Superficial Preaching

New Roman Catholic Missal

Men's Retreat in Shingletown a Huge Success

Men's Retreat in Shingletown a Huge Success

On May 28th, 35 men gathered in Shingletown for what was called "A Work'n Man's Retreat." There were chain saws, tractors, shovels, and almost every kind of tool that you could imagine.

The goal was to transform the forest into a spiritual place that could be used for retreats, gatherings, and a sanctuary for private meditation.

The distinct projects were identified:

1. Clearing and thinning of the forest.

2. Beautification and improvement of the amphitheater, including the erecting of a two-story high cross.

3. Completing the outdoor Stations of the Cross with establishing a comfortable walking trail, beautification of each station, and placing numbered posts at each site.

A core group of men with knowledgeable team leaders arrived at 7:00 am and began work. As more and more men arrived they chose a project to join. It wasn't long and the overgrown forest began to take shape.

After five hours of work the lunch bell was rung and the men gathered for a break. As the men nourished their bodies the theme of the retreat was introduced: "Living as Authentic Catholic Men in the World Today." Deacon Pat Kearns (Founder of Catholic Men of the Cross "In-Motion" Retreats) explained the importance of relationships in men's lives, and what type of relationships are needed for our unique journeys. Then the men, now fed, and given some spiritual food to ponder as well, quickly returned to their projects.

Many of the men who attended the retreat did not previously know each other, but there was a bond forming as they worked side by side established friendships.

At 6:00 pm there was no need to ring the dinner bell since God took care of that by delivering an abundance of snow. Escaping the flurry of white powder, the men retreated to the Mary Queen of Peace church that is adjacent to the retreat property and partook in a dinner feast worthy of kings.

After dinner, the weather improved and the men returned to the forest for campfire fellowship. Enjoying a few beers, stories were exchanged, jokes and laughter emerged, and the men reflected on the day's experience.

Some of the men remained on the property and camped, while others chose to drive home.

Morning came with beautiful clear skies and the final touches of the projects were completed. The men then prepared for the arrival of the Shingletown Catholic community for the planned 11:00 am outdoor Mass and picnic.

Families began to arrive and quickly gathered in the amphitheater. The retreat bell was rung and Father Jonathan Molina (Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Parish, and Mary Queen of Peace churches) along with Deacon Pat began Mass. The beauty of God's creation surrounded the community with the chirping of birds, the mild breezes whispering through the trees, and as Father shared his homily the sun's rays were as a spotlight beaming upon him and illuminated his being. It was glorious.

After Mass the community enjoyed a traditional Bar-B-Q with hamburgers and hot dogs, and a variety of fixings. Then the forest was filled with the visitors enjoying the fruits of the men's retreat. They were walking the Stations of the Cross and enjoying the newly enhanced trails.

"This is just the beginning for the retreat property" declared Deacon Pat, further stating "This is a holy place that will in time, be a place of healing, rest, and inspiration for thousands."

To watch a short film of the retreat please visit:  www.DeaconPat.net

For more information about the Corpus Christi Retreat Center please contact Our Lady of Mercy Parish at 530-222-3424.

Why Does God Allow Us To Suffer?

Fifth Sunday of Lent (A)

John 11:1-45

Have you ever wondered why God allows us to suffer?

The Gospel today can help us understand why we experience pain, hurt, anxiety, discomfort, and even despair in our lives. Jesus never stated that he would take all of our pain away.  He actually stated that his desire was for us to be fruitful and live fruitful lives. But in order for something to be fruitful, it often needs to be pruned from time to time.  We know this is evident in fruit trees and for grape vines but this Pruning also occurs in our lives, and is what enables us to become fruitful as well.

I can remember not too long ago speaking to one of the monks at the monastery in Vina, Near Chico.  His name is Brother Raphael and he is the caretaker of the vines. He decribed to me how he purposely stresses the vines by withholding water from them.  He stated that when he limits their water, it makes the plant dig deeper into the soil with its roots, and while searching for water, the whole vine becomes stronger. I couldn’t help but think that there was a similarity with regard to how God from time to time also withholds his grace and power from us.  By allowing life’s events to stress us we are forced to dig deep and we ultimately grow stronger as well. I don’t know about you, but the times in my life when I have experienced crisis and endured great pain and even heartache, are exactly the same times when I grew closer to God and my spirituality deepened.

At my home, in our backyard we have a few huge oak trees.  One in particular, must be at least 100 years old. During our most recent storm I watched the enormous oak sway back and forth in the wind.  I did contemplate the potential damage that could result if the tree fell on our home,  but then realized that the tree had withstood hundreds of similar storms and the odds were that it wouldn’t fall on that particular day. I began to realize that what I was watching with this tree was somewhat similar to the twists and turns of our lives as Christians. Unknowingly, certain events, like a storm come upon us and pull at us, pressure us, twist us around, and might even break a limb or two from time to time. But these trials, as we endure them and persevere, only make us stronger and more resilient.  They especially help us develop virtue and character.

In the gospel today, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was ill.  When Jesus received the message he stated “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God…” But what did Jesus then do? He did nothing. He remained where he was for the next two days before setting off to Judea. And by the time he made the journey and arrived in Judea, Lazarus had been dead for four days. Once he finally arrived, Martha stated to Jesus “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” She knew that Jesus had the power and ability to save her brother and also to prevent their pain from occurring. And when he didn’t respond, she must have felt angry and hurt that he didn’t intervene. How many of us have felt some degree of anger or hurt when we felt that God didn’t intervene in our lives? But what does Jesus say “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” Then Jesus asked to see where Lazarus was laid, and he looked upon the site and he wept. Now - why would he have wept? Especially, when he knew that he was about to bring Lazarus back to life. He wept because he felt the pain experienced by Mary and Martha,  Just like how he feels our pain when we hurt. The Jews realized this and even responded by stating “See how he loved him.”

Yet there were still some who doubted, as evident by their statement “Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have done something so that this man would not have died? How many of us have also doubted when we felt that our prayers were not heard or answered? Then Jesus stated, “Take away the stone.” And Martha responded “Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.” It wasn’t that Martha doubted Jesus; she just didn’t understand what he was doing or why he was doing it. How many of us question God just because we don’t understand why certain things occur in our lives. Haven’t we been told over and over again that “God’s ways are not our Ways?” Yet - we still feel that we should be capable of understanding God. Isn’t “faith” believing in something that you don’t completely understand, something that we can not prove but believe to be true anyway?

And what does Jesus say “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God.” Doesn’t this same message speak to us today? If we only believe, we will also see the glory of God in our lives. Jesus then raises his eyes and said “Father, I thank you for hearing me.  I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe….” Are we willing to see and acknowledge God’s hand in the workings of our lives? Or are we like the people of Jesus’ time and have such little faith that we need to actually see miracles to believe?

In closing, I would like to point out that the message today helps us understand our times of dryness, desolation, and even despair. It helps us understand that God hasn’t abandoned us during those times, but that he actually uses those difficult times to help strengthen us. It is during those times of struggle that allow us to grow deeper roots of faith, and stimulate the growth of virtue in our lives. It helps us to understand that our ultimate reward is not to be obtained in this world, but rather as Jesus states:  “Who even believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me, will never die.”

In this time of Lent, this time of dryness, and often a time of quiet, we must ask our selves if we are embracing the struggles in our lives, and if we are looking for God’s hand in these events. And we must ask ourselves if we are growing in virtue, the virtue that we enable our lives to become more fruitful. God’s ways are not our ways….. And Faith means believing in what you can’t see …but also knowing in your heart and your soul that it is real. So when we struggle, when we suffer, we are to be assured that God has not forsaken us, but just the opposite. He has found us worthy to endure the trial and grow in holiness. He loves us and is always near to those who love him. He truly loves us!  And like a good Father,  He knows that through times of struggle, pain, and even darkness, We will emerge stronger, wiser, more humble, more forgiving, and especially……. more loving!

Catholic Joy! (Gaudete Sunday)

Deacon Pat Kearns

3rd Sunday of Advent

Is 35:1-6a, 10, Mt 11:2-11

Catholic Joy

Today we light the 3rd Advent Candle. The Rose colored candle. It is different than and much brighter than all the others. This particular candle symbolizes “Rejoicing”.

Let’s explore in a little deeper way, the meaning of this 3rd Sunday of Advent and listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah, allowing the words to settle upon our hearts as they refer to us…

- Strengthen the hands that are feeble

- Make firm the knees that are weak.

- Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not!

- Here is your God; he comes with vindication, with divine recompense.

In other words, God comes to “make-up” for what is lacking in our lives. And Finally: He comes to save us!

Advent is a time of expecting and waiting. However, For many, it is a time of only shopping and preparing for the exchange of gifts at Christmas. But for Catholics, it is a time with a much deeper meaning. Advent is a time to take a closer look at our lives, especially in regard to our preparedness for Christ’s coming. As Christmas approaches, yes we acknowledge the beauty and gravity of that gift of our Lord who humbled himself to take on our humanity. That gift, indeed is beyond our complete understanding and will remain a mystery to us. But we also acknowledge that He will come again, and that when He returns, that will be the end, the end to life as we know it.

However, we must also realize, that HE is also here now, this year, this week, this day, and at this moment. And why is he here? He is here to save us!

So my question to all of us is, what do we need saving from?

- How are our hands feeble?

- How are our knees weak?

- What are our fears?

- What wrong do we need Him to set right?

- How are we blind?

- What is it that we cannot hear?

- In what ways are we lame?

Advent is a time to think about these questions.

Another important question to all of us comes from the depths of a prison, the prison where John the Baptist suffered in Herod’s palace. The same place where John sent his followers to ask the Lord: “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another? Bishop Fulton Sheen said that John was discouraged and perhaps even close to despair when he acted in such a way. John had spent his whole life waiting for the coming of the Christ, and now he has come – or so he thought – and He, John, still suffers in a prison.

Can’t you imagine why he might of thought:

- Is this really the Christ?

- Is this really the one that he was being called to die for?

And how does Jesus respond to John? Jesus states: “Look at all the wonderful things that are happening to the people around here. The Blind are seeing, deaf hearing, dumb speaking, and the lame leaping.” And then Jesus states: “The poor have the good news preached to them.”

What does this mean?

Who are the poor that he speaks of?

“It is Us!”

We are the poor.

When we truly acknowledge our faults, our inequities, our short comings, and realize just how poor we actually are; and when we reach out for Him, the one who has been faithfully waiting for us to respond, then and only then, our world begins to change. A transformation begins. Something so very special is set into motion. HE hears our thoughts, our prayers, and then he begins to shine his light onto us during our hours of desperation. He begins to fill us with wisdom and peace in places where there has only been confusion. He begins to show us the tiniest ways to begin to unravel the knots that we have wrapped around us through repeated bad choices and sinfulness.

But we have to reach out for him, we must look in his direction for our answers. Yes, this seems so very simple, but not unlike John, we might also experience doubts at times. We might question our faith, especially when we are frightened, hurt, and worn down by trial after trail.

Honestly: haven’t we all questioned, either in our thoughts, or at least in our actions:

Are you the one?

Should we be looking somewhere else?

And how many of us, have and are still looking somewhere else for the answers?

How many of us are seeking peace, joy, and love in all the wrong places.

How many of us seek love, but settle for lust?

How many of us seek joy, but settle for cheap pleasure.

Seek satisfaction, but instead merely feed our greed?

Seek wisdom, but then listen to fools.

Seek true beauty, but instead latch onto what only makes us uglier.

Seek intimacy, but settle for less.

Yet, as we reach out for God, choose to look toward him for the answers, we are then touched by a ray of light, a grace, a sense of warmth, an idea, an understanding, a promise of hope and wonder that is Christ, the Christ that is the One! We begin to yearn and hunger for what is pure and true. We begin to make changes in our lives; we throw away the lies and deceptions as we come clean with the sacrament of confession. We suddenly discover within ourselves the ability to make choices that are different than what we had been accustomed to, in that lost cycle of habit. Our behaviors begin to change, we begin to meet new friends, we begin to grow closer to God, to the church, and then, all of the sudden we find a deeper meaning and understanding in the liturgy, the mass. We begin to see our participation with heaven and the spiritual world. We progressively transform into the person that we were created by God to be.We experience love, joy, and peace. We see beauty where we had never noticed it before. We find ourselves drawn to the scriptures, because maybe for the first time, it now becomes alive, and directly speaks to us. As we receive communion, the Eucharist we receive burns within us as we truly realize who we just consumed….. We begin to taste in our lives the fruits of the spirit that that Saint Paul spoke of: Love, Joy, Peace, and Patience. We become kind and generous. And all of this begins as we have chosen to turn to God, to Christ for the answers.

This is the Joy that is behind the Rose colored candle.

It is the message of hope and salvation.

It is the understanding that, YES, we are the poor. And - We have heard the good news preached to us. We have found THE ONE we are looking for.

As we begin to embrace our faith, our catholic faith, and we realize the treasures of the sacraments; we begin to joyfully understand, the eternal rewards of being a Christian

And

Just – how – truly - rich – we – are!

Sing the New Mass

So many Catholics are hungry for good liturgical music. They have been exposed to "Feel Good" music but are really wanting to be nourished with liturgical music that will draw them in to the mystery of the sacrament.

Here is a great site to hear and order Good Liturgical Music (Click Here)

The Feast of San Lorenzo

Yesterday was the Feast of the Filipino Saint San Lorenzo.

We began the day with the Holy Mass.

We invited Father George from across the river as well as Father Jovito from down south the serve with Father Jonathan.

We were blessed with such a holy mass.

And Inspired Preaching.

Followed by the traditional procession.

There was such joy.

Tradition is such a huge part of our faith.

It is often our Filipino and Hispanic communities that remind us of the importance of ritual and tradition.

And then into the hall we go for fellowship.

The carving of the Pigs!

I have to say.... Filipinos know how to have fun!

And we like to eat.

These celebration help remind us that we are really one family.

A family from different cultures.

Different backgrounds.

But also, we have many things in common.

We love to eat....

and eat.....

but most importantly, we love to share our lives with each other.

Thank you for sharing the Feast day of San Lorenzo with us.

Receiving Communion Worthily Teaches Us about God's Love

On All Saints' Day, I attended Mass at a local Catholic high school. The celebrant, the pastor of a nearby parish, started the Mass by saying to the student body of about 800 kids: "Is everyone here sorry for all the sins they've committed? Good. Did you know coming to Mass means your sins are forgiven? So everyone here should come up for Communion today."

In those few sentences, that priest was wrong on at least three levels. Can you name them? Answers in a moment.

Two weeks later, on November 14, the Catholic bishops of the United States, gathered at their annual meeting in Baltimore, released a document called "Happy Are Those Who Are Called to His Supper: On Preparing to Receive Christ Worthily in the Eucharist."
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The entire document can be accessed online

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For today's American Catholics, many of whom lack the most basic understanding of the Eucharist, this short document provides simple and understandable explanations about the beauty and glory and importance of it all. It emphasizes one particular topic: when we should and should not receive Communion at Mass, and why.

The document explains what used to be understood by every Catholic elementary school kid: "In order to receive holy Communion we must be in communion with God and with the Church. If we are no longer in a state of grace because of mortal sin, we are seriously obliged to refrain from receiving holy Communion until we are reconciled with God and the Church."

As examples of such sin, the document mentions "committing murder, including abortion and euthanasia," harboring hatred of others, and abusing others sexually, physically, or psychologically. It then points out other "serious violations of the law of love of God and of neighbor," including swearing a false oath, skipping Mass on Sundays, serious disobedience of proper authority, sex outside of marriage, stealing, slander, or using pornography.

Strong Words

Take a look next time you're at Mass, at how many people sit out Communion. If you're at a typical US parish, almost no one will. Now, we Catholics are fine folks, but let's be realistic.

The Bible has very strong words for those who receive Communion in a state of sin: "Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord" (1 Cor 11:27).

In other words, this is not the teaching of some fuddy-duddy old bishops. It's God, teaching us the reverence we must have for the Holy Eucharist. With this new document, the American bishops are being faithful to their role to teach the faith, whether or not it's what people want to hear.

That priest at the school Mass I attended, the one who called the whole world up to Communion, was wrong for at least three reasons:

1. He was presuming everyone was sorry for their sins. Just because you ask a crowd of 800 people if they're sorry doesn't mean every one of them is.

2. The teaching that going to Mass forgives yours sins applies only to venial sins (less serious ones), not mortal sins like those mentioned above: skipping Mass, sexual sins, sins of hate. (Of course, no high school kid would ever commit any sins like that, right?) For mortal sins, we need to go to confession.

3. The teaching about going to Communion in a state of grace applies only to Catholics. Because the Eucharist is an expression of a unity that we sadly do not have with all Christians, only Catholics should receive Communion at Mass.

More to the point, I was offended by his invitation, not just because he misled 800 students, but because in a single statement, he belittled and cast aside the serious efforts that many folks, trying to be good Catholics, make to observe these obligations toward the Eucharist.

When Compassion Is in Error

Early in our marriage, my wife and I went through a period of refraining from receiving Communion for five years. As a result of some difficult circumstances and poor decisions we had made earlier in our lives, our marriage was not a sacramental one during that time. With the help of diocesan officials, we went to great length to fix our situation, and eventually we were able to do that. Throughout those five years, though, our pastor, aware of our circumstances, was encouraging us to receive Communion at Sunday Mass. He, like the guy at the school Mass, was wrong.

They both think they're being nice guys, compassionate and all, but they're not. They're teaching people that sin is not significant, which I'm sure Jesus would like to have heard before He died on the Cross because of it.

They think they're making life easy for people, but they're denying people the chance to know the joy of God's mercy. Only people who are aware of their own sinfulness can ever truly know His merciful love.

I'll never forget the day I went to Communion after five years without it. I felt like a guy dying of thirst who found an oasis in the desert. I knew in a tangible way that I was fully reconciled to God whom I had earlier disappointed in a serious way. It was a very joyful day.

Following our bishops' lead in this new document will offer all of us opportunities to encounter God‘s merciful, Eucharistic love more deeply.

By Barry Michaels

Barry Michaels is the author of Eucharist: The Church's Treasure (Pauline, 2004) and At the School of Mary (Pauline, 2004), both prayer and study companions to documents of Pope John Paul II. His third book, New Novenas for New Saints, was published by Pauline Books in spring 2007.


(This article originally appeared in Our Sunday Visitor)

Our "Seder Meal"

Have you ever wondered what kind of meal Christ shared with his Apostles at the Last Supper?

Although many, especially Jewish people, state that Christ and the Apostles didn't exactly have a Seder Meal, it was very similar and Our Mass has it's roots in the Passover and the Passover Meal.

We were invited to participate in the Parish's Youth Group Seder Meal last night.

The Seder is the joyful family dinner and worship service which is held in Jewish homes on Passover. Seder means order. The Seder consists of a number of ceremonies of extreme antiquity. Through these ceremonies and symbols, we can feel the trials of the Jews of the Exodus - their embittered life of bondage and the joy of their subsequent triumph of freedom.

We began the meal with prayer and ritual.

Then we took our seat on the floor as Christ and the Apostles would have sat, around the table.

Todd, one of the Youth Leaders gave us instructions and many had a part in the ritual.

We intently listened to the history of our ancestors.

Then there was the washing of the feet, as Christ did to the Apostles.

The washing initially started our with laughs, but then with explanation it became more solemn and meaningful.

Then Sean (as Christ) takes the bread, breaks it, gives it to his Apostles and says those very holy words that instituted the Eucharist.

And Brett "The Other Christ," each table had one, did the same in unison.

The meal was very good. It included food that I was not accustomed to eating.

And every meal needs something sweet.

It was a wonderful and spiritual event. The kids, Liz and I,  enjoyed ourselves very much and can see how the kids will see the connection come Holy Thursday and the Mass of the Last Supper and of the washing of the feet.

The Passover meal given here is quite a bit different than that of the Jewish tradition. It has been shortened, simplified and adapted so that families can have a sense of the ceremony.

Communion on the Tongue

The following Sunday at Mass Father Ignatius was determined to make a stand. He approached the lectern confidently and said:“As many of you know by now we had an incident here at last Sunday’s Mass.

Two youngsters came up front for Communion and instead of placing the Host in their mouth when I put it in their hands, they ran away. In their hurry to escape one of them dropped the Host on the floor. The other Host was also retrieved by Father Donald who had followed the youth out in the park.

"What happened here last Sunday is a sacrilege."

The Host as you know is not just a wafer, or a biscuit. It is the Body of Christ. “And I allowed the Body of Christ to be desecrated by handing it out in peoples’ hands. For this grave sin of thoughtlessness I have begged Him for forgiveness. “I am personally responsible for what happened last Sunday to the Body of Christ and I know that I will be answerable to Him personally one day for my sin."

The priest paused for a while.

“I have decided that from today, Communion will no longer be given in the hand in this church. Not as long as I am here."

“From now on, I would like you please to come forward and genuflect side by side here by the Altar rail. I will then give Communion on the tongue as we used to do previously. I’ve discussed this with Father Donald and he agrees and he will be following the same practice too."

“I have also discussed this matter with the Bishop who said that although the decision is ours to make in this parish; he will not be advising other parishes to change their practice. If anyone has a problem with this change please have a word with me afterwards or with Father Donald.”

Father Ignatius stopped for few moments to let the message sink in, then continued: “I think you ought to know that we have identified one of the youngsters who ran away with the Host last Sunday."

“He is a Catholic boy who has in the past attended Mass here and was educated in our local Catholic school.”

The congregation gasped almost in unison. The priest waited for the noise to die down and then went on: “I also feel responsible for that fact in itself. The fact that one of our own children could carry out such a deed proves that we have failed him somehow. It is obvious that we failed to teach him, and possibly other children, the true meaning of the Eucharist. As your priest I am guilty of that grave omission. I fail to understand how a child who took First Communion in this very church and was educated by us, amongst our own, did not understand the reality of Communion."

“I have discussed this at some length with Mother Superior at St Joseph School and the Headmaster at St Andrew’s. Both will take action to remedy the situation. But most of all I would like to plead with you parents. You are the first point of contact with your children, and rightly so. You promised at their Baptism that you will bring them up in the Faith. Please remember this and use every opportunity to teach your young ones the reality that is Christ and His Divinity. Teach them by example. Teach them by words. Teach them by praying together daily as a family, and by reading passages from the Bible. Father Donald and I are here to help you if you wish. The Lord God has given you the gift of children. Your gift to Him is to bring them up in the Faith.”

This post was taken from Time for Reflections

Your External Behaviors are Illuminations Of Your Soul

You external presentation is a direct reflection of your internal being. I don't mean your attractiveness or physical characteristics, but your emotional and behavioral presentation.

If you are full of love, joy, peace, and compassion it radiates through you and attaches to your encounters with others.

In contrast, if one is full of anger, sadness, and envy, it also radiates through the person and cannot be detached from their behaviors and actions.

Yes, one might try to suppress their inner void of love, but their attempts always come across as fake, or insincere at best.

Have you ever heard the expression that the eyes are the Windows to the soul?

I believe that the actions and behaviors of an individual are the reflection of the soul.

It really has nothing to do with what physical beauty one has been endowed with by our creator, because I have met so many people that are truly beautiful to me that lack physical beauty.

At first glance one might even say that God had withheld much by their lack of pleasing physical characteristics, but only moments later to see that their beauty comes from such a depth within them and illuminates their being with such profundity that it overwhelms any lack of physical gift.

In fact, their beauty is so superior that when compared to a beauty queen, the queen appears dim and somewhat lifeless.

If you find yourself acting in such a way that would not be pleasing to God, or clearly is not pleasing to others, take into consideration that these behaviors are a direct reflection of the shape that your soul is in.

One can judge themselves by the fruit of their behaviors.

Do your inspire others toward holiness?

Do you walk away from others and have made their lives' better in some way?

Do you bring out the best in others?

Do you see the goodness in all that you meet?

Often, what you see in others many times is a reflection of what you see in yourself...... think about it......Often, what you see in others is in fact exactly what you see in yourself......

So how do you fix this problem......

Confession right away. Clear the sin away from your soul, allow the grace of God to penetrate your being.

Daily Mass if possible!

Daily prayer time....... at least 1 hour a day, preferably in adoration of the most precious Eucharist, but if that is not possible..... 1 hour a day.

One might say I don't have 1 hour a day..... I don't believe you.

Make your relationship with God a priority, nothing else can have a higher priority than God, everything else flows from that relationship.

Finally - Serve others.....

Help We Need A Priest! Don't Have One, OK A Deacon Will Do...

I got a call that the priest in the mountain town of Westwood and Chester

was ill and a priest could not be found to relieve him.

Sooooo they asked would I help out?

I asked where the church was that needed help to the person calling from the diocese.

They said, "oh, in your area."

It just cracks me up that anywhere above Sacramento (The City of our Diocese Office) must be in the area of Redding (you know the stix's).

The church that they wanted me to cover is 110 miles away.

It really didn't matter, being a Deacon means serving God's people.

I asked my daughter if she wanted to come along to keep me company.

She said "Sure."

So I grabbed my daughter and off we went into the mountains in search of the mountain church.

We were able to view some beautiful country along the way.

The snow had begun the melt and spring is coming alive with life.

The deer were out playing.

The roads were in good shape and we made great time.

We drove for over and hour and a half and didn't see any other cars.

It ended up being a great afternoon, the service went well, and the parishioners were happy.

Even thought they didn't have "Mass," they were happy to celebrate the liturgy of the word

and have communion.

When a Deacon covers on a Sunday, there is a special Rite that is followed:

"The Sunday Celebration in the absence of a priest."

I am getting better at this as I am asked more and more to cover, but I always need to make it clear that I am not a priest, although an ordained clergy member, and that what we are doing is not having Mass, but the best alternative with the options available.

We do need more priests, there is no substitute, but I will always help fill the holes when needed.

Driving into Westwood CA, and arriving at "Our Lady Of The Snows Catholic Church"

Our Lady of the Snow Catholic Church, Westwood, CA.