Good Shepherd Sunday

Dear Parishioners,

In this week’s gospel reading Jesus describes Himself as the good shepherd, the One who will give his all for the sake of the flock. The hired hand gives only according to his pay, or as far as he believes the flock deserves. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, gives according to His love for the sheep. The flock is His focus.

This weekend we often focus on vocations to the priesthood. We know that Jesus told St. Peter to tend His lambs and feed His sheep. Everyone in this parish knows that we can use more priests for this particular role of shepherding. Everyone has an idea of the qualities they believe are necessary for a good priest. It can’t be possible that everyone doesn’t know at least one other person with the qualities to be a good priest. ASK THEM!

Obviously, the priesthood is not the only extension of the role of shepherd. We are each given some portion of His flock whom our lives will impact. What are we to do? Follow in Jesus footsteps, lead them, love them.

When I look at the people in my life, do I see members of His flock who are in some way entrusted to me? Do I give of myself based on my love of them? Or do I hold back based on what I believe others deserve?

Do others receive my help, or attention, or prayers, based on my expectation of the warm and fuzzy feeling (the hired hands pay?) or is it rather based on them, and my love of God and of neighbor?

In our parish many of us exercise our shepherding roles in our families and in our parish. Some assist in the liturgical roles, some in the corporal works roles, some in the spiritual roles. We ask this week, whom do I consider His flock entrusted to me? How am I doing following His shepherding example? He gave all, what am I giving?

God bless,

Fr. Holz

Diocesan Bankruptcy – Many of you have read that this past week the Diocese has moved to remove itself from the protection of the bankruptcy courts. If accepted, this means that cases may move ahead against the Diocese and in some cases against individual parishes. We, and our lawyers, are monitoring the developments closely. We know that everything in the Church, and oftentimes in the court systems, takes its own time and there is no need for additional worry right now. I will keep you informed as each step moves along the way. We pray for peace and healing for all those affected by these circumstances. We pray for the peace that Jesus promised all of us.

But whoever keeps His word, the love of God is truly perfected in Him

Dear Parishioners,

We hear some pretty tough words from God through St. John this week. “Those who say ‘I know Him,’ but do not keep His commandments are liars, and the truth is not in them.” We do know Him. Very simply, God is love. His commandment? Love God and love your neighbor. So, for those who keep His word, “the love of God is truly perfected in him.”

When the love of God is perfected in us, we will be perfected. This is not simply God’s action, of course He loves all He created. God didn’t necessarily have to create anyone or anything, He willed us into existence. He wanted us, He loved us, and He continues to love us. We are perfected when we allow that love to flow through us, to love others and to allow His love for them to flow through us to them. We are perfected not by being loved, but by loving.

This may be easy when the “other,” the person to be loved, acts or thinks or behaves like we do. It is easier to love them. It may not be difficult to love and pray for some nebulous group (the persecuted, the poor, the sick). To be perfected is to love when it is not so easy, to follow the example of Jesus who forgave those who misunderstood His message, those who would eventually put Him on trial, those who would crucify Him, those who would claim they know Him but who did not love.

We struggle for His perfection in our lives. Do I say I know Him, but harbor grudges or resentments? Help us, Lord. Do I prejudge people based on what I presume they are thinking or attempting to do? Help us, Lord. Do I get impatient with my family, friends, coworkers, or fellow parishioners who don’t act just as I act at this moment? Help us, Lord. Do I think that my discomfort or inconvenience of a mask is more important than the safety of the most vulnerable in the church building? Help us, Lord. Is the voicing of my own opinion more important than the feelings of, or relationship with, another? Help us, Lord.

We know that God loves each of us, do we recognize His love for each other person. We pray this week that God help us to love each other as He does. Help us to allow Your love for the others in my life to flow through me. Help us to be perfected by knowing You, and by knowing, truly knowing, Your love.

God Bless,

Fr. Holz

Dear Parishioners,

One week after our Easter Celebration, one week after the chocolate, the food, the family, the eggs, the chocolate…One week later, are we keeping Easter alive today? We have not seen, and we believe, but how deeply do we believe? How often do we say, like Thomas, “God, just give me a sign!” It feels almost natural to be asking for a sign, to be seeking a meaning from what we, what the world is going through now.

You know what? He has given us a sign, a big sign. We celebrated it last week!

Jesus is bigger than anything we face. Jesus is bigger than death. Jesus cares about us, all of us, each of us.

Jesus, I trust in You!

Jesus, I trust in You!

Jesus, I trust in You!

No conditions, not Jesus I trust if…, or Jesus I trust when….

Simply, Jesus I trust in You!

Jesus, I trust through news reports of horrific wars. Jesus, I trust through difficult relationships in my life. Jesus, I trust through the feelings of not being heard or listened to. Jesus, I trust when my plans fall apart and when I don’t understand yours. Jesus, I trust in You when I am sent to a new assignment. Jesus, I trust in You and in Your love for your parishes. Jesus, I trust in You.

Today, the Sunday after Easter, is Divine Mercy Sunday. Jesus said to St. Faustina “I open the floodgates of my mercy.” The floodgates of my mercy. How’s that for encouragement! He told her that He opens them in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, in confession. Jesus told her to remind people that in confession we are with HIM, personally, the priest is acting on His behalf, like a screen, but that Jesus does act through him. Jesus wants us to enter confession to talk to Him, to be with Him.

We know Jesus conferred this power on the disciples, “If you forgive…” BUT, it is not simply the priest forgiving. That is the point of “Receive the Holy Spirit” God forgives! Jesus reminds us and He promises “Floodgates of Mercy”

See the rays which are coming from his heart, like the blood and water which flowed from his side. If we do not avail ourselves of frequent confession, do we in some way shortchange some of what Jesus did for us? And who does that hurt?  It hurts us.

This all ties back to belief. How much do I believe? If I believe that Jesus is present to me in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, if I know that He is there, present and waiting for me, then why don’t I go more often? The priest also acts as the community of believers that our sins have harmed. No one acts in pure isolation. People know that we are Catholic. Their views of the Catholic faith will be affected by our actions as to whether true followers actually believe., and as to whether true followers actually trust.

Jesus, I trust in You!

At the times that I feel that I need a sign, can I use that to see, in confession, as in Mass, the “signs” that Jesus himself left us?

“The victory that conquers the world is our faith.”

Jesus, I trust in You!

We are a “community of believers” and just as the first Apostles in the early church, the parish community is in this together.

God Bless,

Fr. Holz

Jesus, I trust in You! Jesus, I trust in You! Jesus, I trust in You!

HAPPY EASTER

Dear Parishioners,

We celebrate, truly celebrate, in the knowledge that God who came for us, for each of us, for all of us, that God is bigger than anything we face, ANYTHING, bigger even than death!

He comes to us with a life like ours and allows us to see that His entire mission is a mission of love. He comes to us and on this day, Easter Sunday, through His resurrection, He shows us that He is bigger than life, bigger than death itself. Today we see that He is bigger than ANY of the problems that we may face in this life. Armed with this knowledge, and combined with His love, best shown though our love of each other, we truly have reason to rejoice. We truly have nothing to fear. He came to show that He will be our God, we come to show that we are His people.

Of course we know that God, the creator of life itself, is bigger than death. But Jesus shows us this IN HIS HUMANITY. There is more to humanity, more to each of us, than the flesh and bone, here and now. He has opened the way for all of us. We recognize Jesus raised as Jesus. This isn’t new life, this isn’t another person, IT IS JESUS. Each of us, all members of humanity, are bigger than this life…WE CONTINUE. He shows us that today. We act, we love, we pray so that when we do reach the point of our continuing, that we have lived so as to continue with Him, not without!

We all face unexpected changes in our lives. The one absolutely constant in our lives is Jesus, who continues beyond it all. We pray that our relationship to Him be as constant. With Him, we can get through ANYTHING.

 We know that, together with Jesus, nothing is impossible. We need Him just as much now as ever. We need each other now as much as ever - we need not be changed. We need not let our frustrations rule us our become vehicles for our indignance or pride. We need not become any less of a parish family than we are. We are with Jesus, that makes us bigger than any of these circumstances or inconveniences. WE CONTINUE.

Last week we saw Jesus “continue” directly into the Passion that awaited Him, this week we acknowledge His “continuation”, and His victory over them.

We come here week after week after week because that is how a real relationship is built. We come to hear His word and know Him as He is and not allow that to degenerate into a fairy tale of who I would like Him to be, a fairy tale which will not be able to help me or be with me when I need it the most.

We come here week after week after week because we know that He is truly present in the Eucharist and can’t imagine NOT being here!

Want this Easter joy to continue?  Live it, love it, come and worship together with us, week after week, as at each and every Mass we recognize His sacrifice for us, His coming to us, and our joining each other through Him.

It is what we were made for; it is the source of our fulfillment. It is through Him, and through each other that we find our purpose and our joy.

Just as Mary of Magdala could still run to Peter, who denied Jesus three times, their relationship continued because it was founded on Jesus. So too with us, with a relationship founded in Him, we may continue our relationships with each other, our relationship with each other is based on our relationship with Jesus, and Jesus is bigger even than death!

We continue.

We are still, now and forever, in it together.

God Bless you and those you love.

Fr. Holz

Where I am, there also will my servant be

Dear Parishioners,

We know that God is always with us, in the good times and in the bad. His presence allows us to truly appreciate our blessings. His presence allows us to get through times we could never get through alone. Jesus promised to be with us always, until the end of the age. Obviously, that includes times of sickness, times of financial distress or uncertainty, times of frustration, times of outright fear and even in times of our doubt or despair.

 In this week’s readings, Jesus shifts the perspective and puts the emphasis on our being with Him, our following Him. Where He is, His followers will be. This is not something passive. This isn’t simply stating that wherever I am He will be, this is stating that we will be where He is. We will follow Him. We will live as He would have us live.

The most obvious expression of this is at Mass. We know He is here, and so are we. We know that He is present at the Mass, the entire mass, and we, his followers are sure to be here, for the entire mass. We know that while He is exposed, during the distribution of His Body and Blood, we, His followers, will be here. Followers wouldn’t turn their back on God while He is still exposed, while being distributed to the rest of our parish family. We will be where He is.

Jesus is present – and active – at ALL the Sacraments. He is available to each of us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We will be where He is.

This continues outside the formal Sacraments as well. Where He is, His followers will be. Where is He? Comforting people in hospitals and nursing homes. Where is He? Feeding families through our parish social ministry. Where is He? Consoling those who mourn with our ministries of consolation and bereavement. Where is He? At our Respite and Religious Ed. Programs. All of our parish ministries are where He is. He is at our recitation of the Stations of the Cross. We will be where He is. Obviously, He is with us as we Adore the Blessed Sacrament.

Jesus is with the person in front of us who needs a little more patience than others. He is with the family member with a different opinion than mine. He is with those who know how to push my personal buttons but don’t know Him. We do. We are His followers. We follow Him. We follow the example He set. We follow the preaching He gave us.

Where He is, we also will be…together.

God bless,

Fr. Holz

Rejoice

Dear Parishioners,

This Sunday is known as Laetare Sunday. We take a moment from our Lenten disciplines to remember Whom it is that we seek, and the love that He has shown to us. For this reason, many parishes will use rose colored vestments as opposed to the penitential purple that we see for most of Lent.

God told Moses to have the people look upon the serpent mounted on a pole, to look at the effects of their sins, and they were healed – by Him. In the same way, we look on Jesus crucified, lifted on a pole, accepting the punishment for our sins, and we are healed, we are forgiven, we are redeemed, we are loved.

So often during the Stations of the Cross we feel two seemingly conflicting emotions. We are truly sorry. We know that Jesus suffered this because of our sins, He took on our punishment. We feel sorry that someone is accepting a punishment which rightly should be mine.

On the other hand, we rejoice, and we feel thankful. Thankful that He offered Himself then and is offered to the Father again and again at each and every mass (“We offer you Lord, the Bread of life, and the Chalice of salvation.”) We get to offer God to God on our behalf. Why? Because He said we could.

That’s love. That’s holding nothing back. If we can’t recognize that during mass, then we may need to look a little longer at the serpents in our life. We may need to move a little closer to the light. We may need to ask if we are the ones holding back. He is here, mass is effective. We pray that we are truly part of it. He is.

Good enough reason to rejoice? Of course it is.

 God bless,

 Fr. Holz

 We have just spent a little over three weeks in our own personal deserts, examining our own personal relationship with God. How fruitful has this time been? I can’t imagine anyone who has spent this time in serious prayer who hasn’t found some stumbling blocks in their life. God wants us to overcome these blocks. He is ready, willing, and able to help us with them. He gave us the Sacrament of Reconciliation to help clear them away. This is NOT about judgment; this is about getting beyond that. Of course, we will each face a judgment when we stand before Him, we are too important not to. God shows His love and His intention in the Sacrament of Reconciliation by giving us a mechanism by which HE shows He is on our side, He is cheering us on, He is willing to assist us.

A Personal Note

Dear Parishioners,

Some of you may have noticed that I do not seem as visible or available as I was, or that message responses are taking longer than they once did. Hopefully you know me well enough by now to know this is not a lessening of care or concern (translated “love”.)

The truth is that during January I was diagnosed with an advanced cancer. Because there had been no previous indications there were naturally a flurry of tests, scans, biopsies, etc., etc., etc. The point being that at this early stage most of my schedule was taken over by doctors.

It seems that this testing and discovery phase is nearing the end. The next step will be to begin the journey that many of our parishioners have had to walk. As the chemotherapy treatments begin, with an anticipated decrease in stamina, we have already begun adjustments to the schedule. Fr. Michael will be back this summer and will be coming a month early. We will be asking our Vincentian brothers to pick up additional masses on the weekends, and some of our usual friends will be available for some weekday masses.

Obviously, these are temporary measures to cover a temporary concern. As this journey continues, I will keep you informed.  I ask for your patience and prayers, for me and all those undergoing these treatments. I also ask your prayers for Fr. Collins who has been doing a superhuman job at obtaining last-minute coverage changes or covering himself. He is an incredible blessing for me personally and for our parishes.

I KNOW that in the end, however that looks, I will be ok – God loves me! I know that in the end, each parish will be ok – God loves you!

We pray as always “thy will be done.”

God bless all of us,

Fr. Holz

Cleansing Temples

Dear Parishioners,

In this week’s Gospel reading Jesus talks about raising the temple in three days. The bible then tells us, in case we missed the point, that he was talking about the temple of His body. Might we consider, on hearing the first part of the reading, whether there is anything within us, in our temple, which might need to be cleansed?

At another point Jesus explained that it is that from within which defiles. Is there anything in my temple, in me, which creates a stumbling block toward following the Ten Commandments, anything which may be preventing me from a fuller relationship with God? Are there any old resentments or hurts which I have not forgiven which need to be cleansed? Are there any points of pride or indignance when I felt that others had not recognized who I am which should be cleansed?

Do I need to be cleansed of attachments which may be as important to me as my relationship with Him? Will I go right down the list of the seven deadly sins; pride, greed, lust, anger, gluttony, envy or sloth - none of these belong in my temple - if I encounter traces of them, might they be cleansed this Lenten season?

We listen to the Gospel and realize who actually does the cleansing, it is Jesus. We ask His help in cleaning our temples. We ask His help, and we know that He will respond. We feel this most clearly in the sacrament of reconciliation. We examine our conscience, see what doesn’t belong, and ask His forgiveness, and His grace, knowing that oftentimes the same temptations which I fell into await me as I leave the confessional. Our act of contrition contains two parts; I am sorry for my sins, and, I intend with your help, to avoid them in the future. Jesus, cleanse us.

God bless,

Fr. Holz

Catholic Ministries Appeal – Another aspect of who we are is shown in our love of neighbor. The Catholic Ministries Appeal is one vehicle that allows us to help provide to those programs and those parishes that need help. Unfortunately, those parishes dealing with the most need are also those who have the least to provide for those in need. We are blessed to have a well-organized, well-run parish social ministry. Part of our contribution to the CMA assists other parishes who simply do not have what we do.

Believe me, I have heard all the arguments against giving. But I do know that parishes who achieve their goals actually receive rebates. I do know that the programs listed in the brochures actually do benefit. That is why I continue to donate personally each year. I don’t need rumors or innuendos (or even my own greed which can come in disguise) entering my temple.

Whether you decide to donate or not, I simply ask you to pray over that decision.

Fr. Holz

MILL POND REFLECTIONS

It is GOOD that we are HERE!

It’s been great seeing the sun come out more lately. Maybe it makes you think of the times you took a tan at the beach or spent time by the pool that you didn’t want to get up. Or the times you enjoyed gardening or barbecuing with friends and family that you didn’t want it to end. Think of that outstanding movie or series you didn’t want to come to an end, the vacation you didn’t want to come back from, the dream you wished you had woken up to and not woken up from. Luckily, I woke up to my dream when I landed at JFK with my 23-year-old self, looking lost but also found simultaneously, for I had found my dream, beginning a new life in America the Beautiful. In those moments, even when our lips are not saying it, our hearts will say, ‘It is good that we are here.’ We think of the best days in our lives and hope every day is like that.

Peter found his ‘aha’ moment on the mountain of the Transfiguration. He was willing to do what it takes to remain there. ‘Let us make three tents,’ he says. How easy it would have been for him to build from the top of the mountain. Only to be sent back to the foot of the mountain to build from that level up, the tents of faith in people’s hearts so the radiance of God’s glory might shine in the hearts of all believers. I take joy in knowing that the Lord did not leave them to go to the foot of the mountain by themselves. Instead, he went down with them only to climb another mountain, alone, on our behalf, Mount Calvary, or better yet, the Mount of the Cross.

This Lenten season, where do you find yourself on this mountain journey? Are you at the top or the bottom? Do you feel like you are climbing up or descending, standing still, or lost? Know that He who went up the mountain with Peter, James, and John and came down with them is equally with you in your ups and downs. “This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him,” says the Father (Mark 9:7). Listen to Him in the depths of your heart in prayer. Listen to Him in a homily you hear. Listen to Him in the words you hear from a family member or friend who tries to guide you to the Lord. Listen to Him in the blessings and the lessons life throws your way. Listen to Him as you read His word in scripture, or better yet, receive the Word made flesh in the Eucharist.  “He who did not spare His own Son but handed Him over for us all, how will he not give us everything else along with Him?” (Romans 8:32). Think about that for a moment! Isn’t it good that we are here with Him, in all the places that life brings us to?

Yours in Christ

Fr. Collins

~~love is all you need~~

Out Into The Desert

 Dear Parishioners,

In this week’s gospel reading we see Jesus led out into the desert. During Lent we too are led “out into the desert.” We try to focus on things we may not usually focus on. In order to do this, we first consider those things that take up much of our time and our energy. Schedules, commitments, finances, and a thousand other activities which consume my time, and which can, at times, consume me.

Before that happens, we go out into the desert. We leave behind, as much as possible, those immediate concerns as we struggle with our ultimate concerns - my purpose for existing, my relationship with the Almighty, and my role in His plan.

We may have to create opportunities to become a little quieter among the noise. Opportunities to be in the quiet, to, in fact, seek Him. Opportunities to reflect on where I am in my journey, and where I should be.

Obviously, there is no way to be closer than by coming to mass on a more regular basis. We have mass at 9:00 AM at St. Philip Neri, Tuesday through Friday, and at 12:00 PM at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Monday through Thursday.

We have prayer opportunities. The Rosary is prayed on weekdays before the 9:00 AM mass (SPN) and the Divine Mercy chaplet is prayed on Mondays at 3:00 PM (OLQM.) On Fridays we have the Stations of the Cross after the 9:00 AM mass (SPN).  There will be a Lenten Mission offered on March 18, 19 & 20. (OLQM)

There is always Eucharistic Adoration. During Lent, the Blessed Sacrament (Jesus Himself!) will be exposed on Thursdays at 8:00 AM, followed by the 9:00 AM mass (SPN.) Jesus allows us to expose Him on Tuesday nights for one hour at 7:00 PM (OLQM.) Nocturnal Adoration will take place overnight Friday, February 23rd through Saturday the 24^th, culminating with the Saturday 9:00 AM Mass (OLQM.)

What better way to be in the quiet – with Him – and allow Him to comfort and guide me! Any of these may help me into my own desert, shutting out some noise, even if only for a short time, in order that I not miss something I might hear from the one who created us, and who loves us still.

God bless,

Fr. Holz

If You wish, You can make me clean

Dear Parishioners,

What a wonderful message just before Lent. The leper came to Jesus because he wanted to be clean, he wanted to be whole. We also turn to Him, and we know to whom we turn, and we know whom we follow. Jesus does will our fulfillment, our wholeness, and this gives us something to reflect on as we enter the season of Lent. We look to see where we are right now; what are my priorities at this moment, where am I entering from as I begin my Lenten journey?

We look to see how we can get closer to Him who wills that we be whole. Part of that wholeness must include returning to community worship. Just as Jesus sent the leper back to the community from which his “un-cleanness” kept him apart, now, Jesus tells him, return to them. He says the same to us. Go, now more fully whole, to church. Come, be with us, your community, His community. Come to be here where you belong.

That journey begins this week on Ash Wednesday. We remember that the ashes are a sign, and we know that the Eucharist is the reality. If I receive ashes at mass, I stay for the reality. If I come to a prayer service, I pray. We make sure that the sign we wear is a valid sign and not simply a decoration. We try not to receive the ashes “on the run” or without prayer. That is what the sign is about; it is about our relationship with God. We acknowledge how we relate to Him and therefore make sure that we do relate to Him. This means that the true sign is us! Our lives in connection with His life.

We hope that no one be surprised by the fact that we wear ashes, we hope they recognize us as His follower by the way we live our lives. Do my coworkers, or other restaurant patrons, see me make the sign of the cross before I eat?  There’s a sign. Do the people who know me know that I attend Mass every week? There’s a sign. Will those around me know that I am making an extra effort during the coming 40 days?  There’s a sign.

Once people see us with ashes, we become signs for them of what it means to be Catholic. We want to be the right sign for others to see. We are not different simply because we wear the ashes, we are different because our lives are different.

The signs tell who we are, and who we are is in relation to whom we serve. We know who our master is.

God bless,

Fr. Holz

The fever left her and she waited on them

Dear Parishioners,

In the gospel reading this week we see the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law. We pay special attention to the chronology, or the sequence, of events. Jesus healed her, and then she waited on them. It was not that she was healed because she waited on them; she treated them this way in response to the love that had already been shown to her. It was not that Jesus loved her because she loved others; she was treating them lovingly in response to the love and concern that had been shown to her. Her love was the response. His love was already there.

We are each in that same position. God’s love for us can be shown by our very existence. We did not create ourselves; He had a hand in it. He came, out of love, to be with us. He left us a Church. He left us Sacraments. He left us His word and teaching. He loves us.

How do we respond to that love? Have there been times in my life where, when things don’t go according to my plan, I simply forget all the good that has been given to me? Do I shut God and prayer out of the equation, figuring that He doesn’t hear or isn’t interested in my problems? Job didn’t do that. He remained in contact with God in good times and in bad. We should too.

Do I ever use the gifts and talents given to me by God and then presume I have earned His love? That’s not how it works. He already loves us. I cannot boast of my works, as Paul reminds the people of Corinth. We love God and neighbor not because we are looking to get some type of recompense from it, but because that is what we are made for.

We love and serve each other because we have been, and are being, loved.

How do we respond to that love? Love is not love if it is boxed in. Peter’s mother-in-law fed the love that was given to her by loving and serving others. Jesus told Peter “Let us go to the nearby villages that I may preach there also.” Love grows by loving. St. Paul says, “Woe to me if I do not preach it!”  God’s word, God’s love, had to flow through Paul to others, for their sake, and for his own!

We too are called to spread the word of God and allow that to increase in us. We don’t come to Mass with the attitude of “I got mine” as if that were the end. We don’t box that love in. We come that we may be strengthened to go out into a society that doesn’t really know Jesus and help this society to know Him through us! A pretty tall order! But we remember that all things are possible with God and so we take Him with us as we preach with our words, with our lives, and most importantly, with our love.

God Bless,

Fr. Holz

A Letter from the Associate Pastor

“I should like you to be free of anxieties.”

As I look over the waters in the backyard of the rectory in Centerport, I think of the low tide and the high tide moments, the moments of stillness and the moments of the heavy waves of the sea. I think of the stars that sometimes overlook the waters, but only on the darkest nights. Then I think of the words of St. Paul: “I should like you to be free of anxieties” (1 Cor 7:32).

One may ask, how could I be free of anxieties when I find myself almost always in the low tides of life and when the heavy waves are crashing in on me? How could I be free when all I see are the darkest nights with no stars to give me hope? Whereas there are no sure and easy answers, it takes living for one day at a time and making the best of it. It takes inviting the right people to be part of your journey. It takes counting your blessings, not the curses. It takes being anxious about the things of the Lord, not the things of the world (1 Cor 7:32). It takes perseverance in prayer. It takes Jesus! “Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil,” says the Lord (Mat 6:34).

“Quiet! Come out of him” (Mk 1:25). The same power that rebuked unclean spirits, calmed the storms of the sea, and raised Jesus from the dead lives in us. In His Holy Name, we command our doubts, fears, and anxieties to be quiet, to come out of our minds and hearts, for our Lord is greater and stronger. Pray this song with me:

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Join me in thanking Fr. Holz for the privilege to share God’s word with you via this platform every last weekend of the month. It’s always better when heard in person in Church, though, so see you soon in Church.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Collins

“To the Lord alone I pledge my trust; to Him alone, I give my undivided love” – St. Agnes.

“I will make you fishers of men”

Dear Parishioners,

In this week’s first reading we see the prophet Jonah and the “great city” of Nineveh. That city had gone off the rails so to speak, and God wanted Jonah to get them to repent and reform. At first Jonah resisted - “the city is too big” “they are too far gone” “What can I do? I am too small for this mission.”

God would have none of it. His love for the Ninevites was bigger than Jonah’s misgivings. We see that although it would have taken three days to walk through the city, their repentance came after one. Jonah had to see it wasn’t simply due to his own time among them, but God’s work being accomplished.

 In the gospel reading we see Jesus calling the first disciples. What is the ultimate reason for the call? Of course Jesus wanted them to know Him better. Of course He wanted them to acknowledge and understand that they were being saved, through Him. Ultimately, however, this was not simply their salvation He was disclosing.

 What does He tell them? “I will make you fishers of men.” This faith is not something to be shut away and clung to as if “I have mine, Jesus will go get the others.” In effect, He tells us that He offers us salvation, that He gives us faith, and that faith will be most fully actualized and realized when we do as He did, when we do as Jonah did, when we share it with others.

All parishes support Catholic Education in our Diocese, the elementary schools and the high schools. And we support our regional school, Trinity Regional School. As with all ministries, we support others so that they in turn will be able to bring His word, His life, to still others. We may look to Trinity Regional School to see concretely what that means to us, to our families, to our parish.

Next week (January 28 – February 3) we celebrate Catholic Schools Week with a prayer for catholic education. There will be an open house at the school with guided tours. We pray for the students, we pray for the families that make tremendous sacrifices to send them, we pray for the teachers and administration that make this possible.

We pray for our children; those in our biological families and those in our family of faith. Whether in catholic school, or in our Religious Education program, they are facing many challenges today that many of us did not have to face at their age. We support them, and by doing so, they are already supporting us.

God bless,

Fr. Holz

Behold the Lamb of God

Dear Parishioners,

John the Baptist pointed out Jesus with these words. What did these listeners hear? How did they react? They were excited. They were happy, because they realized this was the one they had been waiting for. They followed Him. They were changed.

What do we hear? These exact same words are used at each and every Mass for the exact same reason. God is present, now as then. God is in OUR midst, now as then. We have reason to be excited, reason to be happy. The one who we wait for is here. He is our fulfillment.

So how do I acknowledge His presence among us?  Do I recognize who it is that has come to us, as a Church, and to each of us individually? Am I thankful? Do I show reverence when I receive and while He remains exposed, while others are receiving Him? Do I think “I got mine and now I’ll be first out to the diner, to the bakery, or anywhere except staying with Jesus?”

We DO acknowledge Him. We DO stay with Him. And, so importantly, we DO act as the disciples did and let others know.  This isn’t about us receiving and then stopping the process with us. We see these two disciples considering others when they themselves received. Jesus came for the twelve and they were commissioned to bring the message out.

The original twelve have since grown to the faith today. Who will I tell? Will I bring this message to my family, as Andrew did? Will I let coworkers know that I have a faith given to me by God? Will I consider being a catechist for the youth of this parish and pass along the message this way? Who will I tell?

This “telling” is not reserved to use of words alone. Who do I “tell” by my serenity, secure in the faith and knowledge that He is with us? Who do I “tell” by my perseverance in the faith, in spite of the misunderstanding of my faith by others? Who do I “tell” by being the peacemaker that Jesus told us were blessed?

Trying to “tell” others through anger or indignance or condescension rarely works. I know that I rarely hear the message of those who approach me in this fashion, so I try not to approach others this way.

It truly is a miracle at each and every Mass that God is present among us. Divinity, on the altar, and in us. We do recognize Him. We don’t want to miss the miracle. We do feel that excitement when we hear those very same words “Behold the lamb of God!”

God bless you and your families,

Fr. Holz

Three Wise Men

Dear Parishioners,

This week we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany. The Epiphany is God’s revealing Himself to us. It is His revealing to all who seek Him. It is not so much that the three Wise Men were so wise, it is about the fact that they were led by Him to the baby in the manger. Jesus was revealed to them by God, by the star that He placed for them to follow. 

These three - Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar - are specifically identified as outsiders. Jesus reveals Himself to all, but these outsiders will recognize Him before many of His own people do. This is something for us to consider as we strain to recognize Him in our lives.

These three wise men followed a star. What were they seeking? The answer may be found in the gifts they brought. They were seeking a king, therefore the gold tribute. They were seeking the divine, hence the frankincense. They were seeking a man, therefore the myrrh, an ointment for burial. Seeking all three in one, guided by a star. Upon finding Him, they themselves, these outsiders, became light for others.

Whom do we seek? What do we bring? One of the advantages that we have over the three kings is the advantage of knowing Jesus’ human life. By following His example, what are the gifts that I might bring? Do I offer Him my prayers, recognizing His divinity? Do I bring that prayerful attitude to Mass, from the beginning of the first prayer, the Opening Hymn, to the end of the last prayer, the Recessional Hymn? 

Do I acknowledge Him as my king, and offer Him my obedience to His word, following His instructions in the beatitudes and commandments? Do I know the beatitudes and the commandments? Do I offer patience to others, for His sake, recognizing my own humanity as well as that of those who try my patience? 

This week let us prayerfully consider the gifts that we bring to God. Let us consider whether we are a light to others, reflections of the true light. Reflections of His light. We are a good group, and we are better together!

God bless,

Fr. Holz  

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

A quick work of Congratulations and thanks to our 2^nd graders and their families who received this weekend and will be receiving their  1^st Holy Communion next week. Our celebration with our little ones is always such a moment of joy as whole families come together to support the passing on of our faith and sharing with our kids our most precious gift – the Lord Jesus in the Sacrament of the Eucharist! Thank you and congratulations. Here, I need to offer a word of thanks to our Catechists who work with our kids – thank you for sharing the faith with them – you are the best! And of course, thanks to Nanci Dougherty our Faith Formation Director and Georgena Ryan her Assistant for their hard work and dedication laboring for and with our families in every grade level, but most especially for the sacramental years. Thank you for all you do for us!

Have you ever heard the saying, “Home is where the heart is”? I think of that saying every time I read this scripture. The word Jesus used here for house, (oikia), often translated as mansion in Protestant bibles, can be seen here allegorically to refer to God’s heart. So, if we reread the scripture with this allegorical meaning, it would now read, “In my Father’s heart, there are many dwelling places.” Wow. In God’s heart there is room enough for each of us. He loves each of us perfectly, individually and has a place prepared for each of us… in his heart.

Now, if you take that section with the rest of the text, it makes amazing sense for those who believe in Jesus. Thomas, also known as Didymus or ‘the twin’, naively asks the question, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” If you have never heard of who Thomas’ twin is, it’s because the Evangelist never tells us. This has led scholars to muse that we are Thomas’ twin. Think about it. Thomas only speaks in the in Gospels on a few occasions, but in each circumstance, he speaks at pivotal moments where questions of faith arise. So, the suggestion has been made, that like Thomas, we to as seekers of Christ, struggle like the Apostle with faith and belief! We as readers of the gospel want to follow him, but we wrestle with all the things that challenge our faith and our belief. Jesus, for his part,  responds as only he could to calm Thomas’ (and our) fears and anxieties, “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” In other words, follow me, trust in me and you will have life to its fullness. This is what awaits us in God’s heart and Christ wants to bring us there if we can place our trust in him to lead us. Our Home is where his heart is!

On my best days I am like Peter; impetuous, energetic, well meaning. On my bad days I am more like Thomas, struggling to make sense of it all and to believe. I have faith, but I am weak. The cares of life, the struggles of the ones I love, the burdens of leadership cause me all kinds of struggle and strain. But the words of Jesus from this text are so comforting as I grapple with those moments. God loves each of us individually and what he yearns for most is for us to be at peace in him. Another quote comes to mind here. This one is from St. Augustine, “Our hearts are restless, until they rest in thee, O Lord.” I look forward to the end of my restlessness and I have great hope for that day when I can rest in God’s heart with all whom I have loved and lost and miss so dearly. I hope and pray I am worthy of that gift.

My cares and anxieties sometimes get the better of me. They cause me to doubt God’s love for me and I question all manner of things when life doesn’t make sense. But I don’t have to worry. Today I invite you to join me in following Jesus and trusting in him regardless of what happens in our lives or where we find ourselves knowing that he is always with us and leading us to the fullness of life.

With Easter joy,

Fr. Steve

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

First, I want to say thank you for all of the emails and messages that people have sent since my return from Europe with our pilgrimage group. I continue to be well and am looking forward to freedom from quarantine…not that there is anywhere to go right now, but just the thought is gratifying! LOL I know, like me, you are all going a bit stir crazy at home – remember: every person you don’t meet up with, every social engagement you don’t have, every time you stay in rather than going out, you may be saving a life and keeping the ones you love safe! Be a hero, stay home!

Thank you too, to all of you who have shared positive messages and have kept up each other’s spirits! No act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted. (Aesop) Thank you for looking out for one another! Keep it up. Send out the jokes and make each other smile. Humor is the best medicine to beat anxiety!

Our prayers continue to go out to all of our medical professionals who are working tirelessly. New York State is looking for retired medical professionals who have maintained their licenses to volunteer to assist those on the front line. I encourage you, if you can, to see if you can be of assistance. Many of our medical professionals are working overt time and are either exhausted or have become sick themselves. Please help if you can. Check out NY.gov for details. Let’s support the ones who are risking so much for us!

The parish continues to be on lock down. The church doors are open for private prayer during the day. All groups continue to be cancelled, now including AA. I had hoped to continue to allow our Anonymous groups to meet. Unfortunately, the State has mandated our closure even for them. I encourage any in our community who participate in one of these groups to seek out online meetings or one on one support. Our own Parish Social Ministry continues to be as active as we can in support of our brothers and sisters in need. Food for the pantry continues to be low and volunteers to make friendly support calls (which you can do from home) and “Drop, Call and Run” deliveries are needed. Please see the Outreach pages in this mini-bulletin with a message from Maria Ryan, our Director.

We are continuing to work on having the Mass streamed for you. For YouTube to allow live streaming we need at least 1000 followers. So, if you are a member, please follow us! At this time, I am waiting for some new equipment to arrive via Amazon- God bless them! I am also trying to figure out the services for Holy Week as well. We will invite you to participate at home. Many of you have found daily Mass at the Cathedral both on TV and on the Net, as well as from other locations. Bishop Henning has a Facebook page that is well worth the visit. Just search, Bishop Richard Henning, once you are logged in. I will continue to share “Words of Encouragement” and the parish now has a subscription to ZOOM, a web conferencing service. The Staff and I continue to be here for you and while we are working remotely, feel free to contact us via our email addresses as found on the webpage. We will continue to send out constant contacts and the webpage is being updated daily with new information, so please check it regularly.

Finally, money is never a topic I like to discuss, especially since I know so many are not working or struggling at this time. However, it’s necessary. Please keep up your financial support of our parish. For those of you who would like to sign up for electronic giving, a safe and easy way of contributing to the parish, the link will be placed on the website shortly. Also, we will soon be accepting donations via ‘text to give’. Again, the details will shortly be up on the webpage. In the meantime, please send in your envelopes or checks to the parish mailing address. Even though services are not taking place, we have employees working behind the scenes and our expenses for operation need to be met. Thank you for your continued generosity and support!

Back in 1980 my grandfather died after a long battle with Parkinson’s. It actually wasn’t the Parkinson’s that took his life, but pneumonia, which his body, after a long struggle just could not fight. It was my first experience of the death of someone close to me. My paternal grandparents had both passed before I was 7 and my mother’s parents lived close by and were my stand-ins whenever my parents weren’t around. Being the first generation of ‘latch-key’ kids, that was frequently. I was close to my Poppa. I used to love to hear his stories about being a detective on the NYPD back in the 40’s or hearing about growing up in my great-great grandfather’s house, (my great grandmother was one of 20 children – one set of parents!). He was the one who introduced me to pickled herring and limburger cheese, (not eaten together). He was the world’s best gardener, loved to sing old songs, and was a dancing fiend. He was the mister fix-it, who really couldn’t fix anything. He was born into a Jewish family, but he converted when he married my Nana and was the best Catholic man I knew. He was my other Dad. And when he died my life was turned upside down. I was thirteen and beyond all of my own natural teenage angst the loss I was experiencing was something I had never experienced before. I felt angry and sad and happiness and relief and gratefulness and a myriad of emotions more. I was grieving and all I could ask was, “Where are you God?”, and “Why didn’t you save my Pop?” My world was turned inside out and upside down.

Whenever I read this gospel it takes me right back to that time and to those feelings. As soon as I read it, I know exactly what Mary and Martha are feeling. Their whole world has been rocked. Their brother Lazarus was their everything. Neither Martha nor Mary are married, and it seems neither was Lazarus. So, he was their protector, their bread winner, their brother. Beyond, the emotional ties, lies an even greater source of worry for the sisters. How would they survive if he wasn’t around? The social morays of the time left them without a way to care for themselves. It’s with this tumult of emotions that Jesus meets both sisters as he approaches the grave of his friend. If you read the text carefully you can feel their emotions. Their loss, their grief, their anger and pain. Both come to Jesus almost accusingly. “If you had been here…” But he wasn’t. However, he was there now and so they each implore him. Jesus for his part asks of them two simple things; faith and total trust. Probably the hardest request you can make of a grieving person. Yet they do and it makes all the difference in the world. Jesus would raise Lazarus, but that is not the real miracle. Lazarus would die again. We are all bound to die to this life. No, the miracle is their act of faith in the face of everything they had to bear. In spite of all they were feeling or could see. They believed! They trusted and that act of faith saved them. Lazarus rising was just a sign affirming that they chose well.

I can’t think of a more poignant time for us to hear this gospel. In a world thrown into chaos where our worst fears and anxieties are brought to life by this pandemic there will be those who will lose a loved one, others will feel the lives of those they love threatened by illness. We may stand wondering where Jesus is in this moment in time. He for his part challenges us to make that same act of faith as he challenged Martha and Mary. Where do we stand and what do we believe? In spite of loss, or the fear of loss. In spite of death and the fear of death. What do we believe and who do we believe Jesus is? If we say he is the Christ, the Son of God and our savior, then we have to trust that neither death nor, life, nor angels nor principalities, as St. Paul says, can separate us from God’s love poured out for us in Jesus. That act of faith makes all the difference in this world and more importantly in the world he holds out for us to come.

My friends, Jesus who raised Lazarus from the dead is truly the Lord. Everything belongs to him – even the Covid 19 virus. Now, of all times we need to trust him even when things seem their bleakest because on the other side – and there will be the other side of these days - it can make all the difference.

God Bless you,

Fr. Steve

P.S. A little something for you today. It makes me smile – hope it does for you as well! Enjoy! 

https://youtu.be/-KP3XizrZHQ

Words of Encouragement

Tuesday March 24^th

Read: John 5:1-16

Jesus knew when he told the man to pick up his mat and walk that it was going to cause controversy. He knew someone would see him, let alone the Pharisees, and ask him why he was doing “work” on the sabbath, something that was unlawful. Why would Jesus do that? Why would he ask someone to break God’s law? Or was he? Notice the focus of the leaders? They don’t even seem to notice that he’s even healed. Here is a man who has been sick for thirty-eight years. He was present with many other people waiting at the edge of the blessed pool of Siloam with no one to put him in when the waters were stirred. They had to have been familiar with him. He was a poor wretched man. Now he stands before them healed and all they seem to notice is that he is carrying a mat! He’s healed! It’s as if Jesus is pointing out their own illness. How blind they are! They see the mat, but not the miracle. Instead of seeing Jesus for who he is, they set out to persecute him.

Thought: How blind am I sometimes? Do I miss God’s hand at work because I am too focused on myself? Do I see the mat but miss the miracle?

Action: Sometimes I can get lost thinking of myself, my needs. Today I will do something spontaneous for someone I love or for a stranger. Lord, help me to see clearly.

Words of Encouragement

Monday March 23

Read: John 4:43-54

Believing without seeing. The royal official in the Gospel had to have a lot of faith in Jesus word. Here he is, desperately seeking a cure for his son, begging at Jesus feet. This rich and powerful man, begging at the feet of a poor itinerant preacher. Such a seen must have been an amazing sight. And on Jesus word alone, the man leaves to return to his son. Such faith! Such trust! No questions, no pleading, no buts, no arguing – he simply believes. Faith like that puts me to shame and I dare say probably most of us. Now before we judge ourselves to harshly, let’s remember why we struggle. We have been let down. People have failed us. Promises that were made were broken. We even have been the source of that failure for others. But God is different. He never fails. We may not always like the outcome, but in the end, he is always true. And in the end of all things he is true where we need it most. Eternity with him.

Thought: Do I lack trust in God’s love for me? Have I broken promises to others?

Action: Today I will make an act of trust and leave something I am wrestling with in God’s hands.

Divine Mercy Closing Prayer

(I love this prayer and pray it frequently – I pray it gives you peace today)

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.

Words of Encouragement

Read: Mark 12:28-34

That Scribe was one smart guy, but Jesus was smarter. He starts out to trip Jesus up, hoping maybe he would show his true colors. He asks a seemingly earnest question. Little does he expect the response Jesus gives him. Jesus starts with a prayer that every good Jew would have been familiar with, the “Shema”. It was a prayer that was said every day. An act of faith and commitment to God, but Jesus, always raising the bar for his followers takes it a step farther. Not only is God to be loved and adored, but that love must be made manifest, so he adds, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Wow! If we were to be reading the same passage in the Gospel of Luke it would be followed by the story of the Good Samaritan. So, let’s look at that again. Love God with words, then show it in the way you treat your neighbor. How are you doing with that today?

Thought: Are my words about loving God empty? Do I show my love for God in the way I love others? How do I love the people in my life who make loving them difficult?

Action: Perform an act of mercy today – make the intention to show God you love him.