St. Therese of Lisieux: Today – October 1st – is the feast day of St. Therese of Lisieux (+ 1897). When a saint’s feast day falls on a Sunday, it is “suppressed.” In other words, we do not celebrate it in the Church’s liturgy because the Sunday celebration always takes precedence. Nonetheless, I cannot let this day pass without acknowledging my good friend and heavenly patroness, St. Therese of Lisieux! I became enamored with her story as a young man, I was able to visit her shrine and her childhood home while I was a seminarian, and when I was ordained a priest, I chose her and St. Catherine of Siena to be my particular intercessors (along with my own name saint, St. Stephen the Protomartyr). She is an awesome saint!...
Rowing in the Same Direction: Unity of purpose is not something that is easy to achieve, but something that holds tremendous importance. This is true for families and corporations, sports teams and parishes. Only when everyone is rowing in the same direction are great things accomplished. Jesus himself longed for this unity, didn’t he? The Lord said on the night before he died: “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us (John 17:20).”...
From the CRO (Chief Reminding Officer): Why do we exist as a parish? To turn people’s lives upside down through an encounter with the redeeming love of Jesus Christ. How do we behave? Christ is at the center of all that we do and all that we are, we strive to be selfless and willing to sacrifice for others, and we persevere in the face of any struggle. How will we succeed? We invite to ignite, we thirst for the sacraments, and we make our parish a place of refuge. What is most important for us right now? Igniting the fire at Holy Redeemer.
Marriage and family are at the very core of God’s plan for salvation. Adam and Eve formed a family. The people of Israel considered themselves a unified and extended family. The Church is a family. Notably, the Lord Jesus himself freely chose to be born into a family and to live the life of an obedient son. In our time, as much as in any time, families are under attack. Spouses, parents, and children are repeatedly targeted by the evil one. Our cultural elites, too, promote things that are utterly destructive to family ties...
Burning With Love: Ignite the fire at Holy Redeemer! That is our goal. That is our rally cry. Johnny Cash might have been on to something when he sang about a “burning ring of fire.” And with apologies to Billy Joel, we actually do want to start the fire and to see it burning as the world keeps turning! It’s impressive how many times the opening prayer for Mass, especially on the feast days of saints, speaks of having a heart on fire with the love of Christ...
On a Mission from God: The purpose of our parish – the reason Holy Redeemer exists - is to see lives turned upside down through an encounter with the redeeming love of Jesus Christ. The Lord asks (actually, he commands) you and I to participate in this work. Jesus greatly desires that we ignite the fire of his love in our own spheres of influence through our prayer, our words, and our good deeds...
Ignite the Fire at Holy Redeemer: This is our rally cry. This is our holy desire. We want each and every person who worships at this parish, each and every person who visits this parish, and each and every person who drives by this parish in a tanker truck – to experience the redeeming love of Jesus Christ in a manner so powerful, so beautiful, and so divine . . . that their lives are turned upside down and forever and eternally changed. Woo-hooo! What an amazing commission we have from our Lord!...
Ignite the Fire: God created us for greatness! Maybe not the “greatness” suggested by the people and the achievements so revered by this world, but the greatness that arises in an immortal soul fully in love with Jesus Christ and his Gospel. If even the tiniest spark of Christ’s love burns within us, we are blessed beyond measure.
The Meaning of Life: God created each of us to know him, to love him, to serve him, and to be with him forever in heaven. To embrace that reality is to live the great adventure of human existence. To turn away from God, on the other hand, is to dissolve into a life of emptiness and alienation. God is love...
Do not Forget: One of the critical tasks of a pastor is to be the Chief Reminding Officer. Especially in a vibrant parish (like we are blessed to enjoy), it’s easy to forget or to lose track of all the good things that are going on or that are available to the parish family. Therefore, please allow me to do my job and remind you of the following: (click for more...)
Pouring Gasoline on the Flames: If lives are to be turned upside down by an encounter with the redeeming love of Jesus Christ, you and I can do our part by igniting the fire at Holy Redeemer. The fire finds its initial flame when we tend the hearth of our own heart. Remember G.K. Chesterson’s response to the “what’s wrong with the world” question? He answered, simply: “I am.”...
Falling in Love with Jesus: When we encounter the redeeming of love of Jesus Christ, he turns our lives upside down in a powerful yet gentle way. We were created to know, to love, and to serve God. The God of the universe longs to be loved by me. He longs to be loved by you. Jesus thirsts for our friendship. Jesus wants us to know him intimately and Jesus wants us to spend eternity with him in heaven...
Tithing Our Blessings: We are following up our Mother’s Day baby bottle collection by also offering our July Parish tithe to the Women’s Care Center of Warren. By offering our support to mothers with unexpected or unwanted pregnancies, we make a statement for life, and in opposition to the culture of death. Abortion, of course, is one of the great evils of our times. It is also cause for great sadness. Don’t lose hope, though. Please keep praying and fasting for the conversion of hearts and for an end to the killing of unborn children. The amazing folks at the Women’s Care Center are filled with hope and joy...
Being an “Amazing Parish:” The Parish Leadership Team – myself, Jenn Wortman, and John & Mary Beth Zdarko – had a powerful experience in Phoenix at the Amazing Parish Summit. Our three days there, spent praying and learning with other parish teams from around the nation (for example, our breakfast table companions were from the Diocese of Stockton in California), brought clarity regarding the things we’ve been working on, and more importantly, it stoked the fires of Christian zeal in our hearts...
Kentucky Mission Trip: For many years, Fr. Michael DeMartinis (currently the pastor of St. Patrick in Erie) has led youth on life-changing summer mission trips to the Appalachian region of Kentucky. This year, three of our area youth are joining him. Please keep these teens in your prayers as they serve and learn among the poor of Appalachia.
Essential Fatherhood: A happy Father’s Day goes out to all of our dads! Men, your fatherhood is so necessary and essential in the life of the Church. If a child’s father attends Mass and participates in the life of the Church, there is a strong chance that the child will continue as a practicing Catholic. If dad falls away, it’s very likely that the child will fall away too. Dads – please – lead your children to heaven. They need you! ...
Corpus Christi Procession: Eucharistic Revival is desperately needed. You and I can do our part. Please join the Revival by participating in today’s (Sunday, June 11) Eucharistic Procession. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place at 2:30 pm on the Holy Redeemer altar. At 3:00 pm, our procession will form, and we will take the Real Presence of our Lord Jesus Christ into the streets of Warren...
Tithing Our Blessings: Our parish tithe for June will go to support Maria House Ministries. Founded by the late – and saintly - Fr. Jim Peterson, Maria House provides life services to those struggling with addiction or past incarceration. This is a western Pennsylvania ministry led by a very compassionate and Christ-centered group of folks. As always, thank you for your support of our tithing program...
The Third Person of the Trinity: Scriptural descriptions of the Holy Spirit are vivid and evocative: wind, fire, and water welling up from within. As we celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost, we are reminded of our great need for the Spirit and his gifts. What are those gifts? Traditionally, they are listed as: Wisdom, Understanding, Fortitude, Counsel, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord...
To My Spiritual Family of Holy Redeemer and St. Anthony, A Meaningful Weekend Ahead: The juxtaposition of Pentecost with Memorial Day means that next Saturday & Sunday, May 27 & 28 is a weekend filled with sentimental and religious meaning. That meaning will be supercharged with Eucharistic overtones here at the parish, as we host the relics of St. Manuel Gonzales Garcia and Blessed Carlo Acutis. And if all this wasn’t enough, two new priests will be ordained for our diocese at the weekend’s start. Whew! That’s a lot!