My final prayer for Immaculate Conception and Sacred Heart as their Parish Life Coordinator

A final prayer of thanksgiving as Parish Life Coordinator for Sacred Heart

Heavenly Father, thank you for blessing me for the past nearly five years as you have allowed me to serve the good people of this wonderful parish community.  You have given me a beautiful example of love and caring in action through your sons and daughters of Sacred Heart.  It is often said that when a person serves others, they receive more than those they are serving.  That has certainly been the case for me. You have poured so many blessings on me as I have humbly tried to serve my good friends at SH. 

Gracious God, I pray that you continue to pour your blessings of love and caring on these, your loyal families, in the years to come.  I pray to your Most Blessed Sacred Heart, that You will guide them in their daily lives and lead them to imitate your love and caring by reaching out to those in need and helping them all to grow in devout faith, prayerful holiness, patient forgiveness, loving compassion and caring for each other and the families that will join this special faith family in the future.

Finally, Dear Father, I pray that you will guide me as I humbly try to serve these wonderful people in whatever way you desire for years to come, as their deacon and friend.  I ask all of this in the name of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.   AMEN

-        Deacon Jim

______________________________________________________

A final prayer of thanksgiving as Parish Life Coordinator for Immaculate Conception.

Heavenly Father, thank you for blessing me for the past nearly five years as you have allowed me to serve the good people of this wonderful parish community.  You have given me a beautiful example of love and caring in action through your sons and daughters of Immaculate Conception.  It is often said that when a person serves others, they receive more than those they are serving.  That has certainly been the case for me. You have poured so many blessings on me as I have humbly tried to serve my good friends at IC. 

Gracious God, I pray that you continue to pour your blessings of love and caring on these, your loyal families, in the years to come.  I pray to your Blessed Mother Mary, our Immaculate Conception, that she will guide them in their daily lives and lead them to imitate her love and caring by reaching out to those in need and helping them all to grow in devout faith, prayerful holiness, patient forgiveness, loving compassion and caring for each other and the families that will join this special faith family in the future.

Finally, Dear Father, I pray that you will guide me as I humbly try to serve these wonderful people in whatever way you desire for years to come, as their deacon and friend.  I ask all of this in the name of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.   AMEN

-        Deacon Jim

Mass for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Enjoy watching the weekend Mass for Sacred Heart and Immaculate Conception. https://youtu.be/ikEF1Yita64

Do we recognize that God loves ALL of us?

July 2, 2017

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus loves His Disciples.  In today’s Gospel, we see how he is sending them out to be received and welcomed and in that way they will recognize  even more deeply the love that he sends with them. 

We are not rewarded nor do we win God’s love by doing good works alone. We are made ready to receive God’s love, by our being receptive to the “prophetic moments” of each day which Jesus calls our “daily cross” and by demonstrating our love for God as our Father and Creator.                    - Deacon Jim

Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge...

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 25, 2017

As we begin our official summer months, we also come back to Ordinary Time in our liturgy of the Mass.  In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us to, “Fear no one…”  Do you remember as a child the fear you may have had of the dark or something else that as an adult you realize is harmless?  Jesus wants us to understand that we are loved and cared for by God.  We have nothing to fear, and yet even as adults we hold on to some fears. (Fear of change could be one that we hold on to even today…) 

Jesus assures us all that He will be with us and will walk with us through every challenge that we face.  Make changes in our life not something to fear but something to embrace.  With the love and support of the Holy Spirit, there will be nothing to fear.

-       Deacon Jim

Jesus is the living bread come down from heaven

June 18, 2017

Corpus Christi

Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

How often do we consider the wonder of life?  Life itself is a great gift and yet, there is no definitive explanation of every aspect of it.  If life itself is a gift that we cannot explain, how much greater is our gift that Jesus offers us by eating his Body and drinking his Blood.  We are not able to explain it and yet by our faith we know it to be true.  Today let us thank God for this greatest of gifts, the Living Bread, the risen Christ within us. 

-       Deacon Jim

Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

June 11, 2017

Holy Trinity Sunday

I found this little note in my readings this week and had to share it with you:  “A kitten followed some children home and into the house.  When they asked their mother it they might keep it, she mirthfully answered, “Purr – haps.” 

This weekend we celebrate the gift of the Trinity.  As God’s children we might ask, if we might be saved?  We can only imagine God’s response as, “Per – haps,”  if we truly believe and we choose to honor the Most Holy Trinity in our life.  So today we pause to acknowledge this mystery and to give thanks for the God of life who has sent the Son and the Holy Spirit for our salvation.
                 Deacon Jim

"Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful..."

Enjoy Pentecost Sunday Mass for SH & IC. Just click on the link below or on the picture above and enjoy: https://youtu.be/VmlxSTelKoQ

Pentecost Sunday - Come Holy Spirit!

June 4, 2017

Pentecost Sunday

As we approach the conclusion of our Easter season we conclude with this special celebration of the Holy Spirit coming down on the followers of Jesus.   Today we ask the Holy Spirit to breathe those same gifts of understanding into us, to refresh us like a great strong wind that blows away the dust and cobwebs. Be still as we listen to that Holy Spirit encouraging us and giving us the strength to do more than we thought we could.

      Let us all pray:

“Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.”

I ask the Holy Spirit to help me to listen, to really hear what people are saying to me. I ask the Holy Spirit to help bend my too often stubborn heart and will and to keep me on a good path to following God.

-       Deacon Jim

Let us praise the Lord for his wondrous gifts. Alleluia! Alleluia!

May 28, 2017

Ascension of the Lord

Today’s Gospel from Matthew is in itself the best reflection that could be written.  It says it all: “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go. Therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit... and behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”  This gift that Jesus has given is for all times and for all people.  Jesus’ presence is lasting for all times and his memory is alive for all people, until the end of time.   Let us praise the Lord for his wondrous gifts. Alleluia!   Alleluia!

-       Deacon Jim

If you love me, show me!

Sixth Sunday of Easter

May 21, 2017

“If you love me, show me!”

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”  If you love me!  That seems like a very interesting statement, and yet, I think it simply means, “If you love me, show me you do.”  How often do I hear two people who are in love telling each other that they love one another, and yet, the real test is in our actions.  If you love me, prove it.  If you love me show it in the way you treat me, in the way you live your life.  We forget sometimes that it is not enough to just say, “I love Jesus” or “Jesus is Lord and Savior of my life.”  How we live our life does make a difference.  “If you love me, show me!”

-       Deacon Jim

Mass for the 5th Sunday of Easter / Mothers's Day

Enjoy watching Mother's Day Mass for SH & IC. from Sacred Heart Church, Saturday, May 13th.  Just click on the link below for the picture:
https://youtu.be/A817D2zYoWU

5th Sunday of Easter - "Do not let your hearts be troubled..."

Fifth Sunday of Easter

May 14, 2017

In today’s Gospel Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  You have faith in God; have faith also in me.  In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places…”  (Jn. 14: 1,2) This reading from John is one that we often use at a funeral, when the family is reflecting on the love and mercy of God, as they are saying goodbye to their loved one who has just passed.  Those reflections are formed by our faith in God as our Loving Father. 

We do not know any way to salvation other than through the Lord.  That way is not easy but it is clear that is the only way to our eternal rewards.  We are reminded that we are already in our Father’s house as we attend this gift of the Eucharist at Mass.  It is in this house and in this great Sacrament that he reveals himself in the Word, the Eucharist and in one another as the Body of Christ united together.  We follow Christ for he is, “the way and the truth and the life.”  (Jn. 14:6)

                      - Deacon Jim

Go through the GATE of Jesus to reach eternity.

Weekend Mass for SH & IC for the 4th Sunday of Easter: to view click on the following link or on the picture.

https://youtu.be/YVx87UwfZDM

Good Shepherd Sunday

Fourth Sunday of Easter

May 7, 2017

This Sunday is, “Good Shepherd Sunday.”  Jesus invites us to follow the Good Shepherd and to walk the journey of life as he did, in leading others to faith in the Lord.  Let us take time today to reflect on those who did just that, and demonstrated to us, the loving and caring of Christ in the way they treated us.  Remember that Jesus did not only want to guide us and protect us, but he wishes to make sure we flourish in our life of faith:  “I came so that they may have life and have it more abundantly.”  [John 10: 10]

                                                -Deacon Jim

He took bread, blessed it and broke it and gave it to them and their eyes were opened and they recognized him.

Third Sunday of Easter

April 30, 2017

Have you ever taken a trip that had such an impact on you that it actually changed you?  I did have the blessing to travel to Rome, Italy and the surrounding areas the year before my ordination.  It was, in fact, a trip of a life time yet that journey did not have the overall spiritual impact that these disciples experienced in their walk to Emmaus. 

Their change came about from their encounter with Jesus. It was not only in their walk but was actually in the “Breaking of The Bread” with Jesus as they reclined at table with him, that their eyes were open to his presence.  For each of us, it is in the breaking of the bread of Eucharist at Mass that we too have the experience of our eyes and our hearts being open to the true presence of God.  The risen Jesus seeks out those who are looking for him and opens our hearts to receive him as our Risen Lord, the Savior of the world.

                                                -Deacon Jim

What do you believe? Christ is risen. Blessed are they who have not seen and yet still believe!

Mass for the 2nd Sunday of Easter. To view just click on this link or on the picture:https://youtu.be/dUIq-5DgM0w

2nd Sunday of Easter. So you believe?

April 23^rd

Second Sunday of Easter

This weekend we see that Jesus appears to Thomas, shows him the holes in his hands and wishes him peace. He tells Thomas to believe. But he also says, “You believe because you see me, blessed are those people who believe in me even though they have not seen.”

We are all a bit like Thomas. It isn’t always easy for us to believe in God. Even though we listen to the Gospel, and hear about God’s love for us it can be difficult to keep believing when things go wrong or when we are faced with challenges or tragedy in our lives. Today we thank God for the gift of faith in our lives and pray that He will continue to bless us with the gifts of faith from God to always believe!

                            -  Deacon Jim

Happy Easter, The Lord has risen Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

God's Blessings for a happy Easter to all. Enjoy watching the Easter Vigil Mass by clicking on the link below or the picture above:
https://youtu.be/bWUa75QI8E0

Easter Sunday / He Has Risen! Alleluia

Easter

April 16, 2017

Christ is risen!  On this, the most holy of feast days in the Church, we come to this celebration of the Risen Lord filled with the hope of a new life.  As we proclaim God’s word, renew our baptismal promises, and join together in this great Eucharistic celebration, let us be open to the light of Christ in our lives.  Let us answer the call to go forth the rest of our lives proclaiming the marvelous deeds that God has done for us.  Like St. Pope John Paul II, we should say today “We are Easter people and Alleluia is our song”. May all of us be rooted in this Easter faith.

I wish to humbly thank all of our faith family for your support and persistent prayers of celebration and thanksgiving for all you have accomplished this past year to move our faith community forward.  I thank the army of volunteers who dedicate your loving service to our parish.  We are so blessed to have such an extraordinarily selfless and dedicated faith family.  It has been my honor to serve you as your Parish Life Coordinator for these nearly five years.  We all join together now in thanksgiving and praise to God as we look forward to welcoming your new Priest / Pastor in just a few weeks.  I pray that God’s love and peace fill your lives and those of your family.             

                   God Bless

                   Deacon Jim 

“Lord, Remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

April 9, 2017

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

We hold our palm branches high today, as we praise the Lord for the gift of faith that He has blessed each of us with and the pride we want to show in our Catholic Faith.

As we take part in the proclamation and reading of the Passion of the Lord this weekend, put yourself there alongside of Mary, his mother, as we follow the steps of Jesus to the agony he lived and died that day for us.  Then as we return to our homes with the palms in our hands, let us pray to God with a humble heart, “Lord, Remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

April 2, 2017 5th Sunday of Lent

Video 1 of the Mass for Sacred Heart and Immaculate Conception for the 5th Sunday of Lent.  Lazarus is raised from the dead.  Just as he was freed from the bonds of death that tied him, we can be free from the deadly bonds of sin that pull us away from God.
Click on the link to watch this video of Mass
https://youtu.be/-nD_X7fj4dk

To watch the second part of the video, click on the link below:

https://youtu.be/vKzQniIy_Wc

Fifth Sunday of Lent / Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

April 2, 2017

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Today the Church prayers for the third and final Scrutiny throughout the world.  We join the Elect from all over the world as we look at our lives and scrutinize how we are living up to our calling from God that came at the time of our Baptism.  As we focus on the Gospel this weekend, let us call on God to loosen the bands that tie us to death from our faith and our love of God much as Jesus raised Lazarus breaking him free of his burial bands.  May that be our prayer, both for ourselves and for all who are preparing for Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist this Easter.       -Deacon Jim

Laetare Sunday "REJOICE" / Jesus removes whatever keeps us from seeing Him more clearly...

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Laetare Sunday “Rejoice Sunday”

(Joyful anticipation of the Easter mystery)

This week we are reminded that Jesus comes to us to remove whatever prevents us from seeing him more clearly, and from responding to him more fully.  During Lent, our season of Baptismal preparation and renewal, we ask ourselves:  How has Jesus touched us?  What is Jesus asking us to do in our lives? How are we able to see Him more clearly and believe in Him more fully?                      - Deacon Jim

March 19, 2017 Third Sunday of Lent

Watch Mass from the Third Sunday of Lent, Jesus Meets the Woman at the Well. Click on the link to view the Mass
https://youtu.be/KKblFCVUYQc

Baptized Christians should scrutinize our own lives today

March 19, 2017

Third Sunday of Lent

Today in Catholic Churches all over the world we celebrate the first of three scrutinies with the Elect and with their local faith communities.  The readings today are explicitly chose to help the Elect as they undergo the final preparations for the Easter Sacraments.  They are to do the same for each of us as well.  We as Baptized Christians can scrutinize our own lives today, following the example of the Elect in allowing our Lord to uncover and to heal all that is weak and sinful in the way we live.

-       Deacon Jim    (Pastoral Patterns)

Reflection on temptation in our life

To watch the Mass for the 1st Sunday of Lent for SH and IC, click on the link below or the picture above: https://youtu.be/JLFk9KN2YDo

Remember that we are dust and into dust we shall return

March 1, 2017

Ash Wednesday

Ashes blow away. Ashes wipe off.  They are not permanent.  Why then do we mark ourselves at the very beginning of Lent with the most permanent sign of our Christianity, the cross, using something that is so easy to do away with?  Perhaps because the ashes represent our sins, blown away as if they are cleaned by the redeeming action of our Savior and the love of our God.  During this time of Lent, let us pray in thanksgiving for such wondrous love.                             – Deacon Jim

Can we witness glimpses of Christ's Glor on the faces of others in our life?

March 12, 2017

Second Sunday of Lent

When we prepare for a journey, we are intent on getting from one place to our destination.  How often as children did we say, “Are we there yet?” As we continue this Lenten journey toward Jesus’ “transfigured glory”, the only way we can get there is to walk in His footsteps.  That is our Lenten challenge and our goal for our every day of our life.  Are we there yet?                             – Deacon Jim

"One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

March 5, 2017

First Sunday of Lent

Throughout our lives we are faced with choices that will either bring us closer to God or move us away from God.  Every day of our lives we are faced with the temptations to put our wants before God.  As we begin this Lenten season, let us use prayer, fasting and good works to feed our soul, so that our faith may be renewed and our giving sincere.                               – Deacon Jim

"Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil." Sunday Mass for 8th Sunday in OT

Weekend Mass for Sacred Heart and Immaculate Conception for February 26, 2017. Click on the link or the picture to enjoy watching...
https://youtu.be/o4ZZG0tq7ac

Who do we script our life after? "Lord, Have I Changed?"

February 26, 2017

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is our life a “Master” piece? Jesus raises the question, to whom or to what do we choose to be enslaved?  Are we more concerned in building a life that serves ourselves and our individual needs or are we creating a life that paints the needs of others as key?  If our time is consumed in molding a life that is centered on the needs of others and working to create a life focused on creating a place for ourselves in the Kingdom of God, then we are creating a life that is tied to our Master in heave, a true “Master piece” for God.                        –Deacon Jim

Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you.

Do you see the face of Christ in the people you encounter in life? Take time to reflect on the readings and message from the Mass from the 7th Sunday of Ordinary Time. Just click on the link below or the picture above to enjoy the video of this Mass.
https://youtu.be/kzCnUj7EL4A

"Love is the answer" If you are looking for more, you are lost indeed.

February 19, 2017

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Gospel today, continues the words of Jesus as we listen to the Sermon on the Mount.  Throughout His sermon we have heard The Beatitudes, The teaching about our being the salt of the earth, about the support for the law handed down from God by Moses, about anger, adultery, etc. In this part of His Sermon we learn about our relationship with others.  “I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father…”  (The Gospel of Matthew is, in my opinion, the most powerful in the bible.  Like it was said in the song from England Dan & John Ford Coley -- “Love is the answer.”)                                                                    -Deacon Jim

While you do this, listen on You Tube to, "Love Is The Answer"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbfPJWL7ykc

Love Is The Answer - England Dan & John Ford Coley - Lyrics www.youtube.com DOWNLOAD IT HERE .... http://bit.ly/Wju8AZ

What choices are we making and where are they leading us?

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 12, 2017

One of the great gifts that God has giving each of us is a free will. We have the opportunity to make our own decisions as we face hundreds of choices every day.  Some are easy, some are difficult and demanding.  Rather than our making choices because of our personal convenience or preference, we should listen to the words of Jesus who challenges us to make choices that will put us on the right track and lead us to becoming the “greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”                - Deacon Jim

We are the Salt of the Earth. 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Weekend Mass for Sacred Heart and Immaculate Conception. To view this recorded Mass, click on the link below or the picture above:
https://youtu.be/Vi88s3__slc

We are to be the "Salt of The Earth" Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 5, 2017

Since I have been diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure, I have had to cut back my use of salt.  Do you realize that salt seems to be in almost everything and how hard it is to go without it?  Today’s Gospel talks about our being the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  That is a tall task.  Like the salt we consume in our daily diet, we are to be the salt that is consumed in the daily diet of the faith of the world.  Some of the ways we can accomplish this are mentioned in our first reading:  “feed the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless, clothe the naked.”  We note that there is no mention of their “deserving this care.”  When we do these things, we demonstrate that we are indeed the salt that feeds the earth and the light that is shining our faith and love of God on the world today.                     – Deacon Jim

January 29, 2017 / The 4th Week in Ordinary Time - Start of Catholic Schools week.

Mass for the 4th week in OT, The start of Catholic Schools Week in the US. To view this Mass, click on the link below or on the picture above:

https://youtu.be/BVFkQWDBt00

The Sermon On The Mount - 4th Sunday in OT

January 29, 2017

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

As Jesus sat down His disciples came to listen to what he had to say.  As I proclaim the Gospel this week, I am reflecting on who Jesus was counting as His disciples.  The answer is clear that it includes all of us, you and me.  Jesus shared this beautiful talk of blessings for all people.  His sermon on the mount was a beautiful expression of love and blessings to His people of all ages.  We are the current recipients of this beautiful oration of the Beatitudes. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”                        

                    -Deacon Jim  

Are you ready to be the "Next Man Up?" Third Sunday in OT

Weekend Mass for Sacred Heart and immaculate Conception for January 22nd. Click on the link below or the picture above to view the Mass. Are you going to be the "Next Man Up?"
https://youtu.be/N-IDkYksJg8

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Are we ready to be the "Next Man Up?"

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

January 22, 2017

There is a saying in football – “Next Man Up.”  It means that you need to be ready to move up and replace someone who is injured on the field.  When Herod Antipas arrested John the Baptist, it was as if Jesus was the next man up in order to keep the message that John had prophesized for so long to continue.  ‘”Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.  He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me…’”   While we know that Jesus is irreplaceable, Jesus called his disciples to step up and be the next man up.  Jesus calls us to do the same.  Are we ready to be, “The Next Man Up?”

                   - Deacon Jim     

Weekend Mass for SH & IC. "Here I Am Lord"

Watch the weekend Mass for SH & IC right on your computer or phone. Just click on the link below or the picture above:
https://youtu.be/JDJi_uobOTI

Here I am Lord, I come to do your will. (2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time)

January 15, 2017

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Having been raised in the city, I am quick to admit that I know very little about farming and even less about farm animals.  That being said, I did a quick search to find out what the gestation period was for a lamb.  (Results:  152 days – Just a little over five months.)   Knowing this I realize that it takes us much longer to come to fully know “The Lamb of God.”  This begins at our Baptism and continues to grow in us throughout our lives.  During this time of growth in our faith and love of God, we look forward to sharing the Lamb of God at the Eucharistic Table, so let us sing loud the response of today’s responsorial psalm , “Here I am Lord, I come to do your will.”

The Epiphany of the Lord, The Light of the Word!

January 8, 2017

The Epiphany of the Lord

Today we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord, the awaking to the light of the world, the Son of God, our newborn king and Savior.  The Light which has come into the world is not the star that the magi from the east followed.  The Light is Jesus himself.  It is He who shines on all people.  We ask ourselves, what does this great Light reveal to us?  Does our heart “throb and overflow” at the Light that leads us?  As we reflect on this wonderful day in our church calendar and liturgy, let’s all take time to thank God for the blessing of the Light of Christ in our lives, this light that is, “the glory of the Lord” shining upon us.                   
     – Deacon Jim