Weekly message from Father John
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April 30, 2021
Dear Parish Family-
Most of our ancestors came to America to get away from poverty, oppression, revolutions and other wars. The places they came from, usually, were not places they ever wanted to go back to. They wouldn't have understood the romantic vision of modern tourists for those ancestral home places. Like most people from Europe, they were happy to be new Adams and new Eves in a new Garden Of Eden.
In Ireland, where most of my family tree came from, they become irritated now with Americans who parade around in green sweaters and such. My dad's mom aquainted me with the well known lyric, "fer there's a bleedy law ag'in the wearin' o' the green". But what "the green" meant was never explained. People got it into their heads that it meant green clothes and such. The Irish themselves don't do that. If you're in Ireland on St. Patrick's day, you'll see a lot of gray and brown tweed coats and snapbrim caps, and Wellington boots in black, blue, yellow and so on.
The late Archbishop Roach once told about a trip he made to Ireland, visiting the farm of a Mr. Roach. The farmer told him, "Be off with ya. I'm busy." The archbishop explained who he was, to which the farmer responded, "You're a bishop...from America?" "Yes," the archbishop replied. "I know what ya want. I know about yer family-the ones what left"....He looked the Archbishop over and said, approaching kindness as near he dared, "Well, it's good t' know that one 'o ya turned out okay. Now, like I said, "I'm busy." With that he walked away.
What all this represents is a severed connection to an important piece of history. "The green" was a wrist scapular made of leather dyed green. On it were images of Mary, Joseph, Patrick or other saints favored by the Irish. The scapular was worn to Mass ,or if one was especially bold, all the time. They were against the law, as was saying or attending Mass. The penalty if caught was a cruel, violent death, "fer there's a bleedy law ag'in the wearing' o' the green". It's interesting to think of the modern, innocent ignorance about this. How long has it been since wearing of the green was understood as a struggle to keep the Faith alive and a possible road to brutal martyrdom. Now it's a fun thing and a partying thing that only vaguely recognizes the original significance. We live much more comfortably and well cared for than our ancestors, and it's worth considering how we value our Faith. The founders of my family were Irish, French Canadian, Polish, Bohemian and some Scots with, possibly a bit of English and a trace of German. They all had in common Catholicism. Faith stories abound in all our backgrounds. Our Faith helped our ancestors survive every kind of evil that man is capable of. And Faith has brought us together here to share life and celebrate it, all new Adams and new Eves, but redeemed by Jesus Christ, the heart of that Faith.
Father John
April 23, 2021
Dear Parish Family-
There is a tall masted sailing ship that plies the often squally waters of the English Channel. It's called The Tenacious and is manned and womaned entirely by a crew of people with physical disabilities, each crew new with each voyage. If you should ever hear The Shipping Report on the BBC, you'd find that rain, fog, pitching seas and different levels of gale force winds are all commonplace. There is a small group of officers who see that each sailor gets a job suited to him or her. The work is very labor intensive, being that the crew is working with a vessel of such an antique description. Going to the tops of the masts to check and secure ropes is part of the job. Some of the crew are able to climb the rope ladders. Some can't and have to hoist themselves by arm muscles in something that looks like a cross between a tarpaulin and a tanned hide to those heights. Everybody uses their muscles and newly learned skills to be applied to hundreds of miles of rope high and low and other jobs. A claim to fame of The Tenacious is that a man once came aboard believing himself wheel chair bound forever and left the ship walking down the gangplank using sticks.
As I watched the amazing crew of The Tenacious work against their limits, I realized that I was looking at what faith is. A crew of disabled people believed they could work together to sail an antique ship into raw weather, choppy waters, gale force winds, fog and rain. And they did it. We are a Faith Community. It's not hard for us to understand their sense of things. Being human, it doesn't seem too much to say that any of us could see some disability, however different from those sailors, in our own lives. All the same, we sail our own ship through all "weather", good, bad or "doldrumy". Our beautiful Church even represents this. The choir loft is high, where the one at the helm wheel would be. The main deck is the floor to the altar steps. The sanctuary is elevated like the fore deck and bowsprit on a sailing ship. We are the crew, sailing this "ship" by our prayers, our worship and involvement.
Our Church was built by people who were familiar with tall masted ships. They recognized the symbolism of the journey being taken in the design of our Church. We are on our spiritual journey together, to another "New World" which was made possible with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which we now celebrate in the liturgical season of Easter.
Father John
April 16, 2021
Dear Parish Family-
You, our parishioners, have surpassed the goal set for us in the Catholic Services Appeal. I've written about and spoken about the importance of service as being essential to being a Eucharistic people. But I didn't make that happen. That is who you are and have long been. So, it's worth noting that I've been "talking to the choir". Knowing that it's important and essential to identify who we are with Jesus Christ, I find it valuable to state this feature of our identity. But that's done with the realization that you carry this understanding in your hearts and show it in a variety of ways; some of them heroic. It has been shown even in ways of magnificent achievement for a long time. In the hard times we're in now, that heroism shines again in your support for the crucial services the Archdiocese provides. Many people who have still harder deals than any of us know are being helped in ways that would not exist without Appeal. You should be proud. And so saying, it seems to me that this would be the right point at which to say " 'nuff said.'" God bless you all.
Father John
April 9, 2021
Dear Parish Family-
Two things today. First, after Easter, the Gospel emphasis shifts from the humanity of Jesus to His Divinity. The Gospel writers communicated that emphasis through Eucharistic teachings. For instance, Jesus meets a pair of disciples going into a village called Emmaus on Easter day evening. But they don't recognize Him. He appears to them in a different form, and they think he is a stranger. They kindly invite Him in for a meal and a night's rest before He goes on. At dinner, He says "the blessing" and the Gospel writer says that they recognized Him in the breaking of the bread, a clear reference to The Last Supper. He goes from being a physical being eating with them to vanishing like a ghost. "They recognized Him in the breaking of the bread" (not by His appearance) sets the tone for everything to come in Christianity. There are other accounts read at Masses after Easter in which Jesus is not recognized, appearing in a different form. The Gospel writers gave us those accounts to indicate the He would communicate Himself to the future in different forms: in The Eucharist. To say it theologically, in the Baptized being intimately connected to Jesus Christ in The Eucharist. To say it the down-to-earth way, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, caring, kindness, love and by association, not being involved in a devotion to alienation makes us Eucharist as well, communicating Christ to the world.
Secondly, a little business…I have to make phone calls to find people to serve in certain positions right now. They are necessary to fill. The one that has to be filled first is that of trustee. Kevin Otting's term ended recently. Please consider taking the position if I reach out to you. The responsibilities and the time needed are very manageable and, if you are willing to serve, Kevin or I will guide you or answer any questions you might have. We have very skilled and talented people here. And our parish family is well known for service and taking excellent care of our parish. The trusteeship is an essential part of that.
God bless you all.
Father John
April 2, 2021
Dear Parish family-
I'm going to be brief this time. I write this on Holy Thursday, the day Jesus Christ gave us the Eucharist. On Good Friday, He suffered terribly and died for us and opened the way to eternal life for us. The love of God the Father for us was made manifest through Him. And Easter, which we celebrate beginning with the most important liturgy in the Church year, the Easter Vigil, reassures us of the power of God over both sin and death. Don't let Easter be only an egg hunt, some grilling out and a chatty parley on skype or the phone or some such. All that is good. But remember to thank God the Father for the gift of His Son. And remember that all Holy Week signifies that you are loved.
Father John
March 26, 2021
Dear Parish Family-
The Church has blessed palms a week before Easter for centuries. Palm Sunday flows from the resurrection of Lazarus in Bethany by Jesus. Bethany was only two miles from Jerusalem. When Jesus went from it to Jerusalem, an electrified crowd of witnesses to Lazarus' incredible revival went with him. The wild crowd who bowed and waved palms and screamed his praises had to be affected by the experience of seeing a man dead for four days restored to life. Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem on a covered colt through the cheering mob would have looked like a mock up king's arrival.
The whole scene had a result that those calling "Hosanna!" didn't anticipate. It alarmed Jesus's enemies, and set into motion a quick, cruel and tragic reversal of their hopes. There's an element of hysteria in the crowd greeting Jesus with palms just as there is in the mob that would yell, "Crucify him!" The ones with palms had always been poor, pretty much without hope and living out unfulfilling lives. They felt uncared for. Then, rather suddenly, they found themselves in a stunning moment of Divine intervention.
But that's only the beginning of what would be the most powerful and important week in history. The height of it is the Resurrection of the Son of God, opening the way to eternal life. But the center of it is the Last Supper because that's when the Eucharist was established; the Real Presence to be communicated to all future ages. Jesus’s horrible death on the cross is part of that great gift. It all goes together, each moment being essential in its own way to create a divinely intended complete result, salvation.
Father John
March 19, 2021
Dear Parish Family,
"God helps those who help themselves" is a familiar wise old saying. If I sit down to watch the news and wait for dinner to appear, it won't. If I get something out of the fridge or freezer and make dinner, I eat. That sounds simplistic, but it's just a way of saying that there are some things that are necessary for a good, whole, healthy life. At the moment, it is the need for a combination of pandemic vaccinations, avoiding crowds, mask wearing, social distancing and hand washing. There are two things that need to happen for life to get back to normal. Vaccinations reaching most people and decrease spreading the disease. This is a matter in which our faith becomes action; love for one another. Caring for the well-being of others is the hallmark of living a Christian life. Our Catholicity is centered on the Eucharist, which Sacrament involves us in that dedication to making the world better, safer and more peaceful place. We can't solve every problem in the world. But there are things we can do and sometimes those things can have far reaching effects. Each shot is a dose of hope for the world. And hope that holds up is of the essence of Christian life.
Father John
March 12, 2021
Dear Parish Family-
Water has different presences in our lives. There can be cool water in a pitcher in the fridge, maybe flavored with lemon or mint. There can be flash floods from sudden roaring storms, racing down gulches and carrying away whatever in its path. Tumbling waterfalls north of Duluth are full of iron ore and, foaming up at the bottom, look like root beer with a rainbow. We're familiar with tsunamis and other floods. Water is used for farming to produce food to feed the world. And there are places that need unpolluted water for drinking, just to live. We have long known that water means life. It also means renewal and rebirth.
Water has long been a powerful symbol connected to our relationship with God. It has always been a symbol of what it does: the renewal of life. You'll see that soon when spring plants start popping up, like radishes, tulips and lilies of the valley. A prominent Biblical theme found in every book of the bible is "Born of Water". For us, it means the sacrament of Baptism, which brings us into the Church and puts us on the way to the ultimate rebirth, eternal life.
In church this weekend, we have some bottles of Holy Water for you to take home. You can use it as a blessing for your home. You might open the bottle to let the water evaporate into your home as a blessing, after a family prayer for blessing or you might pray together for blessing on your home, going from room to room. Or let the bottle stand closed in an obvious space to remind you of the love of God and to pray as a family. And since Holy Water represents the Resurrection, it can be useful as an inspiration for Lenten reflections and graces which go with this season. God bless you all.
Father John
March 5, 2021
Dear Parish Family,
A friend from childhood became the principal of a Catholic high school. He retired, but being a service oriented man decided to get into teaching. He reminds me that the motto on our high school year book was "For The Common Good". The Church is at its best when it's about service. Jesus established that with the Eucharist at The Last Supper. Being Eucharistic people we are called to be people of service. I'll cite an example of someone who lives a Eucharistic life, even though not he's Christian.
On the news, there was a story about a nine year old boy named Achmed, blind from birth, who is teaching his peers language studies. He lives in Yemen where an endless war has made his world look post-apocalyptic. The adults who taught those kids have fled the violence except for a courageous woman who is principal. The school building is bombed out, with no walls, part of a roof, and a debris floor to sit on. As Achmed was interviewed, he pulled his head into his chest whenever there were gunshots outside. He said, "We hear guns and bombs every day. They make me afraid I might die." This nine year old has the amazing dedication to help create a better future by teaching his peers language. I wondered if I was looking at a sturdy grass for the future growing at the feet of civilization unnoticed.
Maybe we can't help them any other way than to pray. And we should pray. But even if we can't materially reach those who are in places like Yemen, there are other futures closer to home that are just as precious. And we can help them. A reliable and excellent way to do that is to pledge to the Catholic Services Appeal. If you haven't pledged yet, please do so by returning a pledge envelope or visit www.givecsaf.org. You too have a chance to do something that will matter on a large scale, reaching other lives in a generous variety of ways.
Father John
February 26, 2021
Dear Parish Family,
An ancient legend has it that every year about this time, a struggle begins between two spirits, Winter and Spring. Like a tug of war, each of those legendary figures try to pull the world into its own sphere of influence. So, some winter days are interrupted by warm, snow melting day, and some spring days see snowstorms. Of course, spring finally triumphs and life returns. This story reflects that people are naturally weather affected among other things. You're more likely to see someone walking down the street whistling on a sunny day in May than on a sunny day in any month in winter. The Church, in ancient times, wisely identified the Resurrection with the time of year when life comes back in abundance, seeing God's hand at work in that.
Most Easter Sunday mornings, I've gotten up before the sun to drive some miles to join friends for an Easter breakfast celebration. A clear sky comes first with the light of the rising sun pushing back the remains of night. At about 2/3 of the way, there is a grove, not leafed out yet. The rising sun shining through has the aspect of a tall figure made of light. Of course it makes me consider the Resurrection. It seems such a special moment. The celebration of Easter a little later with friends is joyful. Then, as if to emphasize the Resurrectional feel of that early part of the day, the sky always clouds over and on my way back there's a more solemn, reflective feel to the day. Being indoors with my family later always feels right. My dad used to quip, "The sun comes out at 5:00 on Sunday." And it does seem to work out that way. Anyway, God speaks to us through a lot of things, in a lot of ways, imagination, excercize, music, the silence of sound absorbing, heavy snow, light, warmth, artistic fun, taking care of plants; well, you can pick your own examples. But it all adds up to one thing: God speaks to us through all of it to connect us to The Good News ,which, as you know, is what "Gospel" means. Lent is called a penitential season. And it is. But to fully appreciate that, we should realize that ultimately it should also be called The Gospel Season.
Fr. John
February 15, 2021
Dear Parish Family,
It seems like just yesterday it was Christmas. In fact, I have still is a Christmassy knick-knack or two out. So a sense that we're on the way to Easter may be a little hard to grasp. But we are there!
Lent is characterized by the color purple, which was considered the first color to be seen at dawn; a thin line of purple on the horizon just ahead of the rising sun. In the Church, purple became the color of a new day in a deeper sense. In this “new day” there is healing and resurrection and the love of God is fulfilled in Christ. So purple is associated with repentance. Repentance is the best way to greet the “new day”. Receiving Reconciliation before Easter is the primary way that the Church emphasizes repentance. But repentance should be built into the life of every Christian so that it becomes a regular spiritual practice. Repentance brings us closer to God and closer to each other. An honest sense of who each of us is before God is of the essence to all relationships. Everyone sins, but not everyone owns that. Jesus said, "Whatever you did to anyone, even the least, you did to me." In saying this he connected repentance to love. Repentance is the purple band of light. Love is the light that rises after it.
Father John
February 12, 2021
Dear Parish Family,
February 11th was the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. This apparition occurred during World War I. In those days, it was seen as a sign of hope and the love of God for a world caught in terrible suffering. It normally takes about twenty years after a war before people put on rose colored glasses about it. When that happens history suffers some revision; sort of the Hollywood type of storytelling. Horror and madness become glory and adventure, and thus, some truth is lost. But at the time, World War I was an unprecedented nightmare. A comforting message from Heaven to reassure the world that hope was not lost and that God loves people was of the greatest importance. Wars create faith crises, as well. So Our Lady of Lourdes became highly significant.
By the time I was growing up, the account of the apparition had been stretched and bent into other narratives. The world was different too. The almost universal pacifist reaction of the '20s and '30s was replaced by the Cold War and an anticipation that when we grew up we'd have our own "great adventure". One the corruptions of the meaning of Our Lady of Lourdes was a notion that the conversion of Russia had to be achieved by January 1st, 1960 or the world would end. Our own teachers innocently taught us that the Pope had a letter from Mary, given to the children at Lourdes, saying just that. It didn't occur to us to question that, even when our parents said it was nonsense. So I went to bed on New Year's Eve, promising to go to Confession next Saturday if the end of the world could just be delayed a week. Well, when I woke up on January 1st, the world was still there and I mentioned to my mom that the world wouldn't end for a week. She replied, "That again!? Don't be ridiculous." The point is that the original purpose of the apparition had been replaced with ideas that had nothing to do with the time of World War I or with evidence of the love of God. Since we weren't living in those terrible times, we kids couldn't feel what people then were feeling and the initial reason for the apparition.
Now the world is involved in another crisis, the end of which is difficult to predict. We need faith, and we need to be able to receive comfort and love from God, which comes in many forms. And a sense of history as to this is good for us. Think of Mary at Lourdes, present as a mother to children; not just few who were there but all her children united by faith, at any time, whether the time is good or bad. Reach out to her in prayer, remembering that the mother of God is also a loving mother to us.
Father John
February 5, 2021
Dear Parish Family,
This week I ask and encourage you to donate generously to the Catholic Services Appeal. The needs that the Appeal meets are more acute in the current crisis. The Appeal enables Catholic Charities to do a wide variety of good works, and covers the needs of people in many areas – the hungry, orphans, the sick, the dying and others who are suffering in the 12 county area of the Archdiocese, from young to old; 20 ministries in all. The Appeal also helps pro-life ministries, school subsidies, scholarships, hospital chaplaincy, marriage preparation and marriage retreats.
Please consider pledging a monthly amount over 10 months. Just $15 per month, for instance, can go a long way towards reaching our parish goal of $8817.
To pledge, please visit csafspm.org and click on “donate” or return a pledge envelope to church.
Father John
January 29, 2021
Dear Parish Family,
We seem to have gotten by without the usual couple weeks of acid cold that January is known for. Someone asked me if I thought Puxatawny Phil would see his shadow on groundhog's day. I could only offer the conventional wisdom, "If he doesn't see his shadow it means six more weeks of winter. If he does, it's only a month and a half.”
We all know that February and March can feel pretty bleak. You can't believe the calendar in Minnesota. Spring starts before winter has really decided to call it quits and the nice part of spring, when you can feel the sun's warmth and you feel like whistling if you're out for a walk, seems like it will never get here. Bleakness can bring on the blues. Of course, we've had some experience of that with the pandemic, too. You can say that it has been a long "winter of the soul", or more like a long January, February and March of the soul. And we have not arrived at the "nice part" yet. Our Eucharistic Faith helps us in times like that. We reach out to encourage each other and help each other in whatever ways are reasonable to do.
Sometimes, the best expressions of Eucharistic Faith are in very small ways that are "unsung", but do a world of good. Sometimes even simple expressions of love cause some healing. Not every way that we are Eucharistic to each other has to be the stuff of legends. Even a kind word or a smile can be Eucharistic. The “blues” invites us to become self-absorbed in gloom, and there are a lot of counterproductive ways to deal with it. But our connection to the Sacred Body and Blood of Christ leads us to "get out of ourselves" and to connect to others on the basis of Jesus' instruction to love others as I have loved you. Among other things, it's an encouraging call to freedom.
If we do that, with that devotion to Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, we will become more sensitive to what others, especially those we love the most, are feeling and we will have a sense of what they need. It's not always easy to beat the blues. But God has given us a Savior, and through Him we can rise above ourselves to do good and to find fulfillment.
Father John
January 22, 2021
Dear Parish Family,
If you watched any of the inauguration proceedings on TV this week, you may sense that politics is the greatest gravitational force in our lives. But it's not. Democracy is a wonderful outcome of history and we thank God for it. Our democracy is not just a political thing, but it is a daily life thing, involving an incredible, amazing infrastructure of everything: sciences, road building, home building, banking, and industries of every imaginable kind. In spite of the current virus, this infrastructure will continue to regenerate itself and when we are done with the virus, the world will go back to being what it always was, good and bad. In our spiritual life we have to recognize what the world is and make it better for all to live in.
As to things that have powerful gravity in our lives, ones prayer life should. I'm not suggesting a neurotic or superstitious mentality. But a healthy prayer life in which we pray with the people we love, deepening our closeness to them and to God, so that if someone would say to you," Smile! God loves you!”, you would.
Father John
January 15, 2021
Dear Parish Family,
Once I tried to read a cookbook put out in the 1920s by a parish in Shakopee. I was told it was simple and easy to understand, and I was excited to finally learn something about cooking. But as I studied it, my enthusiasm took on water like the Titanic. Every recipe in it called for "dashes" of this, "smidgens" of that, "pinches" of the other; not a single mention of how many ounces of, cups of, tablespoons of etc. The only thing that was clear was what hardware store in town sold the shells needed for hunting rabbit that one particular recipe called for. But I didn't own a gun and the hardware store was out of business by then. I asked a few good cooks for a translation of "dash", "smidgens" and "pinches" only to find out there was no such thing. The best advice I got was, "You just have to try it until you get it right." Arrrg! Information in the cookbook was only good to those who were used to going by those airy measurements, in which case they wouldn't have needed the cookbook.
There is another book with instructions that are not vague. The Bible instructs us not to kill (including intentionally harm), not to steal, and not to covet or to put any other agenda before loving God. The Son of God tells us to love one another. In reference to the judgement day He says, "Whatever you did to anyone you did to me." Viruses of the spirit compete with those instructions; including greed, violence, all that leads to war and war itself. But it isn’t just a difference of black hats and white hats. Through all human history, there have been people who could be misled and give themselves to a blind, unreasoning faith in something that yielded disastrous results. That fact makes the teachings in the Bible and most especially those of Jesus Christ of the greatest importance when it comes to interpreting the world and what happens in it. Having just celebrated the birth of The Prince of Peace, what God wills can't be far removed from our awareness.
Father John
January 8, 2021
Dear Parish Family,
In 1812, the United States government was cocky enough to think it could invade and seize Canada. Tensions built and the situation turned into the War of 1812. In the end, England invaded Washington, D.C. in 1814 and torched the Capitol building. Our government surrendered.
After that, we built the country up enough that Lincoln said during the Civil War that no foreign enemy would ever conquer the United States. "No foreign army will ever be able to do so much as take a drink out of the Ohio River." he said, adding, "If the United States ever does fall it will be due to enemies from within". To undo the life we enjoy in this country, there would have to be people with savage enough minds to create alienation that grows and spreads; a virus of the spirit, in our own population. A senator said Thursday that we need to get out of our "political silos" and really meet each other. As Christians and Catholics, we recognize from our own beliefs that we should work to heal alienation. St. Paul wrote about alienation being a chief tangible result of sin. That should give us a lot to think about, especially in light of hate and violent expression seen in the world now, which is something that Christ’s teachings identifies as unholy. A great challenge that faces us as a people is overcoming ignorance and being undereducated. For something to be a sin, the person doing it has to know that it's wrong, and there are people doing harmful things in the belief that they are doing good. That ignorance has to be cleared like a dense woods so that the Conscience of Christ is clearly understood.
Father John
January 2, 2021
Dear Parish Family-
I wish you a happy and fulfilling new year. We should have opportunities to make good things happen that have been missing for a while. Returning to normal can mean returning to all the bad habits and jangled reactions to people were commonplace in the world. Prayer can prepare us to return to normal with a better, clearer sense of purpose. In "The Christmas Carol," Marley's ghost shows Scrooge a host of ghosts in the air over the street mourning that they no longer have the chance to help people suffering below. But he observes that some of them, being returned now to life, would resume it with the same "gripeing cares" that governed their lives before and return to their habitual battles, forgeting the desire to care for others. Returning to normal will have the pressures and temptations that it did before. But we do have an opportunity to appreciate how dear life is now and, prayerfully, we can preserve that sense and be more reflective and maybe less reactive when we are free of the current crisis.
Father John
December 26, 2020
Dear Parish Family-
The entertainment industry puts out a lot of fanciful stories, like modern fairy tales, about Christmas. For instance, it seems like every animated character and muppet has "saved Christmas". The "saving of Christmas" always involves getting Santa out of some dilemma that's preventing him from delivering presents. The Santa angle is fun. I've always enjoyed it. And the truth is that winter is rough and it's good to have reasons to do some celebrating with people we love. And the TRUTH is that Christmas is our celebration of the beginning of our redemption. The birth of Jesus Christ takes us to Easter and the resurrection. In the commercialism of Christmas, it seems that an antique thing or two have become forgotten. Christmas is identified by the word "magic" now. But for centuries it was understood as "a time for forgiveness." Forgiveness, in Christ, means healing, the reduction of alienation between people and, so, love. All that is part of redemption. Enjoy the fun side of things and live the deeper meaning. I wish you all a very happy, fulfilling new year.
Father John
December 18, 2020
Dear Parish Family-
I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy, far better new year! And that wish goes with prayers, too. Many thanks to you for all the cards and family pictures you've sent. My dining room looks pretty happy with them decking that hall. There are some very cute, artistic and poignant and wonderful pictures in the array.
There was a Christmas tradition in England to include a ghost story in the after dinner narratives by the fireplace. As the frequently heard song has it, "scary ghost stories and tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago.” The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is probably the finest of those ghost stories and since radio and tv changed some of our habits, it's probably about the only one people know now. If such a tale were to be wedged into Christmas now, you'd probably hear, "Yo! Halloween's over, bruh!" Ghost stories on Christmas had a purpose in their day and that was to recognize that not everyone will feel merry at Christmas. The loss of a loved one, the loss of employment or some other hard thing can make a soul feel the flow of life's forces and be unavoidably detached from the whoop and crash that's widely promoted for December 25th. In our worship and other prayer around Christmas, we include any who find words like "joy", "the beauty and magic of Christmas" and "salvation" too hard to relate to. That doesn't mean we should abandon our own sense of joy in all that Christmas is. God does want us to be happy and feel at peace. Fortunately, a lot of people go to a lot of trouble to spread the love of God for Christmas. As you do that, remember that you do it to glorify God and for His great gift, the healing and salvation we see in the stable, wrapped not in shiny, illustrated paper, but in swaddling clothes.
Merry Christmas,
Father John
December 11, 2020
Dear Parish Family,
Nobody sat around watching football games on Thanksgiving when I was a boy. Instead, after the feast my dad and uncles were charged with taking us kids downtown to see the window displays at Donaldson's and Dayton's. It was partly scouting for Santa and partly a break for the moms who had done all the work, if you can call socializing over doing the dishes a break. The dads pulled their brims down low and clutched themselves tightly as they stomped their feet for warmth. All the while us kids were dazzled by the brightly lit scenes showing toys of every kind, knowing that soon we would visit the toy department to see Santa.
Then suddenly, we were switched onto a different track when Christmas Eve came and we found ourselves on the more solemn side of things. It was like getting ready to go to church on a Sunday morning, but it was midnight! After getting us out the door, our lengthy instructions to behave in church made us realize that Christmas is greater than our favorite toy department. Nature provided its own echo of the angelic message to the shepherds: street lights made the snow diamond glinty, and the crunch of it under our feet created a cadence for a deeper meaning; the snow was the moisture filled kind that absorbs sound, creating the “silent night” kind of peace; the sky above was cloudless and starry, as if to remind us that Jesus came so we could be with Him in heaven. And we didn't walk alone. All our neighbors and others were an informal procession to church. A Community of Faith was walking together. Low volume conversations added to the atmosphere of peace. Entering the church we were caught up in the beautiful singing of the choir and the visual elements from window decorations to garlands, trees and the nativity scene. Before Mass ever began, we were transported to another dimension where Christmas was not about presents but about the love of God, which gave us His Son. Of course, the Mass celebrated both His birth and our arrival at a spiritual place. As tourists to Hawaii receive a flower lei around their necks we received a message of Faith in the Love of God. We heard our pastor say that the real gift wasn't anything in box with a ribbon and a bow, but Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Of course I was happy with the loot under the tree the next morning, but it had all been redefined for me on what seemed a magical Christmas Eve.
That was then…happier times than right now. Christmas this year won't be like that. We are in such a serious state of crisis that it can't be like that. Our Faith requires us to care for each other. Maintaining our faith in a very challenging time is the essence of the moment. That has to take precedence over enjoying things on the usual level. Being aware of the incredible stress on hospitals and of the importance of keeping our loved ones safe are things we have to reckon with if we do want to get back to normal. Christmas is coming. Its meaning hasn't changed. But how we celebrate it this year needs the dedicated love we are called to by the Savior whose birth we celebrate.
Father John
December 4, 2020
Dear Parish Family,
We're all familiar with the great love, energy and spirit our parish family has demonstrated in good times. It's no less now, nor is the courage that goes with those qualities. I'm aware of many generous kindnesses done here in recent months. Unlike, for instance, all the work that goes into creating every feature of the Ho Down, all the time devoted to our Christmas and Easter seasons, Sacramental celebrations, cleaning the churchyard, work done by our council, by Rachel, Lynn, Ray and Bridget, by choir volunteers and other volunteers, much of the good being done now is largely unseen and unreported. But it's happening in a variety of ways in the same spirit. It makes me proud to know you. There is a camaraderie here that even happens spontaneously at times. I recall a summer evening several years ago when, after a DRS game, I heard from the office some Veseli ball players come together to harmonize on "The Old Grey Mare." (It occurred to me that they'd be a good addition to the choir.) The qualities I mentioned above are authentic expressions of our Faith in some deep, out-of-Church yet Eucharistic ways. Now, as we come to celebrate God connecting to us through His Son becoming human, we have a chance to connect all those dots and see a spiritual fullness of life in the stuff of daily life throughout the year. What I see could be described simply as caring. But there is really no such thing as a simple thing. All depth is complex and in those depths we come together with God.
Father John
November 27, 2020
Dear Parish Family -
We are beginning Advent this weekend, a time for spiritual preparation to fittingly celebrate God's great gift to us, His Son. I encourage you to use this time for reflection and recommitment to reconciliation. Christmas has long been called "the season of forgiveness". Not everything in the world can be healed in such a short time, of course. That's why recommitment to healing is part of the identity of this Season for us. In Jesus' native language the word for forgiveness and the word for healing were the same word. So His teaching and ministry were done in such a way as to demonstrate that both things are part of one. As we come into Advent, let's consider that in terms of our relationship with God and with each other. That doesn't mean to imagine that we have to have all the ills in the world under control by Christmas. We aren't expected to do the impossible. A good way to begin is for all of us just to pray for each other as a parish family. God will guide us once we recommit. I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving. God bless you all.
Father John
November 20, 2020
Dear Parish Family-
In the 1950s, a new tuna canning business began to put its product on grocery store shelves. It didn't have the money to dye the tuna pink, which other companies had been doing for years. The gray tuna in their cans was unappealing to buyers and their business began to "take on water". A Madison Avenue ad man (of the so called Mad men) came up with a solution which worked well for them and did damage to other tuna companies. He said, "Put on your label, 'Our tuna does not turn pink in the can' ". No one could sue, since no actual falsehood was used.
There is an entire area of psychology on advertising techniques. It all boils down to making people feel that they need whatever product it is. Herman Melville wrote in "Moby Dick" that there is a parallel between whaling and advertising. He said, "We are all fast (caught) fish or loose (free, but hunted) fish.”
The Hopi tribe has a myth about the magpie in which it talks endlessly creating confusion and division. We have social media which can be that magpie and which uses techniques to sell ideologies. After Pearl Harbor, our country came together almost at the snap of fingers. This pandemic is another "Pearl Harbor", but in this case the peoples response has been very uneven. The "magpie" influence and the misbegotten ideology influence are partly to blame. But we make choices, and that is where the buck stops. Freewill requires that we be as informed as we can be and to understand as fully as possible. During Advent, the gloomy end-of-the-world images in the readings become prophetic messages of hope. Our Savior, who will resist the father of lies in the desert, will be introduced by angels who bring the message to a bunch of "slob-eyed joes", the shepherds, first. The holy presence of the Son of God is a gentle, caressing spring breeze as opposed to the icy blasts of our wintery worst moments. The Love of God steps into the scene we know as human existence. Whatever other voices are out there, let us never be unable to hear His.
Father John
November 13, 2020
Dear Parish Family -
Centuries ago in China, the ultimate curse that could be leveled at anyone was, "May you live in an interesting age." One of the things that it takes to make a time "interesting" is being able to create alienation. The Hopi tribe has a myth about the magpie in which the bird sows discord and confusion just by talking all the time. We have social media, which every individual and every nation on earth can use to promote lies, ill will, depressing stuff and ignorance to whoever will buy in. As to social media, people who are not well educated are often targets for those with underhanded political agendas. We have our "magpie" and, thus, a more "interesting age". This is not to say that social media is all bad. But if we ignore the "interesting age" part of it, we do so to our peril.
St. Paul wrote of alienation as being a primary result of sin. The Church offers sacramental ways of rising above sin and its effects.
Before you know it, we'll be doing all we can to prepare for Christmas to celebrate God's gift of His Son to us. Advent is a time to focus on healing and reconciliation as we approach the celebration of the birth of Christ. Let's begin to prepare by appreciating the presence of the Son of God in the people in our lives. Remember the Gospel from a week ago: "You know neither the day nor the hour (when you will next encounter Christ, at home, at work, hunting, shopping, etc.).” Be aware of that. Remember Jesus’ poignant remark about judgement day, "Whatever you did for anyone, you did for me."
Father John
November 6, 2020
Dear Parish Family-
St. Joseph is being introduced as an image for the Archdiocesan Synod. St. Joseph represents that men can image the Fatherhood of God through their humanity. What about women? Can't they present the Divine through their lives? The answer is, of course, they can and do. Both Joseph and Mary were as human as any of us. God was re-introduced to the human race by Jesus Christ as a loving and caring parent.
Remember is that religion is not magic. In the “old days” people were told that if they followed certain practices and prayed to certain saints for certain things, their devotional prayer would never be refused. If the prayer did not achieve the intended, people were glibly told that there was something wrong with how they prayed or that they didn't have enough faith. Of course that kind of handling did a lot of damage to the faith of many. Eventually, we grew up spiritually, and came to understand the absurdity of the "prayer as a magic spell" approach. After all, if we all got everything we wanted, "poof!" just like that, the world would in chaos beyond anything we've ever known. And we can't pray away other people's free will either, which makes a big difference in how we understand what prayer is meant to be and do. St. Joseph isn't an invisible friend for us to play with. His life and his sainthood is an inspiring guide for every dad just as Mary's life is for every mom.
Father John
October 30, 2020
Dear Parish Family,
The expression, "Life has been a roller coaster", has been around for a while. But roller coasters are a blast! It's not fair to identify them with time or experiences that are "pretty hairy". No, it should be tight turn rides, like a tilt awhirl, that get the bad rep. When you get off one of that type you feel like you have figure out how to walk again. But there are ways to beat the dizzying effects of rides like that. You can just close your eyes or look at your feet or the person next to you or anything close.
“There's always another way to do a thing” is an ancient wisdom, and this wisdom will be a useful skill for people to deepen in months ahead. Picture the veteran prospectors who lived their lives in the desert, or the mountain men who choose to live in the high and lonesome, making the most of what life gave them so they could devote themselves to the search for gold or fur, with no ambition to become wealthy, only to search. People like that had to be masters of finding other ways to do things. But anybody living anywhere can develop that ability, as long as they don't decide that they're defeated and they open themselves to the saving love of God.
Another truth that applies today is, "Whether you decide you can or you can't, you're right." Jesus opened a wide door for everyone in saying, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you." We can see that is true just by observing the stuff daily life. There is electricity in the service of humanity, central heating, machinery as varied as types of insects and so on. People asked, sought and knocked. But Jesus takes us beyond all that to a direct connection to God The Father, and wants us to know Him as Abba. Jesus Christ puts us in touch with the divine power to make things happen and invites us to use it in a prayerful spirit and with love. But there's another angle to this particular gift and grace. It's not all about responsibility. God wants us to be happy, content and able to know peace.
Father John
October 23, 2020
Dear Parish Famly,
No, I didn't watch the debate. My preference is for calm in my evenings. I consider this a spiritual value. What's good for the mind and body is good for the soul; for instance, exercise, eating right and a good night's sleep. Intense drama and tension, even if it comes just through the television screen, can wire a person for a bad night's sleep.
What I'm getting at I call the “Don't Drink Poison” principal. Even if you feel outside the flow of life's forces because of loss, the grace of relaxation is possible to know as is the Presence and Love of God. Whatever is going on in anyone's life can be touched by God. There are healing things that can happen and even mini here and now resurrections. Jesus raised three people from the dead before His own resurrection, demonstrating that hope never has to be lost. Letting ourselves be in touch with the love of God, understanding that it is available to us and feeling it in one way and another, is a useful purpose for any of us from the beginning to the end of each day.
Father John
October 16, 2020
Dear Parish Family,
In his evening Fireside Chats with Americans in World War II, President Roosevelt identified the Axis as a threat to our very way of life, our beliefs, our liberties and our future. He was right about all that. People came together to sacrifice much to support the war effort. On the “home front” they accepted gas and food rationing and other severe limitations, for instance no one could buy a new car and only a certain few could get new tires for a vehicle. If I'd been around then, I would have had to do without my morning coffee! Well, we have our own grim prospects right now. It's more important than any time since those Fireside Chat days that we work toward a common goal with the single mindedness that was necessary then. There is a real enemy to defeat (COVID-19), a mindless enemy that plays by its own rules. But we have science and some very simple but useful methods that can help us, those which you all know. And there is one more part – we must be joined together in prayer every day for the good of all. We need grace to be at work in our personal commitments to do nothing to put anyone at risk. Let our prayer life be at the center of that commitment.
Father John
October 9, 2020
Dear Parish Family-
From time to time, one person or another has told me that they're in a Bible study group. The usual plan is to read the whole Bible from the beginning. No one that I know of has ever gotten to the Gospels, which sum everything up and give us what's important, the Son of God and His message. The Gospels, I recommend, is the place to begin a study of the Bible.
In the Gospels, Jesus plows under a lot of Old Testament thinking to present His own authentic message. In front of a crowd who has been taught to love their own people and hate their enemies, Jesus says, "But what I say to you is, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you". And He has the street cred to openly flatten centuries of bad attitude that way because He is the Son of God. He offers, "...then believe because of the works I do". He gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the mute and even raised a few people from the dead. But what He really wanted was that people understand "the law of love". And He endorsed liberty when he said, "Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you". That is definitely an invitation to discover and be creative. Jesus was planting the seed. What is not anywhere in His equation is to abandon the love of God for vengeance or to create damage in the human condition. There is that poignant moment when he gives His followers a glimpse of the Judgement Day. As he is on the way to Jerusalem, knowing that He'll sacrifice His life, He tries to prepare His followers by telling them "I was hungry and you fed me (or didn't), thirsty (etc…)" and "Whatever you did for anyone you did to me". It's a message meant to point to the Eucharist.
We've had quite a week one way or another. In fact, people all over the world have. You know all about that. I hope you've prayed about it. Let some of your prayer be outside and wordless, just feeling. That can lead to relaxing and a wish to be thankful. We need all that. I pray that God blesses you and gives you what you need.
Father John
October 2, 2020
Dear Parish Family,
When I was eight, a young couple moved into the house next door to us. The newlyweds were sure that nothing could knock them off cloud nine. One day she baked bread for him. I recall him sitting in their kitchen window, his hair greased and shiny, in a white collar shirt as his pretty wife handed him the bread, smiling. He was indelicate enough to point out that it was hard as a rock. Their cloud nine proved to be a thunder cloud. Their heaven exploded into yelling which could be heard in our kitchen. Then she pitched the loaf at him which he dodged. We heard their window break and saw the loaf in the broken glass in their yard. The window was an easy fix, but fixing the feelings hurt over things said was harder. They started "keeping score" with each other and became renowned as the loudest house on the block, hurling insults like lightning bolts at each other. In later years, I thought that if that bread had been okay, something else would have tripped them up. They didn't seem to have the maturity to put each other first or to "understand when you don't understand".
At some moment, they would have had some kind of trouble to face that would eclipse the loaf of bread. What it takes to meet those moments in life is dedication and courage. This is dependent on an intimate love being the basis of a life shared. And the “secret ingredient” that underlies such intimacy is a pervasive sense of prayer in living; prayer as we normally understand it, but also a sense of humor, kindness, and the work and play we do. Prayer makes us involved in life and makes us present to the people we love. And it can help us when we're tired, frustrated or even angry.
Remember the two guys who turned up in the temple in the Gospel. One did the "humble brag" thing, crediting God that he wasn't like "the rest of men". The other simply acknowledged his humanity as part of the big picture. "Oh, God, be merciful to me, a sinner". That's not all prayer, as noted above. But it's a good place to start and it's a caring thing to do to revisit that place from time to time.
God bless you all.
Father John
September 25, 2020
Dear Parish Family,
In Thursday's first reading at Mass, a guy by the name of Quohilith is quoted. Whoever he was, he disappeared from history forever and ever ago, never to be mentioned again. He had a bleak, depressed sounding perspective on daily life, basically saying that there's no point to the laboring done in life, that it gains nothing and helps no one. To be fair to him, he knew nothing of the advantages and progress that would happen when democracy came along. The desire that exists today to make the world a better place wasn't available in his day. But we do live by this desire today and it has its origin in Jesus Christ who, in a life simply lived, created a revolution and an evolutionary leap in human understanding, especially through the Eucharist.
There are tensions and there is crisis in the better world we know. At the moment a big, ugly political fight is ramping up and comments are flying like shrapnel. Fighting in a world with so many possibilities for good is stupid, but it can be hard to rise above it. It helps me not to take every little thing so seriously to know that while there is a great deal of game playing by everyone with an agenda, the Gospel message and the purpose generated by the Eucharist are given to us as universal constants by God who loves us. Sometimes it's fairly easy to live our Faith. Sometimes, with a lot of thunder in our ears, it can be more an aspiration. But in any case, because we want that better future for those who will follow us, we do our best to maintain a firm grip on our Faith and our relationship with God through His Son. That doesn't mean that we have to be hunkered down in a foxhole of grimness and gloom, not smiling and not finding joy in life. In fact ,it means that God wants to dance with us, speaking by way of a metaphor; to be with us in those positive ways, sharing them with us.
God Bless you all,
Father John
September 18, 2020
Dear Parish Family -
This week is the Jewish new year. In ancient times the Hebrews began their year with harvest time, thinking that time was the best to celebrate God's goodness. They associated God's love with food. The word "lord" was coined to mean "the one who gives bread". As people who appreciate good baking, I guess we can appreciate the feeling behind that.
God has given us some great gifts. We are made in the image and likeness of God, which means that we have such depth of creativity that we understand the universe as God does and that we can create new things out of it that never existed before. It means, more to the point, that we know Him and communicate with him. Our faith and our prayer life guide us to use His gifts for good. At the deepest level, it means that we can know God loves us. There is plenty of terrible trouble in the world, both big picture and personal. The gifts we have allow us to deal creatively with hard times and even find things to be grateful for.
Going back to baked goods, I recall one of my little brothers, being asked to lead a decade of the rosary, edited the Our Father to his tastes, “. . . give us this day out daily bread and sweet rolls". One of our spiritual gifts is a sense of humor. Nurture that! And feel free to smile. God loves you.
Father John
September 11, 2020
Dear Parish Family-
As you know well, the world is caught in a pandemic, a medical crisis that continues to spike. Part of the crisis is not only the virus itself but the decisions by some not to take it seriously. And part of the crisis is even an impulse in some people to compromise taking it seriously in favor of other objectives. Also, part of the crisis is just the inexact understanding by some of the medical protocols. The protocols are not many but they do require a strict approach to how we live. And the nature of the disease itself requires us to follow the advice that comes from the medical community.
Where our faith comes into play is in the simple doctrine given by Jesus Christ that we love one another in the spirit of the Eucharist. Loving in that depth would help us prevent worse wreckage to life, including to our economy, caused by playing fast and loose with a terrible threat. Generally, people mean well and have good intentions. But without knowledge and without living by it we live with an unacceptable level of risk. Our Faith guides us to be the best we can be.
Father John
September 4, 2020
Dear Parish Family-
Rhyming began as a druidic ritual practice. The idea was to create a perfect balance in prayer to maintain harmony in the universe. "Harmony in the universe" was an ancient way of speaking to the damage people could do by behaving badly. Centuries passed and the druids and their practices were gone. But rhyming remained a way to hold on to an older culture and later as kind of artistic expression. Now rhymes are just the stuff of most poetry and every kind of commercial music, which is a long way from "harmony in the universe".
Comedy has an element of rhyme. For instance, a standup comedian was challenged to rhyme a word with "orange" and came up with "door hinge." I told that to a girl, thinking it was clever. Her brow knitted and she said, “No." Hearing that, I didn't go on with, "Roses are red, violets are blue, some poems don't rhyme an' this is one of 'em".
The idea of "harmony in the universe" was common to ancient cultures all over the world, not just the druids. Jesus Christ gave us the key to that “harmony” that the ancients longed for with His teachings on love, including his teachings and examples as to service and His death on the cross. The Conscience of Christ frees us to transcend the things that have always bound people: tribalism, peer pressure, exclusive nationalism and so on. We are believers in The Son of God first and in continuing His Presence in the world and other allegiances second.
Fr. John
August 28, 2020
Dear Parish Family-
On the news this week, lightning storms and "a fire as big as the Grand Canyon" in The Sierra Nevadas, an innocent man shot in the back seven times in a murderous assault that touched off riots and looting, Russia poised to seize Belarus as the people of Belarus protest a dictator seizing the Democratic process, Huricane Laura, the uncertain medical situation accompanying the start of school . . . there certainly is enough to pray about. We can't fail to pray. It's vital that we stay in touch with the center of our prayer life, however possible. The word “Eucharist” means "To give thanks". As troubled as the present moment is, we should all keep in mind that our prayer is never complete without giving thanks.
Fr. John
August 21, 2020
Dear Parish Family-
There have been a lot of news stories about young people with no sense of the Common Good; for example, parties with no concern about spreading the virus. News images can create a stereotype that all late teens – early 20s people are uncaring and irresponsible. But we know that is not true. We all know shining examples that don't fit that description. There are some in every age group who don't understand that we are all connected and that what happens to one of us happens to all of us.
For us who aspire to live in Jesus Christ, the Common Good is ultimately important. When he said, "Love one another", when he washed the apostles feet and when he died for us, He was trying to lead us to understand that we are all connected and that we have responsibilities in that connection. My dad quipped, "The only the thing wrong with the human race is people." He was wisecracking of course. Jesus believed the human race was worth loving and saving, and we should believe this too, even as we see its faults and shortcomings broadcast every day. We pray, in Christ, for healing in the world and we pray for the graces to never lose the compassionate Conscience with which he gifted us.
Father John
August 14, 2020
Dear Parish Family-
I'm on staycation this week so this will be shorter. I want to note that I'm very proud to be surrounded by intelligent, quick learning people. The present and the future is in good hands here. God bless you all and keep you in His Love.
Fr. John
August 7, 2020
Dear Parish Family,
In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah speaks of the Israelites finding blessings in the desert. That's significant since the desert was a place of little food and water, deadly heat, dangerous animals, sandstorms, and bandit gangs and terrorists, called "zealots". People came to legendarize the desert as the home of spiritual enemies as well as physical ones. So to say that they found blessings there shows that they had the conscience to be in touch with the love of God. I could go on from there connecting all the dots of our Faith and Sacramental Life to that. But you know all this. This week I simply want to identify that your loving, faith-filled consciences let you touch God and open you to receive His love.
It's easier to do this some days more than others. By way of a metaphoric voyager experience: if your day is a rapids plunging, rip roaring canoe shredding day, it can be hard to feel the peace you need to connect to God. If your day is a slow and steady, easy current day, then being in touch with God can be easier. There are portaging days, when you have to carry heavy loads in the heat. And there are even some still trout pool days. Whether your ears are full of thunder or blessed with the sound of breezes through trees - your faith allows you know God’s loving and healing touch every day.
Father John
Click here for the August newsletter from Holy Cross Catholic School.
July 31, 2020
Dear Parish Family-
Living a Christian and Catholic life is sometimes expressed in pietistic devotions, but it is always lived in dedication to the Common Good. This summer, some people have chosen risky fun and entertainment over that dedication. Just as many have lived a courageous life of self denial. For the safety of others, especially the people they love. The crisis of the moment seems like one of those disastrous fires in the Sierra Nevadas. Yet we actually have more control over our own fate in this case. There are a few simple, well known guidelines from the medical profession that can really help us. It may not be immediately apparent, but living our faith, in terms of service to others, includes such simple things as washing hands, not gathering in crowds, wearing masks and social distancing. Not compromising those simple things is an authentic expression of the love that Christ calls us to live. It takes courage, which is a gift of The Holy Spirit and also a choice.
Lately, I've thought that we might understand how tough people had to be in World War 2, worrying about loved ones sent overseas, the fear of a military man showing up at their door with tragic news and living with restrictions that were pretty severe. No one could get a new car, tires, much gasoline, much meat, much butter and no coffee. Nobody went anywhere except to work and do necessary shopping and errands. The radio was a magic carpet ride in the evening but reality, via worrying news broadcasts, was also part of those evenings. Before that there was the Depression and after the war the shortages continued for about five years. All that happened a while ago, so it's easy not to have any sense that people lived with some pretty great hardships and anxiety. Still, we do remember them as heroic and now perhaps we can feel something in common with them. Generally, they believed in Christ and found strength in their faith to get through about twenty hard years. Now we live with the sense that much is asked of us. You hear often, "Stay safe". And that's right. Also, you should hear, "Stay close to our Savior".
God bless you all. Fr. John
July 24, 2020
Dear Parish Family-
Courage is required of us in this crisis and we have shining examples of that in our midst. Our Parish Council, Rachel, our Communion Distributors, our music providers, and our sanitizing crews after each Mass certainly deserve recognition for their dedication and hard work.
As a humble tribute I want to name all those mentioned above for the historic record so that the future will know of them: office administrator Rachel Barten; trustees Kevin Otting and Joe Widmer; council members Mike Bartusek, Nick Pieper, Chad Shimota, Brian Skluzacek, and Greg Wagner; our diligent maintenance man Ray Pieper; communion distributors Bernice Horejsi, Amy Lemke, Julie Meger, Paula Novak, Sharon Pint, and Kristin Schroers; ushers/cleaners Mandy Bisek, Denise Brantl, Liz Hill, John Kubes, Amy Lemke, Mitch Novak, Kevin Otting, Angie Pahl, Sara Pepel, Nick and Megan Pieper, Ron Simon, Brian and Amy Skluzacek, Joe and Mary Widmer; videographers Chad Shimota and Jessica Smisek; and musicians and keyboard players Lynn Havlicek, Elise Pahl, Grant Pahl and Bridget Pieper who have not left us without music for our liturgies. Many thanks to all of them for their courage and dedication.
Father John
July 17, 2020
Dear Parish Family-
Since I panned for gold in the summer of '88, I've been intrigued by old time prospecting. Scratching a living out of rocks, riverbeds, icebound hills and so on was a way of life for a certain type. They didn't stay around to get involved in mining if their searches turned into a gold rush. They kept moving across mountains, deserts and plains, sometimes even to other continents. They were among those who knew how to live off the land, whatever land it was. They paid close attention to its beauty and its hazards. They understood that life could be hard but considered that a fair trade for what life could give them.
In my case, I panned for gold one whole afternoon and got enough gold to maybe buy a sandwich (but not with coffee.) Unlike those real prospectors, I didn't see any mountain vistas that day or weird rock formations in the desert. On the plus side, I didn't have to worry about being robbed for what I had.
There is something of a parable in this business of prospecting. We can find ourselves in metaphoric deserts or high and lonesome mountains. The "ores" we have to scratch out of our parable rocks and streams are joy, peace, contentment, courage and an appreciation of what's good and beautiful. Fortunately, unlike the general run of old time prospectors, we are not alone why we do this. In fact, we already have plenty of gold in the people we love. Those other "ores" for us can be "dug out" from the "rocks" of life to give us the caring we need: humor, music, fishing, pleasure reading, fresh air and sunshine. God has given us so many gifts. Considering what we're dealing with these days, we are challenged not to take them for granted. We have to "dig" a little because of frustration. Still the gifts are there. The Christian Life makes each of us gold to be found, too. We know that truth in a sacramental way; that we are Eucharist to each other.
Well, I'm "talking to the choir". I know you are that Eucharist. But if you have a reason- great or small- to feel discouraged, frustrated or even scared, I want to bring up that God hasn't left you alone. The Holy Spirit is with you if you want His wisdom and comfort.
Well, I trust you'll grant me an amnesty for closing here on a completely corny note. But it is true that, for you, "There's gold in them thar hills".
Father John
June 10, 2020
Dear Parish Family,
When I was new to the priesthood, I waxed eloquent one Sunday morning, telling everyone what I thought they needed to know. A guy who was always on the opposite side of any question from me came out the front door, grinned and wrung my hand gratefully, saying, "That's the best homily I ever heard!” and he spewed back to me the exact opposite of my message. I wasn't totally taken aback. Our homily prof in the seminary told us that we'd run into that every once in a while. He also wisely advised us not to "pablum feed" people in preaching, which was what I had been doing. Jesus does that very thing in the Gospel for this weekend. "This is why I speak to them in parables, because, “They look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.”
Jesus had a long contract to fulfill in trying to teach people who were illiterate and unacquainted with about everything we think of as freedom. But His phrasing can work for us, too, as a message calling for sensitivity to the world we live in. Liberty begins with and is sustained by learning.
This connects to the message in this weekend's Gospel passage of the parable of the farmer throwing seed out. You know the one. Some of the seed lands on the road, some in briars, some in rocks and some on good soil. The seed on bad soils are people whose lives are defined by such things as unpotable water, war, tyranny, poverty, ignorance and other tragic circumstances. Jesus could have just said, "These are the abcs of what needs healing." If he had done it that way, everyone would have agreed and thought, "Well, I guess that settled that", and then gone home and forgotten about it. We can’t fix all that big picture stuff right now. But we can live in the spirit of the Gospel and improve and even reclaim some "soil" by being aware of what's real in our world, good as well as bad, and especially by being present to the people most dear to us. One of the best ways to bring healing about and even to maintain intimacy (which is a good soil thing), is to pray with people you love. Well,that's our homework this week: See, Hear, Pray.
Father John
July 3, 2020
Dear Parish Family,
If we lived in, say, the North Hills of L.A. and there was a raging forest fire, you wouldn't need a message from your friendly neighborhood pastor to tell you about it. So I won't go into any raging fires, real or metaphorical today. I want you to have some peace and happiness as we celebrate this 4th of July holiday.
If you're lucky enough to get to a lake, God bless that! (And I'll admit I'm a little "jelly".) I can't think of anything that would be more purely satisfying than to jump into a cool, clean lake and turn into a dolphin for a few hours. I'd even be happy see three terraced, emerald colored lakes that I rode past one summer, years ago, in the Canadian Rockies, as a wrangler and I led a couple pack mules up through the woods. We stopped at each lake and just took it all in for a while. The woods were cool and the lakes were very deep glacial results and they were beautiful. If you can't go to a lake, there are other joys to be had if you do a little prospecting for them. And the finding is half the fun. In other words don't be shy about searching out and counting your blessings. For me, I guess the Canadian Rockies are out this weekend and lakes are too. But I may see some show on the night of the 4th or at least hear it. I'll celebrate the 4th with Mass in the morning, thanking God for all of us for all He has given us and praying that He helps us protect it all. I'll do some summery stuff, like salute our country and it's wonderful liberties with a root beer float or a smoothie at sunset. I'll have a flag in the garden. Hope there's a breeze. And I'll find some ways to have fun and relax during the day.
Believe in and remember the love of God. He wants you to be happy. I hope and pray that you can do that. We all need a dose of that right now.
Father John
June 26, 2020
Dear Parish Family -
On Thursday, I made the first run that I've made to a destination since March 17th. I went to see two friends who I've missed a great deal for an afternoon of lively conversation. We wore masks, which made the get together rather bitter sweet and even creepy. My friendship with them over many years has most often been carefree and, on birthdays and in the Holidays, even celebratory. But we knew we were obliged to one another to do so for the good of all. We sat about eight feet apart. No snacks were put out. We'd committed to air hugs and air fist bumps. Nothing that might compromise any of us was done.
I'll own up that the mask thing was the most difficult single thing for us. Not being able to see the faces of people one cares about is a very difficult thing. Lately, many people are abandoning this necessary caution and social distancing. There is an abundance of evidence that, at least sometimes, a high school like peer pressure comes into play in the adult world. It resembles the cases of kids who vape to be cool and fit in with friends who do that. And it's dangerous, like that is. There are at least a few tributary influences on people who are going without masks in public and ignoring social distancing. Those influences are leading some people to just give up. There is a great deal at stake, too much for anyone to just give up. Especially at stake is the well-being of the loved ones.
In the Gospels, Jesus Christ teaches us to love with an attitude of service. The word service comes into focus on two important non-religious days, Veteran's Day and Memorial Day. It's vitally important now for us to connect The Conscience of Christ to the meaning of those days of memorializing and to have that disciplined a spiritual life for the Common Good. So I urge you not to give in if it's difficult for some reason but to do what's right. If you're doing your best to do what needs to be done, as I know many are, be proud of that.
God bless you all. Fr. John
June 19, 2020
Dear Parish Family-
This week I will just say stay safe and count your blessings. This is my "driveway chalk writing" equivalent for you, signed "With Love". I know the situation we're going through is frustrating and frustration can even allow for a temptation to dilute the significance of the medical data which exists. Thus I say be safe. Since we are living in frustrating circumstances, (I certainly include myself in that), I say count your blessings every day. That will do you good in itself and lead you to prayer which has it's own graces of salvation. But, mainly, I encourage you to recognize and acknowledge what God gives you that creates joy and peace in your lives and intimacy with others. If I gave myself two driveway equivalents, I'd put in the other, "Smile! Even laugh! God loves you."
Fr. John
June 10, 2020
Dear Parish Family-
As you may know, parishes are allowed to welcome people back to Church when they are prepared. That preparation has been complex and a great deal of work has gone into it. The archdiocese established protocols to be followed in parishes for safety, for example only 25% capacity for Masses and social distancing requirements. The Parish Council and Rachel and I have studied and deliberated at length to design the best way to make reopening work. Click here for more important information to read over before you return to Mass.
The plan is to open this weekend, June 13 and 14, with 5:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday and 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Masses on Sunday. (The 11:00 a.m. Mass is temporary, for the length of the current crisis.) Those who wish to attend Mass are asked to attend a Mass based on the first letter of your last name – this information can be found on our website and in the bulletin. Note that there is an element of uncertainty that can't be avoided. Since we have to observe the 25% limit, it is possible that some people might be turned away if we reach capacity. I hope, and we all hope that that won't happen. But we are not free to make exceptions if it should come to that.
Following a recommendation from the archdiocese, Communion will be distributed as people leave Church. I'll remind you that Masks are required in Church and that people are to observe social distancing from people who are not immediate family. Visiting after Mass should NOT happen.
Every day I hear how people feel about living through the current crisis. Just about everyone says that they wonder how long it will go on. The best answer to that question, ahead of a vaccine, is that it depends on how people behave. I know that you are doing your best to be disciplined and you should be proud of the courage and wisdom you show in doing that. I'm very proud of you. I look forward to seeing you in Church.
God love you all, Fr. John
June 5, 2020
Dear Parish Family-
This weekend is the feast of The Most Holy Trinity and on Sunday we will celebrate First Holy Communion. The Eucharist reflects the Divine Love of the trinity. The Eucharist was introduced by the Son of God as a love that is willing to make sacrifices. Moms and dads understand that depth of love. The Holy Trinity is perfect love.
In the seminary we had a joke that went, "Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, one is a heretic." That gag reflected the human imperfection that causes division. In God there is no division, there are no factions, and no impulse to despise. We were meant to aspire to that way of being. Jesus said, "Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect." That is kind of a tall order! We can be pretty limited by circumstances, such as finances, an inability to see beyond what we are familiar with, and the worst by fear. Anyone can lose sight of the humanity in people they don't identify with, It happens all the time. But we are called to be Eucharist in the world and to the world. We are called to reflect the love of God in living. As Christians, Catholics and as people who believe in the Love of God, we aspire to understand when we don't understand, to be inclusive not exclusive, and to make the world richer not poorer. And I didn't say "you". . . I said "we" which means that I don't pretend to stand above you as some kind of master of all challenges. I'm not that. When Jesus said "Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect”, he wasn't stating an expectation of perfection, but rather where our aim should be.
Let's give the day we live in to God, the Most Holy Trinity, for whom our church was named. Do this by loving, and then you will live the meaning of the sacrament of the Eucharist.
Fr. John
May 29, 2020
Dear Parish Family-
Parish council is working on a plan to reopen the church for parishioners to attend Mass. The archdiocese is calling this "Phase II". No one is obliged to attend Mass, and the safety of all who would attend is of the utmost importance. There will be limited capacity, and we will need to follow social distance guidelines. We need volunteers to act as "ushers" during this phase. All volunteers needs to be in good health, and under the "high risk" age of 65. All volunteers will receive training. Ushers will need to:- Show people where to sit, and orderly instruct people when to leave (like at a wedding)
- Count the number of people in church to make sure we don't exceed a 25% capacity
- Disinfect pews and other touched surfaces after Mass
- Ask people to follow social distance guidelines
The archdiocese is deeply concerned about people's safety and, after the trials and other financial troubles, is also concerned about liability issues. There is a heavy emphasis on doing things safely and that each parish has to design its own strategy, based on Church and state rules in regard to the pandemic. That is wisdom, since parishes vary widely across the board. For instance, you may hear things like one pastor isn't so strict on masks in Church but that another one is. We are working hard to create our strategy. A sound logistical plan that would come under the heading of "best practices" is a lot of work. We haven't had to do anything like this before, of course. God bless you and keep you safe.
Fr. John
5/22/2020
Dear Parish Family-
The BBC did a piece on the science of friendship. It was discussed that having no friends is more hazardous to a person's health than smoking. This is connected to the fact that there can be perils in friendships during a pandemic.
During this pandemic, people gathering unsafely in groups is heavily freighted with risk for the general population. My sisters, who are career nurses and fully informed as to the disease, have explained to me that during the “stay at home” order, there was a significant number of people (41%) who did not comply, and that since it ended some have abandoned caution for gathering safely. My sisters and their professional peers fear that that lack of caution will cause more spiking instead of a lessening of cases.
Since the spiritual well-being of people is intimately involved with their physical well-being, I have a responsibility to address both in a time such as now. Just as a mom or dad have to be up on pharmacology, psychology, first aid, computers, money management and a variety of other skills, so must a priest be as liberally educated as possible to avoid being shallow as a communicator. I am morally obliged to say this so that I am not responsible for anyone becoming sick, or worse by obscuring the truth. I cannot decide for anyone. Free will is created by God. I am not God. (You can ask anybody.) I can only do the best I am able to do for the well-being of the people I love, which is first and foremost to pray, and to identify with the medical data that comes along. But forcing people to act accordingly is not for me to do.
Please let me advise you, however, that anyone who exposes themselves to risk also risks harming others. I pray that God will bless you and give you some joy each day, as well as keep your precious lives safe.
Fr. John
05/15/2020
Dear Parish Family,
There are some unresolved concerns regarding re-opening the Church. I know that you are being careful and wise in your day to day lives, but bringing a number of people into Church before a vaccine is available creates a different scenario that could pose a threat to people. I feel responsible to explain this, so that, when Church is open again, I won't have failed you by the glib and misleading assurances people would like to hear.
When we reopen, we will follow protocols and guidelines set by the archdiocese. Our parish council, working with myself, will come up with a plan of how re-opening will look at our parish. Answering to my conscience means that any action I take in regard to the pandemic must be based on a strict following of current medical data and not watered down by other interests.
I am grateful to you for taking such good care of your parish with generous contributions. I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Rachel and to our Parish Council for their hard work, about which you will hear more, facing the pandemic. This is unique as to courageous efforts against hardship. Thank you to those who have been so kind to me.
I'd much rather have written something lighter for you, but this is necessary. We are still a long way from being out of the woods. It is my hope that you know that I am experiencing the same feelings as you and you are in my Masses and prayers throughout every day. God bless you and protect you.
Fr. John
05/08/2020
Dear Parish Family-
There are certain things that go into being a family. Loving and protecting each other are the chief things. But a scrap once in a while in not unheard of in family life. Personality differences, beliefs and fears can lead to a dust up in any house.
When I was thirteen, my mom saw an independent streak in me that was very much like her own and it worried her. At that age I had the very firm belief that I should be entirely in charge of my own life and the fear that I would be opposed in that belief. It was not an unfounded fear. The old saying pops up in my thinking, "Never a horse that ain't been rode. Never a cowboy that ain't been throwed." At thirteen, that independent streak meant that I got "throwed" a lot. Of course one must have that strong independence later in life, but first there is the lesson of learning what "horses" are okay to ride. That learning happens in the crucible of family life.
A good, healthy family life is an experience of intimacy and treasured moments that make the bonds not just strong but dynamic and powerful. An essential piece of all that is prayer. Prayer deepens intimacy within a family and it brings us closer to The Father Jesus called "Abba", which means "Daddy" or "Papa". The importance of prayer is certainly true in the present moment, but it will be no less true when things get back to normal.
Consider what "back to normal" means. At the end of every major war, there was an urge to go wild in some way or other. After World War I, it was about creating the whoop and crash of The Roaring '20s. After World War II, it was about building "Camelot" and giving kids everything: family fun, vacations, ball games, Disneyland, and so on. (Remember that between 1930 and about 1950 people hardly ever anywhere.) After our current situation, who knows what will happen. But there will be some equal and opposite reactions. The one fixed point in the kaleidoscopic universe I'm describing is a faith in God that is chiefly expressed in family life.
"Back to normal" will mean all the inconveniences in lift such as being cut off in traffic, behind a slow shopper in the checkout line, or skinned knees and a trip to the clinic when you want to finish up a project. It will also mean Churches open, picnics, laughing with friends and hugs, trips to the lake, road trips to Branson, cruises in the Caribbean, and all kinds of things that flow out of that horn of plenty that we will be missing for a while yet. Let's approach all these realities with prayer. We know ourselves as a parish family, which is a great blessing and a lot of love, devotion and hard work. This mirrors the individual families we each come from. Another day I'll speak to you about family heroes. But this is plenty long enough for now.
God bless you and keep you all. Fr. John
05/01/20
Dear Parish Family-
Spring has sprung. It's funny how 45 degrees in the fall feels so bone chilling and in spring it feels nice. Latching on to simple pleasures at a time like this is good for the soul, and it makes it easier to get into prayer if a person can find some relaxing moments in a day. That can be challenging with all the juggling in the day. But I believe in you. You know how to deal courageously with hard things.
I've been asked to pass along a very important message to you… Holy Cross Catholic School would like to support families during this time by offering several new tuition programs for new families. Look at the bulletin to find out more, visit HolyCrossSchool.net or call Holy Cross any time at 952-652-6100.
Paper bulletins will only be mailed out once every two weeks. If you wish to keep updated, visit mhtveseli.com.
God bless you all. Fr. John
April 24, 2020
Dear Parish family-
I pray that you are doing well. Many, many thanks for your expressions of kindness to me. A couple of those came from walking outside. One neighbor called out, "God bless you, Father!" from his yard. Another called out to me, asking if he could say a prayer of blessing for me. I was very touched. I blessed them both, too. And I bless all of you every day. But I think that all the kindnesses and blessings that have been done for me or for anyone else in this time of crisis are all much more special before God.
There is one other thing I want to note - I'm impressed to see that you're taking the necessary discipline required of us by the current situation seriously. It takes courage and great love to do that. Please continue to follow the medical information that comes out. And God bless you and shield you all and all those dear to you.
Father John
April 17, 2020
Dear Parish Family-
You are on my mind throughout every day. I can't know everyone's circumstances. I've had conversations with some of you. I know you have a steely courage, faith and determination that seems to match the spirit of those who were pioneers here. You're very intelligent and informed. And you understand the power of prayer. That doesn't mean that you haven't felt worried or weary or tired. But it appears to me that you don't have it in you to give up. And I know you are resourceful. There are simple, everyday things such as a sense of humor and getting enough sleep which are important too. The best protection for such spirit is prayer.
There are special graces that go with praying together as families. And if you do that you maintain an important connection to the Masses that I'm offering alone these days. I have two big frames now set up by the altar with pictures of as many as possible of you as families. That helps me with my sense of being connected to you. I will be setting wonderful art from some of our kids behind the Infant of Prague. I have no doubt that you understand the significance of that.
God bless you all, Fr. John
April 10, 2020
Dear Parish Family-
I wish you all a happy Easter! A thing I learned about the people here some time ago is that there's is a great ability to adapt and survive. There is a wonderful practicality in dealing with things life throws our way. I say "our" because I admire you and hope that I have learned some of that skill from you. It includes a cool courage and a saving sense of humor. So, I believe that you will find ways to celebrate and be happy on this most important day.
Keeping in mind and heart the glorious mystery we are celebrating is essential in this instance. We feel it and sense it in the miracle of new life in spring, like a hint of God's deepest love for us. A few days ago, I was happy to see the first tough little Lily Of The Valley shoots coming up through the dry leaf cover of last fall. That life is ever reborn points to God's love for his children.
In the next few days, we remember, with a solemn devotion, that The Son Of God died to save us. Thank God for the Gift of his Son this Easter. Be mindful that he paid the ultimate price for us. But also, be aware of the magnificence of the Resurrection and, that through Jesus Christ, we share in this incredible gift. Remember that many unsung saints from our community rejoice with God now. Remember that God loves you. Again, I wish you all a happy Easter!
Fr. John
April 3, 2020
Dear Parish Family,
As we approach Holy Week, there is anxiety and even a sense of grief among some at not being able to fully celebrate the most significant days on our religious calendar. As you know, the standard set by the Center for Disease Control is that people isolate themselves as much as possible. Being with family is not part of that, but public gatherings of any kind are. The only hope of preventing a sudden and rapid spread of the virus is to maintain the isolation called for. At this time there are enough people in areas around us who are not following the isolation mandate. That means that the risk is not reduced to a satisfactory level. Also the medical information on the virus includes that once it reaches a certain percentage of the population, it can't be prevented from spreading all over, overloading hospitals, which are insufficiently equipped and infecting doctors and nurses who already need more staff. Personally, I won't take the responsibility for putting anyone at risk. So palms will not be distributed this year, as innocent as that may seem.
As to Holy Week, it will all be celebrated by me in our Church for all of you. Since live streaming involves working with other people, we won't do that. However, Archbishop Hebda has recommended a Holy Week Retreat, which may be participated in at any point beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter Vigil by going on archspm.org/holyweek. The archbishop is offering a virtual retreat Easter Sunday morning Mass can be seen at the Basilica.
Speaking for myself, my greatest concern is for your safety. Please know that you are all uppermost in my thoughts and prayers. Like all of you, I wish, hope and pray for an end to this virus. Please take no unnecessary risks. I will be using a large frame to hold many of your Christmas, Baptism and other family pictures, placed in the sanctuary by the altar to maintain a sense of your presence and of our being a parish family.
God bless you all. Fr. John
March 27, 2020
Dear Parish Family,
You have been on my mind and in my prayers. Thinking of you as I say Masses in an empty church is an unhappy thing, on one hand, but encouraging on the other. I miss you all very much. But this will pass and life will right itself again.
I will send out a little communication once a week to be in touch with you. In prayer for you, I recognize that there are hardships on many because of current restrictions. If you own a business, spring is a time when preparation for the season ahead needs to happen. And I understand that there are other ways that this can be hard, including having schools closed. I am praying for you day and night.
In our present situation, there is no reasonable, feasible way for most Catholics to make their Easter duty (confession and Holy Communion). The Church is allowing an indulgence for Catholics to fulfill this obligation by a responsible examination of conscience and a sincere prayer seeking forgiveness of sins. I encourage you to do this. We will return to using the sacrament of Reconciliation properly as soon as the crisis is past. Trust in the love of God for you.
Fr. John
March 20, 2020
Dear Parishioners,
Archbishop Bernard Hebda announced that, starting Wednesday, March 18, he is suspending all public Masses in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis to contain the spread of COVID-19.
With no public Masses at this time, the uncertainty we face as a parish community may seem overwhelming. We are committed to supporting you, our parishioners, in whatever challenges lie in the days ahead.
As we continue this ministry, we humbly ask you for three things:- Pray for the Church, our nation and our world – particularly those who have died, those who are currently suffering from COVID-19/coronavirus and those who are caring for them. Though you will not be able to receive the Eucharist, you may still pray the Mass by participating via TV, radio or streaming. Go to archspm.org/covid19 for more information.
- Share the needs of our community. If you know of someone who is need of assistance, reach out to them with a phone call. (The “social distance” guidelines are to maintain a distance of 6 feet. It is recommended that everyone stay home as much as possible.) Know that if you are suffering from difficulty in this situation you are being prayed for here. If you need to talk, you may certainly call.
- Support our parish. We are continue to pay many fixed expenses such as utilities and payroll. Please consider financially supporting our parish in one of the following ways: mail your weekly contribution envelopes to the parish office at 4939 North Washington St., Veseli, MN 55046 OR complete and return the “Authorization for Direct Payment Form” to sign up for monthly automatic giving. (You may choose to discontinue automatic giving at any time.)
Father John