Sunday, January 19, 2020

Dear parishioners and friends, 

You come to Church today and notice right away that the Christmas decorations are done.  Some of the flowers remain.  The Christmas season is over.  Now 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 pointing to Him and saying:  “This is 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 an 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 are healed.  That is why John the Baptist points to Jesus, announcing to the world that Jesus is the Lamb of God that the world has been waiting for. 

Since the fall of creation, when humans in their selfishness perverted the whole purpose of creation, God planned a human to restore creation to God’s original plan.  Jesus is that man.  His mission was defined by John the Baptist and He fulfilled it at the cross and glorious resurrection.  In the later part of the Bible, in the Book of Revelation, 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.”

Wednesday, January 22, all dioceses of the United States will observe a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.  It marks the 47th anniversary of the historic Supreme Court’s decision making abortion legal in the United 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 later on Friday for the March for Life, St. John the Beloved Parish will celebrate the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in church on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 ,after the 8 a.m. Mass to 10 a.m.  All are welcome. 

Sincerely, 
Father Joe

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Today, we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord; the closing of the Christmas Season.  It is the feast of the Second Epiphany.  Last week we celebrated the first Epiphany, the Arrival of the Magi.  The third Epiphany is the Wedding of Cana.   All three episodes in the Gospel point to Jesus being God.  Epiphany is a manifestation of Jesus being the Christ, of Divine Being. 

The Arrival of the Three Magi initiates this revelation when people from around the world realize that the light from heaven has shown upon earth; they seek and find in Jesus the Divine presence foretold in scripture.  At the Baptism of the Lord, a voice from heaven points to Jesus saying “This is my Beloved Son. My favor rests on Him.”  At the Wedding of Cana, Jesus reveals His divinity by changing water into wine.  Thus, we are enlightened with grace to acknowledge Jesus Christ as God among us.

Jesus entered humanity fully in the waters of the Jordan.  Sinless, He makes the waters holy and unites Himself with us.  We, who are baptized, are purified by the waters that Christ makes holy.  We enter the realm of divinity and become One with Christ.  This is the beginning of our journey as Disciples of Christ; a lifelong process that promises resurrection in Christ after our earthly journey is complete.

The Christmas decorations will be taken down this coming week.  Take advantage of visiting the crèche one last time today.

Behind the scenes of our parish campus are many people who keep the safety and functioning of St. John the Beloved Parish a go.  The week before Christmas, the ageing pipes in the heating system of the gym caused a major leak behind the bleachers and warped a major section of the gym’s wooden floor.  Immediate action had to take place to dry out the boards and estimate damages for the insurance company.  This caused the relocation of the scheduled basketball tournaments and school activities.  The place was adequately and safely assembled for the overcrowding of the 4 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass.

Many people worked together to accomplish this major, timely and costly task.  The principal and staff of our school, our Athletic Association, our Director of Music and Liturgy Committee worked with our Parish Facilities Manager to maneuver everything for the scheduled events.  Our school students helped as needed. 

Not only for the holidays, but throughout the year, people assist in keeping the parish campus clean and safe with snow removal and proper lighting and security.  Our campus has something going on, somewhere throughout the week in the church, school, gym, St. John Bosco Room, Gerres Building and Parish Office.  We need to appreciate the people who keep vigilance for all of us.

Our Principal and our Director of Religious Education along with the parents of our School Children and Religious Education Program are more than generous in helping whenever a need arises and they are cooperative when unforeseen things may alter plans.  And please know that our church is kept clean and in order because of staff and volunteers, who fix broken pews, keep the lavatories clean and stocked, the faithful who change the missalettes, help with the environment (just unfolding the artificial Christmas trees is a long process), and water the flowers.  We hardly realize what the sacristans do daily for every Mass or that the numerous Church linens are washed, starched and ironed by a number of volunteers…weekly.  Our Ushers are needed to keep order at the liturgies, take the collection and secure it for the Money Counters who volunteer weekly to count, record and deposit the money that comes in.  Their scheduled expertise involves several hours each week.  These are just some of the loving services that people render to make us who we are.  We are ever grateful to one and all.  Keep these dedicated people in your prayers and if you are able… ask to join them.  Our “Welcome to Our Church” pamphlet can help you know where you may want to join in.
 

Sunday, January 5, 2020

In the early Church, what we know as Christmas was not celebrated. Easter was, and still is, the pivotal celebration of the Liturgical Year. Before, the traditional date of December 25th was designated by the Pope as the Nativity of the Lord, 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.

Many cultures, to this day, regard the Epiphany as “Little Christmas” by exchanging gifts on January 6th. Matthew’s Gospel states that three gifts were given to Jesus by the Magi...Gold, symbolizing Christ’s Kingly status; Frankincense, symbolic of his Priestly dignity; and Myrrh, foretelling his suffering and death.

Talking about gifts, I want to take this opportunity to extend my appreciation to you, as parish, who are a gift to St. John the Beloved Parish. During the holidays, you met the challenges of our Outreach Programs with contributions, food, supplies, gifts, energy. Many families were gifted this Christmas through your generosity. Thank You. To those who volunteered in this capacity...may you be richly rewarded. The chair people, volunteers and workers of our Christmas Bazaar, that benefits the Emmanuel Dining Room ministry, did a phenomenal job again this year. 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. Our youth, in all programs, truly extended themselves in singing, transporting, serving, cleaning, etc. They make us very proud of them. Our Knights of Columbus maintained the traffic during the busy season and is always there to lend a helping hand...thank you. God sees everything and knows the goodness you radiate. For the financial contributions our parishioners and friends make to our parish, now and throughout the year, we are appreciative always. 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.
 

Sunday, December 29, 2019

Holy Family Sunday comes on the first Sunday following Christmas. It can be a wonderful time to appreciate our individual families; to reflect on the support and unconditional love of those with whom we share a common bond. And yet for others, this feast... indeed the holidays... can be a painful time. Loneliness and rejection often cause people to feel unattached, tragically causing too many to despair when so much of the world is jubilant.

The feast of the Holy Family is not meant to make some people feel awkward or categorize the ideal scenario because each family is different in size and situation. Due to separation, distance, smaller numbers and human dynamics some people are closer in relationship with friends that serve as family. Wherever we find ourselves among “family” is where we are to model the Holy Family.

This feast challenges us to look at how we treat each other... especially our family. Too often we take advantage of dad and mom’s generosity. Siblings, unfortunately, can become rivals. Other members of the family tree may be simply cut off with hurtful intentions. And this feast may ask us how do we treat those extended folks we call “family?” Individuals naturally tend to become selfish and self serving; perhaps blinding us to the neglectful way we treat those who are closest to us.

The secret to the Holy Family is this... they centered their lives together around God. Hence, all that they did, all that they were to each other, and I’m sure to their extended family and friends, was genuine love and mutual charity. Once we too become grounded in God, there is no excuse for the ego to take over. Concern for the other’s welfare, respect for the other’s property and dignity, sharing to satisfy the needs of the other, sacrificing so the other can advance, being magnanimous when offended, seeking forgiveness when wrong and not holding a grudge. Being polite, courteous and showing one’s gratitude... are just some of the signs of a Holy Family.

The old saying... “Grow where you are planted!” is definitely true when it comes to family. In God’s wisdom, we are placed in the situation we find ourselves. When the Lord becomes the nucleus of our relations, the momentum to do and be good for the other is endless. Let us be a Holy Family to one another.

May the Holy Family of Nazareth show you the way to be truly holy, in 2020. God bless you and yours in the New Year...
Fathers Piekarski & Szczur; Deacons Wuebbels, Fontana & Bailey;
and the staff of St. John the Beloved Parish

January 1, 2020, New Year’s Day is a holy day of obligation celebrating The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. The Vigil Mass on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 is at 5:00 p.m. Masses on Wednesday, January 1st are at 7:30 and 11:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Many people, these days, are interested in discovering their ancestry through the genetic code labeled, DNA. As the commercial proposes, people are finding out that they may not be who they thought their lineage was. Most of us may have a multiplicity of genes from a number of nationalities. Never-the-less we are who we are because of our physical make-up and spiritual growth.

This is nothing new. Even though we are more sophisticated in our techniques of checking up on our background, previous generations kept annals of genealogies in churches, synagogues, medical and civil records. In the days of Jesus, it was equally important. The Messiah was to be born of the House of King David. This is what scripture foretold. And this is why Saint Joseph’s lineage is emphasized as “Son of David.” He was a descendent of King David, the great King of Israel, from whose lineage the Messiah was to be born.

Our path is similar. Although we may have different DNA structures, by virtue of Baptism we are children of God, Disciples of the Christ and filled with their Holy Spirit. We become “Kingly” people...royal citizens of the Kingdom of God. What remains is our own willingness to live out our true dignity by word and deed.

May the Savior, whose birth we celebrate this week, visit your heart, your home, our Church, our Country, our world...once again.
May He bless everyone of you with countless graces that He alone can bring. You, and your loved ones, will be remembered in our Masses.
Have a Blessed Christmas!

Fathers Piekarski & Szczur; Deacons Wuebbels, Fontana & Bailey; the entire staff and parish family of Saint John the Beloved Parish

Christmas Mass Schedule:

Tuesday, December 24, 2019: 4:00 p.m. in church & hall, 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. in St. John the Beloved Church

Wednesday, December 25, 2019: Midnight Mass, 7:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. in St. John the Beloved Church

 

Sunday, December 15, 2019

This third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete or Rose Sunday.  It is a day of joy in the midst of our spiritual preparation for Christmas.  Reflecting on our first reading, the prophet Isaiah foretells the time when God Himself will come and save us.  This expectation is glorious because parched land will become lush; the feeble will be strengthened; the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the mute will sing.  All will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.  Waiting for that approaching time is what is frustrating, especially when walking become more difficult and our senses are failing and the world around us seems so barren. 

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.  Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem is the beginning of salvation being manifested.  The hoped-for healing and wholeness took shape in Him; the blind, deaf, mute and crippled were healed, creation obeyed Him and the dead were raised.  At His Final Coming, our problems will no longer be and our deepest desires will be met.  In the meantime we, The Church, extend comfort to those in need, strengthen the sick and homebound, work for justice and peace. 

Jesus pays a high compliment to Saint John the Baptizer:  “I solemnly assure you, history has not known a man born of woman greater than John the Baptist,” for John was preparing the people of his time for the Messiah’s entrance into the public scene.  And yet, Jesus invites us to a higher dignity when He said: “the least born into the kingdom of God is greater than John.” That means that everyone who strives to follow Christ into His Kingdom is counted among the greatest.  That invitation is meant for you and me.  The Kingdom of God is at hand and we have been chosen to live the present in the expectation of what awaits us.  Rejoice! 

Oplatki Christmas Wafers are available at the Parish Office. 

 

Sunday, December 8, 2019

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 cooperation. 

Our Parish Family offers two special times, this week, for the faithful to cooperate with salvation; make the path for the Lord easy to enter our lives.  On Tuesday, December 10^th, from noon to 1:00 p.m., you and members of your family might choose to participate in the individual confessions offered at that time.  Later that evening at 6:30 p.m., there will be a Communal Penance Service followed by individual confessions with guest priests.

It can be very rewarding for every member of the family to join together and celebrate reconciliation as a family.  Individually, between ourselves, as a community, each of us has a need to make amends and truly prepare the way for the Lord.  This is the real purpose of Advent.

Daily Liturgical Schedule for Advent this week: 

Monday             
6:30, 8:00, 9:30 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. Masses for Immaculate Conception
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament  3:00 to 6:15 p.m.

Tuesday - Friday 
6:30 & 8:00 a.m. Masses

Tuesday, December 10, 2019     
Parish Confessions 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. and Parish Penance Service at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday
8:00 Mass and Reconciliation (Confessions) 4:00 to 4:45 p.m.

This year, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is transferred from the traditional December 8^th to December 9^th because the Second Sunday of Advent needs to be celebrated.  Falling on a Monday, this year, it is not a holy day of obligation.  However it is the Patronal Feast of the United States; celebrating 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 on Monday are 6:30, 8:00 and 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.   

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

The Christmas Flowers Collection can be memorialized to allow those who contribute to remember loved ones.  If you desire, kindly list on or enclose with your Flower Collection Envelope the names of those who you wish to remember.  For those who contribute on line, simply e-mail the names you wish to memorialize for Christmas at:  SRDHUHMAN@SJBDE.org  Please make your request within the next two weeks.  Those loved ones will be gratefully acknowledged in the Christmas bulletin.

Oplatki Christmas Wafers are available in the Parish Office. 

Sunday, December 1, 2019

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 - Friday         Mass is celebrated at 6:30 & 8:00 a.m. 
Mondays of Advent     3:00 to 7 p.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 10, 2019 
12:00 noon  Confession, 6:30 p.m. Parish Penance Service

Oplatki Christmas Wafers are available at the Parish Office.
 

Sunday, November 24, 2019

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 Dismis, 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 Dismis 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 and removed him from their lives?

In 1966, Time Magazine published a cover story asking, “Is God Dead?” This article suggested that modern man no longer needed God, therefore, he is dead. It wasn’t an original concept. The 19th century philosopher, Nietsche, said the same. His theory that God was dead was the base that led to the ungodly actions of the Twentieth Century where millions of people were annihilated and cultures were destroyed. Those who claimed that God was dead did so because they didn’t need him. He was no longer relevant to them. They had the world very well in control.

Today, in the 21st century, about 80% of the people in the U.S. would say that they believe in God or some higher power. Yet, the growing ways that our people live their lives coincide with the theory that

God is dead. Too often many feel and act as though they have everything under control and don’t need Him. God’s Presence is even attacked in the social structures of the world. Freedom of religion has been reduced to freedom from religion.

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 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 assures us of our entry into His Kingdom.

The local Ecumenical Thanksgiving Prayer Service will be on Wednesday evening, November 27, 2019, at 7 p.m., here at St. John the Beloved Church. Father David Beresford from St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, will preach. Local church choirs will join our parish choir to give thanks to God. All are welcome.

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 Szczur;
Deacon Wuebbels, Deacon Fontana & Deacon Bailey & the staff of Saint John Beloved Parish

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Our Sustaining Hope for the Future, Final Update - 5 Years Later; Measuring Our Progress update has been published in our weekly bulletin. Go to SJBDE.org/Bulletins to view online. Thank you. 

Sunday, November 10, 2019

The first reading this Sunday is from the Book of Maccabees. We rarely hear about this Jewish Book of the Old Testament, in fact, found in the Catholic Bible but not many Protestant Bibles. It has to do

with the Catholic emphasis on the resurrection of the dead and appropriateness of praying for the dead.

About 175 years before Jesus was born, many Jews gave into the conquest of the Syrian king who desecrated the Temple and seduced their religious beliefs. Terrible affliction was placed upon Israel. Our reading, today, detailed 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. This belief reflects the tone of the entire Book of Maccabees where the faithful died awaiting God’s recompense at their resurrection. This Book also advocated prayers for the dead.

The Book of Maccabees exemplifies the belief in eternal life long before Jesus was born. That is the reason for the complicated scenario posed in today’s Gospel. The Sadducees did not believe in resurrection while the Pharisees did believe in the hereafter. Jesus is precise that there is a resurrection of the dead for those who lived for the Lord. That is what we believe and why we pray for those who have died in hope that they be united to God in His mercy. During our lives we approach the Lord seeking healing for the results of our sins. When our lives on earth have ended we depend on the prayers of those still living to continue to ask God to heal the results of sin in our lives.

This is the month of All Souls. We honor our dead by praying for them. Separated by time and space, remarkably we can assist them in their final journey to heaven by lifting them up by the power of prayer. They need us.

Eternal Rest grant unto them , O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

We salute all veterans this weekend. We thank them for their service to our Country and pray that they be blessed. Their sacrifices allow us, and our brothers and sisters throughout the world, to enjoy our freedoms. From all of us.....Thank You!

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Have you ever felt lost? Not just on the road, but lost in life. Many people can

be around you, but you feel lost as just a face in class or a number in society or just a functionary in our jobs or even homes. We might feel lost because life has changed due to sickness or death. These feelings are a part of life. What is most serious is when we are separated from the reason for our existence. When we are separated from Christ, we are really lost. We lose direction and may go to places we know we should not be or are with people that we should not be with because we want to fit in or have excitement or just hate being told what is good.

Zacchaeus, the little tax collector of today’s Gospel was lost. He was rejected by his own people for cashing in on the Roman occupation and collecting taxes for the enemy, keeping an ample amount himself. He hid behind his riches, but he was a lost soul. Initially, nothing more than

curious, Zacchaeus climbed a tree to get a glimpse of Jesus. But when Jesus stopped under the tree and called him, he had a change of heart and pledged himself to God. He was lost but found himself in Jesus Christ.

Perhaps we can relate when we are just going through the motions of being in Church, somewhat bored, and we don’t expect Jesus to single us out of the crowd of worshipers...but He does. Jesus stands under the tree that every single person has climbed in his/her life, the tree that many of us are still looking down from, and He says, “Judy, Frank, Shirley, Zacchaeus, come down from there. I want to stay in your house from now on.” Now we are faced with what should really be an easy decision: Do we want Him in our house? It is going to cost us. Are we going to abandon that which has no place in our house, in our lives? But... nothing can surpass the all encompassing joy of having Jesus in our lives. We may have been lost in a crowd. But He searched for us and called to us. And we want to be found...finding ourselves in Jesus Christ. Amazing Grace!

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Today’s Parable of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee is a reality check that shows us the different attitudes people have in approaching the Lord.  As we come to a deeper understanding of all that God has done for us, we are truly humbled and not judgmental but rather understand more how much we need God’s mercy and forgiveness.

Friday is November 1st and the Solemnity of All Saints.  Sometimes we read about great saints like St. Francis of Assisi or Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and we are shocked that they and all the saints saw themselves as great sinners.  The saints had a profound realization of the extent of God’s love for them and the many times they have not returned His love. We are all called to be saints.  We are called to holiness.  If we strive to respond to the call to holiness, to sanctity, then we also must realize how much we need God’s mercy. 

All of us are pilgrims journeying toward the Kingdom of God.  The Saints are already there and are cheering us on toward the heavenly goal.  Today’s parable leads us to the Pilgrim’s Prayer.  The pilgrim’s prayer is both simple and profound. It is the prayer of the man in the back of the Temple who realized that he is totally dependent on God’s love, a love that he had often rejected.  The pilgrim’s prayer is the prayer that we all need to say with our hearts throughout our day.  The Pilgrim’s Prayer is:  Lord Jesus, have mercy on me a sinner.

Friday, November 1^st is All Saints Day.  It is a Holy Day of Obligation.  Masses on Friday only are 6:30, 8:00 & 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 2^nd 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 & 10 a.m.  The 10 a.m. Mass is celebrated with the special remembrance of those who passed away this year. 

 

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Our readings today speak about perseverance in prayer, which means not giving up, but continuing to pray.  In the first reading, the forces of Israel were winning as long as Moses held his hands up. This was not magic but an ancient way of praying, and the way many of us pray at times lifting our hands up to the Lord.  When Moses let his arms fall, Amalek prevailed. When Moses stopped praying, Amalek prevailed.  Moses needed the support of others to persevere in prayer.

In the Gospel, the Lord tells a humorous story of an unjust judge and a persistent widow.  “If I don't give her what she wants, she’s going to finish me off,” the judge says. The Lord is having a bit of fun with us while reminding us that our loving Father will 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 spectrum of our needs truly has no horizon.  Our own well being, the welfare of our loved ones, the protection of life, guidance for our Church and Country, global safety, end to war and violence, etc., etc… are surmountable.  Confident in God and open to His holy will in prayer, those great stresses of our lives will be overtaken in Divine providence. 

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.  Mother Theresa prayed for an end to the poverty and disease she tried to heal in Calcutta… and it seemed to increase more every year to her distress.  At times like this, it is good to remind ourselves that the devil wants to make you feel that you are not good enough for God, you are alone and that God lied to you. 

We counter these by affirming that God has made us good and His mercy is infinitely greater than our sins.  We are never alone, for our personal experience of God’s presence surrounds us.  Also, Jesus assures us at the end of Matthew’s Gospel:  “Know that I am with you always, to the end of the world.”  The third great deception of the devil has to be negated.  No, God does not lie. The devil is the father of lies. 

Today's readings tell that God will never give up on us and we cannot give up on God.  Let us support each other in prayer.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

The ten lepers had gone to Jesus for healing.  Jesus didn’t heal them immediately but sent them to the Temple.  Their walk to the sacred place must have been confusing; they must have been disappointed not receiving an immediate cure and uncertain if they would be accepted or rejected by the public.  Their repulsive condition demanded that they avoid crowds because of contagion.

Their journey to the priests was a spectacle, an unlikely parade.  We don’t know if all ten believed or were some joining in with the others.  When did they realize that they could walk easier, were no longer deformed, their skin healed?  By the time they reached the Temple priests, they were healed.

Why was it that nine never bothered to thank God?  Perhaps some of them were angry that they had gotten so sick or lost a part of their life.  Maybe some of them were completely self-absorbed not recognizing a miracle or were never taught to say, “Thank you.” 

We should ask ourselves:  Do I usually see the good in life, or am I self absorbed or simply negative?  Do I thank God that I am feeling better, or am I upset that I felt so poorly before?  When someone wants to reconcile, am I willing to move on with the future, or do I stay mired in the past? When the pain of life has been removed, do I keep it alive in my mind by dwelling on the past? 

One of those former lepers, a Samaritan, returned to the Lord.  He wasn’t part of the chosen people but he knew that God had chosen him.  He knew that he was the recipient of God’s compassion.  That is all God wants from us.  God wants us to show our gratitude by sharing that goodness with others.  To thank God we have to treat others as He treated us, with compassion, mercy and love.

Where do we go when we realize that we have experienced Divine Love?  Do we stay where we are or walk backwards to where we were out of anger?  Or do we spread the gift, the grace that God gave us?  Are we the one out of the ten?

Sunday, October 6, 2019

Dear friends, “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 do everything we can to promote life, but ultimately we have to have faith that God’s way will prevail.

We may think that we live in an odd era when things, like respect for life, are not clearly defined.  The reality is that values are as fickle as the people who uphold them.  Take the ancient world, the Romans created laws for the civil rights of certain people and enforced marital laws to protect the parties.  They upheld allegiance to the family, and yet they allowed unwanted children to be abandoned and hung those who broke the law, outside of their city gates. 

Over fifty years ago, here in this state, there were separate facilities for black and white and today abortions are allowed while the use of plastic bags will soon be prohibited.  Yes, we are fickle.     

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 Family…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.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

We celebrate Priesthood Sunday this weekend. Most people may wonder what attracts anyone to be a priest. I cannot answer for everyone but I can answer for myself. The “Call” was not loud and dramaticnor was it sudden and definite. For me, it was quiet and uneventful, more persistent and requesting a response. It never had the makings of a movie. I always had it within me to do something for God...from my earliest memory. 



I grew up in a pious family. Having a priest for an uncle, I was attracted to his role model and somehowknew that it was the sacrificial life of a higher calling. Even though religion and religious were common to my life, no expectations were placed upon me or my siblings to enter a religious vocation. When adolescence demanded for me to chose a path in life, I desired to enter the seminary but hesitated only to work in the secular world for six years...but the initial “Call” still haunted me. Finally I realized its authenticity and took the risk to follow it. It comes down to: “What IS GOD ASKING OF ME?”



I believe that it generally works this way. God chooses certain people to enter the vineyard of His Church. Yes, many are called but few are chosen. Human factors play an intricate part in a positive response. A loving, supportive, faith-filled family is necessary along with like-minded friends. The parish community has to be affirming to those who want to minister among them; humble people who need God in their lives are the attraction that keeps the seminarian and priest energized.



On this Priesthood Sunday please pray for people to take the risk to answer the “Call” they may have from the Lord. Support seminarians in any way. Also...foster a positive attitude at home and everywhere for the necessity of priests. How many positive vocations were negated, for individuals contemplating the priesthood, by critical voices of family members besides the outside world? We need priests. They come naturally and timely from... us.

October 4th is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The Franciscan Sisters of Philadelphia founded our parish school and have staffed it for over 62 years. Sister Jo Ann McPolin, OSF has retired her post in our school and is the last Franciscan Sister to minister in our parish. We will remember Sister Jo Ann at the School Mass on Friday, Oct. 4 at 9:30 a.m. as well as all the Franciscan Sisters who have served our parish throughout the decades. A light reception will follow in the school library with a chance to visit and celebrate the Franciscan Spirit of our school. All are welcome!

Blessing of Animals will also be celebrated on Friday, October 4th, the Feast of St. Francis. The Blessing of Animals will be at 2 p.m. and also at 6:30 p.m. near the church. Everyone is invited.

Sunday, September 22, 2019

It is a century since the 1919 World Series Scandal. Also called The Black Sox Scandal, it involved a match fixing incident in Major League Baseball in which eight members of the Chicago White Sox were accused of intentionally losing the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for money from a gambling syndicate led by Arnold Rothstein. He bet against Chicago making a significant profit for himself, some gamblers and the players involved in the scandal when the White Sox lost Game 8 (and the series) on October 9, 1919.

We don’t have to go back 100 years to find people using their intelligence to cheat people. Many ponzi schemes have come to light since 2008 where billions of dollars have been cheated from innocent people. We are continually coming upon athletes who cheat and affluent parents cheating on their children’s entrance into college. There is another aspect to all this. That is the effort that cheaters put into acquiring dishonest gain. Would it not be wonderful if they used all this savvy to do good…and build the Kingdom of God?

That is what the Lord was speaking about when He told the parable of the cheating or unjust steward. Imagine if that man, and if all cheaters who spend so much time and effort devising schemes to commit fraud would instead use their intelligence to serve the Kingdom of God. Imagine what our spiritual lives would be like if we used every bit of our intelligence to find ways to live as members of God’s Kingdom? 

Many of you, and hopefully I can say, of us, use our wits for the sake of the Kingdom of God. All the energy, knowledge and grace that we have need not be wasted on things that either go nowhere or worse…cause damage or promote evil. Technology today is so often the culprit; it has the potential to do good but often is misused. Today we pray for the grace to always know our potential in doing good or doing evil. May we be honest and respectful of others and to be spiritually savvy. 

Friday, October 4th is the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The Franciscan Sisters of Philadelphia founded our parish school and have staffed it for over 62 years. Sister Jo Ann McPolin, OSF has retired her post in our school and is the last Franciscan Sister to minister in our parish. We will remember Sister Jo Ann at the School Mass on Friday, Oct. 4 at 9:30 a.m. as well as all the Franciscan Sisters who have served our parish throughout the decades. A light reception will follow in the school library with a chance to visit and celebrate the Franciscan Spirit of our school. All are welcome! 

Blessing of Animals will also be celebrated on Friday, October 4th, the feast of St. Francis. The Blessing of Animals will be at 2 p.m. and also at 6:30 p.m. near the church. Everyone is invited.

 

Sunday, September 15, 2019

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 withthe 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.

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 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. God bless you for your goodness.

Lost & Found: Any personal item, which is found after Masses in church, is collected and placed in the Usher’s Closet in the back of church. If you are seeking some lost item, please ask an usher or parish staff to lead you to the closet. Hopefully you may find what you lost.

 

Sunday, September 8, 2019

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 selfcentered, 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 whatmatters 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.

Lost & Found: Any personal item, which is found after Masses in church, is collected and placed in the Usher’s Closet in the back of church. If you are seeking some lost item, please ask an usher or parish staff to lead you to the closet. Hopefully you may find what you lost.

Father Chet Artysiewicz of the Glenmary Home Missioners wishes to extend his thanks to our parish who generously contributed to the home missions during his missionary talk on the weekend of August 10-11. He assures us of his prayers and requests that we pray for Glenmary and those who serve in the home missions, and for an increase in missionary vocations.

Sunday, September 1, 2019

Noticing that the guests were choosing the places of honor at table, Jesus tells a parable. At firstglance, His suggestion to take the lowest place of honor when invited seems like a bit of human wisdom to avoid embarrassment. The deeper dimension in this case is whether we have been exalting ourselves before God.

Luke likewise provides another illustration of what Jesus is talking about in this parable in another verse (Luke 18:9-14). The tax collector, who would not even raise his eyes to heaven, went homejustified rather than the Pharisee who had exalted himself before God. The humble person is recognized and exalted by God.

Also, Jesus tells us about the way we extend hospitality. The natural human tendency is to treat those people well who have or who will treat us well. There is nothing wrong with this sort of business deal; however, 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.

Again, Luke provides a good illustration of what Jesus is talking about in his parable about the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). A theologian asks Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus responds bytelling a parable about the Samaritan who showed mercy to a man in need: instead of trying to figureout who a deserving neighbor might be, one should become a neighbor by choosing to help those in need.

Labor Day is Monday, September 2nd. The one Mass, that day, will be at 9:00 a.m. celebrating the contributions of workers that make up the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. Human labor is honorable. The Parish Office will be closed and there will be no adoration or devotion that evening.

St. John the Beloved School opened its doors for another school year, last week, on Tuesday, August 27. We wish our principal, 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.