Dear Parishioners,

I would like to explain to all of you how I came to understand the meaning of snowflakes and all that they bring into our lives.

Having my knee replaced was one thing, but then facing the surgeries related to my “compartment syndrome” crisis was another.  Something so inexplicable until one day I was looking out the window of my hospital room and I began to wonder about the role that snowflakes play in our lives: two different roles whether as grown-ups or in the purity of being a child.

It is much easier to look at a world decorated in white if one is a child.  Our hearts and mind’s eye come alive and we see a world that is oh so different.  We adults can see the pristine beauty of the Vancouver Mountains as NBC broadcasts the Winter Olympics, but as a child we see things innocently: angels, snowmen, castles and igloos, sleigh runs and maybe a snowball fight or two. 

When was the last time you stood upwind in a snow storm threw your arms out to your sides, opened your mouth and caught snowflakes on you?  Do you remember catching a snowflake on your finger and watching it change as the heat of your body turns it back into water?

One of the nurses came into my room one day, a day when many of you had come to visit and brought gifts.  She was standing at the table where many of the cards and gifts were assembled and she began to laugh.  I asked her, “What is so funny?” “Do you eat any regular food?”  The table was piled high in snacks, candies, cookies, nuts and the like.  I had to admit that I do not have the greatest diet in the world.

One morning, I awoke and opened the curtain in the room, it was snowing outside and the child in me came alive as I stared over the gift table to the falling snow outside. My imagination began to roll snowballs and make them bigger so that I could create a snowman and decorate it with my M&M’s for buttons, peppermints for eyes, and raisins for a mouth and pretzels for a nose.

Then I created another snowman, this one was a mailman whose sack, a pillowcase, was filled with cards and letters wishing me well.  Smaller this time, I built the children decorated in candies and goodies with their hands formed in prayers representing all of you who sent your love and your prayers…  I could have gone on and on as my gift table had an endlessupply of stuff.

Each of the snowmen is just like all of you.  You see one snowman, but how many snowflakes?  Like the gift table all of you have reached out to me caring for me, wishing me well, praying for me and calling allowing me to hear your voices.   Each visitor brought not only their well wishes, but the wishes of many others as well.

Recovery has not been easy, but the wonder of it all is it snowed and brought all of you with the gift of God’s healing and care.  My gratitude and blessings on all of you, snowflakes will have new meanings for me.

Love, Fr. Denis

On February 28, at the 11:00 Mass, we will bless and dedicate the statue of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, C.Ss.R.  Fr. Byron Miller, C.Ss.R., the Executive Director of the Seelos shrine, will be the principal celebrant for this Liturgy.

Fr. Seelos was born on January 11, 1819 in Füssen, Bavaria, Germany.  After studying for the Priesthood in Germany, he asked to be admitted to the Congregation of the most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) for ministry to German-speaking immigrants in the United States.  In 1844, he was ordained a priest at the Redemptorist Church of Saint James in Baltimore.  His availability and innate kindness in understanding and responding to the needs of the faithful made him so renowned as an expert confessor and spiritual director that people came to him even from neighboring towns.  Seelos ministered for a time in Pittsburgh, Cumberland, and Annapolis.  From 1863 -1866  Seelos dedicated himself to the life of an itinerant missionary preacher in English and German in the states of Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.

After a brief period of parish ministry in Detroit, Fr. Seelos was assigned in 1866 to the Redemptorist Church of St. Mary’s Assumption in New Orleans.  He was known to be joyfully available to his faithful and singularly concerned for the poorest and most abandoned.  In God’s plan, however, his ministry in New Orleans was destined to be brief.   By September 1867, exhausted from visiting and caring for the victims of yellow fever, Seelos contracted the dreaded disease and entered into eternal life on October 4, 1867, at the age of forty-eight years and nine months.

The enduring renown for his holiness occasioned his Cause for Canonization to be introduced in 1900.  A century later, His Holiness, Pope John Paul II beatified Father Seelos on April 9 of the Solemn Jubilee Year 2000.  He awaits one more miracle for canonization!

Fr. Bernie Carlin, C.Ss.R.

Dear St. Alphonsus family,

Let’s reflect on a biblical perspective of Lent. Ash Wednesday and Lent began as a way for Catholics to remind themselves to repent of their sins in a similar manner to how people in the Old Testament repented in sackcloth, ashes, and fasting.

However, over the centuries Lent has developed a much more “sacramental” value. Many Catholics erroneously understand giving something up for Lent as a way to gain blessing from God. The Bible does not teach that such acts in themselves get us closer to God. In fact, the New Testament teaches us that our acts of fasting and repentance should be done in a manner that does not attract attention to ourselves: “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:16-18).

Fasting is a good thing when it is done with a biblical perspective. If you feel led by the Lord to observe Lent, you are free to do so, not forced. Be sure to focus on repenting from your sins and consecrating yourself to God – not on trying to earn God’s favor or increase His love for you!

Fr. Ed Vella, C.Ss.R.

Dear St. Alphonsus family,

Lent is a period of fasting and repentance traditionally observed by Catholics and some Protestant denominations in preparation for Easter. The length of the Lenten fast is 40 days. During this time, participants eat sparingly, or simply give up a particular food or habit. I offer the following for your consideration so that Lent does not turn out to be a sad time, but a thankful time of preparation. Lent is not only about Fasting, but also Feasting!

Fast from judging others…Feast on Christ dwelling in them.

Fast from differences……. Feast on what people share in common.

Fast from what looks like darkness… Feast on hope and light around you.

Fast from words that tear down….Feast on words of encouragement.

Fast from discontent……………..Feast on gratitude.

Fast from anger…………………… Feast on patience.

Fast from pessimism……………. Feast on optimism.

Fast from complaining………….. Feast on appreciation.

Fast from dwelling on the negative…. Feast on what is positive.

Fast from suspicion…………….. Feast on truth.

Fast from bitterness……………. Feast on forgiveness.

Fast from selfishness………….. Feast on compassion for others.

Fast from problems that overwhelm… Feast on prayer.

Fr. Ed Vella, C.Ss.R.