Pastoral Messages (Page 5)

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2.11.24

Sunday’s Readings: Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46; Psalms 32:1-2, 5, 11; 1 Corinthians 10:31—11:1; Mark 1:40-45

…from your Pastor’s Desk – This Wednesday we have a fascinating conflation of days. Wednesday is both Valentine’s Day, a special day of special recognition of our loved one[s] and Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Holy Season of Lent – the time we change our lives for the better in preparation for the Most Holy of days – Easter Sunday. I remember that this has happened several times in the not too distant past. But let us not have one preclude the other – for both celebrate love. One at a human level – the other at human and Divine. “What greater love can one have than to lay down one’s life for a friend?” …

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2.4.24

Sunday’s Readings: Job 7:1-4, 6-7; Psalms 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6; 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23; Mark 1:29-39

…from your Pastor’s Desk – As I re-read this bulletin – I see a lot of reminders of the rules…let us not forget why we follow them. Let our motivations be pure. It’s not sufficient to know the rules, let us live them — understanding the spirit in which these rules were fashioned. Let us allow God’s spirit to penetrate our being so deeply… that our actions and God’s desires become one. …

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – 2024

Sunday’s Readings: 1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19; Psalms 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10; 1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20; John 1:35-42

…from your Pastor’s Desk – John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King Jr.. To some reading this, these names bring back memories of personal experiences during the turbulent times of the sixties and seventies; the start of the Civil Rights Movement, the Catholic Worker Houses and the beginning of the changes that are still in process today to make this country one of equality for all people. Note: Still in Process. To those that weren’t born yet these names might as well be Abraham Lincoln, Susan B. Anthony and Harriet Tubman. Great historical figures all. …

The Epiphany of the Lord – 2024

Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalms 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12

…from your Pastor’s Desk – Three Magi, Three Gifts for the Child-King – If I asked you to think of the three worst things you ever did in your life, even if you didn’t want to admit them, you could come up with them pretty quickly – certainly one of them – instantly. Now – If I asked you to think of the three best things you have ever done in your life (other than marriage and children) it would take a great deal more time. …

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph – 2023

Sunday’s Readings: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 OR Genesis 15:1-6, 21:1-3; Psalms 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 OR 105:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9; Colossians 3:12-21 OR 3:12-17 OR Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19; Luke 2:22-40 OR 2:22, 39-40

…from your Pastor’s Desk – We are on the verge of another year. Hard to believe that Monday will be 2024! It also means that we have another Holy Day to celebrate! A very special feast day. Monday was Christmas, today is the feast of The Holy Family. This coming Monday, we celebrate: ‘Mary, The Holy Mother Of God’ – the most ancient of Marian Feasts and one of extreme importance in defining who we are as Roman Catholics. …

4th Sunday of Advent – 2023

Sunday’s Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Psalms 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38

…from your Pastor’s Desk – For unto us this day is born a Savior – Christ is born for us! That is the clear message of our celebration today. Christ is born— He didn’t just ‘appear’ but was born, just as we were all born. We believe that Christ, although Divine, is truly human like us in all things except sin. …

3rd Sunday of Advent – 2023

Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 61:1-2A, 10-11; Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

…from your Pastor’s Desk – Happy Gaudete Sunday! Gaudete Sunday happens every year on the third Sunday of Advent. Back in the 1900’s, when most of us were born – up until the early 1960’s – the words were in Latin: “Gaudete, iterum dico vobis, ‘Gaudete.'” Which means; “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, Rejoice! And so, this Sunday is still called “Gaudete Sunday.” …