Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

This Thursday evening, March 29, we will have our Lenten Penance Service at 7:00 PM. All the Redemptorist priests will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is a peaceful atmosphere with the Examination of Conscience displayed on the screen during the entire evening. Gentle music floats in the background to provide a soothing atmosphere for folks to quietly look into their hearts for areas that need reconciling. Come and experience the healing presence of Jesus in this wonderful Sacrament.

Next Sunday of course is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. As we take the palm branches we are reminded of how fickle we can be in our relationship with Jesus. Sometimes we wave the branches and yell “Hosanna” to Jesus and say we love Him and will follow Him. And then, as on Good Friday, we yell “Crucify Him” and betray Him with our selfish actions and hatred.  Place the palm branch in your home and let it remind you how great is the love of Jesus for you. Let it remind you how faithful your love must be for Jesus.

On Holy Thursday this year we are inviting the congregation to be involved in the washing of feet. Several stations around the church will be provided where parishioners may wash feet of others and in turn have their foot washed. We want to imitate the example that Jesus gave us when He washed the feet of His disciples. It is a simple act of humble service, done without fanfare, in a community setting of the followers of Jesus.

Take some quiet time this week to thank the Lord for your blessings.

Gratefully, Fr. Pat, C.Ss.R.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Last Sunday I witnessed a wonderful display of our young people’s faith. Our young people preparing to receive the Sacrament of  Confirmation later this year had put together displays of the saints they have chosen for their Confirmation name. Each student dressed in the clothing of their saint, had visual boards made with sayings and biographies of the saint. And each student gave a verbal presentation of his/her saint with particulars about the life, spiritual growth, personal vision, and mission in the church.

I was impressed by our students’ knowledge of these saints and their attachment to this saint as their Confirmation name. Congratulations to our young people (and their catechists) on their “Saints Alive” presentation.  May you continue to growth in your faith and be the living saints of the church.

Holy Week is only two weeks away. This year during the Holy Thursday liturgy I would like to do something that we did many years ago. When it comes time during the liturgy to have the washing of the feet, I am inviting anyone who would like to wash feet of others or to have their foot washed. The mandate of Jesus was “as I have done for you, so must you do for one another.”  This was an example of service for one another. How fitting that more people have the opportunity to do  this simple act of washing feet . We will have several stations around the church and invite people to partake in this humble act. We will provide towels for those who may wish to participate.

I have witnessed young children washing the feet of their parents, strangers doing it for others, seniors doing it for young folks, spouses washing their spouse’s feet. It is humbling. It is gentle. It is giving. It is serving as Jesus did and taught us.

Grow with your faith this week through the dark times into the light of Jesus’ love for you.

Hopefully, Fr. Pat, CSSR

Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

In a few days we will celebrate the feast days of three remarkable saints of the church.

Thursday, March 15 is the feast of St. Clement Hofbauer, a Redemptorist. St. Clement had the mission of bringing the Redemptorists out of Italy and over the Alps into Poland and Austria. He opened St. Beno’s in Warsaw, the first Redemptorist house in Poland. It was the scene of a very fruitful apostolate, including a vibrant ministry to young people. Clement then took the Redemptorists to Vienna, Austria. From these humble roots in 1832 the Redemptorists came to America and began working with Native Americans (in northwestern Michigan, Arber Croce) and other frontier people along with a few scattered pockets of German speaking pioneers in the  far-flung diocese of Cincinnati. In 1839 the Redemptorists accepted the parish of St. Philomena in Pittsburgh, PA.  Our foundations grew as more CSSR arrived from Europe to work with German immigrants in parish settings in Rochester, NY and Baltimore. The Redemptorists kept establishing parishes, preaching missions and spreading across the entire country. Our St. Alphonsus parish here in Grand Rapids was founded in August 1888.

Saturday, March 17 is the feast of St. Patrick, the wonderful missionary to Ireland. Patrick had very humble beginnings, even being sold as a slave and taken to Ireland. After escaping, he studied in Britain and became a priest and then went back to Ireland, the land of his captivity. He worked among the Druids and pagans and embedded the Christian faith in the Celtic people. Patrick embraced the Celtic notions of nature and finding God in all the wonders of creation and Christianized these natural understandings. The simple shamrock with three leaves is only one illustration of Patrick’s to teach about the Trinity.

Monday, March 19 is the feast of St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. Little is known about Joseph in the scriptures. He is the Patron of Workers, Patron of a Happy Death, and a model of humble service. Joseph took Mary as his wife under doubtful circumstances, trusting that God was involved. Joseph protected Mary and the child Jesus as they became refugees fleeing for their very lives from Herod. Joseph is a model of trust in God’s providence and serving quietly behind the scenes.

Our Catholic traditions have such great blessings in the legacies of these three saints. We would do well to spend some moments reflecting upon their examples.

May St. Clement, St. Patrick and St. Joseph guide us on our journeys to sainthood!

Joyfully, Fr. Pat, C.Ss.R.

Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Do you ever want to just shut off the TV, the phone, the computer, the ipods and tell the world to leave you alone? We are surrounded constantly by negative news and turmoil in the world and it  can be over whelming at times. I believe we need to seek some solace and peace and ground ourselves in the presence of a gentle God. One of my favorite prayers is from St. Theresa of Liseaux: 

                                    May today there be peace within.

            May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

            May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

                        May you use those gifts that you have received,

                        and pass on the love that has been given to you.

            May you be content knowing that you are a child of God.

            Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul

                        the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

                                    It is there for each and every one of us.

Spend some quiet time in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and pray this beautiful prayer. Or sit in a quiet place at home. Or take a break during lunch time and go to your car or an alone spot. Or say it at night after things have calmed down. Or early in the morning with the first cup of coffee. The Lord will listen anytime, any place.

Have a peaceful week and pray for your fellow parishioners.

Prayerfully,

Fr. Pat, C.Ss.R.