December 4, 2022

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.”