A Year of Mercy

As we complete this first week of the 2016 New Year - the Holy Year of Mercy - we ask ourselves - what is different - what is suppose to be different - what do we want to be different. Each of us would have many and various answers - finances - health - relationships - serious - frivolous - too many to count - too many to contemplate. A New Year - for each individual - filled with thousands of variables. Every one of us - down to the last man - woman - could write volumes of changes they would like in their own life. 
New Years resolutions - quickly proclaimed - too often forgotten - minutes after declared - carry little use. For most people - something no longer contemplated. Most are numb - locked into a time - place - that precludes any thought of improvement.  The status quo - nothing more - nothing less. 

A Year of Mercy - offers - hope - a chance to break the bonds - to move beyond the status quo. In this New Year - Pope Francis - has given the world a gift of New Life - filled with the awesome Mercy of God Almighty. No one knows the mind - the heart - of God - Jesus. In this new year we offer our prayer - Jesus - I trust in You - in Your Divine Mercy. Trusting in God Almighty - in Jesus our Saviour - the Holy Spirit - is a great place to start.

Happy Divine New Year of Mercy
Deacon Dale 

Merry Christmas!

Christmas greetings to everyone - everywhere. To believers and non-believers - I wish you a Merry Christmas - the blessings of the Author of Life - The God Who Loves You - The Lord Jesus Who Died For You. Whether we believe - or not - God freely sends His blessing upon all.  Not everyone will be open to reception of His blessings - to those who are - His presence is constant - to those who are not - His blessings are like an unwrapped Christmas present - waiting for you to pull at the ribbon - to reveal all that He has for you.

Santa Claus is the expected giver of gifts - for all. Toys - clothes - electronics - gift cards - all freely and happily received. Acceptance by most - the majority - gladly. Digging deeper - Santa - Saint Nicholas - a mortal in whom God was very much alive - a mortal who reflected God's generosity - in ordinary human acts.  Today we who give - reflect too God's love - compassion - forgiveness.  As we share this day with family - friends - strangers - may each of us - through ordinary - extra-ordinary acts of kindness - be reminded of the One Who Loved Us First.

Deacon Dale 

Year of Mercy

We are now in the fourth day of the special Jubilee Year - Holy Year of Mercy - proclaimed by Pope Francis earlier this year. Starting on December 8th - this Holy Year continues until November 20, 2016.  Between those dates - many opportunities for everyone to become involved - either in their home parish - or across the world. In our diocese - nine parishes have been designated as "Pilgrimage Churches" - sites which may be visited as an exercise in personal piety. Pope Francis has asked us to focus on the Corporal Works of Mercy - feeding the hungry - giving drink to the thirsty - clothing the naked - sheltering the homeless - visiting those in prison - comforting the sick - burying the dead. I am happy to report that my homes parish has an excellent track record in all these - except visiting those in prison. For some reason - mostly red tape with entering prisons - we have not addressed that particular ministry.  Perhaps going forward - this will become a new and vibrant ministry of our parish.

Jesus asks us - when did you feed me - give me drink - clothe me - visit me in prison - BAM! Stopped dead in our pious tracks - no Lord we have not visited those in prison - there is so much red tape - it is dangerous - these people are the lowest of the Earth - they scare us. I would have to agree - to some extent.  Then again most of us have never visited a prison - nor do we wish to - intimated - afraid of the consequences. Our personal filter about prisons - mostly fed by movies - makes us shy away form this important ministry. We all know of the success of prison ministry - many others are visiting one daily - but not us.  In this Holy Year of Mercy - we must remember that to receive Mercy - we must show Mercy - to all.  Something to think about this Advent - as we seek to make changes in our own lives.

Deacon Dale

Reflections On A Pilgrimage

We are back! It has been three days now since we returned from our Shrines of Italy Pilgrimage. Our group of sixteen joined up with a Florida group of seven and six pilgrims from Canada at Rome for an awesome spiritual travel experience.  Our tour guide was one of the best we have ever encountered. Contrary to predictions - we had warm sunny days every day while there - our tour guide commented that it was unusual to go for so long without rain or clouds - we were all happy that we were blessed with excellent weather. We started in Rome - ventured to Assisi - Florence - Loreto - San Giovanni Rotondo - Pompeii - Salerno - Cava de Tirenni - Montecassino - back to Rome - visiting the shrines of St. Francis - St Clare - St Benedict - St Scholastica - St Matthew - Michael the Archangel - St Mary - St Peter and St. Paul. Most of us also ventured around Rome to visit the Coliseum - Plaza Navona - the Pantheon - the Roman Forum - Trevi Fountain - all spectacular sights. In our evenings and free time in the afternoons we enjoyed the wines and cuisine of Italy.  Friendships developed quickly among the group - the shared experience blessed everyone. Holy Mass was celebrated almost every day with Father Dennis - Father Terry and Deacon Dale - delivering inspiring homilies - complemented by special meditations from Chaplain Arlene. Eleven days focusing on the Divine - inspired by the words of Pope Francis at the Wednesday Audience - drawing each pilgrim closer to Jesus - Our Lord - closer to God - the Author of Life.

Deacon Dale's Pilgrims at St. John in Lateran Basilica - Rome, Italy 

Pilgrimage is as old as the Church - since the time of Christ - people have been seeking God's presence everywhere in the World - in simple - grand places - in peoples from all walks of life - at every turn of the corner. Participating in a pilgrimage is one of the most rewarding adventures anyone will benefit from  - following in the steps of Christ - following in the steps of fellow pilgrims.

Deacon Dale 

Mirror Mirror

Almost everyone is familiar with the phrase - Mirror Mirror - on the wall - who is the fairest one of all - from the story Snow White. When seeking answers to questions - where answers elude - alternate sources are sought. Most of us would be very happy to have a magical mirror - provide answers. Owners of modern iPhones - have - Siri - a component of the iOS computer program that works as an intelligent personal assistant and knowledge navigator.  Siri is accessed thousands of times daily - seeking directions - answers - providing information in a moments notice. Siri will not provide personal information - her phone number - her age or weight - focusing only on whomever asks the question - information for and about them. Helping inquirers - the prime directive.

When we seek information from God - His answers - rarely spoken.  God does not perform magic tricks - does not hang on a wall - waiting to be called to service at the whim of an individual.   God is there - waiting for each of us - to draw closer to Him - to His Son - Jesus. We only have to seek Him - in prayer - no mirror needed - in silence - in meditation. Some will pray before the Blessed Sacrament in Adoration - others on knees before Holy statues - all focusing their deepest attention on - God - waiting in silence for the answer which always comes - in His time. If you have a special need - forget magic mirrors - forget computer programs like Siri - instead turn your focus on the God who waits - for your attention.

Deacon Dale 

Messy

If you are like me - you like order - tidy - everything in its place - order. I find it difficult to achieve that - especially on my desk - in real life. Today I have to lead two funerals - two persons - related - died in the same auto accident. An error in judgement - a distraction - nobody knows for sure - except for two who died. Leave it to say - it is a mess. If we think about it - life is always a mess - order - disorder - plans made - plans broken - life changed. What we thought was under control - out of control - in seconds - life changes. As Christians we participate in Rites of Passage - rituals that move us from one reality - to another. When we were born - a Rite of Passage - moving from an intimate relationship with God - to life on Earth - birthing - messy - sloppy - in His time - not ours. Life - as we know it - always messy - sloppy - constantly changing - constantly challenging. At the end of our life - another Rite of Passage - dying - always inconvenient - unplanned - mostly messy - not on our calendar - only in His time - returning back to an intimate relationship with God. Wealth - poverty - cannot - will not - alter these Rites of Passage.

Jesus told us - (Matthew 11:28-30) Come to me -  all you who labor and are burdened - I will give you rest. In this scripture we see the gentle mastery of Christ -  Jesus - always available to each of us - believers and non-believers - any time of day - any day of  the week. While on this Earth - we are never alone - even when we want to be alone - He is there - close at hand - waiting on us - ready to act in an instant - to clean up our mess - to straighten out - organize - to bring order into our messy lives.

Deacon Dale 

Year Of Mercy

Pope Francis has dominated the news media for the last few weeks and as we approach December - it is important that we reflect on the Holy Year of Mercy - declared back in March. In an article published by The Catholic Herald from the U.K we read

"More than a dozen individual celebrations will be scheduled for the Jubilee of Mercy in 2016, giving pilgrims the chance to celebrate their own holy year with Pope Francis in Rome. Consecrated men and women; deacons; priests; catechists; the sick and disabled; teenagers and prisoners have specific days on the calendar set out for them. Young people will be able to celebrate their jubilee with the Pope at World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland. The Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization , which is organizing events for the Holy Year of Mercy, published a full calendar of events online. The Holy Year is meant to be lived as a pilgrimage, people taking part are asked to prepare themselves with prayer and sacrifice, and make a portion of the journey on foot. Efforts also will be made to offer concrete signs of God’s love and mercy by offering tangible assistance to those in need, and bishops and priests around the world are asked to conduct “similar symbolic gestures of communion with Pope Francis” in their dioceses by reaching out to those on the margins. The motto, “Merciful Like the Father,” is an invitation to follow the merciful example of God, who asks people not to judge or condemn but to forgive and to give love, the council said. One way the pope wants to show the church’s “maternal solicitude” is to send out “missionaries of mercy” that is, specially selected priests who will preach and teach about God’s mercy. They will be given special authority, the pope said, “to pardon even those sins reserved to the Holy See.”  The following is a list of some of the major events planned in Rome for the jubilee year:

• Opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, December 8, feast of the Immaculate Conception.
• Opening of the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. John Lateran and in the cathedrals of the world, December 13.
• Opening of the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. Mary Major, January 1, feast of Mary, the Holy Mother of God and World Day for Peace.
• Jubilee for those involved with guiding or organising pilgrimages and religious tourism, January 19 – January 21.
• Opening of the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, January 25, feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.
• Jubilee for Consecrated Life and the closing of the Year for Consecrated Life, February 2, feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
• Sending forth the Missionaries of Mercy, St. Peter’s Basilica, February 10, Ash Wednesday.
• Jubilee for the Roman Curia, February 22, feast of the Chair of St. Peter.
• “24 Hours for the Lord” with a penitential liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica, March 4th.
• Jubilee for those who are devoted to the spirituality of Divine Mercy, April 3, Divine Mercy Sunday.
• Jubilee for teens aged 13 to 16 to profess the faith and construct a culture of mercy, April 24.
• Jubilee for deacons, May 27-29, the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.
• Jubilee for priests, June 3, feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
• Jubilee for those who are ill and for persons with disabilities, June 12.
• Jubilee for youth, July 26-31, World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland.
• Jubilee for workers and volunteers of mercy, September 4, the vigil of the memorial of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.
• Jubilee for catechists, September 25.
• Marian Jubilee, October 8-9.
• Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in memory of the faithful departed, Nov. 1, feast of All Saints.
• Jubilee for prisoners, November 6.
• Closing of the Holy Doors in the basilicas of Rome and in the dioceses of the world, November 13.
• Closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica and the conclusion of the Jubilee of Mercy, November 20, feast of Christ the King.

God's Divine Mercy is present in the world constantly - this is not a once in a lifetime event - rather a reality of His awesome Mercy. Participating in special prayers - act of kindness - mercy - traveling on a pilgrimage - all afford everyone an opportunity to go deeper into their relationship with God - deeper into the mystery that is His Divine Mercy.

Deacon Dale 

Too Old

There is probably nothing more frustrating to people of all ages - youth - young adults - seniors - to be told that they are too old to do almost anything. As children grow older they are told - too old to play with dolls - too old to pretend - youth - too old to act certain ways - too old - to grow up - young adults - told that is child's play - they are too old to do almost anything that seems fun - seniors - too old - to do almost everything. As a senior - I am constantly reminded that people my age don't do this or that. I am reminded that I don't act - old - that I insist on acting - doing things - reserved for those much younger. When people learnd that my wife and I walked almost 400 miles in Spain on the Camino de Santiago - concerns were expressed that weren't we too old to do that? Today we bike - not your normal - ride a bike around the block - first of all we don't have a block - we live in the country - our block is miles long and encompasses highways that any intelligent person would not bike on. We seek bike paths - much safer - for anyone - of any age. Today we biked from our home to downtown Aurora and back - some 26 miles - 42 kilometers. We are waiting for the - you are too old comments which will surely come.

We were baptized as babies - dedicated to God - as infants - recommitted ourselves as followers in our youth and again as young adults. On October 5, 1980 - we attended a marriage encounter weekend - again we rededicated ourselves to God as modern day disciples. At my ordination in 1988 - I again made that same commitment - this time to serve Him as a member of the ordained Catholic clergy. Now 27 years later - having just celebrated 70 years of life - I and my wife - continue to rededicate ourselves to serving God. You see - when it comes to serving - worshiping -God - Jesus - the Holy Spirit - you are never too young or too old. If you have never made a commitment - feel the call to do so - simply offer Him - the Lord of Lords - King of Kings - the Author of Life - this simple prayer - Have Mercy On Me A Sinner - then profess with all your heart - mind - soul - spirit to serve Him - in anyway He calls you to. You are never - too old.

Deacon Dale 

I AM

I AM - what?  Now a days it seems that nobody is who they seem to be. Famous people reveal they are not who everyone thinks they are - saints become sinners - sinners become saints - trusted dignitaries show they cannot be trusted - men become women - women become men. For most of my life I thought it was only people - like me - born as a twin - who had to cope with confusion about who they were. As an infant - I was the skinny one - my twin a bit heavier - you could see in our faces who was who - as long as you remembered who the skinny one was. As toddlers we grew more similar - the issue compounded by mom dressing us in identical clothes. Even when we started selecting our own clothes to wear - making an obvious effort to look different - people still could not tell us apart. We both chose the same career path - the same occupation - similar wives - both having two sons. It has only been the last five years - since my twin died - that I have been a single person. Even his death did not solve the issue of who I am. To this day - I meet people who still think I am my twin - dead or alive - it will never end. Inside - I know who I am - God knows who I am - and in the end - that is all that matters. I never had to wander - never had to worry - about who I was.  I feel sorry for those - today - confused about issues - created by unreasonable expectations - unreasonable demands - unreasonable attempts to be politically correct - to define individuals. We are who God made us - pure and simple. We may not fit into - the same box - pigeon hole - predetermined niche - that makes others comfortable - at the expense of our comfort. That is their problem - not ours. What we are - who we are - belongs to only one person - concerns only God - period.

When asked what His name was - God replied - I am - Who am - period. No definition needed - no explanation provided. A simple - complete - outrageous - statement. God does not fit into a box - is not limited by our fragile minds. He is - He was - He will be - I AM.  As we grow in our faith - as we understand His - I AM - we come to know the reality of what He is all about. For most of us - this will be a lifetime journey - no problem - we have our entire life to learn.

Deacon Dale 

New Pilgrimage

It gives me great pleasure to announce a new pilgrimage opportunity for 2016. This trip will take us to POLAND - flying to Warsaw - traveling around central and southern Poland visiting shrines - churches - cultural sites - ending in Krakow before returning home. This is an updated trip similar to the trip we had planned for 2014 - at a price $500 less than 2014. Everything of significance related to Saint John Paul II - Saint Maximilian Kobe - Saint Faustina Kowalska - Divine Mercy will be covered. In addition we will visit the Auschwitz concentration camp - the Market Square in Krakow - and an option to visit the famous UNESCO Salt Mines. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

POLAND Pilgrimage 

June 20 - 28, 2016

Chicago & Orlando $3299*

Phoenix - Los Angeles - San Diego $3399*

Above Prices Reflect a $150 Early Registration Discount

More Information At

www.DeaconTravel.org

To Register Call 1.630.334.5065