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Updated: Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – February 12, 2012
Leviticus 13:45 “The one who bears the sore of leprosy shall keep his
garments rent and his head bare, and shall muffle his beard; he shall cry out,
‘Unclean, unclean!’”
Psalm 32:7 I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me
with joy of salvation.
I Corinthians 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Mark 1: 40-41 “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, He
stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I will; be clean.”
Dear Parishioners and
Friends,
On February 11, 1858, Our
Blessed Mother began a series of appearances to Bernadette Soubirous within the
cave of Massabielle near Lourdes, France.
Mary would repeat the heart of the Gospel message (John 1:15), which is
the Lord’s call to conversion. She
would remind us of the need to pray fervently, especially the rosary. Her Immaculate Heart would reach out to the
world to have a change of heart in learning to care more for the poor and the
sick. In the end she would tell
Bernadette: “I am the Immaculate
Conception.” This message is even more
relevant now than it was then. In many
ways we have just begun to understand what she was talking about. In a world that has even “lost the sense of
sin (Pius XII, John Pau II),” we see in Mary a striking contrast. As the model
disciple she inspires us to fully live in Christ.
Many come to Lourdes hoping
for a physical cure. One by one strong
French youth help to lower the sick into the miraculous waters. From time to time there is a certified
physical cure. However, the cures that
are far greater are those of the soul.
There is something about Lourdes that makes people re-examine their
lives in relation to the gospel.
Through the intercession of Our Lady the Lord Jesus softens hardened
hearts and brings them back to Him.
Priests are always ready to hear confessions in the major languages and
many pilgrims make their first good confession in years. Other souls renew their commitment to be
fervent, faithful Christians. At Lourdes
many souls receive many special graces.
Isn’t that what the readings
of the Mass tell us this Sunday? The
leprosy that is most common is that of the soul, a soul separated from God by
mortal sin, a soul that might be lost forever unless it repents. What does Jesus think? He clearly says: “I will; be clean.” Jesus
saves souls. That is His primary
mission. Let Him!
Yours in the Lord,
The Rev. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
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The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time – February 5, 2012
Job 7:1 Is not
man’s life on earth drudgery?
Psalm 147:3
Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
1 Corinthians
9:22 To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak.
Mark 1:34 He
cured many who were sick with various diseases, and He drove out many demons.
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Believers, especially
Christians, have always been tempted to preach a religion or a Gospel of
success. That means that if everything
goes my way and I prosper, particularly if I become wealthy, that means that
God has blessed me. Whereas if I am
poor, sick, struggling through life, God is displeased with me in some way and
has rejected me or is even punishing me.
Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, often the truth is the exact opposite. Those most loved by God often have the
greatest sufferings, disappointments, obstacles to success, even discouraging
and hard times, yet they are God’s chosen ones to enter most completely into His
unconditional love.
Perhaps, the most difficult
truth to learn is that God has not abandoned us in adversity. In fact, He draws even closer to us as best
friend. When we are weak, emptied out,
God comes in to lift us up. He embraces
us with His love. And then He does
something beyond our imagination. He
turns all our sufferings into good for our soul and the souls of others. Some would actually say that the “night”
becomes the “light” that makes us most like God. Isn’t that marvelous?
Yes, and I’m sure that you would agree with me that it is more easily
said than done. We call this process
the Mystery of the Cross, through which we are saved. It is the ultimate triumph of Love, the real thing, not the
counterfeit version. Praised be Jesus
Christ! Now and forever!
I have found that one cannot
run away from the Cross. Sooner or
later it comes knocking at the door. It
has many different appearances, but is always difficult to look at. What makes it possible for us to finally
accept it with joy and learn its most important lessons comes from Jesus, who
“heals the brokenhearted” and fulfills in each one of us His mission to cure
the sick and “drive out demons.”
Yours in the Lord,
The Rev. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor
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Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time – January 29, 2012
Deuteronomy
18:15 Moses spoke to all the people: “A
prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you from among your own
kin; to Him you shall listen.”
Psalm 95: 8 If
today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.
Mark 1:27 All
were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with
authority. He commands even the unclean
spirits and they obey Him.”
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
In the gospel this week we
encounter Jesus face to face with unclean spirits. These are the fallen angels, devils or demons, that long ago
refused to obey God. Lucifer, the prince
of darkness, or Satan, is their leader.
With him they told God: “We will
not serve.” Their disobedience lost
them forever a place with God and the joy of heaven; they are eternally
damned. Ever since then they have
continued to “roam through the world seeking the ruin of souls (Prayer of St.
Michael).” Though their power in
relation to Jesus Christ should never be exaggerated, that is, the power and
authority of the Lord is way beyond them; they continue to do much damage,
especially in disobedient, weak, lax, souls, that are prepared to cooperate
with them in the kingdom of darkness.
Did you notice in the gospel
that the unclean spirit clearly identifies Jesus: “I know who you are – the
Holy One of God!”? This evil spirit is
correct. Knowledge of the faith is
never enough. We must live that faith
by a holy life as St. Paul tells us in Corinthians 7:32-35. We must not be “distracted” by the world,
the flesh, and the devil. Each day we
must choose Jesus the light of the world.
“If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts (Ps.95:8)” the
Church has prayed in the Liturgy of the Hours early each morning for many
centuries.
On February 2nd
we will bless candles for church and home use on the Feast of the Presentation
of the Lord in the Temple. We desire
the simple faith of Anna and Simeon and beg the Lord to dwell more fully within
the temple of our souls. We extend a
loving welcome to Him every day as we say with Simeon: “A light for revelation to the Gentiles and
the glory of your people Israel (Luke 2:29-32).”
Jesus Christ is the Light of
the World and the Light of our lives.
As you use blessed candles at your home altar for prayers and devotions
with your family gathered around you, pray that His love, life, and light will
be with you now and into eternity. This
is the “authority” that Jesus shares will His followers. We become His presence, His Light, for all
to see. Let your light shine!
Yours in Christ the Light,
The Rev. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor
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Third Sunday in Ordinary Time – January 22, 2012- Shameful Anniversary!
Jonah 3: 10 When God saw by their actions how they turned from their
evil way, He repented of the evil that He had threatened to do to them; He did
not carry it out.
1 Corinthians 7: 29 I tell you,
brothers and sisters, the time is running out.
Mark 1: 14-15 After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee
proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is
the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of
God is at hand. Repent, and believe in
the gospel.
John 1: 17 Jesus said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Dear Parishioners and
Friends,
In the most recent edition
of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (2011), which provides
the regulations from Rome on the celebration of the Mass and local adaptations
added by the American bishops and approved by the Pope, we read on page 113,
number 373: “In all the Dioceses of the
United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a
Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of prayer for the full
restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for
violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of
abortion.” The Order of Prayer in
the Liturgy of the Hours and Celebration of the Eucharist 2012, page 37,
states that the reason is the “anniversary of the Supreme Court decision, Roe
vs. Wade (1973).” That decision was
handed down from the high court on January 22, 1973 - an infamous and shameful
date in our American history.
Yes, it is now thirty-nine
years since all anti-abortion laws were struck down by the Supreme Court. Americans received a right that they never
had before. They were given the right
to terminate life in a mother’s womb with full protection of the law. Immediately, Catholics, other Christians,
and many others objected, and that protest continues to this very day. We cannot and will never accept that it is
right to destroy life in a mother’s womb for any reason. We believe and we will always believe, as
the Church has always taught, that all human life is sacred from the moment of
conception. Fundamentally, we embrace
the undeniable, scientific facts that life exists in the womb before birth.
Calmly, logically, and precisely, we rationally
defend our position in promoting the positive, pro-life view. We will continue to do so. At this time most would agree that what is
most needed is a spiritual revolution with authentic conversions that are the
result of prayer and penance. Jesus
calls out to all: “Come after me!”
Yours in the Lord,
The Rev. Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time – January 15, 2012
Alleluia,
alleluia. We have found the
Messiah: Jesus Christ, who brings us
truth and grace (John 1:41,17b, Gospel Verse).
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
The Christmas Season concluded, in this year of
grace, on Monday, January 9th, with the Feast of the Baptism of the
Lord. Those who follow the Extraordinary
Form of the Roman Rite, which preserves for the most part the Church
calendar and liturgical discipline and
practices as they were in 1962; and those who remember well the same, know that
these Sundays after Christmas were called the Sundays after the Epiphany, which
would conclude three weeks before the First Sunday of Lent. Then would begin the three Sundays in
preparation for Lent called Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima,
meaning seventy, sixty, and fifty days before Easter. Some catholic cultures and families preserve this tradition by
keeping up Christmas decorations until the Feast of the Presentation of the
Lord in the Temple (formerly the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary),
forty days after Christmas, celebrated each year on February 2nd. This feast, in a modified way, preserves the
tradition of an extended Christmas season; however, those who follow the
Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite now recognize that the Christmas season
officially ends with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
The simplification and re-arrangement of the Church
Calendar, introduced in 1970, designates these Sundays after Christmas as
Sundays in Ordinary Time, that is, there is no particular mystery of the
Christian life celebrated; therefore, leaving these Sundays the chance to call
to mind various mysteries in the life of Christ and the life of the
Church. These Sundays will continue
until the First Sunday of Lent, which falls on February 26th this
year.
However, even though these Sundays in Ordinary Time
do not present one of the major mysteries of the faith, it doesn’t mean that
they are unimportant in revealing the Lord’s plan of salvation. For example, in the Gospel today from St.
John we hear of the vocation of St. Peter and his brother St. Andrew. Even though Andrew is the first to encounter
the Lord, he eagerly introduces Peter to Him.
The rest is history. Peter will become
the first of the apostles, the rock upon which Jesus will build His
Church.
We are all called to follow the Lord in His
Church. In this new year of 2012 let us
re-consecrate ourselves to being the best and most devoted disciples
possible. Like those mentioned in the
gospel, we are confident that God’s love and grace will always be enough for
us. May His kingdom reign on earth as
in heaven.
Yours in the Lord,
Father Mark G. Mazza, pastor
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The Epiphany of the Lord – Sunday, January 8, 2012
We saw His star at its rising and have come to do Him homage. (Mt.2:2)
Vidimus stellam eius in oriente, et venimus adorare Dominum.
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
The Christmas season is cut
short this year with the Feast of the Epiphany on January 8th, and
the Feast of the Lord’s Baptism on Monday, January 9th, which most
years is celebrated on a Sunday.
Therefore, for those who only come to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on
days of obligation, in order to fully celebrate the usual feasts it will
require an extra effort to follow them at home in one’s private life of prayer.
The Feast of the Epiphany
always captivates the imagination. Who
were these wise men, or as tradition calls them, kings? Actually, little is known. We know that they first consulted King
Herod; we know that they returned home by a different route so as to avoid
leading Herod to the Holy Family; we know that they followed a star, found the
Lord, and then offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Nevertheless, this little tells us a lot in
our own journey of faith. Remember,
what happened then continues to happen today.
Tradition gives names to the
three kings: Gaspar, Melchior, and
Balthazar. That they would seek out the
savior is a sign for all times that we are created by God to seek out and to
discover the Truth. God wills that we
come to Him, and that we find salvation in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and
His Church. Yet, many times, we don’t
put out much effort. We fail to readily
turn from sin, or pray faithfully, or study about our faith. We are contented with the minimal. The three kings were not. They exhausted themselves in travel,
outsmarted King Herod, followed diligently the star; and, finally, they offered
their hearts, minds, and souls to the Lord in homage, which is clear by the
precious gifts they brought. We must do
the same. To worship God, to adore Him,
is the complete offering of who we are into His service for His greater honor
and glory. That is what it’s all
about. As we begin another year in the
Lord’s service, each of us is called to renew our complete, undivided,
consecration to our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ, His Son, our savior
and the savior of the entire world. We
must promise to be His best, most devoted, disciples. He is counting on us.
The gifts the three kings
offered, in fact, tell us about Jesus mirrored in their faith. The gold signifies that Jesus is King; the
frankincense that He is God; the myrrh that He is our only hope to eternal life
in the Resurrection. In giving to God,
we receive back far more than we have given.
Come, let us truly adore Him!
Yours in Jesus, Mary, and
Joseph,
Father Mark G. Mazza, pastor
*******************************************************
The Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord
The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God
January 1, 2012
Hail, Holy Mother, who gave birth to the King who rules heaven and
earth forever. (Introit)
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
From all of us at St. Peter
Church, I extend to you and your loved ones prayers and best wishes for a truly
Happy New Year!
Today is one of the
traditional holydays of obligation in the United States. When it falls on a Monday or Saturday, the
obligation to assist at Mass is dispensed.
If it should fall on the other weekdays, Archbishop Niederauer has
permanently dispensed the obligation to assist at Mass. However, on the rare occasion that it falls
on Sunday, the obligation to assist at Mass is always maintained.
Because Christmas fell on a
Sunday this year, two of the other feasts that are celebrated on the Sundays
before and after Christmas are moved to weekdays.
This year, the Feast of the
Holy Family was celebrated on Friday, December 30th; and the Baptism
of the Lord, which ends the Christmas season, on Monday, January 9th. These are not holydays of obligation this
year. Following the Ordinary Form of
the Roman Rite, the Solemnity of the Epiphany will be observed on Sunday,
January 8th. Formerly, and still in some countries, it was always
observed on January 6th, thus the twelfth day of Christmas.
Therefore, it is unusual in
the Archdiocese of San Francisco, to celebrate January first as a holy day of
obligation. Some may remember this day
as the Feast of the Circumcision, before the reform of the Calendar in
1970. However, in the reform, January
first is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God; or in recent years, at the
decision of the local bishop and discretion of the priest celebrant, the Mass
for Peace was offered. However, I don’t
notice this option in the Ordo or the Roman Missal, third edition,
though I presume that it is still permitted.
Nevertheless, as we begin a
new year with all our hopes, it is fitting that we turn to Mary, Mother of God,
for help. She is the model disciple,
full of faith, hope, and love. She
demonstrates beyond a doubt that grace works.
What happened to her happens to all those who follow in her path. During these troubled times, the tried and
true road to heaven is brighter and more appealing than ever.
Yours in Jesus, Mary, and
Joseph,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor
*******************************************************
Luke 2, 14: Gloria in
altissimis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus voluntatis; Glory to God in the
highest; and on earth peace to men of good will.
John 1, 14: Et Verbum caro
factum est, et habitavit in nobis; And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among
us.
Christmas 2011
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
To you and all your loved
ones, I extend my best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year. If you are visiting us during this holy
season I offer you a cordial welcome and hope that you will return soon. For those who are looking for a church home
I assure you that our doors and hearts are always open. We are here to help you in your spiritual
journey. Christmas is a good time to
begin a year round participation in the sacred mysteries of our faith and to
become active in the church.
Over the years I have heard
many stories about the true meaning of Christmas. That makes sense since the Christmas Mystery is rich in
meaning. It can never be fully
told. God’s tremendous love is like
that. Yes, God loved us so much that He
sent us His beloved Son Jesus Christ.
With humble faith we turn again and again to what some have spoken of as The Greatest Story Ever Told.
Just as the shepherds did at
the first Christmas we are encouraged by the message of the angels: “Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good
tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people: For, this day, is born
to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David (Luke 2,10-11).” Our hearts cannot hold the joy we experience again this
Christmas. With the angels we must sing
out as they did: “Glory to God in the
highest; and on earth peace to men of good will (Luke 2, 14).” Let us all go to Bethlehem and worship
Him. Come let us adore Him!
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
Fourth Sunday of Advent – December 18, 2011
Luke 1:38 Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your
word.” Ecce ancilla Domini: fiat mihi
secundum verbum tuum.
Dear Parishioners and
Friends,
This year, we have the
longest last week of Advent possible, since Christmas falls on a Sunday. Let us use this time well in preparing for
the celebration of the Lord’s birth.
Christmas means little, unless we welcome the Lord with greater
devotion. He wants to draw nearer to
us, but we must open our hearts, minds, and souls to Him. He wants to fill us with His Divine
Presence, but we must be willing to let Him forgive us our sins and experience
the new life only He can bring. On
Christmas Day each of us should be ready to celebrate that we have been re-born
in Christ. Let us make our Holy
Communion on Christmas more fervent than ever before.
During these last days of
Advent, we turn to the Gospel of St. Luke to revisit the events leading to the
Lord’s Birth. There are many characters
in the story, some good, some not so good, some bad. Those filled with faith are an example to us to awaken or
re-awaken in us our best response to the coming of the Lord. There are the angels, the shepherds, St.
Joseph, the wise men, but first and foremost, we have the Most Blessed Virgin
Mary, Mother of God. Mary offers us the
best example in preparing to accept Jesus more fully into our lives. That is why, of all the saints, she is
worthy of our greatest honor and devotion.
No other saint has the power to intercede on our behalf as she does. With this in mind, we turn to her for her
unfailing help. She will never
disappoint those who turn to her as Mother -- monstra te esse matrem. Mary, we
humbly pray that you will draw nearer and nearer to us as loving Mother.
One prayer that the Church
recommends to us is The Angelus.
Three times a day - morning, at noon, and evening - the Church bell
rings out to call us to prayer. We
pause in our work to recall the joyful mysteries of our faith, with the great
mystery of the Incarnation a wonderful reminder of how it all began. The sentiment of this beautiful prayer is
the tonic all should drink from to remain young in grace now and into
eternity. Mary models to all of us how
best to receive Jesus. If we follow
her example, what happened to her will happen in our own lives. May this last week of Advent bring you and
your loved ones many graces. May the
Lord find us on Christmas morning full of faith, hope, and love.
Yours in Jesus, Mary, and
Joseph,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
Gaudete Sunday -The Third
Sunday of Advent – December 11, 2011
Phil 4:4-5 – Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed the Lord is near. (Introit Chant for
the Mass)
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has
anointed me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor. . .
Isaiah 61:10 I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my
soul. . .
1 Thess. 5:16 Rejoice Always.
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
The Third Sunday of Advent
and the Fourth Sunday of Lent are traditionally known in the sacred liturgy of
the Roman Rite by the Latin names of their Gregorian Chant Introits (Entrance
Chants). In Advent it is Gaudete,
whereas in Lent it is Laetare; both are exhortations to the people of
God to rejoice in the Lord. In fact,
during the many centuries when these ancient chants were used exclusively, the
congregation would immediately know the occasion; not only by the words, but
also by the unique music. It told them
that the holy season of Christmas preparation or Easter preparation was half
over. There is still the custom in many
parishes to switch from violet colored vestments to rose colored, if these are
available, but just for this particular Sunday. Clearly, the theme is rejoicing in the grace won for us by our
Divine Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
In these days of
text-messaging you might try 1 Thess. 5:16.
This entire verse of the fifth chapter of St. Paul’s first letter to the
Thessalonians consists of just two words:
“Rejoice Always.” Though a
Christian is usually not exempt from suffering, there is always reason to be
joyful in the Lord. This joy is not
superficial, but enters the depths of one’s being in one’s heart of hearts. Here, no matter what may be going on, the
Lord comes to dwell. Thus, from the
Christian perspective, sadness is to live in the state of mortal sin, alienated
from God. Authentic Christian joy
means to live in the state of sanctifying grace and to grow in that wonderful
grace day by day. It is that joy that
already gives us a taste of the joy of heaven in this world.
Right before we receive Holy
Communion the priest says: “Blessed are
those called to the supper of the Lamb.”
Communion with our Lord is our greatest joy. I encourage all to participate in our Advent Penance Service on
Tuesday, December 13th at 7:30 P.M.
You’ll be glad to receive the bountiful graces of this sacrament of new
life and rejoicing, the best preparation for a holy Christmas.
Yours in the Lord,
Father Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
The Second Sunday of Advent – December 4, 2011
Isaiah 40:3-4 A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the
Lord! Make straight in the wasteland a
highway for our God!
Isaiah 40:11 Like a shepherd He feeds His flock; in His arms He gathers
the lambs, carrying them in His bosom, and leading the ewes with care..
Mark 1:8 I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of His sandals.
Dear Parishioners and
Friends,
Advent also refers to the
Lord’s coming here and now into my life by grace. He never gives up in His constant call to conversion. Each of us must examine his conscience in the
light of God’s unchanging law, in order to find out our sins to bring to the
Lord for His loving and merciful forgiveness.
Jesus wants us to be rid of the darkness and sadness that sin
brings. That is why we hear during
these days of Advent the prophet Isaiah, calling out to us: “Prepare the way of the Lord!” The best way to have sins forgiven is
through the Sacrament of Penance. We
will have a communal Penance Service on Tuesday, December 13th, at
7:30 P.M.
Turning from the darkness of
sin is never enough for the Christian. We
must also turn toward Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. He wills to dwell within us in greater
intimacy, enlightening, strengthening, guiding, and sharing His peace, joy, and
love. Isaiah assures us that, “Like a
shepherd He feeds His flock; in His arms He gathers the lambs.” We experience this coming to new life
through Baptism; and, especially, in our devout participation in the Holy
Eucharist, particularly when we receive Holy Communion. Our spiritual lives need nourishment. Please, consider attending our Advent Days
of Recollection on Friday, December 9th and on Saturday, December 10th
with Fr. Vito Perrone.
In this whole process, Jesus
gives us the grace we need to know our sins, to be sorry for them, to seek
forgiveness, to receive His healing, and to joyfully celebrate His Birth and
our rebirth. Often, in the spiritual
life the obstacle is our attitude. We
can become smug and complacent. We can
focus more on the sins of others, instead of our own. We can become presumptuous about God’s grace, falsely thinking
that all comes readily and easily with little effort. St. John the Baptist shows us the attitude we must have before
the Divine Savior. How many saints have
often said: “I am not worthy to stoop
and loosen the thongs of His sandals?”
My favorite is the expression of St. John, “He must increase, and I must
decrease.” That is the sure way to the
new heavens and the new earth.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
The First Sunday of Advent – November 27, 2011
Mark 13:33 – “Be watchful! Be
alert! You do not know when the time
will come.”
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
This First Sunday of Advent,
we begin what many writers have called another year of grace. Those familiar with the classics of the
liturgical movement in the first part of the twentieth century, recall the five
volume series by Pius Parsch, which is still of great value, entitled The
Church’s Year of Grace. I just came
across an old, beat-up set in our parish’s small collection of books.
This German scholar
wrote: “What does Advent
mean? Adventus Domini means the
‘coming of the Lord.’ . . . Advent
accordingly is a time of preparation, a time of holy desire, longing and
expectancy. If bodily food is to
nourish us, we must feel hunger. Thus,
too, we ought to hunger for God’s grace (volume I, p. 18).” Yes, the Christian Life is all about grace,
which is God’s life directed toward our souls for our salvation. Grace is Jesus Christ, who wishes to dwell
within us. Therefore, first and
foremost our desire must be to live in the state of grace and persevere in that
state all our days. We only have so
much time. Advent is our reminder to
make sure that our spiritual affairs are in order for when the Lord
returns. Jesus warns us: “Be
watchful! Be alert!”
No where on earth can we
draw closer to God’s redemptive work than in the Sacred Liturgy, especially the
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Though we
ought to participate in the sacred rites in every way permitted, the most
important participation is deep in our souls, when we are united heart to heart
with what our Lord does at the altar.
Throughout this new Church year, we will be given another chance to be
transformed little by little by the entire Paschal mystery. God is so good to us. His love endures forever and ever.
As we prepare for the
celebration of Christmas, let us put aside the darkness of sin and put on Jesus
Christ, who enlightens our souls with His love. Let it be said of us on Christmas Day, that we have been reborn
in the Lord. That is my sincere and
fervent prayer for all of us. May your
prayerful celebration of the Advent season bear fruit now and in eternity! Let
Mary accompany you along the way, as she did at the first Christmas! Also open your hearts to the just man, St.
Joseph. Remember, a good Advent makes
for a good Christmas!
Yours in the Lord,
The Rev. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King – November 20, 2011
Thanksgiving Day - Thursday, November 24, 2011
Dear Parishioners and
Friends,
Today the Catholic Church
throughout the world celebrates the last Sunday of the Church calendar with the
Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King.
Before the reform of the Church calendar in 1970 this feast was
celebrated on the last Sunday of October, which is still the case with those
who observe the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. When Pope Pius XI established this feast back in the 1920’s it
seemed as if the whole world was beginning to march in the wrong
direction. In 1917 once Christian
Russia was replaced by virulent atheistic communism. In 1922 Benito Mussolini marched on Rome and pompously proclaimed
the beginning of fascism based on the old pre-Christian Roman Empire. It was to be an entirely new era. Later in
1933 Adolf Hitler would establish the Third Reich, which he thought would last
over a thousand years. Of course, we
know how history turned out, but even to the victors there would be much
suffering and sadness. I remember well
my parents and grandparents saying that after World War II things were never
quite the same again. The world had
lost its innocence.
Our era has its own challenges. The economy has many rightly and seriously
worried. What will be our future as a
country and as individuals? Then there
is the sweeping secularism that has become more and more antagonistic towards
the Christian Way. The Pope has warned us about the “dictatorship of
relativism.” Christian life and morals
are increasingly opposed. What should
we do? To whom should we turn? Without a doubt our last, best, and only
hope is Our Lord Jesus Christ the King.
May His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. His gentle yet firm reign is tried and
true. He cannot fail us no matter
what. To Him we re-consecrate ourselves
as His faithful, devoted, loyal disciples.
Come what may we promise to stand by Him and His holy bride, our Mother,
the Catholic Church.
On Thanksgiving Day please
join with me at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 9am to give thanks to God for
His bountiful blessings. Join with me
and your fellow Catholics in turning everything over to our good and loving
Lord. He knows best.
Yours in Our Lord Jesus
Christ Our King,
The Rev. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
The Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time – November 13th
Matthew 25, 29
- for to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from
the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Proverbs 31,
10 - When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls.
1Thessalonians
5:5 - For all of you are children of the light and children of the day.
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
“My life in the light of
eternity” might be one way to sum up the message of the Sacred Scriptures
chosen for Mass this weekend. When all
is said and done each of us will be required to give an account before God. So
that we are always ready for that moment, as we approach the end of the
liturgical year the Church encourages us to meditate on the Last Things: death,
judgment, heaven, hell. Though these
are sobering thoughts, they are meant to do good to our souls. Nothing morose is intended. It is God’s will
that we fully live the Christian life while we still have the chance - before
it is too late. Various images are used
to get the point across to us with the hope that we will change what needs to
be changed while there is still time.
We are familiar with the
story of the talents that Jesus uses.
What Catholic today hasn’t heard of the three “t’s”, that is, time,
talent, and treasure? Our response to
our good and loving God can be measured by the way we utilize our time, our
talents, and our treasure that is, our money, in His service and in the service
of our neighbors. If our faith is
strong we feel impelled to express it by the way we live each day. It is never enough to give God just lip
service. Yet He never forces us. Our generosity with God’s blessings shows by
our actions that we have been touched by His great love.
The Book of Proverbs speaks
a language we can all understand; when it says that a worthy wife has a value
beyond pearls. You know it when you see
it. The authentic Christian makes a big
difference in ways beyond measure. He
or she is as St. Paul describes a light in the darkness. Enthused, genuine, Christians share the
light that their souls received from Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.
More than ever Christians
need to light up our world with the joy of their faith.
Our society awaits what
recent popes have called the New Evangelization. When ordinary folk are not afraid to fully live as Christians
then there will be a tremendous spiritual revolution that will set the world on
fire with love.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor
*******************************************************
The Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time – November 6, 2011
Matthew 25:13
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Those of a certain
generation remember well the simple joy of Blessed John XXIII. Soon after he became pope on October 28,
1958 he called for a general council of the church, which would become known as
Vatican II. Several years went into
planning with the council opening on October 11, 1962. It would conclude on December 8, 1965. Though some times misrepresented Blessed
John XXIII sincerely wanted the Gospel to reach the spiritually hungry and
thirsty in the modern world. He wanted
a new Pentecost to take place to fan the flames of faith to burn brighter than
ever. Though the church would
experience a time of updating and renewal (aggiornamento) we are still in need
of a spiritual revolution. Though we
all hope that it may come, we must be patient, keeping the faith. Even if many have given up on the work of
the Holy Spirit, we don’t. Like the
wise virgins in the Gospel we desire the wisdom to remain steadfast in faith no
matter what. The foolish virgins by
their bad example, remind us to keep constant vigil on our life in the spirit,
our sanctity, lest we lose heaven forever.
Blessed John XXIII was diagnosed
with cancer of the stomach on September 23, 1962, though his poor health was
largely kept secret. He prayed for the
strength to see through the council he began, but that was not to be. God had other plans for him. During those last months of his life when
his many visitors would ask him how he was he would inevitably remark “Ogni
giorno e un buon giorno per vivere ed anche per morire; every day is a good day
to live and every day is a
good day to die.” He placed everything in God’s hands and accepted
God’s will. He was joyful to do the
Lord’s work, but at the same time he was preparing himself to see God face to
face. With a smile he would comment “my
bags are packed.” He had no
illusions. Peacefully he went to the
Lord on June 3, 1963. His diary,
published as a Journal of a Soul, would reveal the life of a holy man,
who from his youth until his dying day lived in communion with the Lord. He was like the wise virgins ready to go out
and meet the bridegroom, the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His final
words: “Souls, souls, that all may be
one!”
Holy and wise people like
Blessed John XXIII inspire us to live each day in the light of eternity. They show us what matters most as we pass
through this world. There are many joys
and there are sorrows. Through it all
by God’s love and grace we keep the torch of faith burning brightly. When the bridegroom returns we pray that we
are found ready to go “into the wedding feast with him.” Amen!
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
The Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time – October 30, 2011
Matthew 23: 11-12 The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but
whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Dear Parishioners and
Friends,
This year the Holyday of All
Saints, which falls on Tuesday, is a holyday of obligation. All Catholics over the age of reason have a
serious obligation to assist at Mass not only on all Sundays, but also on all
holydays of obligation (cf. Canon 1247).
On All Saints Day we will have Masses celebrated at 8:00 A.M., 4:00
P.M., and at 7:30 P.M. The following
day, November second, which is All Souls Day, we will have Mass celebrated at
8:00 A.M. for the souls in purgatory.
All Saints Day, which falls
each year on November first, reminds us of the victory of the Church
Triumphant. All those souls who make it
to heaven enjoy the peace and happiness that come from the Beatific Vision. There can be nothing greater than to be in
the presence of God for all eternity.
Heaven is the most excellent reward for the faithful departed. This is a feast of hope. Where they are we hope to be. The fact that so many souls have made it to
heaven encourages us to continue along the narrow path set before us by the
Lord. Their victory reminds us that the
struggle on earth to live a holy life is worth it. Jesus points out the way to us in the gospel when He says: “The greatest among you must be your
servant. Whoever exalts himself will be
humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
On All Souls Day we pray for
the faithful departed, who may still be in purgatory. They are the Church Suffering, waiting to go to heaven. They need our prayers, especially the Holy
Mass. Bishop Peter J. Elliott writes in his Sacrifice in the Liturgy: “Catholics have Masses celebrated for
special intentions, above all for the dead.
Each separate celebration of the Holy Sacrifice, as it were, applies,
directs and focuses the saving power of Christ’s cross and resurrection to a
specific purpose. Through the perfect
prayer of the Mass we can reach out in merciful love to our dear departed,
bridging the gulf of death that separates them from us. We can ‘do something’ for them, helping them
as they are being purified and prepared for heaven. Yet all the while we are only cooperating in and benefiting from
one great Gift of mercy that God has granted us in his Son, the work of the
Lord Jesus, Redeemer of the world and only Saviour of humanity.” Besides, if we remember them, they will
surely remember us when we need prayers to pass from Purgatory to Heaven. Requiescant in pace!
Yours in the Lord,
The Rev. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – October 23, 2011
Mission Sunday
Matthew 22: 34-37 He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first
commandment. The second is like
it: You shall love your neighbor as
yourself. The whole law and the
prophets depend on these two commandments.”
Dear Parishioners and
Friends,
God gave us through Moses on
Mount Sinai the Ten Commandments. He
did this out of love for us. In
fulfillment of His plan to bring us to Him He finally sent His Son, Jesus
Christ, the Lord of Love, to offer to each and everyone the chance to be
saved. But what must I do? My response in faith by God’s grace is to
obey what God commands. The Ten
Commandments in the light of the Catholic faith will always remain God’s sure
and certain guides for those who wish to go to heaven. In our families we should often review,
study, and pray over the Ten Commandments as explained in The Catechism of
the Catholic Church, second edition or in The Compendium of the
Catechism of the Catholic Church.
These official books have been provided to us by the Church because it
knows well the current confusion in matters of faith and morals even within the
household of faith. The authentic
Catholic faith is clearly defined and explained in these books so that we will
be better equipped to take the straight and narrow path that the Lord Jesus
demands of us. Our American bishops
have also published a catechism entitled The United States Catholic
Catechism for Adults. We have
copies of this book for sale in the parish office for only $25.00, which
includes a journal for your personal reflections.
But how can I keep God’s
commandments in our modern world? Humanly
it is not possible, but with God’s divine assistance by grace all things are
possible. So great is God’s love for
us. You will notice in the catechisms
mentioned above that the commandments follow the explanation of the Creed and
the Sacraments. We can’t hope to be
obedient to God’s laws depending on our limited human resources. We need God’s powerful intervention if we
are to be faithful when many are not and when we consider our own human
limitations and weaknesses. Jesus, love
itself, will come to my aid, especially in His sacraments.
“Love God, then do what thou
wilt!” said one of the saints. One word sums up God’s plan: LOVE. In Jesus, the Lord of Love, we are sure of
victory.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
The Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time – October 16, 2011
Matthew 22:21
- . . . Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to
God.
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
The Pharisees are not really
interested in following Jesus. They are
not even interested in finding the Truth.
They just want to embarrass Him or trip Him up so as to undermine His Mission. They are cynics - opportunists. Because they arrogantly think that they are
sinless, they have no need for a savior.
Their pride gets in the way.
Therefore, Jesus cannot get through to them or men and women like them
down through the centuries.
The conversation between
Jesus and the Pharisees is often misunderstood or misapplied. Some use it to falsely propose a “wall of
separation between Church and state”, which actually is a quotation not found
in the Constitution or Bill of Rights.
This was never the intention of our American founding fathers. What they intended is that there should
never be an official Church for the state like in Europe. This is also the official position of the
Catholic Church. What was not intended
was the divorce from public life of all moral principles and standards. What was not intended is that everyone has
the right to free speech except for Christians. Christians as Christians have as much right to be involved in
public affairs as any one else. To
silence Christians because they are Christians is a form of persecution and
really undermines our treasured freedoms and rights as Americans. A faithful Christian is an excellent
citizen.
The point Jesus makes is
that there is a higher authority found in God.
No state or government gives me or anyone else the right to live.
Inalienable rights are those that come from God alone. God’s commandments are eternally true, even
when a particular state or government negates them or contradicts them. If a choice must be made, I must serve God
first. St. Thomas More, patron of
lawyers and once chancellor of England in the 16th century, gives us
an example of loyalty to state and church.
He was the most loyal subject of King Henry VIII, but when the king set
himself up as head of the Church and gave himself the authority over the
sanctity of marriage, St. Thomas More would not submit. As he prepared to give up his life in the
Tower of London, he said: “I die the king’s faithful servant, but God’s
first.” In an increasingly
non-Christian, even anti-Christian, society where the dictatorship of relativism
is aggressive and determined; we need to take to heart more than ever the
Lord’s admonition: “Repay (give) to God
what belongs to God!” Here is the Good News! Amen!
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
The Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time – October 9, 2011
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
During these months before
the First Sunday of Advent our congregation along with all the parishes of the Archdiocese
is preparing for the introduction of the new translations of the prayers we use
at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. In
addition to understanding the good reasons for these changes now is a golden
opportunity to renew our love for the Eucharistic Lord. The gospel this Sunday clearly points us in
that direction. There we find an
invitation and a solemn warning.
God the Father is the king
in the Gospel (Matthew 22: 1-14), who prepares for His son the wedding banquet,
which we can readily understand as a reference to the great gift to us of the
Holy Eucharist. Jesus Christ, “the
night He was betrayed” instituted for us the Holy Eucharist. The first Mass began at the Last Supper and
came to its completion while our Lord was on the cross and cried out “It is
consummated.” The Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass thus perpetuates through time the Sacrifice of the Cross. When Jesus said “Do this in memory of me!”
He ordained the first priests and commanded His apostles to continue to
celebrate the Holy Mass until His return at the end of the world. Jesus, the Lord of Love, is closest to us on
earth in the Most Blessed Sacrament under the appearances of bread and
wine.
Certain Catholic doctrine
teaches us that the Holy Eucharist is a Sacrament and a Sacrifice. The Sacrifice on the Cross that saved the
whole world is renewed at every Mass as the priest consecrates first the bread
and then the wine. At that moment the
bread and wine cease to exist, only the appearances remain. The substance of the bread and wine is
transformed into the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. This marvelous event is
aptly called Transubstantiation. After
the consecration the Lord remains to come to us in Holy Communion and remains
present in the hosts preserved in the tabernacle for the sick and for us to
adore Him. How do I approach my God in
His Sacrifice renewed and in Holy Communion?
What is the state of my “wedding garment”?
To receive Holy Communion
worthily it is required to be in the state of grace. To receive Holy Communion in mortal sin is to commit the mortal
sin of sacrilege. All mortal sins must
be confessed in a worthy confession before receiving Holy Communion. We must also fast from food and drink
(except water) for one hour before receiving Holy Communion and have the right
disposition. This gift of the Lord is
so important that the Church has always taught that it is a mortal sin to miss
Mass on Sundays and holydays unless we are unable because of sickness or
because there is no Church within a reasonable distance from where we are.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor
*******************************************************
The Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday, October 2, 2011
Matthew 21:42 – Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the
Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by
the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes? Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God
will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”
Dear Parishioners and
Friends,
For the first time in our
American history, on January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court gave Americans the
right to end life in the womb through abortion. Since that time we estimate that there have been at least fifty
million abortions in our country alone.
In recent years even the statistics are hidden from view by the
authority of the government in many states.
Please take time to read the article inserted in this week’s bulletin
about this important issue.
Who speaks up for the
innocent unborn? Since they have no
voice of their own, we must have courage to speak up for them and be their
advocates in society. After all these
years we continue to cry out in prayer “how long, O Lord?” After all these years the scientific facts
have not changed. It is not really a
matter of faith or lack of faith. Science
proves in a certain and verifiable way that there is human life in the womb
before birth. That life deserves respect
and should be defended and protected in a just society.
October 2nd is
Right to Life Sunday and this month is particularly devoted to right to life
issues. Each week you will have the
opportunity to read an insert in our bulletin from our American bishops about
right to life issues. The first step is
always education. We must present
clearly the reasons for our right to life positions. In addition to the scientific evidence, the gospel is inherently
pro-life.
For example, how often have we
read the account of the Visitation in the Gospel of St. Luke? Our Blessed Mother, who has Jesus within her
womb, goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who has St. John the Baptist in her
womb. When the two women meet, St. John
the Baptist, still in his mother’s womb, leaps for joy. He is saved at that moment. This is one of the joyful, pro-life,
mysteries of our faith.
In the new translation of
the Nicene Creed we will pray “and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the
Virgin Mary, and became man”, which shows that God became man not on Christmas
Day, but nine months before in Mary’s womb.
Faith relates to day to day life.
Never before have we needed the fullness of the gospel. And it is this incarnate God that reaches
out to save sinners. Amen.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor
*******************************************************
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday, September 25, 2011
Matthew 21: 31 – Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax
collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.”
Philippians 2:1 – Brothers and sisters: If there is any encouragement
in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion
and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love,
united in heart, thinking one thing.
Philippians 2:9-11 – Because of this, God greatly exalted him and
bestowed on him the name which is above every name, THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS
EVERY KNEE SHOULD BEND, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, to the glory of God the
Father.
Dear Parishioners and
Friends,
What unites us as
Catholics? The question should really
be phrased: who unites us as
Catholics? The answer is clear: Jesus Christ. And the more fully we conform to Christ the more we are united to
Him and those who believe in Him, who make up His Church. Jesus is the foundation of all Church unity.
In recent years we have
often heard that the Church is the people of God. Yes, that is correct.
However, we are the people of God to the extent that we are incorporated
into the Body of Christ. To be united to
Christ means to be reborn, recreated, alive in Him. It means to live in the state of grace with as much certainty as
possible. This is the first and
absolute criterion in becoming the people of God. Without the Lord Jesus we are nothing and have nothing.
That is why it is confusing
when some Catholics speak of being the people of God as if independent from
Christ and His Church. They speak as if
the “people of God” is interpreted in a political way such as “we the
people”. They speak as if the people as
is define what it is to be a Catholic; it is just a matter of taking a
poll. Clearly that view is misguided as
we see in the Sacred Scripture and in Tradition. Those who obey Christ and follow Him are truly God’s people.
To be the people of God
means to be in union with the Body of Christ.
St. Paul prayed and worked for Church unity as we must. Jesus in the gospel shames us lest we take
our life in Him for granted. True
believers will always find the way to Him.
With the Church of all time we proudly profess and joyfully and loudly
proclaim: “at the name of Jesus every knee should bend. . .and every tongue confess JESUS CHRIST IS
LORD.”
Yours in the Lord,
The Rev. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
The Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday, September 18, 2011
National Catechetical Sunday
Philippians 1:
27a - Conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Every week I am glad to
celebrate Mass in one of the homes for the elderly in Pacifica. Recently, one of the sick said that she
reads this column when she has a chance.
I want her and all of our parishioners to know that they are especially
in my prayers at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I beg your prayers and sacrifices for me and the parish. More than ever before, we need a prayer army
to assist in bringing souls to Christ.
Rise up O men and women of God!
Sunday, September 18th
is National Catechetical Sunday. Our
teachers of religion will receive a special blessing at the 9am Mass. This coming week our children in grade
school and high school will return for another year of Christian
formation. We call this process
catechesis, since our desire is to win hearts, minds, and souls over to the
Lord Jesus Christ. Holy parents are
essential in the process. As a parish
we must commit ourselves to giving our all to the Lord’s work. I am counting on each and every one of
you.
This holy mission entrusted
to us by the Lord Himself becomes more and more difficult. The culture we live in is gradually going in
the opposite direction. In the official
night prayer of the Church (Compline), I read each Tuesday a little excerpt
from 1Peter 5:8-9a: “Stay sober and
alert. Your opponent the devil is
prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, solid in your faith.”
The Church instructs us that
the four pillars of catechesis are the Creed, the Sacraments, the Commandments,
and Prayer. To be a well-formed
Catholic means to study these areas according to the mind of the Church and put
them into practice. We are called to be
men and women imbued with the fullness of the Catholic Faith, who live with
Christ in the seven sacraments and prayer, and who obey his commandments. This is what the Church has always taught;
it will never change. We thank God for
those who faithfully hand on the Faith.
Those who for some reason
have missed out on an authentic Catholic formation or who would like a
refresher course are cordially invited to attend my adult class in the rectory
on Tuesdays from 7:00-8:30 p.m. beginning September 26th. The cost
is only $25.00 for the books, which you will be able to keep for
reference. This fall we will be
studying the Liturgy and the Sacraments.
See you there!
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor
*******************************************************
The Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time – September 11, 2011
Sirach 27:30-28:1 – Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner
hugs them tight. The vengeful will
suffer the Lord’s vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail.
Dear Parishioners and
Friends,
Those who were alive on
September 11, 2001 can never forget where they were and what they were doing
when they first heard the tragic news on that shameful day. Back in Indiana, where I was a pastor of a
small country parish, I had just celebrated an early morning Mass, had
breakfast, and I was just beginning to give a few instructions to my small
group of helpers for the day. The news
was instantaneous. What was
happening? Was this the beginning or
the end of a terrorist attack or something else? Glued to the television the
details became clearer. It all seemed
impossible. Then gradually I began to
sense fear, even anger, and then great sadness. My first thoughts were of my brother and his wife who live and
work in Washington, D.C. My brother
works for the Justice Department. Were
they safe? No phone calls would go
through. I wouldn’t know for sure for
some time. The only response that made
any sense finally kicked in: prayer.
My rectory was one of those
old-fashioned ones with a hallway that leads into the Church. Those who were able came with me before the
Eucharistic Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament and prayed the Rosary on their
knees. No matter what would happen the
Lord began to offer his many graces.
Little by little we began to pull ourselves together and then organize
Holy Mass and prayers for the entire congregation and our little community. That very night we had in the Church a
beautiful sung Mass albeit with tears in our eyes. We prayerfully placed everything we had just experienced in the
hands of God.
After ten years we look at
what we now call 9/11 with some perspective.
Diabolical evil has shown its cruel and ugly face. The perpetrators of terrorism must be
opposed, resisted, and brought to justice at all costs. However, we must re-commit ourselves to
bringing our diverse world together in love, breaking down the barriers of
prejudice and hatred. Good and evil
exist. With the Lord Jesus we align
ourselves on the side of Good. Holiness
of life does indeed matter. Hatred reveals the opposite of the God of love,
whose love conquers all.
Let us always rest in His Most Sacred Heart. He’s only a prayer away.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
The Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time – September 4, 2011
Matthew 18:20
– For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of
them.
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
You have probably heard by
now that the Catholic Church in the United States will introduce a new
translation from the official Latin of many of the Mass prayers beginning on
the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011.
We now have about three months to prepare for these new
translations. Some months ago we made
available the booklet Understanding the Revised Mass Texts by Father
Paul Turner. If you didn’t get a copy a
few are still available in the rectory office or the church. We will also provide three pamphlets printed
by us with information from our own Archdiocese. I suggest that you read or review these materials so that you
will better understand what the Church is doing in going ahead with these
liturgical reforms. In the coming
months, beginning this weekend, your
priests will speak from the pulpit about these upcoming changes.
At this time of renewal the
Church would like all of us to review our understanding and appreciation of the
Sacred Liturgy. Though our liturgy
goes back to the first century, in the history of the Church it can be said
that for over a hundred years we have been living in a time of liturgical
renewal. The turning point came with
the publication of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum
Concilium) on December 4, 1963, which was the first document of the Second
Vatican Council. The Church wished to
emphasize the importance of vibrant worship in our day, keeping the Tradition
handed down to us, yet adapting certain changeable items to our modern
world. For almost fifty years much has
happened in Catholic liturgy. Progress
has been made, however, there will always remain the need to re-evaluate the
development and application of matters liturgical so that they best conform to
authentic Church doctrine and tradition.
Our worship is important because the way we pray affects the way we
believe: lex orandi, lex credendi
(the law of prayer is the law of faith).
What is Liturgy in the
deepest sense? The Sacred Liturgy is
primarily God’s Work. This holy Work
brings about our salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. In the liturgy God acts to perpetuate and
make present the entire Paschal Mystery in the Church from century to
century. The Sacred Liturgy is
primarily the Holy Eucharist, but also includes the other six sacraments and
the Church’s official prayers, rites, and blessings. What happened in Christ happens right now in the Sacred Liturgy.
When we fully respond to what God does in the liturgy we become more and more
like Him. That is what liturgical
participation really means. Let us
joyfully accept the challenge to more fully participate in the liturgy.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor
*******************************************************
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday, August 28, 2011
Matthew 16:26
- For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the
loss of his own soul? (Douay-Rheims
Version)
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
In the sixteenth chapter of Matthew
Jesus begins to make clear what we reverently refer to as the Mystery of the
Cross. In verse 21 the gospel records
the nature of Jesus’ preaching: “From that time Jesus began to show his
disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders
and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be
raised.” The Cross and Christ and thus
Christianity are inseparable.
Christianity without the Cross is phony.
Yet Peter doesn’t seem to
understand. Perhaps he still thinks
that to follow the Lord will be the path to fame and glory? Perhaps he sees the cross as optional or
peripheral to following the Lord? Jesus
lets him know in abrupt, gripping terms, in the strongest language, that He
means what He is preaching: “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God,
but of men.” Thus we can readily
conclude that to reject the Cross is to oppose the Lord. The rejection of the Cross is linked with
Satan.
In our modern culture Satan
has become a popular subject. Hollywood
continues to be fascinated with the subject because there is money to be
made. Without a doubt many false views
are presented about the devil contrary to the truth. Usually his knowledge and power are grossly exaggerated as if he
were equal to God. That cannot be. Then there is the spooky element meant to
scare the naďve and probably the young who know little of the Catechism and what
the Church authentically teaches. Yet
in the encounter between Jesus and Peter we realize that the diabolic, the
demonic, essentially means to reject the Cross, the Way of Salvation, the Way
of Love.
In verse 24 Jesus reveals
the Way of Love, the Way to the Father in His unchanging teaching, the doctrine
for all time: “If any man would come
after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Thus there is no short cut to heaven. A permissive, anything goes, mentality can
never be Christian. There is one tried
and true path to glory, which Jesus taught with His full authority and which He
obediently showed to all by His own example.
This message has always been counter-cultural. Any other version is counterfeit. Then who can be saved?
With Jesus all things are possible.
Follow Him!
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
The Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday, August 21, 2011
Matthew 16: 15-19 – He (Jesus) said to them, “But who do you say that I
am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the
Christ, the Son of the living God.” And
Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father
who is in heaven. And I tell you, you
are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death
shall not prevail against it. I will
give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in
heaven.”
Dear Parishioners and
Friends,
When catholic pilgrims go to
Rome they look forward to visiting the tomb of St. Peter, which is under the
high altar of St. Peter Basilica.
Excavations since the 1940’s have definitively proved that the tomb of St.
Peter is actually where we have always thought it was. Since the days of St. Peter only two
churches have been built over the tomb; one by the Emperor Constantine after
the legal recognition of Christianity and the present basilica in all its
splendor. The original church was built
over the humble burying place of St. Peter in what originally was a Roman
cemetery in the Vatican section of ancient Rome. With the excavations complete, scholars and special tours can
walk the streets of the ancient cemetery beneath the current basilica, passing
by pagan burial places still undisturbed, and then approach the original simple
tomb of St. Peter.
On the main level of the
basilica pilgrims are invited to kneel at what is called the Confessio
(from I believe or confess or profess) and renew in prayer the ancient
Apostles’ Creed, which is printed on cards in the major languages of the
world. For it is near this very spot
that the earthly remains of St. Peter have been venerated from the beginning of
Christianity. It is here that papal
Masses continue to be celebrated at the High Altar and the Masses of simple
priests are celebrated at many minor altars, including one in the Clementine
chapel in the crypt beneath the pope’s altar.
Catholics renew the profession of faith St. Peter made in our Lord and
accept all that the Lord has to offer, especially His precious gift of the one,
holy, catholic, apostolic, Church, built on the rock of St. Peter’s faith. We are heirs of that one true Church. The popes are the successors of St. Peter
by the mandate of Christ Himself. The
Lord gave to St. Peter and his successors the full authority to teach, rule,
and sanctify in His name. In our uncertain
world we have this certainty of faith.
If we stand with St. Peter and his successors we will always stand on
solid ground. Let us pray for Pope
Benedict XVI. Long live the Pope! Long may he reign!
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday, August 14, 2011
Matthew 15:28
– Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be
done for you as you wish.” And the
woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
The gospel this Sunday might
seem problematic. Jesus doesn’t seem
that friendly toward the Canaanite woman.
This encounter has received many explanations. The one that I find most attractive is that Jesus and the
Canaanite woman are conversing in a way unique to Palestinians. In other words they had a different sense of
humor than we do. Jesus was being witty
in a way appropriate to his culture, just as we are in our American culture. Just as a particular person’s sense of humor
may not be appreciated in our day, we should be more aware of the differences
created with the passage of time and in different cultures.
One important commentary on
the Bible says: “The dialogue is an
instance of the kind of wit that was and is admired in the Near East, the same
wit that is called wisdom in the O.T.; it is the ability to match riddle with
riddle, cap one wise saying with another, to match insult with insult, or – as
here – to turn the insult into a commitment.
There is nothing unrealistic about the exchange at all; Jesus would not
have been a genuine Palestinian if he had not occasionally engaged in a duel of
wit. The scene is much more a scene of
peasant good humor than it is of solemn theological debate.”
So what does this encounter
mean to us? Jesus engages us as we are
with all our shortcomings and our deepest concerns – even our burdens whatever
they may be. He steps into our lives
and invites us to share with him what is on our minds. Clearly, our worries are his. He calls us to put our faith in Him,
overcoming our fears. If it be His
will, He will even grant our prayer requests or give us the grace we need to
handle what comes our way. In the end
our life with Him matters most. He is
our greatest treasure. The encounter
between the Canaanite woman and Jesus should encourage us to walk through life
with Jesus at our side. He will never
let us down. In Him is our consolation
and hope. His love conquers all things.
In going to the Lord we need
to persevere come what may. Our response
in faith is itself a gift from Him that can only lead to our transformation and
greater joy. The Lord is so good to us.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – August 7, 2011
Matthew 14:27 – At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do
not be afraid.”
Matthew 14:30 – Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the
water toward Jesus. But when he saw how
strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out,
“Lord save me!”
Matthew 14: 32 – Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
“Truly, you are the Son of God.”
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Indeed, we have much to
learn from our parish’s patron saint, Saint Peter. Of all the apostles Peter seems the most complex and thus the
most human. In him we see our weak,
vulnerable, sometimes proud and foolish, human condition. Yet Jesus works with Peter to give him the
graces needed to become a faithful apostle and the “Rock” upon which the Church
is built. What happened then continues
to happen in our day and age.
The encounter between Jesus
and Peter in the fourteenth chapter of St. Matthew’s gospel demonstrates that
the events of life or of the world can appear beyond anything we can do to deal
with them. Clearly, we are not in
charge; we are not in control. The
“storms” that can sweep us away physically, morally, and spiritually frighten
us and seem from time to time to have the upper hand. What are we to do? We are tempted to be like Peter and the
apostles in the boat who think all is lost and that the darkness is more
powerful. Many have this view even
toward the Church Christ founded. The
opposite is the truth. The problems we
face are a call to greater faith. Only God, the almighty, can provide what we
need. Why do we wish to go it alone
with our limitations? Shouldn’t we know
better after all these years? We should
know better, but we don’t.
St. Peter’s coming to faith
inspires us. At first, he is an
independent, self-sufficient person.
With love Jesus shows him that he needs to depend on God in all
things. Peter resists. Little by little he lets go and trusts the
Lord. “Lord save me!” Peter cries out
from the depths of his soul. Now Peter
is ready to receive what God has to offer.
He has begun to let go of his pride and humbly walk with the Lord. With the others he proclaims: “Truly, you
are the Son of God.”
We are called to follow St.
Peter in the ways of faith. Our sins get
in the way, especially our pride. Jesus
is patient and ready to receive our humble trust in Him. There we find our true home, a place of
peace. Only the Lord can calm all
storms.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor
*******************************************************
The Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday, July 31, 2011
Matthew 14:14 – When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart
was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.
Isaiah 55:1 - Thus says the Lord:
All you who are thirsty, come to the water!
Romans 8:35, 37 – Brothers and sisters: What will separate us from the
love of Christ? Will anguish, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword. No, in all these things we conquer
overwhelmingly through him who loved us.
Dear Parishioners and
Friends,
The Lord Jesus is never
aloof from our day to day concerns whatever they may be. He identifies with our struggles and enters
into them in order to strengthen us with His life and love. With Jesus at our side as our dearest friend
and companion we can conquer all that might defeat us. We only need to turn to Him with child-like
trust. In Him we place our sincere and
solid faith. He cannot let us down
according to His promise to us. We are
His beloved.
All of the Scriptures chosen
for the Mass this weekend point us in this direction. I have quoted a few lines above, but I would encourage you to go
to your Bibles and read the entire passages, especially Romans 8. Down through the centuries countless
Christians have been lifted up by the words of St. Paul. St. Paul knew well the sufferings of this
world, especially the sufferings that come from being faithful to the Lord. The Lord would grant St. Paul the grace to
become like Him in all things even unto death.
In the Gospel Jesus
multiplies the loaves and fish in a miracle the foreshadows His institution of
the Holy Eucharist. At every Mass Jesus
draws near to us in the midst of our own life’s journey. He knows well our weaknesses and
struggles. With the bread and wine we
offer ourselves to the Father in union with the Lord.
After the bread and wine
become the body and blood of Christ we are invited to come to the banquet that
nourishes our souls. At the Holy
Sacrifice of the Mass we are invited to participate again in the Sacrifice of
Jesus on Calvary which continues to bring salvation to each of us and to the
whole world. We dare to make the
sacrifices of love required from us because the Lord makes it possible. So much does He love us. No where on earth can we draw closer to
Jesus Christ than in the Holy Eucharist where He makes Himself really present
to us in His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.
Let us never fail to love Him in return.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
The Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – July 24, 2011
Matthew 13:44-45 - Jesus said to his disciples: “The kingdom of heaven
is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and
out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys the field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a
merchant searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has
and buys it.”
Dear Parishioners and
Friends,
Our lives reflect what we
treasure most. If we treasure the
superficial then we become the same. If
we treasure what really matters then we learn to please God and become fully
human. Jesus, through his parables,
encourages us to make the choices that open up for us His Kingdom here on earth
and eventually the fullness of His Kingdom in Heaven.
Clearly, the temptation to
make the wrong choices abounds. We can
choose to be worldly. Our values and
priorities can reflect what matters least and which ultimately will pass
away. We need to treasure the ways of
God which are worth far more than the finest pearls. The worldly mentality brings a fleeting satisfaction, but risks
our eternal salvation. “What does it
profit a man if he should gain the whole world and lose his immortal
soul?”
“You can’t take it with you”
we often hear, but does it sufficiently sink in. Though we must attend to practical concerns, do we place first
the Kingdom of God? The first priority
must be the spiritual, the holy, the eternal.
It is much more important to live a holy, loving, life than a long
life. In the Christian family parents
have the sacred duty to pass on to their children the Christ centered Way. If they don’t, the world will quickly step
in to do its dirty work. More than ever
we need God-loving, God-fearing families, where Christ reigns in all and over
all.
Many people today have
chosen a worldly path. As faithful
Catholics we should not be seduced by this false spirit. More than ever we should be faithful to the
tried and true means the Church provides for us. We need a life of prayer, weekly Mass and Holy Communion and
frequent confession. Practicing the
virtues we see in Jesus puts us on solid ground. No matter what the worldly say and do we cannot go along. The Catholic life of faith and morals cannot
change.
This Way will always remain
the Key to Heaven. Let us use the
key. It works.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 17, 2011
The Parable of the Weeds and the Wheat
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Jesus loved to tell the
stories that we call the parables.
These are not historical events in the usual sense, clearly, but they
carry a deeper meaning that ultimately exposes the greatest reality. The meaning or truth is for all times, all
peoples, and all places. Jesus reveals
Himself and His Father in these powerful stories, yet there remains a mystery
that continues to open up to us individually and collectively. Daily we can
apply to our lives and our world the eternal truth Jesus teaches with
authority.
In the parable of the weeds
and the wheat we have the advantage that Jesus gives an explanation of what He
meant. On earth, in this world, good
and evil exist side by side. Obviously,
there are people who freely choose to live an evil life that is in willful
opposition to God’s laws and God’s plan.
They may even choose to be in league with Satan, the prince of
darkness. For example, those who freely
choose to make pornography are involved in what is intrinsically evil and the
Church points out many other intrinsic evils, which, when chosen, are the weeds
among us. Unless these souls repent before the Particular Judgment they will
have chosen to separate themselves from God for all eternity. We call this
eternal separation from God, Hell. Yet
the sin is hated, never the sinner.
Then there are those who
choose to obey God and His commandments.
They freely choose the path of virtue.
They love all that is beautiful, good, and true. Daily these holy souls, the wheat, put
themselves on the side of God and earnestly work to further His Kingdom on
earth, particularly God’s Holy Church.
They are sincerely sorry for their sins, seeking as quickly as possible
God’s merciful and unconditional forgiveness. Their goal is to live each day in
the state of grace. They are confidant
that in the end the Cross will Triumph.
They know that even in the next world Purgatory can cleanse us from
venial sins or the temporal punishment due to sin. Heaven is where they hope to be for ever, counting on God’s
loving kindness in Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Of course, no parable is
perfect. In fact, weeds can become
wheat and wheat can become weeds. Jesus
used the parable to emphasize the need to make the right choices here and now
before it is too late. Now is the time
of salvation. Now is the time of
Godliness and Holiness. In the end God
will sort all things out.
May we live in union with
Him on earth so as to live forever with Him in Heaven.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor
*******************************************************
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Isaiah 55: 10-11 - 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;
my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end
for which I sent it.
Dear Parishioners and
Friends,
Usually, during a California
summer, the image of rain coming down on us is remote. However, as I write this letter (June 28) in
my office I can hear a steady down pour of rain and it doesn’t seem that it
will stop soon. As I hear the pitter
patter of rain drops on the flat roof overhead (I hope it holds up) I am reminded
of the days when I was a child listening to the same at night in our cozy Cape
Cod house or as a young man on the sides of a pup tent after a day of
hiking. There was always a sense of
peace and calm before the voice of God in nature. I felt assured to rest in the Lord’s loving embrace.
Isaiah uses this image to
express the bounty of God’s love and grace for us. God is never stingy, but always lavish in coming into our world
and our lives. The ultimate act of
unconditional love took place when He sent us His only begotten Son Jesus
Christ. Instead of the image of rain
Jesus goes one step further and speaks of the sower and the seed. The bountiful seeds sown represent God’s
extraordinary care for us. This
testament or covenant established once and for all in Jesus Christ will never
be taken away or erased no matter what.
Set firmly in place is God’s love for each and every one of us.
Yet that is not enough. We must respond as good soil to the sower
and the seed. In our free will we can
ignore the Word of God, or not take it seriously, or even let ourselves fall
away because of worldliness. Excuses
are abundant and we can be seduced. We
must always be on guard. We must aim
high to live as saints for it is easy to slip from saintliness, to holiness, to
goodness, to just fair, to mediocre, to
bad. Our resolve is to fully respond to
Jesus, the Word of God.
Yours in the Lord,
The Rev. Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
The Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Dear Friends and Parishioners,
As we celebrate our great
nation on the Fourth of July we might wonder how a faithful Christian fits into
the modern scene. Clearly, in many
significant moral and spiritual matters our country is changing in ways that
contradict the mind of Jesus Christ and His Church. Should we just go along and conform to the contemporary American
society? In a sense, is it really even
America? For example, if the absolute
right to human life is no longer protected by law then what have we become as a
nation? We always thought that the universal and absolute right to life was an
inalienable right guaranteed in law.
Maybe there are two Americas: one traditional, founded on the tried and
true Christian principles and values; and then another version that
increasingly abandons God’s commandments and Christian principles, yet claims
to be America as well.
Regardless how the nation
goes we aim to be genuine patriots and love her. Though we don’t agree with some changes in our laws, we will
continue to love our country, which goes beyond particular laws and those
currently in power. Because we love our
country we will do our best as Christians to see that it is a place where God-given
laws are respected and, if need be, restored.
That is where our Christian faith comes in. More than ever the God-loving, God-fearing Christian citizen is
needed.
In our secular society we
accept the same challenge St. Paul made in ancient Rome in his letter to the
Romans: “You are not in the flesh; on
the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in
you. ..For if you live according to the
flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the
body, you will live.” More than ever
we are true patriots when we are devoted and faithful Christians.
As Christians we witness to
the Truth even when it is denied by many.
We refuse to give up The Way of Christ.
In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus addresses His heavenly Father: “for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones.” We must be faithful as the “little ones”
to spread the gospel even when it is rejected, reviled, or even just
ignored. It is not an impossible task
for the Lord assures us “my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Resting in the Lord we are not intimidated
by those who oppose Him and His Kingdom.
In the end all that will matter is the Kingdom of God and those who
accepted the invitation to become citizens of Heaven. Therefore, stand up for Jesus!
Rise up O men and women of God!
Yours in the Lord,
The Rev. Fr. Mark G. Mazza,
Pastor
*******************************************************
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus
Christi)
Sunday, June 26, 2011
John 6:51 “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever
eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh
for the life of the world.”
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
The Solemnity of the Most
Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) wasn’t always celebrated on
Sunday. Before the liturgical reform of
1970 it was always celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. In the reform the various national bishops’
conferences were given the option of moving it to Sunday, which was done in the
United States. This solemnity is a
beautiful expression of our Catholic belief in the Most Holy Eucharist.
The Constitution on the
Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium) from the Second Vatican Council
was issued on December 4, 1963. This
document reaffirmed the essential doctrines of our faith in the Holy Eucharist
and then set in place the principles for liturgical restoration. A balanced, authentic, Catholic sense of the
Holy Eucharist, the sacraments, prayer etc. is found in this Constitution. After almost fifty years this is the first
document that should be carefully studied; even more so today since there are
incorrect or even false views around that are not and have never been the mind
of the Church. An authentic liturgical
spirit must always be in sync with what the Church officially teaches. For Catholics that is always the best way.
In paragraph 10 of the
Liturgy Constitution we read: “the
liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; it
is also the fount from which all her power flows.” This teaching especially applies to the Holy Eucharist where
under the appearances of bread and wine Jesus perpetuates His Sacrifice on the
Cross, is really present body, blood, soul and divinity, and comes to us in
Holy Communion. We can never fully
appreciate the Sacrament and Sacrifice that make up the Holy Eucharist. It is a tradition that continues in many
places to have a procession of the Blessed Sacrament on Corpus Christi to
demonstrate our reverent belief in this Sacrament of Love. We must always keep in mind that the night
Jesus was betrayed He gave us the Holy Eucharist as a sign of His love for
us. We dare to love because He first
loved us. We need Him more that ever if
we are to follow His way to heaven, the way of love, the way of the cross.
Love for the Holy Eucharist
will always be the foundation for spiritual renewal.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor
*******************************************************
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity – June 19, 2011
John 3:16: God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone
who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.
Dear Parishioners and
Friends,
In this age of texting may I
recommend the above passage from St. John that begins the gospel for this
Sunday’s Mass. Just text “BTW John
3:16.” Maybe that short text would go a
long way in offering encouragement, consolation, joy to a fellow traveler on
this earthly pilgrimage to our heavenly home.
Of all people we Christians need to be grounded in what matters
most. We need to be grounded in God,
who revealed Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We need to be aware that Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit,
always stands ready to lead us to His loving Father. Of this, we are certain.
Here is the Truth that never changes thus never disappoints and remains
absolute for all time. On this Sunday
we reaffirm our faith in the Most Blessed Trinity. There is one God, but three Divine persons. This is the greatest Truth revealed to us
about God, thus at the heart of our Christian faith.
Though gradually revealed to
us by God Himself from the beginning, it took several centuries before the
Catholic Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, would clarify the dogma
on the Blessed Trinity. In the first
centuries there were many heresies. This
is a period well worth studying so as to keep ahead of current attacks on this
most important dogma that have revisited us in recent years In our worship we profess two ancient creeds
that basically sum up our belief: the
Apostles’ Creed; the Nicene Creed.
Usually, we use the Nicene Creed.
In the new translations to be introduced on the First Sunday of Advent
our bishops have gone to great lengths to offer a better translation of the
Latin text which best corresponds to the original Greek.
In his fine book Introduction
to Christianity Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, offers an
important insight into understanding the Holy Trinity. He suggests that we see the three persons as
existing in unity (one God), where each is in a dynamic relationship with each
other that ultimately draws us in. In
other words the teaching on the Blessed Trinity is not some dry mathematical
formula. The Blessed Trinity is about
the highest relationship of love. The
Father and Son love each other perfectly and that love is reflected perfectly
in the Holy Spirit. And you and I are
invited to join in. The Holy Spirit
loves us into the love of the Father and the Son. That is our greatest privilege that we own through Baptism by
faith and by grace. Thus at every Mass
we pray to the Father through the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor
*******************************************************
Pentecost Sunday – June 12, 2011
With the Holy Spirit within “it is quite natural for people who had
been absorbed by the things of this world to become entirely other-worldly in
outlook, and for cowards to become people of great courage”(Saint Cyril of
Alexandria). (Quotation from June 2011 Magnificat, volume 13, number 4, page 167).
Dear
Parishioners and Friends,
“Veni, Sancte
Spiritus! Come, Holy Spirit, come!” we pray on this great feast of the
Church. In the Acts of the Apostles
2:1-11 we read about the coming down of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and
the beginning of the Catholic Church.
We recall: “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 and began to speak in different tongues,
as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.”
Immediately the apostles went out to baptize in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
The spark of Catholic faith was ignited and since then has set the world
on fire through Jesus Christ our Lord by the power of His Spirit. The same Holy Spirit continues to guide,
strengthen, and sanctify in our own time in spite of the opposition of the
world and the sins of its own members.
God’s great love rains down upon us from Heaven in the person of the
Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is always
present to make the worldly other-worldly.
Can these be the
same apostles who ran away from Christ the night He was betrayed? In spite of their braggadocio they were not
willing to make the necessary sacrifices to be the Lord’s followers. They
lacked courage. They were petrified by
fear. At Pentecost they are all
confirmed in the Holy Spirit and receive the Holy Spirit to give witness to
Christ. Before they feared death,
whereas, standing strong in the Holy Spirit they are able to boldly proclaim
the Gospel. In fact, the notable
difference between the pre-Pentecost apostles and the post-Pentecost apostles
is so extraordinary and remarkable that many writers point out that this
radical change is one of proofs that the Church is founded by Christ
Himself. We hardly recognize the
apostles as they were before now that they have been recreated from above, not
from below. The New Christian order
began and we are proud to be its heirs.
Christ will never abandon his bride, our Holy Mother, the Catholic
Church
Counting on the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit into our souls we dare to stand up for Jesus and
His Church. May we have the courage of
the apostles in our own day and age. Countless
souls are counting on you and me. Rise
up!
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
Ascension – June 5, 2011
For Your Information: The following letter was
recently mailed to all on our mailing list who at the time of its mailing had
not yet responded to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. Since then we are grateful for the families who have come forward
with their donations. If all our
families would participate we would be in a healthier financial situation and
could even go ahead with much needed improvements and ministries. Thank you for your generous support of your
parish.
Dear Parishioners,
Recently, members of our
parish finance council spoke to you about the 2011 Archbishop’s Annual
Appeal. They set before you the
facts. With our assessment at
$67,600.00 we need to receive additional gifts or pledges amounting to around
$39,330.00 to reach our goal. We are
all grateful to the eighty-six families, who have already donated $28,270.00 to
date.
This appeal is to those
families who have not yet contributed.
We are counting on your financial assistance to make our parish
financially strong so as to continue and advance the Lord’s work in our midst –
the work of His Church. Though some
have been very generous, since 2005 we have had a shortfall amounting to
$131,361.00, which had to be taken from our ordinary collections. Considering that as of March we still have a
debt of $360,786.84 you can readily see that not meeting our goal each year
adds up and is not to our advantage in the long run.
We have many large expenses
facing us in the near future: the church needs to be painted and the roof
replaced; the sound system needs about $7,000.00 of improvements. In addition,
various ministries are now on hold until we can afford them. We have already cut back in significant ways
though our expenses continue to rise. If more families would contribute to the
Archbishop’s Annual Appeal we would have the funds to meet the goal and extra
funds to put toward improvements such as the sound system and put towards
better ministries.
I know that we live in
difficult economic times. I appeal to
those able to contribute to help out your parish. In advance, I thank you.
You have come through hard times over the years. Bravo! Your continued support will assist us in
marching ahead with sound finances, sound families, sound faith. God bless you! Mary love you!
Sincerely in the Lord,
The Rev. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
Sixth Sunday of Easter – May 29, 2011
John 14:15 – “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
When I was still a boy at
home with my parents and brothers and sisters we enjoyed celebrating all the
holydays, holidays, birthdays, first communions, confirmations, anniversaries
and various special occasions. These
days gave us a chance to stop and look at the many blessings received and to
appreciate all that had been given us.
Through our remembrance of the past we could see its relevance and
importance here and now in the present.
We also learned to treasure the people in our lives, not to take them
for granted.
On the days that honored my
dear Mother we would ask in advance what sort of gift she would like. Without fail she never asked for any
gifts. She would say with a smile: “Just be good! That is what I want most!”
Though we would come through with something to give, her words have
always stuck in my mind. The greatest
gifts are spiritual ones. If some one
loves us they are the happiest when we are good, when we live an honorable and
holy life.
As we prepare to be renewed
in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit for the Great Feast of Pentecost we are asked
to turn over to God what matters most. He
wants from us our loving, faithful, obedience.
What we treasure and possess in Jesus (and thus in union with Him and by
His saving grace) we dare to present to our Heavenly Father by the power of the
Holy Spirit. What does God want from
us? Obedient love, obedient sacrifices,
obedient prayer, obedient virtue, obedient lives. He wants us to keep His commandments.
In an age that defies God’s
Law we must be even more faithful. Our
witness in the world is to be observant disciples, not dissenters. Though we live in the world we must never
become “of the world.” Every time we
look upon a crucifix we are reminded of the obedient, sacrificial, saving love
of Christ crucified and we ask for the graces to bear our own crosses and
follow Him.
On Memorial Day let us not
forget those who have served our country, especially those who gave their lives
for our freedoms. They made the supreme
sacrifice that the nation might live.
We thank them and honor them.
Let us never forget.
Let us also remember that
our country is best served when we fully live our Catholic faith. More than ever those who are God-loving,
God-fearing need to stand up and be counted.
It is not an easy way, but the Way of the Lord,
Yours in the Lord,
The Rev. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
The Fifth Sunday of Easter – May 22, 2011
John 14: 6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the
life.”
Dicit ei Jesus: Ego sum via, et veritas, et vita.
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
On Saturday, May 21st
during a special Mass, Bishop William Justice administered the Sacrament of
Confirmation to twenty-nine of our young people, mostly sophomores in High
School. I extend to these young people
and their parents congratulations with the promise of our prayers, especially
at Holy Mass. We are proud of our youth
who have taken this important step in their Catholic lives and offer our full
support to them and their parents.
Almost forty years ago I
entered a Minor Seminary right after high school. We were offered college credited classes to prepare us for our
Bachelors degree and Major Seminary studies that would follow. The seminary was operated by Swiss Benedictine
Monks, who lived not far from us, though we were clearly two distinct communities. This seminary and monastery continues to
thrive today thanks to these dedicated monks and the grace of God.
The seminarians had their
own chapel for Mass and prayers, whereas the monks worshiped in their austere
though beautiful abbey church. At the
beginning of the twentieth century they built the church and abbey from local
sand stone quarries by their own labor and the assistance of local catholic
men. The stained glass windows were
from Germany and each was a masterpiece. One I remember is the one in the
archway over the central front door. It
had in its scrolled inscription the words ego sum via, et veritas, et vita (I
am the way and the truth and the life), which we hear in the gospel this
Sunday. Jesus is at the center of our
faith. He is our focus. Apart from Him we can do nothing. Only He can save us.
What advice do I give to our
Confirmands? I repeat the words of the
Lord, who boldly proclaims for all time that He is THE Way, THE Truth, THE
Life. Jesus is the cornerstone upon which
we must build up our lives. He will
never fail us. His commandments,
doctrines, and graces cannot leave us disappointed. Come what may never abandon Him.
His love and His grace will always be enough for us. This is our greatest certainty.
Yours in the Risen Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
The Fourth Sunday of Easter – May 15, 2011
John 10:7 –
“So Jesus said again, ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep’”
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
My best wishes and prayers
are with our children, who will receive Our Lord for the first time in Holy
Communion this Sunday at a special Mass at 1:00 P.M. I also offer my spiritual encouragement and support to their
parents. Indeed, the Day of First Holy
Communion is a grace-filled day – a day of blessing and grace for each child
and his parents.
I remember well my own First
Holy Communion almost fifty years ago.
I was lovingly prepared by my own parents and the good sisters in the
Catholic school to have a heart ready to come into this unique communion with
the Lord. There were many lessons,
prayers, and stories, to appeal to our sense of wonder and awe before so great
a gift. We made our first confession
shortly before. The ceremonies were
practiced over and over. There were
hymns to learn and group prayers to recite.
Just like today we were decked out in traditional clothes. Nine days before, we prayed a Novena which
compared our souls to various flowers, which we would present to Jesus, as it
were. Then the great day arrived. My dad came to my bedroom to awaken me and
tell me the good news that the day I had looked forward to was here. I couldn’t wait. At the early morning High Mass I knelt at the top step of the
main altar to receive the sacred host at the hands of our pastor. I remember a day of joy, peace, and
love. Later my family, relatives, and
friends would gather to celebrate this happy day. I will remain forever grateful for the good shepherds who lead me
to the Good Shepherd. Many are now in
eternity. Part of me is already with
them.
Parents, you are privileged
to lead your children to the Lord. Your
pastor and staff want to help you the best we can. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who always loves His sheep. Jesus is the gate through whom we must pass
on the way of salvation. He remains
our greatest hope. More than ever we
must be on guard not to be deceived.
St. Peter said: “Save yourselves
from this corrupt generation.” (Acts 2, 40).
There are many false shepherds and false teachers. Jesus is the one we follow. He proclaims: “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”
Yours in the Lord Jesus,
The Rev. Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
P.S. Congratulations Confirmands! I will write to you next weekend.
*******************************************************
The Third Sunday of Easter – May 8, 2011
The Risen Lord remains with us in Word and Sacrament
Luke
24:35: “Then they told what happened on
the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.”
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
When you visit any Catholic
Church there are two pieces of furniture that stand out: the altar and the pulpit, or ambo. These have roots going back to the Old
Testament in the temple and synagogue, yet have become prominent in Catholic
worship going back to the earliest centuries.
They represent how we worship God in Word and Sacrament. At the pulpit
the Sacred Scriptures are read at every Mass and God speaks to His Church
collectively and individually. On the
altar what Jesus accomplished in His death and resurrection is actually made
present again; we are invited to fully participate in the Sacrifice of the
Cross perpetuated in time under the appearances of bread and wine, to adore His
Real Presence, and to devoutly receive Him in Holy Communion. The Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of
the Eucharist make up what we know as the Holy Mass. At every Mass Jesus draws us into His work of salvation here and
now. It is the best way to participate
in what we call the Paschal Mystery.
In the Gospel account from
Luke 24 we learn these truths in a charming way. That is the way the Lord is.
He steps into our lives and leaves us transformed. Gently He invites us to come to a deeper
realization of God and then waits for our response. He offers His love and then lets us accept Him, reject Him, or
show indifference to Him. Just as the
two disciples were distraught because of the Lord’s death on the Cross, Jesus
begins to walk along side them, explaining the Scriptures, and then revealing
Himself in the Breaking of the Bread.
Jesus offers the same opportunity to us at every celebration of the Holy
Eucharist. He opens the Word of God to
us and feeds our souls with His Body and Blood.
On this Mothers’ Day let us
thank God for Christian Mothers. A
Christian Mother in union with her husband leads her children to the Lord. By word and example she shows them respect
for the teachings of the Lord and His Church and by word and example draws them
into a tender, yet profound, worship of the Lord in the Holy Eucharist. She cares not just for the bodily needs of
her family but first and foremost for their spiritual needs. She knows well that her primary vocation is
to do what God asks from her to bring about the salvation of her husband and
children. We give thanks for
conscientious Christian Mothers.
Yours in the Lord,
The Rev. Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
Second Sunday of Easter – Divine Mercy Sunday
May 1, 2011
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Today in Rome there will be
the Beatification of the late Pope John Paul II. From now on he will be referred to as Blessed John Paul II. This is the last step before he can be
canonized a saint. Many recall that
when he died in 2005, after over twenty six years as pope, countless faithful
asked for his immediate canonization.
Already during his lifetime he was widely recognized for his heroic
sanctity. Now the Church, exercising
its full authority, proclaims him blessed and thus a witness of holiness to the
men and women of our day.
I feel especially attached
to Blessed John Paul II. I was in Rome
at the end of September in 1978. On the Feast of the Transfiguration, August 6th,
Pope Paul VI had died after fifteen years as pope. He had presided over the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council
and had worked in the years afterwards to set in place its implementation. Cardinal Albino Luciani from Venice was elected
on August 26th and took the name John Paul I. He was pope for only thirty-three days,
dying in his sleep on September 29th. I remember viewing his body in the Vatican Palace and then later
in St. Peter’s Basilica. I was also
present at his funeral in St. Peter’s Square.
It rained. He was described by
the Italians as “Il Papa del Sorriso” (The Smiling Pope). I was also in St. Peter’s Square on the
evening of October 16, 1978 when Cardinal Karol Wojtyla was elected pope and
the announcement was made from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica. He took the name John Paul II. His first words were that of Jesus
Christ: “Do not be afraid!” These words indicated the confident faith he
would inspire over the years with millions of people.
It is appropriate that John
Paul II is being beatified on Divine Mercy Sunday. During his pontificate he canonized Sister Faustina who promoted
the Mercy of the Lord. He began the
custom of referring to this Sunday as Divine Mercy Sunday. In his writings John Paul II said that the
main mission of the Church is to proclaim the mercy of God. That mercy is made clear in the gospel this
Sunday when Jesus gives the apostles and their successors the power to forgive
sins in His name and thus the mandate to do that. His Resurrection is made present to souls through his merciful
forgiveness of sins, particularly in the Sacrament of Penance. The Lord wants us to be certain that our sins
are forgiven. So great is His mercy
toward us. God’s love and mercy will
remain with us always. Therefore, let
us call upon the intercession of Blessed John Paul II, who left this world for
heaven on the Eve of Divine Mercy Sunday 2005.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor
*******************************************************
Easter Sunday – April 24, 2011
Matthew 28:
5-6 – But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you
seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not
here; for he has risen, as he said”.
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
“For he has risen, as he
said” we hear in the Gospel of the Easter Vigil. The Lord Jesus has fulfilled His promise. We have nothing to fear because of His
definitive victory over the death of sin and the death of the body. Through His passion and death on the cross
and His glorious resurrection the Gates of Heaven are now open to all those of
good will who by faith and by grace follow in His footsteps. In union with Christians throughout the
world we are filled with joy. We shout
out for all to hear: Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
In the Gospel read on Easter
Sunday (John 20:1-9) we encounter the apostles Peter and John. They represent our twofold response to the
Resurrection of the Lord. Peter represents
the truth of faith taught with authority.
John represents faith practiced in love. To be a faithful Catholic we adhere to the fullness of the Truth
that Jesus has revealed and is taught by His Church, and we do so with all our
hearts in love. The deposit of the
faith, the objective Truth about Jesus, His commandments, the laws and
discipline of the Church are essential to a complete Resurrection faith, but
they must be accepted and lived with a loving heart. Truth with charity is the way to have a complete Catholic
life. Clearly this is why Peter, the
first pope, the Vicar of Christ, enters the tomb first. However, John enters the tomb second not to
show that love is secondary, but to show that love and truth must be present in
an authentic disciple of Christ. We
must have a faith that is Petrine and Johannine all at the same time.
“This is the Day the Lord
has made; let us rejoice and be glad (Psalm 118: 24)” expresses our joy in the
Risen Lord, the new man, who replaces the fallen man Adam. In Him we become new men and women. If we live in the state of grace, we are
raised up in Christ. We are alive in
Him. We partake in supernatural life,
the new order of grace – the Christian Order.
Here is our greatest treasure.
Nothing is more important. St.
Paul in Colossians 3:1-4 exhorts us: “If
then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at
the right hand of God. Think of what is
above, not of what is on earth.”
Thank you for all you do to make our parish
great! Well done!
To you and all your loved ones I wish a Blessed and
Joyful Easter!
Yours in the Risen Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
Holy Week 2011
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
With Palm Sunday (Passion
Sunday) we solemnly begin the celebration of the core events of our faith. Jesus entered Jerusalem to suffer, die, and
rise. In fervent prayer we follow the
Lord as we hope to enter more fully into His Suffering, His Death, and His
Resurrection. The Church calls out to
all her faithful children to take notice of these sacred days. Though not obligated, all are encouraged to
assist at the Holy Week Masses, especially the last three days which we call
the Sacred Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good
Friday, and the Easter Vigil, which is the principal Easter celebration.
Remember, what happened then
happens now. After almost two thousand
years we have just begun to learn from all that the Lord has done for us out of
love. It’s as if these holy events took place just a few seconds ago. In the Lord’s passion we have a view of
what sin continues to do in our own time.
The forces of evil continue to mock Jesus, spit on Him, ridicule Him,
and reject Him. Fallen man and women
wants the clock turned back to a time before Christ. The follies of Adam and Eve are repeated. God’s loving commandments are held in
contempt. Disobedience is
preferred. The shrill cry resounds in our
ears: “Away with Him, crucify Him,
crucify Him! We want Barabbas!!”
Just as we might give up on
our world and even ourselves love continues to come down to us from Christ
crucified. We hear: “Father forgive them for they know not what
they do!” and “This day you will be with me in Paradise!” Jesus calls out “I thirst” because He
thirsts for our souls, our salvation.
He will not give up on us no matter what. His new and eternal covenant is sealed by His death and
resurrection. There is no turning back
for God. “It is finished” we hear from
the dying Lord Jesus to assure us that our redemption has been accomplished for
all times and places. The Cross is a
sign of triumph, not defeat. The
obedient Jesus teaches us that the way of fidelity to Him and His Church is the
tried and true path that leads to resurrection and eternal happiness.
The question is: “Where do I stand?” With humble trust we hold palm branches as a
sign that we are on the side of the Lord.
By His grace we will remain faithful all our day. We pray: “Jesus, for Thee I live! Jesus, for Thee I die! Jesus, I am Thine in life and in death! Amen!”
His victory will be ours.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
The Fifth Sunday of Lent – April 10, 2011 – Passiontide Begins
John 11: 25-26 – Ego sum resurrectio et vita; qui credit in me, etiam
si mortuus fuerit, vivet: et omnis qui vivit et credit in me, non morietur in
aeternum. Credis hoc?; I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in
me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will
never die. Do you believe this?
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Several years ago I was
called out to administer the last rites of the Church to a dying woman. The husband and the entire family were at
her bed side. Their faces were pale,
somber, sad, full of worry. After
administering the sacraments and saying the litany for the dying the husband
turned to me and said: “Is it always
this hard, Father?” I fumbled a moment
and then said: “Yes, it is.”
Sooner or later each of us
experiences the loss of a loved one.
Usually, the closer we are to that person the greater is our grief. Grief is difficult. It touches us profoundly. Yet we hardly know how to describe it. It hurts, it numbs, it confounds the best of
us; it can even feel like fear as C.S. Lewis once said. Even those with great faith can become
troubled and wonder why. Anger is
common; and, in my experience, is often directed toward God. It is no wonder that the sentiments of Psalm
130 genuinely express the feelings of those who grieve: “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord;
Lord, hear my voice! Let you ears be attentive to my voice in supplication.”
The only response that
satisfies comes from Jesus and it is always personal. Just as He stepped into the lives of Martha and Mary (John 11:
1-45) He steps into our lives when we need Him most. Just as His presence transformed the souls of Martha and then
Mary He brings to us His consolation, comfort, and finally the hope of the
resurrection. Jesus completely
identifies with us in our sorrow. He
weeps with us (John 11:35), but leads us through death to eternal life. Human explanations always fail, but not the
Lord. In Him we place all our faith,
our trust, our love, and then re-discover our sure hope. His Death and
Resurrection are real
During these last two weeks
of Lent let us follow the Lord in His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. If we die with Him we will rise up with
Him. After revealing Who He is He asks
us: “Do you believe this?” With Martha we respond: “Yes, Lord.
I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one
who is coming into the world.”
Yours in the Lord,
The Rev. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
Laetare Sunday – Fourth Sunday of Lent
April 3, 2011
Isaiah
66:10-11: Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all
who love her. Be joyful, all who were
in mourning; exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast.
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
At this mid-point of Lent we
pause to rejoice. This Sunday, which
parallels a similar Sunday in Advent, is known as Laetare i.e. Rejoice
Sunday. It is a tradition to replace
the stark violet vestments on this day with rose colored ones. We don’t have a set at St. Peter’s so we
can’t do that. The name comes from the traditional
entrance chant, or Introit, which begins in Latin with the words “Rejoice
Jerusalem” from Isaiah 66:10-11. Today,
we can already anticipate the joy of Easter.
All of our Lenten observances have not been in vain, but are the means
that lead our souls into the loving, joyful embrace of our Lord. It is all worth it after all. Grace works. Therefore, we are encouraged to
stay the course in the tried and true way no matter how difficult it may
be. The cross leads to eternal joy in
heaven. And we can already taste it
now. Virtue is its own reward.
The Gospel of John, chapter
nine, relates the account of the cure of the blind man. There is a profound theological meaning to
this encounter with the Lord similar to that of the Samaritan woman we heard
about last week. The blind man
represents all of humanity, Everyman, as it were. Without Christ we are in the dark, unable to see clearly. We can
make foolish and foolhardy choices. At
worst the choice of sin prevents us from being who we are capable of
being. To oppose God and to make
decisions in opposition to Him is to plunge ourselves into spiritual, moral,
and psychological darkness and sadness.
There is only one sure cure:
Jesus. Jesus evidently turns
sadness into joy. This miracle is for
all.
Only Jesus can forgive the
darkness of sin and heal our spiritual blindness. Only Jesus can restore our spiritual sight and bring us into the
light. Only Jesus gives us the power to
see spiritually and morally in this world and grasp God’s eternal plan. Only Jesus can break the barrier between
heaven and earth. Only Jesus can be our
light and the light of the whole world.
Apart from Him is darkness now and for some eternal darkness. The question: do I embrace the cure or not?
This light is pure joy now and forever.
No wonder we rejoice in His saving and healing graces. We have no where else to go. Jesus you love us so much.
During the time that remains
in Lent let us be more attentive to living our lives in union with the Lord, in
obedience to the Gospel. At the end of Lent during Holy Week we will reaffirm
who we are in Christ. Let us
rejoice!
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
The Third Sunday of Lent
March 27, 2011
Romans
5:8: But God shows His love for us in
that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
The encounter between Jesus
and the Samaritan woman in the Gospel of St. John is one that is touching and
yet profound. In our journey of faith
much is revealed to us: Jesus is the
living water, Jesus forgives our sins, Jesus heals us from the wounds of sin,
Jesus quenches the thirst of souls, Jesus gives us the hope of life eternal, He
fulfills our deepest longings and desires, God loves us and brings us
salvation.
What particularly appeals to
us is that the Lord’s encounter with the Samaritan woman is personal. Jesus saves souls one by one. We are not just faceless members of a group. Jesus as God-man can befriend each man and
woman, boy and world throughout the long march of time. He knows me by name and brings me His
life. He died for me as if I were the
only one in need of salvation. That is
why I place my whole life in His hands, humbly repenting of my sins, knowing
that they are washed away, that I am clean and refreshed, and full of His
amazing and saving grace, His life. It
is this life that gives me the hope of eternal life in the kingdom of heaven. The Lord’s kingdom is here already, but not
yet fully come to its completion. Soul
by soul the kingdom of heaven is built up.
In John 4 the image of water
is clear. We see in it a prefiguration
of the waters of Baptism. The Lenten
and Easter seasons give us the opportunity to reclaim what was given us at
Baptism. In Christ we wish to enter
more fully into His death so as to enter more fully into His resurrection. We are called to die to sin and rise up to
new life. This is the rhythm of the
Christian life. Authentic Christianity
has both going on at the same time. We
all need to convert by turning away from sin and living more fully in
Christ. It is our daily struggle. And it is only possible through the Lord
Jesus who died on the cross and rose from the dead for me and loves me.
All are encouraged to
participate in our Lenten Reconciliation Service on Tuesday, March 29th
at 7:30 P.M. Several confessors will be
available. Take some time to review the
pamphlet available in the narthex entitled Making the Most of Confession. You will be glad that you did.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
The Second Sunday of Lent – March 20, 2011
“Rise, and do not be afraid.” (Mt. 17, 7)
Dear Parishioners and
Friends,
Some times it is said that
the devil is present in thoughts of discouragement. I suppose that is said because if we become discouraged we can be
tempted to give up the faith and thus lose hope. Once truly discouraged we can be tempted to become hard and bitter. This is what the devil wants. He wants us to give in to defeat and
despair.
At the time of the American
Revolution there was a period when the whole enterprise almost folded up. George Washington’s army was cold, worn out,
and hungry. It seemed as if all the
dreams of freedom and independence and a new country would come to
nothing. From all appearances our
American soldiers looked like a bunch of losers. Nevertheless, George Washington rallied the troops, who fought
on, and the tide began to turn. The
revolutionary forces grew stronger and fought on to victory. George Washington provided the encouragement
and inspiration needed with God’s help.
The rest is history.
In the Transfiguration the
apostles experienced Jesus in all His Glory.
This experience was permitted to them to encourage and strengthen them
for the day when all would seem lost and in vain. Jesus knew that He would be betrayed, crucified, and put to death
on the cross. He wanted his apostles
not to lose hope through it all, so he permitted them an experience of His
glory in heaven. He offers the same to
us. Catholics today face forces that
would have us give up. Individually we
may have our own struggles. In Jesus we
can fight on with the certainty of Resurrection. The cross has become a symbol of victory not defeat.
Let each of us resolve to
encourage our brothers and sisters in this “vale of tears (Salve Regina).”
In The Magnificat for March we read:
“”We, too, can bear our hardship for the Gospel because through the
grace of the Transfiguration we have been given ‘the strength that comes from
God.’” And there is even more. In heaven we will enter into the glory of
our Savior to participate in a transfiguration that results from the
resurrection of our Lord.
In spite of challenges we
must rally to Christ no matter what.
May you and I do our best to live fully in the Lord so as to help others
enter His Transfiguration. We should never
underestimate our power for good in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
First Sunday of Lent
“Man shall not live by bread alone (Matthew 4:4”
March 13, 2011
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
During these first days of Lent
we have had a chance to put into effect our spiritual battle plan. The gospels have again reminded us of the
need to pray, to do penance, and to love our neighbor, which reveal to us the
loving face of our heavenly Father.
However, in this short time it is possible to begin to think that this
Lent business is not really that hard after all. It just requires a little will power, nothing more. What is the big deal?
In fact, the more we are
presumptuous and over-confident the more we have set ourselves up for a fall,
just like our first parents Adam and Eve.
Spiritual conquest is actually not that easy. The best plans of discipline can soon turn out to be pie in the
sky. How quickly they come to
nothing. We are right back to where we
started from if even that much. We can
even slip back into the same old bad habits that leave us empty. What happened? Certainly, we greatly underestimated the enemy. He is not a pushover, but determined and
methodical. Satan knows well what
buttons to push to seduce each of us.
So what should we do when we are confronted with our weaknesses and
failings?
The answer: turn to the Lord for strength. We cannot save our own souls. We cannot go it alone. We need Jesus. On the first Sunday of Lent it is traditional to hear of the
great combat between Jesus and Satan.
Satan brings out his full arsenal of the world and the flesh. Satan plots to abort the mission of Jesus
for us poor sinners. He fails
miserably. Jesus in face-to-face combat
with the devil and his allies defeats him for our sake. Jesus is victorious so that we may be
victorious. In Jesus alone can we
conquer temptation, sin, and the devil himself. Jesus gives us this certain hope. To forget this truth is always disastrous.
In the Letter of Saint Paul
to the Romans 5: 20-21 (RSV) we hear:
“. . .where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that as sin
reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness to eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Clearly
we are dependant on the Lord as our last, best, and only hope.
“I love Thee Jesus my love;
I repent of having offended Thee; grant that I may love Thee always and then do
with me what Thou wilt (St. Alphonsus).”
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
The Sunday before Ash Wednesday
The Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
March 6, 2011
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
On Wednesday, March 9th,
this coming week, the Catholic Church throughout the world will begin the
solemn season of prayer, fasting, penance, and almsgiving known as Lent. I like to recall that the word “Lent”, used
only in the English speaking world, goes way back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon
days. You can still see in it the sense
of “lengthening” referring to the time of longer days or what we call
spring. Thus, Lent is springtime for
our souls. It is that special time of
year when the Church in the name of our Lord and Savior calls all of its
members to conversion and new life in Christ.
The Lord Himself invites us to enter more fully into the power of His
death and Resurrection.
In conversation some speak
about the traditional practices of Lent as if they live only in the past, in
memories of yesteryear. I have even
heard some say that they observe a “modern” Lent, which leaves off penance and
even prayer and focuses only on works of charity. What is the correct way to think about Lent? The tradition of the Church will always
offer to men and women of good will the tried and true methods utilized by the
saints who have gone before us and those who wish to be saints today. A complete Lent, a “catholic” Lent, involves
prayer, penance, and almsgiving, not just one or the other or nothing at all. We only need look at the life of the Lord
Himself for inspiration. Pope John Paul
II, who will be beatified in May, mirrors all three in His holy, heroic
life. We are called to do the same,
using these certain means to attain the desired result of union with God on
earth in anticipation of eternal union with God in heaven.
Please take a few moments
now during these days before Lent to formulate your Lenten plan. Prayerfully in your heart of hearts look at
your life in the light of the teachings and demands of Christ and His Church; and
then formulate, even in writing, your personal Lenten program. Do this right now before you forget! Don’t
delay! Time is fleeting! Then as you
receive the blessed ashes on Ash Wednesday begin your holy Lenten journey. No Lent, no real Easter! No cross, no crown, no glory! May you have the best Lent of your life! To
assist our parishioners and friends we will provide various helps during
Lent. Make sure that you receive the Lenten
guide produced by us, which is being distributed this weekend. If you haven’t gotten your own personal copy
of The Magnificat Lenten Companion these
are still available for a donation of only two dollars in the narthex of the
church or at the rectory office.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor
*******************************************************
Our Parish Mission Has Begun!
February 28th through March 3rd
A Warm Welcome to Father Michael X. Bennett!!
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Your prayers are requested
for the success of our Parish Mission.
We want God to shower His many graces down upon us. We ask for the Lord to renew us in spirit so
that we may profess our faith with greater joy and conviction. We pray not only for our own personal
conversion, but that our parish will serve the Lord as a place of
sanctification and salvation. Pray,
pray, pray for holiness and for those who have wandered from the fold!!! During this special time take time to confidently
entrust to the Lord your most important prayer petitions. The Lord Jesus stands ready at the door of
our souls to enter our hearts with His love.
Many years ago I had a
conversation with a man who fully participated in our day of adoration and
prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. I
told Him that I was unsure whether we would continue to offer these days since
so few took advantage of them. He said
to me: “Don’t do that Father! I had one serious prayer intention during my
time before the Blessed Sacrament that was answered. God saved not only a person’s faith but her family.” I then said in response: “And that was just one prayer answered. Imagine those we don’t know about. The final report of prayers answered will
only come due in heaven.”
A Parish Mission is a time
to turn away from spiritual sloth.
Spiritual sloth is a laziness that can slowly creep into our life of
faith. It is a spiritual disease that can affect any soul. Unless we are vigilant, we can easily
become lax in practice and conscience.
Before we are even aware of it, we can neglect prayer, even Mass
attendance. Secularism can eat away at
us so that we eventually don’t worry so much about sin, or we even begin to
lose the sense of sin. Soon we may find
ourselves sliding down the slippery slope that could bring ruin to us and all
who deal with us. Over time we may not
even be willing to face the truth that our faith practice doesn’t amount to
much—little or no effort is expended to live fully in the Lord. We have become lukewarm. To remain lukewarm in faith is the biggest
risk of all. We risk becoming a
fallen-away Catholic.
During this coming week let
each of us stand up and be counted as a faithful and true believer in our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ and the one, true Church He founded from His wounded
side upon the Cross. The Lord is waiting
for you and me. Let us go to Him and
re-discover His faithful love. Our God
is so good.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
February 20, 2011
Parish Mission-February 28-March 3rd-A Time of Spiritual
Renewal
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Beginning next Monday,
February 28th and continuing until Thursday, March 3rd
our parish will have a special time of grace provided during our Parish Mission
with guest homilist and preacher Father Michael X. Bennett. Father will introduce himself and preach at
all the Masses next weekend February 26-27th. Please do what you can to invite as many of
your family and friends to join you.
Make sure that you have a
copy of the brochure which gives all the details. Each morning we will have the regular morning Mass at 8:00 A.M.
with Father Bennett as homilist. After
the morning Masses the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed on the altar in the
Monstrance for adoration from 8:30 A.M. until about 9:00 A.M. On Monday and Wednesday the evening program
will begin at 7:30 P.M. with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by a
talk, and then conclude with Benediction.
On Tuesday at 7:30 P.M. we will begin with exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament, hear a talk, and then have the opportunity for confession. On Thursday the Parish Mission will conclude
with the celebration of Mass at 7:30 P.M.
There will be no 8:00 A.M. Mass on Thursday, March 3rd. Light refreshments will be served in the
evenings after the services.
Please pray that many souls
will come closer to Christ during our Parish Mission. It is well known that many souls have no one to pray for
them. We should ask for our own deeper
conversion and the conversion of many who have never experienced the Lord’s
love for them. We will also pray for
healing of mind, body, and soul for those most in need. Though the Lord uses weak human instruments
to do His work, we should not be surprised that many prayers will be
answered. Our Mission is a time to
storm heaven with our prayer requests.
We humbly entrust ourselves to the Lord, begging Him to intercede on our
behalf and for those most in need of His mercy, healing, and love.
In particular, I ask your
prayers for me and our parish. May we
have an authentic revival and renewal in faith, hope, and love.
Yours in the Lord Jesus,
Father Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
N.B. This
letter was mailed out to all on our mailing list on Friday, February 4th. Your generous participation in the AAA
campaign will help not only the Archdiocesan ministries but especially your
parish. Thank you.
January 31, 2011
Dear Parishioners,
I pray for God’s blessings
on you and your family as this letter arrives in your home. I am sending one to every family on our
mailing list. Clearly I would not do so
unless it was important to our work here at Saint Peter Parish. I kindly ask
that you take just a few minutes to read these few though inadequate words.
In preparing to write to you
I spent some time re-reading St. Mark’s Gospel, chapter 4: 35-41. We find Jesus and the apostles at sea in a
turbulent storm. The apostles are
frightened and believe the boat will sink, though “Jesus was in the stern,
asleep on a cushion.” The apostles cry
out to Jesus, wake Him, and He responds by calming the storm. Then Jesus says: “Why are you
terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”
The Church is some times
called the Bark, or ship, of Peter, because of this Gospel account. During its long history the Church has
experienced many trials. Yet the
successors of the apostles and the Christian Faithful continue to look to Jesus
to calm all storms and bring us His peace.
What Jesus did then He promises to continue to do for us.
At all Masses this past week
(January 29-30) I spoke about our need to financially support the work of the
local Church, the Archdiocese, through the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. As a pastor I can readily testify to the need
for this campaign to support the ministry that unites all of the parishes in
the Lord’s vineyard. Marriage
counseling, youth ministry, religious education, the Catholic Press, charitable
institutions, our seminarians, and much more benefit from your donations. There is a tremendous harvest awaiting the
response of faithful laborers.
Our part in the campaign
this year comes to $67,600.00. Enclosed
you will find further information (now available in the narthex of the church
or in the parish office). Please
consider making your best contribution and mailing it in today. On behalf of all those who benefit from your
kindness I express to you my sincere and heart felt thanks.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time – February 6, 2011
You are the salt of the earth . . . (Mt 5, 13)
You are the light of the world. (Mt.5, 14)
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
As we continue our study of
the Gospel of Saint Matthew we enter into a deeper relationship with the Lord
Jesus. We have just prayed over the
section of chapter five well known as the Beatitudes - the way to happiness in
this world and especially the next. Jesus
inspires and challenges us. After He
has comforted us He doesn’t hesitate to make clear the demands of the Christian
life. As Christians we are called to put our faith into action. We must live what we profess. Again the Lord addresses us in a charming
way to win us over.
Jesus speaks to our hearts
with examples we can still comprehend.
We are called to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the
world”. We can’t just sit back and
watch the world go by. We must do all
we can to make a difference on the side of Christ. Christians must commit themselves to making God known and to
living lives of love. The world becomes
a better place when we fully live out our faith. One philosopher once lamented:
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing.” If those with clear Christian
convictions and clean consciences just sit back and watch from the side lines,
then should we be surprised that those with the opposite perspective seem to
prevail? If Christians kneel before the
world instead of before Jesus Christ, the Lord, should we be surprised that
evil spreads? Jesus teaches us that we
must take a stand with and in Him if we genuinely believe what He has revealed
to us.
The letter of Saint Paul
gives us encouragement. The Corinthians
lived in a sophisticated yet ungodly society.
They were a minority. Yet Paul
preaches to them about the need to fully live the faith in unity. Christians need to stand together for the
good. The wisdom Paul shares remains
fundamental. In 1Cor.2, 5 Paul
witnesses to the Corinthians and to us “that your faith might not rest in the
wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
In 1Cor. 2, 2 Paul preaches what is the foundation of our faith: “For I
decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” We can be “the salt of the earth” and “the
light of the world” only through Jesus Christ crucified. His love and grace will always be sufficient
to us. The only sure and certain way is the Way of the Cross.
As we look ahead to the Parish Mission from February
26-March 3rd, please plan to attend and pray for its success. The Lord is counting on you to do your
part.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
Candlemas
- Wednesday, February 2nd at
8:00 A.M. Mass
Your pastor has often
recommended to families the wonderful book published by our American bishops in
the last few years: Catholic
Household Blessings and Prayers. On
page 134 for February 2nd you will find the following: Receiving Blessed Candles at Home. On February 2nd, forty days after
Christmas, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (see
Lk 2:22-40). Because it echoes the
Christmas festival, this day is a celebration of light in darkness. Its Gospel tells of the old man Simeon’s
calling the infant Jesus a “light to the Gentiles and the glory of your people
Israel.” For centuries, the Church has
blessed candles on this day. Because of
its simplicity and beauty, candles are used when the Church gathers for prayer,
both in public places and in the home.
Candles blessed at the Mass for this feast day may be brought into the
home. . . These candles are lighted at
ordinary times (at dinner, for example) and at special times such as during the
Anointing of the Sick, or when Holy Communion is brought to a member of the
family. A box of two 100% beeswax
candles with prayer leaflet is available in the parish office for a donation of
only $10.00.
Feast of St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr
The traditional blessing of throats with blessed
candles will take place after the 8:00 A.M. Mass on Thursday, February 3rd. A general blessing will be given after all
the Masses the weekend of February 5-6.
*******************************************************
The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Blessed are
the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs! (Mt 5:3)
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
This time before Lent is a
time to reflect on what it means to be a disciple of the Lord. Each must examine his or her own heart in
the light of the Gospel and the teachings of the Church. Perhaps you noticed how the liturgy today
moves us away from our limited view into the generous unlimited view of the
Lord. Jesus works to lift us from the
merely human to the divinely human.
That is why we love Him and follow.
In the opening prayer we cry
out: “Lord our God, help us to love you
with all our hearts and to love all men as you love them.” In the alternate prayer we hear: “May we serve you with our every desire and
show love for one another even as you have loved us.” Now we are ready to listen to God’s Word.
In Zephaniah 2:3 God speaks
to our hearts with these words: “Seek
the Lord, all you humble of the earth, who have observed his law; seek justice,
seek humility; perhaps you may be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s
anger.” Here we are called to be
faithful disciples, taking seriously the Lord’s vocation to live God-fearing, God-loving,
lives. Our life in Christ really does
matter most of all.
Then in first Corinthians
1:26 God continues to speak to us:
“Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters.” Here St. Paul reminds the early Christians
and us that our greatness comes not from ourselves but from the Lord Jesus. Without Him we are nothing. It is important to always keep in mind that
we are most like Jesus when we are His humble and loving servants. The true Christian spirit always reflects
this humble, contrite, submission to the Lord.
Finally, in the account of
the Beatitudes in Matthew 5: 1-12a the Lord Himself reveals to us the deepest
meaning of discipleship. It is not the
way the world looks at things. Here we
find the way God perceives things - what really matters. We should imagine that we are gazing on Him
and listening to Him and then hope that what He says is reflected in our
Christian lives. In fact, that is our hope.
We could say as the Lord gazes into our eyes, that is, connects with us
in our heart of hearts, that He brings about in us the Beatitudes. Otherwise what do we have? The Lord gently
but firmly challenges us to come away with Him into His Kingdom, into His
Joy. The key to the door: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
Third Sunday In Ordinary Time
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
After the tragic events in
Arizona various commentators have been discussing the issues that divide our
country and how those of various points of view need to respect civil
discourse. Archbishop Niederauer has
often said that it is one thing to disagree but another to be
disagreeable. Though the cause of
violence is not always clear it is clear there must be no place for violence or
taking the law into one’s own hands.
Though we have made much progress there is always the danger of the mob
mentality which sets aside the truth to attain what may appear to be the truth
at the moment. One of the articulate
and gentle leaders of the civil rights movement has often reminded us that
“When you know better you do better!”
As Christians we should always strive to be and do the best we can.
From the first letter of Saint
Paul to the Corinthians it seems there must have been some serious divisions
among that early church community. In
chapter 1, verse 10-11 we read: “I
appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you
agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the
same mind and the same judgment.” St.
Paul appeals for unity in charity. That
is not always easy, but each of us has a very serious responsibility to build
up the Church in unity. If we put aside
a superficial view of Church matters St. Paul promises that we will discover
the wisdom of the Cross. The Wisdom of
the Cross comes from submitting to Christ in all things and by loving one
another. Jesus Christ is our
model. He wills that we be united in
love.
When we live in Christ it is
not a matter of getting my way but doing what He wants because He is the Way,
the Truth, and the Life.
In the Gospel of Matthew,
chapter four, Jesus makes clear the position of those who will become fishers
of men and women. First and foremost
all that is contrary to His ways must be put aside. Humble, repentant, contrite hearts will build up the kingdom of
God. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven
is at hand.” In Matthew chapter 5 we read:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of
God.” Let us all renew our promise to
be peacemakers in our families, our parish, our town, our country, in the
world. Peacemakers are very much in
need in our day. Let us rise to the
occasion.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Dear Parishioners and
Friends,
Just one month from today we
will begin a historic Parish Mission with Father Michael X. Bennett. He will preach at all the weekend Masses and
then stay with us during the week to
preach a four day Mission from Monday, February 28th through
Thursday, March 3rd. This
will be a privileged time for all of us as we unite in the Lord Jesus and
recommit ourselves to be His faithful servants. I am looking forward to this special time together. It is my hope that this prayer time will
bring us closer to the Lord and closer to one another. Please mark your calendars and pray that abundant
graces will shower down on all of us.
In the Gospel we read about
the encounter between St. John the Baptist and the Lord (John 1, 29). St. John the Baptist recognizes in Jesus
the God-Man, the Savior. He makes a
profession of Faith in the words:
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” St. John the Baptist points out Jesus as
the promised Messiah. Jesus is the
Christ, the anointed one. We are
invited to put our faith in Him and in Him alone.
Right before we receive Holy
Communion we hear similar words. The
Word made flesh is truly and really present under the appearances of bread and
wine. The bread and wine have ceased to
exist in the eyes of faith. What we see
are only the appearances of bread and wine.
The bread and wine have changed into the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity
of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Church
calls this change Transubstantiation.
Thus in Holy Communion we are privileged to have an encounter with the
Lord that wasn’t available even to St. John the Baptist.
We are called to
holiness. Holiness comes from living in
union with the Holy One, the Lord Jesus.
This is the vocation we all share.
We strive to grow in holiness.
In his first letter to the Corinthians St. Paul speaks “to you who have
been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all those everywhere
who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Like St. John the Baptist let us keep focused on the Lord. Let us never turn away from Him.
Blessed be God! Blessed be His Holy Name!
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza
Pastor
*******************************************************
The Baptism of the Lord
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
The Solemnity of the Baptism
of the Lord officially closes the Christmas season. Hopefully, the graces received during this joyful time will
continue to sustain us as we move along into the New Year. Monday, we will return to Ordinary Time in
the liturgy until the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday, March 9th.
From Monday, January 10th
through Friday, January 14th I will be away from the parish on a
silent retreat. Please pray for me
during this time of prayer and reflection.
I am always grateful for those who pray for me. I promise to keep you, your loved ones, and
the parish in my prayers during this special time with the Lord.
I am glad to announce that
the parish will have a Parish Mission of four days, beginning the weekend of
February 26-27th with Father Michael X. Bennett from the Gospel of
Life Apostolate. He will preach at all
the Masses on February 26-27 and will preach and conduct services for the
entire parish from Monday, February 28th through Thursday, March 3rd. This Mission will be for all of us. I ask that you mark your calendars now and
make plans to attend the entire Mission.
Again let us pray for the success of this Mission that souls will return
to the Lord and that all of us will be revived in the Faith. I’m excited and I hope you are too. This Mission will precede the Lenten season.
The Baptism of the Lord
reminds us of our own baptism, when we first entered into the death and
resurrection of the Lord. The waters of
baptism wash away the Original Sin of our first parents, and at the same time
bring us into communion with God, the Father, God, the Son, and God, the Holy
Spirit. Because Jesus is the beloved
Son of the Father, we are beloved sons and daughters of the same loving God. We need to affirm this relationship every
day. Each of us is loved
unconditionally. This is our true
identity as Christians. We must never
forget it.
In this New Year let us live
each day in communion with God. May we
more and more die to sin in Jesus Christ and rise up to new life in Him. May this year be one of many blessings and
graces for each of us. Let us live
holier lives.
Yours in the Lord,