Hopefully, this will be in my parish's bulletin this weekend.
-------------------------
A Thought from Deacon Rob
Three weeks have come and gone since I’ve started my final year in seminary. Three weeks which have given me many reading assignments, typed / homework assignments, opportunities to re-connect with old friends and make new ones, and opportunities to exercise my diaconal ministry both at Saint Mary’s and at Saint Vincent’s.
Yet one of the most important lessons that I continue to learn is how central the Eucharist is in the life of a Catholic. I continue to learn that lesson daily, and in that lesson I find new depths in not only knowing the love of God, but also in deepening my relationship with Jesus Christ. I continue to explore and discover the vast riches that this Mystery holds in my life, and in the life of every Catholic.
At the seminary, we are given ample opportunities to adore our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. I try to make time everyday to spend at least 15 minutes in conversation with our Lord. And I believe that anyone with a serious commitment to the Gospel would try to spend some time before our Lord at some point during the week between Masses.
Recently, an article appeared in Catholic circles by a priest from a mid-West college who concluded the article saying that Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is “a doctrinal, theological, and spiritual step backward”. This is such a sad statement! We have recently heard from Jesus himself for five weeks on how central His Body and Blood are to those who are His disciples. How can anyone who professes to be Catholic not want to spend some time with Him, to come to know Him and experience His love?!
We are called to come and sit at the feet of the Master. We are called upon time and again to “follow Him” (as we heard last week). To be in communion with Christ is to know what He says and to desire to live the way He lived. There is no better way in which we come to know Jesus than to spend time in conversation with Him who is Love itself . . . and the best way to do this is before His Presence in the Blessed Sacrament.
I encourage all to come early or stay a little bit before or after the Mass you attend on the weekends to know Christ better. I would also encourage, if your time permits you, to visit the Christ during the day in the church. He quietly waits for you and me to visit Him. Come, let us adore.
Enjoy the journey . . .
13 September 2009
10 September 2009
Procrastinating
Taking a moment to break from some school work.
I'll be updating soon.
Enjoy the journey . . .
I'll be updating soon.
Enjoy the journey . . .
25 July 2009
It's been a while . . .
I know . . . I apologize.
Becoming a deacon and entering into parish ministry on this level has been an awesome experience. I cannot believe the joy I feel from simply being around the people of God. This is something that I felt prior to entering the seminary while working in the parish, and in my summer parish experiences . . . but it feels different this year. Probably because I have the opportunity to do things that I never could have before as a member of the laity. Not to say that I didn't find joy during those years -- this is simply a different type of joy.
One of the biggest thrills I get is the ability to preach at Mass. It's wonderful, yet awesome, yet sometimes terrifying feeling to know that the Lord is using me to speak to His people . . . to open the Scriptures up and teach the assembly of the will of God. The Holy Spirit has been working overtime with me. While I sit and prepare my homilies for the weekend Masses (when I do preach), daily Masses are often unscripted. And while I have had a number of people say that they have enjoyed my homilies, I'm still waiting for the one to say that they didn't. I know that day will come, and part of me would like to have it sooner than later.
One of my other "peak moments" came recently in the airport in Lima, Peru, while waiting to board a plane back to the United States. One of my brother seminarians purchased a wall Rosary as a remembrance of his time in Peru, and he asked me to bless it. To be able to do that for a brother was a real honor . . . and a real blessing for me. It was, truthfully, a humbling moment. Again, to be God's instrument in such a fashion is quite a remarkable thought - and I'm really getting use to that.
All-in-all, I've had an awesome time as a deacon. Everything is preparing me for the "big" ordination next year. I can only hope that I continue to take these experiences, and, like Mary, ponder them in my heart, so that I can make this year truly a time to prepare to become a priest of Jesus Christ.
Homily for 26 July - 17th Sun. OT / C
My homily for this weekend.
--------------------------------------------
A little over a week ago, as was announced in the bulletin and is reflected upon in this week’s Pittsburgh Catholic, I and nine of my seminary brothers had the opportunity to visit the Maternidad de Maria Hospital in Chimbote, Peru, with Bishop Zubik. Our visit there consisted of coming to know the Maternidad and the people that they serve – both at the hospital itself, as well as visiting some of the people in their homes. It was a phenomenal experience, to say the least. The people of Chimbote, while some of the economically poorest in our hemisphere, displayed some of the greatest joy I had ever seen. It sounds perplexing, and somewhat of a paradox, I know. But their joy didn’t come from anything physical; rather, it was a joy based in the Gospel. These people live out daily their faith and conviction that the Lord will take care of all their needs.
The abundance – and even over-abundance – of graces that the Lord continually provides for His people is what is presented to us in today’s readings. The man who presented Elisha with the twenty barley loaves could not fathom how there would be enough bread to feed one hundred people. The Apostles questioned Jesus on how five barley loaves and two fish could feed over five thousand people! What Elisha and Jesus were able to recognize, however, is that the Lord cares for those who believe in Him and call upon Him in their time of need.
We, in our current society and culture, have a hard time understanding how people who don’t have the latest car, the fastest computer, the newest video game, or the biggest TV could ever be happy – or at least content. What we fail to recognize is that there is something more important than anything our culture or society can ever give us, and that is the gift of faith. The people of Chimbote recognize this, because their faith is lived out in some fashion everyday.
I’m not saying that we who are gathered here today do not have faith, nor am I saying that we don’t recognize the blessings that are ours. We have just become so accustomed to our lifestyles that we fail to see the abundance of gifts and graces that the Father has bestowed upon us. I get that way myself: I’m going out, I make sure I have my cell phone . . . I’m too warm, I put on the A/C . . . I become bored, so I turn on the TV or throw in a movie to watch. Our society has drifted from the Norman Rockwell-esque picture of the perfect summer – that of sipping your iced-cold lemonade while laying in your hammock in a vast field of flowers, enjoying the simple gifts of life – to our worrying about what will happen if the power fails, and I can’t have my A/C on while I’m watching the game. We neglect to notice those simple graces that God bestows upon us daily, such as: life, family, friends, faith – and we, in turn, forget to thank God for these “simple pleasures”.
Beginning this week, and for the next four weeks, we will hear and reflect upon the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John: the Bread of Life Discourse, in which Jesus gives to us His definitive teaching on the Eucharist and the centrality of receiving His Body and Blood in our lives. You see, to begin to recognize the abundance of the graces and gifts in our lives, we must first turn to and tune in to Him from where the graces and gifts originate. We must make the Eucharist THE priority in our lives – placing it above all others. The Second Vatican Council reminds us that the Eucharist is the “source and summit” of the Christian life. If we are truly to live as disciples of Christ, how dare we not recognize Him from which “all good things come”?
To come before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, to offer Eucharist, which is Greek for “thanksgiving”, we come to recognize the awesome workings of God in our lives. When we come with simple and humble faith before the God of the Universe disguised in elements of bread and wine, those things which our culture and society deem as important take a backseat to those things which really are: our life, our health, our family and friends, and, ultimately, our faith.
The people of Chimbote, though lacking in material wealth, are able to recognize the abundance of gifts and graces that are theirs through their gift of faith. We can be like them. We only need to come to the Lord – especially in our prayer before the Blessed Sacrament – and recognize that, with simple faith, “the hand of the Lord feeds us; He answers all our needs”.
--------------------------------------------
A little over a week ago, as was announced in the bulletin and is reflected upon in this week’s Pittsburgh Catholic, I and nine of my seminary brothers had the opportunity to visit the Maternidad de Maria Hospital in Chimbote, Peru, with Bishop Zubik. Our visit there consisted of coming to know the Maternidad and the people that they serve – both at the hospital itself, as well as visiting some of the people in their homes. It was a phenomenal experience, to say the least. The people of Chimbote, while some of the economically poorest in our hemisphere, displayed some of the greatest joy I had ever seen. It sounds perplexing, and somewhat of a paradox, I know. But their joy didn’t come from anything physical; rather, it was a joy based in the Gospel. These people live out daily their faith and conviction that the Lord will take care of all their needs.
The abundance – and even over-abundance – of graces that the Lord continually provides for His people is what is presented to us in today’s readings. The man who presented Elisha with the twenty barley loaves could not fathom how there would be enough bread to feed one hundred people. The Apostles questioned Jesus on how five barley loaves and two fish could feed over five thousand people! What Elisha and Jesus were able to recognize, however, is that the Lord cares for those who believe in Him and call upon Him in their time of need.
We, in our current society and culture, have a hard time understanding how people who don’t have the latest car, the fastest computer, the newest video game, or the biggest TV could ever be happy – or at least content. What we fail to recognize is that there is something more important than anything our culture or society can ever give us, and that is the gift of faith. The people of Chimbote recognize this, because their faith is lived out in some fashion everyday.
I’m not saying that we who are gathered here today do not have faith, nor am I saying that we don’t recognize the blessings that are ours. We have just become so accustomed to our lifestyles that we fail to see the abundance of gifts and graces that the Father has bestowed upon us. I get that way myself: I’m going out, I make sure I have my cell phone . . . I’m too warm, I put on the A/C . . . I become bored, so I turn on the TV or throw in a movie to watch. Our society has drifted from the Norman Rockwell-esque picture of the perfect summer – that of sipping your iced-cold lemonade while laying in your hammock in a vast field of flowers, enjoying the simple gifts of life – to our worrying about what will happen if the power fails, and I can’t have my A/C on while I’m watching the game. We neglect to notice those simple graces that God bestows upon us daily, such as: life, family, friends, faith – and we, in turn, forget to thank God for these “simple pleasures”.
Beginning this week, and for the next four weeks, we will hear and reflect upon the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John: the Bread of Life Discourse, in which Jesus gives to us His definitive teaching on the Eucharist and the centrality of receiving His Body and Blood in our lives. You see, to begin to recognize the abundance of the graces and gifts in our lives, we must first turn to and tune in to Him from where the graces and gifts originate. We must make the Eucharist THE priority in our lives – placing it above all others. The Second Vatican Council reminds us that the Eucharist is the “source and summit” of the Christian life. If we are truly to live as disciples of Christ, how dare we not recognize Him from which “all good things come”?
To come before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, to offer Eucharist, which is Greek for “thanksgiving”, we come to recognize the awesome workings of God in our lives. When we come with simple and humble faith before the God of the Universe disguised in elements of bread and wine, those things which our culture and society deem as important take a backseat to those things which really are: our life, our health, our family and friends, and, ultimately, our faith.
The people of Chimbote, though lacking in material wealth, are able to recognize the abundance of gifts and graces that are theirs through their gift of faith. We can be like them. We only need to come to the Lord – especially in our prayer before the Blessed Sacrament – and recognize that, with simple faith, “the hand of the Lord feeds us; He answers all our needs”.
24 May 2009
Getting ever closer
I'm daily getting closer to ordination, and it's somewhat surreal.
Having received my Call to Orders on Friday, 8 May, it's been a busy time in doing the final preparations for the ordination that I need to be doing, which have been primarily sending out invitiations and coordinating the reply cards as they come in. But, now, I also have two homilies to write: one for The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ [at my home parish] and one for the (transferred) Solemnity of the Sacred Heart [at my most recent assignment parish]. I'm looking forward to giving these homilies, but hope that I don't preach heresy. (I don't think that I will, though.)
Well, a little under three weeks.
Very exciting!
Enjoy the journey . . .
Having received my Call to Orders on Friday, 8 May, it's been a busy time in doing the final preparations for the ordination that I need to be doing, which have been primarily sending out invitiations and coordinating the reply cards as they come in. But, now, I also have two homilies to write: one for The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ [at my home parish] and one for the (transferred) Solemnity of the Sacred Heart [at my most recent assignment parish]. I'm looking forward to giving these homilies, but hope that I don't preach heresy. (I don't think that I will, though.)
Well, a little under three weeks.
Very exciting!
Enjoy the journey . . .
04 April 2009
The Group
I would just like to say that I am so very fortunate to lead a discernment group who actually want to listen to the Lord's voice, and be the voice of the Church.
That being said, the Group of college students that I lead continue to amaze me . . . and support me. Instead of me driving to the college campus this week to hold the meeting, the Group came to the seminary. They joined us for evening Mass and dinner. The college connected to the seminary, along with the parish on campus, hosted a Festival of Praise, to which some of the Group's members were coming to anyway. So, following Mass and dinner, we joined in the P&W with Adoration for the evening. Following the FOP, we went to a local restaurant for dessert and fellowship. Wow. Just, "wow". It was great food and greater conversation. These students know how to connect with the Church, and with each other.
I've noticed, especially through this Group, that there are young people willing to listen to the calling of the Lord to a deeper relationship with Him, even though if they're not positive on where that calling will lead them. They, like many, are open to test the waters of discernment, only if this means that they discover that religious life isn't for them, or that married life is for them, but there's still something deeper to that call. The joy of leading this Group for the past year has allowed me to venture into different avenues of explaining the faith in new - and sometimes quite different - ways.
I've also become more secure in my own discernment through this Group. Their support of me and of my vocation has been an outstanding testimony to know that there are people who support you, who are even excited for your vocation, because, perhaps, they see themselves serving the Church in a similar fashion.
As we enter Holy Week, I pray that they - and all of us, for that matter - take the time to reflect on the selfless offering of Christ's love exampled to us by His death on the Cross. I look forward to entering the Paschal Mystery in a deeper, more reflective mode. I want to enter it for those I lead - and for those I will one day lead, God-willing.
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You . . . for by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Enjoy the journey . . .
That being said, the Group of college students that I lead continue to amaze me . . . and support me. Instead of me driving to the college campus this week to hold the meeting, the Group came to the seminary. They joined us for evening Mass and dinner. The college connected to the seminary, along with the parish on campus, hosted a Festival of Praise, to which some of the Group's members were coming to anyway. So, following Mass and dinner, we joined in the P&W with Adoration for the evening. Following the FOP, we went to a local restaurant for dessert and fellowship. Wow. Just, "wow". It was great food and greater conversation. These students know how to connect with the Church, and with each other.
I've noticed, especially through this Group, that there are young people willing to listen to the calling of the Lord to a deeper relationship with Him, even though if they're not positive on where that calling will lead them. They, like many, are open to test the waters of discernment, only if this means that they discover that religious life isn't for them, or that married life is for them, but there's still something deeper to that call. The joy of leading this Group for the past year has allowed me to venture into different avenues of explaining the faith in new - and sometimes quite different - ways.
I've also become more secure in my own discernment through this Group. Their support of me and of my vocation has been an outstanding testimony to know that there are people who support you, who are even excited for your vocation, because, perhaps, they see themselves serving the Church in a similar fashion.
As we enter Holy Week, I pray that they - and all of us, for that matter - take the time to reflect on the selfless offering of Christ's love exampled to us by His death on the Cross. I look forward to entering the Paschal Mystery in a deeper, more reflective mode. I want to enter it for those I lead - and for those I will one day lead, God-willing.
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You . . . for by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Enjoy the journey . . .
01 April 2009
Ummm......
I really don't have that much to say, but felt that I needed to post something . . .
Ummm........
This week has been good so far, and I'm excited that we're getting closer to Easter Break. I'm looking forward to being back at my assignment parish for the final time (officially) before ordination and I get a new assignment. Life has been good, and I'm glad for that.
I made up my mind tonight to go to iPraise, a weekly event that is held on the college campus here. I don't ever really decide to not go, but by the time it rolls around, I often forget. But not tonight. And I'm glad that I went. I needed that time to just sit and be. (Well, I stood the whole time, but you get the point.) It was an awesome experience, and I'm glad I set aside that time. With papers, projects, assignments and exams looming in the not-too-distant-future, I needed that hour outside the set time of community prayer to regroup and re-energize myself. (Not that I don't do this on a regular basis, but iPraise helps me regroup in a different way . . .) I feel calm once again, and ready to finish the week of classes tomorrow.
I just want Break to be here, so that I can be in the parish again. I really miss it. That's where I belong. Ultimately. Right now, I need to be where God has me.
Enjoy the journey . . . .
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