Message from Father Bing

07-30-2023Weekly Reflection

Kissing the Altar at Mass

Question: Why do priests kiss the altar at the start of Mass?

Answer: Our churches and chapels are filled with symbols. We might think of the more common symbols (like the crucifix, statues, stainedglass windows, vestment color and altar cloths) as well as major symbols (such as the paschal candle and the baptismal font). But there are some things that we can take for granted in our sacred spaces, because unfortunately, they seem to just be part of the building, including three of the main symbols of our liturgy: the ambo (lectern), the chair for the priest celebrant, and the altar.

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Message from Dcn Tom

07-16-2023Weekly ReflectionDeacon Tom Henrich

This will be my last “pinch-hit” for Fr. Bing.  I admit that even though I was intimidated by the experience at first, I enjoyed it. In these posts, I have hoped to share the importance of giving back to God with a generous, rather than a guilty heart, and to remind us that God is never outdone in generosity. We are called to give of first fruits from what God has entrusted to us as stewards in His kingdom.  To see that giving of our treasure is something we should expect of ourselves to participate in the sanctification of the world and be united more closely with God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

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Message from Dcn Tom

07-09-2023Weekly ReflectionDeacon Tom Henrich

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

We affirm this as Catholics. We know this from experience. When God entrusts us with the gift of faith, He also entrusts us with the task of instructing our children in that same faith. Teaching children to tithe is an important part of their faith education that we often overlook. Giving to God is a core value of our faith that should be taught early and reinforced often. Yet, it rarely enters our minds to teach our youngest Catholics to start practicing generosity not just with their siblings but toward God and His church from a very young age.

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Message from Dcn Tom

07-02-2023Weekly ReflectionDeacon Tom Henrich

Building a community of faith is one of the most important aspects of parish life. The mission of Jesus Christ unites us. As parishioners, we share in the celebration of the Eucharist as well as the many programs, ministries and services provided by our parish.

Each and every parishioner, when asked, can point to one or more ministries that they are involved in and hold in high regard. They have been either active in a number of ministries or they have benefited or been touched directly by a ministry. That is when both parish and parishioners are joined in Christian stewardship. Stewardship is not a strategy to just raise money. It is deeply spiritual and personal.

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Stewardship

06-25-2023Weekly ReflectionDeacon Tom Henrich/Msgr. James Vlaun

Fr. Bing will be gone for the next month, and he has asked me to “pinch hit” in his place in the “Message from Fr. Bing.” He asked me to focus my comments on Stewardship. I must admit to being a bit afraid of this task, as I only learned about it yesterday, but I can say I have already learned a fantastic lesson from this “by chance,” (there is no chance; God has a plan.) As part of my daily routine, I read the daily readings and then go to the website, usccb.org and listen to a short reflection on the day’s readings. Mondays always has Msgr. James Vlaun and he is excellent! Today was no exception, and it just so happened to be on the topic of Stewardship. I would like to share a transcript of what he said here.

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Gifts received, Give as Gift

06-18-2023Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

We all have gifts; people notice them and tell us: You know, you have a gift! At times we say, how so? Often, we feel a bit uncomfortable and even embarrassed by the compliment. I’ve learned from my former Pastor (Fr. Chuck Kieffer) to say; Thank you and appreciate any form of praise or affirmation from others. But also, I am aware that everything I am and who I am now is a gift from God. Freely you received, freely give (Mt. 10:8b). Even in moments; when I speak or use the possessive tense (my, mine), deep inside, I am fully aware that there is nothing and no one I can claim as mine. My breath, the palpitations of my heart, all the functioning of my internal organs to keep me healthy all the senses of touch, smell, hearing, taste, and my whole being are all gifts from the Almighty Creator.

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Solemnity of Corpus Christi: The Body and Blood of Jesus Christ

06-11-2023Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

In the Gospel, Jesus tells His listeners: I am the Living Bread that comes from heaven, whoever eats this bread will live forever The BREAD He offers is His flesh that gives life to the world. Jesus invites the people to eat His body/flesh a shock to His listeners and would be disciples; in their minds, they wonder where Jesus got the courage to challenge everyone to take his flesh as spiritual food, much more than physical nourishment. Something new and unprecedented is happening. His command is taboo for the Jews and the last straw for many; who left the company of Jesus. If only they stayed longer, they would see through the words of Jesus, who invites them to be one with Him and He in them.

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The Most Holy Trinity

06-04-2023Weekly Reflection© LPi Fr. John Muir

In my experience, one of the peculiarities of being a man is the somewhat unlikely ability to look into the mirror, no matter how out of shape he may be, and declare with full confidence: “Looking good, buddy!” Ask a man. He’ll probably confirm it. Therein lies a mystery. You might think I refer to man’s ability to deceive himself or his propensity toward vainglory. But in this case, I refer to the mystery of a healthy and proper sense of self-love.

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The Soul of Jesus

05-28-2023Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

In his treatise On the Holy Spirit, St. Basil wrote that the title alone is enough to stir the soul and make one realize that they speak nothing less than the Supreme Being. He is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Truth, the steadfast Spirit, and the Spirit that guides. It is the Holy Spirit that one turns to when in need of sanctification His breath empowers one to attain its natural end.

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The Glory of a Consecrated Life

05-21-2023Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

The Gospel reminds me of my consecration to God; on 2nd July (1999) at my ordination to the diaconate. On that Solemn High Mass at the Cathedral of my diocese in the Philippines, I laid face down flat on the floor before the altar as the parish choir sang the Litany of the Saints chant. There, I lay prostrated in humble submission to the Most Holy Trinity, fully aware of my unworthiness. That was the last time I was a layperson before being accepted to the ranks of the clergy in the Order of the Diaconate, later, to the Order of the Presbyterate.

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We are Born to Love

05-14-2023Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

The Gospel this Sunday fills my mind with many thoughts, generally about my life and how this life should reflect the will of the Creator; by imitating our Lord, Jesus Christ. But I also see the many connections in my life: 1.) To Motherhood (Mother’s Day), 2.) The Incarnation of Jesus, 3.) His call to love and unity, 4.) His promise to remain with us through the Holy Spirit, and 5.) His Ascension.

God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten Son. All life begins in the womb of a woman. When God sent His Son, He sent the Archangel Gabriel to a simple handmaid, announcing that she would conceive the Son of God in her womb. I and all of us began life inside the womb of a woman. For this reason, being a mother is a great honor and blessing. Like God’s love, we were all born because our parents loved one another.

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In my Father’s House

05-07-2023Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

My father’s house is my home. I and my three brothers grew up in that house and did our part to make that house our home. The table of our house nourishes us daily: Mom prepares the food, while I and the two elder siblings take turns setting the table, washing the dishes after a meal, and cleaning the floors of the dining and the kitchen. In my father’s house, we each have responsibilities, cleaning inside; and taking care of the lawn and garden outside.

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