Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Sometimes we forget and sometimes we forget big time. That is how I see it when it comes to the “forgetfulness” of Peter, James and John post-Trans figuration. Our Blessed Lord, in order to lessen the trauma of His Passion upon the disciples, gave them a glimpse of the glory that is to come with His Resurrection from the dead. In the chaos that began with the arrest in Gethsemane, it seemed that there was a blacking-out on the part of the disciples who were privileged to encounter the divinity of Jesus on Tabor.  How could something as glorious as the Transfiguration slip their minds? Perhaps on a lesser scale, the same thing happens to us.  

In the midst of trials and difficulties, we too forget the glorious manifestations of God’s goodness. May be we have become too screen-occupied and fail to appreciate the real beauty of human beings and the natural world we live in. How strange it is that we have allowed the artificial world to consume our time and attention. Lent provides a great opportunity for us to re-direct and re-focus our hearts and minds.  The method for achieving this is prayer and meditation. Having recently climbed Mt. Tabor with my fellow pilgrims, I can assure you that there was plenty of time for meditation and appreciation of the natural world. Jesus very specifically chose that setting to remind us that it is His world, which He has offered to us. Certainly, that is quite contrary to the deceiver’s, i.e., Satan’s, audacity in “attempting” to offer the world to Our Lord in last Sunday’s account of the temptation in the desert. Satan tries to pull the same stunt on us in trying to make us forget the wonders of God’s love and mercy, the two things that transfigure us and the world. A solid and well-disciplined prayer life helps us to avoid the scoundrel’s attack on the serenity of our souls. Unlike the three disciples chosen to encounter the Transfigured Lord, let us happily recall the glorious moments that He has allot ted us even when things seem bleak. Why? Because Christ was victorious, and we shall be as well. 

With Blessings, 

Father Langan

Catholic Daughters, Court St. Martin #418 will be holding a Manhattan Clam Chowder Pre-Order Sale on March 10 at the garage at St. Mary’s Parking Lot from 11:00 A.M to 2:00 PM.  Please place your order by contacting Rosaria Vlacich at 570-470-8438 .  Quantities are limited.

February 25-26

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It seems to have sneaked in upon us but we are now immersed in the penitential days of Holy Lent. The word “Lent”, itself has no spiritual significance since it derives from the Norse word for Spring. Nonetheless the genius of the Church has always been to adapt familiar customs from non-religious or even pagan and Christianize them to express truths of the Faith. So when we consider the notion of Spring/Lent it carries a deep spiritual significance as to how we employ this season. The days are welcoming a greater amount of natural light; the trees are straining to bring forth their buds; winter silence is broken by the chirping of birds; and, most especially, bitter cold is dismissed by warmth. Doesn’t it all make us feel better?

We read the signs of nature and it lifts our mood. What about reading the signs of the super-nature or supernatural and allowing it to lift our spirits? Lent indeed, is the time for personal and communal renewal In the life of the Church we are given many opportunities to allow new life to begin. And just as nature strains to bring forth new life we too need to make the effort for our lives to be renewed in Christ. Prayer, more intense, Fasting, with cheerful regard, and alms-giving, or works of charity, with utmost generosity, are the basic disciplines that assist us in making the effort.

Sundays which BELONG to God allow us to rest in Him. Primarily we worship at Holy Mass but also we can come with fellow parishioners and above all family to pray the Rosary at 3:30 and then sing the Divine Office of Vespers before the exposed Blessed Sacrament in St John’s Church starting at 4PM.

On Tuesdays we have our Scripture Study open to all. This year we shall be using the program: “From Genesis to Jesus” as developed by the St. Paul Center for Biblical Studies. Our previous programs were very well received. Please call the office to register for the course which begins on February 28th and continues through Lent and Eastertide.

And, of course, we have The Stations of the Cross offered on Fridays in three of our churches.

As you see there are many opportunities to have a real spiritual springtime this Lent preparing for the renewal of Faith at Easter.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

Ash Wednesday Services scheduled for St. Joseph’s and St. Bernard’s have been cancelled for this evening.

Ash Wednesday

7:25 AM St. Mary Magdalen

12:05 PM St. Mary Magdalen

4:00 PM St. Mary Magdalen (Distribution of Ashes Only)

5:00 PM St. Joseph, Rileyville

6:00 PM St. Bernard, Beach Lake*

Stations of the Cross (Fridays)

11:30 AM St. Mary Magdalen

5:00 PM St. Joseph, Rileyville

6:00 PM St. Bernard, Beach Lake*

7:00 PM St. Mary Magdalen

*Please note changes to Beach Lake Schedule

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

 Since the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we have been hearing and contemplating the Sermon on the Mount.  Our Lord has outlined for us the manner and challenge of how we are to live our Christian life.  In today's Scripture, we hear particularly about "forgiveness”.  Starting with the passages from the Book of Leviticus and then St. Paul's reprimand of the Corinthians and then the continuation of the Sermon, we are made ever more aware of the necessity to forgive if we are to enter Eternal Life.  A big challenge indeed. 

 When we are hurt physically or spiritually what is our initial reaction? Immediately the person or persons who have done us harm are thought less of and perhaps we readily dismiss them.  One might say this is only a human reaction and so it may be.  But when we recall that our human nature is broken by original and actual sin we realize that forgiveness is reliant upon the grace of God working in us to repair and restore our own brokenness and thus prepare us to restore the rift.

St. Paul gives us the beautiful imagery that we are the temples of God and that the Holy Spirit dwells within us.  When we consider this we have to access what that "temple" looks like.  Does it glow with the glory of God's presence or is it shabby and unfit for the Lord?  Only a good examination of conscience can tell. 

These essential readings are a perfect springboard for us as we enter this coming Wednesday into the disciple of Lent.  With the imposition of ashes we begin the effort of restoring the beauty of the "temple" that God has made.  And a great part of the restoration happens when we implement the devotional practices of Lent beginning with the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  In order to be people of forgiveness we start with our receiving forgiveness from God in this most comforting of Sacraments.  You will find in today's bulletin the many opportunities to journey through Lent and come closer to the Lord.  May we embrace these disciples that assist us in being disciples of forgiveness.

With Blessings,
Father Langan

February 11-12

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

When I was an altar boy, very many years ago, I listened attentively to the proclamation of the Gospel, first announced in Latin and then by the priest in English. Two words which remained in Hebrew always caught my attention: “yot” and “tittle”, Since then, these mysterious terms have been translated into English and rendered in today’s Gospel as “…not the smallest letter of the law, not the smallest part of the letter of the law shall be done away with…”. The meaning to is obvious. The “yot” is our equivalent to a period and the “tittle”, an apostrophe. Such little marks in the Hebrew language can and does effect the meaning and interpretation of the Word of God. What seems to be insignificant is of absolute importance.

I am not trying to get into an etymological discourse here, but rather appreciating the beauty of the Word of God as it teaches us how to observe the world and wonders around us, most especially as we relate to and perceive one another. No one and no thing is insignificant in the eyes of God. All has emanated from the infinite mind which we will never comprehend. We do, however, understand that God has indeed made all for good and it is our privilege to revere and respect that which is considered unimportant in the eyes of the world. This is the wisdom we hear spoken of in today’s lesson from Corinthians: to see the world as God sees it and to see each and every person as a reflection of the wonders of God’s creation no matter how broken they may be by sin or unexpected circumstances. Jesus Christ came to redeem us all, to restore the beauty of Creation. We continue His mission by the way we deal with the “yots and tittles” of life.

In ten days time we shall be entering the Holy Season of Lent. Now is the time to make plans as to how you will enter into this season of penance and preparation for the great and glorious season of Easter. Your parish will be offering many opportunities to enrich your spiritual growth. In next week’s bulletin we shall list those devotions that will help you make a fruitful Lent.

With Blessings,
Father Langan