Why Do I Still See Easter Decorations in Church?

Yes, it is still Easter season. As a Church, we continue to celebrate the greatest gift of redemption and new life for 50 days. In fact, Pentecost, which marks the end of the Easter season, means just that, 50th day. It is also a birthday celebration as we remember the birth of the Church on that first Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on the gathered disciples and they were empowered to go beyond their fear to spread the Good News.

So how are your Easter celebrations continuing? How will you rejoice and be enlivened by the Risen Lord? One suggestion is to put more deliberate effort in celebrating the Mass with joy and full participation. Greet others as you gather, sing (if not better, at least a little louder), and pray with all your heart in joy over the gift of Jesus and the Church.

When Pentecost arrives to mark the wrap up of our Easter Season, will you be able to sincerely say that this Easter has brought you closer to God and God's people?

High Holy Days

The Triduum  marks the high holy days of our church year. More so than Christmas, these days are the times when our faith is most expressed.

 HOLY THURSDAY

At the Mass on this day, we hear how Jesus washed his disciples' feet and commanded them to do the same for others. We too are called to be the servant of others by our baptism. It isn't easy to put others before yourself or their needs as a priority in your life but this is what being a servant to all really calls for.
What blocks you from openness to serve others?

GOOD FRIDAY

Ever wonder why this day, commemorating the passion and death of Jesus  is call Good? This is the day that, through his passion and death, Jesus began his final lesson for us. His willingness to embrace even pain and death to free us is a great gift. Without this, there would be no resurrection, no sign to us that not even death is to be feared if we believe in God.

HOLY SATURDAY

Waiting is not something we Americans do well.  Holy Saturday is about waiting in patient expectation. It is a good time to take a final inventory of our life and see how we have grown closer to God through Lent and to make last minute preparation to celebrate our redemption through the cross and resurrection.

The Sacred Vigil on Holy Saturday night is the time when new Christians are fully initiated through their celebration of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. No one who calls themselves Christian can fail to be moved by the sight of these new Christians rising out of the baptismal water with joy. It call us to renew our own commitment to live our baptismal promises, call on the strength of the Holy Spirit to bring that faith to others and to join the community in celebration of the Eucharist.

EASTER SUNDAY
Alleluia! He has been raised!
Christ indeed is risen and so we are reminded once again that their is nothing stronger that God, even death.
This is a day to celebrate new life. That is the reason for the little chicks and rabbits and ducklings that you see everywhere. new life, as symbolized by these tiny creatures speaks of the rebirth of all Christians through water and the Spirit. Celebrate your life in Christ.
From now through Pentecost, we continue to the Easter season and the celebration of our redemption.
Happy Easter!!!

is upon us

As we enter this period in our Church calendar, it is a good time to consider what Lent means to us personally. How will you prepare yourself to renew your baptismal promises at Easter? What will you do or not do to more closely follow Christ? 

One way to reflect is to ponder upon the three traditional practices of Lent; prayer, fasting and works of charity.

Prayer: Many Catholics practice prayer as a talking to God through recitation of memorized prayers and devotions. These are good. I challenge you to go deeper into prayer by entering a dialogue with God. To do so means we have to quiet ourselves, a daunting task in our modern, fast-paced lifestyle. God already knows our needs and our weaknesses. By taking time to talk to God and listen for an inner response, we can better come to understand what God has in store for us and how much God waits for our turning even more to him. Devote a little more time each day that you normally do to sit with God in silence. You may begin by reading scripture or some spiritual writing. Then just ponder what you have read and ask God to speak to you. God will respond if we just quiet ourselves to hear.

Fasting: Self discipline is another lost art in today's world. The Lenten practice of fasting should include more than just "giving up" something. If the denying of a hunger for food or drink helps call to mind the need to simplify our life in order to follow Christ more closely, then it is god. Don't limit your fasting to food and drink. You can fast from practices that draw you away from companionship with God and God-in-others. For instance, a person may choose to fast from gossip, from criticism and or from mindless TV or internet use and instead use the time to build relationships with family, friends and community. Fasting from an activity that is not in keeping with the two great commandments of love for God and neighbor will help us be more prepared to fully celebrate Easter.

Alms-giving or works of charity: Do you remember the idea of "paying it forward?" This is the practice of performing random acts of kindness without notice, recognition or reward. The whole idea is to do something helpful for another to make their life better in some way. This could be as simple as an anonymous note of greeting to someone you know is alone or paying for a stranger's coffee without them knowing who is responsible. Of course, outward charity must be part of a softening of our hearts, particularly toward those less fortunate than ourselves. Remember the scripture passage; "Whatever you do for these least among you, you do for me." Giving of your time and energy to efforts to better our community, feed the hungry, help out a neighbor are all good ways to express our belief in the divine light in each of God's children.
Of course, giving funds to charity and to the church is good too. It should cause you to reflect on all the good that God has done for you and be a part of your giving back to the Lord.

Be creative  Only you can decide what will help you turn even more toward Christ. May your Lenten devotions lead you ever closer to our savior so you may share fully in his resurrection.

Change is Going to Come

The dog days of Summer are past and there is a morning chill in the air that tells us that Autumn is just about upon us. Soon the trees will begin to dress themselves for the season and eventually drop their foliage.
Many families have put away their warm weather fun equipment and began to settle into another routine.


What will the changes in the season mean for you? Will it be another routine time?

Here is an idea and a challenge! Use this changing of the seasons to make some changes in your way of life. Add a time for family prayer. Make a date with yourself for a retreat or new time for prayer.
Commit to a healthier lifestyle. Take time to reflect on the beauty that our loving God has placed all around us, both in nature and the wonderful and interesting people who cross our path.

Life is a gift from God who wants to be in passionate relationship with us. It would be a terrible waste if this turns out to be another "routine" time in our relationship with the Lord. What will you do to demonstrate your appreciation of God's many gifts?

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of Summer!
Those words from a Nat King Cole song speak about the way Summer affects people's outlook and activities. For some, summertime is about a more relaxed pace. For others, the extra daylight and warm weather allows for more activities, especially outdoors.
Unfortunately, summertime for some people means a lessening of their commitment to prayer and time with God. Sunday Mass is less attended.
Make a pledge to yourself to renew your time with God. This is a good opportunity to find and commune with God in nature, to use the season of Summer to try new prayer forms or resume one we may have neglected. Use the magnificent gift of this season to open yourself more to God, to follow Christ more closely, to unclutter and refocus on what really matters - our relationship with our Creator.
Have a happy and blessed Summertime and may your living be easy!

Christ has Risen. Alleluia!

On the great Easter Vigil, 31 adults and older children were fully initiated. Their journey to the font was not always easy. It took time, effort and dedication.

I wonder how many Catholics, as they witnessed this great event, reflected on their own faith journey. I'm sure there were difficult times, times of struggle with some teaching or practice of the Church and times when keeping faithful took dedication and effort.

Think about your own faith path. Where has the Spirit taken you? Where have you wandered onto a different road, only to find your way back? How are you equipping yourself for the rest of your journey to God's Eternal Easter.
Let us hear your comments on Easter, journeying in faith and the path to the heavenly banquet.

Our Parish Family Keeps Growing

This last Sunday, March 25th, 5 women joined our church through a profession of faith, confirmation and celebration of their first Holy Communion. It was a delight to be with them at the culmination of this phase of their faith journey.
At the Easter vigil on April 7th, 8 adults and 24 older children will be baptized, confirmed and receive communion. Please pray for them in this final stage of the process.Their pictures are in the church vestibule so you can put faces to your prayers for them.
These people have made a great effort and sacrifices in order to develop themselves as faith disciples of Christ. How can their example inspire us in our discipleship?

Holy Week(s)

Holy Week(s)

 March 25th is Palm Sunday and there is much going on. On Sunday, at the 8:45 Mass, 5 Christians will make their profession of faith and be received into full communion with the Catholic. That evening at 6:00 Mass, the Elect will experience the 3rd scrutiny and be given the Lord's Prayer by our Church.
 April 1st begins the high holy days of our Church. It also begins the final weeks of preparation & celebration for those who have been journeying as candidates and the Elect. On that Thursday evening is the Mass when the washing of disciple's feet takes place. Good Friday is the Veneration of the Cross.
That brings us to Holy Saturday. From 9-2 the Elect and the Confirmation candidates will be on retreat. That night, starting at 8pm is the Vigil of Easter. At that liturgy 31 people will be baptized, confirmed and receive their first communion.
This is an exciting time for me, the RCIA team and all involved. It is also the high point of our Church year for all Catholics. Please pray for all those involved in this weeks' happenings.

Lenten Practices


Growing up, there was one question that dominated our thoughts as Lent approached; "What are you giving up for Lent?". We somehow knew that Lent was a time of sacrifice and to our childlike perception it meant we had to forgo something we enjoyed, like candy or soda. We kidded about giving up Brussel sprouts.


While self sacrifice is still a part of the lenten discipline, it has to connect to a larger lenten spirituality. The question for those who are serious about their faith growth should be, "How will I be a better disciple of Christ because of my lenten disciplines.". Sacrifice for its own sake is never productive. We sacrifice something so we can reflect on the many gifts we have been given and how well we share our good fortune with those less fortunate.


The three traditional areas of lenten discipline are prayer, fasting and alms-giving. I would like to offer some suggestions for these three areas.
PRAYER - Lent is a good time to start a new prayer practice. Keeping a prayer journal, using the morning & evening prayers from the Liturgy of the Hours, or taking time to quietly sit in the Lord's presence are all good ways to increase your prayer discipline.
FASTING - While the traditional fast is associated with food, I suggest you consider also fasting from those distractions and habits that lessen the intensity of your relationship with God. Fast from gossip. Fast from anger. Fast from some of your TV time and spend it on your prayer discipline instead. 
ALMS-GIVING - Acts of charity and service should be normal for the committed Christian. Lent is a time to consciously make an effort to be aware of how much God has given us and to return some by helping others. Scripture says"Whatever you have done for the least of your brothers and sisters, you have done for me.". One good way is to take the money you would have spent on the extra Starbucks or that big meal that you fasted from and donate it to the Rice Bowl campaign or to St Vincent de Paul society. Another way is to go through your closet. Anything you haven't worn in the last 6 months most likely won't be missed if you donate it to Goodwill or another agency.
Not all charity involves money or goods. Acts of charity can also mean spending time with a lonely neighbor, cleaning up for an elderly homeowner, offering a ride to ch8urch to someone who doesn't drive are all good acts of caring.


WHAT WILL YOU DO TO MAKE THIS LENT A TIME TO GROW IN YOUR FAITH?
HOW WILL YOUR LENTEN PRACTICES MAKE CHRIST MORE PRESENT IN YOUR HOME, YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR WORK?
Let us hear from you.

Time to Enjoy Life

Like many people, I tend to suffer a let down following the Christmas holidays. There is so much celebration and anticipation, family good will and friendly exchange that its absence is keenly felt. I am fortunate because I can look to a tradition that may not be apparent to most people.
The 12th night of Christmas is the official start of the carnival season in New Orleans and a few other places. From that night through the day before Lent, life is celebrated with fun, food and friends. It is a way of saying, "Life is good and God has blessed us."
While there are those who go to excess, that is not the norm. Families gather, workers share king cake, talk is of parties, masked balls and eventually, parades. Of course, food is ever present at all these.
The Incarnation event is a source of hope & joy and it should be made a part of our life. So enjoy some good food, good friends & family. There should be a difference because of the Christmas we just celebrated.

SO, let me hear from you. How will you prepare yourself during this time to be ready to say "Farewell to Meat" ( the meaning of "carnival.")
What will you and your family do to celebrate the life God has given us? How can your work atmosphere reflect the joy of Christ-with us?

Keeping Christmas

Well, by this time you most likely have your Christmas tree up & decorated. Presents are probably bought & wrapped. Christmas is upon us.
Unfortunately, many people, including good Catholics have lost the sense of the Season. I mean that for many, Christmas ends on December 25th or at least by New Years Day.
Will you be keeping Christmas for the entire season? Remember the 12 days of Christmas song? It is meant to remind us that Christmas lasts more than one day or one week. Growing up, we called the feast of the Epiphany on January 6th "Little Christmas" . Our Church celebrates Christmas until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord (January 13th this year)
Will this be a season of joy for you? Will you keep Christmas alive for the whole season, especially in your heart and home. Show the world the full meaning of Christmas by bringing Christ to others, especially those who may not be of good cheer. Let your decorations stay until at least January 6th, the feast of the 3 Kings.
How will you keep Christmas more this year than in the past/ Enter a comment and let me know.

Happy New Year!!!

No, I'm not crazy or messed up on the date. Our Church Year begins with the first Sunday of Advent. This year we will be in cycle B, which focuses mainly on the Gospel of Mark.

Since this is the New Year of our church, we should use it to make a few New Year resolutions, spiritually, that it.

Maybe for some it will be to make their prayer life more consistent, more praise and less "Please Help!" For others, it may be to reach out to those estranged from the family or the Church, inviting them back to relationship. Still others may decide to do more to help those less fortunate or to work for justice causes, respecting all life as coming from God.
As we prepare for Christmas by a solid observation of Advent, may the joy of this season and that of Christmas move us to be better disciples of Christ in all we do.

I would urge everyone to contemplate on one thought as a sort of guide or mantra for this year. Every person is loved by God, not for who they are or what they do but simply because God chooses to love all creation. Remember the scripture: "God so loved the world that he gave us his only begotten Son..."

So, share your thoughts about how you will prepare to welcome Christ in your heart & home.

Saints Alive

With the approach of November, we enter the time of remembrance of those who have already joined God. Beginning with All Saints Day on November 1st and All Souls Day, November 2nd, we take time during the month to pray for and with our deceased loved ones.
We are all saints through our baptism. Living a saintly life is not a matter of floating around with angelic music playing. What would be the attraction in that? We are saintly when we go about our everyday tasks in a spirit of love, joy & peace, even in the midst of this world's turmoil.

Who modeled practical sainthood for you? Who showed you what it means to live your faith in day to day reality, standing firm to the teaching of Jesus even when it was not the easy way?

Feel free to share a story or two of these people so we can all remember & rejoice in their lives.

Mass Confusion

It seems that there is much confusion and concern surrounding the changes in the Mass that will take place beginning this Advent. While the parish has put material in the bulletin and a workshop was offered, many still have questions. If you do, use the comment section on this post to ask them or to make comments about the changes.

Fall has fallen

Once again God's great cycle has returned us to the time of Autumn. All around us the fields are offering up their harvest, leaving behind the remnants of their fruitfulness.

This is also a season of dying. The trees will begin to drop their leaves, fields will lie in wait. All too soon winter will be upon us.

Now is a good time to reflect on what our own harvest has been. What have I produced this summer that will provide nourishment and sustinence for others. I don't mean physically alone but emotional and spiritual as well

I ask you to consider this and offer your own reflections in return.

August musings

It's been awhile since I have posted anything. This is the time of year when many things change to a different pace.

God has created us to both work and rest. Somehow, one of these has overshadowed the other in our society. That's too bad because it has a negative effect on our spirituality.

Have you ever heard someone say, " I don't have time to pray." or " My work is my prayer.?"These and similar attitudes fail to recognize the need God has instilled in our very being for quiet and rest; re-creation. Without rest and quiet, we are too busy or too occupied to listen to God spek to us. We make a decent effort to speak TO God but how often is it a monologue with us doing all the talking.
Rest & quiet have great value and are an essential part of any mature relationship with God.
So I hope you find a time & place for quiet this Summer and throughout the year.

Pentecost

This Sunday is Pentecost, the close of our Easter season. How well and how long did you celebrate Easter?(the religious one)It seems we have given over our religious holy days to the commercial and the tacky. Not that I reject celebrating Easter with bunnies and candy on Easter Sunday. It should be joyous. But why stop then? Our Church knows that 50 days is a better way to celebrate the very core event of our faith.
So, Happy last week of Easter and enjoy the numbered times that follow.

Happy Easter Season

Christ has Risen!! Alleluia!
The joy of this season is often lost after the first rush of Easter. Our Church in her wisdom gives us 50 days of Easter to reflect on the meaning and impact of the Resurrection in our lives.
Last evening we held a gathering of the newly initiated adults, along with others in the process. The 5 "newbees" shared their experience of the Triduum and how their lives have changed over the course of their preparation journey. It was a powerful sharing and made me proud of our church and all it calls us to be.
I would like to hear from any of you who were at the Easter Vigil Service about your reaction to the baptisms and the following rites.

No Worries, Mate!

There has been a lot of buzz lately about the "Final Days!" I even say a huge billboard warning of the end of the world sometime in May of this year.In addition, people see the natural disasters and the increasing violence and wars as a sign of the end time. It is causing many to worry.
The truth is, as Jesus tells us, no one knows the time but God. Our faith tells us to be ready at all times, then to get on with life. No one can lengthen their lives by worrying about when the end of the world will be. In fact, each person's end of the world is the day they pass from this life to the next. All we can do is focus on living the best we can. The rest is up to God and no one knows what God has in mind.

While we shouldn't worry about the end, we can, especially during Lent, care for those who are suffering from all that is going on in this world. The people of Japan and Haiti need our help. Closer to home, many go hungry. We can all examine our lifestyles to find ways to be of support both materially and spiritual to those who are hurting. We are all so blessed and sharing from those blessings will put aside worry about the end of the world and focus us more on appreciating the world we have now.

Bishop's Day of Reflection

This Saturday was the Bishop's Day of Reflection, a time set aside for all those adultspreparing for Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist as well as those who willbe recieved into communion with the Catholic Church to et to know their bishop and to reflect on the meaning of the Lord's Prayer. Over 400 people gathered to listen to the bishop and Sr. Barbara Thiella or to Sr Gloria (in Spanish) break open the Our Father line by line and lead reflections on how it calls us to live as Christians.
The day began with calebration of the Rite of Continuing Conversion. This celebration recognizes the Christians who want to complete their initiation and the bishop accepts them and offers prayers and blessing for their continued faith journey.
The folowing day, those who will be fully initiated this Easter Vigil were asked to enroll their names in the Book of the Elect and were prayerfully sent to thwe bishop who will recognize and recieve them as ready for baptism. It all was overwhelming sometimes; to see so many journeying in faith and joining our faith community.