Sunday, March 27, 2011
Come Home Weekend
NEXT WEEKEND (April 2 & 3, 2011) is our Come Home Weekend- it’s a special weekend to welcome Home friends who have been away. As I mentioned in the homily today we have an awesome opportunity to be the one who “sends the message” and invites someone to come and hear Christ speak to their hearts. In many ways next weekend is what we as a parish family have been working toward together for the past five years – getting our home ready to be a place for everyone. As our “guests” come next weekend they will find not only our usual warm welcome, but for many it will be their first time to see our new parish centre, parking lot, accessible facilities and to know about our many ministries and groups. For each “guest” a special “Welcome Package” has been prepared for them to pick up. Everyone will also have a chance to check out our religious articles display, get tickets for our Good Friday Fish Fry and also learn about ways to get more involved in the parish community. Please pray about who you will invite. Please pray that many hearts will be touched.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
The Pillars of Lent
The three traditional pillars of Lenten observance are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The key to renewed appropriation of these practices is to see their link to baptismal renewal.
Prayer: More time given to prayer during Lent should draw us closer to the Lord. We might pray especially for the grace to live out our baptismal promises more fully. We might pray for the elect who will be baptized at Easter and support their conversion journey by our prayer. We might pray for all those who will celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation with us during Lent that they will be truly renewed in their baptismal commitment.
Fasting: Fasting is one of the most ancient practices linked to Lent. In fact, the paschal fast predates Lent as we know it. The early Church fasted intensely for two days before the celebration of the Easter Vigil. This fast was later extended and became a 40-day period of fasting leading up to Easter. Vatican II called us to renew the observance of the ancient paschal fast: "...let the paschal fast be kept sacred. Let it be celebrated everywhere on Good Friday and, where possible, prolonged throughout Holy Saturday, so that the joys of the Sunday of the Resurrection may be attained with uplifted and clear mind" (Liturgy, # 110).
Fasting is more than a means of developing self-control. It is often an aid to prayer, as the pangs of hunger remind us of our hunger for God. The first reading on the Friday after Ash Wednesday points out another important dimension of fasting. The prophet Isaiah insists that fasting without changing our behavior is not pleasing to God. "This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own" (Is 58:6-7).
Fasting should be linked to our concern for those who are forced to fast by their poverty, those who suffer from the injustices of our economic and political structures, those who are in need for any reason. Thus fasting, too, is linked to living out our baptismal promises. By our Baptism, we are charged with the responsibility of showing Christ's love to the world, especially to those in need. Fasting can help us realize the suffering that so many people in our world experience every day, and it should lead us to greater efforts to alleviate that suffering.
Abstaining from meat traditionally also linked us to the poor, who could seldom afford meat for their meals. It can do the same today if we remember the purpose of abstinence and embrace it as a spiritual link to those whose diets are sparse and simple. That should be the goal we set for ourselves—a sparse and simple meal. Avoiding meat while eating lobster misses the whole point!
Almsgiving: It should be obvious at this point that almsgiving, the third traditional pillar, is linked to our baptismal commitment in the same way. It is a sign of our care for those in need and an expression of our gratitude for all that God has given to us. Works of charity and the promotion of justice are integral elements of the Christian way of life we began when we were baptized.
Prayer: More time given to prayer during Lent should draw us closer to the Lord. We might pray especially for the grace to live out our baptismal promises more fully. We might pray for the elect who will be baptized at Easter and support their conversion journey by our prayer. We might pray for all those who will celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation with us during Lent that they will be truly renewed in their baptismal commitment.
Fasting: Fasting is one of the most ancient practices linked to Lent. In fact, the paschal fast predates Lent as we know it. The early Church fasted intensely for two days before the celebration of the Easter Vigil. This fast was later extended and became a 40-day period of fasting leading up to Easter. Vatican II called us to renew the observance of the ancient paschal fast: "...let the paschal fast be kept sacred. Let it be celebrated everywhere on Good Friday and, where possible, prolonged throughout Holy Saturday, so that the joys of the Sunday of the Resurrection may be attained with uplifted and clear mind" (Liturgy, # 110).
Fasting is more than a means of developing self-control. It is often an aid to prayer, as the pangs of hunger remind us of our hunger for God. The first reading on the Friday after Ash Wednesday points out another important dimension of fasting. The prophet Isaiah insists that fasting without changing our behavior is not pleasing to God. "This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own" (Is 58:6-7).
Fasting should be linked to our concern for those who are forced to fast by their poverty, those who suffer from the injustices of our economic and political structures, those who are in need for any reason. Thus fasting, too, is linked to living out our baptismal promises. By our Baptism, we are charged with the responsibility of showing Christ's love to the world, especially to those in need. Fasting can help us realize the suffering that so many people in our world experience every day, and it should lead us to greater efforts to alleviate that suffering.
Abstaining from meat traditionally also linked us to the poor, who could seldom afford meat for their meals. It can do the same today if we remember the purpose of abstinence and embrace it as a spiritual link to those whose diets are sparse and simple. That should be the goal we set for ourselves—a sparse and simple meal. Avoiding meat while eating lobster misses the whole point!
Almsgiving: It should be obvious at this point that almsgiving, the third traditional pillar, is linked to our baptismal commitment in the same way. It is a sign of our care for those in need and an expression of our gratitude for all that God has given to us. Works of charity and the promotion of justice are integral elements of the Christian way of life we began when we were baptized.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Welcome Home
Even now says the Lord, “Return to me with your whole heart”. The Good News is our God still wants us back. Like the Father of the Prodigal Son, God is anxious for us to return to Him. It is a homecoming. Blow the trumpet in Zion! Proclaim a fast! Gather the people.
Lent is such a special time in our year. It is a time of new beginnings, of reviewing our lives in the light of the Gospel, to deepen our conversion and to draw closer to God and to one another.
The ashes on our forehead, which mark the start of Lent, are to remind us that we are pilgrims in this world. One day death will end that pilgrimage and we will have to render an account of our stewardship. How did we use our talents, our treasure, our time? Did we make this a better world by our love and generosity? If we have been living selfish and self-absorbed lives, Lent is an opportunity to clean up our obituary, to change the direction of our life. Change is never easy. We need a lot of help and we need a plan. Lent first of all, must be a renewal in the life of prayer. There can be no growth in faith and holiness without prayer. Each day we need time and space for God.
Hence, our first Lenten resolution should be about our prayer life. Daily reading from the Gospels and the Scriptures can be a very important way to deepen our prayer life, to find direction and encouragement in the Word of God. Jesus wants us to know His voice and to ponder His words in our heart.
This Lent our parish is in the midst of an initiative rooted in prayer - to invite people who have stepped away to reconnect with the Life of the Church. We all need to realize that the Church exists to evangelize, to make disciples of all nations. It is our responsibility to reach out and encourage those around us to be members of Christ’s family, the Church.
The second reading for Ash Wednesday is from St. Paul who writes: “We are ambassadors for Christ as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on their behalf. It is my hope that our Welcome Home Weekend on April 2& 3 will encourage all of us to be ambassadors for Christ, inviting our friends, acquaintances and even strangers to be followers of Christ. It is important that an ambassador present well. Often they are housed in magnificent residences and fulfill a special role in making their presidents or rulers present in the new country. Being an ambassador for Christ does not require a fancy residence or clothes, but that we express the Lord’s concern to gather us into God’s family.
In the past, we have often asked our Catholics to practice the corporal works of mercy…to feed the hungry, provide clothes and shelter, visit the sick and prisoners. But we sometimes forget that these are also spiritual works of mercy; to instruct the uninformed, counsel the doubtful, admonish sinners, bear wrongs patiently, forgive offenses willingly, comfort the afflicted and to pray for the living and the dead.
I consider our Welcome Back Weekend as a Spiritual Work of Mercy. It expresses our concern about people’s interior life, their relationship with God, their spiritual hunger. We want people to know Christ and His love, because we believe that in Christ we find the answers to life questions and come to eternal happiness.
The Church exists to evangelize and this Holy Season of Lent is a special time of opportunity. And so as the Prophet tells us, “Sound the trumpet, proclaim a fast, gather the people and invite the Family to come home”.
Lent is such a special time in our year. It is a time of new beginnings, of reviewing our lives in the light of the Gospel, to deepen our conversion and to draw closer to God and to one another.
The ashes on our forehead, which mark the start of Lent, are to remind us that we are pilgrims in this world. One day death will end that pilgrimage and we will have to render an account of our stewardship. How did we use our talents, our treasure, our time? Did we make this a better world by our love and generosity? If we have been living selfish and self-absorbed lives, Lent is an opportunity to clean up our obituary, to change the direction of our life. Change is never easy. We need a lot of help and we need a plan. Lent first of all, must be a renewal in the life of prayer. There can be no growth in faith and holiness without prayer. Each day we need time and space for God.
Hence, our first Lenten resolution should be about our prayer life. Daily reading from the Gospels and the Scriptures can be a very important way to deepen our prayer life, to find direction and encouragement in the Word of God. Jesus wants us to know His voice and to ponder His words in our heart.
This Lent our parish is in the midst of an initiative rooted in prayer - to invite people who have stepped away to reconnect with the Life of the Church. We all need to realize that the Church exists to evangelize, to make disciples of all nations. It is our responsibility to reach out and encourage those around us to be members of Christ’s family, the Church.
The second reading for Ash Wednesday is from St. Paul who writes: “We are ambassadors for Christ as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on their behalf. It is my hope that our Welcome Home Weekend on April 2& 3 will encourage all of us to be ambassadors for Christ, inviting our friends, acquaintances and even strangers to be followers of Christ. It is important that an ambassador present well. Often they are housed in magnificent residences and fulfill a special role in making their presidents or rulers present in the new country. Being an ambassador for Christ does not require a fancy residence or clothes, but that we express the Lord’s concern to gather us into God’s family.
In the past, we have often asked our Catholics to practice the corporal works of mercy…to feed the hungry, provide clothes and shelter, visit the sick and prisoners. But we sometimes forget that these are also spiritual works of mercy; to instruct the uninformed, counsel the doubtful, admonish sinners, bear wrongs patiently, forgive offenses willingly, comfort the afflicted and to pray for the living and the dead.
I consider our Welcome Back Weekend as a Spiritual Work of Mercy. It expresses our concern about people’s interior life, their relationship with God, their spiritual hunger. We want people to know Christ and His love, because we believe that in Christ we find the answers to life questions and come to eternal happiness.
The Church exists to evangelize and this Holy Season of Lent is a special time of opportunity. And so as the Prophet tells us, “Sound the trumpet, proclaim a fast, gather the people and invite the Family to come home”.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday liturgies are some of the best attended in the entire year. Some people suggest that is just because the Church is giving out something free, but I suspect there are deeper reasons! Ashes are an ancient symbol of repentance (sackcloth and ashes). They also remind us of our mortality ("remember that you are dust") and thus of the day when we will stand before God and be judged. This can be linked easily to the death and resurrection motif of Baptism. To prepare well for the day we die, we must die now to sin and rise to new life in Christ. Being marked with ashes at the beginning of Lent indicates our recognition of the need for deeper conversion of our lives during this season of renewal.
I hope that you will join our parish family for Ash Wednesday - Mass is at 8:00a.m. and 7:00p.m. and we have two Liturgies of the Word at 9:30a.m. and 1:00p.m. involving the children of our two parish elementary schools. Please come. Welcome Home!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Pastoral Letter for Lent 2011
Each year the forty days of Lent offer us an opportunity to deepen our awareness of the presence of God in our lives. This year, our parish Year of Evangelization, offers us a special opportunity for personal and communal renewal in discovering His Name. I highlight for you a few activities:
During Lent, every Monday, Mass will be celebrated at 8:00a.m. I encourage you during Lent, if possible, to attend Mass during one of our weekdays.
Tuesday Night Together - Lenten Edition. Two special evenings - March 15 & 29 will provide a general overview of the some of the basics of our Catholic faith...How do we Understand Mass? What are the Sacraments about? These take place within a little extended homily at Mass itself at 7:00p.m.- the entire evening will be done in one hour.
Lenten Parish Mission from April 9-12, Father Ian Duffy will preach at the Lord’s Day Masses and then on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evening lead us in reflecting upon the question “Lord To Whom Shall We Go?”. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated on Tuesday evening. Please set these dates aside for this special time of grace.
Stations of the Cross will be prayed each Friday evening at 7:00p.m. We encourage you to come out and use this opportunity for spiritual growth.
Visits to the Homebound and Sick. During the Season of Lent I wish to make special visits to each of our homebound parishioners to celebrate the Sacrament of the Sick individually with each - families are asked to call our parish office to arrange a home visit during Lent for this.
Come Home Weekend will be April 2 & 3, 2011- it’s a special weekend to welcome Home friends who have been away. Please pray about who you will invite.
I pray that these next 40 days will be for us a time of proclaiming His name and a time when His vision for us as a parish family will be fulfilled - a time when we will better discover His name, Our Name, the Name of His Church and One Another’s name - that way we shall hear -“ Bravo - well done good and faithful friend!”
May Our Lady of the Visitation continue to be our help and guide.
Together in the Lord’s Service:
Father F. Freitas
Pastor
During Lent, every Monday, Mass will be celebrated at 8:00a.m. I encourage you during Lent, if possible, to attend Mass during one of our weekdays.
Tuesday Night Together - Lenten Edition. Two special evenings - March 15 & 29 will provide a general overview of the some of the basics of our Catholic faith...How do we Understand Mass? What are the Sacraments about? These take place within a little extended homily at Mass itself at 7:00p.m.- the entire evening will be done in one hour.
Lenten Parish Mission from April 9-12, Father Ian Duffy will preach at the Lord’s Day Masses and then on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evening lead us in reflecting upon the question “Lord To Whom Shall We Go?”. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated on Tuesday evening. Please set these dates aside for this special time of grace.
Stations of the Cross will be prayed each Friday evening at 7:00p.m. We encourage you to come out and use this opportunity for spiritual growth.
Visits to the Homebound and Sick. During the Season of Lent I wish to make special visits to each of our homebound parishioners to celebrate the Sacrament of the Sick individually with each - families are asked to call our parish office to arrange a home visit during Lent for this.
Come Home Weekend will be April 2 & 3, 2011- it’s a special weekend to welcome Home friends who have been away. Please pray about who you will invite.
I pray that these next 40 days will be for us a time of proclaiming His name and a time when His vision for us as a parish family will be fulfilled - a time when we will better discover His name, Our Name, the Name of His Church and One Another’s name - that way we shall hear -“ Bravo - well done good and faithful friend!”
May Our Lady of the Visitation continue to be our help and guide.
Together in the Lord’s Service:
Father F. Freitas
Pastor
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