A Word from Your Pastor May 28 - Solemnity of the Ascension

Dear Parishioners:

Memory is at the heart of our Catholic Faith.  Jesus’ words to His disciples at the Last Supper were “Do this in memory of Me.”  The understanding of memory in this context, however, refers to something deeper than what we forget when our human capacity for remembering fails us.  When God is part of the picture, memory can reach past, present and future.  Memory is where Hope resides.  We look to our relationship with God and discover that He is always there for us.  In Hope, we look toward the future and even beyond, toward Eternity, and discover that God is preparing a place for us.

The Mystery of the Ascension is the Mystery of Christ that tells us that our own human nature has a glorious destiny.  Jesus suffered and died and rose from the dead in our humanity.  In the Ascension, He took that glorified humanity into the very Life of God.  Once we have that “place,” the Holy Spirit is ours and is poured out on us in a new way as a residing Presence in us.  We have the firstfruits of our Eternal destiny when the Spirit is given a place in our lives.

“Come, Holy Spirit” is the prayer of these days from the Ascension until Pentecost.  We ask God to fulfill His promise and we resolve to be docile to the Spirit, to respond to His Presence in our lives.  Together with Mary and the Apostles, we pray for the fulfillment of the promise, that the Gift of the Spirit may be poured out on us anew and that we may make Christ known to the ends of the earth.

For us as Catholics, the Sacraments are the primary means for us to receive what God’s Spirit offers.  The Holy Spirit is active in all the Sacraments, effecting the Presence of Christ and making us new creatures in Christ.  Our human nature is undergoing a transformation.  This requires our willing cooperation.  Can you hear the voice of the Lord in your heart calling you to holiness?

A Word from Your Pastor May 21

Dear Parishioners:

“Cradle Catholics” are often surprised to discover that there is more to the Catholic Faith than they realize.  We all have a tendency to respond to things with an attitude of “been there, done that.”  If we grew up in the Church, attending a Catholic School or “C.C.D.  Classes” – Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (now known as “P.S.R.” Classes – Parish School of Religion), we can believe that we already understand everything there is to know about our Faith.  But the truth is quite different.  The teachings of our Church are a rich source of nourishment, if only we have the eyes to see it and the heart open to learn.

The Holy Spirit can open us to greater things than we ever imagined.  But we have to acknowledge our need for the Spirit and to be ready to respond to His promptings.  How do we prepare ourselves for this?  Prayer for the Gift of God in communion with the Apostles and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was the means of preparation of the first generation of Christians.  It is the same for us today.  “Come, Holy Spirit!” is the simplest form of prayer for this Gift.

The first Novena was the nine days of prayer between the Ascension and Pentecost.  This period of time, spent in the Upper Room where the Last Supper was held, was a special time of grace for the Apostles and for Mary.  What happened then was the preparation for all that would follow.  The Good News of the Resurrection of Jesus was known and relished for 40 days.  Then the Apostles prayed for the coming of the Paraclete, the Advocate and Consoler promised to them by the Risen Lord.

We will celebrate the Ascension next Sunday (moved from Thursday so that all may be able to be present for the Mass of the Ascension).  However, the Novena for Pentecost begins Friday, May 26, and concludes with the Vigil of Pentecost, Saturday, June 3.  Let us join in prayer that God may pour out His Spirit in abundance on our Parish and on the World.  May this be a time of grace for us and may our hearts be open to the Gift of God!

A Word from Your Pastor May 14 - Mother's Day

Dear Parishioners:

Mother’s Day in the month of May is one of those moments where cultural and religious celebrations can come together in a wonderful way.  There is a kind of integrity to the celebration that shows us that this world and the next are truly one.  God’s plan for us involves everyone.  Everyone has a mother.  And the Good News we have to share in the month of May is that everyone also has a Heavenly Mother, shared with us by Jesus at the very moment when He was accomplishing our salvation.

Today we honor and thank all those who have been motherly to us: our mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, foster mothers, and motherly sources of wisdom throughout our lives.  We also honor and give praise to Mary, our Mother in the life of the Spirit, who leads us always to her Son Jesus, and who shows us how to respond to God’s call.  Most of all, we thank God, Who loves us through our mothers and fathers teaching us to be true to our call as His children, brothers and sisters of Jesus.

There is a special poignancy to this day for all those whose earthly mothers have died.  We remember them in a special way, asking God to continue to guide them through their moral influence and through their prayer in the Communion of Saints.

On this day, may we all make our mothers proud!

We offer congratulations, too, to all who are reaching times of accomplishment with the many baccalaureates, commencement ceremonies, graduations and the like.  You have worked for your goals and now you are ready for new adventures.  Whatever you may do, stay close to your Faith and don’t forget to text, tweet, Facebook, Snapchat, Facetime or otherwise write to your mother!

A Word from Your Pastor May 7

Dear Parishioners:

As the Easter Season moves along, we are invited to discover more and more the depth of meaning and the power of the Resurrection of Jesus.  The Risen Savior fills us with His own Spirit.  He invites us to share and live His own Divine Life.  He draws us into His way of existence.  On the Fourth Sunday of Easter, we meet Jesus as the Good Shepherd Who lays down His Life for His sheep.  We pray that we may hear His voice and respond to His call to serve.

Good Shepherd Sunday is also World Day of Prayer for Vocations.  On this day, I always remember my gratitude that the Lord called me to be a priest, letting me know very early in my life that this would be my call.  Often, I remind you, the people of St. Timothy Church, that you had a role in confirming that call when I experienced a summer internship here with Fr. Ted Thomas.  It was 34 years ago, the summer of 1983, when I was here; 33 years ago May 3^rd, I was ordained a deacon.  My time with you told me that the Lord really did want me to serve him as a priest.  That makes all the difference.

I invite you to look around and discover who among us has the signs of a call from God to this special life of service.  Suggest the idea to them and tell them that you are praying for them to know God’s will in their lives.  Open your own heart to hear the call of the Good Shepherd and to discover and renew your own commitment to be a missionary and servant in the Church so that one day all people may hear His voice.

Please continue to keep me and all those in priesthood and religious life in your prayers.  Know that I hold you in my heart and pray for you as well.  May the Good Shepherd form us as a loyal flock Who follow Him wherever He leads.