Sunday, February 18, 2018

In the Desert - Repent and Believe in the Gospel!


It began in a beautiful Garden. Adam and Eve had everything they needed. But they began to listen to that voice – the voice of evil.
“If you wish you can become like gods – you can decide what is right and what is wrong. You determine what is good and what is evil.
The listened and they acted. Simply put, it was a catastrophe for all of us. We are still suffering from the effects of it. We call it Original Sin.
They were cast out, and the garden became a desert. Look what has become of it Just ask any of our children and they will tell you.
We produce almost 4 ½ of waste per day per person. 40% of our food ends up in the trash. 64% of our lakes are not clean enough to fish or swim in. Air pollution kills 2 million people per year.  
And look what has become of us.  Another school shooting. In a state where you don’t need a permit to own a rifle, where you don’t need a permit to carry a rifle, you don’t have to register the weapon, you don’t have to take safety classes, you can buy it from anyone, no limits on the amount of guns you can buy, there is no waiting period to buy a rifle, no ongoing permit  or inspection requirements. Really? We can’t do better? And, get the help needed by mentally ill people?
Into this desert comes Jesus. Spirit drove him into the desert – to take on the evil one and remain faithful – to show us the way out of this desert.
Jesus gives us the True Weapons that are needed:
1)     Prayer – lift hearts and minds to the God who creates us and loves us. To recognize where we have come from and where we are going.  Pray – morning, noon, night, Mass, quiet room, reading bible, walk, rosary or stations
2)     Fast – from all that can take us from God – God’s grace is sufficient. We will not be consumed by the things of this world but see these things as gifts!
3)     Almsgiving – we respond to hate with love. Love is willing the good of the other. For all our brothers and sisters.  We will put aside all anger, all hate, all revenge. We are better than that.
In the end, the only answer can be God. How wonderful then that we are about to begin a Mission – an opportunity to reflect upon God and our relationship with Him.    Tony Bellizzi

Saturday, February 17, 2018

President's Day

Monday, February 19 is President's Day. It is a National Holiday. There will be one parish Mass at 8:00 a.m. All Parish Offices will be closed on Monday. The Adoration Chapel will be closed.

Funeral - Helen Figarella

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for the repose of the soul of Helen Figarella on Tuesday, February 20 at 10:00 a.m. Please pray for her and for her family.

Wedding - Elaine Bilello and Conor Merryman

The Sacred Bonds of Holy Matrimony will be exchanged by Elaine Bilello and Conor Merryman on Saturday, February 17 at 1:00 p.m. Please pray for this couple about to be married.

Sunday, February 11, 2018

ASH WEDNESDAY

February 14 - Ash Wednesday - A Day of Fasting and Abstinence

7:00 a.m. Mass (Ashes Distributed after Homily)

9:15 a.m. Prayer Service - School Children will attend (Ashes distributed at end)

12:00 noon Mass (Ashes distributed after Homily)

3:30 p.m. Prayer Service (Ashes distributed at end)

5:00 p.m. Prayer Service - Religious Ed Children will attend (Ashes distributed at end)

7:00 p.m.Prayer Service - Religious Ed Children will attend (Ashes distributed at end) 

Jesus Reached Out And Touched Him


Jesus put out his hand and touched him.
I wonder, when was the last time?
How could you blame the people? - They just did not know what to do with leprosy – had to send him away.
Young man discovered something worse than leprosy – disconnect from family, friends, synagogue.

He needed a cure – but more importantly – he needed healing of a broken heart.

160 years ago tomorrow – young girl named Bernadette was gathering firewood – when she felt a breeze, looked up and saw a Lady. Who are you?  – in time – I Am the Immaculate Conception – Build a church, dig for water, pray and turn back to God.

Every year, 5 million people come to Lourdes – 80,000 who are sick – many seek a cure – many more experience healing.

Thing about Lourdes - Sick come first at everything – they are all surrounded with love – they all matter to God and to us.

Brought to the baths – yes, you bathe in the Lourdes water. Surrounded by volunteers, they gently and firmly immerse you in the water – a cleansing of the body.   If you wish today, dip your finger in our holy water fonts – I have added water from Lourdes.

Off to confession – after cleaning the outside, you clean the inside – I spent a grace filled week their hearing confessions – but I am just as moved in our little confessionals here – your sins are forgiven!

Procession with the Blessed Sacrament – Jesus is truly with us – Body and Blood – and he becomes a part of us when we receive Him. He is waiting for you in our little chapel – hear your prayers and bring healing.

Candlelight Procession – 30,000 people – light in so much darkness – we are not alone. So, we light a candle in church or one at home – do not be afraid!

Someone once said that the greatest miracle is not when God does our will – but when we do God’s will. The miracle of healing, the miracle of Lourdes, can happen right here.

Sunday, February 4, 2018

Super Bowl


172 Million watching  -   14 million calling in sick
Philadelphia vs New England – cheesesteaks vs chowdah.  No super bowl championships vs five. The backup quarterback vs one of the all-time greats.
Nick Foles is a great story. A good man. He revealed this week, that after football, he wants to be a youth Pastor. During the off season, he has been taking classes at seminary “I want to continue to learn and challenge my faith.”
For a time, he thought he was going to retire from football, but
“I kept reading scripture, I kept praying, I kept asking God — and so many of us ask God for signs, we ask God, ‘Hey, please just put it on the wall, like, I want to know,’ but that’s not how it works,” Foles said. “God’s not always going to do that. He was shaping me. He was bringing me down to my knees … At that moment, through that prayer, He said, ‘Hey, just take a step of faith.’
And then, there is Tom Brady, in many ways, an average player who made himself a great player, one of the best ever.
“What are you willing to do, and what are you willing to give up, to be the best you can be?” Brady asks. “You only have so much energy, and the clock’s ticking on all of us. And when you say yes to something, that means you got to say no to something else. In the end, my life focused around football. It always has been and always will be, as long as I’m playing. I’ve given my body, my everything, every bit of energy for eighteen years to it. So, if you’re going to compete against me, you better be willing to give up your life. Because I’m giving up mine.”
I’m sure a lot of professional athletes share this mentality. But what makes Tom Brady different is that he’s allowed this interior drive to transform every aspect of his life – diet, exercise, everything.
For him, mediocrity is a waste of time. He’s not content just to win more than he loses. He doesn’t want to be in the middle of the pack. He wants to be the best of the best, and he sacrifices every shred of his being to reach that goal. At 40, he knows the clock is ticking, but rather than coast into an already high place in football history, he doubles and triples his efforts to get even higher.
Sounds like St. Paul – I am obliged to preach the Gospel – a slave to all so as to win over as many possible!  Everything he can!
Here’s the thing – willing to do it for a super bowl trophy – what about eternal life? What about the state and destiny of our souls? 
In 10 days Lent - With Lent coming why not more – more than just giving up chocolate or saying an extra prayer or 2  - make it truly a time for spiritual growth!

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Memorial Mass - David Mitchell

A Memorial Mass will be offered for the repose of the soul of David Mitchell on Saturday, February 3 at 9:30 a.m. Please pray for him and for his family.

Funeral Mass - Miriam Garcey

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for the repose of the soul of Miriam Garcey on Thursday, February 1 at 10:00 a.m. Please pray for her and for her family.