While in the seminary I studied the subject of Homiletics, the art of presenting a homily. For four semesters I was taught how to prepare a homily.  We were shown how to create its content and what type of structure it should take.  Knowing your audience and awareness of recent events should also be considered.  The one thing our teachers never taught us is what should be in a homily itself, what we should preach on.  Of course the homily should pertain to the scripture readings of the day, but what we are actually presenting was not up to our teachers or ourselves.  What we were asked to do was to spend time with the scriptures and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us.  The Holy Spirit should be the author.  Because of this fact we were instructed not to look for praise or compliments after we have preached.  We were told that there may be times when we are preaching that it seems no one is listening or even paying attention to what we were saying.  On those days there may be a full Church but the Spirit, through us, may be speaking to only a few or one person on that day.  To spread God’s message of love to just one person is just as important as it is to preach to many.  On those days we were told not to lose hope, we are still doing God’s work.

This may happen to all of us when we try to do what we are all called to do, spreads God’s Word.  It is very difficult in today’s world to do this.  The pushback from society against anything that seems religious or spiritual is real.  Just because it is hard to do does not relieve our responsibility to do it.  In fact, the first reading today tells us that we were formed in the womb to prophesize to the Nations.  We were made to prophesize.  We were not only made but anointed at our Baptism to this vocation and sealed with it at our Confirmation.  So, we should not lose heart at each rejection because the Holy Spirit is working inside us.  The Spirit will give us the strength and the words of what we need to say at the time.  Take any rejection as motivation because you are in good company with Christ himself.  He who received the ultimate rejection beginning with his own friends and relatives.  Remember there may be that one person out there who is waiting for you to bring them the Love that God offers us all.  So, as we leave Mass today let us leave with joyful hearts and a resounding “Thanks be to God!” knowing we are on our way to do God’s work.

May Jesus live in our hearts forever.
Deacon Chris

Saturday January 29th
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday January 30th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday January 31st St. John Bosco
6:30 am † William Ness

Tuesday February 1st
6:30 am Ellen and AJ McClatchy

Wednesday February 2nd Presentation of the Lord
6:30 am † Thomas Flaherty

Thursday February 3rd St. Blasé, St. Ansgar
6:30 am † Alfred Messina

Friday February 4th
6:30 am † Adele Tiburzio

Saturday February 5th St. Agatha
8:00 am † James Purvis

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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, Marie Hagan, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Msgr. Michael Flood, Teresa Riegal, Elizabeth Ruth, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, Joe Rosales, Pedro Flores, George Pollock, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…Edward Doherty & Carmela Janetti…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Here is a great explanation of the importance of 40 Hours and what you can expect written by Christ the King Parish in Tampa, FL.

The Forty Hours Devotion

The Forty Hours Devotion provides a wonderful opportunity for the spiritual growth of each person and the parish as a whole. In a world where temptation and evil abound, where devotion to the Mass and our Lord in the Holy Eucharist have declined, where the practice of penance and confession have been forgotten, we need the Forty Hours Devotion more than ever.

Over these 40 hours, our faithful will gather in the church for personal or public prayer in adoration of our Lord. There will be various prayer services and devotions offered during our celebration, but most often we will offer periods of prayerful silence. All parishioners and friends of St. David Catholic Church are welcome to attend as much of the forty hours devotion as their schedule permits. Registration is not required, however a sign up has been created to ensure the Blessed Sacrament is never left alone.

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What is Forty Hours Devotion?

The Forty Hours Devotion is a special 40-hour period of continuous prayer made before the Blessed Sacrament in solemn exposition. Of course, the focus of this devotion is on the Holy Eucharist. The Forty Hours Devotion can be seen almost like a parish mini-retreat or mission in which the faithful are invited to come spend time with the Lord.

Why the number 40?

The number forty has always signified a sacred period of time: the rains during the time of Noah lasted 40 days and nights; the Jews wandered through the desert for 40 years, our Lord fasted and prayed for 40 days before beginning His public ministry. The 40 Hours Devotion remembers that traditional
“forty-hour period” from our Lord’s burial until the resurrection. Actually in the Middle Ages, the Blessed Sacrament was transferred to the repository, “the Easter Sepulcher,” for this period of time to signify our Lord’s time in the tomb. 

What does Forty Hours Devotion entail?

The Forty Hours Devotion begins with a Solemn Mass of Exposition, which concludes with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The Blessed Sacrament remains on the altar in a monstrance. During the next 40 hours, the faithful gather for personal or public prayer in adoration of our Lord. There will be various prayer services and devotions offered during our celebration, but most often we will offer periods of prayerful silence. We will mark the conclusion of 40 Hours with a prayer service and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

The Lord has great things in store for us.
Don’t miss this opportunity to spend time with Him.

Saturday January 22nd St. Vincent
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday January 23rd
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday January 24th St. Francis de Sales
6:30 am † Janet Perretti

Tuesday January 25th Conversion of St. Paul
6:30 am † Mary and John Kenney

Wednesday January 26th Ss. Timothy & Titus
6:30 am Keith Jung

Thursday January 27th St. Angela Merici
6:30 am † Victoria Mulligan

Friday January 28th St. Thomas Aquinas
6:30 am † Dr. Louis Welsh

Saturday January 29th
8:00 am † Mary Garofalo

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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, Marie Hagan, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Msgr. Michael Flood, Teresa Riegal, Elizabeth Ruth, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, Regina Poskus, Delbert Wallace, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…Patricia Kensey, Sister Marie Lorraine Bruno, IHM; Sister M. Rita Charles Smith, IHM; Sister M. Elizabeth Jane Murray, IHM…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Spiritual Gifts: Given To Be Shared

One year, a husband bought his mother-in-law a cemetery plot as a Christmas gift. The next year, he didn’t buy her a gift. When she asked him why he replied, “Well, you still haven’t used the gift I gave you last year!” How many of us would hear a similar reply from God when asking for new gifts? Do you use your God-given spiritual gifts to benefit others, especially in your parish community?

In our second reading today, St. Paul exhorts the Christians of Corinth not to use their God-given gifts for self-glorification but rather for the benefit of everyone in the community. He reminds them that every believer is given at least one spiritual gift, and that having one gift or another makes no difference, since they all come from the same God. These freely bestowed gifts are workings of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, all Christians are called to minister to others with the gifts they have received.

Some are given the gift of wisdom, knowledge, or faith. Others are blessed with the gifts of mercy, kindness, compassion and healing, to care for the sick, the poor, and the needy. A few are given material wealth to share with those less fortunate. Others are given the gift of leadership, to organize and take charge of a parish ministry. Some are called to be Christian parents, catechists, teachers, lectors, ushers, or cantors in Church. One or more of these gifts are bestowed on everyone so we learn to depend on and appreciate one another.

What are your spiritual gifts? If you are not aware, it is important that you discover them. Pay attention to what stirs your heart and pray to God to reveal His gifts to you. You can also ask others who know you and share your Faith what strengths they see in you. A true friend in Christ will help you discover your God-given gifts. When you know your gifts, then, nurture them by using them to benefit others. Our gracious God, who freely bestowed these gifts on you, expects you to share them freely with others. However, keep in mind that God cannot be outdone in generosity.

May God bless you always!
Sr. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, IHM

Saturday January 15th
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday January 16th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday January 17th St. Anthony of Egypt
6:30 am † John Murray

Tuesday January 18th
6:30 am † Edmond Dalpe

Wednesday January 19th
6:30 am Special Intention

Thursday January 20th St. Fabian; St. Sebastian
6:30 am † Ronald Garges

Friday January 21st St. Agnes
6:30 am † Jennifer and Moose Beerley

Saturday January 22nd St. Vincent
8:00 am † David Korn

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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, Robert Farrell, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, John Flickinger, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Marie Hagan, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Pat Kensey, Msgr. Michael Flood, Teresa Riegal, Elizabeth Ruth, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…Mary Rombola…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

+Dear Parishioners,

            As we begin 2022, what are your wishes for this New Year? I imagine for most of us, near the top of the list may be an end to the COVID pandemic and a return to “normalcy.” On this beautiful feast of the Baptism of the Lord, may we also include on our list of resolutions ‘to deepen our relationship with our Savior, Jesus’.

            Why did Jesus ask John to baptize Him in the River Jordan? Surely it was not due to any sin on His part…definitely not; then why? It was because Jesus took on the guilt of our sin so that we may be saved from the grips of the devil. Jesus came to restore the broken relationship that our first parents (Adam and Eve) caused when they turned their backs on their loving Father, and instead listened to the lies of the Evil One. 

            Which loving parent would not give up his/her own life to save the life of a child? God our Father so loved the world, and each one of us, that “He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3:16). At our own baptism, we were cleansed from original sin and from the power of the devil. We became children of God! We received God’s life in us – grace – and we participate in the life of the Trinity. Bishop Robert Barron explains that, “Many of the early Church Fathers understood that by allowing Himself to be baptized, Jesus sanctified the waters of Baptism for all Christians who would come after Him. He went into the waters so we could join Him, arising as new creations. He raised Baptism from the level of cleansing rite to sacrament.”

            What an awesome gift that has been bestowed upon us. This is the reason why when we have babies baptized, it is a day of rejoicing. We celebrate that this infant has now joined God’s family, the Church. As a result, parents and godparents pray and guide the child throughout his/her journey of life and faith. Becoming a member of God’s family is certainly a cause for celebration. Be sure to thank God for this great gift as God the Father says to each of us as He said to Jesus, “This is My beloved son/daughter; with you I am well pleased!” May 2022 make us ever more pleasing to God ?

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

Saturday January 8th
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

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

Monday January 10th
6:30 am † Deceased Members of the Link & Simpson Families

Tuesday January 11th
6:30 am † Joseph A. Duffy Sr.

Wednesday January 12th
6:30 am † John Nolan

Thursday January 13th St. Hilary of Poitiers
6:30 am † Ruth McKee

Friday January 14th
6:30 am † William and Helen McMahon

Saturday January 15th
8:00 am † Lenna Gaiomino

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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, Robert Farrell, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, John Flickinger, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Marie Hagan, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Pat Kensey, Msgr. Michael Flood, Teresa Riegal, Elizabeth Ruth, Bob Bohrer, Loretta Ceniviva, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…Dolores Purtell, Silvio Antonelli, John T. Cooke, Robert Degnan, Estelle Weinrich…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Kings

              Today, we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany. This is the day we celebrate the visitation of the three Magi, or Wisemen, bearing gifts to our newborn Savior. We all know of the lavish gifts these Three Wisemen, or as some refer to them, Three Kings, brought to the King of the Jews. We all would love to be able to give such great gifts but being normal everyday people, our access to gold, frankincense, and myrrh is quite limited.

Could we even afford such gifts? What kind of gifts should we bring? We are not kings. Or are we?

At our Baptism we were anointed priest, prophet, and king. So, in the eyes of Jesus, who completely adores and loves us, we are also royalty. As royalty, any gift we may offer Our Lord would also be coming from a king. But still, we have the issue of the value of what our gift would be. What we need to realize is that the value of a gift is not specified by the person who gives it but by the person who receives it. Our Lord values love and kindness above all other things. We may not be able to give the gift of gold to Christ, but we can give the gift of love to him by loving each other. Small little acts of kindness we can offer each other every day would please Jesus more than anything. Opening the door for someone at Wawa. Letting a car in front of us in traffic. Offering encouragement to someone who is down or even just offering a smile. A small note to your husband or wife letting him or her know that you love them. Lending a helping hand when someone needs it. These are all incredibly valuable gifts.

Saint Therese knew this very well. In fact, she called it the “Little Way”. She knew and felt Jesus’ total love for her, but knew due to her age and position she would never be able to give back in grandiose ways. She found ways to give back and show Christ love with little acts of love, one at a time. Over time all, these little acts add up to be those grandiose gifts that come from a king or queen. May we all be able to follow the Little Flower’s example and continuing our own little gift giving throughout all the seasons of the year.

May Jesus live in our hearts forever.
Deacon Chris

Saturday January 1st Mary, Mother of God
4:00 pm Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday January 2nd
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19
11:00 am Intentions of the Presider

Monday January 3rd Most Holy Name of Jesus
6:30 am † Anthony Neri, Sr.

Tuesday January 4th
6:30 am † Mary Schluckebier

Wednesday January 5th
6:30 am † Vincent Turco

Thursday January 6th
6:30 am † Marilyn McLaughlin

Friday January 7th St. Raymond of Penafort
6:30 am † Mary M. Rosenbaum (30th Anniversary)

Saturday January 8th
8:00 am † Lenna Gaiomino

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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, Robert Farrell, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, John Flickinger, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Marie Hagan, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Pat Kensey, Msgr. Michael Flood, Teresa Riegal, Elizabeth Ruth, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

When I was growing up, my dad made a promise with my brothers and me that if we all got good grades throughout the year, he would buy us a Nintendo gaming system.  We were so excited about the possibility of getting it, so all throughout the year we challenged each other and helped each other to make sure we all did well.  All throughout the year we would report back to dad our grades. When we told him our grades, he would just look at us, smile, and never say anything about his promise.  When the end of the year came, we all did well in school and were so excited that we rushed home to call dad at work.  

When we talked to him, it was a quick conversation, and he got off the phone very abruptly.  He did not sound excited and never mentioned honoring his promise to us. We were in disbelief, thought he forgot, complained, and were miserable the rest of the day.  Later that night, as we were sulking in the living room together, he entered the room with his arms full.  In his arms was not only the Nintendo system, but also some of the best games and accessories for it.  He said he was so excited after we called that he rushed to finish his work so he could buy it for us.  We were embarrassed; I was embarrassed in thinking that our dad forgot about us.

How many times in our lives do we think God forgets his promises towards us? Life sometimes has a way to do that to us… we may get angry with Him at times because life doesn’t always go the way we want it to. We may even lose our way and think God is not loving.  If we stay in that mindset for too long, we will not see God as a loving Father who wants the best for us.  We will not see him as a Father who loves to give his children gifts.  We may not even see him as Our Father at all. 

Over and over throughout the scriptures, we hear that the proper term for God is Our Father. Not a Father, but THE Father, the one from whom all fatherhood comes.  The one who picks us up when we fall down in life, and the one who loves us greatly.  The one Father who is not flawed, never forgets his promises to His children, and always delivers. One way to grow is to remember daily that Our Father never forgets us, and that we are all part of His family.  Our Father in Heaven is always standing at the door of our hearts.  His son Jesus is still present in the world today.  He is present in the mysteries of the sacraments. When we receive the Eucharist, we receive Him, and He wants us to make Him present to others.

This Christmas Season, are we willing to open the door of our hearts to Him?  Are we willing to open our hearts as a family of faith here at St David’s parish, to come to know Him and love Him in this life and the next? The Holy Family is Holy because they opened their hearts to Our Father. They trusted in God’s Word even when they lost their son. Mary trusted in God’s promise even when she watched her son die on the cross. My prayer for all of us this Christmas is that we open the door of our hearts even wider to faith, hope and love, and to Christ’s promises to us. When we do, we will see that Our Father’s promises are so much greater than we could have ever expected.

Merry Christmas!!
Fr. Windle

Sunday December 26th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19
11:00 am † Intentions of the Presider

Monday December 27th St. John the Apostle & evangelist
8:00 am † Mary Fitzpatrick

Tuesday December 28th Holy Innocents
8:00 am † Dolores Anderson

Wednesday December 29th St. Thomas Becket
8:00 am † George McGinn

Thursday December 30th
8:00 am † Barbara Eisenhart

Friday December 31st St. Sylvester I
8:00 am † Frank Day

Saturday January 1st Mary, Mother of God
10:00 am † Joseph Herbert

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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, Robert Farrell, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, John Flickinger, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Marie Hagan, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Pat Kensey, Msgr. Michael Flood, Teresa Riegal, Elizabeth Ruth, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…Charles Barnes Jr….

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit

        As we wait in joyful hope and expectation for the celebration of the Birth of Jesus, we reflect on our Gospel in which Mary and Elizabeth were also waiting in joyful hope and expectation for the births of Jesus and John the Baptist. On this last Sunday before Christmas, our thoughts turn to Mary, as she carried Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of the world, in her womb.
        When Mary greeted her cousin, the Holy Spirit descended upon Elizabeth and on John the Baptist in Elizabeth’s womb. St. Louis Marie de Montfort, who is renowned for his devotion to Mary, tells us that when we possess Mary, we also are blessed with the presence of her Spouse, the Holy Spirit:

“When the Holy Spirit finds his Spouse in a soul, he flies to that soul, to communicate himself to it, to fill it with his presence, in proportion as he discovers there the presence and the fullness of his Spouse. One of the major reasons why the Holy Spirit does not now work blinding wonders of grace in our souls is that he does not find in us a sufficiently strong union with Mary, his indissoluble Spouse.”
 (True Devotion to Mary, part 1, chapter 1, article 2)            

        So, when Mary is an important part of our lives, the Holy Spirit will fill our hearts with an abundance of grace, just as the Holy Spirit fell on Elizabeth and John the Baptist when Mary spoke. Therefore, we can proclaim that the closer we are to Mary, the closer we are to her Spouse, the Holy Spirit, and the closer we are to God the Father and his Son, Jesus. Mary leads us to God and when we have Mary in our souls, the Holy spirit comes to us.
Mary, in cooperation with her Spouse, the Holy Spirit, became the Mother of Jesus. It is no wonder that Elizabeth says to Mary, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” These inspired words have become part of that beautiful prayer, the ‘Hail Mary’. Mary is truly the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church and our Mother, who leads us always to her Son, Jesus. The best way to draw close to Mary, and thus to the Blessed Trinity, is to devoutly pray the ‘Holy Rosary’.
As we prepare to commemorate the birth of her Divine Son, Jesus, let us spend time in prayer with Mary, that she may implant her roots in our souls and grant us wonders of grace which she alone can bestow, and pray that her Spouse, the Holy Spirit, may fill our hearts with his loving presence!

Have a Blessed Christmas!
Sr. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, IHM 

Saturday December 18th
4:00 pm † Intentions of the Parishioners

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

Monday December 20th
6:30 am Intentions of the Brown & Casey Families

Tuesday December 21st St. Peter Canisius
6:30 am † Margaret Morrow (2nd Anniversary)

Wednesday December 22nd
6:30 am † John Dugan

Thursday December 23rd St. John of Kanty
6:30 am † Charles ‘Chubby’ Obrecht  (3rd Anniversary)

Friday December 24th
8:00 am Intentions of the Presider
4:00 pm † Intentions of the Parishioners
8:00 pm Intentions of the Presider

Saturday December 25th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am Intentions of the Presider
11:00 am 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, Adriana Sproehnle, Karen Dale, Robert Farrell, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, John Flickinger, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Marie Hagan, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Pat Kensey, Msgr. Michael Flood, Teresa Riegal, Emma Grace Horwedel and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…Sister Mary Lorraine Holzman, IHM; Sister Maureen Lawrence McDermott, IHM; Patricia Oneto…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

+Dear Saint David Parishioners,

              We are now celebrating the third Sunday of Advent and our entrance antiphon shouts out: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.” What a hope-filled and joyous phrase to begin Gaudete Sunday. An announcement of 13 more days until the great and awesome day of God breaking into humanity as a little baby, to redeem our sinful souls. What a tremendous and awesome gift that should never be taken for granted.

               God, Who is love, became a vulnerable and innocent baby because of the Blessed Mother, free from all stain of sin, and echoed her “Be it done unto me as you say.” Without full knowledge of what was to lie ahead, but with love and trust in God, Mary said, “Yes,” and the world has never been the same since.

               Mary, our Blessed Mother, who loves us tenderly, wants us to come and know her Son whom she loves so much, and to experience a loving relationship with Him. The best of mothers, and the Blessed Mother is, invites us and urges us to encounter her Son so that each one of us experiences the deep peace for which each of us longs. As Saint Augustine so aptly wrote, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” This means no one and nothing can fill the gap in people’s hearts except God. God is love and He loves each one of us unconditionally, whether we believe it or not, or no matter if we accept it or not, because He is love and He cannot deny Himself.

               Therefore, let us make it our aim for the remainder of this season of hope, to fill our hearts with Jesus through prayer and just time sitting with Him in silence that we may welcome Him in to fill that God-gap. May the Infant Jesus, our loving Savior and Redeemer, fill you and your loved ones with His peace, joy, and love this Christmas and throughout the New Year!

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

Saturday December 11th St. Damasus I
4:00 pm † Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday December 12th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19
11:00 am † Intentions of the Presider

Monday December 13th St. Lucy of Syracuse
6:30 am † Frank Fierraro

Tuesday December 14th St. John of the Cross
6:30 am Carmelite Order & Secular Brothers and Sisters

Wednesday December 15th
6:30 am † David McInerney

Thursday December 16th
6:30 am † Sam Swindells

Friday December 17th
6:30 am † Mary Schluckebier

Saturday December 18th
8:00 am † Harry Weckerly, Sr.

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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, Robert Farrell, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, John Flickinger, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Marie Hagan, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Pat Kensey, Msgr. Michael Flood, Teresa Riegal, Emma Grace Horwedel and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased… .

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

The Wilderness of our Hearts

           One of my most favorite places in the world is a place called Resica Falls Scout Reservation. I would go there every summer with my Scout troop when I was a young man for our summer camp trip. I loved it so much that I went on to be a counselor and spent two entire summers there. I would go for walks by myself looking for wildlife, turning over stones and watching the little critters scramble to safety. Sometimes I would find a log or stone to sit on and listen to the sounds of the forest. Out in the wilderness, the sounds of the regular world are gone. Sitting in the rhythm of the sounds, there was tranquility which is hard to describe, but what I can describe is how easy it is to hear something that is different then the other sounds around you. You can hardly ignore it because it makes you extremely aware that something is different. A sound found in the wilderness is the same out of the ordinary sound from those around us, which John the Baptist describes as the call from the wilderness. The difference is this sound can be found in the wilderness of our hearts.

How can we find the wilderness of our hearts? One thing we can do is use the life of the Saints and martyrs as an example. When reflecting on their lives, we can see that not everything in their lives was always good, but they still found faith, hope, and love. Another place we can find faith, hope, and love is in our scripture reading today. The reading from Baruch was written while Israel was in captivity in Babylon. They found themselves defeated, taken from their homes, and unable to worship their God openly, but they were able to find these virtues while in extreme distress. Another example is found in Paul’s letter today. It is hard to believe that this wonderful encouraging letter was written by Paul while imprisoned. They all have retreated to the wilderness of their hearts where they can find our Lord waiting there to comfort, console, and at times instruct. During this time of Advent, we need to also retreat to the wilderness of our hearts. Listen to the voice in your heart that calls you to repentance and preparation for Christ. Our hearts are through where He will enter our lives. Spend some time there. 

May Jesus live in our hearts forever. 
Deacon Chris

Saturday December 4th St. John Damascene
4:00 pm † Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday December 5th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19
11:00 am † Intentions of the Presider

Monday December 6th St. Nicholas
6:30 am Intentions of Fr. Steven Kiernan

Tuesday December 7th St. Ambrose
6:30 am † Margaret Glassmire

Wednesday December 8th Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
6:30 am † Marian Kramer
9:00 am Intentions of the Parishioner
7:00 pm † Barbara Eisenhart

Thursday December 9th St. Juan Diego
6:30 am † Mary Watkins

Friday December 10th
6:30 am † Bill McMahon

Saturday December 11th St. Damasus I
8:00 am † Bill Eagan

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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, Robert Farrell, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, John Flickinger, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Marie Hagan, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Pat Kensey, Msgr. Michael Flood, Teresa Riegal, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…Dina Eagan…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Attorney John Kralik’s life was falling apart. He was unhappy, out of money, overweight, going through a second divorce, and living in a run-down apartment in Los Angeles. He wasn’t able to give his employees a Christmas bonus because his clients were behind on their bills or simply not paying them. On New Year’s Day while hiking in the hills outside LA, a notion came into his head: He would handwrite one thank-you note each day for the next year, for a total of 365 expressions of thankfulness. This self-imposed gratitude exercise led him to see things right under his nose for which he could be thankful yet hadn’t noticed. This project led to a complete turnabout in his life— and eventually to his best-selling book, A Simple Act of Gratitude: How Learning to Say Thank You Changed My Life.

On Thanksgiving, the Gospel of the 10 lepers (Lk 17:11-19) echoed this powerful message of being thankful.  To be truly grateful, changes lives in this world and prepares us for the next.  With that being said, it is still disappointing to hear that Jesus received only a 10 percent return of gratitude for the healing that he did. We may identify with this sadness in our own lives when we hear people are not coming to mass to praise and worship God for all the things he has done for us.  It might break our hearts even more so when the people who are not coming are our friends, family, children, husbands, wives and so on.  

How do we react to our broken hearts?  In our sadness we may be discouraged or even point fingers, blaming others for things not happening the way we think they should.  We may even blame ourselves for things not working out the way we think they should.  Maybe we are just so fed up and disappointed with everything that we are angry with everyone.

 If that is us, let us reflect on how Jesus reacted to something similar in the gospel. Jesus is sad!  God, who is human as well as divine, shared everything with humanity except sin.  Jesus had emotions and was disappointed that only one person came back.  Jesus acknowledged His feelings as He asked, “where are the other nine, where are the 90%”?  Again, He is not happy with the outcome, but He does not dwell on what is not.  He focuses on what is.  He is present to the moment of His heart and is thankful for this one person, the 10% whose heart was changed. As Jesus says, the man’s gratitude was his “salvation.”

Jesus, who is the Divine Healer, can teach us how to work through our pains, wounds, and hurts in a healthy way. He wants to teach us to be present and grateful to what is good in our lives and not to dwell too much on what is not going well in life. He wants to teach us how to move forward with a suffering heart, with Joy and Hope.  So, if we are hurt and wounded, if our hearts are broken in big things or small things in life, this Advent season is a great opportunity to allow Jesus into our hearts.  Ask Him to come into your heart. Then ask for the grace of patience and to be open to those opportunities for healing when they present themselves. When we do this and recognize God as the one who heals us, then we are like John the Attorney or the Samaritan in the gospel on our way to salvation.

Saturday November 27th
4:00 pm † Intentions of the Parishioners

Sunday November 28th
7:00 am Intentions of the Presider
9:00 am For those affected by COVID-19
11:00 am † Intentions of the Presider

Monday November 29th
6:30 am † Mr. & Mrs. Beck

Tuesday November 30th St. Andrew the Apostle
6:30 am † Brian Lumpkin

Wednesday December 1st
6:30 am † Joseph Sheerin

Thursday December 2nd
6:30 am † Margaret Everson

Friday December 3rd St. Francis Xavier
6:30 am † Special Intention

Saturday December 4th St. John Damascene
8:00 am † Richard C. Noel

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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, Robert Farrell, Agnes Neas, Eileen Snipas, John Flickinger, Maria Pinto, Ernestine Spinello, Andrew Wolford, Bryce Cassidy, Marta Gomeztor, Marion Price, Marie Hagan, Ed Bergan, Evelyn Griffin, Ray Wilson, Pat Kensey, Msgr. Michael Flood, Teresa Riegal, and the residents of Garden Springs and the Landings.

… all those who are deceased…Joseph Fitzgerald and Elvira Esposito…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.