Happy Easter! Jesus has risen from the dead, Alleluia, Alleluia! Do we believe this?

         In John 11 after Lazarus dies, Martha tried to find Jesus in her grief. When she does, she says, “Lord, if you were here, my brother would not have died, but even now I know whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus replied, “Your brother will rise,” and a few sentences later he talks about the resurrection of life and asks, “do you believe this?” Well, I remember one time reading this at a funeral service. When the time came for the question to be asked “Do you believe this,” the granddaughter of the deceased – about 4 years old – screamed out, “Yes! Yes, I believe!” in the middle of the reading. While everyone else in the room had tears in their eyes, she with a huge smile on her face, said again, “Yes, I believe.”  People started to laugh, and she brought smiles to everyone’s faces who were there to mourn that day.

Do we believe that death is not the last period on human life? Do we believe that life is? Do we believe that Death is not the last word in the sentence of life?  Do we believe that the last words are resurrection and life that has no end? This past year there have been so many people who have shared their crosses with me. Crosses that just seem so heavy to bear. One family shared with me their heavy cross that they were carrying with their child who had cancer. They then found out that the wife was diagnosed with cancer too. Do we believe in the midst of suffering? There are a lot times I can remember being personally challenged to answer that question.  As a seminarian, I was challenged when I found out that my friend Brian died in a motorcycle accident. I rushed over to see his mom.  When I got to the house, she was lying on the floor crying and screaming, “Why God? Why God?”  Not only did she lose her son suddenly, but she had suddenly lost her husband a few years prior as well.  All she could do was just scream on the floor, grab my hand with one hand, and hold her rosary with the other.

Do we believe that death is not the end? I was challenged by this question my first year as priest going to a call of 16 old boy who committed suicide. I arrived to a full house of his brothers, sisters, mom, dad and the police.  They all had tears in their eyes and were looking at me for the answers.  All I could do was be with them, pray with them, cry with them, and listen to them. Do we believe that death is not the end? Do we truly have hope in the resurrection?

I remember when Archbishop Nelson Perez first came to Philadelphia he was interviewed and talked about hope.  He said the word “hope” is used often, which can lead Christians to forget its Christian definition. “We say, ‘I hope you have a good day’ ‘I hope it doesn’t rain’…‘I hope the Phillies win the World Series and the Eagles win the Super Bowl next year.”  “Sometimes hope is just wishful thinking, but Christian hope is rooted in the resurrection of Christ.” So “Where is the source of hope? Not in us, not in the self-help section of the bookstore. The source of our hope is Christ, the same Christ who walked the planet, who rose from the dead,” And when asked if he really truly had hope with all of the difficulties in the world, his response back was this, “Listen, I gave my life to a faith that believes that a dead man rose from the dead. Yes, I have hope.”

My friend’s mom had hope. She still came to Mass despite all of her sufferings. She hoped as I said Mass for her husband and son at their home each year. I saw hope in the mom of the 16-year-old boy who would come to Mass all the time. She would ask me to pray with her and talk to me about the good times and tough times with her son. I saw her hope as she spread the faith by teaching CCD/PREP at night despite all her sufferings.  Those two moms exemplify hope despite their awful suffering and all of the tears they shed.  They inspire me to hope.

So, do we have hope? Do we believe in the resurrection of the dead? Do we have hope that God has prepared a place for all of us and that one day there will be no more suffering, no more pain, no more cancer, no more sickness, no more crosses, no more death? Do we believe that one day Our Father in heaven will wipe away every tear from our eyes as we see Him as He is – pure love? Do we believe that Jesus would rather die than spend all of eternity without you and me?

We can live this life now with hope by the way we give Jesus our sins in confession, by coming to Mass, and by learning why we need to praise. It makes all the difference in the world.  The way we hope by loving God, loving our neighbors, and forgiving our enemies will draw people back to the faith. The way we hope in the resurrection now will one day turn our hearts from mourning into laughter, because we will see every amazing promise of Jesus. It is all real. It is all true. So let us hope together as parish family, one moment at time, one step at time, one day time and scream out by the way we live our lives “Yes, I believe! I hope in Christ!”

One of the most haunting melodies that Catholics of a certain age have in their memories and in their hearts is the music and the words of the Stabat Mater:

                At the Cross her station keeping,
                Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
                Close to Jesus to the last.

These words place Mary, and us, at the foot of the Cross.  These words and this melody places us in the action of Good Friday and the sufferings of Jesus and his Mother Mary.

                O how sad and sore distressed,
                Was that Mother highly blessed,
                Of the sole-begotten One.

Good Friday is our opportunity to join Mary at the foot of the Cross. Good Friday, and the service of the passion and death of the Lord, is our opportunity to join all human kind as we stand at the Cross, close to Jesus to the last.

                Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
                All his bitter anguish bearing,
                Now at length the sword has passed.

Today we are fortunate to gather at the foot of the Cross, to participate in the reading of the Passion, to venerate the wood of the Cross.  The opportunity to recall the events of this most somber day. Take the time to stand at the Cross of Jesus.  To stand with our crucified Lord, joining Mary His beloved Mother, St. John the beloved disciple and Dismas the Good Thief.  Look upon this Cross, our Cross, which hangs above that spot where daily the un-bloody sacrifice of the Calvary is re-enacted, and have your moment of adoration and petition with the Crucified Lord.

                Christ above in torment hangs,
                She beneath beholds the pangs,
                Of her dying, glorious son.

As you gaze upon the Cross, let the words of St. John Neumann echo in your heart and in our Church today, “Passion of Christ, comfort me.”

In his first Encyclical, The Gospel of Joy, Pope Francis wrote: “How beautiful it is to stand beneath the crucifix, simply to be under the Lord’s gaze, so full of love, what a blessing.” Standing beneath the Cross is what we will do today.  It is what we should do every day. May this Good Friday journey bring us pardon and peace, safety and health.

We adore you O Christ and we bless you,
because by your Holy Cross,
you have redeemed the world!

What Is Christian Initiation of Adults?

         Christian Initiation of Adults or CIA (formerly known as RCIA) is a process initiated and sustained by the Holy Spirit, through which the non-baptized may be freely converted to the Lord and receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist. Likewise, those baptized in another Christian Faith or as infants, who did not receive further catechetical formation may choose to be fully initiated into the Catholic Church through the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. Catholics who seek to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, as well as those who desire to deepen their understanding of the Catholic Faith and their relationship with the Lord are also most welcome to participate in CIA!

From September through May, inquirers participate in weekly Faith Formation sessions where Gospel values and the person of Jesus Christ are taught. The team of presenters include: Fr. Matthew Windle, Fr. Paul Kennedy, Deacon Chris Mars and several other well-prepared and faithful parishioners. Personally, getting to know the participants and serving on the team is the greatest joy of my ministry. In addition to the weekly sessions, CIA participants also attend various Liturgical Celebrations.

After the initial period of catechesis, the inquirer can freely choose to participate in the Rite of Acceptance and the Rite of Sending at the Cathedral. After the Rite of Acceptance, the inquirers are called Catechumens (those to be Baptized) and Candidates (those to receive Confirmation and Eucharist). On the Vigil of the First Sunday of Lent, our Catechumens, Candidates and their Sponsors traveled to the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul where Archbishop Nelson Perez formally recognized them not only as upcoming, fully initiated members of St. David Parish but also members of the Church of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Because Baptism is so important, our Catechumens became known as the Elect.

This Season of Lent is a time of reflection and conversion in particular for the Elect, marked by the Scrutinies which take place on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent. At the beginning of each Scrutiny, the celebrant asks the assembly to pray that the Elect are given a spirit of penance, a sense of sin and the true freedom of the children of God. Both the Elect and the Candidates prepare spiritually for the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation at the celebration of the Easter Vigil, April 19, 2025.

Throughout the Easter season and beyond, the newly received members of the parish will participate in a period of “Mystagogy” or deepening of the understanding of the truths of the Faith and the development of a personal relationship with Jesus, Mary and the Saints. They will also participate fully with the faithful in the Sunday Eucharistic Celebration. 

Open your heart to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Is He urging you to deepen your understanding of the Catholic Faith and your relationship with the Lord Jesus? Is He urging you to prepare to receive the lifegiving grace of the Sacraments? Come, join us at CIA!

May God love and bless you! Sr. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, IHM

The First Reading for this Sunday shares a mystery that Moses stumbled upon. Moses found a bush on fire but it was not being consumed. A sister shared with me that the burning bush was one way to explain being on fire for the Lord but not consumed. We are called to be “on fire for the Lord” (Romans 12).

During this Lenten season, how can we be on fire but not consumed? Sometimes, as “cradle Catholics” we lose our “fire”. We grow up in this Faith, so that we can forget how beautiful and exciting it is!

This weekend is a special weekend where the men and women of the CIA take another step towards joining the Catholic Faith. These men and women are excited (and probably nervous) about the Faith. We have a lot to learn from them! Where is our excitement? It may sound strange to be excited during Lent. Lent is a time to give things up. What is the point of giving things up if the practice does not help us to grow in our relationship with Jesus? If you are giving up chocolate, coffee, or social media, that’s great! But how does that help your relationship with Jesus? What’s the point?

Maybe, to be on fire and not consumed, we can look to see what in our relationship with Jesus needs some kindling. Instead of giving something up, can we add something on? Maybe going to Mass more than just on Sunday, or praying the Stations of the Cross with the parish on Wednesday evenings.

We tend to focus on what we should give up. Maybe the kindling our relationship needs is to add something on? Whatever you choose, remember, the desire is to find that “fire for the Lord”! Don’t be consumed or obsessed. Let Jesus lead you in this process. He is so happy with your efforts and your desire!

Lent, Week 2 ~ let’s approach it as if we are beginning a trip…

For many people, the start of Lent is met with a sense of dread or a feeling that these forty days are the longest days on the calendar.  Others also believe that it has to be forty days of somber living.  Although I admit that Lent is a time when we are called to deeper prayer, fasting and almsgiving, it doesn’t mean that they are days that lack joy, happiness and excitement.  I realize that many among us don’t look forward to Lent and may already be asking, “How many more days until Easter?” However, I would like for each of us to make the decision that this Lent will be different.  I propose that we enter this graced season with a new attitude; an attitude that will treat the Lenten Season as if we were taking an adventurous trip with family or good friends. 

I enjoy traveling and fortunately I have had the opportunity to visit many of the fifty states, as well as various world countries.  Each time I venture to a new destination I enjoy learning about its history, the culture and customs, the people, the interesting facts and fascinating sites.  The newness of the trip is always met with excitement.

So, why not begin this “Lenten trip” in the same manner….with excitement and a sense that we will uncover something new, something grand and something spectacular.   

Some might balk and say Lent could never be all of those things…new, grand and spectacular.  I ask, why not?  Why can’t this sacred time of year be an adventurous trip when, through my time in prayer, learn more about this loving God, who came to destroy sin and death?  And through my fasting and reliance on God, experience the fascinating grace that can only come from God, when lives are changed forever?  Why can’t this be a time when, through my sharing with those in need, I am overwhelmed by the deep and abiding faithfulness of God?

Yet, for any of that to happen…I must first decide to enter into the “trip” and be open to the adventure that God has in store for me.  Lent offers a multitude of opportunities for us to enjoy this “vacation” from the ordinary.  Just look at the parish calendar of events for Lent; it is filled with guided tours, new destinations, daily excursions, and familiar lodging.  Why not enter into the season and enjoy the trip.

May your Lenten Journey be adventurous!

God Bless You,
Father Kennedy

The Holy Grail

There have been many stories and sagas written about the search or quest for the very cup that Jesus used at the Last Supper where he instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist. The sacrament in which His whole mission and ministry is embodied. It is through the shedding of His blood that salvation for us all takes place. It is through the Eucharist the other six sacraments of our Church find their origin. You can imagine how cherished that very cup would be that held the wine that through Jesus’ words becomes His very blood. The cup that Jesus tells us, “This is my blood, the blood of a new and everlasting covenant shed for you.”  Jesus uses very concise language when he gives us this most precious of gifts. What he doesn’t say is, “This cup holds a symbol of my blood” or “It is almost like my blood”.  What he does say is, “This is my blood.”  Who wouldn’t want that cup?  Even Hollywood knows this cup’s significance and uses its existence to create many movies – my favorite being, “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”.

During the very action-packed movie, Indy is looking for the Holy Grail, and at the very end, he finally finds it.  It is guarded by a very old knight, and he is told that if he drinks from the Holy Grail he will find healing and youth.  He will gain eternal life.  Wow, Hollywood almost got it right.  We know as Catholics that eternal life is offered through drinking from this cup but they got one very important thing wrong.  It is not the cup that brings eternal life, it is what was in it. Jesus’ blood.  The same blood that we find on our altar after our priest says those beautiful words of consecration.  The true presence: body, soul, and divinity, is found in that very cup on the altar. The Holy Grail is right there.  It would be any cup that held that precious blood. We are all bigger heroes than Indiana Jones once we come to believe and have faith in the true presence of Christ. We do what Christ tells us and drink from it in memory of him.  Once we drink from that cup our own adventure takes place because not only is eternal life given to us, we now become a vessel that holds the blood of Jesus Christ Himself.  We become a Holy Grail.

The chalice a priest uses is usually very ornate and made of precious metal.  Each priest cherishes and takes care of his chalice -keeping it clean and keeping it in a place of honor when he is not using it.  He loves his Holy Grail.  Each of us as a Holy Grail needs to keep ourselves clean and in places of honor.  There is nothing Christ cherishes more than each of us and He is ready to pour all of Himself into us.  We need to be prepared.  It is this time of Lent when the Church gives us the opportunity each year to repent and prepare ourselves to receive Christ in His fullness.  It is a time to remind ourselves of the true presence of Christ in each of us as we become the very Holy Grail He wants us to be. 

May Jesus live in our hearts forever! 
Deacon Chris

Be merciful as your Heavenly Father is merciful.
Luke 6:36

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus calls us to practice mercy, forgiveness, and radical love. He urges us to show compassion to others and to bear the image of Christ in all our actions. Humanly speaking this seems impossible, but “with God all things are possible.”

Jesus warns us to avoid judging others because it builds up a barrier to God’s grace. Judging others can be rash and may lead to a lack of compassion and love. When we judge, we often don’t know the whole story and we can hurt others with our assumptions. Jesus teaches us to listen to and help each other instead of judging. Understanding the struggles others are facing will hopefully move us to show compassion, kindness, and support, especially when we don’t fully comprehend another’s situation.

Judging others can create barriers and harm relationships. It separates us and makes it hard to see the good in others. By choosing understanding instead of judgment, we can build stronger, more loving communities. By following Jesus’ example of love and mercy we will judge less and show more compassion. We will help bring more kindness and understanding into the world.

Living in the image of Christ means to embody His values in our daily lives. Jesus shows us how to love others, even those who have hurt us, not an easy task, but one that requires patience and daily prayer and God’s grace to forgive those who have offended us. When we strive to live like Christ, we become a light for others, showing them the path to peace and love.

Jesus exhorts us to love our enemies. We are called to a life of mercy, just like David showed mercy to Saul. Mercy means choosing kindness over revenge. It means forgiving others, even when it is difficult. It means being a Jesus model for others. Forgiveness is something we all need. Holding grudges will prevent us from finding peace. We need to forgive in order to be forgiven.

This Sunday’s scriptures remind us to strive to live out Jesus’ teachings in our daily lives. Let us strive to avoid judgment, and show compassion, kindness, and love. Let us strive to be the image of Christ so that our lives will make a positive impact on those around us. Let us grow in virtue: namely, love, forgiveness and mercy. Let all of us draw closer to the heart of Jesus!

You may be aware that a couple of weeks ago was Catholic Schools’ Week. For those of you who are not familiar with that, it is a week-long celebration of what makes Catholic Schools so unique.

What makes Queen of Angels different from other schools?

I could answer that question with sharing all of the things that we have at our school like:
– Brand new HP computer lab (Google platform and Microsoft)
– Brand new middle school and STEM wing
– New dedicated full-time learning support teacher and program
– New connection with Our Lady of Confidence (OLC)
– Our campus is growing so that any student can come and be welcomed and supported

But many schools can claim that! All those things are excellent, but they are more “things”.

What makes Queen of Angels unique is that we focus on what the Responsorial Psalm says so well, “Blessed are they who hope in the Lord!” We recognize, teach, and proclaim Jesus and we “hope in the Lord”. Our children are growing up understanding that we are here on earth to serve the Lord, Jesus Christ. There is one Savior. That Savior is not a president, king, governor, or politician. Our Savior is Jesus Christ, and our focus is on Him! Our school has a dedicated Catholic curriculum that you can read through on the archdiocese website. You can be sure that the values your are instilling in your children at home are being supported during the school day.

We use that new computer lab that I mentioned, to serve the Lord.

We use that new middle school and STEM wing, to serve the Lord.

We have a full-time learning support teacher and program, to bring students of all different learning abilities to the Lord.

We are building the connection between Queen of Angels and Our Lady of Confidence students because the Lord wants us to learn and accept students of all abilities, gifts, and skills.

Everything that we do at Queen of Angels is guided by the desire to grow and bring others closer to the Lord, Jesus Christ. If that is something that you want to be a part of, please call our school office and schedule an appointment for a visit. We would love to show you in person everything that I described to you and more!

Faith and Sacrifice

One of the things I struggle with as a father is letting my children go out into the world without me to protect them. Even at this very moment I have a daughter on the aircraft carrier Carl Vison serving our country and another living on her own down in Charlotte, NC. They are on my mind all the time. Every parent probably struggles with this very thing as their children go out into the world. Now imagine that you were given a glimpse of something bad that may happen to them. Granted we cannot control everything, but would you stop them from going if you could?

Now imagine being our Blessed Mother. You are told you will be carrying the Son of God, the Messiah. The one who will bring salvation to the whole world. You then learn that the work He will do will come with Him suffering and your own heart being broken or pierced. Would you try and prevent that from happening? Mary does not. What she does do is she takes Jesus home and helps prepare Him for His divine mission. She has faith in our God even though she must sacrifice her beloved child.

If there ever was a Gospel passage the has the tone of faith and sacrifice, this is it. Starting with Simeon’s faith in God that he would see the Christ, he acknowledges Jesus’ road will be rough and he gives us his beautiful verse,

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”

He has faith that Jesus’ suffering will lead to salvation for all. Anna then confirms again in faith Jesus, mission and our salvation. Lastly, we see Joseph and Mary, knowing what was just said to them, take their child home where He finds favor with God in his preparation.

We know and have faith that through Jesus’ sacrifice we now have an opportunity to have a relationship with God the Father again. His sacrifice includes suffering, and it includes death. But in the very act of dying Jesus would show that Godliness, in its essence, survives death because His divine love outlives death offering us eternal life. This faith allows us to know the God has great things planned for us all and all our children also. I can live with that.

In today’s Gospel, we hear the familiar phrase of God pronouncing, “This is my Beloved Son…” Have we ever stopped to think that God looks at us as “beloved”?

The truth is, we are beloved sons and daughters of God. The devil is going to tell you that you can’t be. He is going to whisper words that are not true. Remember, the devil is a master liar! His “book of plays” is the same, though. We know what he will do. He will take something good and twist it into something negative and shameful.

I remember a good priest friend saying to me, “Remember, God calls you by name. The devil calls you by your sins!” Think back to all the Bible stories we know and love. The calling of Moses, David, Samuel, the Blessed Mother, Peter, Mary Magdalen, Paul, etc., those are just a few! Notice in those stories that the Lord always calls them by name!

If you are hearing other things that are not your name, they are not from the Lord. The devil will work hard to remind you of all the things that you have done wrong. Jesus will echo His Father’s words and call you “Beloved.”

I know that New Year’s Day was almost two weeks ago. For some, it seems silly to make a new year’s resolution. Maybe, this year, you can choose to focus on what Jesus calls you. Take this year to remember who you are and WHOSE you are!

My favorite pope of all time, Pope Saint John Paul II, always reminded the young people, “You are meant for more. You are meant for greatness!” Don’t let the devil call you or claim you to be anything that you are not. Remember, you are a “beloved son or daughter”! Have a blessed week and see you in the pews!

The Gift of a New Year

Theologian and spiritual writer Henri Nouwen once shared these words on the best way to approach a new year: “We must learn to live each day, each hour, yes, each minute as a new beginning, as a unique opportunity to make everything new.  Imagine that we could walk through the new year always listening to the voice saying to us: ‘I have a gift for you and can’t wait for you to see it.’”

“The problem is that there are many cunning foxes (and voices) jumping on our shoulders and whispering in our ears the great lie: ‘There is nothing new under the sun.’  When we listen to these foxes (and voices), they eventually prove themselves right: our new year, our new day, our new hour becomes flat, boring, dull and without anything new.”

“We must open our minds and our hearts to the voice that resounds through the valleys and hills of our life saying: ‘Let Me show you where I live among My people.  My name is ‘God-with-you.’  I will wipe all the tears from your eyes; there will be no more death, no more mourning or sadness.  The world of the past has gone.’”

As we celebrate the beginning of 2025 and the feast of the Epiphany of our Lord, the manifestation of the Lord to the nations, let us be determined to live each day reflecting the Glory of the Lord and being grateful of the gifts that God has showered upon us.                              

May God bless each moment of your year,
Father Kennedy

One of my duties here at St. David as the deacon is to meet with parents who are about to have their first child baptized.  During this Pre-Jordan interview, I ask the parents to share with me their faith journey and where they are now in their faith.  Sometimes they are reluctant to share because they haven’t really been practicing or their journey towards God has not always been easy or they have an atypical faith journey. They also almost always think their difficult path towards our Lord is specific to them and they wish they could have done better. 

First, I tell them this, everyone struggles, and it is in the attempt where we can find our Savior.  I use this analogy: The image of the mountain with God at the top is used throughout scripture so in order to get to God we have to climb. Climbing can be tough. There are also multiple paths we can take to the top of God’s Mountain. It almost always is never straight up. We go left. We go right. Sometimes we even fall back and have to start again. But know this. God has sent us a guide. This guide knows every path there is to God because he happens to be His Son.  The reason why Jesus is such a good guide to the Father is because he has made the journey Himself. But even Jesus had help in His path and that help came from His earthly family, Mary and Joseph. We know from today’s Gospel even they struggled at times. It is in this very family dynamic, the parents bring their children to the Church.

At baptism, the parents make a commitment in front of God and the community that they will raise their child in our Catholic faith. Even the godparents make a commitment to hold the parent to that task. If the parents don’t make the journey toward the Father, it is very difficult for the child to ever do so. Mary and Joseph had the same responsibility. Jesus did not come into the world just to be Mary and Joseph’s child. Just the opposite. Mary and Joseph came into earthly existence to prepare this boy for His role as the adult son of the Father of all things and our Savior.  This is the same for us.  It is within the family that our faith is nurtured the most. It is not a coincidence that God sent His Son into a family to prepare Him.

Every family’s duty is to send their young children out from home when they are approaching adulthood. They can do this confidently and with faith in God and Jesus Christ when they are prepared in our very own Holy Families. The trek up the mountain is not as hard when we have the support of a family of faith from the beginning.

May Jesus live in your heart forever.
Deacon Chris.

GAUDETE! REJOICE

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!” With these stirring words St. Paul reminds us that we can find genuine happiness only when we are rooted “in the Lord” and strive to live grace-filled Christian lives. At our Baptism, God infused His theological virtues of faith, hope and charity or love into our souls. Through these freely given gifts we are bound to the Lord and He is bound to us. Frequent reception of the Holy Eucharist, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, fervent prayer and good works strengthen and increase these virtues within us.  

The joy and happiness in the Lord that we celebrate today is symbolized by lighting a rose candle on the Advent wreath, instead of a purple one. Rose signifies the dawning of a new day and new life. It is a special color because it emphasizes the main message of Advent, which is hope.

Charles Peguy, a French poet, expressed the depth of meaning of faith, hope and love in a special way. Faith is like a mother who is faithful and true to all her children; a mother who is like a rock in the family and a shelter in the storm. He says that charity or love is also like a mother. She is a mother who gives and gives and gives, and all the poor come to the door, and she continues to give them their daily bread … each day. However, he said that “Hope is a little girl who wishes me good day, every morning when she gets up.” Three lovely images: two strong and valiant women and a cheerful little girl. Faith, hope and love.

Why is the little girl the most important of the three? It is always hope who runs on before faith and even before love with a heart full of joyful anticipation. Faith and love are vital to the family but they are concerned with the here and now. It is the little girl who looks to the future with confidence and with hope in her heart. Yes, we are safe and sound if we have hope.

The whole world waited with breathless expectation, upon the response of a maiden from Nazareth, not much older than a little girl named Hope, Mary, who held our future in her hands, spoke the words to the Angel Gabriel that changed our whole world: “Be it done to me according to your word.” After centuries of joyful anticipation, the Christ Child was born to us, on that First Christmas Day and that has made all the difference!

Wishing You Advent Joy!

Sr. Kathleen

The Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday can be hard for us to imagine.  Kind David wrote many of the psalms and this one is particularly happy and hopeful.  You might be thinking to yourself, “what Responsorial Psalm?” We may not have read the psalm very closely. Some of us tend to skip right from the 1^st Reading to the 2^nd Reading (I’ve done that!). 

The Responsorial Psalm talks about our mouths being filled with laughter and our tongues being filled with rejoicing.  The psalm continues with, “those who sow in tears will reap rejoicing”.  For some of us, that can sound too good to be true!  We may be experiencing hardships, pain, hurt, fear, anxiety… How can Jesus change that for good?

I would like to present a challenge for us this week.  Advent is a time in the Church for us to recall all that God has done for us!  Advent gives us the space to remember God’s redeeming work!  So, what has God done in your life?  Maybe right now, things are bad for you.  It is during the hard times, that we need to look back at all the faithfulness and love that God has bestowed on us. 

When I first entered the convent, a sister recommended that we keep a list of all our answered prayers.  It was a powerful experience to watch the list grow with all of God’s faithfulness. Then, the list became a source of support and encouragement when things were tough. 

I encourage you to think back through your life.  Where has God been faithful and loving? The devil works very hard to keep us short sighted.  The devil doesn’t want us to remember all of God’s goodness.  If you are struggling to think of things, find a good and faithful friend.  Friends can help us see outside of ourselves.  Maybe you can be that friend to someone else. 

Happy Advent!
Sr. Carolyn Braun

Advent, a Season of Thin Places

The ancient Celts embraced a sense of Thin Places – not because the air is rarified or the land is narrow but because the distance between heaven and earth shrinks, and time and eternity embrace. A thin place is where the veil between this world and the next is lifted for a moment, and it may be possible to get a glimpse of what one’s life is all about—perhaps of what life itself is all about.

The Celts saw these sacred thin places in sacred wells where refreshing water was drawn.  On mountain tops where they felt close to God.  In the forest where the voice of God was heard in the rustling of the winds and in the breezes. And on high cliffs where the power of God was felt and experienced.

For the past 2,000 years Christians have viewed Advent as a Thin Time.  A season where the lines and barriers between heaven and earth are blurred and often traversed.  A time where women and men draw close to God; as God draws close to them.

This Advent we invite you to reflect on your own Advent experienced of a thin place or thin time in your life. It may be a person or a situation.  A memory or an experience.  It may be recent or long since passed. An experience where you felt close to God, the Saints, a Biblical figure, your own personal “communion of saints” or to yourself or family and friends.

Reflecting on this thin place or thin time during this season of preparing and awaiting can be a great way for you to await the great feast of the Incarnation.

May your memory be a means for you to experience a space where: the distance between heaven and earth shrinks, and time and eternity embrace.

Ego versus the Sprit, which has taken over our hearts?

There is an old metaphor that I think about when I reflect on this. Imagine that we take an orange and squeeze it as hard as we can knowing that when we squeeze it what comes out is orange juice. We know that no matter how many times we squeeze, apple juice will never ever come out of an orange.  So, the question is why is it that when we squeeze an orange as hard as we can does orange juice come out? The reason that orange juice, and not apple juice, comes out when we squeeze it is because that’s what’s inside.

Now to extend the metaphor with you and I.  What happens to us when we get squeezed in life: Do our egos come out or the Holy Spirit? Do we need to win, be right, keep score, and get even? Or do we forgive, give compassion, and love without costs. I know for myself I would like to say I always allow the Holy Spirit to come out, but I would be lying to everyone here, including myself.  Life has a way to squeeze us sometimes. Life squeezes us when someone gossips about us. Sometimes life squeezes by someone’s offensive behavior. Sometimes life squeezes by real injustice that happened to us or a loved one.

When these things happen, when we get squeezed, we have to ask ourselves what comes out of us. Is it anger, hatred, bitterness, tension, fear, anxiety, or stress? Immediately, we may say the reason that it comes out of me is because how he said it or because they did this or that to us or because life is so unfair. But the truth is and the reality is that what comes out of us is what is inside.

St. Augustine, once a sinner who was controlled by his ego and pride, allowed God to convert his heart to be a saint. This came after many years and many prayers by his mom, St. Monica. St. Augustine said that the key to allowing God to do this in him is found in the three greatest virtues: humility, humility, humility. Humility in that we are sinners in need of a Savior. Humility in that only his love and how he works through us will change our sinful behaviors because we cannot change them by ourselves. Humility in knowing that we are sons and daughters of God.

Conversion of heart takes a life time, so it’s about seeing the good work that He is doing in us and in our neighbors despite us not being perfect in life. So again, which has taken over our hearts in life – our egos or the Holy Spirit. Letting go and letting God in our lives is uncomfortable, but it has to be done if we want true life. When we let go of our egos, our own wills, our own agendas, it will feel like a real loss at first. We will feel an emptiness, but if we let him in to those wounds and hurts we will see the Holy Spirit transforming us into Saints

In the Gospel reading today, we find that Jesus compliments the scribe.  Jesus says, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”  I don’t know about you, but I immediately asked the question, “what is he missing?”  The Gospel says that the scribe answered Jesus with understanding.  So, what is the scribe missing?

I propose that the scribe may have understood, but did not act on this understanding.  The scribes were very good at practicing the burnt offerings and sacrifices.  However, they tended to forget that the animal sacrifice and burnt offerings were to remind them of personal sacrifice.  Maybe this is why the scribe “was not far from the Kingdom of God”!  The scribe remembered that loving God with all you are and your neighbor as yourself were more important than burnt offerings and sacrifices, but did not practice this.

I find this true for myself.  Of course, we believe that we must love our neighbor as we love ourselves.  I am good at loving my neighbor, until I see my neighbor! Even taxpayers and sinners love those who love them!  I propose that we take this week to focus on those things that are hard for us to do.  Maybe “burnt offerings and sacrifices” are easy for you.  Today, our “burnt offerings and sacrifices” are going to Mass regularly and giving our monetary offering to Church.  (We have not practiced the “burnt offerings and sacrifices” since the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.) 

Maybe going to Mass on Sunday is easy for you and loving your “neighbor” is harder.  Loving the neighbor who knocks over your trash cans every week is harder for you. Or it is harder to be nice to the neighbor who doesn’t take care of their lawn as you would like.  For others, loving your neighbor may be easier.  Maybe getting to Mass on Sunday regularly or contributing weekly to the Sunday offering is harder.  One thing to try is to find a Mass time that does work for you and your family.  If giving to the Church financially is hard for you right now, can you give of your time by volunteering?  There are many ways to give to the Church. You can give by your time, talent, and/or treasure. 

Take this week to see where the Lord is asking you to grow!  For each person reading this, what the Lord is calling you to, will be different.  Can’t wait to see what the Lord creates through you!

Are You an Influencer?

I recently gave a homily about a term which is relatively new to me.  That term is “Influencer.” Apparently it is one of the terms with which persons familiar with social media are conversant.  It does just what it says it does, it influences you to one point of view or another. I think we used to call that peer-pressure for the younger generations and advertising for the rest of us.  Someone or something is always influencing us one way of the other.

At the end of that Mass one of our parishioners approached me and handed me a pen.  On the pen was inscribed: Pray, Post, Repeat – Catholicinfluencers.com.

I don’t think that this was a coincidence, I do think that it is God’s Grace at work in our midst.  We are all called to be influencer in our world.  By the things that we say, by the choices that we make, by the example that we give, by how we live out our call to be a Christian is how each of us becomes an influencer.

One of the Catholic influences that I use is a site called Aleteia.  Recently they posted an article on Blessed Carlo Acutis within which they referred to him as an influencer.  Here are six of the takeaways that might help you to be the influencer that God has called you to be:

• Be Authentic, Not a Photocopy
• Use Your Platform For Good
• Balance The Online and The Offline
• Simplicity is Powerful
• Kindness Over Fame
• Leave a Lasting Legacy

The young Carlo Acutis may not have had millions of followers or a global platform in his lifetime, but his influence continues to grow years after his death. This is because he left behind something meaningful. He lived with intention, purpose and a clear sense of values. He didn’t chase fame.  Instead he chased a life of meaning, and that’s what makes his story so compelling today. Blessed Carlo and other influencers can help us to use our talents and passions to uplift others, make a positive impact, and live authentically.

Have a great week and God Bless you,
Father Kennedy

Father Windle and I have an ongoing joke about the lottery. Whenever the lottery gets very large, hits the news, and everyone starts playing it, I always tell Father, “Trust me, Father, if I hit the lottery, St. David Parish will not have a want or need again.” Father Windle always says the same two things back to me. First, he says. “Can I get that in writing?” Then he says, “Made a deal with God again?” I say, “Yes Father. If I win, making my life carefree without any suffering and worries, I will give a portion of my winnings to the Church.” Sounded like a good deal to me. A “win, win” for both parties. In reality, I forgot that I had already won the greatest lottery of all time. It is the reward that Jesus has given me: eternal life in Heaven with His Father — a treasure with no equal. There is a difference though. For us to claim this eternal reward we must give up the idea that we will be spared from all suffering and instead of being served we are asked to serve. We are asked to join Jesus in His suffering for this glory. When James and John hear this from Jesus in today’s Gospel, the apostles do what you and I are tempted to do when we hear bad news. They change the subject!

The Apostles, like us, are stuck in an earthly view of what Heaven is like and how to get there. We see the great people on earth as the rulers or the rich. In Jesus’ view, the servants are the truly great ones. Real glory doesn’t come from lording it over others, but from serving others. Jesus is most glorious in his crucifixion when he loses everything but love. What made Jesus’ sacrifice so special is that, inside of all the loneliness, darkness, jealousy, misunderstanding, sick crowd hysteria, coldness, and murder, he held out. He gave himself over, without bitterness and without self-pity, holding his ideals intact –  to be gracious, respectful, and forgiving – without losing his balance, his meaning, or his message. He remained faithful to His mission and His Father to the very end. The struggle to do that, to remain faithful, is the real drama inside the death of Jesus. In the end, it is a struggle of the heart, not the body. He loves us through the worst to show what the best really is.

The Apostles do not know what they are truly asking of the Lord. What they are asking is whether they might be crucified with Jesus on either side of him. And here is the most powerful thing to notice in this story. Jesus does not rebuke James and John for their request. He grants it. They will drink his cup with him. We are all called to drink that same cup. It may be difficult at times, but like Jesus, we can go through life with love in our hearts and service to others. We can withstand all suffering and reap the winnings of eternal life.

May Jesus live in our hearts forever.
Deacon Chris

Inviting One Back: The Spirituality of the Invitation

Do you remember the last time that you were invited somewhere? It may have been a wedding, a lunch date or a cup of coffee. Invitations mean something. They say something: “I want to be with you”; “I enjoy your presence”; “I want you to be part of my life.”

Invitations are uniquely powerful. An invitation is not forceful nor aggressive, yet by nature, it expects a response. Jesus used invitations all the time! He invited people to worship and glorify God, He invited people to follow him, He invited people to dine with him, and He invited people to repent and believe in the Gospel. We should do the same today.

Though there are many reasons why Catholics stop attending Mass, it is safe to assume the majority will only come back if personally invited. No matter where individuals are or what decisions they have made, the Church remains a spiritual home and community of people in need of God’s love and mercy. An invitation reminds them that they belong within our community and that their presence is missing.

If even one person is missing from our parish, their absence matters! In the words of the great Christian writer, C.S. Lewis: “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.” Every person we have encountered has an eternal destiny. Every person who has ever been a parishioner of our church is a person with an immortal soul and, therefore, of an infinite amount of value. Whether our parish is missing just a single soul, or five souls, or five hundred souls, we are incomplete without one another.

Our efforts in evangelization and inviting Catholics back to Mass are not just about increasing numbers or filling pews. Rather, our efforts are about guiding people to intimate encounters with Jesus Christ and leading souls to salvation, allowing them to experience God’s love, mercy and goodness.

It is important to invite these people back because it is a great act of love! It is also one of the simplest and most effective ways to evangelize. Love desires to be shared once it is received. The source and summit of the Christian life is participation in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, where we encounter the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. Our faith is nourished and our souls are strengthened through this encounter, which is essential for our spiritual growth and vitality.

Let us pray earnestly for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and fortitude to carry out this sacred mission. Let us embrace each soul with open arms, rejoicing as they return to the embrace of the Church and our parish community through the gift of the Eucharist.  

National Eucharistic Revival