The Church of The Primacy of St. Peter / and - Fourth Sunday of Easter May 3, 2020

The picture above is of The Church of the Primacy of Peter (Mensa Domini Church).  The church contains a projection of limestone rock in front of the present altar which is venerated as a "Mensa Christi", Latin for table of Christ. According to tradition this is the spot where Jesus is said to have laid out a breakfast of bread and fish for the Apostles, and told Peter to "Feed my sheep" after the miraculous catch, the third time he appeared to them after his resurrection. (John 21:1-24)

Welcome to "The Deacon's Door"

May 3, 2020

Fourth Sunday of Easter

All of the readings today for the 4^th Sunday of Easter, cause us to find comfort during a time of challenge and the unknown.  Our Catholic Churches remain closed and we continue to stay in our homes in isolation, away from the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.  I have had a number of people ask me what I thought would be the final result of this void in our lives.  What will happen after we have been denied the opportunity to be physically present for the Mass on Sunday and denied to receive the Eucharist for so long?  It is an interesting question.  One I think is worth pondering in prayer, as we face our daily COVID routine.  What will our faith look like when we return to Mass and the Eucharist? 

For me, I believe it will be a joyous reunion of sorts with my love of the Mass and the True Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist.  For me, I believe it will have made me appreciate more the blessings I have of being able to live in a county where I can practice my faith and where I can celebrate that faith with my Parish Family.  I believe I will have a greater appreciation for the reverence that is deserved to be shown at Mass and when receiving the Body and Blood of Christ.  For me, it will be a day of celebration that I have weathered the storm and that my faith has not only gotten me through the hard times, but has been strengthened by the crosses I have endured away from my church.

As we continue with the challenges we face with this pandemic, we cannot help but feel a little unsettled.  We have experienced the loss of so much of our freedom, our security, our independence and certainly much of what we have taken for granted in our lives.  And yet in the scriptures that God has placed before us, we find hope and assurance of his ever-present mercy and love for us all. 

Listen to the words from 1 Peter in the readings from today: “Beloved:  If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God.  For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps…  He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed…”

I pray that we all will emerge from this time of suffering and challenge to be able to count ourselves as the chosen ones of God.  It is with an absolute trust and grace that we are following Christ like sheep through the Gate – knowing that our faith will see us through.  As we hear in the Psalms from today: “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”

As you may be aware, the challenges continue.  The Iowa Bishops have extended the closure of our Catholic Churches through May.  While we mourn the loss of being present for Mass and the Eucharist, we thank God for the dedication and efforts of Fr. Atwood and our volunteers who are providing us the opportunity to watch the live stream of Sunday Mass each week during this pandemic.  As a reminder, we will continue to live stream Mass on Sundays from Sacred Heart Church.  You can follow that Mass at 9:00 AM on Sunday morning on Facebook or YouTube and can find it posted on Facebook and the SH Web Page. (Sacred Heart Oelwein Mass) to be viewed at a later time.   It will also be played at about 3:00 pm on Mediacom each Sunday. 

“Pax et bonum” (Peace and Goodness)

            Deacon Jim Patera   319-509-1210   pateraj@msn.com

Deacon's Door - Third Sunday of Easter 2020

This is a picture of the statue of St. Joseph in the arbor near the St. Joseph’s Church in the old city of Nazareth in Israel.  The image of the angel is on the back side of this statue, supporting Joseph.

Welcome to "The Deacon's Door"

April 26, 2020

3^nd Sunday of Easter

Scripture tells us that an angel appeared to Joseph three times during his life, while supporting Mary and Jesus.  The first time was to let him know that Mary, to whom he was betrothed, was a chaste woman and that she was with child of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1: 19-20).  The second time the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph was in a dream, telling him to flee to Egypt with the child Jesus and His Mother (Matthew 2:13).  The third time the angel appeared to him was while he was in Egypt, to inform him that Herod, the king who sought to kill the child Jesus, was now dead.  The angel instructed Joseph to return to the land of Israel with the child and his mother.

The statue of Joseph near the St. Joseph’s Church in the old city of Nazareth in Israel is a reminder to us that, like Joseph, God sends his angels to support us during challenging times in our lives.  (The image of Joseph sitting on the shoulders of the angel can be seen on the back side of the statue).  As strong as Joseph appeared to be in his support and caring for Jesus and Mary, he was always lifted up by God who sent his angels to give him that strength and wisdom.

We too may appear to be strong in facing our challenges of life, but it is important to realize that, like Joseph, we are supported by God who sends his angels to guide us in the path of holiness and wisdom of Our Lord.  We only need to recognize the presence of this support in our lives and call on the mercy of Our Lord to carry us forward. 

Jesus is always present in our lives and He gives us special times when our eyes are opened to His love and mercy.  In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus encounters two disciples on the road to Emmaus.  He walks with them and talks with them about the events that had taken place, (the crucifixion, death and resurrection).  Even with all of that discourse, it was not until the “Breaking of the Bread” at their celebration dinner, that the disciples became aware of who He was.

Within our eucharistic liturgy we also meet the risen Lord in the word of God and in the breaking of the bread.  It is in this encounter that we are meant to have our hearts “burn with the joy and love of God in the Gospel.”  Remember that it was earlier in Luke’s Gospel, that Jesus had told His disciples, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing.” (Luke 12: 49)

During these days of isolation, worry and frustration, remember that it is through the Eucharist and the breaking of the bread, that the Lord is opening our hearts to burn with joy and love of His Word.  This is a joy that is too great not to be shared and a love that will set the world on fire.

As a reminder, Fr. Atwood has agreed to live stream Mass on Sundays from Sacred Heart Church.  You can follow that Mass at 9:00 AM on Sunday morning or look for it to be posted on Facebook and the SH Web Page. (Sacred Heart Oelwein Mass) It will also be played at about 3:00 pm on Mediacom each Sunday. 

“Pax et bonum” (Peace and Goodness)

            Deacon Jim Patera   319-509-1210   pateraj@msn.com

Deacon's Door Reflection - 2nd Sunday of Easter 2020

The first picture is the stone where tradition says Jesus prayed at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, and where He underwent the Agony in the Garden and was arrested.  The center picture is of one of the olive trees in the garden that are said to be over 2000 years old.  It is said to be among a number of trees that were living when Jesus was in the garden.   The final picture is of the Upper Room, where Jesus and the Apostles gathered for the Last Supper, and where Jesus appeared to the Apostles after the Resurrection.

Welcome to "The Deacon's Door"

April 19, 2020

2^nd Sunday of Easter

In the Gospel for the second Sunday of Easter we hear John’s story of Thomas, the skeptical apostle who needed physical proof of the resurrection.  While Thomas is known as the one who doubted the resurrection of Jesus at first, it is clear that, out of fear and a lack of understanding, all of the apostles were looking for some kind of sign, some kind of proof that their Lord had in fact risen from the tomb.  The meeting with these men is said to have taken place in the Upper Room.  By tradition, this is the same room where Jesus appeared, both before and after the resurrection. It was here that Jesus, made visible his wounds for the Apostles to see and touch, and the room where the faith of Thomas emerged. It is where, after the resurrection, Jesus breathed on the Apostles with the Holy Spirit “on the evening of that first day of the week” (John 20:19). It is where tongues of fire appeared to them on Pentecost and “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4).  It is from there that the apostles went forth with boldness sharing the Good News.

Fear and lack of understanding stood in the way of the faithful at the time of the death and resurrection of The Lord and for many of us today, it still challenges our faith.  After all, we, like Thomas, were not able to be present when Jesus first appeared to His chosen.  So why do we believe?  Maybe a timelier question would be, “Why do I identify as a Christian?” 

During these days of social distancing and isolation, we have been given time to reflect on many things.  Christ has risen from the dead but we remain tied down and restricted.  Why would a loving God allow such things to happen to our world?  Why do such terrible things happen to good people?  We want to celebrate the Risen Christ and yet the reality of fear, sickness, death and for some, disaster, are what we are called to face.  “We could bear nearly any pain or disappointment if we thought there was a reason behind it, a purpose, to it.”

This past week, someone very close to me shared the pain he was dealing with as he returned from the war in Afghanistan.  As he shared some of his horrible experiences that took the life of not only the enemy in battle, but of innocent women, children and families who were only bystanders, he asked, why these things happen.   Why does a young father with a family have to face the challenges of cancer and the possibility of an early death, leaving his family behind?  Why, during this time of Easter celebration, do so many in our world suffer?

Irenaeus, a Greek Bishop and theologian, proposed the following:

• God created us to develop into a perfect relationship with himself.
• He created the world as a place for that development.
• Evil is thus necessary as a means of our spiritual development and our free will.

 Our challenge is to not let the crosses and disaster that we face in our lives destroy our relationship with God as our Father and Creator.  Instead, let them strengthen us and cause us to immerse ourselves in a time of prayer and renewal for the eternal resurrection that will follow.  There is no good answer when someone asks, why things happen.  We put our faith in God and trust that He will see us through the storm. 

Easter Season is a time of reflection and renewal.  How are we doing with the crosses we are faced with?  God will not leave us alone in the battle.  Even Jesus cried out near the end, “Father, why have you abandoned me?”  In the end He gave us His example of faith and love when He said, “Into your hands Lord I commend my spirit.”  Turn it all over to the hands of God. 

As a reminder, we will continue to offer other spiritual services and opportunities that will be announced on the Archdiocesan Web page, as well as on our parish Face Book Pages, Bulletins and Web Pages.  Fr. Atwood has agreed to live stream Mass on Sundays from Sacred Heart Church.  You can follow that Mass at 9:00 AM on Sunday morning or look for it to be posted later on Facebook and the SH Web Page. (Sacred Heart Oelwein Mass) It will also be played at about 3:00 pm on Mediacom each Sunday.  I will try to get the link to the IC Web page as well.

Please look for continued updates as we travel these days together.  I look forward to continuing to reach out to you on a regular basis until we are able to worship again together with our Parish Families.

“Pax et bonum” (Peace and Goodness)

            Deacon Jim Patera  

                         319-509-1210   

pateraj@msn.com    

Deacon's Door / Easter 2020

The center picture is the “Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the holiest Christian site in Jerusalem.  It contains the Chapel of Golgotha, as well as the burial and resurrection sites of Jesus.  Just inside the entrance is the Stone of Anointing, which tradition claims to be the spot that Joseph of Arimathea prepared Jesus’ body for burial.  The image on the right is Cheryl venerating the spot at Golgotha where the cross is said to have been placed at the Crucifixion.

Welcome to "The Deacon's Door"

April 12, 2020

EASTER SUNDAY

“Do not be afraid!  I know you are seeking Jesus the crucified.  He is not here, for He has been raised just as He said...”  Words from the Gospel of Matthew that are proclaimed at The Easter Vigil.  Only a few weeks ago our world was plunged into darkness and despair and the winter of a deadly virus spread across our lands. During these past days of darkness and despair we have looked to God for our support.  We have waited with anxious anticipation for the day of our relief, our resurrection from this fear and depression to the new light of the sun as we emerge from our isolation like tombs to freedom and a new beginning of springtime glory.  The sun will rise and death will have been conquered. Life will belong again to the living.

For now, we trust in The Lord and His promise that we will witness our release from this time of suffering to a new day of hope and renewed anticipation of our final resurrection with the Lord in Heaven.  These present days of isolation can be a time of renewal, as we reflect on the Triduum, the three days that we commemorate the suffering, death and ultimate resurrection of Christ.

Holy Thursday, as a sign of service that Jesus gave us on the night of the Last Supper with the Eucharist and the washing of feet.

Good Friday, as we witness the cross that Jesus carried to release us from the evil of our sins.

Holy Saturday / Easter, as the celebration of a new life, as a resurrection from death to life again. 

The good news is that we can celebrate our Baptism and membership in the people of Christ. The good news is that we believe that Jesus has risen and so have we.

Praise God that His love for us is everlasting.  Praise God that with this celebration of Easter Joy, we will see the light of God’s eternal love for us and will soon see the light of a new day for our world.  A day when we can raise from our despair, renewed and ready to embrace a new world, praising and glorifying God in all of his goodness, love and glory.

While we continue our fight with the Covit 19 challenges we will also continue to invite all of you to join the Archbishop with prayer of the Rosary, as well as celebration of Holy Mass each Sunday at 9:00 am.  Visit https://dbqarch.org/coronavirus for more information about these live-streamed events. 

Do not let these days destroy our relationship with our Heavenly Father.  Instead, let them be a time of prayer and renewal for the resurrection that will follow.  As a reminder, we will continue to offer other spiritual services and opportunities that will be announced on the Archdiocesan Web page, as well as on our parish Face Book Pages, Bulletins and Web Pages.  Please look for continued updates as we travel these days together.  I look forward to continuing to reach out to you on a regular basis.

“Pax et bonum” (Peace and Goodness)

            Deacon Jim Patera  

                         319-509-1210   

pateraj@msn.com   

Deacon's Door - April 5, 2020 "Palm Sunday"

Two bronze deer which allude to the initial verse of Psalm 42: “As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God” on top of the tympanum of the Roman Catholic Church of All Nations also known as the Basilica of the Agony next to the Garden of Gethsemane, Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem Israel.

Welcome to "The Deacon's Door"

April 5, 2020

While we are in a worldly turmoil due to the Corona Virus, we kick off Passion Week Sunday and set our sights on the most significant event of the year for Christians: Resurrection Sunday.  Passion Week begins Sunday with Palm Sunday.

Each year Jesus traveled from the Galilee area (where the vast majority of His ministry took place) to Jerusalem for Passover.  The Gospel of Matthew tells us that Jesus left the Galilee area to the region of Judea, healing the sick along the way.  On the attached map you can see that it was a significant distance He and his followers walked in order to attend Passover in Jerusalem.  They crossed the Jordan River in order to avoid Samaria, where Jesus was rejected.  They then crossed back over east of Jericho and headed up to Jerusalem.

The terrain was difficult and the journey was not easy.  The “valley of the shadow of death” reference in Psalm 23 may well have been a section of the journey along the route between Jericho and Jerusalem.  It was an area filled with robbers and criminals, which made it an even more difficult part of the journey. 

Jesus came humbly on the back of a servant animal, as a servant of the people.  On Palm Sunday Jesus was hailed as king, but within the next few days the mood changed and He was rejected as messiah.  He wasn’t the conquering king they expected.  In fact, most Jews continue to seek the coming of their Messiah and they will not recognize Him until His Glorious Appearing following the Tribulation. 

So, on this Palm Sunday, why not pray for our hearts to open and our eyes to see.  Jews are not the only ones who have missed the Savior’s first coming.  Many of us today reject Him as well.  We are all in need of the saving grace of Jesus, and more now than ever as we face the fight against this deadly virus that is spreading across the world.  Let us all pray this week for our friends and family who do not yet know Jesus.  There could not be a better time to do this than during Holy Week with Resurrection Sunday only a week away.

 

During our time of isolation, consider this image that I picked up from a good friend of mine, who is a priest in the Diocese of Sioux City. “Two men stood behind prison bars… One looked down and saw mud, the other looked up and saw stars.”  During this time of restrictions, fears and isolation, many of us may feel like the men locked up.  Which one are you?  (I would think each of us find times that we are both of these two.) 

During this time of self-isolation, look up to the stars and hope from God to comfort us.  Take part in daily prayer to God for an end to this virus and a return to our normal way of life.  With a positive attitude of Faith and Hope we will emerge from these days stronger and with a greater appreciation and love of God for the many blessings He showers on us each day.

We invite all of you to join the Archbishop with prayer of the Rosary, as well as celebration of Holy Mass each Sunday at 9:00 am.  Visit https://dbqarch.org/coronavirus for more information about these live-streamed events.  Many have found other locations on TV and/or the internet to watch the Holy Mass on Sunday.  Please continue to pray for an end to this pandemic as well as for the safety of all of our loved ones who are threatened by it.  Other spiritual services and opportunities will be announced on the Archdiocesan Web page, as well as on our parish Face Book Pages, Bulletins and Web Pages.  Please look for continued updates as we travel these days together.  I look forward to continuing to reach out to you on a regular basis.

“Pax et bonum” (Peace and Goodness)

            Deacon Jim Patera  

                         319-509-1210   

pateraj@msn.com