Dear Parishioners,
              On this Good Shepherd Sunday, Jesus tells us that He knows his sheep and his sheep hear his voice. Just as the Palestinian shepherds knew each sheep of their flock by name, and the sheep knew their shepherd and his voice, so Jesus knows each one of us, our needs, our merits and our faults. He loves us as we are, with all our limitations, and He expects us to return his love by listening and fervently responding in faith to his voice. God communicates with us in silence, and through Sacred Scripture, the Sacraments, and other people.

God talks to us in silence, not in noise and screaming and jumping and yelling. He tells us, “I am your shepherd, and my Son is your shepherd, and He walks in great silence through your whole life, every morning, all day, day after day, month after month, year after year.” You have to listen and hear and open your heart to the wonder of the Good Shepherd’s silent caring for you, worrying about you, guiding you through all kinds of situations, and yet you know that He will never leave you, He will always be there, and His joy is to be at the center of the silence in our lives.

Through the inspired words of Sacred Scripture, the Lord speaks to our hearts. Attentive listening to the Readings, the Responsorial Psalm, the Gospel and the Homily every time we attend Mass, fills our minds and our hearts with the voice of God. The daily practice of ‘Lectio Divina’ which is the meditative, sacred reading of a passage from the Holy Bible, is another excellent means to become imbued with the mind of Christ.

The Lord communicates with us powerfully through his gift of the Sacraments. He gives eternal life to us, his sheep by receiving us into his sheepfold, and giving us Faith through Baptism. He strengthens our Faith in Confirmation. The tremendous gift of His Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist sharpens our ability to listen and respond in love to his Divine Inspirations in our life. He makes our society holy through the Sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders.

Jesus is more than just a shepherd because He is the gate. He is the way to enter a new space, the space where we do what He calls us to do. It is Jesus’ voice which calls us to greater concern for each other and for building a community of trusting relationships so all can benefit. As Jesus knows and cares for us, so should we know and care for each other. That is the space He wants us in. We need to create that space.

Let us resolve to create spaces of silence in our lives, to prayerfully reflect on Sacred Scripture, frequently receive the Sacraments and show love and concern for others. Listen to Jesus, your Shepherd calling you. Listen to others actively. Become a listener!

May the Good Shepherd bless you!
Sr. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, IHM

Saturday May 7th
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday May 8th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday May 9th
6:30 am † Haddie Bofinger and deceased residents of Garden Spring Nursing Home

Tuesday May 10th
6:30 am † Deceased Members of the Link & Simpson Families

Wednesday May 11th
6:30 am † Robert Degnan

Thursday May 12th Ss. Nereus & Achilleus; St. Pancras
6:30 am † Mary Dougherty

Friday May 13th Our Lady of Fatima
6:30 am † Lawrence J. Tobin

Saturday May 14th St. Matthias the Apostle
8:00 am † Ruth McKee

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, Karen McGettigan, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased… Dominick Tempesta & Marian Gray…

 Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

⁺Dear Saint David Parishioners,

              Happy third Sunday of Easter! In today’s Gospel, we know that, like Peter, we mess up and sin plenty of times. We realize, that on the night before Jesus died, Peter denied Jesus three times. We also recognize that Peter regretted telling others he didn’t even know his dear friend, Jesus, because after denying Him, Peter went out and cried bitterly. Jesus in asking Peter three times did he love Him wasn’t trying to berate Peter and make him feel worse than he already did. Jesus was aware of Peter’s deep sorrow, and in asking Peter did he love Him, was guiding Peter to understand that His love and mercy are stronger than any sin he or we could ever commit. This realization not only humbled proud Peter but, with Jesus’ forgiveness, strengthened him for his new mission of leading the Church.

When we acknowledge our sins and shortcomings before the Lord in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we are given God’s grace to strengthen us as we begin again. This is why we pray, “Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like Yours.” We cannot do it alone, but only with God’s grace in us. Therefore, our faith should fill us with hope!

With these truths in mind, the greatest way we can deepen our relationship with our Redeemer is by receiving His very Body, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist. Participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, reading Jesus’ words in the Gospels, spending time with Him in daily prayer, praying the rosary with family and friends, or sitting silently in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament are additional means to strengthen our relationship with Jesus. By incorporating these practices into our lives, we, like Peter, may answer Jesus as He asks each of us individually, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You.” Jesus will then invite us, “Follow Me.”  Bishop Barron’s reflection on this Gospel tells us, “The test of love is action. Are we willing to do what Jesus did? Are we willing to go on a mission on His behalf?”

In Mary’s Immaculate Heart, I am,
Sister Mary

Saturday April 30th St. Pius V
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday May 1st
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday May 2nd St. Athanasius
6:30 am † Mary Flaherty

Tuesday May 3rd Ss. Philip & James
6:30 am † Angel Luis Torres III

Wednesday May 4th
6:30 am † Charles Barnes Jr.

Thursday May 5th
6:30 am † Thomas Coates

Friday May 6th
6:30 am † John and Betty Bertman

Saturday May 7th
8:00 am † Pallisco Family

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, George Pollock, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, Karen McGettigan, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…Patricia Heesen, Dorothy Hammar, Sister Kathleen Dolores Keenan, IHM, & Sister Elizabeth Marie Welding, IHM…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Wounds

       The message given in the Gospel today is an easy one to reflect on. Even without seeing the message of love and faith, it is probably one of the best and most comforting messages we can receive. We Christians of today have not seen, in person, the Risen Christ. We only have the gift of faith from God and the witness of the early Christians. Through their witness and our gift of faith, the Church that Christ founded has been here for over two thousand years. I have heard and read this Gospel many times. I can see the message of faith in it clearly, but there is something in this Gospel that causes me to pause and reflect. Why? Why would the risen and glorified Christ still have the wounds from His passion? He has just completed the task that God the Father had asked him to do. For God’s glory and our own salvation, He has defeated sin and death. Just a short time after this, He will ascend into Heaven and sit at the righthand of God on the throne of power as our true and only King. So, why the wounds?

Jesus was called Rabbi or Teacher during His earthly ministry, and I believe He never stops teaching us how to love one another. He had been betrayed, beaten, whipped, crowned with thorns, mocked, and crucified. He has been deeply marked by injuries, humiliation, and death. Yet, what are the first words He says, “Peace. I forgive you.” The apostles can see the wounds they contributed and yet Christ forgives them. He teaches us that forgiveness, even when not deserved, does not take away the wounds inflicted but it does ease the burden of carrying them. When we are filled with God’s forgiveness, we know how appropriate it is to offer forgiveness without it being earned. Forgiveness frees. We are no longer stuck, caught, or bound down. We can see the power of forgiveness and power of Christ’s wounds in Thomas.

Thomas is defeated. He is incredibly sad. His Master, his Teacher, his Friend has been killed. All the words and teachings that Jesus has spoken seem to be lost. Everything he loved is gone. He is a desperate man. But when he sees the Risen Jesus and the wounds He still carries, Thomas falls to his knees, and is healed and forgiven, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus has taught us to forgive seventy times seven times and through many parables He has taught the importance of forgiveness. Forgiveness is so central to our lives that our own forgiveness is affected by our ability to forgive. Being able to forgive as Christ does, wounds and all, allows us to be free and love as Jesus loves us.

May Jesus live in our hearts forever.
Deacon Chris

Saturday April 23rd
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday April 24th Divine Mercy Sunday
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday April 25th St. Mark the Evangelist
6:30 am † Eileen Delzingaro

Tuesday April 26th
6:30 am † Gertrude O’Hara Dalton

Wednesday April 27th
6:30 am † Mr. and Mrs. Robert Beck

Thursday April 28th St. Peter Chanel & St. Louis Grignion de Montfort
6:30 am † Floss Rush

Friday April 29th St. Catherine of Siena
6:30 am † Mary Rose Tobin

Saturday April 30th St. Pius V
8:00 am † William Morris

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, George Pollock, Dorothy Hammar, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, Karen McGettigan, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…Helen Jurkiewicz; Josephine Linden; Sister Mary King, IHM; Sister Barbara Maria Bamberger, IHM; Sister M. Patricia Considine, IHM….

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

About 10 years ago, I was out with a couple of friends of mine and we ran into a retired MLB baseball player. I didn’t know who he was, but when my friend saw him, he lit up, as this was one of his favorite baseball players growing up. He went to talk to him and asked if he could take a picture with him, and the player said yes.  My friend handed me his smart phone and I clicked the button about ten times to makes sure I got the picture.  As the player walks off, my friend asks, “Did you get it?” “Yes,” I said very confidently, as I handed him back the phone!  He checked his phone and says, “Where is it?”   I said, “It should be there — I pushed this button ten times to take the picture.” He looked at me with an angry face and said, “That’s the volume button!” To this day, for some reason my friend would rather have a stranger take a picture over me!

It seems like in today’s age, it is so easy to capture a moment with someone whom we admire, whose talent we know on some profound level, as long as they know how to work a camera.  We can capture the moment with a camera and share it with friends on social media instantly, but in Jesus’ time they didn’t have the ability to take a picture.  They didn’t even have the ability to get an autograph, but what they had were these encounters and the stories to share about these encounters.  This way of witness has changed people forever. 

In the next serval weeks, we will hear about these encounters with the Risen Christ.  We will hear about this with Mary Magdala, the apostles in the upper room, the two people on the road to Emmaus and so much more.  These encounters filled people with so much joy and hope that without them sharing their encounters with the Risen Christ, we would not have the Christian faith.  The Resurrection of the dead is the be all and the end all of the Christian faith.

This truth is so important to us that if Jesus had not been raised from the dead, than I and all Christians of the world should just go and do something else. We are confronted with this question daily: Did it happen or not?  He is either our savior who rose from the dead for us, or he is a liar and a bad man. There is no middle ground. 

Through the generations we have had saints upon saints for 2000 years that dedicated their lives to express their witness to the risen Christ.  They believed it in the depths of their hearts. Their belief gives us hope. Their testimonies can help us, the ones who remain in this life, to not fall back into fear: the fear that I am alone, the fear that no one cares, the fear that this is all there is to life.  We Christians have true reason to hope in Christ’s promise of the Easter life.  We have true reasons as the faithful not to fear what everyone else fears. They fear death, but we the faithful rejoice in what Jesus has done for us.  Why do we rejoice? Because we get to go HOME!  This is not our home; we are pilgrim people on an earthly journey to our Home. 

The witness’ of Christ’s Resurrection is so much more powerful than instant pictures shared on social media.  Their true testimony of love should give us Hope that the story of human life is not birth, life, and death. No; for Christians it is life, death, and Resurrection. If we live with Christ and die with Christ, we will rise with Christ.  This Easter way of living has changed even the hardest of hearts to become great Saints.  How has it changed ours? If it hasn’t or our relationship with him isn’t where we think it should be, how are we prepared for this encounter?

Once again, I want to share the vision for our parish, my hope for St David parish for this generation and the next: “Knowing Jesus is the best gift that any person can receive; that we have encountered him is the best thing that has happened in our lives, and making him known by our word and deeds is our joy.” -Pope Benedict

Jesus Christ has Risen today! Do not be afraid to experience His love!!

Saturday April 16th Holy Saturday
8:00 pm Intentions of the Presider

Sunday April 17th Easter Sunday
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday April 18th
8:00 am † Marge Lawnton

Tuesday April 19th
6:30 am † Jennifer Beerley – 30th Anniversary

Wednesday April 20th
6:30 am † Adele Tiburzio

Thursday April 21st
6:30 am † Lawrence J. Tobin

Friday April 22nd
6:30 am † Lawrence Tobin, Jr

Saturday April 23rd
8:00 am † Alfred Messina

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, George Pollock, Dorothy Hammar, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, Karen McGettigan, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Dear Parishioners,
                  The drama of Holy Week begins today as we reflect on the Passion according to St. Luke. Our first reading from the Prophet Isaiah proclaims, “The Lord has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them.” The question we can ask ourselves is: In what areas of my life am I ‘weary’? Is it at home? Is it at work? Is it in our prayer life? Let us implore the Holy Spirit to lead our hearts and minds to the words of today’s Gospel that will rouse us from weariness.

There is a moment that I find particularly meaningful that is only found in the Gospel of St. Luke. It is the dialogue between Jesus and the two condemned men crucified with him on both sides. They are both not named, however tradition refers to the repentant criminal as Dismas and the unrepentant criminal as Gestas. The fact that they are not named invites us to consider, how are we like these men? In what areas of my life am I like Gestas? In what areas of my life am I like Dismas? We refer to Dismas as St. Dismas because Jesus promises him that he will be with Jesus in heaven. This is remarkable because by Dismas’ own admission, he says that he deserves to be crucified for his crimes. However, his true repentance is reflected in his prayer of abandonment, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” Jesus responds, “Amen, I say to you, this day you will be with me in Paradise.” St. Dismas can also represent all of humanity. We all face the certainty of dying someday. Jesus can therefore be seen as speaking to all who trust in him his pledge of salvation and eternal life.

Looking back to Isaiah’s promise of a word that can lift us from spiritual weariness, it is helpful to spend some time reflecting on the examples of Gestas and St. Dismas. How can we avoid closing our hearts like Gestas in favor of opening our hearts like St. Dismas? When are the times in life that you feel like you are carrying a heavy cross? When are the times in life that you feel crucified, perhaps even justifiably? When are the times in life when you feel weary?

During Holy Week, we are invited to feel and experience God’s mercy in our lives. When we find ourselves crucified in life, we encounter a God, who far from abandoning us, wants to be crucified right next to us. This week we encounter a God who wants to be crucified for us, in our place for the sake of our salvation. Let us make this week Holy by allowing the mercy of God to touch our hearts.

Accept the challenge to make this Holy Week a Retreat Experience for you and your family. Spend these first few days meditating on the mercy of God clearly shown in St. Luke’s account of the Passion. Open your heart to our Savior by attending the Tenebrae Service on Wednesday at 7:00 PM, prayerfully participate in the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday at 7:00 PM, the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday at 3:00 PM, and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday at 8:00 PM or the Mass of the Lord’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday morning. Let us make this week Holy by opening our hearts to God’s mercy and sharing his love with everyone we encounter.

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

Saturday April 9th
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday April 10th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday April 11th
6:30 am † Dina Eagan

Tuesday April 12th
6:30 am † Catherine Tobin

Wednesday April 13th
6:30 am † Elizabeth Beck

Thursday April 14th
7:00 pm – Mass of the Lord’s Supper – Intentions of the Presider

Saturday April 16th Holy Saturday
8:00 pm Intentions of the Presider

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, George Pollock, Dorothy Hammar, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, Karen McGettigan, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased… Rita Marasco & Theodore Weathers…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

+Dear Saint David Parishioners,
                  As we celebrate this final Sunday before Holy Week, there is much upon which to reflect.

1. Where will we meet Jesus on His Way to the Cross? Will we spend extra time with Him to thank Him for the awesome gift of redeeming us from sin? Will we be like the sinful woman, recognizing our sinfulness and receiving Jesus’ mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Participating in this sacrament offers us the opportunity to begin anew!

2. As we approach these most solemn days, let us share the depths of Jesus’ love with our family members by participating in the Holy Week liturgies. I remember as a child, Mom and Dad would pile us in the station wagon and head to church for Holy Thursday and Good Friday liturgies. I have to be honest, sometimes we did complain, but it was short-lived because we knew that Mom and Dad were in charge, and we were not. When it came to attending special liturgies, it was basically understood that it wasn’t a matter for discussion. It made Holy Week stand out from the rest of the year because our parents explained to us that Jesus loved us so much that He was willing to make the ultimate painful sacrifice to save us from sin. Attending these Holy Week services became an important tradition in our family.

3. We learn in today’s Gospel that Jesus did not come to condemn the world, but to save us from its judgments and sin. Like the woman caught in adultery, we can confidently trust in Jesus’ mercy, forgiveness, and compassion. Some theologians believe that what Jesus was scribbling in the dirt were the sins of the woman’s accusers. One by one the crowd dropped the stone which they were so readily to hurl at her because she was a sinner. What a lesson for us. When we are quick to pass judgment on another, perhaps we should consider our own sins, faults, and failings. Therefore, rather than throwing stones of hurtful gossip, we may instead pray for the person and pray for ourselves that we may have a more charitable tongue and heart. Jesus freed the woman and us from sin so that we can turn away from our former way of life and start living more in accordance with Jesus’ way.

4. During Holy Week, let us make it our goal to spend extra time with Jesus, and then on Easter Sunday, we will truly rejoice for we will have Jesus’ resurrected life within us.

May the Risen Jesus fill your heart and homes with His peace, joy, love, and new life!

In Mary’s Immaculate Heart, I am,
Sister Mary

Saturday April 2nd St. Francis of Paola
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday April 3rd
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For Peace in Eastern Europe
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday April 4th St. Isidore
6:30 am † Joseph Visco

Tuesday April 5th St. Vincent Ferrer
6:30 am † Alicia Dempsey

Wednesday April 6th
6:30 am † Joseph McFadden

Thursday April 7th St. John Baptist de la Salle
6:30 am † Dina Eagan

Friday April 8th
6:30 am † Joann Hetrick

Saturday April 9th
8:00 am † Mark Welliver

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, George Pollock, Dorothy Hammar, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

When I was a child, Friday nights at my house were very special.  It would be a family night and we would all watch TV together.  My mom would allow us to have soda, and the snack of choice was always Cheetos.  We would all gather on the couch and watch The Nanny and the Professor, The Partridge Family, and the crown jewel, The Brady Bunch.  Our favorite episode of the Brady Bunch was the one about Peter when he saves a little girl’s life.  He is at a toy store, and he notices a shelf falling over with a little girl in its path.  He rushes in and pushes the little girl out of the way, saving her life.  He is then praised through the news and his family and community as a “Boy Hero.”  Peter loves this attention so much that he starts to treat his family and friends very poorly.  He portrays himself as better than others because of he saved the little girl.  He even goes as far as to throw himself a party to celebrate how much of a hero he is.  The day of the party arrives, and no one comes.  It is a real wake-up call for Peter.  His family, realizing Peter has learned his lesson in humility, ends up throwing a party for him to celebrate his lesson learned. Another Brady Bunch happy ending.  A sappy 70’s sitcom stealing a message from the Gospels.

The humble path that Jesus himself took to become our Savior is another lesson we should learn from.  He never exalts Himself, but gives Himself completely over to His Father in Heaven.  Our society constantly bombards us with people who are exalting themselves.  Just watch an NFL football game.  Touchdown dances are applauded but when a man takes a knee to pray, he is ridiculed.  The Pharisees love to do touchdown dances.  They exalt themselves in their righteousness, forgetting that they, too, are sinners. They feel that since they have lived good lives, they deserve all the good gifts.  They do not realize that until they recognize their own sins, turn themselves completely over to God, and celebrate when others turn themselves over to God, that they will miss the feast offered by our Lord.  Lent is the time when we can reflect on when we have been too righteous and when it is time to go to the Father humbly asking for his forgiveness.  It is also a time to pray and encourage others to return to God, and at Easter, to celebrate not only their return but ours also. 

Maybe it would not have been as entertaining a show, but how beautiful would it have been if Peter took a knee and thanked God for placing him in that store that day to save the little girl. 

May Jesus live in our hearts forever. 
Deacon Chris

Saturday March 26th
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday March 27th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday March 28th
6:30 am † Thomas Larkin

Tuesday March 29th
6:30 am † Gerard O’Brien

Wednesday March 30th
6:30 am † Elvira Esposito

Thursday March 31st
6:30 am † Thomas M. Robinson

Friday April 1st
6:30 am † Patricia Magowan

Saturday April 2nd St. Francis of Paola
8:00 am † William Morris

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, George Pollock, Dorothy Hammar, Thomas McLaughlin, Laverne McPhail, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish” – Proverbs 29:18

          Every day we are journeying one step closer to our eternal home, and each day gives us opportunities to discover, learn, and enter into fruitful relationships with God and with one another. Every day gives us opportunities to take chances on people and help encourage each other to build up Faith, Hope, and Love.  Every day brings endless situations that challenge us. Sometimes these challenges can be exciting. Sometimes these challenges can be grueling. Sometimes these challenges can be outright agonizing.  It is in these moments that we realize we cannot do it alone.

As humans, we thrive more fully when we rely on God and others in life.  We all need the friendly hand, the person who laughs with us and cries with us.  We need the unassuming presence of someone who tells us in a sense I am and I’ve got you. I am your friend, colleague, brother, sister, neighbor, mentor, husband, or wife. I am and I’ve got you!

Those are humbling words that were spoken to Moses in the Burning Bush.  Those words scared Moses and those words may scare us. We may say to ourselves, who am I or who are they to act that way? How can we be Christ-like to someone? Where does this confidence come from? The confidence to be Christ-like isn’t from what we have done for ourselves. It is because of what God has done in us, through us, and despite us when we were baptized.

Through God’s Son’s sacrifice on the cross, through His saving act, it has changed us forever. We are being transformed to become the non-burning bush in this world.  We become God’s hands and feet on this earth. We are called to help others as Moses did with the people of Israel.  He was asked to help them discern how to confront their difficult situation of slavery.

Moses was called to help launch the Israelites onto a journey that would define them forever. We are called on this journey out of slavery of sin. There will be challenges, but as Jesus tells us always, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” This is our Lord telling us “I am and I’ve got you.” So, if we struggle daily to do what is morally right even when those around us take shortcuts, then come to Jesus. If we are burdened with patterns of sin and weaknesses of character that affect our vocation as a spouse, a parent, a friend, a Christian…, then come to Jesus. If life seems unfair and God seems distant at best, then come to Jesus.

We are on this journey of life together for a reason, in this parish together for a reason.  As a faith-filled community connected by our love for Jesus, we look to the words of Pope Benedict to help define the vision for St. David Parish:

 “Knowing Jesus is the best gift that any person can receive; that we have encountered him is the best thing that has happened in our lives, and making him known by our word and deeds is our joy.”

These words will provide us our guiding light as we move forward over the next few years to implement the plan for St. David as a Next Generation Parish. We are all called to humbly accept the helping hand of those around us who offer to us the I am and I’ve got you people of God. We are also called to take chances on people and to offer that same act to others when it is needed.

 

Saturday March 19th St. Joseph
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday March 20th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday March 21st
6:30 am † Dr. and Mrs. Simon Forman

Tuesday March 22nd
6:30 am † Robert Vacante

Wednesday March 23rd St. Turibius of Mogrovejo
6:30 am † Agnes Mullin

Thursday March 24th
6:30 am † Maria Busciacco

Friday March 25th Annunciation of the Lord
6:30 am † Anne Dehan

Saturday March 26th
8:00 am † Rev. James J. McLaughlin & Sgt. Dennis McLaughlin, USAF—8th Anniversary

 

Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, George Pollock, Dorothy Hammar, Thomas McLaughlin, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

 

Glory and Suffering

             The last painting of the renowned artist Raphael is The Transfiguration. With profound insight, the artist includes two contrasting events. The top half depicts the Transfiguration scene with the glorious figures of Christ, Moses and Elijah. In the lower half we see a representation of the boy possessed by the devil. Besides giving us an artistic masterpiece, Raphael teaches us a profound spiritual and psychological truth, namely, human nature is capable of opposite extremes. It can descend to the depths of evil and inflict suffering or it can climb to the heights of transfiguration with Christ.

The Transfiguration is first of all a manifestation of the divinity of Christ. Occurring shortly after Christ had foretold His passion and death, the Transfiguration served as a strengthening of the faith of Peter, James and John. It also prepared them for the ordeal of Gethsemane by giving them a foretaste of the heavenly delight which both Christ and we, His followers, are capable of attaining through heroic suffering.

Second, the Transfiguration prefigures the everlasting enthronement of Christ, as announced to Mary by the Angel Gabriel: “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1: 32-33).

Third, the Transfiguration teaches us that glory and suffering are not incompatible. In fact, the enthronement of Christ would not take place until He suffered and died. This is the topic of the conversation between Moses and Elijah referred to in St. Luke’s account of the event: “And behold, two men were conversing with Him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem” (Luke 9: 30-31). Moses and Elijah were the only ones in the Old Testament to have seen God, a fitting qualification to participate in a vision in which they recognized God in the person of Christ, thereby giving evidence to Christ’s divinity.

As we witness the evil and tremendous suffering being inflicted on our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, as well as the ongoing violence here in the United States, it is difficult not to become discouraged. Rather, our loving and merciful Savior calls us to intensify our prayer and penance and trust in Him, who alone can transform human hearts. We must not despair of human nature. Even though we all do tend toward sin and self-deception, it is also true that we are created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, human nature is capable of rising to heroic heights of altruism and holiness. We must not look only at the bottom of Raphael’s painting which shows us the boy possessed by the devil. We must also look up with hope and trust to the top of the painting which depicts Christ transfigured in glory with Moses and Elijah.

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

Saturday March 12th
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday March 13th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday March 14th
6:30 am † Al Messina

Tuesday March 15th
6:30 am † Ralph Storti

Wednesday March 16th
6:30 am † Robert Domanski

Thursday March 17th St. Patrick
6:30 am † Joan Fleckenstein

Friday March 18th St. Cyril of Jerusalem
6:30 am † Harry Weckerly, Sr.—5th Anniversary

Saturday March 19th St. Joseph
8:00 am † Frank Ferraro

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Adriana Sproehnle, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Msgr. Michael Flood, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, George Pollock, Dorothy Hammar, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

⁺Dear Saint David Parishioners,

           Isn’t it great that the Catholic Church gives us liturgical seasons? Otherwise, life would be the same old, same old! Now we are in the liturgical season of Lent. As an educator for all these years, I think to myself, what would help us remember what Lent is all about? So, of course, with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, I thought an acrostic may do the trick. I hope you find it helpful.

Loving and forgiving. Look to Jesus. He showed us the way.

Expecting the best of one another. Giving others the benefit of the doubt, without judgment. Recalling that each person is made in the likeness of God.

No complaining or gossiping. Doing your best and trusting that God will do the rest.

Taking time – First for prayer, by attending Mass each week, participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, praying the rosary, reading the Bible, and sitting in silence and listening to Jesus speak to your heart. Jesus knows what we go through. He too experienced temptation as we read in today’s Gospel. Therefore, He will strengthen us for the journey of life and to our ultimate destination – heaven. Second – spending more quality time with family and without devices. Perhaps begin a family game night or take walks in the park. Quality times like these build trust and strengthen family bonds. Third – taking time for self-care. Eating healthily, exercising on a consistent basis, and getting enough sleep. Lastly – making time for cleaning out and living more simply. You and your family may then make donations to the Saint Vincent DePaul Society in our parish.

These are a few practical suggestions that may make Lent the season of hope and renewal that it is meant to be. Then at Easter, we can truly rejoice in the resurrection of our Lord and Savior because we too have risen to a better life in Jesus. Let us pray for one another that, with God’s grace, this will be the best Lent ever!

In Mary’s Immaculate Heart, I am,
Sister Mary

Saturday March 5th
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday March 6th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday March 7th Ss. Perpetua & Felicity
6:30 am Intentions of the Neas Family

Tuesday March 8th St. John of God
6:30 am † Dorothy Ross

Wednesday March 9th St. Frances of Rome
6:30 am † Mary and Joseph Tempesta

Thursday March 10th
6:30 am † Deceased Members of the Link & Simpson Families

Friday March 11th
6:30 am † Claire Mansfield

Saturday March 12th
8:00 am † John Kenney

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Remembering in our Prayers…
… all those who are sick … Mary Trauger, Loretta Boyle, James Dehan, Nina Ferraro, Eric Bull, Bruce Seth, Vanessa Wismer, Adriana Sproehnle, Karen Dale, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Msgr. Michael Flood, Teresa Riegal, Betty Rufe, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, George Pollock, Dorothy Hammar, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…Bill Thorp & Jean Grzywacz…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.