March 26, 2023

In today’s Gospel about the raising of Lazarus, Jesus’ good friends are in a dilemma.  Martha and Mary are distraught over their brother’s demise.  When Jesus arrives in Bethany, the funeral is completed and the two sisters are disappointed that Jesus was not there when their brother was dying.  Troubled in spirit, Jesus goes to the tomb of Lazarus and orders him to come out.  Following Jesus’ command, the burial stone was removed and Lazarus, the dead man, came out. 

There are three accounts of Jesus raising someone from the dead; Jairus’ twelve year old daughter, the young man in the city of Nain and the older man, Lazarus.  All three are dramatic scenes showing the divine power Christ has over the deadly power that has hold over our lives at any age.  Fear underlies our encounter with death that is as bleak and as dark as the tomb itself. 

The above image by Rembrandt, represents what the artist deeply felt after watching his parents, his wife, his children and friends swallowed, one after another, in death.  What the artist himself hoped for, desperately, was someone to raise him up.  Rembrandt was convinced of the Gospel truth that the power of darkness cannot put love to death even though it has the means to do so in times of near despair.

Approaching the end of Lent with the passion and death of Jesus, we are reminded of the margins of our human existence.  This particular Gospel touched Rembrandt’s heart because Jesus is so human... He weeps over His friend: “See how much He loved him!”  The mourning Rembrandt believed in the divinity of Christ who says:  “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.”  Jesus is depicted as grief-stricken, but also the Christ of superhuman stature. Twice the height of the other figures Christ’s right hand is raised, with the power of God, commanding His friend to rise.

Catholics from throughout the Diocese of Wilmington are invited to receive the sacrament of reconciliation (confession) at any of the 56 parish churches in Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore, on Monday of Holy Week, April 3, from 3-8 p.m., including St. John the Beloved Church during the second Annual Reconciliation Monday. 

Lenten Soup and Bread Lunches: Our Ecumenical Ministerium Group is offering the last of this year’s Lenten service and soup & bread lunch on Wednesdays, March 29 at St. Philip’s Lutheran Church, 5320 Limestone Road. Service will start at noon and lunch will be at 12:30 pm in our fellowship hall. St. John the Beloved Parish is hosting with our Seminarian, Dennis Stameza, preaching and our parish serving lunch.

Celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday at St. John the Beloved Church, Sunday, April 16, 2023

2:00 p.m. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament followed by confessions to 3:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m.  Chaplet & Rosary
4:45 p.m.  Benediction
5:00 p.m.  Mass

March 19

Blindness is a lack of vision. Physical blindness means you cannot see anything and do not see light. There are other sorts of blindness such as not seeing the obvious or hindering what one does not want to see. It is true...”There are none so blind as those who will not see.”

Traditionally, this Fourth Sunday of Lent is called Laetare Sunday, when we “joyfully” anticipate Easter. It reflects the light that is dawning on Easter morning. Our Gospel today intentionally sheds light into our Lenten lives. Jesus heals a man born blind; definitely a major miracle. This miraculous event got the attention of the entire town. It took a while for the townspeople to absorb what had actually happened and the Pharisees never did.

Just before Jesus healed the blind man He said, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” The first light the blind man saw was through this intimate encounter with the divinity of Jesus Christ. After the blind man was healed, he was thrown out of the synagogue by incredulous Pharisees. Jesus sought him out and healed also the situation that was a result of the miracle. Thus, the former blind man had a new, solid grounding of worship in Jesus as the Son of God. And his testimony led others to believe in Jesus.

The blind man was physically blind, but was healed and saw the light, so to speak...physically and spiritually. The Pharisees were physically able to see but spiritually they were blind to the Light of Christ. Our Lenten lesson shows Jesus as the Healer and Light of the World.

We are told, especially in today’s society, that seeing is believing. God cannot always be seen, especially when we are blinded by sickness, tragedies, doubts, cynicism, worldliness or apathy. Much like the Pharisees, we often struggle to see the blessings and recognize that they are a sign of God’s presence in my lives.


May we pray during this Lenten season for God to help us see Him in our everyday lives, and that we may be blessings so others can see Christ’s light in us.

Lenten Soup and Bread Lunches: Our Ecumenical Ministerium Group is once again offering a Lenten service and soup & bread lunches on the following Wednesdays of Lent at St. Philip’s Lutheran Church at 5320 Limestone Road. Service will start at noon and lunch will be at 12:30 pm in our fellowship hall. The theme: “Biblical Waters of Life"

• March 22 The Sea of Galilee
• March 29 The Pool of Siloam, preached by seminarian Dennis Stameza and served by 
St. John the Beloved Parish

March 12

The Lenten Gospel of the meeting of Jesus with the Samaritan Woman, at the well, is a story of quenching thirst.  Jesus was passing through Samaria, a hostile area for Jews, and He is tired, thirsty and sits near a famous biblical well.  Looking for someone to draw water from this well, Jesus addresses a woman resident to obtain water.  He is breaking the taboos of His time by speaking to a woman, a Samaritan. 

Shocked by Jesus’ request, the woman converses with Him and in the middle of all this, Jesus says something to the woman that causes her to recognize her sinful ways and this causes the woman to change her life.  Jesus’ tone must have said to her, “My dear woman, you can do better.” 

This dry encounter ended in overflowing grace.  The woman’s life was saved, she felt her real worth and it bubbled up throughout her community.  The Samaritans saw the change in one of their own, recognized the dignity of Christ in their midst, believed and followed Him.  Maybe, in our Lenten journey…we find ourselves thirsty knowing we could do better.  We seek to be quenched.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation, Penance or Confession is a beautiful way to be refreshed from the dryness of sin.  Christ instituted the sacrament in John 20:23... “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven, and whose sins you retain are retained.” 

Our wrongdoings create aridity in our relationship with God, but if we are truly sorry for them, our right relationship with Him is restored.  In this Sacrament, we exercise humility in admitting that we have offended God and others, and that burden is lifted allowing grace to satisfy our inner longing. 

Parish Penance Services this Tuesday, March 14^th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Also Monday of Holy Week, April 3rd from 3 to 8 p.m.

Lenten Soup and Bread Lunches:

Our Ecumenical Ministerium Group is once again offering a Lenten service and soup & bread lunches on the following Wednesdays of Lent at St. Philip’s Lutheran Church at 5320 Limestone Road. Service will start at noon and lunch will be at 12:30 pm in our fellowship hall. The theme: “Biblical Waters of Life"

• March 15 - The Jordan River
• March 22 - The Sea of Galilee
• March 29 - The Pool of Siloam preached & served by St. John the Beloved

March 5

The common theme of today’s readings is transformation. The readings invite us to work with the assistance of the Holy Spirit to transform our lives by renewing them during Lent. In today’s Gospel, Jesus is revealed as a glorious figure, superior to Moses and Elijah. The primary purpose of Jesus’ Transfiguration was to allow Him to consult His Heavenly Father in order to ascertain His plan for His Son’s suffering, death and Resurrection.

The secondary aim was to make His chosen disciples aware of His Divine glory, so that they might discard their worldly ambitions and dreams of a conquering political Messiah and might be strengthened in their time of trial. On the mountain, Jesus is identified by the Heavenly Voice as the Son of God. Thus, the transfiguration narrative is a revelation of Who Jesus really is; giving us a glimpse of the Heavenly glory awaiting us.

As Christians, we continually change. Lent allows us to see our purpose for making Jesus the center of our lives; He is the Son of God. The tension we have within ourselves, the struggle to be less sinful and more holy are well worth overcoming because the Lord is the object of our desire and what we lack in our abilities are achieved by Christ’s death and resurrection. Lent is a time of transformation.

Confessions: Every Saturday, 4:00 to 4:45 p.m.

Parish Penance Services:Tuesday, March 14, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. and 

Monday of Holy Week, April 3, from 3 to 8 p.m.

Lenten Soup and Bread Lunches: Our Ecumenical Ministerium Group is once again offering a Lenten service served with a soup & bread lunch on the following Wednesdays of Lent at St. Philip’s Lutheran Church located at 5320 Limestone Road. Service will start at noon and lunch will be at 12:30 p.m. in our fellowship hall. The Theme: “Biblical Waters of Life"

• March 1 - Waters of Creation
• March 8 - The Red Sea
• March 15 - The Jordan River
• March 22 - The Sea of Galilee
• March 29 - The Pool of Siloam preached & served by St. John the Beloved

February 26

This past Wednesday, we were reminded of our humble beginnings. Our first reading, today, also tells us that we are formed out of the clay of the ground. These reflections are repeated annually to sharpen our life focus: the things of this world are passing andfinite, while the divine spirit breathed into us is permanent and infinite. The beginning of Lent is a recollection of the cunningness of the devil in our human lives. It does not take much for evil to convince us we can do everything without God’s approval.

How easily we are convinced that we do not need God or that there is an easier path to get what I want or that somehow God does not have our interest or perhaps........God may not even exist. The analogy of us being of weak origin and returning to basic matter points to our human frailty indeed. Look at the world, look at yourself and we know that the Father of Lies fools us over and over again.

That is why Lent is a good time to reinforce our strength to be what we claim to be: Disciples of Christ. The Lord Himself went through a stringent physical, psychological and spiritual examination in the desert. His model of praying and fasting is what we need to imitate. Lent is a time to get away from the abstractions of life and place emphasis on what needs to be corrected in our relationship with God.

All Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence from meat. All those who are fourteen years old and older are bound to the law of abstinence. The law of fast binds all who are 18 years old and not yet 59. 

Weekday Masses Monday to Saturday at 8:00 a.m.

Exposition Fridays at 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. 
Benediction at 10 a.m. 
Confession Saturdays from 4 to 4:45 p.m.
Parish Penance Service
 Tuesday, March 14 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and Monday of Holy Week, April 3, Confession  3 - 8 p.m. 
Stations of the Cross is every Friday at 7 p.m.

Opportunities for Alms Giving are available with the Lenten Rice Bowl, St. Vincent DePaul Society, Table of Plenty Outreach Ministry, Family Promise and random acts of kindness.

Lenten Soup and Bread Lunches:

Our Ecumenical Ministerium Group is once again offering a Lenten service and soup & bread lunches on the following Wednesdays of Lent at St. Philip’s Lutheran Church at 5320 Limestone Road. Service will start at noon and lunch will be at 12:30 pm in our fellowship hall. The theme: “Biblical Waters of Life"

• March 1 - Waters of Creation
• March 8 - The Red Sea
• March 15 - The Jordan River
• March 22 - The Sea of Galilee
• March 29 - The Pool of Siloam preached & served by St. John the Beloved

Easter is April 9, 2023.

February 19

WATER: A SIGN OF A NEW LIFE by Seminarian Dennis Stameza, Pastoral Year (Continued)...
As we are preparing to welcome the Lenten season, join me in meditating on the Gospel of John 4:4-15....Moving to the United States has given me a different experience. This different experience has left me with an open mouth wonder, finding clean and fresh water in every corner of the country. We can do anything at any time without any fear that the water will not be enough. I really appreciate what I found in America; this is a totally different experience.


As the importance of water clicks in my mind, I can imagine how important living water is for us all. In the Lenten Season, Jesus reminds us of the preparation we need to make in our spiritual life. The Samaritan woman was busy fetching water for her bodily life, she had completely forgotten her spiritual life. When she met Jesus at the well, Jesus reminded her of her spiritual life with an invitation to holiness through the living water. We all need living water, but it is very hard to realize our thirst for the living water until we come out of ourselves and go out to the well (The Church) to search for it. We can encounter Jesus everywhere but in a special way at the well, he is always there waiting for us. He is always at the well because he knows at one point, we will become thirsty and we will bring ourselves to the well searching for water and because he is at the well, he will give us the living water.

Most of us normally prepare physically for Easter Sunday without spiritual preparation for the whole Easter Season which is the most important season for our spiritual growth. As I prepare myself for this Lent and knowing that I am thirsty for the living water, I join you all in praying, fasting and almsgiving as it is a clear and nice way to the well. Let us all gather and start our journey to the well as we will find Jesus there waiting for us so as he may quench our thirst by giving us a living water.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22

Masses on Ash Wednesday are 6:30 & 8 a.m., 12:10 Noon and 6:30 p.m. The distribution of ashes takes place after the homily. The practice of wearing ashes comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. It symbolizes the dust from which God made us and the grief that we have sinned.

The Church offers various practices that allow us to make a good Lent. Prayer, Fasting and AlmsGiving are the recommended tools for advancing in spiritual life. The following disciplines are offered to all of us in the six weeks to come.

Ash Wednesday is a day of abstinence from meat and also a day of fast, that is, limited to a single full meal. All Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence from meat. All those who are fourteen years old and older are bound to the law of abstinence. The law of fast binds all who are 18 years old and not yet 59. 

Weekday Masses Monday to Saturday at 8:00 a.m.

Exposition Fridays at 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. 
Benediction at 10 a.m. 
Confession Saturdays from 4 to 4:45 p.m.
Parish Penance Service
 Tuesday, March 14 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and Monday of Holy Week, April 3, Confession  3 - 8 p.m. 
Stations of the Cross is every Friday at 7 p.m.

Opportunities for Alms Giving are available with the Lenten Rice Bowl, St. Vincent DePaul Society, Table of Plenty Outreach Ministry, Family Promise and random acts of kindness.

Lenten Soup and Bread Lunches:

Our Ecumenical Ministerium Group is once again offering a Lenten service and soup & bread lunches on the following Wednesdays of Lent at St. Philip’s Lutheran Church at 5320 Limestone Road. Service will start at noon and lunch will be at 12:30 pm in our fellowship hall. The theme: “Biblical Waters of Life"

• March 1 - Waters of Creation
• March 8 - The Red Sea
• March 15 - The Jordan River
• March 22 - The Sea of Galilee
• March 29 - The Pool of Siloam preached & served by St. John the Beloved

February 12

WATER: A SIGN OF A NEW LIFE by Seminarian Dennis Stameza, Pastoral Year 2022/2023

As we are preparing to welcome the Lenten season in ten days, join me in meditating on the Gospel of John 4:4-15. Jesus asks the Samaritan woman for water and later the Samaritan woman realized that she was the one supposed to ask for the living water. The water that Jesus gives is the water of life. This Lenten season Jesus gives us a chance to drink water of life from his well (The Church) that he gives us freely out of love.

When looking at the Samaritan woman in this gospel, my memory goes back when I was young in my home country Tanzania-East Africa. I remember my mother and I going to fetch water at the river six miles away from home with our baskets on our heads. We had to wake up early or else go in the afternoon so that we may find few people as well as the water has settled. It is a tough experience though I remember some of the good moments like when coming back my mother used to tell me different and funny stories to make us not tired. Sometimes we were also singing on the way with other kids or even with my mom. This was a happy moment in the middle of a tough experience in my teenage years. Going in the evening and late morning we could find the water had been disturbed and we could not get clean water or else to risk our life and go upstream the river looking for clean water.

Although the government has provided us with running water, the challenge is still there because the running water flows only two days per week, especially in the villages. This has made few families (who can afford) to buy big tanks to preserve water for the remaining days. The families with big tanks of water reserve shares with the remaining families who do not have water reserves, and this is how most people do not go to the river to fetch water again. Finding clean and fresh water at our home place is still challenging even now. (continued next week)

February 5

So often, people we admire the most are those who do not necessarily have degrees in education or even a vast amount of experience. They just have a grasp of the world and even better; have a real connection with God. When St. Paul visited Greece, he found many people entrenched in various philosophies of which he had no particular knowledge.

You can understand why he came to these intelligentsia in fear. "What line of thinking are you employing?" the Greek citizen would ask Paul. To these Paul states in the second reading for today, "My message and my preaching has none of the persuasive force of ‘wise’ argumentation. Instead it has the convincing power of the Holy Spirit." Then he reminds the Christians at Corinth, "As a result your faith rests not on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God."

The same message is relevant to us today. Many people lay claim to the term of being wise for one reason or another. And indeed there is a need for that intellectual capacity but our Christian wisdom is based not on theory or on any other person than Jesus Christ and the faith we put in Him.

Paul reminds all that the wisdom that our minds cannot come to is infinitely superior to the wisdom that is based solely on our intellectual capacity. When sickness, trauma, or tragedy hit us; when our loved ones become ill, injured or die; it is Jesus Christ and Christ alone who brings order to the chaos of our lives. We are called today to reveal the true wisdom of the Lord to the world. The wisdom is not based on great intellects, but on the power of God. The world still needs this new wisdom.

Study Week: This week, all diocesan priests are gathering in Cambridge, Maryland, with Bishop Koenig, for a study week session on pastoral planning. There will be no Morning Masses on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week (February 7-10) at St. John the Beloved Church. There will be Prayer Services offered those days at 8 a.m. Mass will be celebrated by a retired priest at St. Mary of the Assumption Church on those days at 8:30 a.m. Father Michael and I will keep you in prayer.

January 29

In today’s Gospel, Jesus instructs His disciples in what the world considers absurd and yet when realized proves to be well founded. Jesus teaches the paradoxical blessedness of poverty, hunger, sorrow, and persecution. In poverty, we recognize God’s reign; in hunger, His providence;

in sorrow, true happiness; and in persecution, true joy. In other words, the blessed in Jesus’ list are poor in spirit, compassionate, meek, merciful, clean of heart, peace-makers and those who are willing even to be insulted and persecuted for their lived Faith in Him.

Each of the inspired authors of today’s readings, Zephaniah, Paul, and Matthew, advise each of us to consider being more dependent on God for a happier and holier life. The Beatitudes propose to us a way of life, inviting us to identify with

the poor, those who mourn, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst after justice. They challenge us to be compassionate people, to be men and women who are pure in heart, and to become the

peacemakers in our dealings with one another, in our families, and in the society at large, even when this approach to things exposes us to ridicule and persecution.

Let us remember that each time we reach out to help the needy, the sick, and the oppressed, we share with them a foretaste of the sweet promises of the Beatitudes...the Kingdom of Heaven.

We begin Catholic Schools Week today. We recognize the accomplishments that Catholic education has made and continues to provide in academics and social growth. Our parish has made this a priority for over sixty five years in our efforts to evangelize, promote Gospel values and spread the Franciscan spirit. Many generations have benefited from the quality education of St. John the Beloved School and continue to do so. We congratulate the principal, teachers and staff of our parish school on their ministry in Catholic education. We acknowledge the sacrificial efforts made by families to supply this education for our children and are thankful to the parishioners for supporting this noble effort. May the Good Lord continue to bless you.

Parish Lay Trustees: An open meeting, to elect two lay trustees in accordance with the religious corporation laws of the State of Delaware, was held on January 24th, 2023 at the 8:00 morning Mass. The two lay trustees nominated and elected for the Parish Corporation of St. John the Beloved Parish are standing trustees, Joseph Koskol and Bonnie DiMichele


Feast of the Presentation of the Lord will be celebrated on Thursday, February 2 at the 8 a.m. Mass. It celebrates the presentation of Jesus in the Temple as “The Light of all Nations.” It is the custom to have candles blessed on this day. Blessed candles will be available after Mass.

The Feast of Saint Blaise is Friday, February 3rd. Throats will be blessed at the 8 a.m. Mass on that day and after all Masses next weekend in our church. St. Blaise, a physician and bishop in Armenia, healed a boy of throat difficulties while being led to
martyrdom. Traditionally throats are blessed in his honor.

January 22

In our first reading this weekend, the prophet Isaiah explains that the Galilean area of Israel is a place of darkness but will eventually see a great light. Eight- hundred years later, Matthew explains that what had been prophesied by Isaiah had been fulfilled through the preaching and healing ministry of Jesus. By His ministry of inviting people to the Kingdom of God through repentance, Jesus brought Light to peoples living in darkness, thus fulfilling God’s original promise.

The Gospel describes the call of the first disciples, inviting people to repent of their sins and accept the Good News of the Kingdom of God. Ordinary fishermen with no formal training in Mosaic Law were chosen to preach the Good News. Peter and Andrew, James and John heard the call of the Lord, dropped everything and followed Him. They were to be very effective instruments in the mission of Jesus.

The Call continues in our own day and age. This Sunday’s readings lead us to reflect, in particular, on the vocation to the priesthood and religious life. The Lord knows the need we have today for certain men and woman to serve specifically in the Church. And the Lord initiates the call to “Come and follow Him.” The need is becoming greater and can only be satisfied when we honestly recognize the summons and answer affirmatively.

Monday, January 23rd, all dioceses of the United States will observe a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. It marks the 50th anniversary of the historic Supreme Court’s
decision making abortion legal in the Unites States. As Catholics we are asked to make that day a solemn occasion for prayer, penance and sacrifice as atonement for the taking of human life. To unite ourselves in prayer for this anniversary, along with those who will travel to Washington DC for the March for Life, St. John the Beloved Parish will celebrate the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in church on Monday, January 23, 2023 after the 8 a.m. Mass to 10 a.m. All are welcome.

January 15

You come to Church today and notice right away that the Christmas season is over.  After the Baptism of the Lord, we move on with the very beginning of Jesus’ public life, usually referred to as His ministry.  We come upon John the Baptist seeing Jesus and proclaiming Him to be “The Lamb of God.”

We use that term often.  The Prophet Isaiah first used this phrase, six hundred years before Jesus was born, to describe the feelings of God’s people as they look at the Savior on the cross.  Just like an innocent lamb was slaughtered by the Jews in worship, as atonement for the sins of many…The Savior would take on our infirmities, endure our sufferings, be pierced for our offenses and by His stripes we would be healed. 

This term is especially close to our parish (as depicted in stained glass in the upper pediment of our church) because our patron, Saint John the Beloved, began his gospel by telling us that it was John the Baptist who pointing to Jesus and said “Look, there is the Lamb of God” that the world was waiting for.  Later, our patron wrote the last book of the Bible, The Book of Revelation.  In it the visionary acknowledges that Christ’s death opened the Book of God’s plan for humankind.  Jesus, the Sacrificial Lamb, alone is worthy to once more restore things.

When we say or sing, “Lamb of God” we are remembering what Jesus did for us and what He has empowered us to do for others.  We are remembering His sacrifice to make God’s love real on earth. We are reminding ourselves that joining Jesus in sacrificial love is the only way we can be His followers.  May we have the courage, like John the Baptist, to reveal Christ to the world.  May we join the Baptist in saying with our lives, “Look, there is the Lamb of God.”

For the contributions you make to our parish, now and throughout the year, we are always appreciative.  This past year, you have met the challenge of our church installing a new floor and new pews...our parish is most grateful.  Recognition Pamphlets of those who made contributions to the New Pew Campaign are available at the entrance of the church.  May God reward you in His limitless benevolence.  From all of us to all of you… Thank You for being the gift you are to us.

January 8

The beautiful feast of The Epiphany of the Lord is older than Christmas Day.  Before the Pope set the traditional date of December 25^th, the Eastern Church had the custom of the Arrival of the Magi and popularized the tradition of Christ’s Incarnation.  The Western Church meshed this beautiful tradition into what we now celebrate as the Christmas Season.

Epiphany means “appearance” or “manifestation.”  It is an awakening to the obvious.  The arrival of the Magi to Jesus’ home represents the universal call that all nations, all peoples are called to hear the good news and are invited to recognize God in our midst.  All are called to worship the long-awaited Messiah and King with the gifts of their lives.  How did the Magi come to this realization?  First, they looked beyond the reality around them and instinctively yet studiously knew greatness entered the world.  Thus, they started to journey into the unknown by following a celestial phenomenon.  At last they found the miracle in a little child.

Our lives set us on unknown journeys. I did not know where my inclination to be a priest would lead, but I was willing to pack up and follow the star that rose in my heart to what I believed was an authentic call from Christ to follow Him in a specific way. The week of my Diaconate Ordination, April 1986, Halley’s Comet was passing. 

What about you?  First, you have to look beyond the attractions and stimuli of the world around you... family, friends, work, school, hobbies, duties, especially technology today... and look to where Christ is leading you. It may be to a vocation, or fulfilling the vocation you have, or it may be steering you to reorganize the priorities of one’s life to please the Lord.  The answer is found in wanting to find the Lord in your life and pursuing that desire... and He will guide you. In the evening twilight of life, it becomes more and more clear that this pursuit was most important.

For the contributions you make to our parish, now and throughout the year, we are always appreciative. This past year, you have met the challenge of our church installing a new floor and new pews... our parish is most grateful. Recognition Pamphlets of those who made contributions to the New Pew Campaign are available at the entrance of the church. May God reward you in His limitless benevolence. From all of us to all of you… Thank You for being the gift you are to us.

Tomorrow, January 9^th, we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord.  It is the last day of the Christmas Season. The crèche and Christmas decorations will be taken down this week.  Please take advantage of visiting the Child Jesus in the humble stable one last time this year.

January 1, 2023

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. How can Mary, a human being, be the mother of the Infinite One? This mystery is best understood when we focus on who Jesus Christ was and is. First of all, Jesus is the Eternal Son of the Father. He is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity and therefore eternal. He took on our human nature to redeem us and thus we believe that just like God created everything by the Divine Word... Jesus is that Eternal Divine Word that took flesh and dwelt among us. We call this mystery the Incarnation of the Lord and we believe that Jesus took on His human nature through the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Mary is the mother of Christ’s human nature, not His divine nature. Mary is a human being who was prepared to be the vessel through which the Word would become flesh. Jesus has two natures...divine and human, but He is only one person, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Though His two natures remain distinct; He is One. That is why we say Mary is the Mother of God. This is what we are celebrating today. What must it have been like for the Eternal Word, to take on the nature of a human within the Blessed Virgin? He had to feel her heart beating. He had to be aware of the experience of being a human when He was only an embryo, then a fetus. When during her pregnancy Mary prayed to God, the Child within her heard and answered her prayers. The Incarnation began at the Annunciation and that divine life began inside of His Mother and was revealed to the world at Christmas.

I want to take this opportunity to extend my appreciation to you, as a parish, who are a gift to St. John the Beloved Parish. During the holidays, you met the challenges of our Outreach Programs and Giving Tree with contributions, food, supplies, gifts, energy. Many families were gifted this Christmas through your generosity. Thank You.

These past holy days require much more dedication and effort on the part of various ministries. Planning, scheduling and serving required dedication and we had it. Our environmental volunteers did a fantastic job again. Whatever you contributed in time, talent and treasure publicly or quietly...Thank You.

For the contributions you make to our parish, now and throughout the year, we are always appreciative. God reward you in His limitless benevolence. From all of us to all of you...
Thank You for being the gift you are to us.

On this First Day of a New Year, may we ponder where life truly begins for us... in the Motherhood of the Virgin Mary. May her intimate relationship with Our Savior enlighten our way to countless blessings and graces in this Year of 2023...

Fathers Piekarski & Preston; Seminarian Dennis; Deacons Bailey, Fontana & Oldiges and the staff of St. John the Beloved Parish

 

December 25, 2022

Christmas, 2022
Dear Parishioners and Friends,

On this Christmas, we need to be grateful for the festivities at hand. What we celebrate is truly a miracle that affects all of us. We look forward to different people in our lives to fulfill some kind of need, task or chore, or satisfy the longings of our human heart. The rarest one among them is the One who ransomed the debt we are responsible for because of our human weakness and inclination to sin.

This broken existence was restored by the One the world waited centuries for. Our festive mood this time of year is remembering that the Messiah, the Redeemer, the Savior took on human flesh and came into our world to save us. Not only from sin are we forgiven in Him but He directs us, in Him, to the fullness of Life that is eternal.

In the 1966 movie, The Trouble with Angels, there is a touching scene where the students of a Catholic boarding high school go to a facility for the aged to cheer the elderly for Christmas. The young women are somewhat frightened when they encounter the horror stories of the elderly being abandoned and unappreciated by loved ones whom they cared for. Brought to tears for having no visitors by her family that day, a grandmother is comforted by the Sister Superior, played by Rosalind Russell. Kindly, the nun wipes her cheeks and reminds the woman that because of the birth of Jesus there can be no tears. He came to comfort us and indeed His arrival changes everything for the good. Those who hurt the most at this time of year have reason to be joyful because Christ ultimately mends what is beyond our control.

God alone could have saved us and continues to do so. For this we have to be thankful and joyful. It is with grateful hearts that we thank you for all you are and do for St. John the Beloved Parish. You are God’s gift to our parish. May you experience in your heart the true mystery that we celebrate. With God dwelling in our midst, we courageously proceed forward to the future that is glorious because God is already there. Have a Blessed Christmas!

Fathers Piekarski & Preston, Seminarian Dennis Stameza, Deacons Bailey, Fontana & Oldiges and the staff of St. John the Beloved Parish

To date, our parish has raised $202,634.57 on our goal of $193,229.00 
 
“Be generous, sharing what you have.” (I Timothy 6:18)

As 2022 comes to an end, it has been a year of uncertainty and
challenging economic times. So many in our community find themselves in
need, dealing with the unexpected. Thanks to the generosity of donors to
the Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal, our ministries have served so many
throughout our community. As you consider your end-of-year charitable
giving, please consider a gift to the Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal – Walking by Faith. 



“Happiness lies more in giving than in receiving.” (Acts 20:35) Thank you.

 

December 18

The Dream of Saint Joseph This fourth Sunday of Advent brings us closer to our awaited celebration of Christ’s Coming. Saint Matthew’s Gospel emphasizes the fulfillment of Jewish Scripture. He wrote to a Jewish population and therefore wanted the Hebrew People to realize that the much prophesied Messiah was fulfilled in the arrival of Jesus. Thus, Matthew emphasized the genealogy of Jesus coming from the foretold Royal House of David through the lineage of Saint Joseph.

Saint Joseph never utters a word in scripture. So often the case where “still waters run deep,” Saint Joseph followed God’s dramatic design for him in silence. One cannot but marvel at Joseph’s acceptance of Mary, with Child, as his wife. Joseph’s kindness is evident in that he did not want to expose Mary to the cruelty of the Jewish Law. Willing to follow God’s Will, revealed to him in a dream, he takes on the responsibility of husband and father. His path was clearly one depending on faith.

Joseph is our model of complete resignation to what God wants from us. Each of us is an important member for the complete unfolding of the Coming of Christ. John the Baptist, Mary and Joseph were intricate in ushering the Savior into our existence at His human birth, but we continue to live His Mission, His Gospel until Christ returns in glory. That is our purpose as His disciples.

May Saint Joseph, noble by birth but humble in life, silent in speech but deafening in action, prudent in thought yet reliant on Providence...keep each one of us balanced and holy as we await the Coming of his foster Son.

May Christ’s presence guide us to that special place... of happiness and joy, and set us on the pathway that we ultimately seek, the pathway to the kingdom of heaven! Amen!

You and your loved ones will be remembered in all the Masses of Christmas.

Fathers Piekarski & Preston and Seminarian Dennis Stameza; Deacons Bailey, Fontana & Oldiges and the staff of St. John the Beloved Parish

Christmas Masses: Christmas Eve, Saturday Dec. 24,
4 p.m. in church and hall in church
7 p.m. 11 p.m. in church

Christmas Day, Sunday Dec. 25,
 8:00 & 10:00 a.m. in church

Thoughts of Christmas Past... We all have some favorite customs that are unique to our ethnicity, family tradition or cultural environment. Personally, I recall the tradition of “Wegilia or Wilia” that many of Eastern European ancestry celebrate. Like it's sounding, Wegilia means Vigil...Christmas Vigil. So like the Italian tradition of the Seven Fishes, Wegilia mirrors the Catholic day of fast and abstinence from meat the day before Christmas. Yet, both evening meals reflect the bounty of the Coming of the Lord and the Banquet of Heaven.

A very sacred meal, the Wegilia begins at dusk with the oldest person
present (in my case, Dziadek, my grandfather in Polish) breaking the ”Oplated” Christmas Wafer and sharing it with those present. These wafers are unconsecrated bread (Eucharistic in symbolism) that unites everyone present with shared forgiveness for any offenses, best wishes for the year to come and blessing to be together in heaven. Pink wafers are shared with the animals also united in the new creation that Christ brings.

I remember the empty seat set at the table for a welcomed stranger, perhaps Christ Himself. Hay underlined the linen tablecloth to imitate Christ’s humble birth. After prayers, mushroom soup, cod, pickled herring, crab cakes (mid-Atlantic treat), potatoes, a variety of pierogi, vegetables and fruit pastries were the staple that night. According to folklore one must eat at least a bit of everything, which symbolized the variety of nature, to assure good luck and the meal had to be twelve distinct dishes in memory of the apostles.

After the meal family and friends shared conversation and regards for the holy season and approaching New Year. Midnight Mass was on the agenda of some while parents readied for Santa. I still carry the tradition and feel the presence of those loved ones who passed on at Wegilia. In so many ways that is what the Coming of the Lord will be. A coming together and sharing in the Eschatological, end time meal when past, present and future are united in the goodness of Christ in His eternal banquet.

December 11

“Rejoice,” the Church tells us on this, Gaudete, or Rose Sunday. What a wonderful time of the year we are in. The prophet Isaiah foretells the time when God Himself will come and save us. All will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.

Like St. John the Baptist questioning Jesus’ messiahship in today’s Gospel, we can sometimes question what once seemed so certain, especially with the long, slow passage of time. But the Lord is faithful and true. His birth in Bethlehem is the beginning of salvation unfolding. At His Final Coming, our problems will no longer be and our deepest desires will be met. The Kingdom of God is at hand and we have been chosen to be members of that Kingdom. Rejoice.

In the meantime, we ... The Church... extends comfort to those in need, strengthens the sick and homebound, works for justice and peace...

SERVICE OF HUMANITY IS SERVICE TO GOD ALMIGHTY...
by Seminarian Dennis Stameza- Pastoral Year at St John the Beloved Parish

Whatever you did for the least of my little brothers and sisters you did for me! St. John the Beloved Outreach Center (Table of Plenty) which is located

two minutes from the church is a new hope for many. It is the Parish Outreach. The people of God who come here are full of joy and love despite that a good number of them cannot afford most of their needs. People come with their children and their loved ones to have something for their future.

The Parish Outreach serves people, and we learn that through serving people we serve God. The food and other things that we get are coming from the people out of love, not because they have more but they do it to serve God through people around them. The people that I am working with are so lovely; I have managed to create a healthy friendship with them. It is imaginable when someone comes to work in this outreach just to serve people without being given something. This is evangelization in practice, but also there are those who come and start asking questions concerning the parish, the Church in general, God and his Son Jesus Christ and many other more questions especially when they know that the one serving them is a seminarian. This is actually a way of evangelization though not everyone who comes there is a Catholic.

The Parish Outreach took me some years back, when we were young, and my mother was working as a gardener in a convent of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. My mother was not receiving cash for working but she was given food and other basic needs for her family. We really survived the hardship of life by the service my mother received from the convent of the sisters. I meet Christ everyday through His people that I am working with together with the people that I am serving, and all that I encounter while at St Benedict Outreach Centre. They have managed to strengthen my faith and my vocation. This is because I am always learning a lot from them.

From the parish outreach Centre, I can say that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is fulfilled when Jesus said that “I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, I was in naked, and you clothed me...” Therefore, I feel the presence of God when working here. This is an experience that contributes more to my priesthood journey. I will always cherish whatever that I am learning at the Parish Outreach and exhaust the best of myself in serving God’s people in all of my life.

Parish Penance

Tuesday, Dec. 13 

12 noon Confessions 

6:30 p.m. Confessions
 


Oplatki are available at the Parish Office.

December 4

The new liturgical year started on the First Sunday of Advent. Last year we heard mostly from the Gospel of Saint Luke. This year, we will hear mostly from the Gospel of St. Matthew.

Prior to preaching the Word of God, Matthew worked as a tax collector in Capernaum near the house of St. Peter. Matthew was a much hated man and considered a sinner by the Jewish people since he worked on behalf of the Roman government. He was sitting at the custom post when Jesus said to Him, “Follow Me.” And he did. Matthew's calling into Jesus' inner circle was a dramatic gesture of the Messiah's universal message and mission, causing some religious authorities of the Jewish community to wonder: “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus' significant response indicated a central purpose of his ministry: “I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

Matthew is a good example of what John the Baptist cries out to us today, exhorting us to repent, to prepare for the Lord’s coming and to make His path straight, for the Kingdom of God is at hand. While salvation always comes from God, God does expect and await human response. The Almighty chooses to save and re-create the world only with our

Reflecting on St. Matthew's calling, from the pursuit of dishonest financial gain to the heights of holiness and divine inspiration, Pope Benedict said in 2006 that “in the figure of Matthew, the Gospels present to us a true and proper paradox: those who seem to be the farthest from holiness can even become a model of the acceptance of God's mercy and offer a glimpse of its marvelous effects in their own lives.”

Matthew went on to follow Christ and traditionally thought to have died a martyr’s death. He was an educated author of the Gospel. Writing to a Jewish audience that followed Jesus, Matthew presents Jesus as the ultimate Jewish hero: the Messiah that fulfills scripture, the prophet who surpasses Moses, and the seed of Abraham that blesses all the nations. The Christmas story in Matthew’s Gospel is evidence that Jesus was a pure Jew from the House of David who came to save us.

The solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is Thursday, December 8th. It is a holy day of obligation; the Patronal Feast of the United States. This great feast celebrates the sinless existence of Mary from the first moment she was conceived. Chosen by God, Mary reverses the sin of Eve and God’s salvation is made known to all the nations. Masses for this feast is Wednesday evening, December 7th at 6:30 p.m. and Thursday at 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Parish Penance - Tuesday, December 13 12:00 noon Confessions. 6:30 p.m. Confessions

Flowers at the Holy Family shrine are in memory of Joseph & Victoria Piekarski

Oplatki are available at the Parish Office.

November 27

Advent comes from the Latin word meaning “coming.” Jesus is coming, and Advent is intended to be a season of preparation for His arrival. While we typically regard Advent as a joyous season, it is also intended to be a period of preparation, much like Lent. Prayer, penance and fasting are appropriate during this season.

Advent is not as strict as Lent, and there are no rules for fasting, but it is meant to be a period of self-preparation. The purple color associated with

Advent is also the color of penance. The faithful should receive the sacrament of Reconciliation and do some acts of mortification to empty themselves of excess in order to be ready for when the Lord arrives.

Please take advantage of this sacred season of Advent. It is the time when the Church focuses on the real meaning of Christmas; the remembrance of His humble birth two-thousand years ago and more so His return in majesty when all is complete. Allow us to help you get-ready spiritually for that time with Reconciliation, Daily Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Works of Charity through our parish programs. There is no time, like the present, to make straight the Coming of the Lord.

Daily Liturgical Schedule during Advent:

Monday to Friday - 8:00 a.m. Masses
Friday - 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Saturday - 8:00 a.m. Mass and Reconciliation (Confessions) 4:00 to 4:45 p.m.

Parish Penance - Tuesday, December 13
12:00 noon Confessions. 6:30 p.m. Parish Penance Service

Oplatki Christmas Wafers are available at the Parish Office.

November 20

The two criminals that were hanging in crucifixion with Jesus were different. One was an unbeliever and cynical; the other was a believer and fearful of God’s retribution. The dying Jesus assured this man, we call Dismas the Good Thief, that he would be this day with Him in paradise. Today’s gospel presents this question: with whom do we identify? Do we identify with Dismas who recognized Jesus’ innocence, and who realized that Jesus’ death could be his passage to heaven, or do we identify with those who have no need for God, removing the Lord’s assistance?

This is Christ the King Sunday, the final Sunday of the liturgical Year. We have many challenges to face in these contemporary days, and today’s great feast asks us to recognize the folly of a passing world. Everything, here on earth, comes to an end. Indeed...we need God. We must realize that Jesus is the King of Kings. The spiritual is real and this changes everything in the way we conduct ourselves in this life. Jesus has to be the Supreme Master of Our Lives and with Him as leader, our lives will be freed of the errors and misconduct of ungodly lives and assure us of our entry into His Kingdom.

Thanksgiving Day Mass at Saint John the Beloved Church is at 9 a.m. Non perishable goods will be collected at this Mass for our Parish Outreach.May we celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday with an attitude of true gratitude. God bestows upon us countless blessings, and for these, we are most thankful. May we continue to be graced and share these blessings in charity with one another.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Father Piekarski and Father Preston;
Seminarian Dennis, Deacon Bailey, Deacon Fontana, Deacon Oldiges & the staff of Saint John Beloved Parish

It is the time of year to say Thank You!...
Our diocese and parish are grateful to the parishioners and friends that have contributed to the 2022 Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal “Walking by Faith.” Our parish goal was $193,229 and was pledged $201,464.57. Payments received on the pledged amount are $184,797.53 thus far. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this year’s appeal and helped our parish make their goal. Any overage of the goal will be returned to our parish. Also, please continue to honor your pledge until all payments are made. Thank you one and all. 



A Thank You list, of all who contributed to our “Parish Raise the Roof Hall Project” is available at the entrance of the church. Many projects were completed on the hall/gym: new roof, new ceiling, new doors, security system for doors, painting, new overhead lighting and new A/C unit. The total cost of the Hall project was $217,007. 



Soon we will also publish a Thank You list of all contributions made for the Church’s New Pews and Floor Campaign. For all these contributions and those throughout the year and your weekly offering... Thank You! Your generosity is needed to keep our parish active... May God reward you hundredfold.

The local Ecumenical Thanksgiving Prayer Service will be on Wednesday evening, November 23 at 7 p.m., at Marshallton United Methodist Church, 1105 Stanton Rd, Wilmington, DE 19808. St. John the Beloved Parish will be represented along with local churches joining together to give thanks to God. All are welcome.

November 13

Many people come to a part of life where they simply want to give up. Life just became overly complicated and they had enough. Surmountable responsibilities, physical challenges, fatigue, lack of cooperation, etc. have brought many to end their path; and for too many, tragically.

That is the situation that St. Paul is addressing in our second reading to the Christians in Thessalonica. The new believers, there, lived in a hostile environment and some people began teaching them that the end was near; that Judgment Day was upon them. So, many of them kind of gave up. Many stopped practicing virtue and others left their livelihood. Why work? It is easier to just wait for Jesus to return and then all their problems would be fixed. 


St. Paul admonished them that if they were unwilling to work, they should not eat. According to St. Paul, living in idleness, they were bored with themselves and they had become busybodies leading to disharmony and division. Because of their disorderly lives that disturbed others, they neglected fruitful work for the glory of the Lord. To such persons, St. Paul commands to do their work quietly and to earn their living... to endure in re-establishing order where apathy and laziness crept in. 


In today's Gospel, Jesus saw the beauty of the Temple in Jerusalem and forewarned its destruction which did occur not long after His prediction. While today's Gospel reading was prophetic in nature and applied to the days of Jesus, the remaining words of Jesus still apply to us today. We are still called to persevere in our daily lives with living faith. We must adjust to a long period of waiting and turbulence and persecution. We must endure the complicated situations of our lives trusting that when He does return, we will have saved our souls.


It is the time for Thanksgiving... Our diocese and parish are grateful to the parishioners and friends that have contributed to the 2022 Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal “Walking by Faith”. Our parish goal was $193,229 and was pledged $201,464.57. Payments received on the pledged amount are $184,797.53 thus far. 


Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this year’s appeal and helped our parish make their goal. Any overage of the goal will be returned to our parish. Also, please continue to honor your pledge until all payments are made. Thank you one and all.

Enclosed in the bulletin, is a Thank You list of all who contributed to our “Parish Raise the Roof Hall Project”. Many projects were completed on the hall/gym: new roof, new ceiling, new doors, security system for doors, painting, new overhead lighting and new A/C unit. The total cost of the Hall project was $217,007. 



Again, thank you for allowing these much needed projects to be completed. For your numerous donations and support of our parish... May God reward you hundredfold.


Soon we will also publish a Thank You list of all contributions made for the Church’s New Pews and Floor Campaign. Always... Thank you.

November 6

In our creed, we claim “we believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting!” What is that? Our readings, today, point to this belief. About 200 years before Jesus was born, enemies of the Jews desecrated the Temple and seduced their beliefs with terrible affliction. The first reading from the Book of Maccabees details the sufferings and deaths of a certain family who died for their faith instead of violating God’s law. From them we hear of their acceptance of death assured that they will receive eternal life at the resurrection. 



That leads us to today’s complicated Gospel. The Sadducees and Pharisees were sects within Judaism with political power and different interpretations of the Law. The Sadducees did not believe in resurrection while the Pharisees did. Jesus is precise that there is a resurrection of the dead for those who lived for the Lord.

The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus is the key. He truly died, was buried and was “raised up” on the third day. From early Easter morning, Jesus appeared to the disciples, ate with them and assured them that He was not a ghost or resuscitated corpse. He had flesh and bones, and yet could pass locked doors. Therefore, through the resurrection, our Lord has a radically transformed or glorified existence. And that is what Christ promises us.

When we die, our soul stands before God in the particular judgment, and we have to account for our lives– good and bad. God will then judge the soul worthy of heaven, hell, or allow a purification called purgatory. The body, committed to the earth, will decay. At the end of time, however, our bodies will be resurrected. After final judgment, we go with our resurrected bodies to our eternal destiny. The glorified bodies will have identity, entirety, and immortality. They will also have “transcendent qualities” like freedom from pain and freedom from defects...and will be endowed with movement in space and time with beauty and radiance.

Wow! This belief exceeds our understanding and our imagination. Nevertheless we believe it because Christ promised this resurrection of the body: “For an hour is coming in which all those in their tombs shall hear His voice and come forth. Those who have done right shall rise to live; the evildoers shall rise to be damned” (John 5:28-29).

The United States Bishops have implemented a Eucharistic Revival Program for Catholics to focus on and appreciate more the Eucharist in our midst... The true Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus. St. John Neumann introduced the 40 Hours Devotion in our area, allowing the faithful to pray privately and publicly, face to face with the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. It is a graced time wherever fostered when the presence of Our Lord is intimately being united with the prayers of God’s people.

Our parish is celebrating this devotion for three days beginning on the Sunday of Christ the King. Vy. Rev. Joseph McQuaide, our diocesan Chancellor and Judicial Vicar for the Tribunal, will preach the Masses that weekend and lead us in evening prayer and benediction that day.

Please mark your calendars to take advantage of this Eucharistic Presence in our parish:

Sunday, Nov. 20

12:30 p.m. - Exposition
4 p.m. Evening Prayer and Benediction. Homily by Father McQuaide 5 p.m. Mass

Monday, Nov. 21

After 8 a.m. Mass Exposition
6 p.m. begin Praise and Worship Music 6:30 p.m. Evening Prayer with Benediction. Reflection by Seminarian Dennis Stameza

Tuesday, Nov. 22

After 8 a.m. Mass Exposition
6 p.m. Begin Choir Music
6:30 p.m. Evening Prayer with Benediction. Homily by Father McQuaide

October 30

In today’s Gospel, Zacchaeus, the small but wealthy tax collector, is curious in seeing who and what Jesus is like. Everyone observed that Jesus sought out this man who was considered a traitor to the Jewish people...a sinner. And Zacchaeus has a conversion from the heart. Jesus reminded them, and us, that He came to seek and find those who are lost. As we come to a deeper understanding of all that God has done for us, we are truly humbled and not judgmental but rather more understanding of God’s concern to save all of us with His mercy and forgiveness.

Tuesday, November 1st is All Saints Day, a Holy Day of Obligation when we rejoice with all the saints who stand blessed in the eyes of the Lord. Masses on Tuesday only are 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, November 2nd is All Souls Day. This day is dedicated to all the dead; those who need our prayerful support to reach the ultimate destiny of heaven. There are two Masses that day at 8:00 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. Both Masses will be celebrated with the special remembrance of those who passed away this year.

October 16

Our readings today speak about perseverance in prayer, which means not giving up, but continuing to pray. Moses, in our first reading, prayed in an ancient way by holding his hands up in prayer. When Moses let his arms fall, the enemies of Israel prevailed in war. As long as Moses kept his arms raised, Israel had the advantage.

In the Gospel, the Lord tells a humorous story of a persistent widow and an unjust judge who eventually tires of her and gives in to her request. How much more will our loving God respond to our continual prayers.

We have to keep praying especially when it seems that our prayers are not being heard. The problem is that we are used to getting immediate results. Google gives us immediate answers. Prayer is much more by calling upon an infinite God who knew our needs before we were born. Our needs will be met, often not in the way we expect, but better than our expectations.

The tendency to give up in prayer is very real when you are disappointed or disturbed with its results. Yes, even good living people are jolted by these. St. Therese of Lisieux was determined to enter the Carmelite Order three years earlier than the minimum age. When refused by local authorities, she went to Pope Leo XIII and made her plea. Reluctant to leave without receiving a definite yes, she was forcibly taken away, sobbing, by the Papal Guards; a scene that made the newspapers. Five months later, Therese entered Carmel at 15 years of age. The French say: “Woman’s will, God’s will.”

Today's readings tell us that God will never give up on us and we cannot give up on God. Let us approach prayer as a child; Saint Therese did. Confident that we are heard, we simply do not give up praying. Eventually prayers are answered. The last line of today’s Gospel may be the real issue: “When the Son of Man comes, will He find any faith on the earth?”

For the most part, our church Pew & Floor Project is complete. Our parish is most grateful to those who contributed to this major task. An insert of acknowledgement for both “Raise the Roof” of our gym/hall and “New Church Pew Campaign” will soon be inserted for our bulletin. We are also thankful to those who served on the committees that focused on these improvements. Lastly, we are grateful for your patience. Your consideration and support bring us to this day. Thank You.
 

October 9

It is that time of year when we encounter numerous movies and the Halloween theme about the “living dead.” They are the deadly outsiders who are a mortal threat to society; they are beyond hope, without any chance of being restored to real life. Lepers were the “living dead” of the ancient Middle Eastern world, whose illness of leprosy cut them off from the land of the living. The Law prescribed that they be banished from society, wear torn clothes and cry out “Unclean, unclean” (Lev.13).

In our first reading, Naaman, a non Jew and a commander of the army of the Syrian king, was panicking with the symptoms of leprosy. When he was cured by the Hebrew prophet, Elisha, Naaman recognized the uniqueness of the God of Israel and declared he would only offer sacrifices to the one, true God.

In the Gospel, Jesus was met by ten lepers crying out, “Master, have pity on us!” Jesus did not heal them on the spot, but told them to show themselves to the priest, as the Law required for them to reenter the land of the living. On their way, all ten were physically healed, yet only one returned, humbly expressing his gratitude.

Our scripture today shows the thankfulness of those who truly recognize the favors God bestows on them. It was a Syrian and also a Samaritan, reviled foreigners that acknowledged the goodness of Our God. Perhaps those two were more aware of their fortunate healing, given that they were foreigners. The other nine were equally desperate in their deadness but insensitive to WHO really restored them back to life. We so often need to recognize God’s goodness to us...funny how it sometimes takes an outsider to make us aware.

Flowers at the Holy Family Shrine are in memory of Joseph F. Cieniewicz, Jr.

This Sunday is the first annual “Deacon Sunday” throughout the U,S, and Canada. It is the Church’s way to celebrate the wonderful ministry of our parish deacons.

Deacons play a pivotal role in daily parish life in proclaiming the Gospel, delivering homilies, performing baptisms, visiting the sick, burying the dead, teaching the faith. We acknowledge the ministry of Deacon Thomas Bailey, Deacon Mark Fontana and Deacon Stephen Oldiges, in our parish, and ask God’s blessing upon them.

Family Mass... The 9:30 Mass next Sunday, October 16, will be a Family Mass. Everyone is welcome to share our oneness as a Parish Family. It is an ideal time for relatives to come together and worship as a family. Refreshments will be served after the Mass. The Family that prays together stays together...

It is with sadness that we hear of the passing of Father Frederick Kochan. Father Fred served in our diocese from 1974 when he ministered here as associate pastor at St. John the Beloved Parish until 1979; returning again in 1997 until he retired in New Jersey. He was our oldest diocesan priest at the age of 92. The funeral took place in New Jersey and interment was in All Saints Cemetery, Wilmington. May he rest in peace.

October 2, 2022

 “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this sycamore tree, Be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it would obey you.”

We have to have faith that God will set our world straight and that His justice will prevail. It is in this light that we should view the theme for this Sunday: Respect Life. We, as Church, do everything we can to encourage faith and promote life. Faith begins very small and can blossom into miracles. Human life begins very small and ultimately matures into profound dignity.

We are living in a transitional era when things, like respect for life, are being redefined. Values are as fickle as the people who uphold them. That is why God’s will is the only solid base to formulate our reality and that which we value. God created life, therefore it is sacred. God promoted life, therefore it must be promulgated. God enforced laws that protected life, therefore it cannot be disregarded.

We gather this Sunday as a Family of Faith... brothers and sisters in Christ. We focus and honor the various stages of life from conception to natural death. We salute the family nucleus as well as the various stages of life from student to widow. Above all, we appreciate the gift of human life that each one of us holds. Our creation allows us to enter into the eternal life that God intends for each of us.

For the committed Catholic, respecting life is expected. We are like that servant in the Gospel reading. We put on our aprons and serve our master recognizing that we are simply doing that which we are obligated to do. We are obligated to lead others to respect life by respecting their lives.

Blessing of Animals will also be celebrated on Tuesday, October 4th, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The Blessing of Animals will be at 2 p.m. and also at 6:00 p.m. near the church. Everyone is invited.

Thank you to everyone who contributed in supporting the diocesan tuition assistance program. If you were not prepared to contribute last weekend, you may drop your contribution off at the parish office or place it in this week’s collection basket. Envelopes are available in the vestibule of the church. For further information and
on-line giving options, visit the Share in the Spirit website at https://www.cdow.org/share-in-the-spirit.

Beginning this weekend, Birthright of Delaware will host its annual “Bottles for Babies Fundraiser!” Please take a bottle home, fill it with your loose change, cash or checks and return it to the vestibule of the church by the end of October. Bottles can be collected throughout the months of October. Please feel free to take a bottle to your family and friends as well. Thank you for supporting Birthright! We appreciate All of you!

September 25

Regrets often haunt us throughout our lives. The regret that I did not advance in education or take that job I was offered or make that investment that paid extremely well or took better care of myself. In those cases we could say, “We missed the boat!” How much more tragic it will be when at the Last Judgment we have remorse for not sharing. Today’s readings reminds us, NOW, that sharing is the criterion of Last Judgment: Matthew (25:31ff) tells us that all six questions to be asked of each one of us by Jesus when He comes in glory as our judge are based on how we have shared our blessings from Him (food, drink, home, mercy and compassion), with our brothers and sisters in need, for Jesus identifies Himself with each of them.

The main theme of this Sunday is the warning that the selfish and extravagant use of God’s blessings, like wealth, without sharing them with those in need is a serious sin deserving eternal punishment. Saint Luke, in his gospel, emphasizes the duty of the fortunate to share with the less fortunate. In today’s parable the rich man was punished, not for having riches, but for neglecting the Scriptures and what they taught on sharing his blessings with the poor. He felt entitled and was intentionally oblivious to the despair of Lazarus, who even dogs took pity upon. He could easily have helped him. Thus, the tables are turned in eternity.

The poor beggar, Lazarus, is perpetually comforted while the selfish rich man is tormented forever by the separation from heaven. What remorse! The parable concludes without sympathy by simply saying: “You and everyone are warned.”

We are all rich enough to share our blessings with others. God has blessed each one of us with wealth or health or special talents or social power or political influence or a combination of many blessings. The parable invites us to share what we have been given with others in various ways instead of using everything exclusively for selfish gains. Our choices here determine the kind of eternity we will have. It has been put this way: “Where we go hereafter depends on what we go after.”

Today's second collection is taken in support of the diocesan tuition assistance program. Monies raised through this collection coupled with the diocese’s tuition assistance endowment provides financial assistance to hundreds of deserving families who seek a Catholic education for their children but who cannot afford the full cost of tuition.

If you are not prepared to contribute today, you may drop your contribution off at the parish office or place it in next week’s collection basket. Envelopes are available in the vestibule of the church. For further information and on-line giving options, visit the Share in the Spirit website at https://www.cdow.org/share-in- the-spirit.

The beginning of October, Birthright of Delaware will host its annual “Bottles for Babies Fundraiser!” Please take a bottle home, fill it with your loose change, cash or checks and return it to the vestibule of the church by the end of October. Bottles can be collected throughout the months of October. Please feel free to take a bottle to your family and friends as well. Thank you for supporting Birthright! We appreciate All of you!

September 18

In today’s Gospel, Jesus said: “If you can trust a man in little things, you can also trust him in greater things; while anyone unjust in a slight matter is also unjust in greater things.” How true this is when we seem to question more and more those in whom we can trust. Like the ancient days of the Bible, we are surrounded by those who seek to serve only themselves.

This is Catechetical Sunday, a wonderful time to reflect on the role that each person plays in handing down the deposit of faith, the truths, we received from Christ. Our parish catechists are being recognized and commissioned at today’s 9:30 Mass. We salute our catechetical leaders and catechists, youth and young adults’ ministers, Director of Religious Education, Catholic school principals and teachers, as well as other individuals who provide faith formation to diverse age groups and settings.

The source of our beliefs comes from Jesus Christ. We believe Him trustworthy. As the First Letter of Peter states: “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.” Therefore, we depend on Christ to lead us in truth. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has asked us to focus more intently on the truth we celebrate at every Eucharist. This mystery of bread and wine becoming the Body and Blood of Jesus is the glorified Christ, raised from the dead, truly present – body, blood, soul and divinity – for us.

This is what the Church means when she speaks of the "Real Presence" of Christ in the Eucharist. This TRUTH has been handed on to us from Jesus Himself. Let us appreciate this unique presence of the Lord among us and remember that it was a nun, a priest, a catechist, or a loving parent that trustingly handed this truth to us.

Next week, parishioners throughout the diocese will be asked to help make the dream of a Catholic education a reality for struggling Catholic families. Monies raised through this collection coupled with the diocese’s tuition assistance endowment provides financial assistance to hundreds of deserving families who seek a Catholic

education for their children but who cannot afford the full tuition.

Through this collection, our Bishop is reaching out to believing and worshipping Catholics like you to assist him in ensuring that the Catholic commitment to total the education of our children does not fade away because people cannot afford it. Since the Church has the mission to educate and since this mission directly affects the quality of life we experience as Catholics, all of us have a stake in Catholic education. It is in light of this reality that I ask you to consider supporting next week’s Share in the Spirit collection. To learn more about the Share in the Spirit collection and its importance, go to the diocesan website at https:// www.cdow.org/share-in-the-spirit. God bless you! Father Joe

Welcome back into the church & Thank You... The carpet, under the pews, and the new pews have been installed. The aisles of the church will be completed in a few weeks when the tiles are delivered and installed. The chain of productivity is the major reason for the delay. We thank everyone who has brought us thus far in this major project. We are grateful for your patience in the delays that we experienced. To everyone who contributed physically and financially... Thank you. Soon everything will be complete.

September 11

The stories Jesus tells in today’s Gospel give us some insight into that serious business of heaven’s joy. The self- righteous see sinners and reject them. Jesus sure enjoys the company of sinners; not in their sin but in them turning back to Him. And they seem to consistently enjoy Him.

First we hear the parable of the lost sheep. It is not practical to leave ninety- nine behind and seek the one wanderer. The risk of doing so is what Our Lord is willing to do to have a sinner return to the fold. For Jesus, it is joyful seeking and saving the lost. It is difficult for most of us to fathom such undaunted effort.

Jesus goes on. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it.” Many people would rather take the loss than put the extra effort into finding the lost coin. Not Jesus. It has to do with completeness. Missing one sheep, missing one coin is like having all the winning lottery numbers but one. And that one thing missing would make it complete.

Jesus tells us that there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents. God wants everyone saved. So yes, there is a sort of tension between God doing the seeking and finding and our repenting. The third parable describes the festive joy of a father when his prodigal son returns to him.

If we want to make heaven joyful, we should be asking ourselves how we can get involved, what does this repentance look like for each of us. Perhaps we start with the attitude that sinners are worth saving. All people are valuable and the effort in bringing them back to a complete relationship with Christ is what He asks of us. As for ourselves, what are the areas of our lives where we are losing connection with the Lord? We need to allow ourselves to be found. Let’s make heaven rejoice by turning wholeheartedly back to God. Saving sinners is serious business and a serious cause for joy in heaven because it will not be complete until everyone is there.

The carpet, under the pews, and the new pews have been installed. The aisles of the church will be completed in a few weeks when the tiles are delivered and installed. The chain of

productivity is the major reason for the delay. We thank everyone who has brought us thus far in this major project. We are grateful for your patience in the delays that we experienced. To everyone who contributed physically and financially... Thank you. Soon everything will be complete.

September 4

There are many places in the Gospels where the Lord speaks using apocalyptic language.  Apocalyptic language uses shocking imagery to catch the listener’s attention.  Today’s gospel provides an example when Jesus says that we cannot be His disciples if we come to Him without hating loved ones like father and mother, wife and husband, indeed one’s very self.  So what is that all about? 

The Lord is not ignoring the Fourth Commandment.  He is using startling, apocalyptic imagery to illustrate the demands of being His disciple.  Discipleship demands that we take up our cross and follow the “dying to oneself” path of Jesus. Anything and anyone that causes us to lose our focus on Him cannot be tolerated. 

“Taking up one’s cross,” another dramatic imagery is the daily struggle we have not to be selfish or self centered, realizing that those idols and material things that are most important to us cannot be a priority above following Christ.  This sacrificial attitude (our cross) is very, very costly…in denying oneself of what matters so much to us.  Therefore, the Lord prepares us for the toll that discipleship, so often, demands upon us.  He suggests that we acknowledge our limitations and discern more fully our call and what is needed to follow Him.    

To be a disciple of Christ means to live beyond the insignificant things that we throw into our lives and to make time first for the things of God.

The Church Pews are in the process of being installed.  The delay is because of the flaws in the initial carpet and then productivity of alternative flooring.  Hopefully this will be the last week in the hall for Masses.  Progress is being made and should be completed real soon.  Thank you for your patience.

Labor Day is Monday, September 5th. The one Mass, that day, will be at 9 a.m. celebrating the contributions of workers that make up the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.  Human labor is honorable. 

August 28

In today’s Gospel, Christ accepts the invitation for a Sabbath feast from a prominent Pharisee, knowing the Pharisees are watching, hoping to catch Him in some error. Christ attempts to break through the Pharisees’ rigid myopia after watching them jostling for seats closest to the host to gain honor.  Jesus proposes and critiques two seating strategies.  Christ’s summary is a glimpse of Divine Judgment:  he who exalts himself will be humbled (least in the Kingdom of Heaven or, worse, to end up in Hell) and those who humble themselves will be exalted (great in the Kingdom). The humble person is recognized and exalted by God.

Having made a general rebuke to the prideful Pharisees, Christ boldly corrects the prominent Pharisee host. Christ directs the man to stop inviting his family and friends to his banquets and to start inviting the poor.  Jesus is talking about a divine kind of hospitality.  Our generosity ought to be a characteristic of our personal freedom, not dependent on how people treat us.  Rather than settle for the short-term benefit of ingratiating oneself to gain favor and reciprocation, Christ tells the man to aspire to gain the reward of the resurrection.  

Human pride fully seeks status, puffing up resumes, bragging about conquests and trash talking; Christ condemns the pride and hypocrisy of the Pharisees.  Today awakens the “blind spot” of our own pride, seeking self-honor and recognition.  Throughout Luke’s Gospel we find the righteous person is the humble person.  Perhaps it is innate from our First Parents that we are prideful beyond our own capacity.  It is often difficult to become the humble person Christ demands of us. One antidote for the poison of seeking self-honor is to build a habit of honoring others; recognizing the dignity of every human being is a major step in becoming truly humble.

The Church Pews are being delivered and installed this week.  The delay is because of the flaws in the carpet manufacturing.  Alternative plans for flooring were decided and undertaken.  The chain of productivity is the major reason for the delay.  Hopefully we will be one more week in the hall for Sunday Masses, including next weekend.  Progress is being made and should be completed real soon.  Thank you for your patience.

St. John the Beloved School opens its doors for another school year, this week, on August 29^th.  We wish our Principal, Richard Hart, and our new Vice Principal, Matthew Haney, all teachers, staff, students and their families the very best in the months ahead.  May the Good Lord enrich everyone with the graces needed to advance in knowledge and virtue.  God Bless this academic year.

August 21

Perhaps the most horrifying scenario imaginable is to stand outside of heaven only to hear the Lord respond, “I do not know where you are from.” Our first reading from the Prophet Isaiah assures us that the Lord “comes to gather nations of every language.” But some resist that invitation.

It is a growing trend that the centrality of faith and religious practices are dwindling. The statistics couldn’t be clearer. Did you know that the fastest- growing “religious” group in the United States is the “nones”—that is, those who claim no religious affiliation? In the latest Pew Research Center survey, fully 25 percent of the country—80 million people—say that they have no formal religion.

Historically, we can see the diminishing numbers among Catholics with each subsequent generation. Among our First Generation ancestors, about 80% of Catholic families attended Church somewhat regularly. With the Second Generation, about 70% of the families attended. My generation of Baby Boomers had originally about 70% attending Church and then their own numbers started to drop, only followed by their children where 50% occasionally attend.

When we focus on young people, the picture is even bleaker. Fifty percent, among Catholics, of those under thirty are now “nones.” Of all the Catholic children baptized or confirmed these last thirty years, half no longer participate in the life of the Church. Underlying the non practicing acceptance, with the latter two generations, is a general apathy toward religion and more disturbing is a disregard for Christ. Perhaps it is the challenge. Luke makes it clear that following Christ is difficult and demands a persistence in life to know and follow Him...”strive to enter through the narrow gate.” Unfortunately, secularism and scandals have escalated the philosophy of agnosticism and worse, atheism.

This growing indifference in society is a concern for people of faith, especially when we hear today’s Gospel...The entrance to heaven is no guarantee. Vatican II couldn’t be clearer on this score, seeing the Church itself as nothing but a vehicle for evangelization. According to Vatican II, it’s not so much the case that the Church has a mission, but rather that a mission has the Church. In order to join God’s gathering, we must “enter through the narrow gate,” which means saying “yes” to the relationship and demands that Christ wants to have with us.

We Catholics cannot avoid the mission of evangelization, proclaiming the faith. Bringing people to Christ is not one work among many; rather, it is the central work of the Church that around which everything else we do revolves. We need evangelization more than ever before. Will you answer the call?
 

August 14

The central theme of today’s readings is that we should courageously live out our religious convictions and principles in our lives, as Jeremiah, Paul, and Jesus did, even if doing so should result in our martyrdom. If no one is ever offended by the quality of our commitment to Christ, then perhaps we are “ineffective Christians.”

Jeremiah, in our first reading, is presented as experiencing the consequences of the burning word of God within him. His preaching divided the city and incited such opposition that people sought his death. He showed the courage of his prophetic conviction by telling the king how to save

Israel. This resulted in Jeremiah being thrown into a deep cistern to die. Paul, in the second reading, challenges the Judeo-Christians to stand firm in their Faith in Jesus, ignoring the ostracism imposed on them by their own former Jewish community.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus, too, preaches the word of God which continues to divide families, a word which, He knew, would lead ultimately to His death. The fire Jesus brings is the fire of love and hope. The disruption, division, and revolution, which Jesus and His true followers cause in society by the fire of sacrificial love and justice, are necessary to re-set what is fractured, in need of purification.

We must make a decision to follow Him. This choice can result in division, even within families. We need to strive and indeed pray for a “FIRE” in our hearts. So, as Christians on fire, we burn off impurities and inflame people to care, to serve, and to bless one another with all the gifts of Faith.

Flowers at the Virgin Mary Shrine are in memory of Bryan J. Kosc

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is August 15th and since it falls on a Monday, this year it is not a Holy Day of Obligation. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful feast that celebrates the Dormition or "falling asleep" of the Mother of God. We believe that Mary fell asleep in death and both her perfect soul and pure body were taken immediately to heaven. Masses for the Assumption will be offered on Monday at 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

The opening of our church will be delayed beyond this weekend of August 13-14. Unfortunately, flaws in the new carpet have made the manufacturer redo our order. Hopefully, the replacement will arrive soon. The pews are ready to be assembled but have to wait for the floor to be completed. Thank you for your patience. All Masses and services will continue to be conducted in the Parish Hall till the project is finished.

August 7

Jesus' instructions on how to be ready for the coming judgment continue in the stories and sayings found in today's Gospel. We are not to be like the greedy rich man in last Sunday's Gospel who planned to store his great harvest in barns rather than share it.

The other major way to be ready for the coming judgment is to be watchful. In Luke's Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about watchfulness to begin making this point. We must be like servants waiting for the master's return from a wedding banquet, which, even now, can last for a few days in the Middle East. We must be

watchful so that even if the master comes after midnight, we will be ready for him. This is what the coming of the Son of Man will be like.

Either way, the parables remind us that we should be found doing our jobs when the master arrives. If we are doing our jobs, our reward will be great. But if we relax, neglect our duties, and begin to act like the greedy rich man—eating, drinking, and making merry—we will not have a place in the Kingdom. Watchfulness means living in such a consistently moral and obedient way that we are always ready to give an account to God of how we have lived.

The opening of our church will be delayed beyond the weekend of August 13-14. Unfortunately, flaws in the new carpet have made the manufacturer redo our order. Hopefully, the replacement will arrive soon. The pews are ready to be assembled but have to wait for the floor to be completed. Thank you for your patience. All Masses and services will continue to be conducted in the Parish Hall till the project is finished.

A grateful note is extended to everyone who could and did support the 2022 Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal. To date, we have almost reached the parish's target of $193,229. Thank you to the 501 gifts, thus far, that are helping us achieve our goal. Please continue fulfilling these pledges. If anyone has not done so, please consider making a contribution. Every donation is appreciated and not only will help us make our goal but continue to do the charitable work it is making possible in the Diocese of Wilmington. Thank you for your cooperation and dedication. God reward your generosity.

Mass Intention Book is open. Please contact the Parish Office for the availability and scheduling of intentions for Masses in the Parish for the approaching year. Please be considerate of others who also want to make their intentions. Also, all “living” intentions will be sent to retired priests to be fulfilled in a timely period.
 

July 31

The readings for this Sunday force us to take a closer look at the whole concept of success.  In the Gospel reading, the man is convinced that he is a success because he is a rich farmer.  What should he do now that he has succeeded in harvesting more grain than he can store?  Build another silo, of course.  The basis of his success is his grain.  When he suddenly dies, his success remains here, and he goes on to God empty handed.

The whole mindset that success is predicated on salary is based on a fallacy that was very clear to the author of the first reading.  He is sometimes called Qoheleth, in the Old Testament book called Ecclesiastes. “Vanity of vanities,” says Qoheleth, “All is vanity.”  Many times one flatters oneself, incorrectly, by viewing him/herself successful by his or her appearance rather than growing rich in the sight of God.  A person is on the road to success if he or she can draw closer to God and attract others to do likewise.

More and more achievements, titles and possessions can render us successful to most of the world; but, what about ourselves?  We cannot avoid the emptiness.  Our scripture readings remind us of the futility of it all unless one becomes more of the Godly reflection we are created to be. Success is predicated on our ability to assume the person of Jesus Christ. Success is not a present reality; it is a goal, the goal of Christian life.  The goal is reached; life is successful, when every aspect of life reflects the person of Jesus Christ.  That is success.   All else is vanity.

A grateful note is extended to everyone who could and did support the 2022 Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal.  To date, we have $183,244 pledged toward our parish’s target of $193,229.  Thank you to the 497 gifts, thus far, that are helping us achieve our goal.  Please continue fulfilling these pledges.  If anyone has not done so, please consider making a contribution.  Every donation is appreciated and not only will help us make our goal but continue to do the charitable work it is making possible in the Diocese of Wilmington.  Thank you for your cooperation and dedication.  God reward your generosity.

All Masses and services will be conducted in the Parish Hall until the 5 PM mass on August 13.  The old pews have been removed.  Because they were constructed mostly of particle board, the reuse of these pews was not recommended since they would have to be cut down in length.  The floor of the church is presently being recarpeted and then the new pews will be installed in the next two weeks.  Thank you to everyone who contributed to the New Pew Campaign. 

2023 Mass Intention Book is open.  Please contact the Parish Office for the availability and scheduling of intentions for Masses in the Parish for the approaching year.  Please be considerate of others who also want to make their intentions.  Also, all “living” intentions will be sent to retired priests to be fulfilled in a timely period.  

July 24

I cannot help but think that our modern conveniences of life have spoiled our sense of prayer. All you need is to Google a question and in seconds the answer comes up. Need cash, go to an AT&T machine. Hungry for something, call DoorDash for instant delivery. Think about it. We put in for what we desire and get what we want. “For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door is opened.” So in prayer, we are somewhat conditioned to tell God what we want and expect to get what we ask for.

All that works fine, until it doesn’t. Some will get angry. Some will feel hurt or betrayed, lose faith, and even leave the Church. I don’t know why some prayers are answered and others seem to go unanswered. “You didn’t have enough faith.” “You didn’t pray hard enough.” “It’s a mystery and someday we will understand.” These are some of the confusing misinformation out there.

In the midst of unknowing and need, we are desperate for God to do something. It is not a mechanical formula or transmission of information to God that will get us what we want. Jesus’ response to the request: “Lord, teach us how to pray” teaches us about WHO and HOW God is. When we pray, say: “Father, hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.”

Definitely, a dear relationship already exists between God and each of us. Prayer is about relationship and presence. We are reminding ourselves of what already is. That relationship depends on God who nourishes and sustains our life. Then there is only one answer to every prayer...GOD. God’s presence, life, love, beauty, generosity, compassion, forgiveness, wisdom, justice, mercy is the answer to our prayers. Perhaps the greatest difficulty of prayer is that sometimes we want instantaneous results. We don’t want God. We want something from God.

While God can and sometimes does change circumstances to what is desired, more often than not, God changes us to face the circumstances of life with HIM. It is a difficult lesson to meditate on and spiritually understand. On my better days, I know this and that’s enough. On those other days when you enter the cloud of unknowing...Its’ “Lord, teach me to pray.”

Property Next Door... For the past forty years, the parish has desired to obtain the 3 acre parcel next door in the hopes that we may expand as a parish campus. This property became available for sale and was purchased by the Parish. Our present location is central for many diocesan activities and possible growth. It was recommended by the diocese and our Parish Finance Committee to buy the property at the valued price for future needs. We thank everyone who studied the purchase of the land and made the recommendation to obtain it.

All Masses and services will be conducted in the Parish Hall until the 5 PM mass on August 13. For the next three weeks, the old pews will be removed, the floors recarpeted and then the new pews will be installed. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the New Pew Campaign.

2023 Mass Intention Book will open on Monday, July 25. Please contact the Parish Office for the availability and scheduling of intentions for Masses in the Parish for the approaching year. Please be considerate of others who also want to make their intentions. Also, all “living” intentions will be sent to retired priests to be fulfilled in a timely period.

July 17

"Martha, Martha" Usually when we use the word mystery, we think of a story that has an ending we try to solve before we get to the last page of the book or last five minutes of the movie. For the Church a mystery is a truth that is incomprehensible to the reason and knowable only through divine revelation.

In this Sunday’s second reading to the Colossians, Paul speaks about a mystery, “a mystery that has been hidden for ages is now manifested to God’s Holy Ones.” The mystery is this: Christ is in you. Sadly, when it comes to this Mystery many people are clueless. We go about our day, so busy that we overlook the purpose for our actions. We overlook the reason for our being. We forget about the presence of Christ. Like Martha in the Gospel we are concerned with doing instead of being. Martha was busy doing this and that in her valiant efforts to prepare for Jesus. Mary, her sister, was concerned with being, with being with Jesus.

These days, most people are overwhelmed with distractions. Even the technology meant to make communication easier seems to be engrossing more of our time. We need to stop and hear the Lord in the silence. Our many concerns, real as they are, should not consume us, nor should they rob us of the opportunity of the Divine Presence in and around us. When we choose to nurture the presence of the Lord within us, like Mary, to grasp the mystery and will be choosing the better part.

This is the last weekend that we will hold Masses and liturgies in the church until Saturday, August 13. All Masses and services will be conducted in the Parish Hall from Monday, July 18 to August 12. For the next four weeks, the old pews will be removed, the floors recarpeted and then the new pews will be installed.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the New Pew Campaign. The amount collected has exceeded the cost for the new pews; therefore allowing us to install a new carpet in church. The new carpet will be more enduring while eliminating any older markings from the previous pews. Thank you, again, for your assistance in achieving our needed sums and the task at hand.

Property Next Door... For the past forty years, the parish has desired to obtain the 3 acre parcel next door in the hopes that we may expand as a parish campus. This property became available for sale and was purchased by the Parish. Our present location is central for many diocesan activities and possible growth. It was recommended by the diocese and our Parish Finance Committee to buy the property at the valued price for future needs. We thank everyone who studied the purchase of the land and made the recommendation to obtain it.

July 10

We all know the parable of the Good Samaritan. We know it so well that we forget that it is pointed towards us. The parable is about living the Way of Jesus, the Law of Love. The Samaritan’s were seen by the Jews as outside of the Law. They had intermarried with pagans and their practice of the Jewish faith was not as pure as the Jews. And yet the Samaritan, in Jesus’ parable, warrants the title “Good” because he knew when God called him to action. He knew that he could not be a follower of the Lord and walk by that man who needed his help. This parable is real in our lives. Recall the times when you were the recipient of kindness when you least expected it but needed it most. It demanded someone’s time and resources to help; and we cannot forget the kindness.

The Law of the Lord is more than precepts that have to be memorized and followed; and indeed they should be. We are called to fulfill God’s Law of helping those who need our love at any given moment. We know that Jesus identified with those who were hurting and went to great lengths to relieve their pain or satisfy their need. And more than THE LAW... relieving the sufferings of others seems to be innate, inborn. Often we see it coming naturally from people whom we least expected. The Parable of the Good Samaritan answers the question: What must I do to inherit eternal life? We have only to look into our hearts. We know what we must do.

A grateful note is extended to everyone who could and did support the 2022 Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal. To date, we have $183,244 pledged toward our parish’s target of $193,229. Thank you to the 497 gifts, thus far, that are helping us achieve our goal. Please continue fulfilling these pledges. If anyone has not done so, please consider making a contribution. Every donation is appreciated and not only will help us make our goal but continue to do the charitable work it is making possible in the Diocese of Wilmington. Thank you for your cooperation and dedication. God reward your generosity.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the New Pew Campaign. The amount collected has exceeded the cost for the new pews; therefore allowing us to install a new carpet in church. The new carpet will be more enduring while eliminating any older markings from the previous pews.

The renovation will begin after next weekend, July 16-17. All Masses and services will be conducted in the Parish Hall from Monday, July 18th to August 13th. The demolition of the older pews, recarpeting of the floor and then installation of the new pews are major projects requiring that amount of time. Thank you, again, for your assistance in achieving our needed sums and the task at hand.

July 3

To see what we can learn from today’s Gospel of Jesus sending out the 72 disciples, we will go verse by verse:

Luke 10:1 “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two.” When we go out to preach the gospel it is always best for two to go together because we have someone else, a partner, who can pray for and support each other. Jesus sent these disciples out to go ahead or go before Him in the places that “he himself was about to go.” Jesus is responsible for what happens after the gospel has been proclaimed by His disciples.

Luke 10:2 “And he said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” We hate to say this but we often remain silent when we refuse to share the gospel of Jesus Christ for fear of being rejected or ridiculed. Jesus tells us to pray for laborers because the harvest is so huge and there are so few laborers. We need to pray for more courage and boldness to speak about our faith.

Luke 10:3 “Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.” When we take the gospel to the world, we are lambs nearly being sent to the slaughter. The secular world too often does not want to hear about our Christ and His message. Just realize you will be attacked but remember that it is the Message that they really hate (Jesus) and not the messenger.

Luke 10:4 “Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.” This is a warning from the Lord not to overburden ourselves with practical things that may seem necessary. Living more freely, we can have the needed energy to work for the Lord.

Luke 10:5-9 “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ “Peace be to this house” is a Jewish customary greeting and farewell. It was also the great gift from the Resurrected Lord to his disciples. Where people accept the message, there will be peace. But if not, it will return to you. Also, Jesus asks the disciple to be stable, in one place, accepting hospitality for refreshment.

Luke 10:10-12 But if they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘we shake the dust from of this town from our feet.” This is clearly what will happen most of the time. By shaking the dust off our feet we are simply leaving their eternal state to God and acknowledging that they have been warned. All that we can do is pray and hope that God sends them a change of heart.

Conclusion... Jesus is still sending out men and women today. We are called, as Christ’s disciples, to open the way, by word and example, for God. Remember, God is the evangelist. We simply need support to be bold in proclaiming the Gospel to a world often hostile to the Lord. Living simply, we may encounter a peaceful acceptance or a rejection that leaves the situation in the hands of God.

Mass on the Fourth of July is at 9 a.m. that day. All are invited to celebrate our Nation’s commemoration of independence and establishment as a new nation. It is a wonderful time to remember our freedoms and the task we have, as a Nation, to preserve those certain unalienable rights that we are endowed with by Our Creator. Please keep praying for our Nation that we may be guided in His way.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the New Pew Campaign. The amount collected has exceeded the cost for the new pews; therefore allowing us to install a new carpet in church. The new carpet will be more enduring while eliminating any older markings from the previous pews.

The renovation will begin after the weekend of July 16-17. All Masses and services will be conducted in the Parish Hall from Monday, July 18 to August 13. The demolition of the older pews, carpeting and then installation of the new pews are major projects requiring that amount of time. Thank you, again, for your assistance in achieving our needed sums and the task at hand.
 

June 26

Have you ever heard the expression, “Putting on our Game Face?” It is used in sports when an athlete is so determined to accomplish his or her goal, that you can see that determination is written all over his or her face.

In today’s Gospel reading from Luke, Jesus has His game face on. He is determined to journey to Jerusalem from this point on; for it is in Jerusalem that Jesus would suffer, die and rise again. Nothing was going to get in Jesus’ way. He was determined to complete the work of the Father and initiate the Kingdom of God. If the Samaritans didn’t want to join in, so be it. That would not stop Him.

Jesus told His followers that nothing can prevent the true disciple from journeying with Him to Jerusalem. Jesus did not take a shortcut by taking in the bad advice of James and John. Jesus forewarned some people who wanted to join Him that the journey would not be easy. Other people received a direct invitation from Jesus to join Him on the journey. But they had excuses.

We also need to journey with the Lord. We cannot allow anything to destroy our focus on the Kingdom of God. We can do all that God wants of us in our lives, but we have to be determined and look towards the ultimate goal of our lives. When it comes to living our Christianity, we have to have our game faces on.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the New Pew Campaign. The amount collected has exceeded the cost for the new pews; therefore allowing us to install a new carpet in church. The new carpet will be more enduring while eliminating any older markings from the previous pews.

The renovation will begin after the weekend of July 16-17. All Masses and services will be conducted in the Parish Hall from Monday, July 18th to August 6th. The demolition of the older pews, recarpeting of the floor and then installation of the new pews are major projects requiring that amount of time. Thank you, again, for your assistance in achieving our needed sums and the task at hand.

Called step by step: My Priestly Vocation at its Infancy Seminarian Dennis Stameza (Pastoral Year: 2022/ 2023)
Normally God allows his people to perceive and realize his call gradually. He leads them progressively as He will towards the fulfillment of his desired mission. This is evident to most of the Old Testament prophets such as Moses, Samuel, Elisha, Isaiah and Jeremiah. Even in the New Testament, Jesus allowed his apostles to realize their call gradually. Paul’s call and conversion gives us a clear picture of how God calls and leads his chosen people progressively in his mission. Thus, God does not only call an individual but also leads him and prepares him for the work. Therefore, we can say that vocation grows from infancy towards maturity. However, the person in question has to respond positively in order to allow such vocation to grow.

In our times we don’t perceive God’s call mysteriously as it was the case of most of the Old Testament prophets and St. Paul in the New Testament. God’s call is rather experienced in and through very normal life situations and to the very normal people. Sometimes it becomes even difficult to realize such a call in proper time due to lack of inner silence and the necessary faith.Even minute life experiences can be signs of God’s call to his mission.

Some 22 years back I developed some admiration on how the priest conducts the Mass, consecrates the Body and Blood of Christ and shares with those who are around him. I remember when I was 7 years old; I could call my fellow children and try to conduct artificial masses for them distributing pieces of banana for them as a sign of the Eucharist. By that time, I knew that the function of the priest is just to celebrate mass and that was all and that was my sole interest. But I have gradually moved from there and I am now in a far better understanding, and I am still moving towards more and more understanding of my call to priesthood especially in this pastoral year here at St. John the Beloved Parish. So, I can say that my journey towards priesthood is a transformation from ‘interest’ to ‘mission’... God bless you all.

June 19, 2022

Today we celebrate the solemn feast of Corpus Christi or Body and Blood of the Lord. It is the festival of the Roman Catholic Church in honor of the real presence of the body (corpus) of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

To emphasize the supremacy of Christ’s real presence among us, the United States Bishops are launching a three year National Eucharistic Revival, starting today. Our Bishop Koenig is joining this effort for our Diocese today, Sunday, June 19th, with the Corpus Christi Mass at 2 p.m. at St. Peter’s Cathedral; followed by a Eucharistic Procession from the Cathedral. All are invited.

The focus is to reinstruct Catholics on the great depth of our faith. Unfortunately,
many have lost the faith required to believe the Eucharistic Presence, submitting
to the conventional mindset that Eucharist is metaphorically our oneness with
Christ. Recalling the words of Jesus, which relate the Last Supper with His
sacrifice at the cross, in Mt 26:26-28; Mk 14:22-24, Lk 22:17-20, 1 Cor 11:23-25, the Catholic Church professes that, in the celebration of the Eucharist, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the Gospel of John 6:51-55, after Jesus said His flesh is true food and His blood true drink, Jesus faced opposition by many who walked away from Him. Jesus responded with clarity and confidence: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you do not have life within you.”

Christ is present to His Church in many ways, but most especially through the sacrament of His Body and Blood. The presence of the Risen Christ in the Eucharist is an inexhaustible mystery that the Church can never fully explain in words. We must remember that the triune God is the creator of all that exists and has the power to do more than we can possibly imagine. At Mass, bread and wine are changed in essence from the physical to the spiritual, containing fully the Real Presence of the Resurrected Lord. We can then take the tangible presence of the Lord and consume Him ourselves and share this privilege with the sick and dying.

The sacredness of this Real Presence goes far beyond a sacred meal but actually unites us with Christ Himself. That is why we need to receive Communion respectfully in a state of grace, be reverent in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, and take special care not to ignore the One within us.

As we celebrate Father’s Day, we honor those men who parent us by passing on life in loving fulfillment of duty. We honor those men who selflessly support and guide us, regardless of their own aspirations, hopes and hardships. Knowing that these men protect us, their children, is a great source of security. And to a higher level, are those fathers who inspire us in faith. Saint Joseph, guardian of Jesus, models the attributes of a good father. May St. Joseph hear the prayers of our fathers and those who imitate them in our lives. And for those men who left this world, may they have the reward of the just and honorable servants of God.

Fathers Piekarski and Preston;
Deacons Bailey, Fontana & Oldiges; Seminarian Dennis and our staff

Dear Friends,
With an abundance of gratitude, I write to thank you for your support of the 2022 Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal. Your willingness to share and your commitment to serve others enables the diocese to do the work of Our Lord by providing the necessities of life to those in material need, peace and comfort to those in spiritual distress, religious instruction to eager minds and guidance for struggling families and individuals. On behalf of all those who will benefit from your generosity, I extend to you my gratitude in prayer and ask God’s blessing on you and those you love. Walking by Faith, we bring the face of God to those in need. Sincerely in Christ, Father Joe Piekarski

June 12, 2022

A few years back, Pope Francis pleaded with parents to “Teach children to make the Sign of the Cross!”  He lamented that many children do not know how to make it.  The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity is a proper time to remind all of us what we believe in by invoking the Trinity and signing our bodies with the sign of God’s eternal love for us, the Sign of the Cross.  Whether those prayers are when we bless ourselves with Holy Water or at the beginning or dismissal of Mass, at night prayer or blessing ourselves for a safe journey, we are invoking the Trinity.

Our belief in the Trinity encompasses who we are. The distinguishing characteristic of the ancient Hebrews was their belief in one God. While the rest of the world looked to stories about various gods to explain their questions about life, the ancient Hebrews believed in only one God.  We continue our faith in that one God who created humankind in God’s own image and likeness.

So the first reflection we make when we invoke the Trinity is that we believe in that Person of the Holy Trinity who created us and loves us, the Father. We make the sign of the cross as an affirmation that we have been saved by the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, the One who was crucified for us to free us from our sins, Jesus Christ, who is our Lord and Savior.  His Spirit and the Spirit of the Father, the Third Person, was given to us on Pentecost and remains within us.

As we grow in the knowledge that God created us and loves us, we want nothing more than to be a part of its greatness.  When we recognize that God forgives us, our guilt is lifted for His Love is infinitely greater than our sins.  As we are emptied in the presence of God, we open ourselves to the Power of God within us for we possess the Holy Spirit.  And so we begin and end our prayers with a statement of who we are. We are people of the Holy Trinity who are loved, forgiven and empowered.

Welcome Seminarian Dennis... My name is Dennis Stameza.  I am a seminarian for this diocese (Catholic Diocese of Wilmington). I am originally from Kilimanjaro Tanzania-East Africa. I have just finished my second year of theology, and I will be in this parish for my pastoral year (14 months).

Last week I had a chance to have orientation with Fr. Piekarski and Fr. Preston.  In that orientation I was blessed to speak with a few parishioners and I was very pleased in my heart to remember the words of St. Peter at the mountain, when he told Jesus that "It is good to be here!"

Thereafter, I said to Jesus "It is beautiful to be here at St. John the Beloved Parish for one year.”  Be blessed!  Thank you very much.  I am looking forward to seeing and talking to all of you.

June 5

Pentecost is not a once-a-year feast; rather, it is an ongoing celebration of the gift of God’s Spirit. The same fire that was ignited in the hearts of the disciples, gathered in that upper room in Jerusalem, continues to inflame the hearts of all who gather today. Pentecost came, for the disciples, after fifty days of uncertainty, not unlike the uncertainty and anxiety we experience. The disciples encountered the Risen Lord but were still overcome by doubts and fears behind locked doors.

We are locked down with on-going fears of the pandemic and war in Ukraine, paralyzed with economic uncertainty, divided into social and political camps, and have become committed to our own private addictions. As we could fall into despair, we must open ourselves to the power given to the Church because as Pope Francis reminds us: “We never emerge from a crisis just as we were. We come out either better or worse.” For this reason, we need to breathe in the refreshing breath of the Spirit that frees us from fear and gives us hope.

May the Holy Spirit awaken our slumbering hearts and open our eyes, so that we may see and hear the Risen Lord and boldly proclaim, today, His victory over sin and death... 

Heal our wounds, our strength renew; On our dryness pour your dew.

Wash the stains of guilt away; Guide the steps that go astray. 
Bend the stubborn heart and will; Melt the frozen, warm the chill. 
 
On the faithful, who adore; And confess you, evermore
 In your sevenfold gift descend;
Give them joys that never end. Give them virtue’s sure reward;
Give them your salvation, Lord; Amen

SJB Annual Carnival will be held Monday, June 6 through Saturday, June 11. Saturday evening Mass on June 11th is at 4 p.m. Confessions at 3 p.m.

Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal... If you have not yet participated, please consider doing so today. Thus far, $147,890 has been pledged with 417 gifts to reach our parish goal of $193,229. Your gift allows the Diocese to do charitable ministry in Delaware and Eastern Shore Maryland with social and community services, evangelization, youth ministry, Catholic education and the diaconate program. Pledge envelopes are available in the vestibule and doorways of the church and can be placed in the offertory basket. Thank you for your generosity and support.

May 29

Leonardo da Vinci had started to work on a large canvas in his studio – choosing the subject, planning the perspective, sketching the outline. Suddenly he stopped working on it. Summoning one of his talented students, the master invited him to complete the work. The horrified student protested that he was both unworthy and unable to complete the great painting which his master had begun. But da Vinci silenced him. “Will not what I have done inspire you to do your best?”

The feast of the Ascension completes the Paschal (Easter) Mystery where Christ died, was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven. Jesus had to enter into His passion and death but the story does not end there. He was raised by the Father on the third day and in time returned to the Father in heaven. His mission was completed. The Church then waited for the Holy Spirit to descend upon Her at Pentecost in order to be empowered to preach that Jesus is Lord.

The Ascension reminds us to look up because the Lord is in His heavens and it is from this grandeur that Christ will return again. In the mean time, He continues to send us the Holy Spirit. Why? Because we, the Church, need to complete what Christ started. Jesus our Master began to spread the Good News some two thousand years ago by what He said and did, and supremely by what He suffered. Jesus illustrated His message and left us to finish the picture. Will Jesus’ life not inspire us to finish the picture? This is the message of the Ascension.

Memorial Day is a befitting way to remember those men and women who lost their lives defending our Nation and the values of democracy. They paid the ultimate price. Saint John the Beloved Parish will begin this holiday in prayer, at Mass, on Monday, May 30th at 9:00 a.m. (the only Mass that day). We will unite our voices and hearts in offering our beloved dead to the Risen Lord who promises us Eternal Life. May they rest in peace.

There is no Memorial Day Field Mass at All Saints Cemetery this year.

Thank you to everyone who “Walking by Faith”, made a pledge to the Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal. If you have not yet participated, please consider doing so today. Thus far, $147,890 has been pledged with 417 gifts to reach our parish goal of $193,229. Your gift allows the Diocese to do charitable ministry in Delaware and Eastern Shore Maryland with social and community services, evangelization, youth ministry, Catholic education and the diaconate program. Pledge envelopes are available in the vestibule and doorways of the church and can be placed in the offertory basket. Thank you for your generosity and support.

Are you over 18 and need to be Confirmed? Baptized Catholics who have received Holy Communion but were never confirmed can inquire about receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation at St. Peter’s Cathedral with adults throughout the diocese on Pentecost Sunday, June 5th. A class will be held May 31st at 6:30 p.m. in St. John the Beloved Parish Office. Please bring your baptismal record. Please contact the parish office at 302-999-0211 to make arrangements.

It is with saddened hearts that we remember Joanne Capodanno who passed away on May 14th. Mrs. Capodanno was principal of St. John the Beloved School for 14 years. May she be rewarded for her many dedicated years in Catholic Education. May she rest in peace.
 

May 22

St. Augustine said that the Gospel is a “beauty ever ancient, ever new.” The depth of true beauty is ageless. For us, it is an admonition at a time when the Easter proclamation risks becoming old news and a fading echo.

Last week, we heard in our readings how our faith is ever ancient and ever new. The early Christian Church, initially, was seen by many to be a form of traditional Judaism. The earliest Christians did not reject Judaism, but many Jews rejected Jesus as Messiah and that is when the early Church allowed Gentiles, non Jews, into the fold and the blend created a new Christian culture. From the Book of Revelation, last week, the Lord proclaimed “I make all things new,” while in the Gospel, Jesus gave us a new commandment...” to love one another.” The old Jewish faith was blossoming into a new way of life.

Our readings, this Sunday, continue with the theme of newness. We hear how the traditional Jewish laws were altered as not to burden newcomers beyond the essentials. The Book of Revelation, also, points to the newness of God’s Kingdom where the sun and moon are no longer needed because the radiance of Christ will illuminate everything. Lastly, this week’s Gospel recalls Jesus’ promise of sending the Holy Spirit upon His Church to remind us of all He taught us. Even though our faith is ancient...it is always new...responding to different times, challenges and altering cultures. Christ is the Master of His Church. He knows where to take us.

Traditionally, forty days after Easter is Ascension Thursday. Our Diocese and our ecclesiastical Province have transferred the Solemnity to the following Sunday. So May 26 is not a Holy Day of Obligation for us, we will celebrate the Ascension of the Lord next Sunday, May 29.

Are you over 18 and need to be Confirmed? Baptized Catholics who have received Holy Communion but were never confirmed can inquire about receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation at St. Peter’s Cathedral with adults throughout the diocese on Pentecost Sunday, June 5th. A class will be held May 31st at 6:30 p.m. in St. John the Beloved Parish Office. Please bring your baptismal record. Please contact the parish office at 302-999-0211 to make arrangements.

Thank you to everyone who “Walking by Faith”, made a pledge to the Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal. If you have not yet participated, please consider doing so today. Your gift makes a real difference in the lives of thousands of individuals and families who reside within our 12- county diocese. Pledge envelopes are available in the vestibule and doorways of the church and can be placed in the offertory basket. Thank you for your generosity and support.

May 15

Tradition says that our patron, St. John, was exiled on the island of Patmos when he wrote our second reading today in the Book of Revelation. Saint John lived to an old age and was carried to the assembled communities of the early Church. When asked to speak, John said: “Little children love one another.” His disciples, wearied by the constant repetition, asked him why he always said this. “Because,” he replied, “it is the Lord’s commandment, and if it only be fulfilled, it is enough.” -- John knew that thegreatest truth was most apt to be forgotten because it was taken for granted.

The first reading, taken from the Acts of the Apostles, describes how the small Christian communities lived that commandment and helped the work of renewal in their members by their agápe love...an unconditional love that transcends any reciprocation and persists to be charitable regardless of circumstances. This renewal was initiated by Jesus’ new commandment in today’s Gospel: “Love one another as I have loved you.” Unlike the old commandment (Lv 19:1-2, 9-18) says: “Love your neighbor as yourself,” Christ’s new commandment is a true test of discipleship by loving sacrificially, selflessly, all-encompassing as He did.

Hence, the renewal of Christian life means a radical change of vision and a reordering of our priorities in life. First, we must learn to love ourselves. We cannot learn to cherish others if we disrespect ourselves. We live in a world that is eroding our human sacredness. We reclaim our basic worth when we learn to love ourselves properly, acknowledging the fact that we are children of God who resides in us. Next, let us love others by responding to them as God’s children. Each person is more than a being at our disposal. He/she deserves respect and caring attention. People must see Christians as people who interact with a love and concern for one another that reveals their strong love and appreciation for each other. They should see in us a quickness to appreciate and readiness to forgive, even as Christ has forgiven us.

Flowers at the Holy Family Shrine are in memory of Walter & Marie Mousley.

Are you over 18 and need to be Confirmed? Baptized Catholics who have received Holy Communion but were never confirmed can inquire about receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation at St. Peter’s Cathedral with adults throughout the diocese on Pentecost Sunday, June 5th. A class will be held May 31st at 6:30 p.m. in St. John the Beloved Parish Office. Please bring your baptismal record. Please contact the parish office at 302-999-0211 to make arrangements.

Thank you to everyone who “Walking By Faith”, made a pledge to the Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal. If you have not yet participated, please consider doing so today. Your gift makes a real difference in the lives of thousands of individuals and families who reside within our 12-county diocese. Pledge envelopes are available in the vestibule and doorways of the church and can be placed in the offertory basket. Thank you for your generosity and support. To learn more about the Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal, visit www.cdow.org; click “Giving” then “Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal.”