Sede Vacante

Sede Vacante - the vacant seat - nobody is at home - the Chair of Peter is empty. A moment in the lives of people around the world - that has never been experienced by any of us. This is a new experience for the peoples of the world - Catholic - non-Catholic - Orthodox - Jews - Muslims - Protestants - atheists - agnostics - everyone.  Some people - could care less - religion is not their thing - for the remainder - we watch - we ponder - we anticipate the activities to come. Ours is not to ask why - we need no answers - we have no right to question - we observe. The days to come - the results of discussions and voting - will produce a new pope.

Jesus may have appointed Peter as the head of the Christian church that would follow after He left - like any organization - managed by people - there are the ups and downs - the years of feasting and famine - happy and sad times - through it all - God will provide. Those of us who have faith - trust in the Holy Spirit - for a good and positive outcome. Until the white cloud of smoke - we wait and pray.

Deacon Dale 

Shrines of Italy

We are pleased to announce that we are now registering people to join us on a Shrines of Italy Spiritual Travel Experience November 4-14, 2013.  This spiritual journey promises to be very rewarding.  This 10 day journey through Italy begins in Rome traveling south towards Pompeii across Italy to the Adriatic Sea to Loretto and Assisi and returning to Rome. We have reserved 24 places for this trip and are being offered on a first come basis. There is an early registration discount of $250 which makes the cost only $3099* inclusive - please read the online brochure for all details - itinerary - trip specifics. I have been to Italy many times and it remains my favorite country to visit. The accommodations - food - people - are all first class. Holy Mass will be celebrated on the trip. 

Jesus calls each of us to evangelize - to spread His Gospel wherever we go. In our own towns and cities and in foreign places we are ambassadors for Christ. When we participate in spiritual travel experiences - we not only are inspired ourselves - we inspire those who lead us on these journeys. We share our faith with them - they share theirs with us - through it all we proclaim the love - the forgiveness - the presence of Christ - in the world.

Deacon Dale 

Procrastinate

A person who procrastinates is one who puts off - delays - postpones - waits - drags one's feet - prolongs - the task at hand. Often there are good reasons - data to be collected - alternatives to be considered - waiting on other people - needing to complete a previous step in the process. Then there are those who never complete any task in a timely manner. Other tasks are deemed as more important - easier to complete - more interesting. Those who constantly fail to complete all tasks - in a timely manner - are habitual procrastinators - bumps in the road - road blocks to progress. Everyone is guilty of procrastinating - once in awhile - that is acceptable. When it involves yourself - you are the only one who suffers - when it involves others - the suffering and inconvenience - snowballs. Those who are guilty of perpetually procrastinating need to be called to task - to be taught how to manage their time - to become considerate of others - involved in whatever process it might involve.  Acting in a timely manner - is the only considerate way to behave.

In Matthew 24:36 we are told that "nobody knows the day or the hour" - not the prophets - not the angels - not the Son - but only the Father. We are warned that the time is now - the Church warns us now - in Lent - that now is the time to repent - to believe in the Gospel - to prepare for that day and hour - whenever it may come. Our salvation is closer at hand than we realize - our last breath is only a short time away. If we wait too late - if we delay too long - if we refuse to focus on our eternal future - it may be too late. Jesus waits at the door - for the knock - for the request - for you.

Deacon Dale 

Weighting Game

Unlike the waiting game - which involves the aspect of time - the weighting game - focuses on the aspect of weight.  All too many people are caught up in the issues of weight - how much is too much - how much is too little - is it about appearance - does it involve health?  Too many people just ignore  the issue - possibly the very ones who should be the most concerned.  The arguments that surround medical weight charts and how realistic or unrealistic they are - are numerous.  Perception is reality - that can cause serious confusion.  I prefer perspective - viewing the issue - in perspective of what is real - what is correct. When a person is five pounds over weight - or under weight - they are simply over or under the "ideal" weight - which may or may not be - a realistic number. Unless you are an infant or toddler - five pounds is nothing - in reality.  Consider  this - the chart may have been assembled using data which does not realistically apply to  the general population - thus - not a true perspective of the weight issue.  At fifty pounds over or under weight - you can forget all the charts - because the reality is that fifty pounds - is a serious variance from any reality. 

One of the most serious aspects of the weighting game is - in reality - the weight i.e. the seriousness - of an issue. In this perception - weight has nothing to do with pounds and ounces - rather - the severity of the issue. Eternal damnation or salvation - is a very weighty issue. Once past the issue of a healthy body weight - it is far more important to consider your future - your spiritual future - where you will spend - eternity. Like coping with body weight - far too many - delay - ignore - the weighty issue of eternal existence - heaven - hell - the space between. As simple as it is - all too many choose to ignore this issue. For the committed Christian - for those who are faithful - to the Gospel - to Jesus - to God - there is no question - no issue. For the remainder - there is an answer - Jesus - the Lord - who solves all weight issues - that really matter.

Deacon Dale 

Year of Faith

In his Apostolic Letter of October 11, 2011 - Pope Benedict XVI - declared that a "Year of Faith" would begin on October 11, 2012 and conclude on November 24, 2013.  The beginning date was the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) and also the 20th anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  During that time period all Catholics have been asked to study and reflect on the documents of Vatican II and the Catechism - in order that they may deepen their knowledge of the faith.  This "Year of Faith" is an opportunity for Catholics to deepen their personal relationship with Jesus and encounter Him in the Sacraments - especially the Eucharist - and rediscover the Faith and the Church.  After the closing of Vatican II there was a rush by the people to re-encounter their faith as Catholics. Many found a new freedom - as well as confusion - in the rush - many entered a period of loose translation and  poor communication - to the extent that today their faith commitments to Jesus are weak and ill informed. Pope Benedict's hope is that in this time Catholics will make a new and firm commitment to Jesus - as Lord and Savior - and learn and understand what the Catholic faith is all about.

When Jesus called each of us to Him - He told us to come as we were. There was nothing special  that we had to do - no preparation - no studying -  simply accept Him at His word. To trust in Him - to become a disciple. That was His original call - in the continuing call - we were expected to develop a very deep - a very personal - relationship with Him - with His Father - with the Holy Spirit. To be effective disciples - He expected us to learn - about Him - His message - about Holy Scripture - about the foundation of the Church. He expected that we would - over time - become knowledgeable - about all things related to being Christian. As a Catholic - He expects each of us to be well educated - as a Catholic Christian. Many have fallen by the wayside - many have been lured to other beliefs - many have ignored the call to deeper conversion - to deeper understanding. As in all things - Jesus is still here - available - waiting to lead - to accomplish that which has been started. It is not too late - nor too difficult - now is that time - to study - to worship - to pray - to focus - on all things spiritual. Now is the time - in this "Year of Faith" to truly become people of Faith.

Deacon Dale 

When You Fall

Why is it when you fall - fail - that it is never something small - tiny - inconspicuous? Failures are always giant things - aren't they - or are they? None of us likes to fail - at anything.  It might be a project - a relationship - something completely new - or an everyday task - we just hate it when it doesn't happen as planned. We beat ourselves up - we become frustrated - we wonder why we attempted it - in the first place. Falling - failing - is much more common than we realize. Any good salesman knows you have to get through a lot of "nos" before you hear the first "yes".  To be successful - you have to make great effort - experience a lot of failures - before success happens.  Michael Jordan is one who knows how easy it is to fail. Although one of the most successful athletes of all time - in his career - he missed over 9000 shots! 

Jesus knew that we would have a hard time living our lives according to His Gospel. He knew we would have successes and failures - that some days would be wonderful - others a total loss. His Heavenly Father knew it - that is why He sent Jesus to us - in the first place - to be a role model for us - to show us how to make an honest attempt at life. By some standards - Jesus failed - He was nailed to a cross - right?  As men judge things - that was a failure - to God - a success. To you and me - inspiration.  That is why Jesus told us that He would always be with us - always there to help - always there to love - always there - no matter what.  Today put your trust in Jesus - He will not fail you.

Deacon Dale 

Fishers of Men

What does it mean to be "fishers of men"? Are we suppose to take some metaphoric "fishing pole" loaded with "lines" and "lures" and put a modern "spin" on issues and answers to win others over - to our way of thinking?  It seems that is more of the status quo than we want to admit.  I have to admit - in some ways - I am just as guilty - as many others in doing this. I use words - well chosen - not only for the information they provide - but also for the impact - they will have on the reader's mind and heart.  We do this - we hope - to make a point - to get our ideas - our beliefs - across to others.  Nothing wrong in this - as long as we are professing - words of  truth - words of encouragement - words of love.  If - however - we are positioning ourselves - for personal gain - at a cost to others - then shame on us. My intention - in my writings - in what I share - is to share the joy and peace - that I have experienced - so that others - may experience the same.  The benefit to me - is happier people - happier families - happier communities.  When I go "fishing" - I hope to "catch" others - with God's message of agape love.

Jesus did not mince His words - He spoke from His heart - to the hearts of others - He did not need to "spin" His words - His words of love - forgiveness - acceptance.  When people heard with their hearts - they were changed. Today hearts are still being changed - when we - His modern disciples - share His truth - openly and honestly. Today - more  than ever - each of us - men and women - young and old - are called to be - fishers of men.

Deacon Dale 

Lent

Today we celebrated the first Sunday of Lent - that day when the color changed to purple - when we changed the "Alleluia" verse to "Glory and Praise to You" and Holy Scripture pointed our attention to prayer - penance - alms giving and self-denial. This is a time that continues - until Holy Thursday eve - just before Easter. In this solemn liturgical season of the Church - we reflect on our lives and how we are living them. We take time to reflect - not so much on what we have accomplished - but rather - on what we have not accomplished - what people we have forgiven and which ones we have not. We look deep and honestly into how we act and react to others - the areas where we have willingly been less than what God asked us to be. In these reflections - we see the stain of sin - dwelling in our lives - and in these 40 days - we pray - repent - ask forgiveness - for acting less like Christ - and more like the evil He came to free us from.

Jesus knew - when he began His public ministry - that He would encounter - us - we who have sinned - we who are arrogant - we who think we know better - and in encountering - us - He knew that we would have a hard time accepting - His unconditional love - His unconditional forgiveness - He unconditional sacrifice. This Lent - we need to trust - trust in His words - trust in His promises - trust in His forgiveness. There is no darkness in His heart - He is waiting to remove the darkness in ours.

Deacon Dale 

Act of Valor

Act of Valor is a 2007 project originally intended as a promotional short film authorized for recruiting for Navy Special Warfare - released in 2012 as a full length action war movie in which nine featured Seal actors were - in fact - actual combat veterans trained in military tactics. In producing the movie - the directors determined that actors would never be able to replicate the abilities of real life Seals and thus arranged with the Navy to use real life Seals. In some parts of the movie actual training exercises were filmed using live ammunition to replicate actual warfare conditions. Some in the military felt that it was an error to reveal actual techniques employed and yet - others felt that many tactics were already known by those who might be interested in learning about those very tactics. In the movie - the high standards and quality of the Seals easily came forth by the real-life Seals as actors - none of the men had to be taught how to act and respond as men of courage and valor.

It would be well for all of us - if we would act as courageous and with as much valor in how we live our daily lives as Christians. All too many - are reeds blowing in  the wind - solid in their faith - until challenged by adverse winds - of change and challenges. Many people - right now - are questioning their faith - especially as Catholics - in the face of Pope Benedict's recent announcement of his impending resignation. They fear - unjustifiably -  that the Pope has lost his faith - allowing false rumors - to disrupt the comfort of their faith beliefs. What they fail to recognize - that the Pope - as a man of faith - courage - valor - has made one of the most astounding and significant announcements in recent history. As Christians - Jesus calls each of us to be men and women of valor - to live our lives sincerely and honestly - bravely going where others fear to tread - to walk securely - with Jesus - into the future.

Deacon Dale 

Valentine

Saint Valentine's Day - Valentine's Day - the Feast of Saint Valentine - celebrated on February 14th each year is an international day of celebration - although a working day for most. There is some confusion as to the origination of Saint Valentine - there appear to be many men who were named Valentine and numerous stories about them. One of the most popular is that Valentinus was a holy priest in Rome who along with Saint Marius assisted the martyrs in the persecution under Claudius II. He was captured - beaten with clubs and beheaded on February 14th, 270. Pope Julius I was reported to have built a church near Ponte Mole in his memory. Other Valentines existed - also associated with healing and helping people in various stages of need.  Whomever he was - he did really exist - archaeologists unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to Saint Valentine. In 496 AD Pope Gelasius marked February 14th as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom. Although no longer listed in the official Roman Catholic calendar of Saints - he is still officially observed by the Angelican Communion, the Lutheran Church and Eastern Orthodox Church. Valentine's Day did not become a secular observance connected with romantic love until its recorded association in Parlement of Foules (1382) written by Geoffrey Chaucer. The poem was written to honor the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia - at the time of their marriage both were only 15 years old. From that grew the concept of young love and its connection to February 14th - a tradition which continues today - not limited by religious restrictions - but available to all those who love.

God tells us in Holy Scripture how much He loves us. Many have proclaimed that the Bible is the longest love letter ever written - a guideline how to live our lives - how to love other people - how to bring God's love into this world by living the Gospel message of Jesus. Today we celebrate the concept - the reality - the existance of love - today we share that love with all we know - today we share the Christ in our heart - with the world.

Deacon Dale