Jesus tells us, ““You are the light of the world.” And further, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14,16).

But now and again, I think to myself, “How can I be a light when there are times that I feel like I don’t have that light in me?” Such days do happen, and they feel horrible. But there is no excuse since God is asking me to be a light for others! But how?

Ever since I was a little girl, I had always been extremely fascinated by the moon.  It is always so amazing to me when there are nights with a full moon and it illuminates everything so well.

You might stop me here and say, “Hey, what has the moon anything to do with this?” Actually, in my opinion, it has a lot to do with this. Just hear me out.

When I was about 12 or 13 years old, I remember sitting outside gazing at the moon and the moonlit surroundings. Taking in the amazing sight, I remember thinking about how the moon actually has no light of its own, but that it only reflects the light of the sun and in turn illuminates the nights for us. And how if the earth got in its way, it reflects less light, like when a half moon occurs.

For some reason, I had quickly compared it to Jesus, His Light, and me. If Jesus is the Sun, the source of The Light, He is calling me to be an extension of His Light for the world. So just like the moon! I can be like the moon if I stand in “direct view” of Jesus and let His Light “reflect” off of me and illuminate the world in it’s “darkness”. That’s it! And the more “in line” I am with Jesus, without the world, the “earth”, getting in the way, the brighter I can reflect His Light. So yes, it is true; I do not have Light of my own to shine in this world. But I can reflect His Light to others and it’s up to me how much of His Light I will allow to reflect off of me.

So spending time with Jesus in prayer, during Mass, and throughout the day will bring me more “in line” with His Light. Now the other part is the reflection. I can’t just stay in the Adoration Chapel 24/7! I have to then go out and do whatever it is I do at home, at work, with friends, on the street, but with Jesus and His Light in heart and mind. Then automatically, I will start reflecting that Light to others.

God Bless and Shine Bright!!!

Marta Sniezko

    We repeat the above words contained in the testimony of St. John the Baptist at every Mass.  These words are the same answer John gave the Pharisees who asked if he was the Messiah.  For the most part, however, they confirm the truth revealed by God the Father Himself in these words:  “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Mt.3:17).  John’s testimony, then, is his heart’s answer upon hearing the voice of God.  Jesus, presented by the Father as His beloved Son, is now shown as an innocent lamb who will be offered in propitiation for sin.  Thus is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah regarding our redemption and deliverance.  Through his sacrifice, he becomes a light to all mankind, in Him is revealed the glory of God.  “You are my servant, In you, Israel, I show my glory…I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” (Is.49:3,6)  Today, we are participants in this promise.

            John’s testimony also was a sign of the beginning and purpose of Jesus’ mission for which the expected Messiah came:  “…the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” (Jn.1:31)   Just as the blood of a lamb saved the nation of Israel coming out of Egyptian captivity during the time of Moses, so in the New Testament, the Lamb of God is sacrificed and His Blood saves God’s people once again!

            Every day during the Eucharistic sacrifice, when everyone repeats the acclamation Behold the Lamb of God” before Communion, we participate in the very moment of Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary.  This moment of Christ’s death on the cross, this moment of our cleansing in his wounds , this is the moment of the origination of  the Sacraments of the Church. (Easter Liturgy)

            Let us give thanks then for this great gift and through faith let us have the courage to draw so much from the stream of grace that our transformed life might be an actualization of the words of John.    May our lips proclaim: “Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.” (Jn.1:34)

Roman Harmata, PA

my chosen one with whom I am pleased,

upon whom I have put my spirit;

he shall bring forth justice to the nations… (Is 42:1)

We celebrate the Baptism of The Lord today, which ends the Christmas Season. In the first reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah, we hear the announcement of the mission of the Messiah who, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power, brings justice to the people. Saint John wrote about this in his letter quoted throughout the readings of the past week, and they can be summarized by these words: “Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”(1 Jn 4: 7-8)” There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. … “(1 Jn 4 17-18)
            The Holy Spirit brings internal freedom, and this is a new law that God wants to pour into us. However, he must be allowed to. Love requires voluntary decision and trust. It must be accepted as a gift and reciprocated in full freedom. Baptism is the gateway to this freedom.  There is a close relationship between the Baptism of Christ and our Baptism.

“At the Jordan the heavens opened (cf. Lk 3: 21) to indicate that the Savior has opened the way of salvation and we can travel it thanks to our own new birth “of water and Spirit” (Jn 3: 5), accomplished in Baptism. In it we are inducted into the Mystical Body of Christ, that is, the Church, we die and rise with him, we are enveloped by him, as the Apostle Paul often emphasized (cf. I Cor 12: 13; Rom 6: 3-5; Gal 3: 27). The requirement that comes with Baptism is therefore “to listen” to Jesus:  to believe in him and subordinately follow him, doing his will.

In this way everyone can be inclined towards holiness, a goal that, as the Second Vatican Council recalled, “constitutes the vocation of all the baptized.” (Benedict 16, Angelus: Jan 7, 2007)
            So, this is our plan of action: the start is to listen to His Word, with the goal that is holiness or, perfect love; the realization consists of: humble service to our brothers and sisters, so that everyone can recognize the power of the Spirit of Love working in us. This way we can attain salvation. It is possible, only perseverance is needed: “Whoever diligently considers and perseveres in the perfect Law, the Law of Freedom, is not a listener willing to forget, but the doer of the work; by fulfilling it he will receive a blessing.” James 1:25

            Roman Harmata

This sentence ought to be reflected upon by many Christians. Although St. John the Baptist was already filled with the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of St. Elizabeth and called to a special mission, he is considered less than “the least in the kingdom of heaven.” How great must be the quality of purification and sanctification of those who enter there! Jesus’ statement places a question deep in the heart of every person: “Is the state of my life sufficient in light of such criteria?” Even though Jesus’ statement puts before us a picture of the new spirituality of Jesus’ gift of humanity’s redemption in the New Testament, different from the one preached by John the Baptist, His very strong statement about the last Old Testament prophet ought to be taken seriously. St. Paul warns “seek your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Phil 2:12)

We must see the greatness of Jesus’ gift and accept its infinity with all our hearts. This is the salvation given to us and paid for with the sacrifice of the life of the King of the Universe, the Lord of life! The mystery of redemption conceals the truth about our ability to enter the Father’s heavenly Kingdom. Jesus clearly says, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14:6) Only through Him! Only in Him! Only for Him! Who, then, will enter His kingdom? There are several important indications in the Bible; let us treat the following selected passages as a meditative homework assignment for the third week of Advent:

• One who “does the will of my Father” will enter Heaven. (Mt 7:21)
• One who has allowed God to “draw him toward holiness”. (Ex 22:30; Jn 6:4)
• One whose heart has been cleansed by God from evil and pride. (Lk 13:22-30; Rom 12:21)

Roman Harmata, PA

I understood this only after I looked at what this “New Evangelization” was proposed to be. Many of us are still convinced that proclaiming the Gospel is basically telling colorful stories about Jesus. But the Gospel is not just a story. Jesus is the person in whom we “live, move in and are”. During one of his homilies, Bishop Carlos Talavar said the following: “To evangelize does not mean talking about Jesus without letting him act upon revealing His salvation to the world. To evangelize means to spread Jesus’ saving power. It’s not enough for the world to chat about Jesus. It needs to see Him in action, otherwise it will not believe in Him.”

Who should evangelize then? Obviously everyone who admits to being Christ, especially those who teach in His Name. In today’s church, however, there is large amount of people who should be called practitioners rather than believers. In spite of this, we need to ask ourselves – why is our teaching lacking in the power of faith of the apostles? Shouldn’t we change the strategies of our teaching?

How few of us understand that Christ has commanded us to recruit students (literally, “Go and make disciples from all nations) Mt. 28.19. Unfortunately, you can teach your whole life without seeing that the words preached do not change listeners into Christ’s disciples.

In the New Evangelization, a new strategy is needed, or rather, realizing the common goal and unity that he asked in the priestly prayer “Father, let them be one, let the world believe” (Jn 17:21)

Unity is therefore an imperative that must stand above many matters, and above all the prestige of persons. However, too many of us care for this prestige. For these people it is worth recalling that even Simon Peter was not able to catch a single fish himself, although he worked all night, but when he cast the net at the call of Christ, he could not even bear its weight. And he was the first fisherman! Too many people want to “fish on their own”, they care more about how to “lure more new ones” into a group, maybe a single parish or person, and do not notice that when fishing in the name of Christ another problem will arise – how to pull the net so that it does not break! It should be pulled together, just as Peter did – he invited companions from the other boat to help!

However, whoever wants to do it on his own is in danger of breaking the network. And that means empty parishes, deadness and stagnation.

At the beginning, however, we must remember that Evangelization, or “catching” Christ’s new disciples means understanding that the Gospel should reach the whole person, that is: soul, spirit and body. Two ways can be noticed. The path of paralysis – God first forgives his sin and then heals, and the path of the blind man from birth: heals him first, and then transforms him internally.

Most important, however, is to understand that although the Holy Spirit can use anyone, the first “Evangelizer” is Himself! He instills in us God’s life. Evangelization leads us to a personal encounter with Jesus. Such a meeting occurs when we understand that we are not learning doctrine in religion, but are learning to be with a LIVING PERSON !!! The basis of Christianity is Jesus Christ, and everything else is built later, even if it is morality, catechesis or theology. Unfortunately, in our teachings we often start from this second stage, and no one notices that it is like building on sand. The first should be to focus our efforts on proclaiming Jesus as Savior, Lord and Messiah – begin with the Foundation.

Roman Harmata

Part 1

Part 2

Lord, Make Me…

It is said that St Francis of Assisi if the most known Catholic Saint in the world, to both Catholic and non-Catholic people. Most people know him for his love of nature and animals. Many also remember him as the one with the Stigmata. But I wanted to share with you what brought me closest to this amazing saint. His famous prayer, “The Peace Prayer of St Francis.”

Lord make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy
O divine master grant that I may
not so much seek to be consoled as to console
to be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life
Amen

This prayer basically sums up life’s goals and the purpose for us to be on this earth. And ultimately, if I follow this recipe, I will find peace in my life.
The part in the prayer where he says, “Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,” hits me every time. So many times, I think that I need someone to make me feel better, that I need a shoulder to lean on, that I need someone to hear me out. Yes, it may be true, but I need to see that there is something more important than that. That there may be a person around me that maybe needs that consolation a little more than I do, or that understanding a little more than I do. Now don’t get me wrong, St Francis did not write to never be consoled, but “not so much seek to be consoled”. In other words, he is stressing the fact that I need to be more concentrated on others’ needs rather than my own. Not to ignore my needs, but to put them second.
One would ask, “But why? What do I get out of that?” Well, the answer is in the next part of his prayer. “For it is in giving that we receive… pardoning that we are pardoned… dying that we are born to eternal life.” Isn’t that ironic? By doing one thing, we receive the opposite in return! Amazing how our Lord works! By placing myself after others’ needs, I am hitting two birds with one stone.
I remember as a child, when my parents would take me to Church on All Saints Day, for example, and tell me about certain indulgences that were granted to us if we say certain prayers and such. My mom would tell me that you can either use the indulgence for yourself or offer it for a soul in purgatory so they can get to Heaven. For me it was common sense to offer it for a soul! I would think that if a soul got to Heaven because of a prayer I said, that this soul would be my best friend forever and pray for me too, so I get to Heaven. It was like a 2 for 1 sale in my childhood brain. Two people in Heaven instead of one!
Now of course, remember, I was only a child. But I hope it helped get my point across. By attending to others’ needs before my own, I can get that 2 for 1 blessing, too! And that is what St Francis has taught me in this prayer.
So hopefully, as we celebrate his upcoming feast day, St Francis can help us become less self-centered and more attentive to others around me needing all different kinds of help. So that our eyes can be open to all the opportunities to get those 2 for 1 blessing!
St Francis of Assisi, pray for us!

Reading the bible, or even watching the film titled, “Moses,” shows us the mistakes that the Israelites made, but we often do not understand their stubborn conduct against the recommendations of their guide. Still, we do not realize that our life is similar to their misconduct, but we do not see our sins because they are somewhat hidden, as we can read about in Scripture in the chapter Mat. 7.3. We see the splinter in the eye of our brother, while the beams in our own eye we do not perceive. This is because we often do not respond to the remarks of our spiritual advisors – the priests who sometimes preach their homilies in a way that we do not understand. At times, we are more focused on what is happening around us and we get distracted from the present moment. We can see an example in the gospel of Luke 8.4-8 in the parable about the sower who sows the seed.

Thus, we can discuss the negative experiences that come enter our hearts through out senses from the times of our youth. The senses tend to play an enormous role here. For instance, we can consider the sense of taste, as we consume food excessively, simply for our own pleasure. Can we not change something here? Satisfying our hunger is essential, yet gluttony us just pleasurable, but overindulging further can harm our health causing not only weight gain but also significant health problems stemming from obesity. In this case, prudence and carefulness are needed during a meal as to determine where pleasure begins to ensure that greed does not take over and cause sin. This does not yet touch on fasting, which Jesus highly recommends for our spiritual growth.  The sense of touch could also have positive or negative effects. A sense of sexual implications can likewise be disorderly, excessive, or can foreshadow immoral action. Let us also consider the sense of smell, could only a positive sense of smell have a negative effect? As far as our sense of hearing, or even our sense of sight, we can be blessed with a ton of good streaming from these two senses but also a significant amount of evil. Richness – in regard to the senses – allows us to understand another human being in a way that grants us the ability to distinguish them and then choose to utilize these senses in positive or negative deeds.

Joanna M. Maj

St Thomas is the Patron saint of Argentina, architects, cooks, and construction workers

St Thomas is a unique saint. He has a bad reputation of being the “doubter” and most people remember him as the one who was obstinate and lacking in faith. However, the opposite is true. He was known to ask a lot of questions carefully, and to be a logical person.

In the scriptures there are three mentions of him, first that he asks Jesus about where he was going and that he wanted to know the way there so that he could follow him. Jesus then graced him with the wonderful words “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” which is the core of Christian belief. The earliest Christians were known as the followers of “The Way”. Christian Philosophers are satisfied and delighted when they realize that Christ is the objective Truth they are looking for. Finally, by being alive and realizing God’s goodness we are humbled but thankful when we acknowledge that he is our Life.

In the Gospel of John, Thomas also motivates the disciples to visit Lazarus tomb despite the danger of being killed with Jesus, thus being a catalyst to the disciples witnessing one of the greatest miracles of Jesus’s ministry.

The other instance where Jesus talks to Thomas is the well-known situation where Thomas did not want to be tricked, but desired to see Jesus alive on his own. Here he was acting like a person like ourselves who needed to use his own logic and experience to see the truth. By this we see that he is a real man, not tricked by delusions, and after the moment where he puts his hand into the lance hole and his fingers into the nail holes, he declares a great personal realization and truth about Jesus when he says: “My Lord and my God”. This becomes a doctrine that Jesus is truly and fully God and Man.

We can learn a lot from St Thomas from reading the scriptures. Something that we can take from his character is to listen, inquire, and make our own decision to become educated followers of Jesus. Traditionally St Thomas is known to have traveled to Iraq, India, and other countries spreading the word about Jesus. He died a martyr in India and was buried on a mountain considered holy to several religions. St Thomas teaches us that once he understood the Truth about Jesus, he took to heart the instructions to spread the good news to the ends of the earth.

St Thomas Pray for Us!

Article by Theresa Harmata

May 7, 2019

The secret he used that made them feel loved

St John Bosco and his outreach to young people

I’ve always thought about how was it possible that St John Bosco was able to reach the young people of his time so profoundly. My first automatic explanation would be that those were different times, different people who would respond to a priest since they were brought up differently. I would think that in this day and age, not very many young people would ever get interested in such a thing.  But was that really the case? Or was there more?

These young adults, teenagers, and maybe even children of 19th century Italy, heard of Fr Bosco, came to listen and followed his instructions, amended their lives, and became responsible and righteous humans, let alone true children of God. But what was it? What drew them to him? What made them listen to him?

Don Giovanni Bosco, aka St John Bosco, lived in Italy in the 1800s. Born and raised by pious Catholic parents, he soon wanted to become a priest and serve the Lord with his life. When working in Turin, he was appointed to tutor a rich family’s children. This was to be a very good opportunity for Don Bosco, given he did come from a poor family and would then be able to help out his mother and brothers he left behind. However, God had other plans for him. The Lord soon showed him that there were others who needed his help and talents more than the rich family; the needy youth of Turin.

After receiving a blessing from his superior, he set out to help the boys of the streets. It was those who had no one, no one wanted to do anything with, those that got a little lost in their lives or had no other sources of help. He started inviting them to different meetings where he would incorporate Catholic teachings while doing different activities. Yes! They would have fun, but they also had time for prayer. They played soccer, or sang by a fire, but then had time for Confession and Holy Mass as well. He tried to show that new ways are not always bad ways. On the contrary, new ways may at times be a lot better since the world and its people with their ways of life are changing too.

Don Bosco had that gift, the gift of letting young people be themselves, not feeling stifled and forced to be a certain way. Those young boys, but then later on, girls as well, felt God’s Love through Don Bosco. The way he spoke to them, treated them, taught them. It wasn’t from an older authority that looked down on them and condemned their every wrong decision. It was the authority of Love and Mercy. Looking to build another up, and not drag the other down. Understanding where they are coming from and trying to help them understand others as well. His view that it wasn’t only the old way that was right. That there may be other ways of doing things, as long as it doesn’t offend God, or break any Church Commandments. He taught them how to have respect to others and to earn respect in return.

That is the key. Love.

Love that does not condemn. Love that builds and does not tear down. Love that is patient, kind, and so on, as St Paul states in 1 Corinthians 13. That Love makes miracles happen.

So, loving parents, grandparents, etc., the next time you want to complain about our youth, stop and think for a second. Step in their shoes and try to see their world in their view. Say a short prayer to God to help and find something positive to say. Something constructive. We need a little more of that these days. Especially when a lot that we hear these days is negative and destructive.

And you, young people, don’t give up, but don’t get angry as well when elders say certain things. We have to try to remember that they grew up in a different society. We have to try to understand that they are usually saying certain things because they love us and want the best for us, the best that they know. They don’t want us to get hurt, even though it may seem kind of hurtful and harsh on the outside at times. So maybe talk through and hash everything out. I’m sure the Lord will help smoothen out any differences.

May St John Bosco pray for us and help us in everyday of our lives!

 /Fr Thomas Koys, M.A.,S.T.L./

 /Fr. Lawrence Malcolm/

Before we kick back in our lawn chairs & fire up our barbecues to celebrate the 4^th of July, let’s listen to the buzz on the streets. Once again our Pope Francis is making headlines with his newest encyclical, “Laudato Si, on the care of our common home.” The secular media is branding it as the Holy Father’s talk on global warming & politicians are divided if he even has the right to discuss any topic.. However, if you really want to learn more about it, you can read the entire letter online by visiting the usccb.org website or the Vatican.va website for more info. Truly, the Pope’s message says that we all need to be good stewards of God’s creation, especially the creation of l human life, our babies.

Maybe because I am older, I think about the money spent on all the illegal fireworks as well as those who may be injured by them. My advice, stay healthy & leave the displays to the professionals. It will still be a great holiday!

For most of us the last time we read the Declaration of Independence document we were in high school, but the importance of it should not be forgotten, that all men were given “inalienable rights of life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness by our Creator, God.” So take time to thank our Almighty God for these wonderful freedoms. Work to protect them, especially our religious freedom.

Join others each year during “Fortnight for Freedom” which starts June 21^st and ends on July 4^th, in praying for the protection of these freedoms. Learn more about it on the webpage of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops: www.usccb.org. It’s a time when our liturgical calendar celebrates a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political power—St. Thomas More & St. John Fisher, St. John the Baptist, SS. Peter & Paul, & the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome.

The theme of this year’s “Fortnight for Freedom” focuses on the “Freedom to bear witness” to the truth of the Gospel. Perhaps there is some of us who know people who believe they can be independent of God. Pray for them. It’s very sad when I hear from someone they don’t need to go to church to receive the sacraments because they pray privately at home. I don’t know about you, but when I pray to God, I feel His invitation to pray in community at the Mass with the whole family of God. We all need family, including our family of the Church for life & the pursuit of happiness. What would our relationship be if we never spoke to anyone, never sat down & ate with anyone, never shared with anyone? Sad. The same goes for God, if we His children never seek a relationship with Him.  He loves us unconditionally, so don’t declare your independence from God. Prayers work. You have to trust me on this. Please don’t misunderstand me, if you are homebound or infirmed, that’s why our ministers of care bring Jesus to you. Please make a phone call the rectory or talk to your deacons about anyone who needs the visits of weekly Holy Communion.

Let’s recall the good news of the gospel ( ) which tells the stories of two people dependent on the mercy of God’s healing, the soldier with the dying daughter & the lady who had uncontrolled bleeding. Their faith in Jesus was the deciding issue. Place your own faith in God’s unending love & mercy & perhaps you will receive your own miracle. They happen every day! I believe! Do you?

See you in church ?!