Today we begin a new Liturgical Year with the First Sunday of Advent. Happy Liturgical New Year! Our first reading from the Prophet Jeremiah points us towards Christmas: "The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah." This is the promise fulfilled with the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. In the Gospel Jesus points us towards his second coming at the end of time: "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay." "And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand." At the end of time Jesus will come to bring all his children home to his Father. Come, Lord Jesus! ...
Today we celebrate Jesus as Christ the King. It is proper to do so on the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year. For us today the image of a king is a little old fashioned. How many living kings can you name? Most of us probably think of Queen Elizabeth of the UK and then have to really search for more names. There are lots of kings in the Bible, for example King Saul, King David, King Solomon, etc. In today's Gospel, Pilate asks Jesus: "Are you the King of the Jews?" Part of Jesus' response is: "You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." We really need to listen to Jesus more than ever to hear the truth today. ...
The Annual Bishop's Appeal has surpassed our goal. Thank you to those who have pledged. For those still considering their pledge, please pray over it and remember that all the money sent in over our goal is sent back to the parish. Needless to say it is better to be over the goal, since at times something comes up and some people can't pay their pledge. Thank you once again for being so generous. Pope Francis has called a Synod of Bishops for 2023. He asks all the dioceses in the world to hold listening sessions to let the bishops of the world know ....
We got off to a great start with the Annual Bishop's Appeal (Our goal: $9,327.84) We received pledges $2,500.00 on the first Sunday. This week we fell off, taking in only $200.00. If you are still considering your pledge, remember you can do it online right to the diocese. I spent most of this past week at the Diocesan 2021 Continuing Education Days. The topic this year was The Church's Social Teaching. Our own Deacon Mel gave the talk on racism and our parishioner Professor Margie Pfeil spoke on the option for the poor. Our readings today tell us about Jesus, our high priest and suffering servant. Isaiah tells us ...
As we announced last week we begin the 35th Annual Bishop's Appeal today. We will show the Bishop's video at Mass today and have in pew sign ups. Any of you who are registered should have received a mailing from the Bishop already. He thanks you for your continued support of the works of the diocese. Thank you for supporting our diocese. Any overage will be used on our grounds. Our first reading and the beginning of our Gospel today are very optimistic. Moses tells Joshua: "Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets! Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all!" In the Gospel Jesus says: "For whoever is not against us is for us." This goes well with our Baptism Rite when we are ...
I hope everyone has been enjoying the fine weather we have been having. Remember to thank God for this great gift. By now most of you should have received a letter from Bishop Rhoades announcing the 35th Annual Bishop's Appeal. The goal for our parish is $9,327.84. In your letter from the Bishop there are instructions on how to pledge and how to pay your pledge. Next Sunday, September 26, 2021 we will have the annual video from the bishop with sign ups and explanations of the drive. Please be generous. In last Sunday's Gospel, Jesus began to teach his disciples about his coming death. He continues that theme in today's Gospel...
Today is National Grandparents Day. Do something nice for your grandparents today. If they are still with us, a call or visit would mean a great deal to them and to us. If they have gone home to God, a prayer for them and a little remembrance of them will go a long way. Our history is our history. Speaking of history, we do have to remember September 11, 2001 on the 20th anniversary. A Holy Cross priest friend of mine, Father Frank Groggan, CSC, was a passenger on one of the planes that hit the Trade Center. May he and all those killed then and because of the event rest in peace. Our readings today take a very serious turn in the life of Jesus and our lives as well. Once again in our first reading, the Prophet Isaiah gives ...
I start my notes this week reminding you to pray for two international situations, both of which have been receiving lots of news coverage. The natural disasters in Haiti have received a little less coverage. Please pray for the people of Haiti who have endured many trials and tribulations. The latest being a large earthquake that killed over 2,000 people. At the suggestion of our bishop we will take up a special collection for Catholic Relief Services which is now helping Haiti on the ground. That collection will be September 5. Also please pray for the situation in Afghanistan. On August 28 we celebrate our patron Saint Augustine. In his honor we have our annual Parish Picnic at St. Patrick's County Park on Sunday, August 29, 2021. We ...
This year the Assumption of Mary falls on Sunday. So we celebrate this great event and skip the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. This Solemnity was celebrated in the church as early as the 5th Century and it celebrates the Dormitio of Mary. At Mary's passing the tradition of the Church teaches that she was immediately assumed into heaven, body and soul. She is there with her Son and intercedes for us. Jesus, as the Son of God, ascended into heaven. Mary, as his mother, was taken up to heaven. Our readings today all point to Mary. In our first reading from the Book of Revelations, St. John has this vision of Mary giving birth to Jesus. She is ...
Dear Parishioners, Our Sunday readings continue the theme of the Eucharist. I never thought that I'd see so many articles in the news about the Eucharist, but we are living in a different time. Several parishioners have told me that they are bothered by what they have read. All I can say is the press is the press and they make their living reporting sensational things. In my opinion the Eucharist is sensational but usually not for the same reasons as the press. To have the Body and Blood of Christ in our tabernacle as the real presence of God is sensational. It is even more sensational that Jesus gives us himself as food for our journey in life. Do I hear you saying "Amen"? ....
It is hard to believe that it is already August! But it is. Let us keep in mind the Pope's Intention for August: The Church. Let us pray for the Church, that she may receive from the Holy Spirit the grace and strength to reform herself in the light of the Gospel. Let us also remember that Covid - 19 is still around and getting worse in many parts of the country. The CDC recommends wearing masks again in large gatherings indoors. Hand washing is important as well. Be careful. Our Gospel today continues to tell us about the Eucharist. Jesus says: "Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." He goes on to tell us ...
Let me begin with some good news about one of our parishioners. Dr. Dianne Pinderhughes was recently elected the president of the International Political Science Association. Congratulations, Dianne! Today the Pope asks us to celebrate Grandparents and the Elderly. Do something nice for your grandparents and the elderly today. Remember a little prayer always helps. In today's Gospel Jesus feeds the five thousand with five barley loaves and two fish and there were even leftovers. This miracle was foretold in the first reading when Elisha ...
Next Sunday has been declared by Pope Francis as a Sunday to honor Grandparents and the Elderly. Grandparents usually play a big role in our families. This is especially true today when so many grandparents actually raise their grandchildren. Do something nice for your grandparents this week, at least a little prayer and do something nice for all the elders in your family. In our readings today the word "shepherd" jumps out at us. In our first reading from the Prophet Jeremiah, God talks about ...
Today we celebrate the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In today's Gospel: "Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick - no food, no sack, no money in their belts." In other words he told them to travel light. He wanted nothing to get in the way of the message of repentance. He was getting them ready for when he would no longer be physically with them. He was building his church. ...
Happy Fourth of July! Today is a day of celebration for our country. Even with the virus hanging on, we can celebrate, especially if we have been vaccinated. The USA is a great place to live, better for some than for others. As followers of Jesus, we have the freedom to help those in need. Love your neighbor as yourself. That includes all our brothers and sisters ...
I returned on Thursday but have been resting until this Saturday morning. The drive to and from King's College, Wilkes-Barre, PA. was good. I want to thank Fathers Jim Bracke and Larry Henry for celebrating the Masses the last two Sundays. They both said they had a great time. I hope you did too. Thank you for your prayers for me and the meeting as well. In today's Gospel, we have Jesus raising Jairus' daughter from the dead but stopping along the way to cure a woman who ...
I write this before leaving for my meeting at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, PA. I hope you enjoyed Father Jim Bracke, CSC last week and I hope you enjoy Father Larry Henry, CSC, this Sunday. I am most grateful that they could fill in for me. Happy Father's Day to all the fathers in the parish. Please do something nice for your father today, even a little prayer would be good. In today's Gospel we have Jesus asleep in a boat that the disciples think is about to sink. They wake him up "and he said
Even though we have been in Ordinary Time for a couple of weeks, today we change our Sunday Mass color to green. It has been white for Trinity Sunday and Corpus Christi. For the liturgy green is the color of hope and rebirth. It is the same in nature as our environment greens up with new leaves on the trees and crops in the fields. Our readings today get agricultural, too. In our first reading, through the Prophet Ezekiel, the Lord God tells us that ...
Even though we are in Ordinary Time liturgically, we have been celebrating two Solemnities at our Sunday Masses. Last week it was The Most Holy Trinity. This week it is The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, better known in Latin as Corpus Christi. This Solemnity celebrates the fact that we are a Eucharistic people. We celebrate the Eucharist at every Mass. First there is the Liturgy of the Word and then with the presentation and preparation of the gifts we celebrate the Liturgy of the Eucharist. This is a celebration of the Last Supper and the Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. Our altar serves as a table and as an altar for sacrifice. In today's readings there is a lot of blood. In our first reading from Exodus, Moses uses blood as ...
This Sunday is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. It is also Memorial Day Weekend, the unofficial start of summer. On Memorial Day we remember all those who gave their lives in war so that we could enjoy the freedoms we have. Jesus gave his life to free us from sin. He said there is no greater love than to give one's life for one's friends. Let us remember all those who died in war...