St. Andrew the Apostle Parish Blog

When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again...

2012-01-08T16:00:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm off! I'm now on my way to Maxwell Air Force Base in Mongomery, Alabama to begin my 5-weeks of Officer Training for the Air Force. Know of my prayer for all of you - please remember me in yours!

I'm going to TRY to blog some during my time away - we'll see how much time I have... Until my next post... God bless us, one and all!

Fr. Bateman

New Knights of the Holy Temple

2012-01-05T16:17:00.000-05:00

In a Mass on the memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, 5 new young men were initiated into the Knights of the Holy Temple. They are: John Whittington, Bill Bautista, Michael Ochoa, Nathan Frechette, Andrew Payne and Bailey Carbaugh. Also pictures are the current Knights: Austin Maurer, Brian Zak, Clarence Wroblewski, Robby Lison & Peter Rettig. Congratulations to our new Knights!

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

2011-12-30T06:15:00.000-05:00

The Holy Family - Flight into Egypt

The Holy Family of Nazareth, Jesus, Mary and Joseph are put before us by the Church today as a model for our families. We call them “The Holy Family” but that does not mean that they did not have problems. Just as every family has to face problems and overcome them, or to put it another way, has to carry a cross, so also The Holy Family had to carry crosses. Their many crosses come to mind as we read the Scriptures.

We can easily imagine how misunderstood both Mary and Joseph must have been when Mary conceived Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Their story would never be believed.
Even Mary herself had it very rough early in the pregnancy when Joseph was planning to divorce her before the angel intervened in a dream.
When the time for Jesus’ delivery came it took place in an animals’ shelter since Bethlehem was already so crowded.
Then the family had to flee to Egypt as refugees because Jesus’ life was in danger due to Herod, in much the same way as refugees from war-torn countries are now entering many western countries.
Mary and Joseph suffered the awful experience of losing Jesus for three days when He was twelve years old and the only satisfaction they got from Him was that He had to be about His Father’s business.
We do not hear of Joseph any more so we presume that before Jesus began His public ministry in Galilee Joseph had died - The Holy Family suffering the greatest pain of all families, the pain of bereavement and separation through death.
The Death of Saint Joseph
Jesus’ public ministry must have taken its toll on Mary. Simeon had predicted in the Temple that a sword of sorrow would pierce Mary’s soul. We can imagine one such occasion as we read in Mark 3:21 that when Jesus returned to Nazareth one day His relatives came to take Him by force convinced that He was out of his mind. Not a very pleasant experience for any family, no matter how holy.
There was also the pain caused by the rhyme made up about Jesus: “Behold a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners” (Luke 7:34).
And there was the growing hostility to Jesus by the Jewish authorities that must have caused huge pain to both Mary and Jesus, especially as it became increasingly obvious that Jesus would have to pay for His mission by dying.
The saddest moment of all came when Mary watched her Son die on the cross.

What kept The Holy Family together and sane throughout all of these trials and crosses? The answer is ‘Love for each other and God’. Jesus’ love for Mary and Mary’s love for Jesus, and the love of both of them for God the Father. We can see Jesus’ love for His mother when He was dying on the cross and was worried about leaving her behind so he asked his close friend and disciple John to look after her, saying to Mary, ‘Woman behold your son’, and to John ‘behold your mother’ (John 19:26-27). What holds our families together also in times of difficulty is love and forgiveness. It is love which triumphs in the end, even if for a while love may have to take the form of some honest talking. When discipline needs to be given, if it is not given in love it is reduced to abuse. If ever our families fail in any way, it is because of a lack of love on someone’s part. Whenever our families are successful, it is because they are places of love.

I believe that the greatest threat facing families now is simply that we don’t spend enough time together. We are so busy working, or socializing, or watching TV that we have less and less time for each other. What a pity. There is a story about a solicitor who lived a considerable distance from her elderly father. Months had passed since they had been together and when her father called to ask when she might visit, the daughter detailed a list of reasons that prevented her from taking the time to see him, e.g., court schedule, meetings, new clients, research, etc., etc. At the end of the recitation, the father asked, “When I die, do you intend to come to my funeral?” The daughter’s response was immediate, “Dad, I can’t believe you’d ask that! Of course, I’ll come!” To which the father replied, “Good. Forget the funeral and come; I need you more now than I will then.”

As I said, I believe one of the greatest threats facing families now is simply that we do not spend enough time together. Spending time together with the family is a way of showing our family that we love them. When we love our family we want to sacrifice ourselves by spending time with them, and all the more so when we realize that by not spending time with them we are depriving them of our love and hurting them.

Just as the Holy Family survived all its crises through love for each other and faith in God, so our families can survive every crisis - if their lives on rooted in a love for one another - and for God.

(Taken from a homily by Fr. Tommy Lane - professor at Mount Saint Mary's Seminary, Emmittsburg, MD)

Feast of the Holy Innocents

2011-12-28T04:00:00.002-05:00

The days following the Solemnity of the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ are filled with commemorations of saints. This is the Church’s way of saying that the birth of Jesus has brought not only joy to the world but an opportunity to be united with God in heaven. The birth of Jesus signals the beginning of the fruition of God’s salvation in Jesus.

Today, the Church remembers the massacre of the infants in Bethlehem. In the New Testament, Matthew gives us a narrative of this event that happened a few days after Mary’s giving birth to Jesus. It is said that Herod “the Great,” king of Judea at that time, was so unpopular with his people because of his ties with the Romans and his indifference to Judaism. He was insecure and fearful of any threat to dethrone him. He was capable of extreme brutality – he killed his wife, his brother, and his sister’s two husbands, to name only a few.

The story of the massacre in Matthew’s Gospel (2:1-18) begins with the arrival of the astrologers from the east asking about the whereabouts of “the newborn King of the Jews,” whose star they had seen. They were told that the Jewish Scriptures had named Bethlehem as the place where the Messiah would be born. Herod was greatly troubled. He told them to report back to him so that he could also “do Him homage.” They found Jesus, offered Him their gifts, and after being warned by an angel, avoided Herod on their way back to their own places.

Herod became anxious and “ordered the massacre of all the infants in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under.” The horror of the massacre and the devastation of the mothers and fathers led the evangelist Matthew to borrow the words of the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children…” (Matthew 2:18). Rachel was the wife of Jacob who later was named Israel. Jesus was spared because the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream to bring Mary and Jesus to Egypt.

Today, we remember the innocent victims of the massacre of the infants in Bethlehem and in neighboring places as we also vow to stop all forms of inhumanity today. May this feast remind us of the value of human life. In our world today, because of the greed of many, modern forms of “massacre” are taking place. Life is God’s gift and we must treasure it and uphold its dignity at all times.

Saint John the Evangelist

2011-12-27T05:29:00.000-05:00

St. John, the son of Zebedee, and the brother of St. James the Great, was called to be an Apostle by our Lord in the first year of His public ministry. He became the "beloved disciple" and the only one of the Twelve Apostles who did not forsake Jesus in the hour of His Passion. He stood faithfully at the cross and it was there that the Lord, from the cross, made him the guardian of His Mother ("Woman, behold your son. Behold, your mother."). cf John 19:26-27.

John spent most of his later life in Jerusalem and at Ephesus. He founded many churches in Asia Minor. He wrote the fourth Gospel, and three Epistles, and the Book of Revelation is also attributed to him. Brought to Rome, tradition relates that, at the order of the Emperor Dometian, he was thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil but came out unhurt and was banished to the island of Pathmos for a year. He lived to an extreme old age, surviving all his fellow apostles, and died at the age of 99, traditionally in Ephesus about the year 100.

Witness to St. John in the Scriptures:

The Scriptures attest that John was originally a fishermen and fished with his father in the Lake of Genesareth. He was first a disciple of John the Baptist and later one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus.

John held a prominent position in the Apostolic body. He is frequently mentioned with his brother, James. Jesus referred to the pair collectively as the "sons of thunder." John survived James by more than half a century after James became the first apostle to die a martyr's death. Peter, James and John were the only witnesses of the raising of Jairus' daughter,^[Mk. 5:37] of the Transfiguration^[Mt. 17:1] and of the Agony in Gethsemane.^[Mt 26:37] John and his brother wanted to call down fire on a Samaritan town, but were rebuked by Jesus. ^[Lk 9:51-6] Only he and Peter were sent into the city to make the preparation for the final Passover meal (the Last Supper).^[Lk 22:8] At the Last Supper, his place may have been next to Jesus on whose chest he leaned if he is indeed the "disciple whom Jesus loved." However, this can not be concluded with certainty.^{[Jn 13:23-25]} According to the general interpretation, John was also that "other disciple" who with Peter followed Jesus after the arrest into the palace of the high-priest.^[Jn 18:15] John alone remained near Jesus at the foot of the cross on Calvary with Jesus’ mother, Mary, and the pious women and took Mary into his care as the last legacy of Jesus.^{[Jn 19:25-27]}

Russian Orthodox icon of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, 18th century (Iconostasis of Transfiguration Church, Kizhi Monastery, Karelia, Russia).

After Jesus’ Ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, John, together with Peter, took a prominent part in the founding and guidance of the Church. He is with Peter at the healing of the lame man in the Temple.^{[Ac 3:1 et seq.]} With Peter he is also thrown into prison.^[Acts 4:3] He is also with Peter visiting the newly converted in Samaria.^[Acts 8:14]

There is no positive information in the Bible (or elsewhere) concerning the duration of this activity in Judea. Apparently, together with the other Apostles, John remained some 12 years in this first field of labor, until the persecution of Herod Agrippa I led to the scattering of the Apostles through the various provinces of the Roman Empire. ^{[cf. Ac 12:1-17]} It does not appear improbable that John then went for the first time into Asia Minor. In any case a messianic community was already in existence at Ephesus before Paul's first labors there. Such a journey by John in Asia in this first period was neither long nor uninterrupted. He returned with the other disciples to Jerusalem for the Apostolic Council (about AD 51). Paul, in opposing his enemies in Galatia, recalls that John explicitly along with Peter and James the Just were referred to as "pillars of the church" and refers to the recognition that his Apostolic preaching of a gospel free from Jewish Law received from these three, the most prominent men of the messianic community at Jerusalem.

Of the other New Testament writings, it is only from the three Letters of John and the Book of Revelation that we can learn anything else about John. From them we can suppose that John belonged to the multitude of personal eyewitnesses of the life and work of Jesus (cf. especially 1 Jn 1:1-5; 4:14), that he had lived for a long time in Asia Minor, was thoroughly acquainted with the conditions existing in the various messianic communities there, and that he had a position of authority recognized by all messianic communities as leader of this part of the church.

Extrabiblical traditions

Byzantine illumination depicting John dictating to his disciple, Prochorus (c. 1100).

Catholic tradition states that after the Assumption, John went to Ephesus and from there wrote the three epistles traditionally attributed to him. John was allegedly banished by the Roman authorities to the Greek island of Patmos, where some believe that he wrote the Book of Revelation. According to Tertullian (in The Prescription of Heretics) John was banished (presumably to Patmos) after being plunged into boiling oil in Rome and suffering nothing from it. It is said that all in the entire Colosseum audience were converted to Christianity upon witnessing this miracle. This event would have occurred during the reign of Domitian, a Roman emperor who was known for his persecution of Christians in the late 1st century.

When John was aged, he trained Polycarp who later became Bishop of Smyrna. This was important because Polycarp was able to carry John's message to future generations. Polycarp taught Irenaeus, and passed on to him stories about John. In Against Heresies, Irenaeus relates how Polycarp told a story of how he heard John speak of his experience with the Risen Christ - and important witness to the Resurrection.

It is traditionally believed that John survived his contemporary apostles and lived to an extreme old age, dying of natural causes at Ephesus in about AD 100. John's traditional tomb is thought to be located at Selçuk, a small town in the vicinity of Ephesus.

In art, John as the presumed author of the Gospel is often depicted with an eagle, which symbolizes the height he rose to in the first chapter of his gospel. In Orthodox icons, he is often depicted looking up into heaven and dictating his Gospel (or the Book of Revelation) to his disciple, traditionally named Prochorus. He normally holds a cup (referring to his presence at the Last Supper) with a serpent coming out of it (this is attributed to a story where he was told to drink a cup of poison which, after blessing it, he did and survived unharmed).

2011-12-26T04:00:00.001-05:00

St. Stephen was martyred in Jerusalem about the year 35. He is consider both the first Christian martyr (the protomartyr) and one of the first deacons of the Christian Church.

All that we know of the life, trial, and death of St. Stephen, is found in the Acts of the Apostles, Chapters 6 & 7. In the long chronicle of Christian martyrs, the story of Stephen stands out as one of the most moving and memorable.

Although his name is Greek (from Stephanos, meaning crown), Stephen was a Jew, probably among those who had been born or who had lived beyond the borders of Palestine, and therefore had come under the influence of the prevailing Hellenistic culture. The New Testament does not give us the circumstances of his conversion. It would seem, however, that soon after the death of the Messiah he rose to a position of prominence among the Christians of Jerusalem and used his talents especially to win over the Greek-speaking residents of the city.

The earliest mention of Stephen is when he is listed among the seven men chosen to supervise the public tables. We recall that these first Christians held their property in common, the well-to-do sharing what they possessed with the poor; and at this time, as always in the wake of war, there were many "displaced persons" in need of charity. We read in Acts that the Hellenists, as the Greek-speaking Christians were called, thought that they, particularly the widows among them, were being discriminated against at the public tables. The Apostles were informed of these complaints, but they were too busy to deal with the problem. Therefore seven good and prudent men were selected to administer and supervise the tables. The seven, on being presented to the Apostles, were prayed over and ordained by the imposition of hands. Associated in these charitable tasks with Stephen, whose name heads the list as "a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit," were Philip, known as "the Evangelist," Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas-all Greek names. The title of deacon, which came to be linked with their function, derives from the Greek verb meaning "to minister." These men served the Christian community in temporal and charitable affairs; later on they were to assume minor religious offices.

Stephen, already a leader, now began to speak in public with more vigor and, "full of grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people." By this time a number of Jewish priests had been converted to the new faith, but they still held to the old traditions and rules as laid down in Mosaic law. Stephen was prepared to engage in controversy with them, eager to point out that, according to the Master, the old law had been superseded. He was continually quoting Jesus and the prophets to the effect that external usages and all the ancient holy rites were of less importance than the spirit; that even the Temple might be destroyed, as it had been in the past, without damage to the true and eternal religion. It was talk of this sort, carried by hearsay and rumor about the city, and often misquoted, intentionally or not, that was to draw down upon Stephen the wrath of the Jewish priestly class.

It was in a certain synagogue of Jews "called that of the Freedmen, and of the Cyrenians and of the Alexandrians and of those from Cilicia and the province of Asia" that Stephen chiefly disputed. Perhaps they did not understand him; at all events, they could not make effective answer, and so fell to abusing him. They bribed men to say that Stephen was speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God. The elders and the scribes were stirred up and brought him before the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish tribunal, which had authority in both civil and religious matters. False witnesses made their accusations; Stephen defended himself ably, reviewing the long spiritual history of his people; finally his defense turned into a bitter accusation. He concluded thus:

"Yet not in houses made by hands does the Most High dwell, even as the prophet says.... Stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ear, you always oppose the Holy Spirit; as your father did, so do you also. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you have now been the betrayers and murderers, you who received the Law as an ordinance of angels and did not keep it."

Thus castigated, the account is that the crowd could contain their anger no longer. They rushed upon Stephen, drove him outside the city to the place appointed, and stoned him. At this time Jewish law permitted the death penalty by stoning for blasphemy. Stephen, full of "grace and fortitude" to the very end, met the great test without flinching, praying the Lord to receive his spirit and not to lay this sin against the people. So perished the first martyr, his dying breath spent in prayer for those who killed him. Among those present at the scene and approving of the penalty meted out to Stephen was a young Jew named Saul, the future Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles: his own conversion to Christianity was to take place within a few short months.

The celebration of the Feast Day of St. Stephen is TODAY, December 26, the day after Christmas.

[Taken from "Lives of Saints", Published by John J. Crawley & Co., Inc.]

Other Notes on St. Stephen: In the one of the earliest documented uses of irony in Western Europe, St. Stephen was designated by the Medieval Church as the patron saint of stonemasons and, for a period of time, also as the patron saint of headaches.

This painting comes from the church of St. Wenceslaus in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It shows "Good King Wenceslaus" carrying supplies to the poor on the Feast of Stephen.

The Feast of St. Stephen, being the day after Christmas, is celebrated in the traditional English Christmas carol, "Good King Wenceslaus" (circa 1850):

"Good King Wenceslaus went out
On the Feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even."

Note that the music for this carol is much older than the words, and with its original verse was first sung on the feast days for St. Stephen and other martyred saints. Try this original verse instead using the same "Good King Wenceslaus" tune:

"Christian friends, your voices raise.
Wake the day with gladness.
God Himself to joy and praise
turns our human sadness:
Joy that martyrs won their crown,
opened heaven's bright portal,
when they laid the mortal down
for the life immortal."

[Words: Saint Joseph the Hymnographer, 9th Century, translated from the Greek.

Music: "Tempus Adest Floridum" ("Spring has unwrapped her flowers"), a 13th Century spring carol; first published in the Swedish Piae Cantiones, 1582.]

Back to Wenceslaus, who ruled the region of Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic) for a time in the early 10th Century as its duke. The carol refers to his supposed caring works for the poor. St. Wenceslaus became the patron saint of Bohemia and the crown of Wenceslaus is regarded as a symbol of Czech nationalism. His religious feast day is September 28. Wenceslaus Square is in the center of Prague, and in 1989 became the site of mass demonstrations that helped end the Communist dictatorship.

The feast of St. Stephen on December 26 is celebrated as "Boxing Day" in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and in other commonwealth countries and is a national holiday there. The name refers to the practice, as legend has it, of nobles and other wealthy Britons "boxing up" and distributing food and other gifts to their servants and to the poor on the day after Christmas. Boxing Day was traditionally when the alms box at every English church was opened and the contents distributed to the poor. Servants by custom were also given the day off to celebrate Christmas with their families.

St. Stephen the Protomartyr (or "first" martyr) should be distinguished from St. Stephen of Hungary (or King St. Stephen), a Magyar who founded the free nation of Hungary in about 1000 AD as its first Christian king. That St. Stephen was canonized by Pope Gregory VII in 1083 as the patron saint of Hungary, and continues to be venerated by the Hungarian people as a powerful symbol of national freedom. His religious Feast Day is on September 2, but a national festival for King St. Stephen is traditionally celebrated in Hungary each year on August 20, analogous to that held in Ireland on St. Patrick's Day.

Christmas Message from Bishop McFadden

2011-12-24T18:00:00.000-05:00

O Antiphons - December 23 - O Emmanuel

2011-12-23T04:00:00.001-05:00

We reach the culmination of the O Antiphons today. In previous antiphons our cry was directed to the Messiah as He manifested Himself to the Chosen People, to the Gentiles, and in nature; now He is addressed in person and asked to remain with us as Emmanuel.

Reading this final antiphon gives the feeling that a climax has indeed come. The very term Emmanuel, God with us, reveals the kindly, human heart of Jesus — He wants to be one of us, a Child of man, with all our human weakness and suffering; He wants to experience how hard it is to be man. He wants to remain with us to the end of time, He wants to dwell within us, He wants to make us share His nature.

O Emmanuel

Now we are about to receive the Savior, Emmanuel, God with us. God's only-begotten Son, born of the Father before all time, God of God, light of light, true God of true God, one being with the Father, is about to be born in time. For the salvation of men, He has come down upon earth and is conceived by the Holy Ghost in a virgin. He shall be called God with us, and yet He will be one in nature with us. He is to be like to us in all things except sin. He wills to share our poverty and to pray and suffer with us; He assumes our guilt. He is God with us in every phase of our life; He even takes our place on the cross, He remains with us in Holy Communion, in our daily Mass, and in our tabernacles. At some time in the future He will still be God with us in His beautiful heaven. All this He has done for us even though we have repeatedly turned our back on Him.

"Come and save us." The great God is with us. He has come, not to destroy the sinful world, as He once destroyed Sodom and Gomorrha, but to redeem it from its sins. This redemption is to be accomplished at the cost of great personal sacrifice to Him. As if this did not satisfy the burning ardor of His love, He wills to remain with us in our tabernacles. He incorporates us into Himself and shares His very life with us. We are engrafted in Him as a branch might be grafted to a new tree. "I am the vine, you are the branches" (John 15:5). God with us! We are united to Christ as a limb is united to a body, as a branch is united to a vine. We now belong to Christ and no longer to ourselves. We are one with Him. What a grace, what greatness, what nobility have been conferred upon us! God looking upon us no longer sees miserable specimens of mankind, but members of Christ. When He looks upon Christ, He sees Christ and us as united in one body, as a tree united to its branches. Even the smallest leaf fluttering on the farthest branch belongs to that tree and lives by the sap of that tree. Could He have redeemed us in a more perfect manner than by thus implanting in us and infusing in us His divine life? Let us reflect upon this seriously.

God with us! It was that He might be with us that He came that first Christmas at Bethlehem. He came that He might lift me up from the dust, and that I might share in His life. He will return this Christmas that He may continue and complete that work. It is for the same purpose that He comes in every Holy Mass and Communion, and in each inspiration and grace He gives us. His final coming will be for the same purpose, and will have the further aim of sharing with us His glorified life in heaven. We shall then enjoy the perfect vision of God, perfect love, and the fulfillment of all our desires for all eternity. For all eternity!

Excerpted from The Light of the World by Benedict Baur, O.S.B.

7th O Antiphon:

Our King and law-giver, the awaited of the peoples, and their Savior, COME to save us, O Lord our God.

O Antiphons - December 22 - O King of the Nations (Gentiles)

2011-12-22T04:00:00.001-05:00

"A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return" (Luke 19:12). This nobleman is Christ, the Son of God, King of all nations. His kingdom is over all men and over all things, both material and spiritual. He has everything in His hand as God and man. But another, Satan, has broken into His kingdom and has made himself master of many of Christ's subjects. In the old dispensation only a small part of humanity, the chosen people, remained faithful to the almighty King.

Christ, the Son of God, came into this "far country" in order to become man and, by means of humility, obedience, and poverty, to cast out the usurper who had taken His subjects. He came to reassert His dominion over all those who had left Him, both Jews and Gentiles

O King of the Gentiles

"Come and save man, whom Thou hast made out of dust." What is man? He is but a particle of dust, an insignificant creature who has further separated himself from God through sin. He has been cut off from the fountain of truth and banished from God to darkness and misery. Still in the ruins there dwells a spirit that possesses a capacity for truth. In these ashes there is yet a spark that may be fanned to life to burn with the brilliance of divine life. But only God can revive this flame. For this reason the Church cries out, "Come and save man, whom Thou hast made out of dust." Save him who is so weak, so miserable and helpless. Remember his nothingness. Consider the many enemies who lay snares to rob him of divine life and to entice him into sin. Think of his obscured knowledge and his proneness to evil, of his tendency to error, and his weakness in the face of temptation. Guard him from the enticements of the world; shelter him from the poison of erroneous teaching; deliver him from the devil and his angels.

During these days before Christmas, the Church contemplates the overwhelming misery of unregenerated mankind. She cries out, "Come and save man, whom Thou hast made out of dust."

Jesus is King of all nations. "The kings of the earth stood up and the princes met together against the Lord and against His Christ. Let us break their bonds asunder, and let us cast away their yoke from us. He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh at them, and the Lord shall deride them. Then shall He speak to them in His anger and trouble them in His rage. But I am appointed king by Him over Sion, His holy mountain. ... The Lord hath said to Me; Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee. Ask of Me and I will give Thee the Gentiles for Thy inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for Thy possession" (Ps. 2:2-8). Well may Herod seek the life of the newborn king. Indeed, many kings and tribes and nations in the course of time shall deprecate the divine King, Christ. But to Him has been given all power in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28: i8). Before Him every knee shall bend, and every tongue shall confess that He is the Lord (Phil. 2:10f.).

The more the mighty condemn the kingship of Christ, the more shall He be exalted by the Father.

Now He comes to us in the form of a lovely child. One day in the presence of the Roman governor He will assert His right to kingship. But after this one public confession of His royal origin He withdraws again into the obscurity which He had freely chosen. For the present He is satisfied with this manifestation of His royal dignity. The day will come, however, when He will manifest it with power and majesty as He comes again on the clouds of heaven. Before all nations God will declare: "I have anointed Him King of Sion. My holy mountain." All men shall pay Him homage as king; all nations shall acclaim Him the King of Glory.

Excerpted from The Light of the World by Benedict Baur, O.S.B.

6th O Antiphon:

And their desired one, cornerstone, who makest two into one, COME save man, whom thou didst fashion out of slime.

Why all the shopping? CHRISTMAS, of course!

2011-12-21T11:06:00.001-05:00

What a great song! Maybe if we all practice this, they'll all change their minds and remember the reason for this season...

O Antiphons - December 21 - O Radiant Dawn

2011-12-21T04:00:00.001-05:00

It is the Sun, the Redeemer, whom we await. "I am the light [the sun] of the world" (John 8:12). Christ is the light of the world because of the faith which He has infused into souls. He has enlightened the world by His teaching and by the example of His life. In the crib, in Nazareth, on the cross on Calvary, in the tabernacle of our churches, He answers the eternal questioning of the benighted soul.

O Radiant Dawn

O eternal Sun, come and enlighten us, for where Thou art not, there is darkness, death, and wickedness. "Come and enlighten all who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death."

"But now [you are] light in the Lord" (Eph. 5:18). In the Church the light has now appeared to us on the first Christmas night, on the day of our baptism, daily in the Mass and at the time of Holy Communion, and in the many inspirations and promptings of grace. How thankful we should be for this light, which is Christ.

But we have yet to reach the full measure of the stature of Christ. Alas! we let ourselves be burdened by earthly sorrow, we are distracted by the excitement of the moment, and our spiritual growth is hampered by our attachment to the things of this world. Fervently we should repeat that plea of Holy Mother the Church. "0 dawning Sun of righteousness, come and enlighten us, who yet sit in the darkness of suffering, of human reasoning, and of self-love."

The light of Christ will be revealed perfectly only when we meet Him at the time of His second coming. Then we shall be brought into the light of glory, and we shall "shine as the sun in the kingdom of the Father" (Matt. 13:48). "Sown in corruption we shall rise in incorruption" (I Cor. 15:42). May the day of enlightenment come soon!

Excerpted from The Light of the World by Benedict Baur, O.S.B.

5th O Antiphon:

Radiance of eternal light, and sun of justice, COME enlighten those sitting in darkness, and in the shadow of death.

O Antiphons - December 20 - O Key of David

2011-12-20T04:00:00.001-05:00

Today is the fourth of the O Antiphons. O sublime majesty of the coming Redeemer! To Him has been delivered the key, the government of the house of David (Is 22:22). Boundless is His power over the graces and privileges of the Church, over the souls and hearts and the wills of men. He holds the destiny of the Church in the palm of His hand. He is Master of the storms that arise to destroy the Church and the souls committed to her. He is capable of dealing with the false principles and the errors that threaten her doctrines. He has overcome the devil and his associates, the world, the flesh and its tribulations. To Him all power is given (Matt. 28:18). "He shall open and none shall shut" (Is 22:22). Against the power that is His all other forces are powerless. The destiny of souls and the government of the Church are placed in His hand. He is the Lord of all. O Key of David, I believe in Thy power; and in the many difficult situations that confront the Church and my own soul, I place my trust in Thee.

O Key of David

"Come, lead the captives from their prison." With the key of His almighty power, the Redeemer has opened the prison in which poor, sinful man was languishing in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Key of David, come and deliver the captives from their prison. The Church wishes that by the practice of virtue we should free ourselves from sin and unfaithfulness. She asks God that He may spare us from punishment, deliver us from His wrath, from an evil death, and from hell. The Church prays that God may free us from a heart that clings to the world, from a spirit that is pleased with worldliness, from a human respect that degrades us. She urges us to return kindness and affection for scorn, love and compassion for persecution. Our Holy Mother the Church prays that we may be delivered from ourselves, from our self-love, and from all our secret sins. She prays that God may detach our hearts from all that can bind them to earth, for he who has been freed from the things of the earth is free with the freedom of Christ.

Key of David, come and deliver the captives from their prison. By Thy coming free us from all that separates us from God. Bring us freedom and redemption; incline us to surrender ourselves completely to God. So all pray for each, and each for all.

Excerpted from The Light of the World by Benedict Baur, O.S.B.

4th O Antiphon:

And scepter of the house of Israel, thou openest and no man dare shut, thou shuttest and no man dare open, COME lead from prison, the fettered one, the dweller in darkness and the shadow of death.

O Antiphons - December 19 - O Root of Jesse

2011-12-19T04:00:00.002-05:00

Today is the third of the O Antiphons. Christ the King, the Lord! Divine Wisdom, Adonai, the powerful God, is at the same time man with flesh and blood of the house of Jesse, the father of King David. Truly, the right of kingship has now passed from the house of David. The glory that once clothed the royal family has faded and withered, leaving only a blighted and withered root. But from this root is to spring a glorious blossom, the King of the world. "He shall rule from sea to sea and from the river unto the ends of the earth. Before Him the Ethiopians shall fall down and His enemies shall lick the ground. The kings of Tharsis and the islands shall offer presents: the kings of the Arabians and of Saba shall serve Him" (Ps. 71:8-11). To Him God has said, "Thou art My Son. . . . I will give Thee the Gentiles for Thy inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for Thy possession" (Ps. 2:7 f.).

O Root of Jesse

"Come to deliver us and tarry not." The world cries out for Christ its King, who shall cast out the prince of this world (John 12:31). The prince of this world established his power over men as a result of original sin. Even after we had been delivered from the servitude of Satan through the death of Christ on the cross, the prince of this world attempts to exercise his power over us. "The devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour" (I Pet. 5:8). In these trying times, when faith in Christ and in God has largely disappeared, when the propaganda of a pagan culture is broadcast everywhere, and the forces of evil and falsehood rise up to cast God from His throne, who does not feel the power of the devil? Does it not appear that we are approaching that time when Satan will be released from the depths of hell to work his wonders and mislead, if possible, even the elect? (Apoc. 20:2; Matt. 24:24.)

"Come, tarry not." Observe how thoroughly the world of today has submitted to the reign of Satan. Mankind has abandoned the search for what is good and holy. Loyalty, justice, freedom, love, and mutual trust are no longer highly regarded. Establish, O God, Thy kingdom among us, a kingdom established upon truth, justice, and peace. "Come, tarry not." "Thy kingdom come."

Excerpted from The Light of the World by Benedict Baur, O.S.B.

3rd O Antiphon:

A standard to the peoples, before whom kings are mute, to whom the nations will appeal, COME to deliver us, delay, please, no longer.

O Antiphons - December 18 - O Adonai

2011-12-18T05:45:00.000-05:00

Today is the second of the O Antiphons, O Adonai (O Almighty God). As Moses approached the burning bush, so we approach the divine Savior in the form of a child in the crib, or in the form of the consecrated host, and falling down we adore Him. "Put off the shoes from thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground . . . I am who am." "Come with an outstretched arm to redeem us." This is the cry of the Church for the second coming of Christ on the last day. The return of the Savior brings us plentiful redemption.

O Lord and Ruler

Thou art He "who didst appear to Moses in the burning bush." "I have seen the affliction of My people in Egypt, and I have heard their cry because of the rigor of them that are over the works. And knowing their sorrow, I am come down to deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians and to bring them out of that land into a good and spacious land, into a land that floweth with milk and honey" (Exod. 3:7 f.). Thus spoke the Lord to Moses from the bush which burned but was not consumed, which is a figure of God's condescension to assume the weakness of human nature. The human nature of Christ is united to the burning divine nature, and yet it is not consumed.

O Adonai, almighty God! Mighty in the weakness of a child, and in the helplessness of the Crucified! Thou, almighty God, mighty in the wonders that Thou hast worked! Mighty in guiding, sustaining, and developing Thy Church! "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18).

"Come with an outstretched arm to redeem us." This is the cry of the Church for the second coming of Christ on the last day. The return of the Savior brings us plentiful redemption. "Come, ye blessed of My Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you" (Matt. 25-34).

Excerpted from The Light of the World by Benedict Baur, O.S.B.

2nd O Antiphon:

And leader of the house of Israel, who Appeared to Moses in the bush's flaming fire, And gave to him the Law on Sinai, COME to redeem us with outstretched arm.

O Antiphons Begin - December 17 - O Wisdom

2011-12-18T05:44:00.000-05:00

We are all familiar with the hymn "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. The hymn is a summary of the 7 jewels of our Catholic liturgy, which date back to the 4th century. They are the "O Antiphons" (because each one begins with "O") - and they begin today and continue until December 23. The antiphons address Christ with seven magnificent Messianic titles, based on the Old Testament prophecies and types of Christ. The Church recalls the variety of the ills of man before the coming of the Redeemer.

O Wisdom

Divine Wisdom clothes itself in the nature of a man. It conceals itself in the weakness of a child. It chooses for itself infancy, poverty, obedience, subjection, obscurity. "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and the prudence of the prudent I will reject. . . . Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God, by the foolishness of our preaching, to save them that believe. For both the Jews require signs, and the Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews, indeed, a stumbling block, and unto the Gentiles foolishness; but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God. . . . But the foolish things of the world hath God chosen, that He may confound the wise; and the weak things of the world hath God chosen, that He may confound the strong. And the base things of the world and the things that are contemptible, hath God chosen, and the things that are not, that He might bring to naught the things that are" (I Cor. 1:19 ff.).

Come, O divine Wisdom, teach us the way of knowledge. We are unwise; we judge and speak according to the vain standards of the world, which is foolishness in the eyes of God.
Come, O divine Wisdom, give us the true knowledge and the taste for what is eternal and divine. Inspire us with a thirst for God's holy will, help us seek God's guidance and direction, enlighten us in the teachings of the holy gospel, make us submissive to Thy holy Church. Strengthen us in the forgetfulness of self, and help us to resign ourselves to a position of obscurity if that be Thy holy will. Detach our hearts from resurgent pride. Give us wisdom that we may understand that "but one thing is necessary" (Luke 10:42). "For what doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul?" (Matt. 16:26.) The Holy Spirit would have us know that one degree of grace is worth more than all worldly possessions.

Excerpted from The Light of the World by Benedict Baur, O.S.B.

1st O Antiphon:

Who hast issued from the mouth of the Most High, Reaching from end even unto end, Ordering all things indomitably yet tenderly, COME to teach us the way of prudence.

Our Lady of Guadalupe - Patroness of the Unborn and of All the Americas

2011-12-12T04:00:00.001-05:00

In 1531 a "Lady from Heaven" appeared to Saint Juan Diego, a poor Indian from Tepeyac, a hill northwest of Mexico City. She identified herself as the Mother of the True God and instructed him to have the bishop build a church on the site and left an image of herself imprinted miraculously on his tilma, a poor quality cactus-cloth. The tilma should have deteriorated within 20 years but shows no sign of decay after over 470 years. It to this day defies all scientific explanations of its origin.

Apparently the tilma in the eyes of Our Lady of Guadalupe, even reflects what was in front of her in 1531! (Click HERE for a FASCINATING description of the eyes of the image) Her message of love and compassion, and her universal promise of help and protection to all mankind, as well as the story of the apparitions, are described in the "Nican Mopohua," a 16th century document written in the native Nahuatl language.

There is reason to believe that at Tepeyac Mary came in her glorified body, and her actual physical hands rearranged the roses in Juan Diego’s tilma, which makes this apparition very special.

An incredible list of miracles, cures and interventions are attributed to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Each year an estimated 10 million people visit her Basilica, making her Mexico City home the most popular Marian shrine in the world, and the most visited Catholic church in the world after Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

Altogether 24 popes have officially honored Our Lady of Guadalupe. His Holiness John Paul II visited her Sanctuary four times: on his first apostolic trip outside Rome as Pope in 1979, and again in 1990, 1999 and 2002.

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on December 12th. In 1999, Pope John Paul II, in his homily given during the Solemn Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, his third visit to the sanctuary, declared the date of December the 12th as a Liturgical Holy Day for the whole continent. During the same visit Pope John Paul II entrusted the cause of life to her loving protection, and placed under her motherly care the innocent lives of children, especially those who are in danger of not being born.

Rejoice! I say it again, Rejoice! The Lord is near!

2011-12-11T06:08:00.000-05:00

Gaudete Sunday

Certain Sundays throughout the liturgical year have taken their name from the first word in Latin of the Introit (the entrance antiphon at Mass). Gaudete Sunday is one of these. It is the Third Sunday of Advent. The Introit on this day, in both the current "novus ordo" Mass and the older, Traditional Latin Mass, is taken from Phillippians 4:4,5: "Gaudete in Domino semper" ("Rejoice in the Lord always").

Like Lent, Advent is a penitential season, so the priest normally wears purple vestments. But on Gaudete Sunday, having passed the mid-point of Advent, the Church lightens the mood a little, and the priest pulls out the "twice-a-year" Rose colored vestments. The change in color provides us with encouragement to continue our spiritual preparation - especially prayer and fasting - for Christmas.

For this same reason, the third candle of the Advent wreath, first lit today, is the Rose colored candle. (Many, not understanding the origin of the rose, or pink, candle mistakenly light the pink candle of the 4th Sunday - but it is lit on the 3rd Sunday of Advent).

Today is the day on which the Church reminds us to "rejoice always." It is possible for us to rejoice - even when things are difficult. Saint Paul makes clear that our reason to rejoice is not because things are going well or because I have everything I want or because everything is going well. The reason for us to rejoice is because, "The Lord is near." If the Lord is near to our lives, then we can find reasons to rejoice, even in struggle and difficulty and trials. This is the key to our Christian lives and to being happy: if Christ is near, then we have reason to rejoice. If Christ is far from us, then we have reason to be sad. Draw close to the Lord once again, and you'll find the reason for our joy!

Patroness of the United States - Mary Immaculate - Pray for us!

2011-12-07T23:01:00.000-05:00

“We take this occasion, brethren, to communicate to you the determination, unanimously adopted by us, to place ourselves and all entrusted to our charge throughout the United States, under the special patronage of the holy Mother of God, whose Immaculate Conception is venerated by the piety of the faithful throughout the Catholic Church.

By the aid of her prayers, we entertain the confident hope that we will be strengthened to perform the arduous duties of our ministry, and that you will be enabled to practice the sublime virtues, of which her life presents the most perfect example.”

--Pastoral Letter of the Bishops of the United States
Sixth Provincial Council
Baltimore
5 May 1846

Immaculate Conception is the title by which we recognize that the Blessed Virgin Mary by a special grace of God was exempt of original sin. She announced herself with this title to Bernadette Soubiruous in the Apparitions of Lourdes in 1858.

The authenticity of these apparitions has been verified by the authority of the Church in view of the great number of miracles that have taken place in the Sanctuary of Lourdes.

The Immaculate Conception was solemnly defined and proclaimed by Pope Pius IX on the 8th of December 1854.

It is very dignifying for Mary to be the Mother of Jesus, the Son of God. She is the new Eve, created without a stain of sin to be the Mother of Jesus and of all the children of God.

We all have inherited the original sin from Eve, the mother of all the children of Adam. Since Jesus is the new Adam, her mother was created with this unique privilege of being free from original sin.

Our Lord Jesus Christ consecrated us as children of Mary in the person of John the beloved apostle when he was in agony on the cross. To John He said, there is your mother, to Mary He said as He gave her all the children of God: here is your son.

The children of Mary are the children of God in His Divine Grace, all saved by Jesus, who accept Mary as their mother.

Immaculate Conception Apologetics

The Immaculate Conception is the Virgin Mary’s glorious privilege of being preserved by a special grace of God from Original Sin through the future merits of Jesus Christ.

Protestants assert that the Virgin Mary could not have been immaculately conceived for then She would not have needed redemption. This is evidenced by Her own words in the Magnificat: "my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour" (St. Luke 1, 47). Further, St. John clearly states that "If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us?" (1 St. John 1, 8). How can Catholics therefore claim that the Virgin Mary was sinless?"

The Catholic Church does not deny that the Virgin Mary needed redemption, for She was a child of Adam together with the rest of humanity. Yet, Her redemption was effected in another, "more sublime manner", namely, "redemption by pre-emption." One can be cured of a disease after having contracted it, or one can be spared of that same disease by being inoculated against it in advance. The Virgin Mary’s redemption was effected in this latter manner, thus sparing Her from ever being under Satan's domination.

The Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary was solemnly defined and proclaimed by Pope Pius IX on the 8th December, 1854:

"The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin."

The Immaculate Conception has always been the belief of the Church, being implicitly contained in the Church’s teaching of the Virgin Mary’s absolute purity and sinlessness. Just as Our Lord "grew in grace and wisdom," that is, manifested increasing signs of wisdom as He increased in age, so the Church, which possesses the wisdom of God from Her origin, manifests it only according to the order of Providence and Her children’s needs. In the centuries before 1854, the Popes and Councils made continuous and explicit references to the Immaculate Conception in their pronouncements:

(i) Pope St. Martin I, Lateran Council (649), Canon 3 on the Trinity;

(ii) Pope Sixtus IV, Constitutions Cum Praeexcelsa (1476); Grave Nimis (1483);

(iii) Pope Paul III, Council of Trent (1546), Decree on Original Sin;

(iv) Pope St. Pius V, Bull Ex Omnibus Afflictionibus, (1567);

(v) Pope Alexander VII, Bull Sollicitudo Omnium Eccl. (1661).

The Church finds support for the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception in the words of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary: "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women" (St. Luke 1, 28 [Douai]).She, who was to conceive the Son of God, the Holy of holies, must Herself be supremely holy, and therefore be preserved, not only from actual sin, but also from all stain of Original Sin. The Angel’s words would not have been entirely truthful had the Virgin Mary, for even one instant, been deprived of grace.

St. Luke 1, 28 continues to be a source of much controversy. Most Protestants would prefer to render the original Greek kecharitomene as "highly favoured" rather than "full of grace." In fact, a strict translation of kecharitomene is "thou who hast been graced." Of the two options, "full of grace" is a more clear and definite rendering of the angel’s words than "favour." For this conclusion there exists the authority of the Latin Fathers; the Codices of Alexandrinus and Ephrem; the Syriac and Arabic versions of the Bible; and even the writings of Protestants such as Wycliffe, Tyndale, and Beza.

The Church, furthermore, asserts that God, immediately after Adam’s fall, cursed Satan and said, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head" (Gen. 3, 15). It was by the Virgin Mary's seed, that is, Jesus Christ, that the kingdom of Satan was demolished. It was not fitting that She, who was to co-operate in the defeat of Satan, should ever be infected by his breath or a slave to his kingdom of sin. The enmity between the Virgin Mary and the serpent placed by God was Her triumph over sin, Her Immaculate Conception.

To the contrary, however, it is asserted that the Virgin Mary again admitted that She was a sinner when She presented herself in the Temple for purification in accordance with the Law of Moses: "she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement on her behalf, and she shall be clean'" (Lev. 12, 8). The Virgin Mary observed this Law not because She believed Herself to be defiled by giving birth to Christ, but to give an example of humility and obedience by fulfilling all outward observances. For the Virgin Mary was not subject to this particular law by virtue of what God Himself had laid down in prefacing it: "If a woman having received seed shall bear a man child, she shall be unclean seven days..." (v. 2 [Douai]). The conception and birth of Christ was not due to the reception of male seed but rather to the power of the Holy Spirit. In no way can it be claimed that in conceiving, bearing and delivering Christ the Virgin Mary was made "unclean." In fact, the opposite would have occurred, that is, She would have received an augmentation of grace.

That God should have created the Virgin Mary in a state of holiness as He had formed Eve and the angels is also befitting the honour of God: of the Father, whose daughter She is; of the Son, whose mother She is; and of the Holy Spirit, who, in the incarnation, took the Virgin Mary to be His spouse. Further, as the "new Eve" and mother of the new Adam, the Virgin Mary cannot appropriately be anything less than the original Eve; on the contrary, as Christ excelled Adam, so the Virgin Mary (though to a lesser degree) should excel Eve. Tradition and the Magisterium of the Church has consistently and universally proclaimed the sinlessness of the Virgin Mary:

"Our most holy, immaculate, and most glorious Lady, Mother of God and ever Virgin Mary."

"It was meet that the God of all purity should spring from the greatest purity, from the most pure bosom."

"Most holy Lady, Mother of God, alone most pure in soul and body, alone exceeding all perfection of purity...my Lady most holy, all-pure, all-immaculate, all-stainless, all-undefiled, all-incorrupt, all-inviolate."

"With the exception therefore of the Holy Virgin Mary, with regard to whom, when sin is in question, I cannot, out of respect of Our Lord, permit of any discussion."

"By virtue of the richness of the grace of the beloved Son, by reason of the redemptive merits of him who willed to become her Son, Mary was preserved from the inheritance of original sin. In this way, from the first moment of her conception - which is to say of her existence - she belonged to Christ, sharing in salvific and sanctifying grace and in the love which has its beginning in the 'Beloved', the Son of the Eternal Father…"

"The 'splendor of an entirely unique holiness' by which Mary is 'enriched from the first instant of her conception' comes wholly from Christ: she is 'redeemed, in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her Son.' The Father blessed Mary more than any other created person 'in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places' and chose her 'in Christ before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before him in love."

Finally, for Catholics, the infallible pronouncement of Pius IX was given heavenly ratification by the Virgin Mary Herself when She appeared at Lourdes in southern France in 1858 and announced to St. Bernadette Soubirous that She was "the Immaculate Conception." The subsequent flow of thousands of miracles stemming from the waters of the Lourdes grotto attest to the authenticity of the Virgin Mary’s apparitions and are a matter of public record for all to examine.

Saint Nicholas Day

2011-12-06T05:51:00.000-05:00

The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara. At the time the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to the those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith, was exiled and imprisoned. The prisons were so full of bishops, priests, and deacons, there was no room for the real criminals—murderers, thieves and robbers. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. He died December 6, AD 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church, where a unique relic, called manna, formed in his grave. This liquid substance, said to have healing powers, fostered the growth of devotion to Nicholas. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day, December 6th.

Through the centuries many stories and legends have been told of St. Nicholas' life and deeds. These accounts help us understand his extraordinary character and why he is so beloved and revered as protector and helper of those in need.

One story tells of a poor man with three daughters. In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value—a dowry. The larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home-providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold, tossed through an open window, are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas. Sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold. That is why three gold balls, sometimes represented as oranges, are one of the symbols for St. Nicholas. And so St. Nicholas is a gift-giver.

One of the oldest stories showing St. Nicholas as a protector of children takes place long after his death. The townspeople of Myra were celebrating the good saint on the eve of his feast day when a band of Arab pirates from Crete came into the district. They stole treasures from the Church of Saint Nicholas to take away as booty. As they were leaving town, they snatched a young boy, Basilios, to make into a slave. The emir, or ruler, selected Basilios to be his personal cupbearer, as not knowing the language, Basilios would not understand what the king said to those around him. So, for the next year Basilios waited on the king, bringing his wine in a beautiful golden cup. For Basilios' parents, devastated at the loss of their only child, the year passed slowly, filled with grief. As the next St. Nicholas' feast day approached, Basilios' mother would not join in the festivity, as it was now a day of tragedy. However, she was persuaded to have a simple observance at home—with quiet prayers for Basilios' safekeeping. Meanwhile, as Basilios was fulfilling his tasks serving the emir, he was suddenly whisked up and away. St. Nicholas appeared to the terrified boy, blessed him, and set him down at his home back in Myra. Imagine the joy and wonderment when Basilios amazingly appeared before his parents, still holding the king's golden cup. This is the first story told of St. Nicholas protecting children—which became his primary role in the West.

Another story tells of three theological students, traveling on their way to study in Athens. A wicked innkeeper robbed and murdered them, hiding their remains in a large pickling tub. It so happened that Bishop Nicholas, traveling along the same route, stopped at this very inn. In the night he dreamed of the crime, got up, and summoned the innkeeper. As Nicholas prayed earnestly to God the three boys were restored to life and wholeness. In France the story is told of three small children, wandering in their play until lost, lured, and captured by an evil butcher. St. Nicholas appears and appeals to God to return them to life and to their families. And so St. Nicholas is the patron and protector of children.

Several stories tell of Nicholas and the sea. When he was young, Nicholas sought the holy by making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. There as he walked where Jesus walked, he sought to more deeply experience Jesus' life, passion, and resurrection. Returning by sea, a mighty storm threatened to wreck the ship. Nicholas calmly prayed. The terrified sailors were amazed when the wind and waves suddenly calmed, sparing them all. And so St. Nicholas is the patron of sailors and voyagers.

Other stories tell of Nicholas saving his people from famine, sparing the lives of those innocently accused, and much more. He did many kind and generous deeds in secret, expecting nothing in return. Within a century of his death he was celebrated as a saint. Today he is venerated in the East as wonder, or miracle worker and in the West as patron of a great variety of persons-children, mariners, bankers, pawn-brokers, scholars, orphans, laborers, travelers, merchants, judges, paupers, marriageable maidens, students, children, sailors, victims of judicial mistakes, captives, perfumers, even thieves and murderers! He is known as the friend and protector of all in trouble or need.

Sailors, claiming St. Nicholas as patron, carried stories of his favor and protection far and wide. St. Nicholas chapels were built in many seaports. As his popularity spread during the Middle Ages, he became the patron saint of Apulia (Italy), Sicily, Greece, and Lorraine (France), and many cities in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Russia, Belgium, and the Netherlands (See list). Following his baptism in Constantinople, Vladimir I of Russia brought St. Nicholas' stories and devotion to St. Nicholas to his homeland where Nicholas became the most beloved saint. Nicholas was so widely revered that more than 2,000 churches were named for him, including three hundred in Belgium, thirty-four in Rome, twenty-three in the Netherlands and more than four hundred in England.

Nicholas' tomb in Myra became a popular place of pilgrimage. Because of the many wars and attacks in the region, some Christians were concerned that access to the tomb might become difficult. For both the religious and commercial advantages of a major pilgrimage site, the Italian cities of Venice and Bari vied to get the Nicholas relics. In the spring of 1087, sailors from Bari succeeded in spiriting away the bones, bringing them to Bari, a seaport on the southeast coast of Italy. An impressive church was built over St. Nicholas' crypt and many faithful journeyed to honor the saint who had rescued children, prisoners, sailors, famine victims, and many others through his compassion, generosity, and the countless miracles attributed to his intercession. The Nicholas shrine in Bari was one of medieval Europe's great pilgrimage centers and Nicholas became known as "Saint in Bari." To this day pilgrims and tourists visit Bari's great Basilica di San Nicola.

Through the centuries St. Nicholas has continued to be venerated by Catholics and Orthodox and honored by Protestants. By his example of generosity to those in need, especially children, St. Nicholas continues to be a model for the compassionate life.

Widely celebrated in Europe, St. Nicholas' feast day, December 6th, kept alive the stories of his goodness and generosity. In Germany and Poland, boys dressed as bishops begged alms for the poor—and sometimes for themselves! In the Netherlands and Belgium, St. Nicholas arrived on a steamship from Spain to ride a white horse on his gift-giving rounds. December 6th is still the main day for gift giving and merrymaking in much of Europe. For example, in the Netherlands St. Nicholas is celebrated on the 5th, the eve of the day, by sharing candies (thrown in the door), chocolate initial letters, small gifts, and riddles. Dutch children leave carrots and hay in their shoes for the saint's horse, hoping St. Nicholas will exchange them for small gifts. Simple gift-giving in early Advent helps preserve a Christmas Day focus on the Christ Child.

Happy Birthday Mr. McDonald!

2011-12-01T14:35:00.000-05:00

Today our school children and school family celebrated Mr. McDonald's birthday. All our children gathered in the gym at 2pm today to sing "Happy Birthday to you" [cha, cha, cha] to our principal, Mr. McDonald. He kept saying, "I am so overwhelmed!"

We hope Mr. McDonald has a wonderful birthday today!

Ready or Not...

2011-11-25T04:00:00.001-05:00

The time has come for us to begin using the new, 3rd edition of the Roman Missal. MANY years in the making, tomorrow at 4pm will be the first time use officially use the new translation. These are the most sweeping changes to the liturgy since this translation was introduced in 1973. I must admit, I am feeling a bit nostalgic about the current translation - it's what I grew up on - it's what helped me grow in my on faith all of my life. Yet at the same time I am excited about the new translation - SO beautiful - sometimes very technical, but always theologically more accurate. So, get ready - because when you come to Mass this weekend - it'll all be new!

Thanksgiving Message from Bishop McFadden

2011-11-24T05:00:00.000-05:00

Catholic Thanksgiving History

2011-11-23T05:52:00.001-05:00

The history books will tell you that the first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the pilgrims in 1621. Not true.

An interesting bit of trivia is that the first American Thanksgiving was actually celebrated on September 8, 1565 in St. Augustine, Florida. The Native Americans and Spanish settlers held a feast and the Holy Mass was offered.

The Catholic origins of Thanksgiving don't stop there. Squanto, the beloved hero of Thanksgiving, was the Native American man who mediated between the Puritan Pilgrims and the Native Americans. Squanto had been enslaved by the English but he was freed by Spanish Franciscans. Squanto thus received baptism and became a Catholic. So it was a baptized Catholic Native American who orchestrated what became known as Thanksgiving.

All that being said, Thanksgiving is traditionally Protestant and marks the tradition of religious toleration (something in which the Puritan pilgrims did not actually believe - they set up a "theocracy").

It all started with Richard Clyfton who was a Church of England parson in Nottinghamshire in the early 1600s. Clifton sympathized with the Separatists of that era. Separatists were Calvinistic non-conformists to the doctrine and liturgy of the Church of England. The Hampton Court Conference held by King James I (1604) condemned those who would not conform to the more outwardly Catholic usages in the Church of England (e.g. robes, candles, bowing the head at the name of Christ, processions). The result was that Richard Clyfton was “defrocked” and stripped of his clerical status in the Church of England. Shortly thereafter Richard Clyfton went to Amsterdam and was followed by his disciples: the Pilgrims.

These Pilgrims moved around a bit until finally coming to America in 1620. An interesting bit of trivia is that one child was born on board the Mayflower while at sea. The child was given the rather lame name: “Oceanus”. Poor child.

In 1621, the Pilgrims allegedly celebrated a happy meal with the Native Americans and the rest is history.

The penal laws of England regarding non-conformists affected not only the rigorous Calvinistic Puritans in England, but also the English Catholic recusants. The Pilgrims shared the same lot as the Catholic faithful of England. Interestingly enough, the Catholics who lived in Nottinghamshire where the Pilgrims originated were persecuted mercilessly.

So while Thanksgiving may celebrate the Calvinist Separatists who fled England, Catholics might remember the same unjust laws that granted the crown of martyrdom to Thomas More, John Fisher, Edmund Campion, et al. are the same injustices that led the Pilgrims to Plymouth.

Another bit of trivia is that the truly “First Thanksgiving” celebration occurred on American soil on April 30, 1598 in Texas when Don Juan de Oñate declared a day of Thanksgiving to be commemorated by the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

And let everyone remember that “Thanksgiving” in Greek is Eucharistia. Thus, the Body and Blood of Christ is the true “Thanksgiving Meal”.

Saint Andrew School Marches in Greencastle Parade

2011-11-19T11:02:00.000-05:00


Saint Andrew School children in the Greencastle Parade

It was a beautiful, crisp morning as members of our Saint Andrew School family gathered in Greencastle for the annual Christmas (I suppose they call it a "holiday") Parade. With Mary & Joseph and the baby Jesus leading us with an angel nearby, our school children carried the Saint Andrew School banner which, as you can see, suffered some damage within the first few hundred feet of the parade - somehow having kids carry a paper banner didn't work out that well - oh well, lesson learned! :-)

Anyway, Saint Andrew S.... (which later became Saint Andre...) made a great appearance. No matter the tears and rips in the banner, the smiles and waves from people along the parade route told us that our message was out. Now, with some knowledge gained, this afternoon we're off to the Waynesboro parade!


Fr. Bateman walks with the chaperones

Parish 40 Hours Eucharistic Devotions

2011-11-14T10:14:00.000-05:00

Our parish is currently in the midst of its annual retreat: her annual Eucharistic Devotions - commonly called "40 Hours." Why is it called "40 Hours?" To honor the forty hours that the body of Christ rested in the tomb, the Blessed Sacrament is solemnly exposed for this period of time, during which public services, private meditation and prayer take place. This devotion developed in the 16^th Century. The exact period of forty hours' exposition, in practice, is not strictly adhered to. The Holy See granted an indulgence to those who take part.

History of the Devotion

A chronicler from Milan describes the custom which began in May, 1537. He gives details as to the church with which it started. Less than two years later, Pope Paul III granted an indulgence to anyone who participated in the devotion.

The practice without doubt spread rapidly. Already before the year 1550 this, or some analogous exposition, had been established by St. Philip Neri for the Confraternity of the Trinita dei Pellegrini in Rome; while St. Ignatius Loyola, at about the same period, seems to have given much encouragement to the practice. As this devotion also commonly lasted for a period of about forty hours, it seems to have been given the name "Quarant' Ore"; and under this name it is still maintained in many places.

St. Charles Borromeo speaks as if this practice of praying for forty hours was of very ancient date; and he distinctly refers it to the forty hours our Lord's Body remained in the tomb, seeing that this was a period of watching, suspense, and ardent prayer on the part of all His disciples.

St. John Neumann, Bishop of Philadelphia, advocated the devotion here in the United States. Visiting his parishes in the 1850’s he noted with sorrow that few people took time for a private visit to the Blessed Sacrament. In 1853 each parish in his Diocese was to hold a Forty Hours Eucharistic Celebration. Since at that time, we were part of the Philadelphia Diocese, the parishes in our area would also have begun the devotion. We continue that tradition today with our parish’s annual celebration of Forty Hours.

You are invited to come, spend some time with the Lord in prayer during these days. Each evening there will be a closing service at 7pm. Our guest homilist this year is Fr. Keith Carroll from Corpus Christi Parish in Chambersburg. Some of you may remember him - while attending Mount Saint Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, he was twice assigned to our parish - to our school and our religious education program.

Catholic Witness publishes article on Fr. Bateman

2011-11-08T13:26:00.001-05:00

In the most recent edition of the Catholic Witness, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Harrisburg, there was an article about Fr. Bateman and his recent commissioning in the PA Air National Guard. You can view the article on the Diocesan website (you have to allow the entire document to download, then scroll to the last page). You can view the article by clicking here.

SB 1 - Call-In your questions to PCN tonight!

2011-11-07T14:45:00.000-05:00

PCN’s (Pennsylvania Cable Network) Call-In program airs Monday – Thursday evenings from 7 PM to 8PM. The hour-long interactive call-in program allows PCN viewers to speak directly with government officials, newsmakers and other knowledgeable parties on current Commonwealth issues.

On tonight's Call In Program, we will examine proposed school voucher legislation. Senator Anthony Williams, Senate minority whip and a main sponsor of SB 1, will be one of the guests during the program.

Craft your questions, and join the conversation starting at 7:00 p.m.

PCN’s toll-free number – 1-877-PA6-5001 (1-877-726-5001)

PCN Call-In Program : The Official Website of the Pennsylvania Cable Network

www.pcntv.com

The Official Website of the Pennsylvania Cable Network

Commemoration of All Souls

2011-11-02T22:27:00.000-04:00

Often overshadowed by the two days preceding it, Halloween (October 31) and All Saints Day (November 1), All Souls Day is a solemn feast for us which commemorates all of those who have died and now are in Purgatory, being cleansed of their venial sins and the temporal punishments for the mortal sins that they had confessed and atoning before entering fully into Heaven.

The importance of All Souls Day was made clear by Pope Benedict XV (1914-22), when he granted all priests the privilege of celebrating three Masses on All Souls Day: one, for the faithful departed; one for the priest's intentions; and one for the intentions of the Holy Father. Only on a handful of other very important feast days are priests allowed to celebrate more than two Masses.

On All Souls Day, we not only remember the dead, but we apply our efforts, through prayer, almsgiving, and the Mass, to their release from Purgatory. There are two plenary indulgences attached to All Souls Day, one for visiting a church and another for visiting a cemetery. (The plenary indulgence for visiting a cemetery can also be obtained every day from November 1-8, and, as a partial indulgence, on any day of the year.) While the actions are performed by the living, the merits of the indulgences are applicable only to the souls in Purgatory.

Praying for the dead is a Christian obligation. In the modern world, when many have come to doubt the Church's teaching on Purgatory, the need for such prayers has only increased. The Church devotes the month of November to prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, and participation in the Mass of All Souls Day is a good way to begin the month.

And this we did tonight at our parish... remembering all the following members of our parish family who have died since the last All Souls Day:

Raymundo Velazques, Jr (November 16, 2010)
Joan Felix (November 17, 2010)
Noel Piel-Cruz (November 22, 2010)
Joan Murphy (December 18, 2010)
Elizabeth Lange (December 19, 2010)
Joyce Scott (December 19, 2010)
Henry "Hank" Lininger (December 25, 2010)
Georgina "Gina" Camuso (January 10, 2011)
Irwin Kneasel (January 12, 2011)
Michael Anthony Clement (January 2011)
Gerald Marcavitch (January 18, 2011)
Ernest Angle (February 12, 2011)
Bernadette Butler (March 12, 2011)
Judithann "Judy" Clement (March 17, 2011)
Joanne Schoonover (March 19, 2011)
William "Bill" Trace (March 20, 2011)
Patricia Auchenbaugh (March 24, 2011)
Thomas Tolley (April 11, 2011)
Suzanne "Suzi" Trobaugh (April 25, 2011)
Barry Bowser (June 6, 2011)
Salvatore Marsiglia (August 12, 2011)
Raymond Bercaw (August 19, 2011)
Carole Sanders (August 29, 2011)
Ben SanFellipo (September 20, 2011)

Here is a wonderful prayer, coming from the Byzantine Church, we can offer for them and for all the faithful departed:

By Thy resurrection from the dead, O Christ, death no longer hath dominion over those who die in holiness. So, we beseech Thee, give rest to Thy servants in Thy sanctuary and in Abraham's bosom. Grant it to those, who from Adam until now have adored Thee with purity, to our fathers and brothers, to our kinsmen and friends, to all men who have lived by faith and passed on their road to Thee, by a thousand ways, and in all conditions, and make them worthy of the heavenly kingdom.

All Saints Day

2011-11-01T05:12:00.000-04:00

Just about every day in the Church calendar has the celebration of a saint, but today, the Solemnity of All Saints, is when the Church honors all the saints, known and unknown. This is kind of like the American holidays Veterans Day and Presidents Day, where many people are honored on one day. While we have information about many saints, and we honor them on specific days, there are MANY unknown or unsung saints, who may have been forgotten, or never been specifically honored. On All Saints Day, we celebrate these saints of the Lord, and ask for their prayers and intercessions. The whole concept of All Saints Day is tied in with the concept of the Communion of Saints. This is the belief that all of God's people, on heaven, earth, and in the state of purification (called Purgatory), are connected in a communion. In other words, Catholic and Orthodox Christians believe that the saints of God are just as alive as you and I, and are constantly interceding on our behalf. Remember, our connection with the saints in heaven is one grounded in a tight-knit communion. The saints are not divine, nor omnipresent or omniscient. However, because of our common communion with and through Jesus Christ, our prayers are joined with the heavenly community of Christians. St. Cyril of Jerusalem (AD 350) testifies to this belief:

We mention those who have fallen asleep: first the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, that through their prayers and supplications God would receive our petition... (Catechetical Lecture 23:9).

The Catholic Catechism concisely describes this communion among believers, by which we are connected to Christ, and thus to one another:

"Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness... They do not cease to intercede with the Father for us... So by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped."

"...as Christian communion among our fellow pilgrims brings us closer to Christ, so our communion with the saints joins us to Christ, from whom as from its fountain and head issues all grace, and the life of the People of God itself: We worship Christ as God's Son; we love the martyrs as the Lord's disciples and imitators, and rightly so because of their matchless devotion towards their king and master. May we also be their companions and fellow disciples (CCC 956, 957)!

Thanks to Your Support...

2011-10-27T16:16:00.000-04:00

Thanks to your advocacy for school choice, the Pennsylvania Senate passed Senate Bill 1 yesterday with a vote of 27-22. This is a significant victory for Pennsylvania’s children!

Please consider visiting, calling, faxing or emailing your Senator Alloway (alloway@pasen.gov) to thank him or her for voting yes on Senate Bill 1. Our lawmakers will be home in their districts today and tomorrow.

Senate Bill 1 must now be considered by the House of Representatives. While Representative Rock is in support of SB 1 - it would still be good for him to hear form YOU! Visit, call, fax or email your State Representatives, too. Click here to send a message to your legislator and click below to say "thank you" to your Senator.

Click the link below to log in and send your message:
http://www.votervoice.net/link/target/pacc/82R7zWtG.aspx

School Choice is on the Move - WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW!!

2011-10-25T09:46:00.000-04:00

A vote is scheduled THIS WEEK on Senate Bill 1, the Opportunity Scholarship Act. The bill must first pass the Senate Education Committee; then it will be considered on the floor of the full Senate. Your State Senator needs to hear this message from you – vote YES on Senate Bill 1 and support school choice!

Amendments to SB 1 will implement Governor Tom Corbett’s proposal to begin a pilot program for vouchers and implement a significant increase to the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program.

School choice is the right choice for Pennsylvania! Visit, call, fax or email your state legislators TODAY and encourage your friends, family, neighbors and fellow Catholics to do the same.

Click the link below to log in and send your message:
http://www.votervoice.net/link/target/pacc/827ryg2g.aspx

The New Missal - The Creed

2011-10-23T16:00:00.000-04:00

Some of the most significant changes to the people’s parts in the Order of Mass are found in the Profession of Faith (the Nicene Creed). Changes to this text fall into two categories: preservation of the syntax of the original text and preservation of expressions of faith that contain Catholic doctrine. The first change is the translation of credo as “I” instead of “We” in the opening phrase in order to maintain the person and number indicated in the Latin text. While the Profession of Faith is a communal liturgical act, each individual in the liturgical assembly professes his or her own faith, which is joined to the profession of the whole assembly. The second change concerns the translation of particular expressions of faith such as unigenitus, consubstantialis, and incarnatus. The theological terminology has been preserved, in accord with Liturgiam Authenticam, in the translation to English: “Only Begotten,” “consubstantial,” and “incarnate.”

Why has “one in being with the Father” been changed to “consubstantial with the Father”?

The new translation is more in keeping with the ancient Latin text of the Creed and is a more accurate translation. The bishops at the Council of Nicea (AD 325), in order to ensure that Jesus was professed as the eternal Son of God, equal to the Father, stated that he is “the Son of God, begotten from the Father, the only-begotten, that is from the substance of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made, the same substance (homoousion) with the Father.” The Creed of the Council of Constantinople (AD 381), which is professed at all Sunday Masses and Solemnities within the Catholic Church, similarly stated: “We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of the same substance (homoousion) with the Father.”

When these two ancient creeds were translated into Latin, the term homoousion was rendered as consubstantialem, that is, “the same substance of the Father.” Prior to the Second Vatican Council, the Latin consubstantialem was rendered as “consubstantial” within the English translation of the Creed. Many theologians and the Holy See thought that the term “consubstantial” was more in keeping with the Latin tradition and a more literal and accurate translation than the more recent “one in being.”

This is in keeping with the mind of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, as expressed in the 2001 instruction Liturgiam Authenticam. It stated: “Certain expressions that belong to the heritage of the whole or of a great part of the ancient Church, as well as others that have become part of the general human patrimony, are to be respected by a translation that is as literal as possible” (56).

I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit
was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake
he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is seated
at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord,
the giver of life, who proceeds
from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son
is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
And one, holy, catholic
and apostolic Church.
I confess one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

Bishop McFadden Celebrates Confirmation

2011-10-22T05:20:00.001-04:00

It was a beautiful fall evening as Bishop McFadden, Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg, made his 4th visit to Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish since his installation in July 2010 to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation with our young people. 24 students in the eighth grade received the fullness of the Holy Spirit. During his homily the Bishop emphasized the fruits of the Holy Spirit. The twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit are works that we can perform only with the aid of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the performance of such works is an indication that the Holy Spirit dwells in the Christian believer. The 12 fruits are charity (or love), joy, peace, patience, benignity (or kindness), goodness, longanimity (or long suffering), mildness, faith, modesty, continency, and chastity. Bishop McFadden emphasized that, having completed their Christian Initiation with this Sacrament of Confirmation, God now expects each Christian to bear fruit - and it is the Fruits of the Spirit that evidence our closeness to God.

In his closing remarks, Bishop McFadden remarked how lucky Father Bateman is to be stationed at Saint Andrew Parish. The reason? Because our parish so well evidences fruits - in vocations to the priesthood (our parish has three seminarians: Steven Arena, Joey Barvir & Andrew Hartung) and in several young ladies contemplating the consecrated, religious life. Vocations are evidence of a parish that is alive in the Spirit and bearing fruit.

He also reminded our young people that Confirmation is not a "graduation" from Religious Education. Formation and growth in our Faith is a life-long process. Each of us must continue to grow and learn our Faith, Bishop remarked.

Photos to be posted soon...

Coming Soon - TV Series about the Faith

2011-10-21T04:00:00.000-04:00

Coming to ETWN in November - Catholicism - a TV serious. I can't wait! Watch the short clip below!

For the first time, in breathtaking and high-definition cinematography, the truth, goodness, and beauty of Catholicism are illustrated in a multimedia experience. Journey with Fr. Robert Barron to more than 50 locations throughout 16 countries. Be illuminated by the spiritual and artistic treasures of this global culture that claims more than one billion of the earth’s people.

From the sacred lands of Israel to the beating heart of Uganda, from the glorious shrines of Europe to the streets of Mexico, Kolkata, and New York City, the mysteries of CATHOLICISM are revealed. Learn what we, as Catholics, believe and why. Discover the full meaning of the faith.

Mike Leonard, a veteran NBC Today show correspondent and acclaimed filmmaker, is the Executive Producer of this groundbreaking production.

Ten hours. Ten episodes. One Film Series...

Pope Benedict Proclaims "Year of Faith"

2011-10-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

Pope Benedict XVI has announced a special “Year of Faith,” dedicated to rousing a “new impetus to the mission of the whole Church to lead men out of the desert in which they often find themselves, to the place of life, of friendship with Christ.”

The Year of Faith will begin on October 11, 2012: a date that marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II. Pope Benedict notes that the date is also the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which he describes as “a precious and indispensable tool” for the task of evangelization. The special observance will end on November 24, 2013: the feast of Christ the King. Pope Benedict announced the Year of Faith on Sunday, October 16, as he celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s basilica at the conclusion of a conference on the “new evangelization.” In his homily the Pontiff explained that the “new evangelization”--which is aimed at restoring the strength of the faith in traditionally Christian countries now dominated by secularism—is a natural complement to the mission ad gentes, the drive to bring the faith to societies that have not yet heard the Gospel message. On the same day, October 16, the Pope released a motu proprio entitled Porta Fidei (“The Door of Faith”), formally proclaiming and explaining the Year of Faith. The initiative, he said, is required “because of a profound crisis of faith that has affected many people.”

The Year of Faith will not be unprecedented, Pope Benedict observed. Pope Paul VI announced a similar observance in 1967, and concluded it by issuing the Credo of the People of God. In Porta Fidei the Pope underlined the value of such public proclamations of faith. “A Christian many never think of belief as a private act,” he wrote. He suggested that during the Year of Faith, “Religious communities as well as parish communities, and all ecclesial bodies old and new, are to find a way, during this Year, to make a public profession of the Credo.”

The Pope explained, too, that the Year of Faith could provide an opportunity to help the faithful properly understand the thrust of Vatican II. He repeated a common theme of his papal teaching: that Vatican II can be an enormous force in restoring the strength of the faith, “if we interpret and implement it guided by a right hermeneutic.”

The Year of Faith, the Pope wrote, should “arouse in every believer the aspiration to profess the faith in fullness and with renewed conviction, with confidence and hope.” This vigorous voice of faith, he said, is particularly important in today’s world, when the secular mentality has made inroads into the traditional strongholds of Christianity:

To a greater extent than in the past, faith is now being subjected to a series of questions arising from a changed mentality which, especially today, limits the field of rational certainties to that of scientific and technological discoveries. Nevertheless, the Church has never been afraid of demonstrating that there cannot be any conflict between faith and genuine science, because both, albeit via different routes, tend towards the truth.

The Pope added that while some people in today’s world are openly skeptical about religious faith, many others are simply looking for meaning in life. While countering the power of secularization, he said:

On the other hand, we must not forget that in our cultural context, very many people, while not claiming to have the gift of faith, are nevertheless sincerely searching for the ultimate meaning and definitive truth of their lives and of the world. This search is an authentic 'preamble' to the faith, because it guides people onto the path that leads to the mystery of God. Human reason, in fact, bears within itself a demand for 'what is perennially valid and lasting.

The New Missal - the Penitential Act and the Gloria

2011-10-18T10:00:00.000-04:00

This week our exploration into the new translation of the Roman Missal is on the new Penitential Act and the Gloria. We prepare ourselves to enter into the Sacred Mysteries of the Holy Eucharist by admitting that we have sinned and asking for the grace of forgiveness. The "I Confess" or Confiteor has been part of the celebration of Mass in a fixed way since 1570, although its presence is noted even before then. It contains two distinct parts: an honest acknowledgement of our sins and asking for the church on earth and in heaven to intercede on our behalf. Since 1970, the Confiteor is said by both the priest and the assembly, who together confess humbly, "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault," while striking their breast one time. Having properly disposed ourselves by repenting of our earthly sins, we may then, through God's goodness, enter into the heavenly glory of the Sacred Liturgy.

From confessing our sins we move to confessing the glory and goodness of God in the Gloria in excelsis Deo. Borrowing the joyful song of the angles at the birth of Christ, the Church has been singing this great hymn of praise in one form or another since the fourth century. At one time, the Gloria could only be sung at Masses with the bishop who would intone these joyful words as the conclusion to his entrance procession. Since 1570, the priest intoned the Gloria on a regular basis. Today, the Gloria is sung on Sundays outside of Advent and Lent and is used for solemnities and feasts. Whenever it is sung, it marks the solemnity and festive nature of the celebration of the Holy Eucharist which enables us, having been washed clean of our sins by Christ, to worship the Triune God with all the angels and saints.

Here is a new chant version of the revised Gloria which was written by ICEL (the International Commission on English in the Liturgy):

And with Your Spirit

2011-10-11T12:00:00.000-04:00

Beginning on November 27, the Church in the United States will begin using a new translation to the Mass - really just a more faithful translation of the Latin texts that already exist - it's nothing new, but a new outlook. Each week, between now and the First Sunday of Advent, we'll be looking at a different change that will soon occur. This week we look at an exchange between priest and people that happens 4 times during Mass:

NOW                                                                           AFTER NOV 27
Priest: the Lord be with you.                                  Priest: the Lord be with you
People: And also with you.                                      People: And with your Spirit.

WHY?

Here's a short clip from the Study Program we are using in the parish (Tuesday's at 9am and 6:30 pm - there's still time to join!) that explains, partly, why the change...

A video explanation of the new Roman Missal

2011-10-09T12:00:00.006-04:00

Today parishes throughout the Diocese of Harrisburg began a 6-week period of formal preparation for the implementation of the new Roman Missal on November 27, 2011 (the First Sunday of Advent). This will be a time a great adjustment - and excitement - as we hear the Mass prayed with new words - but the same Holy Sacrifice. The new translation is a more literal translation of the Latin texts that will bring a great awareness of the connection between the Mass and the Sacred Scriptures and the sayings of the Fathers of the Church. here is a good background for how this new Missal came about...

Our Lady of the Rosary

2011-10-07T04:00:00.002-04:00

Today the Catholic Church celebrates the yearly feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Known for several centuries by the alternate title of “Our Lady of Victory,” the feast day takes place in honor of a 16th century naval victory which secured Europe against Turkish invasion. Pope St. Pius V attributed the victory to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was invoked on the day of the battle through a campaign to pray the Rosary throughout Europe.

The feast always occurs one week after the similar Byzantine celebration of the Protection of the Mother of God, which most Eastern Orthodox Christians and Eastern Catholics celebrate on October 1 in memory of a 10th-century military victory which protected Constantinople against invasion after a reported Marian apparition.

Pope Leo XIII was particularly devoted to Our Lady of the Rosary, producing 11 encyclicals on the subject of this feast and its importance in the course of his long pontificate.

In the first of them, 1883's “Supremi Apostolatus Officio,” he echoed the words of the oldest known Marian prayer (known in the Latin tradition as the “Sub Tuum Praesidium”), when he wrote, “It has always been the habit of Catholics in danger and in troublous times to fly for refuge to Mary.”

“This devotion, so great and so confident, to the august Queen of Heaven,” Pope Leo continued, “has never shone forth with such brilliancy as when the militant Church of God has seemed to be endangered by the violence of heresy … or by an intolerable moral corruption, or by the attacks of powerful enemies.” Foremost among such “attacks” was the battle of Lepanto, a perilous and decisive moment in European and world history.

Troops of the Turkish Ottoman Empire had invaded and occupied the Byzantine empire by 1453, bringing a large portion of the increasingly divided Christian world under a version of Islamic law. For the next hundred years, the Turks expanded their empire westward on land, and asserted their naval power in the Mediterranean. In 1565 they attacked Malta, envisioning an eventual invasion of Rome. Though repelled at Malta, the Turks captured Cyprus in the fall of 1570.

The next year, three Catholic powers on the continent – Genoa, Spain, and the Papal States - formed an alliance called the Holy League, to defend their Christian civilization against Turkish invasion. Its fleets sailed to confront the Turks near the west coast of Greece on October 7, 1571.

Crew members on more than 200 ships prayed the Rosary in preparation for the battle - as did Christians throughout Europe, encouraged by the Pope to gather in their churches to invoke the Virgin Mary against the daunting Turkish forces.

Some accounts say that Pope Pius V was granted a miraculous vision of the Holy League's stunning victory. Without a doubt, the Pope understood the significance of the day's events, when he was eventually informed that all but 13 of the nearly 300 Turkish ships had been captured or sunk. He was moved to institute the feast now celebrated universally as Our Lady of the Rosary.

“Turkish victory at Lepanto would have been a catastrophe of the first magnitude for Christendom,” wrote military historian John F. Guilmartin, Jr., “and Europe would have followed a historical trajectory strikingly different from that which obtained.”

The Twenty Mysteries

Here is a brief listing and description of all twenty Mysteries.

The Joyful Mysteries

The Annunciation: The Archangel Gabriel "announces" to Mary that she shall conceive the Son of God.
The Visitation: Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist.
The Nativity: Jesus is born.
The Presentation: Mary and Joseph "present" Jesus in the Temple where they meet Simeon.
The Finding in the Temple: After losing Him, Mary and Joseph find young Jesus teaching the Rabbis in the Temple.

The Luminous Mysteries (The Mysteries of Light)

The Baptism in the Jordan: The voice of the Father declares Jesus the beloved Son.
The Wedding at Cana: Christ changes water into wine, his first public miracle.
The Proclamation of the Kingdom: Jesus calls to conversion (cf. Mk 1:15) and forgives the sins of all who draw near to him.
The Transfiguration: The glory of the Godhead shines forth from the face of Christ.
The Institution of the Eucharist: Jesus offers the first Mass at the Last Supper with his apostles, establishing the sacramental foundation for all Christian living.

The Sorrowful Mysteries

The Agony in the Garden: Jesus sweats water and blood while praying the night before his passion.
The Scourging at the Pillar: Pilate has Jesus whipped.
The Crowning with Thorns: Roman soldiers crown Jesus' head with thorns.
The Carrying of the Cross: Jesus meets His mother and falls three times on the way up Calvary.
The Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross and dies before His mother and His apostle John.

The Glorious Mysteries

The Resurrection: Jesus rises from the dead.
The Ascension: Jesus leaves the Apostles and bodily "ascends" to heaven.
The Descent of the Holy Spirit: The Apostles receive the Holy Spirit in tongues of fire in the upper room with Mary.
The Assumption: Mary is taken bodily--assumed--into heaven by God at the end of her life here on earth.
The Coronation: Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Mysteries for Certain Weekdays

Traditionally, many people say the Joyful Mysteries on Monday, the Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesday, the Glorious Mysteries on Wednesday, and start again with the Joyful Mysteries on Thursday, the Sorrowful Mysteries on Friday. The Glorious Mysteries are then prayed on Saturday and Sunday. Now that the Luminous Mysteries have recently been added, the schedule is:

Monday - Joyful
Tuesday - Sorrowful
Wednesday - Glorious
Thursday - Luminous
Friday - Sorrowful
Saturday - Joyful
Sunday - Glorious

Try to place yourself "into" the scene of the particular mystery as you pray, imagining the sights, smells, sounds, and emotions that Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and other participants experienced during the actual events. It is also okay to meditate on the meaning of the words of the prayers as you pray them, or even to meditate on the person for whom you are offering the Rosary.

Cemetery of the Innocents

2011-10-02T15:00:00.001-04:00

The “Cemetery of the Innocents” has once again been erected on our parish property to stand as a stark witness to the devastation caused by legalized abortion in our country. Throughout the month of October (Respect Life Month), you will see the 200 crosses in the front lawn of the school. As the sign indicates, the crosses represent the number of abortions which are performed every single hour in our country. This is an astounding reality – and our “Cemetery of the Innocents” stands as a powerful witness to what abortion really does – think of the number of children who might have been born, but were not. Perhaps some of them would have invented a cure for diseases or other medical or scientific advances. While there are many Respect Life issues (human trafficking, the death penalty, euthanasia, assisted suicide, reproductive technologies that destroy human life), the most pervasive and objectively and intrinsically evil is abortion.

Perhaps this is a wonderful time for parents to talk to their children about abortion by addressing the issue of “protection.” We all want (and need) to be protected from so many things: colds, the weather, bullies, etc. Parents want very much to protect their children. Many of these protect ions are safeguarded for us by the laws of our country. However, some people do not believe that the youngest and smallest children need protection – but we do. The crosses in the yard remind us that everyone needs to be protected – and the crosses represent those children whose lives were not protected by the law. I hope that this idea of speaking to the children about “protection” will help you talk to your children about the “Cemetery of the Innocents.”

Life Chain

2011-10-01T17:00:00.003-04:00

Join us on Sunday, October 2 for the annual Life Chain - a peaceful and prayerful public witness (not a protest) of pro-life individuals all around our nation who stand each year on the 1st Sunday of October (the beginning of Pro-Life Month) for 60 minutes praying for our nation and for an end to abortion. It is a visual statement of solidarity by the Christian community that abortion kills children and that the Church supports the sanctity of human life from the moment of concept ion until natural death. Here in Waynesboro, there will be two separate events in which everyone is invited to participate & pray:

9:30-10:30am in front of Saint Andrew Church & School. Many of the older members of our CCD classes will take part in this public witness. Parents may request that their children be excused – simply contact Peg Wagaman to request your child be excused.
2-3pm in Waynesboro Square. Stand with many other Christians to witness to the sanctity of all human life.

During both events there are no protest rallies nor speeches, just silent witness & prayer. Waynesboro officials are aware of the LIFE CHAIN and have given permission for the event to take place on the sidewalks at both locations.

Come, be involved! Stand up for life!

OKTOBERFEST 2011

2011-09-29T21:45:00.002-04:00

It is time, once again, for St . Andrew Catholic School’s Oktoberfest Family Fun Day. Please join us on Saturday, October 1, starting at 9am for fun, food, and festivities.

Sixth graders Maddie and Aaron looked very festive today in Bavarian dress to promote Oktoberfest. The whole class will join them in dressing up on Saturday as they bake homemade soft pretzels.

State Representative Todd Rock will be joining us at 3:00 to draw the winning raffle tickets. Don’t miss this special treat! Also, Lesley Quesada designed custom photo cutouts of a boy and girl dressed in traditional German costume, which will make for some memorable photo ops.

Thank you to all the volunteers who have signed up to help this Saturday and to all who have donated money towards the food. For those who still need Active Tuition hours or for anyone who would like to volunteer, there are still some open slots! See the sign-up sheet on the school website. And don’t forget to drop off Bake Sale items on Friday.

We hope to see everyone there!

Tithing Reaffirmation Weekend

2011-09-25T19:47:00.000-04:00

This weekend our parish reaffirmed its commitment to tithing as a means of stewardship and discipleship. Here are the talks from this weekend:

Witness Talk – Susan & Don Pyatt

We are Susan and Don Pyatt and we are proud members of Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish and family. Father Bateman has asked us to speak to you today to briefly share with you our personal experience since we made our commitment to tithe. Perhaps like many of you, we understood the definition of the word “tithe” but never truly considered it to be a “Catholic” practice…until the presentation by the McKenna Stewardship Ministry in September 2009. Suddenly, the word “tithe” took on a whole new meaning…a life of its own…a spiritual life.

We admit that this whole idea of committing to the concept of tithing was very scary indeed. Let’s face it….when we talk about money, we are talking about our basic survival in this world. It is how we put a roof over our heads, food in our bellies, clothes on our backs. And shamefully, in this world, it has become the only yardstick by which we measure our self-worth. So we discussed, we argued, we fretted and we prayed…..how can we do this, can we survive this, is this right for us? You see, at the time, we were a one income family instead of two. But finally, agreeing that if we take our relationship with God seriously, then we must take this step. Because we are so much more than the money we make….because it is a total affirmation of our trust in God. And because it is right and just.

And so now, two years later, we can stand here and tell you that it was the best decision we ever made and the blessings just keep on coming! A few weeks after we made our decision to tithe, we became, once again, a two income family. We are now a “Catholic” couple as Don came into full communion with the Church in April 2010. We have a new found freedom that has lessened our money anxieties and raised our spirits! And, as hard as it may be to believe, we have given up nothing financially….and it feels like we have more…like the loaves and fishes….miraculous! It is right and just. Don and I will be forever grateful that God brought Father Bateman to this place and that Father Bateman gifted us with tithing….to completely and unconditionally trust in God in all things. God Bless you.

Tithing Talk – James Clement

Hello, my name is James Clement and I want to share with you my tithing experience and how it has helped me grow closer to God. There has always been a presence of tithing in my life. I first learned about tithing from my parents, but the terminology they used was charity and almsgiving. Dad would always give the youngest child in our family the envelope to place in the offering basket at Church. Even though it was not really my money, he allowed me to participate in his giving. That is the first principle of tithing: what we are giving is not really ours but ultimately God’s. We owe our very being, our existence, and thus all that we possess to Him. He doesn’t even charge interest! In fact, he only asks for 10%, the first 10%. In this way, we can participate in God’s charity and giving just as my dad, in a sense, gave me the opportunity to participate.

I decided that when I made any amount of money from any source, I would give 10%. My first true opportunities came 6 years ago when I helped a friend with a paper route. It wasn’t much of an income, but it was a start. The beginning was sort of rough. I would usually give the last 10% or less to God. Though this was not a perfect tithing, God saw my desires and blessed me with a mowing job the following year that paid better. This time I would give the middle 10% or so and usually a week or two after I made the money. Still, I was getting better and God saw this and blessed me with a job to detail cars with a friend, which I still do by the way, on top of the mowing. By my senior year in high school, I had 3 lawn jobs, animal sitting jobs here and there, and detailing cars here and there.

Since seeing God working in my life and blessing with more income, every single time I received any money, I immediately saw it as an opportunity to give 10% away, a way to help someone in need. My tithing would consist of 5% to the Church, and 5% to charity. Charity being any cause that helps one grow closer to God: Pregnancy Ministries, Pro-Life Ministries, or a family who is financially hurting, just to name a few. This giving needs to come from a good, infinite desire to help someone else and to give glory to God; it does not seek attention from others like the Pharisees in the streets. I placed complete trust in God. He has repaid the favor 10 fold each time and it wasn’t necessarily a financial reimbursement. In fact, the best gift God has repaid me has been in my spiritual growth. I grew closer to God and learned to place all my trust in God. I attribute this tithing for spiritually and mentally preparing me for the death of my mother 6 months ago. All seemed lost and I felt at times unable to continue on. I asked myself, “When do I wake up?” and “Will our family or even I be able to push through?” But I continued to place my trust in God even in the moments of doubt, what else could I do?

God answered, and he answered most generously. My family grew closer together. I was offered a full time 8 to 5 job this summer internship with Penn DOT. I was still able to go to World Youth Day which had a tremendously positive spiritual impact on my life, more than I had originally expected. College does not seem so overburdening anymore, and in fact, I love my classes. I accepted the position of Sophomore Retreat Leader, which has a huge load of duties on top of school, extracurricular activities and work. But I was thrilled to accept the position and secretly wanted an opportunity like that. I am not overwhelmed anymore. I still have my small worries, but peace has come into my life! I see God in everything and everyone I meet, even if it’s small. These are just a few of the many abundant blessings God gave me and in return, I want to keep giving more and more so God can keep surprising me!

How are we supposed to give? That’s the second principle. Each person will be able to give in different amounts and in different ways according to one’s capacity. Do not worry; there are plenty of unique ways to give. If you consistently pray to God, talk with Him, and ask for guidance from Him and others, the tithing will become good habit instead of being observed as a burden. It will take time and it may be hard to adjust at first, but once you do and do so with a genuine heart with complete faith, God will work wonders in your life even in the roughest of times. God will never give you more than you can handle so long as we ask for his help. Jesus tells us not to be afraid. Furthermore, scripture tells us that God will never be outdone in generous. This is the only time you can, and rather are encouraged to test God, with a good heart of course. So go ahead, give the first 10% and test God to out due you in generosity! I attest to this truth! Let go and let God.

Tithing Talk – Andrew Knepper

“Death itself died when life was slain on the tree.” What a powerful statement, right? This statement is actually my favorite antiphon in the Divine Office. While it is just a few words, it carries a great deal of meaning and complexity. In fact, I believe this antiphon perfectly sums up our great faith. It's about Christ dying for us so that we may have eternal life. It's about perfect love defeating all of the evil we, as sinners, have ever committed. Ultimately this antiphon is the paramount mystery—or paradox—of our faith. It's so important, in fact, that it's the first Glorious Mystery in the Rosary!

Of all of the mysteries that our faith holds, I've found a common denominator among them. And Scripture tells us this little tidbit of knowledge, too. What is this tidbit of knowledge? Well...If we give of ourselves, then we receive so much more in return. Just think...

v if we give our entire being to God, we receive eternal life.

v if we give ourselves totally to our spouse, we receive the fruits of sweet love.

v if we give our time, talents and love to friends, we receive the gift of friendship

v and the list goes on and on and on...

Well, there is another area—an area that has impacted me a great deal—in which we also can give of ourselves. And this is through the giving the gifts of material wealth to God. Now, this of course seems to be a tall order, but hear me out... I first heard about tithing from one of Father Bateman’s homilies while I was in college. I remember Father Bateman emailing all of the college students asking us to read THIS homily because it was particularly important! Well…being a college student…I procrastinated. One day, I finally opened up Father Bateman’s email and decided to finally read his tithing homily. I didn’t exactly treat this homily with an open mind at the time—I didn’t think it applied to me—because I was a poor college student! Makes sense, right? Well…I soon found out that tithing is much different than I thought and the great thing about it is that it helps us—all of us—no matter our current state in life!

Father Bateman’s words inspired me to begin tithing. And in college I “started” although I was far from practicing it perfectly. When I graduated, I decided that I would try much harder to practice tithing…and I did. After I took my first full-time job, I started to tithe. This experience has been one of the most important of my life….Let me explain:

Tithing has allowed me to grow towards a more virtuous life. Technically all of MY money is really God’s money, but tithing has allowed me to share some of my portion with our Church and with those organizations who lend a helping hand where it’s most deserved. Tithing, in a nutshell, has allowed me to think less about me and more about my brothers and sisters in Christ and most importantly about God. Tithing has allowed me to tear down the material bonds that encompassed me for many years. I personally believe that tithing allows us to realize that there ARE needs beyond our own and as soon as we come to this realization, we reach a whole new level of spirituality.

Since I have started tithing, I have gained a new outlook on life. No longer am I focused on my plans or what I can do for myself. Now, tithing has allowed me to open my heart to God’s eternal call to communion with him and all of the great things that come with this journey. I’ve also realized that I am completely dependent on God. Without God, I am nothing. I’ve realized that if He does not will my next breath, then I will die now, in an instant. But dependency on God is a beautiful thing. There is a piece of art that depicts Christ, holding a lantern, knocking on someone’s front door. But there’s a catch! This front door has no door knob on the outside but only one on the inside. What does this mean? As Scripture tells us, we have to invite Him into our lives. And tithing has allowed me to do this more perfectly. I am truly free and able to live my life in the light of Christ and according to His will.

In closing I want to return to the antiphon that I mentioned earlier: “Death itself died when life was slain on the tree.” This paradox signifies that Christ gave Himself—all of Himself—for us. And He is now asking us to give of ourselves to receive His love and redemption. After all, this is what our Faith is all about. I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that tithing will help you enter more fully into the mystery of our faith. It will allow you overcome the burdens of materialism while allowing us to materially (and spiritually) support our Church and our brothers and sisters. I hope that as you go home today you will consider the spiritual fruits of tithing and will take this small step that will yield great eternal rewards.

FROM THE PASTOR – September 25, 2011

I offer my thanks to our parishioners (Andrew Knepper, Susan & Don Pyatt and James Clement) for taking time from their families to share their personal experiences with us. I know you’ll be inspirited as I have been. They have volunteered to share with us today how stewardship has had a profound impact on their lives. You know them – they are part of our parish family – and they are evidence of how our response to God, difficult though it may seem, opens us up even more to God’s great gifts. They will be in the rear of the church after Mass to answer any questions you might have for them.

Today in our country, the Catholic Church continues to depend on all kinds of fundraisers for support. Despite all the effort, it never seems adequate. That is why I’m re-presenting, for your consideration, an approach to Church support that has its foundation in God’s inspired word. We call it “God’s plan for Giving.” And I truly believe that becoming a tithing parish has been the backbone of our parish’s spiritual growth and life.

Tithing in the Bible… Tithing is mentioned more than 40 times in Scripture. Many Old Testament stories recount how God asked that the first ten percent of the land’s produce be set aside as a sign of gratitude for His goodness. The early Church didn’t have a tithing system, but as it grew, so did its material needs. Gradually, the Old Testament model of tithing was adopted. A number of regional Church Councils and finally the Council of Trent made the “tithe” Church law. With the later separation of Church and State, the law of tithing was abandoned.

And Today… In our time, the difficulty of raising funds for the growing needs of the Church has led to a modified and voluntary system of tithing. Since 1977, more than 1000 Catholic parishes, most of them east of the Mississippi River, have become tithing parishes. For example, my former parishes of Sacred Heart in Lewistown and Saint Jude in Mifflintown, Saint Joseph’s in Hanover and Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Palmyra. And we know the impact that our introduction of tithing two years ago has had on our own parish!

What is a Tithe? The word tithe means tenth. A tithe is the first tenth of a wager earner’s income regardless of economic situations or forecasts. As I heard one person put it: “Tithing means equal sacrifice.” It’s giving back to God something God gave in the first place. Tithing is not any tenth; it’s the first tenth of one’s income – salary, dividends, interest – income from any source.

How Does Tithing Work? Five percent of one’s income is given to God through the parish church. The other 5% can be used for the Bishop’s Annual Lenten Appeal, Catholic school tuition, care of one’s parents, special diocesan collections, and your own favorite, private charities. The spirit of tithing, the most important part of the program, means giving to God, not to me, your pastor, or to this church. And it means giving to a point of sacrifice, for the word sacrifice means “to make holy.” The spirit of tithing means not caring what anyone else gives. It is spiritual giving in every sense. What you give to God is between you and God. The ideal tithe of 5% to God’s church and 5% to His other words can best be explained by an example:

If your income from all sources before taxes is $300 per week, the 5% Sunday Mass offering would be $15.00. You might give the other 5% to private charities, parish school tuition, and diocesan extra collections.

Tithing is really very logical. Everything we have comes from God, and when we give back the first 10% of our earnings, we’re saying to Him, “Thank you, God, for letting me use the other nine-tenths!”

What Are the Benefits to the Tither and to the Parish? You know from our own parish experience over the past two years that when a parish adopts this method of giving, its spiritual and material status is greatly improved. There are even entire Dioceses where, after adopting tithing, every child attends Catholic school free of cost – the stewardship of all the people of the diocese makes a Catholic education possible for anyone who wants it. While I don’t know that that will happen here at St. Andrew’s tomorrow – it IS possible. But what tithing will immediately do for you, individual, is tell you what God expects. But the most important thing is the spiritual effect. Tithing helps establish a proper sense of values. It helps us to remember that God comes before all else and that everything we have comes from Him.

What Do We Do Now? Nothing. Just listen with an open heart and mind. No one will ever call on you to ask if you are tithing; you will never be asked to sign anything. If you have already embraced tithing as a way of life, thank you for hearing and responding to the Lord’s invitation – I’m sure that you can resonate with our witnesses today. If you have begun, but with less than a full tithe (10%) – I invite you to trust completely in the Lord – He will never abandon you. If you have yet to implement the idea of tithing your lives, the Lord invites you to today to recognize, as Saint Paul says today, that we must “do nothing out of selfishness… looking out [only] for our own interests.” Rather, have the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus. Seek God’s will through earnest prayer. And when you pray, please remember that the true purpose of tithing is to secure not the tithe, but the tither; not the gift, but the giver; not your money, but you – for God.

Benjamin L. San Fellipo

2011-09-22T22:05:00.000-04:00

Benjamin L. San Fellipo, 90, a resident of Quincy Village and member of Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish passed away at 12:20 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011, in Waynesboro Hospital, Waynesboro. Born Dec. 9, 1920, in Washington D.C., he was the son of the late Frank J. and Ella F. (Knott) San Fellipo. Ben was a graduate of St. Paul’s Academy in Washington, D.C., with the Class of 1939.

He served in the United Sates Navy as a Yeoman 1st Class where he was stationed at the U.S. Naval Amphibious Base in Falmouth, England, during World War II. He and his wife, the late Mrs. Helen A. (Manley) San Fellipo, were married Nov. 27, 1948, in Washington D.C. She passed away Sept. 22, 2006. Mr. San Fellipo was employed as a Military Personnel Management Specialist; Office Assistant for General Officer Matters for the Department of the Air Force in Arlington, Va. He retired Feb. 27, 1976, after 38 years of service and was the recipient of the Civilian Meritorious Service Medal, the highest award given to a civilian retiree.

In addition to being a member of St. Andrew Catholic Church, Ben was also a member of the Joe Stickell American Legion Post 15 and Fraternal Order of Eagles 1758, both of Waynesboro, Harry D. Zeigler VFW Post 6319 of Greencastle, National Association of Retired Federal Employees and National AARP.

He is survived by two children, Maureen A. Willett and her husband, Russell, of Titusville, Fla., and Francis J. San Fellipo and his wife, Ruby E., of Eldersburg, Md.; one granddaughter, Jennifer E. San Fellipo; and a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Mildred Harris, Mary Frances Loskill and Helen Stanley, and three brothers, Paul San Fellipo, Joseph San Fellipo and John San Fellipo.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 23, 2011, here at the parish. Burial will follow in St. Andrew’s Cemetery, Waynesboro, where military graveside honors will be conducted by the Honor Guard of Charles Nitterhouse VFW Post 1599, Chambersburg.

Back to School Support for School Choice

2011-09-16T18:00:00.001-04:00

Click here to see facts vs. myths about school choice legislation

The notebooks and supplies have been purchased and the uniforms pressed- school is back in session! The state legislature is considering school choice legislation that would give families the ability to determine which school best meets the needs of their children. There are two great ways advocates can voice their support for school choice:

1. Visit your state legislators in their district offices

The legislature is out of session until mid-September, so now is a good time to reach legislators in their home district offices. Bring your children or grandchildren, wear your school’s colors or a button that shows your support, and read the resources here if you'd like to learn more about the issue before your visit. The message is simple: we support school choice legislation that increases the EITC scholarship program and provides vouchers to families. You can also call your legislators in the district offices. Look up their local contact information by logging into the Advocacy Network.

2. Email your legislator and ask friends and family to do the same

As legislators prepare to vote on school choice legislation when they return in the fall, it is critical that they hear often from their constituents. Follow the links below to send an e-mail message using the PA Catholic Advocacy Network. Forward the message to friends, family and neighbors. A strong show of grassroots support will reinforce the need to waste no more time passing school choice when the legislature returns to session. Many Catholic schools and parishes also have a supply of school choice yard signs. Check with your principal or pastor to see if signs are available.

Our Lady of Sorrows - September 15

2011-09-16T05:51:00.000-04:00

I wanted to post something about Our Lady of Sorrows yesterday, but we had some internet problems and were "off line" nearly all day - so, a day late...

Devotion to the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady has its roots in Sacred Scripture and in Christian piety, which always associates the Blessed Mother with her suffering Son. The memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows was introduced by the Servites in order to intensify devotion to Our Lady's Sorrows. In 1817 Pius VII — suffering grievously in exile but finally liberated by Mary's intercession — extended the feast to the universal Church.

This memorial dates back to the 12th century. It was especially promoted by the Cistercians and the Servites, so much so that in the 14th and 15th centuries it was widely celebrated throughout the Catholic Church. In 1482 the feast was added to the Missal under the title of "Our Lady of Compassion." Pope Benedict XIII added it to the Roman Calendar in 1727 on the Friday before Palm Sunday. In 1913, Pope Pius X fixed the date on September 15. The title "Our Lady of Sorrows" focuses on Mary's intense suffering during the passion and death of Christ. "The Seven Dolors," the title by which it was celebrated in the 17th century, referred to the seven swords that pierced the Heart of Mary. The memorial is like an octave for the birthday of Our Lady on September 8th. — Excerpted from Our Lady of Sorrows by Fr. Paul Haffner (Inside the Vatican, September 2004)

This feast is dedicated to the spiritual martyrdom of Mary, Mother of God, and her compassion with the sufferings of her Divine Son, Jesus. In her suffering as co-redeemer, she reminds us of the tremendous evil of sin and shows us the way of true repentance.

Reflecting on this memorial at Mass yesterday, I shared this thought: How could Mary be a co-Redeemer with Christ? Remember that redemption was won through Christ's Sacrifice (and victory) on the Cross. Mary, standing at the foot of the Cross, connected her suffering to that of her Son. And because Mary was holy, she was able to love perfectly - which enabled her to offer and connect her sufferings to Christ in a way no one else can.

May the numerous tears of the Mother of God be conducive to our salvation; with which tears Thou, O God, art able to wash away the sins of the whole world.

As Mary stood at the foot of the Cross on which Jesus hung, the sword of sorrow Simeon had foretold pierced her soul. Below are the seven sorrows of Mary:

The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)
The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15)
Loss of the Child Jesus for three days (Luke 2:41-50)
Mary meets Jesus on his way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-31; John 19:17)
Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:25-30)
The body of Jesus being taken from the Cross (Psalm 130; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-37)
The burial of Jesus (Isaiah 53:8; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42; Mark 15:40-47)

Triumph of the Holy Cross

2011-09-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (or Triumph of the Cross) we honor the Holy Cross by which Christ redeemed the world. The public veneration of the Cross of Christ originated in the fourth century, according to early accounts. The miraculous discovery of the cross on September 14, 326, by Saint Helen, mother of Constantine, while she was on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, is the origin of the tradition of celebrating the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross on this date. Constantine later built the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on the site of her discovery of the cross. On this same pilgrimage she ordered two other churches built: one in Bethlehem near the Grotto of the Nativity, the other on the Mount of the Ascension, near Jerusalem.

In the Western Church the feast came into prominence in the seventh century — after 629, when the Byzantine emperor Heraclitus restored the Holy Cross to Jerusalem, after defeating the Persians who had stolen it.

Christians “exalt” (raise on high) the Cross of Christ as the instrument of our salvation. Adoration of the Cross is, thus, adoration of Jesus Christ, the God Man, who suffered and died on this Roman instrument of torture for our redemption from sin and death. The cross represents the One Sacrifice by which Jesus, obedient even unto death, accomplished our salvation. The cross is a symbolic summary of the Passion, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ — all in one image.

The Cross — because of what it represents — is the most potent and universal symbol of the Christian faith. It has inspired both liturgical and private devotions: for example, the Sign of the Cross, which is an invocation of the Holy Trinity; the “little” Sign of the Cross on head, lips and heart at the reading of the Gospel; praying the Stations (or Way) of the Cross; and the Veneration of the Cross by the faithful on Good Friday by kissing the feet of the image of Our Savior crucified.

Placing a crucifix (the cross with an image of Christ’s body upon it) in churches and homes, in classrooms of Catholic schools and in other Catholic institutions, or wearing this image on our persons, is a constant reminder — and witness — of Christ’s ultimate triumph, His victory over sin and death through His suffering and dying on the Cross.

We remember Our Lord’s words, “He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake shall find it” (Mt 10:38,39). Meditating on these words we unite ourselves — our souls and bodies — with His obedience and His sacrifice; and we rejoice in this inestimable gift through which we have the hope of salvation and the glory of everlasting life.

Dying, you destroyed our death; rising you restored our life.
Save us by your cross, Christ our Redeemer.

Your Action is Needed to Protect Conscience Rights!

2011-09-13T13:32:00.001-04:00

In implementing the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the new health care reform law), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently issued a rule requiring almost all private health plans to cover contraception and sterilization as “preventive services” for women. The mandate even forces individuals and groups with religious or moral objections to purchase and provide such coverage if they are to receive or provide health coverage at all. This poses an unprecedented threat to individual and institutional religious freedom.

The rule includes a religious exemption so extremely narrow that it protects almost no one. It covers only a “religious employer” that has the “inculcation of religious values” as its purpose, primarily employs and serves persons who share its religious tenets, and is a church organization under two narrow provisions of the tax code. A great many religious organizations — including Catholic colleges and universities, as well as hospitals and charitable institutions that serve the public – will be ineligible. Individuals and religiously affiliated health insurers will not qualify for the exemption.

The new rule would force insurance plans to cover “all Food and Drug Administration approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling for all women with reproductive capacity.” Never before has the federal government required private health plans to include such coverage. The FDA-approved “emergency contraception” (EC) drugs that are covered by this mandate can work by interfering with implantation of a newly conceived human being. Also, the drug the FDA most recently approved for EC, “Ella,” a close analogue to the abortion drug RU-486, has been shown in animal tests to cause abortion. Thus, the mandate includes drugs that may cause an abortion both before and after implantation.

ACTION: Please send an e-mail message to HHS by clicking here. With just a few clicks of the mouse, you can send a message to HHS asking them to respect religious liberty and to your elected representatives in Congress, urging them to support the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (H.R. 1179/S. 1467) to ensure that such federal mandates do not violate Americans’ moral and religious convictions.

Recently Cardinal DiNardo sent a letter to Congress asking that they correct this in this health care law. Here is a link to his entire letter to members of Congress.

Approaching 9/11 Anniversary Prompts Reflections on Tragedy's Spiritual Dimentions

2011-09-10T04:00:00.001-04:00

Chief Joseph W. Pfeifer, director of the New York Fire Department's Center for Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness, attends a meeting of representatives from the city's fire, police and emergency management agencies in Fort Totten, N.Y., Aug. 23. Msgr. Martin T. Geraghty (below) distributes Communion during Mass at St. Robert Bellarmine Church in Bayside, N.Y., Aug. 23. Msgr. Geraghty was pastor of St. Francis de Sales in Belle Harbor in 2001, where funeral Masses were celebrated for 12 victims of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

RYE, N.Y. (CNS) -- As Chief Joseph W. Pfeifer of the New York City Fire Department sees it, the 9/11 terrorist attacks were a global trauma and the 10th anniversary of the attacks provides a transformative opportunity for the world community to pause and think about the tragedy's spiritual dimension and its aftermath.

On Sept. 11, 2001, Pfeifer was chief of the 1st Battalion, one of the first on the scene and in charge of directing firefighter response in the north tower of the World Trade Center. He met his firefighter brother in the lobby of the building as Lt. Kevin Pfeifer responded to the second alarm. They exchanged a few words, and Kevin headed up the stairs. He helped evacuate workers and directed other firefighters to safety, but he was killed in the collapse of the building.

"People were angry at God and they had every right to be, but that was not my experience," Pfeifer said in an interview with Catholic News Service. "I was walking back to the firehouse from the site on the second day, when we knew there would be no more survivors. It was completely dark except for the lights we had brought in. There was no power and there was smoke everywhere.

"Instead of anger, I felt an encounter, as if I was coming back to an old friend, or putting on an old sweatshirt. I had wrestled with God and spirituality before. I had had the experience of being in a conflicted place and trying to understand what it means," Pfeifer said.

"How do you encounter spirituality and what is your personal experience of God? Mine was very much on West Street, walking back in complete sadness, but it was a place I'd been to before."

Pfeifer graduated from Cathedral College in Douglaston, N.Y., and studied two years at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, N.Y., from which he later earned a master's degree in theology. He said he was familiar with wrestling with God and trying to figure out what he was called to do with his life. He is now the chief of counterterrorism and emergency preparedness for the New York City Fire Department and addresses groups of people in many parts of the world.

Pfeifer said there is transformation through trauma.

"We used to think the 9/11 attacks were just New York and D.C., and Pennsylvania, but they were more than that," he said. "It was a global trauma, an entire world encounter and transformation occurred" when people could see that all local acts of terrorism, whether in Ireland or Israel or Afghanistan, were represented at the World Trade Center.

"It gave the victims of terrorism an international voice and showed that terrorism is a crime against humanity," he said.

People encounter spirituality in different ways, he said, and the 10th anniversary will allow people to connect their individual experiences with those of people in a larger group.

One such larger group devastated by the Sept. 11 attacks lives in Rockaway Peninsula at the southwest tip of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Rockaway is a relatively isolated section of the populous borough of Queens. Generations of New Yorkers have escaped the summer heat on its Atlantic Ocean beaches and more than 100,000 people are now full-time residents of the handful of communities that span the narrow 10-mile stretch. The barrier peninsula is known locally as the Irish Riviera because it attracted so many New Yorkers of Irish ancestry.

Rockaway is home to firefighters, police officers, emergency responders and financiers and the collapse of the World Trade Center tore a huge hole in the heart of the peninsula. Seventy residents were killed in the disaster. Many of them worshipped at one of the eight Catholic churches that punctuate the flat, sandy neck of land.

Pfeifer is a longtime summer resident of Breezy Point and worships at St. Thomas More in Rockaway Point. He described one of several memorials on the peninsula that includes quiet spaces to encourage reflection.

Msgr. Martin T. Geraghty was pastor of St. Francis de Sales in Belle Harbor in 2001. Twelve of the World Trade Center victims were buried from the church. On Nov. 12, three days after the last funeral, Msgr. Geraghty was celebrating the 9 am Mass when an American Airlines flight bound for the Dominican Republic crashed one block from the church, killing all 260 people on the plane and five on the ground, including parishioners.

"At Christmas 2001, a friend from Michigan asked if I was 'over it yet'," Msgr. Geraghty said. "I told him it'll never be over for us. It has been a defining moment in the lives of families here."

He said, "There is an ongoing role for people. The message of the Gospel didn't become irrelevant that day. We're just at the beginning: 2,000 years hasn't been long enough for our tribal human hearts to absorb the message of Jesus Christ."

Msgr. Geraghty said tribal human hearts is his way to describe that human beings have only had a short time of mindfulness since their creation and still have a long way to go.

"We're at the beginning of this. God is calling us out of tribalism into a different understanding," he said.

Rosellen Dowdell is the widow of Lt. Kevin Dowdell, who was a New York firefighter. She is a parishioner at Blessed Trinity Parish, which includes three churches in Rockaway.

"I've never blamed God," she told CNS. "I've always looked to God for an answer. I guess I always hoped there was solace in going to Church and being in the presence of God."

Msgr. Michael J. Curran, pastor of Blessed Trinity, said 10 years after the disaster, "So many of these families, who have every reason to be angry at God, have not given up. They are still faithful. I'm more aware of the spiritual strength of people. Folks are not fair-weather friends of God.

"The question of 'why?' is still out there, but they are willing to trust God and keep him at the center of their lives. Nobody has just slammed down their bat and ball and gone home," he said.

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

2011-09-08T04:00:00.000-04:00

Icon of the Nativity of the Mother of God.

The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was celebrated at least by the sixth century, when St. Romanos the Melodist, an Eastern Christian who composed many of the hymns used in the Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox liturgies, composed a hymn for the feast. The feast spread to Rome in the seventh century, but it was a couple more centuries before it was celebrated throughout the West.

The source for the story of the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Protoevangelium of James, an apocryphal gospel written about A.D. 150. From it, we learn the names of Mary's parents, Joachim and Anna, as well as the tradition that the couple was childless until an angel appeared to Anna and told her that she would conceive. (Many of the same details appear also in the later apocryphal Gospel of the Nativity of Mary.)

The traditional date of the feast, September 8, falls exactly nine months after the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Perhaps because of its close proximity to the feast of the Assumption of Mary, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is not celebrated today with the same solemnity as the Immaculate Conception. It is, nonetheless, a very important feast, because it prepares the way for the birth of Christ.

Bishop McFadden Blesses New Parish Buildings

2011-09-04T13:00:00.003-04:00

Today, Bishop McFadden once again visited our parish of Saint Andrew the Apostle (his third visit since becoming our bishop in July of last year) to celebrate the 10am Mass and bless our new parish buildings. At the conclusion of the Mass, Bishop McFadden blessed the crucifixes which will hang in the various rooms and offices of the new buildings. Then, in procession, we all walked from the church to the parking lot between the two buildings - where Bishop McFadden said the prayer of blessing over both buildings. Then he led the people of the parish into each building as he walked from room to room, sprinkling holy water. It certainly is an important day in the life of our parish. As one of our intercessions said during Mass this weekend, "May the physical growth of our parish be a sign of our spiritual growth in faith, hope and love."

Msgr. Brenner Dies

2011-08-31T06:03:00.002-04:00

On Sunday, August 28, Msgr. Thomas Brenner, the former long-time pastor of Corpus Christi in Chambersburg, died at Misericordia Nursing Home in York after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.

Visitation will take place on Thursday, September 1 from 7-9pm with a Vigil service celebrated at 8pm at Saint Patrick Church, 231 South Beaver Street, York.

Visitation will also take place on Friday, September 2, from 9am until 10:30am followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00am, also at Saint Patrick Church.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, September 7 at 7pm at Corpus Christi Church in Chambersburg, 320 Philadelphia Street.

Irene Couldn't Dampen Spirits at Annual Parish Picnic

2011-08-30T06:03:00.000-04:00

Despite forecasts of terrible rain and winds (although we moved to the parish hall for safety), members of our parish gathered for our annual parish picnic. It's always a great day - with games for the kids, bingo for the big kids (sponsored by our parish Knights of Columbus Chapter), ice cream and of course the most delicious food brought from every home in the parish. It was, once again, a really great day! Many thanks to Elizabeth Jobes and her crew who always do such a great job.

Ceremonial Commissioning

2011-08-28T12:03:00.000-04:00


Major Clement & Captain Bateman during swearing in

This morning at 9:30am, Major David Clement was on hand to ceremonially swear in Father Bateman as a Captain in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. So many parishioners were present to lend their support. Thank you! After the swearing in, Chaplain (Captain) Bateman noted how, for most people who serve in the military, their families are present for the commissioning - because military families make many sacrifices. This is why it was so important for me to have this ceremonial commissioning here in the parish - because YOU are my family, and our parish family is going to have to, and already is, making great sacrifices while I serve our airmen of the 193rd. Thanks to all our parishioners for making this possible.


Father Bateman & Nik Wieskiewski of our parish (who is part of the Navy Sea Cadets Program

World Youth Day Video of Vigil

2011-08-24T10:46:00.002-04:00

Saint Andrew Softball Teams Win Brackets during Tournament

2011-08-24T10:36:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday our two parish softball teams took part in the annual year-end tournament of the Church Softball League. Each team was in a separate bracket and each team WON their respective bracket. Congratulations to our teams!

Home Safely

2011-08-24T07:37:00.000-04:00

Our parish pilgrims leaving Plaza de Colon, Madrid

After lots more tiring travel, all of our pilgrims finally arrived back home - filled with experiences of Faith and friendship that will last a lifetime. The theme of this World Youth Day, "Firm in the Faith," is certainly something that all of our pilgrims have experienced - we've all grown stronger in our Faith as a result of our time in Lourdes and Madrid. Thanks to all of you for your prayers and for following along with us. Know that we held you in our prayers as well.

Pilgrimages require Adjustments to Plans

2011-08-21T05:33:00.000-04:00

As I write, the Holy Father is distributing Holy Communion to the deacons at the Mass at Quatro Vientos - the site for the vigil last night and the closing Mass this morning. You may be wondering how I can blog from the Mass. Well, I´m not at the Mass - nor is anyong from the Harrisburg Group. Let me explain.

Stories from different parish groups continue to come in, but the simple explanation is (not necessarily in order of importance):

Space. Some members of our group arrived at the site by 1pm - and our section was already too full. Those of us who left the hotel later to avoid the extrme heat arrived to find a sea of humanity and no room even to stand, much less spread out and sit or sleep. At 5pm I heard them announce that there were already 1 million people - and more to come.
Heat. Yesterday was a record setting day here in Madrid: 44 degrees centigrade (about 112 farenheit). HOT! I´ve often seen them ¨hosing down a crowd.¨ Now I´ve been in one of them. On top of the heat, in an old air field, no shade anywhere. Which led to the next issue...
Water. Water stations had been set up, but many were not working - so people would stand in line for 40 minutes or more only to discover that there was no water there. With that extreme heat and sun, water was a necessity that we could not find.
Bathrooms. Not enough. Enough said.
Security. People were not sufficiently screened and assigned to their sections. When the authorities realized the situation they began turning pilgrims away at the gate. Well, that didn´t go over very well. A group of pilgrims, angry at being turned away, joined hands and stormed the gate - totally overwhelming volunteers and police alike. So for a time, this gate was totally unprotected and vulnerable.

When we arrived at the site about 5pm, we could not find any place to be in our assigned section - we literally stepped over, and on, people trying to walk through the section. We tried to find another place to go to spread out and spend the night, but there was nothing to be found. I shared with our pilgrims my disappointment and how much I wanted to celebrate Mass with the Holy Father today, but I was concerened for our safety in those conditions. I made the call that we were going back to the hotel - a call which was later confirmed by Bishop McFadden who, when he came onto the stage and saw the situation, ORDERED everyone from Harrisburg back to the hotels out of concern for our safety.

Some members of our group did stay behind until after the vigil service and they spoke of the tremendous storm that pounded the area: lighting and rain and WIND. Bishop McFadden said that the wind was so strong that it blew over the World Youth Day Cross - right onto a bishop´s head (who had to be taken away for medical treatment). In fact one of the adoration chapels (a tent) completely collapsed with pilgrims inside. Bennet Smith, from our group, assisted in pulling people out from under the collapsed tent.

I´ve got to prepare to get my luggage packed, so I´ll continue with some more stories of last night a bit later today. But let me just say we are disappointed to not be at Quatro Vientes right now with the Pope, but Peter has none-the-less gathered us together here in Spain for a wonderful, spiritual experience that strengthens us and has made us ¨Firm in the Faith.¨

One Post before our Vigil

2011-08-20T07:25:00.001-04:00

This morning we celebrated Mass with all the American pilgrims to this World Youth Day in Madrid. We gathered at the ¨Palacio de Deportes¨ with Cardinal George, all the US Bishops (including our own Bishop McFadden) and there celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Then it was back to our hotel (where I am now) to prepare for our hike and overnight vigil with Pope Benedict XVI.

We are still waiting for our seminarians to return from the Holy Father´s Mass with seminarians. We are excited to hear their experiences and see their photos. We´re all hoping they got really close.

We´ll be leaving very soon for our vigil and overnight before Mass with the Holy Father tomorrow (Sunday) morning. Then, after the Mass, we rush back to the hotel for a very quick shower, then get to the busses by 4pm for our flight from Madrid to Barcelona and an overnight there. Hopefully I´ll have some time to blog from Barcelona before returning home.

Watch us on TV!!

World Youth Day 4

2011-08-19T18:13:00.002-04:00

Today´s schedule was very much like the previous: breakfast, catechesis and Mass. Today we had Cardinal George from Chicago as our presentor at catechesis (a brief summary of his talk follows shortly).

It´s clear that our pilgrims are getting tired. HEAT, HEAT, HEAT, sore feet, lack of sleep, long hours waiting for the pope to pass by, large crowds... it is all taking its toll, but our Saint Andrew group is doing GREAT! Today at the Mass Steven Arena and Joey Barvir both served. Our priests have been concelebrating each day. It´s really been great!

After Mass our little group split up a bit. I went with several other priests to have a ¨civilized lunch¨ rather than a pligrim pack (sandwich, pasta salad, water and an apple) then we priests went down to Plaza del Sol to look at some religous stores for vestments and black clerical shirts. Some of us found some goodies. The rest of the group made a trip to a local store whose name I cannot reveal right now - as it would ruin the surprise for the recipient of the gift - so you´ll have to ask me about it next week.

This evening was the Stations of the Cross presided over by the Holy Father. We again stood along the street where the Holy Father would be passing by in the popemobile - and we got some really good pictures (but I don´t have my camera handy right now, so no pictures to post tonight... sorry). Then we gathered in the Plaza de Colón and watched the Stations on the jumbotron. We all commented on how policially charged we thought the stations were - making direct references to governments that oppress Christians and their expression of the faith. How fortunate we are in the United States - although we certainly have aspects of our own government that refuse to acknowledge the Truth and the conscience rights of Catholics when it comes to some areas of public policy - but that´s a discussion for another day.

James read at our catechetical Mass

Tonight our seminarians went to bed VERY early, as they will be privileged to attend Mass celebrated by the Holy Father in the Cathedral of Madrid - only 5000 seminarians will be in attandance and they are very excited to get there early and get some good seats. They have cameras - don´t worry! I pray they have an AWESOME experience with Pope Benedict XVI tomorrow.

I on the other hand needed to walk to one of the other hotels where other members of our group are staying (Fr. Wayne had left some things in my room and I needed to get them back to him). So I walked to their hotel then decided that I really wanted to go to Retiro park to pray before the Blessed Sacrament for a while - I needed some quiet prayer time with the Lord. So I walked to the gate which, for security reasons, was closed. So I walked to another gate and entered. I walked and walked and walked searching for the adoration tent, but I felt much like the women on the Day of the Resurrection, ¨They have taken my Lord and I don´t know where they have put Him.¨ I never found it. So, noticing that it was nearly 10:30pm, I turned around and headed back to the hotel, telling the Lord in my prayer as I walked, ¨Lord, I tried to find you.¨ So I just prayed a Rosary as I walked back to the hotel.

Tomorrow is going to be the beginning of our big days: our overnight vigil with and Sunday Mass with the Pope. We´ll be eating breakfast early (7am) and going to a Mass arranged by the US Bishops for only American pilgrims. then we´ll come back to the hotel. They are telling everyone NOT to rush out to the vigil site because of the extreme heat - so our Saint Andrew group is planning to begin our 2 mile hike in at about 4pm.

This will have to be my last post until after the Sunday Mass - as I´ll not have computer and internet access until we get to Barcelona on Sunday night. So, know we are all well and praying for you all. Thanks so much for following us on our journey. I´ll post what I can on Sunday night before our return flight to the States on Monday morning. God bless you all. Know of our prayers! Please continue to hold us all in your prayers as well.

Now, a summary of today´s catechesis with Cardinal George:

Today´s theme: Witnesses to Christ in the World.

When you were baptized, before you made any choices of your own, you were brought into a relationship with Christ and the Church. You are now not just godś creature, but His child! In baptism you are brought into a real realtionship with God. You can walk away from it, but the relationship will alway remain.

Confirmation seals your baptism and relates you to the world in a different way. You are anointed with Chrism on your forehead rather than the crown of your head signifying that you are now given gifts to help you relate to the world more than to yourself. You become a disciple, a missionary of Christ to the whole world. People should look at you and see Christ! The mission of the Church is to introduce the Savior to the world. What changes over the course of time and centuries is not the message or the mission, but the circumstances in which that message must be proclaimed. to announce Christ you must first know Him personnally and belive and trust (although that may not always be a full understanding).

The 2nd task of a missionary is to know the world around us. Jesus used parables to tell us about the world and how the message would be received (for example, the parable of the wheat and the tares that we heard just a few weeks ago at Sunday Mass). Many today believe that this world should not be open to Faith and to Christ. The tragedy of this is that we then closee in on ourselves and are never able to know who God is and the freedom He offers us. After a while, searching only for things of this world, despair sets in. Our mission must be to bring hope to this despair - hope in something more! In this world we must be messengers of hope - messengers of Christ.

Know Christ. Know the world. Bring the two together. This is the task and the obligation of all the baptized.

How? The Lord trust you to know who and when and what to speak (of course the Spirit helps us - thus the Sacrament of Confirmation).

Here in Spain in the 1930´s seminarians were taken from the seminary out into the street and shot simply for being Catholic seminarians. There are many people today who are killed for Christ - in fact there have been more martyrs in the 20th century than all the previous combined. Think of that!!! The age of the martyrs is not over! Usually this opposition is not overt, but subtle. So we must speak and be authentic witnesses to Christ. We must strengthen and support one another (one of the goals of these World Youth Days) in our mission. Remember that our goal is to have everyone live explicitly their faith in the Catholic Church.

The Lord gives us gifts to use in this mission. Sometimes when you are unsure of what the Lord is asking ask Him just after you´ve received Holy Communion. The external marks of the Church help us experience the inner urges of Christ to witness to Him.

Know Christ. Know the world. Know and share your inner gifts so that they and be used to help the world know Christ.

Good night!

World Youth Day 3

2011-08-18T18:09:00.001-04:00

First thing to say is: WE ARE ALL FINE!!! There seems to have been some very bad press coverage of some confrontations here in Plaza Mayor between some of the young people and some local protestors. None of our group was there (number one) and (number two) the news stories seem greatly exagerated. Yes, there was a confrontation, but it was handled fairly quickly without any harm to youth attending World Youth Day.

Second thing is, today is Bishop McFadden´s first anniversary as our Bishop - so we made sure to sing ¨Happy Anniversary¨ to him in front of all the people at our catechetical session.

That said, we had another great day today, including the arrival of the Pope! But first things first. Today at our catechetical session Cardinal O´Brien from St. Andrew, Scotland. Here are some brief notes summarizing his teaching:

Today´s theme was ¨Established in Jesus Christ.¨ Think about the vine and the branches - it is through baptism that we are connected to Christ. We are here not just to meet the pope, but above all to meet Jesus Christ - in catechesis, in the streets, singing in the Metro and in the Sacraments of the Church. Benedict XVI said recently, ¨Being a Christian is not just a lofty idea but an encounter with a person.¨

Fr. B, Joey with Cardinal O´Brien

Think today of love: in matrimony and in Holy Orders. In Marriage the couple is to serve one another until death do them part. Our vocational lives need to be established in Jesus Christ. In celibacy we priests promise to serve the Church with all our lives. Remember John Paul II that last Easter, basically dying on the job - giving his entire life in service to God´s people?

I ask each of you if you are firmly rooted in Christ. Go to confession. Remember your vocation to service, rooted in your baptism. Remember that in whatever vocation you are called, remember that commitment of love.

After our catechetical session we again had Mass then went to a wonderful little place for paella then back to the hotel for a little rest before going to stand in the HOT sun awaiting Pope Benedict XVI.

We left the hotel about 3:30 for the expected 7:30 ceremony - we knew we´d have to ¨steak out a spot¨ along the fencing if we were going to see the Holy Father close up. There seemed to be a lot of confusion as to the exact route that Pope Benedict would take in the Popemobile - so our original plan fizzeled and we moved to another spot in the SHADE and waited, and waited, and waited. But not without making LOTS of new friends!

As we waited we sang and chanted and prayed. Groups from various countries chanted to one another - even chanting one another´s countries (who says that world peace isn´t possible? They should come here!). We also carried along the 150 t-shirts we and our parish youth group made to give away (each one says ¨I pray the Rosary - Rezo el Rosario.¨ At first we had some trouble giving them away - people seemed to think there was a ¨catch.¨ But soon we were throwing them to people on the other side of the street - and the chaos began! We were SURROUNDED by people asking for a shirt and within seconds they were all gone. James and Joey actually gave the ¨shirts off their backs¨ - fortunately they had other shirts along.

Periodically our chanting of countries and our singing was interrupted by chants of ¨Ben-e-dict-o¨ or ¨Esta es la juventud del Papa¨ (this is the youth of the Pope). Wonderful expressions of faith and fraternity and unity all stemming from our belief in Jesus Christ. Then, the moment drew near! Police officers lined the street, helecopters began circling overhead, and very soon, we saw the flashing lights of the police escourt and then... there it was... the Popemobile... AND BENEDICT XVI... right there in front of us! It was all so exciting - and so quick that I only got this one, lowsy picture as he rode past...

Since the Holy Father was not going to pass this way again, we quickly moved to a different spot where we could see one of the many ¨jumbo trons¨ set up around the area. There we watched the rest of the motorcade and the opening prayer service. As it ended, to try and get ahead of the crowd, we rushed to a local restaurant for dinner (yes, about 9pm) and there, from the restaurant window, we again saw the Holy Father go by as he returned to the nunciature after the prayer service.

Photo of the ¨jumbotron¨ with Pope at Welcome Ceremony

Now we are all safely back in the hotel, getting some rest to begin another day at World Youth Day refreshed and ready to encounter Christ once more!

World Youth Day 2

2011-08-17T10:53:00.000-04:00

Having officially opened World Youth Day last evening at the Mass, today we began what will be our daily routine through Saturday - morning catechetical sessions at 10am, lunch, then the rest of the day whatever activites of the day are. So, this morning we attended our first catechetical session, led by Archbishop Smith from Alberta, Canada. We gathered in San Francisco de Borga church and listened to a teaching based on the World Youth Day theme: ¨Firm in the Faith.¨ This is a very brief summary of Archbishop Smith´s reflection:

World Youth Day is all about an encounter with Christ. When Blessed John Paul II was in Baltimore in 1995 he said, ¨Jesus is the answer to every human life.¨ Saint Andrew, having encountered Jesus and learned who He was, went to search out his brother, Simon (Peter) and brought him to Christ saying, ¨We have found the Lord.¨ THIS is World Youth Day - to encounter Christ and, by our response, bring others TO Christ.

Joey serves Mass for Archbishop Smith

Every World Youth Day the local media is very critical of the Church and her teachings prior to the event - then these 100,s of thousands of young people show up and, by their witness, their faith, their devotion, their love, their respect, witness to Christ. Suddenly the media ¨changes its tune¨ and begins to praise the Church because of the witness of the young people.

We are all familiar with the Scriptural passage, ¨What God has joined men must not separate." We think of this in terms of marriage - and so we should. But there may be another way to think of this passage: it pertains to the Church! You cannot separate our belief in Christ from our belief in the Church. The Church is the will, the creation of God - part of the plan of God for the salvation of the world. Thus, we put our lives in the hands of God by living our lives within the Church which He gave us.

One of the awesome things about World Youth Day is how it helps our young people to realize that they are not alone in their faith and belief and in the joy they find in Christ. This is especially true in the world today which is truly anti-Christian.

These would be ways to be sure that you are ¨Firm in Faith.¨

Renew regularly your commitment to your baptismal promises.
Examine your life regularlyl in view of the 10 Commandments and the Beatitudes.
Love and trust the Church - praying always for her unity and her faithful witness to the world.
Remember Whose we are! We are made for Jesus. Do we live as His children?
Remember the Original Sin: to reach out in disobedience to pluck the fruit from the tree - a symbol of human limitations and trusting in God - NOT the lies of the devil.
Pay attention to your diet - your spiritual diet. How are you nourishing your soul? There is much out there which is toxic and bombards us without end. Always ask, ¨Dos what I´m doing bring me closer to Christ and the Church - or away from them?¨
Stay firm in the Faith by staying close to the Pope and remaining in union with him. He is the one who, by Christ´s institution, guarentees that the Truth of the Faith is preserved. Second, remain in union with your local bishop who is himself in union with the Pope.
As we daily examine our lives, always do so without fear if you find that you have drifted away. ¨Have no fear¨ (Blessed John Paul II)! The Lord awaits our return. We are all redeemed sinners.

Jesus is humanity´s ¨yes¨ to the Father. In Him we remain ¨Firm in the Faith¨ which is God´s gift to us.

Following the catechesis we celebrated Mass then headed out for the days activities. We intended to visit the Prago museum, but the line was very long and it is VERY hot. So, we instead returned to the hotel for some rest. Tonight we´ll be going to Retiro Parque for Eucharistic Adoration and a visit to the vocation tent (this is also where the ¨feast of forgiveness¨ is taking place) before we meet for dinner at 7pm. Then some more exploring for the evening.

Tomorrow, THE POPE ARRIVES!!!!

World Youth Day Begins!

2011-08-16T19:56:00.000-04:00

Today we entered fully into all the World Youth Day activities. After breakfast in the hotel our parish group and some other seminarians journeyed to the seminary in the southwestern part of Madrid. We jumped onto the Metro and arrived at the proper station, but didn´t know quite where to go, so we asked around and got directions. Arriving at the seminary Joey Barvir received his credential to attned the Papal Mass on Saturday morning ONLY for seminarians - by the way, he´ll probably get closer to the Holy Father than anyone else - so we´ll have to have him take some pictures - if they let him take his camera...

After getting credentials we headed a bit north to the Cathedral of Madrid where we, and 1000´s of our closest Catholic friends walked through and stopped to pray momentarily in the Reservation Chapel. As I walked in, someone in the crowd reached out and tapped my shoulder - turned out to be Annie and Mike, Mary Moyer´s sister and brother-in-law. As we walked outside the Cathedral James Clement met a good friend from Catholic University who is from California - and Joey Barvir met some friends from the Mount - the Church really is a small world!

We then decided to head back to the hotel for some rest before the evening opening Mass for WYD - but wanted to get some lunch first with our lunch coupons. Took some time to find a place but after wandering about for a bit and a Metro ride to get a bit closer to our hotel, we had a nice sit down lunch and then got about an hour´s rest before heading out for the Mass.

The jumbotron (on the left), rows of priests and LOTs of kids!

Father Bateman had to leave first - as all the priests of the Diocese were traveling together - leaving our parish group to get there on their own. And they did GREAT! They were in the very front section very near to the altar! They got some great photos that I´ll have to get off their phones and post. We priests, on the other hand, were off to the left, around the corner and down the street - but at least we had a ¨jumbotron¨ in front of us so that we could see what was going on. The Mass, which I heard from Brother John Paul, was on EWTN live - so be sure to be tuning in to see what we are seeing!

After Mass we headed back to the hotel - where Bishop McFadden met all of us priests and took us out for ¨tapas¨ - some snacks. Then back to the hotel for some rest and to begin the first full day of WYD activities.

PS - I did have the opportunity to meet Archbishop Broglio of the Military Archdiocese and tell him that I was one of his new priests - unfortunately I didn´t think about getting a photo. Next time...

Burgos Cathedral

2011-08-15T18:00:00.002-04:00

WOW! That's really all we can say after our morning Mass at the Burgos Cathedral with Bishop Rhoades. WOW! After Mass, we left for our final destination - Madrid. After arriving and having lunch we took some time to get settled in and had a wonderful dinner as a Diocesan group. Time to get ready for WYD!

Burgos Cathedral, an outstanding example of an integral Gothic cathedral, with church, cloister and annexes. has exerted, at different times, a considerable influence on the evolution of architecture and the plastic arts. It bears witness to the creative genius of many architects, sculptors, and craftsmen. It is sufficient to call to mind its role in the diffusion in Spain of the forms of French Gothic art of the 13th century, and the international importance of the workshop in the 15th and 16th centuries where artists from the Rhineland, Burgundy and Flanders trained Spanish architects and sculptors, thus creating one of the most flourishing schools of the end of the Middle Ages.

Begun in 1221 and completed in 1567, Santa María de Burgos is a striking summary of the evolution of Gothic architecture. The body of the work, undertaken through the initiative of Bishop Mauricio in the reign of Ferdinand III 'the Holy', was rapidly carried out: a first campaign, the most important, was completed in 1293. The plan of the cathedral is based on a Latin cross of pleasing proportions. The three-storey elevation, the vaulting, and the tracery of the windows are closely related to contemporary models of the north of France. The portals of the transept (the Puerta del Sarmental to the south and the Puerta de la Coronería to the north) may also be compared with the great sculpted ensembles of the French royal domain, while the enamelled brass tomb of Bishop Mauricio resembles the so-called Limoges goldsmith work. Undertaken after the cathedral, the two-storeyed cloister that was completed towards 1280 still fits within the framework of 'French' High Gothic.

After a hiatus of some 200 years, work was resumed on the Cathedral of Burgos in the mid-15th century and continued over more than 100 years. These were embellishments of a profuse splendour which have, ever since, assured the world renown of this edifice. The workshop was composed of an international team. Among the most famous architects were Juan de Colonia, soon relieved by his son Simon (towers and open spires of the facade, the Constable's chapel, the Chapel of Santa Ana) and Felipe de Borgoña, assisted by numerous collaborators (choir, cupola and lantern tower over the transept crossing).

When in 1567 two of these architects, Juan de Vallejo and Juan de Castaneda, completed the prodigious cupola with its starred vaulting, the cathedral of Burgos incorporated one of the greatest concentrations of masterpieces of this last phase of the Gothic: the Puerta della Pellejería (1516) of Francesco de Colonia, the ornamental grill and choir stalls, the grill of the chapel of the Presentation (1519), the retablo of Gil de Siloé in the Constable's chapel, the retablo of Gil de Siloé and Diego de La Cruz in the chapen of Santa Ana, the staircase of Diego de Siloé in the north transept arm, the tombs of Bishop Alonso de Cartagena, of Bishop Acuña, of Abbot Juan Ortega de Velasco, of the Condestable Pedro Hernández de Velasco and of his wife Doña Mencia de Mendoza, etc. Thereafter, the cathedral continued to be a monument favoured by the arts - the Renaissance retablo of the Capilla Mayor by Rodrigo and Martín de la Haya, Domingo de Berríz and Juan de Anchieta, the tomb of Enrique de Peralta y Cardenas in the chapel of San Enrique, the chapel of Santa Tecla and the trascoro of the 18th century.

WYD Pilgrams head to Burgos

2011-08-14T18:31:00.000-04:00

Today our group had breakfast fairly late – 8am – before preparing to load the busses for our journey to Loyola – the birthplace of Saint Ignatius. But, our departure was not without a little bit of drama provided, naturally, by Joey Barvir. As we prepared to load our luggage onto the bus for the 3+ hour trip to Loyola, Joey realized that his passport was…missing. Joey swore that the last place he had it was in his pocket on the day we arrived in Lourdes and that it had not been out of that pocket or room since. None-the-less, it was simply gone. We TORE his luggage and room apart searching for nearly ½ hour as the rest of the pilgrims prayed to Saint Anthony. Finally, near exasperation, the travel agent traveling with us informed us that she had it. Only thing we could figure was that it had somehow fallen out of his pocket onto the floor, it was found by the maid when she was cleaning the room and had turned it in to the reception desk. Tragedy averted, we started our journey to Loyola.

Arriving in Loyola we went to a local restaurant – both the group from Harrisburg and Fort Wayne – South Bend – where we enjoyed a very nice lunch (comida) of roasted chicken, French fries (we seem to get those a lot), and ice cream for dessert. Following lunch we walked across the street to the “Holy House” – the place where Saint Ignatius was born (1491), and where he experienced his first turning toward the Lord.

Saint Ignatius was born to a rich family and served in the military. During the battle to defend the city of Pamplona, he was struck by a cannonball which shattered his right leg and badly injured his right. He was taken home (to Loyola – to the “Holy House”) for his long recuperation. During months of bed rest, he read many books – so many that they ran out of things for him to read. He asked if there was anything else at all. All they could find was a book on the life of Christ and the Lives of the Saints. When he thought about all the glorious things he could do as a soldier, he felt momentarily happy. When he stopped thinking about these things, he felt let down and discontented. However, when he thought about the great and holy deeds of the saints, especially Saints Dominic and Francis of Assisi, he experienced exhilaration and joy. He came to realize that only doing God’s will would bring him to true peace. From then on, he redirected all his efforts and work “All for the Greater Glory of God” (ad majorum Dei Gloria – the motto of the Jesuits, which he founded).

It wasn’t long until Saint Ignatius, drawing upon his own experience while recuperating, that he wrote what we know as the “Spiritual Exercises” of Saint Ignatius – a 30-day retreat which helps the retreatant to learn themselves, interact with the Lord in prayer, and discern God’s voice in their lives (called the discernment of spirits). Gathering a group of men around him, the Jesuits became a major force in the Church and in the missions. It was, in fact, the Jesuits who brought the faith to far away places such as China (St. Francis Xavier) and North America (Sts. Isaac Jogues and John deBerubuff (not sure of spelling) – whom we commonly call the North American Martyrs – feastday in October).

Following our visit to the “Holy House” our combined pilgrim group celebrated Mass in the Basilica of St. Ignatius, right there in Loyola – a beautiful church with wonderful acoustics. Following Mass we got back on the busses and headed toward Burgos – where we had a late dinner and got some rest for tomorrow’s journey to Madrid – the site of World Youth Day.

P.S. Then tonight we went down to the Cathedral in Burgos - a BIG youth festival was going on... what a GREAT time!

Internet working - photos posted in old blog posts

2011-08-13T18:22:00.000-04:00

If you are following along with us, please check posts from the last few days for some photos!

Retreat Day in Lourdes

2011-08-13T18:00:00.004-04:00

Bernadette in the Grotto in 1862

Today was our "retreat day" at Lourdes. This morning we awoke early to go to the baths. Although several of us didn't feel a huge calling to enter the baths of Lourdes, none-the-less, we all felt that if we didn't do it - tomorrow we'd be sorry. So, James, Joey, Mary, Jane & myself (Fr. Bateman) all went and bathed in the healing waters of Lourdes.

It really is a wonderful, exhilarating experience. After waiting for about 40 minutes in a cue (line) we finally got to the pools themselves. After a preparing ourselves to enter the baths, each person is individually led down into the waters and given a moment of prayer... when that prayer is completed, the assistants sit you back in the water and, literally, dunk you - into the COLD water. As you are stood back up, you ask St. Bernadette to pray for you and the Blessed Mother to pray for you - that whatever request you had made would be granted and you be healed in whatever way is necessary. It really was awesome and I'm very glad I did it.

After the baths I ran back to the hotel to put on some other clothes and we gathered for the procession to the Grotto of Lourdes, where, with 1000's of other pilgrims from around the world on their way to World Youth Day, we celebrated Mass (where our new seminarian, Joey Barvir, had the opportunity to serve Mass) and spent some time there at the grotto where the Blessed Mother appeared to Bernadette in 1958. (to read about the apparitions at Lourdes, click here)

After Mass we prayed the Stations of the Cross as small groups - and it is really up a BIG hill toward "Calvary." Our pilgrims were together with Bishop McFadden for the Stations. After lunch we headed off to the nearby town of Saint Piere (Peter - I think) where we had the opportunity to reflect, in silence and in groups, on our pilgrimage experience thus far.

After dinner, several of us walked back to the Grotto to fill up our water bottles with water from the Grotto - which flows freely from faucets around the Grotto area. Then we went back to the hotel for some rest.

Tomorrow, we begin moving toward Madrid - with a few stops along the way. I hope you continue to follow along with us - and pray with and for us - as we are praying for you!

WYD Pilgrims visit Lourdes

2011-08-12T18:00:00.006-04:00

Today our pilgrims all gathered in Lourdes - together with Bishop Rhoades and the pilgrims from Fort Wayne - South Bend. The day began with Mass at Saint Cosmas & Damian Chapel. Then we watched a video telling us the story of the apparitions of Our Lady at Lourdes. After some free time, opportunities for confession and lunch, we gathered to begin discovering the sanctuaries of this world famous Marian Shrine. At 5pm a Eucharistic Procession began leading us to the Basilica of St. Pius X and Eucharistic Adoration. Then dinner at the hotel and the Torchlight Procession ended our day. We are all struck by the beauty of all the candles and the faith of the 1000's who had come - many on their way to World Youth Day - to first make a stop to visit Our Lady here in Lourdes.

Late but beautiful arrival in Lourdes

2011-08-11T19:00:00.003-04:00

Well we arrived VERY tired (as you can see from the photo) but safe in Lourdes. After checking in at the hotel and eating dinner we had some free time. The St. Andrew group went looking for the Grotto and eventually found it. We saw the end of the candlelight procession then ran into Kyle Saad - a seminarian from Harrisburg studying in Rome - who showed us around the sanctuary. Not having had the opportunity for Mass because of travel, we learned that there was a Mass at 11:00 pm and so we stuck around.

Several things struck me during the Mass. During Holy Communion people kept coming, and coming, and coming - and I was really struck by how so MANY people were coming to the Lord in the Eucharist with such faith and devotion - and how the Lord gives Himself so freely to all who come to Him. Then, following Mass, they placed the Blessed Sacrament in the Monstrance - and from where we were, there was a candle reflecting in the luna (the round glass piece that holds the Sacred Host) - and so as I looked at the monstrance, I saw the Eucharist and a flame - the love of Jesus poured out for us sinner.

Finally got the computer issues resolved - so here are some pictures.

Parish World Youth Day Participatants Depart

2011-08-10T06:01:00.001-04:00

Today our 6 parish pilgrims begin their journey toward Madrid, Spain for the celebration of World Youth Day with Pope Benedict XVI. Today, we will meet at the parish at 1:30 to pack the car and drive over to Gettysburg where we will meet the other members of our group (one of 4 diocesan groups) including participants from Holy Infant in York Haven, St. Francis Xavier in Gettysburg, St. Joseph in Hanover and Saint Theresa in New Cumberland. We will celebrate Mass as a group and then depart for our overnight flight from Dulles airport to Paris, then Toulouse, then a 3-hour bus ride to Lourdes, our first destination.

Please keep all the pilgrims in your prayers as we begin our journey - as we will remember you in our prayers throughout this 12-day pilgrimage.

I'll be trying to blog as much as possible - depending upon internet connections, etc. However there is a diocesan site where you can follow along with us.