If We Are Pro-Life...

Yesterday was the 45th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. Thousands of peaceful protesters, many of whom were Christians, gathered in the nation's capital to rally and march in support of the rights of unborn children, hoping to call attention to the injustices that have emerged from the Supreme Court's 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade.

Certainly, being pro-life means opposing the practice of abortion. As people of faith, we recognize the awesome gift of life that God has given to each one of us.

In the 1980's, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago advocated for an integrated vision to all life issues. He called this approach the "seamless garment of life," based on the Gospel values of life and the teachings of the Church. Each issue is, in some way, tied to the other. As Christians, we are challenged to be fully "pro-life."

• If we are pro-life, we are to oppose those conditions which often lead expectant mothers to choose to terminate their pregnancies, especially poverty and lack of support.

• If we are pro-life, we must support life in all its stages. To be authentically pro-life means we advocate for healthcare for all. To be pro-life is also to provide educational and work opportunities for people across the spectrum. 

• If we are pro-life, we honor those nearing the end of life. We oppose euthanasia and physician assisted suicide. Life is hallowed, even at its natural end.

• If we are pro-life, we will make sure that the poor, the elderly, and those on the margins for whatever reason will have meals to eat and a roof over their heads. 

• If we are pro-life, we oppose violence in all its forms. 

• If we are pro-life, we oppose the death penalty. We will realize that capital punishment is often based in revenge, not true justice. 

• If we are pro-life, we will reject war. And we reject any language which heightens conflict between peoples and nations.

• If we are pro-life, we will never discriminate against any person based on their race, religion, or sexual orientation. To be pro-life is to reject racism, xenophobia, and homophobia.

• If we are pro-life, we advocate for families. We want to see families thrive, especially immigrant and refugee families who are escaping the violence, oppression, and economic stagnation of their homelands in order to have a better life. 

• If we are pro-life, then we are also to be pro-immigrant and pro-refugee.

• If we are pro-life, we are also pro-woman. We oppose human trafficking. We oppose the business of sex slavery, including pornography. We must also advocate for equal standards of pay, treatment, and safety in the workplace. 

• If we are pro-life, we will protect the vulnerable and fragile environment. We need to recognize the earth as a gift upon which all human life exists.

As Christians, we must strive to be authentically pro-life in all these areas. As the Church, we must not allow ourselves to be hijacked and co-opted by any one particular politician or party on these life issues. Neither the Republican party nor the Democratic party embodies the entirety of this "seamless garment." 

There is much work for us to do in our society to promote life and oppose practices which diminish human dignity. Each one of us will constantly need to be open to transformation and conversion regarding all of these life issues. We may need to gradually grow to embrace some of these pro-life stances and recognize the ways in which we might be violating God's command to protect human life in all its forms and stages.

We entrust our lives and our advocacy for life in all its forms to our Lord Jesus Christ who came so that we all might have life, and have it in abundance. 

St. Jude, Friend of Jesus, Pray for Us

Even though I have been a parishioner at St. Jude's Parish throughout my life, I never truly appreciated devotion to this particular saint, that is, until I discovered how others see him as their last refuge and hope.

While I was in college, I worked at my home parish during the summers, cutting grass and helping with small maintenance jobs. During work one day, I discovered a white envelope tucked in the nook which holds a statue of St. Jude. On the envelope was written, "Open me. I need help."

St. Jude Shrine

Concerned, I tore open the envelope and found a handwritten note along with two dollars worth of coins. The note was heartbreaking. A woman was desperate. Her marital and familial relationships were unraveling. Her career was ending. And her financial situation was dire. She felt betrayed, confused, and lost. This anonymous woman was at the end of her rope. In her desperation, she turned to St. Jude. The note instructed whoever found it to use the money to light a candle at the parish shrine to St. Jude. "Please pray for me," the woman ended the note, "please, St. Jude, help me." 

So I went and prayed. I don't know the name of this woman. And I don't know how her situation was resolved. But I do know that in faith, she turned to St. Jude. This woman trusted that the patron saint of those in desperate situations must be a close friend of Jesus. In asking the finder of her note to pray to St. Jude on her behalf, this woman also put her faith in the other friends of Jesus: you and me.

The faith of this woman has challenged me to always strive to be an authentic friend of Jesus. To be a friend of Jesus means to walk with others in their desperate moments, to accompany them through the pains and struggles of life, to share the joy of Jesus' saving word and activity, and to try to restore broken lives with prayer, gentleness, and hope.

This is the experience of those who turn to St. Jude for his intercessory prayer and aide. They know him to be a friend of Jesus. Hopefully, when we encounter others in such desperate situations, they too will see us as friends of Jesus.

St. Jude, friend of Jesus, pray for us!

Humble Pie

Have you ever had an immensely embarrassing moment that was magnified by the fact that it was witnessed by many people? The sting of scorched pride can be quite painful.

Recently, I was assisting as a deacon at Mass with the local archbishop. The worship space was filled to near capacity. The liturgy was beautiful and everything was moving along as perfectly as humanly possible, that is, until the very last moment.

As one of the deacons, I was tasked with chanting the dismissal. There are several options one can choose from when dismissing the congregation at the end of Mass. I could've chosen to chant the easiest option. It's only three words: "Go in peace." I mean, c'mon! It should've been very, very simple: "Go. In. Peace." That's it! But, I didn't do that. Instead, for some unknown reason, I attempted to chant the slightly longer, "Go forth, the mass is ended."

That choice was a disaster. While some singing voices can be described as smooth and silky, mine might be classified more as lumpy and coarse. Furthermore, as I began to chant, I realized that I had mangled the word order of the dismissal. I stumbled through half the words, then becoming very self-conscious, I stopped chanting altogether. I attempted to plow my way through the chant one more time, pretending as if those first few syllables that I plopped out simply did not exist.

I could feel the eyes of the assembly staring at me, wondering what sort of side-show spectacle they were witnessing. After a fatally-long three seconds of silence, the congregation cautiously responded, "Thanks be to God." I am sure they were thankful to God that the auditory train-wreck they had witnessed was finally over!

How mortifying! The embarrassment I felt rose from the pit of my stomach into my throat. My face was flushed red. Somehow, I managed to stare at the floor during the entire procession out from the sanctuary, down the aisle, and onto the front concourse of the church. Although I tried to avert the gaze of others, I could not hide from the other deacon's friendly ribbing. Once we were outside, he slyly commented, "Well, you might need some practice."

I recount this story for several reasons. In retrospect, it is a humorous reminder for me not to take myself too seriously. While the Eucharistic liturgy is a privileged sacramental encounter with the grace that God graciously extends to humankind, it is also very much a human affair! We try, rightly so, to make Mass beautiful, prayerful, and exalted. But as human beings, we cannot do everything perfectly. And so, we trust that God is at work through the sacraments. In a similar way, we trust that God is at work in our lives regardless of our imperfections, failings, foibles, and flaws.

"Laughing Jesus" by Willis Wheatley

God acts, even when we fall short. Grace is effective, even when we miss the mark. We might feel burdened with our imperfections, of being all too human. However, in dying a very public, shameful, and embarrassing death, Jesus has transformed our own guilt and shame. By his rising, Christ has elevated us beyond anything that diminishes our humanity. Jesus bore for us the pain of shame and embarrassment so that we can experience life fully alive with awe, wonderment, and the joy of knowing that we are loved.

This is good news for all of us! So, embrace your embarrassing moments! Laugh at yourself when you've committed an awkward faux pas. Lift your head high! Let these moments serve as a reminder that our humanity has been blessed and redeemed by our loving and merciful God.

And, as I meant to say once before, "Go in peace!"

Parishes: New, Yet Familiar

Few liturgies match the ritual beauty of a mass of dedication for a new church building. These dedications don't happen too often. That is why I felt so privileged and blessed to be a part of the rites for the new church at my home parish of St. Jude's in Mountain Top, PA.

The construction of the new church building was many years in the making. Many people worked diligently throughout the years to envision a home for the Catholic faith community in Mountain Top. The end result went far beyond expectations! The new church building blended traditional and contemporary elements, creating a mosaic of a living parish faith community.

Parishioners gathered together with Bishop Bambera, Fr. Joe Evanko, and other priests to worship God, to hear the Word, to share the Eucharist, and to go forth to transform the world. Even though the parish gathered in a new church building, we were participating in something very familiar.

For me, it was quite moving to see many familiar faces during the mass of dedication and to realize that there were still many others who couldn't make it or who are no longer with us. We stand upon the shoulders of those who came before us. Our faith is alive, especially as it is passed from one generation to the next. And so, as the ritual unfolded, I found myself reflecting on the significance of a parish.

It is among this faith community of St. Jude's that I was baptized, confirmed, forgiven of sin, and fed at the Lord's table. At St. Jude's, I attended weddings and funerals, I was formed in the Catholic faith, and I spent many hours in prayer discerning God's call for my life. The mass of dedication for the new church building at St. Jude's reminded me that our Catholic-Christian faith must always be rooted in a living community. Parishes are where faith is planted and grows.

Certainly, it was a joyous occasion to watch as the bishop blessed and anointed the new church. It is great to see that this community is now housed in a spacious, beautiful, and functional edifice. But what was most gratifying for me was knowing that even though the Catholic community of Mountain Top now had a new and magnificent church, St. Jude's Parish would still be the familiar living family of faith that continues to guide me (and so many others) on the journey of life.

For more pictures of the Mass of Dedication of the new church at St. Jude's, visit: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1107680626000734.1073742062.313158165452988&type=3

"Behold, the Church's Treasure!"

On this day, in the year 258, Saint Lawrence, a deacon of the Church of Rome, was martyred during the persecutions of Emperor Valerian. As the story goes, St. Lawrence was entrusted by Pope St. Sixtus II with the temporal goods of the Church of Rome to be distributed daily to the poor in the city. When the greedy and corrupt emperor heard of this rumored wealth, he sent his prefect to the deacon Lawrence and demanded that he turn it all over to the imperial treasury.

Confronted with this demand, Lawrence asked for three days to gather the Church's wealth. During the first two days, Lawrence gave away all of the Church's property to the needy. Then, on the third day, the defiant deacon marched to the prefect of the city of Rome with the poor, the homeless, and the ill following behind him. Pointing to this band of outcasts - marginalized, impoverished, and dejected - Lawrence told the emperor's prefect: "Behold, the Church's treasure!" This act of defiance led to his arrest, condemnation, and death. St. Lawrence is honored in the Church as a saint and martyr.

"St. Lawrence Distributing Alms to the Poor" by Fra Angelico

St. Lawrence's defiant words to the prefect should still challenge us in our time! First, we are challenged to consider our relationship with wealth and temporal goods. Our material means are meant to satisfy our needs, and in turn, to help others live a life of dignity, relative comfort, and peace. Are we willing to share our gifts with others who are in need? How attached are we to our wealth? St. Lawrence also challenges us to see the poor as our greatest treasure. In the name of Jesus and his Church, we are called to care for every individual who suffers from the indignity of material poverty, as well as to minister to those struggling with spiritual poverty.

Like St. Lawrence, we must embrace the poor, grow to know each one of them by name, and discover their stories. In doing so, we will see ourselves in every poor man, woman, and child. In embracing the poor, we will come close to God, who in Christ Jesus, became poor for our sake. When we embrace the poor, we embrace our truest and only treasure.

St. Lawrence, pray for us!

Hope for Young Adult Ministry

So often in our parishes, outreach to young adults (ages 18-35) does not exist. We've convinced ourselves that these men and women will automatically maintain their connection with our faith communities while transitioning through the critical years of their lives. Or, as we also tell ourselves, if they do drift away during their young adulthood, our young adults will eventually return once they are married and start their families.

This thought process has stagnated outreach to young adults. Their spiritual and social needs are vast. So many young adults transition from school to first careers (or prolonged underemployment) without adequate systems of support. Some may move into new towns or cities, though many must reside at home due to a lack of affordable housing. They live, work, and socialize among their peers, most of whom do not regularly practice their faith.

Given these glaring realities, most of our parishes are ill-equipped to minister to the needs of this particular demographic. Yet, with Jesus Christ, there is always hope!

Young Adults on pilgrimage in Washington, D.C.

Here in the Poconos, there has been a tremendous growth in young adult ministry throughout the past year. What first began as outreach to students at nearby East Stroudsburg University has evolved into a separate regional young adult group for men and women in their twenties and thirties.

Faith on Fire allows young adults to be part of a faith-based community of peers. Together, we pray, socialize, and grow deeper together in our Christian discipleship. And we have a lot of fun, too! We love to go to different pubs for wing night and on Sunday, explore different parishes for Mass. We've hosted Scripture studies and faith-sharing opportunities. Members of Faith on Fire also joined diocesan pilgrims at the World Youth Day Unite! event in Washington, D.C.

Some members of Faith on Fire at St. Matthew's Parish, East Stroudsburg

This young adult ministry is at the service of our local parishes. Members of Faith on Fire are encouraged to be active, pray, worship, and serve in their own respective parish communities. There is, of course, something quite powerful about being united in the Spirit with young adults who share similar joys, struggles, and desires.

I hope that more young adults in the Poconos will join us. It will require us to be missionary disciples, to go out and invite others into this group. Of particular importance will be our work of going to the "peripheries" in order to bring those who feel marginalized by the Church back into this community of faith and love. Young adult ministry is life-giving and joy-filled. It is also desperately needed!

For more information regarding Faith on Fire, visit: http://www.stmatthewspa.org/68.
Also, check us out on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/151446532031351/?ref=br_rs

In a Spirit of Gratitude

So now that the dust has finally settled, I can finally sit down and gather my thoughts about all that has transpired these past two weeks. On Saturday, May 27th, Bishop Joseph Bambera ordained me to the diaconate. It was a beautiful weekend! To say that I have been overwhelmed by the prayers, generosity, and love of others is an understatement.

In a deep and profound spirit of gratitude, I have been reflecting on the occasion of that diaconal ordination weekend. It is difficult to express my heartfelt thanks to everybody who gathered together to pray for me, to support our local Church of Scranton, and to affirm that the Holy Spirit is very much alive and igniting the hearts of the People of God. But I'll give it a try:

-I am so grateful for my parents, Jim and Maria, for my grandparents, siblings, and my entire family. And I am also grateful for my friends from the many different chapters of my life. They have been my system of support and love for many years!

-I am grateful for the parishioners of St. Matthew's in East Stroudsburg, St. Jude's in Mountain Top, and St. Vincent de Paul's in Dingmans Ferry. These women and men have helped me to grow into my identity as one called to serve and minister in the name of Jesus.

-I am grateful for those deacons and priests who have been present to me throughout my time of discernment. Many have been personal role models whom I hope to emulate in my years of ordained ministry.

-I am grateful to our bishop, Joseph Bambera, for laying hands on me and calling upon the Holy Spirit in this sacramental sign of service to the People of God. I am humbled (and excited) to exercise ministry for the Church of Scranton under the leadership of this successor to the apostles!

-And finally, I must express my gratitude for the ways in which God has worked in my life! I could never have predicted my life's journey to this point. And I don't know what the future holds. But as a wise priest has reminded me, we entrust our unknown futures to a known God. I am grateful that God has given me the gift of life, sustains me in love, and has called me to serve the Church in this particular way.

In this spirit of gratitude, all I can say is, "thank you!"