Pastor's Column, January 25, 2015

This Sunday at 11am I will be baptizing Jackson Zbasnik into our Catholic Faith. His father and godfather both attended our parish school and now bring Jackson to be christened at St. Leo. We welcome him, his parents & godparents and pledge our prayers to them. By the way, someone recently asked what the difference is between being baptized or “christened.” Good question. But the answer is there is no difference. People used to refer to baptism as a “christening” because it means “to make someone Christ” which is what we do in baptism. It’s good for all of us who were baptized to remember that this is our calling: to be Christ. 

Today at the 8am Mass, we will celebrating the “Rite of Acceptance” for the two people who have been in the RCIA process here at St. Leo’s the last few months. RCIA is short for “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults” and is the process used in the Catholic Church throughout the world to bring an adult into the Catholic Christian faith through baptism, confirmation and eucharist. Those who have been baptized Catholic but who have not received any of the other sacraments, and those who have been baptized in another Christian denomination (Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, etc.) are called “Candidates” since they already share in our Christian faith through a valid baptism and are seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church through the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation. Those who are not baptized at all are called “Catechumens” and they will be baptized, then receive Eucharist and Confirmation. The Rite of Acceptance is a short “rite” or ritual that takes place in a parish whereby we formally accept and welcome these people into the process of becoming Catholic. This Rite is more fully and formally known as “The (Combined) Celebration of the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens and the Rite of Welcoming Baptized but Previously Uncatechized Adults Who are Preparing for Confirmation and/or Eucharist or Reception into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church.” That’s quite a mouthful! So we just call it simply, the Rite of Acceptance. Much easier, huh? This takes place at the beginning of Mass, then the candidates join us for the Liturgy of the Word. After the homily but before the Creed (which they have not yet professed), they are given a blessing and then dismissed to reflect further on the Word of God. Please pray for Michael and Angelique whom we will introduce to you more fully at a later time.

Today begins Catholic Schools Week. We are so very blessed to have a parish school at St. Leo’s so please pray for it’s success as we celebrate the opportunity to teach our children in an atmosphere of faith.

Homily Thoughts for January 25, 2015...

Lent is still a month or so away, but the word “Repent” is found in our first & second readings. One way of describing repentance is “to readjust one’s priorities.” Take what is at the center of your attention & move it to the side. Take what is at the side & move it to the center.

Sometimes this happens automatically for us, and it can be shocking. For example, when we’re sick, what we thought was important moves to our peripheral vision while our health becomes the center of our focus. When Jesus called the 4 disciples in the gospel, their work as fisherman, which was primary for them, moved to the side, while their decision to follow Christ became center stage.

St. Paul said that the world as we know it is passing away. He said this after having had an incredible encounter with the Risen Lord. So for him, the present order of things was passing because Christ was now at the center of his life and knowing Christ made everything different for him. We are to repent: to put Christ at the center of our lives & to move what is not important or eternal to the side.

Pastor's Column, January 18, 2015

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated this past Monday for Elmer Wisnieski, a parishioner who was 92 years old. Elmer was married to Ernestine for one month shy of 73 years. Such a long relationship is a testament to their devotedness to each other. They have a son who died many years ago and a daughter named Karen Baracz who has 4 children. We also pray for a parishioner named Judy Bowman, for whom we prayed at the funeral home. May they both rest in the peace of Christ. 

On Monday of the past week I announced to the school faculty that our Principal, Diane Weiss, will be retiring at the end of this school year. Mrs. Weiss has been principal for 12 years and has been a part of the St. Leo the Great School for over 30 years. We were incredibly blessed to have her here for so long. During my first year at St. Leo’s, she was extremely helpful in introducing me to the school community, in sharing with me the long history of our school and its impact upon our parish community. She has proven herself to be a competent and knowledgable leader and she is certainly a person of faith. It will difficult to say goodbye to her, but after so many years in education, she is ready to move on to other interests. While she had originally planned to retire earlier, she decided to stay on for my benefit as I became the new pastor of St. Leo’s and for that too I am very grateful. I hope that those of you who have had some connection with the school over the years may be able to express your gratitude to her for all that she has done for the St. Leo community.

The Diocesan Office of Education is very helpful in guiding us in the process for selecting a new principal. We are in the process of forming a search committee who will make recommendations to me for this position. Our parish school has a long and vibrant history and I want to do everything in my power to continue the excellence of our academic and faith formation. I depend on your prayers during this important process.

This Thursday marks the sad anniversary of the Supreme Court decision known as “Roe v. Wade” which legalized abortion. Though so much time has passed and so many persons aborted, we must never give up the fight or stop praying for the end to such tragedy. May the gift of life, given to us by the Author of Life, be protected and respected by us all. Our church bells will toll at noon January 22 in remembrance of the unborn.

Homily Thoughts for January 18, 2015…The Call

Over the years, children have asked me, “How did you know God wanted you to be a priest? When did you receive “the call”? At first, I really didn’t hear God calling me (at least not in the way he called Samuel in the first reading). I can relate more to the 2 disciples in the gospel who were searching for Jesus, not the other way around.

I had questions about God. I wanted to know how Jesus could make my life better. Isn’t that why anyone would follow Jesus in the first place? We want a better life. We want help. We want healing. We want peace. We want meaning. Is it possible that Jesus could give these things to us?

I didn’t want to become a priest so that I could help others find God but because I wanted to find God. It was only after I came to realize how the Lord helps me that I heard my “call” or vocation of helping others in their search for the Lord. Jesus asks all of us, “What are you looking for?” Only when we find that he can give us what we’re looking for can we invite others to follow him too.

Pastor's Column, January 11, 2015

On December 27th last year (all of two weeks ago!), my “Predecessor of Happy Memory” (that’s how popes speak of popes who came before them!), former pastor Father Ned Weist celebrated the 4pm Mass in order to bless a couple whose wedding he celebrated 25 years ago, Myron & Mary Sulminiski. So happy 25th Anniversary to Myron & Mary. We hope you have many more.

On a sad note, Kathy Insana-Hoag died of cancer at the age of 48. We extend our sympathy to her husband Jim and to their three children, Matthew, Cecily & James, all of whom attended St. Leo school. Within seconds after I prayed with them on Christmas afternoon, Kathy was born into eternal life. May she know Christmas peace forever. 

I also celebrated this past week a Funeral Service for Patrick O’Malley, son of John & Patricia and brother of Brian & Kevin. A Memorial Mass for Patrick will be planned for early February. We entrust him to the embrace of God who gives new life to all. May he rest in peace and may his family find peace in their faith.

John Wojtkiewicz died on December 29th and his Mass of Christian Burial was at St. Leo this past Wednesday. John was one of 10 children and there is only a brother of his who is surviving. He was 86 years old, and a man of faith who never missed Mass. We are glad he was able to worship with us these past years and we keep his family in our prayers.

Just when the 50+ degree weather dropped into the bitter teens, we suddenly lost heat in the church & rectory…a pastor’s nightmare. Dominion Gas needed to do a test the following day to see if the problem was on their end or ours. If the problem was on our side (due to faulty gas pipes buried in the ground), it would be a very expensive and time-consuming repair since we’re in the middle of a very cold winter. Well the news was that we will be responsible for the repair due to where the problem exists, but the good news is it won’t be as expensive as first thought since we are able to wait until the spring to dig underground. Basically, two tree trunks were pressing against pipes & caused them to fail. I’m grateful it isn’t worse than it is, and that we are now with heat again, but of course such news keeps pastors up at night…and so does a cold rectory! I made sure that Michaela kept Fr. Vesely warm by laying in his lap while Abby kept me thawed. What would we do without our pets?

Homily Thoughts for January 11, 2015…the Work of Christmas

I received a Christmas card that had a great message for this time after Christmas: “When the song of the angels is stilled, the star in the sky is gone, when the kings & princes are home & the shepherds are back w/ their flock, then the WORK of Christmas begins...to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner & to bring peace to all peoples”

After this feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Church removes its Christmas decorations as we enter back into “Ordinary Time.” But before Jesus begins his public ministry, his work of finding the lost, healing the broken, feeding the hungry, and freeing those imprisoned, God’s voice is heard at his baptism: “This is my Beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

How can Jesus find, heal, feed & release people unless he himself has been found, healed, fed, freed & loved by God his Father? During Christmas, did you hear the voice of God naming you as his Beloved child with whom he is well pleased? If you have, then let us begin the work of Christmas.

Pastor's Column, January 4, 2015

This column may be a little behind the news since once again I’m required to write it two weeks before it’s published in this bulletin due to the printing schedule of our bulletin company. But I can say that it’s just a few days over a year that I’ve been here at St. Leo’s and it’s been a wonderful year for me and I hope at least tolerable for you! Thank you for your support and please continue to pray for me that I may serve you to the best of my ability.

Sometimes people ask about how they can receive Holy Communion or be anointed if they end up in the hospital or nursing home. It would be helpful for you to know that most hospitals and nursing facilities have a Chaplain on staff who will be happy to arrange this for you. Most of these have a Catholic Priest who is assigned as either a full-time or part-time chaplain. If they do not have a priest directly connected with the Pastoral Care Office, they know who to contact when a request comes in. Extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist from area parishes visit most places and often bring Holy Communion not only to their own parishioners but to all the Catholic residents. However I am always happy to make a visit if the Catholic Chaplain is not available. But we do try to have the Chaplain assigned to the hospital or nursing home be contacted first otherwise two priests end up make a trip for the same person (which happens more than you would think). 

This is the last week of Christmas Time in the liturgical calendar. After we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany this weekend, we will conclude the season with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord next weekend. That feast brings Christmas to a close & puts us back into the “Ordinary Time” of the church year. In six weeks we begin Lenten Time. As you know the time will go very fast for most of us as we live busy lives, but it’s a real gift to have the church help us to transition from one season to another as we focus on different mysteries of our faith and events in the life of the Christ. 

Here’s a nice quote for us as we begin this new year of 2015: “Our prime purpose in life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.” Good wisdom to help us in the coming months.

Homily Thoughts for January 4, 2015…Kings & Gifts

In a bible study we had last month, some were surprised to learn that even though we have 3 kings in our manger scenes, the bible never tells us how many kings went to visit & to worship the Christ Child. It just says, “wise men from the east arrived one day in Jerusalem.” So where did we get the idea there were 3 of them? Because it does tell us that there were three gifts: gold, frankincense & myrrh. But couldn’t one king have brought 3 gifts, or several kings brought none?

Is it really important to know how many kings there were? Perhaps not. St. Matthew wrote a theology book, not a history book. But it’s good that we presume that each king had a gift to bring because in our Christian faith, we believe that everyone has a gift to give. We don’t come to worship Jesus empty handed.

Everyone God has created is a gifted person. Even those we don’t like or find it hard to get along with have a gift to give us. And we have one for them too. Don’t keep your gift wrapped up throughout the year. Open it, appreciate it, use it. That is our gift to God.