Gospel Reflections

02-27-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Manasseh

When we talk about other people, what we say often reveals more about us than about the person of whom we speak. If we are kind and considerate, positive words that edify effortlessly and habitually emanate from us about others, but if we are ill-willed and bitter, chances are that our representation of others will be based on our inherent negative and bitter standards.

The book of Sirach, from where we have our first reading this weekend, firmly agrees with this line of thought. For Sirach, one’s speech presents a veritable and reliable basis for assessing their character. The inner person is often revealed as virtuous or vicious by external speech. The inspired author of the first reading admits that though speech could be deceptive and even capable of making the speaker appear better than he really is, this deception cannot be maintained indefinitely; words will eventually reveal one’s true character. Speech is the fruit that reveals how much care the tree of one’s life has received. People who dutifully appropriate to themselves the eternal nourishment provided by God’s word will habitually produce virtuous speech, while those who resisted or neglected Divine assistance and prompting will most likely radiate negativity, slander, vain discourse, and vicious speech.

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Lenten Season

02-25-2022Weekly Flocknote MessageFr. James Aboyi, VC

Have you made any plans yet for the Lenten season this year? Remember, Lent begins next week on Ash Wednesday, March 2. The season of Lent is not the most favorite season for a number of people. This is generally because they consider Lent as a time to give up something or a time of self-discipline. This is generally true, however, the best way to look at the season of Lent is to consider it as a period of renewal, a period of spiritual fruitfulness, and a period of spiritual growth. The most common way many people make plans for the season of Lent is by making Lenten promises.

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Love Your Enemies

02-20-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Manasseh

It is quite normal to reciprocate acts of love, but there is a genuine reluctance for humans to love those who manifestly hate and do not wish one well. To love those who love you is a natural human instinctive reaction; loving your traducers, on the other hand, can only be a conscious and deliberate choice made at a usually huge cost that normal people are not readily willing to incur. A Christian is, however, not a “normal” person governed purely by instincts. He or she is a child of God, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and called to be holy as “your heavenly Father is holy.” Love of all, including one’s haters, is therefore proper to the Christian since such a seemingly outlandish discipline only authenticates his discipleship.

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Charity and Development Appeal (CDA)

02-18-2022Weekly Flocknote MessageFr. James Aboyi, VC

This weekend is the Kickoff Weekend for the CDA in our parish community. Our Bishop, Thomas Olmsted, will be directly inviting everyone to participate during all Masses. I thank those who have already participated this year in the CDA. We will provide you with an envelope this weekend, especially if you have not yet received one by mail. We will also explain the different ways to give to CDA, including the new “text to give” option. 

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Blessed Are They Who Hope In The Lord

02-13-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Manasseh

In our world today, the normal description of a successful person would exclude undesirables like poverty, dependence of any kind, reliance on anyone other than self, and suffering. The successful person would have to be financially self-reliant, have numerous accomplishments, and be confident in their ability to do or get what they legitimately desire. The contemporary appreciation of success is diametrically opposed to Jesus’ teaching on blessedness. The first reading contrasts the life of the “Blessed” with that of the “Cursed.” The Cursed is defined by his trust in human beings, including self, and seeks strength in the flesh thereby turning his heart away from God. The consequence of his reliance on human counsel strength is that he is spiritually barren.

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Charity and Development Appeal

02-11-2022Weekly Flocknote MessageFr. James Aboyi, VC

It is the time of year again when we are all called to participate in the annual Charity and Development Appeal (CDA). I thank all of our parishioners who participated in the appeal last year. Despite the pandemic, we went beyond our goal of $85,000 by over 98%. A total of 239 families in our parish participated in the CDA last year with a total gift of $88,500. I also thank those who have already participated in the appeal this year. Our parish goal remains the same this year at $85,000. 

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"From now on you will be catching men."

02-06-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Manasseh Iorchir, VC

Two weekends ago, we reflected on the essential nature of the Word of God in our lives as Christians. Last Sunday, the travails of the prophet Jeremiah, the rejection of Jesus in His own city of Nazareth on account of their over familiarity with Him, and God’s assurance of perpetual companionship and protection for those persecuted for seeking righteousness was present to us for our reflection. The readings this weekend continue to extend to us the invitation to reflect upon the Word of God. In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah, after beholding God’s glory, felt grossly inadequate and incompetent to be the bearer of God’s Word on account of his “unclean lips,” but having being purged of sin he responded to the Lord’s call to preach His Word thus: “Here I am, send me.”

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Catholic Schools Week Concludes

02-04-2022Weekly Flocknote MessageFr. James Aboyi, VC

Congratulations to our St. John Bosco School and St. Benedict community for a very successful Catholic Schools Week celebration. The celebration started last Sunday and ended today with an outdoor Mass. All the events went well as planned. The high points of the week were the Field Day on Tuesday, Open House on Wednesday, with the climax being the celebration of the Feast of St. John Bosco with a special play about his life presented by the 5th graders on Thursday and the beautiful outdoor Mass today. The original feast day for St. John Bosco is January 31st, but we celebrated it today as our closing event for the week.

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Love Never Fails

01-30-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Manasseh Iorchir, VC

In many ways, the prophet Jeremiah is a prototype of the person and mission of Jesus Christ. Like Jesus, Jeremiah was divinely designated prophet even before he was born: he confronted the evil and vice of the religious and political leaders of his time, plus his message was rejected and he was persecuted for seeking the right relationship with God. Jeremiah’s travails and Jewish antagonism against the person and mission of Christ reminds us that the quest to be perfect will inevitably lead to conflict with others who are not comfortable with that quest. Thus, every Christian should expect persecution from agents of unrighteousness.

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Catholic Schools Week

01-28-2022Weekly Flocknote MessageFr. James Aboyi, VC

This week we celebrate the 48th Annual Catholic Schools Week (CSW) in all of the Dioceses throughout the United States from January 30th through February 5th. Traditionally, CSW is held from the last Sunday in January and runs all week.  

The theme for National CSW 2022 is “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.” This theme embodies the core values found in Catholic schools across the country; that is, to train the child academically, morally, spiritually, and socially so they can become future servant leaders, faith-filled disciples, and good citizens.

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"The Spirit of the LORD is Upon Me"

01-23-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Manasseh Iorchir, VC

In verse 63 of the sixth chapter of St. John’s Gospel, Jesus told His disciples “the words I have spoken to you are Spirit and Life.” This assertion forms the basis of the response to the Psalm at the Liturgy today and provides the theme that runs across the Readings. This response: “Your words, Lord, are Spirit and Life” strongly suggests the primacy of place the Word of God ought to occupy in the life of every Christian. The Word of God is Spirit and Life because it empowers, animates, influences and radically transforms any person who sincerely immerses themselves in it.

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Pro-Life Week

01-21-2022Weekly Flocknote MessageFr. James Aboyi, VC

This week, Catholics across the country are encouraged to actively participate in prayers, fasting, a peaceful March For Life, vigils and Mass as we pray for protection and respect for human life from the moment of conception to natural death. Catholics across the country started the annual Nine-day Novena for protection for human life beginning on Wednesday this week, January 19 continuing through Thursday next week, January 27. Each day’s intention is accompanied by a short reflection and suggested actions to help build a culture of life. It is not too late for you to join the novena if you have not already started. You can download the novena or sign up to receive the daily prayers via email or text message here.

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"Do Whatever He Tells You"

01-16-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Manasseh Iorchir, VC

On the very first day of the year, the Church celebrated the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. Apart from reflecting on her virtues, we were encouraged to humbly seek her unfailing maternal intercession for our world and for our individual selves. Two Sundays later, the Gospel presents to us how effective her maternal intercession can be, even when it is unsolicited.

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Revisiting Our New Year Resolutions

01-14-2022Weekly Flocknote MessageFr. James Aboyi, VC

How is your New Year going so far? Did you know that this mid-weekend in January is commonly known as “Quitters Weekend? Studies found that today, January 14 and Monday January 17 are considered as Quitters Days. The theory behind this is that most people generally give up their motivation to keep their new year resolutions by the second Friday of January. Research also found that only 10% of people generally keep their new year resolutions to the end. I found this very interesting! Do you think you could be one of the 10% this year? Whether you made your new year resolutions privately or as a family, this weekend is a wake-up call to all of us revisit our new year plans as we move farther on our journey through the year.

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You are My Beloved Son, With You I am Well Pleased

01-09-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Manasseh Iorchir, VC

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord effectively brings to a close the liturgical season of Christmas and gives way to the very rich period of “Ordinary Time” within the Liturgical calendar for Christ Himself, His baptism marked the beginning of His public ministry. He would continue from where His precursor was and effect the establishment of the reign of God on earth.

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End of Christmas Season

01-07-2022Weekly Flocknote MessageFr. James Aboyi, VC

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you had a peaceful Christmas and New Year celebration. We have one of the shortest Christmastide this year as the Christmas season ends this weekend with the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. We can now put away all of our Christmas decorations. We will begin the 1st week of Ordinary Time, Year “C” from Monday next week. The Ordinary Time will last from next week until Ash Wednesday on March 2, 2022.

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Come to do Him Homage

01-02-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. James Aboyi, VC

The Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ is the self manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi. The Gospel of Matthew tells us that when Christ was born, wise men from the East, led by a guiding star, decided to journey to Israel bearing gifts for the newborn King. When they arrived at Jerusalem, capital of the southern kingdom, they decided to inquire with Herod, King of Judea, where precisely Christ was expected to be born.

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