Deep in the Heart of Texas

 

Dear Parishioners,

As I write, I am currently near Austin, Texas attending some days of continuing education courtesy of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. This is my fourth year participating in various conferences and workshops led by Catholic scholars including Dr. Scott Hahn, Dr. John Bergsma, Dr. Jeff Morrow, Dr. Shane Owens and others. About 170 priests are in attendance from various parts of the United States and some other countries. The topic for this year is Jubilee, referencing the Jubilee Year of Hope that the Catholic Church has declared for the year 2025.

Being blunt, I would bet that many Catholics (and others) do not understand the concept of a Jubilee Year. I know I did not fully realize or appreciate its significance for the Church and its people. This week I am learning much about the biblical origin and history of a jubilee year and the connection that it has to the Jewish Sabbath and the Christian Lord's Day (Sunday). Jubilee is also associated with making a spiritual pilgrimage to a holy place, such as Rome.

A major premise made during the conferences was that we have to understand and re-establish the importance of the Lord's Day in our parishes in conjunction with any appreciation of a Jubilee Year for the Church. Sundays should be primarily set aside for Christian worship of God (going to Mass), for prayer, for works of charity, and for rest from unnecessary labor and other servile work (such as shopping and those various tasks that I did not have time to do during the rest of the week). This is a proper interpretation of Keeping the Lord's Day holy—the Third Commandment. Contemporary culture primarily sees Sunday as part of the weekend, often with little or no recognition of God, worship or some rejuvenating rest for body and soul.

In my opinion, various sports at all levels of competition have reigned as a false god for generations. I enjoy most sports as much as the next person, both to watch and as a participant. However, too often excuses are made that the kids have soccer or baseball on Sunday, that the weather is nice so dad went golfing or fishing (instead of attending Mass), that there's a playoff game on TV, etc., which allots an inordinate amount of time, money and/or energy to the sport. Much more time, money and energy can be invested in sports than is ever given to God in prayer or worship. An entire half-year of Sundays can be given to the NFL in "worship," just to reference one particular instance.

Then there are those who go to Saturday evening Mass to get it over with, to have more time for what I want to do on Sunday, so I can sleep in, etc. Sunday is nothing special or set apart for God. The obligation is fulfilled to attend Mass. Period.

How can we ever understand or recognize an entire jubilee year in a spiritual manner when we, as a culture, do not see the spiritual importance of Sunday as the Day of Resurrection where we weekly renew our covenant with the Lord and set the day apart from the activity of other days?

I will have more to say specifically on the Jubilee Year of Hope in future weeks. However, let me challenge everyone who calls himself or herself Catholic to examine the ways we may be ignoring or minimizing the commandment to Keep the Lord's Day Holy. It would make a good examination of conscience.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

   

Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday) - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Divine Mercy Sunday, 2025

Dear Parishioners,

The Sunday after Easter has been designated in the Catholic Church as Divine Mercy Sunday.

On April 30, 2000 (Divine Mercy Sunday of that year), Pope John Paul II canonized St. Maria Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament and designated the Sunday after Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday.

According to the notebooks of Saint Faustina, Jesus made the following statements about this day:

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)

Devotion to Divine Mercy is also associated with an image painted as Jesus wished, based on descriptions by Saint Faustina. The words that accompany the image are "Jesus, I trust in Thee" ("Jezu, Ufam Tobie" in Polish). The rays coming from Jesus' body represent the Blood (red) and water (white) that poured forth from the wound He suffered when pierced by the lance. They are interpreted as representing the Holy Eucharist and Baptism.

The devotion is practiced by praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Novena to the Divine Mercy—both of which may be prayed at any time, but especially at "The Hour of Great Mercy"—3:00 PM, the hour our Lord died, and in conjunction with Divine Mercy Sunday.

I find it particularly interesting that after working to promote devotion to the Divine Mercy and even writing an encyclical about God’s Mercy—Dives in Misericordia or Rich in Mercy (1980)—Pope (now Saint) John Paul II died during the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday in 2005.

Is this just mere coincidence or another indication of the hand of God continually at work in our world?

Incidentally, Pope Francis’ funeral Mass is scheduled to be celebrated on the vigil of Divine Mercy (Saturday, April 26) this year.

May God show His Divine Mercy to Pope Francis and may the Holy Spirit guide the College of Cardinals to choose the person God wills to head the Holy Catholic Church as the next successor of St. Peter.

Jesus I trust in Thee!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

(St. Mary’s Church on 2001 Springdale Rd., Cherry Hill is scheduled for devotions to the Divine Mercy beginning at 3 PM this Sunday, April 27)

Sr. Faustina

Homily for Easter Sunday 2025 - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Homily for Good Friday 2025 - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Homily for Holy Thursday 2025 - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

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

 

Easter: Christ is Risen!

Dear Parishioners,

An ancient Christian Easter (Paschal) greeting is the following: Christ is Risen! The other person would respond: He is Risen indeed!

What is your reaction to this statement?

When St. Paul went to Athens and spoke to the people there, the following occurred: “When they heard about resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, ‘We should like to hear you on this some other time.’” (Acts 17:32)

What happened on Easter Sunday is the most significant event for all humanity but especially for us as believing Christians. Christ rose from the dead demonstrating for all his divinity and giving us, His followers, the promise and hope of eternal life. Christ conquered sin and death. He now offers us a share in His Resurrection (eternal life).

So again I ask: What is your reaction?

Is it one that takes this event for granted? Is it one of intellectual curiosity like some of the Athenians? Is it one of doubt and confusion? Do we scoff with unbelief like some of the Athenians? (I would then have to question the very fact of your coming to church today, if that is the case.)

Or is your reaction one of belief, gratitude and hope? And if we do believe, does our belief express itself in the way we live our lives?

When we get to that point in our earthly journey when we realize our own mortality—we are all going to die—it is our belief in the Resurrection of Christ that turns despair and grief into life and hope.

I again refer to the words of St. Paul: “. . . If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.” (1 Cor. 15:17-18)

I can only imagine the inexplicable joy that the apostles had when they saw Jesus alive again. I am sure that it surpassed their greatest expectations and gave them a faith in Christ that they would subsequently take to the ends of the earth. They would live and die for Christ, trying to spread His message of Good News—the Gospel. They would speak about resurrection and eternal life. They had their hope restored and they attempted to give others hope in Jesus.

This Easter I pray that you experience the joy of the Risen Christ. May your faith in Him and love for Him increase and radiate from your entire being. He is not dead but very much alive!

Today as a Church we boldly proclaim our belief in the Risen Lord. Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!  

Happy Easter!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Holy Week 2025

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 (8 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 the 5th Sunday of Lent "C" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

“What Are You Giving Up for Lent?”

Dear Parishioners,

“What are you giving up for Lent?”

I have been asked this question many times in my life. I think very carefully before I respond. An easy answer would be to say something like chocolate, desserts or soda. Case closed. Many would be satisfied with this response. In my opinion, however, it seems that we need to look beyond this question to something deeper and more profound: How can I be changed for the better by my observance of Lent?

The Gospel reading of Ash Wednesday (Mt. 6:1-6, 16-18) reminds us of three traditional practices of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Lent should be a time for increased prayer. When I first began seeking his direction and guidance, my spiritual director at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary asked me to describe for him how I pray. For most people, including me, this is a very personal request. That’s between God and me! You are now invading my personal space!

How do I pray? (I will reluctantly let you have a glimpse at my inner sanctuary. Please keep this between you and me!)

It depends. Some elements are part of my daily routine. My most important prayer each day is the Mass. I deliberately try to pray the Mass. Over time Mass can sometimes become very routine for priests (and laity alike). Priests (and laity) can consciously or unconsciously just go through the motions and simply read the words that are printed in the Roman Missal. To pray the Mass is deliberate and intentional. It involves an act of the will and a conscious effort. It requires concentration.

I also pray my Liturgy of the Hours—a series of psalms, Scripture readings, intercessions and formal prayers—intended to sanctify the various hours of the day. Additionally, my personal goal is to include a rosary, some spiritual reading, and time (usually a holy hour) before the Blessed Sacrament each day. At various times in my life I have been drawn to centering prayer (a doorway to contemplation), charismatic prayer, devotional prayer (novenas, Stations of the Cross, rosary, etc.), intercessory prayer, meditation, and to whatever else the Holy Spirit leads me at any given time. Frequently I talk to God from the heart. Prayer is the means by which I hope to seek out God’s will, to know Him better and to be united with Him one day. Increasingly, it has become for me a time to be quiet and simply to listen to God. Despite all of the busyness of life, Lent should include time for increased prayer.

Fasting involves some self-denial—food or otherwise. In addition to not eating certain items that we may enjoy, we can “give up” watching TV, frivolous time on the computer, tablet or phone, unnecessary shopping, music in the car, and various other things that not only teach us some discipline and self-sacrifice but may free us up for more time for God and prayer. Two official fast days (from food) during Lent are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Almsgiving is a reminder for all of us to be charitable—with our money, of course—but also with our talents and with our time. What we do not spend frivolously on shopping, we can give to a personal charity. What we save by eating a simple meal, we can use to send a gift or flowers to an elderly homebound person to let him or her know that he or she is still loved. We can also volunteer our time on behalf of our church, in some civic organization, with a youth group or for some charitable cause. We can use the skills of our profession or trade pro bono.

What am I giving up for Lent this year?

This question is much too simplistic.  (And you might be sorry that you asked me!)

Fr. Ed Namiotka

 Pastor

Homily for the 4th Sunday of Lent "C" (Laetare Sunday) - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Lent "C" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

When Two Eyes Met

Dear Parishioners,

Back in 1982, when I was reflecting on the Stations of the Cross during Lent, I wrote the following poem when thinking about the 4^th Station: Jesus Meets His Mother.  I pray that it may lead you to a deeper insight and appreciation of a Mother’s love for her Son and a Son’s love for his Mother.

The Meeting of the Eyes (The Fourth Station)

             On Via Crucis the time arrived

                         When they should meet each other.

                             He bore the timber:  the saving cross;

                            —Redemption out of Adam’s loss—

                        Slowly he neared his Mother.

She stood and watched her only Son

                        And shared the pain he knew.

                                                A feeling so helpless and ever-intense;

                                                An ache in the womb:  her motherly sense

                        That longed to do more than view.

His face was covered with dirt and blood;

                        His body all scarred from beating.

                                                A crown of thorns upon his head

                                                Pressed cruelly down until he bled.

                       —Yet his eyes awaited the meeting.

He knew his Mother to be close by;

                        She carried him in his youth.

                                                Upward he sought and she was there;

                                                Her aid by presence and inner prayer.

                        She cried to the Father for truth.

And now their eyes had pierced each other;

                        All hurt and sorrow laid bare.

                                                Her eyes peered into eternity—

                                                His eyes beheld her purity—

                        The words unspoken spoke care.

Flowed down his brow this Victim’s blood,

                        Co-mingled with a tear.

                                                His sight more blind as each drop fell

                                                Into those eyes she knew so well.

                        —Hers filled with pain and fear.

From distance still she kept her watch

                        As soldiers forced him on.

                                                Her will unceasing in its trust

                                                Of God, all-loving and all-just.

                        Life’s victory shall be won.

Internal pangs:  a sword so sharp;

                        She tended upon the death-spot.

                                                Though in her heart she yearned to be

                                                Fastened also upon the tree,

                        —Her silence continued the fiat.

                                                                                                                                                


© 1982 Edward F. Namiotka

No Device Day!

Dear Parishioners,

A few years ago, I was visiting downtown Philadelphia. I tried to find some peace and solace, for a couple of moments at least, in one of the few Catholic churches that was open daily for Eucharistic adoration. As I was sitting in the quiet, a cellular phone began to ring. It made itself known with one of those old-fashioned telephone bell rings: brrring! brrring!  .  .  .  brrring! brrring! Its owner quickly silenced it. 

After a few moments, I resumed my prayerful silence. I was somewhere in the middle of a heartfelt petition to God when another phone went off. This time a modern ringtone made its owner (and the rest of us) aware of its pending message with a catchy (no, annoying) tune. A not-too-quiet gentleman-owner proceeded to answer the phone:“Hello!  Yea!  I’m in church now. Hold on a sec.” He continued to talk for another minute or so as he headed for the church door. Out he went. Good riddance!

Determined, once again, I resumed my intimate conversation with The Almighty. I tried to find at least a moment of much-desired tranquility. Momentarily, however, the same gentleman was back inside the church walking down the aisle. That stupid phone started to bellow once again.  It reminded me of an obstinate, spoiled child clamoring for the attention of its parent. “Hello!  Yea!  I’m in Church.” Here we go again! I was too annoyed (no, angry) to pay attention to the rest of his conversation.

I was resolved at that point, if God would permit it, to become a Tibetan monk. No cell phones. No tablets. No electronic devices at all! Period. (Be careful of what you may ask for or desire!)

When did a mobile phone become an inseparable appendage to the human body? A tablet now frequently substitutes as a baby-sitter to keep the children amused or quiet. People are fixated surfing the internet for hours upon hours each day. Cellular phone zombies would walk into traffic and various inanimate objects and innocent bystanders while texting regularly. We are sternly warned not to text and drive, yet it unfortunately still goes on. Vitamins are now advertised to help protect the eyes from computer vision syndrome (CVS). Let’s face it. People are addicted to their electronic devices.

I have a unique suggestion for a day in Lent. Why not try fasting from your electronic devices for a just a day? 

No Device Day.

I bet you can’t do it! I dare you! I have done this occasionally, like on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day, when I was with my family. I leave the phone in its charger in my room for the day. I really don’t need to use it and I don’t. Those who are important to me are currently with me. People mean so much more than some stupid device. 

No Device Day. I double dare you! 

If it is not necessary to communicate with an isolated or quarantined loved one, try putting your phone or other device away for the day—the entire day. Find a day when the phone or computer is not necessary for work. No Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok or Instagram. No text messages. No annoying calls. No internet or computer either. Resurrect the art of conversation! Play a classic board game or card game with the family. Read a book. Pray the Holy Rosary. Weather permitting, go outside and shoot a basketball or kick a soccer ball. Get off the couch and get dirty in the yard. More importantly, put down and put away the device.

It wasn’t until the end of the last century that human beings became addicted to electronics. For most of human history people did not own any of the devices that so many of us can’t seem to do without today. 

No Device Day.  

Maybe it can become a national (no, worldwide) trend. I double dog dare you!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

(As an aside, I recently saw Bp. Robert Barron suggest the same practice on a YouTube video. I love it when a bishop finally agrees with me!)

Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Lent "C" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Where's the Beef?

Dear Parishioners,

When I was young my family never ate meat on Fridays in general, let alone Fridays in Lent.  Naturally, as a young, curious boy I wanted to know “why?” We grew up with the understanding that Friday was the day that Jesus died on the cross and we should make some sacrifice on that day. Therefore, we didn’t eat meat. But why meat? We could eat pizza and shrimp (some of my personal favorites!) and other things that I enjoyed which didn’t really seem like much of a sacrifice to me. What was the big deal about meat? And why was that fish symbol on our Catholic calendars on Fridays?

That’s where I had to investigate and find an answer that seemed to make sense to me. I heard that meat was associated with feasting, not fasting. We heard it stated in the Bible that we should go and kill “the fattened calf” when it was time to celebrate (cf. Luke 15: 23, 30).

Okay. That made sense. But how was fish supposedly different?

Most of the answers that I found seemed rather legalistic in the sense that there was some hair splitting about what could and could not be eaten. Seemed almost like old time Pharisaical Judaism to me. According to some interpretations, we could eat lobster, shrimp and crab but we needed to stay away from hot dogs, bologna and even Spam! (To be honest, I’m really not quite sure how much real meat is in these products anyway!)

That’s where I think that Jesus’ condemnation of the Pharisees and their legalism seemed to make sense. He would tell them that they insisted on keeping the letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law in many instances. (cf. Matthew 12 or 15). Unfortunately, they never really got it!

What then is appropriate for Lent? Why not try a simple, meatless meal! How profound. Vegetable soup, salad and bread seem appropriate. A grilled cheese sandwich with some tomato soup also appears to keep the spirit of penance. Ethnic meals like polenta, potato pierogi or rice and beans also seem to fit the bill.

I would definitely avoid the broiled seafood combination and the lobster tail with drawn butter or any kind of extravagant seafood buffet.

Perhaps those things are a bit excessive in the spirit of Lenten penance—even if they are not technically meat!

Besides, too much shellfish can sometimes give you gout.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Homily for the 1st Sunday of Lent "C" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Facing Your Demons

Dear Parishioners,

In today’s Gospel (Lk. 4: 1-13) we see Jesus tempted by the devil. I think the example of this series of temptations is a most valuable instruction for anyone desiring to take Lent seriously. Obviously the Church does as well, since the first Sunday of each Lent begins by recalling these temptations.

First, we see that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert. Why would the Spirit lead Jesus into the desert? The desert is an austere place where a person must confront many harsh realities: severe weather, lack of comfortable amenities, silence and danger, as a start. When we are deprived of creature comforts, remove noisy distractions, and must face harsh realities, we can and should begin to realize the complete dependence that we have on Almighty God. We are put in a situation where the desert and its silence can become the place where we hear the voice of God more clearly and powerfully. And that is where Satan often begins to interfere as well.

Jesus fasted for forty days. Not only was he in the desert, but he also took on bodily penance. He was hungry. Why deprive ourselves of anything? If we live only for this world, then self-sacrifice, mortification, and penance seem ridiculous. However, denying oneself (and picking up the cross) was given as a condition for discipleship by Jesus (See Mt. 16:24). Discipline and self-sacrifice strengthen a person both physically and spiritually. A person becomes more prepared to live out the sacrificial love Jesus most perfectly demonstrated by His death on the cross.

Why, then, when we are trying to do something spiritually beneficial, do temptations arise? Let’s face this harsh reality head on: Satan and his followers hate anyone trying to serve the Lord and grow closer to Him. They will put any possible obstacle in our way to prevent this from happening.  We may be tempted to physical, earthly pleasure (food, drink, sex, drugs, and anything that makes us feel good or gives us a temporary “high”) instead of the eternal, spiritual satisfaction that comes from the love of Almighty God. Basically, it is hedonism to one degree or another. Command that stones become loaves of bread.

Temptation can take the form of wealth or earthly goods. Material possessions become the reason for my existence. My home, my car, my vacation(s), my boat, my bank account, my jewelry, etc. become my god. I think more things will make me happy. All the kingdoms of the world . . . I shall give you.  At what price? This was the second temptation in the desert (materialism).

Finally, we can be tempted by our ego. Whenever we are proud (in the sense of hubris), boastful, unwilling to seek help (when needed), arrogant, or overconfident in our own ability or skills, we can ascend that parapet where we think that we do not need God. Or worse yet, we think that we are god. No one can tell me what to do. I know best. I will not serve. This type of thinking (egoism) is represented in Jesus’ temptation from the parapet of the temple.

Remember, temptation is not sin. In his humanity, Jesus resisted these temptations and did not sin. He faced Satan head on and rejected his false allurements. Jesus showed us that when we focus and direct our actions completely on the love of God, then we have the ability to do the same. The Lord, your God, shall you worship and Him alone shall you serve.

Go into the desert this Lent. Face your demons. It is there where they can be confronted and conquered.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor 

Ash Wednesday

Dear Parishioners,

I am glad that Lent is here. It officially begins on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 with Ash Wednesday. I personally need to practice a bit more penance in my life and to focus more on the suffering and death of Jesus. I can take too much for granted—even the mercy of God that has been shown to me! I need to find additional time for prayer, fasting and almsgiving as the Gospel reminds all of us. If used the way it is intended, this Lenten season can be a period of personal spiritual growth and allows for proper preparation for Holy Week and Easter. 

Speaking with brutal honesty, however, there is one thing that really annoys me. It is those multiple phone calls that come to most parishes on Ash Wednesday asking: “Father, what time are ashes?” Why is there a tremendous preoccupation with ashes? Why can’t the question be: “What time is Mass?” or “When can I receive Holy Communion?” What is it about those ashes?

Ashes, after all, are a reminder of our mortality:  Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. They also tell us of our need to do penance:  Repent, and believe in the Gospel.

It is my hope that people do not see ashes (burnt palm) as something that they “need to get,” above and beyond the desire to attend Mass and to receive Holy Communion on Ash Wednesday (or on any given Sunday for that matter). That is the reason why I actually prefer not to have only a Liturgy of the Word service with the distribution of ashes. My thought process is this: some burnt palm on the forehead (a sacramental) is significantly less important than receiving Jesus, the Bread of Life, in Holy Communion.

Masses (with the distribution of ashes) on Ash Wednesday are at 9 AM and 4:30 PM. Also, please remember that Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting (one full meal) and abstinence from eating meat. With Good Friday, these are the only two days that we are required by the Church to fast during the entire year! As Catholics, unfortunately, I think we have lost the concept of what it means to do serious penance for our sins. Many of us tend to do only that which is minimally required, at best.

You have heard me preach time and again that we need to take advantage of the opportunity for the Sacrament of Penance (confession) on a regular basis. My recommendation is monthly confession. If you can go an entire month without sinning—and that includes “in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and what I have failed to do”—I want you for my spiritual director! I want your advice and counsel because I can’t seem to achieve this!

With the world in the condition that it is in and the vast majority of Catholics lukewarm in the practice of the faith, we need to take seriously the call to turn away from sin, to repent and to follow the Gospel.

Ash Wednesday and Lent are a great time to start!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Homily for the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time "C" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Love of Enemies

Dear Parishioners,

The focus of Jesus teaching was definitively on Love. First, he told us that the greatest commandment in the Law (Torah) was the Love of God: "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" [Jesus] said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment." (Mt. 22: 36-38)

Then Jesus took a less prominent precept from the book of Leviticus (Lv. 19:18) and placed it beside the commandment to love God: "The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." (Mt. 22: 39-40)

Most reasonable believers would find that this instruction makes sense. The difficulty that almost everyone would have with Jesus' teaching was when He took matters even further: "To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Lk. 6: 27-28) Now He seems to be going too far, too extreme. How can I possible love an enemy?

Truth be told, it is not natural for anyone to accomplish this task. We would have to do something above and beyond that which we are normally capable as a human. We really can't accomplish such things without the aid of God's supernatural grace.

Throughout my lifetime I have encountered parents willing to forgive the person who raped and killed their daughter (Shannon Schieber), a Polish mother who forgave soldiers who brutally beat her son (Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko) to death, and a pope (St. John Paul II) who forgave his would-be-assassin. I read about how St. Maria Goretti forgave and prayed for the person who stabbed her to death. I also heard how Immaculee Ilibagiza survived the 1994 Rwandan genocide in her book Left to Tell and eventually forgave her family's killers. These and many other stories like theirs (from the time of the earliest Christian martyrs, including St. Stephen) show us all that what seems impossible from a human perspective can come to be with the supernatural grace of God.

Jesus showed us from the cross (see Lk. 23: 34) how He was willing to forgive those who put Him to death. Could He not also assist those who experience unbearable and unspeakable tragedies to find forgiveness, peace and healing? I hope and pray so. I have seen examples of it happening.

I also hope and pray that I may never have to face the tragic circumstances that others have had to because of war, crime, injustice or evil. The world is not fair and bad things happen to good people far too often. Jesus is the perfect example of that. Yet, He still challenges us to rise above the difficult and unfair circumstances of life and to continue to love despite it all.

Easy? Absolutely not.

Possible? All things are possible with God's grace.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Have I Told You Lately that I Love You?

Dear Parishioners,

I have been involved with Worldwide Marriage Encounter for well over to 35 years.  (To see exactly how a celibate priest like me fits into this community, you will just have to make a Marriage Encounter weekend!) The Marriage Encounter community has shaped me as a person and has helped to direct my priesthood and the ministry flowing from it. I have learned (and am still learning) many valuable lessons to apply to myself and my relationship with others as a result of my many years of participation.

For example, one simple lesson is as follows: We can sometimes take people for granted. Those around us every day—whether they are family, co-workers or friends—can unfortunately get lost in the busyness or shuffle of everyday living. We can occasionally assume that others know how we feel about them. We neglect to tell them that we “love” them, that we care for them or that we appreciate them. As a consequence, people can get hurt—albeit sometimes unintentionally.

What can we do to try to avoid this from happening? Take the time to tell your husband or wife that you love him or her. Embrace your children and let them see how much you love them by spending time with them and by telling them that they mean the world to you. Compliment a co-worker. Call a friend and tell him or her how much you appreciate his or her friendship. Don’t take people, especially your spouse, for granted!

We can apply this thinking also to our relationship with God: tell Jesus how much you love Him, His Father and their Holy Spirit. We should try never to let a day pass where we fail to acknowledge the presence of God in our lives!

On another important note, the second Sunday of February (last Sunday) is annually designated as World Marriage Day (having been established by Worldwide Marriage Encounter). In 1983, this day was “designated as a day to honor the husband and wife as head of the family, the basic unit of society. It salutes the beauty of their faithfulness, sacrifice and joy in daily married life.”

As the traditional definition of marriage is challenged, and there are increasing attempts to redefine it, go back to the teaching of Jesus in the Sacred Scriptures as a point of reference:

Jesus said . . . “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate.  (Mt. 19: 4-6)

Marriage is sacred. It is one of the seven sacraments of our Catholic Church. As something divinely instituted, it needs to be respected and defended.

Finally, since theologically, I share the same bride as Christ as His priest (i.e., the Church) I want to make sure that I heed my own advice and not neglect my spouse! I hope that I never forget to tell you this: I love you, my parishioners, my spouse! I also hope that I never neglect you or take you for granted!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor