July 4-5

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Our Lord offers comforting words to us today:  “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest”. Let those words wash over us and all the responsibilities we have, all the stresses we are under, and all our failures that haunt us.  “My yoke is easy,” Our Lord assures us, “My burden light.”  As we celebrate this Independence Day weekend, let us rejoice in the freedom that Jesus offers us from our heavy burdens.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

June 27-28

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

One never knows how kindness and charity will be rewarded sometimes in this life, but always in the next.  God does indeed take account of what we do and someday we will behold the long-forgotten (on our part) good works we have done.  During these unsettled days, opportunities present themselves for our doing good.  Since the usual busy routines are generally disrupted, we should ask God to inspire us to live more ardently the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.  One good work maybe to check on our many homebound neighbors who would appreciate a call.  Some of them may need shopping or picking up prescriptions.  Every day God gives us a gift and with that gift comes the opportunity to do good.

This Saturday our Diocese has been blessed with three new priests.  Ordained by Bishop Bambera are Fathers Jonathan Kuhar, Kevin Miller, and Shawn Simchock.  Please keep these new fathers in your prayers as they go out to tend the Lord’s flock.  And blessings on and thanks to Father Sahd as he celebrates the 19^th anniversary of his priestly ordination on June 30^th.  We are truly blessed to have him with us.

On July 1^st I will be having a total knee replacement and, therefore, will be in recovery for several weeks thereafter.  Monsignor Peter Madus and Father Patrick Mohr will be helping with the weekend Masses.  During the week, there will be only one daily Mass.  Thank you for your patience and understanding.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

In the event that a person does not show up at his/her assigned chapel hour, kindly close the door of the Tabernacle door prior to your departure. Otherwise, the door is to remain open when an adorer is present.

June 20-21

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we honor our earthly fathers today, we hear Our Lord reassure his disciples by reminding them of the tender care of His heavenly Father.  Our heavenly Father watches over us assiduously, faithfully, lovingly; every hair on our heads is accounted for.  We find great consolation in such trying times when we place ourselves into our Father’s care.  Think of the times when our own fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and father-figures – living and deceased – made us feel safe and secure.  How very much they deserve our gratitude and admiration.

At our 9:30 Mass today, we welcome Emily Jonas, fiancée of Eric Diehl who will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.  Once again, the power of the Holy Spirit is poured out upon a young member of the Church.  Fortified by this special grace,  may Emily be a steadfast and fervent witness to the Faith especially as she will soon enter for the Sacrament of Matrimony.

As things are ‘loosening-up’ and summer is here, let us continue our ardent prayer for the end of the pandemic and continue to be prudent and cautious in observing the prescribed protocol for safe distancing.

Blessings and good health to all especially our Fathers,

Father Langan

Although some of the “social distancing” regulations are loosening up in Wayne County, we are still maintaining safe distances within ALL the Churches during Mass. Reservations remain in effect until further notice and attendees must wear a face mask for the duration of the Mass.

June 13-14

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“I will be with you always until the end of the ages.”  These words of Our Lord are the absolute guaranties that no matter how bleak things get we are not alone.   And the ultimate assurance of His Divine Presence we celebrate today in a special way.  It is the Solemnity of Corpus Christi – the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.  Before He gave His Body and Blood on the cross for the salvation of the whole world, Jesus gave His Body and Blood to His Disciples under the appearance of bread and wine in the Upper Room on the night before He was crucified.  Our Lord empowered these disciples to continue this sacrificial meal as the way and means by which He would be with us always.

Just as the Lord provided the necessities of life for ancient Israel as they journeyed through the desert so in a more profound and intimate way, he sustains us on the journey to the Kingdom of Heaven.  In the Holy Eucharist one Lord commingles His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity with our unworthy and broken human nature.  “My Flesh is true food and my Blood, true drink,” says the Lord.  Today, as last Sunday, we ponder a mystery that is beyond human explanation, but must be embraced in faith.  May we pray for an increase in faith for ourselves and especially for those who have drifted away from the most glorious gift that God has given to His creatures.

As well you know, in order for this divine gift to come to us there needs to be priests.  One June 27, at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton, Bishop Bambera will be ordaining to the Sacred Priesthood Rev. Mr. Jonathan Kuhar, Rev. Mr. Kevin Miller, and Rev. Mr. Shawn Simchock.  This is a joyous day for our diocese and we offer our prayers for these men who will continue to supply the Bread of Life and the Chalice of Salvation along with the forgiveness of sins to God’s faithful people.  Please pray daily for an increase of vocations to the Priesthood.

As we celebrate this great Mystery of Corpus Christi, we have the joy of returning to our regular (24-7) adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in our Eucharistic Chapel.  Thanks to all who are resuming their hours.  Kindly remember ONLY two adorers (or family adorers – thus more than 2) may be in the chapel at one time.  We will begin on Saturday at 7 AM.  As you are leaving the chapel at the conclusion of your designated hour, please sanitize kneelers and chair arms before leaving.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

June 6-7, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Today we contemplate the very nature of God – Three in One – The Most Holy Trinity.  Try as we may our limited minds will never be able to explain or comprehend this mystery and yet, it is the simple reality of who God is and we are privileged to be drawn into the life of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  It is best for us to comprehend God as a family – a relationship of pure and infinite love.

Because of the death and resurrection of the Second Person, Jesus Christ, true God and true man, we have once again joined to the love the binds us to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  As God is, therefore, we, too, must be.

During this month of June, we have a further model and example to follow in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  These feast days, June 19 and 20 respectively, are meant to overcome the coldness and self-centeredness that has overcome human hearts.  We have forgotten that we are children of God and how much God loves us.  The suffering Heart of Christ should reduce us to humble reliance upon the mercy of God rather than the assertion of our own convoluted will.  We see first-hand how putting self-first disrupts and destroys the bonds of human love and respect and a grateful love of God.  Our hearts should burn with love and commitment for God and others not be filled with the burning rage and anger that comes from the father of lies.

We reflect on the gentle and tender heart of Mary, who through every human trial, put Her confidence in God.  Her heart burned with the desire of union with Her Son and Her Lord.  So, too, should ours.

I would like to recognize and offer congratulations and blessings to the high school graduates and college students from our parish.  In their young lives they, too, have experiences an unprecedented time of challenge and uncertainty.  Their faith in God and understanding His purpose and design for their lives will bring them comfort, guidance, and direction for fruitful and happy lives.

And our parish family wishes to extend our congratulations to Father Joshua Livingston ordained to the Holy Priesthood on this Sunday, June 7^th for service in the Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire.  Father Joshua is the son of Vincent and Roseanne Livingston.  Our congratulations to his parents and siblings.  May God who has begun the good work in him continue to bring it to fulfillment.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

COME HOLY SPIRIT, FILL THE HEARTS OF THY FAITHFUL AND ENKINDLE IN THEM THE FIRE OF THY LOVE.

V/SEND FORTH THY SPIRIT AND THEY SHALL BE CREATED;

R/AND THOU SHALT RENEW THE FACE OF THE EARTH.

LET US PRAY; O HOLY SPIRIT, OUR LORD AND OUR GOD/WE ADORE AND HUMBLY ACKNOWLEDGE HERE IN THY SACRED PRESENCE THAT WE ARE NOTHING, WITHOUT THY OPERATION WITHIN US./COME GREAT PARACLETE OF THE BLEST/FULFILL THE PROMISE OF OUR SAVIOR/WHO WOULD NOT LEAVE US ORPHANS/AND ENTER OUR MINDS AND HEARTS AS THOU DIDST DESCEND ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST UPON THE HOLY MOTHER OF JESUS AND UPON HIS FIRST DISCIPLES./GRANT THAT WE MAY HAVE A PART IN THOSE GIFTS WHICH THOU DIDST SO GENEROUSLY BESTOW UPON THEM.

TAKE FROM OUR HEARTS ALL THAT IS NOT PLEASING TO THEE/AND MAKE OF THEM A WORTHY DWELLING PLACE FOR JESUS OUR LORD.  ILLUMINE OUR MINDS/THAT WE MAY SEE AND UNDERSTAND THE THINGS THAT ARE FOR OUR ETERNAL WELFARE.  INFLAME OUR HEARTS WITH PURE LOVE OF THE FATHER, THAT, CLEANSED FROM ATTACHMENT TO ALL UNWORTHY OBJECTS/OUR WHOLE LIFE MAY BE HIDDEN WITH JESUS IN GOD.  STRENTHEN OUR WILL/THAT IT MAY BE COMFORTABLE TO THE WILL OF OUR CREATOR/AND GUIDED BY THY HOLY INSPIRATIONS.  AID US TO PRACTICE THE HEAVENLY VIRTUES OF HUMILITY/POVERTY/AND OBEDIENCE WHICH ARE TAUGHT US IN THE EARTHLY LIFE OF JESUS.  DESCENT UPON US/O MIGHTY SPIRIT/THAT/INSPIRED AND ENCOURAGED BY THEE/WE MAY FAITHFULLY FULFILL THE DUTIES OF OUR STATE IN LIFE/CARRY OUR DAILY CROSS WITH PATIENCE AND COURAGE/AND ACCOMPLISH THE FATHER’S WILL FOR US MORE PERFECTLY/MAKE US/DAY BY DAY/MORE HOLY/AND GIVE TO US THAT HEAVENLY PEACE WHICH THE WORLD CANNOT GIVE.  O HOLY SPIRIT/THOU GIVER OF EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT  GIFT/GRANT TO US THE INTENTIONS OF THIS NOVENA OF PRAYER (HERE ADD YOUR INTENTIONS).  MAY THE FATHER’S WILL BE DONE IN US AND THROUGH US. AND MAY  THOU/O HOLY SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOOD/BE PRAISED AND GLORIFIED FOREVER AND EVER.  AMEN.

FIRST DAY:  COME, O HOLY SPIRIT/THE LORD AND LIFEGIVER/TAKE UP THY DWELLING WITHIN MY SOUL/AND MAKE OF IT THY SACRED TEMPLE./  MAKE ME LIVE BY GRACE AS AN ADOPTED CHILD OF GOD./PERVADE ALL THE ENERGIES OF MY SOUL/AND CREATE IN ME A FOUNDATION OF LIVING WATER SPRINGING UP INTO LIFE EVERLASTING.  (CLOSING PRAYER)

SECOND DAY:  COME, O SPIRIT OF WISDOM/AND REVEAL TO MY SOUL THE MYSTERIES OF HEAVENLY THINGS/THEIR EXCEEDING GREATNESS AND POWER AND BEAUTY./TEACH ME TO LOVE THEM BEYOUND ALL PASSING JOYS AND SATISFACTIONS OF EARTH./SHOW ME THE WAY BY WHICH I MAY POSSESS THEE/AND HOLD THEM HEREAFTER/MY OWN FOREVER.  (CLOSING PRAYER)

THIRD DAY:  COME, O SPIRIT OF UNDERSTANDING/AND ENLIGHTEN MY MIND/THAT I MAY KNOW AND BELIEVE ALL THE MYSTERIES OF SALVATION/AND MAY MERIT AT LAST TO SEE THE ETERNAL LIGHT IN THY LIGHT/AND IN THE LIGHT OF THY GLORY TO HAVE THE CLEAR VISION OF THEE AND THE FATHER AND THE SON.  (CLOSING PRAYER)

FOURTH DAY:  COME, O SPIRIT OF COUNSEL/HELP AND GUIDE ME IN ALL MY WAYS/THAT I MAY ALWAYS DO THY HOLY WILL./INCLINE MY HEART TO THAT WHICH IS GOOD/TURN IT AWAY FROM ALL THAT IS EVIL/AND DIRECT ME BY THEY PATH OF THY COMMANDMENTS TO THE GOAL OF ETERNAL LIFE.  (CLOSING PRAYER)

FIFTH DAY:  COME, O SPIRIT OF FORTITUDE/AND GIVE COURAGE TO MY SOUL./MAKE MY HEART STRONG IN ALL TRIALS AND IN ALL DISTRESS/POURING FORTH ABUNDANTLY INTO IT THE GIFTS OF STRENGTH/THAT I MAY BE ABLE TO RESIST THE ATTACKS OF THE DEVIL. (CLOSING PRAYER)

SIXTH DAY:  COME O SPIRIT OF KNOWLEDGE/AND MAKE ME UNDERSTAND AND DESPISE THE EMPTINESS AND NOTHINGNESS OF THE ENTICEMENTS OF THIS WORLD./ GIVE ME GRACE TO USE THE WORLD ONLY FOR THY GLORY AND THE SALVATION OF THE CREATURES./MAY I ALWAYS BE VERY FAITHFUL IN PUTTING THY REWARDS BEFORE EVERY EARTHLY GIFT.  (CLOSING PRAYER)

SEVENTH DAY:  COME, O SPIRIT OF PIETY/POSSESS MY HEART/INCLINE IT TO A TRUE FAITH IN THEE/TO A HOLY LOVE OF THEE/MY GOD/THAT WITH MY WHOLE SOUL I MAY SEEK THEE/AND FIND THEE MY BEST/MY TRUEST JOY (CLOSING PRAYER)

EIGHTH DAY:  COME, A SPIRIT OF HOLY FEAR/PENETRATE MY INMOST HEART/THAT I MAY SET THEE/MY LORD AND GOD/BEFORE MY FACE FOREVER/AND SHUN ALL THINGS THAT CAN OFFEND THEE SO THAT I MAY BE MADE WORTHY TO APPEAR BEFORE THE PURE EYES OF THY DIVINE MAJESTY IN THE HEAVENS OF HEAVENS/WHERE THOUGH LIVEST AND REIGNEST IN THE UNITY OF THE EVER-BLESSED TRINITY/WORLD WITHOUT END.  (CLOSING PRAYER)

NINTH DAY:  COME, O HOLY COMFORTER/AND GRANT ME A RELISH FOR HEAVENLY THINGS./PRODUCE IN MY SOUL AND FRUITS OF VIRTURE/SO THAT/BEING FILLED WITH ALL SWEETNESS AND JOY IN THE PURSUIT OF GOOD/I MAY ATTAIN UNTO ETERNAL BLESSEDNESS.  (CLOSING PRAYER)

CLOSING PRAYER: 

LET US PRAY:  O GOD, WHO DIDST INSTRUCT THE HEARTS OF THY FAITHFUL BY SENDING THE LIGHT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT/GRANT US BY THE SAME SPIRIT TO BE TRULY WISE AND EVER TO REJOICE IN HIS HOLY CONSOLATION/THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD.  AMEN.

May 23-24

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On Monday, June 1^st, the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, we shall, on a limited basis start re-opening our Churches in Wayne County for public worship.  At this time, our daily Mass schedule will be as such:

Monday-Friday, 7:25 AM and 12:05 PM Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Confessions will be heard 20 minutes before the Masses and on Saturday morning,  8:00 A.M. (being First Saturday).  On First Friday, Holy Hour will follow the noon Mass.

The Lord’s Day Masses:  Vigils at 4 PM at St. Bernard’s; 5:30 PM at St. Mary Magdalen (Broadcast)

Sundays:  7:30 at St. Mary Magdalen; 9:00 at St. Joseph’s; 10:30 at St. John the Evangelist (Broadcast)

Confessions will be heard prior to Masses.  Social distancing will be strictly followed.  Please wear a mask when making your confession.

ONLY 20 parishioners will be permitted to attend each of the five Masses and daily Mass.  YOU MUST call the Parish Office between 10:00 A.M. and 4 P.M. to make a reservation on a first come, first serve basis. We will begin taking reservations on Wednesday, May 27 for the Masses.   Your name will be put on a roster and checked off when you arrive at the church.  You will be escorted to your pew.  Kindly remain in place until the conclusion of Mass and then exit the church without socializing.  Prior to Mass, directions will be made regarding the reception of Holy Communion.  Upon entering the church, a bulletin will be presented to you, which will contain the hymns (all missalettes and prayer cards have been removed from the pews so as not to spread contamination).  Please take the bulletin with you and do not leave in the pews.  Both before and after Masses, the pews will be sanitized.  We are tremendously grateful to Dave, Sharon and Mike Flederbach for their most generous donation of sanitizers and gloves, which will be used in all churches.

Each weekend, we expect to accommodate 125 of our parishioners at Mass.  After the first 20 reservations are taken, you will be put on the list for the next week and after several weeks, you may call to reserve again; thus, we will rotate our congregation.  Remember that those in a vulnerable situation should not feel obliged to participate physically at Mass.

We shall do our best to accommodate as many as possible.  Please continue your kind and understanding patience as we work through this.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has issued the following regarding Coronavirus (COVID -19):

With the worldwide outbreak of the coronavirus, we are confronted once more with the fragility of our lives, and again we are reminded of our common humanity; that the peoples of this world are our brothers and sisters, that are all one family under God.

God does not abandon us, he goes with us even now in this time of trail and testing.  In this moment it is important for us to anchor our hearts in the hope that we have in Jesus Christ.  Now is the time to intensify our prayers and sacrifices for the love of God and the love of our neighbor.  Let us draw closer to one another in our love for him, and rediscover the things that truly matter in our lives.

United with our Holy Father Pope Francis, let us pray in solidarity for our brothers and sisters here and around the world who are sick.  Let us pray for those who have lost loved ones to this virus.  May God console them and grant them peace.

We pray also for doctors, nurses, and caregivers, for public health officials and all civic leaders.  May God grant them courage and prudence as they seek to respond to this emergency with compassion and in service to the common good.

In this time of need, I invite all the faithful to seek together the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and I share this prayer with you:

Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas.

We fly to you today as your beloved children.

We ask you to intercede for us with your Son, as you did at the wedding in Cana.

Pray for us, loving Mother,

And gain for our nation and world,

And for all our families and loved ones,

The protection of your holy angels,

That we may be spared the worst of this illness.

For those already afflicted,

We ask you to obtain the grace of healing and deliverance.

Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful,

Wipe away their tears and help them to trust.

In this time of trial and testing,

Teach all of us in the Church to love one another and to be patient and kind.

Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts.

We come to you with confidence,

Knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother,

Health of the sick and cause of our joy.

Shelter us under the mantle of your protection,

Keep us in the embrace of your arms,

Help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus.  Amen.