Fat Tuesday

Hooray! Celebrate - Today is Fat Tuesday - a day of self indulgence - food - parties - Mardi Gras.  Yes today - we pull out all the stops - throw caution to the wind - forget decorum - party like there is no tomorrow.  Fat Tuesday is a last ditch attempt - one more day - to ignore - to focus on self - to let our inner child run wild - uncontrolled.  In this day we celebrate personal independence - no thoughts of others - no thoughts of rules - rather a day to break rules - to run free.  At midnight - it ends - gone  - not forgotten. Tomorrow - will come - Ash Wednesday - the beginning of Lent - a period of reflection - a time of seeking forgiveness - for what we have done - for Fat Tuesday - for being inconsiderate - for being selfish - for all that we dared to do - all the wrongs committed.  There is always two sides to every coin - two routes to walk - two choices to be made.

Jesus told us that He was The Way - He did not force us to believe - He gave us a choice - accept or reject - turn away or turn towards Him.  In Lent the Church gives us an opportunity to review and reflect.  Our choice - our time - choose wisely.

Deacon Dale 

Hard Dig

When we bought our snowbird home in Arizona we decided that it was partially for ourselves as a winter retreat - secondly as an investment home to be rented out in our absence.  We were unable to find exactly what we wanted - bought our house based on the potential to fix up - add amenities.  The inside was fairly complete - minor touch up here and there - the outside - another story.  As back yards go - not a pretty site - plain - ignored over the years.  In Illinois we have a home designed for family - friends - entertaining. In Arizona we wanted to create that same feeling - warm - welcoming - entertaining.  The plan - add a swimming pool - bocce court - place to grill outdoors - plenty of seating.The most complicated project - the swimming pool. In the mid-west not very difficult - in the Sierra Estrella Mountains - a challenge.  It was not a complete surprise to us that our house is built on a mountain - under a cover of twelve inches of decomposed granite - solid rock.  The original excavation halted after 30 minutes - delayed a few days to get bids on digging through solid rock.  After it was finally done - about eight hours of hammering with a hydraulic breaker attachment on the excavator and fragments removed - a free formed curving hole in solid rock. 

Solid Rock Pool Base

When Jesus was selecting his followers He told Peter that he was a rock and that upon him - He would built His church.  Peter - meaning well - not clearly seeing God's plan - put his foot in his mouth more than once during his time with Jesus.  Some may laugh at his follies - but many ministers - most of us - have done likewise.  In spite of our limited vision - God works miracles around us every day.  People we turn away from - embraced by God- groups not deemed worthy by many - worthy in God's eyes.  In time - reflecting on life's misadventures - most of us learn - are informed - educated - in God's way. We stop judging - comparing - criticizing - we look with the eyes of Jesus - we hear with His ears - we love with His heart.  Accepting all - as brothers - sisters - children of God - we become true disciples - continuing His work on Earth.

Deacon Dale  

Security

Security is big business - ask anyone - car alarms - house alarms - personal protection - it is everywhere. As a country - Americans - obsessed with security - safety - worry about daily encounters.  Television is filled with police shows - Criminal Minds - Rookie Blue - this or that PD - constantly sharing danger - constantly spreading fear - real - imaginary.  Some - so paralyzed - they fear their own homes - pets - lives. We are not secure - there is no real safety - if they want you - they will get you.

Nothing is one-hundred percent perfect - secure.  The only security any of us have is in God. In God alone - our souls at rest - at peace - secure in His promise - secure in the knowledge - that He - the King of Kings - Lord of Lords - our constant companion - constant guard - stands in the doorway - offering - security.  Choose Jesus - choose life - be secure.

Deacon Dale 

House On A Rock

Almost everyone has heard the scripture about the wisdom of building a house on a rock as compared to a sandy piece of land.  While that is great for encouraging people to have a sound foundation for their life - it does not go well for those who literally live in a house on a rock where they wish to install an in-ground swimming pool.  Unlike normal soil - rock is very hard to dig through. What would normally be a one or two day process becomes a task of four days to a week. That is what I am told as we are one of the lucky ones to face  this dilemma.  One of the reasons we bought  this particular home was the large yard and space to add a swimming pool.  What we thought would be a straight forward project - now a rather rocky issue.  We have a solution - an estimate to chip and remove a lot of granite - a plan - more expense.

Quite often God calls us to a place in our lives where we expect easy sailing - a walk in the park - cruise through - only to discover a rock in the road - an obstruction - a road block. Just as God helps us through our daily difficulties - even more so He helps with our spiritual challenges.  Rather than worry about the delay - the extra investment - constantly we are reminded - with God - all things are possible.

Deacon Dale 

Shrines of Italy

Looking to get away from the cold weather - dreaming of an Italian holiday in the sun

COME JOURNEY WITH US

We are recruiting people to join us on  an 11-day Italian pilgrimage Nov. 3-13, 2015 starting in Rome - heading to Assisi - optional trip to Florence - Loreto on the Adriatic Sea - Montecassino - Pompeii - Salerno - back to Rome - a Papal Audience - visiting cultural and spiritual sites of Saint Francis - Saint Padre Pio - Saint Benedict - the Grotto of Michael the Archangel - Saint John Paul II - Pope Francis - many more. 

Travel in comfort with fellow parishioners and friends - enjoy Italian cusine and drink - spend free time wandering in Assisi and Rome - connect with your inner spirit - connect with God - the history of the Church.

We have two departure gateways - Chicago O'Hare - Phoenix Sky Harbor

$250 Reserves your spot on this trip

All Inclusive* -  $3399* from Chicago   -   $3599* from Phoenix 

Read the complete details and itinerary 

Read trip options here 

Saint Padre Pio

Make 2015 the year you commit yourself to spiritual growth

To register for this trip -  print and complete the following forms

Registration - A

Registration- B

For additional information call Deacon Dale 630.334.5065

or email:  Italy@deacontravel.org

Deacon Dale 

Sunny In Arizona

Having endured too many harsh winters in the midwest - we left Illinois shortly after celebrating Christmas with family - to head to Arizona - the land of sun and heat.  We were shocked - driving a southern route through Texas - encountering a snow storm.  Being advised to avoid Flagstaff - an anticipated major snow storm there - we headed south - through New Mexico - entering Arizona on clear but wet roads. The land of sun and heat - not so sunny as we first entered. The sun did appear the next morning - remaining with us daily since. 

If you want to make God laugh - tell Him your plans - then see what really happens. The best laid plans of men - often not as anticipated - different - not necessarily worse - just different.  No matter how much we plan - schedule - research - investigate - the ultimate outcome - not always in our control.  Acceptance - understanding - willing to change - bring peace - contentment. As we wait to see what 2015 has in store for us - as we anticipate - we wait with pregnant faith - trusting - in all situations - God is in control.

Deacon Dale 

Saint Gianna - Advent - Preparation

As we enter the Fourth week of Advent - with Christmas only a few days away - we listen to the announcement by the angel Gabriel to Mary - that she will bear the Son of God, the Holy One of Israel - He who will take away the sins of the world. Some people would say that Jesus failed in His mission - that He did not help the Jews - the Chosen People of Israel - but as a side note - did make a difference to the gentiles of the world. As the one Jew who influenced the world more than any other person - whose act of sacrificial love - set the path for many others to follow - in particular - all the women who die in childbirth - bringing new life into the world - embodied and represented by an ordinary Italian woman - a wife - a mother - a physcian - a Catholic Christian - who proclaimed God's message of Divine Mercy - thinking not of her self - but the child due to be born - preparing herself - her family - for the Advent of New LIfe. 

As Advent comes to a close and the celebration of Christmas begins - a season of - Immanuel - God With Us - may each if us prepare room in our hearts - for Christ to be born newly in each of us.

Deacon Dale 

Sleeping In The Pew

Recently I was asked to participate in a sleep study - my snoring - irritating to my wife - she concerned that my health was being affected. So I did the study - twice - uncomfortable - no fun. Try to sleep in a strange place - sticky leads - on the face - hair - shoulders - legs - with a harness - laying on the back - not ideal for good sleep. It is what it is - for better - or worse - a study - a test. The second time - with a face mask - even more uncomfortable. Sleep is important for everyone - young and old - to function well during waking hours - for learning - developing memory - focusing on tasks - learning new things - listening well to others. As a preacher - not uncommon to notice people in the pew - drowsing - looking away - bored. When it is my turn to deliver the homily - sermon - speech - every effort made to keep it - interesting - short - meaningful. Eye contact - with as many people as possible - gauging their level of interest - keeping them engaged - to inspire - to encourage - to spread the Gospel.

Mr. Bean Sleeping

When Jesus preached - people did not drowse - sleep - lose interest. He was able to engage completely because His message was fresh - carried value - brought the truth. As we grow in spirituality we often tune out - having heard the same message - time and again. Journeying to the end of the Advent season - our duty - to open our ears - to listen with new interest - to dive deeper into the words spoken - to hear again - maybe for the first time - the message of God's love - forgiveness - redemption. To listen to the announcement of the impending birth of the baby - some 2000 years old - that Jesus be born - freshly into our hearts - to grasp - again or the first time - what Emmanuel really means - God is with us.

Deacon Dale 

Do Bee

Most older adults remember the old Romper Room television show - a long-running children's series that was broadcast in the United States from 1953 to 1994 and internationally in Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and Finland. The program's targeted audience was pre-schoolers under five years old.  One of their regular segments had to do with with an over sized bumblebee called Mr Do-Bee whose task was to teach the children proper manners. He would often say "do be a do-bee - don't be a don't-bee.  The focus was positive imagery - project a positive do-bee attitude rather than a negative don't-bee attitude.  Many teachers have realize that thinking positively  - leaving the negative out of teaching moments - tends to work best - even with adults.  For example when a parent yells "don't slam the door" - children often only hear the end of the command "slam the door" and of course the door is noisly slammed close.  If - on the other hand - they would say "close the door quietly" - the person would hear "door quietly" and surprisingly the door would be quietly closed.  Using a do and don't type of teaching only reinforces the negative since it is the second and last part of the comment that the individual hears.  Rather than "do be generous - don't be selfish" - it would gain better outcomes if the statement was "be generous at all times" - positive on positive - better results - better for all involved.

Saint Paul tells us - pray constantly - in everything you do pray - make your work a prayer - pray for all - positive - positive - positive - positive.  Attitude makes a world of difference - in personal relationships - in public gatherings. As we walk through this third week of Advent - we are called to rejoice - to think positive - to be do-bees.

Deacon Dale 

The Camel's Back

Most of us have heard the phrase "the straw that broke the camel's back" - an idiom that refers to a "final point".  Obviously one single straw would not break any one's back - one single drop of water - does not make the cup overflow - a single lost breath does not make a person suffocate to death.  A lot of straw - a large volume of water - multiple prolonged breaths - come to a point where the volume - weight - reaches a critical point at which a single straw - one lonely drop - one final breathe - tips the scales in an unfavorable way. All of us have a breaking point - that point where we can no longer tolerate - ignore - avoid - the inevitable.  Most of the time that reaction is not dramatic - often hidden well from others - on occasion - manifested in unpleasant outbursts - reactions.  Recently I have been quietly coping with an acquaintance - a self proclaimed atheist - a former Catholic - who has been aggressively posting - anti-Christian - anti-God - messages on social media - ridiculing anyone who does believe - as ignorant - uneducated - simple minded. I have been tolerant - offering polite commentary in response to his posts.  Today was the final straw - a video of a group of "atheists" singing a vulgar Christmas Carole - demeaning all Christians and other people - with any belief in God - Christian - Jewish - Muslim - Hindi - Buddhist.  I admit he has a right to post whatever he wants - that is his right - I also have my rights - so I finally gave in to - this last straw - and have blocked him and his posts  so that I am not subjected to his insults against any belief in God.

Jesus had His detractors in His time - those who ridiculed Him and His message - those who feared Him - feared God - feared themselves. His answer to them much easier than blocking on social media - a simple shake of His foot - sending the dust of His critics back onto the ground where it belonged - under foot - to be trampled on by people - animals - whatever walked on  the ground.  Most did not know - but Jesus and His disciples knew - just as I alone - know.  As Jesus taught us - it is alright to walk away from the unreachable - the untouchable - not preferred - unfortunately a fact of life.  As we continue in our Advent observance - as we reflect on our growth - as we prepare ourselves for His second coming - it is OK - alright - to leave some behind.  All are called - many will follow - a few will be lost. Acceptable to God - acceptable to us.  For the lost - we can only offer prayers and trust in God's Divine Mercy.

Deacon Dale