Monday, August 14- 6:00 PM-St. Joseph’s, Rileyville (Vigil)
Tuesday, August 15-7:25 AM & 12:05 PM-St. Mary Magdalen

6:00 PM- St. Bernard’s, Beach Lake

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

     Fear is often a frequent emotion that hampers our lives.  It all started with Adam and Eve when they realized the gravity of their sin in disobeying God.  They hid because of their offense. In our First Reading from the Book of Kings, the prophet Elijah is fearful when he hears the whispering voice of the Lord.  St. Paul’s anxiety over the infidelity of his people makes him fearful that they may lose out on salvation if they reject the Messiah.  And in the Gospel we encounter the fear of the disciples because of the storm, and because of the Lord walking on the water and then the fear of St. Peter who in the very presence of the Lord of Life is sinking because he takes his focus off Jesus and centers upon himself.  Could that be the key to understanding fear?  The more we concentrate on ourselves instead of Jesus we lapse immediately into fear.

    So very often our Lord makes that admonition: “Do not be afraid”.  Do we hear it?  Perhaps sometimes but, like most people, not all the time.  Again, the fear may arise when we feel we are not in control.  We no doubt have heard the saying: “who put you in charge?”  Maybe no one has but we have assumed that bogus authority out of pride or self-importance.  We may ponder what the antidote is to “being in charge”.   It is found in Beatitudes: Blessed are the poor in spirit and blessed are the meek.  If Peter had been less braggadocious and more in tune with the beatitudes, he may not have begun to sink.  The more we allow Jesus to be in charge and truly believe it the less we will be plagued by the phantoms of fear and anxiety.

    Remember that Tuesday is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation.  Because there is only one priest to offer Mass the schedule is different from previous Mass times.  Please refer to the schedule elsewhere in the bulletin.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

     Every seven years we interrupt the ordinal (Ordinary Time) passage of Sundays for a particularly important event.  Today we celebrate the Transfiguration of Our Lord.  Always you hear this proclaimed on the second Sunday of Lent, weeks before the Passion of Christ.  This Sunday we have the privilege of contemplating the mystery of the hypostatic nature of Christ.  “Hypo” like a hypnotic needle or hypoglycemia refers to something that is under or below.  What is under or below the surface regarding Christ?

     As He walked among us it was obvious that His humanity was seen by all.  And even though He performed great “signs” or miracles people did not see what was underneath namely His Divinity.  Today we experience the Divine Nature of Christ in His Transfiguration.  Just as the chosen disciples Peter, James and John were overwhelmed by Who Jesus is, and being enshrouded in the “cloud” of the Holy Spirit, and hearing the voice of the Father, we too might find this encounter beyond our comprehension.  It must be meditated on frequently if not daily.  Why?  Because this is our God, He Who we will contemplate for all eternity, God willing.  We are not meant to be spectators but rather participants in the family of God.  This is not reserved for the future beyond time and space but indeed begins now.  The indwelling of the Holy Trinity begins at Baptism and becomes more and more obvious in our lives as we employ the heavenly grace bestowed on us in the Sacraments, most especially the Holy Eucharist  Why someone would absent themselves from the Real Presence of Christ is a mystery to me.  How can we possibly live without the Giver of life Himself?

     Perhaps the answer lies with us. Do we give evidence of the Presence of the Lord in our lives?  Do others see us transfigured by the redeeming grace of the Sacraments?  Let the brilliance of Him Who dwells in us shine forth.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

Pax et Bonum (peace and Good will). This is the  salutation by which St. Francis of Assisi would greet  people in the many towns he visited. And further, he  would add: “O my Brothers and Sisters, I want you  all to go to Heaven.” In a mystical visitation from  our Lord, Francis was offered a request to save souls.  The Lord in His mercy granted “the Portiuncula  Indulgence or also known as the Pardon Prayer of St.  Francis. The Portiuncula is the small chapel surrounded by the great basilica of St. Mary of the Angels  where Francis founded the Order of Friars Minor  (the Franciscans).  

Attached to this revered place is the Plenary (meaning full) Indulgence or Pardon from the temporal  punishment due to sin. In other words, if one should  die having participated in the Pardon the soul would  not be detained in Purgatory, but rather go straight  to Heaven. How then does one participate in this  Pardon? The conditions are:  

1. Sacramental Confession to be in God’s grace  during eight days before or after the 1st of  August.  

2. Participation at Holy Mass on August 1st or 2nd  and the reception of Holy Eucharist.  

3. Praying the Apostles Creed, the Our Father, also  a prayer for the Pope’s intention (such as an  Our Father, Hail Mary, etc.) 

Special fliers are available in our Churches to further  explain this particular indulgence. It is a special grace  from God not to be missed. The Lord is so good to  us may we humbly take advantage of the blessings He  bestows.

With Blessings,

Father Langan 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

    We are very much in “parable mode” this week.  Last Sunday Our Lord began a unique manner of conveying the truths of the Kingdom of God and today He continues with a plethora of stories to ignite our brain cells.  Always we remember that the Lord created us in His image and likeness ,i.e.with intellect and free will.  These principles of our humanity are meant to be challenged and ever enlightened by the revelation that comes to us through the Sacred Scriptures and the collective Tradition of the Church as codified by the Catechism of the Catholic Church.   Every Catholic household should possess these treasures and have a revered place in our homes for ready reference.

    The parables have a wealth of practical usage that we apply to our daily living.  The prevalence of evil in the world and its seeming proliferation can very much frustrate us and even lead to despair, the effects of which are spiritual inertia.  But then the Lord speaks to us and He helps us to see things  from His perspective.  He is in charge and it is incumbent upon us to make that known and live with hope in spite of the gathering clouds. ” I AM the light of the world”, says the Lord and we believe that light  will conquer the darkness.  The parables are presented to us to “shore us up” and keep going with a joyful and positive outlook that helps others to keep going as well.  Let these parables be your guide and inspiration especially in times of trial and uncertainty.  Ponder them frequently and come to understand the solace they will bring.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

ReplyForward

The 10:30 Mass will be moved to St. Mary Magdalen for the duration of the summer months beginning this Sunday, July 23.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

When our Blessed Lord became Incarnate by the power of the Holy Spirit and the conceived of the Virgin Mary He entered into the world of sensory perception.  In other words He assumed the use of the senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste.  These senses are the means by which human beings relate to the world around them.  These senses may be acute or dull or, sadly for some, non-existent (I am reminded of my blind grandfather). 

    Our Lord through His own senses would often teach using references to those things that would be familiar to His listeners.  People would then be able to relate to parables and stories with great attention and affirmation, nodding their heads and perhaps saying to himself: “how true, how true”.  Those parables and stories always evoked a truth even though they may have been the construct of the Divine Mind.  The people certainly got the message and as we know only too well many were not happy with it.

     Nonetheless, the message was grounded in reality.  Can we say the same for today?  Our senses have been and are bombarded with input much of which is fantasy.  Are we able to perceive the truths that the Lord wants us to understand and cherish?  Has our screen-time sapped us of really perceiving the beauty, the mystery, the depth of the real world?   In our Lord’s Day there were not the distractions that we have today.  The constant struggle is to stay focused on what really matters and that of course is not an easy task.  It takes a lot of effort.  One of the ways to do that is read the Mass readings BEFORE coming to Mass.  Take time to familiarize yourself with what Jesus is saying and to whom.  At the end of Mass, spend some moments in quiet contemplation before leaving church.  Let it all sink in.  Screen fatigue may then become less a strain on our well-being and our senses will flourish because they have been nurtured by what really matters– the Word of God among us.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

     Even as we come here to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the inestimable joy of the Holy Eucharist, the burdens of life may weigh heavy on our minds, our hearts, and our bodies.  We may be tired from working six days a week, or caring for our grandkids (as much as you love them, they have an energy hard to keep up with).  We may be anxious about the health of a family member.  We may be mourning the loss of a loved one.  We may be just plain weary, physically or emotionally. And we may be putting up a good front.  But Someone knows and that Someone is Jesus.

     In today’s Gospel Our Lord reaches out to the crowds, “Come to Me, all who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest.  He is not only speaking to His contemporaries but to us as well.  No one knows us better than the Lord and yet  the very One we should be coming to is sometimes considered a burdensome obligation.  Our rest, our regeneration can only be found in Him.  Sure it takes some effort on our part but the reward of being in His Presence and having that Presence enter into us is beyond measure.

      Summer days are enjoyed because we long for sunshine and warmth.  There is no greater light or warmth than that which comes from the Light of Christ.  Come to Him Who longs for you and find the rest you deserve.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Nothing we do goes unnoticed by God, even the simplest acts of kindness. Among some religions this is often referred to as hospitality. Whenever we go beyond ourselves to meet the needs of others we are fulfilling the merciful works of the Lord. This is quite obvious in our own parish outreach. No one who contributes or assists in the regular distribution of food or clothing is ever looking for a “reward”. Their volunteering is a sacrifice of time and effort in order to alleviate the burdens of others. Even though they may be carrying their own crosses they help to carry the crosses of others. What a wonderful living example of today’s Gospel.

And what is the reward? Simply knowing how pleased God is with you. The day will come when He Who sees all will reveal the reward for which you have unknowingly worked. “Store up your treasure in Heaven, says the Lord.” And indeed the good work our volunteers and donors have done may be surprised to see the great mound of their accomplishments for others.

As we prepare to celebrate our Independence Day from tyranny let us be thankful to God for the many blessings we have received as a free people But let us also be vigilant that the cherished gifts may also be lost if we forget the Author of all true freedom, God Himself. Sadly, in our day many have confused and obfuscated what freedom is and instead have sought to replace it with a chaotic license to do whatever one so desires. Was this not the origin of the Fall? Freedom and virtuous living go hand-in-hand, and without this symbiotic relationship there will surely be a collapse. As we celebrate the 4th let us be mindful of what God has given and for which many gave their lives.

God Bless and Have a Happy 4th of July,

Father Langan

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

Sorry to shock you but do you realize we are nearly half-way through the year 2023? What brings to  mind the rapidity of time passing is the feast of the  birth of John the Baptist on June 24th. Guess what just 6 months away is?  John’s Nativity always falls near to the summer solstice therefore there is always a connection between the cosmos and salvation history. John comes to prepare the way of the Lord. He is the immediate evangelizer of the long awaited Promise that God made with Adam and Eve. In a sense, he is like the rising sun that draws people out of dark ness and prepares them to enter into the Light. He, of course, is not the Light. And just like the zenith  of the sun (the longest days of daylight) he begins to  wane as we await a far greater Light, Jesus Christ. 

Near December 25th the daylight begins to return and the days get longer. We long for the sunlight  and we long even more for the Light of the world.  Whereas John shone brightly for a time then faded  away, but Christ Who is our Light never diminishes.  Why? Because He shines through all of His believers.  As we revel in earthly light in these halcyon days of summer let us more importantly bask in the light of our Savior. A most effective way of doing that is spending time in Eucharistic Adoration. On the Solemnity of Corpus Christi we had a glorious display  of Faith as we processed around St. John’s. How wonderful it would be to continue that display of Faith by dedicating a weekly Holy Hour in our chapel.  We have several hours that need to be covered. If  you are open to receiving an outpouring of God’s  special grace please contact the parish office and  make the commitment to be with our Lord and let  His Light shine in you. 

With Blessings, 

Father Langan