20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Dear parishioners,
When I was taking instruction in the Catholic Faith, it was at Central College in Pella, Iowa, a wonderful small university about the size of my high school back in the Antelope Valley in California. It’s the place where Pella Doors and Windows are made
The college wanted a diversity of students, so they actively recruited people from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe, New York, and, in my case, the Mojave Desert.
Central College is affiliated with the Reformed Church of America (RCA), and when I was leaving Southern California to fly out to Iowa for my first year of studies, my mother said, “Oh, Bill, maybe you’ll join that church!” She was pleased that the college I was attending was a Christian institution, but never dreamed I would choose a different Christian family, the Catholic Church, as my home, with the help of God.
Most of the people in town were Dutch, and most were Reformed, so some were puzzled by my decision to seek instruction from the local priest. I remember one dear friend from upper New York State telling me, “Bill, those Catholics believe the saints can help them from heaven, and we don’t believe that at all!”
Perhaps this is one reason I find today’s Second Reading so beautiful, as it reminds me of coming to know about the beauty of what we know as the Communion of Saints:
Brothers and sisters:
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us
and persevere in running the race that lies before us
while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,
the leader and perfecter of faith.
For the sake of the joy that lay before him
he endured the cross, despising its shame,
and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.
Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners,
in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin
you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
(Hebrews 12:1-4)
We are indeed surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses,” which comes to mind each time we celebrate a baptism and do the Litany of the Saints. The statues, stained glass windows, Bible readings, holy medals, and books we use as Catholic Christians all point toward the reality that the communion between heaven and earth is real, and that we need the prayers of good people — our parents and godparents, our neighbors who are caring and holy, and those loved ones who have gone before us.
Death does not get the final word when it comes to the life-giving sacrifice of Jesus, nor when it comes to the holy ones (living and dead) who have remained faithful to the risen the glorified Lord Jesus through thick and thin.
Their example, their prayer, their touching our hearts is all a great part of being part of a faith that knows the boundaries between heaven and earth are pierced by the intercessions of believers!
Father Brown
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Dear parishioners,
When I was taking instruction in the Catholic Faith, it was at Central College in Pella, Iowa, a wonderful small university about the size of my high school back in the Antelope Valley in California. It’s the place where Pella Doors and Windows are made
The college wanted a diversity of students, so they actively recruited people from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe, New York, and, in my case, the Mojave Desert.
Central College is affiliated with the Reformed Church of America (RCA), and when I was leaving Southern California to fly out to Iowa for my first year of studies, my mother said, “Oh, Bill, maybe you’ll join that church!” She was pleased that the college I was attending was a Christian institution, but never dreamed I would choose a different Christian family, the Catholic Church, as my home, with the help of God.
Most of the people in town were Dutch, and most were Reformed, so some were puzzled by my decision to seek instruction from the local priest. I remember one dear friend from upper New York State telling me, “Bill, those Catholics believe the saints can help them from heaven, and we don’t believe that at all!”
Perhaps this is one reason I find today’s Second Reading so beautiful, as it reminds me of coming to know about the beauty of what we know as the Communion of Saints:
Brothers and sisters:
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us
and persevere in running the race that lies before us
while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,
the leader and perfecter of faith.
For the sake of the joy that lay before him
he endured the cross, despising its shame,
and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.
Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners,
in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin
you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
(Hebrews 12:1-4)
We are indeed surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses,” which comes to mind each time we celebrate a baptism and do the Litany of the Saints. The statues, stained glass windows, Bible readings, holy medals, and books we use as Catholic Christians all point toward the reality that the communion between heaven and earth is real, and that we need the prayers of good people — our parents and godparents, our neighbors who are caring and holy, and those loved ones who have gone before us.
Death does not get the final word when it comes to the life-giving sacrifice of Jesus, nor when it comes to the holy ones (living and dead) who have remained faithful to the risen the glorified Lord Jesus through thick and thin.
Their example, their prayer, their touching our hearts is all a great part of being part of a faith that knows the boundaries between heaven and earth are pierced by the intercessions of believers!
Father Brown
Saving Souls
Sunday, August 11, 2019
Dear friends in Christ,
When Popes (e.g., Pope Saint John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI [known as “the green Pope” because of his strong focus on the environment and the need to protect it], Pope Francis) speak up forcefully about the dangers of climate change and the need to protect our planet from global warming and pollution, some people ignore them, others listen and prayerfully consider what the Vicar of Christ says, and some complain that they should not talk about such matters at all, but rather focus on “saving souls.”
When the Magisterium teaches officially about economic matters, encouraging us to take a critical look at our system in America, China, Cuba, or Mexico, some tell the bishops they should stick to “religious stuff” and be quiet about economic systems. In his book Crisis in History (1952), The Venerable Fulton J. Sheen wrote: “Both capitalism and socialism are opposite sins against property. Capitalism emphasizes private rights to property without any social responsibility to the common good; socialism emphasizes the social use of property, to the forgetfulness of personal rights. The true solution is one in which the rights to property are personal, but the responsibility is social. A man is free on the inside because he can call his soul his own; he is free on the outside because he can call his property his own.”
More importantly, the Magisterium of the Catholic Church (i.e., the Bishop of Rome in communion with the world’s bishops) over and over again calls us to take a close look at our own heart, country, and business, so that we can avoid the sins Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen condemns — if we truly want to save souls, we don’t want those souls to end up in hell because they have chosen idolatry over the Gospel, greed over goodness, and power over compassion.
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, the master will put the servant in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful.” (Luke 12:42-46)
As I mentioned in last week’s bulletin, the people of this parish are a light in the darkness for my spirit, because they take their blessings (e.g., money, talent, time, compassion, intelligence) and put them at the service of the needy in so many ways.
However, we are just one parish, and to be a light in the darkness often means getting risking the danger of being extinguished by the winds of anger, indifference, and anti-religious sentiment which is very present in our world.
As children, teens, and adults, we can each contribute to what Jesus commands in today’s Gospel about stewardship — or not.
If we choose to care, we might face mockery and attack as the three Popes have faced, especially when they challenged the status quo.
However, as Catholics we are about saving souls — not saving face.
Father Brown
Sunday, August 11, 2019
Dear friends in Christ,
When Popes (e.g., Pope Saint John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI [known as “the green Pope” because of his strong focus on the environment and the need to protect it], Pope Francis) speak up forcefully about the dangers of climate change and the need to protect our planet from global warming and pollution, some people ignore them, others listen and prayerfully consider what the Vicar of Christ says, and some complain that they should not talk about such matters at all, but rather focus on “saving souls.”
When the Magisterium teaches officially about economic matters, encouraging us to take a critical look at our system in America, China, Cuba, or Mexico, some tell the bishops they should stick to “religious stuff” and be quiet about economic systems. In his book Crisis in History (1952), The Venerable Fulton J. Sheen wrote: “Both capitalism and socialism are opposite sins against property. Capitalism emphasizes private rights to property without any social responsibility to the common good; socialism emphasizes the social use of property, to the forgetfulness of personal rights. The true solution is one in which the rights to property are personal, but the responsibility is social. A man is free on the inside because he can call his soul his own; he is free on the outside because he can call his property his own.”
More importantly, the Magisterium of the Catholic Church (i.e., the Bishop of Rome in communion with the world’s bishops) over and over again calls us to take a close look at our own heart, country, and business, so that we can avoid the sins Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen condemns — if we truly want to save souls, we don’t want those souls to end up in hell because they have chosen idolatry over the Gospel, greed over goodness, and power over compassion.
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, the master will put the servant in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful.” (Luke 12:42-46)
As I mentioned in last week’s bulletin, the people of this parish are a light in the darkness for my spirit, because they take their blessings (e.g., money, talent, time, compassion, intelligence) and put them at the service of the needy in so many ways.
However, we are just one parish, and to be a light in the darkness often means getting risking the danger of being extinguished by the winds of anger, indifference, and anti-religious sentiment which is very present in our world.
As children, teens, and adults, we can each contribute to what Jesus commands in today’s Gospel about stewardship — or not.
If we choose to care, we might face mockery and attack as the three Popes have faced, especially when they challenged the status quo.
However, as Catholics we are about saving souls — not saving face.
Father Brown
Being Rich in the Sight of God
Sunday, August 4, 2019
Dear friends,
When one arrives as a new member of this community, there are a couple of things that immediately become extremely clear, and very quickly.
One is that our people are very happy. Father Jeff from Nebraska helped me out eight years ago, so I could get a bit of a break during the summer, and he told the congregation: “You people are so happy!” He joked about the people of his small farming town sitting with arms crossed, and said the people of Saint Hilary were just the opposite in terms of joy at worship.
Another fact is that this community is very generous to the poor. Many people have lived here forever, and are not rolling in dough (just like the parish itself!), and others are younger and wealthier, but all — it seems to me after nine years here — seem very committed to helping others in need.
Some volunteer at the St. Vincent de Paul Help Desk by driving up to San Rafael; others visit the convalescent hospital, make home visits to people in need through our parish St. Vincent de Paul Society, and assist local pregnant woman as part of our Gabriel Project. Still others lovingly visit the homebound and hospitalized, spending time with them, bringing them the Holy Eucharist, and even assisting with trips to the doctor, or bringing in meals and groceries — and of course those who volunteer at San Quentin Prison.
This generosity of spirit is also evident when we have special collections for people in need: the Little Sisters of the Poor (who dedicate their lives to serving the elderly indigent), the missionaries who come each year, the collection for Catholic Charities, and the retirement funds for elderly Religious (Sisters, Nuns, Brothers, Priests), and the priest retirement fund for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
I mention this because sometimes, one gets used to such kindness, and there’s a danger of taking it for granted. Today’s Gospel brought all of these first impressions to mind, and I just wanted to share them with you:
Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,
“Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”
Jesus replied to him,
“Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”
Then he said to the crowd,
“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich,
one’s life does not consist of possessions.”
(Luke 12:13)
Friends, thank you for being an inspiration to converts like me, newcomers to the parish, and to complete strangers who hear about what’s going on in this wonderful place, who receive love and welcome from the good people of Saint Hilary Church and School, and who recognize in this encounter a little hint of how very much God loves them!
My feeling is that you are not addicted to money, but see it as a means to an end: showing the love of Jesus to those who need it most.
Father Brown
Sunday, August 4, 2019
Dear friends,
When one arrives as a new member of this community, there are a couple of things that immediately become extremely clear, and very quickly.
One is that our people are very happy. Father Jeff from Nebraska helped me out eight years ago, so I could get a bit of a break during the summer, and he told the congregation: “You people are so happy!” He joked about the people of his small farming town sitting with arms crossed, and said the people of Saint Hilary were just the opposite in terms of joy at worship.
Another fact is that this community is very generous to the poor. Many people have lived here forever, and are not rolling in dough (just like the parish itself!), and others are younger and wealthier, but all — it seems to me after nine years here — seem very committed to helping others in need.
Some volunteer at the St. Vincent de Paul Help Desk by driving up to San Rafael; others visit the convalescent hospital, make home visits to people in need through our parish St. Vincent de Paul Society, and assist local pregnant woman as part of our Gabriel Project. Still others lovingly visit the homebound and hospitalized, spending time with them, bringing them the Holy Eucharist, and even assisting with trips to the doctor, or bringing in meals and groceries — and of course those who volunteer at San Quentin Prison.
This generosity of spirit is also evident when we have special collections for people in need: the Little Sisters of the Poor (who dedicate their lives to serving the elderly indigent), the missionaries who come each year, the collection for Catholic Charities, and the retirement funds for elderly Religious (Sisters, Nuns, Brothers, Priests), and the priest retirement fund for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
I mention this because sometimes, one gets used to such kindness, and there’s a danger of taking it for granted. Today’s Gospel brought all of these first impressions to mind, and I just wanted to share them with you:
Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,
“Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”
Jesus replied to him,
“Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”
Then he said to the crowd,
“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich,
one’s life does not consist of possessions.”
(Luke 12:13)
Friends, thank you for being an inspiration to converts like me, newcomers to the parish, and to complete strangers who hear about what’s going on in this wonderful place, who receive love and welcome from the good people of Saint Hilary Church and School, and who recognize in this encounter a little hint of how very much God loves them!
My feeling is that you are not addicted to money, but see it as a means to an end: showing the love of Jesus to those who need it most.
Father Brown
The Church gathers in the Church as the Church asks, so the Church can worship God faithfully each Sunday!
Sunday, July 28, 2019
Dear friends in Christ,
In the beginning, the word “Church” was used to describe us, God’s own people, who had been baptized in the name of the Trinity and who followed the way of Jesus.
Naturally, the meaning of the word would develop over time, to include the Magisterium, that is to say, the teaching office of the Catholic Church — the Bishop of Rome and the Bishops throughout the world in communion with him.
As Bishops, it was their duty and privilege to serve God’s people as leaders, sometimes giving their very lives in defense of the faith, and passing on to all Christ’s sisters and brothers, especially new converts, the Catholic faith.
Eventually, the word would embrace also the building in which we gather faithfully each Sunday in obedience to God’s commandments, a building named after us, the Church.
The building, the Church, was a holy place for God’s holy people, where the Sacraments were celebrated, always in communion with the Bishop of Rome — the little piece of the consecrated Host the priest puts into the chalice is a reminder of the fact that we must indeed be in communion with the Pope, as this was the way the ancient Christians of that city would show their unity: a piece of Eucharist from the Pope’s Mass would be brought to all the outlying Churches, as a visible reminder that we are not Congregationalists, but Catholics, a family that extends to all corners of the world.
On a practical level, this means we must “bear with one another lovingly,” especially when the need for fellowship and the need for sacred silence bump into one another.
Here in Tiburon, we are blessed to have a solution: those desiring quiet can use the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (which is never locked), not only before and after Sunday Mass, but throughout the week.
Those asking neighbors how they are doing can enjoy fellowship without disturbing the silent prayers of others who might be going through a rough time.
May God bless you and yours,
Father Brown
Sunday, July 28, 2019
Dear friends in Christ,
In the beginning, the word “Church” was used to describe us, God’s own people, who had been baptized in the name of the Trinity and who followed the way of Jesus.
Naturally, the meaning of the word would develop over time, to include the Magisterium, that is to say, the teaching office of the Catholic Church — the Bishop of Rome and the Bishops throughout the world in communion with him.
As Bishops, it was their duty and privilege to serve God’s people as leaders, sometimes giving their very lives in defense of the faith, and passing on to all Christ’s sisters and brothers, especially new converts, the Catholic faith.
Eventually, the word would embrace also the building in which we gather faithfully each Sunday in obedience to God’s commandments, a building named after us, the Church.
The building, the Church, was a holy place for God’s holy people, where the Sacraments were celebrated, always in communion with the Bishop of Rome — the little piece of the consecrated Host the priest puts into the chalice is a reminder of the fact that we must indeed be in communion with the Pope, as this was the way the ancient Christians of that city would show their unity: a piece of Eucharist from the Pope’s Mass would be brought to all the outlying Churches, as a visible reminder that we are not Congregationalists, but Catholics, a family that extends to all corners of the world.
On a practical level, this means we must “bear with one another lovingly,” especially when the need for fellowship and the need for sacred silence bump into one another.
Here in Tiburon, we are blessed to have a solution: those desiring quiet can use the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (which is never locked), not only before and after Sunday Mass, but throughout the week.
Those asking neighbors how they are doing can enjoy fellowship without disturbing the silent prayers of others who might be going through a rough time.
May God bless you and yours,
Father Brown
Listening for Jesus...
Sunday, July 21, 2019
Dear parishioners,
Down the little hallway, right between our church and our parish hall, you can always walk into the Blessed Sacrament Chapel which is never locked. Even if there is noise in the church, the chapel will be silent, because people go there precisely to take part in Eucharistic Adoration, to meditate, to be with Jesus in silence, and to let him speak words that might comfort, correct, encourage, shake up, or inspire.
Such is the value of silence, and such is the reason for taking time out for listening. We see this very same beautiful and sacred dynamic in today’s famous and beloved Gospel pericope:
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me.”
The Lord said to her in reply,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.”
(Luke 10:38-42)
This listening is also a good reason for arriving early for Mass, whether you come each day, or each week: by coming in before the liturgy begins, you have the chance to pray (in the chapel, or in the church), settle your mind, lift up to Jesus your cares and joys, and not be running around in a hectic fashion.
This listening is, in addition, why it’s important to turn off all rings, notices, sounds and buzzers on your mobile devices before coming into the church building. Unless you are a paramedic on duty, it’s okay to
unplug from these modern gadgets and allow your neighbors—and yourself—to enjoy some sacred time without beeps and buzzers going off during something as important as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
This listening is why many of your bring your own missal, or cell phone app, to read along while the lector or priest proclaims God’s Word: you care enough to be attentive to the Bible readings, but perhaps you find it helpful to read along as you listen (I, for example, cannot understanding oral directions without looking at a map as well). In short, take some time this summer to experiment, and see what brings you greater joy and peace in your Christian journey: spending silent time in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, arriving early for Mass, staying after Mass for some meditation, or using a nice spot at home to listen for what Jesus might be saying, and saying just for you.
God bless you and yours,
Father Brown
Sunday, July 21, 2019
Dear parishioners,
Down the little hallway, right between our church and our parish hall, you can always walk into the Blessed Sacrament Chapel which is never locked. Even if there is noise in the church, the chapel will be silent, because people go there precisely to take part in Eucharistic Adoration, to meditate, to be with Jesus in silence, and to let him speak words that might comfort, correct, encourage, shake up, or inspire.
Such is the value of silence, and such is the reason for taking time out for listening. We see this very same beautiful and sacred dynamic in today’s famous and beloved Gospel pericope:
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me.”
The Lord said to her in reply,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.”
(Luke 10:38-42)
This listening is also a good reason for arriving early for Mass, whether you come each day, or each week: by coming in before the liturgy begins, you have the chance to pray (in the chapel, or in the church), settle your mind, lift up to Jesus your cares and joys, and not be running around in a hectic fashion.
This listening is, in addition, why it’s important to turn off all rings, notices, sounds and buzzers on your mobile devices before coming into the church building. Unless you are a paramedic on duty, it’s okay to
unplug from these modern gadgets and allow your neighbors—and yourself—to enjoy some sacred time without beeps and buzzers going off during something as important as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
This listening is why many of your bring your own missal, or cell phone app, to read along while the lector or priest proclaims God’s Word: you care enough to be attentive to the Bible readings, but perhaps you find it helpful to read along as you listen (I, for example, cannot understanding oral directions without looking at a map as well). In short, take some time this summer to experiment, and see what brings you greater joy and peace in your Christian journey: spending silent time in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, arriving early for Mass, staying after Mass for some meditation, or using a nice spot at home to listen for what Jesus might be saying, and saying just for you.
God bless you and yours,
Father Brown
"Call the Midwife" on PBS
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, July 14, 2019
Dear parishioners,
Nowadays, the transgender issue is much discussed and debated, both among adults and among school age children. Many people have friends and relatives who are going through this experience, and thus questions arise when I visit the classrooms, talk with parishioners on the plaza after Mass, or take part in a discussion group each week.
This reality even came up recently in an episode of “Call The Midwife” on PBS, a television series about Anglican Nuns working in a poor neighborhood of London in the early sixties. The Sisters live in a convent called Nonnatus House, named after Saint Raymond Nonnatus, who was born by Caesarean section and is thus the patron saint of midwives.
These Sisters work among the poorest of the poor in London, and in the convent there are also rooms for nurses who specialize in midwifery. Given the nature of childbirth, life, death, abuse, medical care, smoking, cancer, medicine, and birth defects, this television series is not for the faint of heart. In fact, it reminds me very much of a debate my brother Don and I used to have as boys: which is tougher, to be a girl and go through labor pains, or to be a boy and get shipped off to the war in Vietnam? At that time, in the sixties, we kids simply assumed this was what would happen to all boys once they got older.
Back to the transgender issue.
The nurses and Sisters run a clinic for women, and one young woman comes to ask for help because she is about to get married, but has not had her period. “For how long?” asks one of the midwives. “Ever,” the young woman explains, very embarrassed. To make a long story short, a more thorough medical examination reveals that she was born with a reality she knew nothing about before: her body has both male and female organs. To be specific, instead of ovaries, she has testes where the ovaries would usually be found, and thus can never get pregnant, and of course she now feels very confused and frightened. “Am I a freak?” she asks. “I still feel like a girl and look like a girl and I want to get married.” Thanks be to God, her fiancé tells her he loves her as she is, and that they can adopt children who need a good home.
While watching this episode, I was on the edge of my seat, wondering if her fiancé would dump her and mock her, if she might, in despair, commit suicide, if the whole story would end in great tragedy. Instead, love and compassion triumph — as they do in today’s story of the good Samaritan.
Jesus uses someone despised and looked down upon (a Samaritan) to tell his own people (the Jews) that mercy and kindness can come when we least expect it, from people we might be tempted to discard. Ever since Jesus told this parable, people have been discussing what it means in terms of prejudice, assumptions, the meaning of neighbor, and how we can use this parable to change our lives — and our ideas of who is “good” and who is “evil.” Life is not simple nowadays, but then again, life has never been simple, as we hear from so many friends and relatives when they share their own stories of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
So: who was neighbor to the man in distress? “The one who showed him compassion,” they respond. We respond. And then we give thanks not only for those who have been compassionate to us, but also for those who have given us the chance to share whatever compassion and love the good God has put into our hearts.
Father Brown
Sunday, July 14, 2019
Dear parishioners,
Nowadays, the transgender issue is much discussed and debated, both among adults and among school age children. Many people have friends and relatives who are going through this experience, and thus questions arise when I visit the classrooms, talk with parishioners on the plaza after Mass, or take part in a discussion group each week.
This reality even came up recently in an episode of “Call The Midwife” on PBS, a television series about Anglican Nuns working in a poor neighborhood of London in the early sixties. The Sisters live in a convent called Nonnatus House, named after Saint Raymond Nonnatus, who was born by Caesarean section and is thus the patron saint of midwives.
These Sisters work among the poorest of the poor in London, and in the convent there are also rooms for nurses who specialize in midwifery. Given the nature of childbirth, life, death, abuse, medical care, smoking, cancer, medicine, and birth defects, this television series is not for the faint of heart. In fact, it reminds me very much of a debate my brother Don and I used to have as boys: which is tougher, to be a girl and go through labor pains, or to be a boy and get shipped off to the war in Vietnam? At that time, in the sixties, we kids simply assumed this was what would happen to all boys once they got older.
Back to the transgender issue.
The nurses and Sisters run a clinic for women, and one young woman comes to ask for help because she is about to get married, but has not had her period. “For how long?” asks one of the midwives. “Ever,” the young woman explains, very embarrassed. To make a long story short, a more thorough medical examination reveals that she was born with a reality she knew nothing about before: her body has both male and female organs. To be specific, instead of ovaries, she has testes where the ovaries would usually be found, and thus can never get pregnant, and of course she now feels very confused and frightened. “Am I a freak?” she asks. “I still feel like a girl and look like a girl and I want to get married.” Thanks be to God, her fiancé tells her he loves her as she is, and that they can adopt children who need a good home.
While watching this episode, I was on the edge of my seat, wondering if her fiancé would dump her and mock her, if she might, in despair, commit suicide, if the whole story would end in great tragedy. Instead, love and compassion triumph — as they do in today’s story of the good Samaritan.
Jesus uses someone despised and looked down upon (a Samaritan) to tell his own people (the Jews) that mercy and kindness can come when we least expect it, from people we might be tempted to discard. Ever since Jesus told this parable, people have been discussing what it means in terms of prejudice, assumptions, the meaning of neighbor, and how we can use this parable to change our lives — and our ideas of who is “good” and who is “evil.” Life is not simple nowadays, but then again, life has never been simple, as we hear from so many friends and relatives when they share their own stories of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
So: who was neighbor to the man in distress? “The one who showed him compassion,” they respond. We respond. And then we give thanks not only for those who have been compassionate to us, but also for those who have given us the chance to share whatever compassion and love the good God has put into our hearts.
Father Brown
Farewell, Fr. Ginter! Welcome, Fr. Jandonero!
Sunday, July 7, 2019
Dear parishioners,
This weekend we thank Father Andrew Ginter for his first three years of priesthood, ministering to the
people of this community, and promoting vocations to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. We wish him all the best as he moves into Saint Patrick Rectory in Larkspur, from where he will commute to Marin Catholic High School each day as their new, full-time Campus Chaplain.
This same weekend, we look forward to welcoming Father Ernesto Jandonero (hahn-doe-neh-row) who was ordained just a few weeks ago, and who begins work here on July first as our new Parochial Vicar. Father
Jandonero is the third newly ordained priest in a row Archbishop Cordileone has sent to Saint Hilary Church and School, which speaks highly of his confidence in you, the good people of our community, as a new priest’s first assignment is so important for his soul, his well-being, his future — and his ability to become a wonderful minister to God’s own people.
May I suggest just a couple of things to help Father Jandonero get to know us?
1. As you welcome him, please give him your name over and over again, as for some of us it takes a long time to match faces with names. The first parishioners I got to know in 1988 were Hettie and Marian Schmidt, sisters in their eighties who gently introduced themselves to me each Sunday on the plaza until I was able to say: “Marian and Hettie: good to see you!”
2. Please use his name, which is not that hard to pronounce: if we can say Tarantino, we can say Jandonero. One staff member noticed the pronunciation is a bit like the car, plus the second part: Honda-Nerro.
3. It is probably best not to besiege a new priest with spiritual agendas that might take him by surprise and be off-putting. In my deacon parish, Saint Elizabeth, a family just across the street from the rectory greeted me right after I was ordained to the priesthood with the words, “Father Brown, we are praying each day that you will become a Charismatic now!” Here in Tiburon, as I was moving my boxes into the rectory back in 2010, a parishioner walked up to ask me, “Are you a Marian priest?” I felt a bit confused and judged, not knowing what a ‘Marian priest’ might be, so I simply told them I was a Catholic priest and hoped that would suffice.
4. As we all get to know each other, there will be plenty of occasions to share ideas, suggestions, and
constructive criticisms. This happened with me when I moved north to Saint Hilary Parish, and much of it was indeed very helpful, as I’m sure it will be for Father Jandonero.
Today’s Second Reading sums up what we are about as Catholic Christians, and as members of this parish family:
“For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely: you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
(Galatians 5:14)
With this simple reminder as a starting point for what we do and say, I believe the Risen Lord Jesus will bless our work together for the spread of his Gospel, and the care of his beloved people.
God bless you and yours,
Father Brown
Sunday, July 7, 2019
Dear parishioners,
This weekend we thank Father Andrew Ginter for his first three years of priesthood, ministering to the
people of this community, and promoting vocations to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. We wish him all the best as he moves into Saint Patrick Rectory in Larkspur, from where he will commute to Marin Catholic High School each day as their new, full-time Campus Chaplain.
This same weekend, we look forward to welcoming Father Ernesto Jandonero (hahn-doe-neh-row) who was ordained just a few weeks ago, and who begins work here on July first as our new Parochial Vicar. Father
Jandonero is the third newly ordained priest in a row Archbishop Cordileone has sent to Saint Hilary Church and School, which speaks highly of his confidence in you, the good people of our community, as a new priest’s first assignment is so important for his soul, his well-being, his future — and his ability to become a wonderful minister to God’s own people.
May I suggest just a couple of things to help Father Jandonero get to know us?
1. As you welcome him, please give him your name over and over again, as for some of us it takes a long time to match faces with names. The first parishioners I got to know in 1988 were Hettie and Marian Schmidt, sisters in their eighties who gently introduced themselves to me each Sunday on the plaza until I was able to say: “Marian and Hettie: good to see you!”
2. Please use his name, which is not that hard to pronounce: if we can say Tarantino, we can say Jandonero. One staff member noticed the pronunciation is a bit like the car, plus the second part: Honda-Nerro.
3. It is probably best not to besiege a new priest with spiritual agendas that might take him by surprise and be off-putting. In my deacon parish, Saint Elizabeth, a family just across the street from the rectory greeted me right after I was ordained to the priesthood with the words, “Father Brown, we are praying each day that you will become a Charismatic now!” Here in Tiburon, as I was moving my boxes into the rectory back in 2010, a parishioner walked up to ask me, “Are you a Marian priest?” I felt a bit confused and judged, not knowing what a ‘Marian priest’ might be, so I simply told them I was a Catholic priest and hoped that would suffice.
4. As we all get to know each other, there will be plenty of occasions to share ideas, suggestions, and
constructive criticisms. This happened with me when I moved north to Saint Hilary Parish, and much of it was indeed very helpful, as I’m sure it will be for Father Jandonero.
Today’s Second Reading sums up what we are about as Catholic Christians, and as members of this parish family:
“For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely: you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
(Galatians 5:14)
With this simple reminder as a starting point for what we do and say, I believe the Risen Lord Jesus will bless our work together for the spread of his Gospel, and the care of his beloved people.
God bless you and yours,
Father Brown
Farewell & Welcome
Sunday, June 30, 2019
Dear parishioners,
This weekend we celebrate Father Andrew Ginter’s last Sunday at St. Hilary with gratitude, fond memories, best wishes for his new assignment as full-time Chaplain to Marin Catholic High School — and of course a nice reception on Saturday night right after the five o’clock Mass!
On Monday, we welcome our new Parochial Vicar, Father Ernesto Jandonero, who was ordained this spring along with his two classmates for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Father Jandonero (hahn-doe-neh-row) will be involved in many of the ministries Father Ginter was active with: our monthly Pasta Night, daily visits with the students of our parochial school, collaborating with Lisa Veto in our Faith Formation program, etc.
For me, it’s sad to see Father Ginter move up north, but a joy to know that Father Jandonero is coming. Since my arrival in 2010 we have seen many fine priests serve here (Father Lawrence, Father Matt, Father Roger), and I look forward to enjoying the same priestly fraternity and collaboration with Father Jandonero. I know in my heart that he will benefit from serving the good people of this church and school, because this is who you are: faithful members of the Church who have brains, hearts, charisms, ideas, and voices that you use to make a difference in the world and in the hearts of the priests who come to know you. Today’s passage from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Galatians reminds me of this reality:
For you were called for freedom, brothers and sisters.
But do not use this freedom
as an opportunity for the flesh;
rather, serve one another through love.
For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement,
namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
But if you go on biting and devouring one another,
beware that you are not consumed by one another.
I say, then: live by the Spirit
and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh.
For the flesh has desires against the Spirit,
and the Spirit against the flesh;
these are opposed to each other,
so that you may not do what you want.
But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
(Galatians 5:13-18)
In every community there will be a mix of young and old, female and male, conservative and liberal, and people from every nation, language, and way of life. They beauty of being Catholic is that from this very real and challenging diversity we keep coming back, we pray together, work together for the Lord, and we reach out to those in need so that they might come to know what we know: God is love, and God sent his Son Jesus to reveal this love to the world in a new and unmistakable way.
Each priest who serves here feels this in his very being, thanks to all of you — and to the Holy Spirit whom you welcome into your heart and soul.
Father Brown
Sunday, June 30, 2019
Dear parishioners,
This weekend we celebrate Father Andrew Ginter’s last Sunday at St. Hilary with gratitude, fond memories, best wishes for his new assignment as full-time Chaplain to Marin Catholic High School — and of course a nice reception on Saturday night right after the five o’clock Mass!
On Monday, we welcome our new Parochial Vicar, Father Ernesto Jandonero, who was ordained this spring along with his two classmates for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Father Jandonero (hahn-doe-neh-row) will be involved in many of the ministries Father Ginter was active with: our monthly Pasta Night, daily visits with the students of our parochial school, collaborating with Lisa Veto in our Faith Formation program, etc.
For me, it’s sad to see Father Ginter move up north, but a joy to know that Father Jandonero is coming. Since my arrival in 2010 we have seen many fine priests serve here (Father Lawrence, Father Matt, Father Roger), and I look forward to enjoying the same priestly fraternity and collaboration with Father Jandonero. I know in my heart that he will benefit from serving the good people of this church and school, because this is who you are: faithful members of the Church who have brains, hearts, charisms, ideas, and voices that you use to make a difference in the world and in the hearts of the priests who come to know you. Today’s passage from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Galatians reminds me of this reality:
For you were called for freedom, brothers and sisters.
But do not use this freedom
as an opportunity for the flesh;
rather, serve one another through love.
For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement,
namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
But if you go on biting and devouring one another,
beware that you are not consumed by one another.
I say, then: live by the Spirit
and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh.
For the flesh has desires against the Spirit,
and the Spirit against the flesh;
these are opposed to each other,
so that you may not do what you want.
But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
(Galatians 5:13-18)
In every community there will be a mix of young and old, female and male, conservative and liberal, and people from every nation, language, and way of life. They beauty of being Catholic is that from this very real and challenging diversity we keep coming back, we pray together, work together for the Lord, and we reach out to those in need so that they might come to know what we know: God is love, and God sent his Son Jesus to reveal this love to the world in a new and unmistakable way.
Each priest who serves here feels this in his very being, thanks to all of you — and to the Holy Spirit whom you welcome into your heart and soul.
Father Brown
Feast of Corpus Christi procession in Gmund at Tegernsee lake, Upper Bavaria Germany
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Sunday, June 23, 2019
Dear parishioners,
For us who are Catholic Christians, today’s celebration is at the very heart of our faith. The reception of Holy Communion is the high point of each Mass celebrated throughout the world, when Jesus’ sisters and brothers walk forward to receive the Risen and Glorified Lord in Eucharist, as we have been doing since that night in the upper room. As the Church solemnly teaches, “The celebration of the Eucharistic sacrifice is wholly directed toward the intimate union of the faithful with Christ through Communion. To receive Communion is to receive Christ himself who has offered himself for us.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1382)
When we enter a Catholic church, we look for the red sanctuary lamp, a sign to us of where the tabernacle with the Blessed Sacrament is located. We genuflect before going into the pew, as a sign of reverence to the Real Presence of Jesus in that Eucharist — and this genuflection can be not only good for us (showing that we do believe and do have respect), but also for those who see us. The first Catholic Mass I attended in college was a mystical experience, in part because of what I saw the faithful do.
The Church teaches that the most important moment of the Mass is when God’s people receive Jesus in Holy Communion, so our actions during this sacred time should be an inspiration for those who might see this for the very first time.
There is nothing “holier” or “better” about receiving the Host on the tongue: it is simply an option, and up to the communicant. There is nothing “holier” or “better” about receiving the Host in the hand either, but both options should show reverence.
The early Fathers of the Church taught that, when receiving in the hand, one should put the left hand on top of the right, forming a “throne” for the King of Kings; then one picks up the Host with the right hand and consumes it reverently. If people are receiving on the tongue, they should also display reverence and common sense, making it easy for the priest to place the Host on their tongue: this means no lunging forward, no bobbing up or down. Just say “amen” and then receive the Lord Jesus with joy and gratitude.
The faithful also have the option to receive Holy Communion under both species (which the Church teaches is ideal), or only under one species: some people cannot tolerate even low-gluten Hosts and thus only receive the Precious Blood during the Communion procession. Others receive only the Host and do not approach the chalice, which is their right. (It’s rather like going to the Sacrament of Confession: you may choose to speak to the priest face to face, or to go behind the screen: neither way is “holier” or “better” but both options should be open to you.)
The Body and Blood of Christ in Eucharist are offered to us, to help us become more like Jesus. It doesn’t matter whether we receive Holy Communion from the Pope, or from our neighbor down the street: it is the Lord.
It doesn’t matter whether the Eucharist has been consecrated during a Tridentine Mass, a Mass in English, a Charismatic Mass, or a Mass for our school children: it is the Lord.
It doesn’t matter that the Sacred Sacrifice we receive is celebrated in Jerusalem, Rome, Tiburon, or in a nursing home: it is the Lord.
This is one of the great beauties of our Catholic faith: all that really matters is that people of faith have been gathered by Jesus, that they listen to God’s Word in Holy Scripture, and then take part in “the breaking of the bread” as the early Church called it: it is the Lord Jesus who is present, who feeds us, consecrates us, and then sends us out on mission to help those most in need to hear the Good News we have listened to, and come to believe with us in him as well: the Lord.
May this Risen and Glorified Lord Jesus bless you and yours!
Father Brown
Sunday, June 23, 2019
Dear parishioners,
For us who are Catholic Christians, today’s celebration is at the very heart of our faith. The reception of Holy Communion is the high point of each Mass celebrated throughout the world, when Jesus’ sisters and brothers walk forward to receive the Risen and Glorified Lord in Eucharist, as we have been doing since that night in the upper room. As the Church solemnly teaches, “The celebration of the Eucharistic sacrifice is wholly directed toward the intimate union of the faithful with Christ through Communion. To receive Communion is to receive Christ himself who has offered himself for us.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1382)
When we enter a Catholic church, we look for the red sanctuary lamp, a sign to us of where the tabernacle with the Blessed Sacrament is located. We genuflect before going into the pew, as a sign of reverence to the Real Presence of Jesus in that Eucharist — and this genuflection can be not only good for us (showing that we do believe and do have respect), but also for those who see us. The first Catholic Mass I attended in college was a mystical experience, in part because of what I saw the faithful do.
The Church teaches that the most important moment of the Mass is when God’s people receive Jesus in Holy Communion, so our actions during this sacred time should be an inspiration for those who might see this for the very first time.
There is nothing “holier” or “better” about receiving the Host on the tongue: it is simply an option, and up to the communicant. There is nothing “holier” or “better” about receiving the Host in the hand either, but both options should show reverence.
The early Fathers of the Church taught that, when receiving in the hand, one should put the left hand on top of the right, forming a “throne” for the King of Kings; then one picks up the Host with the right hand and consumes it reverently. If people are receiving on the tongue, they should also display reverence and common sense, making it easy for the priest to place the Host on their tongue: this means no lunging forward, no bobbing up or down. Just say “amen” and then receive the Lord Jesus with joy and gratitude.
The faithful also have the option to receive Holy Communion under both species (which the Church teaches is ideal), or only under one species: some people cannot tolerate even low-gluten Hosts and thus only receive the Precious Blood during the Communion procession. Others receive only the Host and do not approach the chalice, which is their right. (It’s rather like going to the Sacrament of Confession: you may choose to speak to the priest face to face, or to go behind the screen: neither way is “holier” or “better” but both options should be open to you.)
The Body and Blood of Christ in Eucharist are offered to us, to help us become more like Jesus. It doesn’t matter whether we receive Holy Communion from the Pope, or from our neighbor down the street: it is the Lord.
It doesn’t matter whether the Eucharist has been consecrated during a Tridentine Mass, a Mass in English, a Charismatic Mass, or a Mass for our school children: it is the Lord.
It doesn’t matter that the Sacred Sacrifice we receive is celebrated in Jerusalem, Rome, Tiburon, or in a nursing home: it is the Lord.
This is one of the great beauties of our Catholic faith: all that really matters is that people of faith have been gathered by Jesus, that they listen to God’s Word in Holy Scripture, and then take part in “the breaking of the bread” as the early Church called it: it is the Lord Jesus who is present, who feeds us, consecrates us, and then sends us out on mission to help those most in need to hear the Good News we have listened to, and come to believe with us in him as well: the Lord.
May this Risen and Glorified Lord Jesus bless you and yours!
Father Brown
Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Sunday, June 16, 2019
Dear Friends in Christ,
Recently I have read a couple of beautiful articles, and watched two lovely videos, about the importance of making the Sign of the Cross.
The authors of these insights had a few things in common in their discussion about this very Catholic act, which is recognizable throughout the world, as marking us for who we are, whom we follow, and to which Church we belong:
· It is so important, and such a privilege, for us “older people” to teach our young children how to make the Sign of the Cross when they are old enough to grasp the concept that this is truly something that all Catholics do. Sadly, many students in our First Communion groups seem not to have learned this prayerful act, and so the catechists, teachers, and priests must try to teach them what they have not learned at home. To make it easier for the little ones, I sometimes show them with the appropriate words, and ask them to imitate me: of course this leads to confusion when they “do it backwards,” so then I sometimes say: “Okay, it’s top, bottom, left, right. Top, bottom, left right.” It’s a bit like the training we got in the Air Force for how to march here and there. One has to learn to do it properly.
· A second point these authors made is how essential it is for each of us, personally, to realize the sacred nature of making the Sign of the Cross, and to pass this on to the next generation. It’s not sloppy, it’s not insignificant, but rather a sign of reverence, a statement of our faith in the Trinity, and a beautiful way to show the Lord (and one another) that we are indeed in this together, as one big family of faith from every corner of the earth.
· The authors I enjoyed also pointed out how respectfully and reverently making the Sign of the Cross puts us into the proper spirit of mind as we enter the Church for a private visit to the Blessed Sacrament, or for Sunday Mass. Even as Muslim remove their shoes are take part in a careful washing before entering the mosque, we should call to mind we are on holy ground, and reverently dip our hand into the cleansing holy water of baptism as we draw near to the Holy of Holies.
· Another insight I found helpful was how we can use the Sign of the Cross at night, in bed, to calm our mind for a good rest, to ask God’s blessing on our love ones, and to ask God’s pardon for any sins we committed that day.
This type of Catholic mindfulness, for me, is a powerful way to make the Sign of the Cross an act of worship toward our Triune God, and a reminder to me of God’s call to holiness.
Father Brown
Sunday, June 16, 2019
Dear Friends in Christ,
Recently I have read a couple of beautiful articles, and watched two lovely videos, about the importance of making the Sign of the Cross.
The authors of these insights had a few things in common in their discussion about this very Catholic act, which is recognizable throughout the world, as marking us for who we are, whom we follow, and to which Church we belong:
· It is so important, and such a privilege, for us “older people” to teach our young children how to make the Sign of the Cross when they are old enough to grasp the concept that this is truly something that all Catholics do. Sadly, many students in our First Communion groups seem not to have learned this prayerful act, and so the catechists, teachers, and priests must try to teach them what they have not learned at home. To make it easier for the little ones, I sometimes show them with the appropriate words, and ask them to imitate me: of course this leads to confusion when they “do it backwards,” so then I sometimes say: “Okay, it’s top, bottom, left, right. Top, bottom, left right.” It’s a bit like the training we got in the Air Force for how to march here and there. One has to learn to do it properly.
· A second point these authors made is how essential it is for each of us, personally, to realize the sacred nature of making the Sign of the Cross, and to pass this on to the next generation. It’s not sloppy, it’s not insignificant, but rather a sign of reverence, a statement of our faith in the Trinity, and a beautiful way to show the Lord (and one another) that we are indeed in this together, as one big family of faith from every corner of the earth.
· The authors I enjoyed also pointed out how respectfully and reverently making the Sign of the Cross puts us into the proper spirit of mind as we enter the Church for a private visit to the Blessed Sacrament, or for Sunday Mass. Even as Muslim remove their shoes are take part in a careful washing before entering the mosque, we should call to mind we are on holy ground, and reverently dip our hand into the cleansing holy water of baptism as we draw near to the Holy of Holies.
· Another insight I found helpful was how we can use the Sign of the Cross at night, in bed, to calm our mind for a good rest, to ask God’s blessing on our love ones, and to ask God’s pardon for any sins we committed that day.
This type of Catholic mindfulness, for me, is a powerful way to make the Sign of the Cross an act of worship toward our Triune God, and a reminder to me of God’s call to holiness.
Father Brown
Pentecost Sunday, June 9, 2019
Dear parishioners,
On this last day of the Easter Season, the great Solemnity of Pentecost, we experience once again the joy of those first believers who received the Holy Spirit:
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked,
where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them,
“Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again,
“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.”
(John 20:19-22)
The wording of the Gospel story is so reminiscent of other Bible passages, when the Lord God created the heavens and the earth, and breathed on the newly made world and thus brought life out of nothingness, humankind out of God’s divine love (Genesis 2:7), later new life back to the dry bones of a people in desolation (Ezekiel 37:9), and revealed that the first imperfect man, Adam, was now supplanted by the new perfect man, Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:45), who was not merely flesh but also spirit. Not from the earth, but from heaven!
And so on Easter Sunday, the Risen Lord Jesus tells his friends to “receive the Holy Spirit,” the Πνεῦμα Ἅγιον (Pneuma Hagion), just as we pray that each newly baptized baby will be consecrated by the Holy Spirit by the imposition of hands, being raised to the light by parents and godparents who are true believers.
That each child receiving First Holy Communion will have the Holy Spirit as their inner guide, to help each girl and boy know and proclaim that this is not just bread and wine, but the Risen and Glorified Lord Jesus they are receiving in the Blessed Sacrament.
That each person stepping forward for the Sacrament on Confirmation will, by their own free choice, welcome the Holy Spirit into their body, mind, soul, and life, to give them the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of understanding the knowledge of God’s will for them, as they become full-fledged members of the Catholic Church.
That each person coming to Confession will feel and celebrate the presence of the Holy Spirit when the priest extends his hands over the penitent and speaks the words of absolution, a Sacrament which brings about the forgiveness of those sins honestly confessed with contrition and a desire to change one’s life for the better.
That each couple exchanging their sacred marriage vows will feel the working of the Holy Spirit not only on the day of their wedding, but throughout their life together, until they are parted by death.
That each person being ordained as deacon, priest, or bishop will take seriously the consecration prayer, which asks the man to truly be a servant of God and God’s people through prayer, leadership, and sacrifice.
That each person who receives the Last Rites (Confession, Anointing, and Holy Communion as Viaticum) will find peace in the Holy Spirit reminding them of the promises of eternity they received long ago.
Father Brown
Dear parishioners,
On this last day of the Easter Season, the great Solemnity of Pentecost, we experience once again the joy of those first believers who received the Holy Spirit:
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked,
where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them,
“Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again,
“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.”
(John 20:19-22)
The wording of the Gospel story is so reminiscent of other Bible passages, when the Lord God created the heavens and the earth, and breathed on the newly made world and thus brought life out of nothingness, humankind out of God’s divine love (Genesis 2:7), later new life back to the dry bones of a people in desolation (Ezekiel 37:9), and revealed that the first imperfect man, Adam, was now supplanted by the new perfect man, Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:45), who was not merely flesh but also spirit. Not from the earth, but from heaven!
And so on Easter Sunday, the Risen Lord Jesus tells his friends to “receive the Holy Spirit,” the Πνεῦμα Ἅγιον (Pneuma Hagion), just as we pray that each newly baptized baby will be consecrated by the Holy Spirit by the imposition of hands, being raised to the light by parents and godparents who are true believers.
That each child receiving First Holy Communion will have the Holy Spirit as their inner guide, to help each girl and boy know and proclaim that this is not just bread and wine, but the Risen and Glorified Lord Jesus they are receiving in the Blessed Sacrament.
That each person stepping forward for the Sacrament on Confirmation will, by their own free choice, welcome the Holy Spirit into their body, mind, soul, and life, to give them the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of understanding the knowledge of God’s will for them, as they become full-fledged members of the Catholic Church.
That each person coming to Confession will feel and celebrate the presence of the Holy Spirit when the priest extends his hands over the penitent and speaks the words of absolution, a Sacrament which brings about the forgiveness of those sins honestly confessed with contrition and a desire to change one’s life for the better.
That each couple exchanging their sacred marriage vows will feel the working of the Holy Spirit not only on the day of their wedding, but throughout their life together, until they are parted by death.
That each person being ordained as deacon, priest, or bishop will take seriously the consecration prayer, which asks the man to truly be a servant of God and God’s people through prayer, leadership, and sacrifice.
That each person who receives the Last Rites (Confession, Anointing, and Holy Communion as Viaticum) will find peace in the Holy Spirit reminding them of the promises of eternity they received long ago.
Father Brown
June 2, 2019
Dear parishioners,
I wanted to write to you about this important topic, but found an article from the Catholic Voice, the Oakland diocesan newspaper. Bishop Robert Barron says it better than I could. Please speak up for our church and preserve our religious freedom!
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
Wake up: The real danger posed by the California confession bill
By Most Reverend Robert Barron, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles
SB 360, a piece of proposed legislation currently making its way through the California state Senate, should alarm not only every Catholic in the country, but indeed the adepts of any religion.
In California, as in almost every other state, clergy members (along with a variety of other professionals, including physicians, social workers, teachers and therapists) are mandated reporters — which is to say, they are legally required to report any case of suspected child abuse or neglect to law enforcement.
However, California clergy who come by this knowledge in the context of “penitential communication” are currently exempted from the requirement. SB 360 would remove the exemption. State Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, the bill’s sponsor, characterized the scope and purpose of his legislation as follows: “The law should apply equally to all professionals who have been designated as mandated reporters of these crimes — with no exceptions, period. The exemption for clergy only protects the abuser and places children at further risk.” I would like to make clear what the passage of this law would mean for Catholic priests in California. Immediately, it would place them on the horns of a terrible dilemma.
Since the Canon Law of the Church stipulates that the conscious violation of the seal of Confession results in automatic excommunication, every priest, under this new law, would be threatened with prosecution and possible imprisonment on the one hand or formal exclusion from the body of Christ on the other. And does anyone doubt that, if this law is enacted, attempts will be made to entrap priests, effectively placing them in this impossible position?
What I hope is clear — not only to Catholics, but to any American committed to the First Amendment — is that we are dealing here with an egregious violation of the principle of religious liberty.
In its stipulation that Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, the First Amendment holds off, if you will, the aggression of any religion toward the civil state. But in its further stipulation that Congress shall never legislate in such a way as to obviate the free exercise of religion, it blocks the state’s aggression toward religion.
The framers of the Bill of Rights were legitimately alarmed at the prospect of the government meddling in the affairs of a religious community, monitoring its beliefs and policing its behavior. But such meddling and monitoring is precisely what SB 360 involves.
I realize that non-Catholics and nonbelievers might not appreciate how precious the Sacrament of Confession is to Catholics and why the seal of Confession matters so profoundly.
In my last year in the seminary, my classmates and I took a course in the theology and practice of the sacrament of Reconciliation. Our professor said something that has stayed with me for the 33-years of my priesthood, burned into my mind and soul.
He told us, “If someone asks, ‘Father, would you hear my confession?’, the answer is always yes. Even if hearing that confession puts your own life in danger, the answer is always yes.” And he went on, “If a person inquires about what was said during a confession, you should act as though the confession never even happened. And if doing so puts your own life in danger, you should still act as though the confession never happened.”
Why do we Catholics take this sacrament with such seriousness? We do so because we believe that through this sacramental encounter, a sinner accesses the healing and forgiving grace of Christ. In the context of Confession, the priest, we hold, is operating in the very person of Christ, and therefore, the penitent is speaking to and hearing from the Lord himself.
Thus, absolutely nothing ought to stand in the way of a sinner who seeks this font of grace. In light of these clarifications, one can understand the indispensable importance of the seal. If a penitent thought that the priest to whom he confessed were likely to share with others what was given in the most sacred confidence, he or she would be reluctant indeed ever to approach the sacrament of Reconciliation. And this is why the Church has striven so strenuously to protect, at all costs, the integrity of Confession.
And through the entire course of our country’s history, the government has protected the right of the Catholic Church to determine its own sacramental practice and has never sought to compel the violation of the seal. Given this venerable tradition, grounded in the second clause of the First Amendment, an extraordinary burden of proof, it seems to me, lies with those who would seek to dispense with the exemption.
But what is impossible to doubt is that religious liberty is indeed under grave threat, especially when we consider the slippery slope onto which SB 360 would invite us. Surely murder, theft, spousal abuse, child neglect and rape are terrible crimes. Would the state determine that priests are obligated to report these offenses to the authorities, should they hear of them in the confessional?
For some time now, the public institutions of the Church have been under attack from the secular state. The government has been seeking to determine what is taught and practiced in Catholic schools and what is carried out in Catholic hospitals, even when these practices run counter to the Church’s formal doctrine.
But with SB 360, the secular authorities are reaching into the inner life of the Church, into its sacramental practice and discipline. Catholics should, of course, rise up in strenuous protest against this very aggressive incursion — but so should anyone who cares about the freedom of religion in our society.
(Bishop Robert Barron is an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries.)
Source: The Catholic Voice, Oakland Diocese Newspaper
https://www.catholicvoiceoakland.org/2019/05-27/forum3.htm
Dear parishioners,
I wanted to write to you about this important topic, but found an article from the Catholic Voice, the Oakland diocesan newspaper. Bishop Robert Barron says it better than I could. Please speak up for our church and preserve our religious freedom!
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
Wake up: The real danger posed by the California confession bill
By Most Reverend Robert Barron, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles
SB 360, a piece of proposed legislation currently making its way through the California state Senate, should alarm not only every Catholic in the country, but indeed the adepts of any religion.
In California, as in almost every other state, clergy members (along with a variety of other professionals, including physicians, social workers, teachers and therapists) are mandated reporters — which is to say, they are legally required to report any case of suspected child abuse or neglect to law enforcement.
However, California clergy who come by this knowledge in the context of “penitential communication” are currently exempted from the requirement. SB 360 would remove the exemption. State Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, the bill’s sponsor, characterized the scope and purpose of his legislation as follows: “The law should apply equally to all professionals who have been designated as mandated reporters of these crimes — with no exceptions, period. The exemption for clergy only protects the abuser and places children at further risk.” I would like to make clear what the passage of this law would mean for Catholic priests in California. Immediately, it would place them on the horns of a terrible dilemma.
Since the Canon Law of the Church stipulates that the conscious violation of the seal of Confession results in automatic excommunication, every priest, under this new law, would be threatened with prosecution and possible imprisonment on the one hand or formal exclusion from the body of Christ on the other. And does anyone doubt that, if this law is enacted, attempts will be made to entrap priests, effectively placing them in this impossible position?
What I hope is clear — not only to Catholics, but to any American committed to the First Amendment — is that we are dealing here with an egregious violation of the principle of religious liberty.
In its stipulation that Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, the First Amendment holds off, if you will, the aggression of any religion toward the civil state. But in its further stipulation that Congress shall never legislate in such a way as to obviate the free exercise of religion, it blocks the state’s aggression toward religion.
The framers of the Bill of Rights were legitimately alarmed at the prospect of the government meddling in the affairs of a religious community, monitoring its beliefs and policing its behavior. But such meddling and monitoring is precisely what SB 360 involves.
I realize that non-Catholics and nonbelievers might not appreciate how precious the Sacrament of Confession is to Catholics and why the seal of Confession matters so profoundly.
In my last year in the seminary, my classmates and I took a course in the theology and practice of the sacrament of Reconciliation. Our professor said something that has stayed with me for the 33-years of my priesthood, burned into my mind and soul.
He told us, “If someone asks, ‘Father, would you hear my confession?’, the answer is always yes. Even if hearing that confession puts your own life in danger, the answer is always yes.” And he went on, “If a person inquires about what was said during a confession, you should act as though the confession never even happened. And if doing so puts your own life in danger, you should still act as though the confession never happened.”
Why do we Catholics take this sacrament with such seriousness? We do so because we believe that through this sacramental encounter, a sinner accesses the healing and forgiving grace of Christ. In the context of Confession, the priest, we hold, is operating in the very person of Christ, and therefore, the penitent is speaking to and hearing from the Lord himself.
Thus, absolutely nothing ought to stand in the way of a sinner who seeks this font of grace. In light of these clarifications, one can understand the indispensable importance of the seal. If a penitent thought that the priest to whom he confessed were likely to share with others what was given in the most sacred confidence, he or she would be reluctant indeed ever to approach the sacrament of Reconciliation. And this is why the Church has striven so strenuously to protect, at all costs, the integrity of Confession.
And through the entire course of our country’s history, the government has protected the right of the Catholic Church to determine its own sacramental practice and has never sought to compel the violation of the seal. Given this venerable tradition, grounded in the second clause of the First Amendment, an extraordinary burden of proof, it seems to me, lies with those who would seek to dispense with the exemption.
But what is impossible to doubt is that religious liberty is indeed under grave threat, especially when we consider the slippery slope onto which SB 360 would invite us. Surely murder, theft, spousal abuse, child neglect and rape are terrible crimes. Would the state determine that priests are obligated to report these offenses to the authorities, should they hear of them in the confessional?
For some time now, the public institutions of the Church have been under attack from the secular state. The government has been seeking to determine what is taught and practiced in Catholic schools and what is carried out in Catholic hospitals, even when these practices run counter to the Church’s formal doctrine.
But with SB 360, the secular authorities are reaching into the inner life of the Church, into its sacramental practice and discipline. Catholics should, of course, rise up in strenuous protest against this very aggressive incursion — but so should anyone who cares about the freedom of religion in our society.
(Bishop Robert Barron is an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries.)
Source: The Catholic Voice, Oakland Diocese Newspaper
https://www.catholicvoiceoakland.org/2019/05-27/forum3.htm
Change is Hard…..but Necessary
Sunday, May 26, 2019
My dear friends in Christ,
As you all have heard I am going to be moving to Marin Catholic this summer to be the full-time chaplain there. I will be living in residence at St. Patrick’s and helping there on the weekends when I do not have a vocation event. The day before I wrote this article I went over to St. Patrick Church to see my new
living quarters and it became real that I am leaving.
I was told about my assignment the Tuesday before Easter and it is an assignment that I am excited about. Before I was in seminary, I shadowed at Marin Catholic and thought about teaching religion there. I do enjoy working with young people and I do feel that the assignment was made for me. But, when priests move assignments it is so much more than simply a change of job. I have a new place to live, new people to see everyday and a new family to pray with. It is a part of the life that I live, but it is hard.
When the announcement became public I was in Lourdes with the Order of Malta and there were a few of our parishioners on the pilgrimage. I was able to tell them in person, but it was more difficult than I thought it would be. St. Hilary has been such a wonderful place to have my first assignment as a priest. I see some of the parishioners more than I see my family. I have baptized, married and buried many people of the parish. This has been one of the greatest blessings. I loved helping people and bringing the presence of Christ’s love and mercy to them in their time of need.
It may be hard to see, but since priests do not have our own family, you truly become ours. Even though my new assignment is one that I am looking forward to doing, it is hard to leave. I will miss the community here, the school and most of all the people. I will miss people telling me, “to get rest so that I don’t get sick,” or “your mother says that you need to get more sleep.” I will miss the questions from the students at Mass that have nothing to do with that I’m talking about. I will miss being invited into parishioners' homes and making me feel a part of their family. I will especially miss the pasta dinners, seeing people coming every month and happy to be together at Church. Most of all, I will miss the generous heart of this parish. Anytime I have needed anything for ministry or help in a ministry I have always been overwhelmed by the generosity of this parish. Your giving nature shows that Christ is at work in you and it is a breath of fresh air.
While there are many things that I will miss, I have had a wonderful first assignment that showed me the joys of being a priest during a difficult time in the church. Change is hard and it seemed like a short three years. Change is necessary though. I have learned so much about life, love and sacrifice from the parishioners that will serve me well in my new ministry as the chaplain at Marin Catholic. I feel that a new priest will bring new energy and new ideas to this wonderful parish. Fr. Ernesto Jandonero, a newly ordained priest will bring his joy, strengths and personality with him. I am excited for him, for you and the parish.
Your comments and words of congratulations have been great, but some people speak to me like I am dying. I am leaving, but only moving across the freeway. This last month unfortunately I will be away on retreat for a week and away for one week with our seminarians. But, I will still be around and would love to invite you all to my going away celebration. I will celebrate and say my words of thanks at the 5:00pm Mass on Saturday, June 29th followed by a reception in the hall. Please do come if you are able. This can be your homework assignment. I would love to have one final time to pray together before I go on my next assignment. Thank you for allowing St. Hilary to be my home and for you making it feel like home!
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
Sunday, May 26, 2019
My dear friends in Christ,
As you all have heard I am going to be moving to Marin Catholic this summer to be the full-time chaplain there. I will be living in residence at St. Patrick’s and helping there on the weekends when I do not have a vocation event. The day before I wrote this article I went over to St. Patrick Church to see my new
living quarters and it became real that I am leaving.
I was told about my assignment the Tuesday before Easter and it is an assignment that I am excited about. Before I was in seminary, I shadowed at Marin Catholic and thought about teaching religion there. I do enjoy working with young people and I do feel that the assignment was made for me. But, when priests move assignments it is so much more than simply a change of job. I have a new place to live, new people to see everyday and a new family to pray with. It is a part of the life that I live, but it is hard.
When the announcement became public I was in Lourdes with the Order of Malta and there were a few of our parishioners on the pilgrimage. I was able to tell them in person, but it was more difficult than I thought it would be. St. Hilary has been such a wonderful place to have my first assignment as a priest. I see some of the parishioners more than I see my family. I have baptized, married and buried many people of the parish. This has been one of the greatest blessings. I loved helping people and bringing the presence of Christ’s love and mercy to them in their time of need.
It may be hard to see, but since priests do not have our own family, you truly become ours. Even though my new assignment is one that I am looking forward to doing, it is hard to leave. I will miss the community here, the school and most of all the people. I will miss people telling me, “to get rest so that I don’t get sick,” or “your mother says that you need to get more sleep.” I will miss the questions from the students at Mass that have nothing to do with that I’m talking about. I will miss being invited into parishioners' homes and making me feel a part of their family. I will especially miss the pasta dinners, seeing people coming every month and happy to be together at Church. Most of all, I will miss the generous heart of this parish. Anytime I have needed anything for ministry or help in a ministry I have always been overwhelmed by the generosity of this parish. Your giving nature shows that Christ is at work in you and it is a breath of fresh air.
While there are many things that I will miss, I have had a wonderful first assignment that showed me the joys of being a priest during a difficult time in the church. Change is hard and it seemed like a short three years. Change is necessary though. I have learned so much about life, love and sacrifice from the parishioners that will serve me well in my new ministry as the chaplain at Marin Catholic. I feel that a new priest will bring new energy and new ideas to this wonderful parish. Fr. Ernesto Jandonero, a newly ordained priest will bring his joy, strengths and personality with him. I am excited for him, for you and the parish.
Your comments and words of congratulations have been great, but some people speak to me like I am dying. I am leaving, but only moving across the freeway. This last month unfortunately I will be away on retreat for a week and away for one week with our seminarians. But, I will still be around and would love to invite you all to my going away celebration. I will celebrate and say my words of thanks at the 5:00pm Mass on Saturday, June 29th followed by a reception in the hall. Please do come if you are able. This can be your homework assignment. I would love to have one final time to pray together before I go on my next assignment. Thank you for allowing St. Hilary to be my home and for you making it feel like home!
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Dear friends in Christ,
Each week, it seems we hear in the news about some terrible new tragedy, shooting, bombing, persecution, or act of terrorism. It has become such a part of our life, some people feel the bad news drag them down, make them feel helpless and hopeless, or fill them with a new dose of rage each day.
When we gather for Sunday Mass, some hope the priest will preach on the latest atrocity, while others hope he will give a homily that will help them feel the love and care of God after they’ve been bombarded with bad news all week — they’ve already been exposed to horrors and atrocities, and now they pray for something uplifting and encouraging.
For your preachers (deacons, priests, bishops) this is not a simple decision to make. We cannot bury our heads in the sand, but neither do we want to frighten the little children in church, nor offer a sad repetition of the tragedies everyone in the pews has already been hearing.
And so the preacher, and God’s people, turn to God’s own Word for strength and guidance:
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.
I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
(John 14:23-29)
Let us look for examples of the Holy Spirit at work here and now: the new Catholics who joined the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass, the First Communion children who delight in receiving Jesus for the first time in Holy Eucharist, the volunteers who give so generously of their time to help others, the people (children, teens, and adults) who make a conscious choice to put their faith into action day after day.
Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would be sent to guide us, and with eyes wide open we can recognize and celebrate his work — and jump into the mix ourselves, bringing light to those who feel only darkness.
May the good Lord keep you always in the palm of his hand,
Father Brown
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Dear friends in Christ,
Each week, it seems we hear in the news about some terrible new tragedy, shooting, bombing, persecution, or act of terrorism. It has become such a part of our life, some people feel the bad news drag them down, make them feel helpless and hopeless, or fill them with a new dose of rage each day.
When we gather for Sunday Mass, some hope the priest will preach on the latest atrocity, while others hope he will give a homily that will help them feel the love and care of God after they’ve been bombarded with bad news all week — they’ve already been exposed to horrors and atrocities, and now they pray for something uplifting and encouraging.
For your preachers (deacons, priests, bishops) this is not a simple decision to make. We cannot bury our heads in the sand, but neither do we want to frighten the little children in church, nor offer a sad repetition of the tragedies everyone in the pews has already been hearing.
And so the preacher, and God’s people, turn to God’s own Word for strength and guidance:
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.
I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
(John 14:23-29)
Let us look for examples of the Holy Spirit at work here and now: the new Catholics who joined the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass, the First Communion children who delight in receiving Jesus for the first time in Holy Eucharist, the volunteers who give so generously of their time to help others, the people (children, teens, and adults) who make a conscious choice to put their faith into action day after day.
Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would be sent to guide us, and with eyes wide open we can recognize and celebrate his work — and jump into the mix ourselves, bringing light to those who feel only darkness.
May the good Lord keep you always in the palm of his hand,
Father Brown
Farewell — and welcome!
Sunday, May 12, 2019
Dear friends in Christ,
The Archdiocese of San Francisco announced that our beloved Father Andrew Ginter will be moving to St. Patrick Rectory in Larkspur on July 1, to begin serving as full-time Chaplain at Marin Catholic High School.
The folks at M.C. are of course thrilled, and we will miss Father Ginter very much, grateful to God for the three years he has served so well and so generously as Parochial Vicar here at St. Hilary Church and School.
I personally have treasured him for many reasons, including his cheerfulness, integrity, honesty, his strong dedication to the Lord — and his great communication skills.
So much trouble can be avoided when one communicates early and well, as Father Ginter does!
In the midst of having to say “farewell” to Father Ginter, we also got some good news for our community.
Please join me in extending a very warm welcome to our new Parochial Vicar, Deacon Ernesto M. Jandonero, who will be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, May 18, at Saint Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco at 10:00 a.m.
We encourage those of you who have never taken part in a priestly ordination to attend if you can, as it is a beautiful sign of growth for the Church, welcoming three new men into this special ministry.
I believe Deacon Ernie worked as a nurse before entering St. Patrick
Seminary, which means he already had an experience of loving service before beginning his priestly studies.
On a personal note, I also see this assignment as a great sign of Archbishop Cordileone's trust in you, the good people of St. Hilary, that Father Ernesto Jandonero will be the third newly ordained priest in a row assigned to our community.
The first assignment of a new priest is so important, and this speaks highly of the people of St. Hilary that you have been entrusted with yet another new vocation!
Father will move in on July 1, which is when most of the major changes in the ADSF take place.
Father Brown
Sunday, May 12, 2019
Dear friends in Christ,
The Archdiocese of San Francisco announced that our beloved Father Andrew Ginter will be moving to St. Patrick Rectory in Larkspur on July 1, to begin serving as full-time Chaplain at Marin Catholic High School.
The folks at M.C. are of course thrilled, and we will miss Father Ginter very much, grateful to God for the three years he has served so well and so generously as Parochial Vicar here at St. Hilary Church and School.
I personally have treasured him for many reasons, including his cheerfulness, integrity, honesty, his strong dedication to the Lord — and his great communication skills.
So much trouble can be avoided when one communicates early and well, as Father Ginter does!
In the midst of having to say “farewell” to Father Ginter, we also got some good news for our community.
Please join me in extending a very warm welcome to our new Parochial Vicar, Deacon Ernesto M. Jandonero, who will be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, May 18, at Saint Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco at 10:00 a.m.
We encourage those of you who have never taken part in a priestly ordination to attend if you can, as it is a beautiful sign of growth for the Church, welcoming three new men into this special ministry.
I believe Deacon Ernie worked as a nurse before entering St. Patrick
Seminary, which means he already had an experience of loving service before beginning his priestly studies.
On a personal note, I also see this assignment as a great sign of Archbishop Cordileone's trust in you, the good people of St. Hilary, that Father Ernesto Jandonero will be the third newly ordained priest in a row assigned to our community.
The first assignment of a new priest is so important, and this speaks highly of the people of St. Hilary that you have been entrusted with yet another new vocation!
Father will move in on July 1, which is when most of the major changes in the ADSF take place.
Father Brown
Is the Pope Catholic?
Sunday, May 5, 2019
Dear parishioners,
Once again, we see a group of disgruntled people attacking the Pope (in this case, Pope Francis), accusing him of heresy, and setting themselves up as a sort of parallel Magisterium that’s holier and more Catholic.
I say “once again” because this phenomenon is really nothing new. Throughout the ages, people in camps we might call ultra-liberal and ultra-conservative have attacked the Catholic Church as a whole, or the Vatican, or the reigning Pope, not merely for making mistakes, but for being heretical, diabolical, un-Christian, etc.
Right here in America we have a young man from Oklahoma City who calls himself Pope Michael and was elected to the papacy by six lay people, including his mom and dad. In this case, David Allen Bawden (aka “Pope Michael”) is from the ultra-conservative side, claiming that the Catholic Church has had no valid Pope since the death of Pope Pius XII back in 1958. To remedy this sad state of affairs, Mr. Bawden graciously invited some folks over to elect him to the Chair of Peter back in 1990.
If you Google his name, you might spot him on the wooden porch swing back in Oklahoma, granting an interview to reporters. It’s not really the Chair of Peter, but it looks very cozy and folksy.
I mention him as merely one example of the ultra-conservative side which believes we really haven’t had a legitimate Pope for decades, because they disapprove of the Second Vatican Council and a whole bunch of things — it would take more than this page to list their grievances.
On the ultra-liberal side, we also have people who claim to be more Catholic than the Pope, and who have thus chosen to take some steps on their own which won them a number of followers. Like the sedevacantists listed above (who believe the Chair of Peter is empty because John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I, John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis are all heretics and not valid Popes), these people have made up their own version of the Catholic Church, creating a lot of confusion among regular Catholics like you and me — especially when it comes to having a “Catholic wedding” on a surfboard or on the beach.
For example, they use the word “Catholic” in their titles (e.g., American Catholic Church, Independent Catholic Church, etc.), but they are not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church. Like the ultra-conservatives mentioned above, these people on the other end of the spectrum engage in practices that seem extremely confusing to mainstream Catholics: the ordination of women as bishops and priests; the ordination of married men (who in some cases were Catholic priests before but left the active ministry to get married and now serve as rent-a-priests for weddings); the celebration of liturgies that can look extremely bizarre.
Having researched these topics a bit over the years, nothing surprises me any longer when it comes to people clamoring for religious revolution. However, it does sadden me that the Successors of Peter, the center of today’s Gospel, are still being slammed from the left and from the right by those who may not realize just how damaging such attacks can be for our beloved Church.
Jesus asked his Father that we might be one, just as he and his Father are one — and this takes a lot of work, charity, patience, and the humility to realize that my pet peeve might be my personal agenda, not that of the Holy Spirit.
Father Brown
Sunday, May 5, 2019
Dear parishioners,
Once again, we see a group of disgruntled people attacking the Pope (in this case, Pope Francis), accusing him of heresy, and setting themselves up as a sort of parallel Magisterium that’s holier and more Catholic.
I say “once again” because this phenomenon is really nothing new. Throughout the ages, people in camps we might call ultra-liberal and ultra-conservative have attacked the Catholic Church as a whole, or the Vatican, or the reigning Pope, not merely for making mistakes, but for being heretical, diabolical, un-Christian, etc.
Right here in America we have a young man from Oklahoma City who calls himself Pope Michael and was elected to the papacy by six lay people, including his mom and dad. In this case, David Allen Bawden (aka “Pope Michael”) is from the ultra-conservative side, claiming that the Catholic Church has had no valid Pope since the death of Pope Pius XII back in 1958. To remedy this sad state of affairs, Mr. Bawden graciously invited some folks over to elect him to the Chair of Peter back in 1990.
If you Google his name, you might spot him on the wooden porch swing back in Oklahoma, granting an interview to reporters. It’s not really the Chair of Peter, but it looks very cozy and folksy.
I mention him as merely one example of the ultra-conservative side which believes we really haven’t had a legitimate Pope for decades, because they disapprove of the Second Vatican Council and a whole bunch of things — it would take more than this page to list their grievances.
On the ultra-liberal side, we also have people who claim to be more Catholic than the Pope, and who have thus chosen to take some steps on their own which won them a number of followers. Like the sedevacantists listed above (who believe the Chair of Peter is empty because John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I, John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis are all heretics and not valid Popes), these people have made up their own version of the Catholic Church, creating a lot of confusion among regular Catholics like you and me — especially when it comes to having a “Catholic wedding” on a surfboard or on the beach.
For example, they use the word “Catholic” in their titles (e.g., American Catholic Church, Independent Catholic Church, etc.), but they are not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church. Like the ultra-conservatives mentioned above, these people on the other end of the spectrum engage in practices that seem extremely confusing to mainstream Catholics: the ordination of women as bishops and priests; the ordination of married men (who in some cases were Catholic priests before but left the active ministry to get married and now serve as rent-a-priests for weddings); the celebration of liturgies that can look extremely bizarre.
Having researched these topics a bit over the years, nothing surprises me any longer when it comes to people clamoring for religious revolution. However, it does sadden me that the Successors of Peter, the center of today’s Gospel, are still being slammed from the left and from the right by those who may not realize just how damaging such attacks can be for our beloved Church.
Jesus asked his Father that we might be one, just as he and his Father are one — and this takes a lot of work, charity, patience, and the humility to realize that my pet peeve might be my personal agenda, not that of the Holy Spirit.
Father Brown
Second Sunday of Easter
Sunday, April 28, 2019
Dear friends in Christ,
One week ago, during the great Easter Vigil Mass, the most important liturgy during our entire year, we were privileged to welcome eleven believers as full members of the Catholic Church:
· Sarah Bowen and her daughter Jemima,
· Elisabeth Burhenne,
· Lauren Fee,
· George and Kelly Graziadei,
· Jesse and Katie and Gustafson,
· Milla Hansen,
· Branden Paris,
· Claude (Steven) Stephens.
The Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) make us children of God, sisters and brothers of Jesus, and heirs to everlasting life — and the joy on the faces of everyone in church showed just how happy they were to be part of this powerful and life-giving celebration.
It started, of course, right after Jesus rose from the dead almost two thousand years ago, as we hear in the Mass of this Second Sunday of Easter:
“Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles...Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord, great numbers of men and women, were added to them.” (Acts 5:12)
And of course nowadays we would add “men, women, and children,” because each year our parish welcomes not only adults but also children and teens.
Today’s Gospel makes this same point, about how the Church would grow due to the Paschal Mystery, as the people came to know that Jesus had died for them, and had been raised up by the Father on that Easter day:
“Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.’ Thomas answered and said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.’ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.” (John 20:19-31)
This appearance of Jesus to Doubting Thomas on the Second Sunday of Easter elicits the strongest statement of faith we find from any of the disciples, it seems: “My Lord and my God!” Many people had addressed Jesus as Lord, Rabbi, Teacher, and Master, but Doubting Thomas, who encounters the Risen Jesus in person, goes even further, proclaiming his divinity. And Jesus tells Thomas, and us, that the greater blessing is to know him as Lord and God, Savior and Redeemer, long after he has been seated at the Father’s right hand — as the members of our RCIA group did, along with us, in celebrating the Easter Victory last weekend, and every Sunday of the year!
May these fifty days of Easter bring you and your loved ones joy and blessing, and life.
Father Brown
Sunday, April 28, 2019
Dear friends in Christ,
One week ago, during the great Easter Vigil Mass, the most important liturgy during our entire year, we were privileged to welcome eleven believers as full members of the Catholic Church:
· Sarah Bowen and her daughter Jemima,
· Elisabeth Burhenne,
· Lauren Fee,
· George and Kelly Graziadei,
· Jesse and Katie and Gustafson,
· Milla Hansen,
· Branden Paris,
· Claude (Steven) Stephens.
The Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) make us children of God, sisters and brothers of Jesus, and heirs to everlasting life — and the joy on the faces of everyone in church showed just how happy they were to be part of this powerful and life-giving celebration.
It started, of course, right after Jesus rose from the dead almost two thousand years ago, as we hear in the Mass of this Second Sunday of Easter:
“Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles...Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord, great numbers of men and women, were added to them.” (Acts 5:12)
And of course nowadays we would add “men, women, and children,” because each year our parish welcomes not only adults but also children and teens.
Today’s Gospel makes this same point, about how the Church would grow due to the Paschal Mystery, as the people came to know that Jesus had died for them, and had been raised up by the Father on that Easter day:
“Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.’ Thomas answered and said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.’ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.” (John 20:19-31)
This appearance of Jesus to Doubting Thomas on the Second Sunday of Easter elicits the strongest statement of faith we find from any of the disciples, it seems: “My Lord and my God!” Many people had addressed Jesus as Lord, Rabbi, Teacher, and Master, but Doubting Thomas, who encounters the Risen Jesus in person, goes even further, proclaiming his divinity. And Jesus tells Thomas, and us, that the greater blessing is to know him as Lord and God, Savior and Redeemer, long after he has been seated at the Father’s right hand — as the members of our RCIA group did, along with us, in celebrating the Easter Victory last weekend, and every Sunday of the year!
May these fifty days of Easter bring you and your loved ones joy and blessing, and life.
Father Brown
Happy Easter Sunday!
Prospera Pascha sit! Frohe Ostern! God påske! Glad Påsk!
Gleðilega páska! Geseënde Paasfees! Vesele velikonočne praznike!
Joyeuses Pâques! Hau ʻoli Pakoa, E ʻōlelo mālie!
Beannachtaí na Cásca! A’ Chàisg sona!
Buona Pasqua! Wesołych Świąt Wielkanocnych! ¡Felices Pascuas!
Maligayang pasko ng pagkabuhay! Chúc Mừng Phục Sinh! Vrolijk Pasen!
ქრისტე აღდგა! Καλό πάσχα! Schöni Oschtere!
Христос Воскрес! Христос васкрсе! Христос воскресе! Sretan Uskrs!
행복한 부활절이 되시길 शुभ ईस्टर 復活節快樂
復活祭おめでとうございます المسيح قام
Sunday, April 21, 2019
Dear friends in Christ,
Whether you are members of our local community, visitors here for the Holy Day, or college students back home for Easter Vacation, we are thrilled to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus with you on this most
important day of the entire Church year!
For us, Easter begins with the Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday (April 20, this year), when the new Paschal Fire is blessed on the plaza, and the new Easter Candle is lit and carried in procession through the blackness of the church as the proclamation “Christ our light! Thanks be to God!” accompanies the procession, allowing all of the faithful to light their own candles from the Paschal Candle. Then, in the warm glow of a dark church now filled with candlelight, the Exsultet is sung and we continue with this, the most beautiful and most important liturgy of the entire year.
During this sacred Mass, we hear the history of salvation from Holy Scripture, and then celebrate the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) with our new Catholics — we are happy this year to welcome eleven people who have been preparing for this most sacred night through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Like me, many of them were not baptized, and as adults felt a tug or call from God to prayerfully discern whether joining the Catholic Church was right for them.
If you are seeking hope and joy, may you find it here, especially during these great fifty days of Easter. May the sights, smells and bells, the celebration of Jesus’ rising from the dead, the people who bear his name, the sense of sanctity, the sheer numbers who attend Mass for Easter bring you grace from God the Faith, love from Jesus, and strength from the Holy Spirit.
Father Brown
Prospera Pascha sit! Frohe Ostern! God påske! Glad Påsk!
Gleðilega páska! Geseënde Paasfees! Vesele velikonočne praznike!
Joyeuses Pâques! Hau ʻoli Pakoa, E ʻōlelo mālie!
Beannachtaí na Cásca! A’ Chàisg sona!
Buona Pasqua! Wesołych Świąt Wielkanocnych! ¡Felices Pascuas!
Maligayang pasko ng pagkabuhay! Chúc Mừng Phục Sinh! Vrolijk Pasen!
ქრისტე აღდგა! Καλό πάσχα! Schöni Oschtere!
Христос Воскрес! Христос васкрсе! Христос воскресе! Sretan Uskrs!
행복한 부활절이 되시길 शुभ ईस्टर 復活節快樂
復活祭おめでとうございます المسيح قام
Sunday, April 21, 2019
Dear friends in Christ,
Whether you are members of our local community, visitors here for the Holy Day, or college students back home for Easter Vacation, we are thrilled to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus with you on this most
important day of the entire Church year!
For us, Easter begins with the Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday (April 20, this year), when the new Paschal Fire is blessed on the plaza, and the new Easter Candle is lit and carried in procession through the blackness of the church as the proclamation “Christ our light! Thanks be to God!” accompanies the procession, allowing all of the faithful to light their own candles from the Paschal Candle. Then, in the warm glow of a dark church now filled with candlelight, the Exsultet is sung and we continue with this, the most beautiful and most important liturgy of the entire year.
During this sacred Mass, we hear the history of salvation from Holy Scripture, and then celebrate the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) with our new Catholics — we are happy this year to welcome eleven people who have been preparing for this most sacred night through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Like me, many of them were not baptized, and as adults felt a tug or call from God to prayerfully discern whether joining the Catholic Church was right for them.
If you are seeking hope and joy, may you find it here, especially during these great fifty days of Easter. May the sights, smells and bells, the celebration of Jesus’ rising from the dead, the people who bear his name, the sense of sanctity, the sheer numbers who attend Mass for Easter bring you grace from God the Faith, love from Jesus, and strength from the Holy Spirit.
Father Brown
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Sunday, April 14, 2019
Dear parishioners,
“Why do we bless and wave palms on this particular weekend?” A young man asked me this question just recently, and I thought it fitting to do some research on the topic.
At first, it struck me that the people of Jerusalem, loving Jesus as he entered the holy city, wanted to welcome him and honor him by throwing such branches before the donkey he was riding, even as Sir Walter Raleigh allegedly threw his plush velvet cloak on the ground in front of Queen Elizabeth I, so she would not get her shoes dirty from the wet ground as she emerged from her carriage in the old tale. Like Raleigh, these people thought in royal terms, but Jesus was sent for a mission of self-giving service, not earthly power nor customary rule.
However, in our Catholic ecclesiastical art, whether it be stained glass windows, sacred books, statues, or holy medals, the palm branch is also used as a symbol of suffering: specifically, palms are held by martyrs who have had the courage to shed their blood for the faith. On this “Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion” we hear the long Gospel reading which describes people at first adoring Jesus, and then turning on him and insisting that the Romans crucify him on Golgotha.
How fickle, the hearts of men. First they acclaim him, then they mock him and demand his death.
Here at Saint Hilary, we ask people to take palm branches as they arrive for Mass, and hold them up for the blessing as the priest walks down the center aisle toward the altar. The waving of these palm branches during the procession is a way for us to spiritually “plug into” the sacred events we call to mind on this, the first day of Holy Week.
Once we get home, the faithful are encouraged to place their blessed palms in a visible way, perhaps behind the crucifix of their house, on the family prayer table, or on the wall, especially if the person knows how to weave the palms into a cross. Seeing these blessed palms in our home reminds us of our identity as members of Christ’s body, and they call to mind his suffering, death and resurrection — for us and all the world. Being sacramentals, the blessed palms should not be thrown into the trash once the next Palm Sunday comes near, but rather burned, or buried in the yard, out of respect.
Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week, but the most important days are yet to come:
Holy Thursday, when we celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper (7:00pm), and call to mind how Jesus gave us the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in that upper room — and a powerful sign that we are to serve each other.
Good Friday, a day of fasting and abstinence, as Christians throughout the world recall the great sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, revealing a divine love unto death — and stronger than death.
Easter, which begins at 8:00pm on Saturday night, is the central and supreme day of our entire Church year, and the Easter Vigil Mass on April 20 is the most beautiful, most important liturgy we Catholics come to each year. As the world is dark, we bless the new Easter Fire on the plaza outside of Tarantino Hall, and then light the new Paschal Candle from that fire: it is carried in procession through the dark church, as each person lights their own candle from it, until the whole church is ablaze with the Light of Christ. We hear the story of salvation, and welcome our new Catholics through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist as they join us for the first time at the Lord’s table!
Father Brown
Sunday, April 14, 2019
Dear parishioners,
“Why do we bless and wave palms on this particular weekend?” A young man asked me this question just recently, and I thought it fitting to do some research on the topic.
At first, it struck me that the people of Jerusalem, loving Jesus as he entered the holy city, wanted to welcome him and honor him by throwing such branches before the donkey he was riding, even as Sir Walter Raleigh allegedly threw his plush velvet cloak on the ground in front of Queen Elizabeth I, so she would not get her shoes dirty from the wet ground as she emerged from her carriage in the old tale. Like Raleigh, these people thought in royal terms, but Jesus was sent for a mission of self-giving service, not earthly power nor customary rule.
However, in our Catholic ecclesiastical art, whether it be stained glass windows, sacred books, statues, or holy medals, the palm branch is also used as a symbol of suffering: specifically, palms are held by martyrs who have had the courage to shed their blood for the faith. On this “Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion” we hear the long Gospel reading which describes people at first adoring Jesus, and then turning on him and insisting that the Romans crucify him on Golgotha.
How fickle, the hearts of men. First they acclaim him, then they mock him and demand his death.
Here at Saint Hilary, we ask people to take palm branches as they arrive for Mass, and hold them up for the blessing as the priest walks down the center aisle toward the altar. The waving of these palm branches during the procession is a way for us to spiritually “plug into” the sacred events we call to mind on this, the first day of Holy Week.
Once we get home, the faithful are encouraged to place their blessed palms in a visible way, perhaps behind the crucifix of their house, on the family prayer table, or on the wall, especially if the person knows how to weave the palms into a cross. Seeing these blessed palms in our home reminds us of our identity as members of Christ’s body, and they call to mind his suffering, death and resurrection — for us and all the world. Being sacramentals, the blessed palms should not be thrown into the trash once the next Palm Sunday comes near, but rather burned, or buried in the yard, out of respect.
Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week, but the most important days are yet to come:
Holy Thursday, when we celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper (7:00pm), and call to mind how Jesus gave us the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in that upper room — and a powerful sign that we are to serve each other.
Good Friday, a day of fasting and abstinence, as Christians throughout the world recall the great sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, revealing a divine love unto death — and stronger than death.
Easter, which begins at 8:00pm on Saturday night, is the central and supreme day of our entire Church year, and the Easter Vigil Mass on April 20 is the most beautiful, most important liturgy we Catholics come to each year. As the world is dark, we bless the new Easter Fire on the plaza outside of Tarantino Hall, and then light the new Paschal Candle from that fire: it is carried in procession through the dark church, as each person lights their own candle from it, until the whole church is ablaze with the Light of Christ. We hear the story of salvation, and welcome our new Catholics through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist as they join us for the first time at the Lord’s table!
Father Brown
From the "Catechism of the Catholic Church"
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Sunday, April 7, 2019
Dear parishioners,
Our RCIA members, who look forward to joining the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass, have been learning recently about sin.
Personal sin, societal sin, and institutional sin.
All three are very real, and it is very important for us to know this, deal with this reality, and not be afraid to speak about this as believers.
Today’s Gospel story, it seems to me, touches upon all three types of sin. The woman has indeed committed adultery. However, society chooses to punish only her, not her male accomplice. Furthermore, the religious institution wants to carry out capital punishment — until Jesus the Lord reveals the hypocrisy of the whole nasty business by saying:
“Let the one among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one,
beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him.
Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,
“Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?”
She replied, “No one, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”
(John 8:1-11)
Jesus does not deny the sinfulness of adultery, which the Lord God forbids in the Ten Commandments: it spews poison on the person, on marriage, on trust, on children, and on one’s alleged commitment to leading a life in accord with God’s loving covenant. If you break the covenant of marriage, will you not go on to break other covenants, including the covenant with God? Your priestly promises of celibacy? Your religious order’s vows of chastity? The good example our children should see in us, their elders?
Since the beginning of time, we have seen how sin spreads, and more recently we have seen how the scourge of child abuse has destroyed countless young people, the damage lasting long after they are adults with their own families. The workshops Father Ginter and I attended last fall exposed the widespread poison of abuse and neglect, which is not usually committed by “suspicious strangers” but rather by those nearest and dearest, those whom the child trusts the most.
Like the woman in today’s Gospel, may we turn away from our sin — personal, societal, and institutional. May we choose to be a force for God’s goodness, even if it means sacrifice, a powerful change of life, and a huge step of humility and honesty.
Father Brown
Sunday, April 7, 2019
Dear parishioners,
Our RCIA members, who look forward to joining the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass, have been learning recently about sin.
Personal sin, societal sin, and institutional sin.
All three are very real, and it is very important for us to know this, deal with this reality, and not be afraid to speak about this as believers.
Today’s Gospel story, it seems to me, touches upon all three types of sin. The woman has indeed committed adultery. However, society chooses to punish only her, not her male accomplice. Furthermore, the religious institution wants to carry out capital punishment — until Jesus the Lord reveals the hypocrisy of the whole nasty business by saying:
“Let the one among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one,
beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him.
Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,
“Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?”
She replied, “No one, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”
(John 8:1-11)
Jesus does not deny the sinfulness of adultery, which the Lord God forbids in the Ten Commandments: it spews poison on the person, on marriage, on trust, on children, and on one’s alleged commitment to leading a life in accord with God’s loving covenant. If you break the covenant of marriage, will you not go on to break other covenants, including the covenant with God? Your priestly promises of celibacy? Your religious order’s vows of chastity? The good example our children should see in us, their elders?
Since the beginning of time, we have seen how sin spreads, and more recently we have seen how the scourge of child abuse has destroyed countless young people, the damage lasting long after they are adults with their own families. The workshops Father Ginter and I attended last fall exposed the widespread poison of abuse and neglect, which is not usually committed by “suspicious strangers” but rather by those nearest and dearest, those whom the child trusts the most.
Like the woman in today’s Gospel, may we turn away from our sin — personal, societal, and institutional. May we choose to be a force for God’s goodness, even if it means sacrifice, a powerful change of life, and a huge step of humility and honesty.
Father Brown
The Fourth Sunday of Lent - "Laetare Sunday"
Sunday, March 31, 2019
“When it comes to faith, the colors we wear on the outside often reflect how we're feeling on the inside.”
This year we have had our students in the school come to Mass one day a week to pray, to get more familiarized with the Mass and to be a part of the parish community. I have to say it has been one of my favorite additions to this year. The students' responses are improving and it is so great for our daily communicants to see young people at Mass.
After Mass, I ask the students about what the readings were about, what was said in the homily and if there is a saint of the day. I always ask them if there is a saint of the day because it relates to what vestments I am wearing. Now, they know that if I am wearing red or white that there is most likely a saint of the day. They also know if it is Ordinary time and Advent or Lent. Sometimes they get Advent and Lent confused because of the same liturgical color. Every time we have a different liturgical season and color the students ask what it means. I thought we could look into this now.
Lent as we know is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The quote at the beginning of this letter is from Aleteia, a Catholic online news agency. Purple is not the actual liturgical color. It is actually violet. The color is violet because it is to show that spring or a springtime is coming for our faith. We have something to look forward to. The color violet is the color of many plants that bloom in the springtime such as violet lilacs and violet irises. The beginning of spring usually begins in Lent, but we celebrate the springtime or the new arrival of the Risen Christ. The beauty in the flowers shows us the beauty that is to come in Christ.
Violet is also the color of royalty. We see in sacred scripture that Jesus was given a garment with the color purple.
St. Matthew’s Gospel says:
“The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.”
The color purple or violet shows us how they mocked Christ about being the “King of the Jews.” They gave him the garment of royalty. Scripture also shows us that wearing the purple garment that he will endure pain and suffering. This Gospel is the context of why the Church adopted the violet or purple color for Lent. We are called to conversion, which is a painful thing to go through. No one likes changes, no one likes to see what they do wrong, and no one wants to go through the pain of seeing that we are not perfect. The season of Lent allows us to enter into the desert, a spiritually lonely place, to see how we are able to ask God for his grace to become more like Him.
Purple or violet is also the color that the priests use for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is also the color of mercy because it takes away our sins. When we see purple, we should think of the springtime that is to come. It is a time of hope and of joy to come. It is like the feeling of confession. No one really enjoys going, but we love the feeling right after we went. This is why we spend time in our suffering and conversion during Lent. We cannot wait for the moment that Christ will rise from the dead.
I would like to offer my encouragement to you on your Lenten Sacrifices. Do not give up on them now. If you have broken your promise and messed up, that is a great thing. Jesus fell with the Cross and so do we. All this shows is that we need his help to get back up and on track.
One thing that may be helpful to keep the hope of Christ is to have something purple on you, wear purple, have something purple in your car or on your desk. The purple is a reminder of our need of conversion and hope that Christ will come (and for some that you can eat chocolate again!).
Let us keep each other in prayer!
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
Sunday, March 31, 2019
“When it comes to faith, the colors we wear on the outside often reflect how we're feeling on the inside.”
This year we have had our students in the school come to Mass one day a week to pray, to get more familiarized with the Mass and to be a part of the parish community. I have to say it has been one of my favorite additions to this year. The students' responses are improving and it is so great for our daily communicants to see young people at Mass.
After Mass, I ask the students about what the readings were about, what was said in the homily and if there is a saint of the day. I always ask them if there is a saint of the day because it relates to what vestments I am wearing. Now, they know that if I am wearing red or white that there is most likely a saint of the day. They also know if it is Ordinary time and Advent or Lent. Sometimes they get Advent and Lent confused because of the same liturgical color. Every time we have a different liturgical season and color the students ask what it means. I thought we could look into this now.
Lent as we know is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The quote at the beginning of this letter is from Aleteia, a Catholic online news agency. Purple is not the actual liturgical color. It is actually violet. The color is violet because it is to show that spring or a springtime is coming for our faith. We have something to look forward to. The color violet is the color of many plants that bloom in the springtime such as violet lilacs and violet irises. The beginning of spring usually begins in Lent, but we celebrate the springtime or the new arrival of the Risen Christ. The beauty in the flowers shows us the beauty that is to come in Christ.
Violet is also the color of royalty. We see in sacred scripture that Jesus was given a garment with the color purple.
St. Matthew’s Gospel says:
“The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.”
The color purple or violet shows us how they mocked Christ about being the “King of the Jews.” They gave him the garment of royalty. Scripture also shows us that wearing the purple garment that he will endure pain and suffering. This Gospel is the context of why the Church adopted the violet or purple color for Lent. We are called to conversion, which is a painful thing to go through. No one likes changes, no one likes to see what they do wrong, and no one wants to go through the pain of seeing that we are not perfect. The season of Lent allows us to enter into the desert, a spiritually lonely place, to see how we are able to ask God for his grace to become more like Him.
Purple or violet is also the color that the priests use for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is also the color of mercy because it takes away our sins. When we see purple, we should think of the springtime that is to come. It is a time of hope and of joy to come. It is like the feeling of confession. No one really enjoys going, but we love the feeling right after we went. This is why we spend time in our suffering and conversion during Lent. We cannot wait for the moment that Christ will rise from the dead.
I would like to offer my encouragement to you on your Lenten Sacrifices. Do not give up on them now. If you have broken your promise and messed up, that is a great thing. Jesus fell with the Cross and so do we. All this shows is that we need his help to get back up and on track.
One thing that may be helpful to keep the hope of Christ is to have something purple on you, wear purple, have something purple in your car or on your desk. The purple is a reminder of our need of conversion and hope that Christ will come (and for some that you can eat chocolate again!).
Let us keep each other in prayer!
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
Our future Catholics and the “Scrutinies” of Lent
Sunday, March 24, 2019
Dear parishioners,
Each year, thousands of adults and teens join the Catholic Church, most going through the RCIA process: the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
This is a journey which enables converts to the faith to fellowship with other searchers, and to pray, volunteer, study, engage in faith sharing, discuss the Bible, and ask questions in a context that is delightfully mixed and helpful.
Cradle Catholics are often part of the group, as sponsors or catechists; converts are often not baptized in any other Christian denomination, but feel (as I did back in 1977) a call, an attraction, a tug toward a Church not based on skin color, income, political party, or country of origin.
Part of the RCIA journey involves the “Scrutinies,” which take place the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays of Lent.
At Saint Hilary Parish we celebrate the Scrutinies at different time slots, thus exposing the people to a conversion call meant not only for our future Catholics in the RCIA, but for the entire community, as you see from these words from the official Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults:
“141 The scrutinies, which are solemnly celebrated on Sundays and are reinforced by an exorcism, are rites for self-searching and repentance and have above all a spiritual purpose. The scrutinies are 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. These rites, therefore, should complete the conversion of the elect and deepen their resolve to hold fast to Christ and to carry out their decision to love God above all.
“142 Because they are asking for the three sacraments of initiation, the elect must have the intention of achieving an intimate knowledge of Christ and his Church, and they are expected particularly to progress in genuine self-knowledge through serious examination of their lives and true repentance.
“143 In order to inspire in the elect a desire for purification and redemption by Christ, three scrutinies are celebrated. By this means, first of all, the elect are instructed gradually about the mystery of sin, from which the whole world and every person longs to be delivered and thus saved from its present and future consequences. Second, their spirit is filled with Christ the Redeemer, who is the living water (gospel of the Samaritan woman in the first scrutiny), the light of the world (gospel of the man born blind in the second scrutiny), the resurrection and the life (gospel of Lazarus in the third scrutiny). From the first to the final scrutiny the elect should progress in their perception of sin and their desire for salvation.
“144 In the rite of exorcism, the elect, who have already learned from the Church as their mother the mystery of deliverance from sin by Christ, are free from the effects of sin and from the influence of the devil. They receive new strength in the midst of their spiritual journey and they open their hearts to receive the gifts of the Savior.
“145 The priest or deacon who is the presiding celebrant should carry out the celebration in such a way that the faithful in the assembly will also derive benefit from the liturgy of the scrutinies and join in the intercessions for the elect.”
From the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, prepared by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy and the Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Father Brown
Sunday, March 24, 2019
Dear parishioners,
Each year, thousands of adults and teens join the Catholic Church, most going through the RCIA process: the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
This is a journey which enables converts to the faith to fellowship with other searchers, and to pray, volunteer, study, engage in faith sharing, discuss the Bible, and ask questions in a context that is delightfully mixed and helpful.
Cradle Catholics are often part of the group, as sponsors or catechists; converts are often not baptized in any other Christian denomination, but feel (as I did back in 1977) a call, an attraction, a tug toward a Church not based on skin color, income, political party, or country of origin.
Part of the RCIA journey involves the “Scrutinies,” which take place the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays of Lent.
At Saint Hilary Parish we celebrate the Scrutinies at different time slots, thus exposing the people to a conversion call meant not only for our future Catholics in the RCIA, but for the entire community, as you see from these words from the official Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults:
“141 The scrutinies, which are solemnly celebrated on Sundays and are reinforced by an exorcism, are rites for self-searching and repentance and have above all a spiritual purpose. The scrutinies are 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. These rites, therefore, should complete the conversion of the elect and deepen their resolve to hold fast to Christ and to carry out their decision to love God above all.
“142 Because they are asking for the three sacraments of initiation, the elect must have the intention of achieving an intimate knowledge of Christ and his Church, and they are expected particularly to progress in genuine self-knowledge through serious examination of their lives and true repentance.
“143 In order to inspire in the elect a desire for purification and redemption by Christ, three scrutinies are celebrated. By this means, first of all, the elect are instructed gradually about the mystery of sin, from which the whole world and every person longs to be delivered and thus saved from its present and future consequences. Second, their spirit is filled with Christ the Redeemer, who is the living water (gospel of the Samaritan woman in the first scrutiny), the light of the world (gospel of the man born blind in the second scrutiny), the resurrection and the life (gospel of Lazarus in the third scrutiny). From the first to the final scrutiny the elect should progress in their perception of sin and their desire for salvation.
“144 In the rite of exorcism, the elect, who have already learned from the Church as their mother the mystery of deliverance from sin by Christ, are free from the effects of sin and from the influence of the devil. They receive new strength in the midst of their spiritual journey and they open their hearts to receive the gifts of the Savior.
“145 The priest or deacon who is the presiding celebrant should carry out the celebration in such a way that the faithful in the assembly will also derive benefit from the liturgy of the scrutinies and join in the intercessions for the elect.”
From the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, prepared by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy and the Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Father Brown
A Reflection on Saint Patrick and the Nature of Being Irish
Father John P. Cush (from an article published March 17, 2018)
This year, we celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day in the Archdiocese of San Francisco on Monday, March 18, as a Solemnity
There is a book which was published in 1995 entitled How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill. It is very true that the Irish did indeed save civilization . They went from a barbaric tribe, one which even the mighty Roman Empire could not conquer, to the ones who became, in many ways, the guiding light for both culture and Church, throughout Europe, and indeed, throughout America.
Where I come from, there is a friendly rivalry between Irish-Americans and Italian-Americans, and, growing up, one of my teachers in grade school tried to convince her class of sixth graders that Saint Patrick was really Italian. Even as a young boy, I wasn’t buying it! He may have been a Roman Briton, but he was not Italian! (I say this jokingly as a priest who is assigned to Rome, Italy, and as someone who has ministered in Italian-American parishes in my Diocese!) We do know that Patrick was not Irish. At least not by birth!
Patrick comes to Ireland and makes these wild women and men Christian, and boy, does he do a good job. Cahill, in his book, comments: “In becoming an Irishman, Patrick wedded his world to theirs, his faith to their life…Patrick found a way of swimming down to the depths of the Irish psyche and warming and transforming Irish imagination – making it more humane and more noble while keeping it Irish.”
What does it mean to be Irish? Sigmund Freud stated: “This is one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever.”
Richard Sandhurst, an Englishman, stated: ““The [Irish] people are thus inclined: religious, frank, amorous, ireful, sufferable of infinite pains, vain-glorious, with many sorcerers, excellent horsemen, delighted with warring, great almes-givers and surpassing in hospitality. The lewder sort (both clerics and lay people alike) are sensual and loose in living. They are sharp-witted, lovers of learning, adventurous, kind-hearted and secret in displeasure.”
So, what are some Irish tendencies? Without falling into stereotypes and generalities, to be Irish means to feel deeply and to believe dramatically. It means to think you are cool and collected, that you are tough and unflappable, but, in
reality, you wear your heart on your sleeve, and, when you believe, you really, really believe. The Irish are a Catholic people; it’s ingrained into the culture and nowhere is this more apparent than in the contemporary conflict between a secular Ireland and a traditionally Catholic Ireland.
The contribution of the Irish to the Church is immense. In fact, the truth of the matter is that we would not have individual confession if not for the Irish. And this is not even to mention the fact that the U.S. Roman Catholic Church is, in fact, very Irish historically. The model of diocesan and parochial life from the Northeast historically was the model, and, by and large, it is this model that was the basis of parish life in the United States for the greater part of the 20th Century.
And the contribution of the Irish to the world was immense. Listen to Cahill’s description:
Wherever they went the Irish brought with them their books, many unseen in Europe for centuries and tied to their waists as signs of triumph, just as Irish heroes had once tied to their waists their enemies' heads. Where they went they brought their love of learning and their skills in bookmaking. In the bays and valleys of their exile, they reestablished literacy and breathed new life into the exhausted literary culture of Europe. And that is how the Irish saved civilization.
Love of learning, love of books, this is a very Irish contribution to our world!
Although I have spent a great number of the years of my life downplaying the “Irishness” of my heritage, as I get older, I recognize that I am very Irish-American. I grew up, at the time, in a very Irish area of New York. Almost every kid I knew growing up was Irish-American. I recognize the fact that in many ways, I have what some would call a very Irish temperament- a bit of the melancholy, a love of the storytelling, and the tendency to hyperbole of the Irish.
Describing the Irish temperament, Cahill writes: “They pursued the wondrous deed, the heroic gesture: fighting…drinking, art, poetry for intense emotion...” I pray that I use that intense emotion for my prayer life, my preaching, my celebration of the Mass, and in my studies, teaching, and writing. And yet, there are snakes present in me that need to be driven out. Perhaps you have them too, even if you do not have Irish heritage.
Patrick drove out the snakes from Ireland. He was driving out the snakes of sin, of falsehood, of hypocrisy. I need the prayers of Patrick and the grace and power of Jesus to drive out those snakes, that pusilla anima, that fearful soul, that soul that cares more for the things of this world which is passing away instead of focusing in on what truly matters: the Lord and the things of the Lord! Jesus, Our Lord, worked through this emotional, loving, sentimental, pugnacious people, these Irish, who never could be conquered by the Romans, by the British, and, I believe, cannot be conquered even by secularism and anti-Catholicism today. Drive those snakes out of all of us, those snakes of sin and selfishness, those snakes of secularity and sensuality, Patrick, and through the intercession of all the Saints, Blesseds, and Venerables of Ireland, and through the Eucharist we share, bring us to a Blessed Easter.
Father John P. Cush (from an article published March 17, 2018)
This year, we celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day in the Archdiocese of San Francisco on Monday, March 18, as a Solemnity
There is a book which was published in 1995 entitled How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill. It is very true that the Irish did indeed save civilization . They went from a barbaric tribe, one which even the mighty Roman Empire could not conquer, to the ones who became, in many ways, the guiding light for both culture and Church, throughout Europe, and indeed, throughout America.
Where I come from, there is a friendly rivalry between Irish-Americans and Italian-Americans, and, growing up, one of my teachers in grade school tried to convince her class of sixth graders that Saint Patrick was really Italian. Even as a young boy, I wasn’t buying it! He may have been a Roman Briton, but he was not Italian! (I say this jokingly as a priest who is assigned to Rome, Italy, and as someone who has ministered in Italian-American parishes in my Diocese!) We do know that Patrick was not Irish. At least not by birth!
Patrick comes to Ireland and makes these wild women and men Christian, and boy, does he do a good job. Cahill, in his book, comments: “In becoming an Irishman, Patrick wedded his world to theirs, his faith to their life…Patrick found a way of swimming down to the depths of the Irish psyche and warming and transforming Irish imagination – making it more humane and more noble while keeping it Irish.”
What does it mean to be Irish? Sigmund Freud stated: “This is one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever.”
Richard Sandhurst, an Englishman, stated: ““The [Irish] people are thus inclined: religious, frank, amorous, ireful, sufferable of infinite pains, vain-glorious, with many sorcerers, excellent horsemen, delighted with warring, great almes-givers and surpassing in hospitality. The lewder sort (both clerics and lay people alike) are sensual and loose in living. They are sharp-witted, lovers of learning, adventurous, kind-hearted and secret in displeasure.”
So, what are some Irish tendencies? Without falling into stereotypes and generalities, to be Irish means to feel deeply and to believe dramatically. It means to think you are cool and collected, that you are tough and unflappable, but, in
reality, you wear your heart on your sleeve, and, when you believe, you really, really believe. The Irish are a Catholic people; it’s ingrained into the culture and nowhere is this more apparent than in the contemporary conflict between a secular Ireland and a traditionally Catholic Ireland.
The contribution of the Irish to the Church is immense. In fact, the truth of the matter is that we would not have individual confession if not for the Irish. And this is not even to mention the fact that the U.S. Roman Catholic Church is, in fact, very Irish historically. The model of diocesan and parochial life from the Northeast historically was the model, and, by and large, it is this model that was the basis of parish life in the United States for the greater part of the 20th Century.
And the contribution of the Irish to the world was immense. Listen to Cahill’s description:
Wherever they went the Irish brought with them their books, many unseen in Europe for centuries and tied to their waists as signs of triumph, just as Irish heroes had once tied to their waists their enemies' heads. Where they went they brought their love of learning and their skills in bookmaking. In the bays and valleys of their exile, they reestablished literacy and breathed new life into the exhausted literary culture of Europe. And that is how the Irish saved civilization.
Love of learning, love of books, this is a very Irish contribution to our world!
Although I have spent a great number of the years of my life downplaying the “Irishness” of my heritage, as I get older, I recognize that I am very Irish-American. I grew up, at the time, in a very Irish area of New York. Almost every kid I knew growing up was Irish-American. I recognize the fact that in many ways, I have what some would call a very Irish temperament- a bit of the melancholy, a love of the storytelling, and the tendency to hyperbole of the Irish.
Describing the Irish temperament, Cahill writes: “They pursued the wondrous deed, the heroic gesture: fighting…drinking, art, poetry for intense emotion...” I pray that I use that intense emotion for my prayer life, my preaching, my celebration of the Mass, and in my studies, teaching, and writing. And yet, there are snakes present in me that need to be driven out. Perhaps you have them too, even if you do not have Irish heritage.
Patrick drove out the snakes from Ireland. He was driving out the snakes of sin, of falsehood, of hypocrisy. I need the prayers of Patrick and the grace and power of Jesus to drive out those snakes, that pusilla anima, that fearful soul, that soul that cares more for the things of this world which is passing away instead of focusing in on what truly matters: the Lord and the things of the Lord! Jesus, Our Lord, worked through this emotional, loving, sentimental, pugnacious people, these Irish, who never could be conquered by the Romans, by the British, and, I believe, cannot be conquered even by secularism and anti-Catholicism today. Drive those snakes out of all of us, those snakes of sin and selfishness, those snakes of secularity and sensuality, Patrick, and through the intercession of all the Saints, Blesseds, and Venerables of Ireland, and through the Eucharist we share, bring us to a Blessed Easter.
The First Sunday Of Lent
Sunday, March 10, 2019
Dear friends in Christ,
Last Wednesday, our little church was full for the many Masses of Ash Wednesday, the very first day of the Lenten Season. There seems to be something very powerful about this symbolic act, this marking oneself as a sinner in need of redemption, that draws young and old alike to come to Mass — and in many cases, even
seeing people who do not share our Catholic faith walk forward and have the blessed ashes imposed on their forehead as they hear the simple yet powerful words: “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
The first reading of that day is one of my favorites, in which all are called to gather together: the babies
nursing at the breast of their mothers, the bride and bridegroom, the old, the children, and everyone in
between. We are not talking about some “elite club” or some “exclusive gathering” but rather a universal call to holiness.
The Gospel of that same day is beautifully awkward, telling us to hide our piety when giving alms, praying or fasting, and yet here we are, all together, doing a public act of prayer, penance (being smeared with ashes) and charity (through the collection basket), which is perhaps a very healthy reminder that we can never perfectly live up to the demands of discipleship, so the embarrassment of violating the Gospel we just listened to can be humbling.
Now this First Sunday of Lent reveals Jesus, the Word and Son of God made flesh, going through his own trial and tribulation: fasting in the desert, being “led into temptation” (as the Lord’s Prayer says) by Satan, and yet having the good sense, the strong faith, and the intimacy with his heavenly Father to avoid the temptations
offered. I don’t need to be rich — except in the ways of God. I don’t need to magically turn rocks into food for my temporary hunger — because I (Jesus) know that feeding on my Father’s Word is more important than
always having a full belly. I will not turn away from the faith of my ancestors to worship the Devil — because only the one true God is worthy of worship and devotion, and nothing on this planet you offer me can tempt me away from that fidelity.
Jesus knows that many religious leaders will disappoint and sin, as do we, but he chooses to remain on the path to glory no matter what mistakes they make. Jesus realizes that many will misunderstand his Gospel of peace and reconciliation, preferring violence and retribution, but he remains strong in his preaching of that Gospel no matter what they threaten him with. Jesus is aware that some people will think him totally crazy for touching lepers, forgiving sinners, and welcoming the unloved, but he does so in spite of their mockery and confusion.
Jesus knows, thanks to his intimacy with his Father, that this ministry of grace and healing will find fertile ground on the hearts of many, and that this Gospel, this New Testament in his Paschal Mystery, will end up growing to every corner of the earth, and changing hearts of people he himself would never have met.
Why? Because believers, regular people like you and me, carry on his legacy, and preach his Gospel in deeds, almsgiving, prayer, and outreach to the poor and suffering!
Father Brown
Sunday, March 10, 2019
Dear friends in Christ,
Last Wednesday, our little church was full for the many Masses of Ash Wednesday, the very first day of the Lenten Season. There seems to be something very powerful about this symbolic act, this marking oneself as a sinner in need of redemption, that draws young and old alike to come to Mass — and in many cases, even
seeing people who do not share our Catholic faith walk forward and have the blessed ashes imposed on their forehead as they hear the simple yet powerful words: “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
The first reading of that day is one of my favorites, in which all are called to gather together: the babies
nursing at the breast of their mothers, the bride and bridegroom, the old, the children, and everyone in
between. We are not talking about some “elite club” or some “exclusive gathering” but rather a universal call to holiness.
The Gospel of that same day is beautifully awkward, telling us to hide our piety when giving alms, praying or fasting, and yet here we are, all together, doing a public act of prayer, penance (being smeared with ashes) and charity (through the collection basket), which is perhaps a very healthy reminder that we can never perfectly live up to the demands of discipleship, so the embarrassment of violating the Gospel we just listened to can be humbling.
Now this First Sunday of Lent reveals Jesus, the Word and Son of God made flesh, going through his own trial and tribulation: fasting in the desert, being “led into temptation” (as the Lord’s Prayer says) by Satan, and yet having the good sense, the strong faith, and the intimacy with his heavenly Father to avoid the temptations
offered. I don’t need to be rich — except in the ways of God. I don’t need to magically turn rocks into food for my temporary hunger — because I (Jesus) know that feeding on my Father’s Word is more important than
always having a full belly. I will not turn away from the faith of my ancestors to worship the Devil — because only the one true God is worthy of worship and devotion, and nothing on this planet you offer me can tempt me away from that fidelity.
Jesus knows that many religious leaders will disappoint and sin, as do we, but he chooses to remain on the path to glory no matter what mistakes they make. Jesus realizes that many will misunderstand his Gospel of peace and reconciliation, preferring violence and retribution, but he remains strong in his preaching of that Gospel no matter what they threaten him with. Jesus is aware that some people will think him totally crazy for touching lepers, forgiving sinners, and welcoming the unloved, but he does so in spite of their mockery and confusion.
Jesus knows, thanks to his intimacy with his Father, that this ministry of grace and healing will find fertile ground on the hearts of many, and that this Gospel, this New Testament in his Paschal Mystery, will end up growing to every corner of the earth, and changing hearts of people he himself would never have met.
Why? Because believers, regular people like you and me, carry on his legacy, and preach his Gospel in deeds, almsgiving, prayer, and outreach to the poor and suffering!
Father Brown
Lenten Sacrifices
Sunday, March 3, 2019
We are about to begin our Lenten journey. Each year I ask the students and parishioners alike what they are going to be doing for Lent. The usual responses are, “I’m giving up sweets or not watching television.”
To these things that people are giving up I always ask, “why?”
The “why” is the most important part of a Lenten sacrifice. A Lenten Sacrifice is more than giving something up because it is what we do as Catholics. It is a sacrifice because we do it out of love for Christ.
Sometimes when I ask people what they are giving up and they say, “I’m not eating sweets so that I can lose weight.” This is not wrong in itself, but it is the wrong motivation for a Lenten Sacrifice. A Lenten Sacrifice is a gift to the Lord so that we can grow in love of Him and prepare ourselves for the greatest sacrifice, which is Christ himself.
When we think about what we are going to do, we need to do it out of love for Christ. St. Thomas Aquinas says: “Love is to will the good of the other.” Our Lenten Sacrifice should be geared toward our relationship with Christ.
From my experience, the best Lenten Sacrifices have to do with time. Time is the thing that we hold most precious. We stay up late at night so that we have more time in the day.
I recommend that for Lent, first you start by saying: "I will give some of my time to the Lord." As a parent or a spouse you give of your time to those whom you love because you want what is best for them. You do it not to get something for yourself, but you do it because you will what is best for them. Giving of your time to Christ is an expression of love. I suggest sacrificing your time so that you have time for prayer or service is a wonderful way to sacrifice.
Some Lenten Sacrifices that I recommend are Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, service of the poor and sick, daily Mass attendance when possible, spiritual reading, Catholic devotionals and silent time for prayer. These are all things that you can do that require time more than anything. If we simply say that we will give God five minutes each day, we can do many things in love of Christ. These will help us to grow in love of Him.
Most of all though, I recommend Eucharistic Adoration. Eucharistic Adoration is when we spend time with Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. We have a wonderful chapel that is open during business hours. Please if you can, come once a week and spend time in person with Christ. Start with fifteen minutes of silent prayer and then add more if possible. It will be difficult, but it will bear much fruit. We have special times that we have designated for people to come in adoration and they are in the bulletin.
Another approach is to work on your mind, body and soul.
For the mind, learn more about our faith. Read parts of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, study Sacred Scripture and read spiritual books. This allows us to use the gift of Knowledge to learn more about Christ.
For the body, go for a walk or do something physical. We need to take care of our bodies because they are temples of the Holy Spirit. It is our responsibility to take care of ourselves so that we are able to live the gospel at all times.
Finally, do something for the soul. We need to feed our soul through the items that I said in the previous paragraph. This will allow us to grow in love and understanding of Christ.
For me personally, the best Lent I have had was in my senior year of college. I decided that what was best for me was to attend Mass every day during Lent. It was difficult because of my class schedule and trying to wake up each day in order to make Mass. Thank God for a 12:10pm Mass that was a town away. Attending Mass was not the hard part, it was going to Mass and making it a priority over sleeping in. I really enjoyed going to different churches each day and seeing some of the same people. Looking back, it was the commitment to do it which is where the grace came from. There was not a Mass that I remember that spoke to me, but it was that for all of Lent, I made my schedule work for the Lord rather than making the Lord work for me.
As we prepare to celebrate our Lenten season, let us find a way that the Lord is calling us to be with Him. When we think about what we are going to do for our Lenten Sacrifice we have to be able to say, “why?” What is the reason that we are doing the particular sacrifice, and the intention of it should be linked to Christ rather than ourselves. We may receive a benefit from it, but to know him, to love him and to serve him should be a goal of our sacrifice.
Also, I find it helpful to share our sacrifice with someone. It keeps us accountable and can encourage others to participate as well.
Finally, I also encourage you to speak with your family and or your household to do something together. It creates conversation about Christ and can bring a family closer together and to the Church. Let us keep each other in prayer as we spend time in the desert with Christ to prepare for his death and resurrection.
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
Sunday, March 3, 2019
We are about to begin our Lenten journey. Each year I ask the students and parishioners alike what they are going to be doing for Lent. The usual responses are, “I’m giving up sweets or not watching television.”
To these things that people are giving up I always ask, “why?”
The “why” is the most important part of a Lenten sacrifice. A Lenten Sacrifice is more than giving something up because it is what we do as Catholics. It is a sacrifice because we do it out of love for Christ.
Sometimes when I ask people what they are giving up and they say, “I’m not eating sweets so that I can lose weight.” This is not wrong in itself, but it is the wrong motivation for a Lenten Sacrifice. A Lenten Sacrifice is a gift to the Lord so that we can grow in love of Him and prepare ourselves for the greatest sacrifice, which is Christ himself.
When we think about what we are going to do, we need to do it out of love for Christ. St. Thomas Aquinas says: “Love is to will the good of the other.” Our Lenten Sacrifice should be geared toward our relationship with Christ.
From my experience, the best Lenten Sacrifices have to do with time. Time is the thing that we hold most precious. We stay up late at night so that we have more time in the day.
I recommend that for Lent, first you start by saying: "I will give some of my time to the Lord." As a parent or a spouse you give of your time to those whom you love because you want what is best for them. You do it not to get something for yourself, but you do it because you will what is best for them. Giving of your time to Christ is an expression of love. I suggest sacrificing your time so that you have time for prayer or service is a wonderful way to sacrifice.
Some Lenten Sacrifices that I recommend are Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, service of the poor and sick, daily Mass attendance when possible, spiritual reading, Catholic devotionals and silent time for prayer. These are all things that you can do that require time more than anything. If we simply say that we will give God five minutes each day, we can do many things in love of Christ. These will help us to grow in love of Him.
Most of all though, I recommend Eucharistic Adoration. Eucharistic Adoration is when we spend time with Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. We have a wonderful chapel that is open during business hours. Please if you can, come once a week and spend time in person with Christ. Start with fifteen minutes of silent prayer and then add more if possible. It will be difficult, but it will bear much fruit. We have special times that we have designated for people to come in adoration and they are in the bulletin.
Another approach is to work on your mind, body and soul.
For the mind, learn more about our faith. Read parts of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, study Sacred Scripture and read spiritual books. This allows us to use the gift of Knowledge to learn more about Christ.
For the body, go for a walk or do something physical. We need to take care of our bodies because they are temples of the Holy Spirit. It is our responsibility to take care of ourselves so that we are able to live the gospel at all times.
Finally, do something for the soul. We need to feed our soul through the items that I said in the previous paragraph. This will allow us to grow in love and understanding of Christ.
For me personally, the best Lent I have had was in my senior year of college. I decided that what was best for me was to attend Mass every day during Lent. It was difficult because of my class schedule and trying to wake up each day in order to make Mass. Thank God for a 12:10pm Mass that was a town away. Attending Mass was not the hard part, it was going to Mass and making it a priority over sleeping in. I really enjoyed going to different churches each day and seeing some of the same people. Looking back, it was the commitment to do it which is where the grace came from. There was not a Mass that I remember that spoke to me, but it was that for all of Lent, I made my schedule work for the Lord rather than making the Lord work for me.
As we prepare to celebrate our Lenten season, let us find a way that the Lord is calling us to be with Him. When we think about what we are going to do for our Lenten Sacrifice we have to be able to say, “why?” What is the reason that we are doing the particular sacrifice, and the intention of it should be linked to Christ rather than ourselves. We may receive a benefit from it, but to know him, to love him and to serve him should be a goal of our sacrifice.
Also, I find it helpful to share our sacrifice with someone. It keeps us accountable and can encourage others to participate as well.
Finally, I also encourage you to speak with your family and or your household to do something together. It creates conversation about Christ and can bring a family closer together and to the Church. Let us keep each other in prayer as we spend time in the desert with Christ to prepare for his death and resurrection.
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
The Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Dear friends in Christ,
Wow. Jesus does not make it easy to truly follow him. Our “natural” human instincts are turned upside down and we, like Pope Saint John Paul II, are called to pardon even those who attack us (he visited his would-be assassin in prison and forgave him).
We are told to love our enemies, and to do good to those who hate us. This is not normal, this does not come naturally, but can only happen with the supernatural grace from the Risen Lord himself forming and transforming and reforming our souls over and over again, as we age.
For some Christians, this seems to come more easily than for others. I had a dear friend in the seminary, much older than I, who was rather volcanic with his opinions and outbursts, but who never held a grudge. In those days, I believed it was unchristian to be angry, ever, and tried to please everyone. However, when someone hurt me, it seemed to linger in my soul for ages. He once confronted me in a very healthy way: “Get over it! Don’t carry that around with you!” And he was right.
Our Church is going through a very rough time on countless fronts. Think of the children who have been abused and then ignored, or the people who find change very difficult and want to go back to the imaginary “good old days” when everything was black and white, or the Catholics who want the Church to change everything right here and now (e.g., ordination of women, moral theology, open Communion, etc.).
Think of those who no longer come to Mass because they were treated rudely by a pastor, or because they are disgusted by the abuse of power. Think of those who harbor resentment in their hearts like a heavy rock. Think of the many who feel depressed and hopeless due to the crises in our world regarding pollution, violence, corruption in government, and the lack of willingness to share resources with people who have nothing.
Read. Read from the Bible. Read what the Catechism of the Catholic Church has to say about issues that trouble you. Read news sources you disagree with, along with those whom you find palatable. We need input not only from those who reinforce our opinions and biases, but also from those who might shake us up, as Jesus shook up the people he met and loved.
Pray. Pray ancient forms you memorized long ago. Pray spontaneously from your heart, being honest with God about your anger, your fears, your joy, your hopes, your delight in being part of his people.
Act. Volunteer if you can, give money to worthy causes if you are able to, speak up when your loved ones tell racist jokes you find abhorrent. Reach out to newcomers in your parish, and try to reconcile with those whom you find terribly annoying. It may not work, but it is a sacred thing to try.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.
But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and you will be children of the Most High,
for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
(Luke 6:27)
Father Brown
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Dear friends in Christ,
Wow. Jesus does not make it easy to truly follow him. Our “natural” human instincts are turned upside down and we, like Pope Saint John Paul II, are called to pardon even those who attack us (he visited his would-be assassin in prison and forgave him).
We are told to love our enemies, and to do good to those who hate us. This is not normal, this does not come naturally, but can only happen with the supernatural grace from the Risen Lord himself forming and transforming and reforming our souls over and over again, as we age.
For some Christians, this seems to come more easily than for others. I had a dear friend in the seminary, much older than I, who was rather volcanic with his opinions and outbursts, but who never held a grudge. In those days, I believed it was unchristian to be angry, ever, and tried to please everyone. However, when someone hurt me, it seemed to linger in my soul for ages. He once confronted me in a very healthy way: “Get over it! Don’t carry that around with you!” And he was right.
Our Church is going through a very rough time on countless fronts. Think of the children who have been abused and then ignored, or the people who find change very difficult and want to go back to the imaginary “good old days” when everything was black and white, or the Catholics who want the Church to change everything right here and now (e.g., ordination of women, moral theology, open Communion, etc.).
Think of those who no longer come to Mass because they were treated rudely by a pastor, or because they are disgusted by the abuse of power. Think of those who harbor resentment in their hearts like a heavy rock. Think of the many who feel depressed and hopeless due to the crises in our world regarding pollution, violence, corruption in government, and the lack of willingness to share resources with people who have nothing.
Read. Read from the Bible. Read what the Catechism of the Catholic Church has to say about issues that trouble you. Read news sources you disagree with, along with those whom you find palatable. We need input not only from those who reinforce our opinions and biases, but also from those who might shake us up, as Jesus shook up the people he met and loved.
Pray. Pray ancient forms you memorized long ago. Pray spontaneously from your heart, being honest with God about your anger, your fears, your joy, your hopes, your delight in being part of his people.
Act. Volunteer if you can, give money to worthy causes if you are able to, speak up when your loved ones tell racist jokes you find abhorrent. Reach out to newcomers in your parish, and try to reconcile with those whom you find terribly annoying. It may not work, but it is a sacred thing to try.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.
But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and you will be children of the Most High,
for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
(Luke 6:27)
Father Brown
The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Dear parishioners,
The Responsorial Psalm this weekend reminds me of the King James Bibles we were given by our Baptist neighbors in Las Vegas, where we lived when I was in second grade. My brother Don and I even attended Vacation Bible School with them, and for some reason I decided to memorize Psalm 1 in the lofty language of that translation!
Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked,
nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent,
but delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night.
He is like a tree planted near running water,
that yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
(Psalm 1)
For my soul, the last line in the Psalm quoted above has never been about becoming rich or important, but rather about “prospering” in a different sense: being happy. Knowing that we are good disciples of Jesus. Helping others. Growing in holiness and wisdom. That sort of prospering.
The preaching you hear from Father Ginter and me this Sunday is a plea to help support the Archdiocesan Annual Appeal, a sort of “tax” each parish must pay to keep many Catholic services alive and well in our three counties.
It’s never fun to discuss finances (as the Dowager Countess of Grantham pointed out in Downtown Abbey: “Oh good, let’s talk about money!”). However, for believers to do good, we need to be good stewards of the gifts God has given us: time, talent, and treasure.
If you are registered as an official member of Saint Hilary Parish, you probably already received the AAA packet and letter from me, or you will on Monday. Please read the brochure and make a generous donation, which helps not only the parish you call your spiritual home, but also the people who are impacted by your giving. You may read more about the specific ways your Annual Appeal donation makes a difference, both in the mailing, and on the website at:
https://www.sfarchdiocese.org/aaa
Our tax this year ($106,292) has gone down by about one thousand dollars, because our parish income has gone down, and because the number of people attending Mass here has gone down.
Usually, we receive a rebate of $11,000 from the Annual Appeal, but this past year we only got one-tenth of that amount.
One-quarter of our AAA goal is donated by a single family in our parish, so I urge you to step up with them and help us meet our obligation.
Each year I donate $1,000 to the Appeal, and I encourage those who can to meet my gift, or to exceed it, but every gift is needed, and every donation is appreciated.
You help so many people when you support the AAA. You show through your giving that Saint Hilary Parish is still alive and kicking. You make it clear that we care not only about our own community, but also the wider Church of which we are an important part.
God bless you and yours!
Father Brown
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Dear parishioners,
The Responsorial Psalm this weekend reminds me of the King James Bibles we were given by our Baptist neighbors in Las Vegas, where we lived when I was in second grade. My brother Don and I even attended Vacation Bible School with them, and for some reason I decided to memorize Psalm 1 in the lofty language of that translation!
Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked,
nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent,
but delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night.
He is like a tree planted near running water,
that yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
(Psalm 1)
For my soul, the last line in the Psalm quoted above has never been about becoming rich or important, but rather about “prospering” in a different sense: being happy. Knowing that we are good disciples of Jesus. Helping others. Growing in holiness and wisdom. That sort of prospering.
The preaching you hear from Father Ginter and me this Sunday is a plea to help support the Archdiocesan Annual Appeal, a sort of “tax” each parish must pay to keep many Catholic services alive and well in our three counties.
It’s never fun to discuss finances (as the Dowager Countess of Grantham pointed out in Downtown Abbey: “Oh good, let’s talk about money!”). However, for believers to do good, we need to be good stewards of the gifts God has given us: time, talent, and treasure.
If you are registered as an official member of Saint Hilary Parish, you probably already received the AAA packet and letter from me, or you will on Monday. Please read the brochure and make a generous donation, which helps not only the parish you call your spiritual home, but also the people who are impacted by your giving. You may read more about the specific ways your Annual Appeal donation makes a difference, both in the mailing, and on the website at:
https://www.sfarchdiocese.org/aaa
Our tax this year ($106,292) has gone down by about one thousand dollars, because our parish income has gone down, and because the number of people attending Mass here has gone down.
Usually, we receive a rebate of $11,000 from the Annual Appeal, but this past year we only got one-tenth of that amount.
One-quarter of our AAA goal is donated by a single family in our parish, so I urge you to step up with them and help us meet our obligation.
Each year I donate $1,000 to the Appeal, and I encourage those who can to meet my gift, or to exceed it, but every gift is needed, and every donation is appreciated.
You help so many people when you support the AAA. You show through your giving that Saint Hilary Parish is still alive and kicking. You make it clear that we care not only about our own community, but also the wider Church of which we are an important part.
God bless you and yours!
Father Brown
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Dear friends in Christ,
Today’s Bible readings speak much about people being called by God, and about how unworthy they feel.
First Isaiah the prophet, who cries out:
“Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” (Isaiah 6)
Then Saint Paul, telling of how Jesus summoned him:
“After that he (the Risen Lord) appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me. For I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” (1 Corinthians 15)
And finally Peter, the first pope:
They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him. (Luke 5)
Today’s Scripture passages remind me of my own journey of faith when I left home at age 18 and flew to Iowa to begin studies at Central College in Pella. The good Catholic people of that small town impressed me by their obvious sense of reverence and joy, but I felt hesitant about being “good enough” to join the Catholic Church. Thanks be to God, the secretary I worked for (Glady Strout from New Jersey, a great Italian Catholic who would become my godmother) and the parish priest, Father Ed Susik, helped me on the way.
Immediately after getting baptized and confirmed and receiving Holy Communion during the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Mary’s Church in Pella in 1978, I thought I felt a call or a tug toward priesthood — but here the feeling of not being good enough was much stronger: in my mind, a priest could never get grouchy or tired, he had to be like Father Mulcahy in the t.v. series MASH. Always chipper. Always positive. Never mad or sad.
Once again, I was helped by more sensible people, especially Father Dennis Browne, one of the priests at Stanford during my graduate studies there. Father Browne met with me, talked with me about my faith and fears, and told me about his own experiences of seminary and priesthood. These encounters gave me the courage to take the leap of faith and apply to the Archdiocese of San Francisco and enter Saint Patrick’s Seminary a year later.
Now I’m blessed to work with people interested in becoming Catholics, couples preparing for marriage, and other good people who, like me, might feel burdened by a sense of self-doubt that can be crippling. I thank God for the people who helped me, and for the privilege of trying to do the same for others.
Father Brown
The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Dear friends in Christ,
At Masses throughout the whole world this Sunday, good Catholic people will hear God speaking to the young man Jeremiah, who is hesitant about becoming the prophetic voice of God. “I am too young! I do not know how to speak, nor what to say!”
In response, God makes it clear that a true vocation is not based on a person’s age, nor fear, nor eloquence, but upon the fact that it is God himself who does the choosing, the calling, the sending forth to speak words of justice and repentance to the community:
The word of the LORD came to me, saying:
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I dedicated you,
a prophet to the nations I appointed you.
(Jeremiah 1:4-5)
These stark words strike very close to our heart, because we have just experienced the “Walk For Life West Coast” here in our archdiocese, and the images of thousands of others across our country (Catholics, Jews, Protestants, atheists, Muslims, Buddhists) who have spoken up in a very public way about the value of human life from the very moment of conception to natural death.
Some countries, and some politicians right here (think: New York State), are trying to spread another message, that human life is not in fact so valuable, and certainly not sacred, but rather something that can be engineered, discarded and destroyed for a variety of reasons.
This week I read about an elderly woman in the Netherlands who changed her mind about euthanasia, only to have the doctor ask her family to hold her down while the lethal injection was administered — further reading suggests that in 2017, more than 25% of deaths in the Netherlands were induced, which is to say: these people did not die “of natural causes.”
Some countries encourage mothers to have an abortion to rid the land of people with Down Syndrome, and still others use the death penalty as a matter of course, when a person is accused of blasphemy, of being a witch, and so forth. We all know that some people in our country have been executed on Death Row, only later to be found innocent of their alleged crime — long after it was “too late” to save them from execution.
Today’s words from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah are powerful, because they make it clear that we should not play God when it comes to life and death. God tells the young man: “I formed you in your mother’s womb, before she even realized she was pregnant! I have plans for you, and your life is important!”
This is why Pope Francis, much to the annoyance of some, keeps speaking up for the sacredness of human life. There are voices telling him to keep quiet, because he is a male and has no right to address the abortion issue; others tell him to stop getting involved in politics; and still others see him (and the Catholic Church) as old-fashioned and out of step with the 21st century.
However, like Jeremiah, God keeps telling us to speak up for what is right, to not fall into the trap of viewing human life as something to discard, to make it clear to people (old, young, sick, poor, disabled, etc.) that they are God’s children, and valuable.
Father Brown
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Dear friends in Christ,
At Masses throughout the whole world this Sunday, good Catholic people will hear God speaking to the young man Jeremiah, who is hesitant about becoming the prophetic voice of God. “I am too young! I do not know how to speak, nor what to say!”
In response, God makes it clear that a true vocation is not based on a person’s age, nor fear, nor eloquence, but upon the fact that it is God himself who does the choosing, the calling, the sending forth to speak words of justice and repentance to the community:
The word of the LORD came to me, saying:
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I dedicated you,
a prophet to the nations I appointed you.
(Jeremiah 1:4-5)
These stark words strike very close to our heart, because we have just experienced the “Walk For Life West Coast” here in our archdiocese, and the images of thousands of others across our country (Catholics, Jews, Protestants, atheists, Muslims, Buddhists) who have spoken up in a very public way about the value of human life from the very moment of conception to natural death.
Some countries, and some politicians right here (think: New York State), are trying to spread another message, that human life is not in fact so valuable, and certainly not sacred, but rather something that can be engineered, discarded and destroyed for a variety of reasons.
This week I read about an elderly woman in the Netherlands who changed her mind about euthanasia, only to have the doctor ask her family to hold her down while the lethal injection was administered — further reading suggests that in 2017, more than 25% of deaths in the Netherlands were induced, which is to say: these people did not die “of natural causes.”
Some countries encourage mothers to have an abortion to rid the land of people with Down Syndrome, and still others use the death penalty as a matter of course, when a person is accused of blasphemy, of being a witch, and so forth. We all know that some people in our country have been executed on Death Row, only later to be found innocent of their alleged crime — long after it was “too late” to save them from execution.
Today’s words from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah are powerful, because they make it clear that we should not play God when it comes to life and death. God tells the young man: “I formed you in your mother’s womb, before she even realized she was pregnant! I have plans for you, and your life is important!”
This is why Pope Francis, much to the annoyance of some, keeps speaking up for the sacredness of human life. There are voices telling him to keep quiet, because he is a male and has no right to address the abortion issue; others tell him to stop getting involved in politics; and still others see him (and the Catholic Church) as old-fashioned and out of step with the 21st century.
However, like Jeremiah, God keeps telling us to speak up for what is right, to not fall into the trap of viewing human life as something to discard, to make it clear to people (old, young, sick, poor, disabled, etc.) that they are God’s children, and valuable.
Father Brown
Catholic Schools – A History of Education for All
Sunday, January 27, 2019
Dear friends in Christ,
As we begin “Catholic Schools Week” today, I found an article about our history, on the website of the California Catholic Conference — I hope you find it inspiring as we all pull together to support good, solid Catholic education right here in Marin County!
~ Father Brown — https://www.cacatholic.org/
“From their very beginning, Catholic schools have focused on teaching poor and ethnic minority groups. Because of this, Catholic schools hold a rich tradition of educating students from all social and economic backgrounds.
“The oldest Catholic school in the United States is Ursuline Academy in New Orleans, Louisiana, which was founded in 1727. The school offered the first classes for female African-American slaves, free women of color and Native Americans. St. Ursuline Academy continues to operate today, maintaining its dedication to the moral, spiritual and intellectual growth of all its students.
“Often credited for forming the cradle of Catholic education in the United States, some refer to Elizabeth Ann Seton as a patron of Catholic schools. More than 200 years ago, Mother Seton and her Sisters of Charity founded St. Joseph’s Academy and Free School in Maryland.
“Because of her commitment to values-based education, Mother Seton originally educated only the needy girls of the area. But, the school eventually accepted girls from wealthy families who paid tuition, thus
enabling the Sisters of Charity to continue their charitable mission. Mother Seton felt it was important to welcome all students, regardless of their ability to pay. This distinctive characteristic of the Seton Legacy
continues in Catholic schools today. On September 14, 1975, during the International Year of the Woman, Pope Paul VI canonized Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.
“Like Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Cardinal John Henry Newman has also made a lasting impact on Catholic education, both in the United States and abroad. This nineteenth-century scholar and theologian felt strongly about the connections between mental and spiritual intelligence and spent much of his later years as an advocate for the Catholic student.
“Because he felt it was important to unite Catholicism and higher education, Cardinal Newman helped create the Catholic University of Ireland in 1854. Cardinal Newman’s impact on higher education also continues through the many student groups that bear his name. Known as Newman Centers or Newman Clubs, these organizations are found at countless non-Catholic colleges and universities and are committed to the continued promotion of campus ministry.
“In the 2014-2015 academic year, more than 212,000 students attended 665 elementary and secondary Catholic schools across California, proving they remain a strong educational choice due to the well-rounded curriculum they provide their students.
“The mission statement of the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s Department of Catholic Schools reads, ‘We strive to provide quality leadership, to develop programs of educational excellence, and to prepare students for a truly Christian life.’
“Similarly, the focus of the Diocese of Sacramento’s Catholic Schools Department is to ‘ensure lifelong learning and the development of responsible and compassionate citizens.’
“The Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ Department of Catholic Schools credits Catholic high school graduates as being two-times more likely to attain bachelor’s degrees compared to students who attend public schools. Nationwide, parents from all ethnic and economic backgrounds are continuing to enroll their children in Catholic schools. According to the National Catholic Educational Association, racial minorities account for about twenty-percent and non-Catholic enrollment accounts for about seventeen-percent of Catholic school enrollment nationwide for the 2014-2015 academic year.”
Catholic Schools – A History of Education for All
Sunday, January 27, 2019
Dear friends in Christ,
As we begin “Catholic Schools Week” today, I found an article about our history, on the website of the California Catholic Conference — I hope you find it inspiring as we all pull together to support good, solid Catholic education right here in Marin County!
~ Father Brown — https://www.cacatholic.org/
“From their very beginning, Catholic schools have focused on teaching poor and ethnic minority groups. Because of this, Catholic schools hold a rich tradition of educating students from all social and economic backgrounds.
“The oldest Catholic school in the United States is Ursuline Academy in New Orleans, Louisiana, which was founded in 1727. The school offered the first classes for female African-American slaves, free women of color and Native Americans. St. Ursuline Academy continues to operate today, maintaining its dedication to the moral, spiritual and intellectual growth of all its students.
“Often credited for forming the cradle of Catholic education in the United States, some refer to Elizabeth Ann Seton as a patron of Catholic schools. More than 200 years ago, Mother Seton and her Sisters of Charity founded St. Joseph’s Academy and Free School in Maryland.
“Because of her commitment to values-based education, Mother Seton originally educated only the needy girls of the area. But, the school eventually accepted girls from wealthy families who paid tuition, thus
enabling the Sisters of Charity to continue their charitable mission. Mother Seton felt it was important to welcome all students, regardless of their ability to pay. This distinctive characteristic of the Seton Legacy
continues in Catholic schools today. On September 14, 1975, during the International Year of the Woman, Pope Paul VI canonized Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.
“Like Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Cardinal John Henry Newman has also made a lasting impact on Catholic education, both in the United States and abroad. This nineteenth-century scholar and theologian felt strongly about the connections between mental and spiritual intelligence and spent much of his later years as an advocate for the Catholic student.
“Because he felt it was important to unite Catholicism and higher education, Cardinal Newman helped create the Catholic University of Ireland in 1854. Cardinal Newman’s impact on higher education also continues through the many student groups that bear his name. Known as Newman Centers or Newman Clubs, these organizations are found at countless non-Catholic colleges and universities and are committed to the continued promotion of campus ministry.
“In the 2014-2015 academic year, more than 212,000 students attended 665 elementary and secondary Catholic schools across California, proving they remain a strong educational choice due to the well-rounded curriculum they provide their students.
“The mission statement of the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s Department of Catholic Schools reads, ‘We strive to provide quality leadership, to develop programs of educational excellence, and to prepare students for a truly Christian life.’
“Similarly, the focus of the Diocese of Sacramento’s Catholic Schools Department is to ‘ensure lifelong learning and the development of responsible and compassionate citizens.’
“The Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ Department of Catholic Schools credits Catholic high school graduates as being two-times more likely to attain bachelor’s degrees compared to students who attend public schools. Nationwide, parents from all ethnic and economic backgrounds are continuing to enroll their children in Catholic schools. According to the National Catholic Educational Association, racial minorities account for about twenty-percent and non-Catholic enrollment accounts for about seventeen-percent of Catholic school enrollment nationwide for the 2014-2015 academic year.”
Ordinary Time or ExtraORDINARY Time?
Sunday, January 20, 2019
With the Baptism of the Lord Solemnity that we celebrated last Sunday, we have finished our Christmas season. We are trying to recover from all the parties, Masses and cleaning up our decorations.
Now we enter into Ordinary Time. Ordinary Time feels like the normal every day Masses that are the filling time until we get to Advent or Lent. Ordinary Time is so much more than the ordinary. Ordinary Time is an
Extra ORDINARY TIME.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops says that “Ordinary Time is a time for growth and maturation, a time in which the mystery of Christ is called to penetrate ever more deeply into history until all things are finally caught up in Christ. The goal, toward which all of history is directed, is represented by the final Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe” (usccb.org).
The goal is to focus on everything that makes Christ the King. I am writing this letter on a Wednesday and I had Mass with our first and seventh grade students today. After most Masses with the students from our school I finish the Mass and then go ask them questions about the readings, homily, and if there is a saint of the day. I am working with them to look at my vestments and notice the color differences. Today was an Ordinary day, which means I was wearing a green vestment. I asked them why does Ordinary Time have green as it’s color? One student in the first grade said, “Nature.” I said, “yes, that’s perfect.” And it really is because Ordinary Time becomes extraordinary time when we grow in our faith. The young girl saw that it reminds us of how things are growing in nature.
For us, now is the time to do the hard work so that we can grow spiritually. Usually we come up with a spiritual action plan for Lent and sometimes Advent. We give up something or we do something to help us grow. We are always working on ourselves and in need of growing in awareness of our love of God and seeking the grace to live like Him. It is easier to change ourselves or give up something during these shorter seasons, but our faith life is the marathon, not the sprint.
The way we approach our spiritual life is the way that we take care of our plants. They need water, food, good soil and sunlight. Our spiritual life is no different. We need water through the grace of our baptism, food in the Eucharist, good soil in Sacred Scripture and sunlight in the community at Church. For this Ordinary Time, let's grow!
The best way is to do small, simple and attainable things every day.
Read one quote from scripture, finish the day with an Our Father, keep holy water in your homes and go to Mass each Sunday.
Have small spiritual goals such as going to the Adoration Chapel once a week. There is no one way to do it, but don’t get stagnant during Ordinary Time, make it EXTRAORDINARY!
God Bless,
Father Ginter
Sunday, January 20, 2019
With the Baptism of the Lord Solemnity that we celebrated last Sunday, we have finished our Christmas season. We are trying to recover from all the parties, Masses and cleaning up our decorations.
Now we enter into Ordinary Time. Ordinary Time feels like the normal every day Masses that are the filling time until we get to Advent or Lent. Ordinary Time is so much more than the ordinary. Ordinary Time is an
Extra ORDINARY TIME.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops says that “Ordinary Time is a time for growth and maturation, a time in which the mystery of Christ is called to penetrate ever more deeply into history until all things are finally caught up in Christ. The goal, toward which all of history is directed, is represented by the final Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe” (usccb.org).
The goal is to focus on everything that makes Christ the King. I am writing this letter on a Wednesday and I had Mass with our first and seventh grade students today. After most Masses with the students from our school I finish the Mass and then go ask them questions about the readings, homily, and if there is a saint of the day. I am working with them to look at my vestments and notice the color differences. Today was an Ordinary day, which means I was wearing a green vestment. I asked them why does Ordinary Time have green as it’s color? One student in the first grade said, “Nature.” I said, “yes, that’s perfect.” And it really is because Ordinary Time becomes extraordinary time when we grow in our faith. The young girl saw that it reminds us of how things are growing in nature.
For us, now is the time to do the hard work so that we can grow spiritually. Usually we come up with a spiritual action plan for Lent and sometimes Advent. We give up something or we do something to help us grow. We are always working on ourselves and in need of growing in awareness of our love of God and seeking the grace to live like Him. It is easier to change ourselves or give up something during these shorter seasons, but our faith life is the marathon, not the sprint.
The way we approach our spiritual life is the way that we take care of our plants. They need water, food, good soil and sunlight. Our spiritual life is no different. We need water through the grace of our baptism, food in the Eucharist, good soil in Sacred Scripture and sunlight in the community at Church. For this Ordinary Time, let's grow!
The best way is to do small, simple and attainable things every day.
Read one quote from scripture, finish the day with an Our Father, keep holy water in your homes and go to Mass each Sunday.
Have small spiritual goals such as going to the Adoration Chapel once a week. There is no one way to do it, but don’t get stagnant during Ordinary Time, make it EXTRAORDINARY!
God Bless,
Father Ginter
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Walk for Life: A Walk I Am Blessed to Walk
Sunday, January 13, 2019
January is a month where we focus on the Pro-Life movement of the Church. I know this can be a tough subject for many people, but we are called to celebrate and protect life. The misconception is that the Church is only for the unborn. While the Church does put more effort into protecting the unborn because they do not have a voice of their own, we believe and pray for life from natural conception through natural death. Our loving God is the author of our life and says when it is complete and time to return to Him.
This includes the unborn, dignity of humans who are poor, in need of assistance whether it is mental or physical, the immigrant or the elderly.
Life is such a gift and I have truly come to believe that more and more since I have been ordained a priest.
I am writing this letter to invite you to come walk with me and other parishioners at the Walk for Life West Coast 2019 in San Francisco on Saturday, January 26, 2019. Last year we had a great group go and we would love to do the same this year. Please see the information in the ad of the bulletin to see how to sign up.
For me, I do feel blessed to be able to walk for life and pray that the rest of the world sees God’s creation as a gift and how beautiful it is. I am not one for protests or walks of this nature. When I was growing up I was not pro-life nor pro-choice. I just wanted people to do whatever they wanted and I didn’t want to get involved. In growing in my faith, I started to see the beauty in God’s design and that He has a plan for everything and each one of us, and I joined the Pro-Life Movement.
My first time attending the Walk for Life was in 2010 and was my third week in seminary and my first time wearing the Roman collar in public. It was a difficult experience to start. I was worried about wearing the collar in general and not used to it, then doing a demonstration walk in public which is not my style and finally knowing that there would be protesters. The protesters are what I was most fearful about. When I got there, there were protesters but they were kept away from us, I found the collar to be a blessing and a wonderful witness to our faith and the best part of all is the spirit of those who are walking. I absolutely love being at the rally before the walk. For me, it is like a Catholic reunion and I know so many people, but the spirit is full of life and joy. They are so happy to be there, not combative or angry but so positive. They are truly celebrating life.
I love walking on the Walk as well because people are praying the rosary, sharing stories and catching up with old friends or meeting new people. There is such a joy, but even more than that, those who are walking have a great peace. We all want this peace.
Once again, I know that this is a tough subject and there are many facets to it. But I ask you to consider coming on the Walk For Life, or pray for life, or do research about it. It is a great witness and wonderful fellowship with your parishioners.
If you have any questions about the Pro-Life movement please do some research, ask me or come to the Walk to check it out. I believe that this is a worthwhile event and brings us much grace. Please do feel free to contact me with any questions you may have and if you would like to go, please email Mari Pautler to reserve you spot on the bus. Her information is on the ad in the bulletin.
May God Bless you, and please ask the Lord in your prayer if you should come on the Walk for Life this year.
~Father Ginter
Sunday, January 13, 2019
January is a month where we focus on the Pro-Life movement of the Church. I know this can be a tough subject for many people, but we are called to celebrate and protect life. The misconception is that the Church is only for the unborn. While the Church does put more effort into protecting the unborn because they do not have a voice of their own, we believe and pray for life from natural conception through natural death. Our loving God is the author of our life and says when it is complete and time to return to Him.
This includes the unborn, dignity of humans who are poor, in need of assistance whether it is mental or physical, the immigrant or the elderly.
Life is such a gift and I have truly come to believe that more and more since I have been ordained a priest.
I am writing this letter to invite you to come walk with me and other parishioners at the Walk for Life West Coast 2019 in San Francisco on Saturday, January 26, 2019. Last year we had a great group go and we would love to do the same this year. Please see the information in the ad of the bulletin to see how to sign up.
For me, I do feel blessed to be able to walk for life and pray that the rest of the world sees God’s creation as a gift and how beautiful it is. I am not one for protests or walks of this nature. When I was growing up I was not pro-life nor pro-choice. I just wanted people to do whatever they wanted and I didn’t want to get involved. In growing in my faith, I started to see the beauty in God’s design and that He has a plan for everything and each one of us, and I joined the Pro-Life Movement.
My first time attending the Walk for Life was in 2010 and was my third week in seminary and my first time wearing the Roman collar in public. It was a difficult experience to start. I was worried about wearing the collar in general and not used to it, then doing a demonstration walk in public which is not my style and finally knowing that there would be protesters. The protesters are what I was most fearful about. When I got there, there were protesters but they were kept away from us, I found the collar to be a blessing and a wonderful witness to our faith and the best part of all is the spirit of those who are walking. I absolutely love being at the rally before the walk. For me, it is like a Catholic reunion and I know so many people, but the spirit is full of life and joy. They are so happy to be there, not combative or angry but so positive. They are truly celebrating life.
I love walking on the Walk as well because people are praying the rosary, sharing stories and catching up with old friends or meeting new people. There is such a joy, but even more than that, those who are walking have a great peace. We all want this peace.
Once again, I know that this is a tough subject and there are many facets to it. But I ask you to consider coming on the Walk For Life, or pray for life, or do research about it. It is a great witness and wonderful fellowship with your parishioners.
If you have any questions about the Pro-Life movement please do some research, ask me or come to the Walk to check it out. I believe that this is a worthwhile event and brings us much grace. Please do feel free to contact me with any questions you may have and if you would like to go, please email Mari Pautler to reserve you spot on the bus. Her information is on the ad in the bulletin.
May God Bless you, and please ask the Lord in your prayer if you should come on the Walk for Life this year.
~Father Ginter
The Epiphany of the Lord
Sunday, January 6, 2018
Dear parishioners,
In thinking about the word coheirs, which comes to us so often at Mass, and which so many people find confusing, I was happy to find an article by Father Michael Grosch in St. Louis, which focuses on this important word. However, let us first look at today’s second reading, which also uses this term:
Brothers and sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit,
namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.
It was not made known to people in other generations
as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (Ephesians 3:2-3A, 5-6)
And here is the reflection by Father Grosch at:
https://aedificatiodei.wordpress.com/
“We pray in Eucharistic Prayer II that we ‘may merit to be coheirs to eternal life.’ There are two interesting parts worth mentioning here: merit and being coheirs. The idea of merit in our Catholic faith is something very misunderstood, and as a result, steered away from. Among human beings, it means a general reward or payback owed for the action of an individual. But that doesn’t make sense with God. Merit for us comes from the fact that God has freely chosen to associate himself with us.
“Anything that we might ‘earn’ or ‘deserve’ by our works of charity for others is first and foremost due to God’s grace. Even when we do something good for others, we believe that it is God’s grace which inspired us to do so in the first place! So the reward we’re given isn’t only because of our generosity to others, but also because of God’s generosity to us!
“As for being coheirs, this is a birthright that is given to us at baptism. It’s amazing to think that at our baptism, God radically changed the universe to give us a new identity as his sons and daughters. Romans 8:16-17 tells us as much: 'The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.'
“Actually, a royal heir like my friend is a good analogy for this. If you think about it, a prince or princess as an heir to the kingdom, doesn’t deserve to be king or queen any more than the gas station worker down the street – but they are given that honor by their birth. Imagine how much more extreme that would seem if the heir was adopted! In that case, it’s not even by birth, but by the incredible generosity of the king or queen.
“Well, I’ve got news for you: we are those adopted princes and princesses of the Kingdom of God! And it’s not by anything we’ve done to earn that position, but because of waters of baptism, and the incredible generosity of the grace of God. We’re given the same blessing as Christ, God’s only begotten Son: to be risen from the dead and raised to glory.”
So, if you’ve wondered about this ‘new’ translation, I hope that Father Grosch and his insights prove helpful!
Father Brown
Sunday, January 6, 2018
Dear parishioners,
In thinking about the word coheirs, which comes to us so often at Mass, and which so many people find confusing, I was happy to find an article by Father Michael Grosch in St. Louis, which focuses on this important word. However, let us first look at today’s second reading, which also uses this term:
Brothers and sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit,
namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.
It was not made known to people in other generations
as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (Ephesians 3:2-3A, 5-6)
And here is the reflection by Father Grosch at:
https://aedificatiodei.wordpress.com/
“We pray in Eucharistic Prayer II that we ‘may merit to be coheirs to eternal life.’ There are two interesting parts worth mentioning here: merit and being coheirs. The idea of merit in our Catholic faith is something very misunderstood, and as a result, steered away from. Among human beings, it means a general reward or payback owed for the action of an individual. But that doesn’t make sense with God. Merit for us comes from the fact that God has freely chosen to associate himself with us.
“Anything that we might ‘earn’ or ‘deserve’ by our works of charity for others is first and foremost due to God’s grace. Even when we do something good for others, we believe that it is God’s grace which inspired us to do so in the first place! So the reward we’re given isn’t only because of our generosity to others, but also because of God’s generosity to us!
“As for being coheirs, this is a birthright that is given to us at baptism. It’s amazing to think that at our baptism, God radically changed the universe to give us a new identity as his sons and daughters. Romans 8:16-17 tells us as much: 'The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.'
“Actually, a royal heir like my friend is a good analogy for this. If you think about it, a prince or princess as an heir to the kingdom, doesn’t deserve to be king or queen any more than the gas station worker down the street – but they are given that honor by their birth. Imagine how much more extreme that would seem if the heir was adopted! In that case, it’s not even by birth, but by the incredible generosity of the king or queen.
“Well, I’ve got news for you: we are those adopted princes and princesses of the Kingdom of God! And it’s not by anything we’ve done to earn that position, but because of waters of baptism, and the incredible generosity of the grace of God. We’re given the same blessing as Christ, God’s only begotten Son: to be risen from the dead and raised to glory.”
So, if you’ve wondered about this ‘new’ translation, I hope that Father Grosch and his insights prove helpful!
Father Brown
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The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Dear parishioners and guests,
During this time of year, we have many visitors to our community: family members home from college, travelers who have chosen to spend the Christmas holiday in our lovely area, and nice people who have been invited to celebrate Christmas with long-time friends here in Tiburon.
The Bible readings for this Feast of the Holy Family always strike me as beautiful — and also challenging.
God himself tells us to take care of our loved ones, whether they be young and impressionable, or very old and feeble. Whatever the situation, the Word of God tells us to take care of one another — and sometimes this is very hard indeed.
Hard because of past hurts, difficult because the relationship has been strained for a long time, challenging due to geography and personalities.
All the same, our Catholic faith urges us to do our best, to not neglect our parents, children, siblings, but rather to be creative and take care of our obligations without resentment.
This may mean a certain distance, to keep us sane; it might mean finding new ways to relate so that politics and old wounds are not a daily part of the conversation.
It can also mean speaking up when need be, out of love and conviction, for the sake of the family member and the community: “Mom, you can’t drive any longer: your eyesight makes this dangerous for you and the other people out there. We will take care of you and make sure you are not isolated at home. We ourselves will drive you, or get friends to drive you, when you need to get your hair done, or enjoy some shopping, or go to a medical appointment.”
As a human being, I have experienced this kind of challenge in my own family, and with my own friends.
As a priest, I hear about this challenge all the time, from people from are torn between doing right by their loved one and not losing their sanity (and their charity).
Every age claims it has it worse than the previous generation, but I rather doubt this is accurate. The world changes, but human beings remain human, with all our foibles, graces, trials, tribulations, gifts and sharp edges.
Now, for example, parents have to step up to the plate in very new ways, setting firm limits on the use of iPhones so their children don’t get exposed to dangerous material, and so their boys and girls get needed sleep, rather than playing and texting after lights out.
Children face new challenges in a similar way, often due to our current technology. How can a little boy ask his mom to put down the Smart Phone and pay attention to him, when he wants to tell her about his day?
How can a girl ask her dad to put the iPhone away so they can discuss something that’s on her mind, if the parent has become so addicted to the internet they can’t be away from it even for a few minutes?
How can students ask their parents to stop texting and driving, when they are afraid that such distracted driving might mean an accident or even death?
Things are not like they were in the 1950s, nor like they were in the time of Jesus. Each age brings its own blessings and curses. For us to foster truly HOLY families, perhaps the best step is to set aside time to
honestly ask: how are you doing? Is there anything that would make our family life better? Are you happy with your relationship with Jesus, or do we need to made some changes, such as going to Mass each Sunday and making that a family priority?
Do you get enough quiet time? Do you know that I love you, and cherish you?
These questions should be coming from the young, and from the old.
Father Brown
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Dear parishioners and guests,
During this time of year, we have many visitors to our community: family members home from college, travelers who have chosen to spend the Christmas holiday in our lovely area, and nice people who have been invited to celebrate Christmas with long-time friends here in Tiburon.
The Bible readings for this Feast of the Holy Family always strike me as beautiful — and also challenging.
God himself tells us to take care of our loved ones, whether they be young and impressionable, or very old and feeble. Whatever the situation, the Word of God tells us to take care of one another — and sometimes this is very hard indeed.
Hard because of past hurts, difficult because the relationship has been strained for a long time, challenging due to geography and personalities.
All the same, our Catholic faith urges us to do our best, to not neglect our parents, children, siblings, but rather to be creative and take care of our obligations without resentment.
This may mean a certain distance, to keep us sane; it might mean finding new ways to relate so that politics and old wounds are not a daily part of the conversation.
It can also mean speaking up when need be, out of love and conviction, for the sake of the family member and the community: “Mom, you can’t drive any longer: your eyesight makes this dangerous for you and the other people out there. We will take care of you and make sure you are not isolated at home. We ourselves will drive you, or get friends to drive you, when you need to get your hair done, or enjoy some shopping, or go to a medical appointment.”
As a human being, I have experienced this kind of challenge in my own family, and with my own friends.
As a priest, I hear about this challenge all the time, from people from are torn between doing right by their loved one and not losing their sanity (and their charity).
Every age claims it has it worse than the previous generation, but I rather doubt this is accurate. The world changes, but human beings remain human, with all our foibles, graces, trials, tribulations, gifts and sharp edges.
Now, for example, parents have to step up to the plate in very new ways, setting firm limits on the use of iPhones so their children don’t get exposed to dangerous material, and so their boys and girls get needed sleep, rather than playing and texting after lights out.
Children face new challenges in a similar way, often due to our current technology. How can a little boy ask his mom to put down the Smart Phone and pay attention to him, when he wants to tell her about his day?
How can a girl ask her dad to put the iPhone away so they can discuss something that’s on her mind, if the parent has become so addicted to the internet they can’t be away from it even for a few minutes?
How can students ask their parents to stop texting and driving, when they are afraid that such distracted driving might mean an accident or even death?
Things are not like they were in the 1950s, nor like they were in the time of Jesus. Each age brings its own blessings and curses. For us to foster truly HOLY families, perhaps the best step is to set aside time to
honestly ask: how are you doing? Is there anything that would make our family life better? Are you happy with your relationship with Jesus, or do we need to made some changes, such as going to Mass each Sunday and making that a family priority?
Do you get enough quiet time? Do you know that I love you, and cherish you?
These questions should be coming from the young, and from the old.
Father Brown
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 23, 2018
Dear friends in Christ,
Today’s Gospel describes the Visitation, one of the mysteries of the Rosary which I found so helpful for my soul when I was learning about Catholicism back in college, and was given a little booklet by Father Ed Susik, the priest in Pella, Iowa.
There are three basic groups of Christians on this planet, and Catholics seem to be the largest:
· Catholic Christians: 1.285 billion
· Protestant Christians: 920 million
· Orthodox Christians: 270 million
It is, of course, extremely difficult to get an accurate count, and the various sources I’ve looked at all disagree with one another, but this gives us a vague idea of today’s reality. The sources also suggest that Christianity is the largest religion on the planet right now, but that Muslims throughout the world seem much more willing to embrace family and the understanding of children as a blessing, and thus their numbers will grow much more than the growth among Christians, Jews, etc.
During that first year of college, I would have described myself as “vaguely Protestant,” meaning I had learned about Jesus from my stepmother at age four, but I had never been baptized, we never joined a church community, and so any religious belief or practice was very private.
Only in college did I step out of my box and try to find a church family where God’s presence could be sensed and celebrated.
Which leads us back to today’s Gospel, and that Rosary mystery of the Visitation. Father Susik’s little booklet encouraged people to take each mystery of the Rosary and ponder its meaning before doing the prayers: for the Visitation, we were urged to think about how well we reached out to others in need, even as Mary did when she travelled to visit Elizabeth and be of help to her.
These past several weeks have seen people here, and throughout the world, doing much good in preparation for the celebration of Christmas: we purchase gifts for needy children, we buy Safeway gift cards so a poor family can buy nice ingredients for their Christmas dinner, we volunteer in various charities, soup kitchens and other ways as a sign to God that we are grateful for our blessings — especially the blessing of Jesus — and want to share those blessings with others.
It may seem illogical for a pregnant woman like Mary to travel all the way to visit Elizabeth: after all, couldn’t someone else take care of Elizabeth’s needs?
Yet the divine presence in both women, Elizabeth carrying John the Baptist in her womb after decades of hoping and praying for a child, Mary carrying Jesus in her womb thanks to the miraculous work of God, is celebrated in today’s reading as they praise the Lord God and sing with joy because of what is happening in their bodies, their souls, and their community.
On behalf of all of us who serve you here at Saint Hilary Church and School, I pray that you too will feel the grace of God in your very bones, even if the years has been rough.
That you will be able to count blessings which you never anticipated coming your way.
That you will be able to find, in the dark of winter, the light of the Christ Child in your giving, your forgiving, and your prayer life.
As for me, I thank God for dear old Father Susik in Pella, Iowa, who listened to my many questions, shared his Catholic faith with me each Wednesday afternoon, and then baptized me at the Easter Vigil Mass in 1978.
May God bless him — and you.
Father Brown
Sunday, December 23, 2018
Dear friends in Christ,
Today’s Gospel describes the Visitation, one of the mysteries of the Rosary which I found so helpful for my soul when I was learning about Catholicism back in college, and was given a little booklet by Father Ed Susik, the priest in Pella, Iowa.
There are three basic groups of Christians on this planet, and Catholics seem to be the largest:
· Catholic Christians: 1.285 billion
· Protestant Christians: 920 million
· Orthodox Christians: 270 million
It is, of course, extremely difficult to get an accurate count, and the various sources I’ve looked at all disagree with one another, but this gives us a vague idea of today’s reality. The sources also suggest that Christianity is the largest religion on the planet right now, but that Muslims throughout the world seem much more willing to embrace family and the understanding of children as a blessing, and thus their numbers will grow much more than the growth among Christians, Jews, etc.
During that first year of college, I would have described myself as “vaguely Protestant,” meaning I had learned about Jesus from my stepmother at age four, but I had never been baptized, we never joined a church community, and so any religious belief or practice was very private.
Only in college did I step out of my box and try to find a church family where God’s presence could be sensed and celebrated.
Which leads us back to today’s Gospel, and that Rosary mystery of the Visitation. Father Susik’s little booklet encouraged people to take each mystery of the Rosary and ponder its meaning before doing the prayers: for the Visitation, we were urged to think about how well we reached out to others in need, even as Mary did when she travelled to visit Elizabeth and be of help to her.
These past several weeks have seen people here, and throughout the world, doing much good in preparation for the celebration of Christmas: we purchase gifts for needy children, we buy Safeway gift cards so a poor family can buy nice ingredients for their Christmas dinner, we volunteer in various charities, soup kitchens and other ways as a sign to God that we are grateful for our blessings — especially the blessing of Jesus — and want to share those blessings with others.
It may seem illogical for a pregnant woman like Mary to travel all the way to visit Elizabeth: after all, couldn’t someone else take care of Elizabeth’s needs?
Yet the divine presence in both women, Elizabeth carrying John the Baptist in her womb after decades of hoping and praying for a child, Mary carrying Jesus in her womb thanks to the miraculous work of God, is celebrated in today’s reading as they praise the Lord God and sing with joy because of what is happening in their bodies, their souls, and their community.
On behalf of all of us who serve you here at Saint Hilary Church and School, I pray that you too will feel the grace of God in your very bones, even if the years has been rough.
That you will be able to count blessings which you never anticipated coming your way.
That you will be able to find, in the dark of winter, the light of the Christ Child in your giving, your forgiving, and your prayer life.
As for me, I thank God for dear old Father Susik in Pella, Iowa, who listened to my many questions, shared his Catholic faith with me each Wednesday afternoon, and then baptized me at the Easter Vigil Mass in 1978.
May God bless him — and you.
Father Brown
"Turning Pink With Joy on Gaudete Sunday"
Kate O’Hare — Dec. 12, 2013
Why is one candle not like all the others?
Advent and its counterpart, Lent, are seasons of penitence. On the Advent wreath, the three purple candles mark the preparation Christians undergo while awaiting the arrival of Christ on Earth.
But, unlike dour Lent, Advent is usually a happy season, full of food, parties, shopping, music and lights. In the retail world, Christmas begins right after Halloween and then kicks into overdrive on the day after Thanksgiving. Many people mirror this, barely putting away the leftover turkey before putting up every Christmas decoration they own.
While this calendar is fine for secular society, it has nothing to do with the Child at the heart of the season. He won’t be here until Christmas Eve, and all the early bird sales in the world won’t speed that up.
That’s why it’s traditional (though not required) to refrain from putting the Christ Child into a Catholic church’s Nativity scene manger until the appointed moment.
So, why do we need a reminder to rejoice on the Third Sunday of Advent, called Gaudete Sunday (Latin for “rejoice”) by lighting a rose-colored candle on our wreaths and having priests wear rose-colored vestments at Mass?
Because the happiness that comes from fun and friends and a full belly is not the same thing as Christian joy.
During Mass Pope Francis talked about the difference between happiness and joy:
“To be happy is good, yet joy is something more. It’s another thing, something which does not depend on external motivations, or on passing issues: it is more profound. It is a gift. To be ‘happy at all moments, at all cost,’ can at the end turn into superficiality and shallowness. This leaves us without Christian wisdom, which makes us dumb, naïve, right? All is joy...no. Joy is something else; it is a gift from the Lord.”
If joy is a gift from the Lord, then the Lord Himself is our first and greatest gift, and the only one that will never tarnish or break or fade. Gaudete – said “Gow-DAY-tay” – Sunday reminds us that the gift has not yet arrived, but it’s very near.
It takes its name from the first word of the Introit, “Gaudete in Domino Semper,” which is Latin for the introduction of Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always.”
And it’s not just a Catholic thing.
Advent wreaths are common in the Western church, including among Episcopalians, Lutherans and other mainline Christian denominations.
To continue with Philippians,
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again, rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
So even though you may be having happy times during Advent, Gaudete Sunday is a moment to stop and reflect on the source of true joy. If the Advent season has brought causes for stress and sorrow into your life, then lighting the rose candle is an opportunity to take heart and refocus on what the Mass of Christ is all about.
Perhaps you’ll have the same revelation that came upon the pinched and petulant title character of Doctor Seuss’ book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, as he stood atop Mount Crumpit with all the Whos’ Christmas goodies piled high on a sleigh, ready to be dumped.
But up from Whoville, divested of all its festive finery and fine food, came not howls of anguish nor shouts of anger but the sound of sweet singing:
“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow
Stood puzzling and puzzling, ‘How could it be so?
‘It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
‘It came without packages, boxes or bags!’
And he puzzled three hours, ‘till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!
‘Maybe Christmas,’ he thought, ‘doesn’t come from a store.
‘Maybe Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more!’”
Christ is coming. Prepare ye the way of the Lord.
Kate O’Hare — Dec. 12, 2013
Why is one candle not like all the others?
Advent and its counterpart, Lent, are seasons of penitence. On the Advent wreath, the three purple candles mark the preparation Christians undergo while awaiting the arrival of Christ on Earth.
But, unlike dour Lent, Advent is usually a happy season, full of food, parties, shopping, music and lights. In the retail world, Christmas begins right after Halloween and then kicks into overdrive on the day after Thanksgiving. Many people mirror this, barely putting away the leftover turkey before putting up every Christmas decoration they own.
While this calendar is fine for secular society, it has nothing to do with the Child at the heart of the season. He won’t be here until Christmas Eve, and all the early bird sales in the world won’t speed that up.
That’s why it’s traditional (though not required) to refrain from putting the Christ Child into a Catholic church’s Nativity scene manger until the appointed moment.
So, why do we need a reminder to rejoice on the Third Sunday of Advent, called Gaudete Sunday (Latin for “rejoice”) by lighting a rose-colored candle on our wreaths and having priests wear rose-colored vestments at Mass?
Because the happiness that comes from fun and friends and a full belly is not the same thing as Christian joy.
During Mass Pope Francis talked about the difference between happiness and joy:
“To be happy is good, yet joy is something more. It’s another thing, something which does not depend on external motivations, or on passing issues: it is more profound. It is a gift. To be ‘happy at all moments, at all cost,’ can at the end turn into superficiality and shallowness. This leaves us without Christian wisdom, which makes us dumb, naïve, right? All is joy...no. Joy is something else; it is a gift from the Lord.”
If joy is a gift from the Lord, then the Lord Himself is our first and greatest gift, and the only one that will never tarnish or break or fade. Gaudete – said “Gow-DAY-tay” – Sunday reminds us that the gift has not yet arrived, but it’s very near.
It takes its name from the first word of the Introit, “Gaudete in Domino Semper,” which is Latin for the introduction of Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always.”
And it’s not just a Catholic thing.
Advent wreaths are common in the Western church, including among Episcopalians, Lutherans and other mainline Christian denominations.
To continue with Philippians,
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again, rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
So even though you may be having happy times during Advent, Gaudete Sunday is a moment to stop and reflect on the source of true joy. If the Advent season has brought causes for stress and sorrow into your life, then lighting the rose candle is an opportunity to take heart and refocus on what the Mass of Christ is all about.
Perhaps you’ll have the same revelation that came upon the pinched and petulant title character of Doctor Seuss’ book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, as he stood atop Mount Crumpit with all the Whos’ Christmas goodies piled high on a sleigh, ready to be dumped.
But up from Whoville, divested of all its festive finery and fine food, came not howls of anguish nor shouts of anger but the sound of sweet singing:
“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow
Stood puzzling and puzzling, ‘How could it be so?
‘It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
‘It came without packages, boxes or bags!’
And he puzzled three hours, ‘till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!
‘Maybe Christmas,’ he thought, ‘doesn’t come from a store.
‘Maybe Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more!’”
Christ is coming. Prepare ye the way of the Lord.
Second Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 9, 2018
Dear parishioners,
This past week we had the blessing of taking part in an Advent Retreat led by two Dominicans who came to stay with us, pray with us, and offer us food for thought as we began the journey toward the birth of Jesus.
Father Jude Siciliano, OP, and Sister Patricia Bruno, OP, worked closely with Sister Dolores Maguire, CHF, and other members of our Retreat Team to give us a wonderful experience of something new and different, before the days get too terribly hectic — we are most grateful to all of them!
As part of the retreat, each night one member of our community got up during the evening ritual to share their story of faith, and in some cases, these were former members of our RCIA group, adults who had chosen, as adults, to become full members of the Catholic Church through Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.
For those of us who have been Catholics a bit longer, it’s always refreshing to see and hear the joy of new members, especially when they have plunged wholeheartedly into the life of our church and school! In this sense, words from today’s Second Reading remind me of the rituals we went through during our seminary years, words which also apply to all of us who are constantly on the way toward glory:
Brothers and sisters:
I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you,
because of your partnership for the gospel
from the first day until now.
I am confident of this,
that the one who began a good work in you
will continue to complete it
until the day of Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 1:3-6)
The funny thing is that, almost two thousand years ago, these words were also directed to converts, and Saint Paul makes it clear that any genuine conversion, grace, growth, and goodness starts with God, comes from God, and only then can change our lives — and the world we embrace. “The one who began a good work in you” is the one who made the heavens and the earth, and all living things; who made us in his own image and gave us the ability to follow him — or to turn away.
If you desire to do something for the Lord, you can purchase a $50.00 Safeway gift card as part of our Christmas food drive and drop it into the Poor Box, or into the collection basket: in feeding the poor, we feed Jesus, as he made clear in those famous words from the Gospel (Matthew 25:35).
If you wish to use your blessings to help others, you may contact Catholic Charities USA and donate to help the California fire victims. If you want some quality prayer time, you can always visit our Blessed Sacrament Chapel (between the Church and Tarantino Hall), which is a place of sacred silence.
If you need to go to confession and give your soul a fresh start, check our schedule: there are several opportunities before Christmas, for you and your family!
Father Brown
Sunday, December 9, 2018
Dear parishioners,
This past week we had the blessing of taking part in an Advent Retreat led by two Dominicans who came to stay with us, pray with us, and offer us food for thought as we began the journey toward the birth of Jesus.
Father Jude Siciliano, OP, and Sister Patricia Bruno, OP, worked closely with Sister Dolores Maguire, CHF, and other members of our Retreat Team to give us a wonderful experience of something new and different, before the days get too terribly hectic — we are most grateful to all of them!
As part of the retreat, each night one member of our community got up during the evening ritual to share their story of faith, and in some cases, these were former members of our RCIA group, adults who had chosen, as adults, to become full members of the Catholic Church through Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.
For those of us who have been Catholics a bit longer, it’s always refreshing to see and hear the joy of new members, especially when they have plunged wholeheartedly into the life of our church and school! In this sense, words from today’s Second Reading remind me of the rituals we went through during our seminary years, words which also apply to all of us who are constantly on the way toward glory:
Brothers and sisters:
I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you,
because of your partnership for the gospel
from the first day until now.
I am confident of this,
that the one who began a good work in you
will continue to complete it
until the day of Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 1:3-6)
The funny thing is that, almost two thousand years ago, these words were also directed to converts, and Saint Paul makes it clear that any genuine conversion, grace, growth, and goodness starts with God, comes from God, and only then can change our lives — and the world we embrace. “The one who began a good work in you” is the one who made the heavens and the earth, and all living things; who made us in his own image and gave us the ability to follow him — or to turn away.
If you desire to do something for the Lord, you can purchase a $50.00 Safeway gift card as part of our Christmas food drive and drop it into the Poor Box, or into the collection basket: in feeding the poor, we feed Jesus, as he made clear in those famous words from the Gospel (Matthew 25:35).
If you wish to use your blessings to help others, you may contact Catholic Charities USA and donate to help the California fire victims. If you want some quality prayer time, you can always visit our Blessed Sacrament Chapel (between the Church and Tarantino Hall), which is a place of sacred silence.
If you need to go to confession and give your soul a fresh start, check our schedule: there are several opportunities before Christmas, for you and your family!
Father Brown
First Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Dear friends,
How blessed we are to start the Advent Season with a Parish Retreat, led by two fine Dominicans who devote their lives to helping good Catholic people grow in their faith and in their communion with one another.
The theme of our retreat, “Seeking Light in a Time of Darkness,” is fitting both because of the winter season we are approaching, and also because there is so much in our world that seems scary, sad, and hopeless.
Father Jude Siciliano, OP, and Sister Patricia Bruno, OP, will be with us through Wednesday night, and I look forward to this retreat time very much. Canon Law (i.e., Church law) requires that priests take a week each year away on retreat, but I wish every Catholic person could afford to do the same: setting aside time for reflection, prayer, and not merely “business as usual.”
Many people cannot do this, because of their family obligations and their work schedules, so we have invited Sister Patricia and Father Jude to come to us, hoping that you will be able to enjoy at least some of the retreat events and come away refreshed.
Today’s Second Reading encourages us to take stock of how Christian we truly are:
Brothers and sisters:
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love
for one another and for all,
just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.
Finally, brothers and sisters,
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us
how you should conduct yourselves to please God
and as you are conducting yourselves
you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
(1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2)
In preparing for Christmas, in making our hearts ready to greet Jesus in the dead of winter, we have the chance to find sources of light and warmth, to make adjustments where needed, and to set aside some precious time this week to join our neighbors in an Advent Retreat experience that can be a lovely breath of fresh air for our souls and hearts and minds.
There are lots of projects, parties, outreach programs, and charity events filling our calendars right now, so it’s good to know that spirituality is also possible, whether we are young and busy, raising kids, retired, very involved in Church life, active in work and charitable works, single or married.
“May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all,” as Saint Paul writes, both in caring for others — and in taking care of your own heart, soul, and mind.
Father Brown
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Dear friends,
How blessed we are to start the Advent Season with a Parish Retreat, led by two fine Dominicans who devote their lives to helping good Catholic people grow in their faith and in their communion with one another.
The theme of our retreat, “Seeking Light in a Time of Darkness,” is fitting both because of the winter season we are approaching, and also because there is so much in our world that seems scary, sad, and hopeless.
Father Jude Siciliano, OP, and Sister Patricia Bruno, OP, will be with us through Wednesday night, and I look forward to this retreat time very much. Canon Law (i.e., Church law) requires that priests take a week each year away on retreat, but I wish every Catholic person could afford to do the same: setting aside time for reflection, prayer, and not merely “business as usual.”
Many people cannot do this, because of their family obligations and their work schedules, so we have invited Sister Patricia and Father Jude to come to us, hoping that you will be able to enjoy at least some of the retreat events and come away refreshed.
Today’s Second Reading encourages us to take stock of how Christian we truly are:
Brothers and sisters:
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love
for one another and for all,
just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.
Finally, brothers and sisters,
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us
how you should conduct yourselves to please God
and as you are conducting yourselves
you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
(1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2)
In preparing for Christmas, in making our hearts ready to greet Jesus in the dead of winter, we have the chance to find sources of light and warmth, to make adjustments where needed, and to set aside some precious time this week to join our neighbors in an Advent Retreat experience that can be a lovely breath of fresh air for our souls and hearts and minds.
There are lots of projects, parties, outreach programs, and charity events filling our calendars right now, so it’s good to know that spirituality is also possible, whether we are young and busy, raising kids, retired, very involved in Church life, active in work and charitable works, single or married.
“May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all,” as Saint Paul writes, both in caring for others — and in taking care of your own heart, soul, and mind.
Father Brown
Saint Hilary Advent Retreat
December 3-5, 2018
“Seeking Light in a Time of Darkness”
Advent is more than a time to check our Christmas gift list. It is a time to slow down and focus on God’s active presence in our lives — the One who is Light in times of darkness and Peace in a world disrupted by violence.
We don’t have to go away to a retreat house to get more focus at this hectic pre-Christmas time. Come to Saint Hilary for the parish’s Advent Retreat. Here’s a chance to catch your breath in this hectic season.
Sister Patricia Bruno, O.P., and Fr. Jude Siciliano, O.P., two Dominican preachers, are returning to our parish and will lead our retreat.
From Monday through Wednesday (December 3-5) we will gather three times each day for prayer:
· 8:30 a.m. morning Eucharist in the Church.
· 9:15 a.m. followed by an informal Scriptural reflection in Tarantino Hall.
· 7:00 p.m. each evening we will meet for an hour’s prayer, preaching and ritual in Church.
Our days together will focus on the Scriptures. We will rediscover how they address the contemporary issues of our lives and the needs of our world. As a Church, we turn to the Scriptures each time we gather at Eucharist, weddings, baptisms and funeral services because they speak express the deep emotions of the human heart and tell us how God is reaching out to be with and help us.
Retreat time is an opportunity to slow down and focus on what is important. These retreat days of community prayer will not only help us deepen our faith, but also will affirm and support the gifts we have to share with one another.
All are most welcome — children, teens, adults. Families, single people. Those who can take part in one event, or those who are able to attend all the retreat events.
Father Brown
December 3-5, 2018
“Seeking Light in a Time of Darkness”
Advent is more than a time to check our Christmas gift list. It is a time to slow down and focus on God’s active presence in our lives — the One who is Light in times of darkness and Peace in a world disrupted by violence.
We don’t have to go away to a retreat house to get more focus at this hectic pre-Christmas time. Come to Saint Hilary for the parish’s Advent Retreat. Here’s a chance to catch your breath in this hectic season.
Sister Patricia Bruno, O.P., and Fr. Jude Siciliano, O.P., two Dominican preachers, are returning to our parish and will lead our retreat.
From Monday through Wednesday (December 3-5) we will gather three times each day for prayer:
· 8:30 a.m. morning Eucharist in the Church.
· 9:15 a.m. followed by an informal Scriptural reflection in Tarantino Hall.
· 7:00 p.m. each evening we will meet for an hour’s prayer, preaching and ritual in Church.
Our days together will focus on the Scriptures. We will rediscover how they address the contemporary issues of our lives and the needs of our world. As a Church, we turn to the Scriptures each time we gather at Eucharist, weddings, baptisms and funeral services because they speak express the deep emotions of the human heart and tell us how God is reaching out to be with and help us.
Retreat time is an opportunity to slow down and focus on what is important. These retreat days of community prayer will not only help us deepen our faith, but also will affirm and support the gifts we have to share with one another.
All are most welcome — children, teens, adults. Families, single people. Those who can take part in one event, or those who are able to attend all the retreat events.
Father Brown
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, November 18,2018
Dear friends in Christ,
The vitriol and confusion from our midterm elections, the gun violence here and abroad, the meetings of the American bishops back east, and the horrible fires that have claimed so many lives in California — all of this comes to mind when I look at today’s Gospel and its apocalyptic language:
Jesus said to his disciples:
“In those days after that tribulation
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’
with great power and glory,
and then he will send out the angels
and gather his elect from the four winds,
from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.”
(Mark 13:24)
Our sun has been darkened, from the horrible smoke caused by the fires that destroyed Paradise, California, and so many people who lived there.
Our outlook has been darkened by scandals, division, and infighting that has even destroyed some marriages due to politics.
Our Church has been covered by the terrible ashes of so many innocents who suffered not only abuse, but subsequent cover-up and bad treatment by the very people who should have taken care of them.
Yet, in the midst of so much bad news, we also encounter good news. The 8th graders of various local schools coming to me with their parents for clergy high school recommendations are a light in the darkness, when I meet with them in my office and hear from Mom and Dad about their child, and hear from the students about their dreams for the future.
As our principal in Daly City, Arlene Fife, always said: “When I feel discouraged, I visit the Kindergarten and learn from the joy and energy of these little children.” Even after she retired, she would volunteer in the Kindergarten!
The apocalyptic language of today’s Mass, both in Daniel (first reading) and Mark (Gospel) is powerful, living up to its name. Apocalypse in Greek would be something like “unveiling” or “revelation” in English, in that such passages reveal what God is doing, even when we can’t immediately recognize his hand at work.
God is touching hearts right in the midst of terror and disaster, as we saw in the fires: complete strangers reaching out to help others escape. Homes and hearts being opened for refugees. People asking how they can assist the survivors, and thus leading me to suggest Catholic Charities USA as a great way to help:
https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/
Our world is a mess and always has been.
Yet people of goodwill can make a difference when their prayer stirs them to action, and their action helps the recipients of their love realize that God is with them, often in people they will never personally meet or be able to thank.
Father Brown
Sunday, November 18,2018
Dear friends in Christ,
The vitriol and confusion from our midterm elections, the gun violence here and abroad, the meetings of the American bishops back east, and the horrible fires that have claimed so many lives in California — all of this comes to mind when I look at today’s Gospel and its apocalyptic language:
Jesus said to his disciples:
“In those days after that tribulation
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’
with great power and glory,
and then he will send out the angels
and gather his elect from the four winds,
from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.”
(Mark 13:24)
Our sun has been darkened, from the horrible smoke caused by the fires that destroyed Paradise, California, and so many people who lived there.
Our outlook has been darkened by scandals, division, and infighting that has even destroyed some marriages due to politics.
Our Church has been covered by the terrible ashes of so many innocents who suffered not only abuse, but subsequent cover-up and bad treatment by the very people who should have taken care of them.
Yet, in the midst of so much bad news, we also encounter good news. The 8th graders of various local schools coming to me with their parents for clergy high school recommendations are a light in the darkness, when I meet with them in my office and hear from Mom and Dad about their child, and hear from the students about their dreams for the future.
As our principal in Daly City, Arlene Fife, always said: “When I feel discouraged, I visit the Kindergarten and learn from the joy and energy of these little children.” Even after she retired, she would volunteer in the Kindergarten!
The apocalyptic language of today’s Mass, both in Daniel (first reading) and Mark (Gospel) is powerful, living up to its name. Apocalypse in Greek would be something like “unveiling” or “revelation” in English, in that such passages reveal what God is doing, even when we can’t immediately recognize his hand at work.
God is touching hearts right in the midst of terror and disaster, as we saw in the fires: complete strangers reaching out to help others escape. Homes and hearts being opened for refugees. People asking how they can assist the survivors, and thus leading me to suggest Catholic Charities USA as a great way to help:
https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/
Our world is a mess and always has been.
Yet people of goodwill can make a difference when their prayer stirs them to action, and their action helps the recipients of their love realize that God is with them, often in people they will never personally meet or be able to thank.
Father Brown
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, November 11,2018
Dear parishioners,
Jesus is very stern indeed today with those who like to deck themselves out with “religion” but who miss the mark when it truly comes to discipleship:
In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds,
“Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes
and accept greetings in the marketplaces,
seats of honor in synagogues,
and places of honor at banquets.
They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext
recite lengthy prayers.
They will receive a very severe condemnation.”
(Mark 12:38)
This stern warning reminds me very much of our seminary rector, who during his weekly conferences would challenge us against doing things for show, or doing things for our own glory rather than for the glory of God.
More recently, these words from Jesus keep reminding me of the challenges Pope Francis gives to people who consider themselves big shots, whether they are clergy or lay people. Early in his pontificate, in 2013, the Holy Father was extremely blunt while addressing men preparing for service in the Vatican Diplomatic Corps:
“Careerism is a leprosy, a leprosy,” the pope said June 6, in a speech to students from the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, the school for future Vatican diplomats. “Please, no careerism!” All types of priestly ministry require “great inner freedom,” the pope said, which calls for “vigilance in order to be free from ambition or personal aims, which can cause so much harm to the church.” Priests must make their priority the “cause of the Gospel and the fulfillment of the mission” entrusted to them, not self-fulfillment or public recognition, he said. Such self-denial “may appear demanding,” the pope said, “but it will allow you, so to speak, to be and to breathe within the heart of the church.” Pope Francis warned that a papal diplomat who “doesn't go along the way of sanctity, and gets involved in so many forms, in so many kinds of spiritual worldliness, makes himself ridiculous, and everyone laughs at him...Please, don't make yourselves ridiculous,” he said. “Either be saints or go back to the diocese and be a pastor, but don’t be ridiculous in the diplomatic life, where for a priest there are so many dangers for the spiritual life.” (Catholic News Service, June 6, 2013)
We all have seen this danger, especially when a man does not receive the promotion he thinks he deserves, or the honors he imagines come with the vocation, and then turns into a bitter and angry person who tries to strike back at anyone who — in truth, or just in his imagination — has snubbed him, or failed to raise him up to the position he thought would automatically come to him. This bitterness causes a sort of schism not only between the man and his superiors, but also in the church community itself.
By contrast, working in parishes makes priests grateful for the many goodhearted people, young and old alike, who give of themselves in the service of the Gospel, and who don’t expect or demand fancy titles or parades.
It is the people of the parish who serve as catechists to the priests, showing them what service looks like, whether we think of parents getting up at two in the morning to feed their babies, or families volunteering to help the homeless. This type of witness, I believe, is the sort of thing that makes God smile.
Father Brown
Sunday, November 11,2018
Dear parishioners,
Jesus is very stern indeed today with those who like to deck themselves out with “religion” but who miss the mark when it truly comes to discipleship:
In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds,
“Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes
and accept greetings in the marketplaces,
seats of honor in synagogues,
and places of honor at banquets.
They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext
recite lengthy prayers.
They will receive a very severe condemnation.”
(Mark 12:38)
This stern warning reminds me very much of our seminary rector, who during his weekly conferences would challenge us against doing things for show, or doing things for our own glory rather than for the glory of God.
More recently, these words from Jesus keep reminding me of the challenges Pope Francis gives to people who consider themselves big shots, whether they are clergy or lay people. Early in his pontificate, in 2013, the Holy Father was extremely blunt while addressing men preparing for service in the Vatican Diplomatic Corps:
“Careerism is a leprosy, a leprosy,” the pope said June 6, in a speech to students from the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, the school for future Vatican diplomats. “Please, no careerism!” All types of priestly ministry require “great inner freedom,” the pope said, which calls for “vigilance in order to be free from ambition or personal aims, which can cause so much harm to the church.” Priests must make their priority the “cause of the Gospel and the fulfillment of the mission” entrusted to them, not self-fulfillment or public recognition, he said. Such self-denial “may appear demanding,” the pope said, “but it will allow you, so to speak, to be and to breathe within the heart of the church.” Pope Francis warned that a papal diplomat who “doesn't go along the way of sanctity, and gets involved in so many forms, in so many kinds of spiritual worldliness, makes himself ridiculous, and everyone laughs at him...Please, don't make yourselves ridiculous,” he said. “Either be saints or go back to the diocese and be a pastor, but don’t be ridiculous in the diplomatic life, where for a priest there are so many dangers for the spiritual life.” (Catholic News Service, June 6, 2013)
We all have seen this danger, especially when a man does not receive the promotion he thinks he deserves, or the honors he imagines come with the vocation, and then turns into a bitter and angry person who tries to strike back at anyone who — in truth, or just in his imagination — has snubbed him, or failed to raise him up to the position he thought would automatically come to him. This bitterness causes a sort of schism not only between the man and his superiors, but also in the church community itself.
By contrast, working in parishes makes priests grateful for the many goodhearted people, young and old alike, who give of themselves in the service of the Gospel, and who don’t expect or demand fancy titles or parades.
It is the people of the parish who serve as catechists to the priests, showing them what service looks like, whether we think of parents getting up at two in the morning to feed their babies, or families volunteering to help the homeless. This type of witness, I believe, is the sort of thing that makes God smile.
Father Brown
Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, November 4, 2018
Dear friends in Christ,
Today’s first reading and Gospel are linked in a beautiful, sacred, and ancient way: the Shema.
For Jews, this is a daily prayer, much as Catholics take part in the “Our Father” each day. “The Shema is the centerpiece of the daily morning and evening prayer services and is considered by some the most essential prayer in all of Judaism. An affirmation of God’s singularity and kingship, its daily recitation is regarded by traditionally observant Jews as a biblical commandment.”
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-shema/
I remember my classmate in seminary, Joe Bloom from Chicago (Jewish on his dad’s side, Catholic on his mother’s side), once being asked by the rector to begin our Ash Wednesday Mass in the chapel by chanting this Shema prayer in the original language, which has a powerful impact on those hearing it: we call to mind the long history of God’s covenant with his people, a relationship that is mutual and holy, with God promising to be with his children always, and with us reminding ourselves of the sacred duty and privilege to pass on this great promise to our children and our children’s children.
“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!
Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your strength.
Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today.”
(Deuteronomy, Chapter Six)
Jesus, when asked by the scribe in today’s Gospel which is the greatest commandment, recites the Shema, and makes it crystal clear that we must also embrace the next commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:28-24) We cannot claim to truly love God if we neglect, abuse, or hate our neighbor, because God himself has commanded us, over and over again, to make our faith both vertical and horizontal, much like the sign of the cross the priest uses to bless the congregation as Mass ends. Without embracing both parts of the commandment, the priest’s blessing would look like this | rather than like this + — in other words, an anemic perversion of God’s commandment, and a halfhearted statement of diluted faith. “I believe in God, certainly, but I also believe in looking out for number one!”
The massacre of Jewish worshippers in Pittsburgh one week ago is a stark reminder that too many people still fall prey to the rabid diatribes of those who try to pit one people against another. The vigil many attended last Sunday night here in Tiburon at Congregation Kol Shofar was a statement of solidarity, in a packed synagogue that had standing room only, where Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and Christians all came together to mourn the dead and stand up for the rights of the living.
As we talk with our children about such horrors, I pray we can gently show them the way of Jesus is not hatred and fear, but love and solidarity, a word very dear to the heart of Pope Saint Paul II who knew what oppression looked like, under the evil influence of the right (Nazis) and the left (Communists).
Father Brown
Sunday, November 4, 2018
Dear friends in Christ,
Today’s first reading and Gospel are linked in a beautiful, sacred, and ancient way: the Shema.
For Jews, this is a daily prayer, much as Catholics take part in the “Our Father” each day. “The Shema is the centerpiece of the daily morning and evening prayer services and is considered by some the most essential prayer in all of Judaism. An affirmation of God’s singularity and kingship, its daily recitation is regarded by traditionally observant Jews as a biblical commandment.”
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-shema/
I remember my classmate in seminary, Joe Bloom from Chicago (Jewish on his dad’s side, Catholic on his mother’s side), once being asked by the rector to begin our Ash Wednesday Mass in the chapel by chanting this Shema prayer in the original language, which has a powerful impact on those hearing it: we call to mind the long history of God’s covenant with his people, a relationship that is mutual and holy, with God promising to be with his children always, and with us reminding ourselves of the sacred duty and privilege to pass on this great promise to our children and our children’s children.
“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!
Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your strength.
Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today.”
(Deuteronomy, Chapter Six)
Jesus, when asked by the scribe in today’s Gospel which is the greatest commandment, recites the Shema, and makes it crystal clear that we must also embrace the next commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:28-24) We cannot claim to truly love God if we neglect, abuse, or hate our neighbor, because God himself has commanded us, over and over again, to make our faith both vertical and horizontal, much like the sign of the cross the priest uses to bless the congregation as Mass ends. Without embracing both parts of the commandment, the priest’s blessing would look like this | rather than like this + — in other words, an anemic perversion of God’s commandment, and a halfhearted statement of diluted faith. “I believe in God, certainly, but I also believe in looking out for number one!”
The massacre of Jewish worshippers in Pittsburgh one week ago is a stark reminder that too many people still fall prey to the rabid diatribes of those who try to pit one people against another. The vigil many attended last Sunday night here in Tiburon at Congregation Kol Shofar was a statement of solidarity, in a packed synagogue that had standing room only, where Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and Christians all came together to mourn the dead and stand up for the rights of the living.
As we talk with our children about such horrors, I pray we can gently show them the way of Jesus is not hatred and fear, but love and solidarity, a word very dear to the heart of Pope Saint Paul II who knew what oppression looked like, under the evil influence of the right (Nazis) and the left (Communists).
Father Brown
October 28, 2018
Dear friends in Christ,
To my surprise, I glanced at the calendar for this Sunday and saw the words “Priesthood Sunday” which inspired me to look up the phrase: it comes from the Serra Club, a wonderful organization of faithful Catholics who foster vocations to the priesthood throughout our county. You may learn more by visiting their page at:
https://serraus.org/event/priesthood-sunday/
As it happens, today’s second reading also focuses on the priesthood, which in the last several weeks has taken quite a beating due to the crimes of past decades, and due to the cover-up which has horrified the faithful almost as much as the abuse — in 2002 the priests were in the spotlight, and this year the bishops, cardinals, and Pope Francis are in the spotlight, especially given the revelations that have come to light.
It’s a hard time for good Catholic people, but I personally believe it will be a cleansing time, with those high above my pay grade working toward changes that will keep children safer, and hold even those in the highest offices accountable for how well or how poorly they have safeguarded the little ones so close to Jesus’ heart.
Thanks be to God, the victims of abuse are now being heard, loud and clear, and their courageous voices have forced even huge international families like the Catholic Church to clean house and make serious changes: we cannot pretend it’s just business as usual, nor should we.
I, for one, thank God for those who have helped me along the path of becoming and remaining a Catholic: my godmother in Iowa, parishioners who are an inspiration, old priests who are men of compassion and integrity, and young priests who are filled with holy zeal to do good and stay on the path of holiness. I live with one.
Even though some people have left the Church, or have decided to withhold financial support from their own parish, we keep trying to follow Jesus with fidelity and humility. We work to make our children safer, to make our people more vigilant, and to learn from the sins and mistakes of the past. We are human beings, and thus sinners, but also children of God called by his son Jesus to be beacons of light in the darkness.
Brothers and sisters:
Every high priest is taken from among men
and made their representative before God,
to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring,
for he himself is beset by weakness
and so, for this reason,
must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people.
No one takes this honor upon himself
but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
In the same way,
it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest,
but rather the one who said to him:
"You are my son: this day I have begotten you"; just as he says in another place:
"You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."
(Hebrews 5:1-6)
At baptism we are anointed on the crown of our head with the Oil of Chrism, hearing these words: “As Christ himself was anointed priest, prophet and king, so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing life everlasting.” Through this sacred calling, I hope we can continue to live and work together for the building up of God’s kingdom, even in the midst of people who might disappoint, situations here and abroad that may frighten us, and memories of hurts that can still weigh us down.
We belong to Jesus, and no one, no scandal, no power on this planet can take that away from us.
May the good Lord bless you and yours,
Father Brown
Dear friends in Christ,
To my surprise, I glanced at the calendar for this Sunday and saw the words “Priesthood Sunday” which inspired me to look up the phrase: it comes from the Serra Club, a wonderful organization of faithful Catholics who foster vocations to the priesthood throughout our county. You may learn more by visiting their page at:
https://serraus.org/event/priesthood-sunday/
As it happens, today’s second reading also focuses on the priesthood, which in the last several weeks has taken quite a beating due to the crimes of past decades, and due to the cover-up which has horrified the faithful almost as much as the abuse — in 2002 the priests were in the spotlight, and this year the bishops, cardinals, and Pope Francis are in the spotlight, especially given the revelations that have come to light.
It’s a hard time for good Catholic people, but I personally believe it will be a cleansing time, with those high above my pay grade working toward changes that will keep children safer, and hold even those in the highest offices accountable for how well or how poorly they have safeguarded the little ones so close to Jesus’ heart.
Thanks be to God, the victims of abuse are now being heard, loud and clear, and their courageous voices have forced even huge international families like the Catholic Church to clean house and make serious changes: we cannot pretend it’s just business as usual, nor should we.
I, for one, thank God for those who have helped me along the path of becoming and remaining a Catholic: my godmother in Iowa, parishioners who are an inspiration, old priests who are men of compassion and integrity, and young priests who are filled with holy zeal to do good and stay on the path of holiness. I live with one.
Even though some people have left the Church, or have decided to withhold financial support from their own parish, we keep trying to follow Jesus with fidelity and humility. We work to make our children safer, to make our people more vigilant, and to learn from the sins and mistakes of the past. We are human beings, and thus sinners, but also children of God called by his son Jesus to be beacons of light in the darkness.
Brothers and sisters:
Every high priest is taken from among men
and made their representative before God,
to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring,
for he himself is beset by weakness
and so, for this reason,
must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people.
No one takes this honor upon himself
but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
In the same way,
it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest,
but rather the one who said to him:
"You are my son: this day I have begotten you"; just as he says in another place:
"You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."
(Hebrews 5:1-6)
At baptism we are anointed on the crown of our head with the Oil of Chrism, hearing these words: “As Christ himself was anointed priest, prophet and king, so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing life everlasting.” Through this sacred calling, I hope we can continue to live and work together for the building up of God’s kingdom, even in the midst of people who might disappoint, situations here and abroad that may frighten us, and memories of hurts that can still weigh us down.
We belong to Jesus, and no one, no scandal, no power on this planet can take that away from us.
May the good Lord bless you and yours,
Father Brown
Jesus Comes To You!
One of my favorite ministries here at St. Hilary is bringing Holy Communion to the sick and homebound. On Frist Fridays, I generally go see our parishioners that are homebound. I love meeting our parishioners who have been coming here for decades, hearing about the parish, and spending time with them. I feel that it is wonderful to be able to bring Christ to those who may not be able to get to Mass like they used to. It is so humbling to see the great desire that they have to receive Christ, who they so faithfully went to receive for most of their lives. Jesus comes to us in the Holy Eucharist at Mass and we, on his behalf, bring Christ to those who cannot get to Mass.
I am not able to do all of the Holy Communion calls on a regular basis and on Sundays because of my other pastoral duties, but we have a wonderful team of parishioners who bring Holy Communion to those who cannot make it to Mass on a regular basis. We would like to expand this ministry. If you know someone who is no longer able to come to Mass any longer who would like to receive Holy Communion on a regular basis please let us know.
As we get more people to bring Holy Communion to, we will need more volunteers for this ministry. We will show you the proper way to transport the Blessed Sacrament, praying with people and dealing with all of the “what if” situations that you may encounter. The
people involved in this ministry I believe get more out of it then they give. It is so wonderful to be Christ to someone who wants to received Him.
If you know someone who would like to receive Holy Communion at their home or if you would like to get involved with this wonderful ministry, please contact our coordinator, Anne Drew at: asdrew1@comcast.net or call the rectory and we can get you in touch with her. We also ask that if you bring Holy Communion to a loved one or a friend on a regular
basis to please let her know. We need to make sure we know where people are going for safety and respect for the Blessed Sacrament. Let us pray for all who are homebound, our ministers and all who need Christ. Please help us build up this wonderful ministry and allow Christ to go where He wills to go.
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
One of my favorite ministries here at St. Hilary is bringing Holy Communion to the sick and homebound. On Frist Fridays, I generally go see our parishioners that are homebound. I love meeting our parishioners who have been coming here for decades, hearing about the parish, and spending time with them. I feel that it is wonderful to be able to bring Christ to those who may not be able to get to Mass like they used to. It is so humbling to see the great desire that they have to receive Christ, who they so faithfully went to receive for most of their lives. Jesus comes to us in the Holy Eucharist at Mass and we, on his behalf, bring Christ to those who cannot get to Mass.
I am not able to do all of the Holy Communion calls on a regular basis and on Sundays because of my other pastoral duties, but we have a wonderful team of parishioners who bring Holy Communion to those who cannot make it to Mass on a regular basis. We would like to expand this ministry. If you know someone who is no longer able to come to Mass any longer who would like to receive Holy Communion on a regular basis please let us know.
As we get more people to bring Holy Communion to, we will need more volunteers for this ministry. We will show you the proper way to transport the Blessed Sacrament, praying with people and dealing with all of the “what if” situations that you may encounter. The
people involved in this ministry I believe get more out of it then they give. It is so wonderful to be Christ to someone who wants to received Him.
If you know someone who would like to receive Holy Communion at their home or if you would like to get involved with this wonderful ministry, please contact our coordinator, Anne Drew at: asdrew1@comcast.net or call the rectory and we can get you in touch with her. We also ask that if you bring Holy Communion to a loved one or a friend on a regular
basis to please let her know. We need to make sure we know where people are going for safety and respect for the Blessed Sacrament. Let us pray for all who are homebound, our ministers and all who need Christ. Please help us build up this wonderful ministry and allow Christ to go where He wills to go.
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
"O Jesus! on this day, you have fulfilled all my desires. From now on, near the Eucharist, I shall be able To sacrifice myself in silence, to wait for Heaven in peace. Keeping myself open to the rays of the Divine Host, In this furnace of love, I shall be consumed, And like a seraphim, Lord, I shall love You."
- St. Therese of Lisieux
Eucharistic Adoration is one of the greatest forms of prayer that we have in our Church. It is an encounter with our loving God that we get to spend personal time, face to face, heart to heart with Him. For me, the first real experience I had of God was in Eucharistic Adoration the first time that I was in Lourdes. I was a senior in college and I went on a discernment trip. I went to confession and my penance was to sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament for a few minutes. When I went to Adoration, I prayed to God to know my Vocation and I had an overwhelming sense of peace that God wanted me to become a priest. For me, it was spending intimate time with our Lord, making myself vulnerable and sitting in the wonderful silence that I heard what the Lord so desperately wanted to tell me. Adoration has been a great gift to me. Many people in our parish are taking advantage of this wonderful form of prayer, in our Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
As many of you remember that our chapel was closed during the month of August. Through the generosity of some of our parishioners, the chapel has been beautifully renovated. We extend our gratitude to them. I invite you to go take a look and spend a few minutes with our Lord.
To celebrate the new chapel renovations, we are having the chapel blessed and rededicated on Saturday, November 3rd by our Auxiliary Bishop, Bishop Robert Christian, O.P. There will be a few things going on that day. First, from 2-4pm, I will hold a mini retreat day in the Church to teach on How to Pray an Holy Hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament. When I entered seminary, no one showed me how to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament until my third year. There are many ways to pray, but we also have traditions and practices that help us to hear what God wants us to hear. From 4-5pm there will be a break and then Bishop Christian will celebrate the 5pm Mass. After the 5pm Mass Bishop Christian will bless our chapel.
Please join us for this afternoon of prayer and this wonderful event in the history of our parish. Also, we would like to have more people sign up for Adoration through the week and in particular for First Fridays. First Fridays are when we have 24 hour Adoration. The more people we get to pray, the more get to know our Lord and receive His graces.
If you have any questions about Adoration, about signing up for a timeslot during the week or for First Fridays please email the chair of our Eucharistic Adoration Devotion,
Shawn Sylvia, at ssylvia@sbcglobal.net.
We thank you for considering spending some time with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
"O Jesus! on this day, you have fulfilled all my desires. From now on, near the Eucharist, I shall be able To sacrifice myself in silence, to wait for Heaven in peace. Keeping myself open to the rays of the Divine Host, In this furnace of love, I shall be consumed, And like a seraphim, Lord, I shall love You."
- St. Therese of Lisieux
Eucharistic Adoration is one of the greatest forms of prayer that we have in our Church. It is an encounter with our loving God that we get to spend personal time, face to face, heart to heart with Him. For me, the first real experience I had of God was in Eucharistic Adoration the first time that I was in Lourdes. I was a senior in college and I went on a discernment trip. I went to confession and my penance was to sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament for a few minutes. When I went to Adoration, I prayed to God to know my Vocation and I had an overwhelming sense of peace that God wanted me to become a priest. For me, it was spending intimate time with our Lord, making myself vulnerable and sitting in the wonderful silence that I heard what the Lord so desperately wanted to tell me. Adoration has been a great gift to me. Many people in our parish are taking advantage of this wonderful form of prayer, in our Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
As many of you remember that our chapel was closed during the month of August. Through the generosity of some of our parishioners, the chapel has been beautifully renovated. We extend our gratitude to them. I invite you to go take a look and spend a few minutes with our Lord.
To celebrate the new chapel renovations, we are having the chapel blessed and rededicated on Saturday, November 3rd by our Auxiliary Bishop, Bishop Robert Christian, O.P. There will be a few things going on that day. First, from 2-4pm, I will hold a mini retreat day in the Church to teach on How to Pray an Holy Hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament. When I entered seminary, no one showed me how to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament until my third year. There are many ways to pray, but we also have traditions and practices that help us to hear what God wants us to hear. From 4-5pm there will be a break and then Bishop Christian will celebrate the 5pm Mass. After the 5pm Mass Bishop Christian will bless our chapel.
Please join us for this afternoon of prayer and this wonderful event in the history of our parish. Also, we would like to have more people sign up for Adoration through the week and in particular for First Fridays. First Fridays are when we have 24 hour Adoration. The more people we get to pray, the more get to know our Lord and receive His graces.
If you have any questions about Adoration, about signing up for a timeslot during the week or for First Fridays please email the chair of our Eucharistic Adoration Devotion,
Shawn Sylvia, at ssylvia@sbcglobal.net.
We thank you for considering spending some time with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
Let St. Hilary Thank You!
I have begun my third year on my assignment here at St. Hilary. It has truly been a blessing. There have been ups and downs, smiles and tears, compliments and complaints, but I have loved starting my
priesthood here at St. Hilary. I am thankful that the community has been so welcoming and vibrant.
The Church is facing many challenges right now with the current scandals. While this is devastating and shocking, I thought that some people would lose faith, stop coming, or share their feelings with the priests. The response to me has been very consoling. Most people have come up to me and asked me, “How are YOU doing?” We are blessed to have such a
wonderful community and I appreciate your prayers and support
during this difficult time.
The thing that I have been most humbled by is the generous spirit. We have so many people involved in many ministries. We have people who help the poor through the St.
Vincent de Paul Society, Altar Servers, lectors, Senior Gatherings, Ministry to the Homebound, Garden Ministry, Fellowship, School and many more. Fr. Brown and I are very grateful to all who serve our parish and serve our larger community in the name of the parish. This is so
consoling when there is so much negativity going on in the Church and in the world. We thank you for making this parish great.
In order to truly express our gratitude and appreciate we would like to invite anyone who serves in a ministry at our parish to our St. Hilary Appreciation Dinner. The dinner will be held on Saturday, October 13th, following the 5pm Vigil Mass in Tarantino Hall. There is no agenda other than to say thank you! There are so many wonderful people who do different ministries, but there is rarely a time that we can come together and be Church. Please come if you are able. We would love to have the opportunity to thank you and spend quality time with you.
If you are able to make it please RSVP to Diana at dianar@sthilary.org no later than Monday,
October 8th. Let us know if you have any questions. We hope to see you at the dinner!
Thank you for all you do!
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
I have begun my third year on my assignment here at St. Hilary. It has truly been a blessing. There have been ups and downs, smiles and tears, compliments and complaints, but I have loved starting my
priesthood here at St. Hilary. I am thankful that the community has been so welcoming and vibrant.
The Church is facing many challenges right now with the current scandals. While this is devastating and shocking, I thought that some people would lose faith, stop coming, or share their feelings with the priests. The response to me has been very consoling. Most people have come up to me and asked me, “How are YOU doing?” We are blessed to have such a
wonderful community and I appreciate your prayers and support
during this difficult time.
The thing that I have been most humbled by is the generous spirit. We have so many people involved in many ministries. We have people who help the poor through the St.
Vincent de Paul Society, Altar Servers, lectors, Senior Gatherings, Ministry to the Homebound, Garden Ministry, Fellowship, School and many more. Fr. Brown and I are very grateful to all who serve our parish and serve our larger community in the name of the parish. This is so
consoling when there is so much negativity going on in the Church and in the world. We thank you for making this parish great.
In order to truly express our gratitude and appreciate we would like to invite anyone who serves in a ministry at our parish to our St. Hilary Appreciation Dinner. The dinner will be held on Saturday, October 13th, following the 5pm Vigil Mass in Tarantino Hall. There is no agenda other than to say thank you! There are so many wonderful people who do different ministries, but there is rarely a time that we can come together and be Church. Please come if you are able. We would love to have the opportunity to thank you and spend quality time with you.
If you are able to make it please RSVP to Diana at dianar@sthilary.org no later than Monday,
October 8th. Let us know if you have any questions. We hope to see you at the dinner!
Thank you for all you do!
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Dear parishioners,
The terrible headlines, crimes, battles, accusations, cover-ups, and abuse we have been seeing this summer, and long before, kept reminding me of a Bible passage, and that Scripture reading appears in today’s Mass.
Beloved: Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice.
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant,
full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.
Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from?
Is it not from your passions that make war within your members?
You covet but do not possess.
You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war.
You do not possess because you do not ask.
You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
James 3:16 to 4:3
Our country, like many others, is polarized, right versus left. Our Church, which should be a sign of unity in a broken world, is also divided between those who are called conservatives and liberals. Even when we agree about something basic, such as the respect for human life, there are so many ways this is seen and articulated, it makes one’s head spin. Life should be protected. But it’s the woman’s body. But the life growing in her is not her own. But...and this is just one issue among many.
Even the terrible crime of child abuse has become a source of division, with some people accused of using it to further their own ‘political’ agenda rather than truly caring about the safety of children. For me, the good news in this particular mess is that the media have forced the Catholic Church to address crimes against children, and, this summer, to expand the measures to include bishops as well as priests and anyone else who serves in the Church. Amazingly, “the 1983 Code of Canon Law did not anticipate crimes being committed by bishops that could result in their laicization, according to a canon law professor at the Catholic University of
America.” (National Catholic Reporter, September 7, 2018) I use the word “amazingly” because we have had two thousand years of Church history to show us that bishops are no more perfect than priests, and yet only now is the Church taking steps to address this level in the hierarchy: bishops, cardinals, archbishops.
My classmate Monsignor Michael Padazinski studied canon law in Rome, writing his doctoral thesis on how to deal with child molesters about 20 years ago, and I happened to be present on sabbatical for his doctor defense, which is a public affair. I will never forget the confusion on the faces of some of his professors when he
explained that a pedophile can never be cured, can never be allowed to work with children ever again: it is a pathology that will always be present. His thesis gave practical advice to bishops on how to remove pedophiles from ministry, but for some of the canon law experts, the idea that it was indeed an incurable sickness was
baffling. Perhaps they thought that penance and prayer could allow the abuser to “get back to normal.”
His answer was a clear “no” that, I fervently hope, enabled many bishops to remove abusers and protect countless children. Our job is to keep up the work, remain vigilant, and strive for unity in our care for kids. The mission is too important for us to allow labels like “right” and “left” to get in the way of protecting children.
Father Brown
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Dear parishioners,
The terrible headlines, crimes, battles, accusations, cover-ups, and abuse we have been seeing this summer, and long before, kept reminding me of a Bible passage, and that Scripture reading appears in today’s Mass.
Beloved: Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice.
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant,
full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.
Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from?
Is it not from your passions that make war within your members?
You covet but do not possess.
You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war.
You do not possess because you do not ask.
You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
James 3:16 to 4:3
Our country, like many others, is polarized, right versus left. Our Church, which should be a sign of unity in a broken world, is also divided between those who are called conservatives and liberals. Even when we agree about something basic, such as the respect for human life, there are so many ways this is seen and articulated, it makes one’s head spin. Life should be protected. But it’s the woman’s body. But the life growing in her is not her own. But...and this is just one issue among many.
Even the terrible crime of child abuse has become a source of division, with some people accused of using it to further their own ‘political’ agenda rather than truly caring about the safety of children. For me, the good news in this particular mess is that the media have forced the Catholic Church to address crimes against children, and, this summer, to expand the measures to include bishops as well as priests and anyone else who serves in the Church. Amazingly, “the 1983 Code of Canon Law did not anticipate crimes being committed by bishops that could result in their laicization, according to a canon law professor at the Catholic University of
America.” (National Catholic Reporter, September 7, 2018) I use the word “amazingly” because we have had two thousand years of Church history to show us that bishops are no more perfect than priests, and yet only now is the Church taking steps to address this level in the hierarchy: bishops, cardinals, archbishops.
My classmate Monsignor Michael Padazinski studied canon law in Rome, writing his doctoral thesis on how to deal with child molesters about 20 years ago, and I happened to be present on sabbatical for his doctor defense, which is a public affair. I will never forget the confusion on the faces of some of his professors when he
explained that a pedophile can never be cured, can never be allowed to work with children ever again: it is a pathology that will always be present. His thesis gave practical advice to bishops on how to remove pedophiles from ministry, but for some of the canon law experts, the idea that it was indeed an incurable sickness was
baffling. Perhaps they thought that penance and prayer could allow the abuser to “get back to normal.”
His answer was a clear “no” that, I fervently hope, enabled many bishops to remove abusers and protect countless children. Our job is to keep up the work, remain vigilant, and strive for unity in our care for kids. The mission is too important for us to allow labels like “right” and “left” to get in the way of protecting children.
Father Brown
Dear parishioners,
Saint Hilary Parish carries out a large number of important ministries: celebrating the Sacraments daily in church and in people’s homes, running a parochial school, hosting events such as the “Pennies From Heaven” auction last weekend, and of course faith sharing groups, book clubs, and many other gatherings.
One of the most important things we do is highlighted this weekend, as we thank and honor those who share the Catholic faith with the children of our many schools.
Catechetical Sunday gives us the chance to focus on the catechists who give so generously of their time and personal experience to make sure our boys and girls get the opportunity not only to learn about Jesus, but to experience him by talking with one another about their own journeys of faith, getting involved in service projects, asking questions about what it means when we talk about the Real Presence of Jesus Christ — when they walk up to receive Holy Communion, and also when they take some silent time in the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel for meditation and prayer.
In fact, if you simply type the phrase Blessed Sacrament Chapel Tiburon into your Google browser, you will find the chapel on the map, and links to our parish website!
Children, teens, and adults all need ongoing catechesis, including priests, parents, bishops, teachers, and in fact anyone who takes their Catholic faith seriously.
As we read on the website of the American bishops:
“Catechesis is the act of handing on the Word of God intended to inform the faith community and candidates for initiation into the Church about the teachings of Christ, transmitted by the Apostles to the Church. Catechesis also involves the lifelong effort of forming people into witnesses to Christ and opening their hearts to the spiritual transformation given by the Holy Spirit.”
Our second reading from James makes the essential link between learning the faith and living it:
“So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2)
Yet another reason the people of our area are constantly encouraged when they see the children and grownups of Saint Hilary using their Catholic faith for holiness, compassion, and outreach to those in need.
God bless our catechists!
Father Brown
Saint Hilary Parish carries out a large number of important ministries: celebrating the Sacraments daily in church and in people’s homes, running a parochial school, hosting events such as the “Pennies From Heaven” auction last weekend, and of course faith sharing groups, book clubs, and many other gatherings.
One of the most important things we do is highlighted this weekend, as we thank and honor those who share the Catholic faith with the children of our many schools.
Catechetical Sunday gives us the chance to focus on the catechists who give so generously of their time and personal experience to make sure our boys and girls get the opportunity not only to learn about Jesus, but to experience him by talking with one another about their own journeys of faith, getting involved in service projects, asking questions about what it means when we talk about the Real Presence of Jesus Christ — when they walk up to receive Holy Communion, and also when they take some silent time in the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel for meditation and prayer.
In fact, if you simply type the phrase Blessed Sacrament Chapel Tiburon into your Google browser, you will find the chapel on the map, and links to our parish website!
Children, teens, and adults all need ongoing catechesis, including priests, parents, bishops, teachers, and in fact anyone who takes their Catholic faith seriously.
As we read on the website of the American bishops:
“Catechesis is the act of handing on the Word of God intended to inform the faith community and candidates for initiation into the Church about the teachings of Christ, transmitted by the Apostles to the Church. Catechesis also involves the lifelong effort of forming people into witnesses to Christ and opening their hearts to the spiritual transformation given by the Holy Spirit.”
Our second reading from James makes the essential link between learning the faith and living it:
“So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2)
Yet another reason the people of our area are constantly encouraged when they see the children and grownups of Saint Hilary using their Catholic faith for holiness, compassion, and outreach to those in need.
God bless our catechists!
Father Brown
Being Catholic
Sunday, September 9, 2018
This past Tuesday, we celebrated our first “back to school night” at Saint Hilary School, and right after that, Sister Dolores and our RCIA team gathered for the very first time with those families and individuals who are interested in becoming Catholics.
That same day, the priests of the Archdiocese received a letter from Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, assuring us that his earlier letter of August 31 was not at all a call for Pope Francis to be removed from office, but rather a call for the whole Church of God to come together and work toward making our community safer, more transparent, and a place where the bishops of the world will also be held to strict accountability for their conduct and choices.
I asked our Archbishop for permission to share his message with you, the People of God, and he said, “Amen!”
Having just returned from a pastoral visit to Nigeria where he had ordained several new priests, Archbishop Cordileone was horrified to learn that people here, and in many other parts of the world, had interpreted his words about Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò as meaning that he agreed with Archbishop Viganò’s demand that Pope Francis resign as Supreme Pontiff.
The Archbishop of San Francisco told us that the Holy Father is not some CEO of a large corporation, but the father of a family, and that we should work together, as a family of faith, to make our Church and world healthier, safer, and more attentive to keeping children, teens, and adults protected from any form of sexual abuse, harassment, intimidation, or violence.
This means, among other things, that those who are guilty of abuse (including bishops and cardinals) are immediately removed from ministry, and not merely moved to a new place where their names are not (yet) known.
It also means that good people from Church life, moms and dads, people with expertise in the areas of investigation and enforcement, must become part of the ongoing process to make sure our vulnerable people are kept safe from predators.
I mention this in the context of our parochial school, our RCIA group, and our Religious Education Program (which starts class this morning), because people today are very aware of the problems, and should be aware of updates like this latest letter from Archbishop Cordileone, in which he makes it clear he is not trying to remove the Pope but rather work with the Holy Father in his efforts to do good.
Archbishop Viganò and Pope Francis come from very different backgrounds.
The former comes from a wealthy Italian family, has spent much of his life in the Vatican diplomatic corps, and since 1992 has been the “Titular Bishop of Ulpiana” — which means he has never shepherded an actual diocese. As is typical of such Vatican diplomats, he was named titular bishop of a diocese that does not even exist any longer, an ancient Roman city which now consists of ruins and rubble in today’s Kosovo.
Pope Francis does not come from money, but from an immigrant family in Argentina, and he took a vow of poverty when he entered the Jesuits in 1958. In 1998 he became the Archbishop of a real diocese (Buenos Aires) and led the Church in Argentina during very difficult and violent times, dedicating much of his time to ministering to people in the slums who were the victims of oppression.
It surprises no one that the two men would disagree about many things, but they are both part of what Archbishop Cordileone so wonderfully described as a “family of faith” under the Holy Father, “and to him [Pope Francis] we owe our loyalty.”
Father Brown
Sunday, September 9, 2018
This past Tuesday, we celebrated our first “back to school night” at Saint Hilary School, and right after that, Sister Dolores and our RCIA team gathered for the very first time with those families and individuals who are interested in becoming Catholics.
That same day, the priests of the Archdiocese received a letter from Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, assuring us that his earlier letter of August 31 was not at all a call for Pope Francis to be removed from office, but rather a call for the whole Church of God to come together and work toward making our community safer, more transparent, and a place where the bishops of the world will also be held to strict accountability for their conduct and choices.
I asked our Archbishop for permission to share his message with you, the People of God, and he said, “Amen!”
Having just returned from a pastoral visit to Nigeria where he had ordained several new priests, Archbishop Cordileone was horrified to learn that people here, and in many other parts of the world, had interpreted his words about Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò as meaning that he agreed with Archbishop Viganò’s demand that Pope Francis resign as Supreme Pontiff.
The Archbishop of San Francisco told us that the Holy Father is not some CEO of a large corporation, but the father of a family, and that we should work together, as a family of faith, to make our Church and world healthier, safer, and more attentive to keeping children, teens, and adults protected from any form of sexual abuse, harassment, intimidation, or violence.
This means, among other things, that those who are guilty of abuse (including bishops and cardinals) are immediately removed from ministry, and not merely moved to a new place where their names are not (yet) known.
It also means that good people from Church life, moms and dads, people with expertise in the areas of investigation and enforcement, must become part of the ongoing process to make sure our vulnerable people are kept safe from predators.
I mention this in the context of our parochial school, our RCIA group, and our Religious Education Program (which starts class this morning), because people today are very aware of the problems, and should be aware of updates like this latest letter from Archbishop Cordileone, in which he makes it clear he is not trying to remove the Pope but rather work with the Holy Father in his efforts to do good.
Archbishop Viganò and Pope Francis come from very different backgrounds.
The former comes from a wealthy Italian family, has spent much of his life in the Vatican diplomatic corps, and since 1992 has been the “Titular Bishop of Ulpiana” — which means he has never shepherded an actual diocese. As is typical of such Vatican diplomats, he was named titular bishop of a diocese that does not even exist any longer, an ancient Roman city which now consists of ruins and rubble in today’s Kosovo.
Pope Francis does not come from money, but from an immigrant family in Argentina, and he took a vow of poverty when he entered the Jesuits in 1958. In 1998 he became the Archbishop of a real diocese (Buenos Aires) and led the Church in Argentina during very difficult and violent times, dedicating much of his time to ministering to people in the slums who were the victims of oppression.
It surprises no one that the two men would disagree about many things, but they are both part of what Archbishop Cordileone so wonderfully described as a “family of faith” under the Holy Father, “and to him [Pope Francis] we owe our loyalty.”
Father Brown
Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, September 2, 2018
Dear fellow parishioners,
In the midst of the excitement and joy of seeing our school open again for a new year, we also encounter bad news about politics, religion, violence, suffering, ongoing warfare, and deceit.
We should and do focus on very joyful things like the first day of school, during which our leaders (principal, parochial vicar, teachers, staff members) did a very funny flash mob dance for the kids, and the laughter and tears as parents dropped off their little ones for their first time away: Kindergarten.
However, we can not ignore the evils and wounds eternally present in our world, our church, and our own hearts. Some families are broken or dented due to infidelity and divorce, some bishops and priests are guilty of serious crimes against young people, and some politicians use their money and position to further their own interests rather than those of the wider community, which must always care for the poor — as the Lord God reminds us in both Old and New Testaments over and over again.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus confronts well-meaning but fussy religious people who love to keep an eye out for the conduct of others, and then gossip about who’s doing things right, and who’s not. For example, the Pharisees rejoice in criticizing Jesus’ disciples because they forgot to wash their hands before eating — scandal! Sin! His reply regarding ‘cooties’ that might come to us if we forget every minute detail of manmade tradition?
He summoned the crowd again and said to them,
“Hear me, all of you, and understand.
Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;
but the things that come out from within are what defile.
From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile.”
(Mark 7)
Once again, it’s often the children in our world who help us come back to the center: God, family, community, caring for one another.
So often, their insights are wonderfully free from the evils Jesus describes, like those two little boys who wanted to fool their teacher by getting the very same haircut, so she wouldn’t be able to tell them apart: one boy was black, the other white. They had noticed identical twin girls in their class who kept the teacher guessing, and so, in their wonderful innocence, they assumed that the girls’ hair was it!
Our piety, prayer, Eucharistic adoration, meditation, reverence at Mass, and our fidelity to the Catholic faith is vitally important if we are to stay true to our sacred roots.
In addition, today’s Second Reading reminds us that going through the motions in not enough: our piety should form us into people of Christian action: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1)
For me, being part of this community, St. Hilary Church & School, is a great corrective to what the world might have us embrace instead. I thank you for helping me, year after year, recognize Jesus in your outreach, your fidelity, your concern for those in need, and your dedication to the Risen Lord at Mass through your reverence, your generosity of spirit, and your obvious desire for genuine holiness.
Father Brown
Sunday, September 2, 2018
Dear fellow parishioners,
In the midst of the excitement and joy of seeing our school open again for a new year, we also encounter bad news about politics, religion, violence, suffering, ongoing warfare, and deceit.
We should and do focus on very joyful things like the first day of school, during which our leaders (principal, parochial vicar, teachers, staff members) did a very funny flash mob dance for the kids, and the laughter and tears as parents dropped off their little ones for their first time away: Kindergarten.
However, we can not ignore the evils and wounds eternally present in our world, our church, and our own hearts. Some families are broken or dented due to infidelity and divorce, some bishops and priests are guilty of serious crimes against young people, and some politicians use their money and position to further their own interests rather than those of the wider community, which must always care for the poor — as the Lord God reminds us in both Old and New Testaments over and over again.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus confronts well-meaning but fussy religious people who love to keep an eye out for the conduct of others, and then gossip about who’s doing things right, and who’s not. For example, the Pharisees rejoice in criticizing Jesus’ disciples because they forgot to wash their hands before eating — scandal! Sin! His reply regarding ‘cooties’ that might come to us if we forget every minute detail of manmade tradition?
He summoned the crowd again and said to them,
“Hear me, all of you, and understand.
Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;
but the things that come out from within are what defile.
From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile.”
(Mark 7)
Once again, it’s often the children in our world who help us come back to the center: God, family, community, caring for one another.
So often, their insights are wonderfully free from the evils Jesus describes, like those two little boys who wanted to fool their teacher by getting the very same haircut, so she wouldn’t be able to tell them apart: one boy was black, the other white. They had noticed identical twin girls in their class who kept the teacher guessing, and so, in their wonderful innocence, they assumed that the girls’ hair was it!
Our piety, prayer, Eucharistic adoration, meditation, reverence at Mass, and our fidelity to the Catholic faith is vitally important if we are to stay true to our sacred roots.
In addition, today’s Second Reading reminds us that going through the motions in not enough: our piety should form us into people of Christian action: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1)
For me, being part of this community, St. Hilary Church & School, is a great corrective to what the world might have us embrace instead. I thank you for helping me, year after year, recognize Jesus in your outreach, your fidelity, your concern for those in need, and your dedication to the Risen Lord at Mass through your reverence, your generosity of spirit, and your obvious desire for genuine holiness.
Father Brown
Back to School!
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Dear parishioners,
In the midst of so much bad news in our church, country, and world, the start of school is always, I believe, good news. It makes each year the chance for children to move ahead, to make new friends, to experience a sense of advancement (“I’m in first grade now!”), and to learn new things.
To grow in maturity, compassion, knowledge, and the willingness to serve others. This comes not from of its own, but thanks to the parents and guardians who guide them. From the teachers and catechists who work hard to make each classroom a place of excitement and adventure. From the people who established our schools, high schools, universities, and seminaries, especially the Religious Orders dedicated to this special charism: the Sisters of the Holy Faith (Sister Dolores’ community), who came from Ireland and founded Saint Hilary School more than fifty years ago. The Christian Brothers who have made a huge difference in the lives of so many young men and women. The Jesuits, Dominicans, and countless others who dedicate their whole lives to helping young people have a healthy place to grow up: in the faith, as citizens of the world, as solid members of our Church and country.
These young people will take over when we are older and retired. They will take the lessons learned and, God willing, make the United States and other countries better, holier, more humane, more in accord with what God has been commanding since day one in both Old and New Testaments:
Joshua addressed all the people:
“If it does not please you to serve the LORD,
decide today whom you will serve,
the gods your fathers served beyond the River
or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are now dwelling.
As for me and my household,
we will serve the LORD.”
But the people answered,
“Far be it from us to forsake the LORD for the service of other gods.
For it was the LORD, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt,
out of a state of slavery.
He performed those great miracles before our very eyes
and protected us along our entire journey
and among the peoples through whom we passed.
Therefore we also will serve the LORD,
for he is our God.”
(Joshua 24)
Like us today, God’s people of old had seen scandal, backsliding, evil, corruption: and yet they chose over and over again to recommit themselves to the Lord, in spite of the failings of their leaders, despite their own sins.
We, each morning, have the chance to make the same choice, and to help our children see light even when the world seems very dark. To recognize goodness, integrity and compassion when we feel besieged by deceit, abuse, cover-ups, and countless lies.
We cannot wait until we are “perfect” to do the right, nor can we wait for our president or our pope to be “perfect” so that we can decide to work with Jesus.
No matter what “they” do, no matter how long it takes us to find leaders truly worthy of our admiration, we ourselves can choose goodness and integrity, following in the footsteps of the Risen Lord and doing his Gospel work.
Even if an idiot became our president, even if a fool were to become our bishop, we can make our hearts, our homes, our parishes places of Gospel light and integrity—and speak up to those in power.
Father Brown
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Dear parishioners,
In the midst of so much bad news in our church, country, and world, the start of school is always, I believe, good news. It makes each year the chance for children to move ahead, to make new friends, to experience a sense of advancement (“I’m in first grade now!”), and to learn new things.
To grow in maturity, compassion, knowledge, and the willingness to serve others. This comes not from of its own, but thanks to the parents and guardians who guide them. From the teachers and catechists who work hard to make each classroom a place of excitement and adventure. From the people who established our schools, high schools, universities, and seminaries, especially the Religious Orders dedicated to this special charism: the Sisters of the Holy Faith (Sister Dolores’ community), who came from Ireland and founded Saint Hilary School more than fifty years ago. The Christian Brothers who have made a huge difference in the lives of so many young men and women. The Jesuits, Dominicans, and countless others who dedicate their whole lives to helping young people have a healthy place to grow up: in the faith, as citizens of the world, as solid members of our Church and country.
These young people will take over when we are older and retired. They will take the lessons learned and, God willing, make the United States and other countries better, holier, more humane, more in accord with what God has been commanding since day one in both Old and New Testaments:
Joshua addressed all the people:
“If it does not please you to serve the LORD,
decide today whom you will serve,
the gods your fathers served beyond the River
or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are now dwelling.
As for me and my household,
we will serve the LORD.”
But the people answered,
“Far be it from us to forsake the LORD for the service of other gods.
For it was the LORD, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt,
out of a state of slavery.
He performed those great miracles before our very eyes
and protected us along our entire journey
and among the peoples through whom we passed.
Therefore we also will serve the LORD,
for he is our God.”
(Joshua 24)
Like us today, God’s people of old had seen scandal, backsliding, evil, corruption: and yet they chose over and over again to recommit themselves to the Lord, in spite of the failings of their leaders, despite their own sins.
We, each morning, have the chance to make the same choice, and to help our children see light even when the world seems very dark. To recognize goodness, integrity and compassion when we feel besieged by deceit, abuse, cover-ups, and countless lies.
We cannot wait until we are “perfect” to do the right, nor can we wait for our president or our pope to be “perfect” so that we can decide to work with Jesus.
No matter what “they” do, no matter how long it takes us to find leaders truly worthy of our admiration, we ourselves can choose goodness and integrity, following in the footsteps of the Risen Lord and doing his Gospel work.
Even if an idiot became our president, even if a fool were to become our bishop, we can make our hearts, our homes, our parishes places of Gospel light and integrity—and speak up to those in power.
Father Brown
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, August 19, 2018
Dear parishioners,
The recent bad news about abuse in the Church has been horrifying and demoralizing.
As we celebrated the Assumption of the Blessed Mother, we also learned of the destruction in the Church in Pennsylvania, outlined in the revelations about countless victims, abusers, and those who covered up the abuse rather than helping the survivors.
Before this revelation, we were exposed to the sad saga of Theodore McCarrick, formerly Cardinal McCarrick, and now it’s hard to even know what to call him: he’s no longer a cardinal, he’s been removed from any possibility of ministry, and many faithful Catholics are asking the Holy Father to laicize him.
It’s been a rough summer for Catholics, as we discover, once again, what people pledged to protect have actually done to destroy instead. Destroy trust, innocence, and faith. It’s like reliving 2002 all over again, and I wonder what in the world the children and parents must think when they see us priests — how could one help but wonder if the man in black is part of the problem, rather than, as a Jesuit priest told us in a workshop years ago, a true defender and advocate of children and their rights. Their rights to be safe, respected, and protected.
Father Ginter, Father Roger, and I have talked about this horrible mess a lot, and at one point I admitted how sick I felt when addressing this abuse crisis at Mass last weekend in the homily. Father Roger pointed out that such a physical reaction was striking and asked if I myself had been abused as a child — I hesitated, said I had not been, but then added after a moment of reflection: “Well, unless you count my first stepmother, who tried to kill me through starvation when I was a toddler.” Then I laughed, as I usually do when this subject comes up, God only knows why. Perhaps to lessen the awkwardness? To downplay the crime? To show that I’m a survivor rather than a victim?
In any case, the genuine victims of child abuse are not laughing, and neither are their loved ones. Unlike my personal experience (where I was too young to know what was going on), they remember all too well what was done to them, and it has haunted them in countless ways.
Every priest I know feels like apologizing to the people of God, and especially to the victims of abuse, but when I’ve done so it feels woefully inadequate, whether from the pulpit or in letters like this.
For me, some categories of people were always a source of hope and trust: police officers, members of the clergy, soldiers, nuns and sisters, doctors. When this trust gets broken, what can ever repair it?
We can take some guidance from today’s Second Reading:
"Brothers and sisters:
Watch carefully how you live,
not as foolish persons but as wise,
making the most of the opportunity,
because the days are evil.
Therefore, do not continue in ignorance,
but try to understand what is the will of the Lord."
Ephesians 5:15-20
Unlike the bishops who covered up abuse, we can “watch carefully” how we live, and take steps to ensure integrity, transparency, honesty, and, above all, truly Christian conduct.
In the way we examine our conscience each evening, and in the way we interact with those around us.
Father Brown
Sunday, August 19, 2018
Dear parishioners,
The recent bad news about abuse in the Church has been horrifying and demoralizing.
As we celebrated the Assumption of the Blessed Mother, we also learned of the destruction in the Church in Pennsylvania, outlined in the revelations about countless victims, abusers, and those who covered up the abuse rather than helping the survivors.
Before this revelation, we were exposed to the sad saga of Theodore McCarrick, formerly Cardinal McCarrick, and now it’s hard to even know what to call him: he’s no longer a cardinal, he’s been removed from any possibility of ministry, and many faithful Catholics are asking the Holy Father to laicize him.
It’s been a rough summer for Catholics, as we discover, once again, what people pledged to protect have actually done to destroy instead. Destroy trust, innocence, and faith. It’s like reliving 2002 all over again, and I wonder what in the world the children and parents must think when they see us priests — how could one help but wonder if the man in black is part of the problem, rather than, as a Jesuit priest told us in a workshop years ago, a true defender and advocate of children and their rights. Their rights to be safe, respected, and protected.
Father Ginter, Father Roger, and I have talked about this horrible mess a lot, and at one point I admitted how sick I felt when addressing this abuse crisis at Mass last weekend in the homily. Father Roger pointed out that such a physical reaction was striking and asked if I myself had been abused as a child — I hesitated, said I had not been, but then added after a moment of reflection: “Well, unless you count my first stepmother, who tried to kill me through starvation when I was a toddler.” Then I laughed, as I usually do when this subject comes up, God only knows why. Perhaps to lessen the awkwardness? To downplay the crime? To show that I’m a survivor rather than a victim?
In any case, the genuine victims of child abuse are not laughing, and neither are their loved ones. Unlike my personal experience (where I was too young to know what was going on), they remember all too well what was done to them, and it has haunted them in countless ways.
Every priest I know feels like apologizing to the people of God, and especially to the victims of abuse, but when I’ve done so it feels woefully inadequate, whether from the pulpit or in letters like this.
For me, some categories of people were always a source of hope and trust: police officers, members of the clergy, soldiers, nuns and sisters, doctors. When this trust gets broken, what can ever repair it?
We can take some guidance from today’s Second Reading:
"Brothers and sisters:
Watch carefully how you live,
not as foolish persons but as wise,
making the most of the opportunity,
because the days are evil.
Therefore, do not continue in ignorance,
but try to understand what is the will of the Lord."
Ephesians 5:15-20
Unlike the bishops who covered up abuse, we can “watch carefully” how we live, and take steps to ensure integrity, transparency, honesty, and, above all, truly Christian conduct.
In the way we examine our conscience each evening, and in the way we interact with those around us.
Father Brown
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, August 12, 2018
Dear parishioners,
Today’s second reading, like so much in the Letter to the Ephesians, is not meant for a tiny group of believers who happen to live in the city of Ephesus, but for the whole Church of God — so that it might be a leaven in the world, rather than a scandal to unbelievers:
Brothers and sisters:
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,
with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.
All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling
must be removed from you, along with all malice.
And be kind to one another, compassionate,
forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.
So be imitators of God, as beloved children,
and live in love,
as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us
as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.
Ephesians 4:30-5:2
As we read in the introduction found in the New American Bible (the translation we use at Mass), “Ephesians is the great Pauline letter about the church. It deals, however, not so much with a congregation in the city of Ephesus in Asia Minor as with the worldwide church, the head of which is Christ (Eph 4:15), the purpose of which is to be the instrument for making God’s plan of salvation known throughout the universe (Eph 3:9–10). ...The majestic chapters of Ephesians emphasize the unity in the church of Christ that has come about for both Jews and Gentiles within God’s household (Eph 1:15–2:22, especially Eph 2:11–22) and indeed the ‘seven unities’ of church, Spirit, hope; one Lord, faith, and baptism; and the one God (Eph 4:4–6). Yet the concern is not with the church for its own sake but rather as the means for mission in the world (Eph 3:1–4:24). The gifts Christ gives its members are to lead to growth and renewal (Eph 4:7–24). Ethical admonition is not lacking either; all aspects of human life and relationships are illumined by the light of Christ (Eph 4:25–6:20).”
The good news is that we, as disciples, always have the chance to do an examen, and, should we find ourselves in need of change, to embrace it, often after going to confession and receiving some sensible penance. The bad news is that some never undertake such an examination of conscience and live for decades in a way that drives other people nuts.
I knew a priest about 25 years ago who seemed mean as a junkyard dog — until he suffered a heart attack, which changed his personality beautifully.
I knew a parishioner 30 years ago who spent her whole time with gossip, complaining and criticizing others, even telling them when they “needed” to go to confession — and she never changed, at least during my six years at her parish.
Both were faithful Catholics in terms of attending Mass and celebrating the Sacraments, but I only saw one become less abrasive.
If our conscience, or our neighbors, or our own loved ones, suggest that we are becoming toxic, let us listen to them and make some changes that will delight not only the people around us, but also the Lord.
Father Brown
Sunday, August 12, 2018
Dear parishioners,
Today’s second reading, like so much in the Letter to the Ephesians, is not meant for a tiny group of believers who happen to live in the city of Ephesus, but for the whole Church of God — so that it might be a leaven in the world, rather than a scandal to unbelievers:
Brothers and sisters:
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,
with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.
All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling
must be removed from you, along with all malice.
And be kind to one another, compassionate,
forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.
So be imitators of God, as beloved children,
and live in love,
as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us
as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.
Ephesians 4:30-5:2
As we read in the introduction found in the New American Bible (the translation we use at Mass), “Ephesians is the great Pauline letter about the church. It deals, however, not so much with a congregation in the city of Ephesus in Asia Minor as with the worldwide church, the head of which is Christ (Eph 4:15), the purpose of which is to be the instrument for making God’s plan of salvation known throughout the universe (Eph 3:9–10). ...The majestic chapters of Ephesians emphasize the unity in the church of Christ that has come about for both Jews and Gentiles within God’s household (Eph 1:15–2:22, especially Eph 2:11–22) and indeed the ‘seven unities’ of church, Spirit, hope; one Lord, faith, and baptism; and the one God (Eph 4:4–6). Yet the concern is not with the church for its own sake but rather as the means for mission in the world (Eph 3:1–4:24). The gifts Christ gives its members are to lead to growth and renewal (Eph 4:7–24). Ethical admonition is not lacking either; all aspects of human life and relationships are illumined by the light of Christ (Eph 4:25–6:20).”
The good news is that we, as disciples, always have the chance to do an examen, and, should we find ourselves in need of change, to embrace it, often after going to confession and receiving some sensible penance. The bad news is that some never undertake such an examination of conscience and live for decades in a way that drives other people nuts.
I knew a priest about 25 years ago who seemed mean as a junkyard dog — until he suffered a heart attack, which changed his personality beautifully.
I knew a parishioner 30 years ago who spent her whole time with gossip, complaining and criticizing others, even telling them when they “needed” to go to confession — and she never changed, at least during my six years at her parish.
Both were faithful Catholics in terms of attending Mass and celebrating the Sacraments, but I only saw one become less abrasive.
If our conscience, or our neighbors, or our own loved ones, suggest that we are becoming toxic, let us listen to them and make some changes that will delight not only the people around us, but also the Lord.
Father Brown
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Dear friends in Christ,
As we struggle with ongoing (daily) political embarrassments, international tensions, personal tragedies, the terror of the fires and violence in each day’s news, war, and anxiety over what tomorrow may bring, our Christian faith reminds us, perhaps when we need it most, that nothing is lost for those whom Christ has embraced — and who have themselves embraced Christ as well.
Jesus answered them and said,
“...Do not work for food that perishes
but for the food that endures for eternal life,
which the Son of Man will give you.
For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”
So they said to him,
“What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them,
“This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.
...my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.
...I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
John 6:24-35
It is normal to feel anxiety and frustration, but for those who firmly believe in Jesus, there is also a great rock of certainty that, as a great English Benedictine mystic Julian of Norwich once shared from her vision of God: “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.”
In a similar way, the famous Spanish saint, Teresa of Ávila, composed a sort of chant that we would use in the seminary, in Spanish, which I found both profound and of great comfort: “Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything.”
Of course, our conviction that all shall be well, and that patience achieves everything, does not mean that we ourselves will necessarily see the fruits of our work and hope, our prayer and sacrifice — at least not in this world.
Rather, such mystics can liberate us from the hysteria of the daily news, which can stifle any desire to build a more humane and compassionate world, any hope for the future, and any joy for this day.
Mystics like Julian of Norwich, Teresa of Ávila, and Francis of Assisi can give us a perspective that comes from above, much like a parent who lovingly assures her child that the crisis of the day is not the end, that breaking up with a girlfriend or boyfriend in high school does not mean one will never find love and marriage, that the death of a beloved grandparent is not the end of the treasured relationship.
Instead, we move ahead, we trust in Jesus, and we make decisions each day to truly be the Body of Christ by the way we use our time, money, talents, love, and those charisms which come from God himself.
Father Brown
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Dear friends in Christ,
As we struggle with ongoing (daily) political embarrassments, international tensions, personal tragedies, the terror of the fires and violence in each day’s news, war, and anxiety over what tomorrow may bring, our Christian faith reminds us, perhaps when we need it most, that nothing is lost for those whom Christ has embraced — and who have themselves embraced Christ as well.
Jesus answered them and said,
“...Do not work for food that perishes
but for the food that endures for eternal life,
which the Son of Man will give you.
For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”
So they said to him,
“What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them,
“This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.
...my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.
...I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
John 6:24-35
It is normal to feel anxiety and frustration, but for those who firmly believe in Jesus, there is also a great rock of certainty that, as a great English Benedictine mystic Julian of Norwich once shared from her vision of God: “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.”
In a similar way, the famous Spanish saint, Teresa of Ávila, composed a sort of chant that we would use in the seminary, in Spanish, which I found both profound and of great comfort: “Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything.”
Of course, our conviction that all shall be well, and that patience achieves everything, does not mean that we ourselves will necessarily see the fruits of our work and hope, our prayer and sacrifice — at least not in this world.
Rather, such mystics can liberate us from the hysteria of the daily news, which can stifle any desire to build a more humane and compassionate world, any hope for the future, and any joy for this day.
Mystics like Julian of Norwich, Teresa of Ávila, and Francis of Assisi can give us a perspective that comes from above, much like a parent who lovingly assures her child that the crisis of the day is not the end, that breaking up with a girlfriend or boyfriend in high school does not mean one will never find love and marriage, that the death of a beloved grandparent is not the end of the treasured relationship.
Instead, we move ahead, we trust in Jesus, and we make decisions each day to truly be the Body of Christ by the way we use our time, money, talents, love, and those charisms which come from God himself.
Father Brown
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, July 29, 2018
Dear parishioners,
A wise old Jesuit who taught us in Rome used to say: “When I first wake up, it’s easy to be a good Christian. I have pleasant thoughts, I thank God for a new day and then...and then I see the list of my colleagues next to the phone and recall grudges. Bob snubbed me yesterday. Sam was a smart-aleck to me last week. And then the violent emotions take over!”
Such is the nature of community life.
However, another essential part of community life is what we hear Saint Paul encouraging the people of Ephesus to live out, in today’s second reading:
"Brothers and sisters:
I, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:
one body and one Spirit,
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all."
Ephesians 4:1-6
“Bearing with one another” is a necessary ingredient for the Christian community, if we are not to scandalize the world.
Other translations put it this way:
· Making allowance for each other’s faults
· Forbearing one another
· Accept each other
· Patiently put up with each other
· Being tolerant with one another
· Be patient with each other and lovingly accept each other
· Do not be hard on others
· Tolerate one another
· With patience supporting each other
What all of these translations have in common is this: an honest acknowledgement that no one is perfect, that we can (and will) get on each other’s nerves, that we are all sinners — and that all of this is nothing compared to the love and patience God has shown us in Christ Jesus.
Thus, we are asked to move beyond the “violent emotions” Father Paul Cioffi, S.J., spoke about, and move into a concrete decision to act as one body.
With our faults.
With our annoying habits.
With the knowledge that we cannot remake others into our own image.
With the certainty that we are already made in the image and likeness of God, and called to be parts of the Body of Christ his Son, for the salvation of the world.
Father Brown
P.S. Some have asked how we can afford the renovation of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, given the fact that we still have not made our Annual Appeal goal. Good question! The answer is that the renovation is being financed by a donor for that specific purpose, even as the school playground was donated by a generous family last year. Such designated offerings are used for a special project the donors care about, and thus parish (or school) funds are not used.
Sunday, July 29, 2018
Dear parishioners,
A wise old Jesuit who taught us in Rome used to say: “When I first wake up, it’s easy to be a good Christian. I have pleasant thoughts, I thank God for a new day and then...and then I see the list of my colleagues next to the phone and recall grudges. Bob snubbed me yesterday. Sam was a smart-aleck to me last week. And then the violent emotions take over!”
Such is the nature of community life.
However, another essential part of community life is what we hear Saint Paul encouraging the people of Ephesus to live out, in today’s second reading:
"Brothers and sisters:
I, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:
one body and one Spirit,
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all."
Ephesians 4:1-6
“Bearing with one another” is a necessary ingredient for the Christian community, if we are not to scandalize the world.
Other translations put it this way:
· Making allowance for each other’s faults
· Forbearing one another
· Accept each other
· Patiently put up with each other
· Being tolerant with one another
· Be patient with each other and lovingly accept each other
· Do not be hard on others
· Tolerate one another
· With patience supporting each other
What all of these translations have in common is this: an honest acknowledgement that no one is perfect, that we can (and will) get on each other’s nerves, that we are all sinners — and that all of this is nothing compared to the love and patience God has shown us in Christ Jesus.
Thus, we are asked to move beyond the “violent emotions” Father Paul Cioffi, S.J., spoke about, and move into a concrete decision to act as one body.
With our faults.
With our annoying habits.
With the knowledge that we cannot remake others into our own image.
With the certainty that we are already made in the image and likeness of God, and called to be parts of the Body of Christ his Son, for the salvation of the world.
Father Brown
P.S. Some have asked how we can afford the renovation of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, given the fact that we still have not made our Annual Appeal goal. Good question! The answer is that the renovation is being financed by a donor for that specific purpose, even as the school playground was donated by a generous family last year. Such designated offerings are used for a special project the donors care about, and thus parish (or school) funds are not used.
Renovation of our Blessed Sacrament Chapel
Sunday, July 22, 2018
Dear parishioners,
Starting on Saturday, August 4, our Blessed Sacrament Chapel, located just between the Church and Tarantino Hall will be closed for renovations — for one entire month.
We are most grateful to the many generous people who have been involved in the chapel since we moved from Old Saint Hilary’s to our “new” location here on Hilary Drive back in 1951, and especially those who keep watch with our Eucharistic Lord Monday through Saturday so that other people in need can come and take part in Eucharistic Adoration throughout the day.
This is a great blessing for young and old alike, especially when life seems overwhelming and they need some silent time in the Divine Presence — even today’s Gospel, by happy coincidence, reminds us of this grace:
The apostles gathered together with Jesus
and reported all they had done and taught.
He said to them,
“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”
People were coming and going in great numbers,
and they had no opportunity even to eat.
(Mark 6:30)
The work of renovation will be messy, so during these four weeks we encourage you to pray in the Church, as the chapel will be closed. Here at Saint Hilary Parish, we are indeed fortunate to have the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the Church as well as in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
I also ask that anyone who loaned or donated items for use in the Chapel (e.g., statues, carpets, wall hangings, icons) to please remove them BEFORE Saturday, August 4, as the workmen will start their renovation on that very date.
If something belongs to you, or was donated by you, you may wish to use it at home in your own family prayer corner, or donate it to our parochial school, or to another place in need — we will be starting “from scratch” in renovating the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, with everything new.
Thank you, in advance, for your patience and cooperation as we get ready for this lovely work. I will be updating you about our new “Adoration Society” in the coming weeks, as we will re-open the Blessed Sacrament Chapel in time for the First Friday in September, hopefully with a greater number of volunteers willing to keep watch with Jesus, and thus make it possible for people in the area to come and adore, with them, our Risen and Glorified Eucharistic Lord!
God bless you and yours,
Father Brown
Sunday, July 22, 2018
Dear parishioners,
Starting on Saturday, August 4, our Blessed Sacrament Chapel, located just between the Church and Tarantino Hall will be closed for renovations — for one entire month.
We are most grateful to the many generous people who have been involved in the chapel since we moved from Old Saint Hilary’s to our “new” location here on Hilary Drive back in 1951, and especially those who keep watch with our Eucharistic Lord Monday through Saturday so that other people in need can come and take part in Eucharistic Adoration throughout the day.
This is a great blessing for young and old alike, especially when life seems overwhelming and they need some silent time in the Divine Presence — even today’s Gospel, by happy coincidence, reminds us of this grace:
The apostles gathered together with Jesus
and reported all they had done and taught.
He said to them,
“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”
People were coming and going in great numbers,
and they had no opportunity even to eat.
(Mark 6:30)
The work of renovation will be messy, so during these four weeks we encourage you to pray in the Church, as the chapel will be closed. Here at Saint Hilary Parish, we are indeed fortunate to have the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the Church as well as in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
I also ask that anyone who loaned or donated items for use in the Chapel (e.g., statues, carpets, wall hangings, icons) to please remove them BEFORE Saturday, August 4, as the workmen will start their renovation on that very date.
If something belongs to you, or was donated by you, you may wish to use it at home in your own family prayer corner, or donate it to our parochial school, or to another place in need — we will be starting “from scratch” in renovating the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, with everything new.
Thank you, in advance, for your patience and cooperation as we get ready for this lovely work. I will be updating you about our new “Adoration Society” in the coming weeks, as we will re-open the Blessed Sacrament Chapel in time for the First Friday in September, hopefully with a greater number of volunteers willing to keep watch with Jesus, and thus make it possible for people in the area to come and adore, with them, our Risen and Glorified Eucharistic Lord!
God bless you and yours,
Father Brown
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, July 15, 2018
Dear friends in Christ,
Today’s Gospel has always sounded a bit scary to me — even in seminary, friends would laughingly say that I never left my room without a snake bit kit, water, road flares, and a blanket in case of an emergency.
And yet Jesus tells his apostles to not worry, to travel lightly, and to have faith:
Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two
and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey
but a walking stick--
no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
They were, however, to wear sandals
but not a second tunic.
He said to them,
“Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave.
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,
leave there and shake the dust off your feet
in testimony against them.”
So they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
Mark 6:7-13
These men were sent out on mission, but told to trust that enough people would welcome them and care for them, because people are good and generous.
Perhaps the most memorable experience of hospitality I ever encountered was when two seminary classmates and I flew to Mexico City, on our way to Cuernavaca to study Spanish over the summer.
We stayed a few days in Mexico City with the family of a classmate before continuing on our way south. The family was not wealthy in terms of money, housing, belongings, car, or neighborhood, but they were rich in kindness, and overflowing in generosity. Mom and Dad were wonderful, and the kids were so protective of us.
The three of us seminarians were given bedrooms, and the children moved out to sleep in the living room. The family went out of their way to make us feel welcome as newcomers to Mexico, and the young people showed us all around the city, refusing to let us do anything for them at all. We wanted to express our thanks, and only after much dialog and creative thinking were we finally able to find a way to express our gratitude in a way that would be accepted and appropriate to the family.
They wanted nothing — nothing except the chance to make three foreigners feel welcomed in their county, and to experience Mexico City in a way which would leave us with good memories, and a happy eagerness to begin our studies in Cuernavaca.
When it was time for us to take the bus south to Cuernavaca, two of the older kids even accompanied us, to make sure we would learn how to manage with taxis, safe water, etc.
Our classmate, their brother, left the seminary and got married, and I’m certain the graciousness he learned at home is serving his family right now!
Father Brown
Sunday, July 15, 2018
Dear friends in Christ,
Today’s Gospel has always sounded a bit scary to me — even in seminary, friends would laughingly say that I never left my room without a snake bit kit, water, road flares, and a blanket in case of an emergency.
And yet Jesus tells his apostles to not worry, to travel lightly, and to have faith:
Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two
and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey
but a walking stick--
no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
They were, however, to wear sandals
but not a second tunic.
He said to them,
“Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave.
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,
leave there and shake the dust off your feet
in testimony against them.”
So they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
Mark 6:7-13
These men were sent out on mission, but told to trust that enough people would welcome them and care for them, because people are good and generous.
Perhaps the most memorable experience of hospitality I ever encountered was when two seminary classmates and I flew to Mexico City, on our way to Cuernavaca to study Spanish over the summer.
We stayed a few days in Mexico City with the family of a classmate before continuing on our way south. The family was not wealthy in terms of money, housing, belongings, car, or neighborhood, but they were rich in kindness, and overflowing in generosity. Mom and Dad were wonderful, and the kids were so protective of us.
The three of us seminarians were given bedrooms, and the children moved out to sleep in the living room. The family went out of their way to make us feel welcome as newcomers to Mexico, and the young people showed us all around the city, refusing to let us do anything for them at all. We wanted to express our thanks, and only after much dialog and creative thinking were we finally able to find a way to express our gratitude in a way that would be accepted and appropriate to the family.
They wanted nothing — nothing except the chance to make three foreigners feel welcomed in their county, and to experience Mexico City in a way which would leave us with good memories, and a happy eagerness to begin our studies in Cuernavaca.
When it was time for us to take the bus south to Cuernavaca, two of the older kids even accompanied us, to make sure we would learn how to manage with taxis, safe water, etc.
Our classmate, their brother, left the seminary and got married, and I’m certain the graciousness he learned at home is serving his family right now!
Father Brown
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, July 8, 2018
Dear friends in Christ,
Today we hear about two areas of sadness: one for Paul, another for Jesus.
Paul laments that “a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.” (2 Corinthians 12:7) Jesus sadly admits that he can do little in his own native town, because the people have no faith. (Mark 6:5-6) Both men suffer from these realities.
The first is a mystery that people have expressed many opinions about over the centuries: was Paul suffering from a medical condition, severe depression, or from being with a colleague who was driving him crazy?
No one knows for certain, but clearly the situation was painful, and Paul in his distress asked the Lord to remove this thorn in the flesh: however, God’s answer came back as a “no” which encouraged Paul to rely not on being comfortable and free from such burdens, but to live some way with them and still be a source of Gospel light and life for whose whom he encountered.
In this story, I always find people coming to mind who have done that very thing, in the midst of family crises, the loss of loved ones, maladies that would drive others to despair, and living situations that seem impossible and intolerable to me. Through all of this, these people who come into my mind, both living and deceased, stand out as examples of incredible grace in the midst of a world that can be very cruel, extremely cold, and incredibly divided between “them and us.” The people who flood into my thoughts were able to be vessels of God’s grace and love even with their very real and very heavy burdens.
Jesus and his situation also cause me to remember places, people, and circumstances that were, or are still, a great mystery, and a source of sadness.
Loved ones who have chosen divorce because “I need to find myself” - which means leaving one’s spouse and children devastated. Parishioners who have turned away from God and their own Church not because of a personal crisis of faith, but because a priest said “no” to some request, or because a fellow parishioner treated them unfairly and unkindly, or because the Church itself articulated teaching that was hard to hear and accept (e.g., on the sanctity of all human life; on the need to be generous with what we have; on the value of family life even when walking away seems more exciting; on listening to the Bible and the Magisterium of the Church rather than to the politician du jour or the majority opinion; on the value of fidelity and honesty even when it’s really hard to live up to these ideals; etc.).
Fortunately, we still see people around us who are willing to embrace high ideals, and take the road of love and service. This weekend a young couple exchanged their wedding vows here in our parish church, asking God to bless their union, and the children they hope to bring into this world.
Recently, young men were ordained to the priesthood, and their loved ones gathered with the local community to celebrate this commitment to service as well.
Each day, we see people step up and ask how they can serve God in this very parish, and we gather with people each Sunday who make a public statement of faith and love by showing up to worship on the Lord’s day and receive that risen and glorified Lord Jesus in Holy Communion, teaching their children the meaning of all this mysterious Catholic stuff.
Paul suffered, Jesus was rejected by his townsmen, but they remained faithful to their mission, as do the people right here, and people like us throughout the world. Somehow. Some way. Thanks to Some One.
Father Brown
Sunday, July 8, 2018
Dear friends in Christ,
Today we hear about two areas of sadness: one for Paul, another for Jesus.
Paul laments that “a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.” (2 Corinthians 12:7) Jesus sadly admits that he can do little in his own native town, because the people have no faith. (Mark 6:5-6) Both men suffer from these realities.
The first is a mystery that people have expressed many opinions about over the centuries: was Paul suffering from a medical condition, severe depression, or from being with a colleague who was driving him crazy?
No one knows for certain, but clearly the situation was painful, and Paul in his distress asked the Lord to remove this thorn in the flesh: however, God’s answer came back as a “no” which encouraged Paul to rely not on being comfortable and free from such burdens, but to live some way with them and still be a source of Gospel light and life for whose whom he encountered.
In this story, I always find people coming to mind who have done that very thing, in the midst of family crises, the loss of loved ones, maladies that would drive others to despair, and living situations that seem impossible and intolerable to me. Through all of this, these people who come into my mind, both living and deceased, stand out as examples of incredible grace in the midst of a world that can be very cruel, extremely cold, and incredibly divided between “them and us.” The people who flood into my thoughts were able to be vessels of God’s grace and love even with their very real and very heavy burdens.
Jesus and his situation also cause me to remember places, people, and circumstances that were, or are still, a great mystery, and a source of sadness.
Loved ones who have chosen divorce because “I need to find myself” - which means leaving one’s spouse and children devastated. Parishioners who have turned away from God and their own Church not because of a personal crisis of faith, but because a priest said “no” to some request, or because a fellow parishioner treated them unfairly and unkindly, or because the Church itself articulated teaching that was hard to hear and accept (e.g., on the sanctity of all human life; on the need to be generous with what we have; on the value of family life even when walking away seems more exciting; on listening to the Bible and the Magisterium of the Church rather than to the politician du jour or the majority opinion; on the value of fidelity and honesty even when it’s really hard to live up to these ideals; etc.).
Fortunately, we still see people around us who are willing to embrace high ideals, and take the road of love and service. This weekend a young couple exchanged their wedding vows here in our parish church, asking God to bless their union, and the children they hope to bring into this world.
Recently, young men were ordained to the priesthood, and their loved ones gathered with the local community to celebrate this commitment to service as well.
Each day, we see people step up and ask how they can serve God in this very parish, and we gather with people each Sunday who make a public statement of faith and love by showing up to worship on the Lord’s day and receive that risen and glorified Lord Jesus in Holy Communion, teaching their children the meaning of all this mysterious Catholic stuff.
Paul suffered, Jesus was rejected by his townsmen, but they remained faithful to their mission, as do the people right here, and people like us throughout the world. Somehow. Some way. Thanks to Some One.
Father Brown
Religious Freedom Week and Independence Day
Sunday, July 1, 2018
Dear parishioners,
On Friday we celebrated the last day of Religious Freedom Week, and on Wednesday we celebrate the Fourth of July — Independence Day. This weekend, right the in the middle, makes me wonder how we experience or think about the words freedom, independence, and liberty.
For some, the terms are used to justify just about anything, as I remember from my childhood. “This is a free country!” some people would shout, doing something frightening, or breaking the law, or hurling racist slurs at people nearby.
For some, the notion of freedom means I am free to do what I please, even if it scares other people (e.g., skateboarding on the church steps in the Haight Ashbury as people are arriving for Sunday Mass), endangers those nearby (as we see when people use their iPhones to send text messages, check email, or dial for calls while behind the wheel), or insults and intimidates a category of people (such as the woman this week who berated a man and his mother doing yard work, because they were speaking Spanish: she decided to call them “rapists” and “drug dealers” simply due to the language in which they were communicating).
As Catholic Christians, we are constantly reminded that freedom is always linked to responsibility, liberty means the ability to carry out our mission as disciples of Jesus, and that independence does NOT mean we are independent from God and his commandments, but rather independent from oppressive forces (Satan, Fascism, Communism) which would destroy our communion with God — and God’s people.
In 2018, we witness various attacks on freedom, many of them on people of faith, that strike us as very bizarre.
There are countries which tell Christians they cannot wear a cross, Jews they may not wear a kippah, and Muslim women they are not allowed to wear a burkini while bathing in the ocean (even though going topless would be okay).
We see countries which used to be beacons of Catholic identity now telling Catholic hospitals that they “must” perform abortions against unborn children; others instruct priests that they “must” break the seal of the confessional. At least one country may soon outlaw male circumcision, which puts Jewish families in a huge dilemma: how can a government prohibit parents from following their religious traditions that go far back to the commandments God gave them?
Another country is promoting the abortion of all children in the womb found to have Down Syndrome, and our own country still has countless abortions carried out each year, and people in prison put to death, both types of killing criticized by Pope Francis, Pope Benedict, Pope Saint John Paul II, and countless other Catholic leaders in the present and recent past. “God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living.” (Wisdom 1:13, from today’s Mass readings.)
We even just heard from the former President of Ireland that babies should not be baptized because it “violates their human rights” — as if being welcomed into the Church were like being thrown into a workhouse.
No one wants children to be abused, but baptizing a Catholic child, or circumcising a Jewish baby boy, is part of our religious heritage that touches upon identity itself: the welcoming of precious children into a family, and into a family of faith. Parents want their children to be loved, raised in the faith, and taught how to treasure and
promote freedom in ways that are sensible and just.
Children deserve protection, health care, food, shelter, love, and the ability to live their religious faith free from persecution and derision.
As we journey this weekend in between Religious Freedom Week, and Independence Day, let us strive to stand up for our own freedoms, and also for the righteous liberty of those around us.
Father Brown
Sunday, July 1, 2018
Dear parishioners,
On Friday we celebrated the last day of Religious Freedom Week, and on Wednesday we celebrate the Fourth of July — Independence Day. This weekend, right the in the middle, makes me wonder how we experience or think about the words freedom, independence, and liberty.
For some, the terms are used to justify just about anything, as I remember from my childhood. “This is a free country!” some people would shout, doing something frightening, or breaking the law, or hurling racist slurs at people nearby.
For some, the notion of freedom means I am free to do what I please, even if it scares other people (e.g., skateboarding on the church steps in the Haight Ashbury as people are arriving for Sunday Mass), endangers those nearby (as we see when people use their iPhones to send text messages, check email, or dial for calls while behind the wheel), or insults and intimidates a category of people (such as the woman this week who berated a man and his mother doing yard work, because they were speaking Spanish: she decided to call them “rapists” and “drug dealers” simply due to the language in which they were communicating).
As Catholic Christians, we are constantly reminded that freedom is always linked to responsibility, liberty means the ability to carry out our mission as disciples of Jesus, and that independence does NOT mean we are independent from God and his commandments, but rather independent from oppressive forces (Satan, Fascism, Communism) which would destroy our communion with God — and God’s people.
In 2018, we witness various attacks on freedom, many of them on people of faith, that strike us as very bizarre.
There are countries which tell Christians they cannot wear a cross, Jews they may not wear a kippah, and Muslim women they are not allowed to wear a burkini while bathing in the ocean (even though going topless would be okay).
We see countries which used to be beacons of Catholic identity now telling Catholic hospitals that they “must” perform abortions against unborn children; others instruct priests that they “must” break the seal of the confessional. At least one country may soon outlaw male circumcision, which puts Jewish families in a huge dilemma: how can a government prohibit parents from following their religious traditions that go far back to the commandments God gave them?
Another country is promoting the abortion of all children in the womb found to have Down Syndrome, and our own country still has countless abortions carried out each year, and people in prison put to death, both types of killing criticized by Pope Francis, Pope Benedict, Pope Saint John Paul II, and countless other Catholic leaders in the present and recent past. “God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living.” (Wisdom 1:13, from today’s Mass readings.)
We even just heard from the former President of Ireland that babies should not be baptized because it “violates their human rights” — as if being welcomed into the Church were like being thrown into a workhouse.
No one wants children to be abused, but baptizing a Catholic child, or circumcising a Jewish baby boy, is part of our religious heritage that touches upon identity itself: the welcoming of precious children into a family, and into a family of faith. Parents want their children to be loved, raised in the faith, and taught how to treasure and
promote freedom in ways that are sensible and just.
Children deserve protection, health care, food, shelter, love, and the ability to live their religious faith free from persecution and derision.
As we journey this weekend in between Religious Freedom Week, and Independence Day, let us strive to stand up for our own freedoms, and also for the righteous liberty of those around us.
Father Brown
The Great Commandment is Not Always Easy to Live Out
At daily Mass, one of the intercessions that I pray is, “We pray for our government leaders, that they may promote the common good and not their own self interest.” It is our Christian duty to pray for our government leaders, whether we voted them or not. We want peace in our world. I specifically say, Common Good, because it is a Catholic principle.
Catechism 1906 states, “By common good is to be understood ‘the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as a groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily. The common good concerns the life of all. It calls for prudence from each, and even more from those who exercise the office of authority. (Catechism 1906).”
The common good has three main elements. They include, respect for each person, social well-being and development of the group itself, and peace or stability. The Common Good applies to all people and ensures them basic necessities such as shelter, food and freedom of religion. The Common Good is the peace of Christ living in each one of our hearts.
Over the past few weeks immigration, especially with the separation of families has been in the headlines. Many people have different views on this issue. Some people are for heightened immigration reform, other people want sanctuary cities, and some are indifferent.
The tricky part is that from a Catholic perspective all of these views are moral.
A country is justified in having immigration policies and having penalties for people breaking the law. A country does have the duty to help those who are not having their basic needs met in their place of origin. Promoting the Common Good is a duty for each nation.
The issue of concern is the separation of families. The Catholic Church is Pro-Life and if we are Pro-Life, then we are Pro-Family. Families, by natural law, are meant to be together. The President issued a decree to stop the separation of families on Wednesday. This is positive from a Catholic perspective.
There is no question that there needs to be immigration reform. The key is that we need to always keep in mind the Common Good. Each person deserves the basic necessities in life. The Great Commandment is to love God and show this love of God through Love of neighbor. To love is to will the good of the other.
When we think, pray, debate and vote on this issue and all other issues, we must always think about our neighbor and their basic rights that are due to them by God. We are entitled to our own rights as well. The key is to always bring these issues to prayer and to think how Christ would react. I ask that we keep our nation, our government leaders, and all those who are less fortunate than we are in the charity of our prayers.
The greatest weapon we have to promote the Common Good is to pray!
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
At daily Mass, one of the intercessions that I pray is, “We pray for our government leaders, that they may promote the common good and not their own self interest.” It is our Christian duty to pray for our government leaders, whether we voted them or not. We want peace in our world. I specifically say, Common Good, because it is a Catholic principle.
Catechism 1906 states, “By common good is to be understood ‘the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as a groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily. The common good concerns the life of all. It calls for prudence from each, and even more from those who exercise the office of authority. (Catechism 1906).”
The common good has three main elements. They include, respect for each person, social well-being and development of the group itself, and peace or stability. The Common Good applies to all people and ensures them basic necessities such as shelter, food and freedom of religion. The Common Good is the peace of Christ living in each one of our hearts.
Over the past few weeks immigration, especially with the separation of families has been in the headlines. Many people have different views on this issue. Some people are for heightened immigration reform, other people want sanctuary cities, and some are indifferent.
The tricky part is that from a Catholic perspective all of these views are moral.
A country is justified in having immigration policies and having penalties for people breaking the law. A country does have the duty to help those who are not having their basic needs met in their place of origin. Promoting the Common Good is a duty for each nation.
The issue of concern is the separation of families. The Catholic Church is Pro-Life and if we are Pro-Life, then we are Pro-Family. Families, by natural law, are meant to be together. The President issued a decree to stop the separation of families on Wednesday. This is positive from a Catholic perspective.
There is no question that there needs to be immigration reform. The key is that we need to always keep in mind the Common Good. Each person deserves the basic necessities in life. The Great Commandment is to love God and show this love of God through Love of neighbor. To love is to will the good of the other.
When we think, pray, debate and vote on this issue and all other issues, we must always think about our neighbor and their basic rights that are due to them by God. We are entitled to our own rights as well. The key is to always bring these issues to prayer and to think how Christ would react. I ask that we keep our nation, our government leaders, and all those who are less fortunate than we are in the charity of our prayers.
The greatest weapon we have to promote the Common Good is to pray!
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
Rules, rules, and more rules — why?
Sunday, June 17, 2018
Dear parishioners,
Just recently we learned that the Archdiocese of Baltimore is permitting outdoor weddings, on a case by case basis, if there is “a good reason” for the request, and if certain conditions are met, etc.
My first thought was: oh, boy, here we go.
Heaven forbid one’s parish church be considered “good enough” for the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, when there are so many cute venues to choose from. Mount Tam. The beach. The Golden Gate Bridge. The zoo, because we love animals. The dog park, where we first met.
Sorry to sound like such a grouch, but experience has taught me the value of obeying the rules we have, and not messing with them too much. Of course, in some rare situations, an accommodation might be needed. For example, a person who had been preparing for marriage, and who now learns that s/he is dying: the marriage could be celebrated in the sick person’s home, or in the hospital.
However, some customs and rules are present for a good reason — even as the Ten Commandments became necessary.
For example, dress codes and uniforms for Catholic schools not only preserve a sense of identity and order, but also prevent poor students from feeling “less” than wealthy students, because they are all wearing the same uniform.
Closed Communion not only makes a statement about faith in the Real Presence, but also helps us avoid the sacrilege of finding the Eucharist left on the pew or on the floor when “everyone” was invited to walk up (this happened often in my first parish, before I learned to give an instruction at funerals and weddings about Holy Communion).
Confessions are not heard over the phone, but rather there must be a personal meeting with the bishop or priest.
Baptisms are celebrated with Holy Water, in the Church (which the new Catholic is entering both physically and spiritually), not in some “venue” where hungry crocodiles might be tempted to nibble up the pastor — as we recently saw in the news. (It’s hard to know whether the news in questions was real or fake, but in any case, we Catholics normally celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism, normally, in a church, using the baptismal font, with Holy Water, and everyone survives just fine.)
I did once receive a request from visitors to baptize their baby, but in the parking lot, using the big fountain, because: (a) the view would be pretty, and (b) some of the guests weren’t Catholic. I pointed out that the water in that fountain has bird poop in it, the rocks surrounding the area are big and sharp, the water is not consecrated, and the guests (who “didn’t like” the idea of entering a Catholic church) would just have to get used to it if they planned on attending the child’s First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and Wedding.
There are ways of being creative, as our parish children showed us in making their beautiful First Communion banners. Our teens show us this in researching Confirmation names and choosing saints (Sebastian, Catherine) and virtues (Grace, Hope, Faith) which the Bishop will use when anointing them with the Sacred Chrism.
However, we don’t need to mess around with the Sacraments each time a funeral or a wedding comes around.
We are a Catholic and Apostolic Church that’s been around for 2,000 years and we enjoy a rich tradition that actually means something powerful, spiritual, and uplifting. If your loved ones feel stifled or confused by our customs, try to learn the why behind the what and thus enable them to celebrate the Sacraments in a genuinely Catholic way that can be inspiring — and true to our roots.
The party or reception afterwards is another story entirely, but for the Sacraments we use bread, wine, oil, holy water, and a church building that all tell us: this is not business as usual.
This is entering the Holy of Holies!
Father Brown
Sunday, June 17, 2018
Dear parishioners,
Just recently we learned that the Archdiocese of Baltimore is permitting outdoor weddings, on a case by case basis, if there is “a good reason” for the request, and if certain conditions are met, etc.
My first thought was: oh, boy, here we go.
Heaven forbid one’s parish church be considered “good enough” for the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, when there are so many cute venues to choose from. Mount Tam. The beach. The Golden Gate Bridge. The zoo, because we love animals. The dog park, where we first met.
Sorry to sound like such a grouch, but experience has taught me the value of obeying the rules we have, and not messing with them too much. Of course, in some rare situations, an accommodation might be needed. For example, a person who had been preparing for marriage, and who now learns that s/he is dying: the marriage could be celebrated in the sick person’s home, or in the hospital.
However, some customs and rules are present for a good reason — even as the Ten Commandments became necessary.
For example, dress codes and uniforms for Catholic schools not only preserve a sense of identity and order, but also prevent poor students from feeling “less” than wealthy students, because they are all wearing the same uniform.
Closed Communion not only makes a statement about faith in the Real Presence, but also helps us avoid the sacrilege of finding the Eucharist left on the pew or on the floor when “everyone” was invited to walk up (this happened often in my first parish, before I learned to give an instruction at funerals and weddings about Holy Communion).
Confessions are not heard over the phone, but rather there must be a personal meeting with the bishop or priest.
Baptisms are celebrated with Holy Water, in the Church (which the new Catholic is entering both physically and spiritually), not in some “venue” where hungry crocodiles might be tempted to nibble up the pastor — as we recently saw in the news. (It’s hard to know whether the news in questions was real or fake, but in any case, we Catholics normally celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism, normally, in a church, using the baptismal font, with Holy Water, and everyone survives just fine.)
I did once receive a request from visitors to baptize their baby, but in the parking lot, using the big fountain, because: (a) the view would be pretty, and (b) some of the guests weren’t Catholic. I pointed out that the water in that fountain has bird poop in it, the rocks surrounding the area are big and sharp, the water is not consecrated, and the guests (who “didn’t like” the idea of entering a Catholic church) would just have to get used to it if they planned on attending the child’s First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and Wedding.
There are ways of being creative, as our parish children showed us in making their beautiful First Communion banners. Our teens show us this in researching Confirmation names and choosing saints (Sebastian, Catherine) and virtues (Grace, Hope, Faith) which the Bishop will use when anointing them with the Sacred Chrism.
However, we don’t need to mess around with the Sacraments each time a funeral or a wedding comes around.
We are a Catholic and Apostolic Church that’s been around for 2,000 years and we enjoy a rich tradition that actually means something powerful, spiritual, and uplifting. If your loved ones feel stifled or confused by our customs, try to learn the why behind the what and thus enable them to celebrate the Sacraments in a genuinely Catholic way that can be inspiring — and true to our roots.
The party or reception afterwards is another story entirely, but for the Sacraments we use bread, wine, oil, holy water, and a church building that all tell us: this is not business as usual.
This is entering the Holy of Holies!
Father Brown
Congratulations, Bishop Robert F. Christian, O.P.!
By Christina Gray, Catholic San Francisco newspaper
On Tuesday, June 5, priests and deacons numbering almost 300 including some 100 Dominicans and more than 20 bishops joined with family, friends and women religious for the ordination of Bishop Christian.
A fourth-generation San Franciscan and Dominican priest for 42 years, Bishop Christian was master of students for the Dominican Western Province at St. Albert’s Priory in Oakland when he was appointed to the role of bishop by Pope Francis in March.
“Father Robert, your diligence in teaching the faith of the Apostles through instruction and formation of future church leaders will serve you well in your new episcopal ministry among us,” said San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone in his homily. “We give thanks to God and to Pope Francis for electing you to this office which you will exercise as a good shepherd, seeking the good of your people and not worldly gain or honor.”
Noting that the day was Election Day in San Francisco, the archbishop said that in the Bible, election is the action of God, a call to service. “To be God’s elect entails a form of existence different from that of the rest of the people,” he said, but not for the purpose of making oneself out to be better than others. “Separation from, is also a separation for.”
Bishop Christian is our first Dominican bishop since Father Joseph Sadoc Alemany, O.P., became the first Archbishop of San Francisco in 1850. Archbishop Cordileone thanked the Order of Preachers for what he called the “exemplary leadership and tireless pastoral care” it has provided to the people of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and beyond.
“As we know, this goes back to our very first archbishop whose chalice we use for this Mass today, and it continues up to the present time,” he said. The archbishop praised the missionary sacrifice of Archbishop Alemany who, “after the manner of the Good Shepherd, gave himself completely and at great personal cost” to initiating what has evolved into the local church’s institutional legacy.
The archbishop also borrowed words used by Pope Francis in his episcopal ordination of two bishops in Rome in 2016 to describe the true role of a bishop.
“As for you, dearest brothers, chosen by the Lord, consider that you have been appointed to the things pertaining to God. Indeed, ‘episcopacy’ is the name of a service, not of an honor,” the pope said. “Therefore, a bishop must strive to serve rather than to rule, according to the Master’s commandment: ‘whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.’”
Joining the archbishop on the altar was the Archbishop of Santa Fe John C. Wester and the Bishop of Oakland Michael C. Barber, SJ. Also present was retired Los Angeles Archbishop Cardinal Roger M. Mahony and apostolic nuncio to the United States Archbishop Christophe Pierre.
The rites were accompanied by a choir of 40 voices, and an ensemble of timpani, horns and organ under the direction of cathedral music director Christoph Tietze. Cathedral cantor Ash Walker led the hymns.
The ordination of Bishop Christian embraced his large family, whom he credited in his remarks at the end of the Mass for helping shape any of his better “human qualities.” Readers included his cousin, Dominican Sister Marie Sagues and Notre Dame Sister Sharon McMillan, a classmate of Bishop Christian’s at Santa Clara University. Insignia bearers included nephews Robert F. Christian III, Thomas Christian, cousin Polly Mendes and John Christian, one of Bishop Christian’s five brothers. The remaining four,— Joseph, Michael, James and Thomas — brought up the gifts. A cousin from Marin County, where the Christian family summered as a family, is making a redwood crosier for him as a gift.
“Now that we are halfway through the ceremony,” he joked at the two-hour mark. “I want to thank all who have made it possible for me to view being a bishop not as an achievement, not something I did, à la Frank Sinatra, ‘doing it my way,’ but something that is really a gift.”
“I am ultimately someone who was given a sacramental character by Christ, enabling me to join a college that keeps the church in right doctrine, preaches that doctrine handed down from the apostles even when it seems to engender indifference or hostility,” he said. “And which promotes the pursuit of happiness by promoting the pursuit of holiness.”
By Christina Gray, Catholic San Francisco newspaper
On Tuesday, June 5, priests and deacons numbering almost 300 including some 100 Dominicans and more than 20 bishops joined with family, friends and women religious for the ordination of Bishop Christian.
A fourth-generation San Franciscan and Dominican priest for 42 years, Bishop Christian was master of students for the Dominican Western Province at St. Albert’s Priory in Oakland when he was appointed to the role of bishop by Pope Francis in March.
“Father Robert, your diligence in teaching the faith of the Apostles through instruction and formation of future church leaders will serve you well in your new episcopal ministry among us,” said San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone in his homily. “We give thanks to God and to Pope Francis for electing you to this office which you will exercise as a good shepherd, seeking the good of your people and not worldly gain or honor.”
Noting that the day was Election Day in San Francisco, the archbishop said that in the Bible, election is the action of God, a call to service. “To be God’s elect entails a form of existence different from that of the rest of the people,” he said, but not for the purpose of making oneself out to be better than others. “Separation from, is also a separation for.”
Bishop Christian is our first Dominican bishop since Father Joseph Sadoc Alemany, O.P., became the first Archbishop of San Francisco in 1850. Archbishop Cordileone thanked the Order of Preachers for what he called the “exemplary leadership and tireless pastoral care” it has provided to the people of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and beyond.
“As we know, this goes back to our very first archbishop whose chalice we use for this Mass today, and it continues up to the present time,” he said. The archbishop praised the missionary sacrifice of Archbishop Alemany who, “after the manner of the Good Shepherd, gave himself completely and at great personal cost” to initiating what has evolved into the local church’s institutional legacy.
The archbishop also borrowed words used by Pope Francis in his episcopal ordination of two bishops in Rome in 2016 to describe the true role of a bishop.
“As for you, dearest brothers, chosen by the Lord, consider that you have been appointed to the things pertaining to God. Indeed, ‘episcopacy’ is the name of a service, not of an honor,” the pope said. “Therefore, a bishop must strive to serve rather than to rule, according to the Master’s commandment: ‘whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.’”
Joining the archbishop on the altar was the Archbishop of Santa Fe John C. Wester and the Bishop of Oakland Michael C. Barber, SJ. Also present was retired Los Angeles Archbishop Cardinal Roger M. Mahony and apostolic nuncio to the United States Archbishop Christophe Pierre.
The rites were accompanied by a choir of 40 voices, and an ensemble of timpani, horns and organ under the direction of cathedral music director Christoph Tietze. Cathedral cantor Ash Walker led the hymns.
The ordination of Bishop Christian embraced his large family, whom he credited in his remarks at the end of the Mass for helping shape any of his better “human qualities.” Readers included his cousin, Dominican Sister Marie Sagues and Notre Dame Sister Sharon McMillan, a classmate of Bishop Christian’s at Santa Clara University. Insignia bearers included nephews Robert F. Christian III, Thomas Christian, cousin Polly Mendes and John Christian, one of Bishop Christian’s five brothers. The remaining four,— Joseph, Michael, James and Thomas — brought up the gifts. A cousin from Marin County, where the Christian family summered as a family, is making a redwood crosier for him as a gift.
“Now that we are halfway through the ceremony,” he joked at the two-hour mark. “I want to thank all who have made it possible for me to view being a bishop not as an achievement, not something I did, à la Frank Sinatra, ‘doing it my way,’ but something that is really a gift.”
“I am ultimately someone who was given a sacramental character by Christ, enabling me to join a college that keeps the church in right doctrine, preaches that doctrine handed down from the apostles even when it seems to engender indifference or hostility,” he said. “And which promotes the pursuit of happiness by promoting the pursuit of holiness.”
The Body of Christ Has Many Members
And we need to stay in touch with each other to do his work!
Sunday, June 3, 2018
Dear friends in Christ,
On this Solemnity of Corpus Christi, I have some very good news to share with you from the members of your Parish Pastoral Council (PPC).
Namely, the group has worked on finding an even better way for your pastor, and your ministry leaders, to let you know about important events, but also to share with you wonderful videos and presentations from Bishop Robert Barron and “Word On Fire” at no cost to you — thanks to a generous parishioner who has financed this new endeavor so that the entire parish might take advantage of this great opportunity.
In recent years, many of you attended sessions in Tarantino Hall and in Church when we used “Word On Fire” materials — but now you may access them for free on your home computer, or on your iPad in bed, while sipping a cup of tea: or even on your cell phone!
If you register for my new method of contacting you via email or text message, you will not only be able to get news of import for the parish (e.g., an upcoming event; the death of a parishioner; the schedule for Holy Week), but you will also be able to choose “Word On Fire” videos you can watch at your leisure covering a wide variety of topics: the Catholicism series; mini-courses on the Eucharist, or heroes of the faith; videos on the priesthood, or the mystery of God.
For individuals, but also for faith sharing groups, this is a terrific way to gain access to fascinating materials at your own pace and in your own home, which you can then discuss as a group, or talk about with your family, or use for your own spiritual growth.
Our new way of staying in touch with you is called "Flocknote" — a modern communication tool used by thousands of parishes across our country employing technology that helps us connect to and grow our community (our flock) in a productive, cost-efficient way. Flocknote also allows all our parish members complete access to Bishop Barron’s popular “Word on Fire Engage.” These digital videos are accessed online and include his complete DVD library, and encompass mini-courses such as Catholicism 101.
Here are some of the reasons why we are moving to Flocknote:
· Simple and easy to use: go to www.sthilary.org and register under the little Flocknote lamb widget!
· Flexibility to use either email and/or texts to communicate with you.
· Feedback from our parishioners in one easy place — we can be more responsive to your needs.
· Great tool for our Ministry Leaders to aid them in executing their goals.
· Analytical tools that prevent us from sending out too many unnecessary communications.
· Access to “Word on Fire” materials at no cost to you.
· Helps us grow our community and fulfill our mission.
The Parish Pastoral Council team helped me set up the ‘registration widget’ on page one of our parish website this past Tuesday, so you can sign up right now by going to www.sthilary.org where the little Flocknote lamb will lead you to those spaces for you to enter your name, email address, and cell phone number (if you have one).
Instead of sending out emails from my personal email account (StanfordAlumni.Org) and from Constant Contact, I will be relying solely on "Flocknote" - so, if you want to continue receiving news from me, please sign up now.
I am very grateful to the PPC, and the donor who is funding this new method. If you need help registering for "Flocknote," Diana can help you at the rectory.
I hope this new tool will enable us to stay in touch with all the members of our community, while also offering you FREE access to lovely materials from Bishop Barron and “Word On Fire Engage!”
God bless you and yours,
Father Brown
And we need to stay in touch with each other to do his work!
Sunday, June 3, 2018
Dear friends in Christ,
On this Solemnity of Corpus Christi, I have some very good news to share with you from the members of your Parish Pastoral Council (PPC).
Namely, the group has worked on finding an even better way for your pastor, and your ministry leaders, to let you know about important events, but also to share with you wonderful videos and presentations from Bishop Robert Barron and “Word On Fire” at no cost to you — thanks to a generous parishioner who has financed this new endeavor so that the entire parish might take advantage of this great opportunity.
In recent years, many of you attended sessions in Tarantino Hall and in Church when we used “Word On Fire” materials — but now you may access them for free on your home computer, or on your iPad in bed, while sipping a cup of tea: or even on your cell phone!
If you register for my new method of contacting you via email or text message, you will not only be able to get news of import for the parish (e.g., an upcoming event; the death of a parishioner; the schedule for Holy Week), but you will also be able to choose “Word On Fire” videos you can watch at your leisure covering a wide variety of topics: the Catholicism series; mini-courses on the Eucharist, or heroes of the faith; videos on the priesthood, or the mystery of God.
For individuals, but also for faith sharing groups, this is a terrific way to gain access to fascinating materials at your own pace and in your own home, which you can then discuss as a group, or talk about with your family, or use for your own spiritual growth.
Our new way of staying in touch with you is called "Flocknote" — a modern communication tool used by thousands of parishes across our country employing technology that helps us connect to and grow our community (our flock) in a productive, cost-efficient way. Flocknote also allows all our parish members complete access to Bishop Barron’s popular “Word on Fire Engage.” These digital videos are accessed online and include his complete DVD library, and encompass mini-courses such as Catholicism 101.
Here are some of the reasons why we are moving to Flocknote:
· Simple and easy to use: go to www.sthilary.org and register under the little Flocknote lamb widget!
· Flexibility to use either email and/or texts to communicate with you.
· Feedback from our parishioners in one easy place — we can be more responsive to your needs.
· Great tool for our Ministry Leaders to aid them in executing their goals.
· Analytical tools that prevent us from sending out too many unnecessary communications.
· Access to “Word on Fire” materials at no cost to you.
· Helps us grow our community and fulfill our mission.
The Parish Pastoral Council team helped me set up the ‘registration widget’ on page one of our parish website this past Tuesday, so you can sign up right now by going to www.sthilary.org where the little Flocknote lamb will lead you to those spaces for you to enter your name, email address, and cell phone number (if you have one).
Instead of sending out emails from my personal email account (StanfordAlumni.Org) and from Constant Contact, I will be relying solely on "Flocknote" - so, if you want to continue receiving news from me, please sign up now.
I am very grateful to the PPC, and the donor who is funding this new method. If you need help registering for "Flocknote," Diana can help you at the rectory.
I hope this new tool will enable us to stay in touch with all the members of our community, while also offering you FREE access to lovely materials from Bishop Barron and “Word On Fire Engage!”
God bless you and yours,
Father Brown
Trinity Sunday
Sunday, May 27, 2018
Dear Parishioners,
This past Wednesday, Father Ginter invited me to be the guest speaker for our “Theology On Tap” series at Sam’s Anchor Café, and it was a real delight for me — also, it seems, for the parishioners who gathered for drinks, food and fellowship.
Given the Pentecost prayers of last Sunday (the final day of the Easter Season), and also the nature of this Sunday’s focus on the Most Holy Trinity, I chose to speak with the people about the RCIA — the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The process by which people become full members of the Catholic Church through Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist.
It was fascinating, as always, to be part of the interaction where people of faith come together and talk about something important: in this case, our opportunity to evangelize right in our own family, neighborhood, or circle of friends.
Some of those present, like me, were converts to the Catholic faith, and most were cradle Catholics. We talked about why people might come to Sister Dolores and start the ball rolling:
Each catechumen in the RCIA group has a different background and story. Some pray over the decision for years, and then finally take the plunge, while others join the group in 2018 and get baptized and confirmed during the Easter Vigil Mass in 2019.
The past few years, we have seen entire families take part, with the children and parents all celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation as a family on Holy Saturday night!
It was beautiful to be part of the discussion, and to think of the many hearts who might be touched by these good people who invite the curious to come and see — as Jesus himself said (John 1:39).
It was inspiring to sense the joy and dedication of all in the room, sharing stories of faith and asking how we pass along to others the joy of the Real Presence, the Sacrament of Penance, the chance to become part of a parish where you can not only get baptized, but also become involved in the many ministries of outreach, catechesis, charity, song, worship, and hospitality.
If you know someone who may want to learn more, please contact Sister Dolores or me, so we can explore with them if Catholicism, and St. Hilary Parish, might be the home they seek!
May God bless you and yours,
Father Brown
Sunday, May 27, 2018
Dear Parishioners,
This past Wednesday, Father Ginter invited me to be the guest speaker for our “Theology On Tap” series at Sam’s Anchor Café, and it was a real delight for me — also, it seems, for the parishioners who gathered for drinks, food and fellowship.
Given the Pentecost prayers of last Sunday (the final day of the Easter Season), and also the nature of this Sunday’s focus on the Most Holy Trinity, I chose to speak with the people about the RCIA — the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The process by which people become full members of the Catholic Church through Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist.
It was fascinating, as always, to be part of the interaction where people of faith come together and talk about something important: in this case, our opportunity to evangelize right in our own family, neighborhood, or circle of friends.
Some of those present, like me, were converts to the Catholic faith, and most were cradle Catholics. We talked about why people might come to Sister Dolores and start the ball rolling:
- “I’ve always felt a certain call, and now I think God might be calling me to learn more about Catholicism.”
- “My spouse and children are Catholic, I’ve been attending Mass with them for ages, and now I want to be one with them in the same faith.”
- “At this point in my life, I am looking for meaning and community and a solid sense of communion, so I want to join the RCIA group and discover if this is right for me!”
Each catechumen in the RCIA group has a different background and story. Some pray over the decision for years, and then finally take the plunge, while others join the group in 2018 and get baptized and confirmed during the Easter Vigil Mass in 2019.
The past few years, we have seen entire families take part, with the children and parents all celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation as a family on Holy Saturday night!
It was beautiful to be part of the discussion, and to think of the many hearts who might be touched by these good people who invite the curious to come and see — as Jesus himself said (John 1:39).
It was inspiring to sense the joy and dedication of all in the room, sharing stories of faith and asking how we pass along to others the joy of the Real Presence, the Sacrament of Penance, the chance to become part of a parish where you can not only get baptized, but also become involved in the many ministries of outreach, catechesis, charity, song, worship, and hospitality.
If you know someone who may want to learn more, please contact Sister Dolores or me, so we can explore with them if Catholicism, and St. Hilary Parish, might be the home they seek!
May God bless you and yours,
Father Brown
Pentecost Sunday
Dear parishioners,
On this last day of the Easter Season, we celebrate “the birth of the Church,” as many have called it. The Holy Spirit comes down upon those closest to the heart of Jesus, so that they might be able to speak in power as he did, forgive sins as he chose to do, reach out to heal the sick just as Jesus had done, and then go out to proclaim the Gospel to peoples and cultures Jesus himself never reached.
Perhaps this is why the Lord told them, “you will do greater things than I” (John 14:12), because Jesus never visited Rome, never met the good people of Ireland, and most certainly did not have a chance to mingle with the inhabitants of what would later come to be known as Tiburon.
Jesus also did not speak all of the varied languages his disciples would miraculously be able to use to spread the Good News (Acts 2:1-11), but the Holy Spirit Jesus which promised them did give them this gift — even as faith in the Risen Lord is a gift, not of our own making, but freely bestowed by God.
In English, we are able to see the play on words which existed also in the original Greek, as the disciples are seen with tongues of fire above their heads, which enabled them to speak in different tongues so that people from throughout the world could hear and understand the message of salvation.
In both cases, the Greek word for “tongues” is the same (γλῶσσαι — glossai), and the reader or listener is meant to understand the connection.
From this Pentecost miracle, and from this word, we even today have terms such as glossolalia or γλωσσολαλία — which means “speaking in tongues.”
We also will recognize the word glossary or γλωσσάριο — which Dictionary.com defines as: “a list of terms in a special subject, field, or area of usage, with accompanying definitions.”
Back to the gift of faith! Like all gifts, we can choose to cherish the gift of faith and make it grow, both in our hearts and in the lives of those around us. Or, we can shove the gift aside, into some dusty closet, ignoring it until perhaps we are (as one man in his nineties put it) “cramming for the final exam.”
However, this would be such a waste, both of God’s generosity to us, and of our opportunity to enhance the lives of the people we meet. I am reminded of moving into a rectory once and finding a beautiful gift basket of food which the man had never opened: the treats had expired years before, and the plastic had never been removed from the gift basket at all. Instead of being enjoyed, or shared with others for a nice experience, or passed on to people who might treasure such elegant items, it had been gathering dust long after the priest had died.
So, part of our task as good Christian people is to make sure our gift of Pentecost continues to burn brightly, thanks to the Holy Spirit.
Part of our responsibility is to help those RCIA children, teens, and adults who were baptized, confirmed, and given First Holy Communion during the Easter Vigil Mass find ways to use their own unique gifts right here in our parish, and in their school or place of work.
Part of our duty is to help the young people who were confirmed by Bishop Justice to keep living their Catholic faith, not seeing the
Sacrament of Confirmation as a kind of “graduation” but rather as a strengthening for ongoing goodness.
Blessed Pentecost to you, and to your loved ones!
~ Father Brown
Dear parishioners,
On this last day of the Easter Season, we celebrate “the birth of the Church,” as many have called it. The Holy Spirit comes down upon those closest to the heart of Jesus, so that they might be able to speak in power as he did, forgive sins as he chose to do, reach out to heal the sick just as Jesus had done, and then go out to proclaim the Gospel to peoples and cultures Jesus himself never reached.
Perhaps this is why the Lord told them, “you will do greater things than I” (John 14:12), because Jesus never visited Rome, never met the good people of Ireland, and most certainly did not have a chance to mingle with the inhabitants of what would later come to be known as Tiburon.
Jesus also did not speak all of the varied languages his disciples would miraculously be able to use to spread the Good News (Acts 2:1-11), but the Holy Spirit Jesus which promised them did give them this gift — even as faith in the Risen Lord is a gift, not of our own making, but freely bestowed by God.
In English, we are able to see the play on words which existed also in the original Greek, as the disciples are seen with tongues of fire above their heads, which enabled them to speak in different tongues so that people from throughout the world could hear and understand the message of salvation.
In both cases, the Greek word for “tongues” is the same (γλῶσσαι — glossai), and the reader or listener is meant to understand the connection.
From this Pentecost miracle, and from this word, we even today have terms such as glossolalia or γλωσσολαλία — which means “speaking in tongues.”
We also will recognize the word glossary or γλωσσάριο — which Dictionary.com defines as: “a list of terms in a special subject, field, or area of usage, with accompanying definitions.”
Back to the gift of faith! Like all gifts, we can choose to cherish the gift of faith and make it grow, both in our hearts and in the lives of those around us. Or, we can shove the gift aside, into some dusty closet, ignoring it until perhaps we are (as one man in his nineties put it) “cramming for the final exam.”
However, this would be such a waste, both of God’s generosity to us, and of our opportunity to enhance the lives of the people we meet. I am reminded of moving into a rectory once and finding a beautiful gift basket of food which the man had never opened: the treats had expired years before, and the plastic had never been removed from the gift basket at all. Instead of being enjoyed, or shared with others for a nice experience, or passed on to people who might treasure such elegant items, it had been gathering dust long after the priest had died.
So, part of our task as good Christian people is to make sure our gift of Pentecost continues to burn brightly, thanks to the Holy Spirit.
Part of our responsibility is to help those RCIA children, teens, and adults who were baptized, confirmed, and given First Holy Communion during the Easter Vigil Mass find ways to use their own unique gifts right here in our parish, and in their school or place of work.
Part of our duty is to help the young people who were confirmed by Bishop Justice to keep living their Catholic faith, not seeing the
Sacrament of Confirmation as a kind of “graduation” but rather as a strengthening for ongoing goodness.
Blessed Pentecost to you, and to your loved ones!
~ Father Brown
The Ascension of the Lord
Sunday, May 13, 2018
Dear friends in Christ,
First, my warmest thanks to all who were so kind to me as we celebrated 30 years of priesthood last Sunday: your gracious words, generosity of spirit, and loving stories were a real medicine for my soul.
Sometimes we priests might feel we aren’t making an impact, because we don’t raise families, we don’t build things (like a home), we don’t leave behind children and grandchildren. Then, however, we are blessed by good people like you who told me how much it meant when we were together for the Last Rites of a loved one, or the baptism of your beloved baby, or the day when you exchanged your sacred marriage vows with the rest of us as witnesses!
Too, reading cards from adults, teens and children are a great gift for any priest's spirit, in particular the students, who express things with delightful honesty and insights that make one laugh, or cry, when the heart is touched by something deep and real.
Second, a very happy Mother’s Day to all who are moms, or who have stepped into someone’s life with a true motherly love!
At times a woman who was a complete stranger reaches out to neighbors or students in ways that make such an impact, she ends up getting called “Mom” not because of blood, or marriage, but simply out of love and gratitude for what she has done in another’s life. Many women have done this in my life, and I’ll bet many of you can say the same about women who have changed your life for the better.
Third, the Solemnity of the Ascension we celebrate this day is a beautiful reminder that we are not alone, not left to make everything up as we go along, but rather guided and inspired by the Risen Lord Jesus even as those early disciples were:
So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them,
was taken up into heaven
and took his seat at the right hand of God.
But they went forth and preached everywhere,
while the Lord worked with them
and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.
(Mark 16:19-20)
Jesus told his friends to “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15) so that people of every race, language and way of life might be invited to know God’s love revealed by his Son.
We are part of that blessed vocation here and now, in the way we love and protect our children, in the way we take care of our infirm parents, in the outreach we provide to the homebound and homeless — the list goes on and on.
Even when we imagine we are not making an impact, not making a difference, not bringing about any solid change, someone may walk up to us, in Tarantino Hall, and say, “Mary, I’ll never forget when you did this for me, 20 years back!”
And then our faith is rekindled, our doubts are perhaps lessened, and we feel lifted up with the Lord Jesus, who invites us to taste a bit of heaven long before we die.
God bless you and yours — and our world that needs good people living their faith joyfully!
Father Brown
Sunday, May 13, 2018
Dear friends in Christ,
First, my warmest thanks to all who were so kind to me as we celebrated 30 years of priesthood last Sunday: your gracious words, generosity of spirit, and loving stories were a real medicine for my soul.
Sometimes we priests might feel we aren’t making an impact, because we don’t raise families, we don’t build things (like a home), we don’t leave behind children and grandchildren. Then, however, we are blessed by good people like you who told me how much it meant when we were together for the Last Rites of a loved one, or the baptism of your beloved baby, or the day when you exchanged your sacred marriage vows with the rest of us as witnesses!
Too, reading cards from adults, teens and children are a great gift for any priest's spirit, in particular the students, who express things with delightful honesty and insights that make one laugh, or cry, when the heart is touched by something deep and real.
Second, a very happy Mother’s Day to all who are moms, or who have stepped into someone’s life with a true motherly love!
At times a woman who was a complete stranger reaches out to neighbors or students in ways that make such an impact, she ends up getting called “Mom” not because of blood, or marriage, but simply out of love and gratitude for what she has done in another’s life. Many women have done this in my life, and I’ll bet many of you can say the same about women who have changed your life for the better.
Third, the Solemnity of the Ascension we celebrate this day is a beautiful reminder that we are not alone, not left to make everything up as we go along, but rather guided and inspired by the Risen Lord Jesus even as those early disciples were:
So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them,
was taken up into heaven
and took his seat at the right hand of God.
But they went forth and preached everywhere,
while the Lord worked with them
and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.
(Mark 16:19-20)
Jesus told his friends to “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15) so that people of every race, language and way of life might be invited to know God’s love revealed by his Son.
We are part of that blessed vocation here and now, in the way we love and protect our children, in the way we take care of our infirm parents, in the outreach we provide to the homebound and homeless — the list goes on and on.
Even when we imagine we are not making an impact, not making a difference, not bringing about any solid change, someone may walk up to us, in Tarantino Hall, and say, “Mary, I’ll never forget when you did this for me, 20 years back!”
And then our faith is rekindled, our doubts are perhaps lessened, and we feel lifted up with the Lord Jesus, who invites us to taste a bit of heaven long before we die.
God bless you and yours — and our world that needs good people living their faith joyfully!
Father Brown
Hear the Word of God
Life has been moving fast since I have been ordained. I have almost completed two years here at St. Hilary and it has been such a blessed time. It definitely has been the best part of my 31 years on this earth.
I have made mistakes, been a agent of God’s grace at times, and most of all been humbled by the determination of you all in trying to be holy!
The most common interaction that we have is at Mass and especially through the homily. The homily, especially in the western culture is extremely important. For Mass, the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist are important, but people do not complain about the Eucharist. We all want great homilies! We need the Word and the Eucharist in order to be truly spiritually fed.
The Word that we receive shapes the Eucharist that we receive.
The homily is not the most important part of the Mass, it is the Eucharist. But, we find ourselves relating to the homily and connecting with Christ in a particular way when the homily speaks to us. We have had some people complain that they cannot hear the priest giving the homily and people speaking from the pulpit. This is frustrating for many people.
We have worked on a solution so that those who have hearing issues can hear with more ease.
We have some hearing devices called "Listen Tech" now, devices that connect to our sound system. You simply need to turn it on, wear headphones, and listen!
Here are the directions and they will be available next week:
Listen Tech Devices:
- Get Device from Usher in the Vestibule.
- Turn the volume on by turning the volume wheel.
- Put on headphones.
- Adjust as necessary once you hear someone speaking.
- After Mass, please turn off the device by turning off the sound.
- Return the device to the Vestibule.
Please let us know if you have any questions. This is not a perfect fix, but it hopefully helps those who need some help hearing a bit.
Please do not use the device unless you have had major problems hearing. We do not have enough for everyone to use. Let us know if you have any questions.
I would like to thank the Parish Council for bringing this issue to our attention and Mike Ratiani for his help in getting this installed so more people are able to hear the Word of God and worship with full voice!
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
Little Sheep
During the Easter season there are different themes that are present in the liturgy.
This past week at daily Masses it is that Jesus is the Bread of Life! He is the food that sustains us for the journey to meet our Father in heaven one day. This calls us to reflect on the Eucharist and what it means for us to receive Him.
When praying about this, I thought about the time when I received my First Holy Communion. I remember it well since I was in the sixth grade when I received Holy Communion for the first time. My sister, who was in the third grade received Communion at the same Mass as me. When I was in the sixth grade I wanted nothing to do with my little sister and threw a fit that I had to do something with her. I had to dress up and put on a tie, which was the last thing I wanted to do.
But, I made my First Communion because my parents told me I was going to. There was something special about that event looking back on it. I went to Mass before, but this time, I was able to fully participate. There was something special that I was not able to see until I received Communion. I truly believe it was the grace we receive from Christ even though I did not notice it at the time.
Next Saturday, we are blessed to celebrate two First Communion Masses here at St. Hilary with about 45 second graders. This is a joyous time for our Church that more people come to Christ to receive Him. Our Gospel for this week is about Jesus the Good Shepherd. He knows His sheep and they know Him. The Holy Eucharist is the way that we know the Shepherd. He never leaves us, and feeds us as a shepherd is supposed to do. It is so crucial that the way we worship Christ is to receive Him in the Eucharist because we need food in order to survive, both physically and spiritually. This simple bread, which becomes His body, gives us life.
This is not only important for the young people who are able to receive Him, but it is important for their families and us, as a parish family. It brings a family closer because they are able to receive Him together spend time together as a family. Sunday is supposed to be the day of rest and the family, where we go out of our way to love God and to receive love from our family members. For us parishioners, it is great to see hope in the Church. We always want more people to share in the faith that we love, so to have new people coming into the Church in a more intimate way is cause for rejoice. There are more sheep in our flock!
I ask that you pray for the young people who will receive their First Holy Communion on Saturday, April 28, 2018.
I invite you to go around the Church (after Mass) and see the banners that each one of the children has made. It shows their commitment to their faith and allows us to see them come into the faith. Some of our young people may have the same experience I had of First Communion of it being another day or another event to do. But, we pray that they truly receive the Sacrament of First Communion in a blessed way that truly gives them the Bread of Life!
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
During the Easter season there are different themes that are present in the liturgy.
This past week at daily Masses it is that Jesus is the Bread of Life! He is the food that sustains us for the journey to meet our Father in heaven one day. This calls us to reflect on the Eucharist and what it means for us to receive Him.
When praying about this, I thought about the time when I received my First Holy Communion. I remember it well since I was in the sixth grade when I received Holy Communion for the first time. My sister, who was in the third grade received Communion at the same Mass as me. When I was in the sixth grade I wanted nothing to do with my little sister and threw a fit that I had to do something with her. I had to dress up and put on a tie, which was the last thing I wanted to do.
But, I made my First Communion because my parents told me I was going to. There was something special about that event looking back on it. I went to Mass before, but this time, I was able to fully participate. There was something special that I was not able to see until I received Communion. I truly believe it was the grace we receive from Christ even though I did not notice it at the time.
Next Saturday, we are blessed to celebrate two First Communion Masses here at St. Hilary with about 45 second graders. This is a joyous time for our Church that more people come to Christ to receive Him. Our Gospel for this week is about Jesus the Good Shepherd. He knows His sheep and they know Him. The Holy Eucharist is the way that we know the Shepherd. He never leaves us, and feeds us as a shepherd is supposed to do. It is so crucial that the way we worship Christ is to receive Him in the Eucharist because we need food in order to survive, both physically and spiritually. This simple bread, which becomes His body, gives us life.
This is not only important for the young people who are able to receive Him, but it is important for their families and us, as a parish family. It brings a family closer because they are able to receive Him together spend time together as a family. Sunday is supposed to be the day of rest and the family, where we go out of our way to love God and to receive love from our family members. For us parishioners, it is great to see hope in the Church. We always want more people to share in the faith that we love, so to have new people coming into the Church in a more intimate way is cause for rejoice. There are more sheep in our flock!
I ask that you pray for the young people who will receive their First Holy Communion on Saturday, April 28, 2018.
I invite you to go around the Church (after Mass) and see the banners that each one of the children has made. It shows their commitment to their faith and allows us to see them come into the faith. Some of our young people may have the same experience I had of First Communion of it being another day or another event to do. But, we pray that they truly receive the Sacrament of First Communion in a blessed way that truly gives them the Bread of Life!
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE - “Rejoice and Be Glad” - Pope Francis’ New Exhortation on the Call to Holiness in Today’s World
There has been a buzz about a letter that Pope Francis has written on holiness. On March 19, 2018 Pope Francis read in Rome his new apostolic exhortation, GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE, Rejoice and Be Glad. It has been in the news a great deal this past week because it was released to the public and we are able to read it now. You may be thinking, great another document from the Church or you may be really excited to check it out. Either way, this is a document that is worth taking a look at.
First, what is an Apostolic Exhortation? It is a way for the Holy Father to communicate a message to the faithful of the world, but it does not change doctrine or dogma. There are different levels of letters that come from the Holy Father and this is a lower level, but still calls us to look at it with great care and concern. What it does is focuses our prayer, worldview and works on this topic for a while. He feels that the topic of holiness needs to be address by all people.
I have not had the chance to read through this document carefully yet. I have skimmed it and I believe that it is a perfect time to release this exhortation. All letters or documents that come from the Holy Father are entitled by the first few words of the document. That is why they usually quote Sacred Scripture or begin with the main theme of the document. This document is called “Rejoice and Be Glad,” which is about living a holy life in the modern world. During this time after Easter we celebrate the Joy of the Resurrection. This is what holiness is about. Holiness is intimacy and love of God.
We all strive for holiness, but sometimes we forget that we are trying to be holy. This document is a guide for all of us to achieve this intimacy with God. He has sections on Discernment, Joy and a sense of humor, and he covers different fallacies in practicing the faith. This is a document that will help us grow in love of God and stretch us.
I love when the Pope releases letters or exhortations because they get us thinking, questioning and discussing. This exhortation is a way for us to have wonderful discussions about our faith and striving to be a Saint! We are all called to be a saint, but sometimes we need to look at others and ourselves so that we can grow in love of the Father.
Since discussion is one of the great products of exhortations I would like to invite you come and discuss the document with me! I would like to invite you to a informal discussion on this document on Wednesday, April 25th at 6pm in Tarantino Hall. I do ask that you read the document before you come so that we can discuss it. I also ask if you are not able to come to read it anyway so that you can see what the buzz is. I have heard good things about it and some people have critiques already. The wonderful part is that we are thinking and praying. I hope many of you can make it so we can have a fruitful discussion.
The best way to access the document for free is to Google search Gaudete et Exsultate and go to the Vatican website.
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
There has been a buzz about a letter that Pope Francis has written on holiness. On March 19, 2018 Pope Francis read in Rome his new apostolic exhortation, GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE, Rejoice and Be Glad. It has been in the news a great deal this past week because it was released to the public and we are able to read it now. You may be thinking, great another document from the Church or you may be really excited to check it out. Either way, this is a document that is worth taking a look at.
First, what is an Apostolic Exhortation? It is a way for the Holy Father to communicate a message to the faithful of the world, but it does not change doctrine or dogma. There are different levels of letters that come from the Holy Father and this is a lower level, but still calls us to look at it with great care and concern. What it does is focuses our prayer, worldview and works on this topic for a while. He feels that the topic of holiness needs to be address by all people.
I have not had the chance to read through this document carefully yet. I have skimmed it and I believe that it is a perfect time to release this exhortation. All letters or documents that come from the Holy Father are entitled by the first few words of the document. That is why they usually quote Sacred Scripture or begin with the main theme of the document. This document is called “Rejoice and Be Glad,” which is about living a holy life in the modern world. During this time after Easter we celebrate the Joy of the Resurrection. This is what holiness is about. Holiness is intimacy and love of God.
We all strive for holiness, but sometimes we forget that we are trying to be holy. This document is a guide for all of us to achieve this intimacy with God. He has sections on Discernment, Joy and a sense of humor, and he covers different fallacies in practicing the faith. This is a document that will help us grow in love of God and stretch us.
I love when the Pope releases letters or exhortations because they get us thinking, questioning and discussing. This exhortation is a way for us to have wonderful discussions about our faith and striving to be a Saint! We are all called to be a saint, but sometimes we need to look at others and ourselves so that we can grow in love of the Father.
Since discussion is one of the great products of exhortations I would like to invite you come and discuss the document with me! I would like to invite you to a informal discussion on this document on Wednesday, April 25th at 6pm in Tarantino Hall. I do ask that you read the document before you come so that we can discuss it. I also ask if you are not able to come to read it anyway so that you can see what the buzz is. I have heard good things about it and some people have critiques already. The wonderful part is that we are thinking and praying. I hope many of you can make it so we can have a fruitful discussion.
The best way to access the document for free is to Google search Gaudete et Exsultate and go to the Vatican website.
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
Easter, Now What?
In early March I went on vacation with my parents on a 15-day cruise through the Panama Canal.
It was wonderful and so relaxing! When I got back I did everything I could to have the vacation stick with me as long as I could. I was relaxed, stress free and very happy. I put up some pictures from the cruise around my room, told stories about our excursions, remembered the wonderful meals and tried to keep the vacation feeling I had as long as I could. It was hard to get back into the groove of work. This vacation feeling stayed for a couple weeks and then it was business as usual, which is not a bad thing. The point is that I had such a wonderful time away that I wanted that feeling to stay with me, it was a feeling of hope and rest. Sometimes, liturgically we want to keep the same feeling of vacation and joy such was with Christmas, Lent and Easter.
Lent is FINALLY over! Lent is a long 40 days for some and others enjoy it. It is a time for spiritual renewal and discipline. It is a time to look at one’s life and see how we can improve ourselves, work on our faults and sin, and try harder to imitate our lives like Christ. There are times when we fall in our Lenten sacrifices (which is great for the spiritual life when it is not intentional) and we have great spiritual insights that are given through the sacrifices. There is a huge build up towards Easter. Finally, we get to the Super Bowl of Christianity, the Holy Triduum that ends with Easter. We all celebrate Easter, go to Mass, hear a homily about hope, eat with family and friends, and then it seems that the momentum stops abruptly.
The question is how can we continue to live out the Easter joy after Easter. Too often it seems like another day, another Sunday, another obligation after Easter. Now, the 50 days of Easter are some of the most important days for us to live spiritually. The 50 days after Easter are designed for us to continue to live the Easter joy through our liturgy. The Church sees the need for us to celebrate Easter beyond Easter Sunday because it is a time of hope and we always need hope.
When doing research about the 50 days of Easter, I found a quote from Catholic Digest that explains it better than I could. “Our ancestors found great symbolic meaning in these 50 days of Easter. For example, 50 days is seven weeks — a week of weeks plus one day. That extra day was the Eighth Day, the same name they gave to Sunday — the day of resurrection, the day that symbolized eternity. It’s not just the start of a new seven-day week but the beginning of a whole new creation. Fifty days is also just about one-seventh of the whole year, so these 50 days hold the same relationship to the year as Sunday does to the week. That’s why the 50 days of Easter are known as the Great Sunday of the entire year” (Catholic Digest, 2013). One-seventh of the whole year is devoted to hope in Christ, in his resurrection, in defeating death and in joy! The structure of the liturgy alone allows us to live Easter.
In my Easter Sunday homily I quoted Gerard Manly Hopkins, who is a Jesuit poet and he said, “Let Him Easter in us.” The event of Easter transforms us into people of hope and can be looked at as a verb. We are Easter people and if we believe in Easter, Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection then we should act differently and this is the “Now What?” We are called to live Christ with Joy! So many times you see people in Mass, not smiling, looking somber as if they ate something that is not settling well with them and they have to be a Church. We are saved people! We know there is a heaven and that Christ died so that we could join him there! There is much to be joyful about! Try and be happy at Mass! Quite a task I know! But, our liturgy, our Mass is meant to bring us joy and hope. I know that we have crosses and sufferings in our own lives and it is important to bring them to the Mass and place them on the paten where the bread is and leave them with Christ. But, we have hope and the Mass especially in Easter time gives us hope. For the rest of Easter please make an effort to be happy at Mass and smile! God is so good to us and we have so much to be thankful for!
Just like when I got back from my vacation, I did certain things to make it stick with me. We have to do the same for Easter. Put a picture up of Christ’s resurrection in your home! This is the hinge-point of our faith! When we see this, we can pray to keep and receive Easter joy. We need these visual reminders. When we come to Mass at St. Hilary, look at the stained glass window above the front doors of the Church. It is the Risen Christ. Also, remind yourself that it is still Easter in prayer, in music, and in your disposition. We are called to be people of joy! Easter is a time of joy! Each day, before you leave your home for work, school, fun or whatever, remind yourself of the Resurrection, which ultimately means that you are loved! Being loved is our greatest desire in life and the Resurrection is proof that our Lord loves us as he gave us His only son for the forgiveness of our sins.
There is so much going on during this Easter season that it cannot be all taken in in one day. This is why we have 50 days! Just as I wanted to make my vacation last, make your Easter season last. We all need the hope and joy that Easter gives us!
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
In early March I went on vacation with my parents on a 15-day cruise through the Panama Canal.
It was wonderful and so relaxing! When I got back I did everything I could to have the vacation stick with me as long as I could. I was relaxed, stress free and very happy. I put up some pictures from the cruise around my room, told stories about our excursions, remembered the wonderful meals and tried to keep the vacation feeling I had as long as I could. It was hard to get back into the groove of work. This vacation feeling stayed for a couple weeks and then it was business as usual, which is not a bad thing. The point is that I had such a wonderful time away that I wanted that feeling to stay with me, it was a feeling of hope and rest. Sometimes, liturgically we want to keep the same feeling of vacation and joy such was with Christmas, Lent and Easter.
Lent is FINALLY over! Lent is a long 40 days for some and others enjoy it. It is a time for spiritual renewal and discipline. It is a time to look at one’s life and see how we can improve ourselves, work on our faults and sin, and try harder to imitate our lives like Christ. There are times when we fall in our Lenten sacrifices (which is great for the spiritual life when it is not intentional) and we have great spiritual insights that are given through the sacrifices. There is a huge build up towards Easter. Finally, we get to the Super Bowl of Christianity, the Holy Triduum that ends with Easter. We all celebrate Easter, go to Mass, hear a homily about hope, eat with family and friends, and then it seems that the momentum stops abruptly.
The question is how can we continue to live out the Easter joy after Easter. Too often it seems like another day, another Sunday, another obligation after Easter. Now, the 50 days of Easter are some of the most important days for us to live spiritually. The 50 days after Easter are designed for us to continue to live the Easter joy through our liturgy. The Church sees the need for us to celebrate Easter beyond Easter Sunday because it is a time of hope and we always need hope.
When doing research about the 50 days of Easter, I found a quote from Catholic Digest that explains it better than I could. “Our ancestors found great symbolic meaning in these 50 days of Easter. For example, 50 days is seven weeks — a week of weeks plus one day. That extra day was the Eighth Day, the same name they gave to Sunday — the day of resurrection, the day that symbolized eternity. It’s not just the start of a new seven-day week but the beginning of a whole new creation. Fifty days is also just about one-seventh of the whole year, so these 50 days hold the same relationship to the year as Sunday does to the week. That’s why the 50 days of Easter are known as the Great Sunday of the entire year” (Catholic Digest, 2013). One-seventh of the whole year is devoted to hope in Christ, in his resurrection, in defeating death and in joy! The structure of the liturgy alone allows us to live Easter.
In my Easter Sunday homily I quoted Gerard Manly Hopkins, who is a Jesuit poet and he said, “Let Him Easter in us.” The event of Easter transforms us into people of hope and can be looked at as a verb. We are Easter people and if we believe in Easter, Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection then we should act differently and this is the “Now What?” We are called to live Christ with Joy! So many times you see people in Mass, not smiling, looking somber as if they ate something that is not settling well with them and they have to be a Church. We are saved people! We know there is a heaven and that Christ died so that we could join him there! There is much to be joyful about! Try and be happy at Mass! Quite a task I know! But, our liturgy, our Mass is meant to bring us joy and hope. I know that we have crosses and sufferings in our own lives and it is important to bring them to the Mass and place them on the paten where the bread is and leave them with Christ. But, we have hope and the Mass especially in Easter time gives us hope. For the rest of Easter please make an effort to be happy at Mass and smile! God is so good to us and we have so much to be thankful for!
Just like when I got back from my vacation, I did certain things to make it stick with me. We have to do the same for Easter. Put a picture up of Christ’s resurrection in your home! This is the hinge-point of our faith! When we see this, we can pray to keep and receive Easter joy. We need these visual reminders. When we come to Mass at St. Hilary, look at the stained glass window above the front doors of the Church. It is the Risen Christ. Also, remind yourself that it is still Easter in prayer, in music, and in your disposition. We are called to be people of joy! Easter is a time of joy! Each day, before you leave your home for work, school, fun or whatever, remind yourself of the Resurrection, which ultimately means that you are loved! Being loved is our greatest desire in life and the Resurrection is proof that our Lord loves us as he gave us His only son for the forgiveness of our sins.
There is so much going on during this Easter season that it cannot be all taken in in one day. This is why we have 50 days! Just as I wanted to make my vacation last, make your Easter season last. We all need the hope and joy that Easter gives us!
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
Holy Week Begins
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, March 25, 2018
Dear parishioners,
As we enter into the High Holy Days of our Church year, I encourage you to take part in the liturgies of Holy Week and the Easter Triduum as much as your schedule (and your health) permits.
This is what the Lenten Season has been about: getting us ready to celebrate the Paschal Mysteries, which we do most powerfully by coming to church for the Three Days, the Triduum, using the Jewish reckoning of time.
— The Paschal Triduum begins (and Lent ends) on Thursday night, as we celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. Unlike the other Evangelists, John focusses on service, which is why he tells the story of how Jesus washed the feet of his followers, an act of humility that scandalized them and certainly caught their attention.
— Thus, we can say that “Good Friday begins Thursday evening,” the first of the Three Days. Even as our Saturday night Masses “count for” Sunday, even so Jews and Catholics see the Holy Days begin the evening before, as the sun sets. On Good Friday we take part in all, or part, of the Three Hours, remembering the great sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary for the salvation of all humankind: the most important part of this first day is the Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion at 1:30 p.m., in which we have the moving reading of the Passion, the awe-filled Veneration of the Cross, and the distribution of Holy Communion.
— The second day, Holy Saturday, begins on Friday evening, a period of sadness and contemplation for us, as we remember the time Jesus spent in his tomb, leaving behind his mother and friends who thought all was lost. Throughout the world, these two days make it clear it is not business as usual in the Catholic Church, and no Mass is celebrated anywhere on the planet. Instead, we fast, and we pray for the members of our RCIA group who will become full members of the Catholic Church during the Saturday night Mass at 8:00 p.m., the first Mass of Easter. This year we have children, teens, and adults who will be baptized (Trevor Jones, Tina Wolk, Hoffmann Joachim, Taylor Lynch, and Peyton Lynch), and others who are already baptized and who will join the Catholic Church by making a solemn profession of faith (Andrew Broughton, Heather Flynn, and Connor Kiernan). The entire group will then receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, and receive Holy Communion as Catholics for the first time in their lives. Please join us for this powerful Mass, when the great Easter Fire is blessed on the plaza in front of Tarantino Hall, the Light of Christ is passed from person to person, and this first Mass of Easter makes it clear not only that Christ is risen, but that he is present in our midst, and most powerfully in these new Catholics: right after Mass, join us in Tarantino Hall for a catered reception to make them feel welcomed as the newest members of our parish, and of our worldwide Church!
— The Easter Vigil Mass at eight o’clock on Holy Saturday begins for us the great Fifty Days of Easter, the high point of our year as believers, and the most important celebrations for Christian people throughout the world. This is why Saint Hilary’s is packed, with whole families flocking to Mass to celebrate the Resurrection and thank God for the gift our our Risen Lord who comes to us in Word and Sacrament! During this Easter Season we celebrate weddings, the Archbishop of San Francisco ordains new deacons and priests, and our parish community comes together for First Holy Communion as our second graders bask in the joy of moving forward in their own journey of faith, started when their parents carried them into church for Holy Baptism!
If you have never attended the Easter Vigil Mass, please give it a try this year: it is spectacular, powerful, and a lovely sign that Holy Mother Church is always growing in welcoming new members.
~ Father Brown
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, March 25, 2018
Dear parishioners,
As we enter into the High Holy Days of our Church year, I encourage you to take part in the liturgies of Holy Week and the Easter Triduum as much as your schedule (and your health) permits.
This is what the Lenten Season has been about: getting us ready to celebrate the Paschal Mysteries, which we do most powerfully by coming to church for the Three Days, the Triduum, using the Jewish reckoning of time.
— The Paschal Triduum begins (and Lent ends) on Thursday night, as we celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. Unlike the other Evangelists, John focusses on service, which is why he tells the story of how Jesus washed the feet of his followers, an act of humility that scandalized them and certainly caught their attention.
— Thus, we can say that “Good Friday begins Thursday evening,” the first of the Three Days. Even as our Saturday night Masses “count for” Sunday, even so Jews and Catholics see the Holy Days begin the evening before, as the sun sets. On Good Friday we take part in all, or part, of the Three Hours, remembering the great sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary for the salvation of all humankind: the most important part of this first day is the Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion at 1:30 p.m., in which we have the moving reading of the Passion, the awe-filled Veneration of the Cross, and the distribution of Holy Communion.
— The second day, Holy Saturday, begins on Friday evening, a period of sadness and contemplation for us, as we remember the time Jesus spent in his tomb, leaving behind his mother and friends who thought all was lost. Throughout the world, these two days make it clear it is not business as usual in the Catholic Church, and no Mass is celebrated anywhere on the planet. Instead, we fast, and we pray for the members of our RCIA group who will become full members of the Catholic Church during the Saturday night Mass at 8:00 p.m., the first Mass of Easter. This year we have children, teens, and adults who will be baptized (Trevor Jones, Tina Wolk, Hoffmann Joachim, Taylor Lynch, and Peyton Lynch), and others who are already baptized and who will join the Catholic Church by making a solemn profession of faith (Andrew Broughton, Heather Flynn, and Connor Kiernan). The entire group will then receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, and receive Holy Communion as Catholics for the first time in their lives. Please join us for this powerful Mass, when the great Easter Fire is blessed on the plaza in front of Tarantino Hall, the Light of Christ is passed from person to person, and this first Mass of Easter makes it clear not only that Christ is risen, but that he is present in our midst, and most powerfully in these new Catholics: right after Mass, join us in Tarantino Hall for a catered reception to make them feel welcomed as the newest members of our parish, and of our worldwide Church!
— The Easter Vigil Mass at eight o’clock on Holy Saturday begins for us the great Fifty Days of Easter, the high point of our year as believers, and the most important celebrations for Christian people throughout the world. This is why Saint Hilary’s is packed, with whole families flocking to Mass to celebrate the Resurrection and thank God for the gift our our Risen Lord who comes to us in Word and Sacrament! During this Easter Season we celebrate weddings, the Archbishop of San Francisco ordains new deacons and priests, and our parish community comes together for First Holy Communion as our second graders bask in the joy of moving forward in their own journey of faith, started when their parents carried them into church for Holy Baptism!
If you have never attended the Easter Vigil Mass, please give it a try this year: it is spectacular, powerful, and a lovely sign that Holy Mother Church is always growing in welcoming new members.
~ Father Brown
The Third Scrutiny
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Dear friends in Christ,
This weekend during our Sunday evening Mass, we celebrate the third and final scrutiny with our RCIA members. This is a chance for us to pray with and for them, and an opportunity for their enthusiasm to spill over onto the rest of us. After doing some online research, I found the following insights from the National Shrine of Saint Anthony in New York, which I hope you will enjoy!
~ Father Brown
This week we celebrate the third and last Scrutiny with our elect who are preparing to be baptized at the Easter Vigil. Their time of pre-baptismal preparation is quickly coming to an end and the Sacred Triduum is fast approaching. The Gospel for the Third Scrutiny recounts Jesus’ greatest and final sign before his death and resurrection: the raising of Lazarus from the dead. This is the scrutiny of life. The Elect are asked, together with all of us who pray for them and celebrate the Rite with them, to make a fundamental choice. Will we chose the path of life or will we chose the path of death?
In the Gospel, Lazarus is dead already four days. His body is rotting. The tomb is sealed. He is gone. His sisters had called for Jesus to come while Lazarus was gravely ill but still alive and Jesus arrived too late. Or so they thought. Jesus must push Mary and Martha to the limits of their faith in Him. Can they truly believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life? Can their faith in Him be stronger even than the stone tomb, with its huge rock sealing it and the darkness and death lying within?
“Lazarus come out!”
Jesus does not drag Lazarus out of the tomb. He calls him out. Lazarus must hear the Lord’s voice and he must abandon his tomb. He must come out of the darkness and decay within.
This Sunday we pray that the Elect will make the same choice. The path of the Gospel offers life. The path of this world devoid of God leads only to death. It would seem that the choice would be easy, but it is not and that is why during the scrutinies we pray for them to make the right choice. The tomb has a seductive safety and reality, as does sin: wealth and money are real and they make people feel safe and secure, but can wealth save anyone from death? Anger and violence are real and they make people feel good at times, but do they give anyone the serenity that comes with peace and patience? Prejudices are real and they make people feel superior to others, but do they real cure anyone’s sense of inadequacy? Lust and gluttony offer real pleasures but does using other people and the good gifts of God’s creation for my selfish amusement really offer meaning and joy? Do any of these cure the ache in our hearts that there must be more to this life that God has given us than a slow march to the dark tomb?
No, but their attraction is strong, and so we pray for help. We pray that the Spirit lets us hear the voice of Christ calling us: “Come out!” Come out into the light, come out into life, come out into love, into peace into justice, into mercy, into forgiveness, and into all the joy that God promises us. God did not create us for death. He created us for life –abundant life. The final scrutiny asks us all, as Good Friday and Easter approach: will we choose life no matter what the cost?
~ Joseph Nuzzi, Director of Evangelization
Church and Friary of Saint Francis of Assisi
http://www.stfrancisnyc.org/
The Third Scrutiny
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Dear friends in Christ,
This weekend during our Sunday evening Mass, we celebrate the third and final scrutiny with our RCIA members. This is a chance for us to pray with and for them, and an opportunity for their enthusiasm to spill over onto the rest of us. After doing some online research, I found the following insights from the National Shrine of Saint Anthony in New York, which I hope you will enjoy!
~ Father Brown
This week we celebrate the third and last Scrutiny with our elect who are preparing to be baptized at the Easter Vigil. Their time of pre-baptismal preparation is quickly coming to an end and the Sacred Triduum is fast approaching. The Gospel for the Third Scrutiny recounts Jesus’ greatest and final sign before his death and resurrection: the raising of Lazarus from the dead. This is the scrutiny of life. The Elect are asked, together with all of us who pray for them and celebrate the Rite with them, to make a fundamental choice. Will we chose the path of life or will we chose the path of death?
In the Gospel, Lazarus is dead already four days. His body is rotting. The tomb is sealed. He is gone. His sisters had called for Jesus to come while Lazarus was gravely ill but still alive and Jesus arrived too late. Or so they thought. Jesus must push Mary and Martha to the limits of their faith in Him. Can they truly believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life? Can their faith in Him be stronger even than the stone tomb, with its huge rock sealing it and the darkness and death lying within?
“Lazarus come out!”
Jesus does not drag Lazarus out of the tomb. He calls him out. Lazarus must hear the Lord’s voice and he must abandon his tomb. He must come out of the darkness and decay within.
This Sunday we pray that the Elect will make the same choice. The path of the Gospel offers life. The path of this world devoid of God leads only to death. It would seem that the choice would be easy, but it is not and that is why during the scrutinies we pray for them to make the right choice. The tomb has a seductive safety and reality, as does sin: wealth and money are real and they make people feel safe and secure, but can wealth save anyone from death? Anger and violence are real and they make people feel good at times, but do they give anyone the serenity that comes with peace and patience? Prejudices are real and they make people feel superior to others, but do they real cure anyone’s sense of inadequacy? Lust and gluttony offer real pleasures but does using other people and the good gifts of God’s creation for my selfish amusement really offer meaning and joy? Do any of these cure the ache in our hearts that there must be more to this life that God has given us than a slow march to the dark tomb?
No, but their attraction is strong, and so we pray for help. We pray that the Spirit lets us hear the voice of Christ calling us: “Come out!” Come out into the light, come out into life, come out into love, into peace into justice, into mercy, into forgiveness, and into all the joy that God promises us. God did not create us for death. He created us for life –abundant life. The final scrutiny asks us all, as Good Friday and Easter approach: will we choose life no matter what the cost?
~ Joseph Nuzzi, Director of Evangelization
Church and Friary of Saint Francis of Assisi
http://www.stfrancisnyc.org/
Second Scrutiny: Jesus heals the blind man
The Second Scrutiny
Sunday, March 11, 2018
Last week, we examined the three scrutinies our RCIA members take part in as they prepare to become full members of the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday, March 31, at 8:00pm, the most important liturgy of our entire Church year!
This week, we look at the official document covering the journey of these elect:
From the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, prepared by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy and the Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The Period of Purification and Enlightenment
138 The period of purification and enlightenment, which the rite of election begins, customarily coincides with Lent. In the liturgy and liturgical catechesis of Lent the reminder of baptism already received or the preparation for its reception, as well as the theme of repentance, renew the entire community along with those being prepared to celebrate the paschal mystery, in which each of the elect will share through the sacraments of initiation. For both the elect and the local community, therefore, the Lenten season is a time for spiritual recollection in preparation for the celebration of the paschal mystery.
139 This is a period of more intense spiritual preparation, consisting more in interior reflection than in catechetical instruction, and is intended to purify the minds and hearts of the elect as they search their own consciences and do penance. This period is intended as well to enlighten the minds and hearts of the elect with a deeper knowledge of Christ the Savior.
The Scrutinies
141 The scrutinies, which are solemnly celebrated on Sundays and are reinforced by an exorcism, are rites for self-searching and repentance and have above all a spiritual purpose. The scrutinies are 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. These rites, therefore, should complete the conversion of the elect and deepen their resolve to hold fast to Christ and to carry out their decision to love God above all.
142 Because they are asking for the three sacraments of initiation, the elect must have the intention of achieving an intimate knowledge of Christ and his Church, and they are expected particularly to progress in genuine self-knowledge through serious examination of their lives and true repentance.
143 In order to inspire in the elect a desire for purification and redemption by Christ, three scrutinies are celebrated. By this means, first of all, the elect are instructed gradually about the mystery of sin, from which the whole world and every person longs to be delivered and thus saved from its present and future consequences. Second, their spirit is filled with Christ the Redeemer, who is the living water (gospel of the Samaritan woman in the first scrutiny), the light of the world (gospel of the man born blind in the second scrutiny), the resurrection and the life (gospel of Lazarus in the third scrutiny). From the first to the final scrutiny the elect should progress in their perception of sin and their desire for salvation.
144 In the rite of exorcism, the elect, who have already learned from the Church as their mother the mystery of deliverance from sin by Christ, are free from the effects of sin and from the influence of the
devil. They receive new strength in the midst of their spiritual journey and they open their hearts to receive the gifts of the Savior.
145 The priest or deacon who is the presiding celebrant should carry out the celebration in such a way that the faithful in the assembly will also derive benefit from the liturgy of the scrutinies and join in the
intercessions for the elect.
Sunday, March 11, 2018
Last week, we examined the three scrutinies our RCIA members take part in as they prepare to become full members of the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday, March 31, at 8:00pm, the most important liturgy of our entire Church year!
This week, we look at the official document covering the journey of these elect:
From the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, prepared by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy and the Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The Period of Purification and Enlightenment
138 The period of purification and enlightenment, which the rite of election begins, customarily coincides with Lent. In the liturgy and liturgical catechesis of Lent the reminder of baptism already received or the preparation for its reception, as well as the theme of repentance, renew the entire community along with those being prepared to celebrate the paschal mystery, in which each of the elect will share through the sacraments of initiation. For both the elect and the local community, therefore, the Lenten season is a time for spiritual recollection in preparation for the celebration of the paschal mystery.
139 This is a period of more intense spiritual preparation, consisting more in interior reflection than in catechetical instruction, and is intended to purify the minds and hearts of the elect as they search their own consciences and do penance. This period is intended as well to enlighten the minds and hearts of the elect with a deeper knowledge of Christ the Savior.
The Scrutinies
141 The scrutinies, which are solemnly celebrated on Sundays and are reinforced by an exorcism, are rites for self-searching and repentance and have above all a spiritual purpose. The scrutinies are 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. These rites, therefore, should complete the conversion of the elect and deepen their resolve to hold fast to Christ and to carry out their decision to love God above all.
142 Because they are asking for the three sacraments of initiation, the elect must have the intention of achieving an intimate knowledge of Christ and his Church, and they are expected particularly to progress in genuine self-knowledge through serious examination of their lives and true repentance.
143 In order to inspire in the elect a desire for purification and redemption by Christ, three scrutinies are celebrated. By this means, first of all, the elect are instructed gradually about the mystery of sin, from which the whole world and every person longs to be delivered and thus saved from its present and future consequences. Second, their spirit is filled with Christ the Redeemer, who is the living water (gospel of the Samaritan woman in the first scrutiny), the light of the world (gospel of the man born blind in the second scrutiny), the resurrection and the life (gospel of Lazarus in the third scrutiny). From the first to the final scrutiny the elect should progress in their perception of sin and their desire for salvation.
144 In the rite of exorcism, the elect, who have already learned from the Church as their mother the mystery of deliverance from sin by Christ, are free from the effects of sin and from the influence of the
devil. They receive new strength in the midst of their spiritual journey and they open their hearts to receive the gifts of the Savior.
145 The priest or deacon who is the presiding celebrant should carry out the celebration in such a way that the faithful in the assembly will also derive benefit from the liturgy of the scrutinies and join in the
intercessions for the elect.
The First Scrutiny
Sunday, March 4, 2018
Dear parishioners,
On the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays of the Lenten Season, the Catholic Church celebrates the “Scrutinies” with those adults, teens, and children who are preparing to join the Catholic Church during the beautiful Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday. For those of you who might be witnessing these scrutinities at Mass, I found some helpful explanations from the website of Creighton University, founded on September 2, 1878, by the Jesuits in the state of Nebraska:
What are the “Scrutinies”?
These very special rites are celebrated on the middle three Sundays of Lent, at liturgies where the Elect are present. The Elect are those in our midst who are preparing for Baptism. Part of their journey to the font is that they have been received among us, the Rite of Acceptance, and they have been enrolled in the Book of the Elect in the Rite of Election at the cathedral.
Even if these rites are not celebrated at the liturgy we attend, or not celebrated in our parish or congregation at all, it can be wonderful to reflect upon the journey these Elect are making during Lent, as an inspiration and source of renewal for us in our journey.
These are ancient rites and they may, at first, seem strange to us. But they are profoundly rooted in our human experience. We need to examine (scrutinize) how we are, the areas of our lives where we are tempted, or seriously sin - in what we do and what we fail to do. We really need healing and the strength that can come from the support of our sisters and brothers.
Invitation to Silent Prayer
One of the most powerful moments of the Scrutinies is how they begin. After the homily, the Elect are invited to come forward with their sponsors and to kneel down. Then, the whole assembly is invited to pray for them in silence. It is a very solemn moment. This community has cared for these elect for some months now on their journey. We have sent them to reflect more and more deeply on the Word of God, and expressed to them our longing for the day on which they would join us at the table of the Lord. Now we pray for them in this sacred silence, deeply asking God to protect them and heal them in the weeks ahead.
Intercessions for the Elect
We then pray out loud together for the Elect.
Prayer of Exorcism
Then, we pray that they might be freed from the power of the Evil One and protected on their journey.
The Laying On of Hands
In a silent ritual deliberately reminiscent of the rite used for ordination in the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the priest or deacon lays his hands for a brief moment on the head of each of the Elect. It is a solemn act of calling down the Spirit of Jesus to be with them and protect them.
Dismissal of the Elect
The Elect are then sent forth to reflect upon the Word and this powerful gesture of love on the part of this community, that cares for them so deeply, with the love of Christ.
I am most grateful to the good people at Creighton University for providing us with these insights at:
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Lent/scrutiny-1.html
Father Brown
Second Sunday of Lent
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Dear parishioners,
Just a week and a half after one of the worst school shootings our country (and we have endured many), we heard in the first reading the ancient story of God telling Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, a Bible passage which for most sane people is horrible to hear, and confusing to imagine.
How could a parent kill their own child? How could God ask a father to do such a horrific thing? How can we, as people of Biblical faith, make sense of this crazy, cruel, and mind-boggling request?
Even the explanations of Scripture scholars are not going to be helpful as we mourn the students and teachers massacred recently in Parkland, and the countless others who are killed each year in this country by people with powerful guns, modern weaponry never envisaged by those who wrote our Constitution.
The Bible experts might tell us: “God is testing Abraham’s faith! This story is just a symbol is what God will do for us by sacrificing his own son, Jesus! The hand of the angel prevented any harm from coming to the boy!”
Small comfort for believers who know that violence begets violence, that children (in the womb, in the crib, and in school) deserve protection, safety, and love.
In a similar way, how do we approach the words of today’s second reading, from Romans?
"Brothers and sisters:
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son
but handed him over for us all,
how will he not also give us everything else along with him?
Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones?
It is God who acquits us, who will condemn?
Christ Jesus it is who died—or, rather, was raised—
who also is at the right hand of God,
who indeed intercedes for us."
Romans 8:31-34
A country western song compares the life-giving death of Jesus to a woman giving birth, and a soldier putting his life on the line to protect his country, which perhaps we can understand better. Jesus willingly endured the altar of the cross for our sake — but our school children should not have to fear a violent death when they are simply with their classmates and teachers, preparing for what should be a long and happy future.
Conversion must start first in the mind and heart.
Then move on to the words we speak in our minds, and with our mouths to each other.
Then conversion must move into our hands, and the actions we take with them.
As people of faith, we cannot simply arm every teacher and student with a machine gun, nor can we throw up our hands in despair and claim there is no way to make a difference.
Thanks be to God, the students of Parkland are speaking up, as young Jeremiah the prophet did, and with God’s blessing:
“But the Lord said to me, Say not, ‘I am only a youth’ — for you shall go to all to whom I shall send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.” (Jeremiah 1:7)
Let us pray the adults listen.
Father Brown
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Dear parishioners,
Just a week and a half after one of the worst school shootings our country (and we have endured many), we heard in the first reading the ancient story of God telling Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, a Bible passage which for most sane people is horrible to hear, and confusing to imagine.
How could a parent kill their own child? How could God ask a father to do such a horrific thing? How can we, as people of Biblical faith, make sense of this crazy, cruel, and mind-boggling request?
Even the explanations of Scripture scholars are not going to be helpful as we mourn the students and teachers massacred recently in Parkland, and the countless others who are killed each year in this country by people with powerful guns, modern weaponry never envisaged by those who wrote our Constitution.
The Bible experts might tell us: “God is testing Abraham’s faith! This story is just a symbol is what God will do for us by sacrificing his own son, Jesus! The hand of the angel prevented any harm from coming to the boy!”
Small comfort for believers who know that violence begets violence, that children (in the womb, in the crib, and in school) deserve protection, safety, and love.
In a similar way, how do we approach the words of today’s second reading, from Romans?
"Brothers and sisters:
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son
but handed him over for us all,
how will he not also give us everything else along with him?
Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones?
It is God who acquits us, who will condemn?
Christ Jesus it is who died—or, rather, was raised—
who also is at the right hand of God,
who indeed intercedes for us."
Romans 8:31-34
A country western song compares the life-giving death of Jesus to a woman giving birth, and a soldier putting his life on the line to protect his country, which perhaps we can understand better. Jesus willingly endured the altar of the cross for our sake — but our school children should not have to fear a violent death when they are simply with their classmates and teachers, preparing for what should be a long and happy future.
Conversion must start first in the mind and heart.
Then move on to the words we speak in our minds, and with our mouths to each other.
Then conversion must move into our hands, and the actions we take with them.
As people of faith, we cannot simply arm every teacher and student with a machine gun, nor can we throw up our hands in despair and claim there is no way to make a difference.
Thanks be to God, the students of Parkland are speaking up, as young Jeremiah the prophet did, and with God’s blessing:
“But the Lord said to me, Say not, ‘I am only a youth’ — for you shall go to all to whom I shall send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.” (Jeremiah 1:7)
Let us pray the adults listen.
Father Brown
The Rite of Election
February 18, 2018
Dear parishioners,
Most of us who come to Sunday Mass at Saint Hilary’s, and who read this bulletin, are already full members of the Catholic Church thanks to the Sacraments of Initiation we have received: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist.
Some are still preparing for First Communion, and still others are preparing for Confirmation. During the Lenten Season, a major focus of each Catholic parish throughout the world is the RCIA group — those teens, children and adults who are preparing to become full-fledged members of our Church during the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday on March 31.
This weekend during our nine o’clock Mass, we celebrate the “Rite Of Sending,” asking God’s blessing on these brothers and sisters who will be going to Saint Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday afternoon. They, along with hundreds of other believers from throughout the Archdiocese of San Francisco, will celebrate the “Rite Of Election” during which their names will be inscribed in the Book of the Elect, and Archbishop Cordileone will pray with them as they move toward the joys of the Easter Vigil Mass.
For us who are already full members of the Catholic Church, this can be a time of renewal and inspiration, especially if we have grown a bit dusty in our faith, or lukewarm in our practice of Christian virtue, or if we are anxious and worried about our world and our Church. Being with people who are excited about getting baptized and confirmed at Easter can make us smile, help us remember our own First Holy Communion, call to mind how we felt at Confirmation, and perhaps make a stronger commitment to the Lord Jesus as we pray for them: adults, teens, and children right here in our own parish.
This joy is why our First Communion children so often put a rainbow on their banners, in remembrance of the covenant God makes in today’s first reading from Genesis: “I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” The bright colors of the rainbow point to the love God has for his people — and the cross we make during each prayer, the crucifix we see in each Catholic church, is a reminder that God’s love did not end, but rather was demonstrated by the sacrifice of his only Son, Jesus, who was lifted up to put an end to death, and to bring life to a world made by God, loved by God, and peopled by women and men so cherished by God that he gave us this great sacrifice, once and for all.
Pray for our RCIA members — and all who are touched by their journey of faith!
Father Brown
February 18, 2018
Dear parishioners,
Most of us who come to Sunday Mass at Saint Hilary’s, and who read this bulletin, are already full members of the Catholic Church thanks to the Sacraments of Initiation we have received: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist.
Some are still preparing for First Communion, and still others are preparing for Confirmation. During the Lenten Season, a major focus of each Catholic parish throughout the world is the RCIA group — those teens, children and adults who are preparing to become full-fledged members of our Church during the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday on March 31.
This weekend during our nine o’clock Mass, we celebrate the “Rite Of Sending,” asking God’s blessing on these brothers and sisters who will be going to Saint Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday afternoon. They, along with hundreds of other believers from throughout the Archdiocese of San Francisco, will celebrate the “Rite Of Election” during which their names will be inscribed in the Book of the Elect, and Archbishop Cordileone will pray with them as they move toward the joys of the Easter Vigil Mass.
For us who are already full members of the Catholic Church, this can be a time of renewal and inspiration, especially if we have grown a bit dusty in our faith, or lukewarm in our practice of Christian virtue, or if we are anxious and worried about our world and our Church. Being with people who are excited about getting baptized and confirmed at Easter can make us smile, help us remember our own First Holy Communion, call to mind how we felt at Confirmation, and perhaps make a stronger commitment to the Lord Jesus as we pray for them: adults, teens, and children right here in our own parish.
This joy is why our First Communion children so often put a rainbow on their banners, in remembrance of the covenant God makes in today’s first reading from Genesis: “I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” The bright colors of the rainbow point to the love God has for his people — and the cross we make during each prayer, the crucifix we see in each Catholic church, is a reminder that God’s love did not end, but rather was demonstrated by the sacrifice of his only Son, Jesus, who was lifted up to put an end to death, and to bring life to a world made by God, loved by God, and peopled by women and men so cherished by God that he gave us this great sacrifice, once and for all.
Pray for our RCIA members — and all who are touched by their journey of faith!
Father Brown
Doing Lent
Sunday, February 11, 2018
Dear parishioners,
This coming Wednesday we begin the Lenten Season with our customary Ash Wednesday traditions: fasting, abstaining from meat, coming to Mass, hearing the Word of God, giving alms, receiving the Risen Jesus in Holy Communion, and having our foreheads marked with a sign of penance as blessed ashes are used to tell God — and the world — that we are not only sinners, but true believers who want Jesus in our lives.
It can be awkward to show up for work with ashes smeared on one’s forehead. We can encounter people who ask up what in the world is on our face when they notice something is different. Some may even mock us for having the cross front and center, especially if they are unfamiliar with the Christian faith, or if they have been hurt or scandalized by Christian people.
However, it’s important that we show up, listen to God’s Word telling us uncomfortable truths, and approach the Eucharistic table with both gratitude and sorrow. Grateful for the gift of Jesus in Holy Communion, sorrow for how we, and the rest of humanity, sin and makes this world more divided, less holy, more distant from the God who made us in his own image, and who wants us to come back. The Liturgy of the Word challenges, strengthens, comforts, teaches, and transforms us, if we pay attention, and if we are humble enough to welcome it as God’s message — not merely flattery for our ears.
It is also important that we take the bizarre and eccentric step of having ashes placed on our heads for the whole world to see — even though the Gospel tell us to keep our piety secret. By doing the very opposite, we remind the world that many people still believe in the Lord Jesus, and we remind ourselves that we disobey God, sin against his commandments, and need to repent.
Even our intake of food and drink on this first day of Lent is different.
We avoid meat, poultry, and rich foods, choosing instead simple fare as we obey the Church’s commandment to abstain from those items which, for much of the world, are truly rare and luxurious. Avoiding a bologna sandwich and eating lobster thermidor instead is not what the Church requires, nor what our conscience demands: we should take abstinence seriously by consciously choosing a simple meal, such as rice and beans.
We fast, not in order to lose weight and look better when summer comes, but to remind ourselves that fasting is an ancient Judeo-Christian practice of spiritual discipline, and a healthy reminder that by choosing to be hungry, we put ourselves in communion with the poor who are always hungry, and who have no choice in the matter. The hunger pangs we feel are a small reminder that suffering is a part of life, but that our faith in Jesus means we can put up with suffering and still be faithful. We can use our hunger to prayerfully discern if there are ways we can help others not only during the Lenten Season, but throughout the year — using our bounty to lessen their burdens.
May the days and weeks of Lent be a blessing for you and your loved ones. May our choices about time, food, money, prayer and service become a blessing not only for us, but for all who meet us.
Father Brown
Sunday, February 11, 2018
Dear parishioners,
This coming Wednesday we begin the Lenten Season with our customary Ash Wednesday traditions: fasting, abstaining from meat, coming to Mass, hearing the Word of God, giving alms, receiving the Risen Jesus in Holy Communion, and having our foreheads marked with a sign of penance as blessed ashes are used to tell God — and the world — that we are not only sinners, but true believers who want Jesus in our lives.
It can be awkward to show up for work with ashes smeared on one’s forehead. We can encounter people who ask up what in the world is on our face when they notice something is different. Some may even mock us for having the cross front and center, especially if they are unfamiliar with the Christian faith, or if they have been hurt or scandalized by Christian people.
However, it’s important that we show up, listen to God’s Word telling us uncomfortable truths, and approach the Eucharistic table with both gratitude and sorrow. Grateful for the gift of Jesus in Holy Communion, sorrow for how we, and the rest of humanity, sin and makes this world more divided, less holy, more distant from the God who made us in his own image, and who wants us to come back. The Liturgy of the Word challenges, strengthens, comforts, teaches, and transforms us, if we pay attention, and if we are humble enough to welcome it as God’s message — not merely flattery for our ears.
It is also important that we take the bizarre and eccentric step of having ashes placed on our heads for the whole world to see — even though the Gospel tell us to keep our piety secret. By doing the very opposite, we remind the world that many people still believe in the Lord Jesus, and we remind ourselves that we disobey God, sin against his commandments, and need to repent.
Even our intake of food and drink on this first day of Lent is different.
We avoid meat, poultry, and rich foods, choosing instead simple fare as we obey the Church’s commandment to abstain from those items which, for much of the world, are truly rare and luxurious. Avoiding a bologna sandwich and eating lobster thermidor instead is not what the Church requires, nor what our conscience demands: we should take abstinence seriously by consciously choosing a simple meal, such as rice and beans.
We fast, not in order to lose weight and look better when summer comes, but to remind ourselves that fasting is an ancient Judeo-Christian practice of spiritual discipline, and a healthy reminder that by choosing to be hungry, we put ourselves in communion with the poor who are always hungry, and who have no choice in the matter. The hunger pangs we feel are a small reminder that suffering is a part of life, but that our faith in Jesus means we can put up with suffering and still be faithful. We can use our hunger to prayerfully discern if there are ways we can help others not only during the Lenten Season, but throughout the year — using our bounty to lessen their burdens.
May the days and weeks of Lent be a blessing for you and your loved ones. May our choices about time, food, money, prayer and service become a blessing not only for us, but for all who meet us.
Father Brown
After Meeting Jesus
Sunday, February 4, 2018
Dear parishioners,
Today’s Scripture readings talk a lot about suffering, death, hard work, death, toil, and the general misery of life on planet Earth.
However, the Bible passages also move on to what happens after we truly encounter the Lord, and how we ourselves can help transform misery into mystery, gloom into glee, suffering into service.
For example, the very first words of today’s Gospel are interesting in this regard:
On leaving the synagogue
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.
(Mark 1:29-31)
If you are anything like me, this passage reminds you of so many incidents where Jesus heals a leper, or forgives a sinner, or raises a dead person to life. “Give her something to eat!” “Go, praise God for all his goodness to you!” “Recognize the miracle, be grateful for it, and sin no longer!”
In other words, Jesus is born into our troubled world, and he uses his divine power to do good, to include those whom the world would discard, to speak up for human life, to help those who feel abandoned by God and man, and to forgive sinners who feel they will never experience reconciliation, ever.
Then, he gives them a mission!
Don’t just take this gift for granted, but use your new-found joy to spread the good news (Gospel) to those who meet. Employ your new-found health to feed and care for others. Take the grace you yourself have received and spread it on the lives and hearts of people who need it the most.
If you are new to our community and interested in volunteering, talk to friends here and see if they are doing something you’d like to do also.
Check our parish website at by going to CONNECT, then using the drop-down menu for CONNECT once again, and click on the link in this last sentence, a link that will lead you to the page listing our many parish ministries here at Saint Hilary’s:
http://www.sthilary.org/ministries-information-form.html
See if there is a way for you to plug into the spirit of service here and now!
Father Brown
January 28, 2018
Dear friends of Saint Hilary School,
This is Catholic Schools Week, a time for us to proudly celebrate our Catholic identity and to reflect on the gifts our schools offer to the students and families. As we begin the week I offer the following reflection:
During a speech he gave at the Sorbonne on April 23, 1910, former President Theodore Roosevelt stated that “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” It is not hard to imagine that Saint Ignatius of Loyola would agree with Roosevelt. Both men had physical challenges that led many to surmise that they would lead a much less remarkable life. Amazingly, both Ignatius and Roosevelt surprised everyone and changed the course of human history.
As a student of history I have come to realize that there are some funny, tragic, inspiring, ridiculous, disappointing and transformative individuals from whom we can learn. Some of the most transformative
individuals seem to have one thing in common. Consider the lives of Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Theodore Roosevelt and Ignatius of Loyola. All experienced great struggles in their early life. The resiliency, perseverance and strength that they learned from their unique struggle gave them the tools needed to be a transformative force for others. This ability to overcome a great challenge in one’s life is something to admire and learn from.
Ignatius’ battle injury and subsequent recovery was a something that could have taken him to a life of obscurity. He did not let that happen. Rather, Ignatius took the experience and concluded that God had
something more for him to learn and do, thus making the world a better place. What Ignatius clearly understood and learned from his own challenges was the importance of examining what lessons can be
learned from both the joyful and devastating events in one’s life.
From confronting a bully in school, family challenges, professional setbacks and managing the emotional ebbs and flows of the adoption process, there have been difficult moments that did change my life and how I have approached my life. While moving through the dark times, it is not easy to have faith that life will be okay and that we can learn from the dark times. But, from Ignatius we can learn the importance of taking time to reflect on all of life’s experiences to see how we can take those experiences and use them to be of service to others.
The manner we choose to be of service to others will vary, and hopefully we all have the opportunity to use our own passions, strengths, talents and life’s lessons to provide that service. Ignatius shows us all that by taking the time for self-examination we can see how to be of service. Ignatius’ ideas transcends economic status, race, geography and culture. No matter one’s background, service to others can be achieved by all.
May we all find the discipline to honor the lessons of Ignatius and leave the world a little better than the way we found it.
As the principal of Saint Hilary School, it is my hope that we offer a safe haven where students grow in their faith, develop resiliency, learn, and know that they have the power, skills and knowledge to be a positive force in our world.
We hope everyone has a blessed and happy Catholic Schools Week!
Marie Bordeleau
Marie Bordeleau - Principal of Saint Hilary Catholic School
Walk for Life West Coast 2018
January 21, 2018
I entered seminary January 2, 2010. I remember feeling overwhelmed by the pressure of wanting to be as holy as the other seminarians, thinking about my life commitment to the Church and how life is in public with wearing the clerical attire.
The first time I wore clerics in public was two weeks later at the Walk for Life. I remember being worried about protesters, thinking about what to say about my belief about the sanctity of life and praying for the gift of courage to get through the day. We all gathered in a bus with 60 seminarians and headed to San Francisco. When we got there, we attended the rally. We were so far away that we could not hear the speech. What I remember most about being there and going on the walk was the peace! The people there were walking for life and for all people to know that they are created and loved by God. It was a very humbling experience.
When we actually started walking, I felt that my collar spoke greater words than anything I could say to support life. This walk is about being a witness that life is important from conception through natural death. Life is given to us by God and he is in control over it. Some protesters yelled at the priests, but we were safe and it was the first time I felt like I had publicly stood up for my faith. It is an empowering event to partake in while still having peace in our hearts. My participation in this event shaped part of my spirituality and I chose a reading from Jeremiah at my ordination and it says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” God wills and loves us all.
What I enjoy most about the walk is seeing so many people who believe in life and in God. I heard stories from people who used to work in abortion clinics, people who have had abortions and others who have helped people to stay alive in the other stages of life. It is an event to share with other people and to pray.
This year we have a bus and the information is in a flyer with this bulletin. We will have a Mass in the morning and pray on the bus and at the walk, and I ask you to consider coming to this event. If you at all feel that you may want to come, please pray about it. Before I went to the walk, I did not go to protests and I liked to be quiet about things like this. But, after going once, I have almost gone every year since. This is a cause that I feel strongly about that is supported by our faith.
I invite you to come with me and other parishioners on Saturday, January 27 to pray for people to be open to life. Life is a gift from God and it should be celebrated. I hope to see you there and I will be in my collar!
God Bless,
Father Ginter
January 21, 2018
I entered seminary January 2, 2010. I remember feeling overwhelmed by the pressure of wanting to be as holy as the other seminarians, thinking about my life commitment to the Church and how life is in public with wearing the clerical attire.
The first time I wore clerics in public was two weeks later at the Walk for Life. I remember being worried about protesters, thinking about what to say about my belief about the sanctity of life and praying for the gift of courage to get through the day. We all gathered in a bus with 60 seminarians and headed to San Francisco. When we got there, we attended the rally. We were so far away that we could not hear the speech. What I remember most about being there and going on the walk was the peace! The people there were walking for life and for all people to know that they are created and loved by God. It was a very humbling experience.
When we actually started walking, I felt that my collar spoke greater words than anything I could say to support life. This walk is about being a witness that life is important from conception through natural death. Life is given to us by God and he is in control over it. Some protesters yelled at the priests, but we were safe and it was the first time I felt like I had publicly stood up for my faith. It is an empowering event to partake in while still having peace in our hearts. My participation in this event shaped part of my spirituality and I chose a reading from Jeremiah at my ordination and it says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” God wills and loves us all.
What I enjoy most about the walk is seeing so many people who believe in life and in God. I heard stories from people who used to work in abortion clinics, people who have had abortions and others who have helped people to stay alive in the other stages of life. It is an event to share with other people and to pray.
This year we have a bus and the information is in a flyer with this bulletin. We will have a Mass in the morning and pray on the bus and at the walk, and I ask you to consider coming to this event. If you at all feel that you may want to come, please pray about it. Before I went to the walk, I did not go to protests and I liked to be quiet about things like this. But, after going once, I have almost gone every year since. This is a cause that I feel strongly about that is supported by our faith.
I invite you to come with me and other parishioners on Saturday, January 27 to pray for people to be open to life. Life is a gift from God and it should be celebrated. I hope to see you there and I will be in my collar!
God Bless,
Father Ginter
"God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation." Genesis 2:3
January 14, 2018
After Christmas and Easter, the priests are allowed to take a week of vacation to rest. I took my “vacation” right after Christmas. The idea is that we get to rest up after a busy liturgical period so that we can be at our best. I said, “vacation” because I feel that I am coming back to work to catch up on rest. Without trying, I filled up my vacation with many things. My friend who is a priest in Oakland gave his mother his kidney and I spent three days with them during the surgery and took his parish on that Sunday. (The surgery went well and they are both at home recuperating).
I spent a few days in Napa with family and then on New Year's Day my grandfather went into the hospital with pneumonia. He was there for the rest of my vacation. I feel blessed to have had the time off to be with friend and family whom I care about, but I was so tired when I came back to the rectory. It is difficult to get the true rest that we need.
This idea of rest came to me when I was at the men’s faith sharing group and we were looking at the readings for this weekend. The first reading from The Book of Samuel has Samuel and Eli going back and forth about sleep. Eli said the Lord did not call you yet and Samuel went back to sleep, but later in the reading we see that the Lord revealed Himself to him. The key is that Samuel was in the temple. He was giving the Lord the time that He desperately desires from each of us.
Sunday is supposed to be the day of rest. It is the Lord’s day. Sundays for me are the busiest, yet I still find them restful. How can this be? The Lord’s day or the day of rest is not a day that is without activity. We go to Mass, we do things with our family, we prepare for the following week and try to relax. The sleep that Samuel got allowed him to hear the Lord. The activities that we do on Sunday should give us joy, allow us to spend time with our families, and see the Lord.
I find that when I spend time with my parish family, minister as a priest, and work hard that I feel blessed by the Lord and receive spiritual rest. I may be physically tired but I have peace in my soul.
This is the goal of finding rest on Sundays. Our faith calls us first of all on Sunday to spend time with the Lord at Mass. We give him thanks on the day of rest because the day belongs to Him and He created it. We need to think of Mass as spending time with a family member whom we love. If we do not spend time with someone we love, how can we keep that relationship going? We can find rest in our family. God created us to be in communion and our lives try to mirror the Holy Family. They spent a great deal of time together without television, without Netflix or Hulu and without iPads.
They spent time with each other by simply being present to each other and speaking to each other. Being in communion gives us rest. Our goal is to find rest in the Lord so that we have the strength to deal with the challenges and crosses that we will endure. He carries us through, we just have to do our part to be ready to face them.
Our goal on Sunday is to find spiritual rest! I ask you after reading this article to evaluate the way that you get rest, especially on Sundays.
Here are a few things to consider:
God Bless and Rest Well!
Father Ginter
January 14, 2018
After Christmas and Easter, the priests are allowed to take a week of vacation to rest. I took my “vacation” right after Christmas. The idea is that we get to rest up after a busy liturgical period so that we can be at our best. I said, “vacation” because I feel that I am coming back to work to catch up on rest. Without trying, I filled up my vacation with many things. My friend who is a priest in Oakland gave his mother his kidney and I spent three days with them during the surgery and took his parish on that Sunday. (The surgery went well and they are both at home recuperating).
I spent a few days in Napa with family and then on New Year's Day my grandfather went into the hospital with pneumonia. He was there for the rest of my vacation. I feel blessed to have had the time off to be with friend and family whom I care about, but I was so tired when I came back to the rectory. It is difficult to get the true rest that we need.
This idea of rest came to me when I was at the men’s faith sharing group and we were looking at the readings for this weekend. The first reading from The Book of Samuel has Samuel and Eli going back and forth about sleep. Eli said the Lord did not call you yet and Samuel went back to sleep, but later in the reading we see that the Lord revealed Himself to him. The key is that Samuel was in the temple. He was giving the Lord the time that He desperately desires from each of us.
Sunday is supposed to be the day of rest. It is the Lord’s day. Sundays for me are the busiest, yet I still find them restful. How can this be? The Lord’s day or the day of rest is not a day that is without activity. We go to Mass, we do things with our family, we prepare for the following week and try to relax. The sleep that Samuel got allowed him to hear the Lord. The activities that we do on Sunday should give us joy, allow us to spend time with our families, and see the Lord.
I find that when I spend time with my parish family, minister as a priest, and work hard that I feel blessed by the Lord and receive spiritual rest. I may be physically tired but I have peace in my soul.
This is the goal of finding rest on Sundays. Our faith calls us first of all on Sunday to spend time with the Lord at Mass. We give him thanks on the day of rest because the day belongs to Him and He created it. We need to think of Mass as spending time with a family member whom we love. If we do not spend time with someone we love, how can we keep that relationship going? We can find rest in our family. God created us to be in communion and our lives try to mirror the Holy Family. They spent a great deal of time together without television, without Netflix or Hulu and without iPads.
They spent time with each other by simply being present to each other and speaking to each other. Being in communion gives us rest. Our goal is to find rest in the Lord so that we have the strength to deal with the challenges and crosses that we will endure. He carries us through, we just have to do our part to be ready to face them.
Our goal on Sunday is to find spiritual rest! I ask you after reading this article to evaluate the way that you get rest, especially on Sundays.
Here are a few things to consider:
- Do I give time to the Lord at Mass, in prayer, at grace before meals and in gratitude?
- Do I make an effort to spend quality time with my family such as speaking with them, going on a hike or helping them with something they need help with?
- Do I take time for myself to get physical rest such as getting enough sleep or preparing for the week so that I do not have too much to do during the week?
- Do I have a spiritual ritual or practice such as praying the rosary, doing spiritual reading or going to the chapel to pray?
- Do I have time for quiet reflection and prayer?
God Bless and Rest Well!
Father Ginter
The Blessed Sacrament Chapel
January 7, 2018
Dear people of Saint Hilary Church and School,
As we celebrate the Gentiles joining the Jews is worshiping the Lord Jesus, I would like to wish you and your loved ones God’s blessings in this new year. On behalf of all of us who serve you here at Saint Hilary’s, may Jesus touch your lives and hearts in the coming months, to celebrate happy times, and to cope with hard times.
On this Epiphany Sunday, I also wanted to introduce our Blessed Sacrament Chapel to those of you who are not familiar with it, and to explain its spiritual usefulness for those who do know our chapel exists.
First, its location - the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel is located down the little hallway between the north side of the church (the “Mary side”) and Tarantino Hall. It’s hard to miss, because the stained glass door to the chapel, which is never locked, shows a beautiful monstrance with the Host, welcoming all who want to come and spend some quiet time with our Eucharistic Lord Jesus.
You may easily invite others to come by suggesting they Google the phrase: Blessed Sacrament Chapel Tiburon which will get them to this map.
Second, its use - for many years, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel has been an oasis of holiness, sacred silence, and peace, as people come in throughout the day to sit and adore, meditate, read, pray, or just listen to God in the midst of a very busy and noisy world.
We are truly fortunate to be able to leave our church and chapel open throughout the day, and we are also very blessed to have a dedicated group of volunteers who sign up to make Eucharistic Adoration possible: if you are interested, please contact Diana Rittenhouse or Father Ginter and they can explain how the schedule works, and add you to our list.
Even as the Magi came from afar to adore the baby Jesus, people come from throughout the Bay Area to adore the adult Jesus in the Eucharist, risen and glorified, reaching out to offer peace and guidance to those who come and patiently ask. So often our prayer life, and our work life, is filled with words — but in the Adoration Chapel one can sit or kneel in silence, basking in the Real Presence and offering to Jesus one’s hopes.
Often the door is closed, not to keep you out, but to give those inside a break from the sounds in the church (people visiting with one another, vacuuming, the usual work of church life). Whether the door is closed or open, you are always welcome, which is why the door is never locked.
Some people need more light to read, and the switches behind the door are there for such purposes. Some may find the chapel too chilly, and so the thermostat is available for you to turn up if needed. My hope is that you all, when making a visit to the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel, may find a very warm welcome from Jesus and from his brothers and sisters who might be praying inside as well.
Sharing space is always a challenge, as you know from your homes and places of work. The Adoration Chapel is a place for all, as today’s Psalm reminds us: “Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.” (Psalm 72)
We offer not gold, frankincense and myrrh, but our time, our presence, our love, our cares, our needs, and our hopes for the world, the Church, and our beloved ~ country.
~ Father Brown
January 7, 2018
Dear people of Saint Hilary Church and School,
As we celebrate the Gentiles joining the Jews is worshiping the Lord Jesus, I would like to wish you and your loved ones God’s blessings in this new year. On behalf of all of us who serve you here at Saint Hilary’s, may Jesus touch your lives and hearts in the coming months, to celebrate happy times, and to cope with hard times.
On this Epiphany Sunday, I also wanted to introduce our Blessed Sacrament Chapel to those of you who are not familiar with it, and to explain its spiritual usefulness for those who do know our chapel exists.
First, its location - the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel is located down the little hallway between the north side of the church (the “Mary side”) and Tarantino Hall. It’s hard to miss, because the stained glass door to the chapel, which is never locked, shows a beautiful monstrance with the Host, welcoming all who want to come and spend some quiet time with our Eucharistic Lord Jesus.
You may easily invite others to come by suggesting they Google the phrase: Blessed Sacrament Chapel Tiburon which will get them to this map.
Second, its use - for many years, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel has been an oasis of holiness, sacred silence, and peace, as people come in throughout the day to sit and adore, meditate, read, pray, or just listen to God in the midst of a very busy and noisy world.
We are truly fortunate to be able to leave our church and chapel open throughout the day, and we are also very blessed to have a dedicated group of volunteers who sign up to make Eucharistic Adoration possible: if you are interested, please contact Diana Rittenhouse or Father Ginter and they can explain how the schedule works, and add you to our list.
Even as the Magi came from afar to adore the baby Jesus, people come from throughout the Bay Area to adore the adult Jesus in the Eucharist, risen and glorified, reaching out to offer peace and guidance to those who come and patiently ask. So often our prayer life, and our work life, is filled with words — but in the Adoration Chapel one can sit or kneel in silence, basking in the Real Presence and offering to Jesus one’s hopes.
Often the door is closed, not to keep you out, but to give those inside a break from the sounds in the church (people visiting with one another, vacuuming, the usual work of church life). Whether the door is closed or open, you are always welcome, which is why the door is never locked.
Some people need more light to read, and the switches behind the door are there for such purposes. Some may find the chapel too chilly, and so the thermostat is available for you to turn up if needed. My hope is that you all, when making a visit to the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel, may find a very warm welcome from Jesus and from his brothers and sisters who might be praying inside as well.
Sharing space is always a challenge, as you know from your homes and places of work. The Adoration Chapel is a place for all, as today’s Psalm reminds us: “Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.” (Psalm 72)
We offer not gold, frankincense and myrrh, but our time, our presence, our love, our cares, our needs, and our hopes for the world, the Church, and our beloved ~ country.
~ Father Brown
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
December 31, 2017
Dear friends,
When reading Church titles, or looking a church interiors, or studying official Church documents and rubrics, there is always something that happens.
Namely, the first thing mentioned, or the most prominent piece of furniture in a church building, or the first option given, is always the most important, the ideal, the center of attention.
For example, when researching the many titles held by Pope Francis, one finds this list: Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the Vatican City State, Servant of the servants of God. You will note that the first is his ministry as Bishop of the Roman people, which calls to mind the fact that his most important “job” is to shepherd the faithful under his immediate care.
This is why one sees Pope Francis visiting the sick in his diocese, telephoning people who have lost their jobs, sitting down with the homeless in Rome to celebrate special days. He has more expansive and more glorious roles, but his primary duty is to serve as bishop to his own people there in that particular diocese.
A church, likewise, has many beautiful things in it: a baptismal font, stained glass windows, statues, sacred vessels, a tabernacle, candles, a crucifix — but always the central focus is (or should be) the Altar of Sacrifice, on which the Lord’s Supper is celebrated.
The tabernacle is ignored when empty on Good Friday, the statues and cross are sometimes covered and hidden during Lent, but the Altar of Sacrifice is always the center of attention in any Catholic church.
This is why the altar servers and other ministers bow toward it, for example when they are bringing the Roman Missal to the priest for the closing prayer. This is why the priest reverences the altar with a bow and a kiss as Mass begins and ends. This is why a brand-new altar is consecrated by the bishop of the diocese with Chrism during a special and solemn rite. Why? Because on the altar the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is celebrated, the most sacred and mystical encounter we are privileged to take part in each day here at Saint Hilary of Poitiers Parish.
In a similar way, we see in today’s great Feast of the Holy Family a listing of names that never varies: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
Joseph is revered and important, but he did not carry Jesus in the womb nor give birth to the Savior on Christmas Day. Mary is often called “the first among the disciples” and is reverenced by believers throughout the world: even her name is unique, in that we don’t usually say Saint Mary, but rather the Blessed Mother, indicating her unique status among all people on earth. She was chosen to be the living tabernacle of the Word made flesh, and for two millennia Mary has held a special place in the Church’s devotion and in the hearts of good Christian people.
But Jesus is the center, and it after him that we bear our most important title: Christian. He is the only Son of God, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He is the true Bread come down from heaven. He is the Christ, the Messiah, for whom his people had been longing for centuries. It is he who died on the Cross for us, he who rose and sent the Holy Spirit upon those first ambassadors of the Good News (including his mother), and it is he whom we receive each time we walk forward for Holy Communion.
There are many types of Christians (e.g., Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants), but only one Christ, one Lord, one Savior.
As we celebrate the Holy Family this day, we turn our eyes to Jesus, and
to the two people who loved and protected him, so that he could
grow to fulfill his mission for the salvation of the world!
~ Father Brown
December 31, 2017
Dear friends,
When reading Church titles, or looking a church interiors, or studying official Church documents and rubrics, there is always something that happens.
Namely, the first thing mentioned, or the most prominent piece of furniture in a church building, or the first option given, is always the most important, the ideal, the center of attention.
For example, when researching the many titles held by Pope Francis, one finds this list: Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the Vatican City State, Servant of the servants of God. You will note that the first is his ministry as Bishop of the Roman people, which calls to mind the fact that his most important “job” is to shepherd the faithful under his immediate care.
This is why one sees Pope Francis visiting the sick in his diocese, telephoning people who have lost their jobs, sitting down with the homeless in Rome to celebrate special days. He has more expansive and more glorious roles, but his primary duty is to serve as bishop to his own people there in that particular diocese.
A church, likewise, has many beautiful things in it: a baptismal font, stained glass windows, statues, sacred vessels, a tabernacle, candles, a crucifix — but always the central focus is (or should be) the Altar of Sacrifice, on which the Lord’s Supper is celebrated.
The tabernacle is ignored when empty on Good Friday, the statues and cross are sometimes covered and hidden during Lent, but the Altar of Sacrifice is always the center of attention in any Catholic church.
This is why the altar servers and other ministers bow toward it, for example when they are bringing the Roman Missal to the priest for the closing prayer. This is why the priest reverences the altar with a bow and a kiss as Mass begins and ends. This is why a brand-new altar is consecrated by the bishop of the diocese with Chrism during a special and solemn rite. Why? Because on the altar the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is celebrated, the most sacred and mystical encounter we are privileged to take part in each day here at Saint Hilary of Poitiers Parish.
In a similar way, we see in today’s great Feast of the Holy Family a listing of names that never varies: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
Joseph is revered and important, but he did not carry Jesus in the womb nor give birth to the Savior on Christmas Day. Mary is often called “the first among the disciples” and is reverenced by believers throughout the world: even her name is unique, in that we don’t usually say Saint Mary, but rather the Blessed Mother, indicating her unique status among all people on earth. She was chosen to be the living tabernacle of the Word made flesh, and for two millennia Mary has held a special place in the Church’s devotion and in the hearts of good Christian people.
But Jesus is the center, and it after him that we bear our most important title: Christian. He is the only Son of God, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He is the true Bread come down from heaven. He is the Christ, the Messiah, for whom his people had been longing for centuries. It is he who died on the Cross for us, he who rose and sent the Holy Spirit upon those first ambassadors of the Good News (including his mother), and it is he whom we receive each time we walk forward for Holy Communion.
There are many types of Christians (e.g., Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants), but only one Christ, one Lord, one Savior.
As we celebrate the Holy Family this day, we turn our eyes to Jesus, and
to the two people who loved and protected him, so that he could
grow to fulfill his mission for the salvation of the world!
~ Father Brown
The Nativity of the Lord
December 24, 2017
Dear friends,
To all who are visiting, either home from college for Christmas vacation, or coming to be with loved ones from afar, or spending some vacation time on our little peninsula, we wish a warm and happy welcome!
We who live here and are part of this church and school each day are glad you can join us for one of the major feasts of our Church year, the Nativity of the Lord Jesus — Christmas.
For many, the Christmas Season, which begins Sunday evening, is a time of hope and light, as they see a touch of God even if their year has been heavy. We pray in a special way for people who have lost loved ones this past year, and are celebrating their first Christmas without that beloved spouse, parent, or child. We lovingly welcome all who have come here in search of meaning, perhaps after being away from the Church for a long time. We hope the example of the people of Saint Hilary’s will be an inspiration rather than a disappointment, and that your experience of Christmas this time around will bring you joy and a chance to be closer to God and God’s people.
The birth of Jesus was at first a source of confusion for those who were present in Bethlehem, but God’s voice, through the angel, gently asked them to have no fear, for the child was both human (Christ, Messiah, Χριστός) and divine (Lord, Κύριος), coming into our human family out of love. Not to destroy, but to save — which is what the child’s name means: Jesus, Ἰησοῦς, ישוע (“God will save his people”).
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields
and keeping the night watch over their flock.
The angel of the Lord appeared to them
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid;
for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David
a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.”
Luke 2:8-11
We thank God for this gift of his Son, Jesus the Lord, who is present in our midst and changing the hearts of many toward greater kindness and compassion. We ask Jesus to make us ambassadors of peace and love to those we meet. We call upon the Holy Spirit to help us in bad times and guide us in good times.
We call down God’s blessing on all who gather here, needing it most, asking that it spread to all the world, using their own gifts to make the goodness of Christmas tangible in their hearts, homes, places and work, and in the people whose lives they touch!
May God be with you all, throughout this holy Season of Christmas,
~ Father Brown
P.S. Several people have been asking about the fact that Christmas falls on a Monday this year, and they are wondering if they are still obliged to attend Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 23-24): the answer is “yes.”
Each Sunday is a Holy Day of Obligation, as is Christmas, so the duty to take part in Sunday Mass still is present. If you have young children, or if you have relatives visiting, or if you are hosting a big dinner on Christmas Eve (i.e., Sunday night, Dec. 24), you might want to bring your family to the Saturday night Mass on Dec. 23, and then come to Christmas Eve Mass the next day. Especially when we celebrate the Nativity of the Lord Jesus each year, the Christmas Vigil Masses on Dec. 24 are much loved and very popular!
So, as you make your plans, here is our schedule for the last Sunday of Advent, and the first days of the Christmas Season:
Fourth Sunday of Advent, Dec. 23-24 — Saturday Mass at 5:00 p.m., Sunday morning Masses at 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 11:00 a.m.
5:00 p.m. (family Mass),
7:00 p.m. Sing-Along Christmas Carols with our Schola Cantorum, and,
7:30 p.m. Mass with our Parish Choir
7:30 a.m. (quiet Mass with no music),
9:00 a.m., (family Mass), and,
11:00 a.m. Mass with our Parish Choir
NO evening Mass on Christmas Day
December 24, 2017
Dear friends,
To all who are visiting, either home from college for Christmas vacation, or coming to be with loved ones from afar, or spending some vacation time on our little peninsula, we wish a warm and happy welcome!
We who live here and are part of this church and school each day are glad you can join us for one of the major feasts of our Church year, the Nativity of the Lord Jesus — Christmas.
For many, the Christmas Season, which begins Sunday evening, is a time of hope and light, as they see a touch of God even if their year has been heavy. We pray in a special way for people who have lost loved ones this past year, and are celebrating their first Christmas without that beloved spouse, parent, or child. We lovingly welcome all who have come here in search of meaning, perhaps after being away from the Church for a long time. We hope the example of the people of Saint Hilary’s will be an inspiration rather than a disappointment, and that your experience of Christmas this time around will bring you joy and a chance to be closer to God and God’s people.
The birth of Jesus was at first a source of confusion for those who were present in Bethlehem, but God’s voice, through the angel, gently asked them to have no fear, for the child was both human (Christ, Messiah, Χριστός) and divine (Lord, Κύριος), coming into our human family out of love. Not to destroy, but to save — which is what the child’s name means: Jesus, Ἰησοῦς, ישוע (“God will save his people”).
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields
and keeping the night watch over their flock.
The angel of the Lord appeared to them
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid;
for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David
a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.”
Luke 2:8-11
We thank God for this gift of his Son, Jesus the Lord, who is present in our midst and changing the hearts of many toward greater kindness and compassion. We ask Jesus to make us ambassadors of peace and love to those we meet. We call upon the Holy Spirit to help us in bad times and guide us in good times.
We call down God’s blessing on all who gather here, needing it most, asking that it spread to all the world, using their own gifts to make the goodness of Christmas tangible in their hearts, homes, places and work, and in the people whose lives they touch!
May God be with you all, throughout this holy Season of Christmas,
~ Father Brown
P.S. Several people have been asking about the fact that Christmas falls on a Monday this year, and they are wondering if they are still obliged to attend Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 23-24): the answer is “yes.”
Each Sunday is a Holy Day of Obligation, as is Christmas, so the duty to take part in Sunday Mass still is present. If you have young children, or if you have relatives visiting, or if you are hosting a big dinner on Christmas Eve (i.e., Sunday night, Dec. 24), you might want to bring your family to the Saturday night Mass on Dec. 23, and then come to Christmas Eve Mass the next day. Especially when we celebrate the Nativity of the Lord Jesus each year, the Christmas Vigil Masses on Dec. 24 are much loved and very popular!
So, as you make your plans, here is our schedule for the last Sunday of Advent, and the first days of the Christmas Season:
Fourth Sunday of Advent, Dec. 23-24 — Saturday Mass at 5:00 p.m., Sunday morning Masses at 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 11:00 a.m.
- Christmas Eve Masses at: 3:00 p.m. (children’s pageant Mass),
5:00 p.m. (family Mass),
7:00 p.m. Sing-Along Christmas Carols with our Schola Cantorum, and,
7:30 p.m. Mass with our Parish Choir
- Christmas Day Masses at:
7:30 a.m. (quiet Mass with no music),
9:00 a.m., (family Mass), and,
11:00 a.m. Mass with our Parish Choir
NO evening Mass on Christmas Day
The Third Sunday of the Advent Season
December 17, 2017
Dear parishioners,
You may notice a little change on the cover of our bulletin: namely, we removed the phrase down at the very bottom, “Serving Tiburon, Belvedere, and Strawberry.” This change may seem small, but it comes from the very big hearts of your Parish Pastoral Council members, who pointed out to me during last Monday night’s meeting that this old phrase is no longer accurate.
In the “old days,” Catholics in the U.S.A. had to pay strict attention to parish boundaries, attending Mass in the area in which they lived, getting married only in the parish where they resided geographically, and so forth.
For many years now this has no longer been the case, and so your PPC members encouraged me to remove this from the face of our bulletin. It had never occurred to me, but I thank God they had noticed it and thus make it possible for us to be more honest: that is, we have faithful parishioners who reside in many towns and cities, and it’s not correct to say we only serve — or welcome — people from Strawberry, Belvedere, and Tiburon!
They also asked me why I had added, seven years ago, the phrase In the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco to the bulletin cover when I became pastor.
I explained that when I check out bulletins, websites, and Facebook pages of other parishes, it’s sometimes hard to know where they are located (e.g., Chicago? Los Angeles? Siberia? Mars?), and even harder to know whether the parish is Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Lutheran, etc. For the sake of clarity, I added this phrase, so that anyone seeing our bulletin would immediately know who we are.
In today’s age of “fake news,” this is especially important, because some groups use the word “Catholic” but are not in communion with us, and Pope Francis doesn’t have a copyright on the word, so anyone can plop that term [Catholic] down beside their name, offer to officiate at weddings at Old Saint Hilary’s, and the faithful are very much misled.
This is true of the “White-Robed Monks of Saint Benedict,” the “American Catholic Church,” and other groups too numerous to mention here.
As we approach the great festival of Christmas, I thank God for the many good people of this community who not only serve God and God’s people with great generosity, but also do this with a spirit of joy that can lift us up when we are feeling blue or overwhelmed.
As today’s Epistle says:
“Brothers and sisters:
Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Do not despise prophetic utterances.
Test everything; retain what is good.
Refrain from every kind of evil.
May the God of peace make you perfectly holy
and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body,
be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The one who calls you is faithful,
and he will also accomplish it.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
May the good Lord bless you and yours, whether you are travelling for the holidays of Christmas and the New Year, or staying here at home to worship at Saint Hilary’s!
~ Father Brown
December 17, 2017
Dear parishioners,
You may notice a little change on the cover of our bulletin: namely, we removed the phrase down at the very bottom, “Serving Tiburon, Belvedere, and Strawberry.” This change may seem small, but it comes from the very big hearts of your Parish Pastoral Council members, who pointed out to me during last Monday night’s meeting that this old phrase is no longer accurate.
In the “old days,” Catholics in the U.S.A. had to pay strict attention to parish boundaries, attending Mass in the area in which they lived, getting married only in the parish where they resided geographically, and so forth.
For many years now this has no longer been the case, and so your PPC members encouraged me to remove this from the face of our bulletin. It had never occurred to me, but I thank God they had noticed it and thus make it possible for us to be more honest: that is, we have faithful parishioners who reside in many towns and cities, and it’s not correct to say we only serve — or welcome — people from Strawberry, Belvedere, and Tiburon!
They also asked me why I had added, seven years ago, the phrase In the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco to the bulletin cover when I became pastor.
I explained that when I check out bulletins, websites, and Facebook pages of other parishes, it’s sometimes hard to know where they are located (e.g., Chicago? Los Angeles? Siberia? Mars?), and even harder to know whether the parish is Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Lutheran, etc. For the sake of clarity, I added this phrase, so that anyone seeing our bulletin would immediately know who we are.
In today’s age of “fake news,” this is especially important, because some groups use the word “Catholic” but are not in communion with us, and Pope Francis doesn’t have a copyright on the word, so anyone can plop that term [Catholic] down beside their name, offer to officiate at weddings at Old Saint Hilary’s, and the faithful are very much misled.
This is true of the “White-Robed Monks of Saint Benedict,” the “American Catholic Church,” and other groups too numerous to mention here.
As we approach the great festival of Christmas, I thank God for the many good people of this community who not only serve God and God’s people with great generosity, but also do this with a spirit of joy that can lift us up when we are feeling blue or overwhelmed.
As today’s Epistle says:
“Brothers and sisters:
Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Do not despise prophetic utterances.
Test everything; retain what is good.
Refrain from every kind of evil.
May the God of peace make you perfectly holy
and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body,
be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The one who calls you is faithful,
and he will also accomplish it.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
May the good Lord bless you and yours, whether you are travelling for the holidays of Christmas and the New Year, or staying here at home to worship at Saint Hilary’s!
~ Father Brown
Rievaulx Abbey (North Yorkshire, England) was shut down on December 3 1538, as part of the Suppression of the Monasteries that took place under King Henry VIII in 1536-40.
Second Sunday of Advent
December 10, 2017
Throughout the Advent Season, we hear Scripture readings which encourage us to take our Catholic faith very seriously, as we prepare to meet the Lord Jesus.
This has an impact on what we teach, how we act, whom we serve, and the choices we make.
The first words of today’s Gospel are a stark reminder of this sacred duty:
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way.
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.”
Mark 1:1-3
For some, Advent is a time when they return to the faith of their ancestors, especially if they have gone through a period of feeling alienated, or lukewarm.
For others it is an opportunity to slow down and engage in contemplation, examining how well (or how poorly) they are living out their baptismal call.
I have received a number of calls, emails, letters and visits from people who are distressed that San Domenico School in nearby San Anselmo is no longer a Catholic school. “How can this be?” they ask. “It was founded by Catholic Sisters, it has been Catholic since the 1800s, and now it’s not?”
Especially for alumni of the school, and families whose children are enrolled there now, this is a bitter pill to swallow, and very hard to
understand.
Even though the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael made this public statement on November 13, and the leadership of the school also announced this to the public on that same date, it’s painful and confusing.
Let me bring the Dominican Saint, Thomas Aquinas (+1274) into the discussion to help. As Aquinas points out in his Summa Theologiae, even the Blessed Sacrament can cease to be the Real Presence in rare cases:
“If the change [in the consecrated elements] be so great that the substance of the bread or wine would have been corrupted, then Christ’s body and blood do not remain under this sacrament; and this either on the part of the qualities, as when the color, savor, and other qualities of the bread and wine are so altered as to be incompatible with the nature of bread or of wine; or else on the part of the quantity, as, for instance, if the bread be reduced to fine particles, or the wine divided into such tiny drops that the species of bread or wine no longer remain.” [ST III:77:4]
As an example, if a church were destroyed by a hurricane during Holy Mass, the Precious Blood were diluted by the rain and spilled over the altar, the Body of Christ were scattered by the storm and became moldy, then the Real Presence would no longer be there.
Less dramatically, during visits to the sick and dying, sometimes a person removes the Host from their mouth and hands it back to the priest, and he must dissolve the Host in water, then pour it into the sacrarium sink (or piscina), which goes directly into the ground.
In a similar way, if a school no longer teaches the Catholic faith fully, dilutes the Gospel to being seen as merely one word among many, and chooses to abandon its original charism of being authentically and clearly Catholic, we no longer call it a Catholic school.
This is always a tragedy, and in many ways a terrible scandal, but it’s better to know and state the truth.
Father Brown
December 10, 2017
Throughout the Advent Season, we hear Scripture readings which encourage us to take our Catholic faith very seriously, as we prepare to meet the Lord Jesus.
This has an impact on what we teach, how we act, whom we serve, and the choices we make.
The first words of today’s Gospel are a stark reminder of this sacred duty:
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way.
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.”
Mark 1:1-3
For some, Advent is a time when they return to the faith of their ancestors, especially if they have gone through a period of feeling alienated, or lukewarm.
For others it is an opportunity to slow down and engage in contemplation, examining how well (or how poorly) they are living out their baptismal call.
I have received a number of calls, emails, letters and visits from people who are distressed that San Domenico School in nearby San Anselmo is no longer a Catholic school. “How can this be?” they ask. “It was founded by Catholic Sisters, it has been Catholic since the 1800s, and now it’s not?”
Especially for alumni of the school, and families whose children are enrolled there now, this is a bitter pill to swallow, and very hard to
understand.
Even though the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael made this public statement on November 13, and the leadership of the school also announced this to the public on that same date, it’s painful and confusing.
Let me bring the Dominican Saint, Thomas Aquinas (+1274) into the discussion to help. As Aquinas points out in his Summa Theologiae, even the Blessed Sacrament can cease to be the Real Presence in rare cases:
“If the change [in the consecrated elements] be so great that the substance of the bread or wine would have been corrupted, then Christ’s body and blood do not remain under this sacrament; and this either on the part of the qualities, as when the color, savor, and other qualities of the bread and wine are so altered as to be incompatible with the nature of bread or of wine; or else on the part of the quantity, as, for instance, if the bread be reduced to fine particles, or the wine divided into such tiny drops that the species of bread or wine no longer remain.” [ST III:77:4]
As an example, if a church were destroyed by a hurricane during Holy Mass, the Precious Blood were diluted by the rain and spilled over the altar, the Body of Christ were scattered by the storm and became moldy, then the Real Presence would no longer be there.
Less dramatically, during visits to the sick and dying, sometimes a person removes the Host from their mouth and hands it back to the priest, and he must dissolve the Host in water, then pour it into the sacrarium sink (or piscina), which goes directly into the ground.
In a similar way, if a school no longer teaches the Catholic faith fully, dilutes the Gospel to being seen as merely one word among many, and chooses to abandon its original charism of being authentically and clearly Catholic, we no longer call it a Catholic school.
This is always a tragedy, and in many ways a terrible scandal, but it’s better to know and state the truth.
Father Brown
First Sunday of Advent
Wonderful Ministries, Wonderful People
December 3, 2017
A few weeks back, we had two meetings with the leaders of the different ministries from our parish. We had a great turnout of sixteen different ministries. The point of the meeting was to hear what the ministries do well, what they can do better and how the parish can better support the ministries? We had a great discussion about these topics. We started the meeting by speaking about the Great Commandment: to love God and show this love of God through the love of our neighbor. We have all received this love and when we participate in a ministry, we are sharing this love in the name of God. We are blessed to have so many ministries that share in Christ’s love for all of us!
What do we do well? We have wonderful ministries that support the parish, the parishioners, and the larger community. We have liturgical ministries, ministries to the poor, ministry to those with grief, and ministry to our school. We have many dedicated people who have been in these ministries for many years, and they are very proud of their work - as they should be.
I am humbled by the service that this community continues to give through their time, talent and treasure. Many people of our community are involved with more than one
ministry!
What can we do better?
Firstly, as a parish we need to have more opportunities to showcase our wonderful ministries. We can have a ministry faire, featured ministry in the bulletin, and different ministries showcased after Mass from time to time. This will help the parish be more connected with the ministries. The ministries also encourage the priests to come and support their efforts.
Secondly, many ministries need more volunteers, and there are some where one person is doing the majority of the work. We need to set up the structure of all of our ministries so that there is a second in command if the chair is not available and to help with the responsibility of leading the ministry. Many people love their ministry and leading it, but do not want to lead it forever.
Finally, communication was the main issue. There are things that need to be communicated between ministries and the parish, such as dates for training and other logistical issues. There are many activities that multiple ministries could work on together and benefit from. Many people are not aware that there is a particular ministry and how to get in contact with the ministry.
What the parish can to do help support the ministries?
The first action item that the parish is going to do is create a group email for all ministry leaders to communicate important information from the parish. We will have these ministry meetings every six months so that as a parish we are able to hear the concerns and questions of our parish. We are going to try and have more publicity for the ministries in the bulletin and around the church. Our main goal is in the future to have the ministry faire again so that we can meet the needs of our parish and community and help our parishioners share their gifts and talents.
Please let us know if you also find a need for a new ministry! We know there are many needs and we always try to address them, but please be patient with us. Our ministries are a marathon, not a sprint. We are in this for the long haul!
I want to thank all of those who serve our parish in any way! The parish is very generous with the involvement in ministry. We will have an event to thank all those who are involved in the various ministries of the parish in the new year! We would not be able to function as a successful parish if we did not have the support of our volunteers. I feel blessed to be able to serve at this parish!
If you were not able to attend one of the meetings, and are in charge of a particular ministry, please let us know. We are trying to get all the the contact information and ministry leader names so that we are able to send people in the right direction based on their needs.
THANK YOU ALL WHO CAME TO THE MEETINGS! YOUR TIME IS APPRECIATED MUCH MORE THAN YOU KNOW!
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
fatherginter@sthilary.org
December 3, 2017
A few weeks back, we had two meetings with the leaders of the different ministries from our parish. We had a great turnout of sixteen different ministries. The point of the meeting was to hear what the ministries do well, what they can do better and how the parish can better support the ministries? We had a great discussion about these topics. We started the meeting by speaking about the Great Commandment: to love God and show this love of God through the love of our neighbor. We have all received this love and when we participate in a ministry, we are sharing this love in the name of God. We are blessed to have so many ministries that share in Christ’s love for all of us!
What do we do well? We have wonderful ministries that support the parish, the parishioners, and the larger community. We have liturgical ministries, ministries to the poor, ministry to those with grief, and ministry to our school. We have many dedicated people who have been in these ministries for many years, and they are very proud of their work - as they should be.
I am humbled by the service that this community continues to give through their time, talent and treasure. Many people of our community are involved with more than one
ministry!
What can we do better?
Firstly, as a parish we need to have more opportunities to showcase our wonderful ministries. We can have a ministry faire, featured ministry in the bulletin, and different ministries showcased after Mass from time to time. This will help the parish be more connected with the ministries. The ministries also encourage the priests to come and support their efforts.
Secondly, many ministries need more volunteers, and there are some where one person is doing the majority of the work. We need to set up the structure of all of our ministries so that there is a second in command if the chair is not available and to help with the responsibility of leading the ministry. Many people love their ministry and leading it, but do not want to lead it forever.
Finally, communication was the main issue. There are things that need to be communicated between ministries and the parish, such as dates for training and other logistical issues. There are many activities that multiple ministries could work on together and benefit from. Many people are not aware that there is a particular ministry and how to get in contact with the ministry.
What the parish can to do help support the ministries?
The first action item that the parish is going to do is create a group email for all ministry leaders to communicate important information from the parish. We will have these ministry meetings every six months so that as a parish we are able to hear the concerns and questions of our parish. We are going to try and have more publicity for the ministries in the bulletin and around the church. Our main goal is in the future to have the ministry faire again so that we can meet the needs of our parish and community and help our parishioners share their gifts and talents.
Please let us know if you also find a need for a new ministry! We know there are many needs and we always try to address them, but please be patient with us. Our ministries are a marathon, not a sprint. We are in this for the long haul!
I want to thank all of those who serve our parish in any way! The parish is very generous with the involvement in ministry. We will have an event to thank all those who are involved in the various ministries of the parish in the new year! We would not be able to function as a successful parish if we did not have the support of our volunteers. I feel blessed to be able to serve at this parish!
If you were not able to attend one of the meetings, and are in charge of a particular ministry, please let us know. We are trying to get all the the contact information and ministry leader names so that we are able to send people in the right direction based on their needs.
THANK YOU ALL WHO CAME TO THE MEETINGS! YOUR TIME IS APPRECIATED MUCH MORE THAN YOU KNOW!
God Bless,
Fr. Ginter
fatherginter@sthilary.org
Christ the King Sunday
November 26, 2017
Dear people of Saint Hilary Church and School,
On this last Sunday of our liturgical year, the Catholic Church throughout the world celebrates the primacy of Jesus as Lord and Savior, under the title “The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.”
While this title sounds, and is, lofty, we also are reminded by the prayers and Scripture readings that Jesus, our king, is not a tyrant, but a shepherd.
The world is full of men who take themselves very seriously as rulers, who use their power for their own benefit and that of their relatives, who accumulate wealth and stockpile weapons, who boast of their accomplishments while neglecting the poor and powerless.
Jesus the Lord, by contrast, commands us to imitate his own compassion and service:
“Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me,
ill and you cared for me,
in prison and you visited me.”
Matthew 25:31-46
Good Christian people do this in so many ways, including the Christians of Tiburon. We offer shelter, food and friendship to homeless men each Thursday night. Our children make “blessing bags” of practical items for those who lives on the streets. Our parishioners donate to the Educate A Child fund so that poor students with great potential can get a quality education here at our parochial school. Families and single people take part in our giving programs at Christmas, Thanksgiving, and indeed each week by providing warm clothing, gifts, and food to those who have little.
On November 15 Adrian Gordon and I attended a meeting of the Tiburon Town Council, in which the topic was how to pay for the undergrounding of utility lines in our neighborhood.
We were so grateful to the Town Council members for offering to pay 75% of our assessment, and they made the same offer to CCC, the church up the hill whose members collaborate with us in the REST program each Thursday.
Some residents mocked the idea of helping churches like CCC and Saint Hilary, but the Town Council members explained that such assistance is both legal and proper, because of the service our churches offer the community at large.
When I got up to thank the Town Council members for this support, a couple of people snickered as they heard me explain what we do to help the needy, the grieving, and the homeless — but I can live through such snickering because you, the people of this community, are carrying out the mission Jesus gave us, and doing it with great love and compassion.
You make me grateful to be a Catholic, and a priest.
When the Lord Jesus returns in glory, may he find us still doing deeds that show we do believe, and do listen!
Father Brown
November 26, 2017
Dear people of Saint Hilary Church and School,
On this last Sunday of our liturgical year, the Catholic Church throughout the world celebrates the primacy of Jesus as Lord and Savior, under the title “The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.”
While this title sounds, and is, lofty, we also are reminded by the prayers and Scripture readings that Jesus, our king, is not a tyrant, but a shepherd.
The world is full of men who take themselves very seriously as rulers, who use their power for their own benefit and that of their relatives, who accumulate wealth and stockpile weapons, who boast of their accomplishments while neglecting the poor and powerless.
Jesus the Lord, by contrast, commands us to imitate his own compassion and service:
“Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me,
ill and you cared for me,
in prison and you visited me.”
Matthew 25:31-46
Good Christian people do this in so many ways, including the Christians of Tiburon. We offer shelter, food and friendship to homeless men each Thursday night. Our children make “blessing bags” of practical items for those who lives on the streets. Our parishioners donate to the Educate A Child fund so that poor students with great potential can get a quality education here at our parochial school. Families and single people take part in our giving programs at Christmas, Thanksgiving, and indeed each week by providing warm clothing, gifts, and food to those who have little.
On November 15 Adrian Gordon and I attended a meeting of the Tiburon Town Council, in which the topic was how to pay for the undergrounding of utility lines in our neighborhood.
We were so grateful to the Town Council members for offering to pay 75% of our assessment, and they made the same offer to CCC, the church up the hill whose members collaborate with us in the REST program each Thursday.
Some residents mocked the idea of helping churches like CCC and Saint Hilary, but the Town Council members explained that such assistance is both legal and proper, because of the service our churches offer the community at large.
When I got up to thank the Town Council members for this support, a couple of people snickered as they heard me explain what we do to help the needy, the grieving, and the homeless — but I can live through such snickering because you, the people of this community, are carrying out the mission Jesus gave us, and doing it with great love and compassion.
You make me grateful to be a Catholic, and a priest.
When the Lord Jesus returns in glory, may he find us still doing deeds that show we do believe, and do listen!
Father Brown
LOCATIONC
St. Hilary Church & School 761 Hilary Drive Tiburon, CA 94920-1421 (Near the corner of Rock Hill Drive) Phone 415-435-1122 Email DianaR@sthilary.org In the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco Click on the word "Google" below to find us on the map! OFFICE HOURS
Regular Hours
Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Holidays The rectory office is closed on Independence Day, Labor Day, and other official holidays. |
MASS TIMESWeekend Mass Schedule
Saturday Morning 9:00am Saturday Vigil 5:00pm Sunday Quiet Mass 7:30am Sunday Children's Choir Mass 9:00am Sunday Adult Choir Mass 11:00am Sunday Guitar Mass 5:00pm Weekday Mass Schedule Monday-Friday 8:30am Holy Days of Obligation 7:00am, 8:30am, 7:00pm Confession Fridays 9:00 - 9:30am Saturdays 4:00 - 4:30pm And by appointment with any priest. Eucharistic Adoration Monday-Friday 9:00am - 6:00pm Saturday 9:30am - 5:00pm In the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, between the sanctuary and Tarantino Hall |
MASTER CALENDAR |
© 2019 Saint Hilary Catholic Church & School
