We are now following the summer mass schedule (below). Our office hours for the summer are Monday through Friday from 9am-1pm
Please see the Religious Education page for CCD registration information
Labyrinth Walk – ‘the Path to Center’July 26 & 27
Join us Saturday July 26,11 am atSt. Luke Parish Activity Center for a presentation on the history and origins of this ancient Christian meditative practice and guided walk by Angela Calogero, MAPA. A full-size labyrinth patterned after the original in Chartres Cathedral in France will be set up through Sunday 1 PM in the gym for anyone wishing to “walk the path to center”.All are invited.
Welcome to the Padre's Corner!
Something To Think About...
I don’t know about you, but the older I get the more I'm convinced that God is more present to us than we realize. It is too easy for us to bottle the presence of God and limit His creative ability by holding on to a limited understanding of where God is and how He operates in this world of ours.
There is a delightful little story about the youngest child in a family. The child was five years of age and appointed by her dad to say the evening prayer before the meal. They taught her very patiently how to say the simple prayer and also to add at the end of the prayer the phrase, "COME, LORD JESUS, BE OUR GUEST TONIGHT". Well, on one evening as she prayed this cute prayer and got towards the end, she turned suddenly to her mom and dad and blurted out - "I don't want Jesus to be our guest." Her dad turned to her and asked "why!" "Because", the wise little girl said, "I want Jesus to be here with us all the time".
I have used this story often to make a point. There is a cautious message here. How do we personally prepare to be a welcomer of the Lord in our lives? How do we express our need to be in relationship with Him? Isn't it true that we are called to express our belief in and need for the Lord by the very lives we lead. In fact isn't it true that it is to become a way of life?
Moses instilled in the people of Israel the need to remain faithful to God if they are to really understand His presence in their lives. God's law, Moses adds, is in your heart. Be faithful to understanding that law and to live in the proper spirit that the law was intended.
The story of the Good Samaritan is the story of each one of us. Part of the image of what took place on that road embraces us. it is the story of what it means to be a welcomer/neighbor. The true presence of God is in the person of our brother and sister. And the truth is that the neighbor we see on TV's sitcoms are not necessarily the only place we focus our attention when it comes to being a person of welcome. Whether we are talking about the physical person that lives next door - or be it the community we live in/the workplace or the parish community or the global community. We have an investment in each area of our lives. We never know when that moment will arrive when we can cash in our investment.
Like the innocence of our five year old child who really wanted to see that Jesus stayed with her family all the time, we too have to look for ways to discover the presence of Jesus. He is all around us. We can just as easily discover Him in the ordinary daily experiences around us: the beauty of creation/the sunrise & sunset/the tender touch of an infant/the fragile grasp of the hand of one who is near the end of their journey/the fear and anger of those confused and alienated because of trauma and doubt and those who find themselves on the margins of life - the homeless and destitute. These and more suggest to us that we are all on that road and it doesn't take much imagination to find those who need to feel welcomed.
There is an incredible risk involved in being a people of compassion (another word for neighbor). We open ourselves up to being inconvenienced. We sometimes even have to bend the rules and make people the most important focus of the moment. No person/no family/no parish/no institution should ever deny the moment of bringing Christ to a person or persons in need.
Jesus came to disturb us (just a little). To interrupt our routine, our comfort, and maybe even our apathy. We need constant stimulation if we are not to fall into the trap of being so independent that we become isolated from the world.
Let us not be limited to just opening the doors of our homes. Let us take the risk by becoming vulnerable in opening our hearts. Let people really see who you are and the wonderful presence of a God who loved you first. It is an inner spirit/and attitude that prepares us for anything, even being caught by surprised. Who knows someday it might be us who will need to reach out for help - will we experience a welcoming attitude or a brush by. The longer we know that we are all part of the same planet earth/the same community, the sooner we will discover our own poverty and know that we truly need one another - no matter what the other might be.
Peace my friends,
Fr. Mike
JUST A THOUGHT….
Scripture tells us that more will be asked of those to whom more has been given. What are we doing with our time, talents, and treasures? We must use our talents for the benefit of our brothers and sisters. The only thing God will ask of us one day is how well we used the gifts and Blessings that He gave us. Just a thought…
Couple's Mass Information:
If you would like any more information please contact Rick or Christine Benson at 908-850-4432 or rc.benson@verizon.net
The Couples' Mass schedule is as follows:
April 19, 2008
May 17, 2008
June 14, 2008 (At the Rectory)
All Masses are held in the Chapel at 6:30 PM (unless otherwise noted)
Psychologists will tell us over and over again that it is normal and healthy to feel anger, express it safely or creatively and move on with life. I certainly agree with that professional advice and, as difficult as it is at times, I try to adhere to it personally. Anger is a feeling that draws itself from deep within. Sometimes those feelings have nestled within our soul and stored there for years. They may only appear when something pushes us to the limit.
As I, along with millions of people, watched with sadness and shock, the tragedy Hurricane Katrina and, most recently, the mudslides of Manilla, feelings of sadness and anger moved quickly to the surface – we were brought back to other moments in our life, like the September 11th – 2001 event that changed the lives of all and brought terror and fear to our doorsteps.
Today there are many feelings and emotions that we embrace – some are wonderful, like thinking about our families, our children, our parents – past and present. Feelings of pride also come into the picture as we watch our children develop and reflect some of the good things we have tried to pass onto them. And yet, there are feelings that go unspoken and sometimes acted on inappropriately. We are in the midst of a war that has touched the lives of most, if not all communities in the USA. The church scandal continues to invade the minds and hearts of people of faith with fear and anger. The lost of jobs has attacked the sheer fabric of families struggling to make ends meet and to hold onto their pride. How do we express our emotions appropriately so that healing can begin? Not an easy task but one that has credibility when we seek the presence of the one who came to, not only heal, but to show us a way to confront those fears and emotions.
Is the future somewhat fragile for you? Are we angry enough to stand up and say “…I’m not going to take this any more?” Or do we just sit back and wait and see. I personally wonder where this will all end. Whatever side of these issues you find yourself I think we can all agree – it is not a pretty sight at this stage of the game. All of this and more puts me in a pretty precarious place as a minister. Where do I shed my feelings and how do I assist parishioners to shed theirs?
Lent is a time of the year that leads Christians on a journey that will ultimately take us to the Cross. During these five weeks we hear the voice of the past in the Old Testament suggesting to us that we listen to the voice from within – God as you were speaking to his people about the future. We also look to the ministry of Jesus as it unfolds before him. He did not have a crystal ball telling him his every move – no, he responded to every event with feelings, conviction and faith. When you really think about the feelings that Jesus expressed – they went across the board; from simple acceptance of others; the love of family and dear friends to the devastating feelings of sorrow and concern for those who were taken advantage of or discarded as nothings. Jesus came to show us A WAY to live. You and I are appointed to embrace his lifestyle in a way that is personal to us.
I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER YOU A LENTEN PROCLAMATION TO FOCUS ON: Our spiritual life is as important to us today as it was to our brothers and sisters before Jesus’ time. The emphasis is on spirituality – where do you find it in your personal life and that of your family? My goal is to assist you in finding spirituality in your life and to dispel any darkness, or the “dark feelings” like anger and sadness – for that is what the Spirit is to accomplish in our lives. I want you to join me this Lent in dedicating our life to the Lord, the same Lord that did it all – just like us – and find his fulfillment and peace in and through the power of the Spirit. Wholeness is what we strive for – Lent is an opportunity to make it happen. Our weekend liturgies are a must! Daily mass and prayer is also an incredible way to find a place for feelings. Read the Scriptures for the coming weekend liturgies as a weekly discipline / get involved in assisting those in need – perhaps in your own families. Try to do simple but extraordinary things thru Lent; like using affirming words rather than damaging ones – maybe more patience with those who drive you crazy can also be an effective way to gain spirituality – pick up good literature that reflects the ideals of our Christian way of life. All in all feelings can overwhelms us at times – it really depends on what we do with them that will make the difference. If we stuff them – that is exactly where they will stay. If we look for healthy ways to let them out – we will find the space to fill ourselves with the Lord’s Spiritual Possibilities. Lets see if we can work on this together.
Father Mike Pastor
Where can I find a Scripture of the Day or Read about the Saint of the Day?
As we journey through life together, there are always moments that we pause to think about where we are going. Sometimes those moments cause us to ask questions about ourselves, our faith, our God and our church. We don't always have the where-with-all to seek the answers to our questions because of our busy schedule. It is my hope that this area will enable you to have a place to ask questions confidentially. The areas that are often asked of me are:
I simply find it hard to believe.
Divorce and remarriage – and where do I stand with the church?
I do not believe everything that church doctrine suggests that I do.
Am I a hypocrite?
I do not understand the whole notion of reconciliation & confession.
What about the belief in the "Real presence in Eucharist?"
I may not have all the answers but I certainly will find a way to get them.
In order to remain anonymous you will need to supply me with some sort of anonymous email address.
Please click on the Go button and submit your question there.
