Holy Communion

Dear Friends in Christ,

Now that the flu season is almost over, we will again provide Communion under both species at Mass. This will begin on Easter Sunday (including the Easter Vigil Mass). Over the past months when Communion was distributed under the species of bread alone we were not “deprived” of the fullness of the Sacrament. We should be aware that the Catholic teaching on the form of Holy Communion is that “Christ, whole and entire, and the true Sacrament, is received even under only one species, and consequently that as far as the effects are concerned, those who receive under only one species are not deprived of any of the grace that is necessary for salvation.” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, #282).

Further, due to the danger of infection from the flu virus, the parish priests judged it prudent to take extra precautions by providing hand cleanser and avoiding hand contact at the Sign of Peace. With the flu danger waning it is possible, according to the culture and customs of the people gathered and in keeping with our Roman Catholic heritage to exchange a gesture of peace in a “sober manner.” A physical exchange such as a handshake or hug is an appropriate manner for our local culture, however a simple verbal exchange may also be appropriate, especially for those who are sick.

Holy Communion under the species of bread and wine will be administered at the following Sunday Masses:

• Sat. 6:30 PM in Vietnamese,
  
• Sun. 9:30 and 11 AM in English, and 2 PM in Spanish.
  

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Mary, Mother of God

Dear Friends in Christ,

If you have seen the movie The Passion of the Christ you know that one of the most striking persons in the film apart from Jesus is Mary, His Mother. She appears in a doleful cameo all along the way of His suffering. The movie makes clear what our Catholic tradition has always held, that Mary accompanied Jesus in all of His sufferings. What Jesus experienced in His body
Mary experienced in her heart.

We cannot imagine the interior sufferings she endured from Thursday night through Saturday. From the cruel scourging, the crowning with thorns, the journey to Calvary, the nails, the spear, and finally to the descent from the cross, she was there with her Son. What a torrent of sorrow for the sinless Mother! And yet she is described in the famous hymn: “At the cross her station keeping, stood the mournful Mother weeping, close to Jesus to the last.” In spite of all the sufferings she endured she was able to stand by the cross. What a model of constancy and inner strength in the face of suffering!

The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary remind us that Jesus suffered the worst that human cruelty could devise. Mary was also there; she remained even when the Apostles fled in fear. Her compassionate heart was totally united with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. When we suffer let us remember Jesus and Mary. Our Christian faith should strengthen us in the hour of suffering because Jesus and Mary also went through terrible sufferings. Yes, our God is great not only because of his power and majesty but also because He has become one like us “in everything but sin”. And this “everything” includes suffering. We may not have an answer to human suffering, but we have a God who accompanies us in this “valley of tears”. Christianity is the religion of hope even in the midst of sorrows. In that hope let us continue our Lenten journey
with confidence.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Lent

Dear Friends in Christ,

How is your motivation now that we are 2 ½ weeks into Lent? Have you been faithful to your resolutions so far? Have you slacked off and given up? Don’t lose hope; probably a lot of other people feel the same way. Lenten practices can be renewed and revised. As for motivation, let’s examine why penance is important in our spiritual life.

First of all we have the example of Jesus Himself whose entire life and especially His death was penitential. He was born in a cave. He lived with Mary and Joseph in poverty for most of His life. During His public ministry He declared, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head”(Matt. 8:20). Finally, He died tripped of everything and was even buried in someone else’s tomb. He suffered hunger and thirst and exposure to the elements. And yet Jesus was innocent, free from all sin. He was in no way obliged to do penance to make up for His own sins. As the prophet says, “By his stripes we were healed” (Isaiah 53:5). He suffered; we benefit from those sufferings.

Now let us look at our own situation. We were baptized, which removes all sin and the punishment due to sin (Catechism #1263). However, we are responsible for the sins committed after Baptism. That is why the Church provides for us the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession, so that by confessing our sins we may have them forgiven. Now Confession is not like Baptism, which also removes the punishment due to sin. We confess our sins and receive absolution; after confession we receive a “penance” from the priest. The penance usually consists of prayers and other good works that we complete after leaving the confessional. This is an essential part of the Sacrament of Reconciliation because we not only need forgiveness of our sins, we also need to make reparation for the sins we committed.

Here is an example: A man steals a car, but then is sorry and asks the owner to forgive him. Let’s suppose the owner forgives him. That’s not the end of the thief’s obligations. He has to return the stolen car. Most of our sins don’t have to do with material injustices like stealing, but we still have the obligation to make reparation, either in this life or the next (purgatory) for our sins of anger, pride, lust, intemperance, lying, and any others which offend God and neighbor.

The penances we receive in confession are usually much lighter than what we deserve. In other words, we can’t expect that we will make up for the sins we commit just by saying a few prayers. The season of Lent is our opportunity to make reparation for our sins and even the sins of others, including the deceased. This is possible because of the grace won for us by Christ Who permits the merits of His Passion and Death to be shared through the Church.

Let us look on the cross of Christ to see the price He paid for our sins. United with Him and strengthened by His grace let us continue our Lenten penances, especially our charity. We shall then have greater joy in celebrating the Lord’s Resurrection.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

2nd phase of our new stained glass windows

Dear Friends in Christ,

When you look up to the choir loft or toward the front doors of the church you will see clear glass. This is part of the preparation for the second phase of our new stained glass windows. These windows will complement the bronze doors which depict the baptism of Jesus. Since the Lenten Season is a time of preparation to renew our Baptismal promises, I thought you might like to hear how the new stained glass windows can relate to our spiritual journey.

The large central window behind the choir will have the traditional symbol of the Holy Spirit, the dove hovering in flight. The Spirit is the Sanctifier, Who anointed Jesus as the Christ and prepared Him for His public ministry. At our Baptism the Holy Spirit fills our souls with sanctifying grace and prepares us for our life’s journey toward the kingdom. The stained glass will show rays of light emanating from the Holy Spirit. Above the Holy Spirit, at the top of the window, you will see a symbol of God the Creator. A hand extended downward evokes the Person of the Father Who opens the heavens and announces Jesus as His own beloved Son. His creating hand reminds us that with the coming of Christ the new creation has begun.

At Baptism we become the beloved sons and daughters of God by adoption. Christ, our head, welcomes us into the family of His Church. We are joined to the great family which includes the saints in heaven and the holy souls in purgatory. We prepare to enter the new creation which Christ has established by His saving sacrifice on the Cross. Alongside the bronze doors the windows portray a continuation of the scene of nature with the water and the river banks, reminding us of Baptism.

The new windows are scheduled to be installed in May, during the Easter Season. By then we will have welcomed about 30 new Catholics. They will be washed in the saving waters and will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit at Easter. We will renew our own baptismal promises at Easter to remind us of the Spirit’s action in our lives. As we see the preparations continue and the new windows installed, may our hearts also be prepared and decorated with virtues. Let this Lenten Season be a time of spiritual renewal with prayer, penance, and works of mercy, so that the Easter celebration will bring true joy to our hearts.

May God bless you and may you have a fruitful Lent

Fr. Hildebrand

Our Lenten journey

Dear Friends in Christ,

How has your Lenten journey been so far? Does Easter seem a long distance away? Are you already losing spiritual steam? Here’s a true story for you that will hopefully restore your energy.

As I write this letter Mauro Talini is nearing the end of a 9000 km bicycle trip which began on November 29 in La Paz, Bolivia and ended at Cape Horn (southern tip of South America). Who is Mauro Talini and what was the purpose of this long journey? Mauro Talini, 36, is an Italian cyclist from Viareggio. In 2007 he cycled from Italy to Nordkapp, Norway (northern limit of Europe). Is this a long distance Lance Armstrong? You might think he would qualify for the Tour de France or the Olympics, but that is not his goal. Mauro Talini is diabetic and insulin dependent. His bicycle tours are called “Diabetes No Limits”. He is out to prove that the human spirit is greater than physical obstacles. But his South American tour has another important goal, a spiritual goal, which is the real purpose of his long bike ride.

This time Mauro has adopted an important cause for his bicycle tour, raising funds for the “City of Hope” in Riacho Grande, Brazil. This project is directed by the Father Kolbe Missionaries of the Immaculata (a Catholic secular institute of women missionaries). The Fr. Kolbe Missionaries have been working among the poor of South America for more than thirty years. The City of Hope is currently under construction in a very poor area near Sao Paolo where the Missionaries have an apostolate. Mauro’s trip “1 Bike, 1000 Dreams” hopes to raise money to complete the “city” which will include a welcoming center for children, classrooms, a sporting field, and other buildings. If you would like to check out Mauro’s odyssey and learn more about the project, here are some links (they’re mostly in Italian) www.Maurotalini.it (blog); www.gpsweb.it/talini; www.aipkolbeonlus.org.

For Mauro the bicycle tour is also a journey within, a journey with the Lord. He carries with him only his insulin, a light tent (at times he had to camp out in the Argentine desert), and funds for food. He depends on people along the way for his lodging. His is a journey of hope, for those with physical limitations, for those with spiritual limitations, and especially for the poor of Riacho Grande. He is an example of faith in divine Providence and the power of God that works through grace. Now, did you think you had a cross too heavy to bear? Mauro has a cross too, diabetes, but that doesn’t stop him from making strenuous and long bike tours. Our journey to Easter seems long, but day by day we have God’s promise that He will provide what we need. We only have to ask for it, …and keep pedaling!!

Happy Lent to all.

Fr. Hildebrand

Message from the Holy Father

The Christian Good News responds positively to man’s thirst for justice, as Saint Paul affirms in the Letter to the Romans: “But now the justice of God has been manifested apart from law … the justice of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction; since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (3, 21-25).

What then is the justice of Christ? Above all, it is the justice that comes from grace, where it is not man who makes amends, heals himself and others. The fact that “expiation” flows from the “blood” of Christ signifies that it is not man’s sacrifices that free him from the weight of his faults, but the loving act of God who opens Himself in the extreme, even to the point of bearing in Himself the “curse” due to man so as to give in return the "blessing” due to God (cf. Gal 3, 13-14). But this raises an immediate objection: what kind of justice is this where the just man dies for the guilty and the guilty receives in return the blessing due to the just one?

Would this not mean that each one receives the contrary of his “due”? In reality, here we discover divine justice, which is so profoundly different from its human counterpart. God has paid for us the price of the exchange in His Son, a price that is truly exorbitant. Before the justice of the Cross, man may rebel for this reveals how man is not a self sufficient being, but in need of Another in order to realize himself fully. Conversion to Christ, believing in the Gospel, ultimately means this: to exit the illusion of self-sufficiency in order to discover and accept one’s own need – the need of others and God, the need of His forgiveness and His friendship. So we understand how faith is altogether different from a natural, good-feeling, obvious fact: humility is required to accept that I need Another to free me from “what is mine,” to give me gratuitously “what is His.”

This happens especially in the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. Thanks to Christ’s action, we may enter into the “greatest” justice, which is that of love (cf. Rm 13, 8-10), the justice that ecognizes itself in every case more a debtor than a creditor, because it has received more than could ever have been expected. Strengthened by this very experience, the Christian is moved to contribute to creating just societies, where all receive what is necessary to live according to the dignity proper to the human person and where justice is enlivened by love.

Dear brothers and sisters, Lent culminates in the Paschal Triduum, in which this year, too, we shall celebrate divine justice – the fullness of charity, gift, salvation. May this penitential season be for every Christian a time of authentic conversion and intense knowledge of the mystery of Christ, who came to fulfill every justice. With these sentiments, I cordially impart to all of you my Apostolic Blessing.

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

St. Joseph’s Hill of Hope

Dear Friends in Christ,

Recently two different persons asked me about “St. Joseph’s Hill of Hope” and so I will use this letter to respond so that all of you can understand the Church’s official position. In my role as pastor I am obliged to protect the flock from error; it is in this spirit that I write this letter.

First, we should be clear about public Revelation, that it ended with the death of the last Apostle. Since then any private revelations have to be approved by the Church Christ founded. Apparitions and revelations of our Lord, our Lady, and the saints over the past centuries have all been investigated. Some of these have received Church approval; some are still under investigation (Medjugorje for example) and some have been explicitly declared to be in error. Such is the case for the following.

St. Joseph’s Hill of Hope, which is located in Brea, claims to be a source of private revelation from God to the late Frances Klug. Purported divine messages began coming through Mrs. Klug back in 1967. In 1980, after an investigation into the revelations, Monsignor Joseph Pollard, theologian for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles reported that the messages were certainly heretical. Here is the conclusion of Msgr. Pollard’s report:

The teachings of the organization “St. Joseph’s Hill of Hope-City of God” are, in their key doctrine, heretical (orginal emphasis). In ancillary teachings, there is an avoidance of the mens ecclesiae (mind of the Church). On both counts I find the “revelations” to be spurious.

In 1981 the bishops of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Orange all signed a document declaring:
This organization, its properties, its activities and its teachings are independent of the Roman Catholic Church, its jurisdiction and its favor. Financial or moral support of this organization by Catholics cannot be construed as support of the Church.

In particular, the President of “St. Joseph’s Hill of Hope – City of God” enjoys no commission from the Church to teach, counsel, or conduct retreats. You should not make donations for building projects for this organization. Nor should you accept literature from them. In spite of what may seem to be authentic teaching, they come from a very dubious source. Remember that even the devil knows how to quote Scripture.

As you know, there are excellent sources of authentic Church teaching which are readily available to all. Highly recommended are the Catechism of the Catholic Church or its shorter Compendium. A book that claims to be Catholic should have the Imprimatur or Nihil Obstat or some other official Church approval. With regard to Bibles, I have often cautioned people that many Bibles in book stores are not Catholic; they are published by non-Catholic companies and omit certain books of the Old Testament that were removed in the 1500’s by the Protestant reformers.

Catholic Bibles will usually say “Catholic edition” or will have the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur. If we remain faithful to the Church’s Magisterium (Pope and Bishops) we can be sure we will not be led astray because Christ promised to be with His Church “to the end of the world”. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, seat of Wisdom, guard us and protect us always.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

St. Vincent de Paul Society at SJB

Dear Friends in Christ,

The pastor of a parish is also the spiritual director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. As you know the Society is our parish’s organ of charitable works. I have spoken to you and have written about our local Conference and their dedicated service to the poor. We must serve the poor because to serve the poor is to serve Christ Himself.

As you can imagine, this past year has seen a dramatic increase in requests for aid. Compared to the previous year the cases handled more than doubled. Here are some of the statistics from President Paul Kelly’s October 2009 Report (Comparative figures for 2008 are in italics):

• 696/331 cases (home visits, motel visits, and persons who called at the rectory),
• 1382/667 food vouchers were distributed,
• 834/425 transportation vouchers (gasoline, bus passes),
• 181/65 persons were provided with lodging,
• 32/19 persons received medical aid,
• 33/23 utility bills paid,
  
• Members volunteered over 880 hours of service, including 3630 unreimbursed auto miles.
  

Here are some of the figures from the Society’s 2009 financial report (2008 figures are in italics):

• $51,862/$23,349 total charitable disbursements for the year
• $39,441/$23,983 donations for the year from parishioners ($20,255 carried over from the previous year)
• $1202/$1327 donations from Society members
• $9,038 balance as of September 30, 2009
  

The primary source of funds for the St. Vincent de Paul Society are three annual collections for the poor:

1. Ash Wednesday
2. Holy Thursday
3. Thanksgiving Day.
   

In addition, the Society receives the contents of the poor box (located in the church vestibule) and envelopes provided in your annual offertory envelope packet.

I wish to thank all the members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society for their dedicated work, which I witness daily here at the rectory office. I also invite you to join in this blessed work of serving Jesus in the poor. I also want to thank each of you for your donations to this charitable organization and for your continued commitment to sustaining its outreach to the poor of our area. If we persevere in our charity we can hope to hear the Lord say, “Well done, good and
faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matt. 25, 21). May we all hear these words one day.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Water and SJB

Dear Friends in Christ,

The American author and humorist Mark Twain once said, “Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody.” Now the water we have seen this past week was certainly no moderate amount and it has hurt a lot of people in southern California. In the past week’s news you may have seen some of us as we slogged through the water in the parking lot.

Fortunately some of our parishioners saw us trying to deal with the “lake” in our parking lot on Monday and pitched in to help bail out the water. Some of us were interviewed by the reporters. I like what Fr. Norbert said. It was pretty bad but nothing like what they’re experiencing in Haiti. I write this column on Thursday, Jan. 21 so that it can be sent to the publisher for printing.

After Monday’s flash flood we have seen a lot more rain, but we have been able to dry out our classrooms and re-open the school for Thursday. I hope that when you read this on Saturday evening or Sunday we will have a break from the rain. We all wanted to see more rain to alleviate the drought,…but not so fast!

Please join us in praying for protection from these storms. Meanwhile, speaking of Haiti, you probably heard that they suffered a strong aftershock this past week which frightened everyone, and still they are looking for survivors. Millions are suffering in this tragedy, but persons of good will from all over the world are responding to help the people. We are especially grateful to you for your generosity in the special collection for Haiti. We collected nearly $17,000 for this effort which will go to Catholic Relief Services. CRS, which has a base in Haiti, has transformed a golf course near Port-au-Prince into a refugee camp. They are providing food and hygiene items to the many people who are homeless as a result of the earthquake. They have also managed to keep open a quake damaged hospital to serve the thousands of injured. If you were unable to donate to the collection last week you will find an announcement with an address for CRS for sending donations on page 3 of this bulletin.

Other organizations here in Orange County are sending aid to Haiti. We hope to provide more opportunities for you to help the people of Haiti. Our youth group is planning some benefit events that we will announce here in the bulletin and from the pulpit. Here at home we are helping the poor in our area through the St. Vincent de Paul Society. This weather is very hard for the homeless, and they are coming to our door for help. Have you ever thought of joining our St. Vincent de Paul Society? Have you used your St. Vincent de Paul envelope lately?

Have a good week and try to stay dry.

God bless you and your family,

Fr. Hildebrand

Haiti

The recent earthquake in Haiti has shocked the world. We have seen images of mass destruction, and we have heard the cries of the afflicted people. The sheer volume of this tragedy defies description as the news media uncover more stories of woe in this impoverished nation. Our hearts go out to these poor people, but our minds cannot grasp the meaning of such a terrible loss of life and property inflicted by nature. We are tempted to cry out like holy Job in the Bible, protesting to heaven over the suffering of millions of innocent human beings. What meaning can we find in this situation? Does our Catholic faith have any answers? Natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes are physical evils that result from the imperfections of the natural world. St. Paul reminds us that “all creation groans and is in labor…waiting for the redemption” (Romans 8: 22-23). The Catechism explains it this way:

“But why did God not create a world so perfect that no evil could exist in it? With infinite power God could always create something better. But with infinite wisdom and goodness God freely willed to create a world ‘in a state of journeying’ toward its ultimate perfection. In God’s plan this process of becoming involves the appearance of certain beings and the disappearance of others, the existence of the more perfect alongside the less perfect, both constructive and destructive forces of nature (like earthquakes). With physical good there exists also physical evil as long as creation has not reached perfection (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #310).

God’s mysterious Providence allows physical evils to remind us of the transitory nature of our existence. How brief and fleeting is our sojourn on this earth! The Psalmist reminds us: “Man’s days are like those of grass; like a flower of the field he blooms; the wind sweeps over him and he is gone, and his place knows him no more”(Ps. 103: 15-16). The disaster in Haiti has brought about one very good result, the outpouring of charity from nations around the world, including our own. The disaster of sin had the result that “God sent is only Son” out of love for us sinners, so that we could be saved from eternal disaster. While we cannot humanly understand why natural disasters occur, we can view them with the eyes of faith, believing that the ways of God’s providence will finally be understood when He has guided creation to its final end, when all things will be one in Christ.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

SJB 50th Anniversary Celebrations

Dear Friends in Christ,

We continue our 50th Anniversary celebrations on Jan. 23 with our Winter Dinner Dance. I hope most of you will join us for this event, which will be one of the three biggest Anniversary celebrations this year.

The Dinner Dance will feature the voice of Father Augustine as emcee. You will have a chance to bid at a SILENT AUCTION. Great music will fill the air for your listening and dancing pleasure, prepared by my old friend Leo Raab, who has over 30 years of experience! This weekend is the last one to take advantage of special pricing for this great event, which you won’t want to miss.

Please stop at the table outside Mass today to purchase your tickets and come to celebrate 50 years of St. john the Baptist parish!

Have you made a New Year’s resolution? Here’s a suggestion. Sign up for adoration one hour a week in our Blessed Sacrament Chapel. You will find the spiritual benefits that many parishioners have experienced by spending an hour with the Lord.

Please remember to lock your cars and keep valuables out of sight when parking in our lot. We have had four cars burglarized between Dec. 24 and Jan. 2. The incidents occurred during Masses, both in the evening and during the day. Our security guard does watch for persons who act suspiciously, but he cannot be everywhere at once.

Thank you for your help in this matter,

Fr. Hildebrand

Pope Benedict’s message for World Day of Peace (Jan. 1)

Dear Friends in Christ,

A happy and grace-filled New Year 2010 to all of you!

Here is a passage from Pope Benedict’s message for World Day of Peace (Jan. 1).

If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation. The quest for peace by people of good will surely would become easier if all acknowledge the indivisible relationship between God, human beings and the whole of creation. In the light of divine Revelation and in fidelity to the Church’s Tradition, Christians have their own contribution to make. They contemplate the cosmos and its marvels in light of the creative work of the Father and the redemptive work of Christ, who by his death and resurrection has reconciled with God “all things, whether on earth or in heaven” (Col 1:20).

Christ, crucified and risen, has bestowed his Spirit of holiness upon mankind, to guide the course of history in anticipation of that day when, with the glorious return of the Savior, there will be “new heavens and a new earth” (2 Pet 3:13), in which justice and peace will dwell for ever. Protecting the natural environment in order to build a world of peace is thus a duty incumbent upon each and all. It is an urgent challenge, one to be faced with renewed and concerted commitment; it is also a providential opportunity to hand down to coming generations the prospect of a better future for all. May this be clear to world leaders and to those at every level who are concerned for the future of humanity: the protection of creation and peacemaking are profoundly linked! For this reason, I invite all believers to raise a fervent prayer to God, the all-powerful Creator and the Father of mercies, so that all men and women may take to heart the urgent appeal: If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation.

The Holy Father’s appeal would make a good New Year’s resolution for us. We could resolve to be more frugal, less wasteful, more sensitive to our natural environment, and thus more respectful of God’s creation. We might begin with praying for a greater respect for life, especially the greatest resource on earth, human life.

May the Lord bless you during this New Year.

Fr. Hildebrand

Merry Christmas!

Dear Friends in Christ,

Merry Christmas! Our Christmas celebrations at St. John’s have been attended by large numbers of people, for that we are grateful. We want to share the joy of our Savior’s birth so that many more will come to know and love Him. May His Name be praised. Sincere thanks to all of you who gave us cards and gifts. Your kindness will have its reward. I would also like to thank all those who made our church’s celebration so festive, especially our environment committee and parish musicians.

A happy and healthy New Year 2010 to you and your families.

Fr. Hildebrand

Advent Penance Services

Dear Friends in Christ,

During the past two weeks I have assisted at a number of Advent Penance Services both here and in other parishes. In addition there have been extra confessions for the students both here and in other schools. The Sacrament of Penance is truly one of the greatest gifts the Lord has given to His Church. Many people have received the gift of grace and spiritual healing through this Sacrament, which is a real encounter with Christ, King of Mercy and Spiritual Healer.

When a person has finished his/her confession the priest sends him/her forth in peace. This peace is often reflected in the penitent’s voice which expresses genuine thanks for the gift of God’s forgiveness. Having celebrated the Sacrament of Penance myself many times, I still feel that sense of a burden lifted, a joy of spirit, knowing that the Lord has forgiven me.

Hearing confessions is essential to our priestly ministry; at times it can be tiring. However, I find that this ministry is also very rewarding. When a priest absolves a person from their sins, he is really acting in the Person of Christ. The priest is God’s agent of mercy, extending mercy to all those who come with a contrite heart.

What a great way to prepare to receive the Christ Child! He was born in the cold and poverty of a stable long ago in Bethlehem. Today He wants to dwell in our hearts. May these hearts be made ready to receive Him with love.

If you have not made your Christmas confession yet, I would encourage you to take the opportunity tomorrow, Monday at 7:30 PM in the church. This time period will replace our regularly scheduled Thursday confessions since this Thursday is Christmas Eve.

Let us pray for one another at this joyous season of God’s love.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Advent Season

Dear Friends in Christ,

We are now more than half way through our Advent season. As we continue preparing gifts, parties, and cards let us not forget two classes of people who are in danger of death during this holy season, our unborn children and our military on active duty.

The Christmas season includes the feast of the Holy Innocents on Dec. 28. For more than twenty years St. John’s has hosted the pro-life march and Mass of reparation for abortion. This public witness for life has drawn large crowds every year, and it is my wish that our parish’s 50th anniversary should be marked by an even larger attendance. Christmas is about a Child who was born to save us from our sins. Christmas is for children. Let’s pray that America will embrace its children, especially those not yet born. Let us also pray for our government leaders that they will exclude abortion coverage from the national health care program. This needs our very fervent prayers and sacrifices since the stakes are high. Our unborn children have no voice unless we speak for them and in their defense.

At Christmas time we must also remember our military brothers and sisters on active duty away from their families in foreign lands and often in danger of life and limb. If you know a soldier, why not include him/her on your Christmas card list? More important, remember our service personnel in your prayers. Pray that the Lord protect them and bring them home safely. Offer your Christmas Mass and Communion for them. There is no better gift.

Meanwhile let us accompany Mary, the Mother of Jesus during the remainder of this Advent season. She brought forth the Author of life and wants us to recognize Him in the poor and the forgotten. May Mary help us to understand the true meaning of Christmas so that we may come to know and love her Son Jesus more perfectly.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Second Sunday of Advent

Dear Friends in Christ,

On this Second Sunday of Advent we begin to hear about our patron St. John the Baptist. Today’s Gospel is from St. Luke. Here is a commentary on this passage by Fr. Tony Kadavil: John called people to repent as a way of preparing their hearts and lives for the Lord's visit. He is calling us, too, to get ready for something so great that it fills our emptiness with expectation. A smooth road means nothing to God, but a repentant heart means a great deal. Hence, the truly important goal for us is to prepare our hearts to receive the Lord. By emphasizing the last line of the quotation, "All flesh will see the salvation of God," Luke stresses the universal aspect of God's salvation. Having begun the section with a list of rulers who did not bring wholeness or salvation, Luke ends with the expectation of a true Lord Who can bring these about. We don't live in a perfect world and we don't look to this world to see God's salvation. For salvation, we have to look to Jesus -- Jesus present in Scripture, Jesus present in the sacraments, Jesus present in our coming together in his name, Jesus present in the lives of his followers. Perhaps if we began to see Jesus in each other and in ourselves, and started to treat one another (and ourselves) as we would treat Jesus, more of the world might come to see God's salvation.

The Jordan River was the place that represented the border between the desert — where the Jews had wandered aimlessly for 38 years after centuries of slavery in Egypt — and the Promised Land. By preaching his message there, John was inviting the Jews of his day, to come out of the bondage of slavery, to leave their faults, their wandering, and their sinful lives behind, and to enter into the Promised Land full of God’s blessings. The Fathers of the Church have called the Sacrament of Reconciliation our “second baptism,” in which we’re brought back to the Jordan and cleansed internally as we were on the day of our Christening. Advent, like Lent, is a season given to us so that we may repent of our sins and be reconciled with God and His Church by receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Please take advantage of confessions during this holy season, following the wise counsel of our patron saint: “Prepare ye the way of the Lord!”

Advent blessings to all.

Fr. Hildebrand

Advent

Dear Friends in Christ,

The season of Advent inaugurates a new liturgical year. With the First Sunday of Advent we begin a new cycle of readings which will continue until Advent of next year. The texts for the readings are spread over a three year period (Years A, B, and C). Having just completed Year B last Sunday, we are now beginning Year C.

The Gospel and the other Scripture readings at Mass are “proclaimed” from the Ambo. I use the word “proclaim” because we are hearing God’s Word, a message that is very important. Such a message should be heard loud and clear. Those who proclaim the readings at Mass are trained for their ministry. They read the texts before Mass and reflect on the meaning so that when they read them aloud the message comes through.

During the Advent season we have some very important messages in the readings, and I hope all of you will take the time to read them in advance so that you can prepare yourselves for Sunday Mass. Why not make this Advent a time of renewing your acquaintance with the Bible. Every Sunday our bulletin includes the Biblical references for the Sun-day readings and the readings for the coming week on page 3. You could cut out that part of the page and use it as a book mark in your Bible. Then every day reserve a time, maybe 20 minutes, to read the day’s Mass readings. You’ll find that you will learn more about how your Bible works and you will also find spiritual nourishment for your day. An easier way to find the readings is to subscribe to a monthly missal like Magnificat which also has prayers, articles and meditations. If you’re in front of the computer a lot, you can find the daily and Sunday readings on the web, www.ewtn.com, and many others. Too busy to sit with the Bible? Get an audio Bible! There are several out there on CD’s and MP3 versions. The Word of Promise audio Bible includes readings by famous actors such as Max von Sydow and Jim Caviesel.

Whatever version you get you can listen while driving, exercising, or walking the dog. We spend a lot of time using different media from iPods to email and from TV to twitter. Why not use our media for something that will benefit our soul? The Word of God is made to be heard, and there’s nothing like a good live rendering of a Biblical text. Let this Liturgical New Year be a time to prepare the way for the Lord through His Word. By the way, we’re looking for lectors to read at Mass. Have you thought about serving in this ministry?

A blessed Advent to all.

Fr. Hildebrand

Thanksgiving

Dear Friends in Christ,

As Thanksgiving approaches I want to thank the LORD for many things. So I thought I would make a “Thanksgiving List” for all we have received.

A BIG THANK YOU TO:

• Our priests for their generous pastoral service to our diverse community,
• Our parish staff for all the things they do for me and all of our parishioners in service, maintenance, religious education, Those who made Fr. Philip’s and my 25th Anniversary a memorable occasion,
• Our St. Vincent de Paul Society for its dedication to serving Jesus in the poor,
• Our Pastoral and Finance Councils for their collective wisdom and advice,
• Our Offertory Program Committee for hard work and timely achievements,
• Our parish choirs for their dedication to the service of the liturgy,
• Our parish ministers, servers, lectors, and ushers for their gifts of time and talent,
• Our School staff for their love and dedication to forming our children's hearts, minds, bodies, and spirits,
• Our Knights of Columbus for the projects that have enhanced our parish,
• Our Youth Group for restoring Coffee & Donuts on Sunday to enhance parish community,
• Our 50th Anniversary Committee for their time and energy in preparing beautiful and interesting events,
• Our Eucharistic Adorers for your prayers that strengthen us daily and nightly,
• Our Festival Committee for their committed efforts that bore great fruit this year,
  

And THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU for your patience, love, support, and all the little things you do to make our parish a place where Christ is welcomed and worshiped.

Fr. Hildebrand

What does it mean to be a Catholic?

Dear Friends in Christ,

The recent congressional debate over health care reform surfaced a serious conflict between a Catholic Congressman and his bishop. Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island stated publicly: “The fact that I disagree with the hierarchy on some issues does not make me any less of a Catholic.” Kennedy was referring to his public stance favoring abortion coverage by the new health care plan. Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence wrote an open letter to Kennedy in which he corrected the congressman’s understanding of what it means to be a Catholic.

The bishop’s letter is very clear, and I consider it important for all of us. The bishop points out that the Church’s Code of Canon Law states that lay persons are bound to acquire a knowledge of Christian doctrine adapted to their capacity and condition so that they can live in accord with that doctrine (cf. Canon 229, #1). He also reminds the Congressman that Catholics in political life cannot claim autonomy from the moral and social teachings of the Church. To claim such autonomy as the Congressman does when he says he disagrees with the hierarchy on the immorality of abortion is to hold a position at odds with the Church’s teaching.

What does it mean to be a Catholic? That is the question. Bishop Tobin answers simply: “Being a Catholic means that you’re part of a faith community that possesses a clearly defined authority and doctrine, obligations and expectations. It means that you believe and accept the teachings of the Church, especially on essential matters of faith and morals; that you belong to a local Catholic community, a parish; that you attend Mass on Sundays and receive the sacraments regularly; that you support the Church, personally, publicly, spiritually, and financially.”

Here we have a statement that all of us can understand. While we may find that we are confused about some teachings of the Church, we can rely on the Church to help us to know the truth. We have our Holy Father, our bishops, the Catechism, and many other resources that can help us to understand the Catholic teaching on modern questions. Let us make good use of these resources so that we are well-informed about our faith and can call ourselves Catholic in deed and in truth.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

SJB Updates

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today I would like to share with you some news from around the parish. First, after our recent celebration of unveiling the six new stained glass windows we are now proceeding to prepare for the next phase of the project, the large window in the choir loft, the windows alongside the bronze doors, and the eight small windows in the sanctuary. We have already received some preliminary sketches and they really look wonderful. The scheduled date for installation is May 2010 in time for our 50th anniversary celebration.

Speaking of our 50th anniversary, our special Memorial Mass for deceased parishioners over the past 50 years will take place this Saturday, Nov. 14 at 12noon. The Mass will include a special
remembrance ceremony for those who passed away during the 1960’s, 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s, and 2000’s. Each decade will be marked by a parishioner who will light a candle in remembrance
of the deceased. Please invite your friends and relatives to this special Memorial Mass.

As you may have noticed our youth group now provides coffee and donuts on Sunday mornings (except the 4th Sunday when the Knights have their pancake breakfast). This is an opportunity
to visit with fellow parishioners and build community. Thank you to the youth group.

On Friday, Oct. 30 our school children celebrated the saints by coming to school dressed as their favorite saint. What imagination and creativity! I visited the classrooms during the morning and saw a little St. Francis of Assisi, St. Elizabeth Seton, St. Herman Joseph, St. Patrick and many others. This project is helping us teach the children the true meaning of Halloween, which is the vigil of All Saints. It’s not about witches and goblins.

It’s about the Saints, persons to inspire our young people. During this month of November let us not forget to pray for our brothers and sisters who have passed from this life. They may be in Purgatory, waiting for our prayers and Masses to set them free. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand