From Father Tim's Desk
Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 19: 20-21
January 12, 2025
Dear Parishioners,
Do you know the exact date of your baptism? I suspect that if you were baptized as an infant that you probably don’t know, at least not off the top of your head. That’s okay. For most of us, that is something we need to check on an old worn-out baptismal certificate, packed someplace long ago for safekeeping (but forgot where that safe place is now). Nevertheless, our baptism date is a significant milestone in our spiritual life. On that date, we were bathed in the river of the Holy Spirit and became a new creation in Jesus Christ. Indeed, we became a new person, for through the waters of baptism we died with Christ and rose with Him to new life. This newness of life reminds me of a story from the early days of the Ford Motor Company in Detroit. Apparently, there was an employee of the company who had “borrowed” numerous tools over the years and conveniently “forgot” to return them. But at some point, the man had a spiritual conversion and was baptized in a local church. The next day he brought back all the tools he had collected and asked the plant manager for forgiveness. It impressed the plant manager so much that he sent a cable with the entire story to Henry Ford, who at the time was on a business trip in Europe. Ford cabled back a message containing only two sentences: “Dam up the Detroit River. Have the entire plant baptized!” On this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the last day of the Christmas season, may we be reminded of our own baptismal call and renewed in the grace of continual conversion.
One brief note. I will be away this week (Jan. 13th to Jan. 17th) for my annual retreat. Please keep me in your prayers as I will do the same for you.
Peace.
Father Tim
Dear Parishioners,
Do you know the exact date of your baptism? I suspect that if you were baptized as an infant that you probably don’t know, at least not off the top of your head. That’s okay. For most of us, that is something we need to check on an old worn-out baptismal certificate, packed someplace long ago for safekeeping (but forgot where that safe place is now). Nevertheless, our baptism date is a significant milestone in our spiritual life. On that date, we were bathed in the river of the Holy Spirit and became a new creation in Jesus Christ. Indeed, we became a new person, for through the waters of baptism we died with Christ and rose with Him to new life. This newness of life reminds me of a story from the early days of the Ford Motor Company in Detroit. Apparently, there was an employee of the company who had “borrowed” numerous tools over the years and conveniently “forgot” to return them. But at some point, the man had a spiritual conversion and was baptized in a local church. The next day he brought back all the tools he had collected and asked the plant manager for forgiveness. It impressed the plant manager so much that he sent a cable with the entire story to Henry Ford, who at the time was on a business trip in Europe. Ford cabled back a message containing only two sentences: “Dam up the Detroit River. Have the entire plant baptized!” On this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the last day of the Christmas season, may we be reminded of our own baptismal call and renewed in the grace of continual conversion.
One brief note. I will be away this week (Jan. 13th to Jan. 17th) for my annual retreat. Please keep me in your prayers as I will do the same for you.
Peace.
Father Tim
January 5, 2025
Dear Parishioners,
The Solemnity of the Epiphany directs our thoughts to that night long ago when a great star appeared and led the Magi to the Christ child. We used to always celebrate Epiphany on its traditional date of January 6th, but in the U.S. it was transferred to the Sunday between January 2nd and January 8th. The main reason was to try to ensure more participation on this important Holy Day. Fewer people were attending this Solemnity, especially when it fell in the middle of the week, even though it is still a Holy Day of Obligation. Come to think of it, few people attended, or even noticed, the great star on the night of that first glorious Epiphany. Things haven’t changed much, I suppose. But like those star gazers of old, just three Magi and a few simple shepherds, we too have a similar mission to fulfill. It is the essence of the Epiphany story and continues to this day: Go and search diligently for the child, and then come back and tell people about it. The manifestations of Christ are active and present in our daily lives if we would but have the eyes of faith and a cosmic sense for spiritual adventure.
Peace.
Father Tim
Dear Parishioners,
The Solemnity of the Epiphany directs our thoughts to that night long ago when a great star appeared and led the Magi to the Christ child. We used to always celebrate Epiphany on its traditional date of January 6th, but in the U.S. it was transferred to the Sunday between January 2nd and January 8th. The main reason was to try to ensure more participation on this important Holy Day. Fewer people were attending this Solemnity, especially when it fell in the middle of the week, even though it is still a Holy Day of Obligation. Come to think of it, few people attended, or even noticed, the great star on the night of that first glorious Epiphany. Things haven’t changed much, I suppose. But like those star gazers of old, just three Magi and a few simple shepherds, we too have a similar mission to fulfill. It is the essence of the Epiphany story and continues to this day: Go and search diligently for the child, and then come back and tell people about it. The manifestations of Christ are active and present in our daily lives if we would but have the eyes of faith and a cosmic sense for spiritual adventure.
Peace.
Father Tim
December 22, 2024
Dear Parishioners,
The Fourth Sunday of Advent is here already. And Christmas Eve is just two days after that. Where did the time go? Did robbers steal it away? I could have sworn that Thanksgiving was just the other day. What happened to all those days in between? Perhaps you can relate to what I’m saying. The answer I’m sure has more to do with perception than with the actual reality of time. For instance, when I’m watching the clock, the minutes go by excruciatingly slow. But when I’m busy or distracted by other things, the time can go incredibly fast. And yet, the duration of time remains the same in both cases. For a busy or distracted person, minutes can easily turn into days, and days into weeks. Then before you know it a whole year has passed by. Well, a similar tendency can also occur in our spiritual lives. When we are busy or distracted by so many things, prayer can get lax and time with God is forgotten. However, when we are attentive and watchful for God’s presence, our life becomes more contemplative. Life may still be busy, but life itself becomes a part of prayer, and our internal clock slows down to those moments of God’s revealing in the day. May our hearts and minds be attentive and watchful, especially in these last few days left of Advent, for the coming (i.e., revealing) of the Lord.
Peace.
Father Tim
Dear Parishioners,
The Fourth Sunday of Advent is here already. And Christmas Eve is just two days after that. Where did the time go? Did robbers steal it away? I could have sworn that Thanksgiving was just the other day. What happened to all those days in between? Perhaps you can relate to what I’m saying. The answer I’m sure has more to do with perception than with the actual reality of time. For instance, when I’m watching the clock, the minutes go by excruciatingly slow. But when I’m busy or distracted by other things, the time can go incredibly fast. And yet, the duration of time remains the same in both cases. For a busy or distracted person, minutes can easily turn into days, and days into weeks. Then before you know it a whole year has passed by. Well, a similar tendency can also occur in our spiritual lives. When we are busy or distracted by so many things, prayer can get lax and time with God is forgotten. However, when we are attentive and watchful for God’s presence, our life becomes more contemplative. Life may still be busy, but life itself becomes a part of prayer, and our internal clock slows down to those moments of God’s revealing in the day. May our hearts and minds be attentive and watchful, especially in these last few days left of Advent, for the coming (i.e., revealing) of the Lord.
Peace.
Father Tim
December 15, 2024
Dear Parishioners,
A certain baby was born in Bethlehem and that event changed the world forever. It happened some 2000 years ago and we are still discussing the meaning and impact of that life in our world today. The Gospel this week tells us that the Divine Change-Maker, Jesus Christ, has changed us by virtue of our baptism “with the Holy Spirit and fire.” May God’s grace continue to change our minds to the will of the Heavenly Father during this Advent season. And may the power of the Holy Spirit set our hearts on fire and lift us on high with a gust of His mighty wind. Hmm . . . power and wind. Sounds like a formula for flying. Fasten your seatbelts and return your tray tables to their upright position because this spiritual flight is ready to take off!
Peace.
Father Tim
Dear Parishioners,
A certain baby was born in Bethlehem and that event changed the world forever. It happened some 2000 years ago and we are still discussing the meaning and impact of that life in our world today. The Gospel this week tells us that the Divine Change-Maker, Jesus Christ, has changed us by virtue of our baptism “with the Holy Spirit and fire.” May God’s grace continue to change our minds to the will of the Heavenly Father during this Advent season. And may the power of the Holy Spirit set our hearts on fire and lift us on high with a gust of His mighty wind. Hmm . . . power and wind. Sounds like a formula for flying. Fasten your seatbelts and return your tray tables to their upright position because this spiritual flight is ready to take off!
Peace.
Father Tim
December 8, 2024
Dear Parishioners,
We normally recognize and observe December 8th as the feast day for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. But because this year the day also falls on a Sunday, the Second Sunday of Advent takes precedence and the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is transferred to Monday, December 9th. Previously, when a Holy Day of Obligation fell on or was transferred to a Saturday or a Monday, the obligation was suspended, but that will no longer apply for this specific feast day. A recent communication from the Dicastery for Legislative Texts in Rome wrote to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that this feast must be observed as a day of obligation, regardless of what day to which it is transferred. So, that means that this Monday, December 9, 2024, will be observed as a Holy Day of Obligation in commemoration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Masses will be at 8:30 AM and 6:30 PM. The reason for this change was not stated, or at least I was not made aware. But a safe guess is likely because the Immaculate Conception is patroness of the United States. Rome probably did not want us to minimize its importance, given the unique relationship that the Mother of God has with our country. May she who is “full of grace” pray for us all, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Peace.
Father Tim
Dear Parishioners,
We normally recognize and observe December 8th as the feast day for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. But because this year the day also falls on a Sunday, the Second Sunday of Advent takes precedence and the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is transferred to Monday, December 9th. Previously, when a Holy Day of Obligation fell on or was transferred to a Saturday or a Monday, the obligation was suspended, but that will no longer apply for this specific feast day. A recent communication from the Dicastery for Legislative Texts in Rome wrote to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that this feast must be observed as a day of obligation, regardless of what day to which it is transferred. So, that means that this Monday, December 9, 2024, will be observed as a Holy Day of Obligation in commemoration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Masses will be at 8:30 AM and 6:30 PM. The reason for this change was not stated, or at least I was not made aware. But a safe guess is likely because the Immaculate Conception is patroness of the United States. Rome probably did not want us to minimize its importance, given the unique relationship that the Mother of God has with our country. May she who is “full of grace” pray for us all, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Peace.
Father Tim
December 1, 2024
Dear Parishioners,
Happy Advent! This marks a new liturgical year and the beginning of a time to anticipate and prepare for the birth of Jesus Christ. The word Advent literally means “coming” or “to come” and encompasses within itself the very notion of longing and expectancy. And yet, I have already seen Christmas decorations in stores and on TV commercials and heard nonstop Christmas songs on the radio. In some cases, Christmas arrived even before Halloween! The Church, however, sees the spiritual importance of a preparation period rather than to rush or be unreflective. We will learn, for instance, from the readings on the Sundays of Advent of how longing, repentance, and intimacy with God are modeled. And in the last seven days leading up to Christmas, the O Antiphons at Vespers in the Liturgy of the Hours culminate to reveal the deepest yearning within every human heart and planted by God; namely, our desire for a Savior. Let that which beckons deep within us benefit spiritually from the time required of Advent. And as Jesus urged his disciples in this Sunday’s Gospel, may we too heed the call to be ever watchful and alert for the coming of the Lord.
Peace. Father Tim
Dear Parishioners,
Happy Advent! This marks a new liturgical year and the beginning of a time to anticipate and prepare for the birth of Jesus Christ. The word Advent literally means “coming” or “to come” and encompasses within itself the very notion of longing and expectancy. And yet, I have already seen Christmas decorations in stores and on TV commercials and heard nonstop Christmas songs on the radio. In some cases, Christmas arrived even before Halloween! The Church, however, sees the spiritual importance of a preparation period rather than to rush or be unreflective. We will learn, for instance, from the readings on the Sundays of Advent of how longing, repentance, and intimacy with God are modeled. And in the last seven days leading up to Christmas, the O Antiphons at Vespers in the Liturgy of the Hours culminate to reveal the deepest yearning within every human heart and planted by God; namely, our desire for a Savior. Let that which beckons deep within us benefit spiritually from the time required of Advent. And as Jesus urged his disciples in this Sunday’s Gospel, may we too heed the call to be ever watchful and alert for the coming of the Lord.
Peace. Father Tim
November 24, 2024
Dear Parishioners,
Here we are again at the end of another liturgical calendar year with the celebration of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The time sure has gone by quickly. And now begins a period of great feast days as we celebrate holidays and holy days in succession, from Thanksgiving to Christmas to NewYear’s Eve. It’s not by accident that the Church and society calls these important days “feasts.” Eating isa necessary function for survival, but feasting is required for celebration. Eating can be done alone, but feasting needs to have the addition of at least one other person. A survey was done some time back that revealed the difference between just feeding the body and feasting the heart and soul. One of thequestions on the survey asked: “What is the key to a successful party: good food, good conversation, orgood company?” The results found that 10% chose good food, 25% chose good conversation, and 65% chose good company. I totally agree with the results, especially when it includes the King of the Universe. Jesus is both host and guest at every liturgical feast in the Church’s calendar. Indeed, our Lord gives us His very self to nourish our heart and soul at every Eucharistic celebration. May every feast day, whether societal or ecclesial, include an invitation for Jesus to sit at our table. In that way, all holidays will return to being true holy days as originally intended. For when two or more are gathered inJesus’ name, there He is in their midst (Mt 18:20).
Peace. Father Tim
Dear Parishioners,
Here we are again at the end of another liturgical calendar year with the celebration of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The time sure has gone by quickly. And now begins a period of great feast days as we celebrate holidays and holy days in succession, from Thanksgiving to Christmas to NewYear’s Eve. It’s not by accident that the Church and society calls these important days “feasts.” Eating isa necessary function for survival, but feasting is required for celebration. Eating can be done alone, but feasting needs to have the addition of at least one other person. A survey was done some time back that revealed the difference between just feeding the body and feasting the heart and soul. One of thequestions on the survey asked: “What is the key to a successful party: good food, good conversation, orgood company?” The results found that 10% chose good food, 25% chose good conversation, and 65% chose good company. I totally agree with the results, especially when it includes the King of the Universe. Jesus is both host and guest at every liturgical feast in the Church’s calendar. Indeed, our Lord gives us His very self to nourish our heart and soul at every Eucharistic celebration. May every feast day, whether societal or ecclesial, include an invitation for Jesus to sit at our table. In that way, all holidays will return to being true holy days as originally intended. For when two or more are gathered inJesus’ name, there He is in their midst (Mt 18:20).
Peace. Father Tim