Pray for the Shepherds

“I know my sheep, and mine know me.” - John 10:14

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. A shepherd always walks ahead of his flock, leading and guiding with a gentle hand. His rod and staff comforts. Those who follow the shepherd are protected from harm. His sheep know his voice and trust him. We should always pray for those who faithfully shepherd our Church: Pope Benedict XVI, the bishops of our diocese: Bishop David Zubik and Bishop William Waltersheid. Saint Joseph Parish has been blessed to have had faith-filled spiritual leaders both in its past and present. Let us always remember to pray for those pastors who have shepherded this parish with spiritual leadership:

† Fr. Francis Ward (1891-1894)

† Fr. Joseph Toner (1894-1897)

† Fr. Michael Hughes (1897-1911)

† Fr. McCabe (1911-1923)

† Fr. Patrick J. Healy (1923-1952)

† Fr. Robert M. Murphy (1952-1961)

† Fr. John A. Larkin (1961-1980)

† Fr. Francis L. Pucci (1980-1981)

† Fr. Lawrence V. Holpp (1981-2000)

† Fr. Malcolm McDonald (2000-2003)

† Fr. Michael A. Caridi (2003-2008)

† Fr. Richard S. Jones (2008-Present)

Getting Rid of the Crabgrass

It’s that time of year again. Time to get outside, to take a walk through the garden and the lawn. It’s time to weed and seed. But whether you’re a gardener, or just a person who likes a well-manicured lawn, one thing is true: you will encounter crabgrass.

Crabgrass (Digitaria), grows by spreading its low-growing stems over the soil, sending out spikelets or digits (like fingers), its florets producing seeds which fall to the ground, germinate, and produce more weeds. If gone unnoticed, it will spread and continue to germinate throughout the growing season, eventually choking out healthy plants. Crabgrass can often be seen growing even among the most beautiful flowers in our garden.

Like crabgrass, sin deposits its seeds and spreads, sometimes just beneath the surface. We may ignore its tentacle-like hold on our lives until it becomes uncontrolled behavior which threatens to choke out our healthy self. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is an effective way to rid the "garden of our soul" of its weeds of sin. It allows light to enter and seeds of goodness to germinate, producing only beautiful flowers and healthy "soul-gardens."

As crabgrass is a symptom of an uncared for lawn, so sin is a symptom of a neglected "soul-garden." Spring is the season of growth and rebirth. Light is abundant and rain moistens the earth. What better time to eradicate the "crabgrass" in our own souls! During these seven weeks of Easter, may we nourish our "soul-gardens" with waters of rebirth and lifegiving prayer and penance. Happy gardening!

Divine Mercy Sunday

Saint M. Faustina Kowalska, who served the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Poland, is well-known for her diaries in which she describes the vision of Divine Mercy. Her diary dated Feb. 22, 1931 reads:

"In the evening, when I was in my cell, I became aware of the Lord Jesus clothed in a white garment. One hand was raised in blessing, the other was touching the garment at the breast. From the opening of the garment at the breast there came forth two large rays, one red and the other pale. In silence I gazed intently at the Lord; my soul was overwhelmed with fear, but also with great joy. After a while Jesus said to me, ‘Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the inscription: Jesus, I trust in You.’ The pale ray stands for Water which makes souls righteous; the red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the depths of My most tender Mercy at that time when My agonizing Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross... Fortunate is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him."

At the hour of 3:00 PM each day, we are asked to stop and implore God’s Divine Mercy for sinners as well as ourselves. “In this hour I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion” (Diary 1320).

The Resurrection

As seen through the eyes of a mother...

Today was the happiest day of my life. My joy cannot be contained. It is joy that none other could possibly feel - selfless, weightless, soaring joy. Joy that is entwined with delight and contentment. I want to sing with the birds and dance with the wind, shout to everyone I meet and smile at passer-bys. I want to thank God with every word I speak and every thought I think. It is unfathomable that just three days ago sadness was over me like a shadow, looming, a heavy weight that my soul could not bear. Oh, the contrast! For just as that sorrow overtook my heart, wrapping its cold shroud around my spirit, this joy envelops me and saturates me with a fervor that is unrivaled.

And so, now, being left behind in this earthly self, I anticipate the day when, after having served Him on earth, I can once again see my Savior face to face. I pray that the hand of God will rest upon my love and allow this feeling of joy to accompany me to eternity, where I will once again see the face that smiled at me through a child’s love and watched me through a child’s eyes. I await that day like the blossom awaits the fruit that ripens on the bough. And in my heart I will wait... and I will repeat those words, spoken with so much joy and motherly pride: “He is risen! He is risen, indeed!”