Man Does Not Live on Bread Alone . . . (and a Parish Needs Financial Support!)

Dear Parishioners,

I hate talking about money.  I always have.  I make no bones about it.  I would love to concentrate solely on the spiritual well-being of this parish.  Fat chance!  Like all of you I also have to pay bills and I am responsible, with others, for the operation and upkeep of our church, rectory, convent and regional school.

While observing trends during this first year of my pastorate, one thing I noted was the weekly amount I am told is necessary to operate the parish.  Sometimes we achieve this goal or occasionally surpass it.  Sometimes we are under the necessary amount, and at other times we have encountered some significant problems.  (For instance, a major difficulty occurred during a weekend last fall when the area was evacuated because of a potential hurricane.)

Falling short just $1000.00 for just 10 weeks during the year leaves us in the hole for $10,000.00.  This is no small amount.  Add to this two holy days this past year that fell on Sundays (Christmas and New Year’s—the Solemnity of Mary) in which there were no additional Sunday Masses or collections.  Moreover, we had a really bad weekend because of a potential hurricane.  Total all this up and we can unfortunately be behind a considerable sum of money by the end of the fiscal year.

It is also important to note that we have had a struggling economy for some time now and weekly Mass attendance is less than 25% of the registered parish population throughout the diocese.

I have brought the issue to the financial council who in turn brought it to the pastoral council.  Discussion and suggestions abounded.  What do we do?  The long range goal is certainly to have more parishioners at Mass each week (evangelization) and to have more parishioners contributing regularly to the parish (tithing or stewardship).

The finance council decided that a second collection be taken up weekly to defray costs such as heating and air conditioning expenses, repairs of buildings, maintenance of grounds, etc.

Unfortunately, all of the promises of “when I hit the lottery” have never amounted to much so far!  In the end, we are still left with bills to pay and a considerably-sized parish to operate with no lottery money.

I make you aware of the current financial situation and its various trends since this is our parish—not just mine.  I love being here and helping in whatever way I can.  In the end, however, we need to grow as a parish and we require your financial support.

 

Unfortunately, bills are never paid by good intentions (or by potentially winning lottery tickets, for that matter!)

Fr. Ed Namiotka

 Pastor

Come and See

Dear Parishioners,

It would be pretty safe to say that most of the people sitting in the pews of our church (and even in the sanctuary) are considered cradle Catholics.  We were baptized as Catholics because our parents (assisted by our godparents) sought to have us share in their Catholic faith from infancy.  Thank you for this!

However, there are frequently those among us who may not have been baptized, may not have received all of their Sacraments of Initiation (including 1^st Holy Communion and Confirmation) or may have received their sacraments but never were thoroughly or adequately trained in the faith (catechized).

Now is the time for those who may be interested to find out more about the Catholic faith.  Perhaps there is an adult within your family or among your friends and neighbors who might be thinking about becoming a Catholic.  They can inquire about what is involved and learn more about the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.).  Others may have been baptized but were never confirmed.  They too can find out what is necessary to receive the sacrament of Confirmation.  In addition, there might be those who were never properly or officially married in the manner required by the Catholic Church and would like to have their marriage “blessed” (convalidated) by the Catholic Church.  They can find out if this is possible and learn exactly how to go about it.

In the inquiry process many additional questions may be asked and answered—often regarding annulments, the Holy Eucharist, and the sacrament of Penance (Confession), etc.

And so, I extend the invitation to anyone who may fall into these areas or who may want to find out more about the Catholic faith to Come and See.

The next day John [the Baptist] was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.”  The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.  Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?”  They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?”  He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” (Emphasis added, John 1: 35-39)

There is an invitation and an opportunity being given once again to follow Jesus more closely.  Discipleship often begins by asking questions, seeking to find out more about Jesus (and His Church) and then taking the necessary steps.

Further information about upcoming inquiry sessions will appear in the weekly bulletin.

Come and see!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Help Wanted

Dear Parishioners,

There are plenty of things to do in every parish.  Ours is no exception.

When I look around I see so much potential for growth—so much that could be!  We are a strong parish built upon a solid foundation and rich tradition.  However, we can never remain complacent or think that we have already accomplished it all.  Until we are in heaven with our Risen Lord, there is still much work to be done!  

And so, I take this time now to ask for your help.  I am inviting you, pleading with you, begging you, to take more ownership in the parish.  There is a lot at stake!  We need to labor, according to the Lord’s bidding, in order to grow spiritually ourselves.  Yet, we must also consider the generations yet to come—our children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and those yet to be born!

We need to build up the Kingdom of God together.  I use the following analogy to help illustrate my point.  I see my role as pastor like the conductor of an orchestra.  The more people I have playing instruments, the fuller, richer and more magnificent the sound.  “I” cannot possibly play every instrument.  I need you to do that.  However, “I” can help to organize and coordinate the instruments so that we perform a beautiful composition together for the Lord.

Too often in the past I have heard this excuse for not getting involved:   No one has ever asked me.  Well, now I am asking!  Can you help in some way?  Yes, you—not your neighbor, your friend, your sibling, your co-worker—I am asking you!   I need your help.  You have some talent or gift that no one else can give because you are unique!

Here are just a few of the areas where you can help:

·       Volunteer some of your skills or trade (carpentry, painting, masonry work, plumbing, electrical, etc.) to help make repairs or improvements for the good of the parish.  (It would be nice to have an active Buildings and Grounds committee).

·        Help teach or be an aide in the Religious Education program or R.C.I.A.

·       Join the Knights of Columbus, the Altar and Rosary Society, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, etc.

·       Volunteer your services to the Pastoral Council or Finance Council.

·       Join the choir, volunteer to be a Reader, or to be an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (and take Holy Communion to the sick/homebound), or to be an Altar Server, etc.  (Volunteer to coordinate any or all of these ministries or to help on a Liturgy committee.)

·        Help organize/coordinate a census of the parish.

·     Volunteer to assist the pastor in some ad hoc project with which he might be having a hard time finding people to help.

·        If you unable to do physical work, concentrate on being an apostle of prayer for the parish to pray for all of us!

The above list is only partial!  I assure that with time I can find something for you to do for the parish and ultimately for the Lord!  Just ask me!  

(No applications refused!  100% guaranteed placement!)

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

The True Meaning of Easter!

Dear Parishioners,

The Lord is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed!

Alleluia!

These are words from an ancient Christian greeting that should reflect our joy at the mystery of the Resurrection of Christ.

The past weeks of Lent and Holy Week gave us time to spiritually prepare for the central event of our Christian faith--the Resurrection of Jesus at Easter.  The experience of witnessing the Risen Christ, with the descent of the Holy Spirit, strengthened the Apostles to witness and, in most cases, to give their lives in spreading the Gospel. 

They had no fear about what would happen to them physically as they saw that Jesus was alive even after a brutal passion and death.  As we celebrate the Easter season, please try to keep the Resurrected Christ foremost in mind. 

In times of difficulty or uncertainty it is the hope given us by the Resurrected Christ that should motivate us and fill us with strength and confidence!

I thank all who work so hard and who are so generous in helping to strengthen our Christian faith community.

Be assured of my daily prayers and Masses for all of you. 

May I ask a continued remembrance in your prayers and Masses as well? 

Have a blessed Easter season!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Time Flies When You’re Having Fun!

Dear Parishioners,

On May 16, 1987 I was ordained a priest in St. Ann’s Church, Wildwood.  This year I will celebrate my 25^th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood.

With gratitude to Almighty God and in thanksgiving for the continued intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I will offer a Mass of Thanksgiving for family and friends at 2:30 PM on Sunday, May 20^th.  Naturally, you are invited to attend this special Mass, if you are so inclined.

In addition, I will be the celebrant of the 10 AM Mass that same Sunday, after which you are invited to join me in the church basement for some light refreshments.  The morning Mass will be a parish-centered celebration to which I cordially invite all of you, my parishioners.

Priesthood is a special “calling” and a unique gift from God for which I will be ever grateful.  Do I deserve such an honor as to share in the Priesthood of Jesus Christ?  Certainly not.  I am reminded of the passage from the Letter to the Hebrews:

Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring, for he himself is beset by weakness and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. (Heb. 5: 1-4)

As I express my heartfelt gratitude to Almighty God, I realize that God has given me so much more than I have ever hoped for or expected.  Most especially he has given you to me.  I am honored to be your spiritual father, your pastor, your priest.

God’s love for His people is so great.  It continues to be manifested through the ministry of His priests.  Sinners though we are, we are reminded regularly that it is not our own talents or gifts but rather God’s grace that enables us to lead people to Christ.  After all, Priesthood is never really about me but truly about Christ.  To use the words of John the Baptist:  “He must increase; I must decrease.” (John 3: 30)

Thank you for being a part of my life and my ministry.  I want you to know that I had the following inscribed on the bottom of my chalice when I was ordained:  Lord, bless those who have brought me to and keep me at your altar.  I depend on your prayers and support as I strive each day to be a better person and holy priest in imitation of Jesus Christ.  While I may unfortunately fail in my attempts, I hope to never give up trying.

Just a few words to those who think they might be hearing the “call” to priesthood as I did:  Don’t be afraid to answer His call!

Nothing that the world offers can compare to the gift of His Priesthood.  Nothing.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Stay Put

Dear Parishioners,

I have only told this story to a few people over the years.  It concerns my having to make a very important decision that, at the time, could potentially affect my future life as a priest.

Let me take you back to that time.

 

I was attending Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD.  I was more than halfway through my priestly formation, studying to be a priest for the Diocese of Camden, NJ.

An opportunity arose in which I had the possibility to relocate and continue my studies for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.  This involved a formal transfer from my home diocese of Camden to Philadelphia (where I was born and attended college seminary).  The transfer would require the consent of the bishops of both localities—and it appeared to be a genuine possibility without any apparent obstacles to this transfer.


In brief, the door opened for me to study for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and I had to make a potentially life-changing decision—should I stay where I was or go there instead?

I took this question to prayer every day.  I wanted to do whatever the Lord wanted me to do.  I prayed for guidance and direction.  I talked it over with some trusted priests.  I prayed from the depths of my being.  I did not want to make a bad decision. I prayed and prayed and prayed.

In prayer, two words kept coming to me over and over again:  “Stay Put.”   

How do I know if this was God speaking to me or whether this was just my imagination?  I prayed.  I prayed some more.  I prayed unlike I had ever prayed.  I prayed for some sign, some confirmation.

Stay put.  That’s what I “heard” time and time again.  Stay put.  Nothing more!

In the meantime, I had scheduled an appointment at the diocesan office in Camden potentially to finalize my transfer.  I left the seminary in Maryland to drive to the meeting in somewhat of a daze.  It was more than a three hour drive.

Was I about to do something that I might regret for the rest of my life?  It certainly seems like the Lord wanted me to stay where I was.  Lord, help me to make the right decision.

I had stopped at a red traffic light.  I was staring into space.  Then I looked closely at the tractor trailer (semi) immediately in front of me.  I could not believe what I saw!  On the mud flaps on both sides of the truck were two words:  STA PUT.  (Yeah, maybe the spelling was not exact but the message was nonetheless loud and clear!  Alright already, Lord!  I get it!)

Nearly thirty years later, I am a priest of the Diocese of Camden, NJ.  I realize now how God was teaching me how to discern important matters. Prayer—intense prayer—was the key to finding God’s will.

Prayer and a particular pair of mud flaps, that is!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Look closely at the mud flap on the right!

"How Are Things?"

Dear Parishioners,

In a conversation that one of my priest-friends had with a monk while he was on retreat, he asked the monk, “How are things?”  The monk’s response surprised him a bit.  “Things are fine.  It’s the people that I have a problem with!”

For better or for worse, we will have to deal with people for the rest of our lives.  As the British poet John Donne reminds us: No man is an island.  In my analysis of any situation dealing with people, I return continually to the importance of relationship.

Let’s start first with God.  In the revelation to us of God’s inner make-up, we are shown that God is a Trinity of Persons in relationship—a Father, a Son and the Holy Spirit.  There is perfect unity and harmony in this relationship exemplifying the essence of love.

Moving to the family, which is based on the relationship of husband and wife and the children that are born as the fruit of their love, we can again see the importance of and need for unity and harmony.  The two who become one flesh also must strive for one loving heart and work to provide for, to teach, to protect and, most importantly, to love those innocents whom they bring into this world.

The Church—the Body of Christ—is a community of believers in relationship with each other as well as with Almighty God.  While each and every individual is of utmost importance and value, none of us stands alone within the Church.  Jesus is the Head and we are members of His Mystical Body.  Through the Church’s visible leader, the Pope, in union with the Bishops throughout the world, Christ continues to sanctify, to teach and to preach today.  Again, unity and harmony are ever so necessary for the mission of Christ to continue.  Unfortunately divided Christian communities with varying degrees of dissention (both from within and from those outside of the Church’s embrace), make this goal of unity and harmony a frequently difficult, ongoing challenge.

No matter what the situation that we encounter, we can never forget that concern for the person and the relationship needs to be the most important, underlying principle defining the way that we approach and treat others.  Mutual respect, patience, cooperation, ongoing communication, and forgiveness are qualities and conditions enabling us to achieve this desired unity and harmony in relationships.

Even when dealing with sensitive or volatile topics, if we value the relationship over the issue itself, we may still wind up disagreeing—but we have a better chance of never losing respect for the person or persons holding the differing opinion or position.

Work to build relationships as St. Paul instructs:

I . . . urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:  one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.  (Ephesians 4: 1-6)

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

The Search for God

Abbey of the Genesee

Dear Parishioners,

Recently I came back from a retreat with the Trappist Monks.  For me, spending time with them is spiritually renewing.  There’s plenty of time to read, to think, to pray and . . . to be quiet.

The former abbot, Fr. John Eudes, gave us a series of talks during the week.  He is definitely one of the most intelligent men that I have ever met.  In the course of the talks he showed a proficiency in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, theology, Sacred Scripture, various complex sciences, philosophy, history and other general information.  He is a medical doctor, a psychiatrist.  And he is quite sharp—even at 85!

It was not necessarily what he said that impressed me the most.  It was more awe at his commitment to serve the Lord as a monk for over 62 years!  And now he is a hermit, living alone, seeking God in the woods of upstate New York.

What leads him—leads us—to seek God?

I remember what one of my seminary professors once taught:  we are wired to seek God.

From our very early days we question things:  Why?  What’s that?  What are you doing? Where are you going?  We want to know things.  We want information.  We seek knowledge.

At the same time, we pursue things in life that seem to bring us happiness.  We desire friendship.  We want to be intimate with others.  We long to be loved and to love.

We are wired so that our intellect seeks knowledge and our free will chooses love.

Where do we find something or, better yet, someone who has the fullness of knowledge and love—who is all-knowing and all-loving?

If you choose God—then you choose correctly!

St. Augustine said this many years ago and it still rings true:  “Thou hast made us for Thyself O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.”

Whether we think about it or not, we all go about life searching for something or someone to fill a void, an emptiness in us.  A lot of things that may appear “good” and may temporarily bring us pleasure, don’t satisfy completely or totally in the end.  We still carry about an emptiness longing to be filled.

And so we will go on searching . . . searching . . . searching . . .

. . . until we one day find . . .

. . . and are satisfied completely and totally . . .

. . . by God!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

(Retired Abbot) Fr. John Eudes Bamberger, OCSO

Going on a Retreat

Dear Parishioners,

According to the Code of Canon Law (church law), priests are bound to make time for spiritual retreats (canon 276 §2, 4).

On many occasions, I choose to join the Trappist Monks—the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (O.C.S.O.)—for a week of prayer, spiritual reading and silence in Piffard, NY.  I stay at Bethlehem Retreat House which is part of the Abbey of Our Lady of the Genesee.  (If you care to, you can read about my retreat last year at the abbey here.)

We hear in Sacred Scripture about Jesus going out into the desert, going up on the mountain, going by the seashore and to other locations to take the time to be alone and to pray.  I think that we all need this time.  Not everyone has the ability to take a week off specifically to do this, but it is a practice which we all need to consider. We should take at least some time regularly for our own spiritual growth and well-being.  A retreat is certainly a possibility to help us.

Retreats can vary in kind, duration and austerity.  The monastic retreat that I choose is meant to be a desert experience.  It involves great periods of silence, praying (chanting) the psalms at least five times a day, celebrating Mass with the monks, some spiritual conferences, a considerable amount of walking to and from the abbey and early rising—very early!  The first time of prayer at Genesee is 2:25 AM!  Early to bed, for sure.

In the midst of this experience I hope to encounter God more profoundly.  Minimize the distractions, eliminate noise, pray more and be open and attentive to the presence of God in my life.  By doing this I am preparing myself—setting the conditions—to "hear" God more clearly.

Every past retreat has borne different kinds of fruit for my life’s journey.  God never seems to be without wonder and surprise as He speaks to the depth of the heart.

While on retreat I will be praying for you, my people.  I will place all of you at the top of my list of prayer intentions as I celebrate Mass, chant the psalms and partake in various spiritual exercises.

Could I ask that you remember me as well in your thoughts, prayers and Masses?  After all, I truly depend on your prayers, support and love to sustain me in my priestly ministry!

Genesee is an abbey where the monks bake bread (Monk’s Bread) and sell it to support themselves.  I hope that I can keep away from eating too many carbs during the week!

Unfortunately, I doubt it will happen!

Fr. Ed Namiotka              

Pastor

Say Ahh . . . (men)!

Dear Parishioners,

I prayed at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem at the turn of the century.  This wall is the remnant of the great Jewish temple destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.

While there, I noticed how many of the Jewish men bowed continually while praying.  I wondered why?  The practice is referred to as daven.   It can mean both praying and rocking or swaying.  The body itself can be seen as an instrument for praising God coming from an interpretation of the psalms:  “My very bones shall say, O LORD, who is like you. . . ?” (Ps. 35:10)

Body movement during prayer—coming from our Jewish brethren—is thus seen as a means of devotion to God!

We, as Catholics, have incorporated quite a few gestures into our liturgy that we might consider:  bowing, kneeling, genuflecting, standing, making a Sign of the Cross, and striking our breast, to name a few.

It was a Jewish professor who I had in graduate school that explained the custom of striking the breast to our class.  He told us that it was a gesture of profound repentance when a person strikes the breast around the heart as if to say:  From the depths of my heart, I am truly sorry.

We need to keep this in mind when we recite the Confiteor during the Penitential Rite of Mass.

Another gesture during the Mass that merits our attention is bowing when mentioning the Incarnation during the Creed.  To acknowledge the fact that God became a man—that the Word became flesh—certainly deserves some special act of reverence on our part!

It also goes without saying that the Eucharist—the Real Presence of Jesus Christ present in our tabernacles and on our altars—necessarily commands our utmost respect by genuflecting or by a profound bow when appropriate.

This brings me to a final point:  the importance of participating verbally during Mass.  I have continually reminded people over the years that our Mass is primarily an act of worship.  It is not some form of entertainment because of the beautiful music.  Nor is it a completely private act of devotion or something that the priest does all by himself while the rest of the congregation watches.  We are all supposed to participate fully.  There are various dialogues and responses given to the prayers that are meant to be said or sung!

One such response—coming from the Hebrew—is the word Amen.  It is a word of affirmation and emphasis.  It is used in the Gospels 77 times and is spoken by Jesus especially when He wants to emphasize something of utmost importance:  Amen I say to you. . .!

So when you hear a prayer prayed, or you come up to receive Holy Communion, voice your belief and conviction by saying Amen!

Knowing why we do and say the things we do during the Mass can only help to enhance our experience of it. 

I hate to see people just go through the motions when there is such richness and beauty to the Mass—especially when properly understood!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor