St.
Mary's Catholic
Parish: From the Pastor
Fr.
Paul E. Desmarais, Pastor - St. Mary's Parish

|
 |
For
the Week of December 26, 2010
When we hear the term “ Holy Family” we may
not consider our own family to be quote, unquote holy! From the birth
of our Lord that we celebrated yesterday to this feast today we talk about
a family that united itself to the will of God for them.
Mary and Joseph faced many hardships especially when Herod wanted the
child Jesus to be killed. In the middle of the night they had to flee
all that was safe and secure for them, trusting in the mercy of God to
watch over them. Later on Mary would have to stand by the side of Jesus
during His passion and death. They knew the love and power of God would
be with them through these hard times. We can learn from them how to place
our families under the guidance and care of God. We can learn from them
how to have faith and trust in God who will watch over us.
The birth of Jesus who is called Emmanuel reminds us that name means “God
is with us.” Today we dedicate our families to the love and power
of God who we ask to bless us and watch over us an our family’s
life journey.
For
the Week of December 19, 2010
“They shall name his Emmanuel which means, “God
is with us.” This promise holds true for us today as it did with
the Israelites over two thousand years ago. God is present in our world
today. He watches over us as he did when he walked the face of the earth.
Joseph in today’s gospel was called to have faith in God’s
promise. We too are called to have faith. Each time we pray we are asked
to believe that our Lord is with us in our prayers. His grace, love and
mercy, forgiveness and compassion are present in our lives each time we
receive Him in the Eucharist and each time we pray.
God promised He would not abandon us. His divine love lives in each of
us. The preparation for Christmas can be so time consuming it can be easy
to forget why we are celebrating this day. We need to be reminded that
in all we do each day of our lives; God is with us, especially if times
are hard and difficult for us. Being out of work or having lost someone
we love dearly, the mercy and compassion of God will be with us. His grace
is always with us no matter what may happen in our lives.
For
the Week of December 12, 2010
“Here is your God, He comes with vindication, with
divine recompense, He comes to save you.” Is. 35
This is the promise made to Isaiah that the Messiah would come into the
world with; mercy, compassion and forgiveness of our sins. John the Baptist
who is in prison in the gospel story sends some of his disciples to ask
Jesus how this will happen. Jesus says for John’s disciples to go
back and tell him; the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers
are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised; the poor have the good
news preached to them. Jesus comes to bring the power of God’s love
into our world. He comes to show us what the spirit of love and love’s
power can do for us.
Jesus promised that we can see and know God when we love our Lord and
open our hearts to His mercy. The season of Advent calls us to be open
to this great gift. The greatest gift we have ever received has been the
gift of mercy and compassion for our world. As we continue to do all the
preparations for Christmas, let us not forget about the greatest gift
we can receive; the gift of our Lord Himself.
For
the Week of December 5, 2010
“There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord.” Is.11:
8-9. Imagine what things in our world would be like if we allowed ourselves
to be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. Everyday we have the chance
to allow ourselves to be filled with the presence of God. We have the
chance to be reflections of the image and likeness for those around us.
The image and likeness of God can be alive and well when we choose to
live our lives according to the will of God. Jesus talks about the peace
of God which the world cannot understand. We can be people of peace for
ourselves and for others when we give our hearts over to the grace of
God. This is not some far fetched dream, but it can become a reality when
we allow God to guide our lives and the life of the world He created.
The gospel gives us a taste of what life can be. Imagine what our Lord
can do for us when we open up our hearts to Him.
For
the Week of November 28, 2010
As we begin the season of Advent we have already been
bombarded with the Christmas season. Stores have long been decorated for
Christmas even before Halloween. A radio station has already been playing
non stop Christmas music for three weeks. The commercialism of the season
threatens to down cast the true meaning of Christmas.
Advent is the time we can spiritually prepare ourselves for the birth
of Christ. Advent helps us to focus on the reasons why Jesus has come
into our world. We are once again reminded that the birth of the Messiah
is the light and hope for our world. When we sing “O Come, O Come
Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel, we are also singing that song for
the entire world. We pray for the Lord to come and rescue us from darkness
and evil.
This message can easily get lost in the noise of this season, let us prepare
a place in our hearts to receive Him in the same way Mary and Joseph prepared
a place in Bethlehem to receive Him into our world.
For
the Week of November 21, 2010
Today we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. To understand
why we call Jesus a King, it is important to understand the Kingdom of
God. St. Paul said the Kingdom is not about eating and drinking. It is
about justice, mercy, and peace. Jesus says, “I have come into the
world, not to be served but to serve.” His kingship is about service
to and for others. He talks about humility and being the last. He brings
justice, mercy and peace into the world by loving people, healing people,
feeding people and forgiving people of their sins. The Kingdom of God
is a kingdom of love. His Kingship is about what I can do for others.
We are all citizens of this kingdom. We too are called to witness service
and love to others. We are the ones today who make the Kingdom of God
alive in this world. We can show others what this kingdom is like. Our
Lord doesn’t want to rule over us like a dictator. He is the King
who loves, serves and forgives his people, calling us at the same time
to do this for others.
For
the Week of November 14, 2010
Jesus says in the gospel today “By your perseverance
you will secure your lives.” We often find our faith, our patience
being tested. We have to deal with the challenges of everyday life. Our
faith helps us find the wisdom we need. Our faith gives us perseverance.
Our faith gives us kindness, charity, love and forgiveness of others.
Sometimes we feel pushed to the limit but our Lord is telling us not to
give up. Don’t give in to despair. Jesus reminds us that the power
of the Holy Spirit we have received will be with us to help us and support
us.
How many times have you faced the challenge of everyday life wondering
at the end of the day, how did I make it through this? We thank our Lord
for the Holy Spirit, the Spirit that is always with us no matter what
happens, no matter what comes our way. We find the virtues we need through
our faith in our Lord Jesus.
For
the Week of November 7, 2010
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,
who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope
through His grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every
good deed and word.” How many of us need to hear these words of
St. Paul? We all need to have our Lord give us encouragement in our walk
of faith. At times it takes a super human effort to be kind and charitable
in our words and deeds. It’s hard to be the best Christian we can
be when we feel so many things are going wrong.
Getting a child off to school on time making sure they get to the bus
on time can be an extreme test of patience. Being kind to someone who
hurts us, we all need the grace and strength and encouragement of God
to say and do the right thing. The strength and grace we need in our everyday
life comes from the power of the Eucharist. Once a week we have the opportunity
to receive His strength and power in the communions. Each week we have
the chance to grow stronger in our faith when we receive Him. Let’s
not miss out on the chance and opportunity to receive Him in our hearts
each week when we come to Mass.
For
the Week of October 31, 2010
The story of Zacchaeus in today’s gospel is a story
about the search for true treasure in one’s life. As a tax collector
Zacchaeus has much wealth. Whatever he wants he can have. What his wealth
would not buy were friends and happiness. He was hated and despised as
a tax collector. He literally was the most hated man in town. There was
in his heart emptiness and loneliness that things and money could not
fill. When Jesus comes to town Zacchaeus wants to see him. There is in
his heart a hunger for something more.
Jesus sees Zacchaeus in a tree and says he must stay with him. This is
the first time in a long while that Zacchaeus feels joy, happiness, love
and acceptance. Our Lord comes to heal his hurt and convert him from his
sinful past. The most important treasure Zacchaeus has is Jesus’
love for him. In our culture with its obsession on having things that
will make us happy, true happiness comes from our Lord’s love for
us and the love we have for Him and for each other. Our Lord comes into
our life to give us the same love and mercy He gave to Zacchaeus.
For
the Week of October 24, 2010
O God, be merciful to me a sinner. The tax collector in
today’s gospel comes to the temple to pray in a spirit of humility.
God hears his prayer because he is not prideful or arrogant like the Pharisee.
Jesus tells the crowd that anyone whoever humbles himself will be exalted
before the eyes of God. All that we have in life is God’s gracious
gift to us. The Pharisee forgot that his life and all that he did and
did not do was because of God watching over him. Instead of giving God
credit for his life, he believes he is solely responsible for his good
works.
In any kind of prayer we pray, we are acknowledging our need for God in
our life. We are in need of His mercy and grace. We are in need of His
forgiveness and compassion. Prayer is about placing our lives and all
that goes with it into the hands of God. The Pharisee unfortunately takes
credit for God’s work in his life.
When St Paul in the second reading says, “The Lord will rescue me
from every evil threat…” Paul says, “To him be glory
forever and ever.” Let all of us in a spirit of humility be thankful
for the blessings God gives to all of us.
For
the Week of October 17, 2010
St. Paul in our second reading today calls you and me
to proclaim the Word. He calls us to be persistent whether it is convenient
or inconvenient. He asks us to convince, to reprimand, and encourage through
all patience and teaching.
St. Paul never calls us to be heavy handed in our faith. He says we can
teach, reprimand and be persistent by being encouraging to one another.
People turn a deaf ear when our approach to our faith is one of putting
down someone in a negative way.
Jesus taught the faith by healing people, forgiving people, loving sinners
and encouraging people to live a better way of life. Jesus lived the word
as well as preaching the word. His love and encouragement of others inspired
others to follow Him and to try to be like Him, because He was the God
of mercy and compassion. We too can inspire people not by fear but by
being people of kindness and love. We are all called to let our actions
speak louder then words.
For
the Week of October 10, 2010
In order for Naaman to be cured of his leprosy he had
to overcome his pride and have faith and trust in Elisha’s words
to go and wash in the Jordan River. The Jordan River is a muddy and dirty
river. Naaman’s greatest gift was humility to do what he was asked
to do. He did not let his pride get in the way of God’s healing
mercy. Naaman had to overcome the obstacles in his life that would prevent
his healing from taking place.
What obstacles do we have that prevent God’s mercy from healing
us? Do we allow pride or arrogance or stubbornness to not forgive someone?
Are we too prideful to say we are sorry when we sin against someone? An
unforgiving heart can be the greatest obstacle to God’s healing
love and mercy. God wants to share his generous gifts of love and forgiveness
and healing with us, all we are called to do is overcome the obstacles
that would prevent his powerful love from touching and healing our hearts
and our lives.
For
the Week of October 3, 2010
“God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but
rather of power and love and self control.” How well do we use the
power of the Holy Spirit given to us in our baptism and confirmation?
Do we rely on the Spirit of God to guide us and help us in all we do?
St. Paul tells us the power of love can help us in our relationships with
one another. It can help us to be patient and kind, merciful, compassionate
and forgiving. It can help us overcome pride and arrogance. It can help
us understand. St. Paul tells us the love of God for us does not fail.
The power of God’s love that St. Paul talks about can heal and mend
relationships in need of mercy. We all know our world is in need of mercy,
our families, an communities, our churches are in need of compassion and
mercy.
Today and everyday God offers the power of love to us through the gift
of the Eucharist. The power of God’s love is ever ready to lead,
guide and carry us through whatever obstacles we face in our everyday
life.
For
the Week of September 26, 2010
St. Paul in his letter to Timothy says that we are to
pursue righteousness. We are called to do the things for others that are
needed to be done to help our brothers and sisters.
The rich man in the gospel today is not condemned because he is rich;
rather he is condemned for not using his wealth to help Lazarus. The rich
man could have done so much good but refused to see Lazarus’s need
and will not do anything to ease his suffering and pain. God had blessed
the rich man, he refused to bless others. He had a chance to make a difference
in another man’s life but would not help.
We too can help others with our gifts and talents; we too can make a difference
for someone else. God has blessed you and me as he blessed the rich man.
He puts before us the same challenge, how can we reach out and help others
around us who are in need of our help, our comfort, and most importantly
our love.
For
the Week of September 19, 2010
One of the most important roles of any member of this
church is intercessory prayer. St. Paul in his letter to St. Timothy talks
about its importance and power. Many of the prayers prayed at the Healing
Mass on the second Sunday of each month or at the Wednesday night Holy
Hour and Healing Service or by our intercessors in the Adoration Chapel
are prayers for other people. We pray for the needs of the entire parish
just as the parish prays for our needs. We cannot underestimate the power
of intercessory prayer. We can easily overlook the power of our prayer.
We can overlook the impact our prayers have for someone else.
Jesus says that when two or more are gathered together in my name I am
in your midst. As you read this, there are shut-ins in the parish who
are not able to be at this Mass, praying for your needs. Let us in turn
as this parish family pray for them and for the needs of our parish and
anyone we know who is in need of the grace of God in their lives.
For
the Week of September 12, 2010
This Sunday our parish again begins its monthly Healing
Mass at St. James Chapel. This year it falls on the weekend of the Anniversary
of the 9/11 attack. The Mass reminds us that the world is in much need
of healing. We are in need of a healing from hatred, anger, rage, envy,
bigotry, injustice, prejudice, violence abuse and other kinds of sickness
that are not physical in nature. We are all called to open our hearts
and lives to be converted by God’s healing love and power.
Jesus died the most gruesome, violent death one could imagine. His love
for us is more powerful than the evil and violence that killed Him. All
of us are called to be healers. We can heal hearts and lives by our own
power of love. When someone in our family or a friend is hurting, our
love can heal them. Healing isn’t only for a healing priest or evangelist.
All of us are called to be healers and we can start in our own home. Many
of the people who come to our monthly healing service and our Wednesday
night Holy Hour and healing service come to ask prayers for others. People,
who come to our adoration chapel, come to pray for others and the needs
of our parish. All of us are blessed with the healing power of love. Imagine
what our homes, families, churches, communities could be like if more
people used their healing power of love for one another.
For
the Week of September 5, 2010
As we celebrate Labor Day Weekend; it is a good time for
our parish to step back and reflect on our work as a parish. As I mentioned
in last weeks bulletin many people work in so many different ways to support
the life and community of our parish. People volunteer their time that
often goes unnoticed. People who clean the church, or serve on a committee,
or teach in the PEP program, people who come to pray for the needs of
the parish and our parishioners in the Adoration Chapel, Lectors, Eucharistic
Ministers, Altar Servers, all of you make our parish a special place where
we can worship our Lord. Special thanks go out to all of you whose work
builds up the Kingdom of God.
Thanks to all who were able to make a contribution to our parish capital
campaign, this goes beyond making a pledge but especially to all who prayed
for the success of this campaign. Many people because of financial restraints
and other obligations were unable to give financial support, but your
prayers and words of encouragement are just as important. For all the
work that all of you do. Thanks!
For
the Week of August 29, 2010
As we enter this next phase of our Capital Campaign I
want to thank all of you who have given to the church so generously. I
know this has been a difficult time financially for many people. People
have lost so much in this economy. People who have not been able to make
a pledge have supported the parish in many other ways.
Most importantly: people have supported us through the power of prayer.
As the parish meets its challenges, it is wonderful to see the many different
ways people have reached out to help. I thank all of you for your kindness,
prayers and the many ways you help and support the parish. Thank you for
all that you do for St. Mary’s Parish.
For
the Week of August 22, 2010
Are we prepared for the time of our death? Are we ready
to stand before the Lord to make an accounting of our lives? We can be
so caught up in the things of this world that we forget about the life
of our soul. We forget that we have to care for the life of our soul as
much as we have to care for the life of our bodies.
Jesus talks today about being ready to stand before God to make an accounting
of our life. How ready are we? He offers to us all the tools we need to
live the life of holiness we are called to live the Eucharist, and the
Sacraments, especially Confession. The word of God we can read everyday.
Jesus will not let us walk this journey of life alone: The wisdom, knowledge
and guidance, lead us on this journey of faith. Finally the intercession
of Mary our Mother is a beautiful way for us to be the Christians we are
all called to be.
For
the Week of August 8, 2010
I would like to thank everyone who made the parish picnic
and tent revival the great success they were. Many different people stepped
forward to volunteer their time, use their talents, and made donations
to help with the costs for the events. This is a wonderful way we celebrate
the spirit of our parish.
The efforts of all volunteers of our parish allow the power of God to
touch the lives of so many people in different ways. Being an Altar Server,
Lector, or Eucharistic Minister. Being a PEP teacher or a budget counter
or cutting the grass; thank you for all your ministries to the parish.
Thank you to the adorers of our Adoration Chapel who come an hour each
week to pray for God’s grace to touch all our lives. The most important
ministry of the parish is prayer, praying for all the needs of the parish
is the most important work we can do. It says in the Psalms, “If
the Lord does not build the house in vain do the laborers toil.”
Let all of us pray for the needs of our parish and for all people who
are in need of our prayers. May God bless them and watch over them as
well as all of us.
For
the Week of August 1, 2010
The readings this weekend tell us plainly what is important
in God’s eyes. St. Paul says “Think of what is above,”
he says, “We are being renewed in the image of the creator.”
“Christ is in each of us.”
Our culture says that our pleasure comes in what we own and have. The
newest cell phone, the newest I Pod, the newest car. Things are what make
us happy according to our culture. Jesus says the only important thing
is to have Him within us and to live accordingly. We are to be people
who are good, people of peace, people of mercy and compassion and forgiveness
and people who respect life from the moment of conception. This is what
our Lord values the most.
Today most people treat their faith with indifference. Someone says “If
I go to Mass fine, if I miss Mass on Sunday, that’s ok too, but
it’s not ok. People walk into Mass late and leave right after Communion
not spending any time in prayer or receiving the final blessing. How can
Jesus live within us if we do not pray? Soon there will be changes in
the Mass that will help us better answer these questions.
For
the Week of July 25, 2010
Abraham teaches us a wonderful way to pray. He asks God
to spare Sodom and Gomorrah because of the innocent people living in the
city. Abraham asks: “Should not the judge of all the world act with
justice.” Abraham keeps interceding with God to spare the city if
only one innocent man is found. God agrees.
Abraham teaches us to pray with boldness, confidence and trust. There
is a trust and intimacy that exists between God and Abraham that enables
Abraham to pray so boldly. Jesus invites us to call God “Father.”
He also calls us to a close and trusting relationship with God. He calls
us to pray with confidence in God’s love and mercy. Even as we are
called to treat God with respect when we say “Holy is your name,”
we are not to lose sight of the fact that God indeed is a loving father.
Abraham was not shy when he prayed to God. We too are asked not be timid
and shy when we pray. A loving father already knows our needs and desires.
Jesus says, “How much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy
Spirit to those who ask.”
For
the Week of July 18, 2010
In the story of Martha and Mary we may find it easier
to relate to Martha than to Mary. Like Martha we can be anxious and worried
about many things. Many people today are worried and anxious about the
future. Will I have a job? Can I support my family? Can I send my kids
to the school of their choice? Can I care for my parents as they get older?
These and many other questions can leave us worried and anxious.
In the middle of all the noise and confusion that was part of Martha and
Mary’s home when Jesus and his friends arrived, Mary recognized
the importance of Jesus being in the middle of this confusion. Mary realized
that Jesus was in the middle of all this mayhem! She drew her strength
from the presence of Jesus in her life. Jesus was offering the same chance
that Mary had. Jesus was saying I am with you. Jesus would be there to
help her in all the challenges of her life. He would give her what she
needed. Strength, patience, wisdom, fortitude. He offers the same to us
in our daily challenges whether it be getting the kids off to school or
time or caring for sick elderly parents. He is as present to us today
as he was to Martha and Mary.
For
the Week of July 11, 2010
St. Paul says in the second reading, “For in Him
were created all things visible and invisible…all things were created
through Him and for Him. Col 1:15. Imagine what our world would be like
if we truly believed what St. Paul wrote.
All life is sacred and we are called to treat it as sacred. We could put
an end to war and poverty etc. We seem to have lost the sense of sacredness
or holiness in our society and so many things in our world are seen as
disposable; even human life. If an unborn child were seen as sacred and
holy we could end abortion. It is our responsibility to witness to the
sacredness and holiness of all life. It begins with the way we treat people
and the earth around us. If I have no respect for others or our planet,
if I am wasteful or thoughtless of others; I have lost the sense of the
sacred and holy. All things and people are created in the image and likeness
of God. You and I are created in God’s image. It should affect the
way we treat others. If someone grows up without love how can they know
they are special in the eyes of anyone. When we treat each other the way
God wants us to, then we have fulfilled the call to be witnesses of God’s
love to all people and to the world.
For
the Week of July 4, 2010
The 4th of July reminds us of cook-outs, parades, fireworks
and a long weekend. We should also remember we celebrate our freedom and
the price that is paid for it. We remember that a group of men and women
put everything on the line for their freedom. The cost they paid was high.
They sacrificed much for what they believed in. They knew it would be
worth it. The cost is also high in living out our faith. There is much
we sacrifice to live as Jesus calls us to live and to witness this faith
to others. There is much we give up to be people of faith, hope and generosity.
See the sacrifices one makes for their family, or relatives or friends.
This is our vocation, this is our life. Our baptism is a sign to all of
our commitment to the word of God and the life we are called to live.
Our country each day tries to live up to the ideals of the Declaration
of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. We as Catholics
try each day to live up to the ideals of our faith no matter how hard
it may be.
For
the Week of June 27, 2010
“Brothers and Sisters: For freedom Christ set us
free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.”
(Gal. 5:1). Our Lord by His death and resurrection has freed us from the
power of the evil one and his evil. Jesus proved to us the power He has
over sin and death. Despite all the despair we hear about in the world
today, our Lord is the light in the darkness. When someone despairs over
addiction He is the light, when someone despairs over sickness, He is
our light and hope, when someone despairs about being out of work, He
is our light and hope. We don’t have to be people of despair and
hopelessness. Our Lord calls us to faith, hope and trust. The mercy of
God is greater than the sin and darkness of the world around us.
St. Peter then tells us to love by the Spirit and be guided by the Holy
Spirit in our life. St. Paul who underwent all kinds of affliction understood
the power of the Holy Spirit and the love of Jesus for him. He understood
the love of our Lord would be there with him at all times. He reminds
us this weekend, our Lord’s presence is with us at all times.
For
the Week of June 20, 2010
“Who do the crowds say that I am?” We know
that Peter will say; “You are the Christ the Son of the living God.”
We can ask this ourselves; “Who do we say Jesus is in our life?”
Is Jesus a nice guy who was a teacher among many others? Is He just another
prophet? When we believe He is the Messiah and the Son of God, that changes
everything. He and His teachings become the most important thing in our
life. The Eucharist becomes the most important possession we can have.
Why would we want to miss Mass and miss receiving our Lord? Why would
we miss out on the opportunity to be with Him in prayer? Our Lord is so
powerful; why do we deny ourselves the opportunity to have Him within
us? His love, grace, mercy, compassion are always available to us.
It says in the book of Revelation that Jesus is knocking on the door of
our hearts waiting for us to let Him in. Each and every Mass begins with
the prayer, “The Lord be with you. What better way to begin our
week than by letting the Lord come into our hearts each and every Sunday
and each and every time we pray to him.
For
the Week of June 13, 2010
Jesus says in the gospel today, “The one to whom
little is forgiven, loves little.”
One of the hardest things Jesus asks us to do have to do with forgiveness.
How hard it is to forgive! How hard to let go of the pain and suffering
done to us when someone hurts us by what they have done. How hard it is
to forgive when someone will not say they are sorry. Each time we pray
the Our Father we pray; “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those
who sin against us.” We admit in this prayer that we are in need
of God’s grace to forgive and be forgiven. Many times people cannot
forgive someone who has harmed them so seriously because of the hurt and
pain they feel. Along with forgiveness comes the healing of our heart
to heal from the pain. Asking for healing from our Lord allows us to be
rid of anger, resentment, bitterness hatred which is so destructive of
the human heart. Anger, resentment, bitterness, hatred can destroy us.
We need the grace and love from our Lord to heal the hurt.
In healing and forgiving we are not saying we would once again be friends
with someone who hurts us so badly but, we do not want to become bitter,
resentful people by holding on to anger and hatred. Our Lord promised
His love and help for us to be able to forgive. We also need His grace
and help to say to someone we hurt; I’m sorry! Pride, ego can get
in the way of admitting we did something wrong. We need the virtue of
humility to understand we have done something wrong and we need to say
to God and others, I’m sorry. Jesus came to heal and forgive a broken
world by His love, mercy and the power of the cross.
For
the Week of June 6, 2010
A quarter of American Catholics do not believe in the
real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Many of these Catholics believe
the Bread and Wine are a symbol. When we fail to believe in one of the
most important beliefs of our faith, we miss out on so much our Lord can
give us.
The spiritual food we need to allow our faith to grow and blossom we miss
out on, when we do not come to Mass or believe in the real presence. It
is why the church calls it a mortal sin to miss Mass on Sunday. It is
why God made it one of the commandments. The Body and Blood of our Lord
have been linked to many miracles of healings. The Body and Blood of our
Lord has touched the lives and hearts of people in so many different ways.
There is a way we can ask the Lord for His healing love to help us each
time we come to Mass. 1) Before Mass begins, pray for your intention,
ask the Lord’s healing power to touch the life and heart of the
person you pray for. 2) At the offertory lift up the person you pray for
as an offertory gift, place your intention on the altar of God. 3) Believe
at communion time when you receive our Lord that your intention is being
answered. 4) When you come back to your seat, continue to pray for the
person you want the Lord to help or heal. We miss out on so much when
we fail to receive Him at Mass. Each and every Saturday night or Sunday
at Mass, there is so much love our Lord wants to give each and every one
of us.
From
the Pastor: January to May 2010
From the Pastor: June
to December 2009
From
the Pastor: January to May, 2009
From
the Pastor: June to December 2008
From
the Pastor: January to May, 2008
From
the Pastor: September, October, November, December 2007
From the Pastor: June, July, August 2007
Back
to Parish Bulletin
|