Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Visitations that are needed: Tuesday, May 31st, 2016 (Visitation of Mother Mary to Elizabeth)

Listen to the homily here.

War for our souls: Monday, May 30th, 2016 (Memorial Day)

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

Memorial Day
·      Fr. Rich Kunst wrote a nice article in the Northern Cross
·      Memorial Day in our country is remembering someone that has died
·      Is that it?
·      Pray
·      Thank you who gave your life to us
·      Thank you to your family, friends, buddies
There is a war spiritually—all the time
·      Enemies: satan, evil, demons
·      Angels, saints, Jesus Christ
·      Tug-a-war for our souls
2nd Letter of St. Peter—first words
·      Continue to prepare well!
o   “…you may come to share in the divine nature.”

o   “…make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love.”

Body and Blood of Christ + Priests: Corpus Christi (9th Sunday of Ordinary Time)

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

Two weeks ago, our children received their first communion
·      Last day of the Easter Season
·      Remember our “next” communion
·      Some in our Church we have had “third or fourth communion”, some as hundreds or thousands
Come each weekend…come each daily Mass
·      Both are growing
·      Why?  Because Jesus Christ gives us His Body and Blood
·      This weekend!
Today I would like to share about priests
·      Melchizedek: Genesis 14 (14th chapter of the whole Bible)
o   In those days, Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine, and being a priest of God Most High, he blessed Abram…”
o   Bread and wine—easiest bread and wine in the world
o   Responsorial: “You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.”
·      Jesus Christ
o   A priest, prophet and king
o   5 loafs and two fish as a priest
o   Luke: “Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.  They all ate and were satisfied.”
·      And what happens at Mass for Jesus’ Body and Blood?
o   A priest
o   The consecration of Jesus’ Body and Blood:
§  “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body…take this, all of you, and drink from it, this is my blood…”
Come every week…every day

You can receive a sacrament—Jesus’ Body and Blood—every day

Last School Day! Homework for the summer: Wednesday, May 25th, 2016 (School Mass)

Listen to the homily here.

Memorial Day: Parish Bulletin Article (5-30-16)

The definition of Memorial Day in a dictionary states: “a day on which those who died in active military service are remembered, traditionally observed on May 30 but now officially observed on the last Monday in May.”

This year, Memorial Day is on Monday, May 30th. And three weeks ago, our community offered an amazing event: “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Parade and Celebration Ceremony”.  Wow…thank you to veterans and current soldiers for our country.

Most of us probably know someone who served for our country—parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts, brothers and sisters, cousins, friends and parishioners.  Again, we cannot say “thank you” enough to our soldiers in our United States of America.

Memorial Day offers a national remembrance—those who gave their own lives for us.  These men and women are very close to Jesus Christ, who gave His life as well.

This day is special at Catholic and Christian communities around our country.  We bring our remembrance, prayers, worships, communities and families in God’s house—our Church.  Through our Catholic parishes, we will offer our Mass at 8:30am at St. Thomas Aquinas’ daily Mass at 8:30am.  Please come!

Additionally, the history of our Catholic Church has always “baptized” other national, cultural and traditional events.  (As an example “Christmas trees” began in the 16th century through a few nations and culture.  We brought them to our celebration of Christmas of Jesus Christ).  As our national Memorial Day began with “a day on which those who died in active military service” we pray during this day for those who gave their life for our country.  We also “baptize” this day for all members of our families who have also passed away.

Come to our Mass on Monday morning.  Take some time to pray for soldiers and family members who have passed away.  Visit cemeteries to visit our loved ones.  Speak to them in heaven—use their name.  Chat with loved ones to remember the good days, gifts, happiness, pictures, letters and conversations.


God gave each and everyone of us—those of us alive and those who are resting in peace—a life.  God is our Savior.  God has created both this earth and heaven.  Let us walk with our families this weekend—both on earth, and those who have passed away.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

God is #1: Tuesday, May 24th, 2016

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

Sister with a watch from her family
 “We have given up everything and followed you.”
·      House, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, lands
God is #1
·      Many of you do this too!
A good way to offer our stuff to God—thank him
·      Thank you, Lord, for my truck…could you use this?

·      Thank you, Lord, for my parents

Jesus and the rich man: Monday, May 23rd, 2016

Listen to the homily here.

School is almost done!: Wednesday, May 18th, 2016

Listen to the homily here.

Each generation: Monday, May 16th, 2016

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

1st Communion yesterday
·      Awesome family at Church
·      Generations
Back to Ordinary Time
·      7th week of ordinary time
·      Week jumps from Christmas to Easter
·      It also gets us back into the lectionary readings
o   “C2”
Now, listen again to a cool in James
·      “Who among you is wise and understanding?  Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom.”
This morning, we must grow and pray different generations
·      For instance
o   Love listening to generations of our community, church, athletes
·      How about those who listen to young people?
o   Marketing, new businesses, families?


Sunday, May 15, 2016

1st Communion: Pentecost (8th Sunday of Easter)

Listen to the homily here.

This was the homily I gave during our children's first communion.  This took place at our 10:30am Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas.

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Learn of Father, Son and Holy Spirit and the Gifts to us: Pentecost (8th Sunday of Easter)

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

This is the last Mass of the Easter Season
·      Remember that we have had:
o   Easter—Jesus Christ dominated against death
o   Ascension—Jesus Christ went back to His Father
o   Pentecost—the Holy Spirit
·      Our God is Father, Son and the Holy Spirit
Listening again to our Bible today at Mass
·      John 20—as Jesus was visiting his disciples before the ascension
o   “Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”
o   Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
·      Acts 2:1-11
o   Read that one!
o   Jesus, who went back to heaven, sent out the Holy Spirit
o   “Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.”
The finish of Easter gives a great image of Father, Son and Holy Spirit
·      1 Corinthians 12
o   “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.”
o   “As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ.”
·      The body as our Catholic Church
o   Like our bodies have different parts
§  Ears
§  Eyes
§  Arms
§  Organs
§  Cells
§  Atoms
o   Jesus Christ is the mystical body for us as a Church
·      I mean, how many different parts we have for our Church
o   Saints
§  St. Peter—our first leader
§  St. Paul—our evangelism
§  St. Sebastian—athletes
§  St. Columban—missionary
§  St. Thomas Aquinas—education
§  St. Theresa of Lisieux—love
§  St. John Paul II—hope
§  Blessed Mother Theresa—poor, sick
o   Different gifts from the Holy Spirit!
o   What about our parishioners?
§  Employees—church and school
§  Volunteers
·      Mass—musicians, lectors, EMs, Sacrastins, Ushers
·      Poor—Clothes?, Dinners at Backus, food, Shelter
·      Adoration Hours
·      Groups—Knights, Tabernacle, Catholic Daugthers
·      Financial, Evangelism
§  Time, talent and treasure
o   Different gifts from the Holy Spirit!
Our God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

Praise God for this last day of our Eastern Season

Fr. Albert's Homily: Thursday, May 12th, 2016

Listen to the homily here.

Easter Season and First Communion: Wednesday, May 11th, 2016 (School)

Listen to the homily here.


Easter Season ending soon: Tuesday, May 10th, 2016

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:
As we are at the last days of Easter Season
·      Ascension
·      Into Pentecost
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
·      Trinity
·      Three persons, one nature
·      One community of love
·      The second person—the Son—Jesus Christ, came to earth for 33 years
·      “And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you.”

Pentecost is coming…

Fr. Albert's Homily: Monday, May 9th, 2016

Listen to Fr. Albert's homily here.

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Bulletin Article: 5-8-16 (History, Present and Future of Koochiching)

Living in Koochiching county we have several challenges...  Our economy is tough.  We have fewer people living here, fewer children, and fewer jobs.  Northern Minnesota can be difficult to live in.

When I think of our family at St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Columban, I think about a strong walleye in a river.  It must swim deep in the cool water.  It must stay alive and create its next generation.

In Luke 5:4, Jesus said to Peter, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”  Jesus added in Luke 5:10: “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.”  We must welcome people to our family.  We must “catch” brothers and sisters to Jesus Christ, our savior into his family.

How do we do this as Catholics in Koochiching county?Stewardship: time, talent and treasure.

TIME: Volunteers who visit the elderly, homebound, nursing homes, poor and sick
Volunteer your time in several committees: 
  • St. Columban: Finance Committee, Parish Council, religious education teachers, Funeral Group
  • St. Thomas Aquinas:  Parish Council, Financial Committee, Catholic Daughters, Knights, Funeral Group, Tabernacle, Worship Committee, Evangelization
  • St. Thomas Aquinas School: Marathon, Silent Auction, Raffle Calendar, Phone-A-Thon, School Council, Fundraising, Marketing, Advertising
TALENT: Volunteers who fix, paint, think for the future, marketing, advertising, prayer, discernment, lectors, servers, sacristans, singers, pianists, ushers, evangelization, welcoming 

TREASURE: Gifts from our plate at Masses, UCA, roof loan, heating/energy loan, tuition and scholarships for students at school, Phone-A-Thon, liturgy (new crucifix, stations, Gospel cover, flowers for Christmas and Easter)

Time, talent and treasure is shown by God to each person.  Maybe a young family doesn't have much money.... time or talent could be giving to our Church.  Does someone have more money but no time to help?  A quick check can support our budgets or buildings.  Does someone have a great talent?  Your gift to help is everything.

Finally, as a family we must brace the future while we remember history of our faith.  We must pray, discern and think in 2016 for new ways to help our family.  At the same time, we continue to carry the salvation of history of our God.  History, present and future, and Jesus Christ walks with us every second.  God Bless!

Mother's Day and the Ascension: 7th Sunday (Ascension) of Easter Season

Listen of the homily here.

Notes:

Happy Mother’s Day!
·      Each one of us was born by a woman—a mother.  Thank her!
Big weekend for Mother’s as well as Jesus Christ
·      Mother Mary
·      But we all call Mary—Mother Mary as she is our spiritual Mother
·      In some ways, I wish this would not just “Mother’s Day” but “Spiritual Mother’s Day”
o   Some women cannot have a child
o   Women, and men, can be a “Mom or Dad” in a spiritual way
§  Adoption children
§  Aunts and Uncles with nephews and nieces
·      I am a priest…I have no children
o   But my name is “Father”—which means I have “spiritual” children!
·      Today, I thank you women, mothers and spiritual mothers
Today is the Ascension of Jesus Christ
·      St. Luke’s wrote our first reading, the Acts of the Apostles as well as the Gospel
·      Two volumes
o   Gospel is about Jesus Christ
o   Acts of the Apostles is about the history of the beginning of our Church
·      Ascension is the end of the Gospel of Luke
o   Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them.  As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.”
·      Ascension is the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles
o   In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up…”
Two ways to learn about Jesus Christ and his Mother
·      St. Luke’s Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles
o   It would be a great read!
·      Rosary—Glorious Mystery
o   1st: Resurrection (Easter)
o   2nd: Ascension of Jesus Christ (This weekend)
o   3rd: Pentecost of the Holy Spirit—(Next weekend)
o   4th: Assumption of Mother Mary (to heaven, like the ascension)
o   5th: The Coronation of Mother Mary, Queen of the Universe

Happy Mother’s Day and praise God to Mother Mary, Jesus Christ on the ascension and the Holy Spirit on Pentecost next Sunday