Father Bill says...For the Third Sunday of Easter

Jesus with the apostles – at Last Supper

First of all an invitation – if you are near Ticonderoga next Sunday afternoon – join me my parish and family – for a Mass of Thanksgiving on my 50th anniversary as a priest – with a party to follow – you are all invited, if you can get here.

The news of the week in this diocese is that our Bishop, Bishop Robert Cunningham, has been reassigned to the Diocese of Syracuse, New York – He was a good Bishop – in many ways a great Bishop – a very caring and concerned Bishop – so we are disappointed here that again had a Bishop stay only a short time and then be transferred out. Let me tell you one story about Bishop Cunningham – it was about three years ago that he came here to my parish for Confirmation – there was in the parish a six year old girl who was seriously ill – and died just a few weeks later than the Bishop’s visit – they asked to have the Bishop come and visit her and give her a blessing – I went with the Bishop – I was truly impressed with his compassion toward this family – the girl was in a coma – the Bishop sat on the bed next to her – placed his hand gently on her head as he talked with the parents – and prayed with them – and blessed the little girl. It was a real lesson in compassion and loving concern – I was truly impressed.

However, among us here in this Diocese of Ogdensburg – especially among the priests – there is real disappointment – here we go again – this Bishop was with us for only five years – the Bishop before him was here on three years – and the Bishop before him for five – so there have been three Bishops here since I came to this assignment – and soon there will be a fourth. A Bishop is important to the priests of a Diocese – he sets a tone – he gives unity to the priests – and to the Church throughout the country and world. So here we go again – praying ourselves – asking all of you to pray that a good Bishop will be chosen for us – that this diocese will have an energetic and enthusiastic leader to give live and spirit to our Church in the North Country.

As it would happen – the Bishop will be here in my parish this weekend for Confirmation – truly an important sacrament – and a unique opportunity to reach the young people of our parish – our Confirmation program is a two year program of classes and experiences in the teachings of Jesus and the Catholic Church – my concern is whether we have truly changed the lives of these young people – whether we have given them a strong faith – a recognition of what it means to be a Catholic and a Christian in the way they live their lives – will they be a witness to Christ – and demonstrate in their world – their teen world – what it means to be a good person, a good Christian, a good human being. So please join me as I pray for our young people as they receive this Sacrament of Confirmation – may they truly be filled with the Holy Spirit – and become witnesses to the Lord, Jesus, in the way they live their lives.

Uniquely – in the Gospel for this Sunday – the Third Sunday of Easter – Jesus urges his apostles and all of us, his disciples of this age – to be witnesses of the Lord – Just as Jesus demonstrated his great love for us all – by his life, death and resurrection – we are called to be his witnesses by the way we live our lives – by the way we bring the Spirit and love of Our Savior into our world.

In this regard – let me quote Thomas Merton – “a saint preaches sermons by the way he walks and the way he stands…the way he picks things up and holds them in his hands.” “A saint – a window through which God’s mercy shines in the world and for this reason he strives to be holy in order that the goodness of God might not be obscured by any selfish act.”

LET US PRAY

Almighty God, my Father, I pray this day in gratitude for the many gifts that you have given me – you have walked with me for all of these years of my priesthood – and supported me, especially when I was weak and confused – stay with me always, Lord – today I ask your special graces on the young people of my parish who will be receiving Confirmation – make them alive in your love and Spirit – may they bring your Spirit into their lives and demonstrate that life by good lives as witnesses of their faith. This is my prayer. Amen.

Please join me as we say together the Lord’s Prayer

These letters may also be found on my blog – “tipastor.blogspot.com” – recommend it to your friends.

Father Bill says...for the Second Sunday of Easter

St. Thomas the Apostle

Easter week – I must admit that I have missed doing this letter each and every day – but Easter week has been great fun – I took a few days to wander around and visit – my brother, Susan and Paul and their family, my cousin, Father Tom McGrath (who will also celebrate his 50th anniversary in May), Father Joe – and in addition I ate and ate and ate – seemed like every time I turned around I was eating somewhere – the highlight of the week was on Friday when I went over to Rutland, Vermont and had lunch with a friend from the past – I taught together with Frank Coyne many, many years ago at Immaculate Heart Central, Watertown – we sat and talked for a half hour before we even got around to looking at the menu – so much to catch up and share – it was such a great moment –

So now I am back in the parish – and getting ready for Sunday Mass – the Scriptures for the Second Sunday of Easter usually centers on Thomas – the apostle – who expressed his doubts about the Resurrection – and then finds faith – and invites us to strength our faith in the Resurrection – each of the Scriptures chosen for this Sunday’s Mass invite us to examine our faith and then encourages us to strengthen that faith.

The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes the early Christian communities – “of one heart and mind – they had everything in common” – they had a strong faith in the message of Jesus that it lead them to form these communities – that lead them to have faith in each other – so much faith that they were “of one heart and mind” – I know that in many places such communities continue to exist – I think of my friends at Madonna House in Combermere, Ontario, Canada – they truly live united in one heart and mind – sharing everything in common – they have always been an inspiration to me – I speak often about them – although I am not living with them, their inspiration and spirit touches my way of life.

The second reading is from St. John’s Letter – he speaks of victory – “the victory that conquers the world is our faith” – that in faith and truth – those who follow Jesus will live in a spirit that demonstrates to everyone – to the world – how to make life happy – and filled with love and peace – a peace that will transform all peoples into the kind of community that those early Christians discovered – this is the faith that I pray I can tell people about – and convince them that it is the path to love and peace – that they may discover just how to live their lives well.

And then the Thomas story – this Gospel story is rather familiar to all of us – Jesus comes to the apostles after the Resurrection – he begins with a greeting that should always be ours – “Peace be with you” – I greet you again in that way – “Peace be with you” – then he commissions the apostles – “As the Father has sent me, so I send you – receive the Holy Spirit” – and then we are told that Thomas was not with them – could it be that Thomas was so upset with the death of Jesus that he took off on this own – that he isolated himself from his friends –

However, he does get back with them and will not believe the news that they pass on to him – “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put me finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” – we might respond, “Wow” – what happened to Thomas – he had lost faith in his friends, the other apostles – he had spent a couple of years with them – he had put his complete trust in Jesus – and now when this wonderful news comes along that should pick up his spirit – and transform his life – but he simply cannot accept this news – so he responds by demanding physical proof – the future of belief in Jesus will be filled and still is filled with many who demand physical proof – for them such faith is impossible.

When Thomas finally gets his chance to see and touch he Jesus – he simply falls on his knees and shouts, “My Lord and my God” – and Jesus teaches him and all who will follow – “Thomas, have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

“Christ is risen. Truly he is risen”

Jesus lives – Jesus goes to the Father – but remains with us – the apostles must go on in a new way. Jesus may be going to the Father – but that does not mean he is leaving his loved ones on earth – just the opposite – his death will bring about a condition in which the disciples will be able to see his abiding love clearly. “I will not leave you orphaned” – Faith takes over – and empowers the apostles to change the world – and we are challenged to live in that faith and in our own way to change the world in Jesus.

One more interesting item in today’s Gospel of St. John – the reading ends – and this is the ending of the Gospel – “Jesus die many others signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book – but these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.” Wouldn’t you love to have more stories about Jesus.

LET US PRAY

Almighty God, my Father – strengthen my faith – so often – like Thomas – I have doubts – I am just not certain – I hesitate to speak as I should – to live as I should in the spirit of my Savior – simply because my faith is so weak – so I ask you to show me the way – I pray that I may be a faithful apostle – that I may live in love and peace. This is my prayer. Amen.

Please join me as we say together the Lord’s Prayer.

These letters are placed on the blog “Father Bill says…” - found at
tipastor.blogspot.com – invite your friends to discover me.

Father Bill says...for Easter

Jesus on the road to Emmaus - after the Resurrection


For Easter



Happy Easter to you all! May the joy of the Resurrection of Our Savior transform your life – and fill you with new life – that you may live fully each day of your life.

“Christ is Risen, Truly he is risen!!”

Let me take a moment to tell you about last evening – after the evening Good Friday service at Sacred Heart Church – I went out to eat with Father Joe and our Deacon, Elliott – we went over to the Bridge Restaurant – it is just over the Crown Point Bridge in Vermont – we walked in and almost before we had seated ourselves – the gentleman at the table across from us began talking to us – he was a stranger to me – but in a truly friendly manner began talking about fishing and the fish on the menu – and then we discovered he was Navy – so Father Joe began talking with him about Navy kinds of things – and then a lady at the next table mentioned a few things – and then along came the waitress, Dolly, and she joined into the conversation – talk about a community gathering – none of us had met before – yet, as we left the restaurant, we were wishing farewell and Happy Easter to almost all in sight. Talk about Easter spirit.

Tonight we celebrate the Easter Vigil – that wonderful liturgy – beginning with the lighting of the Paschal Candle – the series of readings that lead up to the Easter Gospel – and then the welcoming of new members into the Church – the asking of all present to renew their Baptismal promises – and then the Eucharist.

My friend, Catherine Doherty, writes this about the lighting of the Paschal candle – “Have you lit your Christ candle in your heart? The answer to our darkness of today is this faith that we interiorize by prayer. It is that candle of Christ that we allow to burn in our hearts so as to walk by its light. But we are human and small and frightened. We must pray; inwardly we must pray constantly to the Lord to give us faith. That is one gift he never refuses. Keep that Easter candle trimmed in your heart, so that no matter how dark the environment, we have faith.”

Central to our celebration of Easter is Baptism – for it is in Baptism that we begin our new life – our resurrected life with Jesus – St. Paul describes Baptism as a death – being buried in the waters of Baptism – to rise to new life. So – each Easter – we are invited to renew our Baptismal promises – truly we renew our new life in the Lord – we renew our entrance into the Resurrection of the Lord – and then to remind us of our Baptism – we are sprinkled with the newly blessed Easter water – I remember so well in Peru – the people were invited to bring containers of water to be blessed at the Easter Vigil – and you just couldn’t imagine the various containers that were placed around the altar.

By the way – do you know how to be blessed with holy water – they knew so well in Peru – as the priest sprinkles the people – each person stretches out their arms to grab some of the water with which to bless themselves – remember to stretch out toward the priest when he comes your way.

Baptism unites us all with the Resurrected Savior – by giving us the life of Christ. Easter is about life – the Life of Jesus – new life in Jesus – our life – and the value of all life. Life is the joy of Easter – the joy of Paschal time – why is it that we are not over whelmed with this Easter joy – Christmas often brings more joy than Easter – and yet Easter is truly what our faith is all about.

So – I must ask myself am I truly joyful as I reach this day of the Easter Vigil – I must realize just what it all means – to live in the resurrected Christ. It begins with faith – if I truly believed in the resurrection of Jesus, I should be so ecstatic and so excited – that the joy of resurrection will overwhelm me – make me so truly joyful that I will want to life in and with Jesus – that I will long to be like Jesus in all that I do.

So may I – may you – wake up tomorrow morning – on Easter Sunday – with one prayer on our minds – “Christ is risen, truly he is risen; it is true, it is true, it is true!”

LET US PRAY

Almighty God, my Father – give me your Spirit – that my fully realize and understand – how very special this day is – how special Easter is – may my life be filled with the life of the Risen Savior – may I be more alive than ever before because I am filled with the life of Jesus – my Risen Savior. This is my prayer. Amen.

Please join me as we say together the Lord’s Prayer.

Father Bill says...for Good Friday

For Good Friday


Good Friday – each year, the question comes up – why is this Friday Good? What is so good about the death of Our Savior? The goodness is for us – the people of God – the followers of Jesus – we, Christians – Jesus loved us so much that he did not back away from anything to get the message to us – he not only risked his life for us – he gave his life for us – and so this day – this commemoration of the death of Our Savior is good – good for us.

We must not down play the sufferings of Jesus – some may say – that as the Son of God, God among us – the sufferings were not real – we believe in the Incarnation – Jesus truly accepted our humanity in every way – and so his sufferings were real – and the desolation and disappointment and loneliness of the moment was real – he came to bring God’s love to all people – yet, many of them could not accept and so they made him suffer and took his life in a most horrible way.

However, we do not remember these sufferings so that we feel badly or guilty – we remember them because some one loved us so much that he gave himself for us – and it is that love that allows us to celebrate the death of Jesus. I feel truly saddened this year because a dear friend, a wonderful priest died a few weeks ago – yet, that sadness must now be turned into a glorious celebration of someone that I loved and who cared about me – so this Good Friday as I celebrate the death of Jesus – I also celebrate the death of this good priest who truly gave himself – for the Church, for the people of his parish – and for all of us who were close to him.

One more thought for today – on the cross, Jesus forgave his crucifiers – “Forgive them, Father – for they know not what they do” – Jesus prayer is also a message for us – be a forgiving people – we hear often that we are to live like Jesus – here we have another teaching from our Savior – be a forgiving people – and why – because we are good people – we are good people like Jesus – and we will learn that by being a forgiving person we make ourselves good people – we make ourselves better than ever before. We do not allow our hearts to become stone – filled with grudges and hate – as the hymn says, we ask our God to break our hearts of stone and give us hearts of flesh. These hearts of ours are fragile and break easily – but the solution is not to make them hard – but rather to join Jesus in forgiveness – and then we will find peace and become loving people.

So – I approach Good Friday unafraid – I am ready Lord – I know that this celebration of Your Death is to remind me that one day I must die – I need you to give me the hope and confidence to wipe out my fears – and give me the faith to move along bravely – to continue to live each day with enthusiasm – to be joyful – because you will always be there to support and guide me.

Father Bill says...April 9, 2009

For Holy Thursday


Today is Holy Thursday – last evening, Passover began – I mentioned to the people about the Passover moon – the full moon that begins the time of Passover – and also marks, for us, Christians, the time of the Sacred Triduum – Holy Thursday and the Last Supper, Good Friday and the Celebration of Christ’s crucifixion, Easter Sunday and the Resurrection.

This morning I went over the ceremonies that we will follow this evening at Mass with Deacon Elliott and Father Joe – it brought to mind all that this ceremony means – we call it the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Last Supper – a meal that was probably the Passover Meal – that Jesus added to it – the heart and soul of our Eucharist – passing the bread and saying “This is my Body” – passing the cup and saying “This is the blood of the new covenant.”

My life has been entwined in the Eucharist – as a priest I have had the privilege and challenge of bring the Eucharist to the people of so many various parishes – the prayer that has characterized my life is the Mass – the Blessed Eucharist – it has been a demanding opportunity – and each time I walk out into the sanctuary I know that I begin by thinking are you worthy to be here. The answer is obviously “no” – the only way that I am allowed to take my place at the altar of the Lord is that Jesus has somehow chosen me – invited me – stays with me each and every time I celebrate Mass.

We believe that at this Last Supper Jesus ordained his first priests – the apostles – and so Holy Thursday is my anniversary as a priest – by the way the actual date of the anniversary of my ordination is in May – the folks in this parish have graciously decided to celebrate this anniversary with a special Mass for me on May 3rd – it is my 50th anniversary – so if you are near by – or would like to travel over – you are all invited to that Mass and party afterwards.

As a priest – I have often been assigned as pastor in many different places – I have been pastor in this parish for almost 13 years – Holy Thursday liturgy reminds us that Jesus washed the feet of his apostles – and then asks each pastor to wash the feet of parishioners – so this evening as part of the Holy Thursday Mass I will wash the feet of 12 members of this parish – it is an important symbol and a tremendous reminder for me – that as pastor I must be ready to wash the feet – care for and be concerned for the people of this parish – Jesus washed the feet of his apostles – in those days it was an ordinary courtesy – usually done by a servant – as people walked the sandy roads of Israel – barefoot or in sandals –

Jesus added an important statement to his action at the Last Supper – and I will do so also – Jesus said, “As I have washed your feet – so you must wash each other’s feet.” My action at Mass this evening should be a sign and an encouragement for the people of this parish that they must be concerned for each other – they must wash each other’s feet.

Finally, one of the really nice traditions of our parish – is to bless small loaves of bread – and each family takes one home – and there is a prayer on each loaf – the family is to pray together and break bread together and become more and more a family – loving and concerned for each other.
May the Holy Thursday find you closer to the Lord and encourage you to join with your parish family at the altar of the Lord at the Eucharist

Father Bill says...April 8, 2009

For Wednesday of Holy Week


I am using this day – Wednesday – as a day of preparation for what we call the Great Triduum – Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter – this the climax of the Church year for us, Catholics and Christians – we celebrate the Paschal Mystery – the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus – our Savior.

Each year during Holy Week – we again walk the path that Jesus walked – we celebrate again the events – that in many ways are mysteries for us – no matter how many times we celebrate Holy Week – year after year – we often walk away wondering – what am I suppose to feel – what am I suppose to change – what has really happened here.

Because we know what happens – we can approach the great Triduum with more faith and better understanding – this is all about new life – we should focus on life and not death – Jesus went through the events of this Triduum to show us the way – and lead us along the way to new life.

It all begins with love – the love – the unconditional love that God has for us – his people – in that love God decided to demonstrate to us just what this humanity is about – and so he sent Jesus – and Jesus came to form relationships and friendships with many – it is in those relationships that we discover what our life to be – and how we are form the relationships that should be part of our lives. When we recognize how great God’s love is for us – demonstrated in Jesus – when we recognize how unconditional God’s love is for us – demonstrated in Jesus – then we will learn how to be a loving, forgiving, caring, compassionate person we must be.

So as I begin the Great Triduum – as I prepare to celebrate these events in the life of Jesus – the Last Supper, Good Friday and the Crucifixion, the Resurrection – I begin by realizing what is important in my life – beginning with my relationship to God – how I allow Jesus to be part of my life – how I allow Jesus to lead me to new life.

And then I should and must consider all the other relationships that are important in my life – and how I will and must react and live and find new life in and through my relationships – for Jesus helps me to understand that these relationships in my life are crucial in drawing me closer to Jesus.

So – Lord – I am ready – ready to celebrate with you – ready to walk with you – and as I do, please help me to understand all that happened and all that was done for me in these mystery of your life, death and resurrection.

Father Bill says...April 7, 2009

St. Peter>>>>>>

Judas greets Jesus<<

For Tuesday of Holy Week


Today – the Tuesday in Holy Week – presents us with the story of Judas and Peter – at the Last Supper Jesus tells his gathered apostles that one of them will betray him – it is of course Judas – I think that Judas’ story is a sad one – he had developed all sorts of hopes and dreams for this new kingdom that Jesus would initiate – Judas’ idea is a kingdom on this earth – and then all his hopes and dreams began to fall apart – Jesus is attacked constantly by the leaders of the Hebrew community – his life is threatened – Judas could see all of his plans to be an important part of Jesus’ kingdom falling apart – and so he decides to do something for himself – this is when he fails so badly – he got greedy – if Jesus was to be arrested and executed anyways – why not make something for a new start –

So Judas goes to the Sanhedrin leaders – and offers to lead them to Jesus when he was away from the crowds – the leaders knew that the crowds would defend Jesus – so they give Judas money – and after the Last Supper he leads them to Jesus – praying in the Garden of Olives.

The failure for Judas is – that he could not accept Jesus or the apostles to welcome him back in repentance – and so he takes his own life –

Now Peter – again a trusted friend of Jesus – but a failure – Jesus even told him he would fail – Peter boldly says that he would be ready to follow Jesus even to his death – and yet he denies even knowing him – a servant girl, simply, asks him if he was with Jesus – this was too much for Peter – and so he denies even knowing him – and the third time – the Gospel tells us that he loudly swears he does not know the man. The Gospel then tells us that Peter goes off and wept bitterly.

And this is where Peter demonstrates a stronger faith than Judas – Peter returns – Peter again joins his brothers the apostles – and when Jesus appears he is ready and willing to calmly accept the questioning of Jesus – do you love me, Peter, more than these? – three times he attests to his love – and three times Jesus invites him to serve his community – Feed my lambs – feed my sheep –

That evening must have been a most difficult one – the drama of the Last Supper – the coming of the soldiers to arrest Jesus in Gethsemani – the mock trail and condemnation of Jesus – the procession to Golgotha – and the crucifixion – how frightened the apostles must have been – and then the result for our two heroes – Judas in suicide – Peter in sorrow asking for a new opportunity to serve despite his failing.

Peter becomes the leader of our new Church – the first Pope – and truly a model for us all. Our God is a loving God – and in that spirit, Jesus is more than ready to accept Peter back into the community – an important part of the family. The Lord will not reject any of us – despite our struggles and failings and sins – he knows the stresses of this world – he is ready to support and strengthen us – and welcome us back to his Church - and put us to work making the Church stronger and our world better.

Father Bill says...April 6, 2009

For Monday of Holy Week


Here we go into Holy Week again – doesn’t seem possible that Lent has gone by so quickly – I do know that some of the weeks of Lent did drag a bit – what seemed like little penances for Lent – got to be rather difficult – even annoying – but I am certain that they did good by me.

This morning with the help of my friend, Father Joe, we did the Sacrament of Reconciliation with the children at school – that is an interesting adventure – I have been here long enough to have know most of these young people – from second grade on up – it is always truly fascinating for me to see how some are growing up as they look into to their lives seeking opportunities for reconciliation and forgiveness. The Sacrament gives them and me as their confessor a moment to take a little more serious their interaction with Almighty God.

One of the seventh grade students reminded me about the time when she asked to go to confession when she was only 5 years old. She was in church with her mother at the time – her mother asked to go to the sacrament – and so we went into the Penance room – when we came out – this young lady – then only 5 – said now it is my turn – I wasn’t certain what she meant – she said I want to go into there also – right now – and so we went in – the conversation was great – she asked all of the questions of me – inquiring about all sorts of things – I did remember that experience – she continues to very inquisitive about things of faith.

During Holy Week the Old Testament reading is from Isaiah – in particular of what is referred to as the Servant Songs – Isaiah – who wrote a few hundred years before Jesus’ time on earth – described the Messiah as a servant – and as a servant that suffers. Again – the sufferings of Jesus – Jesus demonstrates God’s unconditional love for us – by coming on this earth to live as we do – to die as we must – to lead the way to resurrection and new life. Jesus comes to teach us how to suffer – by suffering for us – suffering will be a part of my life – but I will be able to deal with it – for my Savior, Jesus Christ, has suffered for me – will continually support me in my sufferings – will lighten the way through the pain and suffering of life.

Today’s Gospel story tells of the incident when Jesus went to the home of Martha and Mary and Lazarus – right away this is an interesting scene for Jesus had brought Lazarus back to life – so to be sitting at the table with Lazarus would make an interesting scene – I spent a little time on Palm Sunday sharing with the people about showing gratitude to someone who had saved your life. Lazarus must have been intensely grateful to Jesus –

And then I brought up the thought of how grateful a person would be if someone had died while rescuing him or her. Each one of us must consider this when we remember that Jesus died to save our lives – Jesus died out of love for us – the Father sent Jesus into this world to demonstrate great love for all of us.

So what does it mean to me – if I had been rescued by someone who died rescuing me – my whole life would be changed – my life would take on a greater value because someone had given their life for me. That has not been my experience – many, many people have given a great deal out of love for me – but no except Jesus has died for me – yet – my life has taken on a new value since Jesus died for me – I must make this life of mine worth something by what I do – since my Savior, Jesus Christ, has died for me.

Father Bill says...April 4, 2009

for Palm Sunday


Another Holy Week – another week of liturgies and prayer remembering the Passion and Death of Jesus – leading us to the Resurrection – to our Easter – I have always loved the days of Holy Week – although I must admit sometimes I am a little anxious – so many things going on – so many things to remember – but I am learning to assign tasks to the folks around the parish – and they never let me down – it always comes out well.

We begin our Palm Sunday with a procession from the school remembering the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem – as I look out the window it is overcast – with possible rain in the forecast – I guess we will have to walk very quickly this year.

And during the Mass we have the reading of the Passion of Jesus – three of our lectors do the reading each year – which is good – gives me the opportunity to sit quietly and meditate. It is important to remember that we do not remember the Passion and Death of Jesus – just to feel badly that Jesus suffered and died for our sins – rather Jesus accepted these sufferings first of all to show us God’s great love for us – “what great love – than to lay down your life for someone who needs you” – I have noticed that this year I have been sort of focused on being ready to die for someone – as Jesus died for us – that each day we may be asked to give of ourselves – to give something of our life – out of love for another. It takes many forms – this giving – this dying – but it is our way of walking with Jesus – of dying with Jesus – so that we can find new life with the Lord – in our resurrection – again that Paschal Mystery – that Christian way of life – to die so that we may find life – to die with Jesus so that we can find Easter with Our Savior.

Jesus suffered for us – suffering can be an opportunity – the value of suffering does not lie in the pain of it – but in what the sufferer makes of it – the reality is that it is up to us how suffering affects our lives – we can just passively bury ourselves in our sufferings, big or small – or we can find in them an opportunity to grow into a saint – to discover something about ourselves – to make the moment an opportunity to actually touch the lives of so many others.

Pain is an indispensable part in our becoming truly human – that is people of compassion and maturity. We must not see suffering as a punishment from God – God punishes no one – our pain can bring us closer to God – in it, we experience his power and love. We can truly walk with Jesus – and learn something important about our humanity – transforming our weakness into power – learning how to bring peace and love to others.

Jesus has gone down the road of suffering before us – on the cross he gathered up all human pain and made it his own – compassion is not learned with suffering – the examples are numerous – you know them as well as I do – the truly tender, loving people in this world – the truly compassionate and caring people are always those who have suffered – who have learned so much by walking with Jesus through their sufferings.

Jesus didn’t die to save us from suffering – he died to teach us how to suffer – Since Christ traveled the road of suffering – we walk that road – not in darkness and confusion – but with a bright light that illuminates it – we see clearly where we are asked to go – and so without fear we can walk it.

Those who link their sufferings to those of Jesus – become a source of blessings for the entire community – and will share Christ’s Easter glory – my community, my parish is more alive because of the sufferings of so many of our people.

LET US PRAY

Almighty God, our Father – I turn to you in prayer – seeking you support and guidance to stand with me in the sufferings of life – so many times are walk this path in fear – I am anxious already, knowing that one day I will have to suffer – may I learn from Jesus – may I walk with Jesus – may the Holy Spirit fill my life and remove my fears that I may find peace and patience by walking with Jesus on the road to Calvary – and discover new life with Lord at Easter.

Please join me as we pray together the Lord’s Prayer.

Father Bill says...April 3, 2009

For Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent


Today marks the fourth year since the death of Pope John Paul II – how quickly the time goes by – but his memory still touches the Church

Yesterday – I attended the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral – the evening before, several of the priests of the diocese met for an evening of prayer at Wadhams Hall – it was a wonderful opportunity to be together and to pray together.

As I mentioned to you, the meaningful part of the Chrism Mass for us, priests, was the renewal of our dedication to our priesthood – the Bishop invites us to again dedicate and recommit ourselves to our priesthood – it is truly a memorable moment each year – a reminder of all that I promised when I was ordained a priest and my readiness to continue in this ministry. And, also, a time of gratitude – gratitude to God for the many graces that have been mind – and the support and help that I needed to get through these years – Thanks, God, but please, please, don’t forget me.

This morning’s Mass – the First Friday of the month – was the school Mass – usually, Sister prepares the liturgy for the School Masses – also, choosing the Scriptures – I was a little shocked when I went over to Church before Mass and discovered that the Gospel reading was Jesus instruction from the Sermon on the Mount concerning “love your enemies.” I immediately offered a few prayers on how I would convince the children that the following of Jesus meant to love your enemies.

The children’s Masses are usually an adventure – I try to involve them in the homily by asking a few questions – and I am never certain where things are going to go. So I began by talking about Holy Week – reminding them that next week would be Holy Week – so I started by asking them what it means to be holy – that was interesting – they, of course, began with being nice – being good – one young man said being sacred – that is an interesting word – but then one of the little ones said living like Jesus – so then I mentioned that while Jesus lived a wonderful life and taught so many good things – he also died to save us – so then I tried to get across the idea that as Jesus died – we must be ready to die to self – to do something about our own selfishness by dying to self – that isn’t an easy idea about which to convince youngsters – then one of the seventh graders mentioned an example – he told us that one time – a while ago – he had given his chocolate rabbit to his brother – well, I guess it worked.

Then I brought up loving your enemies – I asked if that was easy – and one of the youngsters admitted that it wasn’t – so why do it – they mentioned that maybe we could change them – I suggested that we do this because we are good people – that is the heart of the matter – it really shouldn’t matter what we get out of it – or whether something good will happen – but we do it because we are good people in the spirit of Our Savior – I probably should have reminded them of Jesus on the cross forgiving those who had crucified them “Forgive them, Father, they know not what they do.”

I truly can’t believe that we are almost to Palm Sunday – I reminded today because I still have some preparations to do for the liturgy on Sunday – so right away today I will have to do some work on getting myself ready for Holy Week.

Father Bill says...April 1, 2009

For Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent


This is a picture of the lighting of the Paschal candle – I am there – with Father Joe Sestito, who will be here for Holy Week again this year – and Deacon Elliott Shaw holding the candle. As I remember it took us three tries to finally get the candle lit – it was rather windy that year.

Today – I am going to Wadhams Hall in Ogdensburg – tomorrow is the Chrism Mass – this is a special liturgy for the blessing of the sacred oils that will be used in the sacraments in each and every parish in the diocese – in the past this Chrism Mass was on Holy Thursday – now it is placed on another day near Holy Week so that the priests of the diocese can be present – the Bishop has invited us to come over a day ahead of time – for an evening of prayer. So I will get this off to you this morning – and head over to Wadhams – it will be good to get together with the other priests in my diocese – and also to spend some time in prayer.

An important part of the Chrism Mass is when we priests are asked to renew our commitment to priestly service – I find this a most important opportunity to remind myself just who I am – a priest – ordained 50 years this year – ordained to serve the Lord, who has been so good to me – giving me over and over again just great assignments – with wonderful opportunities to exercise my priesthood and bring the message of my Savior to so many people – and giving me the opportunity to become a part of innumerable families in so many wonderful places. I am going to share this ceremony with you – and it gives me an opportunity to remember and prepare myself for that moment in the Chrism Mass tomorrow. The Bishop speaks to us all and questions us -----

Bishop:
My brothers, today we celebrate the memory of the first Eucharist, at which our Lord Jesus Christ shared with his apostles and with us his call to the priestly service of his Church. Now, in the presence of your bishop and God’s holy people, are you ready to renew your own dedication to Christ as priests of his new covenant?

Priest: I am.

Bishop:
At your ordination, you accepted the responsibilities of the priesthood out of love for the Lord Jesus and his Church. Are you resolved to unite yourselves more closely to Christ and to try to become more like him by joyfully sacrificing your own pleasure and ambition to bring his peace and love to your brothers and sisters?

Priest: I am.

Bishop:
Are you resolved to be faithful ministers of the mysteries of God, to celebrate the Eucharist and the other liturgical services with sincere devotion? Are you resolved to imitate Jesus Christ, the head and shepherd of the Church, by teaching the Christian faith without thinking of your own profit, solely for the well-being of the people you were sent to serve?

Priest: I am.

Then the Bishop asks the people present to pray for the priests – and also for himself as Bishop – so I extend that wish to all of you – to pray for this priest – that I may continue to serve the Lord well – and that I may use well all of the opportunities that are mind to make my parish better and stronger – and to bring God’s love to all those I meet – may my ministry be a good one.

And I ask you to pray for all priests – that they may continue to minister well in the Church of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ – the demands are greater because the numbers are fewer – so pray for their health also – please pray also for priests with problems and difficulties that they may find help and peace in the Lord.