From Our Pastor's Desk
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From Our Pastor's Desk
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My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, retreat is very important in our Christian life. It can be defined as a definite time spent away from one’s normal life for the purpose of reconnecting, usually in prayer, with God. The gospel starts by recounting the transfiguration. In which Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. It shows us one of the important moments in the life of Jesus, when he came to understand his mission, and he realizes he will carry it out through humiliation and defeat. Jesus wants his disciples to accept the plan of the Father for him but they do not do so. Only after his death will they understand how the way of the cross was the way to life.
The second reading continues with this gospel idea and invites all of us to die with Christ. The death we speak of here is the destruction of our selfishness. The first reading completes the message of the liturgy of today by presenting Abraham to us, the man who placed his trust in God and, because of this, was promised a country and numerous descendants. During this liturgical season, the Lord takes us with him to a place apart. While our ordinary commitments compel us to remain in our usual places and our often repetitive and sometimes boring routines, during Lent we are invited to ascend “a high mountain” in the company of Jesus and to live a particular experience of spiritual discipline. A retreat refreshes and revitalizes, gives the opportunity for more time spent in prayer and contemplation, and rekindles and deepens one’s relationship with God. It creates the opportunity for a person to more clearly hear God’s call and to seek God’s healing grace and thereby attain a degree of spiritual renewal. It is an invitation to temporarily leave behind the usual distractions we all face to allow an inner change to occur: the ongoing conversion of heart that is critical to deepen faith. Lent is a time that the Lord invites us “come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while with me”. As a parish we are invited to the English Lenten revival Monday March 6 and Tuesday March 7th 7pm each night. Food will be served from 6pm so that we can come from work. The Spanish Lenten retreat is on Saturday March 11th from 8:30am to 1pm. I wish to encourage all parishioners to make a conscious effort to participate actively in this spiritual exercise. May the Lord bless us. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen Fr. Paschal Chester, SVD My dear brothers and sisters this Sunday is the first Sunday of Lent and I would like to invite you to reflect on what tempts you the most? How does God help you overcome temptation? From the gospel we realize that just after the glory of the hour of baptism, Jesus was led by the spirit into the wilderness and was tempted by Satan. Our life is a journey with the Lord. Let us not doubt that the devil tempts us every day as he tempts Jesus here.
The devil never offers us sin as something destructive. Rather, he always presents us with something bad in a good likeness. In the first reading, the serpent offers the woman the forbidden fruit, emphasizing that by eating it she would become wise. Jesus is very hungry when the devil dares him to change the stones into bread. In the same way he entices us to satisfy our inordinate cravings for food, drink, and sexual pleasure. Jesus rejects the devil's offer because he gives more importance to attending to the word of God the Father than eating. Following him, we must remember the need for moderation in matters of appetite. The devil not only tempts our physical needs but also our deepest anxieties. Every human person wants to make sure that God is there to save them when they feel hopeless. In situations that demand extreme personal sacrifice, we Christians expect Him to protect us. A woman remembers how she felt empty and lost when she received news that her two brothers had been in a car accident. The crash killed one and seriously injured the other. She had no inner peace until she received the consolation that God allows these upheavals to produce something better. In the second temptation the devil tempts Jesus to kill himself to assure himself of the love of God the Father. But Jesus knows that the Father's love is infinite and that the Father always cares for him. Finally, the demon tempts Jesus with power. He says that he will grant him sovereignty over the world in exchange for a simple act of worship. But Jesus knows that power sought for its own sake only corrupts. We must resolve that whatever power we have will be used for the betterment of others, never to harm them. During times of temptation, we should know that we are not alone. The spirit of God is with us, we have the holy scriptures at our disposal. May the Holy Spirit give us strength. May God bless our desire to do his will. Let us humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God in every temptation and tribulation as we seek for strength and grace in prayer. In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen Fr. Paschal Chester, SVD. My dear brothers and sisters, this Wednesday we will begin the graceful season of lent that will lead us to Easter. We make this forty days Lenten season with the whole Church because God has called us to form his people reconstituted from him. We will be likening the Israelites in the first reading. They traveled through the desert for forty years so that God can form them as his special people. They have to learn how to be holy like him. The reason for this formation is more than the edification of individuals. Rather, God wants to use them, and now us, to instruct the world in his ways.
It is quite a difficult mission to fulfill, particularly when considering the human tendency to sin. We need God's help without which we cannot fulfill the mission. Help will come to us precisely as a result of the Lenten journey. As Paul says in the second reading, God forms us as the "temple of the Holy Spirit.” This title involves tasks both inside and outside the community. First, outside, it is specifically left to the laity to transform the world according to the gospel by sowing the seed of the kingdom of God. They do it by living their lives in demonstrative ways of the Holy Spirit. Although not required, many lay people have ministries within the church. Teaching the catechism, which they have done for centuries, as well as reading the Word of God and distributing Holy Communion at Mass count as ministries. Christ puts us on the Lenten journey with the part of the Sermon on the Mount that most anticipated our destiny. In the Kingdom of God we will not experience enmity. Rather we will all treat each other with love. As disciples of Jesus we are to practice this universal love in our daily lives. Lent serves us as training. First, we must condition ourselves not to react defensively when other people mistreat us. This is not a matter of allowing a bully to beat us up but of not caring how we appear to other people. Instead of returning insult for insult and blow for blow, we leave the other person marveling at how the Holy Spirit has rendered us peaceful and kind in the midst of threats and insults. It seems that many Catholics think that it is enough to go to church on Ash Wednesday to fulfill their Lenten obligation. But the ashes serve as a reminder that we have been marked by God as his sons and daughters and the need to repent from sin and live the Kingdom virtues. On the route we will face various types of challenges. With our eyes fixed on Christ crucified we will not give up before them. Rather, we will end up more conformed to him. What sacrifice am I going to make this Lent? It is my prayer that the Lord bless you with a fruitful Lenten season. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen Fr. Paschal Chester, SVD. My dear brothers and sisters, last week Jesus told us that “you are the light of the world”. Light illuminates, it reveals what is there and shows the way. Light is opposite to darkness and it is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness. You are the light of the world. Jesus is telling his disciples that they are the light of truth that reveals the reality of God’s goodness and contrast with man’s wickedness. We are to be LIGHT, witnessing boldly to the Word of the Lord. Now he shows us that bringing light to others doesn’t just happen. It happens only when his light fills our minds and hearts so that it can shine out from us.
Darkness is a metaphor for ignorance or evil. When we light a candle darkness is overcome. This symbolism of a lit candle overcoming darkness, ignorance and evil was a powerful sign at the feast of presentation and Easter vigil. Tonight a candle is a symbol of hope. In this Black History Month, we are reminded to light candles of hope, love, unity and reconciliation. To light a candle is to say to yourself and others that, despite anything that might be happening in the world, you are still spreading a message of peace and unity based upon something beyond the present state of things and this hope is based upon deeper realities and powers than the world admits. Each person has a God-given mission to fulfill, a particular job to do that has been given to no one else. The first reading tells us that human beings are free and we are accountable for our actions. The second reading speaks of the wisdom of God, so different from human wisdom, the gospel gives some examples of this. The disciples do not ask Jesus to explain what he says. They believe in the love of the Father and know that the way he shows them is the way of life. The doctrine of Jesus is of eternal value to people of all times. To keep the truths of faith in their fullness is essential to the salvation of mankind. May he grant us the grace to light our candle wherever we are. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen Fr. Paschal Chester, SVD. My dear brothers and sisters, Black History Month is a month-long recognition of African Americans and the critical role they played in the founding and shaping of the United States of America.This year's theme is "Black Resistance”, which takes a look at how African-Americans have fought repression from America's
earlist days. There has always been a crossroad between the Christian faith and grave moral issues like war, capital punishment, abortion, racial prejudice, poverty and care for the earth. We are reminded to examine each event and news through the eyes of our catholic faith. The Lord reminds us on this first Sunday of the Black History Month that salt flavors food, as salt preserves food and brings healing, so we are called to transform the world into an expression of beauty and goodness. We have the mission to change what exists in the shadow to what shines with the light. We have the power to go where there is evil and sow seeds of generosity and compassion. We are the force of the Spirit that blows with energy and joy”. Each of us have been chosen by God to bring the gospel to our homes, workplaces, to pass our faith to our children and grandchildren and share our gifts and talents with the world. The light we reflect is not our own but by God. Awe are the salt of the world because of Christ. This Sunday, we begin the “Catholic Sharing Appeal” (CSA). We wish to express our sincere gratitude to you for your contributions and support to our mission and the Catholic Sharing appeal. Our annual Catholic Sharing Appeal allows the diocese to evangelize and serve in many ways Catholic charities- bringing the light of Christ to the less fortunate, Catholic education- preparing students to be a light to the world, faith formation (adults, youth and marriage and family life)- proclaiming the light of Christ, fostering vocations to the priesthood and religious life- “yes” to the call, continuing clergy and religious formation- Amy their light shine before others, advocacy and justice-catholic social teaching, diaconate formation among many others. Thank you very much for your continuous contributions and support. It is our prayer that the Lord bless us with a successful campaign. And may He bless you and your good intentions in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen Fr. Paschal Chester, SVD My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, with the feast of the baptism of Jesus on Monday, the Christmas season came to an end and we entered the ordinary time. We come to Mass today and hear another account of the Baptism of Jesus, this time according to the Gospel of Saint John. John the Baptist uses the words, "This is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." What incredible news. This Jesus who came over two thousand years ago is the same Jesus who continues to come today to take away the sin of the world. Sometimes we feel discouraged by the reality of sin: the violence, the injustice, the oppression. But Jesus is coming, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. In this way, he encourages us to have confidence and hope.
Tomorrow our country will interrupt its ordinary rhythm to remember the testimony and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, great prophet of non-violence. This hero gave testimony with his words, and in the end, with his life to value the fight against oppression and discrimination. Dr. King began his career as a civil rights leader, speaking out against the segregation that was a part of daily life in this country. Little by little, he spread his message to the causes of poverty, and the injustice of the war in Vietnam. He spoke of light, of fidelity to the path of Jesus, of the power of non-violence. He left us a vision of the possible, based not on the reality of time, but on the promise of a God of love. How good to hear today the Gospel according to Saint John. We see that the words "This is the Lamb of God, the one who takes away the sin of the world" have value in our day, within a reality that continues to be changed by sin. Jesus continues to work in the lives of sincere Christians who are dedicated to bringing justice. John's role was to testify about Jesus; tell people that Jesus was the Savior; proclaim that the Kingdom had already begun. The prophets of our day, including us, have to proclaim the same thing. God is a God of justice, and his kingdom is manifested through non-violence. Today we have the opportunity to reflect on the words of John the Baptist, within the reality of the violence in the streets and the celebration of Doctor Martin Luther King. We see that it is possible in our days, in our culture, in our communities to live according to the vision of the gospel. May the Lord bless us with the grace we need. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen Fr. Paschal Chester, SVD. My dear brothers and sisters, we are in the middle of the Advent Season and the Prophet Isaiah in the first reading says “The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song. The glory of Lebanon will be given to them, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.” This is also the joy of Advent, and that of every day: Jesus is near us. He is nearer every day and he brings us joy and not affliction.
The Angel said to Mary “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you”. It is the nearness of God which makes the virgin rejoice. And the nearness of the Messiah will make the unborn Baptist show forth his joy in the womb of Elizabeth. Later, the Angel will say to the Shepherds: Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day a savior… Joy is to possess Jesus; un-happiness is to lose him. Rejoice, because the Lord is hand and you will see his glory. We come close to him whenever we want to. In a few days it will be Christmas, a great feast for us Christians, but also for the whole human race, which without knowing it, is looking for Christ. Christmas is coming, and God wants us to be joyful like the shepherds, like the wise men, like Mary and Joseph. We shall be full of joy if our Lord is really present in our life, if we have not lost him, if we have not allowed our sight to be clouded by tepidity or lack of generosity. When one attempts to discover happiness along other paths which lead away from God, all one finds in fact is sorrow and misery. All those who, in one way or an-other, ever turned their back on God have had the same experience: they have proved that apart from God there is no true happiness. There can be nine. To find Christ and to remain in his company, is to possess a deep happiness which is new every day. It is true that there is tension between what we expect with the coming of Jesus and what we see. But the mes-sage of this third Sunday of Advent is that Jesus is near and he comes to do works of compassion and mercy in the person of his Church. We can live with hope, rejoicing because now, as always, God is with us. May the Lord bless us, in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Fr. Paschal Chester, SVD. My dear brothers and sisters, on November 2nd we commemorated all the faithful departed and we are reminded to pray for the Holy Souls in purgatory. Although Jesus requires us to be perfect, most people- even those who die in God’s favor-never reach this state of perfection prior to their death. These imperfections often include attachments to created goods, inordinate desires for earthly pleasures, and small but habitual sins. They also include the satisfactions still owed to God, to restore the equality of justice for the many sins that they committed during their lives.
The bible says “nothing unclean” shall enter heaven, and without holiness no one can see the Lord. So, how can the souls hope to behold the face of the all-perfect and holy God? The answer is purgatory. In purgatory, God purifies the soul of its imperfections through the fire of his divine justice. During this process, the soul is purged of its evil inclinations and makes final satisfaction to God for its sins. After the purification is complete, God admits the soul into heaven where it enjoys the Beatific Vision for all eternity. The word “purgatory” comes from the Latin ‘purgare’ which means to purge, purify, or make clean. The church teaches that it is a place or condition of temporal punishment for departed souls who are destined for heaven but not completely purified from sin. Through this purgative process, spiritual contamination is removed and the soul is made wholly pleasing to God so it can live forever with Him in heaven. Many people have mistaken ideas about purgatory. Some people think that purgatory is a place where people get a “second chance” after death to accept God and be saved. Others think that purgatory is an alternative destination for people who are “too good” for hell but “not good enough” for heaven. Some also think that purgatory is a place where the soul works for heaven and gains additional merits from God. These views are erroneous. Purgatory is not a “second change”, nor an “alternative destination or a middle state between the place of the saved and the place of the damned. In purgatory the soul does none of the work of purification; rather God does all the work. We can assist the holy souls through penance, the sacraments, and indulgence. We can offer Holy Mass for them, pray for them. May we remember them and offer them to the Lord. Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen. Fr. Paschal Chester, SVD My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, prayer is very powerful, and in today’s gospel, “Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary”. All people who have been close to the Lord, will speak about the primary importance of prayer in the Christian life. The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily”. Jesus tells us to persevere, and praying when it is more difficult might be the best time to pray.
When we pray, we may ask for things necessary for our salvation, piously and with perseverance; this can make our prayers more effective. God will hear our prayers and he is pleased that we pray on behalf of others. God knows what is best for us and he will give us what is best for us, even if we are not asking as we should. Saint Paul tells us that he prayed to be delivered from a temptation, but instead God gave him the grace to endure it. God knows the difference between our needs and wants. He knows the right time to grant our request. What is necessary for our salvation? The virtues, faith, hope, love, humility, temperance, meekness etc. To die in the state of grace, the grace to love God, the grace to know our vocation, and the grace of perseverance, prayer is necessary for salvation so pray for the grace to pray effectively. In prayer, little Therese says, we are like a baby learning to walk. We come to the foot of the stairs but as of-ten as we try, we fall back again till our mother standing at the top comes down to pick us up. My dear friends, when we pray there are two people involved; God and us. But the temptation is for us to focus only on ourselves. We need to pay attention to God a little more and let him do the good that he wants to do. He tells us in Ps 46:10 that “be still and know that I am God”. Perseverance is our proof that we mean what we say. The more difficult a thing is, the more we have to work at it. We grow in gratitude, humility and holiness through perseverance. That is why devotion to the angels, rosary, and divine mercy chaplet are so powerful. Through them we ask for God’s graces for ourselves, family, friends, and others. May the Lord grant to us the grace of prayer. In the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen Fr. Paschal Chester, SVD. Each year, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15) to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic Americans who have inspired others to achieve success. “The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their Independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or ‘Día de la Raza’, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.” We are very proud as a parish to celebrate the history and culture of our brothers and sisters and to recognize the contribution that they play in our community and parish. May we continue to be enriched through the presence of one another.
On the third Sunday of September, the church celebrates ‘Catechetical Sunday’, which began as an opportunity for catechists, parents and guardians to recommit themselves to the mission of catechesis, and to celebrate and affirm in them this great vocation. This year, the Church celebrates Catechetical Sunday on September 19, 2021, and the theme is: “This is my body given for you.” We are very grateful to all those who provide faith formation to diverse age groups and settings. This is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. The readings of this Sunday reflect on being a good steward of the goods of the world. Can we call the rich of the time Amos shrewd? They became wealthy by cheating the poor, had no respect for ‘holy days’ and they busied themselves with their own selfish interests. In the eyes of people they were certainly shrewd, but in the eyes of God they ruined themselves. This is what the first reading teaches us. Jesus tells us in the gospel that we are ‘shrewd’ if we use the goods of this world to help others. In this way we acquire the only thing that counts, the friendship of the poor. To understand this truth, so difficult to accept, we need prayer. Paul tells us this in the second reading. May the Lord bless us. In the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Fr. Paschal Chester, SVD |
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