From the Pastor
February/18/2010
Some of our foreign visitors had stopped me to chat after Mass, and inquired whether the rather noticeable early departure right after receiving Holy Communion at Masses here is a custom in our parish. They don’t see that in their country.
Sad to say, it seems to have become one, having a long tradition from the very first Mass at the Last
Supper, when Judas was the first one to leave Mass early. He missed out on the Lord’s blessing (and, obviously, so do many adherents of that same custom). What does it say about our failure to take a few more minutes to express our gratitude for the great gift of the Eucharist? What has become so important in our lives than spending just one hour with Jesus?
Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked Peter and the Apostles, “Could you not watch just one hour with Me?” Did the Scriptures ever record Judas as expressing his thanks for anything that Jesus did for him? Judas had a false concern for the poor, and Jesus’ reply was that “you will always have the poor with you, but Me, you will not have.” I guess the embarrassing answer to our visitors is this: that for some, God’s final blessing is not as important to them as trying to get out of the parking lot early; or getting a place in line earlier for the “early bird special” at the restaurant. What message does this send to the young people? If adults get their priorities messed up, what will follow this bad example? Maybe if we take the time for some deeper reflection upon this during Lent, we might realize that if God is not first in our life, we might be in violation of the very First Commandment: “I am the Lord, your God; you shall not have other gods before me!
Our Forty Hours Eucharistic devotion concludes this Sunday afternoon with a procession of the Most Blessed
Sacrament from the Adoration Chapel to the Church, followed by Benediction just before the 5:30 p.m. Mass.
Thank you for spending time with Jesus in this awesome way!
This week, we will have First Penance and Reconciliation for our little children preparing for their May 8th reception of their First Holy Communion. This first confession of sins demonstrates that, even from a relatively early age, we all need to take responsibility for our faults against the Lord and His commands, and express our sorrow in the Sacrament of Penance, and then fulfill the penance as satisfaction for our sins. In no way should we approach the Eucharist if we are aware of any serious sin until we have been reconciled with the Lord and His people. Otherwise, we would be deepening our sinfulness by sacrilege through unworthy reception of Communion. A further understanding of this teaching was explained in my column in last week’s bulletin.
Several of our younger teens will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation at this coming Saturday afternoon’s 5:30 p.m. Mass, when Bishop Barbarito visits us again and prays for the power of the Holy Spirit to come upon them. May that strength given them in this special Sacrament enable them to live out their faith well, especially in view of today’s temptations that pervade our very materialistic society. May they also become good examples of living out the faith by weekly (and not weakly) participation at Mass and the worthy reception of the Eucharist.
We note, with a tinge of sadness, the passing, last weekend, of P. Rose Venezia, a long-time occasional parishioner, the mother of Father Arthur Venezia, Deacon Richard, and most recent parishioner, Robert (wife, Rosemary). Rose was just six weeks shy of her 100th birthday! Please keep her and her family in your sympathetic thoughts and commendatory prayers.
Our Annual Parish Festival is less than 2 weeks away! It is such a major activity of our parish and the Delray
Beach community. If you have not yet purchased your tickets, bought any of the several raffle tickets, or volunteered to serve in some capacity, or donated in some way your time and service, I urge you to consider doing so as quickly as possible.
The festival is our largest fund-raising activity of the year and produces a sizeable income to benefit out parish school. Your support is greatly appreciated by 270 students, several full and part-time teachers and staff, and a lot of parents who are hoping to keep the family part of the tuition as low as possible.
Set your calendars for one more important series of dates: March 14th-17th for our annual Parish Spiritual Retreat. Father John Phelps is grateful for the many responses you gave him during his recent visit to prepare us for his team presentation. It sounds like it will be well worth the time and effort to partake of this Lenten movement closer to the Lord. Make sure that you invite all our family members and Catholic neighbors and friends to join you for that mission.
May God bless you and your families with an abundance of grace during this holy and joyful season of Lent!
Very Rev. Canon Tom
Sad to say, it seems to have become one, having a long tradition from the very first Mass at the Last
Supper, when Judas was the first one to leave Mass early. He missed out on the Lord’s blessing (and, obviously, so do many adherents of that same custom). What does it say about our failure to take a few more minutes to express our gratitude for the great gift of the Eucharist? What has become so important in our lives than spending just one hour with Jesus?
Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked Peter and the Apostles, “Could you not watch just one hour with Me?” Did the Scriptures ever record Judas as expressing his thanks for anything that Jesus did for him? Judas had a false concern for the poor, and Jesus’ reply was that “you will always have the poor with you, but Me, you will not have.” I guess the embarrassing answer to our visitors is this: that for some, God’s final blessing is not as important to them as trying to get out of the parking lot early; or getting a place in line earlier for the “early bird special” at the restaurant. What message does this send to the young people? If adults get their priorities messed up, what will follow this bad example? Maybe if we take the time for some deeper reflection upon this during Lent, we might realize that if God is not first in our life, we might be in violation of the very First Commandment: “I am the Lord, your God; you shall not have other gods before me!
Our Forty Hours Eucharistic devotion concludes this Sunday afternoon with a procession of the Most Blessed
Sacrament from the Adoration Chapel to the Church, followed by Benediction just before the 5:30 p.m. Mass.
Thank you for spending time with Jesus in this awesome way!
This week, we will have First Penance and Reconciliation for our little children preparing for their May 8th reception of their First Holy Communion. This first confession of sins demonstrates that, even from a relatively early age, we all need to take responsibility for our faults against the Lord and His commands, and express our sorrow in the Sacrament of Penance, and then fulfill the penance as satisfaction for our sins. In no way should we approach the Eucharist if we are aware of any serious sin until we have been reconciled with the Lord and His people. Otherwise, we would be deepening our sinfulness by sacrilege through unworthy reception of Communion. A further understanding of this teaching was explained in my column in last week’s bulletin.
Several of our younger teens will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation at this coming Saturday afternoon’s 5:30 p.m. Mass, when Bishop Barbarito visits us again and prays for the power of the Holy Spirit to come upon them. May that strength given them in this special Sacrament enable them to live out their faith well, especially in view of today’s temptations that pervade our very materialistic society. May they also become good examples of living out the faith by weekly (and not weakly) participation at Mass and the worthy reception of the Eucharist.
We note, with a tinge of sadness, the passing, last weekend, of P. Rose Venezia, a long-time occasional parishioner, the mother of Father Arthur Venezia, Deacon Richard, and most recent parishioner, Robert (wife, Rosemary). Rose was just six weeks shy of her 100th birthday! Please keep her and her family in your sympathetic thoughts and commendatory prayers.
Our Annual Parish Festival is less than 2 weeks away! It is such a major activity of our parish and the Delray
Beach community. If you have not yet purchased your tickets, bought any of the several raffle tickets, or volunteered to serve in some capacity, or donated in some way your time and service, I urge you to consider doing so as quickly as possible.
The festival is our largest fund-raising activity of the year and produces a sizeable income to benefit out parish school. Your support is greatly appreciated by 270 students, several full and part-time teachers and staff, and a lot of parents who are hoping to keep the family part of the tuition as low as possible.
Set your calendars for one more important series of dates: March 14th-17th for our annual Parish Spiritual Retreat. Father John Phelps is grateful for the many responses you gave him during his recent visit to prepare us for his team presentation. It sounds like it will be well worth the time and effort to partake of this Lenten movement closer to the Lord. Make sure that you invite all our family members and Catholic neighbors and friends to join you for that mission.
May God bless you and your families with an abundance of grace during this holy and joyful season of Lent!
Very Rev. Canon Tom