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Fr. Don's Weekly Letter ~ 10 April 2022
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
The liturgy of Palm Sunday each year confronts us with a most unbelievable turn of events. The Mass begins with the Gospel of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem as the crowds are singing and shouting hosannas to him, addressing him as the Son of David, the King of Israel. How quickly the aspect of the crowd changes into a bloodthirsty mob as we listen moments later to the account of his arrest, torture and death.
Perhaps you have sometimes found yourselves grappling with many images this year, wondering how public opinion could have been swayed to result in such violence. How can peoples' minds be changed so radically and quickly? We have seen cities burning, groups motivated by hate, rage on our streets and highways, now even armed agression against an entire nation as if they could simply be erased.
Obviously on that first Palm Sunday nothing caused leaders more rage than the fact that their people were waving palms and acclaiming Jesus as Son of David, and King. "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!" The collective will, once turned, was capable in causing the most cruel suffering.
This is a complicated reflection: Jesus willingly accepted this suffering which was the product of real evil. The suffering was itself wrong, but Jesus was able to make it purposeful, freely choosing to use it to fulfill the sacrifice of reconciliation which we were unable to make of and for ourselves. Even though it was still evil, Jesus was able to turn it into an opportunity of hope, even joy on the cross knowing he had fulfilled his mission.
Perhaps you, also, have at times found yourselves grappling with real suffering this year. Privation, loneliness, judgment, illness, abuse, addiction, violence, injustice. It does us no good to deny that we have known real suffering in these past two years, real loss. However, it is useful to consider that there are two basic categories of suffering: that which is the result of impersonal circumstances like natural disasters and disease, and that which is the product of sin like violence, greed, or selfishness. Both sufferings are real, but the latter suffering is unnecessary and preventable. We choose what to do with the anger that results, to use it to pursue justice, or to cause further harm. We see Jesus often reacting with anger at injustice or hypocrisy, yet we know that Jesus could never have sinned.
The ultimate question is how do you process the experience of anger? It is this underlying anger that is orchestrated by some to produce destructive movements and initiatives, even war.
As we watch Jesus endure false testimony, unjust condemnation, rejection by his own followers and ultimately his abandonment, passion and death, see especially how Jesus accepts even their hatred and, at the same time begs for them to be forgiven. May it be so for us, as we identify with him in our challenges and suffering, tranforming it with faith, hope and love as a personal offering of ourselves to God.
The Lord be with you,
Streaming Masses and Announcements for the week of 3 April 2022
STREAMING SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES
Today's Live-Streamed Mass
Worship Aid for the Fifth Sunday of Lent
THANK YOU to all families who have already made a pledge or a given a gift to the 2022 Bishop's Lenten Appeal. Our diocesan goal is 30% participation but truly every family should make some contribution to the ongoing work of the Diocese in her many ministries and offfices. If you have not yet made a pledge or a gift, please prayerfully respond to this appeal. As of March 11, we are at 93%.
Our Parish Penance Service will be Monday, April 4 at 6:30pm, a time that we will have at least eighteen priests (English and Spanish) who will be here for you. Please plan to come.
7:30pm MASS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
Procession to gym, adoration until midnight
Lenten Observances
Fasting:
Food equivalent to one regular meal, one small meal - Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
Abstinence:
No meat - Ash Wednesday and ALL Fridays
Stations of the Cross:
Fridays at 7pm (English), 8pm (Spanish)
Lent Confessions:
Please plan Parish Penance Service, Monday, April 4, 6:30pm. We will have 16 priests present. In addition to the regular Saturday confessions (3:30-4:30pm), we will have a priest available for confessions on Wednesdays of Lent from 6:30-7:30pm. Please plan confessions early in the season to avoid running out of time,
Fr. Don's Weekly Letter ~ 3 April 2022
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
It seems like my letter last week got a lot of response! I did not intend to criticize, only to say how fortunate we are in this age when all information is literally at our fingertips. You don't have to request rare books from lending libraries or learn that the document you are seeking is out of print. There was a time when we could claim that those who had the resources weren't (effectively) teaching them to us, but now all of us have the resources. In addition to what the parish is able to provide, we need to take responsibility for ourselves and our families.
As some of you replied, it does raise some questions. Which flavor of Catholicism do we subscribe to? The Church is so divided, right from the top with our bishops. I find this so disconcerting and discouraging as a priest, I can only imagine how this effects our faithful, especially our young who tend to be less patient with the shortcomings of leadership.
Here is a short answer. If what you are reading self-identifies as a flavor, spit it out. This is how politicized media have taken control of the narrative of the Church. Don't read somebody's commentary on the documents of Vatican II, read the documents themselves. Don't read a commentary on the writings of a saint, read the saint's own words. Don't read a news article about the Pope's recent encyclical, read the encyclical itself. Otherwise you will never never actually get to know the Church, or the saints, or the Pope personally, first-hand. Respect your own reflection on the texts, then enter into a discussion with others and, if necessary, theologians. Digest your faith, no Cliff's Notes.
My mom used to say that when she was in high school "they" told the students to never read the Old Testament because they would not be educated or qualified enough to know what to do with it. Such a shame. Even if that were so, a precursory reading would at least have empowered them to enter into a conversation. Read the documents, trust your goodness and your instincts, not someone else's. As I have said before, if someone is trying to shape your understanding of a person or teaching through their lens, they are trying to claim the power by controlling the narrative. These documents do not need narrators.
One of the most pivotal moments in the history of the Church was the Second Vatican Council, coming up on 60 years ago. At the time the media coverage on the news and in the press (both Church and secular) sensationalized the meetings and the moral issues of the Council so that public opinion was established before anyone had even read the documents. As you can imagine, these documents were not available in translation until several years later, and already the damage had been done, it was old news. Opinions set, texts unopened. If you want a place to start, start with the Constitutions and the Decrees of Vatican II. I would also say don't miss the declaration Nostra aetate. Actually read Pope Francis' texts that you are hearing about from others: his writings on the Light of Faith, The Joy of the Gospel, The Face of Mercy, Love in the Family, Fraternity and Social Friendship, and Climate Change and Inequality. Then, too, there is always and first the Scriptures.
So much to be done! It is easier to start a conversation about a text if you come somewhat prepared. So, read, and hopefully we can discuss.
The Lord be with you,
Streaming Masses and Announcements for the week of 27 March 2022
STREAMING SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES
Today's Live-Streamed Mass
Worship Aid for the Fourth Sunday of Lent
Please note: There will be no 7am Mass celebrated this week. 7am Masses will resume Monday April 4. THANK YOU to all families who have already made a pledge or a given a gift to the 2022 Bishop's Lenten Appeal. Our diocesan goal is 30% participation but truly every family should make some contribution to the ongoing work of the Diocese in her many ministries and offfices. If you have not yet made a pledge or a gift, please prayerfully respond to this appeal. As of March 11, we are at 88%.
Join us Monday, March 28 for our monthly Taizé Prayer Service, at 8pm. Come pray for Christian unity in our community and in the world. All Christians are warmly invited; invite your friends!
Lenten Observances
Fasting:
Food equivalent to one regular meal, one small meal - Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
Abstinence:
No meat - Ash Wednesday and ALL Fridays
Stations of the Cross:
Fridays at 7pm (English), 8pm (Spanish)
Lent Confessions:
Please plan Parish Penance Service, Monday, April 4, 6:30pm. We will have 16 priests present. In addition to the regular Saturday confessions (3:30-4:30pm), we will have a priest available for confessions on Wednesdays of Lent from 6:30-7:30pm. Please plan confessions early in the season to avoid running out of time,
Fr. Don's Weekly Letter ~ 27 March 2022
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
When I was in the seminary the writings of the Fathers of the Church (first five centuries) were finally being translated into English and published. Those of us who didn't know Latin and Greek did not have access to these foundational writings of the Church for centuries. It was my goal as a seminarian to somehow save the thousands of dollars that the multiple-volume set would cost. In the meantime, you had to get in line at one of the few libraries that would have these books on their shelves. There was comfort, though, just knowing that these resources were now available to people in a way never before known.
A few years after I was ordained this new thing called the internet began making such documents available on demand. Of course, you had to wait forever for the modem to download the goods, but they were available. We had a new capability to collect as many of these documents as we could, hoping that the internet would be something that would stick around for a while. Little did we know.
Now, everything (for good or ill) is available by a click to anyone who is seeking for it. There is a lot of trash, of course, posted by people who would like you to know their interpretation of Church teachings, but official teachings are abundant, commentaries on Scripture, classics of Church spiritual writers, more than we will ever be able to read. There is no excuse not to know your faith anymore.
You hear from a lot of people these days blaming their relative ignorance of the faith on bad catechesis when they were growing up or failure in Church programming to provide the them with what they needed. At a time when resources were scarce, this may have been a valid argument, but it is no longer an excuse today. You must admit, we are constantly reading and downloading more and more information at every greater paces. It just might not be Catholic teaching.
We recently held listening sessions for Pope Francis' synodal process being conducted in parishes all over the world. What an amazing thing that the Church wants to listen about how we are making a difference in the world, proclaiming the Gospel, evangelizing and serving the poor and those left behind. Of our 11,000 or so members, about 60 attended for the two meetings. Certainly, I wasn't expecting 11,000... but I printed 300 handouts the first night, ever the optimist. 25 attended.
I discovered a conundrum in our gatherings. The feedback was clear:
"the Church is not doing enough for us." Then, again: "We are the
Church, right?" So therefore: "We - all of us - are not doing enough."
Lack of adult education/continuing formation was probably the thing that some complained about the most. Not enough. And yet, we are in the richest period of time ever known for resources that are available, at your convenience whenever we want. And not just books! Video classes, podcasts, and recordings by teachers with greater degrees and experience, and resources, than I would ever be able to offer. Click!
The Lord be with you,
Streaming Masses and Announcements for the week of 20 March 2022
STREAMING SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES
Today's Live-Streamed Mass
Worship Aid for the Third Sunday of Lent
THANK YOU to all families who have already made a pledge or a given a gift to the 2022 Bishop's Lenten Appeal. Our diocesan goal is 30% participation but truly every family should make some contribution to the ongoing work of the Diocese in her many ministries and offfices. If you have not yet made a pledge or a gift, please prayerfully respond to this appeal. As of March 11, we are at 80%.
Join us Monday, March 28 for our monthly Taizé Prayer Service, at 8pm. Come pray for Christian unity in our community and in the world. All Christians are warmly invited; invite your friends!
Lenten Observances
STARTING TONIGHT: 40 Hours and Parish Lenten Mission:
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Sunday–Tuesday, March 20-22. Begins with 5pm Mass Sunday followed by adoration and talk by Soren and Ever Johnson of Trinity House Community, "A Lenten Challenge to Transform Your Catholic Family Life."
Additional Masses on Monday and Tuesday evening at 6:30pm followed by Lenten Mission talks.
Close of 40 Hours with Benediction, Tuesday night.
Fasting:
Food equivalent to one regular meal, one small meal - Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
Abstinence:
No meat - Ash Wednesday and ALL Fridays
Stations of the Cross:
Fridays at 7pm (English), 8pm (Spanish)
Lent Confessions:
Please plan Parish Penance Service, Monday, April 4, 6:30pm. We will have 16 priests present. In addition to the regular Saturday confessions (3:30-4:30pm), we will have a priest available for confessions on Wednesdays of Lent from 6:30-7:30pm. Please plan confessions early in the season to avoid running out of time,
Fr. Don's Weekly Letter ~ 20 March 2022
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
In one of the daily Mass readings from the prophet Daniel this week the covenant of the people of Israel with God was called a merciful covenant. The prophet Hosea, quoted later by Jesus himself, said of the Lord: "It is mercy I desire, not sacrifice, and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings."
The covenant that God formed with his chosen people was their sacred inheritance. It was their identity. That is why it was so painful throughout the centuries when they proved unfaithful to the covenant that God formed with them. They lost track of themselves.
A covenant is more than a contract. A contract is a binding agreement to which you must conform, where a covenant is something you choose to embrace. A covenant requires heart as well as will, and because of personal investment, provides identity to the parties mutually.
I have always regarded the covenant God made with his people as defining for them, but only recently began to think of the covenant as also defining God's identity in a new way. To make such a commitment, especially knowing that the espoused is not likely to be capable of fidelity, shows the depths of unconditional love that constitutes the very identity of God. Reconciliation and forgiveness can only happen with a kind of radical mercy.
As partners of this covenant—especially as Jesus said at the Last Supper, this new and eternal covenant established by the pouring out of his very blood for us and for our salvation—we are equally defined by the gift of his mercy, and must be merciful in return. God doesn't need our mercy as he has done nothing wrong, but in his likeness we must become people of mercy to be faithful to his covenant.
Looking around, mercy isn't common. It has been our experience that people want what they want and when we are found lacking, mercy isn't usually the experience we have. I might even say that our world is becoming less and less merciful. But there is a remedy for this.
Mercy is one of those things you can only experience by knowing it. Once you have known the forgiveness of God you become forgiving because you understand this is how you can make a difference in your brother or sister's life. We recently celebrated First Reconciliation with our 2nd graders in the school. When we were done, I asked the kids if they felt different. They did. They felt good. It feels good to be forgiven, especially when there is nothing you can do to earn it. I said to them that now they know what that feels like, they have to give it everyone they meet. They were all smiles.
We are all sinners. Don't believe otherwise. We are all in need of mercy and are sorry for our sins. The seeds of our contrition watered with the mercy of God produces a harvest of conversion.
The Lord be with you,
Streaming Masses and Announcements for the week of 13 March 2022
STREAMING SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES
Today's Live-Streamed Mass
Worship Aid for the Second Sunday of Lent
THANK YOU to all families who have already made a pledge or a given a gift to the 2022 Bishop's Lenten Appeal. Our diocesan goal is 30% participation but truly every family should make some contribution to the ongoing work of the Diocese in her many ministries and offfices. If you have not yet made a pledge or a gift, please prayerfully respond to this appeal. As of March 9, we are at 69%.
Join us for one of two listening sessions as our parish gathers for Pope Francis' world-wide Synodal Process. All are welcome, including those who are inactive or away from the Church. The goal is for all baptized Catholics and others who are interested to participate in this process of listening, dreaming, discerning God’s call for the Church. Invite a friend or relative who may not be a churchgoer to attend a listening session to share their thoughts, also. We will meet Sunday, March 13 at 6:15pm, and Tuesday, March 15 at 7pm in the church.
Lenten Observances
Fasting:
Food equivalent to one regular meal, one small meal - Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
Abstinence:
No meat - Ash Wednesday and ALL Fridays
Stations of the Cross:
Fridays at 7pm (English), 8pm (Spanish)
Lent Confessions:
Please plan Parish Penance Service, Monday, April 4, 6:30pm. We will have 16 priests present. In addition to the regular Saturday confessions (3:30-4:30pm), we will have a priest available for confessions on Wednesdays of Lent from 6:30-7:30pm. Please plan confessions early in the season to avoid running out of time,
40 Hours and Parish Lenten Mission:
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Sunday–Tuesday, March 20-22, begins with 5pm Mass Sunday followed by adoration until Tuesday evening. Please sign up in the vestibule of the church for adoration times. Parish Missions talks by Soren and Ever Johnson of Trinity House Community, "A Lenten Challenge to Transform Your Catholic Family Life" will follow the Mass on Sunday evening, as well as following additional Masses at 6:30pm on Monday and Tuesday.
Close of 40 Hours with Benediction, Tuesday night.
Fr. Don's Weekly Letter ~ 13 March 2022
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
We watch in disbelief as events unfold in eastern Europe. Our hearts go out to the millions who have fled from homes to which, if they can return, they will never be able to inhabit. The man filmed sifting through the rubble of his house in a daze. He lost his whole family. A world leader hell-bent on destroying a people, a culture, a nation. This is what crazy looks like. This assault is evil, and don't let anyone try to convince you otherwise.
You have to wonder how some church leaders can make the statements they do. The leader of the national Russian Orthodox Church basically states that this is what happens to countries who have gay pride parades. Crazy. A Church leader here who blames the "deep state" in this country, the EU and NATO for triggering this war and demonizing Russia. In response, he says, we should strengthen our alliances with Russia and out of the destruction we will rebuild a true, Christian civilization. Crazy.
The problem is some people are believing this. I am not telling you what to believe, just that you don't have to believe this. Just because some "influencers" say it is so, it isn't, necessarily. I often quote a teacher from my seminary days, Monsignor Herron: "It isn't true because the Church says it is true. The Church says it is true because it is." We proclaim the Word of God, we don't write it.
People have always rewritten histories to serve their purposes. For the first time we see people who are trying to rewrite the present in realtime.
We see it on all levels -- just look around. So much chatter was going around social media with regard to our communities and schools and the pandemic. Even things which might have been facts were twisted to become something which served the purposes of particular groups. Nearly everything was/is politicized. Racial justice, the right to vote, even the remedy for COVID. For the first time I understood what was happening. Truth is no longer what is sought, it is the narrative that is created about the truth, and whoever has control of the narrative holds the power. And so the struggle continues.
A priest friend of mine, in his wisdom, said that he is concerned that the same confusion has entered our Church, with its wound caused by deep divisions largely following partisan lines. He said he fears this is the new liberalism, a conservative protest that no longer needs to recognize authority, not even the Pope. Literally, a wolf in sheep's clothing.
What we see unfolding in Ukraine can never be interpreted as God's will. God is not capable of doing evil. There is only one source of evil and division who twists the truth and tempts people to choose the narrative that best suits them.
How can we help? many ask. I went to CRS's website and made a donation. They don't need shipments of shoes and coats, but a donation which allows them to support the local economies by buying a pair of shoes or a coat helps twice. And you know your donation will go securely where it is needed. Info on page 13, www.crs.org.
The Lord be with you,
Streaming Masses and Announcements for the week of 6 March 2022
STREAMING SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES
Today's Live-Streamed Mass
Worship Aid for the First Sunday of Lent
The Bishop’s Lenten Appeal is underway. If you were not able to fill out a pledge envelope this past weekend and need more time to prayerfully consider making a pledge to this important appeal, you may return your envelope next weekend. The funds from the BLA provide a way for leaders of all ministries, volunteers, people from all walks of life, to grow as a community to enrich parish life, teach the faith, help those in need and inspire faith in those outside the Church.
Join us for one of two listening sessions as our parish gathers for Pope Francis' world-wide Synodal Process. All are welcome, including those who are inactive or away from the Church. The goal is for all baptized Catholics and others who are interested to participate in this process of listening, dreaming, discerning God’s call for the Church. Invite a friend or relative who may not be a churchgoer to attend a listening session to share their thoughts, also. We will meet Sunday, March 13 at 6:15pm, and Tuesday, March 15 at 7pm in the church.
Lenten Observances
Fasting:
Food equivalent to one regular meal, one small meal - Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
Abstinence:
No meat - Ash Wednesday and ALL Fridays
Stations of the Cross:
Fridays at 7pm (English), 8pm (Spanish)
Lent Confessions:
Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30pm, Saturdays, 3:30-4:30pm (as usual), Please plan confessions early in the season to avoid running out of time.
Parish Penance Service: Monday, April 4, 6:30pm
40 Hours and Parish Lenten Mission:
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Sunday–Tuesday, March 20-22. Begins with 5pm Mass Sunday followed by adoration and talk by Soren and Ever Johnson of Trinity House Community, "A Lenten Challenge to Transform Your Catholic Family Life." Additional Masses on Monday and Tuesday evening at 6:30pm followed by Lenten Mission talks.
Close of 40 Hours with Benediction, Tuesday night.
