October 28, 2018 – Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Master, I want to see.”
Dear Friends,
Thus the blind man in the Gospel of Mark this weekend seeks out and persistently asks Jesus to change his life.
Lately I have felt so blinded by the things occurring in the Church, our country, and the world. The heartbreaking scandal of clergy abuse, the noisy and deadening arguing of partisan politics, the continued struggles with worldwide poverty and the mind-boggling issue of immigration and other human rights realities, the natural catastrophes that are wreaking havoc on so many places…
The list could go on, and I ask my Lord Jesus—I want to see! I want to see how our Christian communities can be the salt and leaven to bring about the needed healing change to help the world be the wonder it was created to be! I want to see what I need to change in my life to be more like Christ so that others may see Christ in me! I want to see how to truly be a good American, a land committed to life and liberty for all, where all are cherished and respected from the first moment of conception to the last natural breath!
So much to pray for. Let’s open our eyes, our hearts, our minds to Christ. That I believe is always the best starting point.
Have a great, blessed, peaceful week!
Sincerely, with love,
Fr. Tim
October 21, 2018 – Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Friends in Christ,
Ever find yourself short on time during the day, but still wanting to pray more deeply with God’s Word in Scripture?
A Scriptural prayer that helps me contemplate the mystery of Jesus Christ amidst the business of life is something perhaps familiar to many: the Rosary. Praying with the Gospels is a privileged way in which we encounter Jesus, and the Rosary has been described as a “compendium” of these Gospels. Pope Saint Paul VI writes: “The Rosary considers in harmonious succession the principal salvific events accomplished in Christ, from His virginal conception and the mysteries of His childhood to the culminating moments of the Passover” (Marialis Cultus, n.45).
The prayers that largely compose the Rosary are drawn from Sacred Scripture. The Our Father was given to us by Jesus Himself (ex: Matt 6:9-13). The Hail Mary combines two verses from Luke’s Gospel: the angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary (“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you”, Lk 1:28) and Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary at the Visitation (“blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb”, Lk 1:42). The Glory Be can be found throughout the Pauline writings (ex: Rom 16:27; Phil 4:20).
Someone who prays the Rosary daily, lives a “mini-liturgical year” in the course of a week. By praying the Joyful Mysteries, you live a “mini-Advent”, as you contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation and hidden life of Jesus. By praying the Luminous Mysteries, you live a “mini-Ordinary Time”, as you contemplate important moments in Jesus’ public ministry. By praying the Sorrowful Mysteries, you live a “mini-Lent”, as you contemplate the Passion and Death of Jesus. Finally, by praying the Glorious Mysteries, you live a “mini-Easter”, as you contemplate the triumph of the Resurrection.
Want to pray with Scripture more deeply this week? Grab those Rosary beads, and contemplate Jesus with the gaze of Mary.
God Bless,
Fr John
October 14, 2018 – Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Friends in Christ,
As we continue to pray for all victims of sexual abuse and work towards bringing any past cover-up to light, Fr Tim and I believe we would be remiss if we did not over-communicate in how this is being addressed by our parish, archdiocese, and by the universal Church. Thus, we share the following:
First, on October 6th, Pope Francis: “decided that information gathered during the preliminary investigations be combined with a further thorough study of the entire documentation present in the Archives of the Dicasteries and Offices of the Holy See regarding the former Cardinal McCarrick, in order to ascertain all the relevant facts, to place them in their historical context and to evaluate them ojectively” (full text: https://press.vatican.va.content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2018/10/06/0731/01548.html). This follows requests by USCCB leadership in August for an apostolic investigation, and a September 13th meeting in Rome with the Holy Father.
Second, Archbishop Listecki has shared his thoughts in a number of ways: a recent October 4th Letter, a Q&A in the Catholic Herald, and in his homily at the September 15th Vigil of Reparation at the Cathedral. Full text of all of these can be found at: https://www.archmil.org/Reflections-on-our-Church.htm.
Finally, if you are able, I would encourage you to attend one of the listening sessions at our parishes: Sun Oct 14th (after 10:30 AM Holy Rosary Mass), Sat Oct 20th (after 4:30 PM Old Saint Mary Mass), Sun Oct 28th (after 10 AM Mass at St. Casimir), and Sun Nov 4th (after 9:30 AM SSPP Mass). We want to listen and walk with you. As well, we want to make sure that you are heard at the Archdiocesan level, so we plan to pass on your thoughts (in a general and anonymous way) in the form of a letter to the Archbishop.
Thank you for all that you are and do! It is such a privilege for Fr Tim and I to know you and serve you as priests.
October 7, 2018 – Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Friends,
On September 27th, our Common Pastoral Council for the Family of Four Parishes met for the first time this year. Each respective parish has its own “Individual Pastoral Council”, and every other month we meet together as a Common Pastoral Council to discuss the ways in which we can better proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ here in this little corner of the Kingdom.
In addition to the Trustees of each parish (who serve de facto on Pastoral Council, and whose names can be found in the Bulletin), the following are those serving on Pastoral Council this year:
Katie Falk (THW), Heidi Belongia (OSM), Annette Lucchesi (OLDP), Tom Ewing (THW), Jim Cauley (THW), Samantha Haas (SSPP), Julie Trafton (SSPP), Jonathan Kuta (OLDP), Nate Fox (OLDP), Joe Ziino (OSM), and Beth Maniero (OSM).
Thank you for so generously serving on Pastoral Council this year! Amidst your other commitments to family, work, and community, your willingness to give of your time in this way is much appreciated by Fr Tim and I, and the parish staff.
All pastoral council meetings are always open to anyone who wishes to attend. The agenda and minutes for the Common Pastoral Council meetings are listed in both the bulletin and on our parish websites. If you would, please keep the members and the work of the Council in your prayer.
With prayers,
Fr John
