Beloved in Christ,
 
                                                   Enkindle in Us the Fire of your Love
 
Jesus says in this Sunday’s Gospel, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” ( Lk 12 49). I invite you to join me in pondering on this powerful statement made by Jesus to his disciples and, by extension, to us who are members of his body, the Church. Fire is often symbolic of purifying fire of love in the Bible. Think of the fire of tongues that fell on the disciples on Pentecost. It is a fire of Divine Love. It is a fire that burns and purifies our hearts to expand in love. Think also of the two disciples on the way to Emmaus who felt the fire of Jesus’ words and love burning in their hearts as he spoke and opened the Scriptures to them (Lk 24:13). In the last couple of weeks, we have reflected on the greatest treasure we should seek, Jesus Christ, our friend who loves us. This week, the teaching on discipleship is developed further as Jesus goes on his journey to Jerusalem to offer the new Passover. The love for Jesus and his Kingdom, our followership, and our commitment to Jesus and His truth are greater than any other commitment, even the noble and holy commitment to the family. Love for Jesus and his truth must always be the most significant goal aimed at by his followers.
 
The Love for Jesus and his Gospel was poured into our heart by the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5) at baptism and confirmation. The light lit from the paschal candle and handed to our parents and godparents at baptism should be kept burning until Jesus returns. Our baptism calls for a continuous life of love and prayer. We must continue to fan the flame of the fire of love planted in our life. As followers of Jesus, we must make our hearts be set alight with the fire of Divine Love if we want to endure as faithful followers of Jesus. Jesus himself has demonstrated his love for us. He gave his life freely to us just as the Father gave him, his only begotten, so that we may be saved. Jesus also adds that he had a baptism to be baptized and longed so much to accomplish it. Jesus was referring to the baptism of the passion and the Cross, the shedding of his blood out of love for our redemption.
 
Jesus’ fire of love and baptism demands our sacrifice of love for his name and his Kingdom. Nothing must supersede our commitment to the ultimate love for Jesus and his truth. Jesus calls us to live his life and truth even if it brings us into conflict with the ones we love, including our beloved family. We must be willing to sacrifice the affection or friendship of those we love if they are obstacles to living for Jesus and his Gospel truth. With our focus on Jesus, “the leader and perfecter of faith” (Heb 122), we must be willing to go through the suffering that entails being a follower and preacher of the Way of Truth and Life, just like Prophet Jeremiah endured suffering on account of witnessing to prophetic truth (Jer. 38: 4-6).
 
Let’s seek strength in Jesus our Lord and friend. In the Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist, we are empowered in grace to spread the fire of Divine Love. In our devotion to the Holy Spirit, He will enkindle the fire of Christ’s love in our hearts. In our imitation of Blessed Mother Mary and the saints whose witnesses are mentioned in the letter to the Hebrews 12: 1-4, we can set the world on fire of love. Jesus came to cast the fire of love on the earth and longs to see the world as a whole go up in a conflagration of this divine fire of love. Can we say Jesus’ wish is fulfilled when we look into our hearts and the earth? Each person should ponder on that question.
 
Let us not forget to celebrate the saints of love this week. On Monday, we will celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary with two masses at 7 am in the historic Church and 6 pm in the Church on the hill. On Saturday, the Church will celebrate the memorial of St. Bernard, a beloved disciple of love. Therefore, let us find time to study the examples of the saints who spoke eloquently about the fire of love and bore witness to it.
 
With pure and divine love,
Fr. Bernard, OP
 

 
 
Beloved brothers and sisters,

                                                               Be Always Prepared

Be always prepared. In the middle of the Ordinary Time of the liturgical year, note,  not at the end of the year, the church tells us to be always ready—reminding us of the necessity of vigilance in the Christian life. Be always prepared for Jesus. When I look at the state of my preparedness in different facets of life, whether secular or sacred, I find myself wanting. I am not proud of it, but I got hit by a few home truths each time in the recent past when I thoroughly examined my conscience and got a revelation that I was not prepared. Yet, Jesus, who called us to follow him, has given us enough time and room to get ready for what could be his surprise or unexpected visit and examination of how we have lived our life as followers of the way. We must keep working at it; we must constantly be on the watch.

The excerpt from the book of Wisdom read at Mass this Sunday gives an account of the people of Israel keeping vigil (Wisdom 18:7). Israelites were vigilant in secretly keeping the Passover feast as the angel of death was visiting the Egyptians. The vigilance in worship through the night of darkness is an example for us to imitate. We must always focus on the Lord through the tragedies and the vagaries of life. In the letter to Hebrews, we read about our ancestors in faith who prepared patiently for the fulfillment of God's promise. Abraham, for example, lived a heroic life of faithful waiting on God's promises throughout his life (Hebrew 11: 9). In the Gospel according to Luke (12: 35,40), Jesus instructs his disciples to "be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."

In my ministry to the sick and dying, I have had privileged opportunities to prepare souls for the end of their earthly life. Therefore, it is always my prayer that as the dying face Jesus in their last days, they do so with a clear conscience that they have used their entire lifetime and gifts bestowed on them to prepare for the divine encounter. If they're short of expectations, I always assure them of God's mercy if they ask for it. So likewise, we must live our faith wholly in preparation for the face-to-face meeting with Jesus on the last day of our life. So much grace has been given to help us prepare adequately for the last day. But are we using those graces and talents effectively? This Sunday is another opportunity for us to make a sincere examination of conscience regarding our state of preparedness for the Lord. In doing so, we will always be prepared.

Please Note: This is a week of feasts. May I suggest you prepare to join me in celebrating the feast of St. Dominic tomorrow, August 8? As a member of the Order of Preachers, known as Dominicans, I cherish celebrating my religious order's founder feast day. I plan to join my brothers in Maryland for community mass in the afternoon and a fraternal soiree.

And may I add, be prepared for Friday. Something special will be remembered and celebrated on a joyful Friday! Lol!

In Christ,

Fr. Bernard, OP
 

 
 
 
Beloved brothers and sisters,
                                                         I Want to be Rich!

I want to be rich! Is this aspiration a vain one? It is not if we do not see wealth as the supreme good. It is lawful and noble to work hard to make a lot of money. The danger lies when the acquisition of wealth becomes an absolute life goal. The endless pursuit of wealth sooner or later "becomes an obstacle to individual fulfillment and to man's true greatness. Both for nations and for individuals, avarice is the most evident form of moral underdevelopment" (Paul VI. Populorum Progressio, 19).

Having wealth is not the problem. Attitude towards wealth is the problem. The greed for money, to have and to hold on to it, leads to its worship and idolization. When our soul and society are money-driven, we lose sight of the Creator whom we should make our ultimate goal. To what do I ascribe absolute worth? To what do I invest most of my time and energy? Is the accumulation of wealth my utmost priority? The parable of the rich fool is an instruction on letting spiritual wealth be our ultimate goal. Human happiness will not be found in the accumulation of wealth. The incredible treasure to lay up for ourselves is richness toward God. This spiritual goal means building up a spiritual empire of virtue.

Do I want to be rich? Yes. I want to be rich above all in the sight of God. I want to accumulate spiritual treasures because it is the only treasure that lasts eternally. Material wealth is fleeting and temporary, but spiritual wealth has lasting value. Indeed, the moral act of giving to those in need from our material wealth gives it spiritual dividends. If we have material wealth through our hard work and God's grace, we should expend it generously towards restoring human dignity to the poor in our society. The use of our wealth in the service of the poor among us rather than in indulgence in selfish pleasure is one of the primary goals of Pope Francis' pontificate- wealthy Christians and nations should use their God-given wealth, the fruits of their labor, in the service of the poor. In this way, they lay treasure in heaven through their material wealth. We must stand with Pope Francis in his desire for the church: "How I long for a poor Church for the poor!" For this reason, I want to be rich.

In Christ,

Fr. Bernard, OP
 

 Beloved brothers and sisters,
                                                                          Pray Persistently
​
The theme of persistence in prayer runs through the liturgy of the word for this Sunday. From Abraham’s bargaining with God (Gen. 18:20-32) to Jesus’ teaching on how to pray (Lk 11:1-13), followers of Jesus are instructed not only to pray but to pray persistently. One of the moments that stuck with me during the Vacation Bible School (VBS) held in our parish this past week was a skit performed by our parish volunteer youths. The performance on day two of VBS began with Abby (playing the role of Mrs. O, a classroom teacher) telling her students that for the day’s lesson, they were going to learn about prayer. The class unfolds with a discussion on prayer. Prayer is not “rocket science,” it is simple, explains Mrs. O. She goes further to say that God is always listening to our prayers, whatever form they come in. God always listens to our prayers. This is true. Even when we don’t feel so, God listens. Then why do we need to keep asking, seeking, and knocking to get God to answer our prayers?
Praying persistently is a given in the life of a Christian. God is not absent or deaf. He is alive and living, yet Jesus and the Bible encourage us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thes. 5: 17-19). Praying consistently is a sign of our deep and personal relationship with God. It demands an ongoing conversation with our Father, Abba. In addressing God continually in prayer, we are not only signifying our dependence on him but establishing our love for him. When you love a person, you look forward to speaking with the one you love as often as possible. Also, when you love a person, you are most likely to confess that love in words: “I love you.” It is the same with the life of prayer. We persist in prayer to confess our unending love for God. Also, the more frequently we turn to God in prayer, the more we become aware of his will and are more disposed to accept his will. Praying persistently opens us up to more of God’s plans and grace. Prayer transforms our perception and changes the world. But these transformations happen the more we humbly turn to God in prayers.
Last Sunday, we aligned ourselves with Mary by sitting at the feet of Jesus to listen to him. We may add to that humble listening disposition today by speaking words of prayers to Jesus, whom we have and will continue to listen to. We are invited to ask him for our needs, seek his face and blessings, and knock persistently at the door of his mercy and love. We should never take a break from praying. In all seasons, in all conditions, in abundance and dryness, the love of God should urge us to remain in our prayers. Prayer is the key to a robust and healthy relationship with God. Without earnest and frequent prayers, we become susceptible to the influence of the diabolic one. We can only stay in love with Jesus and resist the lure of sin and the devil when we pray persistently. As Catholics, we pray the Lord’s Prayer frequently. Let us never start our day or let a day go without praying the prayer Jesus taught his followers because it contains all the essential things needed for our spiritual growth. With deep faith and affection, and from a place of love and devotion, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, pray “Jesus is Lord,” or any other ejaculatory prayer throughout the day. I can guarantee that you will grow in your faith in God and love for his Kingdom.
 
Through Christ, Our Lord,
Fr. Bernard, OP
 

Beloved brothers and sisters,
 
                                       Listening to Jesus
 
Our gospel reading for this Sunday is about Mary and Martha. Mary listened with delight to the sweet wisdom coming from the words of Jesus, the Word who took flesh (Lk 10:39), while Martha was more attentive to hospitality toward Jesus. We need to stress that Jesus does not condemn the hospitality displayed by Martha. Instead, Jesus draws our attention to the more important act of listening to his words rather than getting anxious or worried over the cares of the body and temporal affairs. Jesus’ remonstration of Martha is not a case of raising the act of contemplative listening to the Word of life and putting down an active life of hospitality. Instead, Jesus instructs us to do both. We heard in our Gospel on the Good Samaritan last week that Jesus cares for service and acts of hospitality. He, however, does not want our preoccupation with the latter to lead to worries and anxiety to the point of ignoring the more critical act, that is, listening with our whole heart to the words of Jesus.
 
We have the example of Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the second chapter of Luke’s Gospel ( 2:19). The Bible says that Mary pondered the words of Jesus in her heart. We must find time and place to listen to Jesus speak to our hearts. God wants us to keep his words with a generous heart (Lk 8:15). It is vital to discipleship to spend time with Jesus in silence listening. We should set aside time and place daily to listen to Jesus speak to our hearts. We must cultivate the art of silence to be enriched by this spiritual practice. Scriptures are also of vital importance in attempting to listen to Jesus. We can engage in spiritual exercises of Lectio Divina. We have one planned for the parish in Fall. Be on a watch out for this.
 
I am writing this message from Lagos, Nigeria. In a few days, I will return home to the United States. I have had one of the best vacations of my life. After being away from my home country, from family and friends for six years, these past three weeks have been refreshing and reassuring about the importance of family and friends in living a healthy life. I am thankful for your prayers and support. But, it is now time to get back to action. But, listening comes first.
 
 
In Christ,
 
Fr. Bernard, OP
 

 
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
 
                                                                        Go and Do Likewise 
 
"Go and do likewise " (Lk 10:37), Jesus says to the scholar of the law who puts him to text. He asked an important question: "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" but he asked with a bad motive. Irrespective of the intent, the question is a fundamental one for how we see our life here on earth. We must live in the presence with a long term view of living eternally in heaven with God. What do we need to do to gain eternal life? 
 
To live eternally after the life here and now is tied to what we do in the name of Christ. As Christians, Christ calls us to bear witness to acts of love and mercy (hence,  we need to revisit the seven corporal and spiritual works of mercy). Jesus quotes the torah to the scholar of law, he quotes from books of Deuteronomy and Leviticus, love God and love your neighbors as yourself. 
 
I'm aware we have heard this message over and over but we can see that the message has not been well engrained in us. There are people around us yet to experience our acts of love, mercy and compassion- in a Christlike way. Our church, towns and country need more Christians who will take care of suffering neighbors. We need devout Catholics who not only pray but Catholics who also pour wine and oil on wounds of their neighbors. We see sights of horror and pain as we go about our beautiful cities but we also see struggling neighbors in our cities. I see them in New York,  here in Elizabethtown, and here in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria (I'm writing this message from Abuja). Each time you see those suffering neighbors, pay attention to what the Holy Spirit says to you about them. He will instruct you in the mandate of Jesus to be a Good Samaritan who bandaged the wounds of his suffering neighbor. Look around you and, "go and do likewise."
 
People need love and mercy from us. Will you revisit the Catholic corporal works of mercy this week? Check the Catechism of the Catholic Church or just google it. Show Christlike love and mercy today and always. May God reward our acts of mercy with eternal life.
 
With love from Abuja, Nigeria. See you all next week. 
 
Fr. Bernard, OP 
 

Beloved brothers and sisters,
 
                                                                 He is Our Peace
 
Jesus appointed the seventy-two and sent them to proclaim peace to those who will accept it (Lk 10:1-9). Let us reflect briefly on the theme of peace. You must agree with me that our world and, may I add, our Church needs a message of peace today more than ever. Jesus, the prince of peace, wants us to have peace. What is this peace we are talking about? What does it entail? As we hear the priest say in the eucharistic prayers, Jesus comes to give us peace, the type of peace the world cannot give. And we do exchange the sign of peace during mass. This peace flows from Jesus present sacramentally on the altar after consecration. Jesus truly gives us peace.
 
Again, what is the peace that Jesus offers? Are we following Jesus' instruction to the seventy-two to announce and share his peace with the world? Jesus also says to us in the beatitude, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God" (Mt 5:9). Since we are children of God, we should be peacemakers. Jesus wants his followers to spread his peace to all. He is our peace.
 
The catechism of the Catholic Church says the following about peace: "Respect for and development of human life require peace; Peace is not merely the absence of war, and it is not limited to maintaining a balance of powers between adversaries. 'Peace is the tranquillity of order'. Peace is the work of justice and the effect of charity" (CCC 2304).
 
The tranquility of order. That is the peace of Christ, the peace we need. We need to work according to the order of things defined by God and nature. This can be applied to every facet of our day-to-day living with others. We must sit at the feet of Jesus and learn what peace entails. We must practice peace as Jesus reveals it to us. We need his grace to fly on the wings of justice and charity to bring about peace in our hearts, our family, our parish, our Church, our community, and our world. Let the peace of Christ be shared among us.
 
I write this from Lagos, Nigeria where I am spending most of my annual vacation. It is peaceful here even amidst the traffic and fast life. Even as you hear reports of violence, I am enjoying the peace of Christ. I am with my sisters, nieces and nephews. In the spirit of peace that only Jesus can give, we hope to witness a peaceful union of my niece to her spouse on Thursday and Friday (yes, we have a two-day wedding consisting of traditional and church wedding ceremonies). I look forward to those days. Keep me in your prayers as I do the same for you from Lagos, Nigeria. I miss you all.
 
Peace be with you.
 
Fr. Bernard, OP
 

Beloved brothers and sisters,
 
                                                                                 Follow Me
 
In the gospel for this Sunday’s mass from Lk 9: 51-62, Jesus speaks of the challenging demands of discipleship. First, he says to one, “follow me” (v. 59), and then he makes it clear that following him is based on unconditional love; there is no room for distraction. The conditions for following Jesus are often harsh, but the rewards far outweigh the difficulties. Last Sunday’s Corpus Christi procession after the 10:30 am mass demonstrated following Jesus without counting the cost. Many of our faith-filled parishioners came to mass and walked to the historic church in the sun's heat. We prayed and sang as we carried Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament through the center of Elizabethtown. It was a joyful crowd and lovely sight to behold!
 
I want to say a big thank you to all of you for making it a beautiful witness to our faith in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Special thanks to those who prepared and participated in the liturgy: the choir, St. Michael’s Guard, altar servers, First Holy communicants, CCW, Men’s Club, Knights of Columbus, sacristan, and other liturgical support.
 
Let me also take a moment to express gratitude for all the cash support and kindness toward my vacation to Nigeria. I am writing this from JFK airport as I wait to board a Delta flight to Lagos. By the time you read this, I should have arrived in Nigeria a couple of days already and enjoyed special moments with my family and friends after a six-year hiatus. So keep me in your prayers as I do the same for you. I already miss you all.
 
In Christ,
 
Fr. Bernard, OP
 

Beloved brothers and sisters,
                                                                      In Remembrance of Me
​
Jesus instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and the Holy Priesthood at the same time on Holy Thursday. It has been a Christian doctrine from the beginning of the Church that Jesus commanded his followers to celebrate his paschal mystery after his departure until his return. In this way, he always remains with us until the end. At the last supper, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke it. In like manner, he took the cup and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me" (1 Cor. 11:25-26). We keep the memory of his self-oblation when the priest, at Mass, and in remembrance of him, consecrate the bread and wine. A priest, like Melchizedek (Gen. 14: 18-20) and in the person of Jesus, the true High Priest, confects the bread and wine. And in the words of consecration, the words of Jesus himself, and by the power of the Holy Spirit expressed in the epiclesis, he makes Jesus Christ truly present on the altar for our nourishment. Not only are we nourished spiritually from the abundance of his body, blood, soul, and divinity in the Eucharist, but we are also presented with the opportunity for worship and adoration of Jesus Christ.
On the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, we extend and elaborate on the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist through public acts of worship, what we commonly call the Corpus Christi procession. When Pope Urban IV instituted the feast throughout the universal church in 1264 based on long-held tradition in the church of the real presence, he wanted to encourage public worship of Jesus in the Eucharist. Hence, devotion to the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist is a testimony of our faith and love for Jesus as he once again walks through our towns and cities.
By participating in the Corpus Christi procession, we bear public witness not only to our faith in the real presence but also to our love and adoration for Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament  One of the ways of participating fruitfully in the feast of Corpus Christi is to pray and sing joyfully with the procession from the church on the hill through the center of the town to the historic church  I suggest we sing and recite the text of prayers St. Thomas Aquinas composed for Mass and the Divine Office, Pange Lingua (Tantum Ergo), Sacris Solemniis (Panis Angelicus), and Verbum Supernum (O Salutaris)  It is also highly recommended we sing or recite the sequence for Corpus Christi mass, Lauda Sion Salvatorem (Ecce Panis Angelorum)  If possible, we can also add to the procession hymns, Adoro Te Devote and O Sacrum Convivium  All these hymns have deep theological meanings that throw light on Jesus carried in the monstrance and borne in procession through E-town in the manner in which Jesus of Nazareth passed through the city of Jerusalem (see Lk 9: 11-17)  In remembrance of Jesus, in the reality of his presence with us, body and blood, soul and divinity, let us walk joyfully with him in adoration, praise, and thanksgiving.
I will be going away to Nigeria on a three-week vacation from Tuesday. I ask for your prayers while I am away, and I hope to be back to continue walking the faith journey with you. Thanks for all your prayers and support. In my absence, Msgr. Bob Lawrence will celebrate the weekend liturgies, while Fr. Sam Dubois will celebrate the weekdays' masses. Please welcome these priests in our St. Peter tradition of joy.
 May Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, His Most Sacred Heart, and Immaculate Heart of Mary be your love, hope, and joy.
 
Fr. Bernard, OP
 

Beloved in Christ,
  
                                                                             Mysterium Fidei
  
The solemnity we celebrate today, the mystery of the Holy Trinity, above all things, invites the response of human glory, honor, and adoration. In the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, we are offered the “central mystery of Christian faith and life. It is the mystery of God in himself. It is, therefore, the source of all the other mysteries of faith” (CCC 234). In this mystery of God’s revelation of himself to humans, we can only stand in awe at his incomprehensible majesty. Yet we have enough knowledge of the triune God unveiled to us to generate faith and worship. Hence we often begin our private prayers and sacramental liturgies “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. In short, “The faith of all Christians rests on the Trinity” (CCC 232).
 
God’s hiddenness is revealed in the trinity. The revelation of God’s inmost being as a Trinity is not the fruit of human reason, it is a gift of God’s unveiling of himself as far as possible for human comprehension. We can observe traces of triune God in Creation and Scriptures, but our humanity cannot fully know the essence of God. Yet, the mystery of faith calls for worship and adoration. It is a gift of faith, a cheer grace to believe in the Holy Trinity. This mystery is one of the mysteries of our Christian faith. It is the source of our faith in the Eucharistic mysteries, a mystery the church has always devoutly guarded and treasured. The Eucharist is a pledge of Christ’s immense love for his body the Church. This ineffable gift of grace, the mystery of faith calls for veneration and worship (Mysterium Fidei, 1, Pope Paul VI). As with the mystery of the Trinity, the Holy Eucharist as a  mystery of faith invites above all our awe and adoration. This is the most immediate response to the mystery of faith. This is a testimony to our Christian faith.
 
In this order of thought, therefore, I invite you, my beloved brothers and sisters, to glorify the Holy Trinity this Sunday and extend that worship to the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ when we celebrate the solemnity of Corpus Christi next Sunday. We as a people of faith, have been privileged and loved by God to the extent of the revelation of his hidden mystery to us. We must reciprocate that generous gesture by a public act of faith in the Real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. God is truly and always in our midst in the Holy Eucharist. Please let us make it a priority and a pious act of importance by turning out in large numbers to bear public witness to our faith in the mysterium fidei that is the Eucharist, a fruit of the central mystery of faith, the Holy Trinity.
 
Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
 
Fr. Bernard, OP
 

Beloved in Christ,
 
                                                                    Come, Holy Spirit, Come!
 
From Ascension to Pentecost, we have prayed earnestly for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church. In union with Mary, the Spouse of the Holy Spirit,  we have raised our hearts to heaven for a deepening of the grace of the Holy Spirit that we first received in baptism and confirmation. “The Holy Spirit, whom Christ the head pours out on his members, builds, animates, and sanctifies the Church” (CCC 747). Consequently, with faith and hope, we expect a new breath of the Holy Spirit to infuse new life into us; we expect a re-creation,  a transformation, a renewal in the Holy Spirit, our Advocate. He comes to clothe us in power and grace, the only means by which we can live according to our identity as sons and daughters of God. So we prayed last week for Jesus to come into our lives. We prayed, “Come, Lord Jesus.” But without the Holy Spirit, we can’t say with power and effect that “Jesus is Lord” ( 1 Cor 12:3).
 
We can’t fulfill our Christian vocation unless we proclaim in faith to the world that Jesus is Lord of the universe. The Holy Spirit transformed the Apostles on the Pentecost, and they became emboldened to proclaim Jesus (Acts 2: 1-11). They were no longer afraid of proclaiming Jesus to the world. Like them, we too must become bold in announcing to others in words and by a life of virtue that Jesus is the Lord and redeemer of humanity. The Holy Spirit brings new life, a renewal, a recreation of our being. When we experience the infusion of the Holy Spirit, we receive its sevenfold gift and more, and He transforms us into an effective witnesses to the Gospel. The Holy Spirit is the refining fire that forges us into a powerful force for Christ. We need the Holy Spirit to be effective witnesses to Jesus.
 
Veni, Sancte Spiritus! Come, Holy Spirit! That is our invocation today. Let’s invite the paraclete to assist and guide us as we continue to grow in holiness and a life of charity. We cannot become effective witnesses to the Gospel, our primary vocation unless we are under the control of the Holy Spirit, the One who guides us into all truth. As we continue to grow as a parish, we must continue to make the Holy Spirit our companion. He is the agent of transformation and growth. Our church will experience new life, a vigorous life in the Spirit, and we will bear courageous witness to Christ to all we come in contact with. Let us invite the Holy Spirit to breathe life into us without much ado. Let us call down the fire of the Holy Spirit to fall upon us and renew us on this Pentecost when we celebrate the birthday of the Church that is, her manifestation to the world (cf. CCC 1076).
 
We have come to the end of the Easter season. We must build on all we have gained during the joyful season of the resurrection. There is so much going on in our parish to consolidate the growth we have made. Let us watch out for all the exciting moments of grace.
We look forward, in particular, to our parish Corpus Christi procession and picnic that follows it. So please mark your calendar for June 19. It will be a day of testimony to the Real Presence of Jesus in our midst. Come, Holy Spirit, come!
 
In the Joy of the Spirit,
 
Fr. Bernard, OP
 

Beloved in Christ,
 
                                                                     Come, Lord Jesus!
 
Don’t you sometimes wish for Jesus’ second coming to be NOW, sooner than later? From time to time comes those moments, periods of social and moral upheaval, when it appears that humanity has lost its moral compass and gone caput. In those tumultuous moments, something deep in your soul desires an end to life as we know it and the advent of  Jesus, “the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, the root and offspring of David, the bright morning star” (Rev. 22: 13, 16 ). It is in those moments you hope for paradise. Such time is this time (and other times in the past). But unfortunately, we have seen an increase in evil in our world in recent years. Sin makes its presence felt in many ways, from pandemics to gun violence. We just witnessed another senseless killing of the innocents in Texas; a trigger happy man pumped bullets into children in an elementary school. We are horrified and angry at the same time. And one of those perennial questions is raised again: where was God when this horror was happening?
 
One answer or response to the question is that God is present in all that. As weird as that might sound, it is true that God is always present amid our crises. He does not impose Himself on us. God makes Himself available. He reveals himself, but we don’t do an excellent job of recognizing or seeking Him out. In our darkness, His light is ever present. We may not have a clear understanding of the tragedy, but He is ever present to see us through it. Jesus has prepared us well ahead for the troubles and tribulations we will experience (Jn 16:33). Our best answer is to be one with the Divine Logos, Jesus Christ, as Fr. Josh Cavender called Him during our Forty Hours Eucharistic Devotion service this past week. Getting to know who Jesus is, how He matters, and why we should care about Him is a productive way to approach all the calamities in our world. If we pay more careful attention to these essential life questions, as Fr. Cavender told us, we will be better positioned to confront the evil we see in our world. We must come to experience Jesus and allow Him a total hold on our intellect, will, soul and heart. We should all seek the “4 pm moment,” as Fr. Cavender called it, a time of intimate experience of Jesus. Jesus knows about the difficulties we face in all their ramifications, macro and micro, and He is present to keep us united in Him as we live through the vagaries of life.
 
With John, in the penultimate verse of the Bible, we can invite Jesus into our life and world. It may not be for Jesus to end all things, but for him to step into our lives and make us capable of living victoriously through life’s frequent upheavals. The most suitable place to make that invitation and encounter him intimately is at Mass. So let’s gaze on Jesus with eyes of faith and profess with our hearts and lips, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Jn 22:20). He will come.
 
In Christ,
 Fr. Bernard

Beloved in Christ,
 
                                                               The Women I Love
 
Jesus, just before he departed from this world, gave a new commandment to his followers: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you should love one another” (Jn 13:34). The mandate given by Jesus to all Christians is to love. Through the manifestation of love, Christians will reveal that they are indeed followers of Jesus’ way. I have made many efforts to love people God brought my way so far in my lifetime. I have also received love from many people in my life. I am thankful to God. I am also grateful to those who have shared the love of Christ with me. I am not only appreciative but also want to confess my love for a particular group of lovers: the women of our parish. I love these women.
 
The Women I love is the title of a novel by Francesco Pacifico (I am not doing a commercial or recommending the novel-this is not an Oniwe Book Club). He writes of different categories of women he loves, showing in the process their equality with him and so forth. I just wanted to borrow the title to describe the women of our parish, the women I love. They are faithful, compassionate, passionate about the parish's growth, loving, caring, giving, encouraging, supportive, sacrificing, and smiling. I love these women. So, I decided to chat with the women of our parish last Saturday morning regarding our struggles and aspirations- as I saw it. What an encouraging attendance and input from these amazing women!!!! There were many things said and suggested to keep our parish alive and thrive despite all odds. The following are some ideas they raised in their own words:  “it is good that we come here to get to know each other, enjoy each other’s company,” “covid was a problem for our parish gathering. We must pray and find people to bring back to church;” “the social hall must serve as a place for gathering;” “let’s have programs for kids and young adults because some of our people leave for LCBC for this reason;” “Put up an organization/ministry fair every year;” “let’s have regular coffee and snacks in the social hall on Sundays;” “meet people where they are, no judgment, be open to everybody, and reach out to all, be welcoming to visitors;” “let us let people know that we miss them and want them back to church;” “send cards and make personal phone calls to people;” “get involved in the CCW”; “single girls wanna have fun within the parish;” “let’s have a mass for children once a month;” encourage children to participate in Eucharistic Adoration during Forty Hours;” etc..
 
Like the Blessed Virgin Mary, the woman I love so much, the women of our parish are women I love too. I hope we can put some of the ideas they raised into action. Let’s make it happen. We set up a committee of three to channel all the lofty ideas presented on Saturday into action within the parish life. I am thankful to our women; they are the kind of women I love. Let us spread the love of Christ. As Christ has loved us, let us extend that love to others, beginning with members of our parish next to you. Tell someone and show someone today that you love them just like the women I love have done.
 
In His Love,
 
Fr. Bernard, O.P.
 

Beloved in Christ,
 
                                                        The Voice of Christ
 
Today, more than ever, we must pay attention to the voice of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd. Unfortunately, other voices are filtering into our ears. There are voices of distraction, disillusion, disappointment, destruction, and deviation from the path of truth. We face trials-in private and public life on account of our faith in the Risen Christ, yet we must continue to be guided by the voice of Christ. Like Paul and Barnabas, we must remain resolute and “faithful to the grace of God” we have received from Christ (see Acts 13). Paul and Barnas spoke boldly that the works of God needed to be communicated to all. Though they faced rejection by Jewish leaders who, filled with jealousy, turned their back on the living word of God, the source of eternal life, the followers of the way never stopped speaking the words of Jesus, gathering people “to hear the word of the Lord.”
 
Though persecuted and expelled, the early Christians, filled with joy and the Holy Spirit, never ceased to be available to be used as instruments of salvation to the nations. The words spread like wildfire abroad through their witness, and many came to faith. They trusted in Jesus the Good Shepherd, who tends his flock (Ps. 100). The lamb will shepherd his people on earth if they listen to his encouraging and empowering words. Like the sheep who knows and listens to the shepherd's voice, we must listen attentively and be guided by the Good Shepherd’s voice (Jn 10: 27-30). The sheep know Shepherd’s voice and follow him so that they never perish. Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Ps. 23 and Ez. 34 about the Lord and the King of Isreal. Jesus and the Father and one. We can trust and follow the voice of Jesus because He is one with the Father. We will face persecution and trial in the course of living our faith, but if we listen to the voice of the Shepherd, he will guide us through them, not around them. Jesus' voice still guides us through our Pope and bishops. Jesus and the Holy Spirit have appointed them to channel the words of Jesus to us. Let us listen and live by those words of truth and life as we walk through the valley of tears.
 
The Church has designated this Good Shepherd Sunday as “World Day of Prayer for Vocation.” Let us continue to pray that many from our Church hear the voice of Jesus calling them to be priests, deacons, and religious. Please encourage your child to consider vocations to the priesthood and religious life. The world needs more voices to speak in the name of Jesus to her spiritual needs.
 
We also celebrate in our country today Mother’s Day. We are thankful to our mothers for their sacrificial love for their families. Thanks to all our women for their life nurturing deeds. We love our mothers and pray that their spouses and children show gratitude for their love.
 
Your humble shepherd,
 
Fr. Bernard, OP