From the time I was a seminarian I can remember priests and other liturgical types in the Church talk about the return to “Boring Time” after Christmas. With the Christmas decorations all packed away for another year, our homes and church seem a bit barren and the weather outside can lead even the most mirthful among us into the “winter blahs”. However, this winter stretch of Ordinary Time is packed with numerous important celebrations and observances which command our attention. Among them…
On Monday the nation honors the memory and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the 96th anniversary of his birth. Much work remains until Dr. King’s dream enunciated so powerfully on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial more than sixty years ago are realized: “I have a dream today that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” May we, the Church, never tire in our prayer and work for justice, for peace, and for understanding in our communities, across our nation, and around the world that one day we may live in a world where all people will not be judged by the color of their skin, nor by the faith they profess, nor the language they speak, nor any other human factor but truly by the content of their character.
This weekend also finds us in the midst of the annual observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Pope Benedict XVI wrote, “...the task of restoring unity, which demands all our energy and efforts, is infinitely above our own possibilities. Unity with God and our brothers and sisters is a gift that comes from on high…” Let us pray earnestly and always for this gift! This week was chosen because January 18 used be celebrated as the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter and January 25 is the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. These great apostles stand as two great pillars of the Church: immortal witnesses to the unity of believers. Unity among all followers of Jesus Christ is a concern that should never be far from our thoughts. There are many legitimate theological and ecclesiastical differences among Christians and we continue to be haunted by the sad and sometimes violent history of division. However, there are also many signs of hope. Locally we are blessed to have a wonderful cooperative spirit of ecumenism among many congregations in the Greater Latrobe Ministerial Association. May our cooperation and discussion allow us to learn more about each other. Ignorance breeds fear and hate, while understanding breeds unity and peace.
The bishops of the United States have declared that January 24 should be observed as a Day of Prayer for Life. It is as important as ever for all Catholics to reflect upon our call to proclaim the gospel of life and to join in prayerful solidarity for the cause of life. The Church teaches clearly and forcefully, that while the cause of protecting the lives of the unborn is an essential element of the Church’s teaching on the sanctity of human life, the gospel of life is much more expansive. Every person is made in the image and likeness of God, therefore, all human life, from conception to natural death, is sacred and worthy of protection. I invite you to make a special effort to make Friday a day of prayer for life. The following prayer from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is one you may want to clip and recite frequently, as one small way of keeping prayerful solidarity for the cause of life:
Father and maker of all, you adorn all creation with splendor and beauty, and fashion human lives in your image and likeness. Awaken in every heart reverence for the work of your hands, and renew among your people a readi ness to nurture and sustain your precious gift of life. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
We are in the midst of cold and flu (and, of course, covid) season. Perhaps this is a good time to review some common-sense suggestions from the Diocesan Office for Worship: 1) When you’re seriously sick, stay home. Return to church when you have recovered. Since the obligation to attend Mass is a serious one, absenting oneself from Mass must therefore correspond to an equally serious reason for doing so. 2) If you’re coughing, wheezing, or sneezing, don’t drink from the Cup of Precious Blood. Christian charity demands that we do nothing that would discourage others from partaking of Holy Communion. 3) You may exchange the sign of peace in a manner that minimizes physical contact. As Ben Franklin so famously said: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Just a gentle reminder about the strain the winter weather puts on the parish budget. Every time it snows—even if it’s only a “nuisance snow”—parking lots need to be cleared and sidewalks need to be shoveled and salted. And, of course, the furnaces and boilers get quite a workout. The terrible weather conditions also have a negative impact on Mass attendance and our weekly offertory is often reflective of that. So, I put forth this gentle reminder to please keep current with your offertory. If you are not able to make it to Mass, hold on to your envelopes until you can or you can always mail them to the office.
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