Dear parish family,
As many of you know, I am a language ‘Geek’. I love words, grammar and syntax and in my teaching career I have taught six languages. As one who appreciates the power of language and words I am distressed to witness how words are now being manipulated to fit a specific agenda or point of view. In his book 1984, George Orwell depicted a society in which language and truth had no objective value. The Ministry of Truth took as its job to reduce the number of words in the vocabulary and change the meaning of words to fit what was deemed appropriate. There was also the task of re-writing history so that the current state of affairs in which the people lived was portrayed as always having been ‘regular’; any dissent or question was deemed suspicious and not accepted by the authorities. Why do I bring this up, because it seems in my opinion that this is what is happening in our society today. One particular example in the current manipulation of words is the phrase ‘reproductive rights’ to really mean ‘abortion’. As human beings we have a right to reproduce, as a matter of fact in Genesis God said to Adam and Eve: ” Be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth..” (Gn. 1:28). As soon as conception takes place, the couple have reproduced; there is no right or mandate to end the life of the child under the guise of ‘reproductive rights’. The choice of the couple is whether or not they will engage in the act by which a child is conceived: if a child is conceived they are parents. There is no such thing as an inconvenient life, nor a life that is not valuable; no one has the right to take an innocent life by abortion or any other means. To paraphrase Pope St. John-Paul II; “we should always call the truth the truth and use language that does not cloud, nor obscure the truth.” Language is important, let us not manipulate, nor distort language to fit a societal agenda or mask truth. As Christ taught: “The truth will set you free.”
God bless, Fr. Dan

Dear parish family,

I was watching the news this weekend and saw so much hatred, anger, violence and rage stemming from the horrific events in Buffalo to a call for a ‘Summer of Rage’ to violent demonstrations. This left me to wonder and then pray about what could possibly be the source.

In his letter to the Galatians, St. Paul articulates the fruit of the Holy Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal, 5: 22-23). What we are experiencing today seems to be the direct opposite of these. What then is the opposite of the Holy Spirit? St. Ignatius identifies this as the ‘Evil Spirit’. The Evil Spirit is the master of lies and deception, hatred and destruction.

I believe that what we are experiencing is not just a political issue, or a social issue but a spiritual issue. A spiritual battle between good and evil, light and darkness and truth and the lie.

As we approach the feast of Pentecost and pray ‘Come Holy Spirit’ may we truly embrace the Spirit of God and reject the spirit of evil.
God Bless,

-Fr. Dan

Dear parish family,
There is so much discord and yelling in our society that truth seems to be ignored or cast as being irrelevant as long as one can shut down anyone who disagrees with them. In John’s Gospel when Jesus is being interrogated by Pilate, Jesus says: “I came into the world for this: to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice”. “Truth? ” said Pilate, “What is that?” (John 18: 37-38) That is still the question, the answer to which we seem to have confused in our society.
There is what is called object truth; that is the thing itself (object) does not change and does not depend on anyone’s knowing, liking or agreeing with it. An example is that the sun rises in the East and sets in the West. Another is that the earth is round, even though there was a time when many believed the earth to be flat, that did not indeed make it flat. Then there is subjective truth, that is the truth is not in the unchanging object but rather in the persons (subjects) perception of it, understanding of it, or liking it. Again, just because people perceived the earth as being flat, did not, nor does it make it so.
This is the essence of the debate as to when life begins. It is a biological fact that at the moment of conception the blastula has the complete, unique, human DNA that the person will have throughout the person’s biological life; nothing will be added nor subtracted throughout the entire development of the person. It is for this reason that the church proclaims that at the moment of conception there is a unique, individual human person, engendered by God with an immortal soul who enjoys the right to life and the right to bodily integrity.
In the following weeks, I will discuss the nature of language and how it can be and has been manipulated.
-Fr. Dan

The message of mercy is that God loves us — all of us — no matter how great our sins. He wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. So, all will come to share His joy. It is a message we can call to mind simply by remembering ABC.
Ask for His Mercy. God wants us to approach
Him in prayer constantly, repenting of our sins and
asking Him to pour His mercy out upon us and upon
the whole world.
Be merciful. God wants us to receive His mercy and let it flow through us to others. He wants us to extend love and forgiveness to others just as He does to us.
Completely trust in Jesus. God wants us to know that the graces of His mercy are dependent upon our trust.

Dear Parish Family,
As difficult as it may seem to believe, we are coming into the last two weeks of this Lent. Next Sunday is Palm Sunday and we are into Holy Week. We have looked at the traditional practices of prayer, fasting and alms giving. This week I would like to encourage everyone (myself included) to take the time to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, go to Confession. This experience of the Sacramental forgiveness of sin is an excellent way to bring Lent to a conclusion and prepare spiritually for Easter: the Resurrection of Christ. Confession is available every Tuesday from 5:30 – 6 PM, Saturday from 3:30 – 4:00 PM. Additionally, St. Francis, St. Mary’s, St. Joseph’s and St. Michael-St. Peter’s Churches will come together on Monday, April 4 at 7:00 PM at St. Mary’s in Skaneateles will celebrate a Lenten Penance service with multiple priests available for Confession. Monday, April 11 we hold the ‘Light is on For You’ with confession available in Church from 4 – 7:00 PM. If none of these times work for you, you can call the Rectory and make an appointment with me for Confession.
God Bless,
Fr. Dan

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of our Lenten season. You will see in the bulletin the  times for Confession and the Stations of the Cross as well as the regulations for Fast and Abstinence. This year we are having an evening of Recollection on March 29 and are planning more prayer opportunities.

What is Lent? Traditionally Lent is a penitential season, and so it is; but it can be so much more. The traditional practices of Prayer, Fasting and Acts of Charity are recommended to us to help us grow in our Spiritual Life, our relationship with God and with the Community. Lent can be a Transformational Season, a gift of time and grace to transform us more closely in the image of the Crucified and Risen Christ. As we begin this Lent, I encourage all of us to prayerfully ask God where I need to be transformed, where in my life do I need God’s light and grace; what specific concrete actions or changes can be made in my life to make me more closely resemble Jesus. Ask God for these graces and this light this Lent.
God Bless and may we all have a holy, Spirit filled and transformational Lent.
Fr. Dan

Dear Parish Family,
This weekend a number of our children will be celebrating First Penance; not only is this a blessing for our parish, but also a time for each of us to reflect on our own celebration of this great Sacrament of healing. Confession is one of those Sacraments that seem to have fallen out of favor with many; perhaps we don’t believe that we are in need of forgiveness, or perhaps we think that my ‘sin’ is only between God and me. So why should I go to the priest for absolution? First, we are all sinners and in need of forgiveness, St. John writes: “Whoever says that they are not a sinner has made God out to be a liar.” Sin is not just a breaking of a law or a commandment, it is a disruption of righteousness and relationships. When I sin, I choose to diminish (or in the case of mortal sin) cut off my ability to receive and experience God’s grace. If God’s grace was only given to me for me then I do not need to be reconciled with anyone other than God. However, God’s grace is given not just for the individual, but through the individual for the community and the world. My sin, my refusal to love, affects my relationship with God, with my authentic self (the person God created me to be), the community of the Church and the world. I need to be reconciled, not just with God, but with myself, the community and the world. In the Sacrament, God forgives sin, restores relationships and empowers one to live more closely in line with Jesus’ life. Also, in this sacrament we experience both pardon and peace. Take a moment and prayerfully ask yourself: “When was the last time I went to Confession?” If you can’t remember or if it has been over a year then it is time to reacquaint yourself with the celebration of this great gift of healing, reconciliation, restoration and grace.
God Bless,
Fr Dan

Dear Co-workers in the Lord’s Vineyard,
On this last day of 2021, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your laboring in the portion of the Lord’s Vineyard known as the Diocese of Syracuse. The circumstances surrounding us during the past year have not been easy, but I appreciate all who have dedicated themselves to the service of the People of God here in Central New York.
As we prepare to cross the threshold into 2022, I wish to again encourage you “to put on Christ” (Rm 13:14) in all that you do. Let us remember how he went out of his way to care for others, especially those cast aside by society or looked down upon. Jesus didn’t worry whether they attended the same synagogue as he did or their membership, but he met fellow pilgrims on the road of life wherever they were at. My collaborators in ministry, I beg you please do the same! So many people feel rejected by the Catholic Church today because they don’t feel they are listened to – whether women, young people, LGBTQ+, the divorced and remarried outside the Church, the abused and exploited, or persons of different creeds or races. I am sure you could add to the list.
In saying this I am not saying we don’t need to preach the truth of God’s Word, but we do it with great love as Jesus did to the woman caught in adultery or the rich young man or the Samaritan woman. Consider how do we help those who come to us to become the saints God has created them to be?! Jesus did not come to preach “a leaner Church is a better Church”. He preached that, “the Kingdom of God was at hand” (Mt 4:17) and invited all whom he encountered to follow him (cf Mt 4:19).
These ideas correspond to my own New Year’s resolution that the Church of Syracuse become known for the kindness found in its churches. One immediate act of kindness is the need for all of us clergy and laity to wear masks in church, especially when greeting people.
Again, thank you for your service to our diocesan family and be assured of my continued prayers.
Happy New Year!
In the Name of Jesus,
Bishop Douglas J. Lucia

Merry Christmas

I was wondering what difference does it make if we greet one another with Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday or Seasons Greetings.? I went to the Merriman-Webster for some definitions. Christmas is a combination of the two words: Christ + Mass; Holiday is derived from the phrase ‘Holy Day’ – a religious feast day. What we are, as Christians, are celebrating on December 25 is not a social or generic event. It is a very specific Holy Day, the Nativity of our Lord Jesus in time; the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is truly a holy day that we celebrate with the Mass, the prayer by which we united ourselves with Jesus in the Holy Spirit in giving thanks to the Father. The primary sacrament of our Catholic Faith in which we encounter our God in the community, in the Word and in a special and unique way in the Sacrament of Jesus’ Body and Blood. There is no other season quite like it and there is no other holiday like it. It is not a celebration of a generic season or generic holiday; it is truly a Holy Day. I encourage all to greet one another with the deeply religious greeting: Merry Christmas!
God Bless,
Fr. Dan

The Seven Sacraments
Among the gifts our God has given to us are the Seven Sacraments. A Sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace, an experience of the Risen Lord, Jesus. A Sacrament is a participation in the life of God in our lives. We usually categorize the Sacraments into three groups: those of Initiation; those of Healing; and those of Mission/Commission. The Sacraments of Initiation are Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. Those of Healing are Eucharist, Penance and Anointing. Those of Mission/Commission are Eucharist, Matrimony and Holy Orders. Over the next few weeks, I will place in the bulletin an understanding of each of the Seven and why they are important to the life of a Catholic.
God Bless you, Fr. Dan