Category: Fr. Abraham’s Weekly Column

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Tomorrow is the feast of Philip Neri, who is the patron saint of joy and laughter. I wish to reflect with you on this important theme. On May 14, the Feast of our patron Saint Matthias, the gospel reading had this line from Jesus: “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full.” (John 15: 11). In the following chapter, Jesus said, “I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you” (John 16:22). Jesus was a joyful person (though this topic is not often highlighted nor preached about sufficiently) and Philip Neri followed that joyful spirit in his own life. So let us look at each:

Do the gospels contain indications that Jesus was joyful or humorous? Yes. The verse I quoted above (John 15:11) was said by Jesus at the last supper, just before his agony in the garden, all the while aware of his impending betrayal, torture, and crucifixion. He was conscious of the personal joy in his heart, and he wanted to pass it on to his disciples and to us.

Gospels testifies that during his years of ministry, little children came to Jesus, and mothers brought their babies to him, and he took to them easily. If Jesus were to be a serious person, children would not have gone to him. Years ago I read a book titled “The humor of Jesus,” where the author showed how Jesus used the kind of humor prevalent in the Jewish society of that time, which was exaggerated comparison. Things like a “camel going through the eye of a needle,” “a blind leading a blind and both falling down,” or a “log in your neighbor’s eye” were very humorous to his audiences, and we can assume that they roared in laughter.

St. Philip Neri realized that Jesus was truly anointed with the oil of gladness and so wanted to make this joy of Jesus his own. St. Philip Neri was known as the “Second Apostle of Rome” for his extraordinary evangelical work in 16th-century Rome. He was well known to have had a remarkable sense of humor and a great love for laughter. He used to show up to important events with half his beard shaved or give incorrect walking directions to his disciples to have a laugh at their expense. He would read a book of jokes to enjoy himself as well as regale others with laughter. He believed that these behaviors helped him to connect with other people through being present and humble.

St. Philip Neri founded the Confederation of Oratories of Saint Philip Neri (Latin: Confoederatio Oratorii Sancti Philippi Nerii), abbreviated C.O. and commonly known as the Oratorians. Theirs is a Catholic society of apostolic life of pontifical right for men (priests and religious brothers), living in community. In our own diocese we are privileged to have the Oratorians at St. Ann, St. Joseph, and Blessed Sacrament Shrine – all in Raritan, and at Holy Trinity in Bridgewater. We wish them a very happy feast of their patron. We can ask ourselves: How can we be apostles of joy today? St. Philip suggests, “Have all the fun you want, but just don’t offend God.” We can also keep in mind the words of St. Paul: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil 4:4-6).

We will have a picture of a smiling Jesus in our church so that we can be reminded to keep His  joy in our hearts and be joyful as Jesus was.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

By now, we have heard a lot about our new Pope – Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. The excitement continues with the totally unexpected choice of an American pope by the Cardinals who attended the Conclave. Though the new Pope is American, now he belongs to the whole world. As one commentator said, one-third of his life was in the US, one-third in Rome, and one-third in Peru. His varied experience – missionary life in Peru, work in the Vatican Dicastry, and American upbringing – will have a bearing on his ability to steer the bark of Peter for years to come.

What is less known may be that he belongs to an order or religious congregation. As we know, Pope Francis was a Jesuit. Pope Leo XIV is an Augustinian, and the first member of the Order of St. Augustine to become a pope. The Augustinian Order, fundamentally based upon the teachings of Jesus Christ and later of St. Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo (354 – 430 A.D.), was founded to live and promote the spirit of community as lived by the first Christian communities (Acts of the Apostles 4, 32-35). It was founded in 1244, when Pope Innocent IV united various groups of hermits in service to the Universal Church as a community of Mendicant Friars. The Order, from its very beginning, has recognized Saint Augustine of Hippo as its father, teacher, and spiritual guide, not only because it has received the “Rule” and the name of the Order from him, but also because it has received from him its doctrine and spirituality.

In his very address to the world as he first appeared at the balcony of St. Peter’s Vatican, Pope Leo said: I am an Augustinian, a son of Saint Augustine, who once said, “With you I am a Christian, and for you I am a bishop.”  In this sense, all of us can journey together toward the homeland that God has prepared for us.” That brings so much hope and good feeling about the new papacy. In his first homily the next day of the election, the pope pledged to be a “faithful administrator” of the Catholic church and outlined that the church needs to continue its “missionary outreach.”

These words resonated with me personally as I was a missionary back in India for many years. In our American context, we can easily relate to his exhortation to be a missionary church. “A lack of faith,” Pope Leo underscored, “is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.” Today, he observed, “there are many settings in which Jesus, although appreciated as a man, is reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman.”

Acknowledging this happens “not only among non-believers but also among many baptized Christians,” Pope Leo warned that, as such, they “end up living, at this level, in a state of practical atheism.” With this in mind, Pope Leo reassured the congregation, “This is the world that has been entrusted to us, a world in which, as Pope Francis taught us so many times, we are called to bear witness to our joyful faith in Christ the Saviour.” “Therefore,” he continued, “it is essential that we too repeat, with Peter: ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'”

We thank God for the gift of this pope, this son of our land, as the chief shepherd of the People of God for the whole world. May God continue to use him as the worthy successor of St. Peter.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Today is Happy Mother’s Day! And the World Day of Prayer for Vocations! These two occasions, converging this year on the fourth Sunday of Easter, have a special significance. Today’s gospel is about Jesus the good shepherd, and so today is known as Good Shepherd Sunday. Every year on this fourth Sunday of Easter, the gospel gives insight into Jesus Christ our Good Shepherd who said about his sheep: “I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand..” (John 10:27-28).

How appropriate that the shepherding qualities are lived by the mothers. A shepherding mother guides, nurtures, and protects her children, providing love, support, and wise counsel. She is a source of strength and guidance, helping them navigate life’s challenges to grow in maturity. Shepherding mothers offer encouragement and counsel, and love them unconditionally. We have so many such mothers and grandmothers in our lives and in our community. We salute them today for their vocation to motherhood. We want them to know how much we appreciate their selfless dedication to nurturing their children, young and not so young. We cannot forget many other women who may not have children of their own and yet do a lot of shepherding: mothers who have adopted, step-mothers, teachers, counselors, catechists, godmothers, etc. We remember all of them and ask for God’s continued blessings upon them. We also pray this day for those who struggled to be a mother, those who, because of circumstances, could not be a mother, and for those who have experienced miscarriages, stillbirths, crib deaths, or the death of a child because of illness, accident, or violence.

Today, the church all over the world prays for vocations. As Catholics, we firmly believe that God has a plan for our lives! He calls some to marriage, some to the priesthood, and others to religious life or to live as generous single people. In one of the homilies by St. John Paul II said: “Jesus has a specific task in life for each and every one of us. Each one of us is hand-picked, called by name by Jesus! There is no one among us who does not have a divine vocation! Some are called audibly by God, but the usual kind of call is internal, through the inner working of the Spirit.” Fully living our own vocations—and teaching young people how to discern God’s call—is a serious duty, but also a joyful one. During this week, please encourage the young people in your life—children, grandchildren, students, and friends—to be open if God calls them to priesthood or religious life.

The feast of St. Matthias, our Parish Patron, is on May 14. Though it falls on a weekday, we need to be reminded of the importance of this saint who was chosen to replace Judas. Even a week ago, some people asked me about confusing St. Matthias with St. Matthew. I explained. The Acts of the Apostles 1:12-26 narrates beautifully why the 11 Apostles felt that they had to have a 12th one. St. Peter said that they had to “choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us,  beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” There were two candidates who met these two conditions. Therefore “they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1:26) and Matthias was chosen by lot. Our Patron saint invites us to imitate him by being with Jesus and being a witness of the resurrection of Jesus.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

Third Sunday of Easter

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Today is the fourth day in May, and many of us know this date as Star Wars Day because of the phrase, “May the force be with you,” used by Jedi masters in the Star Wars movies. While not officially declared, the holiday has been embraced by fans and the Walt Disney Company. I have seen our school students having fun on this day in the past when it fell on a weekday.

I always smile at this phrase of Jedi “May the force be with you,” because even though the sci-fi community in general does not acknowledge the existence of God, this phrase sounds to me, as a clear admission that there is a higher power beyond their control and as their way of surrendering the outcome of a dangerous mission to this higher power they name as “Force” that we Christians name as God or Jesus Christ.

Today, we conclude the Novendiales or Novena in memory of Pope Francis, whose passing brought an unprecedented focus on the Catholic Church in general, and the papacy of Francis in particular. As I mentioned in my homily, it is very important and beneficial for us to reflect on the legacy of Pope Francis. Some asked me about the criticisms of Francis. My only answer is that Jesus himself was criticized, so why are we surprised that Pope Francis is also criticized? And on every point of criticism, I pointed out that Francis was doing exactly the mind of Jesus, even when it brought about some ambiguity and confusion which was meant to make us all rethink and re-evaluate our own attitudes. Therefore, let us reflect on how we might personally have grown because of his words, writings, and witness.

What made Pope Francis so endearing to the whole world? As the archbishop of Buenos Aires, Bergolio was unpopular with many Argentine politicians because he had been a staunch and brave critic of the corruption and economic inequality there. During Argentina’s military dictatorship in the 1970’s, he was sent into de facto exile in Frankfurt, Germany, and then to the remote Córdoba, Argentina. These difficult years shaped his compassionate worldview and strengthened his resolve to stand with those facing injustice.

Besides his political activism, what often endeared Pope Francis to all was his simplicity, coupled with his tireless immersion in poor communities.  The world saw the way he was able to blend in with the very ordinary people. While his actions of humility and simplicity raised many eyebrows in the establishment, he became all the more endearing to the world. Asking for a blessing from the crowds at his first appearance as pope, refusing to live in the luxurious penthouse of the papal apartments and choosing the modest two-room suite in the Vatican’s Saint Martha guesthouse, carrying his own luggage and paying his own hotel bills, washing the feet of women and even non catholic prisoners, driving a modest, 20-year-old white Renault, wearing the black leather shoes instead of the traditional red papal footwear, … the list goes on, a list that made him very unique in the history of the papacy.

But his teachings and writings have promoted a spirituality that is easy for even the very ordinary folks to understand and relate to. All of us can learn a lot from Pope Francis to be simple and humble. We too can spread the joy of the gospel as he did so warm-heartedly. May he rest in peace.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

Sunday of Divine Mercy

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Last Monday morning, we all woke up to the sad and shocking news of the death of Pope Francis. Ever since, there has been constant coverage about his life, achievements, and legacy, and speculations about his successor. We, the Catholic Community of St. Matthias, mourn his death, as we thank God for the gift he was to the Church and to the world, for the many ways he has inspired the whole world with his wisdom, compassion, and commitment to Jesus Christ. To the church, he was a reformer who made the church more welcoming and inclusive. To the world, he was a voice that called for unity, peace, and justice, especially championing the cause of those marginalized.

All this media coverage about the life and legacy of Pope Francis is truly a time of evangelization. The world is coming to know more about Jesus Christ and His mission in and through the church, and especially through the papacy. We thank God for the good shepherding that Pope Francis gave to the church and the world.

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. Pope Francis always preached mercy, but more importantly, he practiced it. He showed everybody, in a very tangible way, the endless capacity of God’s mercy and forgiveness. Proclaiming the special Jubilee Year of Mercy of 2016, Francis reminded us that the name of God is “mercy” (Exodus 34:6) and asked us all to enter the great ocean of God’s mercy: “How many are the expressions of mercy with which God encounters us? They are numerous and it is impossible to describe them all, for the mercy of God continually increases. God never tires of showing us mercy and we should never take for granted the opportunity to receive, seek, and desire this mercy. It is something always new, which inspires awe and wonder as we see God’s immense creativity in the ways he comes to meet us.”

We know that today’s feast was instituted by St. John Paul II, in order to realize the depth of the mercy of God for each one of us personally. Saint Faustina’s diary entry # 206 has these words Jesus told her: “On the day of My feast, the Feast of Mercy, you will go through the whole world and bring fainting souls to the spring of My mercy.  I shall heal and strengthen them”. Pope Francis has been an ardent promoter of divine mercy. His first book as pope is titled: The Name of God is Mercy. Four years ago, on the 90th anniversary (1931-2021) of the first apparition to St. Faustina. Pope exhorted all to “pass on the fire of Jesus’ merciful love.”

And yet, today’s gospel is about doubting the resurrection of Jesus by one of the 12 Apostles! Presenting the famous profession of Faith from Thomas, “My Lord and my God,” the Gospel illustrates how Jesus showed his mercy to this doubting apostle and emphasizes the importance of faith and surrender. Please read elsewhere in today’s bulletin what St. Thomas accomplished with his reaffirmed faith converting many in the south of India who continue to live and pass on the same faith under the large community of Syrian Christians among whom is a big segment of Catholics. The experience of Thomas invites us to be liberated from doubts and reservations about our faith, first by verbalizing our doubts and trying to get answers from those who know, and second by surrendering our lives to the Risen Lord of mercy and hope.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

Easter Sunday

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

Dear Friends,

Happy Easter!

This year’s Easter is very special for the whole of the Christendom. This year (2025), we have a remarkable coincidence: Both the Eastern and Western Christians are holding Easter on the same day today, April 20, a joint celebration that doesn’t happen often. Last year (2024), you may remember that Catholics and much of the rest of the world celebrated Easter on March 31, while the Orthodox Christians celebrated Easter on May 5. The difference is due to the fact that most Orthodox churches use the Julian calendar introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 B.C. and the Catholic Church and pretty much the rest of the world follow the Gregorian calendar introduced by Pope Gregory XIII’s 1582. This will avoid the confusion that happens every time when we hear about the Orthodox churches celebrating Easter much later than our date of Easter.

This convergence has reopened discussions that all the Christian denominations must agree on a common date for Easter and Christmas. Earlier this year, Pope Francis used this year’s coincidence to bring the topic up in remarks at an ecumenical prayer service marking the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: “I renew my appeal that this coincidence may serve as an appeal to all Christians to take a decisive step forward towards unity around a common date for Easter. The Catholic Church is open to accepting the date that everyone wants: a date of unity.” This hope and wish have been expressed also by the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew who is the archbishop of Constantinople and 270th successor of St. Andrew the Apostle. But will it happen, since it is beset with so many procedural hurdles? Time will tell.

But let us rejoice and celebrate this Easter as one people of God: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad!” (Psalm 118:24). Today we celebrate the completion of the sacred Triduum in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. These “Great Three Days” form the centerpiece of God’s salvific work in Christ. While it still remains a mystery, the grief and agony of the cross from Good Friday and Holy Saturday is now tempered and balanced with the joy of Easter Sunday.

Haven’t you wondered why the Church insists that Easter is the most important feast of the year while the secular world gives so much importance to Christmas? The Resurrection of Christ is the basis of our Christian faith and foundation of church. St. Paul writes: “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain; and your faith is in vain.” (I Corinthians 15: 14). We are in the Holy Year 2025 with its theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” Easter is the guarantee of our hope for our own resurrection. Jesus assured Martha at the tomb of Lazarus: “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me will live even though he dies” (John 11: 25-26).

We have every reason to be an “Easter People” and to sing Halleluiah loud and clear.

Easter Blessings!

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

Pastor

 

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

On the cover page of this bulletin, you can see that today is titled as: “Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord.” So, is today “Palm Sunday” or “Passion Sunday?” The answer is: both. The first name comes from the fact that it commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, when the crowd had palm branches (John 12:13). The second name comes from the fact that the narrative of the Passion is read on this Sunday. Listening attentively to the passion narrative helps us to understand the meaning of the cross in our lives  a bit more clearly. Many saints spoke about this and lived it in their own lives. St. Katherine Drexel wrote: “The patient and humble endurance of the Cross – whatever nature it may be – is the highest work we have to do.”

We take for granted that we use palms today. But why? In biblical times, the palm tree was considered a “kingly” tree because of its lofty height and majestic appearance. The palm tree became a sign and symbol of royalty and victory. “The Jewish people carried palm branches in their processions on festive holy days. Roman soldiers carried palms in their victory parades in Rome. Holding palms in our hands, we too join the crowds who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem as their King and Messiah. We have thus entered today into the Holy Week, the most important  week of the Liturgical Year. Keep these palms in a prominent place in our home and thus we will be reminded of the significance of what we have begun on Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday.

The Lenten season of sacrifice and self-denial is about to come to an end, but this week is extremely important for all Christians. The greatest focus of the week is the Passion (suffering) and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the events that led up to it. The “Chrism Mass” will be on Tuesday in the Cathedral where the Bishop, together with all the priests, will commemorate one important event of the Holy Thursday – the institution of the Priesthood. It is during this Mass that the sacred oils used for the Sacraments will be blessed by the Bishop. Our parish will be represented by Mike and Debbie Lanyi; they will bring some of these oils back to our parish.

“Easter Triduum” is another term we hear this week. It simply means “a three day festival” of prayer and worship, beginning on the evening of Holy Thursday and ending on Easter Sunday. A short note on each of these days is given elsewhere in this bulletin.

Pope Francis wrote: “Holy Week is a privileged time when we are called to draw near to Jesus: friendship with him is shown in times of difficulty.” My earnest request to you in this column, dear brothers and sisters, is that you make every effort this week to attend these sacred events. Can we consider this week as a time of grace for all of us as a family and so make sure that we participate in these worship services even by making some sacrifice this week, by rescheduling other activities, by rearranging other plans and thus giving priority to this week? You will see the grace of God flowing into your lives and into your homes. Wishing you all a grace-filled Holy Week, leading to the joys of Easter,

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Last month, we had a number of events that helped different segments of our parish experience God’s grace and blessings. Let me make a comment on some of those:

Youth Lock-in/Retreat: Our Teen Leadership held an overnight Lock-in/Retreat on March 21-22. There were some 25 young people and adult supervisors. The theme for this lock-in/retreat was ‘Food insecurity.’ Local leaders from the Franklin Food Bank came and shared with them about food insecurity in our own area, and how so many generous people are giving their time, treasure, and talent to remedy this situation. They had many spiritually enriching sessions and fun activities throughout the night, without much sleep. This lock-in/retreat would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of our Deacon John Radvanski who is truly a tireless advocate for our youth. He, together with Sue Lenczewski, our Youth Coordinator, will give us all a fuller report of this event and acknowledge the many who deserve our gratitude.

Mass of Anointing: This annual Mass with Anointing of the Sick was held on March 22nd. Some 75 people attended and they had a truly positive experience of God’s anointing and healing. This Sacrament is often misunderstood or undervalued by many. The Biblical basis for this sacrament is James 5: 14-15: “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.” But this original practice of anointing the sick fell into disuse and was used only when a sick person was close to death. That’s why we hear this sacrament misnamed as “Last Rite.” But the Second Vatican Council restored it to its original intent. Hence, we can use this Sacrament any time we are sick, or before going for any procedure or surgery. Let us have a proper understanding of this Sacrament of Anointing for the healing of the sick.

40 Hour Adoration: Our Parish just completed a  40-Hour Adoration during this final year of the Eucharistic Revival – thanks to a very dedicated group of men and women of our parish who organized this first ever event in our church so meticulously. The 40-hour devotion has been observed in the Catholic Church for many years. The response to the sign up to adore for each of the 40 Hours was tremendous. One participant emailed me: “It was my first time to experience serving as a guardian during the Eucharistic Adoration late last night. It was an experience like no other. Thank you for bringing it to St Matthias.” So many others joined to pray without signing up – a clear sign of the thirst many have to experience Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

The culmination of all such devotions and liturgical services is experiencing the Holy Week. Beginning with Palm Sunday, we will be entering into days of solemn celebration of the most significant events of our salvation. Our music ministry has been preparing for these annual celebrations, in particular for the Easter Vigil. The exceptional way we celebrate the Saturday night service is something that many of our parishioners look forward to. Though some may feel that the length of the Easter Vigil is challenging, the reality is what so many attendees have expressed: “It flowed so beautifully that I didn’t feel the length;” “It was not as long as I had thought;” “The music and the ceremonies were so heart-warming that the time just went by;” I invite you to make a special effort to attend the Easter Vigil this year, especially if you have not experienced it. You are in for a treat for your soul– no doubt ☺

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Is it right that the austerity of Lent is reduced or lessened halfway through Lent? That is what we are doing on this fourth Sunday of Lent, popularly known as “Laetare” Sunday or “Rejoice” Sunday. It may seem strange that the church has chosen to have a joyful celebration today, half way through this penitential season. But why? The Church wants us to remember that a Christian’s joy of living, as promised by Jesus, is not to be lost even in the midst of penance and austerity. In fact, the entrance antiphon of today’s liturgy, “Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her…” is meant to affirm that there is much to rejoice about, no matter what our situation is.

A similar doubt can arise when we listen to the gospel of today about the way Jesus treated the woman caught in adultery in John 8:1-11. Was Jesus too “soft” on sin? Bible scholars have some interesting take as to why this passage is omitted by many ancient manuscripts of the gospel. This powerful narrative of Jesus and the accused woman is not found in the earliest and best manuscripts of John and appears in other important manuscripts after Lk. 21:38. Still, early Church authors, such as Papias (ca. A.D. 120) and the author of the Syriac “Teaching of the Twelve Apostles” (3rd cent.), knew of such an incident, and Jerome included it in his translation. For these reasons the story is judged canonical by Catholics.

It might have been omitted in some early rigorist traditions because the early Church, in its struggle to maintain strict penitential discipline, perhaps could not deal with the ease with which Jesus forgave the woman. In this episode Jesus seemed too “soft” on sin. Perhaps for this reason, the story was temporarily set aside by the early Church and was only later granted canonical approval. This precisely is the reason why we need to emphasize this forgiving nature of God all the more. During these Lenten Sundays, we have been reflecting on this merciful love and unconditional acceptance of the sinner as the very nature of God. Pope Francis says:

“Jesus’ attitude is striking: we do not hear the words of scorn, we do not hear words of condemnation, but only words of love, of mercy, which are an invitation to conversion. “Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again.” Ah! Brothers and Sisters, God’s face is the face of a merciful father who is always patient. Have you thought about God’s patience, the patience He has with each one of us? That is His mercy. He always has patience, patience with us, He understands us, He waits for us, He does not tire of forgiving us if we are able to return to Him with a contrite heart. “Great is God’s mercy,” says the Psalm.”

We experience this in a very special way in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, or ‘Confession’ – the name that we are more used to. As already announced, Fr. Lance and I have begun to be available for Confession on Saturdays. This will continue for the remainder of Lent and our parish Penance/Reconciliation Service will be on Monday, April 7, at 6:30 PM. Both of us have been noticing our parishioners utilizing these opportunities for “housekeeping for the soul” and to feel a sense of inner freedom to experience better relationship with God, self and one another. It is this inner freedom from the Lord that enables us to celebrate Laetare/Rejoice Sunday today, halfway through Lent.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

Third Sunday of Lent

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

If you were present at the 10 am Mass on the first Sunday of Lent, you noticed the “Rite of Sending” four of our Catechumen to the Cathedral and acknowledging 13 Candidates – all preparing for the Sacraments of Initiation at Easter Vigil this year through our OCIA (RCIA) process. This Sunday at the 10 am Mass, we have “Scrutiny” for the Catechumen. Are all these terms strange for us? I think we will all remember that RCIA stood for the “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults,” though few years ago, the US Bishops decided that RCIA should be more appropriately named OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults). ‘Catechumen’ is the term used for an unbaptized person who is attending this preparation in OCIA, and ‘Candidate’ is the term used for a baptized person who did not receive Eucharist or Confirmation. This year we are privileged to have what is probably the largest class in our OCIA process.

So, what is the rite called ‘scrutiny’? “It is meant to uncover, and then heal all that is weak, defective, or sinful in the hearts of the elect; to bring out, then strengthen all that is upright, strong, and good.  For the scrutinies are celebrated in order to deliver the elect from the power of sin and Satan, to protect them against temptation, and to give them strength in Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life.” (no.141) Essentially, it is composed of prayers of intercession and the laying on of hands so that the Holy Spirit may be invoked that they are freed from the spirit of evil. Doing the first scrutiny at Mass gives the whole congregation an opportunity to pray for and support those preparing for the Easter sacraments and to make the point that conversion is not only a personal matter but a communal commitment.

More importantly, this Rite of Scrutiny is also an opportunity for the rest of us, to self-examine and see the need for healing in our weakness, detect the sinful habits in our lives and to nourish the good within us so that we can bear good fruits for Christ. Lent is the time to learn from our mistakes of over-indulgence in food, drink, drugs, gambling, promiscuity, or any other addiction that may keep us from coming to the living waters of a right relationship with God.  We all have our short list, don’t we?  And we all know, honest to God, what it is we need to leave behind before we come to the Living Water and the Bread of Heaven – as the Samaritan woman shows us in the gospel of John.

I had done a 10 part bulletin series on the Jubilee Year 2025. Now I wish to begin another series on our Homebound Ministry – a wonderful ministry that benefits our parishioners who are homebound or in nursing homes. This is a ministry that is not so visible to the rest of us. How lucky we are that we have a dedicated number of parishioners who do this ministry joyfully but quietly, away from the limelight. We are very grateful to those who did this ministry in the past and are no longer with us or had to stop due to reasons of health or mobility. But there are a good number of our parishioners who bring Jesus and His Word to the homebound. (see their names on page 4). Read their personal experiences and reflections from next Sunday onwards in our bulletin. If you are inspired by their stories, you are welcome to join this wonderful ministry. Please contact Doreen Panick, our Coordinator, at: dsp999@aol.com

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal