THE SPEED OF JOY - BUSY IS NOT YOUR FRIEND
Week 2
Dear Friends,
Bishop Fulton Sheen once advised, “Everyone needs thirty minutes of prayer each day. And if you are busy, you need an hour!” Counterintuitive wisdom from a future saint! In other words, if the pace or intensity of your life is so high that the quiet steady prayer of your heart fades in the busyness of what fills your day, then more not less prayer is required. While someone with a slower pace of life, who can carry on a conversation with God throughout the day like a constant companion and friend, only “needs” half that. To be honest, I need more - more than an hour. But if even a half an hour of prayer sounds daunting to you, begin with ten minutes of good quality distraction free prayer, and grow from there.
Sheen’s lesson carries the main thrust of our focus in Part One of Slowing Down to the Speed of Joy. Kelly notes starkly how busy is not your friend. Having a great deal to do often means that we do not enjoy, get the most out of, or bring our best selves to the moment. He cites that when people are asked how they feel daily, overwhelmed, is the most common response (11). And while being busy really accelerated in the industrial revolution, when time became a commodified value related to earnings, even the ancients Socrates and Seneca offered sage advice against the tyrant.
THE SPEED OF JOY
Week 1
Dear Parish Family,
We wish you a happy and blessed New Year!! May God fill you with his blessings in 2026!
This weekend we celebrate the Epiphany - a festival of radiant light and the special visit of the Magi, who had been guided by the presence of a star. The arrival of the Lord is still largely a secret. The shepherds know, but when the Wise Men from the East arrive in Jerusalem with gifts for the newborn king, Herod “and the whole of Jerusalem” is thrown into a tizzy. They were not expecting this news. With the scholars and learned ones from Jerusalem, Herod learns a detail from Micah (5:1). The long-expected messiah will come from Bethlehem.
How is it that the local king, with his retinue of scholars and experts, is not aware that the one they have all been waiting for has arrived, while foreign stargazers are so clued in? What is it about these Magi that makes them ready to attend to the signs and follow with courage the astral breadcrumbs to arrive with precious gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh?
The Holy Family: A Model for Slowing Down
Dear Friends in Christ,
Merry Christmas to you and yours! And if I do not see you, blessings on your New Year!! I hope 2026 is full of God’s graces for your family. This weekend we celebrate and honor the Holy Family. Let us take a moment to recognize that Jesus entered the world in the fullness of time, meaning right when the Father thought it was best, optimal timing. And yet, he did not become one of us under “ideal” circumstances; all was not arranged and perfectly planned - from a human perspective. Joseph and Mary could find no lodging, and then with an infant, they had to flee to Egypt. Life was tenuous and unsettled. They were immigrants in a foreign land fleeing to protect their son. So, the fullness of time from the human perspective appears quite chaotic. Give us Lord eyes to see as you see!
In a few days, we welcome the new year of God’s grace by honoring Mary the Mother of God and celebrating the holy Eucharist together. What a joy to begin 2026 by placing our highest priority—worship—right where it belongs: at the top. We are made for worship. We get to worship, to exist in right relation to our God and Father, united to his Son our savior, and gathered at his Bride, the Church. True… we are commanded and obligated to worship on the Sabbath (in Old Testament lingo), or the Lord’s Day (in New Testament lingo) and holy days. But this imposition is placed upon us for our good, because our good Father knows who we are and what we need.
Christmas is Coming
COURAGE to hope
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
During Advent we prepare for the arrival of our salvation: Jesus, the reason for our hope. The Eternal Son becomes the Incarnate Son, becoming like us in all things but sin, even a helpless and vulnerable child. This little one, the Babe of Bethlehem, is the reason for our hope. And that is exciting! That excitement which fills us, makes our hearts beat faster, kindles the fire of our desire, is what we point to as hope. Hope is looking forward with confident expectation. Despite whatever trials or difficulties arise, the virtue of hope allows our hearts to remain joyful, so that we can persevere on the pilgrim road, believing that our good God guides all that is. As children, hope comes easy; as we age, sometimes hope needs a booster shot. During this Advent season, I invite you to focus on hope!
The four candles of the Advent wreath are each lit seeking a special quality. The first candle represents hope. We light the second candle for peace. The pink candle in week three is for joy. And finally, the fourth candle burns for love. Hope and love are theological virtues, along with faith (see 1 Cor 13:13). Joy and peace are two fruits of the Holy Spirit (see Gal 5:22). All of these qualities are gifts we receive from God which we can also cultivate in our characters; they are graces that help shape us to be who God really created us to be. Saint Paul often weaves these qualities together into a tapestry of sorts.
Christmas is Coming
waiting in patience
My Dear Friends,
Tis the season of hope! We are awaiting and preparing for Emmanuel, the God who is with us! Two great ways to prepare: restore hope in your heart through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and kindle your hope by attending Lessons and Carols, hosted by Family Catechesis. It always gives me renewed hope to have my own sins forgiven in Confession and to be a mediator of God’s mercy through assisting others to be reconciled to God. Also, watching the little ones: in line for Santa, practicing the Nativity Play, or at Lessons and Carols are great moments for hope to kindled in our hearts. I invite you to participate in both!
This week we are focusing on waiting, not my favorite topic since I am pretty impatient! From my office at the corner of Fellowship and Main, I often hear those horns honking in complaint when someone sits at the light for a bit too long. (Is that helpful?) Recently, I had a chat with someone who grew up in Colorado, came to Philly for school, and returned out West. One of her observations: in Philly people use their horns!
Our reading from the Letter of James (5:7-10) encourages us to be patient like the farmer and to resist the urge to complain. He tells us not to complain about one another, as in finger pointing or gossip or those comments that tear down, but instead “make your hearts firm” even embracing “hardship and patience” as did the prophets of old who waited so long for the Messiah.
Christmas is Coming
PROMISES FulFILLED
Dear Friends in Christ,
We are in the final days approaching Christmas. This bulletin and letter span the fourth Sunday in Advent and the Christmas Feast. So, I am not quite sure if I should say: Happy Advent or Merry Christmas!
It strikes me that each year we prepare for the coming of the Messiah for about a month. Advent is that season of preparation. The chosen one, Mother Mary, spent nine months preparing to welcome her son. In fact, Mary’s whole life and even her Immaculate Conception were aimed at preparing her heart for her unique and singular role. Stepping back, the chosen people, Israel, had been undergoing preparation and foreshadowing for many centuries. In fact, God was preparing to send his Son even as Adam and Eve fell away in the Garden. (see Gn 3:15). Jesus is the long-desired one. (Great tune!)
Preparation is part of what it means to be human. We are on the road, but we are not there quite yet. We are in process, hopefully progressing - growing and developing - as we journey to our true home in heaven. But here on the road, we can get sidetracked or waylaid. Many detours and challenges await. And often as well, friends assist to speed us along or offer us hospitality when we are in need. Such is the road in this life. One of the important virtues to cultivate is hope. This Advent we have been focused on how to cultivate and live in hope.
Christmas is Coming
VIRTUE OF HOPE
Dear Parish Family,
Gram often used to sing as she did chores around the house or cradled babies in her arms. She knew all kinds of ol’timey songs. Hearing her sing, and even joining in, brought a lightness and joy to my heart. And even much later in life, as her mind and memory faded, these tunes would still bring a sparkle to her eyes and the melody to her lips! One such tune goes like this: Christmas is Coming, the goose is getting fat! Please do put a penny in the old man’s hat! If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do. And if you haven’t got a ha’penny then God bless you! (Click the link to hear one version; the Muppets sang the song, too!) That little rhyme is part of my Christmas memories. It brings me hope and reminds me of the generosity of the season. It is the season of giving, because we are receiving the greatest gift of all, Emmanuel (meaning God-with-us.)
The Christmas Season fills us with anticipation. If you are like me, you cherish this season for the giving and receiving of gifts. Part of gift-giving is the anticipation and excitement, the quickening pulse and flutter in the stomach of preparing a gift for someone you love, hoping that they appreciate and enjoy it with a love similar to what you have put into selecting and preparing it. Or in the receiving, looking forward with eagerness and wonder as you unwrap the package.
Temptation & Evil
WEEK 6
My Dear Parish Family,
Six weeks ago, we began this opening Fall series with the words, “Our Father who art in heaven.” Now we have arrived at, “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” This is the last phrase of the Lord’s Prayer and the last week of our series before we enter into November and celebrate All Souls Day next Sunday.
Just before we began Teach us to Pray, one of our young adults asked an insightful question regarding just this phrase: does God lead us into temptation? It is a good question to ponder.
In 2019, Pope Francis approved a slight wording change to this phrase in the Italian translation: from “lead us not into temptation,” to “do not let us fall into temptation.” This shift aligns closely with the Spanish: “no nos dejes caer en la tentación y líbranos de mal” (do not allow us to fall into temptation and deliver us from evil). So that is part of the answer. We can see how the activity of leading is not directly divine, but that we are asking for divine protection.
BUILDING TOGETHER
What is Church?
Week 1
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
I remember fondly our departed Bishop John Smith, who ordained me in 2009. He often used to say, “Now is our time to be church!” using church more as a verb than a noun. The being of church feels more in motion, like a responsibility and privilege, rather than an institution or building.
We can understand the word ‘church’ in many aspects. It can refer to the building, or the act of worship. At its root in Hebrew, Greek and Latin ‘church’ means the community assembled, called out or together, who are gathered together for worship (See Catechism 751-752).
This weekend we celebrate the Mother church of Rome: St. John Lateran - the oldest Basilica in Rome and the Bishop of Rome’s church, the place where his seat (cathedra) is found, the symbol of his universal teaching authority. In fact, today marks the 1700th year of its dedication, the oldest extant public church in Rome, founded in 324 AD. Its Baptistry is striking architecturally but also symbolically. For generations, the only baptistry in Rome, meaning countless 1000s became Christians passing through her waters, became members of the living Body of Christ, the Church, by being cleansed and adopted. This structure symbolizes what it means to enter into life in Christ, to leave behind our old ways and cling to newness of life in Christ.
BUILDING TOGETHER
Working & Serving
Week 2
Dear Friends in Christ,
We are in stewardship season as Thanksgiving approaches and the end of the Church’s year. (In church life, the new year begins with Advent.) This is our time of year to celebrate our wins, to give thanks for all the gifts we have received, and to focus on our mission for the coming year. We are encouraged to discern how God invites us to grow in generosity in his service. Our theme over these short three weeks is Building Together.
Last week our readings reinforced the idea that the church is so much more than a building. The Church is a gathered people, called together in the name of the Lord for service and worship. Now, admittedly some infrastructure is helpful, a space to gather for worship. In the first centuries Christians often gathered in the courtyard or in the main house of a wealthy Christian, so called “home churches” because they were sacred spaces created in the home so that the members of the Body of Christ could gather peacefully and reverently for worship and to share fellowship.
I imagine that type of arrangement in the church of Thessalonica. Saint Paul wrote two letters to this little church dated about 50 or 51 A.D., less than two decades after the first Pentecost. Our Scripture in focus is taken from the second letter today (2 Ths 3:7-12). This little church is struggling, and Paul seeks to encourage them, clarify some teaching, and keep them growing in the right direction. He instructs them to live good and orderly lives, part of which is not freeloading but working, “keeping busy not acting like busybodies” - great line! It seems some in the community were being lazy or wasting time, not wanting to work, since they thought that the Lord would return soon. Why work if the end is near?
BUILDING TOGETHER
Overflowing Goodness
Dear Parish Family,
We find ourselves at the culmination of the church’s year: Christ King of the Universe. We find ourselves at the cross (Luke 23:35ff), beholding Christ the King of the Jews. A stark reminder for us that not all kingdoms are what we imagine or will unfold as we might expect. The Kingdom of God is both here and not here. Consider the mustard seed. As members of the Body of Christ, belonging to our Lord and King, we play a part in the unfolding of the kingdom. Jesus entrusts us to continue the mission that he originally handed on to that first group of followers. We belong to a long line living through time who seek to advance the Kingdom. “Now is our time to be church!” as Bishop Smith used to say.
As we gaze up at Jesus from the foot of the cross, imagine yourself as Mother Mary, or Mary of Magdala or the apostle John, all faithful witnesses who stayed close to the Lord in his agony. We overhear a striking conversation between Jesus and the men who hang on either side. One jeers and demands while the other confesses and pleads. In this moment, the goodness and mercy of the Lord overflows as he promises paradise even to one who is guilty. Repentance brings mercy. The mercy of God is rich beyond measure, one drop of blood able to remove a lifetime of sins.
Stewardship Weekend 2025
Celebrating our parish in 2025
It is that time of year again where we begin to reflect back on all that we have accomplished this year and start thinking about how much more we can do together in the next year.
In October we shared our Financial report for the fiscal year that ended on June 30th in the bulletin. We celebrated the increase in the contributions of our parish family in their financial contributions. Over the last two weeks you heard Father speak on time and talent. This week we focus on treasure.
While contributions have increased from year to year, we will not be whole until all of our members are fully engaged in their discipleship journey through giving back a piece of what God has provided for them. We are called to be Church and supporting the Church with our treasure is part of that calling.
What impact does your contributions have on our parish community? They allow us to sustain our campus, welcoming all to join in our mission in a safe and comfortable environment. They allow us to run and enhance youth programs that assist families in forming the next generation in their discipleship. They allow us to welcome youth to campus to share their faith through fun and fellowship and even to compete with other parish teams at athletics.
Prayer & Needs
WEEK 4
Dear Parish Family,
When we think of prayer, needs often come to mind. We consider our own needs and those of the ones we love. It is also worthy to think of the needs of strangers and even of the whole world. As you pray the Our Father, I encourage you to feel the whole world and to lift up the whole world, even if your own needs are most keenly felt.
We recognize our needs. We have physical needs like food, shelter, clothing, water, and sleep. We have emotional, intellectual, and relational needs. We also have spiritual needs, right? We have the need to connect with God. Your life needs a higher purpose to give it meaning and direction.
You and I are very needy people. We are so needy that we often rush to our needs in prayer. The Our Father teaches us not to start with our needs but in acknowledging God’s greatness and power as well as our relationship with him. When we acknowledge God’s goodness and greatness and our relationship with him, it puts our needs into the proper context.
Let us focus on two words here: give and daily.
Forgiveness Extended & Received
WEEK 5
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
We focus this week on forgiveness. We have arrived at the words of the Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” As we begin it may prove helpful to overlay the word trespasses with its alternatives: debts-debtors and sins-sinners. We can see these variations more keenly if we compare the more familiar version, passed on in Matthew (6:9-13) with the less familiar version of the Lukan tradition (see Luke 11:1-4). Luke chooses the actual word for sin: “forgive us our sins.” Both employ the concept of debt or indebtedness. Debts convey something owed. A sin can be understood as a moral debt. By contrast, trespass could make us think of signs like “private property / no trespassing / keep out!” Each different turn of phrase sheds a bit more light and nuance.
With this petition, we are seeking pardon for overstepping or crossing a line which creates a debt, inflicts injury, or causes harm. At the same time, we link the request to a willingness to extend the same grace to those who have wronged us. This is the only conditional petition in the Lord’s Prayer. The implication being that we shall not receive forgiveness if we do not extend it.
Thy Kingdom is Thy Will made visible
WEEK 3
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Since Labor Day, time has been moving along at a good clip, at least for me and for all the exciting initiatives here in our parish. This past weekend some parish leaders attended a Convocation on ways to reach out to younger generations! Some helpful suggestions we are already implementing include family catechesis, small groups, hospitality, creating a shared leadership culture, and inspiring a greater sense of purpose. It gave me joy to see how we are already working to serve and invite Millennials into Service (1981-1996) and even Generation Z (1997-2012).
Our culture has been shifting. It is valuable to recognize that many of our younger people may not have been raised in devout Catholic households like our Baby Boomers (1946-1964) and Builders (1928-1945). Where do you find yourself? I belong to Generation X (1965-1980), which often falls into the gaps in these discussions.
Holiness in Name and Deed
WEEK 2
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Last week, we began our Fall Message Series called Teach us to Pray! If you missed the message, it is easy to get caught up here. After the direct address, “Our Father who art in Heaven,” we come to our first request, or the first item we are praying about: hallowed be thy name. Our shortest phrase and it is a bit cryptic.
“Hallowed” is an old-fashioned word. Halloween (the Eve of All Saints) comes from this word, as does the popular app for prayer and spirituality, Hallow (big fan!). Really, what we are asking for here is that God’s name be made holy. Now God is the all holy One, the One whose holiness is beyond measure. Boundless holiness is God.
God’s holiness is also on the lips and in the heart of dear Mother Mary. I like to imagine Mary teaching her little boy Jesus how to pray. Perhaps He sat on her lap, or maybe they were doing the chores together. I bet every moment she tried to pour into Him and teach Him everything that she knew of the faith and the ways of the Lord. Now Mary handed on to Saint Luke a beautiful prayer, called her Magnificat (Lk 1:46ff). It recounts all the wonderful deeds the Lord God has done and will do in salvation; it is a song of praise. And in the first phrases we hear: “The one who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” Like Mary, Jesus teaches us to recount the holiness of God. I imagine that these words in particular were given to us through the heart of Mary teaching Jesus to pray.
Calling God Father
WEEK 1
My dear friends,
It is an audacious thing to call God, our Father. Yet as Catholic Christians this has been our custom, ever since those first followers asked Jesus how to pray and he taught them. This reality is shown well in the Chosen Series. I commend the Chosen to your attention.
In the time of Jesus, God was far away, greatly respected, and revered, the One who called Himself “I am Who am” with Moses at the burning bush. The word “El” in Hebrew refers to the Lord - like in many of the names we know: Michael, Gabriel, Rafael, Joel, Elizabeth - in each case describing some facet or reality of the existence of God. My name means ‘The Lord is God!” a prophetic utterance for one of the minor prophets who speaks into a challenging time. Maybe your name has a name for God hidden inside!
God’s name was generally mysterious. And to speak God’s name or come close to thinking you might understand (comprehend) who God is - that would have been considered imprudent or naive (and still should be). We might have a tendency today to presume too much. The Catechism teaches:
Summertime Crossroads
Dear Parish,
Labor Day this year arrived early. Already, we find ourselves getting back into the swing of things. Back into the routines of school and sports and homelife. Summer is fading into the rearview and all the pumpkin drinks await us, along with the cooler temps, and our upcoming Harvest Festival on October 4th, save the date!
September is a great month to take stock of the lessons of Summer: what has God been sharing with you? How has our Lord been inviting you to grow? What are your best memories from the Summer? These first few weeks of September are a great time to review and retain. Try some journaling. They are also good weeks to look forward and plan for the season ahead. Labor Day and the back-to-school happenings are like a crossroads to be retrospective, introspective, and future-spective (is that a word?).
As these weeks ramp up, we throw ourselves into activity, beware of avoiding these harder and more thoughtful times of prayer and reflection, due to busy-ness or schedule changes. Do not let these weeks just slip by. This change of pace is a wonderful time to embrace new habits and respond to God’s graces. Habits of daily prayer, Sunday Mass, prayer as family, uplifting music, or even fasting - this is an exciting time to begin again with renewed fervor.
In following with S.T.E.P.S.
My Dear Family,
In the first centuries of Christianity, the Cross was not “lifted up,” exhibited or venerated. Early Christians struggled to pay homage to the cross while many were still dying on them. The earliest images of Jesus, often mosaics laid in floors or walls of early house churches, were of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, or casting a net into the Sea.
On September 14th in 326 A.D., Saint Helen discovered the actual beams of Jesus’ crucifixion in Jerusalem. The account relates how a dying woman was laid on the three crosses and when healed on the third cross, they knew it was the real cross - the actual wood on which Jesus gave His life to heal us and set us free. Today, in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, it is possible to put your hand into the very square hole where the cross was slotted in to asphyxiate those hanging.
Grateful - Many Hands Make Light Work
My Dear Parish Family,
I feel compelled with pride to write to you this week. It is the pride of a father for his spiritual children who surprise and delight him. You have made me smile and I want to share with you the reason in the hopes we can all more deeply appreciate our accomplishments.
I delight in you and in your generosity as we have reached and surpassed our goal for the Annual Catholic Appeal. Every year since ordination, I have supported this appeal, which largely funds the cost of educating and caring for seminarians in their long years of study when they are unable to have outside jobs. I am grateful that this year 209 households (up from 165 in 2024!) have made the decision and sacrifice to give to the Appeal, and to support the greater work of our Diocese. We belong to a much larger church, which engages in works beyond our town, but also helps us to accomplish ministry right here. Your support of the Appeal shows that you value that broad effort.
