Listen to the homily here.
Thursday, March 26, 2020
God delights us, God rejoices of us: Monday, March 23, 2020
Listen to the homily here.
Also on my Facebook Live and probably had some too much recorded after I concluded! Haha
Also on my Facebook Live and probably had some too much recorded after I concluded! Haha
Parish Bulletin Article: "Coronavirus": 3-22-20
Last week I wrote a message for iFalls Nice, one of my favorite Facebook page. Its point is to continue to grow joyfulness, support and energy for our community. As we are going through this interesting season with the coronavirus, this is what I shared with our community, and would like our parishioners to read it too:
“iFalls Nice.
Thank you, when I was almost faced death in my first stroke. And thanks for many of you doing the same when I had a mini stroke last summer.
As I look, and think around our community, and around the world, there seems to be two extreme areas with this new disease: the former to be very scared--perhaps even death. The latter are those who think this "Corona without lime" is ridiculous.
I believe in what our patron--St. Thomas Aquinas--used many centuries ago; the "Golden mean," aka, finding the middle of most situations. In my mind, we are not on either extreme, but somewhere in the middle.
I move this sharing from the secular level as I also praise God. For instance, I pray beyond learning information, data, or how decisions I must do for our parishioners during this time, as crucial that is. And I praise God, that we, as a family, pray, pray, pray.
I pray for our scientists, doctors, genetics, immunologists, etc.
I pray for those who are suffering, not only this new disease, but also those who are hungry, thirsty, naked, lonely, in jail, in hospitals for any other situation.
I pray for those who are scared. I pray for those who do not care.
I pray that we, Christians, seek the time during the season of Lent to offer almsgiving, prayers, and fasting to seek God's mission in each of our lives.
I pray that we, in iFalls Nice, continue to not only speak in this venue, but also open our hearts to know of the love, mercy, compassion and salvation of Jesus Christ.
Praise God, he, too, died on earth, but destroyed death, sin, and all illness, including what we call the COVID-19, and opened the gates of heaven.”
Finally, we have made a copy of the prayer that I have been using at Mass from St. Damien: “Saint Damien, you ministered to those in despair and isolation. I call upon you, to open my heart and mind, to care for the poor, sick, weary, and forgotten. Bestow upon me the inner strength, faith, and unconditional compassion to be a disciple of Christ. I come before you also as your humble servant, to bless me with your love and instill the touch of healing and grace. Amen.”
God Bless!
Monday, March 23, 2020
Silver Lining and the Golden Mean via Coronavirus: 3rd Sunday in Lent
Listen to the homily here.
Notes:
Notes:
3rdSunday in Lent
As we gather as a family, I think it is to speak about the issue around the world with the COVID-19
· Two extremes
o One seems to be panicky, hording, thinking it’s the apocalypse
o The other side seems like this is ridiculous, a joke, something that is not really hurting anybody
· As St. Thomas Aquinas Patron believed in finding the Golden Mean and, Ecclesiastes: “nothing new under the sun”
So how do we respond to this situation?
· First, with some wise comments from Fr. Jim Bissonette, our administrator
· Read letter
Know that yes, God has given us gifts with science, technology, immunization, etc. but we also have our spiritual lives
· Pray, pray, pray
· Communion in Hospitals/homes
o Myself and Eucharistic Ministers
o Hospitals
§ Communication with hospitals, nursing homes that often protocols and/or have safety garments
o Homes
§ Come Holy Spirit
· Service for those who need food, medicine, how could we quickly realize for those who could pick up groceries for those who are lonely and not able to get groceries?
o Senior Linkage
· How do we support our loved ones or those at the hardest moments of their lives?
o Here I think of St. Therese of Calcutta
o St. Damien and St. Marianne Cope
o What is God calling you to do?
“we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have gained access by faith
to this grace in which we stand,
and we boast in hope of the glory of God.”
through whom we have gained access by faith
to this grace in which we stand,
and we boast in hope of the glory of God.”
God, may your will be done, and may we serve our neighbors
Parish Bulletin Article: "Lent Updates!": 3-15-20
This weekend I would like to continue to add information and challenging you, to our family, as we have some influence opportunities during Lent. As I wrote before, this Lent, we must support us to get back to the basics with Jesus Christ and we are offering some cake walk chances for Lent, both in our parishes and in the Diocese of Duluth. For instance
· Every weekend Mass or trying daily Mass(es) are FREE! J
· The next three Saturdays is simply to learn about THE MASS by Bishop Robert Barron. Do you know that every movement—sitting down, kneeling, the priest’s hands, using the sign of the cross, genuflecting, and beyond are not for lame ritual actions, but deep ways to worship God our Father—could this help you to dive into Mass? The event will begin with food, free after Saturday’s Mass, children care and learn quite a bit in 20-30 minutes. Please come and sign up to make sure we have enough food!
· Monday mornings after Masswith men conversing about faith, scriptures, questions, etc. with me
· First Mondays of the month with women to praytogether for intercessions and conversations with each other
· Friday evenings at 7:00pm for the Stations of the Cross(both at St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Columban)
· Women’s Conference in Duluth on Saturday, March 28th(all day)
· 40 Hour Eucharistic Adoration: March 31st-April 2nd. We already have two amazing speakers, musicians, and times to stretch out your soul to engage with Jesus Christ’s true presence. And, here is a tidbit from Alex Schindler, who will be giving both a talk as well as praise and worship music:
o “Hello and welcome! I’m Alex, a Catholic worship leader, liturgical musician, and singer-songwriter. I grew up just south of Ohio River in Lousville Kentucky, and through a crazy journey with God I have found myself in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. If you had asked me 10+ years ago what I would be doing today it most certainly would not be what I am currently occupying my time with, but God is funny like that!”
o Nic Davidson will also be giving a talk on Wednesday evening.
· Finally, I am hoping to pack a bus to go to the Cathedral of Holy Rosary in Duluth on Monday, April 6th in Holy Week for experience the Chrism Mass. If you have never been to the Chrism Mass (the blessing for the three oils we need for our Sacraments) you will not be disappointed!
Let’s continue to walk through Lent well, and please check out some of these remarkable events to support your relationship with Jesus Christ.
God Bless.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Transfiguration on a Mountain, Transfiguration at Mass: 2nd Sunday in Lent
Listen to the homily here.
Notes:
Notes:
The second Sunday in Lent
· We continue to journey this season, pause in Salvation History, which we heard about last weekends
· Mountains
“Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother,and led them up a high mountain by themselves.”
· I consider, what did Peter, James and John going up a mountain? What were Peter, James and John thinking about?
· Did they know of the history of how many mountains were received for relationships with God? With the Law? Or just some time to rest, or pray?
Well, an opportunity certainly came up:
· “And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun
and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
conversing with him.”
his face shone like the sun
and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
conversing with him.”
· Boom! Jesus was transfigured, aka, shown as God and a Man
And there appears Moses, and Elijah, who were both called up a mountain:
· Moses, with the law
· Elijah as a prophet, the former to teach God’s people, and the latter to do the same as his people were divided
· And Peter, James and John, what were they thinking of now?
“…behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;listen to him…they fell prostrate
and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”
and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”
· Now Peter, James, or John?
o Guessing they were not experiencing this!
o They were afraid!
o “Rise, and do not be afraid!”
Now for you, for us
· How do you taste reality as our world is connected with heaven at Mass, at the Eucharist?
· Then, how do we go back to our daily lives, down that mountain?
This weekend, I believe that this passage is to remind us a few truths:
· God is both with and above us
· Hopefully we have experienced something on a mountain knowing his connection
· Eventually, we must come back to our community
· And during this Lent, how do we serve our neighbors again?
Take these readings to your heart and follow our theme: serve your neighbor
Parish Bulletin Article: "The Cycle of Water and of the Word": 3-8-20
Thus says the LORD:
Just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
And do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
Giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
So shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
It shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:10-11
Earlier this week, we heard about the reading above on Tuesday during daily Mass. It is such a beautiful passage—with only two verses that I wanted to print it via this bulletin article.
The first section of this quick persona, was Isaiah, writing from God about how crucial it is for rain and snow on the earth. Once again, we listened: “Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful…” And how beautiful it is to remember, or learn, how essential it is for water to support the life of anything alive! This, from God, in the cycle of water, quoted:
“The water cycle describes how water evaporates from the surface of the earth, rises into the atmosphere, cools and condenses into rain or snow in clouds, and falls again to the surface as precipitation.”
Then there is a pivotal comment from God: “So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth.” Now, this “word” can introduce His Son—Jesus Christ (who is often named as “the Word”), or the Scriptures. Like the water cycle for the world, God wants us to imagine his teaching to fall upon US so that we may soak in truth, support these gifts and give them back to our Father.
Finally, this quick passage concludes with God’s mission for us: “It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.”
Boom!
God Bless!
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
The Basics of Salvation History: 1st Sunday in Lent
Listen to the homily here.
Notes:
Notes:
1stSunday of Lent
Salvation History, or God’s saving plan
· This weekend we hear some crucial moments in these points
o Genesis 2: “The LORD God formed man out of the clay [dust] of the groundand blew into his nostrils the breath of life,and so man became a living being.”
§ One rule
§ Eve, who was tempted by the evil one and she and Adam turned away from God—who walked in the cool breeze together—until their reality of choosing sin
· “Then the eyes of both of them were opened,” aka, they could now choose not to be with God
o Responsorial Psalm: “Be merciful Lord, for we have sinned”
o Romans 5: “For if by the transgression of the one, the many died,how much more did the grace of Godand the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christoverflow for the many.”
o Matthew
§ The real fight: Jesus vs. Satan
§ While Adam and Eve did not go against their temptation, Jesus did
And this is why we have these readings as we begin the season of Lent.
And how should we respond?
· Another part of our history as Catholics throughout the year and in Lent: alms, pray, fast
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