Well Lent has begun! A time for us to look at the final months of Jesus’ life and compare them to our own. Are our eye’s wide open or is it business as usual? Is our heart more willing to be led by the Holy Spirit, or is it the same as it was February 16th. How is it starting out? The journey continues into this 2nd Sunday of Lent as we hear in Genesis about Abraham being told to offer a holocaust of his only son. Not understanding why or even asking, he begins the preparation, only to be stopped before using the knife. His full trust was tested, and he passes. 
I’ve been focusing a lot of my own prayer on what I’ve missed that the Lord has called me to. I have to say I’m not very impressed with myself. I gave up soda (which is my preferred drink at all meals) along with fasting more often. Friday when I stopped to pick up a burger, out of habit I ordered my diet coke. After eating, I realized what I had done, ugggg. Spiritually I’ve committed to reading all the Prophetic books in the bible as a study. But what I’m working on the most is not missing out on all the opportunities presented before me each day. Oh boy is this hard! For example, the man in front of me is 53 cents short for his meal at Arby’s. I hear this and look in my wallet but don’t have any cash. The man changes his order and he now has enough. Why didn’t I just add his meal to mine?  I’m walking into school and I’m in a hurry, I see students getting out of their car. Instead of waiting for them so they don’t have to buzz the office to be let in, I rush to my office, letting the secured door shut behind me. Why didn’t I just wait? First in holding the door and second to make that personal connection. I had a little “pity party of one” on Ash Wednesday with being consumed with three Masses. I use the excuse that it’s been a long day and decline a dinner offer. Why didn’t I just go? Maybe they needed me more than I needed them? 
Missed opportunities. I hear this most often from family members when someone passes away. Things like: I wish I was there.  I wish I had said I loved you one more time.  I wish I had been a better sister/ brother/ son/daughter to them.  The list goes on and on. If only...
When I formed my “wish list for lent”, I did it knowing that when I mess up I start up again right away. I don’t intend to mess up, it just happens. But it is in forming that conscious plan of change, that allows us each to see that when we mess up, we are more aware of it the next time, and the time after that, and the time after that. Eventually we catch ourselves before we make the same mistake, and that’s why sticking with it makes it so important. We make ourselves more aware and therefore are open to the change that follows. 
It all starts with wanting that change. I was talking with a friend and Lent came up. Through the conversation I asked how his Lent was going. “Same as the rest of the year” was his reply. Which I then said “well, that shouldn’t be the case, a journey involves sacrifice, and shouldn’t look like every other day”. To which the conversation quickly changed to another topic. Apparently change was not desired.
My friends, my prayer for each of you is that “the same” isn’t in your Lenten vocabulary. May you come closer to our Lord as you journey through the desert with him.  May you see what Christ is asking and respond with a trusting heart. Your seed has been planted at baptism, now allow it to grow!  Be fruitful!
Have a blessed week, and if things don’t go as planned, begin again the next day!
 
Fr. Barry

Our journey over the next forty days has begun! The scuttle of thinking up something to give up is done (or should be). The Ashes have washed away from Wednesday and we are well on our way.
What way is that exactly? Abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays? Budgeting a little extra for Alms giving? Giving up sweets or coffee or alcohol? Dedicating ten minutes a day to solid prayer?
If any of these come easy for you and do not cause you to feel the discomfort or pain of doing them, then I would have to say it’s not enough!  Now before you rip this up and say who is he to tell me that, please continue to read on.
As Jesus journeyed those forty days he did it with a goal.  A goal of uniting his heart, mind, and soul with that of our Father. He did it to test himself in a way we could not even imagine. He did it to prove to us that it can be done. Ultimately, he did it out of LOVE, both for the Father and for us.
When we are able to journey out for these forty days with that same understanding, it becomes evident that we should not be the same person we were when we began the journey. We end with a stronger relationship with our Savior, we end with a better understanding of ourselves, we end being united in His suffering...all done out of LOVE.
So let me ask again, what way is that exactly? Does it look more like; I am going to practice being more friendly to those I encounter throughout the day ending every encounter with “have a blessed day”. I am going to count to ten before I lash out at someone in anger. I am going to stop buying anything with sugar in it and the savings from it I’m going to give away. I am going to commit to reflecting on Matthew and John’s Gospels each and every day, taking one chapter a day. I am going to use my extra change and then add $10, $20 or $50 to it as my almsgiving.
My friends, suffering is what this season is about. Not in a depressed or brutal way, but in a giving way.  This allows us time to think about what Jesus gave up during his forty days, how he grew in relationship with our Father, and what that growth prepared him for in the time to come.
That is the journey we are on. One unlike any other from years past. We recommit ourselves to not only doing more, but being more. Being that disciple we were baptized to be. Attending the weekly Stations of the Cross. Participating in our Bible Study: NO GREATER LOVE. Joining a new ministry within the Church. Volunteering at the Food Bank or at the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen. 
It’s not going to look the same for each of us, but to experience lent is to be involved with something outside of ourselves. When that happens, LOVE is present and change has begun. LOVE of self, LOVE of neighbor, LOVE of God.
 
Have a blessed first week of Lent, and may your faith drive you to be more than yesterday!
 
Fr. Barry

I hope this finds you all well during these cold, chilly days. It’s been a great time to be inside, without distraction, and have some time to think and meditate on the upcoming Lenten season. Some questions that have come to my mind are how is this Lenten Season going to be different from those of the past? What will I do to ensure this is a Holy Season, not just for myself but for others?
That may sound odd to some of you, coming from a priest. Most think that the preparation and the normal activities of the season will consume much of my time. But as we all journey to become closer to what God desires for each of us, I too look for ways for those mysteries to take root in my own life.
Fasting, almsgiving, and penance are the focus of Lent. Walking these forty days with Jesus as he did in the desert. Well that sounds easy enough, walking with Jesus allows us to understand him deeper, more intimately, and with greater devotion. But It also involves sacrifice. It involves hardship. It involves change from within for each of us. Now it sounds a little more involved! We actually need to participate in that journey of Jesus in the desert. We have to be a part of it.
As we end this liturgical season of Ordinary Time, we are presented with the story of the leper who sees Jesus for whom he truly is, a healer able to do anything outside of normal, everyday things. His faith allows him to ask Jesus “If you wish, you can me make me clean.” We are told Jesus takes pity on the man and says in reply “I do will it. Be made clean.” The unnamed man is immediately healed of his leprosy and goes off telling anyone who will listen what had happened, even after being told to “tell no one…” by Jesus.
I think I would have done exact same thing, even after being told to tell no one. Can you imagine something so life changing happening to you. A disease that completely changed your life and put you in total seclusion from family and anyone you may know. And now that has been lifted from you. You are a new person able to socialize with anyone who you wish. You have been literally touched by the healing hand of God.
That’s what Lent can do for each of us. Allow us to see a healing, that through the sacrifices we make this lent, can unite us to something so much bigger.
May you each have a blessed forty day journey that is like no other!
On a parish side-note: I am in the process of purchasing a presider chair and two side chairs for the sanctuary, with plans to move the current bench to where the servers are. If you have ever looked at church furniture, they are not cheap. If you would like to donate or sponsor one of the side chairs please contact the office or myself. The presider chair has been covered in memory of Bob Endreas. Your continued support is greatly appreciated!
God bless,
Fr. Barry

Life can be unrewarding sometimes. We look at others and see only happiness and bliss, but if we truly knew what went on behind closed doors, we would think twice. We wonder why God would give us the life we have, not realizing that we aren’t truly following the plan that he has set out for us.
It’s very easy to see despair and not so easy to see that we are in control of much of what happens in our daily lives. Our daily decisions make all the difference in the world. For example, I get up in the morning and decide I don’t have time for my morning prayer, I’ll get to it after Mass. I have free will and that’s the decision I make. Only to find that after Mass a family has lost a loved one and I rush out to be with them. Before I know it, it’s 2 pm and time for mid-afternoon prayer. But now I’ve missed the things I hadn’t gotten to in the morning and jump right into preparing my homily, working on this article, getting petitions ready and returning calls that I missed. It’s now 6 pm and I have religious education. I have 30 minutes where I can now get in some prayer time, but instead, decide I’m going to eat something. After religious education I go to youth group and now it’s 9:15 and I’m back in the rectory. Finally I can “catch up” on my daily prayers. I sit down, open my morning prayer and read “I will be with you today as you journey in my name.” and realize I felt all alone as I walked with that family earlier. I had Jesus reaching out to me and instead decided I could tackle the day myself. I finish morning prayer and move on to mid-day prayer. “Rest in me and you will be comforted. Seek me and you will find me.” Again, Jesus reaching out and I missed it. I’ve got this, what’s next I said to my-self. Then I get to evening prayer, “ the day is long, the forces fight against you, your brothers torment you and go against you, but I am your shelter, your refuge, you shall not undergo torment or pain for I am your God, your protector.”
When we turn to scripture, prayer, or adoration, we rest our hurts and pain with God. We take comfort in Him being in control and look at the missed opportunities he presented to us each and every day. That opportunity is being united to God and allowing him to guide our day. To speak to us as we place our trust in Him.
Most of us know the story of Job to some degree. The story is presented as God using Job to try to prove to Satan that people can act from a pure heart. God “lets” Satan do all sorts of things to Job . . . some really bad stuff, with the one command that he cannot kill him. And as you can imagine . . . Job eventually comes to the end of his rope, so-to-speak. He reaches a kind of breaking point, be-coming exasperated and furious and bewildered as to why God seems to be deaf to his cries. I think we can all relate. Honestly . . . if the same things happened to me that happened to Job, I’d probably be feeling the exact same way. Or maybe even worse!
But that’s not the end of the story. The moment things begin to change for Job is the moment he embraces a particular truth, the moment he accepts something most of us are unwilling to accept. You see, Job eventually comes to realize that he will never be able to fully understand God’s ways. It’s just not possible. God is God and he is not. God is “in charge” and he is not. God made the heavens and the earth and he did not. God has wisdom and power and a sovereignty that he simply doesn’t have.
But God is always there to comfort and direct us through his Son, Jesus. Will we take the time to slow down or is it business as usual?
May each of you have a God guided week!
God bless,
Fr. Barry

 
What Jesus did in the story depicted in today’s Gospel passage from Mark would have been a great relief to them and also would have astounded them. And while we, today, might not fully understand what was going on inside the man, one thing seems perfectly clear, he certainly was being tormented by something or someone or some kind of illness that was outside their everyday experience. And that “something” they believed couldn’t possibly be from God. No, it had to be the opposite.  And they felt powerless over it.
And so when the man is healed at Jesus’ command, simply by the incredible power of his words . . .  “Quiet!  Come out of him!”, they were completely amazed and couldn’t wait to tell others what they saw. This Jesus, this man from Nazareth, had a power over nature and over evil that they had never seen before. Whoever he was, he certainly was no ordinary man. This man could handle even the really big stuff, the scary stuff, the greatest sort of evil. Evil seemed to be a pretty powerful force in their world, but this man was more powerful.
Wouldn’t that be great if we could do the same, if we could somehow have so much power that we could drive all the really bad stuff and bad people from our world? Imagine a world with no murder and no war and no shootings and no dictators and no abusers and no drug pushers and no armed robbers. Wouldn’t that world look so much different from the world we are currently living in?  I’m not so sure.
Now don’t get me wrong. A world without those things would be a better world, no doubt about it. And if any of those things have impacted any of your lives, causing you pain and sorrow, my heart goes out to you. Honestly. None of us should have to suffer at the hands of others, especially in such cruel ways. It’s why we as a society enact laws and punishments, and why we as a nation struggle, imperfectly at times, to protect ourselves and our friends around the world from similar horrors.
Yes, dealing with this “big stuff” matters. And we should continue striving to create a world free from these things. But would that world truly look a lot different from the current one we are living in? Would it? What I’m getting at is this. I think it’s kind of a mistake to presume that most of the pain and suffering in this world is caused by all these big, terrible, dramatic, obvious things. And if we just stop the really “big stuff”, life will be great. Eden will return.
What we tend to forget is what would remain, all the “little stuff” we don’t necessarily think causes that much harm.  Think about it. Some relationships would still suffer, damaged by thoughtlessness, and lies, and indifference, and infidelity.
Some people in the workplace would still be finding ways to defraud customers or fix the books or beat the system. Some students would still cheat on tests and bully others and test their parents’ patience. 
In other words, if we think of the sum of all the seemingly “small” things we do day-in and day-out, multiplied across billions of people around the world, we might start to understand that it’s not just the “big stuff” that makes the world less than it can be, it’s also the immense pile of relatively small hurts, small failings, small sins that are doing most of the damage, causing most of the pain. These are the things that touch absolutely everyone. And if they didn’t exist, or even if they were greatly reduced, the world would be completely transformed. We might not even recognize it. What difference will we make this week?
 Have a blessed week everyone!
  Fr. Barry

From the Pastor’s Desk:
Well here we are, back in the third week of Ordinary Time. In the liturgy of the Roman Rite, Ordinary Time, in Latin Tempus per annum, is that time of the liturgical year which is not connected directly with any one of the two great seasons, Christmastide and Eastertide, as well as the times of their preparation, Lent and Advent. The colors return to green, representing hope, life, and inspiration. Like spring, when green starts sprouting up, it gives us hope and inspiration after a long winter. It is anything but ordinary.
Ordinary time in our Liturgical Calendar consumes much of the year, you see the green altar cloth most of the year along with green vestments worn by myself and deacon. Again stay with me on the hope, life and inspiration theme.
It is during this time that we are witness to the many miracles and teachings of Jesus. We are taught the meaning behind our Christianity. We are given examples of how to lead a better life of giving, a Holy life through the Gospel messages; the building blocks to our faith.
Ordinary time allows us to build up to Advent and Lent! Why those two events in history are so important to each of us.
That road or journey is not an easy one. It’s filled with potholes, misdirection, and detours. It’s filled with regret, options, and mistakes. But those same journeys have been done by many of our ancestors. That’s what Ordinary Time does, allows us to see ourselves within the text of the New Testament that we will journey down together.
“This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Words spoken by Jesus in our Gospel reading from Mark. This is the first chapter, just after the Baptism of our Lord in the temple. It lays out what it is going to take in those infamous words, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men,” The journey has begun, the lessons are to be revealed, the change is about to be shown!
Now the question is, will this just be another year where we hear or heed the call of Christ in our lives? Do we want to make the changes needed or is it life as usual? Are the examples Jesus will give us this year be life changing, or are they just words without meaning?
How we answer these questions will make all the difference to a life lived in Christ or life lived in our mundane existence.
It is a choice my friends, but a choice that has consequences. Do we see the benefit and are we willing to take that life giving step to live the Gospel. Is it Ordinary or just ordinary?
Have a blessed week and journey,
Fr. Barry
​

Being in quarantine has its advantages, sleeping in, catching up on reading and no distraction from prayer, to name just a few.  But it also lends way to a lot of time that you just don’t know what to do.  This past week I found myself going over the readings for this weekend.  And normally I like to reflect on the Gospel, which today is amazing.  Jesus is recognized for who he truly is, THE LAMB OF GOD.  But then something in our first reading from the Book of Samuel kept grabbing my attention.  Remember, I have nothing to do all day so both these readings are consuming my  days! 
Samuel is sleeping and is awakened by the calling of his name.  He assumes it’s Eli, but it was not.  This happens two more times and finally it is Eli who realizes just who is calling Samuel and tells him to say “Lord, for your servant is listening”.
I think back to how many times I have heard that call, and not always at the most convenient times. I’ve ignored, I’ve put my own desires before it, I’ve flat out said leave me alone. 
Today, I thank God for not heeding my words. He never did “leave me alone”, but instead kept trying to get my attention, continued to show me what he wanted of me. 
My experience is absolutely no different from anyone else’s. If you are thinking to yourself, “well, God hasn’t asked anything of me” then you are simply fooling yourself. Maybe there’s that twinge inside you that prompted you to do something but instead you followed your own will.  But later, you had wished you had done it.  That was a missed opportunity my friends. One in which hopefully we learn from and do better next time.
God didn’t send “The Lamb of God” to us because he didn’t know what to do with him, he sent him to show us, to teach us, to experience him in the flesh. To prove to each of us just how much he loves us.
May each of us be more attentive to God’s call, he is  calling...are we listening?
Have a blessed week everyone!
Peace and Love,
 
 Fr. Barry

Christmas has come and gone, decorations and lights are coming down and it’s life as we knew it before the holidays.  I’m hoping that sounds a bit odd to you as you read this.  Part of that statement was indeed correct, Christmas has come and gone, but the transformation and belief of that Sacred day is far from being behind us.  If anything, it should have invigorated us, being reminded that Christ’s birth has brought us all something we hadn’t had before; newness of life.
As we journey with Christ and celebrate his baptism, we remind ourselves of something very special.  The opening up of the Holy Spirit and the guidance/mission that is being given to each of us.  We hear once again how   Jesus came to John, presumably, in the presence of many others … and allowed himself to be baptized by him, descending into the waters and rising from them with a new kind of focus, a deeper commitment, a singular kind of purpose through the power of the Spirit.  This man from Nazareth would no longer be just that, but rather would more visibly embrace the mission with which he was entrusted.  We know from Scripture that Jesus grew in wisdom and age.  His baptism seems to be that moment when his identity was no longer “hidden” from those around him, and maybe even from himself.  After all, we really don’t know how this all unfolded for Jesus . . . how exactly he came to know who he was and what he was destined for.
But from this moment everything would be different.  He was stepping onto a sacred path, embarking on a journey that would end with nothing short of the salvation of the world.  And it took a kind of commitment the world had rarely seen or likely never had seen or has seen since.  And what was that commitment?  In a word . . . love.  Jesus was committed to love and only love, in a perfect way, the kind of commitment that would cost him everything.  And he stayed the course. Through all the ridicule, the attempted stoning, the temptations of the devil, the false statements.  And the world was never the same.
We are each called to do the same.  We do this through the love of our Church; being involved.  Through the love of our community; being involved. Through the love of neighbor; being involved. 
None of these are easy, they require time and effort.  But when done, we become the face of Christ to all those we encounter.  The face of Christ that changes hearts, and ultimately changes the community we live in...one person at a time.
May we each think back to what our own baptism has brought us, are we using those gifts of the Holy Spirit or is there room for improvement?

Fr. Barry

I hope this finds all well with everyone as we celebrated the birth of our Lord and welcomed in a new year! We’ve definitely had our obstacles in 2020 and I have to say I’m glad to see it’s behind us. Now the question is, what did we learn from it? Are things we took for granted seen as blessings? Is what’s to come a thought of dread and misery, or can we see the light at the end of the tunnel?
When I started seminary in 2012, I had so much doubt as to if I could actually go through all that schooling (seven years seemed like a lifetime). If I could be happy without the things I sold and got rid of. If I would be able to do what would be expected of me. There was no light at the end of that tunnel, only concern, doubt and unworthiness. Much like 2020, I was unsure if I would even make it through.
And now 7 years later I come to enjoy my first year as pastor celebrating the Epiphany . . . the day on which we recall the incredible story of the Magi embarking on an adventure, a search to find the newborn King of the Jews. And in this story, light plays a dominant role. These three men were looking for a light, for a sign in the sky that would signal something special, something out of the ordinary. And they followed that light wherever it led them. We can presume that this was not an easy quest. Traveling in ancient times was never easy or safe. And of course, ultimately they get to gaze upon and do homage to the Light of the World
          “Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.”
So says the prophet Isaiah in today’s First Reading. It’s easy to see a sort of foreshadowing in his words, a kind of prophecy that would be realized centuries later. Isaiah seemed to understand that a kind of darkness had crept into the world . . . into their hearts and into them as a people. And what would make things right, what would make things better, what would heal what needed to be healed, was not a conqueror, but rather a light . . . a light that would dispel the darkness, a light which was God himself shining down upon them and with them and through them.
Life takes us in so many different directions. And because of our free will, we can make choices freely, right or wrong, it’s our choice. Just think, why did the Magi feel it was so important to follow this star? Why would they venture out not knowing exactly where they were going or even how long it would take? Who would they encounter along the way, friend or foe?
Like all of us, something in their hearts lead them to the Savior. Something in their whole being drew them to venture out and experience something that would change their lives forever.
The same is happening for each of us as we celebrate this Epiphany. A light has shown and will guide us to what truly matters. We will set out on a certain, particular path. Will we follow it? Will we open our hearts to where God is leading us? Come journey with me and the Church as we embark on another year to discover something special, about our Almighty God, about Jesus his Son, about each other, and most importantly, about ourselves.
May God continue to bless you and this New Year, 2021, we embark upon.

​Fr. Barry

I hope this finds everyone in the true spirit of Christmas!  But remember, it’s not over!  This weekend we celebrate the Holy Family, next is the Epiphany, and then we close out the Christmas Season with the Baptism of  the Lord, going back to Ordinary time on the 11th.  These coming weekends serve as reminders that with any birth there is a new journey to discover Christ and that giving thanks follows. 
It becomes so easy to want to take down the decorations and continue or get back to life in the way it was before. That is precisely why the Church, in her great Wisdom, makes us aware through our upcoming readings that it’s not over.  Quite honestly, I have entertained the thought of keeping my Christmas tree up until the pandemic is completely over.  Maybe it’s out of laziness or not having the time, but in a real sense, it’s to not let go of this sacred moment. To keep focused on what this birth has brought with it. Examples of humility, love, obedience, and selflessness. Those are hard things to live out each and every day, and we need reminders. 
I’m not saying I’m going to keep my tree up, but I’m also not saying I’m going to take it down right away!  It helps to serve as that reminder. Gives hope. Gives comfort. Gives that great reminder Christ is now among us, dwelling in each and every one of our hearts!
As we remember the Holy family this weekend, we look at the courage of both Mary (her YES) and Joseph (his not turning away). We look at the center of our own families to notice the love, the caring, even the imperfections.  We attempt to model our families after that of Jesus’, knowing we are never going to get it 100% right, but also knowing if it follows that model of the Holy Family, it will be full of love at it’s very center. 
I also wanted to take a moment and  thank all those who took time to send me a card, picture card (love them), gifts, gift cards/certificates, and money.  You really have a way with your words to make a priest feel loved and appreciated.  Thank you for helping make this a special first year for me as your pastor!
May each of you have a blessed week, you each remain in my prayers.
 
Fr. Barry