Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Easter "A" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

The Road to Emmaus

 

Dear Parishioners,

Many years ago, the priests of the Diocese of Camden participated in a spirituality program of priestly fraternity that we referred to as the Emmaus program. It was based on the scriptural passage from today’s gospel of St. Luke (Lk. 24: 13-35). Priests were encouraged to make the journey of the two disciples with Jesus and ultimately to recognize the Risen Jesus in the Breaking of Bread like the disciples.

Notably, the two disciples were headed away from Jerusalem where Jesus had been crucified. They told the unknown stranger walking with them that they “were hoping that [Jesus] would be the one to redeem Israel.” Still, they were heading in the opposite direction. They had to be instructed how the teachings of the Scriptures, from the time of Moses and the prophets, referred to Jesus. The Scriptures were explained and interpreted for them.

Later, after the stranger was persuaded to stay for the meal, “he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.” Note the Eucharistic formula and tone. And they finally recognized Jesus in the “breaking of bread.” He became present for them under the appearance of bread, and then disappeared from their sight.

This excerpt from the gospel is theologically important as it parallels the structure of the Catholic Mass: Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist. First, the Scriptures are interpreted and explained for us. Then, the sacrificial meal is shared in which Jesus becomes present in the Breaking of Bread. Hopefully, we can better understand how this passage illustrates our pattern of worship and what we believe actually happens during the Mass.

Belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist is an essential, non-negotiable teaching of the Catholic Church. The disciples recognized Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist while he disappeared physically from their sight. Catholics are called at every Mass to a faith seeing Jesus in the breaking of bread.

Additionally, from this passage we can learn about a redirection that was made in the lives of these disciples. Although they were initially headed in the opposite direction—away from the cross—they were turned around and returned to Jerusalem and to the Apostles. Whenever we might be journeying in the wrong direction in our lives, Jesus can help to reroute us back to the proper course. This can apply to matters both great and small.

While we have heard before about many Catholics not understanding or believing in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, it appears that these disciples in the early Church understood that Jesus was truly resurrected and present with them and remained with them in the breaking of bread.

Pray that the Lord may redirect our hearts and minds when they go astray and increase our belief in His Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist. He remains with us!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Homily for Easter Sunday 2026 - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Jesus, I Trust in Thee!

Dear Parishioners, 

Happy Octave of Easter! 

We continue in the octave of Easter. A single day is not enough to celebrate this great solemnity. The Church gives us eight days and then an entire Easter season to rejoice in the Risen Lord. Alleluia! This final day of the octave has been designated Divine Mercy Sunday.

Sister (now Saint) Maria Faustina Kowalska, a young uneducated nun, lived in Poland from 1905 until her death in 1938. Baptized Helena, she was the third of ten children. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy just prior to her 20th birthday. She had only three years of formal education at the time. During her thirteen years in the convent, she worked as a cook, gardener and porter.

At the same time, Sr. Faustina heard an inner voice speaking to her. She wrote down the messages which she said were given to her by Jesus into her notebooks. The compilation of notebooks was eventually published as The Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska (Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul). The content of these notebooks centered on God’s Divine Mercy. Sr. Faustina described how Jesus gave her the task of “Secretary” of His Divine Mercy.

According to the Divine Mercy website (thedivinemercy.org): 

The years Sr. Faustina spent at the convent were filled with extraordinary gifts, such as revelations, visions, hidden stigmata, participation in the Passion of the Lord, the gift of bilocation, the reading of human souls, the gift of prophecy, and the rare gift of mystical engagement and marriage.

At the time of her canonization in the year 2000 by Pope (now Saint) John Paul II, he also declared the Sunday after Easter Divine Mercy Sunday for the Universal Church. Sr. Faustina described Jesus speaking to her about this day in her dairy:

On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. (Diary of Saint Faustina, 699) 

With the crazy times we live in, I suggest (no, urge or implore) that we all make an intention to avail ourselves of a good sacramental confession (when we can talk to a priest personally) if we have not already done so during Lent. Remember sacraments are properly administered person to person and not remotely by phone, by TV or by the internet. Moreover, each night we should make an examination of our consciences and continue to pray the act of contrition as perfectly as possible.

There is a very important spiritual lesson for us here: time and opportunity will run out for all of us. We will not live forever. If we want to experience God’s Divine Mercy, we have first to admit our guilt and acknowledge our sins to Him through the instrument of the priest—as Jesus instructed His apostles (see Jn. 20:23). We hear His words delegating the power to forgive to the apostles in today's Gospel.

Place your trust where we can have absolute certainty of God’s Divine Mercy: Jesus, I trust in Thee!

Fr. Ed Namiotka
Pastor

Sr. Maria Faustina Kowalska

Easter: A Time for Renewed Hope

Dear Parishioners,

I can only imagine how desperate the situation must have seemed to His apostles as Jesus was experiencing His brutal passion and death. To see your spiritual leader, the one whom you believed was the long-awaited messiah, suffer and die like a common criminal had to be devastating. We know most of them fled and went into hiding. Peter was so terrified that he denied the Lord three times, as Jesus had predicted. What do we do now? Where do we go from here?

Yes, there were a few who remained faithful and by the cross until the bitter end: Mary Magdalene, the Beloved Disciple John and Jesus’ own Mother Mary. How great must have been the emotional pain that they felt as they helplessly watched His suffering up close. Seeing every last breath coming from a beaten, broken body had to be stamped like a branding iron into their memories. How could this possibly happen?

Salvation and the forgiveness of sin came with a price: the suffering and death of the Son of God. Holy Week recalls these events. The crucifix in our churches (and homes) reminds us of the greatest act of sacrificial love. But the story does not end here.

Resurrection and new life followed. Jesus conquered sin and death. The grave was not His final resting place.  He is alive!

With all of the suffering and death continuing throughout our world, we need to preach this message loud and clear: Jesus is our salvation. He brings us hope in every situation, no matter how desperate.

I realize how difficult these times can be for all of us.  In recent memory, we have seen closed churches and sacraments being limited, Holy Week and Easter services on TV or through the internet and other unprecedented occurrences. We have to deal with ongoing wars and global conflicts and an uncertain economy. Despite it all, God is still in charge.  He allows this to happen for a reason, which I suspect is an urgent plea for us to return to Him with all our being. We cannot exist at all without His Divine Assistance. 

What do we do now? Where do we go from here? Do we seek resurrection and new life for ourselves and our loved ones? Do we want to find hope in any desperate situation? Jesus is our salvation. There is no other way.

I continue to hope and to pray. Easter gives renewed hope to all Christians as we realize Christ is alive! He is Risen! Death has no more power over Him. Although it may seem, at times, that the season of Lent continues in our lives and that Good Friday has not yet ended, trust in Jesus. Stand by Him at the foot of the cross. Resurrection and new life will come.

I assure you of my continued prayers and Masses for your health and spiritual well-being. Please pray for me. I appreciate all of your kindness and expressions of love and support!  

I may not have all the answers to what lies ahead but I certainly know Who does: Jesus, Our Risen Lord!  

Happy Easter!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Homily for Good Friday 2026 - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Homily for the Mass of the Lord's Supper (Holy Thursday) "A" 2026 - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Holy Week and Easter 2026

Dear Parishioners,

This weekend we begin the most sacred week of the year for Christians. We recall Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. We are reminded of all that God has done for us in sending us His Only Begotten Son.

Palm Sunday recalls Jesus’ triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem. His royal reception sees Him being lauded by the crowd: Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest. (Mt. 21:9) However, entering Jerusalem meant that Jesus was now ready to begin His bitter passion and to face death on a cross. The crowd quickly turned on Him as they chanted: Let him be crucified! . . . Let him be crucified! (Mt. 27:  22-23) We can see how quickly any glory and honor that the world may have for any of us can change to ridicule, scorn and even hatred. Sic transit gloria mundi.

On Holy Thursday (7:00 PM Mass) we recall the Last Supper where Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist and the Ministerial Priesthood. Priesthood and the Holy Eucharist are intimately connected: without the Priesthood, there would be no Holy Eucharist. Jesus’ actions also remind us of the call to service displayed by the mandatum or washing of the apostles’ feet. Do you realize what I have done for you?  You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am.   If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.  I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. (Jn. 13: 12-15) The Blessed Sacrament will remain in the repository in our chapel until 10 PM, where there is time for silent prayer and adoration.

The liturgy of the Passion of the Lord on Good Friday (3 PM Service) has 3 main components: a reading of the passion account from St. John’s gospel followed by various intercessions, veneration of the cross and Holy Communion. Masses are not offered on Good Friday. In addition, the Stations of the Cross will be observed in the chapel at 7 PM. (This day remains a day of fast—one full meal—and abstinence from meat.)

The Easter Vigil (7:30 PM Mass) is not intended as a Mass to be rushed through quickly. (Please note: Mass usually lasts minimally about 2 hours.) There are so many beautiful parts that, if done reverently and properly, should not be hurried or omitted. We begin with a lighting of the Easter fire and a candlelight ceremony. Then follows the singing of the Exultet or Easter Proclamation. Salvation history is traced through a series of readings as the congregation is reminded of how God has continued to work in and through every age. After the readings comes the time to bring new members into the Catholic Church through Baptism and the reception of other Sacraments of Initiation—Confirmation & Holy Communion. (Unfortunately, there are no candidates or catechumens in our parish for the vigil Mass this year. We certainly need to encourage others among our family and friends who are not Catholic to consider becoming Catholic.) The Easter water is blessed at this time and sprinkled on the congregation as we renew our baptismal promises. Finally, Mass continues in normal fashion with the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Please consider participation in these liturgies of the Easter Triduum. All of us need to be reminded of the saving events Christ undertook out of love for us, sinners. Any extra time we might choose to spend in Church pales in comparison to His many hours of suffering when He was mocked, tortured and died for us on the cross. 

The Masses for Easter Sunday are at the usual times: 8:30 AM and 11 AM.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Homily for Palm Sunday "A" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Homily for the 5th Sunday in Lent "A" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

(At times the auto-focus of the camera unfortunately was fixed on the candles in the foreground and blurred the image of the preacher.)