This week our nation observes two annual events. On Monday, April 22nd is Earth Day and on Friday, April 26th is Arbor Day. The first Earth Day was observed in 1970 to support environmental protections and peace initiatives. Today there are over one billion people in 193 countries par- ticipating. The theme or focus for this year is “Planet vs. Plastics,” with particular attention on the accumulation of plastics in our oceans. Arbor Day was first observed in 1872 when Nebraskan citizens planted more than one million trees. It was originally observed on the same day as Earth Day, but was later moved to the last Friday in April.
Soon after my arrival to St. Brendan’s, I had two southern oak trees planted on the parish property, one at the rectory and the other one in our back parking lot/field. Honestly, if I could, I would plant the whole field and make it a beautiful park instead of a parking lot. That, of course, is not practical, especially for Sunday Masses. But even as it is now, our field is the last green space on Island Estates. Every piece of property has either been built upon or is in the process of being built upon. And the result is that residents are drawn to our “recreational” field every day, including those who need a place for their dogs to run and play.
The irony to all of this is that human beings have an innate desire for green and blue spaces. Yet the very spaces we desire and are drawn to have either been built over or blocked from view. In my case, I know that the water is close by, but I need to be 60 feet tall to see it from where I live. This is not meant to be a personal gripe session. However, I do know there is a reason why spiritual places, like monasteries and retreat houses, are usually found in natural settings. Such places, like forests, clean bodies of water, or even a little parish field, can help to refresh the soul. Despite the high demand for commercial developments, the spiritual life simply cannot live without natural places that foster stillness and inner peace.
This Fourth Sunday of Easter is traditionally called “Good Shepherd Sunday.” Images of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, come to my mind as he “makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul” (Psalm 23:2-3). May we all receive that peace of soul that only God can give. Sit under the shade of a nice big oak tree. Or better yet, plant a tree or something else that’s green. It might help.
Peace. Father Tim
April 14, 2024
Dear Parishioners,
An adapted version of an old maxim says, “There are no atheists in foxholes—or in IRS waiting rooms.” Monday, April 15th is Tax Day. Years ago, long before the 911 terrorist attacks, I flew to Canada to visit family in Toronto. It was during the time when our laws with Canada were starting to require proof of passport to allow reentry into the U.S. Of course, I never got that memo and a customs agent at the airport took me to a side room for interrogation (just like in the movies). It used to be that crossing back-and-forth between the U.S. and Canada only required a valid photo ID, like a driver’s license. That apparently changed during my visit, because I got into Canada with just a driver’s license but then could not cross back. It was a predicament to say the least. Well, to make a long story short, as the agent was rattling off a string of questions, he quickly asked me, “When are taxes due in the U.S.?” I quickly responded back, “April 15th.” I guess that was enough proof for him that I was a U.S. citizen because he let me pass, though he reminded me to bring my passport next time. The memory still makes me chuckle that simply knowing the date of Tax Day without hesitation was convincing evidence of being American. That certainly would not pass muster in this day and age. Life is more complicated now, unfortunately. But the deeper message for us is to realize the spiritual importance of having a dual citizenship in this world and in the Kingdom of Heaven. The second reading from the first Letter of St. John reminds us that Jesus Christ is our Divine Passport, who is the “expiation of our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.” Easter, and its fifty-day liturgical season, is all about the celebration of this glorious redemptive act of Jesus Christ. So, when our own time comes to crossover from this life to the next, remember my adapted version of the old slogan from American Express Travelers Checks: “Don’t leave home without Him.”
Peace.
Father Tim
April 7, 2024
Dear Parishioners, Holy Week went very well with all of the special liturgies, particularly the Triduum. We also had a good turn-out of people, especially for Easter Sunday. All four Masses, both in the church and the hall, were completely full with standing room only. My Masses in the church were jam packed, and the 9:00 AM Mass had people standing the whole length of the back walls. One of the ushers said that he counted over 700 people at that Mass. It was quite a sight to behold. I give thanks to God for such a wonderful showing of people for worship, and the wonderful weather we had as well. God bless you for your participation and generosity. I also want to give you an update on Msgr. Devine and his health. He has been receiving rehabilitative care at Sabal Palms Health & Rehabilitation Center in Largo. A few months back he fell and broke his elbow and chipped a tooth. That incident sent him to the hospital and to the rehab facility where he currently is now. His cast was removed about a month ago, and the physical therapists have been working to gain strength back in his arm. The goal is to gain back enough strength to support himself with a walker. Sabal Palms has now informed us that he will be released on Thursday, April 4th. I think it is a little too soon, but my guess is that it has more to do with insurance stipulations than his readiness. In any case, Msgr. Devine is going back to St. John XXIII Residence in Lutz. That is located on the third floor of the Angels Senior Living at the Reserves of Idlewild. I do not yet know his room number, but I understand he has a very nice two-room suite. Hopefully we will know soon enough to include it in this week’s bulletin and on Flocknote. Of course, the sad part to all of this is that after twenty-five years Msgr. Devine is no longer in residence at St. Brendan parish. But rest assured, he will be with other priest-friends and getting the level of care that he needs. Plus, I have no doubt that the good people of St. Brendan’s will stay in touch with him by mail, phone calls, and occasional visits. If not, I will hear about it for sure. Happy Easter! Father Tim
March 31, 2024
Happy Easter Everyone! The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! There will be time enough in the weeks ahead during the Easter season to reflect on the Lord’s resurrection. Butnow is the time to celebrate. To give thanks and praise to our God. The Risen Jesus has essentially used an “Easter Eraser” to remove our sins by His passion, death, and resurrection. Maybe in the spirit of Easter we in turn could offer pardon to someone and extend our hand of forgiveness. What a great way to spread our gratitude for this great gift. As St. Paul urged the people of his day, so may we too “be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ” (Eph 4:32). Again, Happy Easter! Father Tim
March 24, 2024
Dear Parishioners, We did it! The “little parish that could” beat all the other parishes of the diocese by coming in first to reach our goal in pledges for the Catholic Ministry Appeal. This is the second time we crossed the finish line first. The previous time was two years ago. Further details were not yet available at the time of this writing, only that we had won and that additional information would soon follow. Folks, this is quite an accomplishment, and it underscores the commitment and generosity of all of you. It shows in a tangible way your commitment to our parish, and your generosity to the ongoing work of charity. From the bottom of my heart, I want to sincerely thank you for responding to the challenge and participating. Let us remember now to follow through with our pledges to actually pay off the goal. But in the meantime, congratulations and accolades are certainly in order and well deserved. I take no credit in this achievement, and I told the diocese to focus their acknowledgements on the parishioners of St. Brendan parish. Give credit where credit is due, and it could not have happened without YOU. God is never outdone in generosity; and so, may God bless you all with an abundance of grace as we enter Holy Week and the Easter season. Peace. Father Tim
March 17, 2024
Dear Parishioners, March 20th marks this year’s Spring Equinox. What is that, you ask? The word equinox comes from the Latin; it means“equal night.” A Spring Equinox is that point when the Sun crosses the equator line, heading north in the sky. The length of day and night is nearly equal in all parts of the world. It also marks the start of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere. That has more meaning for folks up north who look forward to warmer temperatures than for us in Florida. We have plenty of warm weather here, but I well remember the long, cold winter months of my childhood years in the Midwest. People would eagerly look for the first signs of Spring, like song birds singing or robins looking for worms, daffodils poking up from the soil, trees showing buds, and farmers starting to prepare the fields for planting. I recall Robert Frost’s poem A Prayer in Spring where he sees in the signs of Spring--like the flowers, bees, trees, and birds--as signs of God’s love. We will soon mark Spring’s rite of Easter and celebrate God’s ultimate love for the world. Perhaps, like Spring, we would do well to look for the signs of this important liturgical season. Where do we see the first signs of God’s ultimate love for us in our everyday lives and in our community? How or what does the salvific act of Jesus’ passion, death, andresurrection reveal to us today? This Sunday we hear the story from John’s Gospel about Greeks in Jerusalem who asked Philip, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” But it was their desire through faith that ultimately led them from such a far distance to see Jesus. And it is that same desire through faith wherein lies the key to seeing the signs. As that old songfrom Michael W. Smith goes, “Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, I want to see you.” Peace. Father Tim
March 10, 2024
Dear Parishioners, We had our annual St. Patrick’s Dinner & Dance on Saturday, March 9th in anticipation of the actual feast day on March 17th. A good time was had by all in our parish hall. Of course, we are all familiar with the date of March 17th being St. Patrick’s Day. But I would venture to bet that few people know that the day before on March 16th is “Bathing in the Shannon” Day, another old Irish celebration. It started on the belief that if you were dipped in the Shannon River you were washed free of all bashfulness. It was sometimes referred to as the “Irish baptism.” Maybe that explains why I have never met a shy Irish person. I mean, think about it, have you? Irish and shy just don’t go together. And we are all beneficiaries as a result. The Irish people, particularly missionary priests and religious sisters, brought their boldness of faith and evange- lized our country from its earliest days to still today. Irish culture and faith have contributed much to the history and development of our way of life here in the United States. Take time this week to reflect and give thanks to God for those who were not shy about sharing their faith and all things green. Speaking of non-bashful Irishmen, this is a good opportunity to give you an update on Msgr. Devine. At this writing, I was told that his arm cast will be removed on Monday, March 4th. If the bone has healed, the Sabal rehab facility will work to get his arm strong enough to support his weight with a walker. I’m not sure how long that will take, perhaps a week or two. At that point, a determination will be made by the medical team to give the okay for him to leave. But he will not be coming back here. He realizes that he can no longer care for himself. And so, he has decided, in consultation with those responsible for his care, to move back permanently to the assisted-living facility at Lutz. The diocese has a partner- ship with St. John XXIII Residence where other priest-friends of Msgr. Devine are now also living. In the meantime, please keep him in your prayers as he continues his recovery. I will let you know more when they let me know. Peace. Father Tim
March 3, 2024
Father Tim's weekly message:
Dear Parishioners,
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about two surveys from the Pew Research Center on Catholic belief in the Eucharist and the growing phenomenon of “Nones.” Another study topic was recently brought to my attention that came from such reputable sources as Mayo Clinic, the National Institutes of Health, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the International Epidemiological Association. All of these medical organizations did similar but independent research that found common results on the intersection of religion and health. To summarize, they found conclusive evidence that those who attend religious services once a week, compared to those who never attend religious services, have a 20% to 30% lower risk of all-cause mortality. They also found direct correlations to lower rates of heavy drinking, smoking, and depression. As one clinical cohort study concluded: “. . . religious-service attendance may be a meaningful form of social integration that potentially relates to greater longevity, healthier behaviors, better mental health and greater psychosocial well-being” (International Journal of Epidemiology, no. 49, Jan. 23, 2021).
What does this mean for you and me? Obviously, we do not go to church primarily to improve our physical health. But it does remind us that God purposely designed our body, mind, and spirit to be interconnected. Furthermore, the studies were clear that being “spiritual but not religious,” which “Nones” often argue, do not show similar benefits. In the end, the research specifically showed that religious service attendance, rather than private spirituality or solitary practice, strongly predicted health. They never focused on any particular religious tradition, but communal religious participation was essential. So, there you have it: Mass is good for your health! Of course, we always knew Mass is good for our spiritual health. And that ultimately is most important. But let’s be honest, these added incentives don’t hurt either. Nevertheless, as this Sunday’s Gospel reminds us, may our church be first and foremost a house of prayer, and never a marketplace of selfish gain.
Peace.
Father Tim
February 25, 2024
Dear Parishioners, I recently read a bit of trivia that I thought interesting. Did you know that the letter “O” is the oldest member of our alphabet? I know, the excitement from this newly acquired information is almost overwhelming. It is like discovering fire or inventing the wheel. One caveman must have said to another, “Look, I just invented the letter O!” But I bet his Stone Age friend was not impressed and said, “So what? It’s as useless as that wheel you made last week. Now quit messing around and pass me some more of that tasty Woolly Mammoth.” My observation of the past might be less than historically accurate, but the letter “O” reflects a similar humanistic impression in our day and age. It seems to me that the “O” appears crammed and forgotten in the middle of a long line, lost in a maze of letters where its own sense of awe and wonder has slowly faded away. Where is our sense of awe and wonder--in life, in beauty, in God? Do we feel like the letter “O” who is crammed and forgotten in the middle of a long line of others? It is interesting that some of our great liturgical prayers begin with the letter “O”, like the O Antiphons at Advent and hymns like O Salutaris. They reflect that original aspect of “O” that has not forgotten its innate sense of awe and wonder, especially of God. I know that Peter, James, and John felt a great deal of awe and wonder when they saw Jesus transfigured before them in dazzling white. In fact, this Sunday’s Gospel says that Peter was so awestruck that he “hardly knew what to say.” My guess is that his likely expressions of “ooh,” “aah,” and “O” don’t count. And that is unfortunate. So, the next time you see something of great beauty, like a colorful sunset, or the mystery of God, like in the Eucharistic presence, let out a big “O” of awe and wonder as part of your prayer. Reflect that original aspect of who you are as a child of God. Peace. Father Tim
February 18, 2024
Dear Parishioners, A lot of focus has been given to surveys on what U.S. Catholics believe of the Holy Eucharist these last few years. The Pew Research Center, for instance, found in a 2019 survey that 7 in 10 (69%) believe that the bread and wine used in communion are only symbolic. Just one-third (31%) said they believed in the Church’s traditional teaching of Transubstantiation. That was a major reason for why the bishops of our country implemented a national three- year Eucharistic Revival movement, which will culminate in July with a pilgrimage to Indianapolis for the National Eucharistic Congress. Such findings and the Church’s response, while im- portant and necessary, do not address what is at the core of this problem; namely, that the U.S. public is becoming less religious. The Pew Research Center did another survey that was released just last month (January 24, 2024) that points to the growingphenomenon of “Nones,” which obviously is an underlying factor for why more people are rejecting core Catholic beliefs and values.Pew defined the term “nones” as “people who describe themselves as atheist, agnostic or ‘nothing in particular’ when asked about their religious affiliation in our surveys” (p. 16). There is much from this study worth mentioning; but for the sake of brevity, I willjust point out why “nones” are not religious. The overall reasons given were “skepticism about religious teachings [60%] or lack of belief in God [32%]” (p. 25). Quantitative studies do not normally conclude with a theological or spiritual reflection, so allow me to add one thought to the mix. It seems only logical that an increasingly secular society would gradually forget its religious identity. Still, that does not negate the reality of our being. A seemingly contradictory fact was also shown in the study. Pew found that 70% of “nones” do believe in God or another higher power (p.43). I am not surprised. My experience as a priest, having counseled many people over the years, is that there are few real atheists in the world. It is not in our nature. We are simply not designed that way. Perhaps then we should focus on that common denominator first before tackling doctrine with those who have lost their religious identity. A better start might be to try to gently help others gradually recall and reclaim their religious roots by reintroducing to them the stories of faith. And then be a model--a living example--of what faith looks like in the world. That basically is evangelization. We know full well that only God can make faith grow in the human heart. But you can plant the seed. Peace. Father Tim
February 11, 2024
Dear Parishioners,
This week we have a rare overlap when Ash Wednesday and St. Valentine’s Day occur on the same day, February 14th. The last time that happened was in 1945. It also happened two other times in the last century--1923 and 1934. And it will happen again this year and in 2029, but that will be it for this century. So, what should we do this Wednesday? Should we give a gift box of candy, or should we give it up for Lent? What to do? What to do? This creates quite a dilemma. Allow me to suggest a third possible option. Instead of giving a box of candy, use the season of Lent to give the best gift of all—open the gift of the other person’s love for you. Do this by promising to handle their gift of love with care, great affection, and daily gratitude. Sure, gift box candy tastes good, but soon the candy is gone. Roses are beautiful, but they quickly fade and wilt away. Even greeting cards, though very nice, will eventually be stored in a box and seldom seen again. Rather, here is an enduring gift that will enrich the life of your loved one and your own life as well. Make this Lent a grace-filled opportunity to start anew by never taking for granted the love that others have for you. And maybe I will be inspired to draw little hearts on your foreheads at Mass for Ash Wednesday. Peace. Father Tim
February 4, 2024
Dear Parishioners, This week I would like to write briefly on a particular aspect of church etiquette. We at St. Brendan’s are a somewhat unique parish because of our substantial number of visitors due to our close proximity to Clearwater Beach. That creates a wonderful diversity from various places among our congregants, but it can also get a bit noisy sometimes before Mass as a result of the welcoming atmosphere. There are clearly two perspectives on this issue. One is that the church should be a friendly and socially open environment. The other is that the church is a sacred place where the rules of reverence are required. Thus, two values are being invoked here: 1) hospitality and welcome for those coming to church, and 2) respect and reverence for the Eucharistic presence of Christ in the tabernacle. Both values are important and can coexist if given their proper due at the appropriate times and places. We have become a smaller world with the constant developments and innovations of technology. That necessarily has had an effect on societal behavior and we are not immune to such consequences. It can overwhelm us sometimes. The church, therefore, should be a place of reprieve from the bombardment of noises that distract us in the world. Ideally, that means a quiet worship space to allow people to prayerfully prepare themselves before Mass, and to keep loud talking to the narthex, hall, or other non-worship areas. I’m not going to be stickler on this issue, like some kind of liturgical watchdog. But I mention it so that we can all be mindful of our own actions. Let it be our goal. I will close with a quote from the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (aka, GIRM), which is the official liturgical document for the celebration of the Mass in the Roman Rite: “Even before the celebration itself, it is a praiseworthy practice for silence to be observed in the church . . . so that all may dispose themselves to carry out the sacred celebration in a devout and fitting manner” (no. 45). Peace. Father Tim
January 28, 2024
Dear Parishioners,
People have sometimes shared with me how worried they are with the situation in our country and around the world. They point out things like partisan politics, the economy, and global conflicts to name a few. Television news is full of such stories, which makes it difficult to watch at times. Wars and conflicts, in particular, seem to get the most attention as “breaking news.” But actually when war breaks out somewhere in the world it is not really news. In fact, there are over 110 armed conflicts currently monitored around the world as classified under international humanitarian law. That reminds me of a quote from G.K. Chesterton, the great 20th century English writer, who said, “It is incorrect to speak of war breaking out; war is the constant state of things. It is more correct to speak of peace breaking out.”
Conflict has been with us since the time of Cain and Abel. Part of the inheritance of original sin. But before there can be world peace, peace must first begin within us individually. Archbishop Fulton Sheen said it best that “there can be no world peace unless there is soul peace. World wars are only projections of the conflicts waged inside the souls of modern men and women, for nothing happens in the external world that has not first happened within a soul.” So, the next time you find yourself in conflict with another person, or even within yourself, ask the Lord for the grace to choose peace over war, that true peace of soul which only God can give. Be that blessed peacemaker in your home, work or school, but may peace first “break out” in your heart. For such singular peaceful acts will ultimately benefit peoples and nations in the future.
Peace.
Father Tim
January 21, 2024
Dear Parishioners, Some people have been asking me for an update on how Msgr. Devine is doing. Let me use this week’s bulletin message to get you up-to-date. Msgr. Devine’s skin condition is doing better. The dermatologist did another evaluation on him last week, and though the treatment is working, he still needs a couple of more weeks at the facility to get it fully cleared. From what I understand, Msgr. Devine had Crusted (or Norwegian) Scabies, which can be difficult to treat, and was part of the reason why it took so long to get him better. He has been taking both oral and topical medicines to kill the mites and eggs under his skin that multiplied in the millions all over his body. At his worst, it looked like chicken pox times a thousand! And the itching, as you can imagine, was awful. We tried to treat him here at the parish, but he could not get better due in part to his apartment being infested and those caring for him were also getting infected. It was a serious situation. But the good news is that his health is finally heading in the right direction. A team of people have been involved in overseeing Msgr. Devine’s immediate care, including his niece, doctors and other health care professionals, the Diocese of St. Petersburg, his P.O.A. and Health Care Surrogate, and myself. That collaboration will be important as we continue to assess his needs in the weeks ahead. Please keep him in your prayers, and maybe send him a card if you get a chance. The address is in the bulletin. He told me to tell you that he is “itching” to see you all again. Peace. Father Tim
January 14, 2024
Dear Parishioners, We’re back now to Ordinary Time in the Liturgical Calendar. The Second Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B to be exact. I don’t know about you but when I hear the word “Ordinary” my first thought is common or average. You would think that the Church might use a better word to describe a liturgical season. There is certainly nothing common or average about any time in the liturgical year. But to better understand this we need to get into the mindset of the Church. Ordinary, in this case, does not mean the typical definition that would first come to our mind. The word has a Latin origin, which is the language of the Church. Ordinarius is the Latin word for customary, regular, or orderly. And its Latin root is Ordo (genitive Ordinis), which means row, rank, series, or arrange- ment. In other words, “Ordinary Time” refers to the orderly sequence of numbered Sundays in this liturgical season (e.g., 2nd Sunday, 3rd Sunday, 4th Sunday, etc.). We celebrated a number of incredible and glorious events during the Christmas season. But keep in mind that even after that First Christmas, the shepherds went back to the fields to care for their sheep and Mary and Joseph took care of their baby who needed to be fed, cleaned, clothed, and comforted. The joyous celebrations of the Christmas season and its festivities have come to an end. For some poor souls, that means facing the reality of going back to work. Ugh! But for all of us it means going back to the ordinary tasks of life and tending to our little flocks whatever that may be. The lesson that the shepherds and the Holy Family teach us is that “ordinary” does not mean that it is insignificant. Rather, God’s grace is especially found in the common and everyday things of life. Perhaps that is why the Church made Ordinary Time to be the longest liturgical season of the year. It seems pretty special when you look at it that way. Peace. Father Tim
January 7, 2024
Dear Parishioners,
Did you know that the Vatican has its own astronomical observatory? It does! Founded in 1582, the Vatican observatory is one of the oldest in the world, fully supported by the Holy See in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. They also have an astrophysics research facility with an advanced technology telescope, like a branch observatory, on Mt. Graham in southeastern Arizona. Brother Guy Consolmagno, S.J., an American planetary scientist and Jesuit brother, is the director of the Church’s observatory. Brother Guy is sometimes even referred to as “the Pope’s Astronomer.” There are a number of interesting YouTube presentations of him giving talks on Faith and Science.
It might be surprising to some people that the Church is so actively involved in the pursuit of science. But Brother Guy and the Vatican Observatory is just one of many examples of the Catholic Church’s contributions to scientific inquiry. To briefly name one more, Father Georges Lemaitre, a Belgian priest, was the astronomer who first proposed the theory of the expansion of the universe, better known today as the “Big Bang Theory.” The point of all this, despite what some might say, is that there is no contradiction between faith and science. In fact, the Catechism tells us that “though faith is above reason, there can never be any real discrepancy between faith and reason . . . God cannot deny himself, nor can truth ever contradict truth. Consequently, research in all branches of knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith, because the things of the world and the things of faith derive from the same God. The humble and persevering investigator of the secrets of nature is being led, as it were, by the hand of God in spite of himself, for it is God, the conserver of all things, who made them what they are” (CCC 159).
On this great feast day of the Epiphany of the Lord, we are reminded of the magi, humble and persevering investigators of their time, who were also led by the hand of God in spite of themselves to the conserver of all things. They followed the star to the one who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. May we have that same fervent desire and sense of inquiry to seek the Lord in all things and do him homage always.
Peace.
Father Tim
January 1, 2024
Dear Parishioners,
Our bulletin publisher has forced me to think way in advance. As I write this column, Christmas day has not arrived yet but I must get my bulletin messages out for New Year’s and, soon after that, Epiphany. They’re killing me! I have too much to do right now, and they want me to think about next week and the week after that?
It reminds me of the month we are entering—January. The first month of the year was named after Janus, the two-faced Roman god of doorways. Artistic renderings of him have a face on the front and a face on the back of his head. With one face, he guarded the front entrance to the future, and with the other face he watched the rear door to the past. Being able to watch these two doorways allowed Janus to look forward and backward at the same time. Easy for Janus perhaps, but not for mere mortals like me.
Aside from my personal gripe with bulletin deadlines, maybe a little lesson from Janus is helpful here. We look forward to the New Year ahead, striving with God’s grace to make the world around us better. But it is also a good idea to look back at our lives, particularly on our daily transgressions, and make amends to hopefully not repeat them in the future. The Church calls that an Examination of Conscience, which is a good thing to do every night before bedtime. From a spiritual perspective, that is an excellent way to plan for the ultimate future.
Happy New Year Everyone!
Father Tim
Dear Parishioners,
This is one of those rare years when the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve are on the same day. Yikes! While I’m figuring out how to maneuver through this liturgically, allow me to take a moment to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. Many years ago I was waiting in the customs line at the Toronto airport to enter Canada and a lady ahead of me was being questioned by the customs official. He asked her in a monotone voice, “Are you here on holiday?” But she replied with jubilant gusto, “Holiday? Man, I’m on VACATION!” She was obviously an American, and everybody who heard her laughed, including the customs official. Holiday has a different meaning to Canadians; it’s their word for vacation. I have also heard British tourists during the winter season speak of “holidaying in Florida.” But for us Americans, holiday is just not a big enough word for a full two-week vacation. I would even add that “Happy Holidays” is not big enough for the Christmas season either, which will last from December 25th to January 8th. Sure, it is a pleasant and inclusive greeting, but holiday can also mean “any day of exemption from work.” That is what my dictionary says. Man, this is CHRISTMAS! More than just a holiday, but 15 Holy Days in total! We Catholics know how to celebrate. If only I could have that time as vacation too, that would be perfect. Merry Christmas.
God bless us everyone!
Father (Tiny) Tim
December 17, 2023
Dear Parishioners,
I read in the newspaper a few weeks back that the oldest dog in world died on October 20th. The dog’s name was Bobi, from a small town in Portugal, and now he holds the Guinness World Record for having lived the longest of any dog at 31 years 165 days. Wow! His owner, Leonel Costa, said that a few things, besides genetics, may have contributed to his long life. First, Bobi always had a calm and peaceful environment. Second, Bobi always had a large area to roam free and enjoy nature, so he was never tied or chained. Third, Bobi was very sociable; and as he advanced in age and became less mobile, he spent more time with his feline friends. And fourth, Bobi ate exclusively human food. “What we ate, he ate too,” Leonel said. But before serving the food to Bobi, Leonel soaked it in water to remove the seasonings.
Bobi’s little gems on longevity can teach us some important truths about physical and spiritual health as well. Have you ever wondered why monks and nuns normally live long lives? The first thing I thought when I read those aspects of Bobi’s lifestyle was that he basically lived the canine version of a contemplative/monastic life (without prayer, of course). Bobi, the monk dog, lived in a calm and peaceful place, surrounded by nature and away from stress, supported and loved by a community, and sustained with simple but nourishing food. These basic factors can help not only our physical health but also promote the proper mindset for a healthy spiritual life. We don’t need to live in a monastery to apply its healthy insights. John the Baptist reminds us again of that fact in this week’s Gospel to “make straight the way of the Lord.” He speaks of clearing a path for God to our hearts. Maybe some of Bobi’s tips can help us better prepare that path in our hearts for the coming of the Lord. Thus a whole new meaning to the expression, “It’s a dog’s life.”
Peace.
Father Tim
December 10, 2023
Dear Parishioners,
It is interesting about the customs of different places and cultures. For instance, you likely never knew that my parents, and most of my extended family, were born and raised on the Caribbean island of Jamaica. I have not had the opportunity to visit the island, but I have visited Canada where some of them now live. Jamaica and Canada where once part of the British Commonwealth. Anyway, one of their unwritten rules is to always take off your shoes before entering a house. This must be a Jamaican thing, maybe going back to the days when they had to keep the beautiful Caribbean beach sand out of their homes. I don’t really know, but it’s a hard and fast rule. I went up to Canada for a visit some years back during the colder part of the year and my feet were freezing because I had to go barefoot (I mean who travels with slippers?).
When Moses approached the burning bush, the voice of God told him to remove his sandals and go barefoot because the place where he stood was holy ground. The importance of place in the spiritual life has always been a key theme throughout scripture. Recall such biblical places as the Promised Land, Jerusalem, and the Temple. But it comes with a tension that deals with the loss of place, and the struggles of exile, the sojourner, and pilgrimage. In this tension between place and no abode, perhaps this would be a good time to take off our own shoes and go barefoot for a while, maybe walk on the beach and tromp some sand in our house, and remind ourselves that God is truly abiding in all things and places. It doesn’t matter where. On this Second Sunday of Advent, may we continue to “prepare the way of the Lord,” as Mark’s Gospel proclaims, but especially within that most holy place where God abides—you!