Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the many ways in which Your sacraments work in our lives.

Fr. Francis Belanger, O.P., on the Paschal Mystery and Social Justice

"The themes of the Church's social teaching are wide ranging – the dignity of all human life first of all, justice for the poor, concern for the environment, peace in the world, and so on. These are deeply rooted in Catholic Tradition and spring from the message of salvation that we celebrate in the Paschal Triduum. One then might add a different facet to the commemoration of the Easter mysteries by considering how their message sheds light on the Church's great social mission."

In a recent commentary, Father Francis Belanger, O.P., reflected on how different aspects of the Paschal Mystery relate to issues of social justice.

To access Br. Timothy's complete post, please visit:

Dominicana: Paschal Reflections on Social Justice (29 MAR 16)

Reflection Starter

"Your day will go the way the corners of your mouth turn." - Source Unknown

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of Your grace that You bestow on us each day.

God’s Grace is Part of My Daily Experience

Mahtob Mahmoody was dying. The auto-immune disease lupus was making her own blood largely incompatible with her body. Doctors worked feverishly to find a solution, and finally figured out that she needed a transfusion of a special type of blood. Their local search in Michigan turned up nothing.

After checking nationally, only two units of that blood type were available in the entire United States, so they were airlifted in, which saved Mahtob's life and allowed her health to improve. She is grateful to the medical team that made it all possible, but she also sees a supernatural hand in her survival saying, "God's grace is such a part of my daily experience."

That belief has held true since she escaped another harrowing situation at age six. You might have heard of it because of the best-selling memoir Not Without My Daughter, which was written by Mahtob's mother Betty and turned into a 1991 Sally Field movie. Mahtob is the "daughter."

In 1984, Betty, an American-born Christian, traveled with her Iranian husband and their daughter to his home country for what she thought would be a two-week family vacation. But the Iranian Revolution had produced intense anti-American sentiments in him, so he informed her that they would never be leaving - and he used physical and emotional abuse to keep them there. After all these years, Mahtob is sharing these events from her own perspective in the memoir My Name is Mahtob.

During an interview on Christopher Closeup, she revealed her optimistic nature, saying, "The good experiences of my life far outweigh the bad." That perspective stems from her Christian faith, which allows her to look back at her time of trauma and find God's hand at work, especially when it comes to the Iranian shopkeeper who helped arrange for her and her mother's escape. She said, "Mom asked him how she could ever repay him. His response was that he didn't want any payment. All he wanted was to know there was a smile on my face."

When Mahtob returned to the United States, her faith became even more important. She was always afraid that her father would kidnap her, so she memorized the Bible verses and hymns she learned in Lutheran school so she could "at least have God's word in my mind" if that ever happened. Thankfully, it never did, but all those Scripture verses helped her move toward forgiveness of her father. They never rebuilt their relationship and she could never trust him, but she did forgive him.

Mahtob credits the grace she received in baptism as the source of her many blessings. During her last battle with lupus, for instance, she was in quarantine for a year and only left the house for doctor's appointments. Thankfully, she had finished her book just prior to the lupus inflammation, and it was released in Europe. The proceeds are what allowed her to financially survive.

In closing, I couldn't help but ask Mahtob how she moves forward in hope after all the dark things that have happened to her. She said, "So often, I've been going through one of life's dark threads - and then a friend will say to me, 'Have you prayed about it?' And I think, 'Oh yeah, that's a good idea!' So I'm blessed to be surrounded with a loving, supportive group of friends who are like family and who encourage me in my faith. And it's a good reminder for me to do that for others, to pass that on."

This essay is this week's "Light One Candle" column, written by Tony Rossi, of The Christophers; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.

Background information:

The Christophers

Reflection Starter from St. Francis de Sales

"So you want to know the best time to serve the Lord? It is the present time, which is in your possession here and now. The past is no longer yours; the future has not come yet and is uncertain. The best time is really the present, which you should spend in serving God. If you want to recover lost time, do your best, with fervor and diligence, in the time that still remains to you." - Saint Francis de Sales

National Poison Prevention Week

This week, the week of 20-26 March, is being observed as National Poison Prevention Week, an initiative designed as a means for local communities to raise awareness of the dangers of unintentional poisonings and to take such preventive measures as the dangers warrant.

For additional information related to National Poison Prevention Week, please visit:

Poison Prevention Week Council

Facebook: Poison Prevention Week Council

U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services: National Poison Prevention Week

Presidential Proclamation - National Poison Prevention Week, 2016

Background information:

American Association of Poison Control Centers

Thank You, Lord

Tank you, Lord, for the blessing of our work.

Dawn Carpenter on Things Every Catholic Businessperson Must Know

"A few years ago, I had an interesting conversation with one of our country's most well-known and respected business leaders. It started as I was chatting with the man's wife, and she asked me what I did for fun. I could have told her I enjoyed golf, or gardening, or skiing, or any number of acceptable hobbies of a businessperson. Instead, I answered truthfully that I have a passion for learning what our faith has to teach us about business and our work in the world.

"Surprised, the wife called over her husband - and with him came the crowd. He was intrigued and wanted the 'elevator pitch' of what faith could do to inform business, beyond its admonishment about the rich man’s difficulties getting into heaven."

In a recent commentary, writer Dawn Carpenter reflected on several things that she believes every Catholic businessperson must know, including:

• Man is called to work, and real value is not measured by money;
• The Catholic Church is the repository of some of the richest and most relevant economic philosophy available to man;
• Although imperfect, capitalism is the best model we have for organizing economic activity and ensuring the true development of the human person; and
• 'For-profit' is not necessarily bad, just as 'non-profit' is not necessarily good.

To access Ms. Carpenter's complete post, please visit:

Catholic Stand: 5 Things Every Catholic Businessperson Must Know (16 MAR 16)

Reflection Starter from Thomas Carlyle

"The work an unknown good man has done is like a vein of water flowing hidden underground, secretly making the ground green." - Thomas Carlyle

"Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?"

As our Sunday celebration continues, I offer this version of Tatiana presenting "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?":

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Today the Church celebrates Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. The assigned readings are Luke 19:28-40, Isaiah 50:4-7, Philippians 2:6-11, and Mark 14:1-15:47. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 22 (Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24). 

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 22 "My God, my God, why have You abandoned me?"


The Gospel reading for the procession with the palms is as follows: 

Jesus proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem. As he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany  at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples. He said, "Go into the village opposite you, and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered  on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. And if anyone should ask you, 'Why are you untying it?' you will answer, 'The Master has need of it.'"

So those who had been sent went off  and found everything just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying this colt?" They answered, "The Master has need of it."

So they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks over the colt, and helped Jesus to mount. As he rode along, the people were spreading their cloaks on the road; and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen. They proclaimed: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest."

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples."

He said in reply, "I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!"

Reflections on this day and on these readings:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Palm/Passion Sunday (March 20, 2016)

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflection: Palm/Passion Sunday (March 20, 2016)

Community in Mission: See What the End Shall Be - Palm Sunday (19 MAR 16)

Deacon Greg Kandra: Second Chances: "We Are the Mob": Homily for Palm Sunday (19 MAR 16)

The Sacred Page: Jesus Cheered, then Killed: Readings for Palm/Passion Sunday (15 MAR 16)

The Sacred Page: The Passion and Death of Jesus (Part 1): The Sunday Mass Readings Explained (Palm Sunday) (16 MAR 16) 

 The Sacred Page: The Passion and Death of Jesus (Part 2): The Sunday Mass Readings Explained (Palm Sunday) (4th Sunday in Lent) (18 MAR 16) 

Word on Fire: The Master Has Need of You (Cycle C * Lent * Week Palm Sunday)

St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology: Passion of the Christ: Scott Hahn Reflects on Passion Sunday (14 MAR 16)

The Dispatch: Three gifts offered by Jesus on His way to the Cross (19 MAR 16)

Spirituality of the Readings: King/Criminal (Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion)

Let the Scriptures Speak: Notes for Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion)

The Word Embodied: In Human Likeness (Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion)

Historical Cultural Context: The Passion of Jesus (Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion)

Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by Cyril of Alexandria (Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion)

Word to Life Radio Broadcast: Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion (18 MAR 16)

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for family traditions and the role they play in our lives.

Msgr. Pope on the Role of Tradition in Our Lives

"When I was a young man - a teenager, really - I did the usual crazy stuff of the early '70s: kept my hair long; wore bell bottoms, wide ties, and crazy plaids; kept at least the top three buttons of my shirt open; and, of course, listened to rock-n-roll.

"But through it all I had this love for older things. I think it had something to do with my grandmother, Nana, whom I loved with great affection. She often lamented the loss of the old things and the old ways. She missed the Latin Mass. She missed when manners were better, when people remembered how to dress well, when things were more certain. She often told me how much she missed the beautiful old songs, the incense, the veils, the priests in cassocks, and so many other things. She had my ear; I was sympathetic.

"Somehow her love for older things and older ways took hold in me, even as I indulged in the silly trappings of the seventies. My parents' generation (born in the late '20s and '30s) and even more so the generation born after the Second World War were somewhat iconoclastic. The motto seemed to be 'Out with the old and in with the new … new and improved.'

"Much of the iconoclasm of the '50s through the mid-'80s has now given way; many older things are once again appreciated. As I brought some things down out of the attic of my parents' house in the early '90s, my mother (strangely) appreciated them again. Other family members took some of the old silver. My chalice was actually an old castoff that I had restored.

"Statues have begun to return to churches; some of the old hymns have returned. The Latin Mass, once relegated to the basement, has been dusted off and is now appreciated again by many (mostly younger) Catholics. I have also had the good fortune of being able to help restore two old churches to their former glory, undoing some of the iconoclasm from which they suffered. I even wear my cassock quite often.

"Traditions are established and endure for a reason. Fundamentally, they simplify life by giving structure, boundaries, and expectations. It is easier for people to navigate in the realm of tradition. But traditions begin to be endangered when people forget their purpose, when people forget where they came from or why they are observed, when people forget what they mean or symbolize."

In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the role of tradition on our lives (including our faith lives).

To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:

Community in Mission: Without Our Traditions, Our Lives Would Be as Shaky as a Fiddler on the Roof! (10 MAR 16)

Reflection Starter from Pope Francis

"God is truly 'rich in mercy' and extends it abundantly upon those who appeal to Him with a sincere heart." - Pope Francis

Philharmonia Orchestra: "Classical Gas"

As this blessed week draws to a close, I offer this version of the Philharmonia Orchestra (with soloist Matt Wong) presenting Mason Williams' "Classical Gas":

Newburyport, MA, Recycling Bicycles for New Opportunities for Service

"Dozens of abandoned bicycles collected by the Newburyport Police Department were saved from the landfill and are now in the hands of local children and soon, children across the globe in Africa.

"The roughly 40 bicycles were collected by the police department over the last year and then taken to Riverside Cycles in the Tannery, where they were repaired and refurbished."

A recent Daily News of Newburyport article reported on bicycle recycling programs in Newburyport, Massachusetts.

To access the complete report, please visit:

The Daily News of Newburyport: Port police save abandoned bikes for new life in Africa (19 MAR 16)

Background information:

Newburyport Police Department

Newburyport Department of Recycling, Energy and Sustainability

City of Newburyport

Wikipedia: Newburyport, Massachusetts

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for inspirations to express gratitude to those whose work helps us as we live each day.

The Pilot Profile: Bellesini Academy, Lawrence, MA

"Located in the heart of Lawrence, one of the poorest cities in America, is a small school with very big aspirations. Bellesini Academy, a tuition-free Catholic middle school for grades 5 through 8, aims to 'build bridges for a brighter future,' as its motto explains. So far, it has accomplished its mission.

"According to Julie DiFilippo, head of school, when the school first opened its doors in the former St. Francis Lithuanian Church in 2002, the graduation rate for male Lawrence high school students was an 'appalling' 29 percent.

In the 14 years since the school opened, she has seen her students break that cycle.

"'Our graduation rate is 100 percent,' she said with pride. '99 percent of our students go on to a private high school. 87 percent go on to college; 10 percent go on to a trade school. Not one of our students has ever dropped out of high school.'"

A recent article in the Archdiocese of Boston newspaper, The Pilot, profiled Bellesini Academy.

To access the complete report, please visit:

The Pilot: Forming the Future: Bellesini Academy (18 MAR 16)

Background information:

Bellesini Academy

Reflection Starter from St. André Bessette

"It is with the smallest brushes that the artist paints the most exquisitely beautiful pictures." - Saint André Bessette

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the example of faith and trust given to us by Saint Joseph.

Bishop Tobin on Saint Joseph

"For a lot of people, the most important thing about the Feast of St. Joseph are the zeppole. Without a doubt Rhode Island is the zeppole capital of the universe. We really like our zeppole here, don't we?

"For uninitiated readers who might not be familiar with the term, a zeppola (singular) is basically a cream puff. A more detailed description is found in Wikipedia: 'A zeppola is an Italian pastry consisting of a deep-fried dough ball of varying size but typically about 4 inches in diameter. This doughnut or fritter is usually topped with powdered sugar, and may be filled with custard, jelly, cannoli-style pastry cream, or a butter-and-honey mixture. The consistency ranges from light and puffy, to bread or pasta-like.'

"For some reason, zeppole are connected to the Feast of St. Joseph on March 19 and, in fact, are also called 'Bigne di San Giuseppe.' I don't know their history but it doesn't matter. Zeppole are really good. In the food family they must be related to potato chips because it's hard to eat just one. And the fact that they always appear during the dietary deprivation of the Lenten Season makes them even better - tempting, seductive, almost sinful.

"While we enjoy our Zeppole, however, I hope we won't ignore the real star of the day-– St. Joseph himself, spouse of the Virgin Mary and foster-father of Jesus.

"St. Joseph, or course, is one of the central figures of the Bible, a key player in the story of our redemption. St. John Paul II wrote a beautiful pastoral letter about St. Joseph entitled 'Redemptoris Custos,' or 'Guardian of the Redeemer.' There he says: 'The whole Christian people not only will turn to St. Joseph with greater fervor and invoke his patronage with trust, but will also keep before their eye his humble, mature way of serving and taking part in the plan of salvation.'"

In a recent commentary, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, of the Diocese of Providence (RI), reflected on Saint Joseph and on two virtues we can learn from him - faith and trust.

To access Bishop Tobin's complete essay, please visit:

Without A Doubt: Rhode Island, the Zeppole Capital of the Universe (17 MAR 15)

Reflection Starter from G. K. Chesterton

"Civilization has run on ahead of the soul of man and is producing faster than he can think and give thanks." - G. K. Chesterton

More Tips from Son Tom (Lopco Contracting)

Son Tom (proprietor of Lopco Contracting) recently began hosting a televised weekly Home Improvement Tip segment on WPRI-TV (Channel 12; East Providence, RI) on their Saturday morning news program (7:00-8:00).

To access videos of two recent broadcasts, please visit:

YouTube: Tom Lopatosky - WPRI 12 TV Weekly Home Improvement Tip - Replacing Foundation Windows

YouTube: WPRI Home Improvement Tip #2 Historic Home Exterior Maintenance

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of hope (symbolized by the color green).

'A Messenger of God to the People He Serves'

The first part of this story about Father Fredy Angel, a 41-year-old originally from Colombia, told how he thought he'd reached his dream of becoming a missionary rural priest when he was assigned to Queen of Peace parish in Lakeland, Georgia…but he found that low attendance was matched by a pitiful parish plant (see Lop Notes: A Young Priest’s Challenging Parish Assignment [9 MAR 16]). How he turned things around - and won the Catholic Extension Society's Lumen Christi Award - is covered in today's concluding article. (Originally reported in Our Sunday Visitor in an article by Emily Stimpson.)

The first order of business couldn't be clearer: get it clean.

It seemed like an impossible task, from the mold in the rectory bathrooms to the piles of junk in the parking lot, but Father Fredy made it happen. He'd inherited a mess for a parish, and he was determined to clean it up.

"Everywhere I went, I cleaned," he said. "The bathroom, the classrooms, the rectory - I cleaned them so much that I got the nickname 'Mr. Clean.' But it was important that everything look beautiful."

Father Fredy made sure he didn't clean alone. He reached out to his parishioners, one by one, and invited them to help. "They needed to feel like it was their parish," he said, and in time they began to feel a sense of pride in the way it looked.

And once the parish started looking good, there was the nagging problem of attendance in general. Father Fredy knew what was causing it, and how he wanted to turn things around.

"Around here we have the problem of parents dropping off their children to receive formation for first Communion or confirmation," he explained. "But then they disappear and don't come back until they need another sacrament."

He'd been requiring parents who wanted their children baptized to attend Mass for three months prior to the baptism, and decided to take something of the same approach. Mother or father would stay while children were taught about Communion or confirmation by volunteers while the priest taught parents about the meaning of liturgy and prayer in their lives.

"I explained all the little details - the oil, the water, the vestments, everything - so it will take on meaning again for people."

Little by little church attendance started to grow, and over time it exploded. Numbers grew wildly - from 25 to 200, from 40 to 250 - and the churches that comprise the parish were united as a new one, St. Anthony of Padua. With record numbers, it should be noted.

Then came the award, given each year for work in a rural parish, showing how "the power of faith can transform lives." Father Fredy's bishop couldn't have been prouder.

Bishop Gregory Hartmayer of Savannah called attention to the priest's family name, Angel, describing him as "a messenger of God to the people he serves." The bishop added, "He brings them hope, joy and the presence of Christ in the sacraments, so he is truly a light of Christ."

Father Fredy - "one priest, making a difference" - summed things up: "Just be with the people, and teach them about the liturgy and the sacraments. Help them understand what we have."

This essay is a recent "Light One Candle" column, written by Jerry Costello, of The Christophers; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.)

Background information:

The Christophers

Reflection Starter from St. Patrick

"Christ shield me this day: Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every person who thinks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me." - Saint Patrick (from "The Breastplate of St. Patrick')

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of spring rain.

Donald McClarey on George Washington and Catholics

"America has been blessed by God in many ways but I suspect no blessing has been greater than His granting us George Washington to lead us in our struggle for independence and to be our first President. Catholics have perhaps more reason than other Americans to keep the memory of Washington alive in our hearts. In a time of strong prejudice against Catholics in many parts of the colonies he was free from religious bigotry as he demonstrated on November 5, 1775 when he banned the anti-Catholic Guy Fawkes celebrations."

In a recent commentary, Donald R. McClarey reflected on the blessing George Washington has been to American Catholics.

To access Mr. McClarey's complete post, please visit:

Catholic Stand: George Washington and Catholics (1 MAR 16)

Reflection Starter from George Washington

"Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle." - George Washington (in his Farewell Address)

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for good public servants and for all You do for them and through them..

Fr. C. J. McCloskey on St. Thomas More and Our Times

"Where in the United States of America are today's followers of St. Thomas More? As we know, More was martyred for his faith after resisting Henry VIII's co-option of the Catholic Church for his personal and political ends. For this resistance unto death, More received an eternal reward. In October of 2000, to Catholics in our contemporary civic struggles (which loom particularly large for Americans in this election year), St. John Paul II proclaimed him as the heavenly patron of statesmen and politicians.

"In his proclamation, St. John Paul identified as one motive for his action 'the need felt by the world of politics and public administration for credible role models able to indicate the path of truth at a time in history when difficult challenges and crucial responsibilities are increasing.' The pope specifically singled out 'the need to defend human life at all its different stages,' given that today's novel situations 'urgently demand clear political decisions in favor of the family, young people, the elderly and the marginalized.'"

In a recent commentary, Father C. John McCloskey III, a Research Fellow at the Faith and Reason Institute in Washington, DC, reflected on the need for statesmen and politicians who will work for the good of society and on the need for each of us to pray for this intention.

To access Fr. McCloskey's complete post, please visit:

The Catholic Thing: Of St. Thomas More - and Us (13 MAR 16)

Reflection Starter from Rudyard Kipling

"Gardens are not made by singing 'Oh, how beautiful,' and sitting in the shade." - Rudyard Kipling

Tips from Son Tom (Lopco Contracting)

Son Tom (proprietor of Lopco Contracting) was recently a guest on a Sunday morning WJAR (920 AM) broadcast of Real Estate Simplified, hosted by Emilio DiSpirito.

To access a recording of the broadcast, please visit:

WJAR: The Round Table 2-21-16

"Father of Mercy, God of Consolation"

As we continue our Sunday celebration, I offer this version of Marlborough College Chapel Choir presenting "Father of Mercy, God of Consolation":

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Today the Church celebrates the Fifth Sunday of Lent. The assigned readings are Isaiah 43:16-21, Philippians 3:8-14, and John 8:1-11. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 126 (Psalm 126:1-6).

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 34 Taste and see how good our God can be

The Gospel reading is as follows:

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them.

Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?" They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him.

Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."

Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

She replied, "No one, sir."

Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more."

Reflections on these readings:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Fifth Sunday of Lent (March 13, 2016)

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflection: Fifth Sunday of Lent (March 13, 2016)

Community in Mission: Counting the Cost of Condemnation (12 MAR 16)

Deacon Greg Kandra: Second Chances: Homily for March 13, 2016, 5th Sunday of Lent (12 MAR 16)

The Sacred Page: Jesus and the New Exodus: Readings for 5th Sunday of Lent (9 MAR 16)

The Sacred Page: The Woman Caught in Adultery: The Sunday Mass Readings Explained (5th Sunday in Lent) (4th Sunday in Lent) (11 MAR 16)

Word on Fire: Misery and Mercy (Cycle C * Lent * Week 5)

St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology: Something New: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fifth Sunday of Lent (7 MAR 16)

The Dispatch: Zeal for the Law and Casting the First Stone (12 MAR 16)

Spirituality of the Readings: Caught! (Fifth Sunday of Lent C)

Let the Scriptures Speak: Stunning the Stoners (Fifth Sunday of Lent C)

The Word Embodied: Resenting Forgiveness (Fifth Sunday of Lent C)

Historical Cultural Context: Jesus as Judge (Fifth Sunday of Lent C)

Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by Augustine of Hippo (Fifth Sunday of Lent C)

Word to Life Radio Broadcast: Fifth Sunday of Lent (12 MAR 16)

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessings You are offering us during this Year of Mercy.

Msgr. Pope on a Catholic Rsponse to Immigration Issues

"The Catholic Church does not fit into anyone’s little political box. We are too big and ancient for that. And we serve a higher master. Our teachings predate current political categories and will surely postdate them as political lines continue to shift back and forth. The world, its nations, and political realities come and go, and still, here we are.

"We have been called both the 'Republican Party at prayer' and the 'Democratic Party at prayer,' but we are neither. We are the Body of Christ at prayer. As such, we share his fate. The four political factions among the Jews of Jesus' day (Herodians, Sadducees, Pharisees, and Zealots), who disagreed about essentially everything, all agreed that Jesus must go. Even the Romans concurred! Emblematically, Jesus was crucified outside the city gates; the polis (the city) could not contain him either. The Letter to the Hebrews advises, Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach (Heb 13:12-13).

"So here we are, outsiders in a land we too easily call home. We are American citizens to be sure, but our true citizenship is in Heaven (Phil 3:20). As a Church we cannot simply conform to an 'R' or 'D' vision of the world. We certainly stand conscientiously opposed to abortion, the redefinition of marriage, the forced funding of contraceptives, euthanasia, and any erosion of religious liberty. But we oppose these and other related life- and family-related issues as Catholics.

"Another critical moral issue that tests our soul as a nation is that of immigration. Here, too, the challenge for every Catholic is to approach the issue as a believer."

In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the importance of striving to balance the need of a nation to protect its borders and reasonably manage immigration with the Christian command to welcome and care for others.

To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:

Community in Mission: A Catholic Reflects on Immigration (9 MAR 16)

Reflection Starter from Pope Francis

"My life, my attitude, the way of going through life, must really be a concrete sign of the fact that God is close to us." - Pope Francis

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for inspirations to thank You for Your many blessings and to thank others in our life who (through Your grace) have been a blessing to us.

Br. Dominic Bouck, O.P., on Civic Virtue

"It's very easy to have a distaste for the current political races in our country, most notably the presidential campaign season currently underway. Straight talk and attractive slogans aren't bad in themselves, but there seems to be a deeper disorder under the salty surface.

"This bad bloom of a situation has its roots in a particular vice: self-touting. This is the naked ambition for high office wherein one begs for approval. Self-touting goes against human nature, leads to a degradation of the human person, and subsequently drags down human society."

In a recent commentary, Brother Dominic Bouck, O.P., reflected on civic virtue and its role in politics (especially in the United States).

To access Br. Timothy's complete post, please visit:

Dominicana: The Reluctant Ruler (10 MAR 16)

Reflection Starter

"Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance." - Today's "Verse Before the Gospel "

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for good priests and for the many ways in which You work through them.

A Young Priest’s Challenging Parish Assignment

The headline over the article from a recent issue of Our Sunday Visitor caught my eye at once: "The difference one priest can make."

"The difference" indeed, I thought. A great headline. I looked back at some men I had known, and thought of the way that one priest can make a telling difference - in a life, an assignment…a parish. It takes a special dedication, true enough. But it can be done.

It turned out that the priest in this article had made a difference, a huge difference, in his rural parish…so much so that he was named winner of the Lumen Christi Award of the Catholic Extension Society - a high honor, and certainly reason to read on.

It turns out, too, that at 41, Father Fredy Angel was the youngest priest to have won the honor, which is given in rural dioceses to one priest "who demonstrates how the power of faith can transform lives and communities." By the time I finished the article, written by Emily Stimpson, I decided that Extension could not have made a better choice. Read on and see if you don't agree.

Father Angel was from Colombia, where he had begun his priestly studies with the Salesians. He came to the U.S. as a seminarian for the Georgia Diocese of Savannah, with an ill-formed idea of becoming a missionary priest. The idea was still taking shape when he was ordained a diocesan priest in 2005, and he spent the next two years in a large Savannah parish, learning the ropes.

Then he was sent to Queen of Peace parish in Lakeland, Georgia, a central rural community with three mission churches. At first the young priest thought he had realized his dream at last, the dream of being a missionary pastor in a rural parish. But when he looked around he soon discovered that he had inherited a mess.

"I'd been in mission parishes before," Father Fredy said, "but this was really bad. The rectory was awful. The bathroom was full of mold. The parking lots were terrible, and everywhere you looked, every corner was filled with things - donations that people didn't know what to do with. It felt like a garbage can."

For me," he added, "it was shocking. I thought, 'Really, this is going on in this country? It's worse than Colombia.' At first I thought maybe I did something wrong to get sent there."

The spiritual state of the parish was hardly better. The people who came were faithful Catholics, true; faithful in the middle of a Protestant stronghold. The problem was that not many came at all. The central church had a great many pews that remained empty, Sunday after Sunday.

That was the point at which Father Fredy took stock of the situation, and discovered that he had two choices. He could wallow in his disappointment - the high hopes with which he'd greeted the assignment; the reality of learning what he'd gotten himself into. Or he could look at the whole thing as a challenge, and make the parish a better one. He decided, of course, to do the right thing. He'd have his dream after all. He knew he had to roll up his sleeves and get to work, he told himself - but where on earth to start?

Next issue: a reversal of parish fortunes; how empty churches started hanging out the standing-room-only signs.

This essay is a recent "Light One Candle" column, written by Jerry Costello, of The Christophers; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.)

Background information:

The Christophers

Reflection Starter from Mack McGinnis

"If your trouble is deep-seated and long-standing, try kneeling." - Mack McGinnis

Former Hartford, CT, Boy Scout Leader Honored by His Troop Members

"When Luis Collazo was growing up, there were certain parts of his own neighborhood that were off-limits.

"It was the late '80s. Gangland Hartford, when the Savage Nomads, Ghetto Brothers and Park Street Posse ran on the streets.

"There were lines, invisible boundaries, carving up his slice of Frog Hollow. Kids took their lives into their own hands if they did something as simple as walk a few blocks.

"But amid the chaos there was a protected class of sorts. Gang members recognized this group by their distinctive uniforms. They knew their leader, a man who had once taught them, a man they respected.

"They all knew Boy Scout Troop 5.

"'We would walk down Park Street in the middle of the gang wars and nobody would touch us,' Collazo, 39, said. 'Nobody would dare; they knew we were with Brother Marcus.'"

A recent Hartford Courant article reported on the ministry of Sacred Heart Brother Marcus Turcotte to Troop 5. (The troop, unfortunatly, is no longer active.)

To access the complete Hartford Courant article, please visit:

Hartford Courant: Scouts' Honor: Hartford Men Reunite With Troop Leader Who Saved Them From Gang Culture (7 MAR 16)

Background information

Brothers of the Sacred Heart, SC

Wikipedia: Hartford, Connecticut

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for Your gift of forgiveness.

Bishop Tobin on Forgiveness and Being a Christian

"Mercy and forgiveness must not remain as pleasant words but must be manifest in daily life. (Pope Francis)

"As Christians we often hear about and speak about forgiveness - God's forgiveness of our sins and our need to forgive one another. And yet the practice of forgiveness is one of the hardest things about being a follower of Jesus. Various aspects of our human nature - our pride, our narcissism, our instinct for self-defense - militate against the virtue. But it's a challenge we cannot ignore. As Pope Francis said, 'Mercy and forgiveness must not remain as pleasant words but must be manifest in daily life.'"

In a recent commentary, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, of the Diocese of Providence (RI), reflected on the importance of forgiveness in the life of a Christian - believing that God forgives him/her, forgiving oneself, and forgiving others.

To access Bishop Tobin's complete essay, please visit:

Without A Doubt: The Hardest Thing About Being Christian (3 MAR 15)

Reflection Starter from G. K. Chesterton

"It is always easy to let the age have its head; the difficult thing is to keep one's own." - G. K. Chesterton (in Orthodoxy)

"Christ is the World's Light"

As we continue our Sunday celebration, I offer this version of "Christ is the World's Light":

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Today the Church celebrates the Fourth Sunday of Lent. The assigned readings are Joshua 5:9-12, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, and Luke 9:28-36. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 34 (Psalm 34:2-7).

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 34 Taste and see how good our God can be

The Gospel reading is as follows:

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

So to them Jesus addressed this parable: "A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, 'Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.

"Coming to his senses he thought, 'How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.''

So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.'

"But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.' Then the celebration began.

"Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, 'Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'

"He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, 'Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.'

"He said to him, 'My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.'"

Reflections on these readings:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Fourth Sunday of Lent (March 6, 2016)

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflection: Fourth Sunday of Lent (March 6, 2016)

Community in Mission: There Was a Man Who Had Two Sons - A Homily for the 4th Sunday of Lent (5 MAR 16)

Deacon Greg Kandra: Merciful Like the Father: Homily for March 6, 2016, 4th Sunday of Lent (5 MAR 16)

The Sacred Page: A New Creation, A New World: Readings for Laetare Sunday (3 MAR 16)

The Sacred Page: The Parable of the Prodigal Son: The Sunday Mass Readings Explained (4th Sunday in Lent) (4 MAR 16)

Be as One: The Prodigal Son - the rest of story: reflections by Father Steven LaBaire (5 MAR 16)

Word on Fire: The Prodigal Son Returns (Cycle C * Lent * Week 4)

St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology: Found Alive Again: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fourth Sunday of Lent (29 FEB 16)

The Dispatch: Hardships and Sonships (5 MAR 16)

Spirituality of the Readings: Cowering (Fourth Sunday of Lent C)

Let the Scriptures Speak: The Ministry of Reconciliation (Fourth Sunday of Lent C)

The Word Embodied: Lost and Found (Fourth Sunday of Lent C)

Historical Cultural Context: Forgiven (Fourth Sunday of Lent C)

Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by John Chrysostom (Fourth Sunday of Lent C)

Word to Life Radio Broadcast: Fourth Sunday of Lent (4 MAR 16)

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the many ways in which You encourage us as we continue our earthly pilgrimage.

Msgr. Pope on Encouraging Words from Jesus

"In the Gospel of the Samaritan Woman from this past Sunday that was read in some parishes, Jesus gives an important teaching on sowing seeds and reaping harvests. The teaching has special importance for us who live in a modern, technological age that is so insistent on instant results. So easily we become resentful and discouraged when our efforts not yield quick fruits or when solutions take time.

"We often take these attitudes with our spiritual life as well. Perhaps we think our progress is too slow. Perhaps we are frustrated because we have prayed for years for someone's conversion and think that little or nothing has come of it. Yes, too often we fail to remember that there is a delay between the sowing of the seed and the reaping of the harvest. Indeed, there are usually many months that pass between them.

"In our technological, instant-update, instant-download, Internet-infused culture we have lost the patient insight of the farmer. Thus, we do well to listen carefully to what Jesus teaches us about sowing and reaping."

In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the delay (often a long delay) between sowing and harvesting and on the importance of being patient and doing our part.

To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:

Community in Mission: A Word Encouragement from Jesus That We Should Not Give Up (29 FEB 16)