I would like to express my most sincere thanks for your prayers, support, and generosity.  The past seven years have been a true blessing as I continued to discern the Permanent Diaconate and went through spiritual, academic, and pastoral formation.  But it was also daunting at times, balancing home, work, and formation.  Your continued prayers and words of support have been instrumental in helping me and my family along the path towards my ordination.  Please continue to pray for me and my family as we adjust to my new role at the parish, and be assured of my prayers for you all.

Prayer is central to our faith.  In fact, it is essential to our faith life, because it is how we interact with God.  It is how we can have a vital and personal relationship with the living and true God.  St. Thérèse of Lisieux says: “For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.”

Today’s readings highlight a very important aspect of this relationship.  As Jesus points out in the prayer he teaches his disciples and in the subsequent discourse about persistence in prayer, there is a filial relationship underlying our prayers to God.  We can truly call God our Father because we are his adopted children through baptism.

At first glance, that might not really be significant but it has a tremendous effect on our relationship with God and our prayer life.  We might be inclined to think that our prayer is a way to present our needs and wants to God.  Perhaps we look beyond that, and see it as a way to have a dialogue with our Lord.  And that is not incorrect.

But it is important to realize that God is indeed Our Father – that we are his adopted sons and daughters through Christ’s death and resurrection.  And Jesus tells us that our prayer life is therefore part of a child-father relationship rather than a servant-master relationship.  This is why Jesus says: “What father […] would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish?”

God is not merely our Father though – he is the perfect Father.  We often do not see it that way, because we tend to regard God through the lens of our human imperfection.  But it really should be the other way around.  God is perfect, and earthly fatherhood is an imperfect reflection of that.  To quote Jesus: “If [human fathers] know how to give good gifts to [their] children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

As we pray, let us remember that we are participating in a dialogue with our perfect Father in heaven, who initiated the dialogue and is patiently awaiting our response.  Let us speak to him from the heart, sharing our joys and our sorrows, our blessings and our needs, and know that as a perfect Father, he hears us and will answer in the way that is best for us.

This little story of Martha and Mary has a way of getting into people’s minds; it has a way of getting under people’s skin. Many people over the years have complained about this story, in which they believe that it’s not about Martha and Mary, but rather about Martha versus Mary: Who leads the best life? Even my mom, every time she hears this Gospel, strongly defends Martha, telling me that Martha gets a bad rap.  I think people take a stance on this because they, too, identify with Martha and believe it was an unfair assessment on Jesus’s part. Martha, who was worried about all the details of hospitality, represents the active life. She represents the people who get things done in life, all those people in the life of the Church who are actively engaged in their Ministry. Mary, on the other hand, sits quietly at the feet of Jesus and listens, representing the meditative life. Think of all the monks and nuns and scholars who spend their lives in quiet considering the things of God.

Now, when Jesus says to Mary, “you have chosen the better part and it won’t be denied of you,” is read by some as Jesus valuing the meditative life over the active life. Honestly, I will not go that far with it, but I think we can reflect on this active/meditative life. I think that it is made very clear in the Old and New Testaments that listening has to come before acting. Now I am not saying that action is not important, but it is more of a chronological relationship: Step 1: listen, Step 2: act.

What gets people in trouble is that we may act without listening. Think of King David in the Bible when he wanted to build the temple. It was good to want to build a temple for God. David was full of good intentions, but that was not part of God’s will at that very moment. As Nathan the prophet said, “No, that is not what God wants.” David, to his credit, listened and did not act. Or even better, he acted by not building the temple. Action after taking the time to meditate is a very important principle for us today. 

We are not a very meditative society – we are much more action-oriented. We are much more at home with Martha as we prefer to keep busy and very active. In our culture, it seems like we are people who never stop moving.  We go from place to place, meeting to meeting, dropping one child off at one activity, and trying not to be late for our next appointment. Action is good, but being too busy isn’t. So then, action without prayerful reflection is problematic: We must listen first, then act.

Have you ever noticed in the Gospels that we never hear Jesus do things out of obligation? He doesn’t say, “I guess I should do this because I am supposed to.” This is the tension that we feel when reading the Gospels. It is the tension that we have with Him now. Jesus is willing to go against the expectations of the crowd, even when it comes to his friends Martha and Mary. In order to be true to the things that He is pursuing, Jesus doesn’t let what everyone wants or what the culture thinks is the most noble for him to do to redirect His purpose.  His purpose was always the cross. His purpose was to head towards Jerusalem.

So again, we never see Jesus stressed or worried that He is going to let people down. He doesn’t cure everyone who is blind, paralyzed, and deaf. He was never worried about what people thought about him.  We never hear Jesus say, “I am just so busy!!” The truth is that for us, being busy is a drug that is easy to become addicted to.

Obviously, there are times in life that we just can’t help but be busy: a sick family member, starting a new job or new project at school or work, or typical family life. Today’s Gospel, however, tells us that we must examine the rhythms of our lives, the busyness, with the help of God. We have to if we are ever going to stay focused on the great things that God has planned for us.

Let’s ask ourselves: Are we going through the motions of life, or do we know exactly what our lives are about? We all have God given talents and gifts. We all get the opportunity to receive God’s life in the sacraments.  We have the graces ready to be given to us; however, if we don’t spend time praying about these things, thinking about these things, and sitting in silence with God to listen to Him, we can get pulled off track and get spread too thin. We can be like Martha complaining to Jesus about Mary; we complain to ourselves and others about how busy we are and others are not. However, if we stay focused on what God wants from us and on the important things in our lives, we can begin to truly listen to Jesus and have more confidence in Him as we pursue the great things in this life.

So let us think about this today, especially for those who feel so busy right now. Know that God is not asking us to do more, but that He is probably asking us to do less. Let us take a moment out of our busy lives to be with Him, to go out and smell the roses of life, to learn to enjoy being present with God.  Let us understand more of what God has created us to be so that we don’t get burned out on our journey to heaven.

On this 15^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we celebrate the God who is close to us in our neighbor. As the image of the unseen God, and as the Good Samaritan, Christ is near us in every circumstance of life, especially when we reach out in selfless love to our neighbor. Reflections by Saint Teresa of Calcutta and Pope Leo XIV enrich our minds and hearts with the spiritual depth that Jesus conveys in this parable.

“Every person is Jesus,” said Mother Teresa. The Samaritan finds a man beat up and bloody, and sees Jesus lying in the gutter. He treats him with mercy and compassion. To those who do not show mercy God is invisible. As St. Paul writes in the second reading: Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Saint Teresa of Calcutta adds: “The poor person is the image of the invisible Jesus. Jesus comes to us in every person we encounter and He reveals the face of God to us in them.” Can we see Jesus in the poor, the troublesome, the annoying person?

One time Mother Teresa was talking to a group of American professionals. “Smile at each other,” she said. Smile at your wife, smile at your husband, smile at your children, smile at each other – it doesn’t matter who it is – and that will help you grow in greater love for each other. One of the women asked her, “Mother, are you married?” She responded: “Yes, I am, and sometimes Jesus asks a great deal of me, and it is hard to smile at Him!” In spite of the difficulty, Mother Teresa kept on smiling. Can we do the same, even in times of trial and suffering?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of a priest and a Levite. We would imagine that each would have stopped and cared for the hurt man but they simply chose to ignore him. This, Pope Leo highlights, shows that “religious practice alone does not automatically lead to compassion.” Compassion is not necessarily a characteristic of religion but is characteristic of being human. Human beings are called to be compassionate, no matter what their religion is. The priest and the Levite represent all of us – in a hurry to get somewhere. This hurry can keep us from reaching out, being compassionate. Pope Leo warns, “People who believe their journey takes priority are not willing to stop for others.”

Only a Samaritan, “someone from a people traditionally despised,” stops to assist the wounded man. The Samaritan helps, not out of a religious requirement, but because “he is one human being in need in front of another human being.” Compassion, Pope Leo stressed, takes form through concrete actions, because in order to help someone, “you cannot stay at a distance.” To be compassionate, one has to get involved and be prepared to “even get dirty, and perhaps take risks.”

The Samaritan is an example of compassion because he physically takes care of the wounded man. The Pope underlines that truly helping someone “means being willing to feel the weight of another’s pain.” He points out that only when we recognize that we ourselves are the wounded man can we truly feel compassion.

Let us pray for the grace to always respond with heartfelt mercy and compassion to relieve the suffering of others!

May God bless you!
Sr. Kathleen

On behalf of our entire school family, I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for their decades of faithful service, unwavering dedication, and spiritual leadership at Queen of Angels Regional Catholic School. Their presence has and will continue to be a blessing, shaping the hearts and minds of generations with love, faith, and excellence.

As we look ahead, I am pleased to introduce Ms. Beatrice Allen as our new and first lay principal. Ms. Allen brings a deep commitment to Catholic education, a passion for student success, and a collaborative spirit that I am confident will guide our school into a bright and faithful future. Ms. Allen had the opportunity to come and meet with some of our families and faculty at the Home and School Student Showcase at the end of the school year. She shared her thoughts on becoming the Principal here at QOA and I would like to share them here:

“Good Evening, everyone. I am honored, I am overjoyed, and I am humbled to stand before you tonight. This moment represents a turning point in my life as well as a turning point in the life of Queen of Angels Regional Catholic School.

Taking the first step on an untraveled path is both exciting and scary. As you focus on moving forward, it is hard not to stop, turn your head and look at what is behind you. In fact, it is important that you do take the time to stop and look at what is behind you because that is your legacy; it is your history. It is what brought you to this exact point in time. That pause, that turning of the head, is the time to reflect on what you will carry with you as you journey forward and what will become a treasured memory. It is time to think about where you were and where you can and want to go. In fact, it is the time to look up and look within… and be confident that God’s grace is truly leading the way.

As a young girl, all I ever wanted to become was a teacher. I was blessed to live my dream; I have been in Catholic education my entire career. A few years ago, I decided I wanted to impact more than just a classroom filled with students. I wanted to impact a school filled with students as well as teachers who shared my dedication, devotion and enthusiasm for Catholic education. So, as my one and only daughter headed off to college, I did as well. I can honestly say it was the most challenging yet rewarding time of my life. While I may have felt overwhelmed and overworked at times, I knew I was never alone. I had the unwavering support of my family, my friends, and my faith. ALWAYS my faith.”

Please join me in praying for the IHM Sisters as they continue their ministry here at Queen of Angels and beyond, and in welcoming Ms. Allen with open arms and warm hearts.  I thank you all for your support of Queen of Angels.

God Bless,
Mrs. O’Doherty

The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

Saint Paul recalls the zeal of his early years within Judaism, when he persecuted the Church and tried to destroy it.  He points out that he followed the Jewish practices to the letter.  Yet, in the plan of God, Paul was destined to preach the gospel to the gentiles.  Because of this divine plan, he had no need for human teachers or for any direction from the Church at Jerusalem.  After his conversion, he set off for an area south of Damascus, which he called Arabia.  He then returned to Damascus, and, after three years of prayer and reflection, he went to Jerusalem.

Paul speaks of visiting with Peter, whom he calls by his Aramaic name, Cephas. The name Cephas and Peter both mean “rock.”  The visit apparently consisted of no more than just getting acquainted.  Peter and Paul shared an understanding of their teachings with each other.  Paul spent only fifteen days with Peter, hardly enough time for any deep lessons of faith.  At that time, the only other disciple Paul met was James, the head of the Jerusalem Church (not James the Apostle), who is referred to as the brother of Jesus in the Acts of the Apostles.  This reference to James as Jesus’ brother may mean that he is related to Jesus in some manner, for in Jesus’ culture a cousin could be referred to as one’s brother.

Paul when went to Syria and Cilicia, and he describes the reaction of the Christians of Judea to his ministry. Although they did not know him personally, they had heard that he was the one who had previously persecuted the Church and was now preaching the faith.  They praised God for this gift, thus showing that they accepted Paul as a true disciple of Jesus.  Some of the Judean Christians would later become the ones to reject Paul’s teachings and cause him to eventually turn this attention to the Gentiles.

God Travels Too

When Judah was defeated by the Babylonians, many of the Jews were taken as hostages back to Babylon. This was devasting to the Jews because not only were they being taken away from their homeland, but they believed that they were being taken away from God who they believed resided only in Judah, where the temple was.  They were forced to participate in local rituals and customs even though these things went against their own teachings of their faith. 

There were a few who refused to participate and held fast to the teachings and relationships that they had with God. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four young men who did not give up on God. It was through their faith that God let them know He was always with them wherever they may be. Daniel was, of course, spared in the lion’s den, and Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were saved from the fiery furnace. In fact, a fourth person was seen in the fire with the three young men, one who looked like, “the Son of God.” Jesus was with them.

We need to remember that no matter where we live or where we travel to that God is always with us. He is always with us – with a burning love for us.  When we are traveling this summer on our vacations, we need to recognize this.  Our relationship with God travels with us, which means we need to attend Mass even while we are away. Holding fast to our faith can and will have the same outcome as it did for the four young Israelites – salvation from beasts and an eternal fire.  We are asked not to get caught up in “local customs” and to attend Mass through our constant faith. It is at Mass where we will receive the very Savior in His Body and Precious Blood – that very gift of the Eucharist we celebrate today. 

Just think of the traditions we are establishing with our children and grandchildren that even while we are away – we always put God first. Remember, God loves spending time with us, even on vacation.  Find a Church, they are everywhere.

May Jesus live in our hearts forever.
Deacon Chris

The Holy Spirit in Our Lives

As we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on this Pentecost Sunday, let us praise and thank God for the times we have experienced the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in our own lives. Through the grace of the sacraments, every time we choose to follow God’s will, instead of our own, we are responding to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

Under the leadership of our Pastor, Fr. Matthew Windle, the parish staff and the school and convent leaders have been gathering each week to strive to deepen our personal prayer lives, so we can more faithfully guide all St. David Parishioners to embrace our parish vision:

“Knowing that 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 XVI  

Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, who used the vehicles of our group sharing and the insights of a program on prayer entitled, “Oremus” I personally felt impelled to revise my prayer life. The Holy Spirit enlightened me to realize that I was devoting too much time each day to vocal prayer and not enough time to striving to grow in reflective/contemplative prayer. Therefore, I was drawn to decrease my vocal prayer to a single rosary and to spend a minimum of one hour daily reflecting on a short passage from Sacred Scripture so that I may be able to more clearly hear God’s Word. I found the steps below which have helped countless seekers to grow in their personal relationship with God, to be quite beneficial:

• Pray to the Holy Spirit to guide me to the Scripture Reading and the particular phrase for my prayerful reflection that day (usually from the daily Mass Readings). I read the passage slowly and reflectively two or three times.
• Acknowledge – God knows every facet of our lives – our joys and our sufferings. He wants us to put our successes and our failures into his hands, trusting in his love and forgiveness.
• Relate – God desires our true selves, for it is the heart that prays, with all its strengths and weaknesses.
• Receive – I invoke the Holy Spirit to fill my heart with his abiding love and peace!

God speaks to us in SILENCE! BE STILL and LISTEN!

• Respond – I resolve to follow the inspiration of the Holy Spirit given to me.

Words are inadequate to express the tremendous increase of joy and peace I have experienced through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to revise my prayer life. My prayers are joined with yours that as a parish we may either respond or continue responding to the Holy Spirit’s inspiration to deepen our relationship with God!

Holy Spirit enlighten us!
Sr. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, IHM

The Gospel passage for this Sunday gives us the unique opportunity to hear Jesus and how he prays to the Father.  There are two things that struck me in this Gospel. 

First, Jesus prays that we may be one as he and the Father are one.  In the past month, there has been a lot of discussion and analysis of the Papacy.  During the Conclave, there was much discussion on what the new pope should focus on.  Bishop Barron responded to these concerns at the time by saying, “The key task of the Pope, in his own person, is summing up the unity of the Church…. He is supposed to be someone where the entire Church finds its unity.”  Jesus wants us (all Christians) to be one.  How can we work, each day, to bring that unity into reality?

The second thing that struck me from the Gospel was when Jesus said, “Father, they are your gift to me.”  I am not sure that we reflect on that fact enough.  Jesus sees us as a gift!  We are precious to him!  When we are having good days, he sees us as a gift. When we are having bad days, he sees us as a gift.  We cannot change how Jesus views us!  We don’t have that power! (Thank the Lord!)  The next step would be, how can we be a gift to others? 

Today, at 2pm, Queen of Angels’ 8^th grade class is having their Graduation Mass at Our Lady Help of Christians.  They are moving on to their next step in their academic lives.  They are going forth to work for that unity and be a gift to others.  Congratulations to the QOA Class of 2025!  We are so excited to witness all that you will do in the future!

MARY, MOTHER OF THE EUCHARIST

       The Bible tells of a great love story between God and his people. We have been loved into existence. Created by love and for love—the eternal love of heaven. Even despite our sins, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3:16). God’s love has redeemed the world.

But this great love story hung upon a “yes” of a young teenager named Mary.

In giving God her simple and total “yes,” Mary became the Mother of God. Thirty-three years later, Jesus would give her to us, so that she would become the Mother of the Church. Now each of us can claim Mary as our own. We rely on Jesus’ Mother for her prayers and trust her to assist us in our spiritual walk.

Though she never steals the spotlight from her Son, we can garner assuring glimpses of her compassion and powerful intercession in Scripture. At the wedding feast of Cana, we see her bring the newly married couple’s need to Jesus, and Jesus responds by performing his first public miracle. At the Crucifixion of Christ, while many of Jesus’ closest followers were in hiding, we find Mary at the foot of the Cross, proving she is willing to be close to pain and suffering.

In our Blessed Mother, we find more than an advocate; we also find an example of how to relish God’s presence. One of the few Gospel passages that describe Mary’s actions is Luke 2:19, “And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” Here we catch a glimpse of her life of fruitful prayer, meditating upon all that Jesus has said and done. When Jesus walked amongst humanity, how many people passed him by without recognizing the gift of his proximity? Mary was always aware of who Jesus was and the importance of his nearness.

God chose Mary to bring forth Christ into this world. For nine months, Mary was a living tabernacle. Christ physically dwelled within her. As we go into the world, we too can be living tabernacles as Christ dwells within us through our participation in the Sacred Liturgy and the Eucharist.

As disciples of Christ, we must allow Mary to draw us close to her Son. St. Pope John Paul II wrote in Ecclesia de Eucharistia, “Mary can guide us toward this most holy sacrament because she herself has a profound relationship with it.” Mary’s mindfulness, faithfulness, and devotion drew her close to Jesus, and following her example can help us do the same. Today, let us follow Mary’s example and reflect on the love of Jesus in our hearts.

Spark Series of the Eucharistic Revival

Today, we read in the Gospel that Thomas was absent from the group, and therefore, missed Jesus appearing to the other Apostles.  Thomas was away from the other Apostles, and so, he was away from the Church. The Gospel doesn’t share what Thomas was doing.  Maybe he was not afraid like the other Apostles, so he was not hiding. Whatever Thomas was doing, it led him away from the group – from the Church.

I know that there are times that we have the best of intentions, and those good intentions can take us away from what we should be doing.  One thing to be aware of is not to lose the discipline and growth you have gained from your Lenten sacrifice.  Easter doesn’t mean throwing away or picking up whatever you added on or gave up. 

On the contrary, Easter is a time to celebrate your growth in your relationship with Jesus Christ!  Learn from Thomas’ experience!  Don’t separate yourself from the group! Can you believe that a week ago, we celebrated Easter?! The Church in her wisdom gives us eight days to celebrate Easter!  That means, for eight days after Easter, we can treat each day as if it is Easter Sunday! 

This Sunday is also called Divine Mercy Sunday.  Pope John Paul II established the Sunday after Easter to be Divine Mercy Sunday.  Please take some time to read about St. Faustina and the Divine Mercy revelations!  Just google St. Faustina, there is so much information out there on this special message of Mercy from Jesus!  Happy Easter!

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!