Please join us this Sunday after the 12 Noon Mass for a reception to celebrate Father Jerry’s 60th Anniversary and retirement.

Ad multos annos, Father Jerry!
Father Jerry O'Mahony, M.S.C., was born in Cork City. He was ordained a priest on July 15, 1950 at Moyne Park, Ballyglunin, County Galway as a Missionary of the Sacred Heart. Four were ordained to the priesthood that Saturday morning by His Grace, Joseph Walsh, Archbishop of Tuam. Fr. Jerry is the only one left of that happy band.
Father Jerry spent the first 24 years of his priesthood in South Africa among the Pedi (Northern Sotho), Venda and Shangaan (Tsonga) peoples of the Northern Transvaal, then the next 7 years as a social anthropologist at Cape Town University in the field of Missiology (the area of practical theology which investigates the mandate, message and work of the Christian missionary) and later as a lecturer at Rhodes University in Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth. The next 15 years were devoted to parish ministry in the Archdiocese of Cape Town. Father Jerry came to the United States to give mission appeals for Africa in 1974 and 1975. He was a pastor in the Diocese of San Angelo in West Texas for 5 years and was then pastor of Holy Rosary in Sun Valley from 1980 to 1987. Fr. Jerry left Holy Rosary and moved to St. Francis de Sales as an associate pastor. Sunday, March 15, 1987 was Fr. Jerry's first Sunday at St. Francis de Sales. In March 1993 Fr. Jerry's official status here changed from associate pastor to in residence where it remains to date.
After 23 years at St. Francis de Sales Fr. Jerry has decided to move to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart residence in San Antonio. Fr. Jerry leaves St. Francis de Sales enfolded by our prayers and good wishes.-Fr. Michael Wakefield

Fr. Jerry's 60th anniversary and best wishes for retirement Mass Sunday, June 6th at the 12 noon Mass

Greetings all:
I’m sure you enjoyed the parish carnival and feel happy it’s over for another year. It is always a great event and draws people together and strengthens the parish community. Here is something you might like to see and maybe add to the parish website.
Stay well and happy.
Fr Jerry.

 

Isn’t it strange
how a 20 dollar bill seems like such a large amount when you donate it to church,
but such a small amount when you go shopping?

how 2 hours seem so long when you’re at church,
and how short they seem when you’re watching a good movie?

that you can’t find a word to say when you’re praying but..
you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend?

how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible but
how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel?

how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games but
they do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in Church?

how we need to know about an event for Church 2-3 weeks
before the day so we can include it in our agenda,
but we can adjust it for other events in the last minute?

how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others;
but how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip?

how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say but....
we question the words in the Bible?

how everyone wants a place in heaven but...
they don’t want to believe, do, or say anything to get there?

how we send jokes in e-mails and they are forwarded right away but
when we are going to send messages about God,
we think about it twice before we share it with others?

BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD ... PSALM 33:12

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Lord of the Universe
Eric Metaxas

Communion on the Moon: July 20th, 1969 Jul 19, 2009

Forty years ago today two human beings changed history by walking on the surface of the moon. But what happened before Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong exited the Lunar Module is perhaps even more amazing, if only because so few people know about i I'm talking about the fact that Buzz Aldrin took communion on the surface of the moon.

Some months after his return, he wrote about it in Guideposts magazine. A few years ago I had the privilege of meeting him myself. I asked him about it and he confirmed the story to me, and I wrote about in my book 'Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God' (But Were Afraid to Ask).

The background to the story is that Aldrin was an elder at his Presbyterian Church in Texas during this period in his life, and knowing that he would soon be doing something unprecedented in human history, he felt he should mark the occasion somehow, and he asked his pastor to help him. And so the pastor consecrated a communion wafer and a small vial of communion wine. And Buzz Aldrin took them with him out of the Earth's orbit and on to the surface of the moon.

He and Armstrong had only been on the lunar surface for a few minutes when Aldrin made the following public statement: "This is the Lunar Module pilot. I'd like to take this
opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way." He then ended radio communication and there, on the silent surface of the moon, 250,000 miles from home, he read a verse from the Gospel of John, and he took communion. Here is his own account of what happened: "In the radio blackout, I opened the little plastic packages which contained the bread and the wine. I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon, the wine slowly curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup. Then I read the scripture, 'I am the vine, you are the branches. Whosoever abides in me will bring forth much fruit.. Apart from me you can do nothing.'

I had intended to read my communion passage back to earth, but at the last minute [they] had requested that I not do this. NASA was already embroiled in a legal battle with Madelyn Murray O'Hare, the celebrated opponent of religion, over the Apollo 8 crew reading from Genesis while orbiting the moon at Christmas. I agreed reluctantly. I ate the tiny Host and swallowed the wine. I gave thanks for the intelligence and spirit that had brought two young pilots to the Sea of Tranquility .. It was interesting for me to think: the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion element. And of course, it's interesting to think that some of the first
words spoken on the moon were the words of Jesus Christ, who made the Earth and the moon - and Who, in the immortal words of Dante, is Himself the "Love that moves the Sun and other stars."

Subject: New Year 2010

Greetings Friend:

The New Year is here. It's really new in that it's only a few days old.
Like a new born baby, it has little story so far. What this new year has
in store, no one knows. It's better that way. That's why God unfolds
time just a day at a time. Remember as a child how we lived the moment.
Everything was now. Today. Tomorrow seemed infinitely distant then. It can be
like that again... 'become like little children' as Jesus reminds us.
Again, Jesus taught us to pray for our daily bread so that we can face
the challenges of each new day. Day by day just.

Give the past year back to God and what we've made of it. Hopefully we
endowed it with our best effort. It's all God wants. Mother Teresa said:
'It's not the size of our good deeds but the love expressed in doing them'.
St Augustine offers us a lovely prayer: 'Lord I give the past to your
mercy, I entrust the present to your love, and I commit the future
to your providence'.

We still face challenging times ahead. The economy, unemployment, an
oscillating stock market, bankruptcy, mortgage repayment, cost of living,
national debt, are some stressful realities. Not overlooking the war and
terrorism. Pessimism surrounds us as well. We need to remember that
God is still in charge and guiding our world. The Spirit is with us forever.
And God draws good from disordered events. Our faith is our victory over
the trials and evils of our times.

It remains for us to derive continued spiritual comfort from our
togetherness in the community of faith and worship. Thus it's
imperative that we remain steadfast in our Eucharistic worship each
Sunday. Sharing with our families is most desired. Remember, the
family that prays together, stays together. More than ever today.

May your New Year 2010 be one of peace, hope, blessing and family
togetherness.
God's blessing to you.

Fr Jerry

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Greetings:

It is cold and snow is falling in some places at Christmas. It's hot, humid, and time for summer vacations in other parts of our world, but the message of Christmas is the same for all places and people. "Peace ! again, I say, Peace". A favorite greeting of Jesus. It's the message of the angels on the first Christmas night. It's a wish we all desire. A peace that comes from the goodwill of people with whom we live. May your Christmas be that and more, among family and friends. Be mindful of people today who live in fear, amid the violence of war and terrorism; others who are sick, friendless, homeless, hungry and without work. Christ's peace is for them too.

Fr Jerry

HEARD AND SEEN

Of all people, shepherds were the first to hear of the birth of Jesus in
Bethlehem. Surprised and mystified, they went in haste to check out the
event "and found Mary and Joseph and the infant lying in the manger."
Luke 2:15-20. In awe the shepherds prostrated and paid homage to Jesus.
Tiny, helpless and seemingly insignificant, this new baby is God in our
midst, Emmanuel. It all happened as Isaiah the prophet had vividly
foretold. No doctor or midwife to assist, God came to us unnoticed. A
simple and humble arrival. Surely not in accord with the Jewish
expectations of their long awaited Messiah. And shepherds were the
guests of honor.

What a simple entry of God into our world. People then were busy with
census and festivities to be aware. No trumpets, chariots or ticker-tape
parade. No place for Jesus to lay his head except a stable. No people to
welcome him but simple, rugged and poor shepherds. Our God is at home
with simple, rugged, poor people. His people. A new revelation. A new
beginning.

Shepherds may not be refined, educated or wealthy but they are diligent
in the care of their sheep, day and night, even to laying down their
lives to protect their sheep from wild predators. They stay vigilant.
Maybe God chose shepherds to signal the arrival of the new shepherd,
The Good Shepherd.

As yet there was no television, iPods or cell phones to distract the
shepherds' night watches Thus ever alert, the shepherds heard the message
of the Angels..."this day in the city of David a savior is born who is Messiah
and Lord. And this will be a sign for you; you will find an infant wrapped in
swaddling clothes and lying in a manger" Luke 3:11-12. It was
just as they found Jesus.

The shepherds went home and told what they had heard and seen. All who
heard were amazed at what they heard. Did you ever wonder what
would have happened if the shepherds hadn't gone over to Bethlehem ? Do
you ever stop and wonder why God chose Shepherds to be the first to
proclaim the birth of Christ ? I do. And still wonder.

If lowly shepherds can believe, and make a journey to find and worship
God, then who cannot ? That miracle must surely impress and haunt anyone
who cannot make time to journey in search of Jesus as did the shepherds.

It's worth the wonder that can be yours too. Search and discover ! And
then proclaim as did the shepherds.

This I believe is the challenge of Christmas for all time. May your
Christmas be one of new wonder, faith, joy, peace, family and love.

Fr Jerry O'Mahony MSC

 

These are the pictures of St. Bernadette who died 122 years ago in Lourdes, France and was buried; her body was only discovered 30 years ago. After church officials decided to examine it they discovered her body is still fresh until today and if you ever go to Lourdes, France you can see her in the church in Lourdes. Her body isn’t decomposing because during her lifetime, the Mother of Jesus would always appear to her and give messages and advice to all mankind on the right way to live on this earth. Many miracles have taken place in this place of Lourdes and still do until today. These pictures show her body after 122 years.

Scientists have wondered about this because it defies the laws of nature and instead of expecting a foul smell of a dead body, a fragrance of flowers can be experienced when the glass of coffin is opened. Some say they experience the fragrance by just going near the coffin. You can visit the Church of Lourdes, France to verify yourself the authenticity of this truly wonderful experience and see for yourself a living miracle of our times.

PASS THIS ON TO YOUR FRIENDS WHO WALK WITH GOD AND TO THOSE THAT NEED PROOF OF GOD’S POWER AND LOVE.

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Greetings:

Here is a very old rhyme I first heard in Ireland many, many years ago
at a house party in the country. It is, at least was, an old Irish
country custom for someone to stand and recite a story or poem as a form
of entertainment. It was at such a gathering that I first heard this.
It was the summer of 1946. A long time ago ! Enjoy.

(Fr) Jerry

THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND

'Twas battered and scarred and the Auctioneer thought it scarcely worth
his while,
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile:
"What am I bidden, good folks, he cried,
"Who'll start the bidding for me ?"
"A dollar, a dollar", then, "Two" Only Two?
Two dollars, once, three dollars, twice,
Going for three" --- But no !.,
From the room, far back, a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow
Then, wiping dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a carolling Angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: "What am I bidden for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?"
"Two thousand ! And who'll make it three?"
Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
And going, and gone", said he.
The people cheered but some of them cried:
"We do not understand what changed its worth",
Swift came the reply:
"The touch of a master's hand !"

And many a person with life out of tune
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.
A "mess of pottage", a glass of wine,
A game ---and he travels on.
He is "going" once and "going" twice,
He's "going" and almost "gone",

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd,
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that's wrought
By the touch of the Master's hand.

---M. Welch.

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This article and website might be of interest to some people who frequent the parish website. The Sacrament of Penance, or Confession as it's more popularly called, is still a thorny topic and a misunderstood sacrament. It is good to remember that the focus of Christianity is on Christ not sin. Christ came to reveal the unconditional love of God for his people. All sinners and in need of love and forgiveness. No matter what evil or sin we commit, it is important to remember that nothing can take from tht compassionate love that Jesus brings in the Sacrament of Penance. In the past, the pastoral approach was to stress sin more than love. But on reading the gospel accounts of forgiveness, we rightly see the compelling love and compassion that Jesus shares with the woman at the well, the woman caught in the act of adultery, and the story Jesus tells of the return of the Prodigal Son. It is thus important to read the gospel accounts. Confession is a beautiful experience that brings an inner peace, spiritual uplift and a sense of liberation as a load of guilt is lifted from one's conscience. Remember the focus of Christianity is on Christ not sin. And Christ came to love and teach us to love. One aspect of love is forgiveness. And don't we all want to be forgiven and loved ? So why wait longer ? Put a reminder on your calendar to receive the Sacrament of Penance. And frequently. Feel free to go to any church or priest you feel comfortable with.

The attached article and website may be of interest on this topic.
Some pertinent gospel readings on forgiveness:

I. The Woman at the Well. John 4: 4- 42

2. The woman caught in the act of adultery. John 8: 1- 11

3. The Story of the Prodigal Son. Luke 15: 11- 32



http://www.catholicireland.net/pages/index.php?nd=16&art=1095Subject:
Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of Vatican Council 2
Greetings:
This is a brief summary of the essence of Sacred Liturgy from the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy as promulgated by the Vatican Council 2, December 4,1963. It is read as a second reading in the Office of
Readings (Roman Breviary “Matins” of old) on the third Sunday of the Year. It deserves a reading in order to enrich and give meaning to what we celebrate in Eucharist and in all our other sacramental celebrations. May you feel it’s enrichment. May God, who is made present in the liturgy by the sacramental action of Jesus, bless and enrich you.
(Fr) Jerry

Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council

Christ is present to his Church. Christ is always present to his Church, especially in the actions of the liturgy. He is present in the sacrifice of the Mass, in the person of the minister (it is the same Christ who formerly offered himself on the cross that now offers by the ministry of priests) and most of all under the eucharistic species. He is present in the sacraments by his power, in such a way that when someone baptises, Christ himself baptises. He is present in his word, for it is he himself who speaks when the holy Scriptures are read in the Church. Finally, he is present when the Church prays and sings, for he himself promised: Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in their midst.

Indeed, in this great work which gives perfect glory to God and brings holiness to men, Christ is always joining in partnership with himself his beloved Bride, the Church, which calls upon its Lord and through him
gives worship to the eternal Father.

It is therefore right to see the liturgy as an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ, in which through signs addressed to the senses man’s sanctification is signified and, in a way proper to each of these signs, made effective, and in which public worship is celebrated in its fullness by the mystical body of Jesus Christ, that is, by the head and by his members.

Accordingly, every liturgical celebration, as an activity of Christ the priest and of his body, which is the Church, is a sacred action of a pre-eminent kind. No other action of the Church equals its title to power or its degree of effectiveness. In the liturgy on earth we are given a foretaste and share in the liturgy of heaven, celebrated in the holy city of Jerusalem, the goal of our pilgrimage, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, as minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle. With the whole company of heaven we sing a hymn of praise to the Lord; as we reverence the memory of the saints, we hope to have some part with them, and to share in their fellowship; we wait for the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, until he, who is our life, appears, and we appear with him in glory.
By an apostolic tradition taking its origin from the very day of Christ’s resurrection, the Church celebrates the paschal mystery every eighth day, the day that is rightly called the Lord’s day. On Sunday the Christian faithful ought to gather together, so that by listening to the word of God and sharing in the Eucharist they may recall the passion, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God who has given them a new birth with a lively hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The Lord’s day is therefore the first andgreatest festival, one to be set before the loving devotion of the faithful and impressed upon it, so that it may be also a day of joy andof freedom from work. Other celebrations must not take precedence over it, unless they are truly of the greatest importance, since it is the foundation and the kernel of the whole liturgical year.

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Greetlings:

Happy Easter. You might like to read this Easter message. It has a promising, uplifting and faith-filled vision of the present and future state of our world.

Fr Jerry

click to download this Easter message. Fr. Jablonski's Easter Letter

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Greetings:

This is a newly constructed website of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Irish Province. It is well assembled and contains many news items from around the Catholic world. You might like to browse and enjoy. Take care.

Fr. Jerry

http://www.mscireland.com/index.php?option=com_cifeed&task=headlines&ns=1

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This is what Oxi clean is... did you Know that???

3% peroxide

This was written by Becky Ransey of Indiana

'I would like to tell you of the benefits of that plain little old bottle of 3% peroxide you can get for under $1.00 at any drug store. My husband has been in the medical field for over 36 years, and most doctors don't tell you about peroxide, or they would lose thousands of dollars.'

1. Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out. (I do it when I bathe)

No more canker sores and your teeth will be whiter without expensive pastes. Use it instead of mouthwash. (Small print says mouth wash and gargle right on the bottle)

2. Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of 'Peroxide' to keep them free of germs.

3. Clean your counters, table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishrag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters.

4. After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria.

5. I had fungus on my feet for years - until I sprayed a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry.

6. Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five to ten minutes several times a day. My husband has seen gangrene that would not heal with any medicine, but was healed by soaking in peroxide.

7. Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep it in every bathroom to disinfect without harming your septic system like bleach or most other disinfectants will .

8. Tilt your head back and spray into nostrils with your 50/50 mixture whenever you have a c old, or plugged sinuses. It will bubble and help to kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes then blow your nose into a tissue.

9. If you have a terrible toothache and cannot get to a dentist right away, put a capful of 3% peroxide into your mouth and hold it for ten minutes several times a day. The pain will lessen greatly.

10. And of course, if you like a natural look to your hair, spray the 50/50 solution on your wet hair after a shower and comb it through. You will not have the peroxide burnt blonde hair like the hair dye packages, but more natural highlights if your hair is a light brown, reddish, or dirty blonde. It also lightens gradually so it's not a drastic change.

11. Put half a bottle of peroxide in your bath to help rid boils, fungus s, or other skin infections.

12. You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of white s in your laundry to whiten them. If there is blood on clothing, pour directly on the soiled spot. Let It sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.

13. I use peroxide to clean my mirrors with, and there is no smearing which is why I love it so much for this.

I could go on and on. It is a little brown bottle no home should be without! With prices of most necessities rising, I'm glad there's a way to save tons of money in such a simple, healthy manner.

Send on to others who might need to know the benefits of 3% peroxide.

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Greetings:

Here is a story to prompt us to grateful and thankful to good people who do good things for us. It is appropriate as we prepare for Thanksgiving Day.

A Story of Eyes and Love:
There was a blind girl who had grown to dislike and even despise herself because she was blind. She grew to hate nearly everyone, except the boy friend who deeply loved her. He was always there for her. Once she confided to him: ‘If I could only see the world, I will marry you.’
One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. She had the eye transplant procedure. When the bandages were removed following the eye-surgery, she was able to see everything, and most clearly her boyfriend by her side. She felt ecstatic. Tenderly he asked her, ‘Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?’ The girl looked at him. She discovered that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn’t expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him. He went away feeling forlorn and broken hearted at being rejected. Shortly after, he wrote her a short note saying:

“Take good care of your eyes, my love, for before they were yours, they were mine.”
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As we will soon celebrate Thanksgiving Day, let us be grateful to family, friends and all who love us unconditionally. And no one more than Jesus. Join us in Mass of Thanksgiving on Thursday at 10:00 a.m., as there is not greater way to give thanks than in the Eucharist. It’s what it is. God’s blessing.

Fr Jerry

 

Here is a story that will touch dog and cat lovers. What a wonderful care-giver and life-saver. Reminds me of another story of a little dog in Waterford, Ireland, some several years ago. This dog sensed smoke and fire, ran to wake the family in bed, and thus saved all from a fiery death. But the poor little dog died in the last effort. Who can deny that pets are our best friends and life-savers ? Regards.
http://news.mobile.msn.com/en-us/articles.aspx?afid=1&aid=27381659

A Lady Named Irena - a true story

There recently was a death of a 98 year old lady named Irena. During WWII, Irena, got permission to work in the Warsaw Ghetto, as a Plumbing/Sewer specialist. She had an ulterior motive. She knew what the Nazi’s plans were for the Jews, (being German). Irena smuggled infants out in the bottom of her tool box she carried, and she carried in the back of her truck a Burlap sack, (for larger kids). She also had a dog in the back, that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in, and out of the ghetto. The soldiers of course wanted nothing to do with the dog, and the barking covered the kids/infants noises.

During her time and course of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants. She was eventually caught, and the Nazi’s broke both her legs, and arms, and beat her severely.

Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out, and kept them in a glass jar, buried under a tree in her back yard. After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived it, and reunited the family. Most of course had been gassed. Those kids she helped got placed into foster family homes, or adopted.

Last year Irena was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize....She lost. Al Gore won, for doing a slide show on Global Warming.

Excerpts of an article written by Sam Miller, prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman, and not Catholic.
 
Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the United States, namely the Catholic Church?  Do you know the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at the cost to your Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars? Your graduates go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%, all at a cost to you.  To the rest of the Americans it's free.
    
The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students.  The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment, of 1 out of every 5 people not just Catholics in the United States today.
    
But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country.  They have blamed the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage.
    
Let me give you some figures that you as Catholics should know and remember.  
For example, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual contact, in a study by the United Methodist Church 41.8% of clergy women reported unwanted sexual behavior; 17% of laywomen have been sexually harassed.  Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia.  10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia.  This is not a Catholic problem as the media and press wants you to believe.
    
A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR the church has been receiving.
    
The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of the Church.   You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably been totally weeded out by now.
    
Walk with your shoulders high and your head higher.  Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental agency in the United States.  Then remember what was written in Jeremiah: "Thus says the Lord: Stand by the earliest roads, ask the pathways of old, which is the way to good, and walk it; thus you will find rest for your souls."
    
Be Proud to speak up for your beautiful faith with pride and reverence and learn what your Church does for all

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Old and Young Priests 
 
The elderly priest, speaking to the younger priest, said, "It was a good idea to replace the first four pews with plush bucket theatre seats. It worked like a charm.  The front of the church always fills first now."

The young priest nodded, and the old priest continued, "And you told me adding a little more beat to the music would bring young people back to church, so I supported you when you brought in that rock 'n' roll gospel choir.  Now our services are consistently packed to the balcony."

"Thank you, Father," answered the young priest.  "I am pleased that you are open to the new ideas of youth." "All of these ideas have been well and good," said the elderly priest, "But I'm afraid you've gone too far with the drive-thru confessional."

"But, Father," protested the young priest, "my confessions and the donations have nearly doubled since I began that!" "Yes," replied the elderly priest, "And I appreciate that.  But the flashing neon sign, "Toot 'n Tell, or Go to Hell" CANNOT stay on the
church roof."

For Father's Day.

Build me a son, O Lord, who sill be strong enough to know when he is weak; brave enough to face himself when he is afraid. Build me a son, whose wishes will not take the place of deeds. Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenges. Let him learn to stand in the storm; let him learn compassion for those who fall. Build me a son, whose heart is clear, whose goals will be high; a son who will master himself beforehe seeks to master others; who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past. And after all these things are his add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor so that he may always be serious yet never take himself too seriously.Then, I, his father will dare to whisper: "I have not lived in vain."

A Simple Way to Pray

1. Your thumb is nearest to you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, "a sweet duty."
2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.
3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance. ((Boy, do they ever))
4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.
5. And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all. Which is where we should place our-selves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "the least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinky should remind you to pray for yourself.
By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

Greetings:

Would you recognize someone in this picture ? It is a photo of Fr. Jerry O'Mahony MSC taken near the St. Scholastica  Mission Church, in the Transvaal province of South Africa, about 1957. The mission was located in the bush area and at 4,000' Later this mission area was handed over to the care of the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) to which I belong.  I renovated this church in 1958 as it was unstable on the foundation. After the laying  of the foundation in 1925, there was a torrential torpical rainfall of 8 inches overnight. It mist have affected the work as the structure was wonky after that When the renovation was being done, it was discovered that the foundation had sagged six inches off level over the intervening years. A miracle how it lasted at all. Just a story from reminiscing on the picture. Jerry O'Mahony MSC

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