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

October is Respect Life Month
Each October, the Church celebrates Respect Life month. The sacredness and dignity of each and every human life is at the core of our Moral and Social teachings. The Church teaches that every human life (without exception) is of infinite dignity, value and worth because every human life is created in the Divine Image and Likeness and it was for each and every human being that Jesus Christ died on the Cross to win for them salvation; the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. While we usually associate this with the unborn; this teaching includes every human person from conception to natural death. At conception, we have a unique act of creation, with a unique set of human genetics and a unique human soul. But our respect for life doesn’t stop there. Everyone: man, woman and child, the young, elderly, sick, those who are vulnerable, those who are not like us, those with a physical, mental or psychological disability; those with whom we agree and those with whom we disagree, those who would call us enemy and wish us harm; we are called in faith to love as a Child of God who is made worthy by Incarnation and Death of Jesus for their salvation. This does not mean that we have to like everyone or what they do or say; we never are called to accept falsehood or sin. It does mean, however, that we MUST acknowledge the dignity of each human life without condition or reservation.
God Bless, Fr. Dan

Remembering 9/11
I have no doubt that most of us can remember exactly where we were on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. It was a beautiful clear, September morning and I was at school celebrating the opening Mass for the school year. During the Mass the Principal came up to me as I was just getting ready to say the closing prayer; he silently told me that there had been a plane accident in New York City and asked if we could say a short prayer for all those involved; which I did. By the time the Mass had ended and we had begun the first period, it was obvious that something was terribly wrong. Wherever there was a television or radio, students, staff and faculty were intently listening in stunned silence as the horrific events of that day unfolded. Parents then began to call the school to come and take their child home. At the end of the day we gathered to plan how we, as a school, would unfold the rest of that week. By the time of the evening news, it was clear that something had happened that would change our lives forever. I remember that many people just naturally came to Church where we prayed and sat together for comfort. The next weekend, the Church, and all Churches were full, packed to capacity as we prayed for the victims, the first responders and all who were frightened or simply needed the assurance of faith. In those days, we were one people: without regard to denomination or faith, political affiliation or generation; we were “One Nation Under God.” Of course, in time, people began to get back to the business of living their lives, but nothing would be the same. It is my prayer that we always remember: not only the tragedy and loss of human life, but also the lesson of unity and the need to look past our differences, support and help each other and remember, that there is nothing that we cannot deal with as long as we do so together with our God as our support and guide.

God Bless,

Fr. Dan

It seems difficult to believe, but this Wednesday is September 1. With September we find Labor Day, the traditional end of Summer, and for many this means back to school. With the end of summer, we usually return to schedules and a routine. I would like to suggest that we take the time to look at our schedules in respect to our prayer and spiritual life. Schedule time to pray each day and take time with the Scriptures; perhaps pray the Rosary. Pray before meals as a family and with children before their bedtime. Revisit your family schedule about Mass attendance and the sacrament of Confession. As we all get back to a schedule in the midst of our busy lives, please let us not forget to give God quality time in our lives and the lives of our families.
God Bless,
Fr. Dan

THE JOY AND BEAUTY OF INNOCENCE
This past week in my homily, I reflected on the line from “Brother Sun Sister Moon”. In our preoccupation with original sin, we too often forget original innocence. We believe in our faith that Jesus Christ has restored the innocence that was lost by sin. Sin is the destruction of relationships: relationships between us and God, between each other, us and the natural order and us from our most authentic selves in God’s Divine Image and Likeness. Jesus is the way back to that innocence.
I believe we get a glimpse of this innocence in small children. Jesus teaches in the Beatitudes Mt. 5:8 “Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God” and again in Mt. 18:10 (when speaking of children) “… their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” If only we could all become again like little children in our relationship with our God and Father.
I would like to share two particular examples of this innocence. Years ago when a new altar server was serving for the first time (he was not yet tall enough for his feet to reach the floor when he was sitting, so naturally he was swinging his feet) when I sat down next to him after the homily, he looked at me and said: “You mean to tell me Jesus is God! You learn something new each day.”
Another time a young child was being shown the manger at Christmas time and he asked: “Father you have Jesus here and we have Jesus at home, where is the real Jesus?” I told him that Jesus was in Church and in his heart. He put his hands on his hips and said: “Good night Jesus, wherever you are.”
One more example, a young child asked me where I lived and I pointed out the Rectory. His sister then said she knew Jesus was here because of the statue. I told them about the Sanctuary Candle and then took them up front and opened the Tabernacle so they could see where Jesus was. The four year old then asked: “How does Jesus get groceries?” (Very real, honest and practical) I told him that He sends one of His angels for them. The boy was happy with and agreed with my answer.
God bless and remember: Unless we become like little children, we cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
-Fr. Dan

Last Sunday I had the great honor, and very moving experience of being at the first Mass of one of our newly Ordained Priests:  Rev. Dennis Walker.  I taught Dennis at Bishop Ludden and still remember him as a student in my class.  It was fitting that his first Mass was on the feast of Corpus Christi.  As Deacon John reminded us in his excellent homily about the Eucharist, the Eucharist is truly the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ (we refer to this Dogma as the Real Presence).  The Eucharist is the heart and soul of who we are as Catholics.  It connects us with our past, gives meaning to our present and moves us into the future.  Without the Eucharist  we have no Catholic Church.  I was reminded of this again at  Fr.. Dennis’ first Mass because without priests there simply is no Eucharist and no Catholic Church.  This year (and especially this week here at St. Francis Xavier) our Church has been praying for vocations.  While all vocations are necessary for the spiritual life and health of the Church:  deacons, consecrated men and women, married couples and lay ministers; the priesthood is necessary for the gift of the Eucharist.  Please continue to pray for ALL vocations and make a special prayer for more men to answer the call of the Holy Spirit to priesthood.

God bless you and please pray for me.

-Fr. Dan

Now more than ever we need the laity to respond to their baptismal call to share the Gospel in the world and assist pastors in meeting the needs of our parishes. In order to fulfill this role, lay ministers must know their faith. Formation for Ministry helps those in ministry grow in knowledge of their Catholic faith, develop skills for ministry, grow in confidence to share their faith, and grow in relationship with the Lord.  Formation for Ministry also serves as a prerequisite for the permanent diaconate. Please consider who you know who might be discerning a call to lay ministry formation or the diaconate and invite them to consider Formation for Ministry.

Applications for the fall term are currently being accepted. Download an application from our website formationforministrysyr.org or contact the office directly at 315-470-1491.  

Interested individuals should attend one of our upcoming information sessions. Our next session is scheduled for Sunday, April 18, at Holy Trinity in Utica.  

Dear Parish Family,
When you take the time to really pray about and contemplate the reality of Easter, it is truly remarkable and miraculous. Jesus had died nailed to the cross, pierced with the lance, in the tomb for three days and now on the morning of the third day the tomb is empty! Early in the morning of that first Easter there is confusion for Mary Magdalene and the other disciples. But then they saw and they believed; they saw the burial cloth in an empty tomb. They saw the stone removed from the tomb. They believed that God had done what Jesus said he would; raised Him up on the last day. Easter and the resurrection of Jesus in the beginning of the restoration of creation to its original plan of God. God’s plan never included sin and death, both of which are a result of sin. Jesus makes all things new: the possibility for those who believe in Him and accept the truth of the Gospel to be returned by Baptism to the original state of justice and innocence destroyed by Original Sin. The proclamation of Jesus Christ risen is truly the Good News that we still proclaim!
As we proclaim at Mass of Jesus: “By dying you destroyed our death and by rising you restored our life.”
Have a Happy and blessed Easter.
Fr. Dan

Resurrexit Sicut Dixit: 

He is Risen as He said He would

Dear Parish Family,

The Sacred Triduum (Holy, Thursday and Easter) is the most sacred and holy point of our Church year.  They are really three continuous celebrations that begin with the sign of the Cross at the beginning of Mass on Holy Thursday and end with the final Alleluia on Easter. On Holy Thursday we commemorate the Institution of the Holy Eucharist, through which Jesus continues to be truly present to us until the end of time and the institution of the Sacramental Priesthood.  On Good Friday, we solemnly remember Jesus’ Passion and death and on Easter we proclaim loudly and clearly that Jesus is Risen. Easter is the vindication of all that Jesus said and did and our assurance that truly He is the Son of God and that if we truly believe in Him and accept the truth of His Gospel we too shall inherit Eternal Life in His (and our) Father’s Kingdom. What great love our God has for us, giving up His only Son in atonement for our sins.  What an honor He has given to us that we may be restored to original grace and justice.

Jesus Christ is truly Risen and we are offered forgiveness, salvation and Eternal Life.

God Bless and Happy Easter.  Fr. Dan