1st Sunday of Lent

On our money we find the words, "In God We Trust". Do we? Or do we put our trust in ourselves or science or a certain theology or philosophy or political view? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary trust is "assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something." Jesus models for us how to trust in God at all times and in all circumstances.

Today we hear of Jesus' temptations and how he stands his ground with the devil. Jesus knew that God was with him. He knew that God would care for him. Jesus placed his trust in God.

Like Jesus, we can be tempted to rely on ourselves, using our power only for our own good. We can place our trust in people or things that are not worthy of that trust.

Lent is the time for us to go into the desert and remember that we have been filled with the Spirit of God in baptism and had the gifts of the Spirit deepened in confirmation. We mustn't forget the words of St. Paul who said: "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Let us follow Jesus' example and trust in God!

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

On Ash Wednesday, we begin the season of Lent by receiving ashes on our forehead. Receiving ashes in the shape of a cross identifies us as a disciple of Jesus Christ. The ashes also serve as reminders of human mortality and the need for repentance and change in our lives. This day is a time for fasting and abstaining from meat. We begin the forty-day season of Lent by keeping our sights on Jesus' victory over death on Easter. Lent is a time for change - changing our lives to be more Christ-like. Lent is a time when we make space in our lives to think about our relationship with our heavenly Father and the ways in which we are responding or failing to respond to his love and care for us. This desire to change our lives toward God and away from sin finds outward expression in various ways: prayer, fasting, almsgiving, reading the Bible, praying the Rosary, following the Stations of the Cross, going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This Lent, when we receive ashes, keep in mind that it is an invitation to repent, a challenge to grow closer to the Lord, and a gentle reminder that our time on earth is limited.

4th Sunday In Ordinary Time

We all like to feel special. We tell our children that they are special and they are! We look to honors and awards that acknowledge our achievements. Excellent work sometimes gets rewarded with bonuses that signify an exceptional job. In the Gospel, Jesus points out that God's choice is not always the same as those who might be recognized by humankind. The opening prayer for today's Mass asks God to help us "love everyone in truth of heart." It is a reminder that God shows no partiality. All people are special in God's eyes, even those we may not think are such!

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

When I was in grade school, at my home parish's school, I was an outstanding student - that is - I was out standing in the hall. When I was in sixth grade there was a transformation in me; that is when I had Sr. Anne for my teacher. There was something very special about her. One of the things that I remember was that she would read the story of St. Dominic Savio to the class. Hearing the story of St. Dominic was inspiring for me. It was good to hear the story of a young saint who had the courage to stand up for his faith. I was fortunate to receive my early eduation at a Catholic school where I heard about God, the saints and how to follow Jesus' example.

This week our parish school celebrates Catholic Schools Week. The theme is "Cathlic Schools Raise the Standards." Catholic schools make a world of difference, and we as a parish are blessed to have a school where our children are taught faith - not just the basics of Christianity, but how to have a relationship with God. In Catholic schools academics are held to very high standards, helping each child reach his or her potential. Service, the giving of one's time and effort to help others, is also taught as an expression of faith and good citizenship. So please pray for all students, teachers, principals and all who serve in Catholic schools.

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Tuesday, January 22 marks the 40th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision to legalize abortion in our country. The Church asks us to pray for legal protection of the unborn. Each of us has the responsibility to promote the Gospel of Life. Blessed Pope John Paul II said, "Every individual, by reason of the mystery of the Word of God who was made flesh, is entrusted to the maternal care of the Church. Therefore, every threat to human dignity and life must necessarily be felt in the Church's very heart; it cannot but affect her at the core of her faith in the Redemptive Incarnation of the Son of God, and engage her in her mission of proclaiming the Gospel of life in all the world and to every creature." - (Evangelium Vitae, no. 3). Let us then take up the call to pray for just laws that protect the innocent. Let us also pray for a transformation of minds and hearts, so that the protection of the unborn may become reality.

Please join us on Tuesday, here at the parish, in praying for the protection of all life, especially the unborn, during our Eucharistic Day of Adoration and at 6:00p.m. for prayers and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

The Baptism of the Lord

On this final day of the Christmas season, we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. We hear how the Holy Spirit was present to Jesus and how God was "well pleased" with his "beloved Son". The descent of the Holy Spirit and the voice of God from heaven mark the final epiphany of the Christmas season.

Our opening prayer for today recalls the mystery of the Incarnation. It reminds us that the only begotten Son of God has appeared in the flesh, and it asks that we might be inwardly transformed through the One whom we recognize as outwardly like ourselves. It is a great summation of the entire Christmas mystery in which we celebrate the fact that God took on our humanity so that we might come to share in his divine life. This is the great transformation that takes place in our own baptism in Christ.

The Epiphany of the Lord

Happy New Year! On this Epiphany Sunday we celebrate the journey of the Magi, who bore gifts for the Jesus, the new born king. This trip was possible because they belived that a star would lead them to this Savior. The star of Bethlehem plays a prominent role in the prayers for today. But the meaning is less about what shines up in the night sky than what sheds its light in our hearts: the star of justice and the light of faith. We pray that we may behold God's glory, for the guiding light that we follow today is not a star to the house in Bethlehem, but the heavenly light that will lead us to our eternal home. The journey for us is not across the Mesopotamian desert, but through a life filled with faith and love. Let us take our gifts of faith, hope and love to the Lord and to one another.