This week I did something I have never done before.  I went to New York City.  OK, technically I might not have been in the city.  I went to Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston.  I flew into JFK airport and to me that is “the city.”  People are always surprised when I tell them I have never been to New York City.  Most people I know who go there do so to see a ball game, a play, or a show.  None of that interests me.

So, what got me to go to the city?  A PCNY meeting – that’s Priests’ Council of New York.  A couple of weeks ago I wrote about being appointed to our diocesan priests’ council and subsequently being selected to be a representative from our diocese to PCNY.  Well, this was the first meeting for me.  We met from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and then at 3:30, the NYS Bishops joined us for a presentation on the new translations of the Mass parts and we ended with dinner.

Our meeting was a good sharing of practices in the eight dioceses of New York State.  This is not a decision making committee.  It exists to share ideas and different ways of serving in our ministry. 

You might want to ask if I did any touring in New York City.  The answer is no.  This trip happened on short notice and having never been there before I decided to just do business this trip.  However, PCNY meets four times a year so maybe on a future trip I will take some time to enjoy the sites.  I don’t take much vacation.  When I do take vacation time, I tend to spend the time at my dad’s catching up on yard work.  I love being outside in the beautiful outdoors that God has created for us.  That’s why when I go on retreat, I like to find a retreat in the middle of nowhere with trails to hike.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Today I would like to share some thoughts about Mary and the Resurrection but it isn’t the Mary you might be thinking of.

The Mary I am talking about is a friend of mine who just passed away.  She was 90 years old.  I first meet her a few months after I came back to Church.  For about the first five or six years that I knew her the only place I ever saw her was at church. We would talk about how each of us was doing.  She always thought it was wonderful that it was wonderful that I went into seminary.  She would tell she just hoped she would live long enough and be able to come to my ordination.  She did.

I think Mary had some health problems the first time I met her but she never let it stop her from coming to church for Mass every day and she would help with what she could, things like stuffing bulletins and newsletters. 

Then Mary’s health began to get worse.  She used to come to Mass every day but that diminished with her health.  When I would come home from seminary on vacation I would make a point to stop by her house to see how she was doing.  I would bring her Holy Communion. 

Mary’s faith meant a lot to her.  When she was still able to come to daily Mass, she would come a 1/2 hour hour and pray the Rosary with a group.  Mary would spend much of the First Friday of the month at church for First Friday Adoration.  Mary prayed a lot.  She would talk about how she would pray her Rosary throughout the day for her children and grandchildren.

Mary believed!  She believed in God who loved her and saved her.  She beloved in God who watched over children and grandchildren.  Her strong belief and the support that she had always shown for me made it very special for me with I gave her the Anointing of the Sick a few months ago.

She believed that Jesus would raise us up in the Resurrection if we followed him as the way and the truth and the life.  Her funeral was today and I couldn’t help noticing that our daily readings right now are from chapter fifteen of First Corinthians, which is about the Resurrection.  How fitting for a woman with strong faith.

Funerals are often seen as a time of sadness because we have lost someone we care about.  We wish that person could still be with us here on Earth.  But that is only part of what a funeral is.  A funeral is also a celebration, a celebration of eternal life in the Resurrection.  There is much to live beyond what we know in this world.

God will raise us up, body and soul, in the Resurrection.  While our bodies first lie in death, worn out by illness and a long life, God will raise us up with our bodies in the Resurrection.  But he does not just raise up our bodies as they are when we die.  No, he transforms our bodies, freeing us from all sickness.  We don’t know what it will be like to be raised up.  We don’t know what our bodies will be like then.

What we do know is that if we believe in Jesus, he will raise us to be with him in the fullness of his presence.  What more could we ask for?  What more could we hope for?

That is where Mary will now go.

The cooler weather is a sign of the beginning of Fall.  In New York State, high schools and elementary schools reopened this week.  Most colleges have also began their fall semester.

The pace of life in the church also picks up.  Meetings and events slow down a bit in the summer.  That’s why I haven’t been to many meetings yet in my new assignment.  That is changing now.  I also received a new opportunity to serve the Church.  Two weeks ago I was appointed to our diocesan Presbyteral Council.  Last Tuesday I attended the first meeting of the year.  I was pleased by the thoughtful participation of the priests.  The morning portion of the meeting focused on offering pastoral concerns for the coming year.  After lunch, there were some short presentations on various activities within the diocese.  Before concluding, we elected four priests to the Executive Committee to work with Bishop Clark and Fr. Joseph Hart (Vicar General).  On Wednesday, we (the Executive Committee) met to review the pastoral concerns at Tuesday’s meeting and to set the agenda for next month’s council meeting.  At the Executive Committee, I was selected to be one of our representatives to the Priests’ Council of New York (PCNY).  I am just learning what these meetings will be about and what my role with be.  Rest assured I will do my best to serve on each of these councils to the best of my ability, asking for the gifts of the Holy Spirit to follow God’s Will.

This week brings more activities.  In a few minutes, I will leave for a regional social ministry in Geneva at Catholic Charities.  Tuesday evening I will be attending the annual “All Boards Convening” for Catholic Charities in the Rochester Diocese.  Fr. Larry Synder, from the National Catholic Charities Office, will be the featured speaker.  Wednesday night is a meeting at St. Patrick’s (part of Our Lady of the Lakes parish where I serve) to address the concerns of St. Patrick’s in particular.  Thursday night is a parent meeting for families with children preparing for First Penance this Fall.

As this week begins, I pray for God’s graces to be upon our Church, that we work to build up his Kingdom according to His Will.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Today is the ninth anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attacks.  There are many memorial services happening today to honor those who lost their lives in those terrible attacks.  We also pray for their loved ones, asking the Lord to strengthen and comfort them.

There has also been much controversy this week centered on a Christian minister who was going to burn copies of the Quran today.  Fortunately, he has decided against burning the Quran today or ever.

Now, normally I do not like writing about controversial items here but I believe I need to comment on this issue.  Certainly, the Catholic Church has been commenting on it.  Here are some links

• USCCB, “USCCB Leaders Denounce Acts of Intolerance Against Any Religion”
• Vatican, “Vatican Protests Outrageous Quran Burning Plan”

Are there Muslim extremists who burn Christian Bibles?  Yes.

Are there Muslim extremists who were responsible for the 9-11 attacks?  Yes.

Are there Muslim extremists committing acts of terrorism today?  Yes.

That does not make every Muslim a bad person.  In writing this today, I make no judgment on Islam.  I will leave the judgment to God (“He did indeed denounce the unbelief of his listeners but left vengeance to God until the day of judgment.” Second Vatican Council, “Dignitatis Humanae (Declaration on Religious Liberty)” December 7, 1965, paragraph 11).

But I fail to see how burning Qurans would help the situation.  Some say it is free speech.  Some might say, “they burn Christian Bibles, so we will burn Qurans.”  To mean that makes it an act of revenge rather than justice. 

Some will say in response, “Well, the Bible says an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.”  Yes, it does.  You can find it in Exodus 21:24.  But have you read Matthew 5:38-48?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’  But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.  If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well.  Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.  Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.   For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same?  And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?   So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Someone has to be the first to do the right thing.

Turning to the question of freedom of religion, as Catholics we should be mindful of the history of how Catholics were received in America, which was originally largely a Protestant country (For some of this history see a paper I wrote “Bishop McQuaid and Archbishop Ireland:  School Controversy or Otherwise?).  Catholics worked hard for religious freedom.  If we want freedom of religion for ourselves, we must respect religious freedom of others.  It does NOT mean we agree with them or support them in anyway.  It means we respect their rights as human beings.  Pope John XXIII wrote in paragraph 14 of Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth)

This too must be listed among the rights of a human being, to honor God according to the sincere dictates of his own conscience, and therefore the right to practice his religion privately and publicly (cf. Vatican II, “Dignitatis Humanae (Declaration on Religious Liberty).” Decemember 7, 1965 paragraph 2-3).

I hope this helps.  Remember, I am not making any judgment on Islam.  However, I do not see burning Qurans as anything that helps the situation in any way.  Rather than fight, pray for those involved.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Today’s Gospel (August 27, 2010 -Friday, 21st Week in Ordinary Time) is a parable familiar to many, the Parable of the Ten Virgins.  All ten came when they heard the bridegroom was coming.  Five were well prepared and five were not.  They all brought oil for the lamps but the five who were foolish did not bring enough oil.  They thought it would be short and easy.  Instead, they had a endure a time of waiting.

We are called to be persistent in our waiting.  We pray for our needs but they will be answered in God’s time, not our own.  Today we celebrate the feast of St. Monica.  She was born in the fourth century to a Christian family but she was given in marriage to a non-Christian.  Together they had four children.  Monica kept her faith throughout her life.  She prayed for the conversion of her husband and he became Christian a year before he died.  She also prayed for her eldest son’s conversion.  He tried other religions before turning his heart to the Catholic faith.  Monica prayed for him for many years before he converted.  He was St. Augustine, who became one of the great Catholic fathers of his time. 

It took many years for him to convert but Monica remained faithful in praying for him.  Are we persistent?  Or do we give up?

You might also ask yourself if you are ready, ready for the great things that God will do for you.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

I sit here thinking about what my ministry is really meant to be about.  Of course, the obvious answer is Jesus.  But that isn’t what I am trying to get at. 

I work on lots of things like RCIA, baptismal preparation, both the parish website and my own website, this blog, Social Ministry, home and hospital visits, Stewardship, and liturgy to name a few.  I do all these things to help the people know that Jesus is alive and well, and he loves us.  I want to help people deepen their personal relationship with Jesus.

In doing so, not only do I help others deepen their relationship with God but it helps me deepen my own relationship with God.  For instance, I like to read.  Most of what I read is theology to help me ministry to others but it helps me learn more about God is active in our lives.

Sometimes I wonder how I am called to take what I learn and share it with others.  Each of us is called to serve God is some way.  I have been called to minister as an ordained priest celebrating the sacraments for the people.  The sacraments are a special way of experiencing God’s love and grace; to receive his body and blood in the Eucharist, to receive his forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and healing grace in the Anointing of the Sick.

But my call to ministry is more than only celebrating the sacraments.  I am called to break open the Word of God so that we all might know how to apply it in our lives.  I believe this “education” is an important part of what I am called to do.  For instance, I have had a significant involvement in Social Ministry.  There are two sides to Social Ministry.  The first is charity.  This is directly helping people in need by giving them food, drink, clothing, or shelter.  The second side is justice.  This means to stand up against “policies” that make it difficult for people to get ahead.  My own interest is in teaching the principles that help us understand who are called to help and the values we are called to stand up for.

This is a major factor of what being a priest means to me and how God calls me to serve.  God has given you gifts and talents.  How are you called to use them for the building up of God’s Kingdom?

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

This has been one of those weeks that I have been busy with the same things as of late, the parish website (www.ourladyofthelakescc.org), working on some written materials to use for RCIA, CMA (our annual diocesan appeal that will begin in September), stewardship meeting on Tuesday evening, and a funeral today.

All of these are important items but they are all also things I have written about before here.  I have been in a dry spell lately of items to write about here lately.  Any suggestions?  What would you like to hear about?

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

P.S. There is a story today on www.catholicnews.com that the New Roman Missal will officially go in to use on November 27, 2011 (the First Sunday of Advent).

Well, I have been at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Community for five weeks now.  I continue to become involved in more things as each week passes.  This was probably my busiest week so far.  Fr. Bob was away this week so I said some of the daily Masses that he normally would.  I went to a Care of the Community Meeting at St. Theresa’s.  I have been working on our RCIA program.  We are trying to have more publicity this year to invite more people to become Catholic.

I met with a new community group forming in Penn Yan that helps people work their way out of poverty.  It will provide training for families on things like budgeting. It will also help the families find the right agency to help with their needs.  That meeting was Wednesday.  On Thursday, I met with our parish social ministry leader to learn about all the social ministry activities that happen in the parish.

I have been reading up on Stewardship as we are beginning a stewardship committee here.  For the last two weeks I have been redesigned the parish website (www.ourladyofthelakescc.org) and writing the material for many of the pages.  The website still needs a lot of work but it is up and running now if you want to check it out.

 So, life is pretty busy but I continue to enjoy being here at Our Lady of the Lakes.  

Peace,

Fr. Jeff