STA

May God watch over and protect us!

2011-08-27T14:16:00.001-04:00

Our Father in Heaven, through the powerful intercession of Our Lady of Prompt Succor and Saint Jude, spare us from all harm during this hurricane season, and protect us and our homes from all disasters of nature. Our Lady of Prompt Succor and Saint Jude hasten to help us. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen

And may the flooding in the church auditorium not be bad... from my fat fingers to God's ears!!!

2011-08-20T13:58:00.001-04:00

In Honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

The month of August is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

O heart of Mary, mother of God, and our mother; heart most worthy of love, in which the adorable Trinity is ever well-pleased, worthy of the veneration and love of all the angels and of all men; heart most like to the Heart of Jesus, of which thou art the perfect image; heart, full of goodness, ever compassionate toward our miseries; deign to melt our icy hearts and grant that they may be wholly changed into the likeness of the Heart of Jesus, our divine Savior. Pour into them the love of thy virtues, enkindle in them that divine fire with which thou thyself dost ever burn. In thee let Holy Church find a safe shelter; protect her and be her dearest refuge, her tower of strength, impregnable against every assault of her enemies. Be thou the way which leads to Jesus, and the channel, through which we receive all the graces needful for our salvation. Be our refuge in time of trouble, our solace in the midst of trial, our strength against temptation, our haven in persecution, our present help in every danger and especially at the hour of death, when all hell shall let loose against us its legions to snatch away our souls, at that dread moment, that hour so full of fear, whereon our eternity depends. Ah, then most tender virgin, make us to feel the sweetness of thy motherly heart, and the might of thine intercession with Jesus, and open to us a safe refuge in that very fountain of mercy, whence we may come to praise Him with thee in paradise, world without end. Amen.

A Blessed Easter

2010-04-04T13:23:00.001-04:00

Christus heri et hodie, Principium et Finis, Alpha et Omega.
Ipsius sunt tempora et saecula Ipsi gloria et imperium per universa aeternitatis saecula. Amen.

Christ yesterday and today, the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega. His are the seasons and the ages to Him glory and empire through all the ages of eternity. Amen.

The Pieta

2010-04-03T12:30:00.001-04:00

The Sorrowful Mother - Good Friday 2010

Good Friday

2010-04-03T12:24:00.002-04:00

Way of the Cross 2010

Holy Family - St. Thomas Aquinas Church

Good Friday

2010-04-03T12:14:00.003-04:00

Way of the Cross 2010

Good Friday

2010-04-03T11:34:00.004-04:00

"Ecce lignum Crucis, in quo salus mundi pependit." ~ Behold the wood of the Cross, on which hung the Savior of the world.
"Venite, adoremus." ~ Come, let us adore.

Over 1,200 people prayerfully participated in our Cluster Way of the Cross. Starting in Windsor Terrace, winding through Sunset Park and ending in Park Slope

Pray for Pope Benedict XVI

2010-04-03T09:06:00.001-04:00

The New York Times is attacking our church. Pray for our Pope!!

Bishop Di Marzio's call to protest the NY Times!!
http://diobrook.org/default_article.aspx?id=4747

Lenten Prayer

2010-02-25T14:15:00.002-05:00

A PRAYER FOR THURSDAY IN THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT

Lord, I'm not always eager to do Your will. I'd often much rather do my own will. Please be with me on this Lenten journey and help me to remember that Your own Spirit can guide me in the right direction. I want to "fix" my weaknesses but the task seems overwhelming. But I know that with Your help, anything can be done. With a grateful heart, I acknowledge Your love and know that without You, I can do nothing.

Creighton University

A Prayer for the Friday after Ash Wednesday

2010-02-19T10:07:00.003-05:00

Lenten Prayer - Creighton University

Lord, I know how You love me.
It's hard for me to feel it sometimes, but I know that Your love is always with me.
Help me to use Your love as a way to persevere in my Lenten intentions.
I am weak, but I know with Your help, I can use these small sacrifices in my life to draw closer to You.

Amen

Lenten Prayer

2010-02-18T13:05:00.002-05:00

Creighton University Lenten Prayer - Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Lord, let everything I do this day and in this season of Lent come from You, be inspired by You.
I long to be closer to You.
Help me to remember that nothing is important in my life unless it glorifies You in some way.
It's so easy to get caught up in the day to day of my life and keep saying, "Tomorrow, I will spend more time in prayer," but now my longing meets Your love and I want to do it now.
Help me to rely on You for help.
The prayer asks You that I reach perfection.
Please, Lord, remind me that "perfection" isn't the crazy, "successful" way I try to live my life, but a perfection of my most authentic real self.
My "perfection" might be holding my many flaws in my open hands, asking You to help me accept them.
Heal me, Lord, and help me to find You in the darkness of my life.
Let me reach out in this darkness and feel Your hand and love there to guide me.
Amen

Happy New Year! 2010

2009-12-31T21:41:00.002-05:00

O God, the beginning and the end of all things, Who are always the same, and Whose years fail not, we now, at the close of another year, kneel in adoration before You, and offer You our deepest thanks for the fatherly care with which You have watched over us during the past, for the many times You have protected us from evils of soul and body, and for the numberless blessings, both temporal and spiritual, which You have showered upon us. May it please You to accept the homage of our grateful hearts which we offer You in union with the infinite thanksgiving of Your divine Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who with You live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

May 2010 be the BEST year EVER!!

A Blessed Christmas

2009-12-26T09:09:00.001-05:00

Father, we are filled with the new light by the coming of your Word among us. May the light of faith shine in our words and actions. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace,
The gladness of Christmas give you hope,
The warmth of Christmas grant you love.

Our Lady of El Cisne revisited

2008-08-10T22:03:00.002-04:00

A couple of years ago we posted regarding Our Lady of El Cisne...And we would like to invite you to join in next weekend’s celebration of the Feast day of the Holy Virgin Mary, the Queen of El Cisne.

Our Blessed Mother is venerated under many different titles throughout the world. In all of her manifestations, she indicates that she is our Mother who loves and stands by us. You may wonder who is Our Lady of El Cisne?? Six years ago the Ecuadorian members of our parish arranged for Padre Herman to bring the image of Our Lady of El Cisne from Loja to our parish, she’s the image in the 4th Avenue shrine who has long curly hair and the wardrobe to die for. She is the patroness of the province of Loja, Ecuador and the patroness of all exiles.

In 1550 the Spanish arrived in Ecuador, and the Franciscan friars named a mountain parish “El Cisne” which means the Swan after the European mountain hermitages built and maintained by the Royal Order of the Knights of the Swan. -- a group that ties into the Authorian legends. The Bishop of Loja -- Luis Lopez de Solis wsa a member of the Royal Order of the Knights of the Swan in Spain.

The native Ecuadorians developed a devotion to the Blessed Mother and arrangements were made to carve a 6 ft Cedar statue in honor of the Virgin. This statue was placed in a small shrine and is still venerated almost 500 years later in the beautiful Cathedral of El Cisne.

In 1594 there was a terrible drought in the province of Loja. There was no rain, the ground was dry and dusty and everything was dying. To aggravate the situation, a plague of mice consumed any food that had survived the rays of the sun. There was no food and the people were starving. Due to their desperate situation the peasants of El Cisne came to the distressing conclusion in October of that year that they would have to abandon their town in order to survive. Prior to leaving the residents gathered to pray to Our Blessed Mother begging her assistance so they could stay in their homes and if they had to leave that she would watch over them while they were in exile. When they attempted to leave with the Statue of the Virgin and terrible wind storm occurred forcing them to return to their homes. Soon afterwards, the holy Virgin appeared to the village elders and told them not to leave. She would watch over her children and if they built a church and practiced their faith, they would never be hungry. On October 12th, 1594 dense clouds covered the horizon and the blessing of the rain fell upon the parched earth. Once again God reveals His love and protection by sending to his people his Mother as evidence that the power of faith connects us to God and his goodness. The people obeyed the Virgin and with great devotion built a church, a place where many miracles have occurred.
El Cisne is one of Ecuador’s major pilgrimage and tourist sites. Every year on August 15th, the celebration in honor of Our Lady of El Cisne begin and carried by over 20,000 devotees, she begins a 3 day trek to Loja, where she is received with civic, military & religious ceremonies. This is a time of prayer and celebration with processions, Masses, fiestas and fireworks, On November 1st, the Virgin and her followers begin their return pilgrimage to El Cisne.
So you ask, why should I participate in an Ecuadorian celebration however nice or historic?? And the answer is…. To give honor to our Blessed Mother who is pleased when we honor her under any and all of her special titles. Your Mother is calling you to participate in the celebration… Come and join in the Fun. There will be a Rosary on Friday, August 15th, at 7 p.m. Saturday will be our main celebrations with Mass in English celebrated by Msgr. White at 12:15 p.m. on Saturday. A procession through the streets at 6:30 p.m. led by the "Ecuadorian Pearl Band”. Holy Mass in Spanish celebrated by Fr. Walter Lawson of Radio Maria at 7:30 p.m. For the 2nd year this mass will be broadcast over Radio Maria. There will be a fiesta in the auditorium after Mass with free food, and traditional Ecuadorian singers & dance groups performing.

People spend a lot of money to travel to South America to experience this celebration, and we are blessed that we can experience a piece of Ecuador right here in HF STA for free. We hope that you will join us in honoring the Blessed Mother. May Our Lady of El Cisne bless us all! Amen

The Year of St. Paul

2008-07-12T10:19:00.003-04:00

On June 28th, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI officially opened the Pauline year to commemorate St. Paul’s Birth. During this year, the Pope has requested that we get to know St. Paul and learn about his writings and his spirit of Evangelization!
After his dramatic conversion to Christianity, St. Paul’s whole motivation in life was to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and announce to all nations the call to be God’s holy people.
Our world is known for lukewarm faith practice, and where the Christian religion is often seen as not having significant relevance for today, the Pauline Year is an occasion for each one of us to get in touch with our own commitment to Christ. Especially by way of St. Paul’s own passion for knowing the person of Jesus Christ and his great desire to announce the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations of the world.

St. Paul inspire & pray for us!

One Faith -- One Baptism -- One Parish :-)

2008-06-13T17:51:00.003-04:00

Saturday, May 31st, 2008 was a very special day for our new parish community of Holy Family and St. Thomas Aquinas as we celebrated with Bishop Nicholas De Marzio and welcomed home so many people who have a spiritual and emotional connection to our parish community. Canonically we are officially ONE community with 2 worship centers.

We gathered to celebrate our parish reconfiguration with Vespers sung in Latin by our Gregorian Choir at Holy Family Church. A procession of our Organizations on 4th Avenue. Thank God for providing the procession with a window of opportunity with no rain :-) A Mariachi musical interlude at St. Thomas Aquinas Church. The celebration of Holy Mass with Bishop DiMarzio as our Main Celebrant - beautiful hymns by Roger (our organist) and Lanie (our Cantor) AND the joyful sound of our Spanish Choir. Followed by a Feast & Dancing in the Auditorium.

But what were we celebrating with our banners, our prayers and our fellowship??

Reconfiguration is a big word, which describes the merger of Holy Family and St. Thomas Aquinas churches. The business term “merger” depicts how the corporate structure of our two parishes will be joined. However, the “business” that we are about as the people of God is creating something new. A community that will be neither Holy Family nor St. Thomas Aquinas and at the same time both Holy Family and St. Thomas Aquinas. A community that has the love of God bound into our hearts and is empowered by Jesus in the Eucharist. Just as each of us emerged from the waters of baptism, our new community will emerge from the giftedness that is the past and present of these two beloved parishes. May we understand ourselves as indispensable, inseparable parts of the Body of Christ, becoming Church together, living and loving His mission and ministry

The new parish we now form is an exciting opportunity to be open to the whisperings of the Spirit of the Lord among us as we together face the challenges of our future. Together we have to demonstrate our faith and hope, our courage and trust, our prayers and support as we journey together to become a new parish, one community of faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Our new community is built on the rock of the our past – the founding of Holy Family Parish in 1876, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in 1884 and St. Stanislaus Martyr in 1890. Beginning from the immigrants who first struggled to build our two beautiful Churches, to those who sustained the other projects and to those who continue to work to support our community today, there has been no lack of giving and loving enthusiasm among the faithful of Holy Family & Saint Thomas Aquinas Church.

Ever grateful for what we have received from those who have gone before us, let us build on our inheritance so that future generations may be blessed through us. With God's grace we can plant the seed of our reconfigured parish ~ nurture the seeds that were so lovingly planted by the members of Holy Family, St. Stanislaus Martyr & St. Thomas Aquinas Parishes in the past ~ and help build the Kingdom of God in Park Slope.

(with grateful appreciation for the influence of other people's reflections)

Feast of the Sacred Heart

2008-05-30T09:34:00.002-04:00

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You

My God, I offer You all my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings in union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, for the intentions for which He pleads and offers Himself in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in thanksgiving for Your favors, in reparation for my sins, and in humble supplication for my temporal and eternal welfare, for the needs of our holy Mother the Church, for the conversion of sinners, and for the relief of the poor souls in purgatory. Amen

Merry Christmas

2007-12-25T10:48:00.001-05:00

A Christmas Meditation

It's Christmas ~ a time of rejoicing, feasting, presents & love! A time to remember and celebrate the GREATEST present of all for it is Jesus' birthday!!!

What is your image of the first Christmas? Do you think of the Christmas Crib under your tree???? A quiet stable filled with clean straw, and beautiful statues of Joseph, Mary, the shepherds and the magi kneeling in prayer ~ worshiping the baby??? Perhaps an odorless cow, donkey and some equally odorless sheep & camels???

However, the first Christmas was an actual event that came complete with the sights, smells and the sense of the coldness of the night. People aren't plaster statues kneeling in prayer ~ so what was the first Christmas actually like????

Close your eyes and try to imagine what the people actually felt and thought as they experienced the first Christmas.

At that time, Rome was a great empire ruled by Caesar Augustus and King Herod governed the land of Israel.

Far in the East, the magi searched the heavens and in their separate palaces they were amazed to discover the Star of Destiny rising in the western sky. The ancients had foretold that the Star of Destiny would rise in the night sky and lead those who are wise to the Light of the World. Surely, the Star of Destiny was a myth, but there it was beaming in the night sky. Balthasar, Melchoir & Caspar, who NEVER agreed on anything consulted with each other. They all saw the star and agreed that this unusual occurrence was an adventure that couldn't be missed. As soon as they could assemble a caravan, they followed the star.

At the same time, in the land of Israel, in the little unimportant village of Nazareth there lived a young carpenter, Joseph and his wife Mary, who was pregnant. They were eagerly anticipating the birth of their first child. All births are special, but the birth of this child had been announced by the Angel Gabriel. Very close to Mary's due date the Roman soldiers marched through the villages announcing that the Emperor had ordered a census. In two weeks everyone had to register for the new taxes in the towns of their birth. No exceptions, no questions, this is the law!!!

Joseph & Mary had expected the birth of their child to occur in Nazareth, but it was not to be so. Joseph was furious, he protested that his wife was due any day WHY couldn't they register in Nazareth?? His protests were to no avail; the soldiers just laughed at him. He felt so incompetent!!

This new problem caused the nagging doubts to reappear ~ did an angel really appear to him or was it just his over active imagination providing a solution to a horrible problem?? Mary's unusual pregnancy originally was a difficult experience for Joseph. Especially, because he became aware of it after Mary had returned from a three month stay in Ain-Karim with her cousin Elizabeth. If this child was the foretold one, why all these difficulties??? As he prepared for the trip, he prayed and his hand trembled when the sacred prophecy flashed into his mind. Away in Rome, Caesar Augustus dreamed that his might had worked their departure from hearth and home by his decree ~ while in truth the word of God had decreed it ages ago.. "You Bethlehem in the land of Judah, you are by no means the least of the cities of Judah, for out of you shall come the one to be Ruler in Israel." He felt relief ~ everything was arranged by the Lord of history, his little family were safe in the Lord's hands.

The trip was extremely difficult; the roads were filled with stressed out people traveling under duress. Mary's labor pains started hours before they reached Bethlehem. They finally arrived and to their dismay discovered a town swarming with people. The baby was coming, and there was no lodging available in any of the Econo-inns.

Against his better judgment, a frantic Joseph tried a distant cousin's house, begging accommodations for the night. After delivering a sermon about premarital sex and how he had tarnished the family name, his cousin sniffed and informed them that she was busy preparing for her Hanukkah celebration and just had no room for them. In desperation, they even tried Jesse's spacious inn, which they really couldn't afford. However, it was overflowing with people and the innkeeper took one look at Joseph & Mary's clothes and said we have no room. Joseph pleaded that his wife was having her baby, only to be informed that wasn't Jesse's problem. Jesse ended the conversation as a Temple priest arrived and inquired concerning available accommodations. The innkeeper just about pushed Joseph over as he welcomed the priest to the inn.

Joseph was in a state of panic! There has to be someplace, anyplace where Mary could have the baby with some privacy. Then he remembered the caves in the field of Ruth that he used to play in when he was a boy. Some provider he was, but time was running out and there seemed to be no other options. Better the privacy of a cave then to have the baby born in the street. It appeared that others had the same thought and the first couple of caves were filled with beggars and other poor travelers. Luckily, the last one was being used as a stable and because of the smell had only animals in it.

Rachel, who was camping out in the second cave, noticed Mary's condition and offered to help. So she came with them and assisted Mary with the birth. Joseph gathered wood and started a fire and soon there was a squeal announcing the new birth. Rachel fussed and chattered as she helped Mary lie down and hold the baby. It was a beautiful baby boy and Joseph smiled as the baby's little hand gripped his finger. Rachel was still chattering..."the little fellow certainly resembles his mother..... he appears to be healthy but we have to wrap him up before he catches his death of cold". She took Jesus, anointed him, and wrapped him snugly in swaddling bands, placing him into the manger, which Joseph had converted into a makeshift crib. Joseph walked Rachel back to the second cave, he was very grateful for her kindness. Upon his return, he laid another log on the fire to protect against the bitter cold night. As he snuggled with Mary and was drifting off to sleep, he thanked God for this long and difficult day, which had turned into the most wonderful day in his whole life!

Meanwhile, the shepherds were watching their sheep on the hills of Bethlehem. From nowhere there was a whirlwind and an angle appeared and shouted. "Glory to God in the highest and tidings of joy to all!" The shepherds were stunned and frightened as the angel stood before them and said; "Do NOT fear, but rejoice!! I come to bring tidings of great joy!!! Shepherds, you are the chosen ones of God who are to announce the fullness of time! Glory to God and tidings of joy to all! Let all people exult for in Bethlehem is born the Messiah, Glory to God and tidings of joy to all!"

One of the shepherds struggled to respond. "Surely, this must be a joke, you are mistaken. We are shepherds. The Messiah would appear in a palace and certainly not to such as us." However, the angel insisted, repeating the message. "Go to Bethlehem and announce this good news to all!" The shepherd retorted; "But Bethlehem is a big town, how are we to know where to find the child?" The angel responded; "This will be the sign. In a cattle cave, in a manger filled with hay, you will find wrapped in swaddling clothes the infant Messiah born this day." The shepherd shook his head, and said; "I must have drunk too much wine. Dirty shepherds announcing to all in Bethlehem that the Messiah is a baby lying in a manager in a cattle cave ~ give me a break. No one is going to believe us. I'm not sure I believe it. This isn't a good idea!"

Suddenly, the night exploded with the sound as hundreds of angels appeared singing and the angel insisted "GO, proclaim the glad tidings!!" Then just as suddenly the angels disappeared, leaving the astonished shepherds by themselves.

After that display, the shepherds carrying a lamb as a present for the baby hurried off to announce the good news to all that they met. They played their flutes as they announced the good news. Unfortunately, other then threats to call the Romans on them for disturbing the peace, no one joined them in the search for the Messiah.

Disappointed, they left the town, heading towards the caves. Their music awakened the children who excitedly joined the procession leading the way to the last cave containing Joseph and Mary who were woken by the noise.

"Shalom, Shalom," Joseph greeted the crowd. "Come, warm yourselves. Have your sheep strayed?" The shepherds responded, "We have come to see the Messiah child, just born." Joseph was startled and asked, "Who sent you?" Mary sleepily interrupted and said, "Enter and be welcome!"

The shepherds shared the story of the angels and presented the lamb as a gift. They shared their food, their music and their love. All of heaven was awed by the music of the poor ascending from the little town of Bethlehem.

Not far out of Bethlehem, the magi were still following the star. They had traveled for many days over mountains, through the desert and the wilderness. During the journey they discussed whom this King, this light of the world would be. Balthazar felt that they would find royalty who would rule the whole world. Melichor believed that they would find someone so wise that he would end all of the world problems. Caspar believed that they would find someone so holy that he would show them the way to the gods.

They had many adventures during their trip, but all of their charts indicated that this night was the night of destiny and the signs all pointed to the little town of Bethlehem.

They had actually reached Bethlehem the previous week, but at Balthazar's insistence they made their way to Jerusalem to ask advice from King Herod. Herod and his court were filled with corruption and even Balthazar had to admit that the journey was a waste of time. Funny fellow that Herod, who would dream that someone so treacherous would also want to come and visit the person who would be the greatest King. Making us promise to send immediate word of what we discovered ~ you never know.

The magi arrived at the stable and squabbled prior to entering. Balthazar was adamant that they were looking for royalty, so this certainly wasn't the right place. Caspar, especially protested that the charts must be wrong. He insisted that there had to be a great religious experience, some divine revelation indicating the Light of the World. Melichor insisted that the signs all point to this spot, and as wrong as it appears, the least we can do is to check it out. The disappointment was overwhelming as they entered the stable. It seemed unbelievable that the conclusion of their long journey was here.... in a shabby, smelly stable, looking at an infant snuggling with a lamb for warmth in a manger of straw, his two peasant parents beside him. There were no heavenly lights, no divine thunder rumbling, no angelic music, no servants, no riches, nothing of what they had anticipated. However, when the baby looked at them, they were suddenly aware that they had successfully completed their quest. As crazy as it appeared there was something very special there, and they were honored to have the privilege of entering the stable.

Jesus came into a fallen and unpleasant world. The world rejected him. The world still rejects him. But where ever he is accepted, love is there. On the first Christmas, Christ was revealed only to a few witnesses in the dead of night. Further, while God had at hand many rulers, priests and philosophers available to witness this special occasion, he chose shepherds, people who were looked down upon and considered unimportant. Sometimes, God's ways doesn't seem to make sense, but if we desire to come to the Christ, we must not be ashamed to follow those whom God chose and answer for ourselves the call to follow him.

With gratitude to Fr. Ed Hays for his many parables & Meditations that we have enjoyed, some of which have deeply influenced the above meditation!!

Come to the Health Fair!

2007-09-25T09:34:00.000-04:00

Our Bodies are a gift from God and we are responsible to take good care of it.

COME TO THE HEALTH FAIR!!

The Fair will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Church Auditorium. 249 9th Street, Brooklyn, NY on Saturday, September 29th, 2007 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

FREE Blood Pressure Testing ~ FREE Cholesterol Screening ~ LOTS OF GIVE-AWAYS :-)

September - the Month of the Sorrowful Mother

2007-09-16T14:48:00.001-04:00

September is dedicated to the Holy Cross and the Sorrowful Mother.

Litany of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows by Pope Pius VII

V. Lord, have mercy on us. R. Christ, have mercy on us.

V. Christ, hear us. R. Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.

Mother of the Crucified, pray for us.

Sorrowful Mother, pray for us. Mournful Mother, pray for us.

Sighing Mother, pray for us. Afflicted Mother, pray for us. Foresaken Mother, pray for us. Desolate Mother, pray for us. Mother most sad, pray for us. Mother set around with anguish, pray for us. Mother overwhelmed by grief, pray for us. Mother transfixed by a sword, pray for us. Mother crucified in thy heart, pray for us. Mother bereaved of thy Son, pray for us. Sighing Dove, pray for us. Mother of Dolors, pray for us. Fount of tears, pray for us. Sea of bitterness, pray for us. Field of tribulation, pray for us. Mass of suffering, pray for us. Mirror of patience, pray for us. Rock of constancy, pray for us. Remedy in perplexity, pray for us. Joy of the afflicted, pray for us. Ark of the desolate, pray for us. Refuge of the abandoned, pray for us. Shield of the oppressed, pray for us. Conqueror of the incredulous, pray for us. Solace of the wretched, pray for us. Medicine of the sick, pray for us. Help of the faint, pray for us. Strength of the weak, pray for us. Protectress of those who fight, pray for us. Haven of the shipwrecked, pray for us. Calmer of tempests, pray for us. Companion of the sorrowful, pray for us. Retreat of those who groan, pray for us. Terror of the treacherous, pray for us. Standard-bearer of the Martyrs, pray for us. Treasure of the Faithful, pray for us. Light of Confessors, pray for us. Pearl of Virgins, pray for us. Comfort of Widows, pray for us. Joy of all Saints, pray for us. Queen of thy Servants, pray for us. Holy Mary, who alone art unexampled, pray for us.

V. Pray for us, most Sorrowful Virgin, R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. O God, in whose Passion, according to the prophecy of Simeon, a sword of grief pierced through the most sweet soul of Thy glorious Blessed Virgin Mother Mary: grant that we, who celebrate the memory of her Seven Sorrows, may obtain the happy effect of Thy Passion, Who lives and reigns world without end. Amen.

The Seven Sorrows of Our Lady ~ 1. The Prophecy of Simeon 2. The Flight into Egypt 3. The Loss of Jesus in the Temple 4. Mary meets Jesus Carrying the Cross 5. The Crucifixion 6. Mary Receives the Dead Body of Her Son 7. The Burial of Her Son and Closing of the tomb.

August - The month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

2007-08-16T10:22:00.000-04:00

The month of August is traditionally dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The physical heart of Mary is venerated (and not adored as the Sacred Heart of Jesus is) because it is united to her person and is the seat of her love (especially for her divine Son), virtue, and inner life. Such devotion is an incentive to a similar love and virtue.

On October 31, 1942, Pope Pius XII made a solemn Act of Consecration of the Church and the whole world to the Immaculate Heart. Let us remember this devotion year-round, but particularly through the month of August.

Pope Paul VI, on the floor of the Vatican Council at the close of the third session, renewed publicly the consecration of the Church and the world to Mary's Immaculate Heart. He said that his thoughts turned to the whole world "which our venerated predecessor Pius XII . . . not without inspiration from on high, solemnly consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. . . . O Virgin Mary, Mother of the Council, to you we recommend the entire Church."

When he visited Fatima on May 13, 1967, the same Pope recalled this "consecration which we ourselves have renewed on November 21, 1964 — we exhort all the sons of the Church to renew personally their consecration to the Immaculate Heart of the Mother of the Church and to bring alive this most noble act of veneration through a life ever more in accord with the divine will and in a spirit of filial service and of devout imitation of their heavenly Queen."

Act of Consecration

to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
St. Louis-De Montfort's Consecration taken from The Secret of the Rosary.

I, N., a faithless sinner-- renew and ratify today in thy hands, O Immaculate Mother, the vows of my Baptism; I renounce forever Satan, his pomps and works; and I give myself entirely to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, to carry my cross after Him all the days of my life, and to be more faithful to Him than I have ever been before.
In the presence of all the heavenly court I choose thee this day, for my Mother and Mistress. I deliver and consecrate to thee, as thy slave, my body and soul, my goods, both interior and exterior, and even the value of all my good actions, past, present and future; leaving to thee the entire and full right of disposing of me, and all that belongs to me, without exception, according to thy good pleasure, for the greater glory of God, in time and in eternity. Amen.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

2007-08-15T10:07:00.000-04:00

Prayer of Pope Pius XII

"O Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God and Mother of Men, — we believe with all the fervor of our Faith in your triumphal Assumption, both in body and soul, into heaven where you are acclaimed as Queen of all the choirs of angels and all the legions of the Saints; and we unite with them to praise and bless the Lord Who has exalted you above all other pure creatures, and to offer you the tribute of our devotion and our love." (from the Assumption Prayer of Pope Pius XII)

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb JESUS.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen

St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Patron of our Difficult Times, pray for us!

2007-08-14T09:01:00.000-04:00

Maximilian Mary Kolbe was born in Poland. He consecrated himself to the Lord in the Franciscan Order. Filled with love for the Virgin, he founded the Militia of the Immaculate Mary and, with his preaching and writing, undertook an intense apostolic mission in Europe and Asia. Imprisoned in Auschwitz during the Second World War, he offered himself in exchange for the father of a large family who was to be executed. He was given a lethal injection when he failed to die fast enough from starvation in the concentration camp. John Paul II proclaimed him the Patron of Our Suffering Century.

Solemn Act of Consecration to the Immaculate

St. Maximilian M. Kolbe

O Immaculate, Queen of heaven and earth, Refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, to whom God willed to entrust the entire order of mercy, I an unworthy sinner cast myself at your feet, humbly begging you to be so good as to accept me wholly and completely as your possession and property, and to do with me, with my whole life, death and eternity, whatever pleases you. If it pleases you, use my whole self without reserve to accomplish what has been said of you: "She will crush your head," (Gen. 3:15), and also: "You alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world" so that I may become a useful instrument in your immaculate and most merciful hands for promoting and increasing your glory to the maximum in so many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus extend as much as possible the blessed Kingdom of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever you enter, you obtain the grace of conversion and sanctification, since it is through your hands that all graces comes to us from the Most Sweet Heart of Jesus.

V: Allow me to praise you, O most holy Virgin.

R.: Give me strength against my enemies.

Amen

Final Day of our Novena

2007-08-14T08:56:00.000-04:00

Da pacem Dómine in diébus nostris: quia non est álius qui pugnet pro nobis, nisi tu Deus noster.

Give us every day Your peace, Lord:for there is no one else who would defend us but You, our God.

Our Lady Queen of Peace, pray for us!

LEADER: Help us, in all our opinions, words and actions, to be ruled by the gracious love of God our Father, Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit, our constant companion.
Pause for silent meditation.
(Luke 17:20-21) The Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God was to come. He answered, "The Kingdom of God is not like something you can observe and say of it: 'Look, here it is! There it is! See, the kingdom of God is among you!"
ALL: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it know, that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To you do we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer them. Amen

Monday's Novena!

2007-08-13T14:03:00.000-04:00

MONDAY, AUGUST 13th

LEADER: Help us to be mindful of the times when we do not admit our own faults but blame others instead.
Pause for silent meditation.
(Luke 6:41-42) Why do you pay attention to the speck in your brother's eye while you have a log in your eye and are not conscious of it? How can you say to your neighbor: 'Friend, let me take this speck out of your eye,' when you can't remove the log in your own? You Hypocrite! First remove the log from your own eye and then you will see clearly enough to remove the speck from your neighbor's eye.
ALL: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it know, that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To you do we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer them. Amen

Novena - Opps!!

2007-08-13T13:58:00.000-04:00

Sorry, I haven't been able to post since Thursday..... :-(

Novena Update!

FRIDAY, AUGUST 10th
LEADER: Help us to remember the ordinary people in Iraq, Afghanistan and Darfur who have died, have lost their homes or have fled to another country to escape death.
Pause for silent meditation.
(Luke 9:58) The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.
ALL: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it know, that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To you do we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer them. Amen

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11th
LEADER: Help us to be mindful of the times when we express strong feelings using abusive language.
Pause for silent meditation.
(James 3:2b) A person who commits no offense in speech is perfect and capable of ruling the whole self.
ALL: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it know, that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To you do we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer them. Amen

SUNDAY, AUGUST 12th
LEADER: Help us to be mindful of the times when we allow anger in ourselves or others to grow, and we do not seek reconciliation.
Pause for silent meditation
(Matthew 5:23-24) If you are about to offer your gift at the altar and you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with him, and then come back and offer your gift to God.
ALL: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it know, that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To you do we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer them. Amen

St. Edith Stein ~ Pray for us!

2007-08-09T10:36:00.000-04:00

St. Edith Stein pray for us

From the Novena in honor of St. Edith Stein

The Auschwitz Extermination Camp

Auschwitz was at that time a small provincial Polish town, which was to give its name to the notorious concentration camp, opened nearby by order of Himmler for political prisoners on April 27, 1940. The first camp was rather small in size and was called, subsequently, Auschwitz I. In October 1941, a far more extensive camp was set up, named after a neighboring village, Auschwitz II-Birkenau (Encyclopaedia Judaica Vol. 3, Coll. 854-871). From March 1942, Jews were directed to the second camp. Mass murders of Jewish prisoners by Zyklon B (prussic acid) gas was instituted at Birkenau as from January 1942, at the instigation of Adolf Eichmann, who was in overall command of the execution of the "Final Solution" of the Jewish Problem by genocide, decided on by the Nazis at Wansee in 1941. The gassing continued for two years and ten months, during which time a million Jews perished in the camp. The convoys arrived at the rate of three or four a day; they were usually met at the platform by the Camp Commandant, Rudolph Hoess, later executed for war-crimes, and the infamous Dr. Mengele, who performed the "Selektion", strong prisoners being separated for forced labor in mines and factories, the remainder being consigned for immediate "elimination."

The first transport of prisoners from Holland arrived in July 1942; the one carrying our Saint was, perhaps, the third, being preceded by a transport of men which had reached the camp that afternoon. The newcomers were taken to barracks and told to leave their clothes on a numbered peg, to be retrieved after the shower, which they were falsely led to believe would follow. Women usually had their hair cut off. The prisoners had then to walk four hundred meters along a path till they came to a large room, with tubes running across the ceiling. Force was used to get them to enter, when necessary. The metal doors were locked, levers operated and the gas introduced into the rooms. Twenty to twenty-five minutes later, electric-pumps evacuated the gas, allowing special commando-units to enter and empty the chambers. Not all the victims were dead. Gold dentures were removed and the corpses carted away to be thrown into a common fosse. Crematoria had not yet been installed at Auschwitz; but, later, to obliterate traces of their crimes, the Nazis exhumed the corpses and had them burnt. From the moment of the arrival of a convoy to the extermination of the victims, no more than an hour and a half would elapse, as a rule. The killing of human beings became a monotonous routine.

Saint Edith, her companions and a thousand other Hebrew Catholics died in the gas-chambers of Auschwitz II-Birkenau on the morning of August 9th from suffocation by prussic acid fumes. She then entered into her glory, accompanied, as we like to believe, by many others.

Saint Edith Stein was accompanied by a group of Hebrew Catholics throughout her ordeal; they lived with her, prayed with her, shared her spiritual sentiments, and died, most of them, together with her in the same gas-chamber. They are the rays of light that scintillate around our Saint’s crown of glory. Divine Providence wanted to give the world an example of an ideal Hebrew Catholic Community, though one assembled under duress and for a short period only.

We recall a few names, those most closely associated with Saint Edith in her trial:

Rosa, Edith’s sister ~ She was the only member of the Stein family to follow Edith into the Church, delaying her entry until the death of her mother, so as to spare the latter the suffering her entry would have occasioned her. She became a Tertiary Carmelite and rendered service to the Nuns at Echt, from where she left with her sister, Edith, for Auschwitz.

Dr. Bromberg and his family ~ The Doctor, his wife, son and daughter travelled in the transport from Amersfoort to Westerbork. They survived the war, as by a miracle. Mrs. Bromberg, who was very close to Edith, left a fine testimony to her bearing during the two days Edith spent in the camp. The son was ordained a priest in the Dominican Order after the war: Fr. Ignatius Bromberg, O.P.

The Löb family ~ The father was a Dr. Löb; of his five children, two became Trappist priests, two Trappistines, and one, a Trappist lay-brother. The two priests deployed an admirable ministry amongst the prisoners, proving a benediction to them in their distress. All were to die with Edith and Rosa.

Sister Judith Mendez da Costa ~ Her family had left Portugal in the 16th century to settle in Amsterdam. She became a Dominican nun and was conventual in Bilthoven from where she was carried off by the Gestapo on August 2nd. Her distant Portuguese origin provided an excuse, so that she was set free for a while and returned to her convent on the 15th August. On the 25th February 1944, she and the entire Portuguese community were transferred from Westerbork to Theresienstadt camp and from there to Auschwitz (16th May) where they were all gassed. Her brother and sister died in the torment. Sister Judith managed to send to her Superior a detailed description of her stay in Westerbork, from August 4th to August 15th, during which time she met Saint Edith.

Alice Reis ~ She entered the Church in 1932, Edith Stein standing as her godmother. Two years later she entered the Sisters of the Good Shepherd as a postulant. Circumstances in Germany being what they were at the time, she was sent to Holland. On account of her asthma, she was not accepted as a religious, but remained on as a lay-helper to the Sisters in several of their establishments. At 5 o’clock on the morning of August 2nd, she was snatched from her convent at Almelo by the Gestapo and sent to Amersfoort camp, from where she accompanied our Saint on the journey to Auschwitz.

Dr. Ruth Kantorowicz of the Ursuline Convent at Venlo ~ She had been an old friend of Edith’s. She was arrested on August 2nd and carried off to Amersfoort and then in a goods-train to Hooghalen. She was one of those who were forced to walk across fields, woods and hedges to the Westerbork camp. In answer to an urgent note, the Ursulines sent her supplies with two gentlemen. They saw her in the camp with Edith Stein, both wearing the yellow star-shaped patch. She remarked that the Trappist priests had not been able to celebrate Holy Mass for them. She left with Edith for Auschwitz.

Dr. Meirowsky ~ Since 1940, she had been resident in the lodge of the Trappistine Abbey near Tilburg. She was a medical doctor of Polish-Jewish origin, acquainted with our Saint with whom she had exchanged several letters. At Tilburg, she rendered valuable services to the community as doorkeeper and community doctor. She was a member of the Dominican Third Order and was regarded by the Trappistines as one of themselves.

In a letter addressed to Dr. Meirowsky's confessor from Westerbork, dated "Transfiguratio, 6, VIII." Dr. Meirowsky expressed the most admirable spiritual sentiments, showing to what extent our Saint was seconded in her intentions by other Hebrew Catholics. We quote the following passages from her letter: "I want to send you my last greetings and to tell you that I have complete confidence in God and have surrendered myself entirely to His will. Even more — I regard it as a grace and privilege to be driven along this road under these conditions, a witness to the words of our good Fathers and shepherds in Christ. "If our sufferings have been increased somewhat then we have received a double portion of grace and a glorious crown is being prepared for us in heaven. Rejoice with me. I am going forward unshaken, confidently and joyfully — like the Sisters who are with me — to testify to Jesus Christ and to bear witness to the Truth in company with our Bishops. We are going as children of Our Holy Mother, the Church; we will unite our sufferings with the sufferings of our King, our Saviour and our Bridegroom, sacrificing ourselves for the conversion, for the Jews, for those who persecute us, so that all may know the peace of Christ and his Kingdom. Join with me in thanking God for this great favor by singing an exultant Magnificat." The letter was signed, Sister M. Magdalena Dominica (in the world, Dr. Meirowsky).

In our humble option, the sentiments that emanate from Dr. Meirowsky’s letter are no less sublime than those expressed by the early Christian martyrs as they went to their death by fire, by torture and by the lions, in the arenas of the Roman Empire.

Thursday Novena Prayer

2007-08-09T10:09:00.000-04:00

LEADER: Help us to remember the pain suffered by ordinary people from the atom bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, near the Catholic cathedral, this day in 1945. Let us also remember today the entrance into heaven of Edith Stein, St. Teresia Benedicta of the Cross, from Auschwitz in 1942.

Pause for silent meditation.

(Matthew 5:43-44) You have heard that it was said: Love your neighbor and do not do good to your enemy. But this I tell you: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.

ALL: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it know, that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To you do we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer them. Amen

Wednesday Novena in Honor of Our Lady of Peace

2007-08-08T12:02:00.000-04:00

LEADER: Help us to embrace God's entire creation as careful stewards and to share God's gifts unselfishly.

Pause for silent meditation.

(Genesis 1:28) God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it, rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the sky, over every other living creature that moves on the ground."

ALL: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it know, that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To you do we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer them. Amen

Tuesday Novena in Honor of Our Lady of Peace

2007-08-07T08:59:00.000-04:00

LEADER: Help us to remember that each human being is to be valued at every stage of life, from conception to natural death.

Pause for silent meditation

(Genesis 1:26a-27) God said, "Let us make man in Our image, to Our likeness. So God created man in His image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

ALL: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it know, that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To you do we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer them. Amen

Pope Paul VI

2007-08-06T22:45:00.000-04:00

In his Sunday, August 5, 2007 general audience at Castel Gandolfo, the pope's summer home, Pope Benedict XVI remembered Pope Paul VI who died August 6, 1978, on the Feast of the Transfiguration: “The solemnity of the Transfiguration remains linked to the memory of my venerated predecessor, the Servant of God, Paul VI, who in 1978, here in Castel Gandalfo, completed his earthly mission and was called into the heavenly house of the Father. His memory invites us to raise our eyes to heaven and to faithfully serve the Lord and the Church as he did in the difficult years of the last century.” Pope Paul VI

"Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows." ~ Pope Paul VI

Requiescat in Pace - Amen

Our Lady, Queen of Peace - Patroness of El Salvador

2007-08-06T14:27:00.000-04:00

Da pacem Dómine in diébus nostris: quia non est álius qui pugnet pro nobis, nisi tu Deus noster.

Give us every day Your peace, Lord: for there is no one else who would defend us but You, our God.

Tradition has it that some time in 1682 some merchants found an abandoned box on the southern shore of El Salvador. They were unable to open the box. As it was tightly closed and sealed, they surmised that it contained something of value, and decided to take it to the City of San Miguel where they would find out how to open it. They tied the box on a donkey's back and undertook the long and dangerous journey to the city, where they arrived on November 21, meaning to inform the local authorities of their find. But when they went by the parish church, now a cathedral, the donkey lay down on the ground. They were then able to open the box and were surprised to find that it contained a lovely image of Our Lady holding the Child.

The origin of this image is still a mystery, as it never was known for whom the box was intended, or how it came to reach the beaches of El Salvador. But it is evident that the image was sent to heal a divided populace.

It is said that a hard and bloody struggle was going on between the inhabitants of the region, but when they heard of the marvelous discovery in the abandoned box, they put down their weapons and immediately ceased fighting. It is also related that during the 1833 struggles, when everyone expected a blood bath, the victorious side, instead of taking reprisals, had the blessed image placed in the atrium of the parish church. At the feet of Our Lady, a solemn vow was made to keep no grudges and to erase all hatred from the people's hearts so that peace would bring about brotherhood and reconciliation. This is why the image was given the beautiful title of Our Lady of Peace, whose liturgical celebration is held on November 21 in memory of its arrival at San Miguel.

The statute is a dressed wood carving. It has the coat-of-arms of El Salvador embroidered on the front of the image's white robe. The image holds a gold palm leaf in memory of the eruption of the Chaparrastique volcano, which threatened to destroy the city with burning lava. The frightened dwellers of San Miguel brought out the statute of Our Lady of Peace to the principal door of the cathedral, and at that precise moment the force of the lava changed direction, moving away from the city. In the exact place where the lava changed direction there's a town called "Milagro de la Paz" (Miracle of Peace).

On the day this happened, September 21, 1787, everyone saw in the sky, formed by the clouds, a white palm frond that seemed to sprout from the crater of the volcano. Considering that this was a sign of the Virgin's protection, her faithful decided to place in her hand a gold palm like the one they had seen in the sky.

Benedict XV authorized the crowning of the image, which took place on November 21, 1921. The goldsmith who made the Virgin's crown used 650 grams of gold and many precious stones, among which was a huge emerald surrounded by diamonds. The new shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Peace was completed in 1953.

Our Lady of Peace intercede for us, Archbishop Oscar Romero, pray for us

August 6th ~ Novena Prayer in Honor of Our Lady of Peace

2007-08-06T14:19:00.001-04:00

DAILY OPENING PRAYER:Mary, our Mother, Queen of Peace, we pray for your help as we meditate on violence of word and action in families, communities and among nations. Through your maternal love, show us how to follow those teachings of your Son Jesus, His apostles and the prophets that will convert us to nonviolent love and draw us into the kingdom of God. Amen

LEADER: Help us to remember the ordinary people who were killed by our nation's atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan this day in 1945.
Pause for silent meditation.
(Isaiah 2:4) God will rule over the nations and settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations will not raise sword against nation, they will train for war no more.

ALL: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it know, that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To you do we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer them. Amen

The Virgin Mary - Queen of Peace

2007-08-03T10:03:00.000-04:00

Da pacem Dómine in diébus nostris:

quia non est álius qui pugnet pro nobis, nisi tu Deus noster.

Give us every day Your peace, Lord:

for there is no one else who would defend us but You, our God.

OUR LADY OF PEACE,

Patroness of El Salvador

pray for us.

Although, Our Lady of Peace is the patroness of the Hawaiian Islands -- Santa Fe, NM and El Salvador, the title of Our Lady of Peace is not too well defined. It appears normally as the title of “Queen of Peace” for which the Church has a special Mass -- “Missa Beata Maria Virgo Regina Pacis”.

Mary is the Immaculate Conception, a person at peace with herself and with God. There are many papal encyclicals asking Mary to intercede for peace.

The Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary contains a Mass (for ordinary times) devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace. In this Mass there is detailed the reasons why Mary is called the Queen of Peace. She is the Mother of the “Prince of Peace” (see the Introit) who reconciled heaven and earth (see Communion). She was standing at the foot of the cross where Christ merited peace for the whole world. At Pentecost Mary prayed for the Spirit of Peace (see the Preface). She is our intercessor with God to obtain the Spirit of Love, Unity and Reconciliation (see the Collect & Communion).

In 1917 Pope Benedict XV added the advocation “Queen of Peace” to the Litany of Loreto.

Join our Parish Novena in honor of OUR LADY, QUEEN OF PEACE. This Novena will be celebrated from August 6th, 2007 to August 14th, 2007 -- After the daily 7 a.m. & 12:15 p.m. Masses. Please join with us in praying this Novena.

Lord, Grant us your Peace

2007-08-02T08:53:00.000-04:00

As we pray for peace in our hearts, our homes, our church, our community and our world, we intercede to our Blessed Mother for her intercession on our behalf.

From the Solemnity Of Mary, Mother Of God

XXXV World Day Of Peace

Homily Of John Paul II

Tuesday, 1 January 2002

If Jesus is Life, Mary is the Mother of Life.

If Jesus is Hope, Mary is the Mother of Hope.

If Jesus is Peace, Mary is the Mother of Peace, Mother of the Prince of Peace.

Holy Mother, Mother of the Prince of Peace, help us!

Mother of Humanity and Queen of Peace, pray for us!

Amen

Join our Parish Novena in honor of OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE will be celebrated from August 6th, 2007 to August 14th, 2007 ~ After the daily 7 a.m. & 12:15 p.m. Masses. You are welcome to join us online in praying this Novena.

Precious Blood of Jesus wash away our sins!

2007-07-31T08:35:00.000-04:00

Act of Reparation to the Precious Blood of Jesus

Adorable Jesus, Lamb without spot, who ceasest not to pour forth Thy Divine Blood in order to appease and justice of Thy Heavenly Father; innocent and thrice holy Victim, who hast paid for the guilty a ransom infinite in merit and in sacrifice, I come before Thee to render thanksgiving for Thy benefits to us, and to make some poor amends for the crimes committed upon earth. Lord, how small, alas, are the number of those who do Thee honor, and how numerous, on the contrary, are they who despise and trample under foot Thy Precious Blood! How many daily satiate Thee with the approbrium of Calvary!

O Jesus, by the potent voice of Thy Divine Blood, and in the name of the infinite merits of Thy heart-rending Passion, I implore Thy mercy, not for myself alone, but for the many souls who, resisting the call of grace, refuse to seek, at the foot of the Cross, or under the shadow of the Tabernacle, pardon and life. Pity, gentle Jesus, pity all these; pity also those who dare to approach Thee all uncleansed, and to mingle Thine adorable Blood with the mire of their sins. Yes, pity, mercy, pardon! We implore these graces in the name of Thy Blood and Thy Eucharist!
Most holy Mary, bless me! Take my heart, hold it fast, and keep it in perpetual adoration before the altar; that there it may ever be, glorifying Jesus, and making reparation for the outrages offered to His Blood.

Amen

Peace Novena

2007-07-29T23:06:00.000-04:00

OUR LADY, QUEEN OF PEACE, pray for us!

Join us in praying our Peace Novena in honor of Our Lady of Peace -- from August 6th, to August 14th, 2007. This is an opportunity for all of us to pray for peace in the world and in our hearts. The Novena will be prayed after the daily 7 a.m. & 12:15 p.m. Masses at Saint Thomas Aquinas Church and after all the Sunday Masses at both Saint Thomas Aquinas Church and Holy Family Church. Copies of the novena in English & Spanish will be available in the church vestibule or online for those who wish to pray at home. With all of the problems in the world, there certainly is no question regarding the importance of saying a Novena with the intention for peace in our world and in our hearts!!

Our Lady, Queen of Peace is the patroness of the Hawaiian Islands. The first Catholic missionaries to the Hawaiian Islands arrived at Honolulu Bay on July 7, 1827. These missionaries were members of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and of Perpetual Adoration and upon their arrival in the islands dedicated their labors to the patroness of the Congregation, Our Lady Queen of Peace and placed the Islands under her protection. It was in her honor that these missionaries erected the first Catholic Church.

After more than a decade of contentious relations with the Hawaiian government, the missionaries were finally allowed to proceed with their evangelization work. In thanksgiving, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace was erected. Completed in 1843, a statue of Our Lady Queen of Peace was placed in the niche above the main altar. The Cathedral was solemnly blessed and dedicated to Our Lady of Peace on the feast of the Assumption, August 15, 1843. Blessed Damien of Molokai was a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

The original statue of Our Lady Queen of Peace is located in the Convent Chapel of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts in Picpus, France. During the troubled days of the Commune, in 1871, the populace, incited by atheistic leaders, invaded churches, chapels and convents, destroying every emblem of religion that fell into their hands. The chapel of Our Lady Queen of Peace became their prey. The Superior, with tears in her eyes, begged them to spare their beloved shrine; and, strange to say, the rabble went away, leaving it unharmed. When the tempest of the persecution subsided, the statue was again returned to its usual place and honored and venerated by a phalanx of devout souls. On July 9, 1906, the statue of Our Lady Queen of Peace was solemnly crowned in the name of Pope Pius X by his Eminence Cardinal Amette, Archbishop of Paris. Every year on July 9 the feast of Our Lady Queen of Peace is celebrated with great solemnity in the Congregation of the Fathers and Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and Perpetual Adoration.

During World War I Pope Benedict XV added the title Queen of Peace to the Litany of Loreto.

The Novena prayer will be available online very soon! Please join us in prayer asking the Lord to grant us the gift of His peace.

Da pacem Dómine in diébus nostris: quia non est álius qui pugnet pro nobis, nisi tu Deus noster. Amen
Give us every day Your peace, Lord: for there is no one else who would defend us but You, our God. Amen

July ~ the month of the Most Precious Blood

2007-07-15T17:30:00.000-04:00

Precious Blood of Jesus, wash away our sins!

Offering

Of the Precious

Blood for Souls

O my God, I beg of Thee in

union with the Immaculate Heart

of Mary, through the merits of the

Precious Blood offered Thee in every

Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world,

to grant that this day one mortal sin may be

averted, one soul in doubt may be converted to

the truth, one soul about to die in sin may receive

the grace of repentance and a happy death, and

the deliverance of that soul in purgatory which is

nearest Heaven. I wish by this offering to console

the Heart Of Jesus in agony for the souls lost

through the Teaching of error against the

true Church of Christ Jesus,

Our Lord. Amen

Our Lady of Lourdes

2007-02-11T16:26:00.000-05:00

Our Lady of Lourdes Pray for us!

It was on February 11th, 1858, that a beautiful lady first appeared to Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes, France.
Marie Bernard, or Bernadette as she was affectionately called, explained the vision she experienced in these words: "A gentle Light brightened the dark recess and there in the Light, a smile. A girl dressed in a white dress, tied with a blue ribbon, a white veil on her head, and a yellow rose on each foot."

A beautiful image [avoiding thinking about the connection to the Cheshire cat :-) ]. May our Lady lead us to her Son, heal our problems and help our parish community! Amen

I also found it interesting to discover the St. Bernadette was the first Canonized Saint that we have an actual photograph of. Interesting.....

Epiphany at St. Thomas Aquinas ~ Holy Family

2007-01-14T16:15:00.000-05:00

The Lord has been manifest to us!!

O God, by Your heavenly star, You guided those who were wise to your beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

May Your blessing come to rest on our homes and all of us. Make our lives wise with Your wisdom, true to Your teaching, and enlivened by Your love. May Your Word made flesh make His home among us. Amen.

We thank the Lugo Family for their incredible generosity in facilitating our Three Kings Celebration. May God always bless you!

Our Lady of the Rosary

2006-10-14T10:41:00.000-04:00

October is the Month of the Rosary.

In keeping with Fr. Jesus' devotion to this prayer, let us all make a special attempt to pray the Rosary during October.

To quote Pope John Paul II ~ "October is the month in which Mary Most Holy, Queen of the Holy Rosary, is venerated. Within the current international context, I invite all ~ individuals ~ families ~ communities ~ to pray this Marian prayer, possibly every day, for peace, so that the world can be preserved from the wicked scourge of terrorism."

Our Lady of the Rosary pray for us.......

The Christian Bill of Rights

2006-10-07T11:52:00.000-04:00

Happy Autumn -- it's a chill day and the trees are starting to show some color!! Thank God for the beauty of our world!!

I've been meaning to post this link for a while......

With thanks to our Anglican brother at http://monasticmumblings.typepad.com/ the following is his September 5th, 2006 posting.....

We, as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, have given our hearts, minds and lives to Him and are dedicated to serving the world in His name and in His love. We believe the following 9 rights to be self-evident in scripture.

We believe, furthermore, that these rights are God-given and are therefore not subject to the will of man, the legislation of government nor the fiat of the courts. Namely,

We have the right to be known as the children of God. (John 1:12)

We have the right to suffer persecution for our faith and to accept this persecution as normal. (2nd Timothy 3:12)

We have the right to shower our persecutors with love, grace, mercy and kindness. (Romans 12:14)

We have the right to suffer insult and injury without redress. (Matthew 5:39)

We have the right to be compelled to serve others and to serve over and above that which we are legally required to do. (Matthew 5: 41)

We have the right to pay more than a court 0rdered settlement against us requires, regardless of the justness of the verdict. (Matthew 5:40)

We have the right to poverty. (Luke 18: 18-25)

We have the right to pay taxes without complaint or comment as to how those taxes are spent. (Mark 12:13-17)

We have the right to refuse our self determination for submission and obedience to God. (Mark 8:34 - 38)

With this document I hereby call upon all Christians to petition their government and demand their rights.
>>

Interesting

The Feast of the Assumption

2006-08-15T03:33:00.000-04:00

Let us rejoice with our Mother!! :-)

The Assumption - by A Missionary Sister of St. Peter Claver. "Echo From Africa, page 117, date: August 1975. "

"Lo, amidst the sunrise's aurora gold what do Heaven's inhabitants behold? Upon a white cloud a beautiful Virgin stands reverently borne aloft by angels' hands.
As to heaven's portals she draws ever more nigh heavenly choirs sing out through the sky: 'Blessed is she who comes to us like a queen. In mere human being such fullness of grace has never been seen!'
The gates of heaven swing open wide while the saints line up, side by side. The angels dance and sing with glee rejoicing that heaven's Queen they are bout to see.
Adam and Eve, Saint Joachim and Saint Anne to the gates are near to welcome, on her arrival, their daughter dear: with them are Saint Zachary and Saint Elizabeth, good Saint Joseph and the prophets too. To pay their Queen their homage true.
As the Virgin Mary sets foot on heaven's land Her Divine Son takes hold of her hand then presses her to His Heart in a loving embrace while her soul overflows with joy and grace.
Saint Elizabeth sets the saints' chanting key singing: 'Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.' Then Mother and Son join the processional train and Mary answers, 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord My spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.' this is her sweet refrain. "

Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us!!

Grant us peace!

2006-07-30T22:56:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday, the Holy Father, Benedict XVI, called for a world wide day of prayer and penance for peace in the Middle East to be observed on Sunday, July 23, 2006.

At the St. Thomas Aquinas 9 a.m. Mass, we joined with the Holy Father and our fellow Catholics throughout the world in asking the Lord to grant us His peace and sang "Da pacem Dómine" as part of the beginning and ending of our worship.

In view of the continuing troubles in the Holy Land, we invite you to join us in praying for peace.

"Da pacem Dómine in diébus nostris : quia non est áli us qui pugnet pro nobis, nisi tu Deus noster."

"Grant us every day your peace, O Lord, for there is no one else to defend us except You our God."

Amen

Multiplication of the Loaves & Fishes

2006-07-30T18:12:00.000-04:00

Who do you think was the hero of today's readings????

In my opinion, it was the little boy who was willing to share his lunch of 5 loaves of bread & two fish. It wasn't a lot of food -- actually it wouldn't be enough to feed the boy, the 12 disciples and Jesus. When the poor disciples despaired of feeding themselves, let alone the crowd of over 5 thousand people -- JESUS encouraged them to share the little that they had and multiplied the loaves and divided the fishes and there was plenty for everyone.

A miracle happened that day. It doesn't matter if the miracle was that 5 loaves & 2 fish turned into enough food for thousands or that when the people realized that a little boy was willing to share, the miracle was that the people who had been hiding the food that they had brought with them, pulled their food out and everyone got to share in the feast.

Whatever really happened, the important thing to remember is that when one little boy was willing to share the little that he had, Jesus blessed the food and there was 12 large baskets of leftovers.

Each of us have something to share, it might not seem like much, but God can do wonderful things with anything we give. When we share with others, maybe we will start something amazing too. Because God can work marvels through ordinary people -- like little boys and you and me.

Reconfiguration

2006-07-16T22:38:00.000-04:00

As some of you may have noticed -- our web site has changed:

FROM: The Roman Catholic Community of Saint Thomas Aquinas -- Built with Love - Alive in Christ - 121 years and Growing

TO: The Roman Catholic Community of Saint Thomas Aquinas & Holy Family -- Two churches - Joining as ONE Family - Together in Love.

On April 25th, 2006 the Diocese of Brooklyn approved the reconfiguration of Holy Family parish and Saint Thomas Aquinas parish. Due to the shortage of priests and demographic changes in our neighborhood our two parishes are in the process of merging into one community. Change is always difficult and we pray for the Lord's guidance and blessing on our new community -- that together we will proclaim the good news of Jesus to all in Park Slope.

We ask for God's special blessing on our new community -- especially for the members of Holy Family parish who have just experienced the loss of their beloved Pastor -- Father Thomas E. Fox.

For all of the members of our reconfigured parish community that we will listen to the whispering of the Holy Spirit and unite to build the Kingdom of God in Park Slope!!!

AMEN

Thank you Jesus!!

2006-07-16T22:34:00.000-04:00

Thank you Jesus for the gift of electricity -- enabling us to cool off with fans and air conditioning!! :-)

Thank you Jesus for the gift of indoor plumbing -- so we can take a COLD shower on a HOT day! :-) :-)

Thank you Jesus for the gift of community -- that in spite of the hot weather we gather together to celebrate Holy Mass every Sunday! :-) :-) :-)

Vacations

2006-07-12T21:59:00.000-04:00

May we all have a blessed and happy vacation!!!

Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, Preacher of the Papal Household, on vacations: "Vacations should be that time of year when, through contemplating nature and reading the word of God, people can look inside themselves and get in touch with the most important motivations of their lives. Perhaps the most beautiful meaning of vacation is that of getting back into an intimate, profound contact with the root of our being." Vacations provide an opportunity to spend "...more time dedicated to prayer, reading, and meditation on the deep meaning of life. It is not that vacations should not also be used for enjoyment and amusement, but they are a gift given in order to discover something, they are not a time to lose or waste, but a time to value to the maximum."

Enjoy the GIFT of summer!

It's Summertime!!

2006-07-08T12:34:00.000-04:00

Happy Summer!!

To quote a childhood song that used to play every morning while we vacationed at Policecamp -- "Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer -- those days of soda and pretzels and beer!!! "

Summer started at STA with our parish Unity Day in celebration of the Feast day of Corpus Christi was a wonderful, SPIRITFILLED and FUN day for all who attended!!! :-) The prayer, music, talks and food were all inspiring!! Great way to begin the summer!!!

May this time of summer enable all of us to appreciate the beautiful world that we live in!

A Summer Psalm of Freedom by Fr. Ed Hays

O God of all seasons, it's summer -- the season I dreamed about throughout winters long, dreary days.
Now is the time of leisure, time to be out-of-doors-and-walls.
But so often I feel like an over-civilized child of this century of convenience and comfort.

Six months ago, it was snow and ice that screened me in form earth's delights.
Now it's a television screen that too often massages my mind, weary from work, that screens me in from shaman summer's healing touch.

And even if I flick that dead-window off and go outside on the porch, I'm still screened in or carefully protected, lest bugs and flies disturb my comfort by bringing nature far too close.

Grant me, O never-tiring Miracle Worker, the freedom of my childhood to run and play with abandon, without thought of comfort, bugs or flies, in summer's great vacationland.

Amen!

Trinity Sunday Revisited

2006-06-12T22:23:00.000-04:00

With thanks to our Anglican Brother's Monastic Mumblings Blog ..... The following is sorta hard to read but reaching the end is well worth the effort!! :-)

St. Athanasius (296 to 373) the archbishop of Alexandria's Creed regarding belief in the Trinity!

WHOSOEVER WILL BE SAVED, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the Catholic Faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one, the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal. As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated, but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords, but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be both God and Lord, So are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son, neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other; none is greater, or less than another; But the whole three Persons are co-eternal together and co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved is must think thus of the Trinity. Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man of the substance of his Mother, born in the world; Perfect God and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the Father, as touching his manhood; Who, although he be God and Man, yet he is not two, but one Christ; One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh but by taking of the Manhood into God; One altogether; not by confusion of Substance, but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, he sitteth at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence he will come to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies and shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil into everlasting fire. This is the Catholic Faith, which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.

Amen

TRINITY SUNDAY

2006-06-10T20:43:00.000-04:00

May the Triune God bless our journey together!!

As the Lord sent His disciples into the world to spread God's word and assured them He would be with them until the end of time, so, too, may the Holy Spirit be with you and yours as you share the word of God's love with all you meet along the road.

May the Blessing of the Three be always on us!
The Blessing-help of the Three upon your waking,
The blessing-help of the Three upon your walking,
The blessing-help of the Three upon your working,
and upon your knees that they may never weaken!!

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was, is now and ever shall be! Amen!

Remember that next Saturday is the STA Feast Day celebration of Corpus Christi and a UNITY day for our parish and for the parish of Holy Family! Hope to see you there!!

Pentecost -- The Birthday of the Church

2006-06-05T23:21:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday was the birthday of our Church!! When the Spirit of the living God inflamed the disciples into transforming their world!

Come Holy Spirit and guide us into transforming our world -- especially the small section of St. Thomas Aquinas and Holy Family Parishes!!! From our lips to your ears!!

To quote the Holy Father ~ "This is the mystery of Pentecost: The Holy Spirit illuminates the human spirit and, on revealing Christ crucified and risen, indicates the way to become more like him, that is, to be "expression and instrument of love that comes from him" ("Deus Caritas Est," No. 33). The Church, gathered with Mary, as at her birth, today implores: "Veni Sancte Spiritus!" -- "Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of thy love!" Amen.

AMEN!!! ALLELUIA!!

Mother's Day Blessing

2006-05-13T10:27:00.000-04:00

Lord God, Bless the Mother of our Family.

Bless her with the strength of Your Spirit, she who has taught her children how to stand and how to walk.

Bless her with the melody of Your love, she who has shared how to speak, how to sing and how to pray to You.

Bless her with a place at Your eternal dinner table, she who has fed and nurtured the life that was formed within her while still helpless but embraced in her love.

Bless her today, now, in this lifetime, with good things, with health.

Bless her with joy, love, laughter and pride in her children and surround her with many good friends.

May she who carried life in her womb be carried one day to Your divine embrace, there, for all eternity to rejoice with her family and friends.

Amen

Father Thomas E. Fox

2006-05-03T15:47:00.000-04:00

Eternal Rest Grant unto Fr. Fox, Oh Lord!

And let perpetual life shine upon him.

May he rest in peace, and may his soul

and all the souls of the faithful departed

through the mercy of God rest in peace!

Amen

Our MOST sincere condolences to our Brothers & Sisters of Holy Family Parish whose beloved pastor, Father Thomas E. Fox was welcomed into heaven on Holy Saturday (April 15th, 2006). Fr. Fox has been the pastor of Holy Family Parish since 1994. He was a loving person, a great storyteller and a person who was filled with the joy of being a Christian. Although he wasn't tall, his vibrant personality stood out in any gathering.

He will forever be a part of the lives of all of the people he touched during his ministry to the Diocese of Brooklyn. I know that he touched many children during his ministry at Good Shepherd parish in the 1960's, as he took the time to help us learn our catechism, our vowels and how to draw. As Catholic's we believe that he is still with us, laughing and guiding us to our eternal home. To quote Fr. Ed Hays ~ "With their last breath those we love do not say good-bye .... for love is timeless. Instead, they leave us a solemn promise that when they are finally at rest in God, they will continue to be present to us whenever they are called upon. Let us fear not, or grieve beyond letting go the departure of those we have greatly loved, for in the Tree of Life their roots and ours are forever intertwined."

He is Risen!! Alleluia

2006-04-30T17:50:00.000-04:00

Alleluia!!!

He is Risen as He said!! :-)

Time has just flown by and not only have we traveled through Lent, but it is already the 3rd Sunday of Easter!

Lent was a prayerful time here at STA with many different opportunities for reflection:
The reading of Pope Benedict's new encyclical over a period of 3 weeks
Stations of the Cross every Friday
A presentation of a Journey to the Holy Land by Fr. Jesus & Msgr. White
A Charismatic Healing Mass in English
A Charismatic Youth Retreat in Spanish
A presentation by Creative Ministries of "The Journey ~ Cross & Crucifixion
Lenten Pretzels
A Viewing of the Passion of the Christ for Adults
A Viewing of The Miracle Maker for Children
Stations of the Cross for Families
Chanting the Lenten Introits

On Good Friday over 700 people from our cluster parishes of STA, Our Lady of Peace, Holy Family, St. John the Evangelist, St. Rocco & Our Lady of Czestochowa joined by the parish of Holy Name prayed the Way of the Cross through the streets of Windsor Terrace, Sunset Park and Park Slope. This 3 hour process was an impressive showing of the faith of our communities!

During this Easter season, may we celebrate our Lord and continue to walk with Him!

It's time to prepare for our Lenten Journey!

2006-02-19T16:29:00.000-05:00

Soon it will be Ash Wednesday ~ it's time to open our hearts to where the Spirit of God would lead us this year!! It's time to prepare for our Lenten journey!!

In addition for our personal preparation -- there are a number of Lenten Opportunities to participate in here at St. Thomas.

Weekly Stations of the Cross -- Every Friday after the 12:15 p.m. Mass in English and at 7:30 p.m. in Spanish.

Charismatic Healing Mass on Tuesday, March 14th, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. in the Main Church. Refreshments after Mass.

Journey to the Holy Land with Fr. Jesús on Thursday, March 23rd, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. in the Church Auditorium.

The Journey -- Cross & Crucifixion ~ Presented by Creative Ministries on Friday March 31st, 2006 at 8 p.m. in the Main Church. This is a contemporary expression of the Stations of the Cross. Refreshments afterwards in the Church Auditorium.

Mark your calendar's and journey with us!

Living Nativity

2006-01-01T17:41:00.000-05:00

More pictures to follow later on our web site

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2006-01-01T17:30:00.000-05:00

At this beginning of the new year of 2006 we wish you many blessings!! May this year be a peaceful and Spirit-filled one for all of us!!

To quote our Holy Father's Christmas Message!!

"God seeks persons who can be vessels and heralds of his peace. Let us pray that he will not find our hearts closed. Let us strive to be active heralds of his peace -- in the world of today. Among Christians, the word "peace" has taken on a very particular meaning: It has become a name for the Eucharist. There Christ's peace is present. In all the places where the Eucharist is celebrated, a great network of peace spreads through the world. The communities gathered around the Eucharist make up a kingdom of peace as wide as the world itself. When we celebrate the Eucharist we find ourselves in Bethlehem, in the "house of bread." Christ gives himself to us and, in doing so, gives us his peace. He gives it to us so that we can carry the light of peace within and give it to others. He gives it to us so that we can become peacemakers and builders of peace in the world. And so we pray: Lord, fulfill your promise! Where there is conflict, give birth to peace! Where there is hatred, make love spring up! Where darkness prevails, let light shine! Make us heralds of your peace! Amen."

May we be heralds of Christ the King this year!!

¡Feliz Año Nuevo! Happy New Year!!

Merry Christmas

2006-01-01T17:16:00.000-05:00

Christmas was beautiful at STA. We have living Nativities at both the Christmas Eve Family Mass at 5:30 p.m. [and Santa made a quick visit prior to setting off on his Christmas deliveries :-) ] and at the Christmas Day Spanish Mass! The joy of the children participants was inspiring!

On behalf of all of us at ST. Thomas Aquinas Church we wish you a blessed and happy Christmas season!

To all of our parishioners and our web visitors!

It is our joy to bring you Christmas greetings and to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all that you are and you have done for our parish community. This is the time of year when our thoughts turn with longing to the central mystery of our faith, the incarnation ~ the enfleshment of God in the Person of Jesus. Always at the heart of our Christmas celebration is the greatest gift of love the world has ever seen. We are not now and will never again be alone! The angel's invitation on this sacred night to the shepherds watching their sheep to come and to celebrate the birth of Christ still echoes to us 2,000 years later. We encourage all who read this note to mark the birth of our Saviour by celebrating with our community at St. Thomas Aquinas. We invite you to come home for Christmas, to reverence our God and gather with us around the Lord's table. Our God has come to save us and He awaits you! May this Christmas inspire each one of us to become more like Christ, the Gift of God, to our family, friends, and the other members of our community. For greater than any gift of the Magi is the gift of yourselves given to our parish and the world. As we prepare for the arrival of Christmas, we are grateful for the rich gift of our different traditions and rituals. Each one of you bring something special to our community and our parish is blessed by the diversity of its members. Every year the traditions of Christmas fill us with the trust that even in these difficult times, we too will know the saving power of God. May the blessings of the Holy Infant Jesus fill your homes and your lives, and may the coming New Year bring us lasting peace and happiness!

~ FELIZ NAVIDAD ~ ~ MERRY CHRISTMAS ~

Sincerely,Fr. Jesús & Fr. John

The 4th Sunday of Advent

2005-12-19T22:47:00.000-05:00

Roráte caéli désuper, et núbes plúant jústum: aperiátur térra, et gérminet. Salvatórem. Psalm ~ Caéli enárrant glóriam Déi: et ópera mánuum éjus annúntiat firmamentum. Gloria Pátri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sáncto. Sicut érat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saécula saeculórum. Amen.

Drop down dew, you heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened, and bud forth a Savior. (Isaiah 45:8)

Psalm ~ The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.

Alas, this is the last Sunday our guest will be among us. He returns from whence he came to spend Christmastide with friends and family. Certainly we are happy for him and wish him God’s speed. I’m sure he won’t mind if we listen in on his thoughts this one last time on this last Sunday of Advent.

“I suppose they will sing Christmas Carols next week. I’ve been hearing them on the radio and in stores for a month! Today another Introit, they must have a reason. Well, Advent is one of the Church’s liturgical seasons and they are not making this stuff up. It is in the missal, I checked. The music has been different. Ok, it has been interesting. There must be a reason the Church wants us to begin Mass this way?”

“Today the music is almost gentle. The image is lovely, God’s justice descending like a gentle rain. How typical of myself to open up an umbrella at the first hint of rain. Can’t be too careful, you know. I suppose that’s why, ‘bring forth a Savior’, is placed in an undefined future.”

“Clearly, I’m to prepare not just for this Christmas but for the Second Coming as well. Well, one thing is for sure, I will remember ‘Rorate caeli’ every time I get caught in the rain.”

Gaudete Sunday

2005-12-12T14:38:00.000-05:00

Gaudéte in Dómino semper: íterum díco, gaudéte: modéstia véstra nóta sit ómnibus hominibus: Dóminus prope est Nihil sollíciti sítis: sed in ómni oratióne petitiónes véstrae innotéscant apud Déum. Psalm ~ Benedixisti, Dómine, térram túam: avertisti captivitátem Jácob. Gloria Pátri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sáncto. Sicut érat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saécula saeculórum. Amen.

Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say, rejoice. Let your moderation be known to all men: for the Lord is near. Have no anxiety, but in everything, by prayer let your petitions be made known to God. (Philippians 4: 4, 5)

Psalm ~ You have favored, O Lord, Your land; You have restored the wellbeing of Jacob. (Psalm 84:2)

Lets not forget, as we scurry in from the cold, that we have a visitor. Our imaginary parishioner is among us stamping the cold from his feet as vigorously as any of us. What might his thoughts be on this Gaudete Sunday?

“At least I spared a few thoughts for Advent this week. Of course, the cold weather helped. A subtle reminder from God that the birth of his Son is nigh! Ah, they light the pink candle today. That’s right, it is Gaudete Sunday. Now I know where that name comes from, it is the first word of the Introit. ‘Rejoice, the Lord is near’.”

“Odd though, the music is very reserved almost somber. It’s as if they are saying, ‘He’s not here yet’. True, Christmas is still two weeks away but I think they refer to more than the Liturgical calendar. I believe they mean us to think on the Second Coming.”

“It’s obvious that the Kingdom has not yet come. Jesus himself told us that, ‘His kingdom was not of this world.’ (I skip seasons, that’s Lent.) Still, there must be a way for us to break through to God’s Kingdom? Ah, sitting here in church it seems clear. Prayer and the sacraments can help even a sinner like me catch a glimpse of the Kingdom!”

“I’ll do my bit then to hasten the coming of the Kingdom. I will pray and receive the sacrament. I’ll even sing. Aquinas told us the ‘He who sings prays twice.’ We all like a bargain.”

The Second Sunday of Advent

2005-12-10T22:15:00.000-05:00

SORRY FOR THE DELAY IN POSTING THIS ~ OPPS!

Populus Sion, ecce Dóminus véniet ad salvándas géntes: et audítam fáciet Dóminus glóriam vócis súae, in laetítia córdis vestri. Psalm ~ Qui régis Israel, inténde: qui dedúcis velut óvem Jóseph. Glória Pátri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sáncto, Sicut érat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saécula saeculórum. Amen.

People of Sion, behold the Lord shall come to save the nations; and the Lord shall make the glory of His voice to be heard, in the joy of your heart. (Isaiah 30:19, 30)
Ps. O Shepherd of Israel, hearken, O Guide of the flock of Joseph! (Psalm 79:2)

Let us resume our privileged position as unseen observer of our fellow parishioner’s thoughts on this Second Sunday of Advent.

“Oh that’s right, I had forgotten about Advent immediately after Mass last Sunday. So much for good intentions, I’ve done my fair share to pave that particular road! Ah, another strange melody sung in Latin. Why do they sing that instead of a hymn? Maybe the Church thinks that the message is important?

“What are they singing? ‘People of Zion’, that would be us I guess. It sounds like a proclamation. The music is certainly straight forward almost emphatic. ‘The Lord will come to save all nations’, sounds like an unfulfilled promise. It certainly doesn’t describe the world I see around me!

“Wait, I’m being stubborn and childish. What’s wrong with the world has very little to do with God. We’ve managed this all by ourselves. Indeed, sitting here in church I can almost grasp a different reality or at least the hope of one.

“God’s power in the world is manifest in truth and love. I’m just too stubborn to be open to them most of the time. Perhaps that is part of this Advent message?

Come Lord Jesus! Enter our hearts this Advent!

1st Sunday of Advent Introit

2005-11-27T16:19:00.000-05:00

The Introit for the First Sunday of Advent ~

Ad te levávi ánimam méam: Déus méus in te confído, non erubéscam: neque irrídeant me inimíci méi: étenim univérsi qui te exspéctant, non confundéntur. Psalm ~ Vias tuas, Dómine, demónstra mihi: et sémitas túas édoce me.

To You I lift up my soul: in You, O my God, I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. No one who waits for You shall be put to shame. (Psalm 24:1-3) Psalm ~ Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me Your paths. (Psalm 24: 4)

Let us imagine a companion this Sunday at Mass, a fellow parishioner. Man or woman, whatever you prefer (I will use the masculine pronoun as I learned my grammar many years ago) young or old. He is certainly not the greatest of sinners but far from being a saint. He tries and sometimes succeeds in being both a good person and a good Catholic. In short, he is a person very much like you and me. What thoughts do these Sundays in Advent provoke in him?

“I had completely forgotten that today is the beginning of Advent. Funny how the Church is beginning a new year while the rest of the world hurtles madly towards the end of the old one. How out of step the Church is. I already feel the year end and holiday stress. I’ll never get it all done and I can’t afford the half of it anyway.”

“Yet the Church tells me that Advent is a quiet meditative season, a time of gentle patience and expectation. This Introit they are singing, why do they sing that instead of a hymn? Anyway, the music is in turn both dramatic and plaintive. What does it say? It is both a plea and a promise. Ah, I certainly could stand to be rid of a few enemies!”

“What if it is real and what I left outside is false? God was certainly no abstraction to King David. He was a very real and present and personal God! Hum, maybe this Advent season will lead me somewhere.”

Come Lord Jesus!! Enter our hearts this Advent!

We give Thanks!

2005-11-20T17:25:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

We give thanks to God for His many blessings!! For the food we eat and the family & friends that love us! For the fact that we are alive and well and living in Brooklyn!!

Next Wednesday evening the parish community of St. Thomas Aquinas will gather together for our family Thanksgiving celebration!!! Please bring a donation for our Food Pantry. As is appropriate the little children will lead us, so we invite all young people to arrive at 7:15 p.m. dressed as either a Pilgrim or an Indian. Our Thanksgiving Mass will be celebrated at 7:30 p.m. and be followed by a reception in the church auditorium. Tea, coffee and apple cider will be served and we invite people to participate in our sharing table. Please Join Us!

May your Thanksgiving Day be filled with good fellowship and yummy food! GOBBLE !! GOBBLE!!

It's Autumn in Beautiful Brooklyn

2005-11-02T15:15:00.000-05:00

There was a S.T.A.R.T. outing to Prospect Park last Saturday and the trees are just starting to come ablaze with color!!! By next weekend the park should be radiant with the splendor of God's beautiful creation!! Autumn is a spectacular season -- Don't forget to experience it in the park and while you are there to thank God for his many gifts!!

An Autumn Prayer
By Heather McLees

Lord, as we go forth into this season of falling leaves,
Of Lengthening nights and cooling days,
We listen for the surety of your footfalls
On the rocky path before us,
And watch for the tenderness of your smile
As you look back to beckon us forward,
Onward , in our journey after you.

Web Site Turbulence

2005-10-29T21:15:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately last week our web site was the victim of climatic difficulties... :-(

Although all is well in beautiful Brooklyn, our Web Hosting company is based in Ft. Lauderdale and was walloped by Wilma. Getsite did their best with their back up generator to provide access to our site, but unfortunately it was not available 24 - 7. We apologize for this problem, hope that it will be rectified very soon and appreciate your understanding!

Parish Auction

2005-10-20T22:55:00.000-04:00

Don't miss out!!!

Our annual Parish Dinner / Auction will take place this Saturday, October 22nd, 2005.

Join us for fantastic prizes -- great food -- and wonderful companionship!!!

Hope to see you!!!

Gregorian Chant Apologia

2005-10-19T22:42:00.000-04:00

I'm sure that you were holding your breath waiting for this info!! ;-)

Here are the answers to all the questions

you have been aching to ask about Gregorian chant:

Just what is Gregorian chant?
Gregorian chant is the musical repertoire associated with the liturgies, the Mass and the Divine Office, of the Roman Catholic Church. It is melodic chants, or melodies, composed on sacred Latin texts and is sometimes referred to as the 'Sung Bible'. It is meant to be sung unaccompanied and without harmony. It is quite literally prayer in song and is the universal music of the universal Church.

That's not real helpful. Where did Gregorian chant come from, anyway?
Gregorian chant has its roots with our Jewish ancestors. It was common practice in ancient and then in Roman times to chant the Psalms in synagogue or wherever Jews gathered for prayer. Indeed, it is reported in Mark's Gospel that Our Lord Jesus chanted the psalms with his disciples at the Last Supper (Mk. 14:26). This practice was continued by the early Christians and spread with the early Church. Pope St. Gregory the Great, when the Church was finally free of persecution in the 6th century, compiled and arranged the chants then in common use in Rome. In the 8th century the Frankish King Charlemagne, wanting the singing of the liturgies to be consistent throughout his kingdom which covered much of Europe, imported the Roman chant. Thus, what comes down to us as Gregorian chant is actually a synthesis of Roman and Frankish musical traditions with roots in the East.

So it's old. Is there a lot of it?
Remember, Gregorian chant is the product of 2 millenniums of musical and religious development. It is a large part of our religious and cultural heritage. Sorry, but the repertoire is vast! There are thousands of settings for every conceivable time and purpose. We have not even scratched the surface here at St. Thomas.

So why are we interested in this old stuff?
First, it is not old it is timeless! Second, it is quite beautiful even the way we sing it. Third, we are explicitly told to use Gregorian chant in the Documents of Vatican II.

What? I thought the Second Vatican Council got rid of all that old stuff?
Wrong, although that belief is quite understandable given the common practice here in the States. I am going to have to get technical here but I'll try to be quick and painless. Article 114 of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy states: "The treasure of sacred music is to be preserved and fostered with great care". Article 116 states: "The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman liturgy; therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services." I think that is pretty emphatic!

But what about the Latin? I thought Vatican II got rid of that too?
Wrong again. Article 36 of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy states: "Particular law remaining in force, the use of the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites". Article 54 provides some wiggle room: "In Masses which are celebrated with the people, a suitable place may be allotted to their mother tongue. This is to apply in the first place to the readings and the common prayer, but also, as local conditions may warrant, to those parts which pertain to the people, according to the norm laid down in Article 36 of this constitution. Nevertheless, steps should be taken so that the faithful may also be able to say or to sing together in Latin those parts of the ordinary of the Mass which pertain to them." That is precisely what we are trying to do here at St. Thomas. However, I'm not sure that Vatican II envisioned laminated song sheets!

I don't know, I'm still not sure about the Latin.
It is a little scary but only because we've neglected it for a long time. In Gregorian chant the text and the music are inextricably linked. You cannot translate it into English without also rewriting the music. That would be a travesty. We are being very careful to provide an English text of everything we chant in Latin. You can understand English with your mind and the Latin with your heart.

OK. So where do we go from here?
Well, as we said the repertoire is vast. We hope to make Advent a little special, increase the sense of the sacred. The hymns that we sing at Mass, the Entrance and Communion hymns, are not really what the Roman Rite envisions at these points in the liturgy. (We won't bore you by quoting the appropriate articles!) The singing of hymns was generally reserved for the Divine Office. The official rite calls for an antiphon with psalm verses sung between. In the United States common practice omits the entrance antiphon altogether and replaces it with a hymn. We intend to return to the tradition of chanting the Introit or entrance antiphon for the four Sundays of Advent. They are quite beautiful and set the tone for celebration in a concise and scriptural way.

And then what?
Well, we are open to suggestions. Tell us if there is something you would like to explore. We would like to hold a Vespers service at some time in the future. It is our hope that we will begin to attract new people to St. Thomas. You can help by spreading the word. Tell other people about this Mass.

What if I would like to know more?
Join us. Contact either Edith Newman or John Walsh. We welcome new voices. We work hard but we have fun and learn a lot.

Come on -- check it out -- you may very well be touched by the timeless beauty of Gregorian Chant!!

We're in the Daily News!

2005-10-17T09:26:00.000-04:00

Check out the Brooklyn section of Sunday, October 16th, 2005 New York Daily News!!! STA was profiled on page 2!!!! with pictures of the church and Father John!

As is mentioned in the profile, NEXT Saturday, October 22nd, 2005 is our parish's Annual Auction!!!! Join us for good fellowship -- fun -- yummy food -- and GREAT prizes!!! Hope to see you there!

Gregorian Chant

2005-10-15T11:46:00.000-04:00

Imagine, if you will, that through the agency of some miracle you are whisked away to another time and place. You find yourself in the Middle Ages, the Age of Faith and Miracles! The exact location is of no great concern for this is an, as yet, undivided Christendom, the entire continent of Europe professing one belief and worship. What harm is there in further imagining that it is a Sunday afternoon.

Finding yourself so suddenly transported you might think it prudent to visit church. Miracles, after all, can be unsettling. You would be just in time for Vespers joining with your brothers and sisters in sanctifying the day and all that has happened in it. The music gently rolls about the church filling every space and equally gently touches your soul. It is oddly fulfilling and uplifting yet so ethereal. The music, so haunting, almost makes you reluctant to return to your own time.
Return you do and by coincidence or miracle it is Sunday in the 21st century! What better way to give thanks for your safe return than to attend Mass. What is it that you hear during the 9 a.m. Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Church? Is it possible that some of that strange haunting music has traveled the 1,000 years with you? Another miracle…….

Every Sunday at our 9 a.m. Mass experience Gregorian Chant -- the Universal Music of our Universal Church!!

Watch out for our Gregorian Chant Apologia -- coming soon!!

STA School Reunion

2005-10-11T09:48:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday evening over 200 alumni from St. Thomas Aquinas School returned to celebrate the friendships and memories from their time as STA students. A member of the class of 1927 was in attendance!!

Unfortunately our school building has been closed, but our school is still very much alive in the special memories of our alumni experiences with their Classmates, their Teachers and the Sisters and the Priests of St. Thomas Aquinas. Our alumni continue to honor the memory of St. Thomas Aquinas School by spreading its spirit not only here in Brooklyn but throughout the nation. Thanks be to God!

Our Lady of El Cisne Feast Day Celebration

2005-09-11T17:31:00.000-04:00

Every August in Ecuador there is a Pilgrimage carrying the Statue of Our Lady of El Cisne from El Cisne to Loja with fiestas in every town along the way.

For the past 3 years Brooklyn has had its own fiesta in honor of the Feast day of Our Lady of El Cisne right here at St. Thomas Aquinas. This year's celebration started on August 12th, 2005 with a Rosario. The fiesta began on Saturday, August 13th, 2005 at 6 p.m. with the moving of the statue from its shrine in the Church to a platform in the church yard. The "Ecuadorian Pearl Band" provided music in the church yard and led the procession carrying the image of Our Lady of El Cisne through the streets of Park Slope. The procession consisted of songs & spoken prayers and was very well attended. Upon our return to the church yard, the image of Our Lady of El Cisne led us into the church for the celebration of Holy Mass which was attended by over 600 people. The attendance number is even more impressive considering the fact that the temperature was in the high 90's and the church is not air conditioned. Following Holy Mass there was a shorter procession around the block carrying the image into the Church Auditorium. The reception in the church auditorium consisted of refreshments and the performance of traditional Ecuadorian songs and dances. I’m certain that those of you who were able to participate had a grand time! For those of you who missed out -- consider attending next year!! Your Mother is inviting you to come and celebrate!

Pictures will be posted on the website in a couple of weeks!

We thank the members of the Comité Ecuatoriano Reina del Cisne for all of their hard work in preparation for this celebration!

More on Our Lady of El Cisne -- The Miraculous Water

2005-08-11T16:43:00.000-04:00

The Ecuadorian members of our parish family are very devoted to Our Lady of El Cisne -- who's feast day is celebrated on August 15th. As I have previously mentioned our parish celebration is scheduled for Friday, August 12th, & Saturday, August 13th. Come and join the fun!!

There are many miracles attributed to Our Lady of El Cisne. With apologies to our Ecuadorian brothers & sisters, who being more familiar with the "Miraculous Water" would do a better job of enlightening us and with thanks to the web sites dedicated to "La Santísima Reina del Cisne" the following is what I have learned regarding this miracle. If anyone knows the name of the Campesino, I would appreciate hearing from you!

According to legend in 1800 a Peruvian campesino made a novena to our Lady of El Cisne requesting healing of his serious illness. He promised that if his request were granted he would make a pilgrimage to personally thank the Virgin at the Cathedral of El Cisne. After experiencing a miraculous healing, he set out in August to fulfill his promise and to realize his life long ambition of participating in the feast day celebration of Our Lady of El Cisne. The journey through the Andes Mountains was difficult with steep precipices leading to deep gorges and the trip was long and tiring. To make matters worse, he ran out of water and there was no village in sight. He earnestly searched for water, but to no avail. When he arrived in an area called Huasir, he collapsed from exhaustion & thirst. He didn't realized that he very close to arriving in El Cisne. He called out in prayer to the Virgin requesting that she save his life. While he was praying he noticed that the ground under his face became damp, and was turning into mud. He scraped the mud and it brought forth a trickle of water that grew into a stream from which he was able to drink. Thus refreshed he was able to successfully complete his pilgrimage. To this day the stream is venerated as the miraculous water of the Virgin of El Cisne.

Join us in Honoring Our Blessed Virgin Mary!

2005-08-09T16:29:00.000-04:00

This weekend is a very special time for the Ecuadorian members of our parish family.

All year, the members of the El Cisne Comité have been hard at work preparing for this weekend's celebration of the Feast day of Our Lady of El Cisne, the patroness of Loja, Ecuador.

So you ask, why should I participate in an Ecuadorian celebration??? And the answer is -- (drum roll please) to give honor to Our Blessed Mother who is pleased when we honor her under any of her special titles. Your Mother is calling to you to join in the celebration!! Come on…. Join in the fun!! The festivities will include a Rosary on Friday evening (August 12th, 2005), a Procession and the celebration of Holy Mass on Saturday evening (August 13th, 2005). We are honored to have as our main celebrant Padre Herman from Ecuador. The Mass will be followed by a fiesta in the church auditorium with food and the performance of traditional Ecuadorian music & dance. Why spend the money to travel to South America when you can experience a piece of Ecuador right here at STA???

Our Blessed Mother is venerated under many different titles throughout the world. In all of her manifestations, she indicates that she is our Mother who loves and stand by us. Sooo, who is Our Lady of El Cisne and where, when & why did the devotion to her develop??? When the Spanish arrived in Ecuador, the Franciscan friars named a mountain parish "El Cisne' after the European mountain hermitages built and maintained by the "Caballeros of el Cisne" aka the "The Horsemen of the Swan". This parish was afflicted at the end of the 16th century by a severe drought and the ensuing famine. Due to their extreme distress the Indians decided to leave the region and migrate to a location not affected by the famine. As they were leaving the Virgin appeared to them and asked them not to leave. She promised that she was their Mother and would watch over her children and if they build a church AND attend church they would never be hungry. The Indians obeyed the Virgin and the rains came. Pretty cool!!

In thanksgiving for the many favors granted through the intercession of Our Lady of El Cisne, in 1594 arrangements were made for the famous Spanish artist Diego de Robles to carve a cedar statue in honor of the Virgin of El Cisne and this image is venerated to this day.

More information regarding this devotion will follow tomorrow…. I bet you can't wait ;-)!!

Sunday in the Summer

2005-08-07T18:14:00.000-04:00

It’s a HOT muggy August Sunday in Brooklyn…. The sweat drips down your back and it seems that the cooler autumn weather (my favorite season!) is very far away…..

Luckily, the children remind us of the blessings of the summer. On my way home from Mass, JJ Byrne park was filled with delighted children, enjoying the swings -- the monkey bars – running under the sprinkers -- playing ball etc…. They don’t care that it’s HOT -- they are enjoying life! Their exhilaration at being alive is a lesson from God. Thank God for children!!!

And Sunday -- at least at STA -- is the best day of the week! Thank God for the many blessings that we experienced today as we gathered together to celebrate Mass -- that we had both Fr. Jesús and Msgr. White celebrating Mass with us. The music that aids our worship as we raise our voices in song to our Creator -- the exquisite beauty of Lanie’s voice accompanied by Roger on the organ during the Saturday 5:30 p.m. Mass & the Sunday 12:30 p.m. Mass -- the timeless splendor of Gregorian Chant at the Sunday 9:30 a.m. Mass and the exuberant talent of the Coro Hispania at the Sunday 11 a.m. Mass. Of course as in any parish there were ups and downs during our celebrations -- on the upside there were 3 Altar Servers at the 9:30, and 2 Altar Servers at the 11. :-) Unfortunately, no children showed up to celebrate Children’s Liturgy of the Word at the 9:30. :-( But there were over 20 children who celebrated Children’s Liturgy of the Word at the 11 so things could be much worse!

This Sunday is a day to thank God for our families & friends and for the freedom to be able to attend Mass! Watching the children this morning made me think about how rarely I take the opportunity to return to the freedom of being a child -- as Fr. Ed Hays put in his prayer “A Summer Psalm of Freedom” in his book “Prayers for a Planetary Pilgrim” Though for me -- I should substitue Computer screen instead of TV screen. ;-)

A SUMMER PSALM OF FREEDOM

O God of all seasons, it’s summer -- the season I dreamed about throughout winter’s long dreary days.
Now is the time of leisure, time to be out-of-doors-and-walls.
But so often I feel like an over-civilized child of this century of convenience and comfort.

Six months ago, it was snow and ice that screened me in from earth’s delights.
Now it’s a television screen that too often massages my mind, weary from work, that screens me in from shaman summer’s healing touch.

And even if I flick that dead-widow off and go outside on the porch, I’m still screened in or carefully protected, lest bugs and flies disturb my comfort by bringing nature far too close.

Grant me, O never-tiring Miracle Worker, the freedom of my childhood to run and play with abandon, without thought of comfort, bugs or flies, in summer’s great vacationland.

Amen

Welcome Back - Fr. Jesus!

2005-08-01T22:43:00.000-04:00

We welcome Fr. Jesus back to beautiful Brooklyn from his visit with his parents in Columbia!!! May God continue to look over and bless all of us!

Hi There!

2005-08-01T15:25:00.000-04:00

Welcome to our Blog!!

We hope that you will take advantage of our blog to communicate regarding our love for the Lord, each other and our parish community!!