Christmas Message

As we celebrate this holy feast of Christmas, the words of the Angel spoken to the shepherds are proclaimed anew: "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy . . . a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord." The Church makes these words her own as she announces to all people the joy and peace that were born on Christmas morning.

These words of the Angel led the shepherds to search out the infant Jesus and to encounter Him in the presence of Mary and Joseph, the Holy Family. So too for us, the words of the Angel invite us to contemplate the joy and hope of this Christmas day. God has sent us a Savior, His Son who brings us lasting peace.

And so: Do not be afraid! Our Savior is born. Let us adore Him, with Mary and Joseph,
through our fidelity to prayer, especially in the celebration of Mass. And with the Angel of the Lord, the shepherds, and the whole Church, let us make the message of Christ's birth known to all, especially by our love for one another.

May the Lord Jesus continue to bless you and may our Mother Mary and Saint Joseph watch over you always.

Advent Begins

Advent has a two fold nature: it prepares us for Christmas when we recall Christ’s first coming among us, and it is also a time when we look forward to His second coming at the end of the ages. Advent is a season of joyful expectation.

Like many Church practices, the origin of Advent is clouded by of time. However, most research indicates that it began as a penitential season in preparation for the Epiphany. The word “advent” comes from the Latin “adventus” which means “coming”. One old tradition states that there are four weeks in Advent because there are four comings of Christ - as a man at Bethlehem, in the human heart, at our death and at the Last Day.

Beginning and end, memory and hope, life is a continuing cycle. This is the message of Advent - the continuing possibility of renewal, of building our lives.

Renewing and improving ourselves makes a tremendous Christmas present for loved one and ourselves.

The Season of “In Between”

The geese are flying. The leaves are changing. The nights are cooler. The daylight is a little less. Yes, in deed, Fall is here. Fall is a beautiful season, but kind of “in-between”. In between the glories of summer and the gusts of winter. During Fall we recall the sunny, hazy, lazy days of summer. A lighter load, slower pace, smaller scope of things to do. We marvel at the beautiful flower beds, crisp water scenes, longer days and warmer nights. Then, in the in between, we also think about winter. For those into sports - skies and ski dos come out. Those not into these begin to get their reading list ready and their “trip down south” plans set. Fall really is in between.

What do you do with the “in between’s” ? Those in between times in your spiritual life I mean. Those times in between the glorious “summers” and the gloomy “winters” that come into all our lives. Those seasons when everything is a blessing and those moments when life is a burden.

One things I like about Fall is the time to ponder, pray and prepare that the “in between” affords. To ponder the glories that God has put into my life (family, friends, faith). To pray over the glooms that gust through my life (sadness, sickness, struggle). Praying for the strength in the “in between” to appreciate the one and get through the other. Jesus did the same. Scripture tells us that several times in His ministry He “withdrew to a place by Himself”. He wanted an “in between” moment. It is ok for us to want one too. Christ took the inbetween as a moment to reflect upon the Father’s will, to ensure that His mission was on track and that his priorities were in balance. He also took the time to pray for those who were on the journey with Him. What a great use of the “in between”.

So enjoy the Fall. It is in between. Take it in. Ponder, Prepare, Pray. Bask in those summer glories. Batten down for those winter glooms. Rejoice - a new season is here !

New Bishop for Hamilton Diocese

Friday morning, the Vatican announced that the Holy Father appointed Bishop Douglas Crosby, currently Bishop of Corner Brook Newfoundland and Labrador as the Bishop of Hamilton.

The Holy Father also accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend Anthony F. Tonnos, in accordance with the Code of Canon Law which sets the mandatory age of retirement for Bishops at 75. Bishop Tonnos, who turned 75 in August, has led the Diocese of Hamilton since 1984.

Bishop Crosby was born on June 28, 1949, in Marathon, Ontario, after becoming a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate Bishop Douglas Crosby was ordained to the priesthood on September 27, 1975, at the Holy Canadian Martyrs' Parish, Ottawa. After serving as CCCB General Secretary from 1996 to 1997, he was ordained Bishop in Ottawa on January 2, 1998, and installed two days later as Bishop of Labrador City-Schefferville.

In 2007, he was named Bishop of the newly established Diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador, which comprises all parishes and missions in the former Diocese of St. George’s on the Island of Newfoundland, in addition to those in the territory of Labrador which had previously been part of what used to be the Diocese of Labrador City – Schefferville.

Bishop Crosby has been very involved in liturgical questions both nationally and internationally. He is currently a member of the CCCB English Sector Commission for Liturgy and the Sacraments, and has previously served as the Commission’s Chairman. As the previous CCCB representative on the International Commission for English in the Liturgy (ICEL), he has also served as its Secretary and Vice-Chair.

The Diocese of Hamilton has a Catholic population of 559,290 in 155 parishes and missions, served by 122 diocesan priests, 88 priests who are members of religious orders, 24 permanent deacons and 281 religious Sisters and Brothers.

We offer our prayers and best wishes to Bishop Crosby on this new pastoral assignment as well as giving thanks for the lengthy service of Bishop Tonnos. May he enjoy a well deserved retirement! One would expect an auxiliary bishop to be appointed to assist Bishop Crosby in his ministry - the timing of which only the Vatican knows..

Fall 2010 - Untold Blessings

As we begin the Fall, we will begin a new tradition in Padre's Posts....once per month postings. In the past I have tried to post every week, however it is becoming a little more difficult to do that, however, I committ to posting once per month for sure. We hope soon to begin thru the parish an Electronic Newsletter - this will also be a great source of keeping everyone "posted" on the great things happening at St Mary of the Visitation Parish, Cambridge.

UNTOLD BLESSINGS
In St. Matthew’s Gospel (6:25-33), we are reminded that God has planned “untold blessings” for all of His faithful. When I pray about our Family of Faith, I see these blessings constantly being sent forth. God is blessing our community - with growth, with new ample facilities, with vision for our future, with appreciation for our past.

As the signs of Fall arrive, let us spend some time thinking about God’s Untold Blessings. They are present everyday, but we have to know how to see them, how to appreciate them, how to envision them and how to seek them for our life !

We have planned a schedule full of opportunities for your entire family, not to add to your calendar, but to help you take notice and experience God’s Untold Blessing for you. Whether you are a child, teen, young adult, older adult, couple, single, widowed, man, woman, mother or father, new parishioner or you have been here for a while...there really is something for everyone - I hope that you come be with us !

May Our Lady of the Visitation continue to be our inspiration, model and guide.

Summer Time

I am not sure if you know this or not, but one of the first inate desires of a new born child is to walk. Once the baby discerns they have feet - they want to use it - thus the reason why a child kicks in the womb.

When I was attending the Grade 8 graduations last week at our parish schools one of the common comments from parents was - just seems like yesterday they were walking for the first time on their own. All parents here - can related to the feeling that there is nothing as exciting as watching your baby go from a snuggly little lump you cradle in your arms to a roller, then a crawler, then a "cruiser," and finally a walker?

Babies seem absolutely driven to get on their feet. No matter how many times they tumble and topple, crash and burn, bump and bruise. Standing upright, walking and running with a straight back and straight legs is their goal. It is this posture that sets us apart from all other living creatures on earth. Or is it?

There is another position that reveals even more about the uniqueness of being human. Standing up defines our most remarkable physical gift. Kneeling down reveals our most miraculous spiritual gift. If you're a disciple of Jesus, to move up, move down - knelling is a spiritual gift we have. The future is on our knees; not on our feet. Insects crawl; fish swim; birds fly; humans pray. Praying, with body, heart, mind, and soul, is the hallmark of humanity.

We spend just one year learning how to stand on our own two feet, it can take us a lifetime to learn how to get back down on our knees?

In our Gospel Jesus sends His Disciples out on their own for the first time - not on a Vacation per say - but to walk on their own - to go forth. They had graduated of sort from being a crawler or cruiser who simply followed Jesus along the way -to a person who was now ready to walk on their own. Yet its interesting that Jesus said to them in our Gospel - don’t take much with you ?

★ Not sure about you but before I go any where - I make sure I have everything I need
★ Before I go on vacation - I make sure I got all my stuff packed
★ Before I even go for an evening walk - I make sure I have anything I might require with me

But Jesus says - you are going for a different type of walk - not one on your own; you are going for a walk and I will be with you - - not physically - spiritually. Just because you have the ability and the freedom - doesn’t mean you can do on your own - walk carefully with me - depend on me and spend some time not only upright but also on your knees

The summer time is a time of walking - we do lots more of that in the summer than any other time of the year - no doubt - evening strolls - vacation outings - beach or shore side adventures. It is all there; and sometimes that freedom gives us the tempation to think - well - we don’t need our knees - yet Jesus said to His Disciples - as you go forth - on a mission - you can walk now on your own - but don’t forget to depend on me - now that you know how to walk; don’t forget how to kneel.

Maybe as His Disciples today who are on Mission everyday thru Baptism
Maybe during this season in which we will do a lot more walking
Maybe during this time and age in which we will do lots on our own

- we might not also forget

The future is on our knees; not on our feet.

That our salvation is found not only in what we do during the walk - but also in the times we choose to kneel

  

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

God our Father, in your wisdom and love you made all things. Bless these men, that they may be strengthened as Christian fathers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honor them always with a spirit of profound respect.

Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.