Dear Family!

Last week in my homily I preached about us sharing the evangelizing ministry starting from our homes where the image of Jesus or the Crucifix holds the most reverent attention and a constant reminder that Jesus is the Head of our households. Since the Catholic Church is predominantly ministered by the “Fifty plus” community, our evangelizing ministry must take note of the recent seventeen catechesis of Pope Francis about ‘Old Age’.

Dear Family!

Last Sunday, in the evening mass I asked the congregation what their favorite Scripture Passage was. I am sure you all have one or more as your favorite passage. If you never had one in the past, I strongly encourage you to get familiarized with the Bible (Remember Pope Francis establishing the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time to be celebrated as Word of God Sunday). I also encourage you to write to me about your favorite Bible passage as to how it relates to your life and faith.

Dear Family!

It was a joy in meeting you at all masses last weekend. It was a joy to meet Father Pat after 13 years as his sister, Maryann was my friend before Father. It was a joy also to meet all the deacons at mass and of course Father Gilbert, our Parochial Vicar, whose Priestly Anniversary is on the 22nd of August.

Dear Family!

‘You’ - This is my first word I reflect on as I start my ministry. God has sent me through the blessing of our Bishop to you. You are my first priority as to why I am here. You and I become a family today. I thank God for giving me a larger family this time. I thank you for your readiness to welcome me as your pastor. This sense of gratitude runs through me today, my prayers, continue everyday of my ministry and reflect in my love for you and in my service to you.

It’s hard to believe that this is the last column I will write for the bulletin in this parish. Over the past thirteen years I have used this space to share parish news, instruct you about the faith, and tell you about things going on in my life. Today, I write to say thanks.

I wrote these words while I was watching the Yankees game on TV last Sunday. As I watched, it occurred to me that the Yankees won the World Series the year I arrived here. While they are having a really good year, I won’t make any World Series predictions for them, especially with the Mets also having a good year and even the Phillies in the mix for the playoffs. Indeed, if I predicted anything, and that team lost, someone would be convinced I ‘jinxed’ them!

I wrote these words last Friday morning, having spent the previous evening with many of our Altar Servers and their families. We enjoyed an outing to the Iron Pigs baseball game, as a thank you to the servers for helping our priests at Holy Mass. Being with so many good families made for great conversation and a good time. I am very thankful to the young people who serve Mass so faithfully in our Church, and to their parents who support them in that ministry.

I hope you all enjoyed a great Fourth of July. I can’t tell you about mine, since I had to write this article before it happened! That happens when holidays fall in such a way that affects the Bulletin Company’s schedule.

It’s hard to believe that this is the last column I will write for the bulletin in this parish. Over the past thirteen years I have used this space to share parish news, instruct you about the faith, and tell you about things going on in my life. Today, I write to say thanks.

I want to begin by wishing everyone a very happy Independence Day. While most people call it the Fourth of July, I prefer Independence Day because it reminds us of the holiday’s connection to the founding of our nation. Recalling and celebrating our nation’s beginning rightly leads us to give thanks for the many things we have accomplished as a nation over the years.

As most of you know, I went on my annual priest retreat the week of June 13 – 18. I had a wonderful time at my alma mater – Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg. Maryland. While there I had lots of time to pray, and remembered all of you and the special intentions so many of you gave me. As usual, I visited and prayed at the tomb of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, to whom I have a special devotion.

This weekend is Corpus Christi – the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. It is a day to celebrate and reaffirm our Faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, under the appearance of bread and wine. As many of you know, it is also one of my favorite holy days of the year.

Last week, I had a nice evening with Fr. Gilbert and the deacons of our parish. We had dinner together to celebrate Deacon John Flynn’s 45th anniversary as a deacon. Many of you know or are even related to Deacon John. He is a fine Christian gentleman.

Even before his ordination, Deacon John was active in this parish. He was the first lay lector to read at Mass here, and the first Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist. It should surprise no one that, when the permanent diaconate was restored by the Second Vatican Council (with great encouragement from Pope St. Paul VI), Deacon John was in the first class to be ordained for what was then the Diocese of Trenton.

Today is Pentecost Sunday – the day on which Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help His disciples spread the Gospel to many peoples and places. In Baptism, and especially Confirmation, Jesus sent that same Holy Spirit to help us spread the Gospel in the world today. Many of you do this by teaching your children about the Faith and sending them to Catholic School or CCD classes. Many also do it by supporting the missions. Still others do it on a personal, one to one basis, sharing their faith with others in conversations and other ways.