Don’t miss Him! I pray that each of us finds Him this Christmas and watches his smile, listens to his whispering, and experiences his love, forgiveness, and healing. Christmas is not just on December 25th; it should happen every day of our lives.

Thank you! I want to express gratitude to everyone who made our Christmas celebration beautiful: donors of poinsettias, trees, wreaths, ornaments, decorators, music, and all other ministers. I would also like to thank all of you who sent cards and gifts, brought goodies, and so on. I really appreciate it. Thank you, everyone, and I will keep you all in my prayers. Please keep me in your prayers.

Gaudette Sunday! Rejoice Sunday!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 17:11:15 GMT

Gaudette Sunday! Rejoice Sunday!

The theme of the third Sunday of Advent is joy. This Sunday is called Gaudete Sunday or Rejoice Sunday. All Christians should rejoice in the Lord. In the first reading of the Book of Zephaniah, we read, “Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!” In the Second reading, St. Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!"

On the third Sunday of Advent, the theme is joy and encouragement. In the middle of Advent preparation, the Church invites us to rejoice because we are close to the Christmas celebration. The rose candle is lit, and the priest wears a rose Chasuble.

The prophet Zephaniah prophesied seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus. On the third Sunday of Advent, we read from the last part of Zephaniah (3:14-18a) addressing the “daughter Zion,” Jerusalem – the Lord renews the love for Jerusalem. This reading comes from a time shortly after the Assyrians wiped out the northern part of Israel. Most of Zephaniah’s book records his efforts to correct abuses among God’s people. His books end on a note of hope. The Prophet told them God would gather his humble one into the holy city and restore its fortunes. We can see similar passages throughout the Old Testament. We read in the book of Joel 2:27, “You know that you are amid Israel and that I, the Lord, am your God and there is no one else. And my people will never again be put to shame.”

This passage is read for the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for the Church, other than the third Sunday of Advent. Mary is the daughter of Zion, who can rejoice because “the Lord is in her midst.” Mary is the spouse of the Holy Spirit. However, Zephaniah’s nuptial language can also be applied to the Church, the bride of Christ. The human and divine natures are wed in one flesh through the incarnation.

The Gospel talks about how to prepare the next 9 days for Christmas. In the Gospel, John the Baptist called people to a baptism of repentance so they would be prepared to receive Jesus and see the Lord. People kept coming to John in the desert. They asked him, “What should we do?” John prescribed penance to improve their life. He asked them to share what they have, not steal what belongs to others, and treat others with dignity. Those gathered around him wondered whether John might be the Messiah. John clarified that he is not the Messiah and told them that when the Messiah comes, he will baptize them with the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit (CCC693).

In the second reading, Paul was very proud of and confident in the people of Philippian Christians. Paul wrote them and commanded them to rejoice beyond their difficulties. Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: Rejoice.”

Prepare the way for Mary Immaculate...

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 20:34:42 GMT

Prepare the way for Mary Immaculate...

Prepare the way with Mary Immaculate…

First, let me take the opportunity to wish you a Happy Feast of Immaculate Conception, especially to parishioners of Immaculate Conception. As we make our advent journey, let us ask our Immaculate Mother to intercede for us so we may follow her example while joyfully waiting for the birth of baby Jesus.

This year we celebrate the solemnity of Immaculate Conception on December 9 because December 8 falls on Sunday, Lord’s Day. We are familiar with the story of Bernadette Soubirous who received a vision. At 14, Mary appeared to her in a cave above the banks of the Gave River near the Lourdes. She was poor and young, so no one believed her. However, the vision continued. Finally, the local priest told Bernadette to inquire about the woman's name. She followed his directions and asked the woman, and she answered, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” Today, thousands of people go on pilgrimage to Lourdes and receive many blessings. In 2001, I had the privilege of being one of the pilgrims and praying in that beautiful, holy place.

The Immaculate Conception is a dogma originating from sound Christian tradition. Monks in Palestinian monasteries started celebrating the Conception of Our Lady feast by the end of the 7th century. The feast spread as the Feast of Immaculate Conception in Italy (9th century), England (11th century), and France (12th century). Pope Leo VI propagated the celebration, and Pope Sixtus IV approved it as a feast. Finally, in 1854, Pope Pius IX, in his Apostolic Constitution, “Ineffabilis Deus” means “God ineffable” and defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Mary approved it by declaring to Bernadette at Lourdes, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” In 1846, the US Bishops chose Our Lady in her Immaculate Conception as the Patroness of the United States. Even though Immaculate Conception falls on Monday, it is still a holy day obligation.

33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat is 33 days of "spiritual reading and prayerful pondering." The book is broken down so that readers spend seven days each on the Marian consecration teachings of St. Louis de Montfort, St. Maximilian Kolbe, Blessed Mother Teresa, and Blessed John Paul II. Then, the final five days are for review before reciting the Prayer of Consecration. It is a beautiful spiritual reading that helps you grow in Marian spirituality. It does not stop at Mary; we fall in love with Jesus in a deeper way through Mary.

The first reading is from Genesis (3:9-15,20), for the Solemnity of Immaculate Conception narrates God's promise. Adam and Eve were in perfect communion with God. At the time of their fall, God made a promise, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel” (3:15). From the Gospel of Luke (1:26-38) we read about that woman. God sent the angel Gabriel to her and said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you" (1:28). Mary was full of grace; there was no place for the corruption of sin. Mary is the new Eve who gave birth to the new Adam, Jesus. These readings for the celebration of Immaculate Conception are extra beautiful, especially when we are in the Advent season.

The theme for the second Sunday of Advent is the New Exodus. In the first reading from the book of Baruch (5:1-9), the prophet says that the hand of God will bring them back to the Israelites from Babylonian exile. The prophet tells Jerusalem, “Put on the splendor of glory from God forever.” I was an encouragement for Jerusalem inspired by the second book of Isaiah. We read in the Book of Isaiah 52:1, “Awake, awake! Put on your strength, Zion; Put on your glorious garments, Jerusalem, holy city. Never again shall the uncircumcised or the unclean enter you.” Another aspect of this reading is to turn our focus on the new exodus. Baruch (5:7) quotes from Isaiah 40:3-5 which is in the Gospel of Luke for today (3:1-6). It is fulfilled in John the Baptist who came to prepare the way for the Lord. Baruch’s prophecy is about the mission of John the Baptist and the new exodus.

We know the old exodus story. God asked Moses to lead his people out of Egypt. They spent 40 years in the desert, crossed the Jordan River, and entered the Promised Land. Where do we see John the Baptist today in the Gospel? When the Word of God came to John, he was in the desert, and he proclaimed the baptism of repentance to the entire region of Jordan. The invitation for the new exodus begins by receiving the baptism of repentance in the river Jordan.

In the second reading, St. Paul gives a prayer for this Advent: “This is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.”

During Advent, we are busy shopping, decorating, wrapping gifts, and so on. In the middle of all of these, John the Baptist invites us to the desert by the Jordan River. In our case, it is an invitation to the sacrament of reconciliation, prayer, and joyful participation in the Eucharist to prepare our hearts to celebrate Christmas.

First Sunday of Advent!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 15:46:06 GMT

First Sunday of Advent!

On December 1, First Sunday of Advent, we start a new liturgical year, year C. This year we will be reading from the Gospel of Luke. Once Pope Benedict XVI wrote: "The purpose of the Church's year is continually to rehearse her great history of memories, to awaken the heart's memory so that it can discern the star of hope. It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us, memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope."

Advent is the season of Hope. On May 9, 2024, Pope Francis announced the 2025 Jubilee year by reading the Jubilee’s papal bull of indiction, which is titled “Spes Non Confudit,” which means “Hope Does Not Disappoint” (Romans 5:5). The Jubilee year – Year of Hope – officially begins on Christmas Eve by the opening of the Holy Door of the St. Peter’s Basilica. Pope writes in his letter, “For everyone, may the Jubilee be a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the “door” (cf. Jn 10:7.9) of our salvation, whom the Church is charged to proclaim always, everywhere and to all as “our hope” (1 Tim 1:1).”

Pope continues in paragraph 3, “Hope is born of love and based on the love springing from the pierced heart of Jesus upon the cross: “For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life” (Rom 5:19). That life becomes manifest in our own life of faith, which begins with Baptism, develops in openness to God’s grace and is enlivened by a hope constantly renewed and confirmed by the working of the Holy Spirit.” He teaches in depth the need to grow in this Jubilee year, and he closes his letter with these words, “May the power of hope fill our days, as we await with confidence the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and glory, now and forever.”

Let us begin this Advent, the season of hope, to grow and renew our faith to celebrate Christmas and to begin the Jubilee Year of Hope. During Advent, four candles are lit each week. Their light represents Christ himself, who is the light of the world. We light the candles gradually throughout Advent because we know that the joy of salvation doesn't come fully into our lives all at once. Our life is a journey, a relationship with Jesus that has to be constantly renewed, just as a new candle is lit each week.

In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah (33:14-16), the Lord promises a future king for Israel once again. God says, “I will raise up for David a just shoot,” a descendant of David. We know that the continuity of kings from the house of David was interrupted by the Babylonian captivity. However, the line of David will culminate with the coming of the Messiah. This promise of a son of David coming in future days opens the reading for Advent, immediately calling attention to Jesus’ coming as a fulfillment of God’s promise of covenant fidelity to David and his house.

The First reading tunes to the First Coming, of course, is the coming of the Child at Christmas: the coming of the Saviour, Emmanuel, God with us. He comes as an infant, born in a humble village in Bethlehem. And this is God’s coming into history.

The Gospel reading (Luke 21:25-28; 34-36) tune to the Second coming of the Lord. The second coming of Christ will be accompanied by signs and culminate in the Final Judgment. The sign may frighten people, but Jesus promises us: in the midst of the darkness on the edges of despair, when it seems that all is lost, and the world as we know it has been torn asunder, lightning in the skies, fire on the earth, then Jesus says to us: “On that day, lift up your heads, for your redemption, your healing, is at hand.”

There will be signs, but no one knows the precise time of the end of the world, so we must always be ready by growing in prayer and charity. During Advent in 2018, Pope Francis said during Angelus, "Advent invites us to a commitment to vigilance, looking beyond ourselves, expanding our mind and heart to open ourselves up to the needs of people, of brothers and sisters, and to the desire for a new world."

We don’t have to worry because something already happened in the meantime. What is it?

During Advent, we meditate deeper into the reality of incarnation. A child was born in Bethlehem – a house of bread – laid in a manger – where animals were fed – fed thousands of people who were hungry – told us, “I am the living bread” – many were forgiven, healed, liberated, raised - instituted Eucharist and told them about the Sacrifice on the Cross, Resurrection, Ascension and promised Holy Spirit and told them, he will come back again. He is with us always; he continues to feed us at the Eucharist and continues to heal, liberate, forgive, and send us out to share with others. In this season of Advent – the season of Hope – let us meditate on His first Coming – Christmas, and constantly prepare for His Second Coming.

Congratulations: I take this opportunity to congratulate our Confirmation Candidates, Sponsors, Parents, and catechists as Candidates proclaim their commitment. During their final months of preparation, let us join them in prayer. Confirmation is on April 30, 2025, at 6 p.m.

Christ the King: King of our Heart! Happy Thanksgiving!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 16:11:58 GMT

Christ the King: King of our Heart! Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy feast of Christ the King! Polycarp, the second-century bishop of Smyrna, was brought before the Roman authorities and told to curse Christ, and he would be released. He replied, "Eighty-six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong: how can I blaspheme my King, Jesus Christ, who saved me?" The Roman officer replied, "Unless you change your mind, I will have you burnt." But Polycarp said, "You threaten a fire that burns for an hour, and after a while is quenched; for you are ignorant of the judgment to come and of everlasting punishment reserved for the ungodly. Do what you wish."

On Sunday, the Thirty-Fourth, we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King! In 1925, Pope Pius XI instituted the Feast of Christ the King at the close of the liturgical year, and he proclaimed: “Pax Christi in regno Christi” (“The peace of Christ in the reign of Christ”). This feast asserts the sovereignty of Christ the King. The disciple of Christ, the citizen of His Kingdom, is called to obey the commandment of love: love your God with all your being and love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31).

The first reading from the apocalyptic book of Daniel talks about the kingship of the Lord, the promised Messiah. For this Sunday, we read Daniel’s vision (7:14-15). Daniel says, “I saw one like a Son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven…” His vision of the “Son of Man” refers to the one who brings salvation to the world, a clear prophecy of the coming of the Messiah. Last weekend, we saw in the Gospel of Mark 13:26 that Jesus identifies himself as the “Son of Man.” In Daniel’s vision, he saw God seated on a throne, with “all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.” He is King of Kings, Lord of Glory, His kingdom will last forever. In the book of Daniel, the everlasting dominion of the Lord and His kingdom is repeated several times. The New Testament proves that Jesus, the Messiah, is the King of Kings. Christ, the eternal King whose kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36), sits at the right hand of the Father, as we proclaim in the Nicene Creed.

We read from the Gospel of John instead of Mark for Christ the King. The first reading prepared us to read the Gospel of John from his passion narrative. Christ did not deny he was king, but he clarified that he was not king in the worldly, political sense. He did not come to deliver people from the oppression by the Romans but the oppression of sin and evil, which is the greatest form of enslavement. His focus was heaven, where he will be crowned with glory and honor (Hebrews 2:9), and where the homage is paid to him in worship. At the passion, the coronation of Jesus began, and its culmination was at his Ascension. At the time of the Crucifixion, Pilate ordered a sign to hand on the Cross that reads, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” We know that his crown was made out of thorns, not a jewel. His dominion over the earth extends through preaching and the sacramental ministry of the Church. He is the King of our hearts. He is the King of Kings. Happy Feast of Christ the King!

This week we celebrate Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the basis of faith in God. We gather to celebrate the Eucharist, which means thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is central to our faith. To be thankful is to be a person of faith because we recognize where everything comes from. It is expressed in how we live our lives, recognize God’s gift to us, and become gifts to others.

Mother Teresa shared a life story. One evening, a gentleman told Mother Teresa that there was a Hindu family with eight children who had not eaten for a long time. Do something for them. She took rice and immediately gave it to them. Then the mother took the rice, went inside, returned with a small bag, gave it to one of her children, and said something. That child took off with the bag. Mother Teresa was curious and asked the mother where did the child go. She told Mother Teresa that her next-door neighbor, a Muslim family, didn’t have anything for a couple of days. So, she shared half of the rice she received with them. Happy Thanksgiving!

Advent: December 1 is the First Sunday of Advent, New Liturgical Year C. During Advent, please join me for an online reflection every Monday. It will be available on Facebook and YouTube.

The World Day of the Poor!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 17:39:46 GMT

The World Day of the Poor!

Pope Francis invites us to celebrate the World Day of the Poor on the Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time. Mother Theresa of Calcutta was summoned to the court on the charges of converting children to the Catholic faith. When she stood in the dock, the judge asked her if the charges were actual. She asked for a baby to be given to her. She held the baby in her arms and said, “This child I picked up from the dustbin; I don’t know to what religion this child belongs or what language it speaks... I give this child my love, time, care, and food, but the best thing I have in my life is faith in Jesus Christ. Can’t I give this child the best I have in my life?” The case was dismissed in favor of Mother Theresa.

Pope Francis says, “The hope of the poor will not perish forever” (Ps 9:19). These words of the Psalm remain timely. They express a profound truth that faith impresses above all on the hearts of the poor, restoring lost hope in the face of injustice, sufferings, and the uncertainties of life.”

The Eucharist is the perfect example of Jesus’ self-giving. Every Mass, Jesus shares with us His very life—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity—and sends us out to be his flesh and blood for others. Let us make a promise that we will go out and courageously invest our God-given gifts to serve one another.

The last week of Ordinary time invites us to meditate on the last things – death, judgment, heaven, and hell. Every time we hear about it, we may perceive it negatively. Do you remember the movie 2012? The premise was that the world was going to come to an end in 2012. As Hollywood hoped, a significant number of people believed that there might be some truth to this. How many of us stopped for a moment and questioned or worried? Has anything happened so far? Today, if you look at our world, what do you think? We can hear about all kinds of divisions, violence, war, natural calamities, etc.

The readings speak about the end of time but with a particular emphasis: those who trust in the Lord and who live His life to the best of their ability have nothing to fear. Prophet Daniel says that the archangel Michael is the guardian of God’s people. The prophet calls him God’s Prince. So, we just heard that when the final days come, Michael will gather God’s people together, including those who have died. And, the reading says, the wise will shine brightly.

The first reading prepares us for the Gospel reading (Mk 13:24-32). The message is “apocalyptic” in nature. The word “apocalypse” means unveiling or revelation. Jesus foretold his Ascension as well as his Second Coming. Jesus identifies himself with the royal figure from the book of Daniel 7:13&14. Jesus implies that he will be enthroned with the Father and receive a worldwide kingdom and everlasting dominion.

Jesus says that on the last day, the angels will gather the elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky. At the same time, Jesus says that no one knows when the last day will come. The sum of the reading is to be prepared: build our personal relationship with God and share with others the Good News of Jesus.

Our God is love. What do we do when we see all kinds of discouragement around us? We must focus on Jesus and build our relationship with him. Do you know how you can develop the relationship? First of all, by prayer – personal prayer and Mass – the highest form of prayer. Prayer, not just going through the motions, but entering into real intimacy. It won’t happen one day; we have to perceive it in prayer. Then, we have to share the good news with others. Every celebration of Mass is an invitation to become what we receive and to share with others – to become his flesh and blood for others.

Once, while St. Dominic Savio was playing, he was asked, “What would he do if he had only an hour left to live?” His answer was, “I would continue playing football.” What would be our answer?

In the second reading from the Hebrews (10:11-14; 18), Jesus offered himself for our sins. He offered himself to the Father on our behalf. The Old Testament high priests repeatedly offered sacrifices for the sins and sins of the people. We read in Hebrews (9:22&23), “According to the law, almost everything is purified by blood, and without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified by these rites, but the heavenly things themselves by better sacrifices than these.” Christ did not simply prefigure the heavenly realities (Heb 9:24) by performing an annual sacrifice with blood not his own (Heb 9:25); he offered the single sacrifice of himself as the final annulment of sin (Heb 9:26).

Today’s readings can bring fear, but the reading ultimately tells us not to be afraid but to be filled with hope. Jesus won salvation for us through the sacrifice on the Cross. He continues to feed us in the Eucharist, nourishment for our journey. We need to focus on his love, and he did everything because of his love for us. He is going to do great things in and through us.

Let us give our whole self to Christ...

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 19:32:49 GMT

Let us give our whole self to Christ...

Let us give our whole self to Christ…

First of all, let me take this opportunity to congratulate our First reconciliation Children and their families as they make their commitment. We, faith communities with their families, and teachers asked to make a commitment to pray for them and support you in their journey. Congratulations!

On Monday, we celebrate Veterans Day: veterans is the national day to recognize the sacrifices of our nation’s heroes. I read a prayer by St Ignatius of Loyola – a veteran - prayer about heart-felt generosity. It goes like this: “Dear Lord, teach me to be generous; teach me to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil, and not to seek for rest; to labor, and not to ask for any reward except that of knowing that I am doing your holy will. Amen.” Veterans Day is to honor them for their love and sacrifices for our safety. Our men and women in uniform in the past, present and the future, God bless you and Thank You!

Last weekends readings were about the Law of Love: love God and neighbor. There Jesus reminded the Jews “Shema” prayer, to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. This weekend we see two widows, who wholeheartedly trust God and share what they have.

From the first reading from the book of 1King (17:10-16), the widow of Zarephath was suffering from the famine. She did have a son, but he was a little child. No one cares about her, but God sent Prophet Elijah to her. In the Gospel of Luke 4:25 & 26, Jesus says, “Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.” First, she had to trust in God. She had to follow the law of hospitality, caring for the stranger and God rewarded her sacrificial generosity. If we read the following passage from 1King (17:17-24) we see the widow's faith was further confirmed when her son died and Elijah’s prayer raised him back to life.

The center of the Gospel (Mk 12:38-44) is a story of another widow. Jesus is sitting in the Temple with his disciples, in the area where people made donations to the Temple. Some would come with large sums of money and make sure that others would see them. The widow who came, though was poor, made her offering. She put only two copper coins, which make a penny.

Jesus praised her contribution and criticized the hypocrisy of some of the scribes, who acted out of self-serving motives rather than a desire to give glory to God. When we look at objectively the widow gave only a small amount, but in reality she gave an enormous amount since it was all that she had. On the other hand the scribes gave larger amounts of money from their excess without real sacrifice. For the widow, it was total dependence on God.

We heard the second reading from the letter to Hebrews (9:24-28) about the Eternal High Priest, Jesus. He offered himself to the Father on our behalf. The Old Testament high priests offered sacrifice again and again for their sins and sins of the people. We read in Hebrews (9:22&23) “According to the law almost everything is purified by blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified by these rites, but the heavenly things themselves by better sacrifices than these.” Christ did not simply prefigure the heavenly realities (Heb 9:24) by performing an annual sacrifice with a blood not his own (Heb 9:25); he offered the single sacrifice of himself as the final annulment of sin (Heb 9:26). At the Mass the priest enters into the eternal reality of Christ’s sacrifice on the Calvary. "In this Divine Sacrifice which takes place at the Mass is contained and sacrifice, in an unbloody manner, the same Christ that was offered once for all in blood upon the Cross... It is one and the same Victim, one and the same High Priest, who made the offering through the ministry of His priests today, after having offered Himself upon the cross yesterday; only the manner of the oblation is different" (Council of Trent. Sess. 22). The Mass is not only the commemoration, but it is a living representation of the sacrifice of the Cross.

When we come for the Mass, the two widows are the perfect example for us. we need to bring our whole self offer with bread and wine and ask him to transform our lives.

Pope Francis' the fourth Encyclical Letter - "Dilexit Nos" - "He Loved Us."

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:45:06 GMT

Pope Francis' the fourth Encyclical Letter - "Dilexit Nos" - "He Loved Us."

Pope Francis’ the fourth Encyclical Letter - “Dilexit Nos” – “He Loved Us.”

Let me start with looking at the readings for this Sunday. The reading talks: Love God and Love One another. In the first reading from the book of Deuteronomy, Moses’ introduction of the Law and presenting the law and asking them to follow the law. This passage contains the greatest law, since the Lord alone is the God, the Israelites must love him with an undivided heart. The call to love an undivided heart does not mean emotions, but to the disposition of the heart.

The first reading prepares us to listen to the Gospel reading from Mark 12:28-34. In this Gospel passage Jesus summarizes the entire Old Covenant in two commandments. The greatest is “Shema” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5 which is considered as a summary or creed of the Jewish faith). Jesus goes further to answer the question and says that the second commandment, the love of neighbor (Leviticus 19:18).

I thought it a good opportunity to reflect on Pope Francis’ new Encyclical Letter, “Dilexit Nos” – “He Loved Us.” His fourth Encyclical, “He Loved Us” brings forth the human and divine love of the heart of Jesus Christ. The Pope is calling for an authentic renewal of a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He reminds us of the tenderness of faith, joy of suffering and mission. Pope writes in the introductory paragraph that “His open heart has gone before us and waits for us, unconditionally, asking only to offer us his love and friendship. For “he loved us first” (cf. 1 Jn 4:10). Because of Jesus, “we have come to know and believe in the love that God has for us” (1 Jn 4:16).

In the first chapter – The Importance of Heart – explain why it is necessary to return to the heart. The Pope says it is still meaningful as the symbol of heart to express the love of Jesus Christ. In this consumeristic world, he says, “All of us need to rediscover the importance of the heart.” The predominant phrase in this chapter is “I am my heart” in paragraph 14.

In the second chapter – Actions and Words of Love – Pope says, the heart of the Gospel is the heart of Jesus “As the symbol of the deepest and most personal source of his love for us”(32). He says, “Christ showed the depth of his love for us not by lengthy explanations but by concrete actions”(33). This is very much evident in Jesus' encounters with individuals like – Samaritan woman, Nicodemas, adulterous woman, blind man, and many more. Jesus forgave sinners, praised the good things in them. The Pope says, “The cross is Jesus’ most eloquent word of love” (46).

In the third chapter – This is the Heart that has Loved so Greatly – Pope begins with a quote from PIUS XII, Encyclical Letter Haurietis Aquas (15 May 1956), “Devotion to the heart of Christ is not the veneration of a single organ apart from the Person of Jesus. What we contemplate and adore is the whole Jesus Christ, the Son of God made man, represented by an image that accentuates his heart. That heart of flesh is seen as the privileged sign of the inmost being of the incarnate Son and his love, both divine and human. More than any other part of his body, the heart of Jesus is “the natural sign and symbol of his boundless love” (48). Pope Francis says, “Pius XII observed that the Gospel, in referring to the love of Christ’s heart, speaks “not only of divine charity but also human affection”(61). Pope continues,Entering into the heart of Christ, we feel loved by a human heart filled with affections and emotions like our own. Jesus’ human will freely choose to love us, and that spiritual love is flooded with grace and charity. When we plunge into the depths of his heart, we find ourselves overwhelmed by the immense glory of his infinite love as the eternal Son, which we can no longer separate from his human love. It is precisely in his human love, and not apart from it, that we encounter his divine love: we discover “the infinite in the finite” (67). “Devotion to Christ’s heart is essential for our Christian life to the extent that it expresses our openness in faith and adoration to the mystery of the Lord’s divine and human love. In this sense, we can once more affirm that the Sacred Heart is a synthesis of the Gospel” (83). The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus must nourish us, and bring us closer to the Gospel. Personal spiritual experience and community and missionary commitment. The devotion to the Sacred Heart helps us to put love at the center of everything.

In the fourth chapter – A Love That Gives Itself As Drink – Pope takes us through the Old Testament and New Testament scripture passages to emphasise the need of life giving water. The Pope writes, “In the Gospel of John, we contemplate that fulfilment. From Jesus’ wounded side, the water of the Spirit poured forth: “One of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water flowed out” (Jn 19:34). The evangelist then recalls the prophecy that had spoken of a fountain opened in Jerusalem and the pierced one (Jn 19:37; cf. Zech 12:10). The open fountain is the wounded side of Christ” (96).

The Pope also takes us through the life of different saints and devotion to the Sacred Heart. He quotes Saint Margaret Mary and says, “This is the heart that so loved human beings that it has spared nothing, even to emptying and consuming itself in order to show them it's love” (121).

In the final chapter – Love For Love – Develop the communitarian, social and the missionary dimension of an authentic true devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Pope says Jesus desires to be loved by us in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Jesus leads us to the Father and sends us out to our brothers and sisters. Poe writes, “Love for our brothers and sisters is not simply the fruit of our own efforts; it demands the transformation of our selfish hearts. This realization gave rise to the oft-repeated prayer: “Jesus, make our hearts more like your own”. Saint Paul, for his part, urged his hearers to pray not for the strength to do good works, but “to have the same mind among you that was in Christ Jesus” (Phil2:5) (168).

For Further reading: Dilexit nos (24 October 2024) | Francis (vatican.va)

October leaves and November enters the scene....

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 20:30:40 GMT

October leaves and November enters the scene....

The last weekend of Respect Life month, we are praying for victims of Domestic violence and human trafficking. It is against the commandment of love. The violence against another person is a failure to treat that person as someone worthy of love. An article from the United State Bishop’s says, “We focus here on violence against women, since 85 percent of the victims of reported cases of non-lethal domestic violence are women. Women's greatest risk of violence comes from intimate partners—a current or former husband or boyfriend.”

Today human trafficking is a new form of slavery. The United Bishops Conference says, “Human trafficking violates the sanctity, dignity, and fundamental rights of the human person.” They state that every nation is affected by this disease—the United States is no exception. We all are called to love God and love one another. It is the essence of our discipleship. The month of October, we were reflecting and praying, especially through the devotion to the Rosary, on the dignity of human life from the womb to tomb.

All Saints Day and All Souls Day: In the month of November the Church invites us to pray for our loved ones. We celebrate November 1st as All Saints Day and November 2nd is All Souls Day. The Church has three realms. The church on earth is called militant church because we are in a battle between good and evil; the souls in purgatory are called suffering church because they are in a purifying state to fully experience God’s glory and the saints who have already entered in the heavenly glory are victorious or triumphant church.

All Saints Day is a feast honoring all Christian saints – known and unknown. All Saints Day is Holy Day of Obligation. We will have Mass on November 1st at 8:30 am at St. Anthony, at Noon at St. Francis and 6 pm at Immaculate Conception. On All Souls Day we remember all those who have gone before us. The souls in purgatory, they need our prayers to help their purification and to attain heavenly glory. On November 2nd we will celebrate a special Mass at St. Cecilia Cemetery at 11:00 am for all souls. We celebrate a Mass of Remembrance on November 3rd in the respective parishes in our cluster.

We ask saints to intercede for us. We pray for our loved ones who have gone before us. Every Mass there is a place we pray for our loved ones. Please remember your loved one every Mass. Another way to pray, the Church invites us to offer Mass in their name. It costs $ 20.00, but it takes conscious thought and action to do it.

The 30th Sunday readings talk about restoration of life: in the Book of Jeremiah, liberating the Israelites from Babylonian exile and in the Gospel restoring the sight of a man who was blind. In the first reading Jeremiah promises the return of the Israelites to the Promised Land. Their God is the one who walks with them, leads them through smooth roads, so no one will stumble including people who are blind, lame, mothers with their child. “God said, Ephraim is my first-born” (Jeremiah 31:9). In the book of Exodus 4:22 it says, “So you will say to Pharaoh, thus says the LORD: Israel is my son, my firstborn.” God calls Israel ‘my son’ two or three times in the Bible, but “Son of God” always refers to Jesus Christ.

The first reading prepares us to listen to the Gospel, the healing of the man who was blind, Bartimaeus. The Gospel passage is about the restoration of sight at the same time, it is a marvelous instruction on prayer. Bartimaeus not only cried out to Christ with a strong faith, but he was persistent in his prayer. In another way to look at it, he could Jesus more clearly than anybody else. Many asked him to be silent, but he could see Jesus restore his sight. Israelite knows when the Messiah comes, he will come from the house of King David and the rightful heir to his throne (Isaiah 9:7 and Ezekiel 34:23-24). They believed that he would possess the power to heal the sickness and exercise demons (Matthew 15:22). The healing ministry of Jesus was part of his leadership of a “new exodus” out of bondage to sin into the freedom of the sons of God in the heavenly Zion.

World Mission Sunday!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 19:30:40 GMT

World Mission Sunday!

We are celebrating World Mission Sunday. This year, Pope Francis encourages us to consider how the mission's work is, at heart, one of invitation and hospitality. Mission work should be about open hospitality, an invitation to a fuller life now and ultimately to the fullness of life in God’s kingdom.

Mission Sunday is the day to reach out beyond the needs of the local Parish and diocese to assist missionaries as they go and tell in the young churches. Pope Francis in his recent Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium: “Missionary action is the paradigm of every work of the Church” (EG 15).

The church is missionary. Our baptismal call is to be a missionary. St. Therese of Lisieux, also called St. Teresa of the Child Jesus or the Little Flower, is the patron saint of the missionaries. She was a spiritual master of contemplative life. St. Therese didn’t go out on a mission journey, but in her autobiography, The Story of a Soul, she reflects on the new freedom of a new joy she will enjoy in heaven. She writes, “There will be no longer any cloister and grilles and my soul will be able to fly with you into distant lands.” While St. Therese was alive, she didn’t go too far but prayed for missionaries. Mission Sunday reminds us we are missionaries and invites us to contribute to the Church's missionary work throughout the world.

Respect Life Month: Every year around the feast of St. Luke, who was a physician, we pray for the sick, healthcare professionals, and caregivers. This weekend, we will pray for these intentions, and after the Mass, there will be an opportunity to receive the Anointing of the Sick for those who are sick.

The twenty-ninth Sunday reading invites us to reflect on servant leadership. There are four servant songs in the Book of Isaiah. During Holy Week, we read all four servant songs. This Sunday, the first reading from the book of Isiah is taken from the Fourth Servant Song. Isaiah speaks of God crushing the suffering servant. The Hebrew term ‘asham' describes a particular type of sacrifice. The meaning of ‘asham’ is “be guilty.” It is a reparation offering. In the book of Leviticus 5:14-26, he talks about offering reparation. The servant bears the iniquity of the people. Isaiah’s servant song foreshadows Jesus's life and mission.

In the Gospel, Christ turned towards Jerusalem, prepared to accept death and resurrection. Right before today’s Gospel passage, Jesus warned his apostles for the third time about his suffering, death, and resurrection, which was soon to take place. Even after the third prediction, the apostles didn’t know what Jesus discussed. The first time Peter told Jesus that what Jesus was talking about – suffering and death – just couldn’t happen. After the second prediction, the disciples argued about the greatest. Now, after the third prediction, James and John, sons of Zebedee, want to know whether they can sit on his right and left in his kingdom.

James and John place a request in front of Jesus, "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left." In answer to that, Jesus told them that they would drink the cup Jesus drinks and would be baptized, which was the baptism in which Jesus would be baptized. It reminded the apostles that they were called to follow in his footsteps.

Jesus took this opportunity to teach them about servant leadership – not self-serving, but serving others just as Jesus came to do. Being a servant does not mean allowing people to walk all over us. Jesus came to sacrifice his life as a ransom for many. At the same time he was not afraid to stand up for himself. He proclaimed the kingdom. Christ taught them that the greatness in the Kingdom is based on the spirit of service.

The second reading from the Hebrews tells us that Jesus is like us in all things, but sin. He was a perfect God and an ideal man. Since the Lord identifies with us in every suffering, we can turn to him for help to overcome our weakness due to suffering.

When we come together for Mass, let us bring ourselves to the altar and offer bread and wine, so we may be transformed and become his flesh and blood for others. We will be able to follow his footsteps – be the servant to one another to bring the mission of Christ in our daily life.

Discipleship: A call to live close to God and one another!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 20:14:05 GMT

Discipleship: A call to live close to God and one another!

During Respect Life Month, we pray for life—life from womb to tomb. This weekend, we celebrate Inclusion Awareness Day. We celebrate life with our abilities and disabilities, our strengths and weaknesses. Inclusion Awareness Sunday is an opportunity to reflect on how we include everyone by looking at our abilities rather than our disabilities. How do we celebrate our differences?

Father Henri Nouwen laid the spiritual foundation for the Pathways Awareness Open Hearts, Open Minds movement with his keynote address, "The Vulnerable Journey" at the 1996 Pathways Awareness Inclusion in Worship Conference. He remarked, "I was always studying about God and teaching about God to all these bright students. I wanted to be smarter than others. I wanted to show them that I could be "with it". And I suddenly realized that it is not in strength and power that God was coming to me, but in weakness."

God is the power of inclusion. He opened his arms and heart on the cross to embrace everyone. So Jesus invites us to open our hearts, minds, and doors to people with all abilities and differences. Change needs to start in our minds and hearts. Are we ready to accept the differences, at least in our mentality? It is not an easy task. Let us meditate on the depth of the word “Inclusion” and connect with our faith.

This weekend's readings put in front of us a question: “What are the most important things in our lives?” The first reading, Solomon, was a model for Christian disciples, who prayed for wisdom above everything else. Solomon was not born with great wisdom; rather, God gave him it. In the 1 King chapter 3, Solomon prays for wisdom. He says, “Give your servant, therefore, a listening heart to judge your people and to distinguish between good and evil. For who can give judgment for this vast people of yours?” (9). And God told him, “I give you a heart so wise and discerning that there has never been anyone like you until now, nor after you will there be anyone to equal you” (1 King 3:12). Wisdom is an eager desire to do God’s will and give him glory.

In the Gospel, we read the account of the rich young man and the difficulty of the rich entering the kingdom. Jesus reaffirms the need to keep the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17). The young man claimed he was keeping the Commandments from his youth. Then Jesus invites him to go further, “Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." Jesus taught that a wholehearted spirit of poverty is necessary to be a faithful follower of him. Jesus told the young man to detach from his possessions and stay close to Jesus. We read that he went away sorrowful. St. Augustine wrote in his Confessions, “Our hearts are restless, Lord, until we rest in you.” The true happiness is coming from God. Solomon, in the first reading, states that he considers wisdom from God more than anything else.

Jesus uses the analogy of the camel and the eye of a needle to describe an impossible situation. In those days, there was a low and narrow gate for pedestrians to go through after hours, which was called the eye of the needle. The camels were rather taller animals and were heavily loaded with goods and riders. They would need to be unloaded in order to pass through. Therefore, the analogy is that a rich man would have to similarly unload his material possessions to enter heaven.

Then we may ask, do we have any chance? Do I have to be a monk and live on the street? It is more than selling everything and living on the street. If you can, do it. But it is more about internal disposition. We need possessions, but it should not be an obstacle to our discipleship. Christ taught that the wholehearted spirit of poverty is necessary to be a faithful follower of him. While man has kept the commandments, true perfection requires total detachment. We need to place Christ above everything else. We are utterly incapable of reaching salvation on our own. We need divine assistance. We need to open ourselves to God’s grace.

The celebration of the Eucharist gives us the true spirit of poverty. In the Eucharist, he comes to us in true poverty and shares with us his very life: Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Let us approach him with the true spirit of poverty to receive him in Holy Communion. He wants us to go out and be his flesh and blood for others.

October invites us to reflect on Respect Life, Rosary, the LIfe of St. Francis and much more...

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 20:21:10 GMT

October invites us to reflect on Respect Life, Rosary, the Life of St. Francis, and much more...

First, let us wish our St. Francis parishioners a happy and joyful Feast of St. Francis. The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi is on October 4th. St. Francis of Assisi loved the whole universe. The custom of blessing animals originated from St. Francis’s love of all creatures. Animals used to come and listen to St. Francis preaches. St. Francis loved all God’s creation, in other words, loved all life.

The Church dedicates the month of October to respect life and the rosary. This year's theme of respect life is “I came so that you might have life” (Jn 10:10). Our life from womb to tomb is a gift from God and He is our Hope. As I mentioned above, October is the month of the Rosary, a devotion to our Mother Mary, which very well connects with respect life month. When we meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary, we walk through the life of Jesus: from the very moment of his conception in the womb of Mary, how Joseph protected Mary and child Jesus. Further, we go through his public life of Jesus; passion, death, and resurrection to his ascension and coming of the Holy Spirit. Through his salvific action, He restored the dignity of our life. In an article, Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge Chairman, USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities, writes, “Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist, gives us the fullness of life. He calls each of us to respect that gift of life in every human person.”

The first week we pray in a special way, we pray for unborn babies, mothers, and babies aborted and the healing of their parents. In the second week, we will be praying for people with different abilities (disabilities). We call it Inclusion Awareness Sunday. If you know someone who has not received a Sacrament in their appropriate age, please call the office, and we can prepare them for the Sacraments.

On the third Sunday, we celebrate World Mission Sunday. Pope Francis, in his message, asks us to respond to our baptismal call to mission by saying, “Here I Am, Send me.” Third Sunday, October 18th is the Feast of St. Luke, who was a physician and patron saint of the medical profession. This weekend Mass we pray for all those who are sick, and offer a special prayer for the caregivers and healthcare professionals. Those who need it, there will be an opportunity to receive the Sacrament of the Sick. Fourth Sunday, we pray for domestic violence and human trafficking. Again, it is an opportunity to reflect on the dignity of life in our day-to-day life.

The scripture readings for this weekend are about the covenant, bond of love in marriage, a bond that God wishes to be permanent. In the book of Genesis, there are two creation accounts. The first one in chapter one which involves 7 days of creation. The second chapter gives us the second account of creation where man is created first. God created Adam, then created everything else and placed him in the garden to care for everything. But Adam was alone and the solitude was not good for him. So God created a woman, a partner for him. When man meets woman, it is the climax of the reading where Adam says, "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” It is an institution of a covenant.

This reading prepares us to listen to the Gospel passage. It is a kind of debate taking place in the Gospel. The Pharisees wanted to prove that Jesus is wrong. The base of their argument is Deuteronomy 24:1, “When a man, after marrying a woman, is later displeased with her because he finds in her something indecent, and he writes out a bill of divorce and hands it to her, thus dismissing her from his house…” Jesus told them that Moses’s teaching was temporary due to their hardness of heart. Jesus emphasizes in the Book of Genesis, Chapter 1:27 and 2:24, in the beginning of creation, there Jesus proclaims permanence to be the divine intent from the beginning concerning human marriage.

Let us pray for families. On October 1 we celebrated St. Therese of Lisieux. Her family, the Martin family, including St. Therese, is considered a school of love because they were a place of learning and training in virtue. Let us ask her intercession for our families to grow in holiness.

The Work of the Spirit!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 19:17:00 GMT

The Work of the Spirit!

When I was reading for this Sunday and reflecting on the work of the Holy Spirit, the story of Venerable Solanus Casey came to my attention. Solanus was born in Wisconsin in 1870 and died in Detroit, Michigan, in 1957. He came from a farming family, but his pioneering spirit led him to travel around the Wild West, taking on various jobs before finally discerning his call to the priesthood. One of those jobs brought him into contact with Jim and Cole Younger, two famous gunfighters who worked for Jesse James and his gang. Solanus' kindness impressed the outlaws so much that Cole Younger gave him a present, a clothing trunk, which the future priest brought with him to the seminary. Solanus was not a good student in the seminary – he failed enough classes and was invited to leave. But he succeeded on a second try when he joined the Capuchin Franciscans in Detroit.

He was ordained in 1904, though his academic performance was so poor that it disqualified him from hearing confessions and giving formal sermons. Solanus spent nearly fifty years as a priest, working as the doorkeeper (porter) in various Capuchin parishes from Harlem to Detroit. He would welcome the poor, the homeless, and the affluent – whoever came to the parish in need. Soon, he also gained a reputation as a healer and started attracting Protestants, Jews, and Catholics. As his reputation spread, people came to him by the thousands, looking for comfort, advice, and healing. The growing demands of his ministry wore him out. Often, after a grueling day of counseling, he would fall asleep on the floor of his office or church or be found at two or three in the morning trying to wind down by playing his fiddle in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Venerable Solanus Casey had significant human limitations but was so filled with grace that his life became a roaring waterfall spreading God's goodness.

The reading reminds us of the work of the Spirit. We have to be open to the work of the Holy Spirit. The first reading is from the book of Numbers, Chapter 11. Israelites had lamented the absence of meat from their diet, comparing the manna and the variety of food items they had in Egypt. Moses approaches God and explains his inability to manage these people. Moses was told to summon 70 leaders to the meeting tent to receive a portion of the Spirit he had been given. Sixty-eight did go to that tent, received the Spirit, and began prophesying. Can we see something similar in the Acts of the Apostles 2? The Apostles were gathered in the upper room, and the Holy Spirit came upon them. Many other passages explain people receiving the Spirit and prophesying, like the Soul receiving the Spirit and joining the prophets (I Samuel 10:10-12). In the first reading from the Numbers, the story takes a turn. Two leaders, Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp and were not in the tent. Still, they also received the Spirit and began to prophesy. So, they were not among those with Moses in the tent but still received the Spirit of prophecy. When this was brought to Joshua’s attention, he wanted Moses to stop them. Moses wouldn’t because he could see that their preaching was authentic. They had the power and the authority of the Spirit of God. Moses’ assistant, Joshua, asked Moses to stop them. Moses asked Joshua, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the Lord be prophets?" and reminded Joshua gently that God is free to choose anyone He pleases as His prophet. Moses gently corrects Joshua.

The first reading compliments the Gospel of Mark 9:38-49. We see Jesus' response to the same kind of jealousy. Apostle John notices a man casting out demons in Jesus’ name. He said, “We tried to prevent him.” Jesus warns his disciples of their jealousy and suspicion. Jesus told them, “Whoever is not against us is for us.” Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa said, "We are to watch with joy, not jealousy, the many who prophesy and cast out demons, thus contributing to authentic human development." So stretch our hands in generosity. Jesus offered lessons on servant leadership and collaboration in ministry. He wants the apostles to rejoice in the good others are doing, for God is the doer of all good.

Jesus warns the apostle against the tendency of causing others to sin. Jesus told them to avoid whatever caused them to sin. Otherwise, they will end up in Gehenna. It is a valley directly south of Jerusalem. Jesus refers to it 11 times to talk about hell. There are two associations made with Gehenna: 1. Greek rendering of the Hebrew place name “Valley of the Sons of Hinnom.” It was the site of a frightful Canaanite cult that worshiped the idols of Malech and Baal by burning children in sacrifice (Jeremiah 7:30-32; 19:1-6; 32:35). 2. In Jesus' time, Gehenna was a smoldering garbage dump and burned continually (Matthew 5:22; 18:9; 23:34). Jesus tells us that if someone stops us from being close to Him and living in holiness, cut that person or situation away from us. The most important thing is being close to Him and doing good.

In the second reading, St. James gives us practical aspects of life. We can be good neighbors, or we can be scandalous. Jesus invites us to share our blessings with others and help each other grow in holiness. Let us be open to the work of the Holy Spirit around us. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to guide us so we can be a blessing to each other.

Our humble Shepherd breaks and shares with us!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 15:53:39 GMT

Our humble Shepherd breaks and shares with us!

Mark's gospel has three prophecies of action and reaction. The first reaction is Christological (Mark 8:31-38). Peter fails to understand how the anointed could suffer and die. Last Sunday, we heard this first prophecy – Peter rebuked Jesus. The second and third reactions are about discipleship. Disciples are thinking about what is in it for them.

This Sunday’s Gospel is the second prophecy (Mk 9:30-37). On one side, Jesus continues his ministry of secrecy and keeping a low profile. On the other side, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise” (Mk 9:31). In the book Daniel talks about the Son of Man - “I saw coming with the clouds of heaven One like a son of man” (7:13). Even though we name the Gospel passage narrated as passion prediction, Jesus links the crucifixion and the glory of Easter morning and Easter Sunday. Jesus is taking an image of messianic glory from the Old Testament Book of Daniel and uniting it to an image of suffering and death to predict his passion. The disciples could not understand what those words could mean, but they were afraid to ask questions.

The first reading from the book Wisdom is in chapter 2. The first reading (2:12,17-20) compliments the Gospel passage on passion perdition. This is a mysterious text about a suffering righteous man, a suffering servant, who isn't just called a servant but is called the Son of God. Since ancient times, this text has been interpreted as a kind of prophecy of the Messiah, a prophecy of Christ. The entire chapter 2 is similar to what we see of Christ in the New Testament.

Despite all the signs Christ had provided and privileged instructions he had given, the disciples were still not reconciled with his imminent Passion and Death on the Cross. They would only understand completely with the infusion of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

The second reading is in tune with the second part of the Gospel – the dispute among the apostles about who is the greatest. False wisdom is rooted in pride, whereas true wisdom is humble, merciful, serene, and sincere. James warns us that selfish ambitions destroy peace and cause conflicts and war. Greed, pride, and disordered attachment to things of the world are the leading causes of conflict among people. So, James advises us to choose the path of righteousness and humble service, which leads to lasting peace. He is emphatic about the contrast between spiritual wisdom and earthly wisdom.

In the first part of the Gospel, Jesus repeats the second time about his passion, death, and resurrection: “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” They were afraid to ask Jesus a question about it, but they were arguing about the question, “Who was the greatest?”

Christ offered a lesson on servant leadership and collaboration in ministry. The two conditions of true greatness to which Jesus called us are humility and service. This calling, vocation, to humble, loving service belongs to the Church as a whole and to every member of the Church individually. Mother Teresa says, “The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace.”

Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves” (Mt 11:29). “What is the essential thing in the religion and discipline of Jesus Christ?” St. Augustine asks and then responds, “I shall reply: first humility, second humility, and third humility.”

Jesus, our shepherd, our humble and suffering servant – who humbled himself to be born in Bethlehem – the house of bread – laid in the manger where the animals were fed – who fed the poor in the wilderness in the multiplication of bread and fish – gave himself at the last supper and said, “This is My Body” and “This is My Blood.” And we are sent out to be his flesh and blood.

Catechetical Sunday and Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) Kick-off

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 18:50:20 GMT

Catechetical Sunday and Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) Kick-off

This weekend is Catechetical Sunday and Catholic Service Appeal (CSA) Kick-Off. This year the theme for Catechetical Sunday is "Lord, when did we see you hungry" Matthew 25:37.

A couple of years ago, I read a story from one of the blogs from Fr. Bloom. Many years ago, in England, three men were pouring a mixture of water, sand, lime, and other ingredients into a trough. A passer-by asked them what they were doing. The first said, "I am making mortar." The second: "I am laying bricks." But the third said, "I am building a cathedral." They were doing the same thing, but each looked at it differently. And what a difference that made! We can see something similar in how people relate to their parish and why they give. One person may say, "Oh! All they do down there is to ask for money or volunteers." The second person may reply, "Well, you must pay the bills and need a catechist and other ministers." But the third person may say, "I am building the Body of Christ." What a difference in their perspectives! What do you or I see?

We are in Eucharistic Revival Years and Maintenance to Mission. Catechetical Sunday is a beautiful opportunity to reflect on each person's role, by Baptism, in handing on the faith and witnessing the Gospel. Catechetical Sunday is an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to this mission as a community of faith. At the same time, we recognize and commission missionaries of our cluster who are dedicated to handing over Faith to our younger generation. I would like to express my gratitude to all our catechists who are willing to take the time to share faith with our youngsters. Catechetical Sunday reminds us of our baptismal call to share the faith. Faith formation is not just for young people.

This weekend is the kick-off of the Catholic Service Appeal (CSA). We make our pledge and join with Bishop James Powers for the mission of the diocese. This year's theme is “United in the Eucharist: Empowered for Mission.” Our gifts make it possible to answer this question as a diocese through different ministries. This year, the goal for St. Anthony is $34,948.75; Immaculate Conception is $11,818.16; and for St. Francis is $4,088.44. Please prayerfully consider being part of CSA. If you cannot do it today, please bring it next Sunday, or you can mail it. Envelopes are available at the pew and entrance. CSA Sunday and Catechetical Sunday are reminders of the role that each one of us is called to play by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. We need to keep reminding ourselves.

Twenty-fourth Sunday's first reading and Gospel invites us to reflect on suffering servant. The book of Isaiah has four servant songs. It is amazing that Isaiah wrote these servant songs over 500 years before Christ. It perfectly describes Jesus—today’s passage (50:5-9) third Servant Song. Isaiah speaks of God crushing the suffering servant. The Hebrew term ’asham is used to describe a particular type of sacrifice. The meaning of ’asham is “be guilty.” It is a reparation offering. In the book of Leviticus 5:14-26, he talks about the offering of reparation. The servant bears the iniquity of the people. Isaiah’s servant song foreshadows Jesus's life and mission.

The first reading compliments the Gospel, Jesus' prediction of his passion and his call to take up your cross and follow me (Mk 8:27-35). This took place in Caesarea Philippi, a gentile city beyond the northern border of Palestine. The passage starts with a fundamental question. “Who do men say that I am?” which leads to a straightforward question, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter comes up with the answer, “You are the Christ.” Peter was not just voicing his opinion; he was confessing his faith.

Jesus immediately instructs the disciples about the suffering and shame he must face to accomplish his mission. This is the third time Jesus is predicting that his suffering will end in death and the resurrection on the third day. First, Peter professed faith when he heard about the suffering, “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.” Jesus rebuked Peter for rejecting the prospect of suffering and said,"Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." St. Paul says the Crucifixion proved to be a “Stumbling block” to many of Jesus' contemporaries (1Cori 1:23).

Then Jesus warns his disciples about the cost of discipleship. He said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.” Gospel gives us an outline of the three conditions of Christian discipleship: denying oneself, taking up one’s cross, and following Jesus. In short, discipleship requires dedication and commitment. Christ taught them that the greatness in the Kingdom is based on the spirit of service.

9/11 and the readings remind us to be watchmen of our brothers and sisters.

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 13:16:41 GMT

9/11 and the readings remind us to be watchmen of our brothers and sisters.

We are remembering September 11. Let us try to imagine we were on the ground running to save our lives or running to someone else. What will be our mental and emotional condition? It is hard to explain. Today we remember all those who died on that day, all those who did heroic action to save a life. Like Gale Sayers, they said, “I am third.” Let us remember them in prayer with a grateful heart and let us also pray for all those who are serving in different capacities: first responders and all others being ready to serve and do the sacrifice.

I start the second reading from St. James. This is the second week we are listening from St. James. The apostle and cousin of Jesus, gives some basic and challenging principles of life. Favoritism for people of higher social classes is hypocritical for a Christian, who must love all persons unconditionally and equally. If we truly love God and neighbor, we are fulfilling God’s will. If we want to be away from these temptations, we need to listen to Jesus, “Be open,” open our hearts and minds for others.

The first reading and Gospel reminds us that God is with us always, be open to his presence, his Word, his blessings. The first reading from the book of Isaiah tells the Israelites that God will save them, and the blind, the lame, deaf, and dumb will be healed; the parched ground will become a pool (Isaiah 35:4-7). Isaiah was speaking to God’s people during their captivity in Babylon: “Be strong, fear not. Here is your God, he comes to save you.” We read in the book of Zachariah 8:13, “Just as you became a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you that you may be a blessing. Do not fear; let your hands be strong.” The restoration of Jerusalem is compared to the Exodus from Egypt into the promised land. The physical healing and prosperity will mark the renewal of the land of the chosen people. The ultimate fulfillment takes place in Jesus.

Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus’s healing of a man who was deaf and mute (Mark 7:31-37). We can read the same passage in the Gospel of Matthew 15:29-31. We see a couple of gestures in the Gospel: Jesus put his finger into the man’s ears, spitting, touching his tongue, etc. Throughout the Gospel, we can see Jesus using the signs: touch, laying on hands, water, washing, mud, and so on. These signs laid the foundation for the Seven Sacraments, through the outward sign bringing the sanctifying grace. In the Gospel, Jesus healed the man who was deaf by uttering the word “ephphatha”, Aramaic word for “be opened.” Jesus opened his ears to hear God's Word. Jesus continues in our time, through the Sacraments and acts of charity.

In the rite of Baptism, the priest/deacon will say the Ephphatha Prayer, the Prayer over Ears and Mouth of the infant. The minister touches the ears and the mouth of the baby and says: “The Lord Jesus made the deaf hear and the dumb speak. May he soon touch your ears to receive his word, and your mouth to proclaim his faith, to the praise and glory of God the Father. Amen.”

The Ephphatha or opening to Christ at baptism is just the first of many openings to Christ all during our life. At that first opening, it was Christ who opened our ears and mouth. Since then it is up to us to open up to Christ. How many times Christ stands before us in varied ways and we have to decide to open up to Christ.

Today, are we open to receiving healing and to be an instrument of healing? We need to receive God’s love, forgiveness, and healing in a personal way and as a communitarian way. At the same, the reading reminds us that we need to intercede for others for their healing. At the Eucharist, the true healer, Jesus shares with us his very life in the Body and Blood. Let us open our minds and hearts to receive his healing touch, and hear his word, “Be opened.”

Last couple of weeks I mentioned one of the ways is “Walk With One.” I want to continue to remind you about it. It is an invitation to think about one person/family whom we don’t see with us for a while but we would like to see them back to celebrate the Eucharist with us. Then pray for that individual or family for a while. Eventually befriend them. Once friendship grows and shares faith with them and invites them to celebrate the Eucharist with us. When I say invite them, I assume you know when you invite a non catholic, they need to go to RCIA to prepare to receive the Sacraments. The Eucharist sends us to share the gift we received at the celebration with others by sharing our life with others.

Last couple of weeks I mentioned “Walk With One.” It is an invitation to think about one person/family whom each of us would like to have to celebrate Eucharist with us. Then pray for that individual or family for a while. Eventually befriend them. Once friendship grows and shares faith with them and invites them to celebrate faith with us. When I say invite them, I assume you know when you invite a non catholic, they need to go to RCIA to prepare to receive the Sacraments. This is also one way of being a gift to the other.

Labor Day brings new beginnings....

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 20:11:27 GMT

Labor Day brings new beginnings....

Every human being likes to be respected, not for any accomplishment, but because we are created in the image and likeness of God. Labor Day is the day we can be proud of what we do, and respect others for their great service. Pope Francis pointed out, "Work is fundamental to the dignity of a person. It gives one the ability to maintain oneself, one's family, to contribute to the growth of one's own nation."

After Labor Day, schools are open, it seems like we are more active and society is more engaged and busy. It is an opportunity for us to pray for each one of us, our labor, whatever field we are engaged in. It is also a special moment to pray for our children and youth, those who are going back to school and college. That’s their labor, studying well prepares them for the future. Let us pray for them, their families, and teachers. Soon we will be starting our faith formation program and in a special way we pray for catechists and families on Catechetical Sunday, September 15.

Twenty second Sunday, all four readings bring different dimensions of the same message. The first reading is an exhortation by Moses to keep the law that God gave them, that Israel may live in the land as a wise people. The Responsorial Psalm talks about the virtue to enter into the Temple – the one who does the justice, and cares for the neighbor. The second reading emphasizes the obedience of the divine law by doing it not just hearing it. In the Gospel Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for the observance of human custom rather than divine law.

The first reading takes us back to 13 centuries before Christ. Israelites are on the way to the Promised Land, but Moses is still with them. God told Moses at Meribah that because he struck the rock because of lack of confidence in God, he would not enter the Promised Land. They are getting closer to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land and so he had some last words instructing and encouraging God’s people and he wants them to prosper. He reminded them that their prosperity is only if they keep God’s law. In St. James’ words, “Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves” (1:22).

We are back to the Gospel of Mark from John. We see in the reading, the Pharisees are scandalized that Christ’s disciples “took food with unclean hands" (Mk 7.2). This isn't just a question of hygiene, right, there is something more going on here. The Pharisees were a sect within Judaism that made one of their goals to live according to the holiness of the Temple in their daily lives. They manufactured religious customs and added them to Mosaic Law. Numbers 9, for example, talks about some of these ritual washings.

The first thing to note is that Jesus does not teach at all to disobey the law. He teaches to give more importance to the dispositions of the heart rather than to the superficial gestures and rites. On one hand, Jesus invites us to follow the Commandments and on the other hand, He shows that "purity" is not a matter of washed hands or lips purified by rituals, but is a matter of the heart. The Pharisees wrongly elevated the human tradition to the God given law.

The question is how we prepare the heart to God. St Bede the Venerable says, We approach God "with the frequent purification of alms, tears and the other fruits of justice that make the heart and the body pure in order to participate in the mysteries of heaven." Jesus came to tell us that no law, big or small, has meaning if it is not accompanied by love and if it is not consumed in love. Every time we gather for the Eucharist, we encounter Jesus who offered himself for us and won eternal life for us. From every Mass we are sent out to follow in his footsteps, to break and share our life. It is not easy, but let us persevere and get into a healthy addiction.

Cardinal Tagle said at the National Eucharistic Congress that at every Mass we are sent out to be the Flesh and Blood of Christ. We are sent out to be a gift to each other. Jesus came to be a gift to us. Jesus shares with us every time we gather to celebrate Eucharist. Then we are sent out to “Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves” (1:22).

"Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 20:23:03 GMT

"Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

This is the fifth week we are listening from the Gospel of John chapter 6, the Bread of Life discourse. It was a great opportunity for me to share some of the awesome moments from the National Eucharistic Congress. There is much more to say.

This week I would like to share one of my personal experiences. From younger days onward Eucharist is the center of my life. But each stage I grew with deeper appreciation for Eucharist. In 2019, I was visiting my family in India. During my visit I had an opportunity to visit my mom’s home parish, Christ the King Church, where a Eucharistic miracle took place on November 15, 2013. During the Mass, after the consecration, Jesus' face appeared on the Holy Host, the Body of Christ. The Holy Host was sent to Rome for the scientific evaluation. In 2018, based on the guideline of the Holy See, Archbishop of Thalassery declared that the Eucharist is a Relic of Divinity and placed it on the side Altar for prayers and reverence. During my visit I spent some time in prayer with my dad and brother. I had an inspiration to have a Eucharistic procession. Then I brought it up at one of the Parish Council meetings at St. Anthony and all of them were in support of the idea and we had a Eucharistic procession on the Feast of Corpus Christi 2019. In 2020, USCCB started to talk about the need of Eucharistic Revival. In 2021, they started planning and in 2022 began the Eucharistic Revival Years and the Bishop asked each cluster to have a Eucharistic procession. When the USCCB announced about the 10th Eucharistic Congress, I desperately wanted to go, but I know that only selected people will be going from the Diocese. When I received the list of priests going for the Eucharist Congress, I couldn’t believe that I was one of them.

As I mentioned on the first Sunday, I enjoyed every moment of the Eucharistic Congress. But the highlight of the Congress for me was the celebration of the Eucharist and Adoration. It was an awesome moment to be with 60,000 fire filled people to celebrate faith. I had an opportunity to participate in one of eastern rights, Syro-Malabar Mass, in which I grew up. It added flavor to my Eucharistic Congress experience. I am sure I will cherish this experience my whole life.

We were reading from the Gospel of John chapter 6, the Bread of Life discourse. After listening to Jesus many of his disciples complained, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” If we want to understand the background of this question, we need to read the previous passage. Jesus claims to be “the bread that comes down from heaven” (John 6:50); “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day”(John 6:54); “What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?” (62) and these claims provoked them. Jews were waiting for the coming of the Messiah, but when he came they were not ready to embrace him. I think they accepted his humanity, but they failed to accept his divinity. Jesus encouraged everyone to take a leap of faith and at the same time he did not try to rephrase his words in order to clear up the misunderstanding. Jesus meant that his Body and Blood are real food and drink. At the Last Supper, Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, blessed and gave to his disciples and said, “This is my Body” likewise he took the cup, gave thanks, blessed and gave it to them and said, “This my Blood.” And said to them, “Do this in remembrance of me” Luke 22:19.

Jesus’ teaching was hard for many disciples, and they returned to their former way of life. This point Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Then we hear the profound words from Peter, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God” (68&69). Here we see the connection between the first reading and Gospel. In the first reading Joshua, the leader who succeeded Moses, gathered all the tribes of Israelite in Shechem, where God first appeared to Abraham (Genesis 12:6-7). Joshua told them he was going to serve the Lord, and called Israel to choose which god they will serve. We heard their answer with similar words from Peter, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD for the service of other gods. For it was the LORD, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. He performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among the peoples through whom we passed. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God" Joshua 24:17&18).

Jesus shares with us his very self in the Eucharist. Even today this great mystery is a puzzle for many. There were different reactions. What is our reaction? Like the twelve, we may not leave him either. It is good to recall our high moment of Eucharistic experience and low moment. They think about what can I do to make our Eucharistic celebration a profound experience.

Also I would like to invite you reflect on living the Eucharistic Mission – sharing with others. Last couple of weeks I mentioned one of the ways is “Walk With One.” It is an invitation to think about one person/family whom each of us would like to have to celebrate Eucharist with us. Then pray for that individual or family for a while. Eventually befriend them. Once friendship grows and shares faith with them and invites them to celebrate faith with us. When I say invite them, I assume you know when you invite a non catholic, they need to go RCIA to prepare to receive the Sacraments.

"My flesh for the life of the world."

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 20:07:29 GMT

"My flesh for the life of the world."

At the Eucharistic National Congress, Mother Olga of Sacred Heart, shared a number of Eucharistic miracles which she encountered. One of them was of a young boy Mighty Quinn. At the age of three, Quinn was diagnosed with cancer. He went through chemo, radiation and many surgeries. He did well for ten months and cancer came back. This point Mother didn’t know Quinn and family. It was a scary time for Quinn and family when the cancer came back. Someone told them to go to the convent and pray with the sisters. They had a prayer room with forty five relics of saints. They had two relics of the Cross which Mother gave to little Quinn and prayed with him. When they left Mother continued to pray for him and a voice came to her saying “Give me to him”. First she thought it meant to pray for him. Twenty four hours later she recognized that Jesus was asking her to give him Holy Communion. But he was not five years old yet. So Mother called a canon lawyer in the diocese to see whether it is possible to have Quinn receive Holy Communion. An exception was granted for Quinn to receive Holy Communion. Mother approached his parents and told them about the possibility of giving him First Communion before he started the radiation. Quinn’s father asked Mother why she wants him to receive First Communion before radiation starts. Father said, “He is dying.” Mother told Quinn’s father that she doesn't have an answer about the length of his life, but she knows Jesus wants to be with him. Forty eight hours later Quinn received his First Communion. Quinn received Holy Communion every Sunday. Doctors were surprised that Quinn didn’t have much side effect after 33 days of radiation. Mother said, “He became an inspiration because of his faith.” He was given an opportunity to go to Disneyland. He told his mom to make sure to book the ticket Sunday after the Mass and also be back on Saturday, so he doesn't miss the Sunday Mass. Then Mother said, “His whole life became around the Eucharist.” Mother continued and gave thanks to God through the power of the Eucharist and helped Our Lady, and Quinn is free of cancer. In social media he is known as Mighty Quinn.

This fourth week we listen to the “Bread of Life” discourse from Gospel of John 6. Jesus tells us that he is "the living bread that came down from heaven." He is talking about the sacrament of the Eucharist: it becomes truly present - body, blood, soul, and divinity - under the appearance of bread and wine. The other sacraments give us God's grace, but the sacrament of the Eucharist gives us God himself as our nourishment. He says, "My flesh is real food, my blood is real drink," and "Whoever eats my flesh... has eternal life."

Catechism says that "Man is made to live in communion with God, in whom he finds happiness". The Mass gives us objective contact with God. There are other ways to encounter God too. Eucharist is the most important part of our faith journey. Eucharist is called the Sacrament of the sacrament. Mass is the perfect act of worship, because Mass is Jesus Christ's own prayer.

Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith. Most of the time the other Sacraments take place during the Mass. Eucharist is a celebration of community, but we take it individually and continue to celebrate at the altar of our daily life.

In today’s first reading, Book of Proverbs, wisdom builds her house, sets her table, invites all the simple to the rich feast. We read in the proverb “to the one who lacks understanding, she says, “Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding.” The early Christians often identified Jesus as the Wisdom of God. They regarded the Eucharist as Wisdom’s banquet, where they shared in the Divine Wisdom now present in Jesus.

Jesus says, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” At the National Eucharistic Congress, Cardinal Tagle said his homily, and after each Mass we are sent out to be his flesh and blood. In the Eucharistic celebration Jesus gives himself as a gift to each one of us and we are sent out to be a gift to each other – a gift to spouse, parents a gift to children, children a gift to parents, and so on. It is applicable wherever we spend our time during the week.

There are two points for our reflection: First, Do I grow in greater appreciation for Eucharist? For example, like Quinn, give priority for Sunday Eucharistic celebration. Second, Cardinal Tagle’s message – be the flesh and blood of Jesus – be the gift to someone.

One way of being a gift is to walk with one in the faith journey. I shared with you a point from Eucharistic Congress. A repetitive message of the Eucharist Congress was – “Walk With One.” It is an invitation to think about one person/family whom each of us would like to have to celebrate Eucharist with us. Then pray for that individual or family for a while. Eventually befriend them. Once friendship grows and shares faith with them and invites them to celebrate faith with them. I would like to invite you to think about one person/family and pray for that individual/family and eventually befriend them and invite them to celebrate Eucharist.

Bread of Life...!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 15:01:36 GMT

Bread of Life...!

Monsignor James Shea at the National Eucharistic Congress, started his message with these words, “Let us talk about satisfying, let us talk about hunger.” Then he shared a story. While he was praying on scripture from the book of Amos, “Days are coming, says the Lord, and when I will send the famine upon the land.” Suddenly her remembered a story his mother told him more than forty years ago. His mother was from a large family from the Windswept, North Dakota. They were so poor, they had no toilet in the home. But they were not the poorest family in the town. There was another family with many children, their mother had died young and father was drunk. Once someone gave them a pig, and the father slaughtered it and on a cold stove he roasted the meat to eat it. One of the children, a little girl, was so hungry and went to take a piece of the meat, but father caught her and pressed her hand on the hot stove. She ran out of the house squealing with pain.

Fr. Shea continued to talk about hunger for humanity. Then he said, there was a being who was jealous of God’s tender love for Adam and Eve. So he decided to poison the food supply – God. He said to them God is jealous of you. He is keeping away from you the best fruit because he knows if you eat it you will thrive and live. You are starving, look at that fruit, glossy and plump. She fell for the lie and ate the fruit and shared it with her husband. Now they lost the good food – God and life became weariness for them. They lost their freedom and became slaves. Then Fr. Shea said, humanity is starving – look at the violence, neglect, maltreatment and so on. Then he talks about God's promise and how he satisfies our hunger through the sacrifice of the Cross.

The readings for this weekend tells us God has special love for his people. How God satisfies our hunger and weariness. In the Gospel of John 6, Jesus told the disciples and everyone gathered around him that he is going to give real food again. In the first reading we see Elijah’s discouragement and frustration as he fled for his life. King Ahab of Israel married a pagan queen, Jezebel and erected an altar to Baal. The prophet Elijah challenged 450 of the pagan god Baal’s prophets, defeated them. Queen Jezebel got angry and sent soldiers to kill the prophet. Elijah fled for his life. He was going through the desert, got exhausted and fell asleep under a broom tree. He asked God for a speedy death. God sent an angel and angel woke him up and said, "Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!" The God’s gift of food provided nourishment and strengthened him to continue his journey to Horeb where Elijah would be commissioned again as God’s prophet to carry on the struggle and to anoint his successor.

In today’s gospel Jesus says, “I am the bread of life.” God offers his people abundant life, but we can miss it. Jesus offers the very life of God himself - life which sustains us not only now in this age but also in the age to come. He is the true bread of heaven that can satisfy the deepest hunger we experience.

We saw in the Gospel, the Jews murmured about Jesus because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." To accept the gift of the Bread of Life, they had to first accept that Jesus came from the Father. He was Divine. To understand the miracle and mystery of Communion, our starting point must be that Jesus is Divine, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. He gives us who He is, Eternal Life. When we receive the Eucharist, we are united to Him, to each other and to the whole Body of Christ.

What do I have to offer at the Eucharist? We have to think about what I want to offer every time we come for the Eucharist. It may be someone in our family who is sick, or may be my own disappointments and struggles. It may be a victory and joy of our life.

Today, what are the expenses of my offering? It may be how I prepare myself for the Eucharist. I may have to get up early and take time to get ready. I had to give up some other activities or fun to get here in the Lord’s presence to celebrate the Eucharist. It may be my financial contribution. There is an expense.

The Eucharistic celebration should not be a casual get together, as it is a giant celebration. It is a great meal, sacrifice, and thanksgiving. We may be tempted to murmur, let us stop and think what I am missing. God says, "Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!"

Jews murmured. Are there still people murmuring about Eucharist? There are people who don't know the true meaning of the Eucharist. That is the point of the Eucharistic revival and New Evangelization – Maintenance to Mission. A repetitive message of the Eucharist Congress was – “Walk With One.” It is an invitation to think about one person/family whom each of us would like to have to celebrate the Eucharist with us. Then pray for that individual or family for a while. Eventually befriend them. Once friendship grows and shares faith with them and invites them to celebrate faith with them. I would like to invite you to think about one person/family and pray for that individual/family and eventually befriend them and invite them to celebrate the Eucharist.

Happy Flambeau Rama!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 19:24:07 GMT

Happy Flambeau Rama!

This weekend we celebrate Flambeau Rama! Let us celebrate the spirit of community, family and friends.

I was listening to Bishop Barron at the National Eucharistic Congress. One of his quotes from Father Ronald Knox, a Catholic apologist from England who died in 1957 captured my attention. After reading Fr. Knox’s words on Eucharist, Bishop said, it always stayed with him. He continued, “Knox said that almost all of Jesus’ commands have been dishonored – or at least honored in the breach. You know, ‘Love your enemies and bless those who curse you and don’t judge.’ All the moral demands of Jesus, time and again, we disregard those. “But, strangely, Knox said there is a command of Jesus that we have over the centuries consistently obeyed, and that is, ‘Do this in remembrance of me.’

Jesus said at the Last Supper, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Most of us take it seriously and come together to celebrate the Eucharist. The National Eucharistic Congress is one of the best proof for that. Around 60,000 people came together to celebrate the faith and sent out to proclaim the faith. Cardinal Tagle, Papal Delegate, said in his homily, we are sent out to be Jesus flesh and blood for others.

We have the Gospel reading from John chapter 6:24-35 on Eucharist. Last week, we heard the multiplication of loaves and fish (6:1-15). This week, Jesus says, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."

People were looking for Jesus, and they asked him, “Rabbi, how did you get here.” Jesus didn’t answer their question directly. Instead, he addressed the reason why they were looking for him: they were looking for another free meal. He tells them to seek Bread that will last forever, the Bread He will give. Earthly food is necessary to sustain the earthly life, but because it is perishable, it is not sufficient to give us supernatural life. Only Christ can give us the food that satisfies our spiritual hunger and gives eternal life. People told Jesus “Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” Our first reading is from the book of Exodus16:2-4, 12-15 which gives us the account of the Israelite receiving the “Manna” in the wilderness. “Then the Lord said to Moses: I am going to rain down bread from heaven for you (Exodus 16:4).” We read in the Book of Wisdom “Instead of this, you nourished your people with food of angels and furnished them bread from heaven, ready to hand, untoiled-for, endowed with all delights and conforming to every taste (Wisdom 16:20).” The wilderness manna was not false bread; it was merely a sign of the imperishable bread, the Eucharist. Manna did not take them to the heavenly reality, but Jesus himself the true bread of life which takes us to heaven. The manna, the bread came from heaven, nourished only by the body. Christ gives us his very self as the bread of life that nourishes the soul.

Eucharist is not just food for our journey, it is also the end of our journey, heaven. What does heaven look like? The heaven: saints, angels, are in full communion with God. At every Mass, heaven touches the earth. All saints and angels are present at the Mass. Jesus said to the people, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent” (John 16:29). We can see only bread, but in the Eucharist Jesus gives himself. Jesus said, "Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

The National Eucharistic Congress Fr. Mike Schmitz said, we all know and believe in the real presence of Jesus. What is the point of the Mass? It is the Sacrifice of Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity to the Father in humble obedience. In the Mass it happens when the priest holds the Body of Christ and Blood of Christ and says the prayer, “Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, for ever and ever. Amen.” He said, that moment is the moment Jesus on the Cross says, “Into your hands I commend my Spirit.” He continues, that moment we are in Calvary, that moment we are participating in the restoration of the world.

St. Ignatius of Loyola says, “He had made Himself our pay, giving himself as our brother in our flesh; as the price of salvation on the Cross, and as the food and the companion of our wanderings in the Eucharist. Oh, how worthless must a soldier be for whom such an accumulation of recompense does not suffice to make him toil for the honor of such a Prince!”

When we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, we are a people gathered in faith. Faith brings trust, which gives us the strength to face the challenges of day-to-day life to live that faith. We celebrate and proclaim our faith in the Eucharist and take with us to share with one another.

I mentioned last week that at the National Eucharistic Congress, one point to take away was “Walk With One.” Bishop Cozcens said at the final mark to the 60,000 pilgrims to walk with one. He asked to think about one person whom you would like to see in the church and pray for that individual or family. Eventually befriend them. Once friendship grows and shares faith with them and invites them to celebrate faith with them. I would like to invite you to think about one family where each one of us can pray and eventually befriend them and invite them to the faith.

"Happy and joy-filled Grandparents Day and Happy Pioneer Days!"

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 18:49:13 GMT

"Happy and joy-filled Grandparent's Day and Happy Pioneer Days!"

Happy and joy-filled Grandparents Day and Happy Pioneer Days!

This weekend we celebrate Butternut Pioneer Days. Let us celebrate the spirit of community, family and friends.

In 2021, Pope Francis announced World Day for the Grandparents and the Elderly. The Pope invites us to be celebrated each year on the fourth Sunday of July, coinciding with the feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s parents and Jesus’ grand- parents, Sts. Joachim and Anne.

Pope Francis, in his message says, “God never abandons his children, never. Even when our age advances and our powers decline, when our hair grows white and our role in society lessens, when our lives become less productive and can risk appearing useless.” Through this celebration, the Pope wants to remind us about the contribution of our grandparents and elderly. He said in 2021 message, “Young people, adults, and our society cannot save themselves without the elderly.”

We celebrate World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. They have a great gift, the gift of faith which they want to share with us all. We must be open to receiving the gift. Again, it is a call for deeper appreciation. Let us honor our grandparents and elderly and recognize the gift they have shared with us.

This Sunday we have the Gospel reading from John chapter 6, which is foundational theology of the Eucharist. This chapter begins with multiplication of loaves and fish. Jesus looked at the crowd, hungry, tired and worn out. John says, “The Jewish feast of Passover was near.” The Passover was celebrated annually in Jerusalem to commemorate the liberation of Israel from slavery (Exodus 12). When the Passover was at hand, Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish to feed the hungry. And during the Passover meal Jesus instituted the Eucharist. There are two miracles in John involving bread (John 6:1-14) and wine (John 2:1-11). At the last Supper Jesus takes the bread and wine to bless and give thanks and give to his disciples and say, “This is my Body” and “This is My Blood.”

Last weekend, I was attending the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis – 60,000 people came together to celebrate faith from all over the United States. For me the pivotal moment is the celebration of the Eucharist, Adoration and Eucharistic procession.

During the homily, Cardinal Dolan shared the story of Father Walter Ciszek, an American Jesuit missionary. He said Father Ciszek was arrested as a Vatican spy during World War II and spent 23 years in the Gulag sneaking Holy Communion with an eye drop of wine or crumbs of bread. He then spent five years unable to receive it. Father Ciszek wrote, “I was deprived of that spiritual food and the powerful reality of Holy Communion. I literally hunger to be able to receive Him once again. I knew I desperately needed that source of strength, that bread of life it provides. It was a hunger of soul as real as the bodily hunger I constantly experienced through those years.” At the closing Mass, Cardinal Luis Tagle asked 60,000 people gathered whether they would stay with Jesus. Everyone answered, “Yes.” Then he said, those who stay with Jesus will be sent by Jesus.

One point to take away was “Walk With One.” Bishop Cozcens said at the final mark to the 60,000 pilgrims to walk with one. He asked to think about one person whom you would like to see in the church and pray for that individual or family. Eventually befriend them. Once friendship grows and shares faith with them and invites them to celebrate faith with them. I would like to invite you to think about one family where each one of us can pray and eventually befriend them and invite them to the faith.

Immaculate Conception Church – Exterior renovation project.

We have a beautiful church. Our forefathers built this beautiful church 114 years ago. We have to preserve it for the next generation.

Little more than a year ago, we noticed some damage on the west side of the interior wall. Some of the paint was peeling off and some other damages. Since then, it has been part of the discussion of building committee meetings and also the Parish, and Finance councils. First we approached Conrad Schmitt Studio from New Berlin. They gave a bid for the interior work, but they advised us to perform exterior work first, to prepare for the interior work.

The Building Committee was doing some searching regarding the exterior work. Two companies looked at the exterior work and gave us a proposal. So we decided to go with Krause Konstruction from Coon Valley, WI.

The exterior work includes: replacing defaced bricks, reinforcing the brick attachment on the north side, power washing, sealing the brickwork, replacing louvers, painting the trim work and the list goes on. This work is scheduled to begin summer 2025 by Krause Construction.

In the meantime, we are going to start a fundraising. We have some savings, but we don't want to use up everything. Once the exterior work is completed, we need to look at the interior work. Our church is beautiful but it is an old building, there will be other works down the road.

Our total cost for this project is $106,600.00. If everyone participates, together we can reach the goal. Any donation is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

The Lord is My Shepherd!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 13:47:07 GMT

The Lord is My Shepherd!

In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah thunders against Israel's careless leaders, because they have shown no concern for the poor. The prophet also foretells the rises of a good, new shepherd in the family line of David. Then he consoles the Israelites enslaved in Babylon, by assuring them that God will lead them back to their original place in Israel. The second reading introduces Jesus as the shepherd of both Jews and Gentiles and explains how Jesus, the good shepherd, reconciled all of us with His Father by offering himself on the cross. Paul also speaks about another reconciliation between the Jews and the Gentiles, brought about by Jesus who accepted both into the same Christian brotherhood. The reading from the Gospel of Mark presents Jesus as the good shepherd fulfilling God’s promise given through his prophet Jeremiah in the first reading. Here we see Jesus attending to his weary apostles, who have just returned from their first preaching mission, while at the same time expressing his concern for the people who, like “sheep without a shepherd," have gathered to meet him in the wilderness.

Sheep nibble themselves astray: they keep their heads down, just as we tend to keep our heads glued to our jobs – until we look up and realize we don’t know where we are. It would be a very good thing to stop and rest, as Jesus said. When we look at it rightly, there is only one Shepherd, and every one of us is the lost sheep.

The beautiful and famous Psalm we prayed today (Ps 23), “The Lord is my shepherd” was written many centuries before Jesus but when we pray this Psalm it is natural for us to think of Jesus: “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.” We see Jesus’ concern for his apostles, and at the same time concern for his people. He is our shepherd, and at the same time we are sent out as shepherds. In other words, in certain roles, we are shepherds and other times we are the sheep without shepherds.

The reading reminds us of two points: we have to find time to spend time with our shepherd and at the same time we are sent out like apostles, shepherds to bring the “Good News” to others. Perhaps our commitment to following Jesus as his disciple leaves us feeling tired and overwhelmed. In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus affirm the importance of times of rest and renewal. Jesus wanted his disciples to come away and spend time alone with him. This is what we seek and find in our personal prayer and in our celebration of the Eucharist. This is the place we are fed and sent out to continue our mission.

Evangelization!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 14:33:23 GMT

Evangelization!

As I write this reflection, we have Totus Tuus missionaries with us. They decided to take time in their summer and got trained to be the Totus Tuus missionaries and go to parishes to teach the faith to children and youth. Through our baptism, we all are called to be missionaries.

Some time ago I read a story of a prison chaplain. The chaplain went to talk with a man sentenced to die in the electric chair. He urged him to believe in Jesus Christ and be baptized; that forgiveness and eternity with God awaited him if only he would turn towards God. The prisoner said, "Do you really believe that?" "Of course, I do," replied the chaplain. "Go on," scoffed the prisoner. "If I believed that I would crawl on hands and knees over broken glass to tell others, but I don't see you Christians making any big thing of it!" He had a point.

We are in Eucharistic Revival Years and Maintenance to Mission Years. Both invite us to learn and relearn our faith. The reading reminds us that we are commissioned to be a missionary. In the first reading, God chose Amos to deliver His words to the people of Bethel. He was from the southern kingdom and worked in an orchard. God sent him to the northern kingdom. Amaziah, the chief priest in charge of the sanctuary, told Amos to go back to the south and learn to live because he was prophesying against King Jeroboam. In those days some prophets misled the people. We see in the book of Micah 3:5, “Thus says the LORD regarding the prophets: O you who lead my people astray, when your teeth have something to bite you announce peace but proclaim war against the one who fails to put something in your mouth.” Deuteronomy 18:22 says, “If a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord but the word does not come true, it is a word the Lord did not speak. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; do not fear him.” Amos reacts strongly to Amaziah’s attempt to classify him as a “prophet for hire who earns bread” by prophesying. Amos said, I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets; I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores. The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me, Go, prophesy to my people Israel.”

The first reading prepares you to listen to the Gospel reading. Amos was a shepherd and farm worker whom God chose to be a prophet. Jesus chose twelve ordinary fishermen to proclaim the Good News. Jesus sent them two by two and gave the instruction. St. Gregory the Great suggests that Jesus sent out the disciples in pairs to signify that the twin precepts of charity: love of God and love of neighbor, are indispensable for the duty of Christian preaching. Jesus gave them authority. In the Gospel of Matthew 10:1, we read, “Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over the unclean spirit to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.” Jesus instructed them “To take nothing for the journey but a walking stick, no food, no sack, no money in their belt (Mark 6:8).” These detailed directions were indications for the need to move quickly and to be totally dependent on God’s care.

The second reading is a prayer of praising God in the form of benediction and thanksgiving for the many blessings he has showered, and God has accomplished in Jesus. Paul says, through Christ, God has given us a clear purpose in life—to praise and to serve God and one another—with the Holy Spirit as a helper in carrying out the task.

Pope Francis keeps reminding us that our Catholic faith is not primarily a bunch of rules to follow, rather, it's a relationship, and friendship with a real, living person Jesus Christ. A healthy life of prayer means that we spend time each day with that friend, listening to what he has to say to us, especially through the words of the Bible, and speaking to him about what's on our minds and hearts.

Bishop Powers in his pastoral letter he suggest four simple tasks for evangelization: 1. Pray everyday, 2. Invest in Christian friendship 3. Invest in relationships in your spheres of influence, 4. When someone opens up to you, respond.

Every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, God gives us nourishment through His Word and Body and Blood and we are sent out to proclaim the Good News. Once God sent Amos, Jesus sent His disciples, and today He sends each one of us with the same message. New Evangelization invites us to relearn our faith, renew our relationship with Christ and share with others.

Familiarity breeds contempt!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 16:07:12 GMT

Familiarity breeds contempt!

This Sunday's reading presents the theme of rejection. In the first reading, Ezekiel is commissioned to preach to rebellious Israelites, who were rude and stubborn. The prophet Ezekiel lived 600 years before Christ, before, during, and after the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem. While the false prophets were consoling the Israelites, God appointed Ezekiel to warn his people about the destruction that was to come if they did not change their ways. In today’s passage (2:2-5) God warns Ezekiel that as a prophet he would not have an easy job, and has to face rejection.

The first reading prepares us to listen to the Gospel. Gospel of Mark (6:1-6) presents Jesus’ rejection in his Galilean village, Nazareth. In the first reading, Ezekiel is a priest and prophet. In the Gospel, we see the eternal priest and prophet. When Jesus came to his native town and went to the synagogue and taught, everyone was astonished and asked one another, “Where did this man get all this?” We see similar passages in the Gospel: the Sermon on the Mount, the crowds are in admiring astonishment at Jesus’ teaching (Matthew 7:28); but here the astonishment is of those who take offense at him (Mark 6:2). “Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? (Mark 6:3)” The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that it is Jesus’ cousin or relatives. The catechism says, “James and Joseph, "brothers of Jesus", are the sons of another Mary, a disciple of Christ, whom St. Matthew significantly calls "the other Mary" (CCC500).”

Jesus uses a common proverb, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his kin and in his own house (Mark 6:4).” Jesus is often called a prophet in the Gospels. We see in the Gospel of Matthew when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowd said, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee (Matthew 21:11).” The Samaritan woman at the well says, “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet (John 4:19).”

Familiarity breeds contempt. People looked at Jesus and said, we know his family, we know him. We are in the Eucharistic Revival Years. It is an opportunity to learn and relearn our faith and to know him. What is our first thought, I know my faith, I don't have time for that, or I have a good relationship with Jesus. We need to take time to get to know him more and more deeply. Everything he did in his public ministry led to the ultimate sacrifice for our salvation. At the end of the Gospel passage for today, Jesus laid hands and cured the sick. Today laying hands is part of the Sacrament: Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and Ordination. Jesus continues to work the miracles through the Sacraments.

Immaculate Conception Church – Exterior renovation project.

We have a beautiful church. Our forefathers built this beautiful church 114 years ago. We have to preserve it for the next generation.

Little more than a year ago, we noticed some damage on the west side of the interior wall. Some of the paint was peeling off and some other damages. Since then, it has been part of the discussion of building committee meetings and also the Parish, and Finance councils. First, we approached Conrad Schmitt Studio from New Berlin. They gave a bid for the interior work, but they advised us to perform exterior work first, to prepare for the interior work.

In the meantime, we are going to start fundraising. We have some savings, but we don't want to use up everything. Once the exterior work is completed, we need to look at the interior work. Our church is beautiful but is an old building, there will be other works down the road.

Our total cost for this project is $106,600.00. If everyone participates, together we can reach the goal. Any donation is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Happy July 4th!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 14:23:24 GMT

Happy July 4th!

This week we celebrate July 4th. We are grateful for our country and we want to be good citizens. On July 4th, 1826, Thomas Jefferson wrote in a letter: “May it be to the world, what I believe it will be ... the signal of arousing men to burst the chains ... and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. That form, which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. ...For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights and an undiminished devotion to them."

The best thing we can do to become better citizens is to be better Christians. Every year around July 4th the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops invites us to pray for religious freedom. We are excited to celebrate July 4th, but we need to hold on to that spirit every day, every aspect of our life.

Last Sunday, we meditated on the storms of life and restoration of peace. This Sunday we meditate on death and restoration of life. The readings urge us to be grateful for our body and soul health and use God’s gifts of life and health responsibly.

What is death? Every living being dies. What is our experience of death? Fearful…..isn’t it? In the first reading from the book of Wisdom (1:13-15, 2:23-24) we heard that God does not make death. Ezekiel 18:32 says, “For I find no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies—oracle of the Lord GOD. Turn back and live!”

The first reading takes us to the book of Genesis: God created Adam and Eve in his image and likeness (1:27) for immortality. The natural order was wholesome. But the devil brought death into the world.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 397 says, “Man, tempted by the devil, let his trust in his Creator die in his heart and, abusing his freedom, disobeyed God's command. This is what man's first sin consisted of. All subsequent sin would be disobedience toward God and lack of trust in his goodness.” After the Fall, suffering, and death entered the world. Nevertheless, in Genesis 3:15, God gave the promise of redemption which is known as the protoevangelium (First Gospel).

The first reading prepares us for the Gospel reading (Mk 5:21-43) raising of Jairus’ daughter and healing of a woman who was afflicted with hemorrhages. This Gospel passage is like a sandwich- start with Jairus’ request to heal his daughter, then the woman enters the picture who received healing and the passage ends with Jairus home and Jesus raising his daughter.

Jesus, the New Adam, came to restore the life of humanity. In this Gospel passage, we see, that he witnesses to his divinity and strengthen the faith of his followers. The restoration of the life of the diseased girl is a prefigurement of the dead as well as his own resurrection. When he entered the house, he told them, “The child is not dead, but sleeping” (5:39). In other words, Jesus said that the girl’s condition was temporary.

St. Blade says that the girl signifies the young Christian whose heart remains deadened by the world. Christ must clear away the crowd of impure thoughts to revive and strengthen the believer to begin walking in good deeds.

The woman who was afflicted with hemorrhages – was suffering for twelve years. It was a condition that made her and everything she touched unclean (Leviticus 15:25-30). In the Gospel, Jesus removes her uncleanliness by physical touch. Jesus came to destroy death and restore life.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 2616 says, Prayer to Jesus is answered by him already during his ministry, through signs that anticipate the power of his death and Resurrection: Jesus hears the prayer of faith, expressed in words (the leper, Jairus, the Canaanite woman, the good thief) or in silence (the bearers of the paralytic, the woman with a hemorrhage who touches his clothes, the tears and ointment of the sinful woman). The urgent request of the blind men, "Have mercy on us, Son of David" or "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" has been renewed in the traditional prayer to Jesus known as the Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!" Healing infirmities or forgiving sins, Jesus always responds to a prayer offered in faith: "Your faith has made you well; go in peace."

Jesus brought numerous people to life. Ultimately, like Paul says in the second reading, “the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ,” the sacrificial love of Jesus restores man’s ability to receive the life of God.

God did not make death. It is the work of the devil. In the second reading, St. Paul (2Cor 8:7,9,13-15) says that Jesus embraced poverty so that we may become rich. Jesus emptied himself of his glory to restore our life through his passion, death, and resurrection. He came to make us a new creation.

Come and join for the Cluster Picnic on Sunday in Fifield!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 19:42:48 GMT

Come and join for the Cluster Picnic on Sunday in Fifield!

The Cluster picnic is a great opportunity to gather as a cluster to celebrate our faith and to meet and greet and have some fun. If it is hot, and if you would like to cool down, a dunk tank will help you. You have just been seated on a dunk tank seat, some of our young people will help you go down. I am sure they will have fun. We will have good music, good food, and a good time. If you are here at St. Anthony or Immaculate Conception for Mass, still consider to come down around noon, and join us for the picnic. It is three blocks east of St. Francis Catholic Church on Balsam Street.

This weekend's reading reminds us that life can face some stormy moments, but God is with us, and with him everything is possible. God is the calming of the storm. The first reading is from the book of Job. The entire book addresses the problem of human suffering. We see Job deal with the agony of undeserved suffering. We can see so many similarities between Job and Christ. In the last chapter (42), Job’s fortunes are restored which prefigures the resurrection of Christ to make us a new creation and promise of eternal life. In this weekend's reading, God addresses Job and questions his right to challenge God, the Creator, and the Lord of the Sea. God speaks about the creation and confining of the sea. We read in the Book of Genesis 1:9, “Then God said: Let the water under the sky be gathered into a single basin, so that the dry land may appear. And so it happened: the water under the sky was gathered into its basin, and the dry land appeared.” The first reading emphasizes that only God can control the sea and storm. Basically God told Job that he doesn't know anything about how the universe operates, just trust in the Lord, and he will take care of things.

We have the Gospel from Mark and he wrote to the Romans. They were going through persecution and Mark writes all kinds of miracles and shows the power of Jesus. The Gospel from March 4:35-41, talks about Jesus calming a storm on the sea. Mark before this passage talks about the mustard seed, its maturity, and comparison to the Kingdom of God, which is mostly connected to the internal world, then Mark describes the power of Jesus, in the external world, over wind and storm. The disciples are seasoned fishermen; normally they know what to do in those moments of storm. They might have tried, but they couldn’t succeed, so they woke Jesus up and asked for help. Jesus woke up, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” When Jesus cured the demoniac (Mark 1:25) said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit came out of the man with a loud cry. Jesus manifested his divinity by exercising authority over nature. Several Old Testament passages state that only God has the power to subdue the raging seas. We read in Psalm 89:9, “LORD, God of hosts, who is like you? Mighty LORD, your faithfulness surrounds you. You rule the raging sea; you still its swelling waves.”

The disciples were familiar with Old Testament passages and when they saw the wind obey Jesus’s order, they asked, “Who then is this whom even the wind and the sea obey?” When Jesus cured the demoniac, all were amazed and said, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him. (Mark 1:27)”

While suffering, Job asked, “Why?” In the case of Job, he lost everything. In the second reading from the 2 Corinthians (8:7,9,13-15), Jesus set aside his riches out of love for us. He embraced poverty so that we might become rich. He offered on the Cross so that we might become a new creation.

In reality amid suffering, like Job, we all ask, “Why?” We all ask the question like disciples, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” So many writers try to explain suffering or try to find answers for suffering. Only God can give us the right answer and give us hope. The book of Exodus 3:7 describes the desire of God and his action to rescue his people from Egypt. The LORD said: “I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry against their taskmasters, so I know well what they are suffering. Therefore I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them up from that land into a good and spacious land… (Exodus 3:7&8)” Jesus calmed the storm and saved the disciples. But ultimately, he saved humanity through his crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus asked the disciples, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” Today, he repeated the same question. Jesus gave a short prayer to St. Faustina: “Jesus, I trust in you.” Let us trust in his love.

Happy Father's Day!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 18:51:01 GMT

Happy Father's Day!

Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary time, the reading tells us about the birth and growth of the Kingdom of God. I am writing this message from the Extreme Faith Camp in Mason. It is a beautiful facility. But the most beautiful thing is young people from different parishes in our diocese come together for a week. It is lovely to see that high school leaders with the assistance of adults guide the middle school campers. When it started, it was for one week. Over the years, there has been great interest and there are three weeks to accommodate all the youth from the diocese. When we talk about spreading and bearing the fruit of the kingdom of God, I want to share with you this incredible experience. Some of our young people are also part of the extreme faith camp for this week.

The first reading from Ezekiel tells us the Lord will plant the topmost branches of cedar on the mountain of Israel, which will become a tree where there will dwell all beasts and birds. Ezekiel wrote this passage during the Babylonian exile. The oracle of Ezekiel talks about the restoration of the Davidic Kingdom which sheds light on the parable of the mustard seed in today’s Gospel (Mark 4:26-34). The shoot refers to the descendants of the David Kingdom which we read in Isaiah 11:1 “A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.” In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus, from the house of David, talks about the Kingdom of heaven.

We read two parables for this Sunday. Jesus takes the natural growth of a seed to explain the growth of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God visibly matures like a grain. In the first parable, the maturing of the grain signifies our increase in faith and virtue. The second parable of the mustard seed leads us to look at the smallest seed which brings the great shrub and gives the home for the birds of the sky. The imagery Jesus brings here is drawn from the Old Testament, the oracle that describes the dominion of Babylon (Daniel 4:10-12), Egypt (Ezekiel 31:1-6), and Israel (Ezekiel 17:22-24) which is our first reading.

Jews were waiting for the coming of the Messiah. Most of them expected a political Messiah to liberate Israel from the Romans. For the Pharisees, the Kingdom of God is the absolute observance of the Mosaic Law. Jesus’ Kingdom of God starts in human hearts here on earth and is completed in heaven, where we experience its fullness. The Word of God is a seed that needs to be planted in our hearts and gives nourishment that will bring a great harvest.

The second reading, from the second letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (5:6-10) gives us a summary of all three readings. St. Paul instructs the Corinthians that while we are here on earth the scripture and sacraments will give the presence of Christ, but in eternity we have the opportunity to see him face-to-face. At every Mass let us offer ourselves to God and ask Him to bless us, and the Kingdom of God will grow in us and bring a great harvest.

Happy Feast of St. Anthony

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:46:49 GMT

Happy Feast of St. Anthony!

First, I wish you all a happy Feast of St. Anthony! I don't know if you paid attention to the statue of St. Anthony. The statue of St. Anthony in Park Falls has lilies, a Child Jesus, and a book. The lily is meant to remind us of St. Anthony’s purity and our need to pray for the grace of purity in times of temptation. There is a book in his hand. According to the story, he had a hand-printed book of Psalms which was very important to him. He had notes and components to teach the students. He lost this book and St. Anthony prayed and the person who stole the book brought it back. That is where the tradition of praying to St. Anthony for the stolen items began. There are many versions of St. Anthony cradling the Christ child. The popular one is St. Anthony had traveled to a local hermitage to spend time in prayer. One night, while deep in prayer, Jesus appeared to him as a child. Then the room filled with light and laughter as St. Anthony held the Christ child in his arms. The owner of the hermitage was curious about seeing the light, and came to investigate, but was surprised to see St. Anthony and the Christ child. When the vision ended, St. Anthony found the owner of the house on his knees at the door. St. Anthony begged him not to share the story until after Anthony’s death. Let us ask the intercession of St. Anthony for each one of us, our families, and the cluster Community.

Even though we start the Ordinary Season after the Pentecost, the last two Sundays were celebrated Holy Trinity and Corpus Christi Sunday. This Sunday we are on the 10th Sunday of Ordinary time and focus on Jesus' public ministry.

We have first reading from the book of Genesis (3:9-15). In Genesis chapter three everything is turned upside down. We see in chapters one and two divinely established order, Adam and Eve to obey the will of God, and they are to rule over the animals. But we see in chapter 3, that the serpent rules over Eve and she shares with Adam, and both of them disobey God. In the passage for today, God is searching for Adam and Eve – “Where are you?” Adam blames Eve and Eve blames the serpent. Here there is an indication that there will be a constant struggle between the powers of evil and the human race, but God promises a redeemer. “I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; he will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel" (3:15). This verse is called protoevangelium-“First Gospel ''-promising the victory over the serpent by the seed of the woman – the important prophecy of the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We see this promise is fulfilled in Mary and her Son, Jesus Christ, whose death on the Cross and Resurrection conquered sin and death. So Jesus and Mary are referred to as New Adam and New Eve.

In the Gospel (Mark 3:20-35), Jesus was misunderstood by his own relatives and friends, and was criticized and rejected by the scribes and Pharisees. The scribes claimed that Christ could cast out demons because he was possessed himself. During his time there was a belief that a more powerful demon could cast out a less powerful one. Beelzebul was the name of the pagan God whose name the Jews applied to Satan. Jesus told them about the sin against the Holy Spirit. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1864 says, "Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven." There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss.

Christ destroyed the power of sin and death through his passion, death, and resurrection. We celebrate this mystery at every Mass and receive His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. He shares with us his mercy and love abundantly. We need to open ourselves to receive the gift.

As we are having the Corpus Christi procession – it is a way to adore and proclaim the greatest gift he has given to us in the Eucharist.

Corpus Christi Sunday!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 30 May 2024 18:20:22 GMT

Corpus Christi Sunday!

The famous Swiss theologian, Hans Urs von Balthasar says it this way: "When receiving the Eucharist each person must remember that he is falling into the arms of God like someone dying of hunger in the wilderness of this life.”

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ! Corpus Christi Sunday! This feast is the heart of our church and the heart of the lives of each one of us. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1322 says “The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." Most of the Sacraments take place in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

The first reading from the book of Exodus (24:3-8) gives us solemn enactment of the Covenant with Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai. Moses reads the “book of the Covenant” to the people and they say, “We will do everything that the LORD has told us, Exodus (24:3).” This covenant sealed with a sacrifice, as Moses proclaims, “This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words of his (24:8).” The Sinai ritual is a prototype of the Eucharistic covenant. We see this passage in Hebrews 9:18-20. Jesus uses the same words at the Last Supper, offering himself as a sacrifice that seals the new covenant. Today, in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus said to his disciples, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many (Mark 14:24).” The letter to Hebrews uses the Greek term ‘diatheke’ means covenant. Jesus came to establish the new covenant. In the first Corinthians 11:25, Paul quotes Jesus words and says, “After supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.””

The second reading is from the letter to the Hebrews, which was written for the Jews who were kicked out of the synagogues for accepting Jesus. The reading for today (9:11-15) compares the sacrifice offered by the High Priest in the Temple and the true sacrifice Jesus offered. Jesus is the Priest and sacrificial victim. We read in the book of Leviticus 1:3 “If a person’s offering is a burnt offering from the herd, the offering must be a male without blemish. The individual shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting to find favor with the LORD…” In the Old Covenant between God and Israel was sealed through the sacrificial blood at Mount Sinai, the New Covenant between Christ and the Church is sealed through the blood of Christ.

During Jesus public life, he preached, healed, fed people, but he didn’t lose anything, but at the Last Supper when he said “this is My Body” and “this is My Blood,” he was looking at the Cross and that eternal sacrifice. The culmination of the new covenant is on Calvary and offered His life. He has to sacrifice everything to give us the “Bread of Life.”

On Sunday, June 6 on Corpus Christi Sunday, at the Angelus, Pope Francis said, “Jesus gives us the greatest sacrament. His is a humble gesture of giving, a gesture of sharing. At the culmination of his life, he does not distribute an abundance of bread to feed the multitudes, but breaks himself apart at the Passover supper with the disciples. In this way Jesus shows us that the aim of life lies in self-giving, that the greatest thing is to serve. And today once more we find the greatness of God in a piece of Bread, in a fragility that overflows with love, that overflows with sharing. Fragility is precisely the word I would like to underscore… In the Eucharist fragility is strength: the strength of the love that becomes small so it can be welcomed and not feared; the strength of the love that is broken and shared so as to nourish and give life; the strength of the love that is split apart so as to join all of us in unity... And there is another strength that stands out in the fragility of the Eucharist: the strength to love those who make mistakes. It is on the night he is betrayed that Jesus gives us the Bread of Life…. Each time we receive the Bread of Life, Jesus comes to give new meaning to our fragilities.”

Lumen Gentium 11 states, “Taking part in the Eucharistic sacrifice, which is the fount and apex of the whole Christian life, they offer the Divine Victim to God, and offer themselves along with it.” Every time we gather together to celebrate Mass, we bring ourselves as we are to offer to God; with our joy and sorrows, strength and weakness: our total life. We become one with Christ’s sacrifice. We receive nourishment and send out to continue the mission of Christ, to break and share our lives with one another like Jesus. It is not easy, it is painful. Jesus’ Body and Blood give us strength.

This years our cluster Eucharistic procession will be on Saturday, June 8, after the 4:30 pm Mass at St. Anthony and a meal follows. If you prefer to go for Mass in your respective parish, please come and join by 5:30 for the procession. Thank you!

Happy Holy Trinity Sunday! Happy Memorial Day!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Wed, 22 May 2024 20:25:44 GMT

Happy Holy Trinity Sunday! Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day! This weekend we celebrate Memorial Day. Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. Let us hold them in our prayers. At the same time let us also remember all those who are serving to keep us safe.

Happy Holy Trinity Sunday! Easter season concluded on Pentecost Sunday. The Sunday after Pentecost we celebrate the Holy Trinity. Trinity is a mystery, but Jesus makes it easier for us. St. Patrick uses the shamrock to explain the doctrine of the Holy Trinity to his flocks in Ireland. Each of the leaves represent one of the three persons, but yet, it was still only one shamrock. Trinity is a community of self-giving love; an intimate relationship. We are made to love as the Holy Trinity loved.

In today’s Gospel (Matthew 28:16-20), Jesus talks to his disciples about the mission. Jesus says “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Genesis 1:26, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” In Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength.”

A simple definition of Holy Trinity is One God subsists three-persons. The Holy Trinity is the more visible way we can see it in the New Testament. We see in the Gospel of Luke 1:26-38, God the Father sent the angel Gabriel to Mary and told her the Holy Spirit will come upon her and she will conceive in her womb and bear a son, whom she will name Jesus. Luke 3:21-22, when Jesus, the Son, was baptized, the heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit came down like a dove, and the voice of the Father came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you, I am well pleased.” In the Gospel of John 15:26, at the Last Supper discourse Jesus says, “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me.” In the first reading from the book of Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40, Moses gives reason to be proud of their God, who is unique and there is no other god. The second reading from Romans 8:14-17, talks about the relationship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and our relationship with God. St. Paul says we are children of God through adaptation. In the second Corinthians 13:13, St. Paul gives a beautiful greeting or blessing prayer, which proclaims the Holy Trinity. St. Paul encourages them to live in peace and love and asks them to greet each other with a holy kiss, and close with these words: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.”

If we look at the Book of Genesis 1:1-3, God created heaven and earth by uttering Word and Spirit of God moving the face of the waters. Gospel of John 1:1-5, says, the Word was in the beginning, the Word was God, and all things came through him.

God the Father sent his only begotten Son, through him we may have eternal life (John 3:16). The Holy Spirit came upon Mary and she gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1) – means house of bread – and laid in a manger (Luke 2:7) – where animals were fed. In the Gospel of John 6:35 Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.”

At the Last Supper, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to his disciples and said, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins." And he commanded them and said, “Do this in memory of me” (Mt 26:26-28; cf. Mk 14:22-24, Lk 22:17-20, 1 Cor 11:23-25).

Every Mass, during the Eucharistic prayer, the Priest on behalf of the Church begs the Holy Spirit to ask the Father to send the Son that the gift of the human beings, which are to be consecrated, may truly become the Body and Blood of Christ. We receive this greatest gift of love in Holy Communion and send out to live this gift in our community. A family is a simple form of community, it grows into a church, different organizations and it grows into a wider community. We are invited to live in a community of love. Our families become truly Christian when we live in a relationship of love with God and with others.

Happy Pentecost Day! Congratulations to Our Graduates!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 16 May 2024 19:00:26 GMT

Happy Pentecost Day! Congratulations to Our Graduates!

This Sunday, we have a lot to celebrate and remember. We are honoring graduates in our cluster, we are celebrating Pentecost, which marks the end of the Easter season and beginning of Ordinary season.

Congratulations to Our Graduates! How exciting!! We ask: “What will they become?” “What will they do?” Everyone wants to know what they want to do, or what they want to be when they grow up. Graduates, the word you will hear a lot is “success.” Everybody wants you to be successful in life. We are praying for you. Every time when you come home, please don’t forget to come and pray with us. Also, wherever you are, please remember to find time to pray the Mass.

This weekend we are celebrating another success story: the feast of Pentecost. Pentecost means 50. The Jews celebrated the feast of Pentecost, fifty days after the Passover. Originally it was an agricultural feast (Leviticus 23:15-17) and later giving of the law at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-20). Now we celebrate the new Pentecost after the fifty days of Jesus' resurrection. When God came to Mount Sinai, there was fire and a loud sound with trumpet blasts. In the new Pentecost, there was a mighty wind, and tongues of fire came over to the Apostles.

After the resurrection, Jesus prepared them to receive the Holy Spirit and mission. After 40 days, Jesus entrusted the mission to his disciples and he ascended into heaven. He asked them to remain in Jerusalem until Pentecost. After 50 days of Easter, the Pentecost took place which transformed their lives. No more fear. Apostles first proclaimed the risen Lord to people from all over the world, yet were heard speaking in their own languages. The Greeks heard the message in Greek, the Persians in Farsi, the Romans in Latin, the Jews in Hebrew or Aramaic, etc. Although the people who heard the message were from all over, the message itself united them into one people. This was and is the work of the Holy Spirit, forming us into One Person, the Body of Christ. St. Paul tells in the 1st Corinthians 12, "We are all different, we have different gifts, we do different things, but we are united in the Holy Spirit into One Body.”

One of the readings for the Vigil Mass is from the book of Genesis 11:1-9, which gives the background for the understanding of Pentecost as a reversal of Babel. The word babel means confused voice(s). The story of the Tower of Babel tells us that the sinful pride of the human beings separate them from God and to show their pride they decided to build the tower to touch the sky. They all spoke the same language, but God confused them and that prevented them from building the tower. At the Pentecost, (Acts 2:1-11) however, even though there were people from many nations, they overcame the language barrier. All of them were able to understand each other. The Christian tradition views Pentecost as the undoing of the Tower of Babel, and the reunification of the human family through the mission and witness of the apostolic Church.

We received the Holy Spirit at our Baptism and strengthened the Sacrament of Confirmation by the laying of hands. Anointing of the Holy Spirit takes place in us when we eagerly are asking for it. Sometimes we may attempt to think, it is for the saintly people. It is not a wrong concept. Anointing of the Holy Spirit is for all of us to grow in holiness. Jesus promised the apostles an advocate, a helper. When they received the Holy Spirit, it changed their life, they got out of the fear. They went out to the street and proclaimed the Good News. Today, we are called to gather to follow his command, “Do this in memory of Me” and after reception of his body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, the nourishment for our journey and then we are sent out to proclaim the good news. It may be our homes, our neighborhood, workplace, and so on. Suppose, you didn't see your neighbor or friend at the Mass, do you feel the need to call? Maybe I have to rephrase that question, “do you miss them?” Pentecost reminds us that we need to ask the Holy Spirit to inspire us to reach out to others because we are sent out to evangelize the Good News. Happy Pentecost!

Happy Feast of the Ascension of the Lord! Happy Mother's Day!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 09 May 2024 16:40:18 GMT

Happy Feast of the Ascension of the Lord! Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother’s Day! There is a beautiful Spanish proverb: "An ounce of mother is better than a pound of clergy." The word “mom” is synonymous with sacrificial love in its purest form as given by Jesus in his farewell speech: "love one another as I have loved you.” Mothers leave the legacy with us. They live in and through us. The month of May is traditionally the month of Mary. Through Mary, the work of Motherhood is glorified and sanctified. On this Mother’s Day, presenting all mothers on the altar, let us sing the beautiful song we sing on the Feast of the Presentation, “Gentle woman, peaceful dove, teach us wisdom, teach us love.”

Happy Feast of the Ascension of the Lord! On the 7th Sunday of Easter, we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord. God the Father sent his only begotten Son to reveal the Father’s love and mercy for humanity. He was born in Bethlehem, house of bread, and was laid in a manger where animals were fed, lived in Egypt as a refugee, and came to Nazareth and led a silent life for thirty years, and the final three years of public ministry came to culmination of his suffering, crucifixion, death, and resurrection. After 40 days Jesus ascended into heaven.

During the forty days of Easter, Jesus walked with his disciples and prepared them for Pentecost and future mission. The first reading (Acts 1:1-11) and Gospel (Mark 16:15-20) gives the account of Ascension. Acts 1:9 and Mark 16:19 says, the Ascension of the Lord culminates with his heavenly enthronement at the right hand of the Father. The Ascension took place on Mount Olives. In the first reading we read, “A cloud took him from their sight.” In the Bible the cloud represents the divine presence. We can see references in the Book of Exodus 13:21, during the night the Lord preceded Israelites by means of columns of clouds and in night columns of fire; Isaiah 63:11, they recalled how the Lord led them in the desert. Acts 7:56 Stephan said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Jesus departed from them, but at the same time he promised to always be with them and he pledged his future return. The same cloud that took him away will bring him back to retrieve the saints destined for glory (1Thessalonians 4:14-17). Daniel talks about his vision, “I saw coming with the clouds of heaven. One like a son of man” (7:13). In the Gospel of Matthew 26:64, Jesus had told the high priest, “From now on you will see ‘the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power’ and ‘coming on the clouds of heaven.’” Christ’s kingdom began with his coming, is now present in the Church, and will reach in fulfillment when he returns in glory. Jesus entrusted the Church to the Apostles and asked them to continue the mission with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We heard in the Gospel (Mark 16:15) before the Ascension Jesus commanded his disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” We all received this command through our baptism.

We are in the years of Eucharistic Revival and Maintenance to Mission. At the Easter celebration we renewed our baptismal promises and pledged to live the baptismal call. We gather to celebrate Mass and at the end of every Mass we are sent out to live the gift we received. Our Evangelization Team is praying for our cluster and inviting you to come and join different endeavors. Also encourage you to invite someone, those who do not regularly participate in our cluster parishes.

On this Ascension let join in praying the Novena to the Holy Spirit from May 11 – 19, in preparation to celebrate the Pentecost. If you missed Saturday, you can make up and join us. Let us pray for one another especially those families whom we would like to see active in our cluster parishes. We will be praying every day during the Mass. If you may not be able to join Mass every day, please take two minutes to pray this prayer as a family at home. Booklets are available at the entrance, and also it will be posted on Facebook pages every day.

New Commandment

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 02 May 2024 16:24:16 GMT

New Commandment

Sixth Sunday of Easter we go further into the Last Supper discourse. Last Sunday we had the famous image of the vine and the branches from the Gospel of John 15. This Sunday we have a continuation of the Gospel, Commandment of Love. John 15 emphasizing the commandment of love and inviting us to remain in, abide, and dwell in his love.

The New Commandment of Love summarizes the messages of the entire Gospel. This command to love as Christ loves challenges us to imitate and follow him closely. Christ must become our internal guide how we live and what we do. The Beatitude elaborates on the meaning of the New Commandment (Matthew 5). Catechism of the Catholic Church 459 states that “The Word became flesh to be our model of holiness: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me." "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me." On the mountain of the Transfiguration, the Father commands: "Listen to him!" Jesus is the model for the Beatitudes and the norm of the new law: "Love one another as I have loved you." This love implies an effective offering of oneself, after his example.”

In the Last Supper discourse Jesus tells them over and over the need of being united with him – remaining his love. Jesus looks at the Good Friday and beyond, and prepares them for that moment. Jesus told them they were called to love, joy, and friendship.

Jesus told them, “I have called you friends.” In the Old Testament often called a servant. Deuteronomy 34:5 “So there, in the land of Moab, Moses, the servant of the LORD, died as the LORD had said.” Psalm 89:21, “I have chosen David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him.” We see an exception in 2 Chronicles 20:7, “Was it not you, our God, who dispossessed the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and gave it forever to the descendants of Abraham, your friend?” In the Gospel, Jesus told them that they are friends because among friends there is mutual sharing. The promise of intimacy with Jesus is conditional because Jesus demands them/us to keep his commandment and remain in his love. The fullest expression of love consists in pouring out our lives to God as Jesus did on the cross (1 Jn 3:16).

In the first reading, we see the struggle of the early Church. The questions were raised in the early church, who can receive baptism, do they have to be circumcised, and so on. In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, while Apostle Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on Jews as well as gentiles. Then Peter raised a question, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?” Then Peter ordered and they received the baptism in the name of Jesus Christ. The spirit of love unified them and everyone embraced the faith. We see in chapter 11, a Pentecost experience for gentiles (11:15). Peter says here it was as in the first event: spirit descended in a dramatic way (2:17) and the recipient spoke in different tongues (2:4) and a call for Baptism (2:38-41).

The second reading from 1 John 4:710 tells that God is love. In the first letter John tells us “God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.” Love incarnated and invites us to remain in his love.

This Sunday’s reading reminds us that love is the key to everything. God created us out of love. God sent his Son to reveal Father’s love for us, and God wants us to remain in his love and live with him forever. Every Mass he shares with his love in the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Let us remain his love!

I am the vine and you are the branches....

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 20:20:58 GMT

I am the vine and you are the branches....

The vine and branches are part of Jesus’ farewell discourse during the last supper. Through the parable of the vine and branches, Jesus assures them of his presence with them through the life-giving Spirit whom he will send.

In the Old Testament, we can see several passages of Israel as vine and vineyard. We read Psalm 80:9 “You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out nations and planted it.” We see in the book of Isaiah 5:1-7, the song of the vineyard. 27:2, “On that day—The pleasant vineyard, sing about it!” Jeremiah chapter 2 talks about the identity of Israel and words 21, we read, “I had planted you as a choice vine, all pedigreed stock; How could you turn out so obnoxious to me, a spurious vine?” We see in the Book of Joshua, when the Israelite went to the promised land, they saw the inhabitants - the Canaanites, carrying clusters of grapes as big as a man. It is land of milk and honey and it shows abundant produce.

In the Last Supper discourse, Jesus encourages disciples to remain united with Jesus, the true vine. When Jesus said to them, he knew that the unity will be severely tested, since the disciples will experience hatred, persecution, even death. Jesus shared with them the later part of this chapter and following. The vine was grown all over Palestine. This plant needs a great deal of attention if the best fruit is to be gotten out of it. Jesus says, the Father, the vine dresser seeks an abundant harvest. Father must trim away the excess part of us to increase our growth in love. Jesus told them, “You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.”

The question is how is Father going to prune our life – it is through the Word of God and Sacrament. Jesus said, “I am the true wine” – at the Last Supper, Jesus took the chalice of wine and said, “this is my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant.”

The vine is part of Jewish imagery and the very symbol of Israel. In the Gospel, Jesus clothed himself the same imagery. Jesus is the vine and the apostles were the branches. Jesus, in the Last Supper discourse, stresses that the Israelites find their new life in the new covenant established by Jesus. Jesus invited them to “abide” in Christ (15:4-5) which connects to the Bread of Life discourse from chapter 6 (56). The other Gospels make an explicit link between the “fruit of the vine” and the Eucharistic meal (Matthew 26:29; Mark 14:25; and Luke 22:18).

This Gospel passage follows the new commandment of Love. "I am the vine…you are the branches." For the vine, there is not much of a trunk. Jesus has identified himself with us. It is about a relationship with Jesus. Suppose a branch comes off from a tree during a storm, it dies. It is because that branch is no longer a part of the tree or vine. It lost its life. This weekend the first reading, taken from the Acts of the Apostles, testifies to the abundance of spiritual fruits yielded by the apostles because of their close bond with the risen Lord. John, in his first letter to the Church, explains that only if we remain united to Christ by putting our faith in him and drawing our spiritual strength from him, will we be able to obey God’s commandments, especially the commandment of love.

We are in Eucharistic Revival and Maintenance to Mission Years. The reading reminds us of the need to be united with Jesus. He shared with us His Word and Sacraments to prune our life to produce abundant fruit. During Easter time we celebrate the gift of the Lord’s life we received at Baptism. We are continually fed and nourished at the Altar. During the Mass, at the epiclesis the priest prays over the bread and wine, the gift of the human being, inviting the Holy Spirit to change the gifts into Body and Blood of Christ – the true vine. Jesus says, “Abide in me and I in you” (Jn 15:4). The nourishment for our journey – to live our baptismal promises – to live the Eucharistic life – to make Jesus’ name known and loved in our daily life.

When we come for the Mass, we should prepare ourselves – we should ask ourselves, what should I offer to God at this Mass? We need to offer those with bread and wine and ask him to transform. Through the reception of the Holy Communion, he shares with us his very life. We need to spend time giving thanks for this greatest gift. At the end of every Mass we are sent out to live the gift we received – Eucharist – the mission.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 864 says, "Christ, sent by the Father, is the source of the Church's whole apostolate"; thus the fruitfulness of apostolate for ordained ministers as well as for lay people clearly depends on their vital union with Christ. In keeping with their vocations, the demands of the times and the various gifts of the Holy Spirit, the apostolate assumes the most varied forms. But charity, drawn from the Eucharist above all, is always, as it were, the soul of the whole apostolate."

Good Shepherd Sunday and Congratulations to the FIrst Communicants and their families!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 20:25:06 GMT

Good Shepherd Sunday and Congratulations to the First Communicants and their families!

Once, a gentleman shared with me a life story. His son and family don't go to church regularly. When he was visiting he took granddaughter to church for Mass. The little girl was observing everything. Finally they went to receive communion. During the communion they both went up, Grandpa received Jesus and she got a blessing. On the way back to the pew she asked, “Grandpa when am I going to get one of those?” Grandpa told her, “I will talk to your mom and dad and make sure in a couple of years you will receive First Communion.” Then grandpa knelt down and prayed and she kept watching the priest. When the priest went to the tabernacle to keep the Blessed Sacrament, she asked, “Grandpa look, what is he doing? Is he putting it in the microwave?”

Our children observe everything and they are curious to learn. Our children were preparing to make their First Communion, they are ready, full of joy. How many of us remember that joy filled day in our life? Have we grown in our love of the Eucharist or is it diminished? We are in Eucharistic Revival years, an invitation to relearn and grow in love for Eucharist. One place I recommend to go and sign up for the newsletter is: 10th National Eucharistic Congress - Official Website. There is lots of information. Let us learn and grow, at the same time let us Congratulate our children on their First Communion and let us continue to pray that they will grow deeper and deeper in love for the Eucharist.

As we continue our Easter celebration, we are in Fourth Sunday of Easter which is known as Good Shepherd Sunday and it is the “World Day of Prayer for Vocations.” The scripture lessons for this weekend are about the role of the shepherd. Each year, on this Sunday we reflect on the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd who devotedly and kindly takes care of his flock.

Even though today’s Gospel is from prior to Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection, we need to read this passage (John 10:11-18) in the light of the Easter season. Jesus presents two kinds of shepherds: shepherd who owns and cares for sheep and the shepherd who is hired by a farmer to care for sheep. The hired shepherd may run away when there is a danger. Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd,… I will lay down my life for the sheep.” During the Easter Triduum, we celebrated liturgy and meditated on the Good Shepherd, Jesus laying down his life on the Cross and through Resurrection made us a new creation. Jesus leads his flock away from dangers and into safe pastures – New Exodus – leading us from slavery of sin to freedom of life.

We see in the Old Testament, God was the divine shepherd of Israel Psalm 23:1. Isaiah 40:11. In the Book of Revelation 7:17, we read, “For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” In the Book of Numbers 27:16-17, we read the Moses request to the Lord, “May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all humanity, set over the community someone who will be their leader in battle and who will lead them out and bring them in, that the LORD’s community may not be like sheep without a shepherd.”

Ezekiel 34 we read the parable of the shepherds. Here the prophet painted the wicked shepherds, who fed on their flock rather than feeding them. God declares divine kingship over Israel: “I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest—oracle of the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 34:15).

When Jesus presented the two types of shepherds, people of the time could picture this scene in their mind. It was part of their life. They have lived and seen both of the groups. Jesus is the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. At the Last Supper Jesus broke the bread and gave it to his disciples and said, this is my Body, take and eat. He commanded them to do this in memory of him. Like the Apostles, we are also fed at his table and send out breaks and share ourselves with others.

When we become the Eucharistic people, we are following the example of our good shepherd – Jesus. At the end of every Mass, we are sent out to live the Eucharist. Let us renew our commitment today with our children who are making First Communion, as we receive Holy Communion and go out to make his name known and loved by sharing our lives with others.

Congratulations to Confirmandis, sponsors and their families!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 18:42:45 GMT

Congratulations to Confirmandis, sponsors and their families!

First of all please join me to congratulate our young women and men on their Confirmation. I would like to invite them to join to reflect on the Sacrament of Confirmation. Most of us may not remember our baptism. We were so little, our parents and godparents stood up for us and expressed their commitment to bring us in faith. When we grew up, we stood up for ourselves and proclaimed our faith. This week, our young people are doing the same at their Sacrament of Confirmation.

All of us may say, “I know Jesus.” Then the question is how deep do we know him? The Apostles were the closest followers of Jesus. They walked with Jesus, witnessed miracles, and listened to his teachings. They might have thought that they knew him well, but that changed after Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. They started to get to know him again, and in its fullness on Pentecost. At the coming of the Holy Spirit, their eyes were opened, they understood the teaching of Jesus, and they got ever closer to Jesus. The Pentecost experience filled their hearts with joy and courage. They were no more afraid or they understood the true meaning of peace Jesus shared with them. After the resurrection Jesus breathed on the and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” It was a gradual journey of receiving the Holy Spirit, and its culmination at Pentecost.

Another way to look at the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, it is our Pentecost, our young people are receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. The rest of us renew our commitment. Confirmation is one of the seven Sacraments, and one of the three Sacraments of Christian Initiation. Those who receive Sacraments of initiation as an adult, they receive all three Sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation) at the Easter Vigil.

Our young men and women were preparing for a long time for this day, for the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation. For the Apostles, Pentecost was life changing. Let us pray it will be the same for our young people – fill them with the gift of the Holy Spirit. What are they? There are seven of them: 1. Wisdom which helps to understand things from God’s point of view; 2. Understanding which helps us to understand the deeper meaning of supernatural truth; 3. Knowledge helps us to appreciate the life God has given: begin to see God’s presence in people, things, and nature and treat them with proper dignity; 4. Right Judgment or Counsel which helps to make the right decision God would want me to make; 5. Reverence or Piety which helps to trust God more, relationships become stronger; 6. Courage or Fortitude which helps to stand up for what we believe; 7. Fear of the Lord or Awe and Wonder which helps to say on the right path to heaven. Fear of the Lord is because I love God and I want to please Him.

In today’s Gospel of Luke, Luke is presenting two different accounts. Two disciples were explaining how they recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread. Among the Jews, this was a ceremonial gesture that began the celebration of an ordinary meal. For Christians, breaking of the bread was used as a description of the Eucharistic celebration. We read in the Acts of the Apostles 2:42, “They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.” While the two were sharing the Emmaus experience Jesus appeared to them again and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He showed them His hands and feet to remove their doubts. Last Sunday had the Gospel of John 20:27, where Jesus appeared to the apostles and showed his nail marks and asked doubting Thomas to come to faith. Jesus showed them His risen body and assured us of the physical nature of our own resurrection on the Last Day. The resurrected body is a spiritual body.

Jesus reminded them that His suffering, death, and third day rise from the dead are the fulfillment of Moses, prophets, and psalms. There is an emphasis on the term third day, and we can see a couple of references in the Old Testament. In the Book of Genesis 22:13, Isaac was for three days under a death sentence until God intervened to give him back alive to Abraham on the third day. In Jonah1:17, the experience of Jonah coming forth from a whale after three days in its stomach, foreshadowed Christ’s resurrection from the grave after three days. In Hosea 6:2, Hosea depicted Israel’s restoration from exile as a third-day resurrection.

Let us continue to meditate on the Paschal mysteries and get deeper into our faith through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Divine Mercy Sunday!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 19:05:28 GMT

Divine Mercy Sunday!

We celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday on the Second Sunday of Easter season. Pope St. John Paul II declared that the second Sunday, the octave day of Easter, should be Divine Mercy Sunday. On the 30th of April 2000, the Second Sunday of Easter, Pope St. John Paul II celebrated the Eucharist in Saint Peter’s Square and proceeded to the canonization of Blessed Sister Faustina. St. Faustina invites us by the witness of her life to keep our faith and hope fixed on God, the Father, rich in mercy, who has saved us by the precious blood of His Son. St. John Paul II has a great role in spreading the message of Divine Mercy.

In a dream, St. Theresa of Lisieux asked St. Faustina, an apostle of Divine Mercy, to trust in Jesus and she will be a saint (Dairy 150). Later St. Faustina wrote in her diary 1588, "In the Old Covenant I sent prophets wielding thunderbolts to My people. Today I am sending you with My mercy to the people of the whole world. I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My Merciful Heart."

Pope Francis continues to spread the message of Mercy. During the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis said in one of his homilies, “Dear brothers and sisters, I have often thought about how the Church might make clear its mission of being a witness to mercy. It is a journey that begins with a spiritual conversion.”

On the Second Sunday of Easter we are looking at the Gospel of John 20:19-31, the very famous story of Jesus’ appearance to the disciples without Thomas and then his appearance with Thomas — the famous story of Doubting Thomas. In the first part of the Gospel, Jesus said to his disciples, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Here we see the institution of the power of the Sacrament of Confession – the Sacrament of Divine Mercy. This reading is fitting and meaningful on the day of Divine Mercy. Jesus tells St. Faustina: I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the Fount of My Mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet (699).

When Jesus appeared to the Apostles, he breathed on them. We read in the book of Genesis 2:7, God breathed on the first man and gave him life. We read in the book Ezekiel 37:9, where God raises an army of corpses to new life by the breath of the spirit. In the first book of King 17:21, we see Elijah revive the dead son of the widow of Zarephath. After the resurrection, Jesus breathed on the Apostles and gave them new life. In the Gospel, Jesus showed Thomas his wounds and asked him to put his finger on them. Jesus carries the marks of earthly sacrifice with him even when he ascends into heaven. Thomas experienced the love and mercy of Jesus and proclaimed his faith, “My Lord and My God.”

What is our story? When and where do we experience God’s mercy? I am sure we all have our own faith story. We need to cherish those moments. God invites us in this Easter season, in a special way on this Divine Mercy Sunday to enter into a deeper experience of God’s mercy. Last part of the 699 says, “Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy.” We exist because of God’s mercy. Then we are sent out to be an instrument of mercy.

Today, Sunday, April 7 at 2:30 pm, our cluster will have Divine Mercy Sunday service at Immaculate Conception. It includes Adoration, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available. Please come and join. Thank you.

Happy and blessed Easter to Everyone!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 16:42:19 GMT

Happy and blessed Easter to Everyone!

He is Risen! Hallelujah! Good Friday and Holy Saturday is over. Now let us go with Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the mother of James and Salome to visit the tomb (Mark16:1). It is a sign of life. What did we see there, the empty tomb. They were terrified. If you were with them do you rewind the scene of Good Friday - the brutal and sacrificial suffering of Jesus. They might have thought it was the end of everything.

If we look around, we see so much pain, dehumanization, suffering, and death. One side thousands of people who die in the war zone. On the other side we see people die of starvation or other reasons. In many circumstances dignity of life is diminished. Violence and death became part of our daily life. We may be tempted to say it is the end of everything.

The empty tomb is sign of Hope. There is a young man sitting in the tomb with good news: "Do not be afraid! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him” (Mark 16:6). He has Risen! Alleluia!! I wish you all a Blessed Easter!

It is beautiful to walk through the reading for Easter. The Old Testament readings of the Easter Vigil tell us the covenant history of salvation: beginning with creation and extending to the prophetic promises of a new covenant. The first reading from the Book of Genesis (1:1-2:2), narrates the fundamental doctrine of creation and prepares us for the renewal of Baptismal promises as a new creation. In the second reading also from the book of Genesis 22:1-18), Abraham was asked to sacrifice his only son. It is the high point of Abraham’s covenant relationship with God and blessing on his descendants. On Good Friday, Our Heavenly Father allows his only begotten Son to be crucified on Calvary. In the third reading from the book of Exodus, Israelites marched on the dry land through the midst of the sea (14:15-5:1). The parting of the sea is a critical Old Testament type of baptism.

The next two readings are from the book of Isaiah. In the fourth reading, the Lord will with his enduring love, resume his covenant love for Zion and rebuild with precious stones and grant it righteousness and prosperity (54:5-14). This reading shapes the minds of believers, especially those who are receiving Sacraments, about the dual reality of the Church as both Bride and Temple. The fifth reading is an invitation for a meal. The Lord’s thoughts and ways are higher, and His words will not return empty (55:1-11). This passage is associated with the Gospel of Matthew (14:13-21) the account of the feeding of the five thousand. Ultimately it leads to the Eucharist. This reading prepares us to reaffirm our faith and particularly those who are prepared to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time. The next reading is from the book of the prophet Baruch which talks about wisdom and law (3:9-15, 32-4:4). It is an invitation to walk towards the splendor of the Lord and live the faith to the full. The seventh reading from the Book of Ezekiel talks about the restoration of Israel (36:16-17, 18- 28). The Lord will gather the Israelites from exile, cleans them by sprinkling the clean water, and give them a new heart and a new spirit, so they can grow in the law of love. The Sacrament of Baptism is the new cleansing and the Holy Spirit renewing the heart to grow in the law of love.

A couple of years ago I had the privilege of going on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We did make the Way of the Cross to Calvary and visited where Jesus was crucified and buried. We celebrated Mass at the Church of Holy Sepulcher. In the Church of Sepulcher, we can see the place where Jesus was crucified, “Golgotha” and next to it is a small church within the Church Sepulcher, which is the empty tomb of Christ – the Church of Resurrection.

The Easter Sunday Gospel reading from John (20: 1-9) starts with “On the first day of the week.” The Gospel for Easter Vigil Mass (Mark 16:1-7) starts by saying, “When the Sabbath was over.” Here Mark and John highlight the connection between Easter and Sunday: the Sabbath was over and the first day of the week. In another word, it was Sunday that Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead. In the book of Genesis chapter one and two gives us a creation account. God created everything and finally human beings as the crown of creation and on the seventh day God rested. We read in Genesis 2:3, “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation.”

The first day of the week recalls the first creation. After the Sabbath, the first day of the week, Christ through his death and Resurrection made everything new. God didn’t just come to save us; he came to make all things new – New Creations. Let us rise with him on Easter and become his new creation. He has Risen! Alleluia!! Happy Easter!

Holy Week

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 19:08:20 GMT

Holy Week

During Lent, the readings keep reminding us about God’s Covenant with his people and his mercy. We are entering the Holy Week with Palm/Passion Sunday. The days of Holy Week, from Monday through Thursday inclusive, precede over all other celebrations. Because of that we will be celebrating the Annunciation of the Lord on Monday, April 8th.

The Church celebrates today as both Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday. Psalm Sunday because this is a Sunday where we process in with palms into the Church. Passion Sunday, because it's also the Sunday where we read the entire passion narrative from one of the first three Gospels – this year Gospel of Matthew. Then we hear it again every year from the Gospel of John on Good Friday.

It is on Palm Sunday that we enter Holy Week. Jesus enters the Holy City of Jerusalem amidst thousands of pilgrims who came for the annual feast of Passover (Exodus 12:1-13). Prince Solomon used his father David’s royal donkey for the ceremonial procession on the day of his coronation (1 Kings 1:32-40). Jesus entered the Holy City as a king of peace, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah (21:1-11).

On Holy Thursday there is a Chrism Mass in Cathedral Churches because it is a solemn observance of Christ's institution of the Eucharist and priesthood. In order to make the opportunity for most priests and laity to attend this Mass, in our Diocese it is celebrated prior to the holy week. At this 'Chrism Mass,' the bishop blesses the Oil of Chrism used for Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination, and Anointing of the Sick. On Holy Thursday, we celebrate three things: Institution of the Eucharist, Institution of the Priesthood, and Jesus' promulgation of a new commandment of Love. "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:3). The original meaning of this feast is celebrating the passing of the angel of death over the Israelites and their escape from Egypt ((Exodus 12:3). In the new Passover, Jesus will pass over to the Father through the upcoming events of his Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension. The Old Testament Passover started from Egypt and ended in Jerusalem – Holy City. The new Passover started in Jerusalem and by the resurrection and ascension ended in heavenly Jerusalem.

The Holy Thursday liturgy in the parish communities is celebrated in the evening because Passover began at sundown. The washing of the feet takes place in this Mass. In the Old Testament time it was a gesture of hospitality, normally performed by a household slave. In John chapter13, Jesus washes the disciples' feet. The foot washing may be a sign of priestly ordination as in the Book of Exodus 40:12. Food brought for the poor will be brought at the offertory. After the Holy Thursday evening Mass the Blessed Sacrament is carried in solemn procession to the flower-bedecked Altar of Repose, where it will remain 'entombed' until the communion service on Good Friday. And finally, there is the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament by the people after the Holy Thursday Mass, just as the disciples stayed with the Lord during His agony on the Mount of Olives before the betrayal by Judas. No Mass will be celebrated again in the Church until the Easter Vigil proclaims the Resurrection.

On the Holy Thursday institution of the Eucharist Jesus said to his disciples, “This is my body broken for you; this is my blood and shed for you” and we see on Good Friday that sacrifice is completed on the cross. He broke himself for us and fed us. This is also the week when we should lighten the burden of Christ’s passion as daily experienced by the needy people through our corporal and spiritual works of mercy; break and share. Jesus completed the sacrifices on the Cross. The water and blood came from the side of Jesus. In the book of Numbers when Moses struck the rock, the water came out (20:10-13). Paul interprets this rock as Christ (1Corinthians 10:4) from which flows the spiritual drink of the Eucharist. St. John Chrysostom says, "The water and blood symbolizes Baptism and Holy Eucharist. From these two Sacraments the Church is born: from Baptism, the cleansing of water that gives rebirth and renewal through the Holy Spirit, and from the Holy Eucharist." Since the symbols of baptism and the Eucharist flowed from his side, it was from his side that Christ fashioned the Church, as he had fashioned Eve from the side of Adam. Holy Week can become "holy” for us only if we actively and consciously take part in the liturgies of this week. Let us meditate on these beautiful liturgies and renew our own faith.

Good Friday we start nine days of novena for Divine Mercy Sunday. Good Friday we see Jesus opened his heart on the Cross and poured his love and mercy for each one of us. Pope Leo the Great said, “What was visible in our Savior has passed over into his mysteries. Everything Christ did to reconcile us to God, such as his suffering, death, resurrection and ascension, has passed over to the sacraments.” Let us look at the cross and prepare this week for Easter!

New Covenant...

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 17:57:55 GMT

New Covenant...

During this Lent, we are meditating on God’s covenant with his people in the first readings. Today the first reading is from Jeremiah. God sent him to his people to guide them to follow God’s ways. Of course, they ignored the prophets and chose to follow their ways. Today’s reading is just before the Babylonian invasion. Israelites constantly violated the covenant they made with God at Mount Sinai. But God still loved them and walked with them. The prophet explains how God will replace the Old Covenant of Judgment with a New Covenant of Forgiveness of Sins. The New Covenant promised by God would not be written on tablets of stone but on the human heart.

Six hundred years later, Jesus established the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31) at the Last Supper. Jesus says, “This chalice is poured out for you in the new covenant in my blood.” Lk22:20). The new Covenant Christ established in the Upper Room was formed first between himself and twelve Apostles, twelve tribes of the New Israel. The New Covenant is through the coming of the Holy Spirit through the Sacraments, which we see in the Upper Room on the evening of Easter when Jesus met with the twelve and breathed on them and asked them to “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (John 20:22-23). Jeremiah prophesied that the New Covenant would be written in the heart of his people (Jeremiah 31:33-34). The gift of the Holy Spirit: 1) engraves the law of the Lord in the heart of the believers. We read in Romans 5:5, “Hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” 2) Infuses in believers experimental knowledge of God. We read in Romans 8:15-16, “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it’s the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” 3) Cleanses us from sin. We read in Romans 8:2, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.” We renew the New Covenant with Jesus every time we come to the Mass. The New and Eternal Covenant established by Christ replaced the Old Covenant of the Mosaic Law.

In the second reading, St. Paul tells the Hebrews that it is by Jesus’ suffering and death, in obedience to His Father’s will, that he established the New Covenant. In the Eucharist, we share the “Blood of the new and everlasting covenant.” Using metaphors of the ‘sown wheat grain’ and the ‘spent life’, in today’s gospel, Jesus teaches the same lesson.

In the Gospel, Christ announced that his “hour” had come. The time for the supreme Sacrifices of his passion and death. His words indicate that his full knowledge and consent to accept the Father’s will to offer the sacrifice. The grain of wheat points to the Eucharist in which the sacrifice of Christ becomes present.

The grain of wheat – talks about the constant death that needs to happen in our daily lives. Jesus says, “If it dies, it bears much fruit.” In other words, it is the way of living the Eucharist. When we die in union with Jesus, especially in the sacrament of Eucharist, we become Christ for others. We know that the world owes everything to people who have spent their time and talents for God and their fellow human beings. Mother Teresa, every day spent an hour before the Blessed Sacrament and the celebration of the Eucharist and went out to do the missionary work. She says she found the face of Christ in those in need. In the words of the Secretary General of the U.N., Mother became the most powerful woman in the world. We see similar cases in the history of great saints, scientists, and benefactors of mankind in all walks of life. Every Christian is called to place Christ at the center of all our activity through our effort to grow in holiness. In other words, we gather around the Altar to celebrate the Eucharist and are sent out to live it in our daily lives.

I would like to take a moment to congratulate our RCIA candidate who is preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at Easter Vigil. Let us keep the candidate, sponsor, and her family in our prayers.

Laetare Sunday, Rejoice Sunday

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 19:12:14 GMT

Laetare Sunday, Rejoice Sunday

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is called Laetare Sunday, Rejoice Sunday. Today’s entrance antiphon is taken from Isaiah 66:10-11 which is part of Isaiah’s prophesy about New Eve through her faith and obedience gave birth to the Son of God to redeem all people from sin. The entrance antiphon sets a tone of joyful anticipation of the Easter mystery. On Laetare Sunday the rose-colored vestments may replace violet symbolizing the Church's joy in anticipation of the Resurrection, which cannot be contained even in Lent, though we still refrain from Alleluia’s and the singing of the Gloria until the magnificence of the Easter Vigil.

The second Book of Chronicles (36:14-16,19-23), from which our first reading for today comes, looked back at the Babylonian Captivity and saw the hand of God. The Jewish people walked away from God. They practiced infidelity after infidelity, abomination after abomination. The prophets had been persecuted or ignored. Finally, God permitted Babylonians to conquer Judah and destroy the Temple. Most of the people were deported into slavery in Babylon and they were powerless.

The prophets had told the people that God was only punishing them for a while, but they would be freed to return home. It seemed to be an impossible situation. The Babylonians were certainly not going to let them go. The Jews had no way of rebelling against powerful Babylonians. How could it happen that they could return to Jerusalem? Nothing changed for 60 years. But then God worked his wonders. The Babylonians were conquered by their Northern neighbors, the Persians. Cyrus, King of Persia, saw his conquests as gifts from God. So he immediately released the Jewish people so they could return to their land to rebuild the Temple to God in Jerusalem and thank their God for King Cyrus.

Today’s Gospel (John 3:14-21) is a section of Nicodemus’ visit to Jesus. He was a pharisee and a Jewish leader and he was one of the 71 members of Sanhedrin, the supreme ruling council of the Jews. In the movie “Chosen” there is a beautiful scene where Nicodemus comes to Jesus. He is searching for truth. At the same his social status is holding him back. Today’s Gospel Jesus told him that Jesus must be lifted on the Cross, just as Moses lifted the serpent in the desert. To understand what Jesus is talking about we must go to the book of Numbers 21, where the story of Moses and the bronze serpent is given.

Israelites complained against God and Moses because they were hungry and thirsty. Their complaints were a sign of their lack of faith, and God sent fiery serpents among them that began to bite them and kill them. And that Moses made a bronze serpent to lift up in front of them, so that whoever would look upon the serpent would be saved, kind of through a miraculous act of healing.

Jesus’s sacrifice on the Cross is for the redemption of humanity. We need to look at the cross. “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16). God the Father sent his only begotten Son to redeem us and give us eternal life was a supreme act of love for us. Those who choose to walk in the light of Christ will gain happiness in this life and eternal life in the next.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 444 says, “The Gospels report that at two solemn moments, the Baptism and the Transfiguration of Christ, the voice of the Father designates Jesus his "beloved Son". Jesus calls himself the "only Son of God", and by this title affirms his eternal pre-existence. He asks for faith in "the name of the only Son of God". In the centurion's exclamation before the crucified Christ, "Truly this man was the Son of God", that Christian confession is already heard. Only in the Paschal mystery can the believer give the title "Son of God" its full meaning.”

Lenten season invites us to prepare our minds and hearts to celebrate the Pascal Mysteries. We look at the Cross with faith and receive the Sacraments he brought us through his passion, death, and resurrection. Laetare Sunday we have reason to rejoice because we are getting closer to celebrating the Easter Mystery.

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate our children who are preparing for the First Communion and their families. Last Sunday they were introduced, and we all agreed to pray for them. Let us walk with them in prayer.

Cleansing the Temple....cleansing our life!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 19:38:23 GMT

Cleansing the Temple....cleansing our life!

Lent is a season of renewal and entering a deeper relationship with God and one another. In year B, Sunday's first readings take us on a pilgrimage to visit the covenant that God made with different people. First Sunday of Lent, we visited God’s covenant with Noah. Second Sunday we visited God’s Covenant with Abraham and Abraham proved his trust in God by his readiness to sacrifice his Son, Isaac.

Today, the third Sunday of Lent, we visit God’s covenant with his people in the desert under the leadership of Moses. They are liberated from slavery in Egypt and on the way to the Promised Land. God gave the Ten Commandments, or Decalogue (from Greek for ‘Ten Commandments’ or ‘ten words’). At the covenant of Mount Sinai, Israelites received the Ten Commandments and the first stage of revealed law of the Old Testament which served as a summary of moral law. Its precepts provided the fundamental moral law principles that correspond to the requirement of human dignity as a child of God. The fulfillment of the law is in Jesus. He taught, that all the commandments and moral law are based upon the Great Commandments: “You shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind…You shall love your neighbor as yourselves” (Mat. 22:37, 39).

During Lent the Gospel reading takes us on the first Sunday to the desert, the second Sunday to the mountain top (Transfiguration), and the third Sunday to the Temple - a place of special encounter with God. Jesus is not happy with what he sees precisely because the way the Temple worship has been organized no longer reflects God’s original idea of a worshipping community.

The Passover was celebrated every spring to commemorate the Israelites' rescue from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 12). The central to the feast is a liturgical meal called Seder. During the seder, they retell the story of the Exodus, sing psalms, and a lamb is eaten with unleavened bread and other condiments.

In today’s Gospel we read “The Passover of the Jews was at hand…” (John 2:13). Jews came from all over the world, and they had to bring animals with them for the sacrifice. The law required that the animal of the sacrifice should be perfect, otherwise it will be rejected. Since people came from a distance, they bought animals for sacrifice in Jerusalem. The Jerusalem Temple was divided into several courts. The outmost court is open for the gentile pilgrims and the same space is used for selling animals and money exchange.

The Gospel reading gives a dramatic account of Jesus' cleansing of the Temple. Jesus’s action in the Temple is acted out prophesy, and his words are prophetic proclamation. Jesus was driving out the merchants from the church to make the Temple a marketplace. John 2:17 says his disciples remembered Psalm 69:9, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” Jesus, burning with righteous indignation, is outraged that business dealings have taken the place of prayer in the temple court. In those days, part of the Temple was the marketplace, but they started to dominate or take over. On the other side of Jesus' action, he proclaims the end time of the merchants in the Temple area. No more animal sacrifice is going to take place in the Temple. Jesus challenged the critics to destroy, not this sacred building, but his own body. Jesus makes clear the rebuilding of the Temple about his resurrection. But his words were used against him when he was arrested.

In the second reading, Paul tells us that the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. The message of the cross is God’s wisdom and power.

In Lent, we are in a cleaning process of our life through prayer, penance, and almsgiving. The question is where are you in this journey? Did we start cleaning, or not yet? Jesus wants to make a new covenant with us in this Lenten season. Pope Francis says in his Lenten Message, that God leads us through the desert to freedom. May our Lenten journey prepare our hearts to celebrate Holy Week with a renewed heart and mind.

Mountain top experience prepares our hearts for the Holy Week experience.

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 19:21:47 GMT

Mountain top experience prepares our hearts for the Holy Week experience.

On this second Sunday of Lent, the first reading and Gospel take us to the mountaintop. We see two different atmospheres and experiences. In the first reading, (Genesis 22:1-2,10-13,15-18), God asked Abraham to take his beloved son Isaac to the mountain of Moriah and to sacrifice him. In the Gospel (Mark 9:2-10) Jesus took Peter, James, and John to the mountain and transfigured.

In Genesis 17:5, Abram received a new name “Abraham” meaning multitude. God told him “I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.” Abraham and Sarah received a child Isaac in their old age. But God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac. How could God’s promise be possible if Isaac were sacrificed? God tested Abraham’s faith. In response to Abraham’s obedient faith, God swears an oath to bless the entire world. Abraham was faithful to God and his readiness to sacrifice his son Isaac is a prototype of God the Father and the sacrifice of His Son Jesus. Isaac carried the wood for his sacrifice on the mountain Moriah and lay down on the wood to become the sacrifice. Jesus carried the cross to Calvary, wood for His sacrifice. If we are reading the Bible for the first time, at the beginning of the story we may think this does not make any sense. God promised Abraham numerous descendants but God asked to sacrifice Isaac, his only son. The Apostles might have felt the same way that Jesus’ crucifixion didn’t make any sense. Jesus came to liberate and restore but He was crucified.

In the Gospel, Jesus’ transfiguration is not only a revelation of divine glory but also about Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection. Early Christianity and Tradition believed that the transfiguration took place on Mount Tabor. It is a message of hope and encouragement. Before Jesus transfigured, Jesus told his disciples that he must suffer greatly, be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and rise after three days (Mark 8:31). How did they react? Peter rebuked Jesus for saying this and Jesus responded, “Get behind me, Satan.” The transfiguration balances out the shock of Jesus’ first passion prediction and strengthens the faith of the three apostles. What a grace for Peter, James, and John to see Jesus transfigured. They got a preview of the glory of the risen Jesus and his glory in heaven. Like Jesus’ baptism, this transfiguration reveals the Trinity: the Son is transfigured, the Father’s voice is heard, and the presence of the Spirit is in the cloud.

We can see a similar event in the Book of Exodus 24 the covenant of Mount Sinai. The exodus from Egypt and the covenant at Mount Sinai confirm God’s covenant love towards the descendants of Abraham. As God directed, Moses took Aaron, Nadab, Abiud, and seventy of the elders of Israel and went up to Mount Sinai. We read in the Book Exodus 25:15-17 “Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered it six days, and on the seventh day, he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the sons of Israel.” The mountain was covered with clouds and God revealed his glory and heard God’s voice. New Moses, Jesus, took Peter, James and John went up to the Mountain and revealed the glory. They heard God’s voice: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”

At the transfiguration, Elijah and Moses came as representatives of the prophets and the law of the Old Testament and testified that Jesus is the Messiah and mediator of the New Covenant. When Jesus foretold His death and Resurrection, Peter began to rebuke Jesus, but here Peter likes to prolong the heavenly experience. So he to Jesus said, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents.” Does this tell us something about ourselves? I think we all like mountain top experiences, and we want to stay there.

In the second reading, St. Paul reminds us that Jesus’ death and resurrection are an assurance of God’s love. He intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father.

Transfiguration was preparing the apostles to enter Jerusalem and witness Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection. May our forty days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving prepare us to celebrate the Holy Week.

"First Sunday of Lent - Safe Haven Sunday!"

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 21:05:12 GMT

"First Sunday of Lent - Safe Haven Sunday!"

God created everything and saw that it was good (Genesis 1). God created Mankind, blessed them, and gave them dominion over all creatures (Genesis 1:27&28). The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “Basic scientific research, as well as applied research, is a significant expression of man's dominion over creation. Science and technology are precious resources when placed at the service of man and promote his integral development for the benefit of all. By themselves however they cannot disclose the meaning of existence and of human progress. Science and technology are ordered to man, from whom they take their origin and development; hence they find in the person and in his moral values both evidence of their purpose and awareness of their limits.” One of many inventions of humanity is the internet, which revolutionized the computer and communication world. Today our everyday life is so dependent on the internet, but we have to be conscious of the dark side of it.

First Sunday of Lent we are celebrating our first annual Safe Haven Sunday themed Equipping the Family, Safeguarding Children. Every year we will be celebrating this awareness weekend in our Diocese. The Internet provides us with lots of opportunities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we explored a lot more use of it. Safe Haven Sunday is to remind us there is a dark side to it and it could destroy our life and the life of others. What are the dark sides? There are numerous, but on Safe Haven Sunday we focus on pornography. In 2015, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released a pastoral letter, in response to this crisis, called “Create in Me a Clean Heart.” We gave our religious education families a copy of the book Equipped: Smart Catholic Parenting in a Sexualized Culture. Those who would like to have a copy of this book, they are available at the entrances. This book is published by Covenant Eyes, an organization that provides software to help provide protection and accountability for those who use technology. We cannot avoid the internet, but we can train our children and ourselves to use it wisely. The Lenten season invites us to discover our true selves. So what is the obstacle in our life to discovering our true self?

Pope Francis in his Lenten message invites us to welcome Lent and says that God reminds us that “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Ex 20:2). Lent is a season of conversion, a time of freedom. Jesus himself, as we recall each year on the first Sunday of Lent, was driven into the desert by the Spirit in order to be tempted in freedom. For forty days, he will stand before us and with us: the incarnate Son. Unlike Pharaoh, God does not want subjects, but sons and daughters. The desert is the place where our freedom can mature in a personal decision not to fall back into slavery. In Lent, we find new criteria of justice and a community with which we can press forward on a road not yet taken.”

Satan tempted the first Adam amid the beasts in paradise, but he failed. But even though the new Adam tempted the new Adam, Jesus, among the wild beasts, he won the victory. In the new exodus, Jesus was being led by the Spirit into the wilderness and tested for forty days. In the old exodus, the Israelites spent forty years in the desert and were tested. The presence of ministering angels to sustain Jesus in the new Exodus, recalls the angel who guided the Israelites in the desert in the first Exodus. We read in the book of Exodus 23:20, “See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared.”

The first Adam’s fall and later the Israelites brought death and alienation. The new Adam, Jesus, through His filial love for the Father, brought forth the new Israel of God. Jesus began the campaign against demons, death, and diseases in the desert, and continues through his proclamation of the Gospel. Jesus trained his disciples on how to overcome the devil.

I am sure everyone has experiences every time you renew our Baptismal promise and try to live it, as the tempter attacks more aggressively than before. Jesus assures us in this Lent that the victory is ours through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We would increase our prayer to grow in the virtue of humility, intensify our giving of alms to detach from our possessions, fast to overcome attachments, and recognize our poverty.

Let us pray for one another that our Lenten observance may prepare us to celebrate the Pascal Mystery and grow in love for God and it may overflow in our families and others around us.

"Healing - restoration of body, mind, and soul."

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 16:41:02 GMT

"Healing - restoration of body, mind, and soul."

Do you know Vinicio Riva? Vinicio is from the Northern Italian town of Vincenza, who suffers from a non-infectious genetic disease, neurofibromatosis type 1. It has left him completely covered from head to toe with growths, swellings, and itchy sores. He has been told not to sit by people on a bus. He can only do the most menial work. Vinicio traveled with his family members and others from North Italy to Vatican City. They secured tickets to the Papal audience. When the Swiss Guard saw him, they ushered him to the front row. Pope Francis came in, gave his talk, then went down to greet some of the infirm. He saw Vinicio and walked over to him. Pope then kissed him. Vinicio, the outcast, has now become a celebrity. More than that, his dignity/value has been affirmed by the Pope himself.

When we think about healing, we think of a great deal of physical aspects. Of course, it is important. But healing is more than a physical aspect. Whenever Jesus healed the people, he forgave their sins and affirmed their faith. We are more than our sickness/disabilities. The gospel passage for Sunday (Mark 1:40-45) is a continuation from last Sunday: Jesus cleanses a Leper. A Leper is supposed to distance from others. Here Jesus stretches out his hand and touches him. Jesus not only cleanses him but restores his dignity. He continues to provide us with his healing presence through the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick and our companionship.

February 11, the Feast of Lourdes and World Day of the Sick. Every year on a Sunday closer to this date in our cluster we pray for the sick and health care professionals. This year’s theme for the World Day of Sick is “It is not good that man should be alone” (cf. Gen 2:18). Pope Francis says in his message for the World Day of the Sick, “From the beginning, God, who is love, created us for communion and endowed us with an innate capacity to enter into a relationship with others… In this regard, I think of all those who found themselves terribly alone during the COVID-19 pandemic: the patients who could not receive visitors, but also the many nurses, physicians, and support personnel overwhelmed by work and enclosed in isolation wards. Naturally, we cannot fail to recall all those persons who had to face the hour of their death alone, assisted by healthcare personnel, but far from their own families.”

Pope Francis reminds us that we are called to be with others in times of sickness, and solitude, and our support for the health care workers. Jesus touches them through us. Pope says, “The first form of care needed in any illness is compassionate and loving closeness.”

Lent – a season of an exodus from slavery to freedom

The message of Pope Francis this Lent is centered on the book of Exodus – “Through the desert God leads us to freedom.” He starts the message with Exodus 20:2, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” Pope reminds us that Exodus's story is not only a journey of bondage to emancipation but also of revelation and spiritual freedom.

Ash Wednesday readings reflect the Pope's message on the journey to spiritual freedom. The first reading is from the book of prophet Joel (2:12-18) insisting that we should experience a complete conversion of heart and not simply sorrow for our sins. In the book of Leviticus 16:30, we read “For on this day atonement is made for you to make you clean; of all your sins you will be cleansed before the LORD.” Saint Paul, in the second reading, says, that Christ took on our humanity and became the victim in a sacrificial act so “we might become the righteousness of God in him.” The sacrifice of Christ has infinite value and enables us to be reconciled to God.

Today’s Gospel instructs us to embrace the true spirit of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. This passage is part of the Sermon on the Mount which begins in chapter 5 and ends in chapter 7. In this Gospel reading, the sermon continues with a warning against doing good to be seen and gives three examples, almsgiving (Mt 6:2–4), prayer (Mt 6:5–15), and fasting (Mt 6:16–18).

What can I do this Lent? A simple suggestion: 1. Take a few minutes for daily prayer 2. Find time to attend Mass every Sunday. And if you go every Sunday, try to find time for weekday Mass at least once or twice. And/or go for the Stations of the Cross, Lenten book study on “Beautiful Eucharist” 3. Pray for one or two of your friends/families each week and invite them for the weekend Mass and/or go for the Stations of the Cross, Lenten book study on “Beautiful Eucharist.”

During Lent, I will be posting a daily message on Facebook and YouTube based on daily reading.

Jesus continues to heal...be open to Him!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 14:45:27 GMT

Jesus continues to heal...be open to Him!

Once I read a short story. One of my all-time favorite church magazine cartoons pictures a physician in his office, speaking with his bookkeeper. The subject of their conversation is a patient's bill, which apparently had been in the accounts receivable file for a long, long time. The bookkeeper says to the doctor, "He says that since you told him his recovery was a miracle, he sent his check to the church."

On the fifth Sunday of Ordinary time brings us a couple of points for our meditation: suffering, healing ministry, personal prayer, and intercessory prayer. The first reading from the book of Job, he laments his suffering. Job says, “Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery?” When I lie down at night, I toss and turn - and wonder when morning will come. But when I get up, I am tired, and I ask how long until I can get back to bed! There is no explanation of why the innocent Job had to suffer so terribly, other than that God had permitted Satan to test his commitment, fidelity, and trust in God, even under extreme pressure. When you read this passage, do you feel the pain of Job. If not, we need to sit with someone depressed, with chronic illness, or even people with a migraine. We don’t have to say anything, just listen to their pain. Then read this passage or the entire book of Job and feel the intensity of Job’s suffering.

Today’s gospel, whole army of Job, people who are suffering came to Jesus for healing. Why did they come to Jesus? They recognized Jesus as Job recognized God in the midst of his suffering. The Gospel describes Jesus’ healing ministry in which he heals many forms of suffering Job laments. As soon as Jesus entered the house, they told him about Simon’s mother-in-law who received healing, and at once she got up and served. Something beautiful we see here, ‘the whole city was gathered at her door’ (1:33). Her doors were open for everyone. Do you think if it was today we would see something different? I am sure the whole city or even neighboring cities might be there.

Jesus’ healing always involved the restoration of integral life: body mind and soul. His proclamation of the kingdom itself healed the mind of the people. Whenever he healed the sick, he restored the body as well as the soul. When he drives out demons, he restored the soul as well as the body. Jesus listens to the cry of the needy: everyone at the door.

Healing also takes place through listening. We hear a lot about synod on synodality. Listening is the core of the synodality. To listen we need an open mind, otherwise we hear what we want to hear. We need to open our mind to listen to others, then we can see the fruit of synodality which is unity, healing, and renewal of faith.

The Gospel specifically says that Jesus “took her by the hand, lifted her up, and the fever left her.” If we read the following passage, Jesus uses his healing touch to heal the leper. Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. Jesus continues his healing ministry through us. Especially through the sacraments: Sacrament of Reconciliation and Anointing. In the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, the Bishop and Priest touch the sick to anoint.

February 3rd is the feast of St. Blaise. He is the patron saint of illness of the throat and other illnesses. The story that he healed the boy with a fishbone stuck in his throat, was a physician and miraculously healed many others of their ailment. We have the tradition of blessing of the throat and asking the intercession of St. Blaise.

Another aspect of healing is prayer and intercessory prayer. As soon as Jesus entered the house of Simon, they told him about the sickness of his mother-in-law. Also in the Gospel, we see Jesus himself went out early in the morning to pray. We need to set aside time to pray. Also, we need to set aside time to pray for others. Also, we ask saints to pray for us. In a special way this weekend, we ask the intercession of St. Blaise.

The most powerful prayer is the Eucharist. The entire heavenly Jerusalem joins with us. Let us bring all of us, our loved ones, all those who around us at this weekend Eucharist and ask God love and mercy – his healing. Also, let us become an instrument of God’s mercy and love for others – his healing touch.

January 28, 2024

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 14:15:00 GMT

OUR GOD IS REAL AND PRESENT IN OUR LIFE!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 17:10:05 GMT

OUR GOD IS REAL AND PRESENT IN OUR LIFE!

This weekend’s readings remind us that God is with us. He cares for us and our needs. In the first reading, we see Moses who shared with the people of Israel God’s promise. Moses was about to die. People were concerned about their future. Moses was leading them through the wilderness to the Promised Land and he is about to die. The question was for them, now how were they going to know the will of God. God answered their concern and question through Moses. He told them, God will raise a prophet like him and they will learn the will of God from no one but their prophets. There are two sides to this promise. The first hint is all the true prophets who were to succeed Moses will bring them the will of God. The second is that this promise ultimately leads to the coming of Jesus. This passage came to be understood in a quasi-Messianic sense in the New Testament. Peter in his kerygmatic discourse (Acts 3:22) mentions the promise from Deuteronomy (18:15), in the first reading.

At the transfiguration of Jesus (Mark 9:7), Moses and Elijah appeared. There was a bright cloud that cast a shadow over them, a voice came from the cloud that said, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Here we see Father reveals His Son, and an invitation to listen to him.

In the Gospel, we see Jesus in Capernaum, in Galilee, the center of his ministry. The new Moses is here, who inaugurated the new exodus at the baptism in Jordan. Israelites celebrate Sabbath on the seventh day of the week. The temple is in Jerusalem, but every city has a Synagogue which is a small building used for the gathering for prayer, worship, and instruction in the scripture. It took place day-to-day catechesis of the people. Jesus was there and he was already considered as a teacher and they were in amazement in his teaching.

All sorts of people were around Jesus: some of them accepted him as the Messiah, some were still wondering and asking questions about his identity, some rejected him and looked for his fault, so they could arrest him. In this Gospel passage, there was a man with an unclean spirit. This unclean spirit confesses that Jesus is the “Holy One.” It was not because of faith, but it was out of fear. The unclean spirit obeyed Jesus and came out of him. It couldn’t resist Jesus’ word. The Divine power is displayed through Jesus' word.

We have a two-fold mission: confess Jesus’ name and continue the mission he entrusted us. We received this call at baptism, then confirmed, and nourished at every Eucharist. He is calling us to know him deeper and deeper and share with others. Every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharistic, we are called to live the experience and share with others. Bishop Powers in his Pastoral Letter on Evangelization, “As the Father has sent me, so I sent you,” explains what personal evangelization is. He says, “A classic definition of evangelization is ‘one beggar telling the other beggars where he found the bread’. We have discussed the ‘bread’ of this definition thoroughly in this letter, but what we have not touched on yet is the hunger that it satisfied” (page 16).

Our God walks with us, he forgives, heals, liberates, and gives us nourishment. We are in need of genuine hunger for him. We need to profess his name and share with others. Bishop shares with us the same page on personal evangelization and gives us guidance on how to evangelize: 1. Pray every day: Intimacy with God; 2. Invest in Christian friendship: reach out peers or neighbors which could lead to faith sharing. 3. Invest in relationships in your spheres of influence: through the guidance of the Holy Spirit listen to the people we interact with every day. 4: When someone opens up to you, respond: Offer to pray for them-if you are comfortable offer a prayer with them.

January 21, 2024

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 14:30:00 GMT

The Sunday of the Word of God!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 20:52:33 GMT

The Sunday of the Word of God!

On September 30, 2019, on the Feast of St. Jerome, Pope Francis declared the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time as Sunday of the Word of God. On this day he published an Apostolic Letter, Motu Proprio "Aperuit illis" which also marks the 1600 death anniversary of St. Jerome, who translated the Bible into Latin. St. Jerome said: "Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ." The Sunday of the Word of God is dedicated to the celebration, study, and dissemination of the Word of God. The Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verbum solemnly promulgated by Pope Paul VI on November 18, 1965. The Pope Francis says that Dei Verbum makes clear that “the words of God, expressed in human language, are in every way like human speech, just as the Word of the eternal Father, in taking upon himself the weak flesh of human beings, also took on their likeness” (No. 13).

This Sunday’s readings tell us about the importance of listening to the Word of God. In the first reading from the book of Jonah, chapter 3, we see Jonah who announces God’s message. The first two chapters of Jonah describes God’s call and humorous story of Jonah’s flight from His call and the mission and after effect: exposing him to a deadly storm and an agonizing experience in the belly of a whale. Assyrians lived in Nineveh; they were known for their aggressiveness. No wonder why Jonah ran away from the mission. Jonah obeyed when God came to him a second time with the mission to preach the repentance to Ninevites. Jonah had not even finished the first day of his preaching journey before the people had totally turned around – doing visible penance while asking and hoping for God’s love, reconciliation, and forgiveness. Contrary to Jonah’s expectations, the pagan peoples of the city "believed in God" and "renounced their evil behavior." If we read chapter 4, we can see Jonah reacts to God’s mercy by grumbling and praying for death (Jonah 4:8).

This Sunday’s Gospel is from the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus invited the people of Israel to a profound conversion (Metanoia) and embrace the Kingdom of God. The kingdom of God closely connected the ancient kingdom of Israel. Even though David’s kingdom is collapsed, but it foreshadowed the glory of Christ's reign. Where there is Jesus, there the kingdom of God is present. Then Jesus invited two sets of brothers, Simon, and Andrew; James and John to follow him. “Follow me” – these words indicate the nature of their calling to win others for Christ. Catechism of the Catholic Church 787 says, “From the beginning, Jesus associated his disciples with his own life, revealed the mystery of the Kingdom to them, and gave them a share in his mission, joy, and sufferings. Jesus spoke of a still more intimate communion between him and those who would follow him: "Abide in me, and I in you. . . I am the vine, you are the branches." And he proclaimed a mysterious and real communion between his own body and ours: "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him."”

As we celebrate “The Sunday of the Word of God,” the readings invite us to take with us three points: 1. Find time to read, study and meditate the “Word of God”; 2. Live and Proclaim the Word of God in our daily life; 3. Pay for missionaries around the world and for one another.

Pope Francis quote Dei Verbum, 21 in his Apostolic Letter, “Aperuit illis,” “the Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures as she has venerated the Lord’s body, in that she never ceases, above all in the sacred liturgy, to partake of the bread of life and to offer it to the faithful from the one table of the word of God and the body of Christ.” The Gospel of John chapter 1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (1:1) … “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (1:14).

Every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, we receive Jesus, in the “Word of God,” and in the “Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.” Then we are sent out to live the Eucharist and share with many – our mission. We are in Eucharistic Revival and Maintenance to Mission Years. In Bishop Powers Pastoral Letter on Evangelization, he quotes Pope St. John Paul II, “I sense that the moment has come to commit all the Church’s energies to a new evangelization…No believer in Christ, no institution of the Church can avoid this supreme duty: to proclaim Christ to all people.”

Today, we have thousands and thousands of missionaries that proclaim the “Word of God” around the world. We are the missionaries sent out in our neighborhood. Jesus said to Simon and Andrew, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." Jesus called us at our Baptism and gives us nourishment, the Bread of Life and sent us out to share with others, to invite others to celebrate the faith with you -to win others for Christ.

January 14, 2024

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 14:15:00 GMT

Are we excited to share the Good News?

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 15:27:49 GMT

Are we excited to share the Good News?

We live in a noisy world. We hear calls from so many different directions: radio, TV, internet, cell phone, billboards, and so on. Cell phones are handy, we can receive calls almost anywhere. There are so many options on a cell phone. If we have saved someone’s name and/or picture and number of the person, when they call you, it will show us the name and picture of the person calling. So, you can recognize the person, and it makes it easy to respond. God loves to speak to us. He spoke to his people through the prophets. In the fullness of time, God sent his Son.

Last Monday, we celebrated the Baptism of the Lord, the inauguration of the new exodus, the heaven was torn open, and heard the Father’s voice, “You are my beloved Son; with you, I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11). Do we listen to his voice?

This Sunday’s reading has three parts: listening to God’s call, helping others to recognize Jesus, and evangelizing through friendship and invitation.

Today, the second Sunday in Ordinary time, in the Gospel of John (1:35-42), John the Baptist with two of his disciples told them, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” John the Baptist helped two of his disciples to recognize Jesus. In the next scene, we see Andrew and other disciple, John, following Jesus. We see a beautiful interaction between Jesus and the two. Jesus asked them, “What are you looking for?” Their answer was the question, “Where are you staying?” Jesus told them “Come and you will see.” Through our baptism, we became the disciple of Christ. Through the reception of the Eucharist and Confirmation, study of scripture, and prayer we mature in our discipleship.

The two disciples of John followed Jesus. One of them was Andrew (1:40) and the other should be John, the Evangelist. Right away Andrew started evangelization. He was excited to share the good news with his brother Simon and to bring him to Jesus. Jesus said to Simon, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas” — which is translated, Peter.” Cephas in Aramaic means rock. Jesus called Peter to be the rock on which he was going to build the Church. It's a way of calling him to the fullness of his identity, to fulfill the mission he was called for. Jesus spoke to his heart. Peter became the head of the evangelization team.

The first reading from the first book of Samuel presents to us the progress of listening to God’s voice. One night, God called Samuel, and Samuel thought it was his master, Eli. When for the third time, Samuel went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, you called me” Eli realized what was going on and told Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.” It's so real, so human, so personalized, that Samuel keeps thinking that Eli is the one who's calling him. Eli is someone who knows Samuel, someone Samuel knows, a close companion in life. In Hebrew ‘Shema’ is the word for hearing and listening. Listening is much more than hearing. Samuel listened to God and grew up, and the LORD was with him.

In these readings, we can see at first someone to help to recognize God’s voice. For Samuel, it was a high priest, Eli, who trained him. It was John the Baptist for Andrew and John, and for Peter, it was his brother Andrew. They listened to God’s voice and shared the Good News with many. And we are one of them.

We are in Eucharistic Revival and Maintenance to Mission Years. We are a Eucharistic Community. At the Last Supper, Jesus commanded us to “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). After the resurrection Jesus commanded his disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:20). At every Mass, we receive the “Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity” and we are sent out to live the gift we received and share the Good News with others.

In the Pastoral Letter, Bishop Powers gives us four simple tasks to help us to evangelize: 1. Pray every day: Intimacy with God; 2. Invest in Christian friendship: reach out to peers or neighbors which could lead to faith sharing. 3. Invest in a relationship in your spheres of influence: through the guidance of the Holy Spirit listen to the people we interact with every day. 4: When someone opens up to you, respond: Offer to pray for them - if you are comfortable offer a prayer with them.

Epiphany of the Lord!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 16:47:02 GMT

Epiphany of the Lord!

We are celebrating the Epiphany. The word Epiphany means a showing or manifestation of the Lord. St. Bernard, an 11th-century Cistercian monk, said that God sent to earth a bag bulging with his mercy, a bag that, at the passion, is torn open so that our ransom pours out of it onto us. It is a small bag, but a full one: for it was a small child that was given to us, but in him dwells the fullness of the Godhead. In St. Bernard’s image the infant Jesus is a little bag bulging with mercy.

The Magi shows us that there is no substitute for an open heart and mind. Jews knew about the coming of Jesus, but they did not recognize his birth. But the Magi came looking for the Newborn King. Pope Benedict XVI wrote, “The Magi set out because of a deep desire which prompted them to leave everything and begin a journey. It was as though they had always been waiting for that star.”

The wise men are from the East, but from where in the East. There are three predictions about the place. Some predict that they are from Persia; some others say they are from Babylon. The third prediction is from Arabia. Today’s first reading from the book of Isaiah gives us more approval from the third prediction, Arabia. In the first reading, we read, “Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.” In Psalm 72, today we read that “The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts; the kings of Arabia and Sheba shall bring tribute. All kings shall pay him homage, all nations shall serve him.”

In the first reading, the light Isaiah proclaims to Zion symbolizes the blessing to come to her: the glory of the Lord, the return of her children, the wealth of nations who themselves will walk by her light. If we want to understand the meaning of this passage, we need to look at the background of this passage. Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians 57 years before Christ. Fifty years later, the Persians conquered the Babylonians, and they allowed the Jews to return home. They found their city and homeland was ruined and rebuilding was extremely difficult. The prophet was giving them encouragement and telling them that Jerusalem would become the center of spirituality and light of the world. St. Matthew sees this vision fulfilled in the birth of Jesus and the coming of the magi. Through Jesus, God’s love and salvation will radiate to the whole world.

Magi were the priestly class, and they were astrologers. It was a common ancient belief that a new star appeared at the time of a ruler’s birth. Matthew also draws upon the Old Testament story of Balaam, who had prophesied that “A star shall advance from Jacob” (Numbers 24:17). The Magi were not members of the Chosen Jewish People, so the Epiphany today shows Jesus came for all people. The Magi shows us that there is no substitute for an open heart and mind.

In the Gospel, magi came to King Herod in search of the newborn King, Jesus. Herod reigned from 37 to 4 B.C. He was not popular among the Jews because he was in company with Romans. So, for Herod, the message of the birth of the Newborn King brought fear. He closed his mind and heart towards Jesus, but he pretended to show that he was eager to see him and do homage. We know the rest of the story.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem-house of bread to become the bread of life for us. He comes to us in every celebration of the Eucharist and sends us to outlive and share that gift with everyone around us. Bishop Powers’ Pastoral Letter, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you,” he wrote, “Authentic evangelization can only be an overflow of the love of God that we have personally received, pouring itself out in a desire for that love to be received by those around us.” We are an Eucharistic community; we are missionaries to make his name known and loved. On this Epiphany let us ask him to give us a deeper understanding to grow in love for the Eucharist and the ability to share with many people and make his name known and loved.

January 7, 2024

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 14:15:00 GMT

December 31, 2023

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 14:00:01 GMT

Happy Feast of Holy Family & Mary, Mother of God! Blessed New Year 2024!!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 19:58:53 GMT

Happy Feast of Holy Family & Mary, Mother of God! Blessed New Year 2024!!

Merry Christmas! The Christmas season will last until the Baptism of the Lord, Monday, January 8th. Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. What makes a family holy?

The mission of Mary and Joseph was to bring up the child Jesus and give Him to the world. It was not an easy journey for them. They had lots of unknown factors in their lives. We read in the Gospel that Mary kept pondering on them (Luke 2:19). Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but they didn’t live together. According to their custom after the betrothal, they are legally married. They didn’t live together until the wedding ceremony took place, which could be a year later. When Joseph came to know that Mary was pregnant, he struggled to receive Mary as his wife. Mary and Joseph followed the will of God. With the taking of Mary as his wife and the birth of Jesus, a new family is founded, and it is a holy one.

In the first reading, Ben Sirach reminds us of the Fourth Commandment, “Honor your father and mother.” We read in the book of Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” Ben Sirach reminds us that those who honor their parents will gain riches and long life. In the second reading from the Colossians, St. Paul tells us about virtues in life. He describes a family code.

We see in the Gospel, that Mary and Joseph took Jesus into the Temple for presentation (Luke 2:22-40). The Presentation of the Lord is celebrated on February 2nd, but this passage is the reading for the Holy Family. In the book of Exodus 13:2, we see, “Consecrate to me every firstborn; whatever opens the womb among the Israelites, whether of human being or beast, belongs to me.” According to their custom, Leviticus 12:2; 6, on the eighth-day circumcision takes place and after forty days, purification and consecration occur. We see in the Gospel Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple according to their custom.

When they came to the Temple, two people were waiting for this moment: Simeon and Anna. The Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen Christ (2:26). Simeon took the child into his arms and praised God by saying “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation…” (2:29). Simeon tells Mary that she will suffer along with her son, Jesus, as he completes the salvific work. Anna the prophetess, who was staying at the temple praying and fasting, came forward and thanked God and spoke about this child. Simeon and Anna speak about the child, who is the consolation of Israel. They were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem and the restoration of God’s rule in Israel. The birth of Jesus brings these hopes to fulfillment. Mary was pondering on these words.

Monday, we embrace the New Year 2024, and the solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. Let us ask for the blessing of the Holy Family as we embrace the New Year 2024. New Year, is a time to give thanks for the past, a time to ask for blessings…

As I mentioned at the Christmas Mass, we are in Eucharistic Revival Years and Maintenance to Mission years. Let us grow in love for the Eucharist and live the Eucharist in our daily lives. We are Eucharistic people, and it is our mission. Let us resolve to join the celebration of the Eucharist regularly and grow in love for the Eucharist in the New Year 2024. Women from our cluster bought a Christmas gift for us, “Beautiful Eucharist.” If you didn’t get one, please pick one up and read it. Let us thank them for the gift.

Let us take the passage from the book of Numbers and bless each other in this New Year 2024!

The LORD bless you and keep you!

The LORD let his face shine upon

you, and be gracious to you!

The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!

Blessed New Year 2024 and Happy Feast of Mary, Holy Mother of God!

Thank you!: I would like to express my gratitude to cluster parishioners, councils and committees, organizations, cluster parish staff, deacons, musicians, and those who participated in different ministries, volunteers, and well-wishers. Thank you!

December 24, 2023

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 14:00:00 GMT

Christmas - an invitation to fall in love!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 19:20:21 GMT

Christmas - an invitation to fall in love!

All of us have gone to weddings. Two people fall in love, and we witness they are entering into a covenant. Throughout the Bible they talk about the covenant between God and Mass. God cannot fall in love because he is Love. Christmas invites us to fall in love with God.

In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve. They were pure, holy, and lived in perfect union/love with God. One day the devil interrupted their union with God and lost their purity and holiness. Since then, God has been in search of human beings. He walked among Israelites and guided them through the patriarchs, prophets, and kings. Isaiah was one of the greatest prophets who appeared at a critical moment in Israel’s history. Israelites were in exile. Isaiah gave them hope and prophesied of the coming of Jesus.

God sent his Word through the messengers, but for 400 years God did not speak to them. In the fullness of time, the Word became flesh – Jesus. We had barely four weeks of Advent, waiting and preparing for Christmas. 2000 years ago, when he came there was no room in Bethlehem. At this Christmas, can he find room in our hearts? Let us pause to meditate on these beautiful readings, and be ready to welcome and adore the Newborn King.

First, let us look at the first readings from the book of Isaiah. For Christmas Eve at Dawn, it is from Isaiah 62. Isaiah uses imagery to describe the conversion of Israel from gloom to joy. The prophet tells them that their God is a saving God who extends his redemption to the Holy City. The incarnation represents the marriage of divine and human nature. This passage expresses the joy of the bridal people of God at the arrival of Christ, our Bridegroom. For Christmas midnight, it is from the book of Isaiah (9:1-6). Isaiah says that people who walk in the darkness, oppressed by Assyria, eventually will see the light and restoration of Israel. Prophets brought hope to the people of the Israelites. The Gospel of Matthew 4:12-23 records the fulfillment of the prophecy, as Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee, the tribal territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, the territory destroyed by Assyria. They were the first people to witness the spiritual restoration of Israel through Jesus Christ. For the Mass during the day, Isaiah (52:7-10) proclaims the good news of the coming of the Lord. The prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, King of Kings, who will come to Jerusalem for the restoration. And that truly is good news.

Gospel readings are from Matthew, Luke, and John. On Christmas Eve Mass, we read the genealogy of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew’s Gospel summarizes and tells us that Joseph is from the family of David, and Jesus is from the stump of Jesse, Jesus was born into a royal family. Joseph was a carpenter, but he belonged to the Davidic royal family. The Gospel of Luke emphasizes the role of Mary. How she listens to the message from the angel, obeys, and shares that joy with her cousin Elizabeth. While Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, the birthplace of David, Mary gave birth to Jesus. We have from the Gospel of John for the Mass of the day. John says the Word was with God, Word was God, and referring to that he was the eternal Word of the Father. John says Jesus is the Eternal Word through whom everything was created and in the fullness of time Word made flesh.

The Word became flesh in the house of bread - Bethlehem. He was laid in a manger, where animals were fed. He is the bread of life for humanity. At the Last Supper, he commanded us to “Do this in memory of me.” We are in Eucharistic Revival and Maintenance to Mission years. It is an invitation to grow in love for the Eucharist and actively proclaim/share the faith. Bishop James Powers says in his Pastoral Letter, “Authentic evangelization can only be an overflow of the love of God that we have personally received, pouring itself out in a desire for that love to be received by those around us.” Christmas is an invitation to fall in love with Jesus and make his name known and loved.

THANK YOU! I would like to express gratitude to everyone who made our Christmas celebration beautiful: decorators, music, and all other ministers. I would also like to thank all of you who sent cards, gifts, bringing goodies, and so on. It is much appreciated. I didn’t get a chance to write to each one of you. Thank you, everyone, and I will keep you all in my prayers. Please keep me in yours.

Merry Christmas!

December 17, 2023

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 14:15:00 GMT

Gaudette Sunday

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 20:32:56 GMT

Gaudette Sunday

The third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday, which means rejoice Sunday. Why is the Church inviting all believers to rejoice at the midpoint of Advent? Christ's coming to earth, which Advent looks forward to, is the only source of true, lasting joy. Entrance Antiphon for this weekend Mass, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near” (Philippians 4:4-5). We light the Rose Candle and wear the vestment as a sign of joy. In the responsorial psalm, it is from the Gospel of Luke 1:46-48,49-50, 53-54, the “Magnificat” Mary’s prayer. Mary says, Almighty has done great things for me, so her soul rejoices in God. In the second reading, Paul says to the Thessalonians, “Rejoice always.” He reminds them to give thanks to God, to always do good things always, and to avoid evil. The readings tell us to rejoice, at the same time instructing us to continue our preparation joyfully.

In the first reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah, it tells the Israelites rejoice because the prophet has been anointed by the Lord to bring the good news to the afflicted. This part of Isaiah is written while Israelites were trying to re-establish their lives in the Promised Land after the Babylonian exile. The prophet gave them comfort and promised the healing of broken hearts. He told them he is anointed to announce a year of favor. The year of favor is a jubilee year. We read in the book of Leviticus 25:10, “You shall treat this fiftieth year as sacred. You shall proclaim liberty in the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you when each of you shall return to your own property, each of you to your own family.”

The prophet’s promise came to fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Jesus’ inaugural address (Luke 4:16-21) at the synagogue in Nazareth, he quotes Isaiah (61:1-2) word by word. These words were Israelites’ faith, hope, and dream. After reading from the prophet Isaiah, Jesus said to them, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” Isaiah’s prophecy is messianic, and Jesus claims himself.

This year we are reading from the Gospel of Mark, but we have a guest today, John. We read from the Gospel of John about specific identification of John the Baptist. John testified to the light, but he was not the light. Then the Gospel says John was the voice in the desert. Last Sunday Gospel, Mark quoted from Isaiah, “A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths” (Mark 1:3). We see in the Gospel reading, priests and Levites came and the identity of John the Baptist. Why do they want to know about him? People had great respect for him, at the same time priests and Levites had questions about him. Priest and Levites, their interest was normal, John is the son of Zacharias who was a priest. In Judaism the only qualification for the priesthood was to be descendent. So, the priests and Levites came to find out why John is behaving in a strange way.

The people of Israel listen to John because they didn’t hear the voice of a prophet for four hundred years. So, they were eager to hear him. John told them “I am not the Christ.” Then they asked him, “Are you, Elijah? Last Sunday, we heard about John the Baptist’s dress. “John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist” (Mark 1:6). Also, they believed that Elijah would come before Christ. So, they assumed this could be Elijah. John tells them, “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord.’”

People accepted John’s invitation and received the baptism of repentance. Pharisees were interested to find out his authenticity and asked, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” Normally baptism was for the Gentiles who want to convert to Judaism or those who went out of Judaism and if they want to come back to Judaism. But John was giving them the baptism of repentance to prepare the way for the Lord. John was saying to them, the Messiah is coming, you need to cleanse as much as any Gentiles do.

This Gaudete Sunday invites us to rejoice and at the same time continue to prepare our hearts for Christmas and for the coming of Christ in glory. We are in Maintenance to Mission years. We need to prepare ourselves, at the same time we need to invite and encourage others. Bishop Powers says in his Pastoral letter, “We must acknowledge, therefore, that the heart of evangelization is relationship: our own relationship with God pouring out into our relationships with other people.”

December 10, 2023

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 14:30:00 GMT

Prepare the Way....

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 16:20:56 GMT

Prepare the Way....

A couple of years ago, I was reading a story that led me to this thought: every summer there is always some part of the highway that is being repaired. There will be signs that say, "Slow Down – Construction is Ahead" and we will see road graders, gravel trucks, and a lot of men working on the highway. I always thought to myself, "What a nice highway this will be when it is finished and there is no more construction." Summer comes and goes, guess what? They are still working on it!

During the Advent season, the readings invite us to ponder on the coming of Jesus. The first half of the Advent Sunday readings focus on the preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus. The second half of Advent focuses on preparation for Christmas.

The first reading from the Book of Isaiah and the Gospel invites us to prepare the way. We are in preparation for the coming of Jesus: the coming of Jesus in history, which is at Christmas, the second coming of Jesus, and being vigilant to meet him every day of our life. Isaiah 40-55 is known as the “second Isaiah” or “Book of Consolation.” Israelites are in Babylonian exile. This section provides consolation to the exiles who would return to Judah to restore Jerusalem and its Temple. The ultimate consolation rests in the coming of the Messiah, who would bring salvation to the whole world. This Sunday's first reading (Isaiah 4:1-5,9-11) is also read on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. We see in verse 3, a prophecy about John the Baptist preparing the way for the Lord.

In the Liturgical Year B, we read from the Gospel of Mark. He begins the Gospel by introducing John the Baptist and contrasting John’s and Jesus' baptism: John baptizes with water for repentance and Jesus baptizes with fire and Holy Spirit. Mark outlines the mission of John and Jesus by connecting Isaiah 40:3, Exodus 23:20, and Malachi 3:1. The Exodus passage explains how God appointed a messenger (angel) to lead Israel from the slavery of Egypt to the Promised Land. Isaiah brought this past experience into the future by announcing the New Exodus: both Israelites and all the nations will experience liberation from the darkness of sin to the light of freedom.

In this Advent, John the Baptist invites us to the desert, a place of preparation, a place of renewal so that we can approach Christmas with renewed spirit. This season of Advent is a time of grace for us. It is a time of grace given to us to prepare our hearts so that we are ready to receive Christ at Christmas.

Do we prepare the same way John prepared the people of his day for the first coming of Jesus? John invited the Israelites to receive the baptism of repentance. Today, one of the ways we prepare is through the reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In Baptism, we receive the new life, but it does not abolish the weakness of human nature nor the inclination to sin. Christ instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation for us, so we can reunite whenever we are separated from him by sin. Jesus told his Apostles, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” John 20:22-23). There are two essential elements for the Sacrament of Reconciliation: the acts of the penitent who comes to repentance through the action of the Holy Spirit, and the absolution of the priest who in the name of Christ grants forgiveness and determines the ways of making satisfaction. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1422-1479 will give us deeper understanding of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

We have the Advent retreat and reconciliation time for reflection and receiving the Sacrament. See the bulletin for the schedule and more details. Another way of preparation will be through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. It can be also incorporated with penance.

Our Advent preparation can be connected to our Eucharistic Revival Years and Maintenance to Mission. We are having half an hour Adoration before our weekend Mass, and relearning our faith, especially on the Eucharist. It may help us to grow in love for the Eucharist. Every Mass sends out to live the Eucharist by sharing with many. It is our mission. Bishop Powers through his Pastoral Letter invites us to become the missionary disciples. He quotes Pope St. Paul VI, “There is no true evangelization if the name, the teaching, the life, the promises, the kingdom and the mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God are not proclaimed.”

This Sunday's readings invite us to the desert with John the Baptist, but we don’t want to remain in the desert, instead, we want to move to the land of prosperity, don’t we? Christmas recalls to us His first appearance on earth. These days of preparation in the desert may lead us to the land of prosperity: a land of joy, love, and peace. Let us build a home for the Child Jesus, who is coming to share his life with us.

Advent begins with the celebration of Immaculate Conception

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 17:45:50 GMT

Advent begins with the celebration of Immaculate Conception!

Advent is a time of preparation in prayer. During Advent, we celebrate Immaculate Conception. I take this opportunity to wish everyone the Happy Feast of Immaculate Conception, especially to Parishioners of Immaculate Conception. I also would like to congratulate our Confirmation Candidates who are introduced at St. Anthony and Immaculate Conception.

As we begin the Advent season and celebrate the Feast of Immaculate Conception, it lends us an invitation to set aside our busy lives and to examine our lives, reflect on our need for God to enter our lives, and prepare homes for the coming of Christ. He will come to us in the celebration of the Incarnation, in His continual coming in our daily living, and in His final coming as our Lord to judge us all and to renew the Father’s creation.

On the First Sunday of Advent, the reading tells us “Watch.” Jesus says in the Gospel, “Watch, therefore; you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning” (Mark 13:35). Advent is a time of watch and wait in preparation for the coming of the Lord: at Christmas and the second coming. We are in Eucharistic Revival Years and Maintenance to Mission. Let us include Bishop Powers’ pastoral letter “As the Father has sent me, so I send you,” as part of the Advent preparation. He invites us in his letter to renew our baptismal call. He says, “We must rouse ourselves out of complacency. We must courageously move past simply maintaining our programs and structures and allow the Lord to lead us into a deep renewal of our identity and purpose.”

Two weeks ago, I mentioned about three steps in evangelization: 1. Pre-Evangelization 2. Evangelization. We are in step 3. Discipleship and 4. Apostolate – discipleship is Christian life and Apostolate – growing in discipleship to carry out the mission of the Church in our sphere of influence. We do participate in the mission of the Church at the local level and at the universal level. In this Advent, I would like to invite you to join Cross Catholic Outreach to build a home for children in Guatemala. They created the 2023 Advent Activity Guide for Four Weeks of Advent based on the Sunday reading. These activities may reaffirm the importance of Catholic social teaching and Corporal Works of Mercy. Whatever you contribute over the four weeks of Advent, please bring it for Christmas. Please take the activity books at the entrance. If you only participate in local missions, you can bring items for the Lord’s cupboard.

In the first reading from the book of Isaiah, it makes a very explicit prayer. In the context of Israel's suffering, the exile, and the scattering of the tribes of the people amongst the Gentile nations, and recognizing the sinfulness, Isaiah cries out to God and says we want you to come down from heaven and save us. Isaiah says, “You, Lord, are our Father.” In all the books in the Old Testament that are written in Hebrew, there are only one or two occasions where God is ever explicitly identified as Father. There's only one place in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Hebrew prophets, where prayer is explicitly addressed to God as our Father, and that is Isaiah 63 and 64. Isaiah cries out “our Father” – a cry for God’s mercy.

This passage prepares us for Advent, to remain in preparation for the coming of the Lord. It also prepares us to listen to the Gospel of Mark (13:33-37) which focuses on the Second Coming. St. Gregory the Great says that the parable outlines the responsibilities of the Church before the second coming. Jesus says, “I say you to all ‘watch’!” His invitation to be vigilant is on several levels: 1. For early Christians, still worshiping in the Jerusalem Temple (Luke 24:5) is a call to flee before its downfall (Mark 13:14-16), 2. Everyone must be ready for the personal judgment ((2 Corinthians 5:10) 3. The Church must persevere in holiness while waiting for Jesus’ second coming at the end of time (Acts 1:11).

In this Advent season let us come together for an Advent Retreat on December 13th with Fr. John Gerritts. There will be a soup supper at 6:15 and a 7 pm retreat. The theme is Jesus in the manger: Bread of Life and Mission. There will an opportunity for reconciliation during the retreat.

December 3, 2023

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 16:19:32 GMT

November 26, 2023

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 14:00:01 GMT

Christ the King! Maintenance to Mission!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 17:52:37 GMT

Christ the King! Maintenance to Mission!

Last weekend I briefly talked about Maintenance to Mission – Evangelization. Bishop Powers’ Pastoral letter on Evangelization, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” he recalls old days. He says, “I remember our parish back in its heyday. There were children everywhere and some of us had to stand out in the front lawn during Mass in the summer because the Church itself was stuffed full. The parish dinners, the Christmas concerts, Holy Days…everyone was there and there was so much energy!” Some of you remember those days. It is the Christendom period. Every Christian family went to Church and The Christian culture permeated every area of each person and community life. Where are we now? What we need to do now? The Bishop’s letter is answering these questions. He asks us to move from Maintenance to Mission.

In October at the clergy workshop, diocesan staff introduced a couple of tools which we can use for planning and develop an evangelization program. Our cluster chose the Appreciative inquiry process. During in-service our council members and evangelization team walked through the process. There are different steps in this process. The first step is: Define- what we want to explore as parish/cluster – Our Catholic identity – what it means to be a disciple of Christ-How do we share the Catholic identity with wider community, the list goes on. The second step is Discovery-means what are we already doing well? Here we discover our strength and celebrate – what are things that are not working or need modification. The third step is Dream-what do we want to look like as a parish in three or five years. Then we need to Design a road Map to Destiny- and finally Drumming – keeping the dream alive-re-evaluation and redesign our faith journey. So let us begin to discover our strength and keep it part of our prayer. Then slowly we can move to further steps. I will be writing every week a few thoughts on this theme for your prayerful reflection. I can go on this process, but we will talk more in the future. Let us start thing, one point at a time: Define – what we want to explore as parish/cluster community? What it means to be a disciple of Christ? How do we live our Catholic identity? Let us pray over these thoughts. Let us pray for our evangelization team as they take a lead in this area.

This Sunday we celebrate Jesus Christ the King. German philosopher, Frederich Nietzche, said, “God is dead.” In 1966 Time Magazine published a cover story that asked, “Is God Dead?” Is it God dead or alive for you and me? Even in this day and age only a minority will say God is dead, but lots of us live like God is dead. Our God is alive, he is with us. We celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King- King of the Universe, which marks the end of the Liturgical year A, and next Sunday, the First Sunday of Advent begins the liturgical year B.

The the Gospel (Matthew 25:31-46) reading for this Solemnity is the conclusion of the discourse which portrays the final judgment. In this passage Jesus’ prophesy of the last judgement unfolds two historical levels. First, Jesus initially foretells the judgement of the Old Covenant. Ezekiel 34:17-22, Matthew 10:23 and 16:27 says about the shepherd separating sheep. This involved his coming to Jerusalem as the Shepherd who separate the faithful sheep of Israel from the wicked one. The second, Jesus ultimately foretells the general judgement at the end time – at the Second Coming of Christ and general resurrection of all people before his throne to be blessed (25:34) or cursed (25:41) according to their deeds (John 5:25-29; Revelation 20:11-12).

At the end of the first reading, we read like this, “As for you, my sheep, says the Lord GOD, I will judge between one sheep and another, between rams and goats” (11:17). Matthew’s Gospel (25:32-33) says “All the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.”

There are corporal and spiritual works of mercy. When we celebrated the Year of Mercy, we reflected on these in detail. On November 17th is the feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, who is known of her corporal works of mercy. She is the patron saint of Catholic charities. Our deeds that provide for the physical or spiritual needs of others are called works of mercy. These works of mercy are an extension of the second commandment of love – love our neighbor. As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Christ the King, we reflect on the last judgement. It will be according to our corporal and spiritual works of Mercy. How do we help each other spiritually and physically? Works of Mercy is the Eucharistic life. Let us ask God to bless us so we can live the gift he shares with us – the Eucharist.

November 19, 2023

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 14:00:04 GMT

Happy Thanksgiving! World Day of the Poor! Maintenance to Mission!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 17:35:22 GMT

Happy Thanksgiving! World Day of the Poor! Maintenance to Mission!

Last week we had an in-service for our Cluster Parish and Finance Council and Evangelization Team. The presenter, Chris Newkirk, asked how many of them gathered read Bishop's Pastoral Letter. I was very happy to see that most of them read the letter. Let me repeat the same question to all of you. Did you read it? If not, please read prayerfully and reflect on it.

As I mentioned before, Bishop Powers started this process a little more than two years. The first year was for priests, the second year was for and along with priests, Deacons, and parish/cluster leadership team. At the same time, we organized an Evangelization Team. They went for a workshop. This year with Bishop's Pastoral letter it is open for the entire parish/cluster/diocese. In the letter, Bishop Powers talks about Christendom and the Apostolic Mission. During Christendom, all who were born in Christian family, they all received Baptism and other Sacraments. They all went together for Sunday Mass. In Apostolic Mission – as we read in the New Testament – on the day of Pentecost, there were no Christians – they went out and proclaimed the Gospel. On the first day, there were 3000 people who received faith. We are slowly moving that period. These days, even though children are born in Christian families, it is not necessary that every one receive baptism. Everyone who received the Sacraments do not go to Church. So, Bishop is inviting us to live our baptismal call – sharing the faith and encouraging others to grow in faith, and inviting to celebrate with us. Bishop quotes Pope St. Paul VI and says, “The Church exists in order to evangelize.”

At our in-service we looked at the data-Mass attendance, faith formation, finance, and other activities. Some of the council members expressed concern about Mass attendance. How do we invite everyone to celebrate the Eucharist – the center of our Catholic faith. Based on the Bishop’s letter the answer is within the question/concern-Apostolic Mission-sharing faith with others and to become a welcoming community. If we don’t see our friend for a couple weeks in the Church, how many of us call and tell them we miss him/her and invite them back. If someone comes back after a while, do we stare at them or go to them and express our joy to see them back. We need to grow as a welcoming community and encouraging others to come and celebrate with us. There are three steps in evangelization: 1. Pre-Evangelization-first step-inviting our friends to come our church-it is not directly faith. It could be social events. 2. Evangelization-it is directly faith based. Inviting friends and family to learn faith. It could be RCIA, prayer group, celebration of the Eucharist. It is an invitation to respond by making a decision to follow Jesus. 3. Discipleship and 4. Apostolate – we are in this area – discipleship is Christian life and Apostolate – growing in discipleship will carry out the mission of the Church in our sphere of influence. I will be writing a few thoughts every week on this theme for your prayerful reflection.

This Sunday, 33rd Sunday of Ordinary time, Pope Francis invites us to celebrate the World Day of the Poor. Mother Theresa of Calcutta was summoned to the court on the charges of converting children to the Catholic faith. When she stood on the dock, the judge asked her if the charges were true. She asked for a baby to be given to her. She held the baby in her arms and said, “This child I picked up from the dustbin; I don’t know to what religion this child belongs or what language it speaks... I give this child my love, my time, my care, my food... but the best thing that I have in my life is the faith in Jesus Christ. Can’t I give this child the best I have in my life?” The case was dismissed in favor of Mother Theresa. Pope Francis message for us: “Do not turn your face from anyone who is poor” Tobit 4:7. If we look at the world today, we can see poverty everywhere: war zones, civil unrest, inflation and so on. We may not be able to reach out to everyone. On Thanksgiving Day Mass, we have a custom of bringing nonperishable food. It is one way to participate in Pope’s invitation. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, it is also an opportunity to give thanks for the many blessings we enjoy. The Eucharist is the perfect prayer of Thanksgiving and an example of Jesus’ self-giving. Let us grow in love for the Eucharist, give thanks, and make a promise to courageously invest our God given gifts to serve one another.

We are at the end of the liturgical year and on this penultimate Sunday, the readings focus on the theme of fidelity to the tasks God places in our care. We have the first reading from the book of Proverbs. It is a poetic explanation of a worthy wife who brings many blessings by properly using God given gifts. In the second reading, Paul advises us to keep awake and encouraging and building each other up as we wait for the “Day of the Lord.”

Today’s Gospel asks a question: Are we using our talents and gifts primarily to serve God? The parable of the talents challenges us to do something positive and constructive with our talents. The talent was a unit of coinage of high but varying value depending on its metal (gold, silver, copper) and its place of origin. A denarius was the normal daily wage. A talent is 6,000 denarii or 20 years of daily wages for a six-day workweek.

In this parable, Jesus says, “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” We read in Matthew 13:12, “To anyone who has, more will be given, and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” Through this parable, Jesus reminds us to focus on use God given gift to perform our duties and to live in the presence of God in doing the work of God to glorify him and for the salvation of all.

Veterans Day! Congratulations to the Confirmation candidates! Joining in prayers for the Mass of Remembrance!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 17:42:15 GMT

Veterans Day! Congratulations to the Confirmation Candidates! Joining in prayers for the Mass of Remembrance!

First, I would like to Congratulate our First Reconciliation students and parents, who committed last Sunday.

Second, I also would like to Congratulate our second-year Confirmation Candidates who will make their Commitment this Sunday. Let us pray for our children and youth who are preparing for the Sacraments.

Third, yesterday we celebrated Veterans Day. Veterans who served our country. We honor them for their many sacrifices. Let us thank them for their dedication and commitment. Happy Veterans Day!

The month of November is dedicated to praying for our loved ones. We celebrated All Saints Day and All Souls Day. We celebrate Mass of Remembrance this weekend. It is an opportunity to remember all those who have passed from last November to this November, remember them with names, and join their families in prayer.

We are towards the end of the liturgical year and the reading reminds us about being prepared. This weekend all three readings one way or another way talk about wisdom. In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, wisdom is embodied as a woman. Wisdom - in Greek, Sophia-is personified in feminine terms. Wisdom is a gift from God. It comes to those who are worthy and searching to receive. In the second reading, Paul shares the Christian Wisdom with early Christians in Thessalonians that through death and resurrection, Jesus saves us. His second coming will be soon.

In the Gospel of Matthew (25:1-13) the parable of the wise and the foolish maidens reminds us of the need for watchfulness. The wise virgins appear as embodiments of divine wisdom and models for the Christians, who should eagerly seek out the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.

At a wedding, we are familiar with the groom waiting for the bride. It is not that long either. Today, the parable for our reflection is centered on a Jewish marriage custom. During Jesus' time, once they are engaged, they are considered a couple, but they both live with their parents. The wedding could take place anytime within two weeks. The groom will lead a procession to bring the bride to the wedding. So, the bride had to be in a state of constant alert for a week or two. It is a time of celebration of family and friends. Those days there was not much means to inform. The groom does not inform in advance, he could come any time during this period. When the groom went to the bride’s house to pick her up for the wedding, he would have to negotiate with her relatives the gifts he would give for the privilege of being able to marry her. Sometimes it could drag on for a time. There is a lot happening during this time. The bridegroom will send a man before him along the street shouting, “Behold, the bridegroom is coming.” All of the sudden, the bridesmaids have to come out to meet the bridegroom. In this parable, we know five of the ten virgins didn’t have enough oil to go out and meet them.

Matthew 25:10 says, “While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked.” We read in the book of Revelation 19:9, “Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These words are true; they come from God.” In the parable, the wise one had extra oil, and they were prepared so that they could enter for the wedding feast.

The question for us is, how can we be ready? Matthew 7: 24, we read, “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” Our lamp is Christian faith and good deeds are the oil for the lamp, being prepared to receive the bridegroom, Jesus. James 2:17 reads, “So also faith of itself if it does not have works, is dead.”

November 12, 2023

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 14:30:00 GMT

November 5, 2023

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 13:15:00 GMT

National Vocation Awareness Week November 5-11!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 19:27:43 GMT

National Vocation Awareness Week November 5-11!

We are celebrating National Vocation Awareness Week. We all received a call to holiness, but in different ways: as a priest, religious, married couple and family, singles, and so on. Vocation in general is openness to God’s call. How do we foster this call? One of the brochures for Vocation Awareness week talks about seven ways family can foster vocation: 1) snuggle up and read fascinating age-appropriate saints story at bedtime; 2) watch a better movie as a family (e.g. Life of St. John Bosco); 3) Set the record straight, means tell children about real happiness, instead TV tells them what is happiness; 4) Play dress up, let children imagine being a priest or nun or married couple and play it out, 5) pray from the heart, have family prayer time and during the family prayer pray for the families, priests and nuns too; 6) Talk about vocations openly, marriage, priesthood, and religious life; 7) Befriend a priest and religious, invite a priest or nun at your home.

I remember in 2015, 8th grade St. Anthony students invited me as their special guest at the radio station for an interview. They asked me to share my vocation story. How did I decide to become a priest? I told them the short answer was because God called me. Then I explained to them how I found out God was calling me. It was through my family, pastor, nuns, youth group, and so on. Definitely, I can say that the youth program called “Cherupushpa Mission League” had a remarkable influence on my decision. I was very much involved in this youth ministry. I was a participant at the beginning and in my high school years, I was in the leadership team under the guidance of pastors and nuns. The experience with youth ministry encouraged me in my decision-making to become a priest. The priest who first encouraged me to join the youth group passed away recently.

These are the little steps to teach our children about vocation. Everybody is not going to be a priest or nun. It is their choice, but it is our duty to teach our children about different vocations and have the opportunity to talk about and get to know them. When it comes to faith, normally we say it is their choice. They are automatically exposed to everything else, and we should give them the opportunity to be exposed to our faith and its traditions and roots. Then they can make the right choice. We all are called to holiness in different paths. It starts with family prayer. Let us pray for vocations.

The 31st Sunday reading invites us with a strong invitation to render humble and loving service to one another. St. Paul tells us, “Brothers and sisters: We were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children. With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us.” Paul’s work was completely selfless and full of affection accompanied by a sense of spiritual fatherhood for the people.

In the first reading prophet Malachi (means my messenger) criticized priests, leaders, and people for their negligence towards God. The basic message of today’s gospel is that everything we do must be about Jesus Christ, never about ourselves. We have to understand that we are His servants. Jesus spoke to the crowd and disciples about the scribes and Pharisees. The scribes were the professional teachers of the law and Pharisees were known for their strict fidelity to the Jewish law. The Pharisees were the most authoritative and powerful group in first-century Judaism. Jesus said to the audience that the scribes and Pharisees had taken the chair of Moses which means they had the authority to teach. In the Catholic Church, we talk about the Chair of Peter (Pope). In the diocesan Cathedral, there is a chair of Bishop. It is a place of authority to teach. Jesus asked them to listen to scribes and Pharisees, but not to follow their example. He told them, “The greatest among you must be your servant.” We are called to put each other first – as a married couple, priest, deacon, religious, and so on. We all are called to holiness and glorify God. Jesus said that we have only one Father, Teacher, and Master. We are called to manifest God’s fatherhood, not their own fatherhood. We are called to be teachers and masters to participate in the ministry of Christ and do it for the glory of God, not doing it for our own glory. Our vocation is to glorify God.

This Sunday, the Lord invites us to reflect on our own vocation. Through the family prayer and celebration of the Eucharist, let us strengthen our vocation. Let us also pray for the vocation to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life.

Month of October closes with the message of love!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 18:46:12 GMT

Month of October closes with the message of love!

The last weekend of Respect Life Month, we are praying for victims of Domestic violence and human trafficking. Today, the reading invites us to reflect on LOVE: love for God and love for neighbor. The violence against another person is a failure to treat that person as someone worthy of love. The violence within the sacramental marriage, the abused spouse may question, "How do these violent acts relate to my promise to take my spouse for better or for worse?" The person being assaulted needs to know that acting to end the abuse does not violate the marriage promises. Today human trafficking is a new form of slavery. The United Bishops Conference says, “Human trafficking violates the sanctity, dignity, and fundamental rights of the human person.” They state that every nation is affected by this disease—the United States is no exception. We all are called to love God and love one another. It is the essence of our discipleship. In the month of October, we were reflecting and praying, especially through the devotion to the Rosary, on the dignity of human life from the womb to the tomb.

We continue to hear from the Gospel of Matthew (22:34-40). A scholar of the law came to Jesus with a question: "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" The reason behind the question is clear, the grudge: Jesus silenced the Sadducees, so what can we do next. As usual, Jesus uses the opportunity to teach them. In his answer he summarized the entire Old Testament, the law, and the prophets. The first part of Jesus' answer is a quote from Deuteronomy 6:5 “Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength.” This was part of the Shema, the basic and essential creed of Judaism, which every Jewish child would memorize. It tells us that our total commitment is to God. The second part of Jesus' answer is from Leviticus 19:18 “Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your own people. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” Jews had laws for everything. Our love for God needs to be delivered in love for other human beings. The first reading shares the same message. It is taken from the Covenant at Sinai (Exodus 21-23). Israelites were liberated from slavery, and they are Mount Sinai. The reading for this weekend talks about how to treat the other person. God promises to hear the cry of the needy. The oppressor of the poor will face death. In another word, it is talking about God’s law of LOVE: love God and neighbor.

ALL SAINTS DAY AND ALL SOULS DAY

November 1st is All Saints Day and November 2nd is All Souls Day. The Church has three realms. The church on earth is called the militant church because we are in a battle between good and evil; the souls in purgatory are called suffering church because they are in a purifying state to fully experience God’s glory and the saints who have already entered the heavenly glory are the victorious or triumphant church. All Saints Day is a feast honoring all Christian saints – known (Canonized) and unknown. All Saints Day is a day on which we thank God for giving ordinary men and women a share in His holiness and heavenly glory as a reward for their faith.

For All Saints Day, the first reading from the Book of Revelation speaks of John's vision. He saw an angel coming from the East and the seal of the living God (7:2). East is considered as the source of light and place of paradise; and the seal has whatever impression it belongs to that person and under his/her protection. John says, one hundred and forty-four thousand marked with seals from every tribe of the Israelites (7:4). It is the new Israel, the church, those who believe in Christ, who have saved through Christ, in Israel and from the nations – universal church. In John’s vision, the multitude were in white robes, palm branches: symbols of joy and victory.

God gave Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai to Moses. In the Gospel, we see the new Moses, Jesus, who gives Sermon on the Mount on a mountain to his disciples and crowd. Here Jesus talks about the new spirit of the kingdom of God; the spirit in which the children of the kingdom should live. The form Blessed are (is) occurs frequently in the Wisdom literature and psalms. Poor means materially poor, but Jesus says poor in spirit means dependence on God. Psalm 37:11 we read, “The poor will inherit the earth, and will delight in great prosperity.” In the Psalm it means the land of Palestine; when Jesus teaches it means the kingdom of heaven.

As we celebrate All Saints Day, we remember our own vocation, that each one of us is called to live the life of the Beatitudes and pray for All Souls, so that we might be numbered among that innumerable multitude of the elect that John sees in Revelation 7.

October 29, 023

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 13:45:00 GMT

Mission Sunday!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 15:18:34 GMT

Mission Sunday!

For some time, we were talking about the Eucharistic Revival and Maintenance to Mission. Maintenance to Mission the first year was for Priests and Deacons. The second year was for Pastor and parish leadership. Now with the Bishop's Pastoral letter, it is for the whole parish/ cluster/Diocese.

When you are impressed with any product or business, and you might have shared with others. You would like to share the good news with others. As a Catholic Christian, we have Good News – we have Sacraments – we gather to celebrate the Eucharist! We have Good News. Do we share with others? Do we invite others to celebrate with us?

Early part of this week I attended a clergy workshop – it was a continuation of the same message of Maintenance to Mission. The main speaker was Bishop Donald Hying. He said that we need to proclaim the Gospel. It has the power to cut the hearts of the people. The question for us to ask is how I proclaim the Gospel. Each one of us has to figure out our way. It could be through words, by action, or through presence.

Bishop Donald Hying said if everyone takes fifteen minutes to pray every day the world would be fantastic. Yes, the beginning of the evangelization is prayer. We go together as a family for the Sunday Eucharist and every day find time to pray together. It will change our personal life, our family life, and it would spread in our community. We will need to continue to talk about the Maintenance to Mission – Evangelization.

Today we are celebrating World Mission Sunday. Mission Sunday invites us to reflect beyond our local Church and participate in the mission of the universal Church. Some give to the mission by going and some go to missions by giving.

The reading for today takes us to grow in our missionary discipleship. In the first reading from the book of Isaiah, we see, that God chose Cyrus, King of Persia, to carry out God’s plan for the people of Israel. So, Cyrus, after capturing Babylon began to liberate the deported Jews. Cyrus was not a Jew, but he allowed God to work through him. This is a theme throughout the scripture. In the book of Exodus, God brought the people of Israel out of slavery. God anointed him with a mission. Some of the Church Fathers saw Cyrus as a type of Christ, who received the fullness of anointing by the Spirit in order to save all people from sin.

In the second reading from the letter to Thessalonians, Paul and his companions were serious about their mission Thessalonica. They prayed for the young in Church and gave thanks to God for their faith and their perseverance in their suffering and trials.

Gospel of Matthew (22:15-21) the collaboration of the Pharisees and Herodians who had opposite political views, reveals the extreme measures taken to eliminate Jesus. The strategy was to trap him with a question: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Either way Jesus' answers will have a consequence. Jesus avoids the intended trap with his response: Jesus plays with words and says Caesar’s coin could be given back to Caesar in taxes without religious compromise. But more importantly, everyone has a duty to give himself back to God. We are created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). His answer satisfied Herodians who supported Romans and Pharisees who were against it. Through his passage, Jesus affirms the responsibility of fulfilling civil duties while emphasizing our primary duty of serving God.

As we celebrate the World Mission Sunday, let us be aware of our responsibilities. Pope Francis invites us to live the baptismal call – being a missionary and supporting mission. World Mission Sunday allows us to deepen our connection to someone far away from us. We can join in prayer and by giving.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 850 says, “The Lord's missionary mandate is ultimately grounded in the eternal love of the Most Holy Trinity: "The Church on earth is by her nature missionary since, according to the plan of the Father, she has as her origin the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit." The ultimate purpose of the mission is none other than to make men share in the communion between the Father and the Son in their Spirit of love.”

May our Eucharist celebration be the source of grace in our daily missionary life and support the mission of the Church around the world.

October 22, 2023

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 13:30:00 GMT

October 15, 2023

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 13:00:01 GMT

Prayer for Healing and nourishment for the daily journey....

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 19:28:10 GMT

Prayer for Healing and nourishment for the daily journey......

Month of October - Respect Life Month – this Sunday we pray for healing. If we look at the world today, we realize that we live in a world broken and need to pray a lot for healing and establishing peace. On October 18th, we celebrate the feast of St. Luke, who was a physician by profession and patron saint of healthcare professionals. So, this Sunday we pray for healthcare professionals, caregivers, and the sick. One way or another we all need healing. We ask the intersession of St. Luke for the healing: physical, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual. At the end of the Mass, there will be an opportunity to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

The Sunday reading offers us a standing invitation to the heavenly banquet. The prophetic vision of the universality of salvation. Isaiah says, “On this mountain, the Lord of hosts will provide for all people a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.” This mountain is Jerusalem, which became a place of comfort and safety for the poor and vulnerable of the world. A banquet would be prepared of the finest food, death would be defeated, tears would be wiped away and there would be only joy in the city. God is going to call not only the “Chosen people,” but all people. The book of Revelation chapter 7 talks about “A great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes (7:9) …, for the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (7:17). On that day we will chant together, “Let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!" (Isaiah 25:9).

The first reading from the book Isaiah helps to understand Jesus’ parable of the wedding feast. The Gospel passage begins with, "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.” In this parable the king is the Lord God, and the son is Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, 2 Samuel 2, Psalm 89, and in other places, the Messiah, the king of Israel, the Davidic king, would be referred to as the son of God. That was a standard title for the king in the Old Testament. So that is the background.

The servants in the parable are the prophets, and the invited guests are the Israelites, the chosen ones. Some of them ignored the invitation and engaged in their daily business, some of them mistreated or killed the servants, the prophets. The king destroyed the murderers and burned the city. It is the destruction of the Jerusalem temple.

Last Sunday we looked at the Gospel of Matthew 21: 33-46 the parable of the wicked Tenants. God transferred his kingdom from the tenants of the Old Covenant to the shepherds of the New Covenant. The kingdom of Heaven is something described as the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation19:9). Now we have to go back to the first reading again, Isaiah says the banquet is universal. In the Old Testament, there are other occasions Kings gave a feast for the people. We see 2 Samuel 6, David gave a feast to the people of Israel. 1 Kings 8, Solomon gave a feast when the Temple was completed and dedicated. 2 Chronicle 30, Hezekiah celebrated the Passover for all Israel at his own expense. 2 Chronicle 35, Josiah did the same. But Isaiah says the banquet is for all. This banquet is the type of the heavenly banquet and of the Eucharist.

In the parable of the Wedding Feast, the King sent other servants, the apostles, inviting everyone good and bad alike to the wedding feast. It is talking about the church. God gathered everyone from the globe. We all are invited to the wedding feast. The requirement for the wedding feast is to wear the wedding garment. What is a wedding garment? The book of Revelation 19:8 says, “She was allowed to wear a bright, clean linen garment. The linen represents the righteous deeds of the holy ones.”

All of us are invited to the banquet, the Eucharist. The wedding guest requires to have proper attire. The attire is our good, our trust in the Lord and serving others. St. Paul says in the second reading, “My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19). He gives us nourishment in the Eucharist and other Sacraments, so we can grow in holiness and enter into the heavenly banquet with proper attire.

october 8, 2023

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 13:30:00 GMT

Inclusion Awareness Sunday! God Always Cares For His People!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 15:39:24 GMT

Inclusion Awareness Sunday! God Always Cares For His People!

In the month of October, we take time to reflect on the dignity of life: life from the womb to the tomb. Last weekend we prayed for unborn babies, pregnant mothers, and babies aborted and healing of their parents. This weekend we celebrate Inclusion Awareness Day: reflect and respect people who have different abilities. Respect Life Month we celebrate life with our abilities and disAbilities, our strength and weakness. We are one family. Inclusion Awareness Sunday is an opportunity to reflect on how our parish communities include everyone in the community by looking at our abilities, rather than looking at disAbilities. Everyone has something to offer. We all come together to celebrate our faith.

Last couple of weeks the Gospel led us to the vineyard. This Sunday we see in the book of Isaiah, (meaning the Lord is salvation) and the Gospel of Matthew the vineyard. The theme of today’s readings is God’s love and care for his people and the necessity of bearing fruit in the Christian life. In the first reading, called “Isaiah's Song of the Vineyard,” the prophet describes God's care for his people and expectations. The “vineyard” is the long-standing symbol for the people of Israel (27:2; Psalm 80:9, 14, 15; Jeremiah 2:21; 12:10; Ezekiel 17:7; Hosea 10:1; Nahum 2:2). Isaiah describes God’s care for them, but they yielded was wild grapes. God asks, “What more was there to do for my vineyard that I had not done?” New Israel, the Church is expected to show our gratitude to God by bearing the fruits of the Kingdom. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, "The Church is a cultivated field, the tillage of God. On that land the ancient olive tree grows whose holy roots were the prophets and in which the reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles has been brought about and will be brought about again. That land, like a choice vineyard, has been planted by the heavenly cultivator. Yet the true vine is Christ who gives life and fruitfulness to the branches, that is, to us, who through the Church remain in Christ, without whom we can do nothing.”

The Gospel of Matthew presents to us the parable of the Wicked Tenants. In this parable, each of the details is important and symbolic. The owner of the vineyard is God, the vineyard is Jerusalem. The tenants were Israel’s leaders, and God’s servants were prophets, who were sent to warn the laborers. When they refused to listen to the prophets, God sent his Son, who was rejected and killed. This parable tells us much about God, his patience, his judgment, and above all it talks about Jesus' sacrifice.

God transferred his kingdom from the tenants of the Old Covenant to the shepherds of the New Covenant. Jesus gave the answer to Peter’s question, “What will there be for us?”, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:27-28).

The parable concludes with a picture of the stone. Psalm 118:22: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Isaiah 28:16: “Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation.” There are many more places in the Old Testament. These pictures of stone are summed up in Jesus. Jesus is the foundation on which everything is built, and the cornerstone holds everything together. It remains solid and unified through the authority and ministry of the Apostles and their successors.

In the second reading Paul insists that if we pray about our problems rather than worry about them, God will post a guard around our minds to protect us from the doubts and disturbances that weaken our confidence in his fatherly care. In the Gospel of Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus gives us similar instructions. Catechism of the Catholic Church 2633 says, “When we share in God's saving love, we understand that every need can become the object of petition. Christ, who assumed all things in order to redeem all things, is glorified by what we ask the Father in his name. It is with this confidence that St. James and St. Paul exhort us to pray at all times.”

Today we, the Church, are the vineyard of Christ. God gave us everything to bear good fruits. Through Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection, he gave us Sacraments. Through baptism, we embrace the new life and through the reception of the Sacraments, God strengthens us to bear fruit. In the Sacrament of Sacraments - Eucharist – Jesus shares with us his very life – Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. He wants to remain with us, so he left us the Eucharist – nourishment for our journey. When we come for the Eucharist, we need to bring our joy filled moments and sorrowful; our strengths and weaknesses, our abilities and disAbilities and offer to him and ask him to touch and transform our lives, so we can go out and live the gift he shared with us – Eucharist – in our daily lives and bear good fruits.

October 1, 2023

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 13:45:01 GMT

October: Respect Life, Rosary, The Life of St. Francis, and much more....

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 19:41:38 GMT

October: Respect Life, Rosary, The Life of St. Francis, and much more......

First, let us wish our St. Francis parishioners a happy and joyful Feast of St. Francis. The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi is on October 4th, but we celebrate on October 1st. The custom of blessing animals originated from St. Francis’s love of all creatures. Animals used to come and listen to St. Francis preach. St. Francis loved all of God’s creation, in other words, loved all life. It is truly fitting that we celebrate the Feast of St. Francis in Respect Life month.

The Church dedicates the month of October to respect life and the rosary. Our life from womb to tomb is a gift from God and He is our Hope. The heart of the Ten Commandments is Love: love God and love one another. Respect Life month invites us to reflect on love for life: womb to tomb. This year the respect life theme is “Radical Solidarity.”

An article for Respect Life Month explains that “Radical solidarity “refers to something more than a few sporadic acts of generosity. It presumes the creation of a new mindset.” A culture of radical solidarity “gets involved by word and deed in people’s daily lives… and it embraces human life, touching the suffering flesh of Christ in others.” We each have our particular gifts, role, and obligation within the Body of Christ to help build a culture of life. We must honestly ask ourselves, “What radical, out-of-the-ordinary, actions have I taken to help a pregnant or parenting mother in need, or to proactively contribute to a culture of life in some other way?”

In October, let us pray for life: life from the womb to the tomb. During the first week, we pray for unborn babies, pregnant mothers, and babies aborted, and healing of their parents. We will say a prayer and rededicate the statue of the unborn. In the second, we will celebrate Inclusion Awareness: praying for/with people with different abilities (disabilities). If you know someone who has not received the Sacraments at their appropriate age, please call Kathy Rominske and Sandy Kennedy for the sacramental preparation.

October 18th is the Feast of St. Luke, who was a physician and patron saint of medical professionals. On the third Sunday close to the feast of St. Luke, we pray for healthcare professionals and the sick and there will be an opportunity to receive the Anointing of the Sick. On the third Sunday, we also celebrate the World Mission Sunday. This year Pope Francis’ theme is “Hearts on fire, feet on the move.” On the fourth Sunday for all those who are affected by domestic violence and human trafficking. Let us reflect on the dignity of life from womb to tomb. During the month of October, we will have the “Baby Bottle” campaign to support the pregnancy resource centers. Please consider participating.

The month of October is the month of the Rosary. The Rosary is a devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the Rosary we walk through the life of Jesus. We celebrate, on October 7, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Pope Leo XIII officially dedicated the month of October to the Holy Rosary. We use Rosary beads to pray. There is a scientific reason for using beads. Sometimes we say I don’t have to use Rosary beads to pray the Rosary, it is old fashioned. When we use rosary beads to pray the Rosary, it stimulates the nerves of our fingers and helps us to concentrate. Let us pay special attention to praying the Rosary this month and include our cluster in your intention. We will be reciting the Rosary before Mass. Please come early to join for the Rosary.

This weekend’s reading places a question in front of us: are we for God or against God? In the first reading from Ezekiel, the Lord says, that since a person has turned away from sins, he shall live. Nobody is going to be punished for someone else’s sin. God told them that he was loving and merciful. He always gives a chance to each person. The Gospel of Matthew (21:28-32) presents the parable of two sons. The two sons represent two groups of people. The first son represents the sinners who repented at the preaching of John (21:32) and the second son represents Israel’s leaders, who refused the John the Baptist message. This parable tells us that it is not enough to give lip service to the importance of the will of God; rather, his will must be carried out in our actions.

September 24, 2023

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 13:45:00 GMT

Generosity of God....

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 16:13:59 GMT

Generosity of God........

In Israel, grape harvest is like a festival. Lots of people are coming and going even from outside of the country. The season of harvest, usually between July and October, varied based on the grape’s variety. The Gospel of Matthew (20:1-16) presents a cultural setting - we have a wealthy owner of the vineyard, who finds laborers at different times of the day. It is very common that harvesting starts early in the morning. At 6 AM, the landowner sends the first group of workers who agree to work for the usual daily wage: one Denarius. Then he goes out into the marketplace at nine, noon, three, and five o’clock and gets more workers. Those who came at the last hour worked only one hour. As the day ends, the landowner instructs his manager to pay one denarius each, the daily living wage, to all the workers, beginning with those who start at five in the afternoon.

Deuteronomy 24:15 says, “On each day you shall pay the servant’s wages before the sun goes down since the servant is poor and is counting on them. Otherwise, the servant will cry to the LORD against you, and you will be held guilty.” In the Gospel the owner of the vineyard not only gave the wage, but his being generous. Now put yourselves in the shoes of the workers who got out there at 6 AM.

It sounds unfair, isn’t it? If we want to understand this passage, we need to read the last part of the previous Chapter. Matthew chapter 19:21, Jesus said to a rich man, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. Then Peter asks, (27) “We have given up everything and followed you. What will be for us?” Jesus promised them ‘hundred times more’ then he said, (30) “Many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” Even though Jesus promised a hundred times more to his disciples, this passage opens up the same gift to everyone who is willing to turn to God.

This parable refers to Israelites' labor throughout the salvation history and the coming of the Gentiles in the New Covenant. Despite the complaints, no injustice took place, but we see the generosity of God. The Gentiles were the late comers, but they received the same gift from God.

We are in Eucharistic Revival years and Maintenance to Mission years. We might have lived our whole life as Christians/Catholics. But like workers who didn't come to the vineyard until 5 pm, there are so many waiting for our invitation. We need to grow in our faith, and we need to actively share the faith. The question we may ask is how we can give that invitation. For example, we can display something connected to my/your personal faith journey - a holy card, or a family picture of your child's first Communion or Confirmation, or statues and so on. Someday someone will ask you about it, you will get a chance to talk about it and ask about their faith - and keep that momentum. Invite them to some of the social events in the parish.

Another aspect of reading for this Sunday is for our personal reflection. Like Israelites, we may be Catholic for our whole life. How do we feel when someone receives the same gift in the last hour?

The first reading is from the last chapter (55) of the second Isaiah. The second Isaiah is written at the end of the Babylonian exile. It explains the unconditional promise of redemption. In today’s first reading, Isaiah reminds us that God doesn’t think in the same way that we do. God is more merciful than we are. The Lord God says, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways.” God is love and merciful, he is waiting for everyone to return to him.

Catechetical Sunday and Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) Kickoff!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 17:46:25 GMT

Catechetical Sunday and Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) Kickoff!

This weekend is Catechetical Sunday and Catholic Service Appeal (CSA) Kick-Off. This year the theme for Catechetical Sunday is "Come to me all who labor and are burdened" Matthew 11:28.

A couple years ago, I read a story from one of the blogs from Fr. Bloom. Many years ago, in England, three men were pouring into a trough a mixture of water, sand, lime and other ingredients. A passer-by asked them what they were doing. The first said, "I am making mortar." The second: "I am laying bricks." But the third said, "I am building a cathedral." They were doing the same thing, but each looked at it differently. And what a difference that made! We can see something similar in the way people relate to their parish, why they give. One person may say, "Oh! All they do down there is to ask for money or for volunteers." The second person may reply, "Well, you have to pay the bills and need a catechist and so on." But the third person may say, "I am building the Body of Christ." What a difference in their perspectives! What do you/I see?

We are in Eucharistic Revival Years and Maintenance to Mission. Catechetical Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. Catechetical Sunday is an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to this mission as a community of faith. At the same time to recognize and commission missionaries of our cluster who dedicated to hand over Faith to our younger generation. Last week we celebrated Catechetical Sunday at Immaculate Conception and this week at St. Anthony. I would like to express my gratitude to all our catechists who are willing to take time to share faith with our youngsters. Catechetical Sunday reminds each one of us of our baptismal call to share the faith. Faith formation is not just for young people. We are lifelong learners too. First Wednesday of the month we are having a class for adults. First Sunday of the month before Mass, we will have a video on Mass. Please make use of these opportunities.

This weekend is the kick-off of Catholic Service Appeal (CSA). We make our pledge and join with Bishop James Powers for the mission of the diocese. This year the theme is “Who do YOU say that I am?” Our gifts make it possible to answer this question as a diocese through different ministries. This year the goal for St. Anthony is $37,612.00; Immaculate Conception is $11,114.00 and for St. Francis is $3,640.00. Please prayerfully consider being part of CSA and make it visible in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you are not able to do it today, please bring it next Sunday or you can mail it. Envelopes are available at the pew and entrance. We are human and we need reminding. So CSA Sunday and Catechetical Sunday are reminders of our role that each one of us is called to play by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. We need to keep reminding ourselves.

This Sunday readings are around forgiveness. The first reading from the book of Sirach, also known as Ben Sira or Ecclesiasticus which seems like it anticipates the teaching of Jesus Christ. The reading ends with a good reminder and gives us a challenge, “Remember your last days, set enmity aside; remember death and decay, and cease from sin! Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor; remember the Most High’s covenant, and overlook faults.” The responsorial psalm affirms that the need to practice forgiveness is part of imitation of the cross.

We have seen Peter the last couple of weeks in the Gospel. The first one was, Peter proclaims the Faith, the second one was, Jesus told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan”. Here Peter proudly asks, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?” Seven is a perfect number in the Bible. Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” In other words, Jesus was telling Peter and the listeners that there is no limit. If we look at the book of Genesis 4: 23-24, we see Lamech, who is a sixth-generation descendent of Cane, said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; wives of Lamech, listen to my utterance: I have killed a man for wounding me, a man for bruising me. If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.” In the house of Cain, they had an unending avenge. But Jesus asks of his disciples limitless forgiveness.

Jesus put forward a new guideline for Christian life. Jesus replaced the Old Testament view with love and forgiveness. The first part of the Gospel is a personal dimension of forgiveness. In the second part of the Gospel, Jesus tells a parable. The English translation does not give a real picture. It says the servant owed a huge amount. The scholars say, the Greek version is ten thousand talents, and if translated to dollars, it is 2 to 3 billion. Now the fellow servant owed only a much smaller amount. Based on the Greek version, scholars say, it was only a hundred denarii which is $5000.00. The master forgave the first one, but he failed to forgive his fellow servant. In the book of Sirach 28:4 “Can one refuse mercy to a sinner like oneself, yet seek pardon for one’s own sins?” We pray in the Lord's prayer, “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us” We prayed in responsible psalm "The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.” Jesus showed us on the Cross the depth of his love and forgiveness for us. We are called to share with one another.

September 10, 2023

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 13:45:00 GMT

9/11 and the readings remind us to be watchmen of our brothers and sisters!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 19:02:23 GMT

9/11 and the readings remind us to be watchmen of our brothers and sisters!

I think a couple of years ago, I shared with you the life story of Gale Sayers, who played with the Chicago Bears back in the 1960s and ranks among the most excellent running back in the history of professional football. Around his neck, he always wore a gold medal about the size of a half-dollar. On it were inscribed three words: I am Third.

Those three words became the title of his best-selling autobiography. The book explains why the words meant so much to Gale. They were the motto of his track coach, Bill Easton, back at the University of Kansas.

Coach Easton kept the words on a little sign on his desk. One day Gale asked him what they meant. Easton replied, “The Lord is first, my friends are second, and I am third.” From that day on, Gale made those words his own philosophy of life.

In his second year with the Bears, Gale decided he wanted to wear something meaningful around his neck, like a religious medal. So he bought a gold medal and had the words I Am Third engraved on it. In his autobiography, Gale says, “I try to live by the saying on my medal. I don’t always succeed, but having the saying around my neck keeps me from staying from it too far.”

We are remembering the September 11. Let us try to imagine we were on the ground running to save our lives or running to someone else. What will be our mental and emotional condition? It is hard to explain. Today we remember all those who died on that day, all those who did heroic action to save life. Like Gale Sayers, they said, “I am third.” Let us remember them in prayer with a grateful heart and let us also pray for all those who are serving in different capacities: first responders and all others being ready to serve and do the sacrifice. This Sunday reading reminds us we are watchmen of brothers and sisters.

My reflection on readings, I would like to start from the second reading which summarizes the first reading and the Gospel. Paul says to Romans, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.” In the first reading, God makes Ezekiel the watchman for Israel. He must warn the people of Israel of their sinfulness. Otherwise, God will hold Ezekiel accountable. God gave Jeremiah (1:17) a similar instruction. Being a watchman for our brothers and sisters is an overwhelming responsibility. The word “watch” means to guard and protect. When the LOVE is involved then it becomes easier. For example, parents, look after their children. They watch their children grow, mature, and strike out on their own. I call it, it is their love journey. Being a watchman: as the Church, as an individual Christian- parent, teacher, and so on.

In the Gospel, Jesus instructs us on the responsibility of the disciple of Christ. The Gospel of Matthew 18:15-20 is followed by the parable of the lost sheep (10-14). In that parable, the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine on the hill and goes in search of the lost sheep. Today’s Gospel Jesus gives us, as a church and as an individual Christian to look for our sisters and brothers. Jesus gave a criteria to correct someone who sins against us. 1) Jesus asks us to confront our brother/sister in private. In the book of Leviticus 19:17, we read, “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason with your neighbor, lest you bear sin because of him. Galatians 6:1 says, “Brethren if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourselves, lest you too be tempted.” 2) Jesus says that if we need further steps address the sin before two or three witnesses. In the Old Testament time, two or three witnesses is a criterion for judicial testimony (Deuteronomy 19:15). 3) The third option is bringing one before the Church.

As the Church, and as a disciple of Christ, the salvation of ours and others should be the most significant concern. James 5: 19-20 says, “My brothers if anyone among you should stray from the truth and someone brings him back, he should know that whoever brings him back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sin.” Jesus explains in the Gospel how important that we are there for one another. The emphasis is placed on reconciliation. We come together to celebrate the Eucharist, share from the same plate and chalice the love and life of Christ, and send out to proclaim the good news of oneness – being one in Christ.

Jesus Christ brought the gift of reconciliation through his passion, death, and resurrection. Today’s readings confront us with two aspects of the question. First, each one of us is called to conversion. Second, each one of us is the keeper of our sister and brother to bring them to Christ.

Happy Labors Day!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 16:11:14 GMT

Happy Labors Day!

Every human being likes to be respected, not for any title or accomplishment, but because we are created in the image and likeness of God. Labor Day is when we can be proud of what we do, and respect others for their excellent service. Pope Francis pointed out, "Work is fundamental to the dignity of a person… It gives one the ability to maintain oneself, one's family, to contribute to the growth of one's own nation."

This year before the Labor Day, schools are open, and it seems like we are more active, and society is more engaged and busier. It is opportunity for us to pray for each one of us, our labor, whatever we do. It is also a special moment to pray for our children and youth, those who are back to school and college. Soon we will start the religious education program. For students, their labor is to study well and grow intellectually and spiritually. Let us pray for them, their families, teachers, catechists and so on. At the same time, we, adults should not forget that we are lifelong learners. We have to find time to learn and grow intellectually and spiritually.

Last Sunday we listened to Peter’s proclamation of the faith, “you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This Sunday Christ reveals his mission of redemption that includes terrible suffering, death, and resurrection. This is the first of three Passion predictions. The other two we see in Matthew 17:22-23 and 20:17-19. When Peter objected to Jesus’ prediction of his sufferings, in contrast to the blessing of Peter in 16:17, Jesus rebukes him and associated Peter with Satan, who also tempted Jesus in the dessert (Matthew 4:1). Peter’s confession in16:16, was inspired by the Father, but here his natural instincts object to the suffering of the Messiah. He couldn’t see the spiritual necessity of Jesus’ passion for sinners.

The second part of the Gospel gives the definition of discipleship. If we want to be a disciple of Christ, there are three things which one must be prepared to do: he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow him. It gives us a scale to measure our life. Jesus indicates that suffering and self-denial are central to Christian life (cf. Romans 8:17; Colossians 1:24) In Catechism of the Catholic church 618 says, “The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the "one mediator between God and men". But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, "the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery" is offered to all men. He calls his disciples to "take up [their] cross and follow [him]", for "Christ also suffered for [us], leaving [us] an example so that [we] should follow in his steps." In fact, Jesus desires to associate with his redeeming sacrifice those who were to be its first beneficiaries. This is achieved supremely in the case of his mother, who was associated more intimately than any other person in the mystery of his redemptive suffering.”

In the first reading from the book of Jeremiah which describes the suffering of Jeremiah. He feels deceived and misused by the Lord. So, the suffering is center of the first reading. He is lamenting of his vocation. Jeremiah appears as the prototype of the suffering prophet, persecuted by those to whom he preaches. Last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus asked Peter and the disciples “who do people say the Son of man is?” Part of their answer was some say Jeremiah. Jesus is like a new Jeremiah. Today’s Gospel passage he predicts his sufering, death, and resurrection. Even though Jeremiah lamented, he expressed confidence in God and offers thanks in advance for the deliverance. Catechism of Catholic church 2584 says, “In their "one to one encounters with God, the prophets draw light and strength for their mission. Their prayer is not flight from this unfaithful world, but rather attentiveness to The Word of God. At times their prayer is an argument or a complaint, but it is always an intercession that awaits and prepares for the intervention of the Savior God, the Lord of history.”

Can we accept suffering with a grateful heart? Yes, but it not easy. It is a process. Like Jeremiah, we may lament, but we can make it as prayer like him too. Like Peter, the instinct will direct us to deny or avoid suffering. We can move from this stage with God’s grace to receive healing by sharing our pain with the Lord in the celebration of the Eucharist and other moments of prayers. We don’t have to be perfect when we pray. We can tell the Lord anything and everything. Another help in moving through these stages to arrive at acceptance and grace would be to tell a trustworthy friend. There is a saying “A trouble shared is half a trouble.” If we are a caring Christian community, we should be helping each other to carry our crosses. Let us bring our crosses to the Eucharistic calibration and let us help each other to carry them in our daily life.

September 3, 2023

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 13:45:00 GMT

You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 18:44:58 GMT

You are Christ, the Son of the living God!

A Sunday school teacher asked Charlie, “Do you remember your memory verse? Then Charlie said, “I sure do I even remember the zip code…Matthew 16:16”

What is in Matthew 16:16? Peter’s proclamation of faith, “You are the Christ, Son of the Living God.” Today’s Gospel passage summarizes the Catholicism.

Last Sunday Jesus was in Tyre and Sidon (Matthew 15:22) from there he went to Galilee and healed many people and fed the four thousand. Today’s Gospel passage says Jesus went to the Caesarea Philippi, a predominantly Gentile city, which is north of Galilee. The city was previously known as Panion or Paneas, named after the Greeco-Roman god Pan. When Herod the Great’s son Philip became the tetrarch of that region, he rebuilt the city and renamed the city in honor of Tiberius Caesar, adding his own name.

Here Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the son of man is?” They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, (Matthew 14:2 Herod said to his servants “This man is John the Baptist,” others Elijah (Malachi 3:23 “I will send Elijah, the prophet before the day of the Lord comes”), still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." Jews were waiting for the coming of the Messiah, but when he came, they were confused and failed to recognize him.

The first question was an introduction and to ask a bigger question. He asked them “Who do you say that I am?” We should notice for the first question, “They replied,” everyone had something to say, but the second question is more personal and only Peter is answering the second question. He replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Christ means anointed one same as Messiah. For the first century Jews, the king is the anointed one. David and Solomon united the twelve tribes of Israel. When Jesus came Israel was under Romans. Jews were waiting for the “Anointed One” to liberate them like David. When Peter’s confession, he proclaimed the mystery of Christ's divinity (Matthew 11:25-27&14:33) and Peter sees Jesus as the waited Messiah-King of Israel (Matthew 26:63&John 1:49).

In the second part of the Gospel, Jesus reveals his plan for the Church. Jesus gave Peter the key and authority and built the Church on the rock “Petro” Peter. We can read in Matthew 16:17-17 Peter assumes the role in salvation history similar to Abraham: both are blessed by God (Genesis 14:19); both responded with heroic faith (Hebrews 11:8) both received divine mission (Genesis 12:1-3); both have changed their names (Genesis 17:5); both are called rock (Isaiah 51:1-2); both are assured a victory over the “gate” of their enemies (Genesis 22:17).

Jesus portrays the Church as the spiritual temple (I Corinthians 3:16-17; 2 Cori6:16; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:4-8). Solomon, son of David, built the Old Testament temple, and Jesus, Son of David, built the Church and entrusted the key to Peter. The Church always understood this authority to be handed down to the successors of Peter, the Popes.

Our first reading from the book of Isaiah, Isaiah chapters 13-23, it talks about the oracle against the different pagan nations. The first reading for today from chapter 22, Shebna, the mater of the place, is going to be removed from his place because of his unfaithfulness, and the Lord is going to appoint Eliakim and give him the robe, sash, and key of Shebna.

The Lord said he will place the “key of the house of David” on Eliakim’s shoulder. In the Gospel, Jesus from the house of David, gives the keys to the kingdom of heaven to Peter. God gave the key to Eliakim, but the words of Isaiah are completed in the New Testament, when Jesus, the offspring of David gave the key to Peter.

Today Pope Francis and Bishops hold the office and teach us. As we reflect on these passages, first off let us proclaim our faith with Peter, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Second, let us share our faith with others and encourage each other to grow in faith and celebration. We are in the years of Eucharistic Revival and Maintenance to Mission. Bishop James Powers reminds us in his Pastoral Letter that “Authentic evangelization can only be an overflow of the love of God that we have personally received, pouring itself out in a desire for that love to be received by those around us.” At every Mass, we are sent out to live the Eucharistic life, so that others may encounter Christ. Let us be missionaries of Christ.

August 27, 2023

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 15:45:00 GMT

WE ARE CALLED TO BE WOMEN/MEN OF GREAT FAITH!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 19:59:58 GMT

WE ARE CALLED TO BE WOMEN/MEN OF GREAT FAITH!

On August 7, 2023, Catholic News Service reported an article: Miracle at Fátima? World Youth Day pilgrim receives her sight after Communion at Mass. Jimena, a 16-year-old Spanish World Youth Day pilgrim said, “I opened my eyes, and I could see perfectly.” She suffered for two and a half years a loss of sight due to a myopia problem that left her with a 95% vision loss. Jimena explained that she joined on August 5 for Rosary and Mass at the Fátima shrine. After receiving Communion, she began to cry a lot because it was the last day of Novena, and she wanted to be cured. She says, “When I opened my eyes, I could see perfectly,” the young woman continued, “It was overwhelming; very many thanks must be given for the miracle because I saw the altar, the tabernacle, my girlfriends were there, and I could see them perfectly.” She says it was a “great gift” from the Virgin Mary.

Today the theme of the readings expressed in the responsorial Psalm is “O God, let all the nations praise you!” Like Jimena, let us praise God for many blessings. In last Sunday's gospel reading, Peter's prayer was condensed into three words, "Lord, save me!" In today's Gospel, the Canaanite woman's prayer is “Lord, help me.” Peter was the Lord's chief disciple; the Canaanite woman was a pagan; but both of their prayers were the same. Jesus said to Peter, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” on the other hand Jesus said to the Canaanite woman, “O woman, great is your faith!”

In the book of Genesis 10, we read that Noah’s descendants grew and formed new nations and peoples, including Canaanites, Babylonians, and the Philistines. Many of these nations would stray from God and embrace pagan religious practices. Sidon was the first-born son of Canaan (Genesis 10:15). In the Gospel (Matthew 15:22) the Canaanites came to Jesus. Gospel of Mark (7:26) refers to her more geographical background as “Syrophoenician.”

In today's Gospel Jesus was reluctant to help the woman. He told her that "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." To make it worse, he added "It is not fair to throw the children's food to dogs." The children of Israel hold the first claim to the blessing of the New Covenant (Matthew 15:24, Romans 1:16 and 9:4-5). The 'dogs' were foreigners. It was a Jewish nickname for all foreigners at that time. In the Gospel of Matthew 10:5-6, we see the mission of the twelve. Jesus told them “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Only after the resurrection, Jesus told them to go to all the nations (28:19). But in the Gospel 15:21-28, the Canaanite woman was humble and unwilling to be turned away. In the end, Jesus praises her faith and blesses her with healing for her daughter. Let us grow in our faith and bring us to Jesus for his blessing.

The first reading is from the book of Isaiah 56 which includes the third and final section of the book of Isaiah and it relates various prophesies about the New Jerusalem and other foreign nations. It is after the Babylonian exile restore the Temple and become the universal place of prayer. Israelites considered themselves holier than others. In those days only priests were allowed to come closer to the altar. Next to it was the men’s court, then the women’s court, and the outer court was for Gentiles. In the Gospel of Mark 11, Jesus entered the temple and drove out the money changers. Jesus cleansed the outer court, the place of Gentile worshipers. Jesus repeats Isaiah 56:7, “My house shall be called the house of prayer for all nations (11:17). Through the cleansing of the temple, Jesus restores access to the Gentiles. It was permissible for them in the Second Temple time. Five hundred years before Christ, Isaiah declared that the foreigners who were willing to obey God’s covenant and who observe the sabbath could worship in the temple and which would house prayer for all people.

Jesus’ heart is open to all of us, and his blood is shed for all of us. The question is do we have faith like the Canaanite woman to embrace the “gift” he shares with us? Jesus wants to heal us and restore us. He reminds us every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist and invites us to embrace his Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity with great faith.

August 20, 2023

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 15:18:48 GMT

Happy 19th Sunday! Happy Feast of the Assumption!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 17:53:11 GMT

Happy 19th Sunday! Happy Feast of the Assumption!

Happy 19th Sunday! Happy Feast of Assumption!

Peter Julian Eymard was born in France. When he was five years old, one day he wandered away from his family. His family looked for him everywhere and finally found him in the parish church; he was standing on a stool in front of the tabernacle. They questioned him to see why he was there, and he replied, “I am here listening to Jesus.” Peter Julian Eymard joined the seminary and became a priest. He spent the rest of his life listening to Jesus and is called the Apostle of the Eucharist.

This weekend’s reading is about our faith, confidence and how we listen to God. God is with us always, but we encounter him in unexpected ways and places. In the first reading we see, on Mount Horeb, Elijah listened to God in the tiny whispering sound. The story of Elijah’s journey to Mount Horeb was a flight from danger. At that time Ahaz was the king of Israel. He married a foreign princess, Jezebel, who worshiped the pagan god Baal. She brought with her into the royal court a sizable revenue of the god Baal. Elijah was furious because there is only one God in Israel, and it is not Baal. He challenged all 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel which ended up Elijah’s victory and annihilation of them all. Queen Jezebel was angry and decided to take Elijah’s life. Elijah fled to mount Horeb, and he rested in a cave. God said to him to come out of the cave to meet the Lord. Elijah came out of the cave to see God. God was not in the roar of the wind, the crashing of rocks, the earthquake, but in the tiny whispering sound.

Today’s Gospel is a continuation of the feeding of the five thousand. In the fourth watch of the night (between 3 am and 6 am) Jesus walks on crashing waves of the terrible storm at the sea of Galilee. The Old Testament credits God alone with authority over the sea (Job 26:11-14; Ps 89:8-10; 93:4; 107:28-31). In the book of Exodus 34:14, God said to Moses, “I AM who I AM” and here Jesus says, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter here represents all of us. He wants to walk with Jesus but loses the focus and is terrified. But look at Jesus and said, “Lord, save me.” On Mount Horeb Elijah sees wind, fire, and earthquake but hears God in a tiny whispering sound. Jesus is the Lord, the same God who demonstrated his power over the nature to the prophet Elijah. He proclaims this truth by walking on the water and stills the storm. Another image in this passage is that the Church is the boat of Peter on the rough see. Despite many obstacles and struggles, the Lord’s help and protection always will be there.

The Feast of Assumption of Mary was defined by Pope Pius XII in 1950 but was celebrated in the Church from its earliest days as the Feast of the Dormition or falling asleep of Mary. We read in the book of Genesis, God created Adam and Eve in the image and likeness of God. Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “Man, tempted by the devil, let his trust in his Creator die in his heart and, abusing his freedom, disobeyed God's command. This is what man's first sin consisted of. All subsequent sin would be disobedience toward God and lack of trust in his goodness.”

God gave us second Adam and Eve: Jesus and Mary. In the book Genesis 3:15, we read, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; they will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel.” In the Gospel of John 19:26, we see Mother Mary and Apostle John at the foot of the cross. When Jesus saw them, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” And said to John, “Behold, your mother.” In the book of Revelation, John talks about his vision. In our first reading for the Mass of the day, Revelation 12:1 “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”

God chose Mary, second Eve, in a special way to bring Jesus, the second Adam, who bring us salvation. First reading for the vigil Mass, from the book of Chronicles 15, we see David had assembled the people of Israel in Jerusalem to bring the ark of the Lord. Mary is new the Ark of the Covenant. When the old ark was completed, the glory cloud of the Lord covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (Ex 40:34-35; Nm 9:18, 22). The new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. The new Ark of the Covenant, Mary was assumed into heaven.

The Assumption of Mary into Heaven reminds us that suffering, and trials are also gifts from God. Assumption reminds us of what awaits us if we follow her example. Let’s pray today that Mary helps us make the journey to Heaven and one day shine there alongside her and her Son.

August 13, 2023

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 16:03:18 GMT

Happy Feast of Transfiguration! Happy Flambeau Rama Days!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 16:43:11 GMT

Happy Feast of Transfiguration! Happy Flambeau Rama Days!

Happy Feast of Transfiguration! Happy Flambeau Rama weekend!!

Last weekend we celebrated Butternut community Pioneer Day. This weekend we celebrate Flambeau Rama in Park Falls. It brings family and friends together. It is a time of celebration and joy. Most of the time we would like to hold on to those moments, but the reality is we have to move on with our life.

A couple of years ago I was blessed to visit Holy Land. One of my favorite places was visiting the transfiguration site. Most of the way we went by bus, then we had to walk. Once you get up to the top of the mountain, the view is spectacular. At the mountain top, there is a beautiful church of Transfiguration. On the dome of the church, there is a beautiful mosaic painting of the scene of transfiguration. I really hated to turn around and leave the mountain. Even though I would like to stay longer there, I have to follow the rest of the group and schedule. We all like to have the mountain-top experience and hold on to it like Peter in the Gospel.

Every year on the Second Sunday of Lent, we meditate on the Transfiguration. But the Church dedicated August 6 to celebrate the mystery of the Transfiguration. The Transfiguration is such an important celebration because it confirms his divine sonship (Matthew 3:17; 16:16) and this anticipated beatific vision of the mystery of the Trinity strengthens Peter, James, and John. Jesus revealed himself through the different miracles and his teachings, but the Transfiguration is unique because it comes out of his very self and is not repeated until his resurrection.

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. We see Moses and Elijah appear at the Transfiguration and converse with Jesus. God revealed to Moses on Mount Saini (Exodus 24) and Elijah on Mount Horeb (1 King 19), but they didn’t see the face of God. At the Transfiguration, they were blessed to see the Face of God and converse with him. In the same way, Peter, James, and John, the selected group, were blessed with the opportunity to see Jesus in his glory.

God’s self-revelation to Moses and Elijah took place on Mountain and Jesus unveiled his glory to Peter, James, and John on the mountain. But there are some similarities between Mount Saini and Transfiguration. Both took place on the seventh day (Matthew 17:1 and Exodus 24:16). Jesus took Peter, James (17:1) and John to the mountain, Moses took Aaron, with Nadab, and Abihu took to Mount Saini (24:1). When Moses came down from Mount Saini Moses was shining with God’s glory (34:29) and Jesus unveiled his glory at the Transfiguration (17:2). Moses heard God’s voice from the cloud (24:16), at the Transfiguration Father voice came from the cloud (17:5). At the Transfiguration Jesus, the new Moses conversed with Moses and Elijah. The Transfiguration reflects Christ’s divinity in an extraordinary way. Just as at his baptism, the voice of his Father was heard calling Christ his “beloved Son.” Christ is the center of all revelation.

Jesus’ identity is revealed in Transfiguration and Crucifixion. Now let us look at the parallel and contrast of the Transfiguration and Crucifixion in the Gospel of Matthew. Transfiguration took place on a high Mountain and Crucifixion took place on Golgotha, the place of the skull. In the transfiguration, Jesus revealed his Glory, but in crucifixion revealed shame. In Transfiguration Jesus’ garment is white as light but on the Cross, his cloths stripped off. At Transfiguration, Jesus was between Moses and Elijah, but on the Cross, he was between two thieves. On the holy mountain, a bright cloud overshadowed but when Jesus was crucified there was darkness over all the land from noon until mid-afternoon. On the holy mountain Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here” and at the crucifixion, Peter denied three times. At the Transfiguration, the voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him" and at the crucifixion, the centurion and others said, “Truly, this was the Son of God!”

Jesus prophesied three times about his passion. Through the crucifixion, Jesus brought victory. Pope Benedict XVII said that the appearance of his glory connected with the Passion motif. Jesus’ divinity belongs with the Cross – only when we put the two together do we recognize Jesus correctly. John expressed this intrinsic interconnectedness of the Cross and glory when he said that the Cross is Jesus’ “exaltation”, and that his exaltation is accomplished in no other way than in the Cross.

At the Transfiguration Jesus was revealing his glory and at the same time preparing for his passion, death, and resurrection. The second letter of Peter repeats the Gospel reading – the Transfiguration. We all need a mountain top experience like Peter, James, and John. The Eucharistic celebration will be one of the high moments of the mountain top experience.

August 6, 2023

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 17:24:13 GMT

Happy Pioneer Days!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 16:24:53 GMT

Happy Pioneer Days!

Happy Pioneer Days! It is a time of family gathering and celebration in Butternut and neighboring communities. The following week is Park Falls Flambeau Rama. It is a joyful moment for me to see so many families and friends of the area coming back to these towns for celebration. At the same time, my joy is doubled because my ordination anniversary is also during this time. I remember, when I came to this cluster in 2012, my 10th Ordination Anniversary was celebrated on Pioneer Day. July 29 is my Ordination anniversary. I take this opportunity to give thanks to God for the gift of the Priesthood and for guiding me every step of my life. Also, I would like to express my gratitude to all those who supported me in my priestly life.

This is the third Sunday we are listening to the Gospel of Matthew chapter 13 parables. This weekend's Gospel (Matthew 13:44-52) addresses how to attain the kingdom.

A couple of years ago, I read a story about the Pink Diamond of Tanzania. Dr. Williamson was a geologist doing some archeological excavation work in Tanzania. One day he found himself driving in a deserted area, slipping and sliding along a rain-soaked road. Suddenly his four-wheel-drive vehicle sank up to its axles in the mud and got stuck. Pulling out his shovel, Dr. Williamson began the unpleasant task of digging the car out of a mud hole. He had been at it for a while when his shovel uncovered something strange. It was a pinkish stone of some sort. Being a geologist and naturally curious about rock formations, he picked it up and wiped away the mud. The more mud he removed, the more excited he became, and he could hardly believe what he saw. When the stone was finally clean, Dr. Williamson was beside himself with joy. He had discovered the diamond which became known as the famous Pink Diamond of Tanzania and is now set in the royal scepter of Great Britain. In today’s two parables, Jesus tells of two other men who unexpectedly discovered treasures.

Jesus is trying to sell us a great treasure. I don’t know how many of us are going to buy it. In the Gospel, Jesus invites us to inherit the Kingdom of heaven: through the three parables which say that the kingdom of heaven is like: a treasure hidden in the field, a merchant who searches for the fine pearls, a net which was thrown into the sea and collects all kind of fish and to separate the good ones. The first two parables talk about hidden treasure and great value.

In these parables, Jesus reminds us that there is a sacrifice involved to attain the kingdom. The person in the parable, “out of joy” sells all his assets in order to acquire the treasure. Catechism of the Catholic Church 546 states that “Jesus' invitation to enter his kingdom comes in the form of parables, a characteristic feature of his teaching. Through his parables, he invites people to the feast of the kingdom, but he also asks for a radical choice: to gain the kingdom, one must give everything. Words are not enough, deeds are required. The parables are like mirrors for man: will he be hard soil or good earth for the word? What use has he made of the talents he has received? Jesus and the presence of the kingdom in this world are secretly at the heart of the parables. One must enter the kingdom, that is, become a disciple of Christ, in order to "know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven". For those who stay "outside", everything remains enigmatic."

We can arrive at the kingdom of heaven through a deliberate, self-committed search. God gave us sacraments and other devotions to help this search. In this search, going to Mass, keeping the Ten Commandments, other devotions, and loving God, and neighbors has become part of our life. The gospel tells us that the kingdom belongs to the “righteous” like St. Joseph (Matthew 1:19), and other saints by resisting evil, (13:43), and as Jesus’ prophesy of the Last Judgement says, “when you did it to the one of the least of these brethren, you did to me” 25:40. When we leave this world, we will leave most of the treasures here, but we will take with us our love for God and others.

Another aspect of this parable is to meditate that God gave us the gift ourselves. He made us as his adopted children through the greatest gifts of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. We need to discover true treasures in our life and use it for the glory of God. Holy Spirit give us guidance in this search, and let us turn to him each day.

July 30, 2023

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 13:30:00 GMT

Happy Grandparents Day!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 18:05:45 GMT

Happy Grandparents Day!

Pope Francis invites us to celebrate Third World Day for Grandparents and Elderly Sunday before the Feast of Sts. Ann and Joachim, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandparents of Jesus which is on July 26. So, this weekend we join Pope Francis and celebrate world day for Grandparents and Elderly Day. These couple's faith and perseverance brought them from the sorrow of childlessness to the joy of conceiving and raising the immaculate and sinless Mary who would give birth to Christ.

We don’t see any account in the New Testament, but according to tradition, Joachim and Anne lead a life of prayer and fasting, especially praying for a baby. An angel appeared to Anne and told her that the Lord had heard her prayer and shall bring forth a child. Joachim and Ann brought their child to the temple and offered to the Lord and consecrated to the Lord.

In 2013 World Youth Day, Pope Francis made a remark on Ann and Joachim. He said, “In their home, Mary came into the world, accompanied by the extraordinary mystery of the Immaculate Conception. Mary grew up in the home of Joachim and Anne; she was surrounded by their love and faith: in their home, she learned to listen to the Lord and to follow his will. Saints Joachim and Anne were part of a long chain of people who had transmitted their faith and love for God, expressed in the warmth and love of family life, down to Mary, who received the Son of God in her womb and who gave him to the world, to us. How precious is the family as the privileged place for transmitting the faith!”

As he reflected on the life of Jesus' grandparents, he invites us to reflect on the vital role played by all grandparents. He said, “How important grandparents are for family life, for passing on the human and religious heritage which is so essential for each and every society! How important it is to have intergenerational exchanges and dialogue, especially within the context of the family. The Aparecida Document says, “Children and the elderly build the future of peoples: children because they lead history forward, the elderly because they transmit the experience and wisdom of their lives” (No. 447). This relationship and this dialogue between generations is a treasure to be preserved and strengthened!”

Let us celebrate Grandparents Day! Let us honor them and receive the valuable gift of experience and wisdom from their life.

This weekend's readings give us a clear vision of our lives, especially the Gospel. The first reading from the book of Wisdom says that even though God is powerful, he governs Israelites with mercy, kindness, and teaches them, too must be kind. God’s power is not directed towards the evil people, shows itself in God’s patience, wanting people to repent and allowing them time to do so. This reading prepares us for the Gospel reading.

Each of the three parables in the Gospel passage for today demands patience. Because there is time of waiting. The farmer has to wait until harvest time to separate the weeds.The mustard seed is the smallest seed but needs to wait to grow and spread the branches to give shade and attract birds. The woman baking bread has to wait to leaven causing the bread to rise.

Last weekend Jesus asked what kind of soil are we? In the parable of wheat and weed, he asks us what kind of seed are we. Wheat or weed? Either way, God is patient, he is going to wait until harvest to separate wheat and weed. He is patiently waiting for our conversion.

The parable of mustard seed illustrates the contrast between the size of the seed and its transformation into a matured shrub. Jesus likewise saw the kingdom of God in a small number of disciples and expected to spread all over the world. A similar metaphor is used for the great empire as great trees in Ezekiel 31:1-13; Daniel 4:2; and 17:22:24. Jesus’ parable points to the spread of the Gospel.

The parable of leaven says that there is something mysterious. If we patiently wait, we will see it causes the bread to rise. The leaven is used in Matthew 16:5-12 and 1Corinithians 6:6-8 symbol of evil in the world. In Jesus’ parable leaven each individual Christian who is called to bring the Gospel to those around him.

We are in Eucharistic Revival Years and Maintenance to Mission years, which invites us to live our baptismal call. At each celebration of the Eucharist, we are renewed and sent out to live the call. If we are shy of our mission, Holy Spirit is always there to help us. We need to ask him to guide us.

July 23, 2023

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 16:04:45 GMT

A fertile heart produces rich fruits....

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 13:27:58 GMT

A fertile heart produces rich fruits....

A fertile heart produces rich fruits

I recently came across an overview of John Powers’ book called The Unoriginal Sinner and the Ice Cream God. It is about an ambitious and gifted boy named Tim Conroy who struggled in growing up. One day Tim confesses to a friend, “I come from a family of practicing Catholics. But do you know something? The more I practice, the worse I get.”

Have you ever felt like Tim? Maybe we are not getting worse, the question is whether we are moving forward. This weekend all three readings reading talk about the power of the Word of God and its impact on our life. The more we read the Word of God and observe, it transforms our lives. The first reading Isaiah reminds us that like rain and snow it fertilizes the earth for the seed to grow and bear fruits which provide bread. The Word of God will bear fruit and Israelites will be brought from Babylonian exile. This passage connects Isaiah 40 to the Lord’s glory in the Israelites' liberation, especially it recalls 40:5, 8.

In the second reading, Paul tells the community Romans that in the midst of persecution he finds peace in preaching the Word of God. Paul reminds us of the fall of Adam and brought the corruption (Genesis 3:17-19). CCC 208 says, “Creation is the foundation of "all God's saving plans," the "beginning of the history of salvation" that culminates in Christ. Conversely, the mystery of Christ casts conclusive light on the mystery of creation and reveals the end for which "in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth": from the beginning, God envisioned the glory of the new creation in Christ.”

Next three weeks we are going to listen to the parables from the Gospel of Matthew 13. Jesus took the life story of the people and tried to teach them the Word of God. Christ often spoke in parables that use images or metaphors to illustrate mysteries about the kingdom of God. Through these parables, Jesus instructs us to reflect on the nature of the Kingdom of God and how it grows within us. This week we listen to the parable of the sower.

Since in Palestine sowing often preceded plowing, much of the seeds are scattered on the ground not necessary to bear fruit. Even though much is wasted the seeds fall on good ground and bear fruits in an extraordinary way. This parable describes how those who receive the Word of God wholeheartedly will grow in holiness and bear fruit. On the other hand, those who reject him or do not fully accept the Word of God will not bear fruit (CCC 546,1724). This parable has a reference to Isaiah 6:9-10 where God commissioned Isiah to preach the judgment to the Israelites for their covenant infidelity. In a similar way, Jesus uses the parable to proclaim God’s judgment on the faithless generation.

In the Gospel of Matthew chapter 4 we read the temptation of Jesus. In 4:4, during his temptation, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 8:3 and says ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’” The seeds bring new grains which are used to make bread. The reception of the Word nourishes our life.

Jesus is the sower, and Word of God is the seed and our hearts and minds are the soil. Jesus in this parable invites us to look at our heart and ask how fertile our heart is to receive the Word of God. It depends on where we are in our life. In the parable, the seeds fell in different places like, on the path, rocky ground, among thorns, and rich soil. If we want to produce much fruits we need to have a receptive heart.

July 16, 2023

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 15:25:54 GMT

July 9, 2023

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 13:00:02 GMT

Walking with the Lord....

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 18:01:04 GMT

Walking with the Lord....

Walking with the Lord…

During the days of the Second Vatican Council, Pope St. John XXIII used to submit all his anxieties to God with this prayer every night: “Lord, Jesus, I’m going to bed. It's your Church. Take care of it!” Intellectually we all know that we are safe in the presence of the Lord. Do we completely trust and depend on him?

In the first reading, Prophet Zechariah consoles the Jews in their suffering under the Greeks and promises that their God who is meek and humble will come on a donkey and establish peace. In those days, the king used a donkey for ceremonial rides in times of peace and a horse during wartime, indicating that the purpose of the King in Israel was not imperialism but justice and fidelity to a higher, invisible King — God. The donkey represented simplicity, stability, and peaceful days of rest. Prophet told them that the Davidic king will ride into Jerusalem in the manner of Solomon. Prophet says that God is going to save them not only from exile but ultimately the promise is about the coming of Christ – the prince of peace. This prefiguring reference also occurs in Psalm 24:7-10. We see this same passage in the Gospel of Matthew 21:5, Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Jesus' entry to Jerusalem to suffer, die, and be raised. His entry into the city in such a way is to fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah. He brings us salvation by the “blood of the covenant.”

We see Jesus praying several different times in the Gospel. He prays in the Garden of Gethsemane in the Gospel of Matthew, Mark, and Luke; we see him praying to the Father in his high priestly prayer in John 17. The first part of today’s Gospel is Jesus’ thanksgiving prayer. Prior to this passage, Jesus talks about the unrepentant cities. While several towns reject Christ, some people, including disciples, trust in him with the simplicity of infants.

Then Jesus says that “No one knows who the Father is except for the Son.” In the Old Testament on certain occasions, God is compared to a father, like in the book of Deuteronomy, or in the book of Sirach. Jesus here is saying something more profound. He is saying that in his deepest mystery, the first person of the Holy Trinity is the Father, and he is eternally Son. When Jesus is being rejected by these Galilean cities, they are not just rejecting the Messiah, the king of Israel, the long-awaited king; but they are rejecting this great mystery of the Trinity itself, of the divine sonship of Christ.

The second part of the Gospel for today is the heart of Jesus. Jesus invites disciples to follow and learn from him. Matthew (11:28) Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” And “My yoke is easy, and my burden light." This Gospel passage from Matthew is similar to Ben Sirach’s invitation to learn wisdom and submit to her yoke (Sir 51:23, 26). This passage reinforces Jesus’ self-identification as “wisdom”.

Yoke does not sound good; it is a burden. Well, it turns out that sometimes farm animals will be unequally yoked. For training purposes, a farmer might yoke a bullock with an ox. The ox pulls the entire load while the bullock walks next to him. Once the bullock is trained, they share the burden. "My yoke," Jesus says, "is easy and my burden light." When we walk with Jesus in love, our burden will be easy. Walking together in love is not easy, it needs a rhythm. We need to learn from Jesus. It is a process; it is a journey to make.

Christ is companionate towards those who suffer and carry a heavy heart. When we try to carry all of our burdens by ourselves, it becomes so hard. Christ here offers to carry it with us in imitation of him. Jesus doesn't want to just be humble and gentle himself, he wants us to take up the yoke of humility and gentleness and he will help us to carry our burdens and to carry our crosses so that we can follow him. He invites them to prayer with the assurance of peace and serenity.

We are called not only to find peace, refreshment, and rest for ourselves, but also to live the kind of life through which others, too, may find God’s peace, God’s refreshing grace, and the joy of placing their lives in God’s hands.

The cluster picnic is a way to grow in faith and fellowship....

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 13:59:17 GMT

The Cluster picnic is a way to grow in faith and fellowship...

The Cluster picnic is an opportunity to grow in faith and fellowship…

Welcome everyone and thank you for joining the cluster picnic. It is a great opportunity to celebrate our faith and deepen our relationship with God and one another. It is my privilege to introduce the Northwoods Catholic Communities evangelization team. You see them wearing a T-shirt with a logo saying, “We are at the start of something big.”

The reading reminds us that to evangelize we need to have confidence in God. The first reading from Jeremiah says about the pain and misery he experienced for being faithful to the mission of speaking God’s Word. Jeremiah describes the betrayal of his close friends yet expresses confidence in God and offers thanks in advance for deliverance.

The first reading leads to the Gospel. Last Sunday we heard that Jesus called twelve by name and sent to proclaim the coming of the kingdom. Today’s Gospel passage (Matthew 10:26-33) is part of the instruction and comforts the disciples: though they will suffer rejection, their heavenly Father knows every hair of their head, and they are worth more than sparrows. In essence, the message is “Do not be afraid” and have confidence in God.

Throughout the Bible, God says “Do not be afraid.” In Genesis 15:1, God said to Abram in vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield…” Numbers 21:34, The Lord said to Moses, do not be afraid King Bashan, for I have given him into your hands… Jeremiah 1: 8, the Lord said to friend Jeremiah, “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you…” Luke 1:30, the angel said to Mary, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”

Fear affects people in different ways. Leaving the comfort zone is not easy. The call of Jesus challenged the disciples to leave the comfort of their nets to follow him. They started a new journey, build a new relationship with their master, and grew in discipleship. You might have read in Bishop Powers’ pastoral letter on Evangelization, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Bishop in his letter invites us to actively live and participate in our baptismal call – evangelization. It is not easy to leave your comfort zone and share your faith with someone. He writes that “We must acknowledge that the heart of the evangelization is relationship: our own relationship with God pouring out into our relationships with other people.”

We are Eucharistic people, Jesus nourishes us by giving his very life: Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. We come together to celebrate the Eucharist and we bring who we are as a gift to offer, we offer it with bread and wine and ask him to touch and transform our lives. Some days our life will be joyful some other days, it may be painful and filled with anxiety and worries. Whatever it may be we offer to the Lord. He can transform our lives and give us strength and grace to overcome whatever we face and multiply our joy.

During Mass at the end of the “Our Father…” the priest says a beautiful prayer “Deliver us, Lord; we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.” Then everybody responds: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever.

Fearing God is different from being afraid. Fear of God is fear out of love. It is born from the knowledge of who God is - He is love. He pours out that love for us in the Eucharist. At the end of Mass, we are sent out to share the Eucharistic experience – evangelization.

On June 19, 2023, Pope addressed the members of the Organizing Committee of the National Eucharistic Congress of the United States of America and said, “The Eucharist is God’s response to the deepest hunger of the human heart, the hunger for authentic life, for in the Eucharist Christ himself is truly in our midst, to nourish, console and sustain us on our journey. Sadly nowadays, there are those among the Catholic faithful who believe that the Eucharist is more a symbol than the reality of the Lord’s presence and love. It is more than a symbol; it is the real and loving presence of the Lord. It is my hope, then, that the Eucharistic Congress will inspire Catholics throughout the country to discover anew the sense of wonder and awe at the Lord’s great gift of himself and to spend time with him in the celebration of the Holy Mass and in personal prayer and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. I believe that we have lost the sense of adoration in our day. We must rediscover the sense of adoration in silence. It is a form of prayer that we have lost. Too few people know what it is."

July 2, 2023

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 15:44:51 GMT

June 25, 2023

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 14:34:01 GMT

Happy Father's Day!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 16:12:09 GMT

Happy Father's Day!

Once I read a conversation between dad and son. It goes like this:

“Daddy, can I have another glass of water please?”

“But I’ve given you 10 glasses of water already!”

“Yes, but the bedroom is still on fire.”

Happy Fathers’ Day! It is time to pause a moment to pray for and to reflect on fathers whom we honor. During this Holy

Mass, let us remember our dads --living or dead-- in a special way and offer them on the altar of God. Today we

celebrate, congratulate, and pray for the men who continue to reflect the divine qualities of fatherhood. Let us ask the

intercession of St. Joseph to all fathers. Happy Father’s Day!

This weekend’s Gospel reading is commissioning of the twelve and sending them out for the mission. The Gospel paired

with from the book of Exodus (19:2-6), God entered the covenant with his people at Mount Sinai. In the first reading

God reminded Moses of what he had done for his people, and instructed that he wants all His chosen people to be a

kingdom of holy priests to offer prayer, and sacrifice and would keep his covenant. God says that all His people are

special, set apart, and holy, and that they should pay attention to their exalted position.

The Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai is a type of the foundation of the Catholic Church. Catechism of the Catholic

Church 751 says, “The word "Church" (Latin ecclesia, from the Greek ek-ka-lein, to "call out of") means a convocation

or an assembly. It designates the assemblies of the people, usually for a religious purpose. Ekklesia is used frequently in

the Greek Old Testament for the assembly of the Chosen People before God, above all for their assembly on Mount

Sinai where Israel received the Law and was established by God as his holy people. By calling itself "Church," the first

community of Christian believers recognized itself as heir to that assembly. In the Church, God is "calling together" his

people from all the ends of the earth. The equivalent Greek term Kyriake, from which the English word Church and the

German Kirche are derived, means "what belongs to the Lord."

In the Gospel of Matthew 9:36-10:8 Jesus has “compassioned” (9:36) the twelve, “like sheep without a shepherd”; he

has announced that the completion of God’s plan, his “harvest” (9:37), to return all to him, is about to begin. The

Kingdom of God is to be announced first to the Jewish people, and brought to the chosen people. He also instructed

them that they should pray fervently for the laborers: vocation. CCC 543 says, “Everyone is called to enter the kingdom.

First announced to the children of Israel, this messianic kingdom is intended to accept men of all nations. To enter it,

one must first accept Jesus' word: The word of the Lord is compared to a seed which is sown in a field; those who hear it

with faith and are numbered among the little flock of Christ have truly received the kingdom. Then, by its own power,

the seed sprouts and grows until the harvest.”

Matthew 28:19 & 20 we see the final commissioning before the ascension, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all

nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all

that I have commanded you.* And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

Through Baptism the faithful are incorporated into a body-the Church- which is the risen Lord builds up and sustains

through the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the root and center of the community, and is the source of communion among

the members of the Church. By giving us his Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, the Lord transforms us into one Body, the

church.

CCC 777 says, “The word "Church" means "convocation." It designates the assembly of those whom God's Word

"convokes," i.e., gathers together to form the People of God, and who themselves, nourished with the Body of Christ,

become the Body of Christ.”

Jesus sent out the twelve with a mission. We are sent out after every celebration of the Eucharist: to be the Eucharistic

people and make our name known and loved.

June 18, 2023

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 16:02:41 GMT

June 11, 2023

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 13:30:00 GMT

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 18:32:04 GMT

The Most Holy Trinity

The famous theologian, Hans Urs von Balthasar (the most important Roman Catholic theologian of the 20th century) says it this way: "When receiving the Eucharist each person must remember that he is falling into the arms of God like someone dying of hunger in the wilderness of this life."

Today we celebrate the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ! Corpus Christi Sunday! This feast is the heart of our church and the heart of the lives of each one of us. The Catechism of the Catholic Church 1322 says the Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." Most of the Sacraments take place in the Sacrament of Eucharist.

The first reading Moses reminds the Israelites that God did care for them. Moses warned against forgetting that it is the Lord who provides prosperity to the Land. The manna from heaven which sustained them in the desert forty years and reminded them that they had to live and be nourished by the Word of God.

The second reading St. Paul says, “The loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf” (I Corinthians 10:17). Here we see the great expression of the need to belong – communion with Christ – bound to the Son close to each other. Jesus gives us his flesh and blood, his very life, sacrifices everything for us.

In the Gospel Jesus says, “For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him” (John 6:55-56).

In the United States we are in Eucharistic Revival years. It is an opportunity to study and get deeper and deeper in love for Eucharist. We can read throughout the Bible connecting passages to Eucharist and priesthood. In the book of Genesis 14:18-20, Melchizedek, the priest-king of Salem blesses Abraham and offers bread and wine. He prefigures Jesus, the Eternal High Priest and King, who is going to offer body and blood, the sacrifice on the Cross.

All the stories of the Old Testament led to the sacrifices of the Calvary. It is the high point of salvation. We read in the book of Exodus God’s rescue mission (Chapter 7-12) . Israelites were slaves in Egypt for hundreds of years. Despite all the plagues Pharaoh refuses to deliver the people. After the announcement of the final plague the Lord instructed Moses concerning the celebration of the Passover: sacrifice of the unblemished lamb and a meal. The blood of the lamb needs to be put on the doorposts, so the angel of the death will Passover their homes. The second part is the meal: consume the lamb with a meal. This is the way they are protected from death and delivered from slavery. Every year at the Passover the father of the family tells the story of the exodus and tells the family that God delivered us. Every year they celebrated with an expectation of God’s ultimate saving work.

At the Last Supper, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to his disciples and said, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this, is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins." And he commanded them and said, “Do this in memory of me” (Mt 26:26-28; cf. Mk 14:22-24, Lk 22:17-20, 1 Cor 11:23-25). Then he completed the sacrifice on the Cross.

As a Catholic we follow his command: “Do this in memory of me.” We gather as a community to celebrate the Eucharist. It is not just us who celebrate the Mass. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1136 says, “Liturgy is an action of the whole Christ (Christus totus).” The entire Mass celebration used signs and symbols. CCC 1146 says, “Signs of the human world. In human life, signs and symbols occupy an important place. As a being at once body and spirit, man expresses and perceives spiritual realities through physical signs and symbols. As a social being, man needs signs and symbols to communicate with others, through language, gestures, and actions. The same holds true for his relationship with God.”

Mass begins at home, the moment you decide to go for the Mass. When you decided to fast for an hour for the celebration of the Mass, you made another step, we started to prepare ourselves for this great celebration. Priest prepares further, when he comes to the sacristy in silence of heart, he prays for the grace to celebrate Mass, and when he wears vestments there is a prayer for each piece of garment. Then we start Mass with a procession and the first part of the Mass is the liturgy of the Word of God and the second part of the liturgy of the Eucharist. What takes place in a good visit with a good friend – good conversation and good meal. In the liturgy we are refreshed and nourished and sent out to live the Eucharist in our daily lives.

The Most Holy Trinity....

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 14:34:23 GMT

The Most Holy Trinity

The month of June starts with a celebration of the Holy Trinity, following Sunday The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, June 16 ^th the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. We are in the years of Eucharistic Revival Years and Maintenance to Mission years, so I will focus on the Eucharist the entire month of June.

Let me start by reflecting on the Holy Trinity. Genesis 1:26, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” At the beginning of the book of Genesis chapter 1 gives the account of creation and God said, “Let there be…” and “the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters” (1:2). Gospel of John begins with the statement that “In the beginning was the Word, the Word was God…all things were made through him…” (1:1&2). The Gospel for Trinity Sunday is John 3:16-18, here we read that “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son…” Jesus, after his passion, death, and resurrection, before his ascension, asked his disciples to remain in Jerusalem until they receive the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49). In the Gospel of Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus talks to his disciples about the mission. Jesus says “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Now let us move on to the Eucharist. God the Father sends his only begotten Son, through him we may have eternal life (John 3:16). The only begotten Son, Jesus born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1) – means house of bread – and laid in a manger (Luke 2:7) – where animals were fed. In the Gospel of John 6:35 Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.”

At the Last Supper, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this, is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins." And he commanded them and said, “Do this in memory of me” (Mt 26:26-28; cf. Mk 14:22-24, Lk 22:17-20, 1 Cor 11:23-25).

As Catholics, we follow the command of Jesus and gather to celebrate the Eucharist. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1324-1327 says the Eucharist is “the source and summit” of Christian life. The Church teaches that Christ is truly, really, and substantially present in the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ in the Eucharist. The bread and wine consecrated by the Bishop or priest in the liturgy of the Eucharist become the Body and Blood of Christ. CCC 1105 says, “The Epiclesis (invocation upon) is the intercession in which the priest begs the Father to send the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, so that the offerings may become the Body and Blood of Christ and that the faithful, by receiving them, may themselves become a living offering to God.” Jesus says, " In the Eucharist “the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, substantially contained” (Council of Trent [1551]: DS 1651).

My Flesh is food indeed, and my Blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him" (Jn 6:55-56). Christ is truly present in the Eucharist – the body, blood, soul, and divinity, under the appearances of bread and wine—the glorified Christ who rose from the dead after dying for our sins. Through the reception of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist, we become united to the person of Christ through his humanity.

In the Eucharist, the substance of the bread and wine becomes the Body and the Blood of Christ is called transubstantiation. It occurs at the consecration during the Mass, when the bishop or priest pronounces the words of consecration over the bread and wine as Christ Commanded (CCC 1376-1377, 1411-1413). Christ offers us his Body and Blood to us in Holy Communion to be nourished by his divine life.

CCC 1377 says, “The Eucharistic presence of Christ begins at the moment of the consecration and endures as long as the Eucharistic species subsist. Christ is present whole and entire in each of their parts, in a such a way that the breaking of the bread does not divide Christ.” So when we receive Holy Communion, we need to give the most attention to consuming the smallest particle of the Eucharist.

June 4, 2023

Wed, 31 May 2023 19:53:11 GMT

Happy Pentecost Sunday and Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 25 May 2023 16:21:41 GMT

Happy Pentecost Sunday and

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

On the 7 ^th Sunday of Easter, we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord. God the Father sent his only begotten Son to reveal the Father’s love and mercy for humanity. He was born in Bethlehem, house of bread, and was laid in a manger where animals were fed, lived in Egypt as a refugee, and lived thirty years of silent life, and finally three years of public ministry and its culmination was his suffering, crucifixion, death, and resurrection.

During forty days of Easter, Jesus walked with his disciples and prepared them for Pentecost and future mission before his Ascension. The first reading (Acts 1:1-11) gives the account of Ascension. The Gospel (Matthew 28:16-20) gives the account of Jesus' great commission to the Apostles and of this promise of being with them always. Acts 1:9 and Mark 16:19 says, the Ascension of the Lord culminates with his heavenly enthronement at the right hand of the Father. The Ascension took place on Mount Olives. In the first reading we read, “A cloud took him from their sight.” In the Bible the cloud represents the divine presence. We can see references in the Book of Exodus 13:21; Isaiah 63:11; Daniel 7:13. Acts 7:56 Stephan said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Jesus departed from them, but at the same time, he promised to be with them always and he pledged his future return. The same cloud that took him away will bring him back to retrieve the saints destined for glory (1Thessalonians 4:14-17). Daniel talks about his vision, “I saw coming with the clouds of heaven. One like a son of man” (7:13). In the Gospel of Matthew 26:64, Jesus had told the high priest, “From now on you will see ‘the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power’ and ‘coming on the clouds of heaven.” Christ’s kingdom began with his coming, is now present in the Church, and will reach in fulfillment when he returns in glory. Jesus entrusted the Church to the Apostles and asked them to continue the mission with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

We are in the years of Eucharistic Revival and Maintenance to Mission. Each of our households will be receiving a letter from Bishop James Powers on this topic. I have formed an Evangelization Team in our cluster. We meet every week for prayer and study on the mission of the Church. During the Easter season the reading repeatedly invites us to reflect on the mission. At the Easter celebration we renewed our baptismal promises and pledged to live the baptismal call. At times in the busyness of life, we may forget to recall our baptismal call and actively live. Our Evangelization Team will be praying for our cluster and inviting you to come and join different endeavors.

As I mentioned at last weekend's Mass, our Evangelization Team would like to invite you to join in praying the Novena to the Holy Spirit from May 18 – 26. If you missed the last two days, you can make up for those and join us. Each one of the Team members will be praying for five families whom they would like to see active in our cluster parishes. We invite each of you to think of five families whom you would like to see actively participate in our cluster. We will be praying every day during the Mass. You may not be able to join for Mass every day. So please take 2 minutes to pray this prayer as a family prayer. Booklets are available at the entrance, also it will be posted on Facebook pages every day. Let us pray also for Deacons: Dan Tracy; Isaiah Schick; and Julian Druffner who are going to be ordained on Pentecost Sunday at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Superior.

Please join the Evangelization Team to pray the Novena. We will celebrate Pentecost on May 27/28 ^th weekend. You will be hearing from the Evangelization Team in coming months. Stay tuned. Thank you!

May 28, 2023

Thu, 25 May 2023 14:52:50 GMT

Ascension of the Lord!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Fri, 19 May 2023 16:37:43 GMT

Ascension of the Lord!

Please join the Evangelization Team to pray the Novena. We will celebrate Pentecost on May 27/28 ^th weekend. You will be hearing from the Evangelization Team in coming months. Stay tuned. Thank you!

May 21, 2023

Tue, 16 May 2023 15:52:44 GMT

May 14, 2023

Fri, 12 May 2023 15:45:00 GMT

Happy Mother's Day!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Wed, 10 May 2023 18:58:53 GMT

Words of Encouragement!

Happy Mother’s Day! One of my favorite Spanish proverbs is: "An ounce of mother is better than a pound of clergy." The word “mom” is synonymous with sacrificial love in its purest form as given by Jesus in his farewell speech: love one another as I have loved you. Mothers leave their legacy with us. They live in and through us.

On Mother’s Day, let us Christians acknowledge that we have two mothers: our earthly mother and our heavenly mother, Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Catholic Church proclaims the great nobility of the mother of Jesus, Mary most Holy, and presents her as the supreme model for all mothers. She was born into humble surroundings; she was called by God to be the mother of the Son of God. She affirmed her obedience to the call of God and lived out her vocation throughout her entire life. Mary, the mother of Jesus, our Blessed Mother, is the true model of motherhood. Let us ask her intercession for all our mothers. Happy Mother’s Day!

With the Sixth Sunday of Easter, the Church draws ever closer to the celebration of the great feast of Pentecost. John’s Gospel for today gives us the teachings of Jesus, not just from the Last Supper discourse in general, but on the Holy Spirit in particular. It picks up from last week's gospel in John 14, but it continues to Jesus's actual promise to send the Holy Spirit and to give the Holy Spirit to the disciples. Those who love Christ become the recipient of the love of the Father and will become the temple of the Holy Spirit. Love is not just words or interior feeling but should manifest in action (14:23-24, 1 John 3:18). The Holy Spirit will serve as an intercessor before God, a source of strength in faith, and a teacher of the truth. He is present and active both in the Church as a community and in her individual members.

When Jesus withdraws the visible presence from this world, he promised the Holy Spirit: to instruct us in Jesus’ doctrines and illumine our minds to receive deeper knowledge of our Faith; to enable us to defend our Faith powerfully; to guide us in the proper practice of true love towards God and recognizing Jesus in everyone. So, we may celebrate Sunday Worship with much enthusiasm and be able to live the life of charity with those who are in need: the poor, the sick, the homeless, etc., and so to become agents of healing and reconciliation in a broken and divided world.

As I mentioned previously, we are in the Maintenance to Mission process and Eucharistic Revival years. You will receive Bishop James Powers’ pastoral letter by the end of this month. I have formed an Evangelization Team in our cluster, and we meet every week to pray and study different topics of our mission. We were in a workshop on Sunday and reflected on the Mission of the parish and diocese. Holy Spirit guides us in our mission. One of the paragraphs in the handout caught my eye, which states that “The mission of evangelization is not accomplished by us. The Holy Spirit is the only one that can change lives. The entirety of the Church's mission flows from the grace of God. The Eucharist, which is Christ's true presence among us, is thus referred to as the 'source and the summit' of the Christian life. When giving us the image that He is the vine and we are the branches, Jesus says: 'Without me, you can do nothing' (John 15:5).”

We are Eucharistic people. We gather to celebrate the Mass. The Mission of the Church flows from the celebration of the Mass. At the end of the Mass, we are sent out to proclaim the Risen Lord and make his name known and loved. Each one of us needs to invite the Holy Spirit and ask him what we need to do to make Jesus' name known and loved. How can I engage in the mission of the Church? The sequence for the Pentecost Sunday liturgy is a prayer of invitation to the Holy Spirit: “Come Holy Spirit, Come! And from your celestial home shed a ray of light divine!”

The second reading from the Acts of the Apostles is Philip’s mission in Samaria. Jesus himself started crossing the border and teaching them. Philip proclaimed to them Christ and they accepted the Gospel. Apostles prayed over them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Let us invite the Holy Spirit to guide us in our daily journey and living the baptismal call as missionaries.

Words of Encouragement

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 04 May 2023 17:58:53 GMT

Words of Encouragement!

There is an incident in St. John Chrysostom’s life where he was summoned before the Roman emperor Arcadius and threatened with banishment, he replied, “You cannot banish me, for the world is my Father’s house.” “Then I will kill you,” exclaimed the emperor angrily. “No, you cannot,” retorted Chrysostom, “because my life is hidden with Christ in God.” “Your treasures shall be confiscated,” the emperor replied grimly. “Sir, you can’t do that because my treasures are in heaven as my heart is there.” “I will drive you from your people and you shall have no friends left,” threatened the emperor. “That you cannot do either, Sir, for I have a Friend in heaven who has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’”

The Gospel passage for the 5 ^th Sunday of Easter from John 14:1-12 is Last Supper Discourses. Although the disciples still did not fully grasp what was about to take place, Christ was preparing their hearts by giving them encouragement and consolation in the face of their cowardice, fear, disloyalty, and disillusionment as he was arrested, and crucified. They had all kinds of questions. Jesus patiently answered their questions. Jesus gave them comfort and told them not to be troubled by their heart, don’t be afraid, just to trust in him.

Jesus promised them that “In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” Jesus was talking about the fact that he's going to die, be raised, and ascend into heaven; and then one day he will return in the second coming to take his people to be with him. In John 2:16, while he cleansed the Jerusalem temple, he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace” and in Revelation 21:22, hinting the heavenly Jerusalem. We see in Hebrews 21:22, the eternal dwelling place. Jesus promised the disciples eternal life.

Thomas asked Jesus, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus told him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” In reply to Thomas, Christ reminded them that the way to the Father is by knowing Christ and living up to his teaching and example. He is the only way because he is the revelation of the love of the Father and perfectly revealed for each one of us to achieve holiness and everlasting life. We read in Acts 4:12, “There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.” As St Augustine famously wrote, "Our hearts are restless until they rest in God."

Then Philip told Jesus, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." In Colossians 1:15, Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God, in John 1:15 “He Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” in 4:24, “God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth” and 3:16 says that through faith we see how Christ’s entire life shows us the heart of the Father and his love for the world.

Jesus came to bring us salvation and offer his life as a ransom for us. We are not capable of paying it in full. So, he took our debt and paid it in full on the Cross. He gave the Eucharist to remain with us and at the second coming he will take us to the heavenly banquet to remain with him. While we are here, we need to possess Jesus the way, the truth, and the life. He gave us the means through the church: a) By actively participating in the Eucharistic celebration and properly receiving the body and blood of Christ in Holy Communion and other sacraments. b) Through daily prayer and daily reading of the Word of God. c) By following the guidance of the life-giving Spirit of God and sharing the faith with others.

We are in years of Eucharistic Revival and maintenance of mission. Like Thomas and Philip, we must dive deeper to know the faith and celebrate the Eucharist. Every time we gather for the Eucharist, we are fed and sent out to proclaim the Risen Lord. As part of the Maintenance to Mission, I formed an Evangelization team in our cluster. In our meeting, we were discussing how we can make our cluster community vibrant. As part of our discussion, we watched a video presentation from Fr. James Mallon. In the video, he explained one of his experiences. He said at the age of sixteen, when he went to the Crosio gathering for a weekend, it was a joy-filled gathering. Everybody talks to each other, with hospitality, and fellowship. When he came for the weekend Mass, no one talks to each other, before the final song is over people started to head out. Something is missing here, don’t you think? A question for us to ponder is, what are we missing? What is our experience? How can we change?

New Paragraph

May 7, 2023

Tue, 02 May 2023 15:42:28 GMT

April 30, 2023

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 13:30:00 GMT

First Communion, Confirmation, and Religious Ed. Classes

Congratulations to our Confirmation Candidates!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 16:10:00 GMT

Congratulations to our Confirmation Candidates!

The most beautiful and meaningful comment on the life and the legacy of our late Holy Father, Pope St. John Paul II, was made by the famous televangelist, Billy Graham. In a TV interview, he said: “He lived like his Master, the Good Shepherd and he died like his Master, the Good Shepherd.”

The fourth Sunday of Easter is called Good Shepherd Sunday. On this day we pray for vocations: priesthood, the diaconate, and the consecrated life, and the Church reminds us of our call to become good shepherds and good sheep of His Church and the world. Both the Old and New Testaments use the image of a shepherd and his flock to describe the unique relationship of Israel to God and of the Christians to Christ.

We see in the Old Testament, the theme of the good shepherd. Today’s responsorial Psalm 23 speaks explicitly of the Lord as the shepherd who guards, protects, and cares for his sheep. Isaiah 40:11, “Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, leading the ewes with care.” In the Book of Numbers 27:15-17, we read Moses’s request to the LORD for a leader “who will be their leader in battle and who will…that the LORD’s community may not be like sheep without a shepherd.”

In today’s gospel of John 10:1-10, Jesus spoke of himself using two images: 1. He is the Good Shepherd who guides his flock and is willing to lay down his life for them. 2. He is the Sheepfold, the gateway by which his sheep enter eternal life. When Jesus said this, people could picture this seen in their minds because they were very familiar with the shepherd and sheepfold. Jesus is our shepherd, who lays down his life for us. The sheepfold would be a stone enclosure with one gate or one entryway into the sheepfold. So, the shepherds could bring their sheep there for the night and they would lock the gate and then there would be a gatekeeper who would watch over the sheep for the night so that thieves or strangers wouldn't break in and steal the sheep. Jesus says that when he would go in the morning to collect his sheep he would “call out his own sheep by name” and then “lead them out of the sheepfold.”

At the same time, Jesus talks about the hired shepherd and the wicked shepherd. In the Old Testament Ezekiel 34, we see Ezekiel’s prophesy of the wicked shepherd. Ezekiel is talking about the chosen people. He is comparing them to a fold of sheep and led them by shepherds. Jesus is the true shepherd who lays down his life and gives us new life and He is with us. At the Last Supper, Jesus broke the bread and told his disciples, this is My Body, take and eat it. Today, Jesus tells us the same, “This is My Body.”

Today the first reading from Acts 2:14, 33-6-41 is the second part of the homily of Peter on the feast of Pentecost. Pentecost was life-changing for them. What about us? We are in Eucharistic Revival Years and Maintenance to Mission process. Like Apostles, we are called to gather around the Eucharistic table and sent out to proclaim the Risen Lord.

Bishop James Powers, the shepherd of our Diocese, joins us for Confirmation. Let us welcome him and let us congratulate our Confirmation Candidates. Our young men and women were preparing for this day, for the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation. Apostles received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit? 1. The wisdom that helps us understand things from God’s point of view; 2. Understanding which helps us to understand the deeper meaning of supernatural truth; 3. Knowledge helps us to appreciate the life God has given: we begin to see God’s presence in people, things, and nature and treat them with proper dignity; 4. Right Judgement or Counsel which helps to make the right decision God would want me to make; 5. Reverence or Piety which helps us to trust God more and the relationship becomes stronger; 6. Courage or Fortitude helps to stand up for what I believe; 7. Fear of the Lord or Awe and Wonder helps to stay on the right path to heaven. Fear of the Lord is because I love God and I want to please Him.

Let us join in praying for our young people who are receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, may God pour the gift of the Holy Spirit, and so they may come out of the Upper Room and reach out in mission to others. Let us pray that our Confirmands, their sponsors, families, and our entire cluster will be renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Congratulations to our Confirmands!

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April 30, 2023

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 18:07:53 GMT

First Communion, Confirmation, and Religious Ed. Classes

Congratulations to all of our First Communicants!

stanthony75@hotmail.com (Joan Page) — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 15:20:11 GMT

Congratulations to all of our First Communicants!

Once, a gentleman was visiting his son. On Sunday when he went to church, he took his little granddaughter with him. While they were in the church, the little girl was observing everything... Finally, they went to receive communion. Grandpa received communion and she got a blessing. On the way back to the pew she asked, “Grandpa when am I going to get one of those?” Grandpa told her, “I will make sure in a couple of years you will receive First Communion.” She kept watching the priest, and Grandpa knelt and prayed. When the priest went to the Tabernacle to keep the Blessed Sacrament, she asked Grandpa, “What is he doing? Is he putting it in the microwave?”

First, I would like to congratulate all of our First Communicants and their families! I am sure all of you are excited to receive the Eucharist, the Body of Christ. Look at the Cross, and it tells you how much God loves you. Look at the Easter Candle, and it tells you He loves you and wants to be the light of your life. Look at the Altar. Just as your parents feed you to be strong physically, God feeds you from the Altar so that you can be strong spiritually. At your Holy Communion, Jesus comes to you. He wants your communion/relationship with Him to be holy. He wants your communion/relationship with everybody to be Holy.

Today, we read Emmaus story from the Gospel of Luke. The two disciples are leaving Jerusalem for a village named Emmaus. One of them was Cleopas. We see in the Gospel of John 19:25 we see Cleopas at the foot of the cross. Here these two are confused and at the same time surprised by the announcement of the women and now they are leaving the city. On the way, they talk about everything that happened: Jesus’ passion and death, the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus, like a stranger who does not know anything, drew closer to them. Jesus is the only person in Jerusalem who knows exactly what has happened. But he asked what sorts of things they were debating. There were surprised that he didn’t know everything that happened to Jesus of Nazarian three days ago. They also told him about the announcement of women which surprised them. Jesus told them while he was with them that he had to go through passion and death, and on the third day he will be raised.

Even though Cleopas knew about the empty tomb and the vision of angels, he decided to turn his back and leave the city. Jesus addressed them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” Then he reminded them that His suffering, death, and resurrection from the dead are the fulfillment of Moses, prophets, and psalms.

They might have felt comfortable with this stranger when they reached their destination, they invited him to stay with them. At the breaking of the bread, they recognized Jesus. And he vanished from their sight. Our God walks with us always, even in the moments we do not recognize him. Jesus vanished from the sight of Cleopas and other disciples, he revealed himself in the Eucharist. On the way to Emmaus, the Eucharistic celebration took place. The two main parts of the Eucharist are the liturgy of the Word and the liturgy of the Eucharist. After recognizing Jesus, they recalled that while Jesus was interpreting the scripture, they felt a burning in their heart.

What is your Eucharistic experience? He instituted the Eucharistic Sacrifice of His Body and Blood. He did this to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until He came again. In this Sacrament, Jesus entrusts to his Church a memorial of His death and Resurrection, the sacrament of love, a sign of unity and a bond of charity, in which Christ is consumed, and our minds and souls are filled with grace and a pledge of future glory. At the end of the Mass, we are sent out to share His love with others.

Pope Francis in his Apostolic Letter Desiderio Desideravi (“I have earnestly desired”) writes, “The content of the bread broken is the cross of Jesus, his sacrifice of obedience out of love for the Father. If we had not had the Last Supper, that is to say, if we had not had the ritual anticipation of his death, we would have never been able to grasp how the carrying out of his being condemned to death could have been in fact the act of perfect worship, pleasing to the Father, the only true act of worship, the only true liturgy. Only a few hours after the Supper, the apostles could have seen in the cross of Jesus, if they could have borne the weight of it, what it meant for Jesus to say, “body offered,” “blood poured out.” It is this of which we make memorial in every Eucharist. When the Risen One returns from the dead to break the bread for the disciples at Emmaus, and for his disciples who had gone back to fishing for fish and not for people on the Sea of Galilee, that gesture of breaking the bread opens their eyes. It heals them from the blindness inflicted by the horror of the cross, and it renders them capable of “seeing” the Risen One, of believing in the Resurrection.”

We are in the Eucharistic Revival journey, let us ask a question; do I believe in the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist? If you would like to learn more please go to FORMED.ORG

April 23, 2023

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 19:02:48 GMT

First Communion, Confirmation, and Religious Ed. Classes

Divine Mercy Sunday!

shajij2002@gmail.com (Fr Shaji Pazhukkathara) — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 16:52:28 GMT

Divine Mercy Sunday!

We celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday on the Second Sunday of the Easter season. Pope St. John Paul II declared that the second Sunday, the octave day of Easter, should be Divine Mercy Sunday. St. John Paul II has a great role in spreading the message of Divine Mercy. On the 30th of April 2000, the Second Sunday of Easter, St. Pope John Paul II celebrated the Eucharist in Saint Peter’s Square and proceeded to the canonization of Blessed Sister Faustina. St. Faustina invites us by the witness of her life to keep our faith and hope fixed on God, the Father, rich in mercy, who has saved us by the precious blood of His Son.

In a dream, St. Theresa of Lisieux asked St. Faustina, an apostle of Divine Mercy, to trust in Jesus and that she will be a saint (Diary 150). Later St. Faustina wrote in her diary in 1588, "In the Old Covenant I sent prophets wielding thunderbolts to My people. Today I am sending you with My mercy to the people of the whole world. I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My Merciful Heart."

God entrusted St. Faustina a mission: 1) to remind the world of the truth of our faith revealed in Holy Scripture about the merciful love of God towards every human being, even the greatest sinner; 2) convey new forms of devotion to Divine Mercy; 3) initiating a great movement of devotees and apostles of Divine Mercy who would lead people toward the renewal of Christian life in the spirit of this devotion, means childlike confidence in God and active love of neighbor.

On the Second Sunday of Easter, we are looking at the Gospel of John 20:19-31, the very famous story of Jesus’ appearance to the disciples without Thomas and then his appearance with Thomas — the famous story of Doubting Thomas. In the first part of the Gospel, Jesus said to his disciples, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Here we see the institution of the power of the Sacrament of Confession. It is the Sacrament of Divine Mercy. This reading is fitting and meaningful on the day of Divine Mercy. Jesus tells St. Faustina: I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the Fount of My Mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet (699).

When Jesus appeared to the Apostles, he breathed on them. We read in the book of Genesis 2:7, God breathed on the first man and gave him life. We read in the book Ezekiel 37:9, where God raises an army of corpses to new life by the breath of the spirit. In the first book of King 17:21, we see Elijah revive the dead son of the widow of Zarephath. After the resurrection, Jesus breathed on the Apostles and gave them new life. In the Gospel, Thomas experienced the love and mercy of Jesus and proclaimed his faith, “My Lord and My God.”

On Sunday, April 16th, at 2:30 p.m., our cluster will have Divine Mercy Sunday service at St. Francis. It includes Adoration, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available. Please come and join. Thank You!

Happy and Blessed Easter to Everyone!

shajij2002@gmail.com (Fr Shaji Pazhukkathara) — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 18:48:12 GMT

Happy and Blessed Easter to Everyone!

Last forty days we were in the desert with Jesus, and we came to the climax to celebrate Easter – the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We read in the Gospel of Matthew 28:5&6, the angel said, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has risen. He has Risen! Alleluia!! I wish you all a Blessed Easter!

The next two readings are from the book of Isaiah. In the fourth reading, the Lord will with his enduring love, resume his covenant love for Zion and rebuild with precious stones and grant it righteousness and prosperity (54:5-14). This reading shapes the minds of believers, especially those who are receiving Sacraments, about the dual reality of the Church as both Bride and Temple. The fifth reading is an invitation for a meal. The Lord’s thoughts and ways are higher, and His words will not return empty (55:1-11). This passage is associated with the Gospel of Matthew (14:13-21) the account of the feeding of the five thousand. Ultimately it leads to the Eucharist. This reading prepares us to reaffirm our faith and particularly those who are prepared to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time. The next reading is from the book of the prophet Baruch which talks about wisdom and law (3:9-15, 32-4:4). It is an invitation to walk towards the splendor of the Lord and live the faith to the full. The seventh reading from the Book of Ezekiel talks about the restoration of Israel (36:16-17, 18- 28). The Lord will gather the Israelites from exile, cleans them by springling the clean water, and give them a new heart and a new spirit, so they can grow in the law of love. The Sacrament of Baptism is the new cleansing and the Holy renewing the heart to grow in the law of love.

A couple of years ago I had the privilege of going on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We did make the Way of the Cross to Calvary and visited where Jesus was crucified and buried. We celebrated Mass at the Church of Holy Sepulcher. It was a faith filled moment. Calvary is not a huge hill, considering where Jesus went to pray or where He transfigured. Why? I don’t think Roman soldiers want to climb a huge hill to crucify somebody. They chose Calvary for their own convenience. For Jesus, it was not just walking up the hill. He was scourged, crowned with thorns, and carried the heavy cross. He was carrying our burdens. In the Church of Sepulcher, we can see the place where Jesus was crucified, “Golgotha” and next to it is a small church within the Church Sepulcher, which is the tomb of Christ. It is not just the Church of Tomb, but also the Church of Resurrection.

The Gospel for Easter Vigil from Matthew (28:1-10) starts with “After the Sabbath toward the dawn of the first day of the week.” Easter Sunday Gospel reading from John (20: 1-9) also starts with “On the first day of the week.” Here Matthew and John highlight the connection between Easter and Sunday, the first day of the week. In another word, it was Sunday that Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead. In the book of Genesis chapter one and two gives us a creation account. God created everything and finally human beings as the crown of creation and on the seventh day God rested. We read in Genesis 2:3, “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation.”

The first day of the week recalls the first creation. After the Sabbath, the first day of the week, Christ through his death and Resurrection made everything new. God didn’t just come to save us; he came to the world to make all things new – New Creations. During Lent, through prayer and fasting, we were preparing our hearts to celebrate the Pascal Mysteries. Its culmination is the Easter celebration. Let us rise with him on Easter and become his new creation. He has Risen! Alleluia!! Happy Easter!

Copy of Holy Week

shajij2002@gmail.com (Fr Shaji Pazhukkathara) — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 18:09:17 GMT

Holy Week

Little Johnny was sick on Palm Sunday and stayed home from church with his mother. His father returned from church holding a palm branch. The little boy was curious and asked, "Why do you have that palm branch, dad? "You see, when Jesus came into town, everyone waved palm branches to honor him; so we got palm branches today." “Aw, shucks,” grumbled Little Johnny." The one Sunday I can't go to church, and Jesus shows up!"

It is on Palm Sunday that we enter Holy Week. Jesus enters the Holy City of Jerusalem in a midst of thousands of pilgrims who came for the annual feast of Passover (Exodus 12:1-13). Prince Solomon used his father David’s royal donkey for the ceremonial procession on the day of his coronation (1 Kings 1:32-40). Jesus entered the Holy City as a king of peace, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah (21:1-11).

On Holy Thursday there is a Chrism Mass in Cathedral Churches because it is a solemn observance of Christ's institution of the Eucharist and priesthood. In order to make the opportunity for most priests and laity to attend this Mass, the Diocese may celebrate prior to the holy week, as we celebrated in our diocese. At this 'Chrism Mass,' the bishop blesses the Oil of Chrism used for Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination, and Anointing of the Sick. On Holy Thursday, we celebrate three things: Institution of the Eucharist, Institution of the Priesthood, and Jesus promulgation of the new commandment of Love. "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:3). The original meaning of this feast is celebrating the passing of the angel of death over the Israelites and their escape from Egypt ((Exodus12:3). In the new Passover, Jesus will pass over to the Father through the upcoming events of his Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension. The Old Testament Passover started from Egypt and ended in Jerusalem – the Holy City. The new Passover started in Jerusalem and by the resurrection and ascension ended in heavenly Jerusalem.

The Holy Thursday liturgy in the parish communities, is celebrated in the evening because Passover began at sundown. Washing of the feet takes place in this Mass. In the Old Testament time it was a gesture of hospitality, normally performed by a household slave. In John chapter13, Jesus washes the disciples' feet. The foot washing may be a sign of priestly ordination as in the Book of Exodus 40:12. Food brought for the poor will be brought at the offertory. After the Holy Thursday evening Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is carried in solemn procession to the flower-bedecked Altar of Repose, where it will remain 'entombed' until the communion service on Good Friday. And finally, there is the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament by the people after the Holy Thursday Mass, just as the disciples stayed with the Lord during His agony on the Mount of Olives before the betrayal by Judas. No Mass will be celebrated again in the Church until the Easter Vigil proclaims the Resurrection.

Holy Thursday, the institution of the Eucharist, Jesus said to his disciples, “This is my body broken for you; this is my blood and shed for you” and we see on Good Friday that sacrifice is completed on the cross. He broke himself for us and fed us. This is also the week when we should lighten the burden of Christ’s passion as daily experienced by the needy people through our corporal and spiritual works of mercy; break and share. Jesus completed the sacrifices on the Cross. The water and blood came from the side of Jesus. In the book of Numbers when Moses struck the rock, the water came out (20:10-13). Paul interprets this rock as Christ (1Corinthians 10:4) from which flows the spiritual drink of the Eucharist. St. John Chrysostom says,, "The water and blood symbolized Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. From these two Sacraments the Church is born: from Baptism, the cleansing of water that gives rebirth and renewal through the Holy Spirit, and from the Holy Eucharist." Since the symbols of baptism and the Eucharist flowed from his side, it was from his side that Christ fashioned the Church, as he had fashioned Eve from the side of Adam. Holy Week can become "holy” for us only if we actively and consciously take part in the liturgies of this week. Let us meditate on these beautiful liturgies and renew our own faith.

Copy of Rejoice Sunday

shajij2002@gmail.com (Fr Shaji Pazhukkathara) — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 13:37:10 GMT

Rejoice Sunday....

Rejoice Sunday…

We are on the Fourth Sunday of Lent. Traditionally this Sunday is known as “Laetare Sunday,” from the Latin word for “Rejoice!” It sets a tone of joyful anticipation of the Easter mystery. The theme of the reading is new life and spiritual sight.

The fourth Sunday of Lent gives us a review of salvation history. The first reading is a historical moment of salvation history. Israelites were governed by Judges. They looked at the surrounding kingdoms and asked God for a King. Saul was their first king, but he offended God, and the kingship was taken from him. The Lord asked Samuel, the last Judge in Israel, to go to Bethlehem to anoint Jesse’s son as the next king. We read in the Book of Psalms 78:70-71, “He chose David his servant, took him from the sheepfolds. From tending ewes God brought him, to shepherd Jacob, his people, Israel, and his heritage. He shepherded them with a pure heart; with skilled hands he guided them.” Samuel followed God’s command and anointed David and the Holy Spirit came upon him. This anointing is a type of baptism. We read in the book of Isaiah 1:1-2 “A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots, a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him.”

The Gospel reading is also a symbolic catechesis on baptism. Isaiah prophesied that Jews believed that when Jesus comes, he would heal the blind and other diseases. We read in Isaiah 42:7, “To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.”

Jews believed that wherever there is suffering there is sin. Book of Exodus 20:5 “…inflicting punishment for their ancestors’ wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation.” So, the disciples brought up this question to Jesus. Jesus denies such a cause and tells them it is a providential plan of God. God has a higher purpose in allowing this man to be blind, but it is not the result of his own personal sin. Jesus gave physical sight to the man who was blind; it is a sign that Jesus gives spiritual sight to see the world in the light of heaven. Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” Jesus is the source of truth, faith, and life. The Man who received the sight received the light of faith.

Jesus applied the clay mixed with saliva on the man’s eyes and asked him to go and wash in the 'Pool of Siloam.’ In the 2 books of Kings (5:10-14) Elisha commanded Naaman the Syrian to “go and wash” in the Jorden River to be restored to health. The pool of Siloam was in the southern district of ancient Jerusalem to serve as a water supply for the city. Siloam means sent. Here Jesus is the source of living water. This miracle anticipates the administration of baptism.

Jews said that it is unheard of that anyone to open the eyes of a person who was born blind. When they threw him out, Jesus found him and asked him whether he believed in the Son of Man. He made the profession of faith: "I do believe, Lord," and he worshiped him.”

We are a Eucharistic community. Jesus gives us His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity for our nourishment, then we are sent out to proclaim the Good News. Through our Baptism, we are called to be a missionary. As you know we are in the years of Eucharistic Revival and Maintenance to Mission. Our parents and grandparents lived in Christendom, which means their children received Sacraments and everyone went to church and lived the faith. Today it is not the case. In the United States, the fastest-growing group is NONE. We are shifting from Christendom to an Apostolic mission. So, we need to shift to Apostolic Mission – we are the missionaries – we need to actively share our faith and invite others to celebrate with us.

We are in the process of forming an Evangelization Team and the team will be joining with the rest of the Diocese for a workshop on May 6 ^th . Bishop will be sending a letter to all parishioners in our Diocese in the spring. Then the next phase of the work of the Evangelization Team comes into action.

It starts with prayer. Let us pray for all those who come and celebrate with us, let us pray for all those who are away from the church, and when you feel comfortable gently invite them.

The Living Water

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 19:13:16 GMT

The Living Water....

The Living Water….

This weekend the readings are centered on the living water: Sacrament of Baptism and new life. The first reading, from the Book of Exodus chapter 17, tells us the story of Israelites complaining about their thirst. In the previous chapter, they had complained that Moses brought them to the wilderness to die of hunger (16:3). Here they grumbled that Moses meant for them to die of thirst. So, Moses asked the LORD, “What shall I do with this people?” Moses followed God’s instruction and strikes the rock. In Deuteronomy 32 in Moses’ song, he called God the Rock. St. Paul says that the rock was the Christ (I Corinthians 10:4). The spiritual rock followed the Israelites in the wilderness and satisfied their thirst. The place Israelites quarreled was named Massah and Meribah - Massah, which means testing, and Meribah, which means quarreling. So, they are quarreling with God, and they are doubting God and they are testing by saying “is the Lord really with us or not?”

Psalm 95 retells this story, “If today you would hear his voice: harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert…” Where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works (8-9).” They hardened their heart by doubting that God had the power to save them, quench their thirst, and bring forth water for them in the desert.

In the Gospel, Jesus was talking to a Samaritan woman at the well. Samaritans were half-Jews, ritually impure, and therefore Jews were forbidden to drink from any vessel they had handled. It began with the devastation of northern Palestine by Assyria. We read in the 2 Kings chapter 15-17 that the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the Israelites. The Assyrian pagans in the land of Israel, married and intermingled with some of the Israelites that were left and who set up their own rival religion to the religion of the Jews in Jerusalem. This caused enmity between Jews and Samaritans. Geographically, Judea is in the extreme south, Samaria in the middle, and Galilee in the extreme North. Normally, Jews avoid Samaria to go between the north and south. But Jesus went through the Samaria and made a stop at Jacob’s well. This well was located on a piece of land that Jacob bought (Genesis 33:18-19) and later given to Joseph (48:22).

Jesus oversteps the boundaries of Jewish traditions by conversing with women in public, sharing a drink with Samaritans, and mingling with a sinner. When Jesus reached the well, it was hot midday, and he sat there, and the disciples went to town to get some food. Jesus was thirsty from traveling and asked the Samaritan woman for water.

We see in the Old Testament the meetings between future spouses at wells. Isaac meets Rebekah (Genesis 24:10-67), Jacob meets Rachel at the well of Haran (Genesis 29:1-30), and Moses and Zipporah meet at a well in Midian (Exodus 2:15-21). Here Jesus is the divine bridegroom in search of believers to be His covenant bride.

Normally women used to go to fetch water in the morning or in the evening when it was not too hot. But she came to fetch water at noon. She may be trying to avoid the crowd. Jesus came to her level to reach out and walk with her and leads her to faith. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” His thirst was for the soul of the Samaritan woman. On the other hand, the Samaritan woman thirst for real love. Jesus reveals himself as the source of Living Water.

The liturgy uses water to refer to our relationship with God. It represents God’s Spirit coming to us in Baptism. The water that Jesus promises is closely linked to conversion and the forgiveness of sin. In the second reading, Saint Paul asserts that, as the savior of mankind, Jesus poured the living water of the gift of his Holy Spirit into our hearts. Samaritan woman, in the Gospel once embraced the faith, and the living water and became a missionary who brought others to Jesus.

Jesus THIRST for our souls. Do we thirst for him? Yes, we do. The question is do we recognize it? Mother Teresa writes, “Our aim is to satiate the infinite thirst of God, not just for a glass of water, but for souls. Souls are immortal, precious to God.” Lent invites us to renew our faith, through our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Let us pray for one another, special prayers for our RCIA candidates, our First Communion students, Confirmations Candidates, and all those who need our prayers. Like the Samaritan woman who brought others to Jesus, let us invite/encourage one another to celebrate our faith – Eucharistic Revival/Maintenance to Mission. We are sent out to make his name known and loved.

Copy of Letter from the Pastor

shajij2002@gmail.com (Fr Shaji Pazhukkathara) — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 19:07:40 GMT

Dear Northwoods Catholic Community Parishioners,

I hope everyone is enjoying the fall and getting ready for the winter. As you read in the bulletin and/or website, we made the final decision to demolish the St. Anthony school building. It took a while to come to the final decision, but we have one now. It was not easy to come to that decisio
n.As you know we looked at three different possibilities for the school building: reopen, raze, or sell. For reopening we were looking at two main aspects: the number of children and financial support. As I mentioned in my last letter we had a good response, but it was not sufficient. We also looked at the cost of maintaining the building. We were spending 40,000.00 to 45,000.00 a year for basic maintenance like water and sewer, electricity, gas, insurance, and emergency repairs. Major repairs were on hol
d.Some of you asked me why we couldn’t sell it. We looked at that possibility too. If we sell the buildings, St. Anthony of Padua parish has nothing much left other than a parking lot. We need to look at the bigger picture, what we need to leave for the future generation. At least we can leave land for the
m.After enough discussion and study, the parish and finance council recommended demolishing the school building. So, I wrote to the Bishop to inform the recommendation of the Parish and Finance Council and St. Anthony Corporate Board approved the demolition of the building. It was not an easy decision, but we pray and trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit that we made the best decision in the given situatio
n.The next step was finding the funding for the project. The cost of the project is 289,360.00. First, we were thinking to take a loan from the bank, but three of our parishioners came forward to loan $50,000.00. When we closed the school, we had $165,675.00 remaining in the endowment. So, we decided to accept the loan of $150,000.00 at the interest rate of 2% from three parishioners with the agreement that we will pay it back in the next five years and use the endowment fund for the completion of the projec
t.Asbestos removal will be starting on October 11. If they can, they may come on an earlier date. Once they remove the asbestos, C&D Excavating will begin the demolition of the building. Thank you for patiently waiting and let us pray that everything will go well. They agreed to try to save the Cross from the top of the building, Cornerstone, and ‘Suffer the Little Children to Come Unto Me’ in front of the building. The starting dates and progress of the project will be published in the bulleti
n.We started our religious education program for the year. At St. Anthony, we had opening Mass and classes will begin on October 5th. At Immaculate Conception the religious education classes started at the beginning of Septembe
r
. As I mentioned in previous years at St. Anthony, every first Wednesday of the month we will have parent session at 5 pm or 7 pm. This year's theme is “Life in the Christ.” I would like to invite the entire cluster to join the Family of Faith on the first Wednesday of the mont
h.Fr. Adam Laski will be our speaker for the first parents’ session on October 5th. He is the associate pastor of Rice Lake, Birchwood, Haugen, and Dobbie and Adjutant Judicial Vicar. The topic for October is Heaven: Our final destination; the choice between Life and Death. Please come and join for the 5 pm or 7 pm session on October 5th. It will be held in the Churc
h.During October we will pray the Rosary before weekend Mass at all three parishes. We will have Baby Bottles available at Church entrance to support pregnancy resource centers. St. Francis is celebrating patron saint day on October 2nd at 11 am. Immaculate Conception parish will be celebrating the patron saint day on December 8 at 4:30 p
m.In my last letter, I mentioned that we were in the process of installing an automatic door opener at Immaculate Conception. In early September an automatic Access System was installed in our front doors and elevator door. So, these three doors will be opened every day 6 am to 6 pm. You can visit Church and pray any time between 6 am and 6 p
m.Some of you asked me about the new lighting at St. Anthony Church. The lights are here, but there is a part missing, so we are waiting for them to com
e.Soon we will be in the Month of November to celebrate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. On All Souls’ Day, we have a tradition of celebrating Mass at the St. Cecelia Cemetery. Please join on November 2nd at 11 am and have soup and sandwiches at the parish hal
l.In the month of October, let us ask for the intercession of our Mother Mary for our cluster. Please come half an hour early for the weekend Mass, so we can pray together the Rosary. June 19, 2022, Corpus Christi Sunday, was the kick-off for the three-year Eucharistic Revival program. Let us pray that we will grow in love for Eucharis
t.I would like to say a thank you to all of you for your generous weekly contribution and all those who are involved in ministries. Let us join in prayer, especially at the Eucharistic celebratio
n.Sincerely yours in Chris
t
,
Fr. Shaji Joseph Pazhukkatha

Letter from the Pastor

shajij2002@gmail.com (Fr Shaji Pazhukkathara) — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 19:03:40 GMT

Dear Northwoods Catholic Community Parishioners,

Religious Education - Family of Faith - First Communion - Confirmation

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 18:17:26 GMT

Perfection of Law is in Love..

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 22:10:51 GMT

Perfection of Law is in Love…

Praying for our brothers and sisters who are sick and for all health care professionals: St. Pope John Paul II designated February 11th, Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, as World Day of the Sick. He says it is a special time of prayer and sharing, of offering one’s suffering and reminding us to see the face of Christ in our brothers and sisters who are sick. Christ suffered, died, and was resurrected for the salvation of humankind. In our cluster, we will be praying for people who are sick among us and all Health Care professionals on this weekend (February 11/12, 2023). At the Masses, there will be an opportunity to receive the Anointing of the Sick. This Sunday, Feb. 12th, we are celebrating World Marriage Sunday. Let us pray for all married couples and those who are preparing for marriage. Thank you!

Once someone asked Mother Teresa, "What will we be judged on?" She responded, "I believe that when we die and the time comes for us to be judged, God will not ask how many good things we did in our lives, but only with how much love we did them.

"This is the third Sunday; we are reading the Sermon on the Mount from the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 5. Today’s Gospel starts with a statement “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill…whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.

”In the Old Testament time, whenever the Jews talk about scripture, they referred to The Law and The Prophets. Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic Law and Prophets (Matthew 1:23; 2:6, 15; 4:15-16; Luke 24:44-47). The Greek word for fulfill, plēroō, means to make complete, to bring to perfection. So, the new Moses, Jesus brought the Mosaic Law to perfection. Jesus is taking us to a higher standard. The scribes and Pharisees kept the letter of the law, but not its spirit; both are necessary for salvation (CCC 5024).

We remember Matthew 22:36, one of the scholars of the Law asked Jesus, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Jesus quoted two Old Testament passages and gave the greatest Commandment: Deuteronomy 6:5, “You shall love the LORD, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength” and Leviticus 19:18, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The first one summarizes the first three Commandments and the second one summarizes the rest of the seven Commandments. The true spirit of the Law is “love."

Moses gave the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. Jesus says, you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, “You shall not kill” (Exodus 20:13) and “Whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you…” (Matthew 5:21&22). Then he says that you heard “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14), but I say to you… (Matthew 5:27), “It was also said, whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you… (Matthew 5:31). Again, Jesus quoting Deuteronomy 24:1-5 says, “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce, but I say to you…” (Matthew 31&32). Looking at Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 5:11; and Leviticus 19:12, Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘Do not take a false oath but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you… (Matthew 5:33&34). Here we can see, the New Moses, Jesus relocating the authority by saying, you heard that, but I tell you this. Benedict XVI says, “Jesus' "I" is accorded a status that no teacher of the law can legitimately allow himself. The crowd feels this - Matthew tells us explicitly that the people "were alarmed" at this way of teaching. He teaches not as Rabbis do but as one who has "authority."

”In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus focuses not so much on action, but on the interior space from which actions flow. Here we find the very essence of who we are. Jesus came to fulfill the law by taking to us to the true spirit of the law, which is love. In the first reading, Ben Sira, the author says in the Book of Sirach, tells us that we are engulfed with the mercy and love of God. He is all around us and in us. He knows what is going on within us. He gives us a choice: choose Him or reject Him. If we choose Him, we live. If we reject Him, we die. God has given us the power to choose

Salt of the Earth and Light of the World…

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 22:10:51 GMT

Salt of the Earth and Light of the World…

Mother Teresa of Calcutta did all she had done out of love, and it brightened the whole world. It was this love that moved people so deeply. Commenting on this point, former British TV star Malcolm Muggeridge said in effect: “I can’t tell you how much I owe to Mother Teresa. She showed me Christianity in action. She showed me love in action. She showed me how the love of one person can start a tidal wave that can spread across the world.

”Indeed, Mother Teresa shows how we can be the light of the world. Mother Teresa didn’t set out to spare her light before people. She simply set out to love. And in love, she became a light for the whole world. This is the second Sunday we read from the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew. It is a continuation of the beatitudes from last week. This Sunday, we meditate on Jesus’ calling to his disciples to be the salt of the earth and light of the world. In today’s Gospel, Jesus says to his disciples, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). The disciples are not the salt and light of Israel but the whole world. This foreshadows the final commission of the Risen Lord: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Pope Benedict XIV says, Jesus takes his seat on the cathedra as the teacher of people everywhere. Jesus sits on the cathedra of Moses. But he does so not after the manner of teachers who are trained for the job in a school; he sits there as the greater Moses, who broadens the Covenant to include all nations. Salt is a precious commodity in the biblical context. The word “salary” comes from the Ancient Roman era when soldiers were paid in salt. Salt was an essential requirement for all sacrifices. We read in Leviticus 2:13, “You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not let the salt of the covenant with your God be lacking from your grain offering. On every offering, you shall offer salt.”

Leviticus 2:11 says, “Every grain offering that you present to the LORD shall be unleavened, for you shall not burn any leaven or honey as an oblation to the LORD. Salt is a symbol of permanence, hence "salt of the covenant". Honey and leaven cannot be used in the sacrifices because they symbolize fermentation and subsequent decay and decomposition. Salt is a symbol of permanence, hence "salt of the covenant" (Levi 2:13). When Jeroboam and ten northern tribes break away from the house of David, Abijah the king of Judah, assures Jeroboam that God has given the kingdom to the house of David as a "covenant of salt' 2Chronicles 13:5. The rights of the priest to their share of all offerings is a "perpetual due" and hence "a covenant of the salt." Num 18:19.

Salt is used for cleansing and hygiene. 2King 2:20-21 says. Elisha said, “Bring me a new bowl and put salt into it.” When they had brought it to him, he went out to the spring and threw salt into it, saying, “Thus says the LORD: I have purified this water. Never again shall death or sterility come from it.” Ezekiel 16:4 says, “As for your birth, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut; you were not washed with water or anointed; you were not rubbed with salt or wrapped in swaddling clothes.” Salt is still used as a preservative, and for cleansing, and blessed salt protects against evil. Jesus told his disciples, "You are the salt of the earth” and warned them not to lose its taste. Then he told them, “You are the light of the world.” In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah, on several occasions in Isaiah chapters 42 and 49, describes Israel as being called by God to be a “light to the nations.” The light was also associated with the Temple. Based on Zechariah 14:7-8, Jews believed that in the end time, the Temple would be the continual source of light. During the Feast of Tabernacle, the Temple court was lit up twenty-four hours by a huge menorah. We can imagine that it would be a beautiful sight. Jewish traditions say there was no shadow being in Jerusalem. Gospel of John chapter 7 starts with the Feast of Tabernacle. After this Feast, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world” (8:12).“

A city built on a hill cannot be hidden” (5:14), Jerusalem was on Mount Zion. “Light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket” is visible and attracts others. The salt and light describe the divine mission. The role of disciples, and Christians is to bring out the best in others by leading them to Christ. In the first reading, Isaiah describes the same message as Jesus did; how good works and acts of charity can be light to others. By being salt and light, we enable others to see the way from the darkness of sin to the splendor of Heaven.

The Beatitudes...

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 22:44:44 GMT

The Beatitudes...

On the fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time, we begin to read the famous Sermon on the Mount, which begins in the 5th chapter and continues through chapter 7 of Matthew. For the next six weeks we will be reflecting on the sermon on the Mount. It is the proclamation of salvation, beginning with Beatitudes which is the center of the good news.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 1965 says, the New Law or the Law of the Gospel is the perfection here on earth of the divine law, natural and revealed. It is the work of Christ and is expressed particularly in the Sermon on the Mount. It is also the work of the Holy Spirit and through him, it becomes the interior law of charity: "I will establish a New Covenant with the house of Israel. . . I will put my laws into their hands, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

"Sermon on the Mount summarizes the Law of the New Covenant. This reminds us of the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-24). Moses brought the Law down the mountain to the people. But Jesus delivers his teaching to disciples who have come up to the mountain. Jesus is the new Moses.

Let us look at each one of them. The poor in spirit: We live in this spirit when we detach from the world and trust God. In this state, we recognize their need for God and his grace. St. Gregory of Nyssa compared poverty in spirit with humility. The one who lives this beatitude will be rich and acquire full possession of the kingdom at the final judgment. Those who mourn: It includes those who suffer for the faith, those who suffer out of love for others, and those who weep for their own sins. They receive comfort in the presence of God who wipes away every tear (Revelation 7:17). The Meek: The meek possess an inner strength to restrain anger and discouragement in the midst of adversity. They may appear powerless and insignificant in the sight of the world. Meekness is exemplified in the life of Moses (Numbers 12:3) and especially in Jesus, Matthew 11:29, 21:5). They imitate Jesus by showing kindness and gentleness towards their neighbors. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: Their priority is to seek the Lord’s kingdom and righteousness. They see an urgency to both live the Gospel and spread it to others. Ultimately, they will be satisfied in eternal life (Matthew 25:46). The merciful: They imitate Father’s mercy (Luke 6:36) by overlooking and forgiving others (Matthew 18:21-22,33). The merciful are patient and understanding in bearing with others’ faults, and they are compassionate with respect to the suffering, defects, and need of others (Matthew 6:2-4; 25:34-40). At the final judgment, they will receive mercy which lasts forever (Matthew 6:14). The pure heart: They act with integrity and serve the Lord unselfishly. The heart is the center of one person’s thoughts, words, actions, and emotions. They have purity of intention to associate their wills and minds with God’s. They will avoid evil thoughts and be chaste because it is a liberating virtue that leads to contemplative prayer and charity (Matthew 5:27-30). They find treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). In eternity the pure in heart will see God as the angels do even now (Matthew 18:10; 1 Cor 13:12; Rev 22:4).

The peacemakers: They not only seek their own reconciliation with God and their neighbor but also seek to help others to reconcile and instill peace in all relationships (CCC 2305, 2330). The Gospel of Matthew 5:45 says peacemakers will be called children of God. The gift of sonship is both a present possession of believers (Romans 8:14-16; 1 John 3:1) and a future hope of the resurrection of the body (Romans 8:23) and the glory of eternal life (Revelation 21:7). Those who are persecuted: They persevere staidly in the faith and suffer for their faithfulness to Christ (CCC 886, 1967). They are targets of the world’s hatred (John 15:18-19) because of their commitment to the Gospel (1 Peter 3:14). They will receive a great reward in the coming kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:12). We can see the perfection of the beatitude in the life of Christ. He invites us to follow him in prayer, humility, self-sacrifice, hardship, and persecution because of it

Letter from the Pastor

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 18:41:29 GMT