Daily Readings for Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Reading 1, Acts 14:19-28

¹⁹ Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and turned the people against them. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the town, thinking he was dead.

²⁰ The disciples came crowding round him but, as they did so, he stood up and went back to the town. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

²¹ Having preached the good news in that town and made a considerable number of disciples, they went back through Lystra, Iconium and Antioch.

²² They put fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith, saying, ‘We must all experience many hardships before we enter the kingdom of God.’

²³ In each of these churches they appointed elders, and with prayer and fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.

²⁴ They passed through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia.

²⁵ Then after proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia

²⁶ and from there sailed for Antioch, where they had originally been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.

²⁷ On their arrival they assembled the church and gave an account of all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the gentiles.

²⁸ They stayed there with the disciples for some time.

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 145:10-11, 12-13, 21

¹⁰ All your creatures shall thank you, Yahweh, and your faithful shall bless you.

¹¹ They shall speak of the glory of your kingship and tell of your might,

¹² making known your mighty deeds to the children of Adam, the glory and majesty of your kingship.

¹³ Your kingship is a kingship for ever, your reign lasts from age to age. Yahweh is trustworthy in all his words, and upright in all his deeds.

²¹ My mouth shall always praise Yahweh, let every creature bless his holy name for ever and ever.

Gospel, John 14:27-31

²⁷ Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace which the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

²⁸ You heard me say: I am going away and shall return. If you loved me you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

²⁹ I have told you this now, before it happens, so that when it does happen you may believe.

³⁰ I shall not talk to you much longer, because the prince of this world is on his way. He has no power over me,

³¹ but the world must recognise that I love the Father and that I act just as the Father commanded. Come now, let us go.

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The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) is a Catholic translation of the Bible published in 1985. The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) has become the most widely used Roman Catholic Bible outside of the United States. It has the imprimatur of Cardinal George Basil Hume.

Like its predecessor, the Jerusalem Bible, the New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) version is translated “directly from the Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic.” The 1973 French translation, the Bible de Jerusalem, is followed only “where the text admits to more than one interpretation.” Introductions and notes, with some modifications, are taken from the Bible de Jerusalem.

Source: The Very Reverend Dom (Joseph) Henry Wansbrough, OSB, MA (Oxon), STL (Fribourg), LSS (Rome), a monk of Ampleforth Abbey and a biblical scholar. He was General Editor of the New Jerusalem Bible. “New Jerusalem Bible, Regular Edition”, pg. v.

Ten Commandments | Books of the Bible | Buy a Bible

April 29th, 2013

Reading 1, Acts 14:5-18:
but eventually with the connivance of the authorities a move was made by gentiles as well as Jews … Psalm, Psalms 115:1-2, 3-4, 15-16:
Not to us, Yahweh, not to us, but to your name give the glory, for your faithful love and your … Gospel, John 14:21-26:
Whoever holds to my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me; and whoever loves me will … Read More

Old Testament »

New Testament »

The Catholic Mass from the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe on 4-28-13

Putting Cremisan Valley on the Pope’s agenda

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For decades the monks and nuns of the Cremisan Valley, between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, have been organic to the local Palestinian community.

St. Mark Church celebrates 100th anniversary

Sunday April 28, 2013

PITTSFIELD — A lot can happen in 100 years, and a lot of people were thinking about that on Saturday afternoon during the centennial celebration of the founding of St. Mark Church on West Street.

During the celebratory Mass, Diocese of Springfield Bishop Timothy McDonnell commented on the duration of the church.

“Over 100 years, how many Masses have been celebrated here,” he wondered. “How many prayers have been offered? How many baptisms? How many confirmations? How many weddings, and how many sad funerals?”

Following Mass, as several hundred parishioners gathered on the lawn as part of the centennial celebration, McDonnell reflected on 100 years of history at St. Mark.

“When you think about what can happen in 100 years, you start to understand the journey this congregation has undergone,” he said. “Often, we don’t realize what our ancestors went through to give us what we have today. This truly is a community — a community of faith.”

As if to cement a start of the next 100 years, 20 people received confirmation in the Catholic faith during the centennial Mass.

St. Mark Church was founded in 1913 as an outgrowth of Pittsfield’s mother church, St. Joseph on North Street. It’s first home was a wooden chapel on the corner of West and Onota streets, but the congregation outgrew that space in 1929. St. Mark’s current church building at 400 West St. was completed in 1932. The chapel was turned into a parish hall in

1938, but the structure burned down in 1961. St. Mark’s current parish center and school on Columbus Avenue Extension were built in 1965.

It’s first priest, Rev. Michael Leonard, served the church until his death in 1955 at age 94.

The current priest, Rev. John Salatino, grew up around the corner from the church, a member since his birth in 1965. He noted that he wound up at St. Mark in 2003 because he speaks Spanish — which helps because as part of his duties he holds Mass at nearby churches with largely Spanish-speaking congregations.

Salatino said that taken as a whole, his congregation is “very generous, very warm, and they do a good job of putting the gospel into practice. Many of them have been here their whole lives, and have parents or grandparents who started this parish.”

Pittsfield Mayor Daniel L. Bianchi has been a member of St. Mark for nearly 30 years.

“It’s such a joy to be a member of this parish,” he said. “It is such a source of comfort and joy for many people.”

Terry Holland is another longtime parishioner celebrating the church’s longevity.

“It’s always been a part of our family,” he said. “This church is a perfect place for imperfect people, and that will keep me coming back for a long time.”

Kathy Clatterbaugh is part of the Centennial Committee, and while she was cleaning off the refreshment table, she noted that she is not Catholic, but that her husband has a member of the church for about a year.

“This is a very welcoming church,” she said. “I feel like I’m part of the family here.”

To reach Scott Stafford:
sstafford@berkshireeagle.com,
or (413) 496-6241.
On Twitter: @BE_SStafford

Copyright laws cause problem for Catholic church plans to modernize

NEW PORT RICHEY – 

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in New Port Richey did away with its paper missalettes and in their place, two giant projector screens on either side of the alter.

“It’s a little more modern,” says parishioner Jimmy Barry.  “You don’t have all that paper turning and all the noise.”

Father Mike Lydon came up with the idea after seeing similar projectors in other churches.  With changes to the Catholic mass, he says he saw it as a way to help people follow along.

“We presented it to everyone and within about four months, we raised about $44,000,” Father Lydon says.

The screens quickly went up, but when it came time to find scriptures to project, the church found out they were off limits because they are copyrighted.

“I was really surprised. I had to even get a bible out to look myself to find that,” Father Lydon says.

It’s not the first time he’s dealt with copyrights.  Father Lydon says the church pays licensing fees for all the music it now projects, but when he asked the powers above for the same with the scriptures, he got a surprising answer.

“They just said no,” Father Lydon tells us.  “Because the readings are not supposed to be read.  They’re supposed to be proclaimed.”

In a letter to the church, the United States Conference of Bishops says projecting the scriptures would be a distraction.

Parishioners call that reasoning frustrating.

“It should be copyrighted by Jesus,” says Anthony DeFina.  “I think that’s a free copyright for everybody.”

Still, Father Lydon won’t admit defeat.  With or without scriptures, he says the projectors are bringing new energy to mass.

“They look up at the screen,” he says.  “Their heads are up and their voices sound so much fuller in the church.”

Copyright laws cause problem for Catholic church plans to modernize

NEW PORT RICHEY – 

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in New Port Richey did away with its paper missalettes and in their place, two giant projector screens on either side of the alter.

“It’s a little more modern,” says parishioner Jimmy Barry.  “You don’t have all that paper turning and all the noise.”

Father Mike Lydon came up with the idea after seeing similar projectors in other churches.  With changes to the Catholic mass, he says he saw it as a way to help people follow along.

“We presented it to everyone and within about four months, we raised about $44,000,” Father Lydon says.

The screens quickly went up, but when it came time to find scriptures to project, the church found out they were off limits because they are copyrighted.

“I was really surprised. I had to even get a bible out to look myself to find that,” Father Lydon says.

It’s not the first time he’s dealt with copyrights.  Father Lydon says the church pays licensing fees for all the music it now projects, but when he asked the powers above for the same with the scriptures, he got a surprising answer.

“They just said no,” Father Lydon tells us.  “Because the readings are not supposed to be read.  They’re supposed to be proclaimed.”

In a letter to the church, the United States Conference of Bishops says projecting the scriptures would be a distraction.

Parishioners call that reasoning frustrating.

“It should be copyrighted by Jesus,” says Anthony DeFina.  “I think that’s a free copyright for everybody.”

Still, Father Lydon won’t admit defeat.  With or without scriptures, he says the projectors are bringing new energy to mass.

“They look up at the screen,” he says.  “Their heads are up and their voices sound so much fuller in the church.”

LETTER: Faith-based prison programs are effective

View full sizeInmates at Northampton County Prison stand for the blessing of the Eucharist during a Catholic Mass conducted by Bishop John O. Barres of the Diocese of Allentown. Express-Times File Photo | LISA MASSEY

The media, politicians, courts and public opinion all promote more restrictive laws, trying to set up released prisoners for failure and re-entry into the prison system.

What are they trying to prove by doing that? What are they afraid of? What are they trying to hide?

“Public safety,” they say, mistakenly believing that people cannot change.

Public safety is best served by rooting out and dealing with the causes of the crimes. Secular prison programs work only on the mind of the prisoner.

These programs have a lower success rate because when life happens — hard times hit — the mind reverts so easily back to its old thought patterns and the person may so easily recommit. Only when the heart is changed is there a greatly reduced chance of recommitting.

This is where serious faith-based prison ministries come in. Because they work on the prisoner’s heart, which the mind follows, the success rate of not recommitting is much higher. Especially so when these ministries offer aftercare for when the offender is released.

I would ask prison chaplains to invite inside the media, politicians and judges to visit with the ministries, see them in action, and see the results and success rate of the attending prisoners, and report what they see to the public.

I’d like to see the media and politicians promote and support these serious faith-based prison ministries.

Reporting on released prisoners succeeding in life outside would certainly give others hope.

SCOTTY MORRISON
Lehighton

’7 Last Words’ producer marries at 50

Purely Personal

By Josephine Darang
Philippine Daily Inquirer

OUR Lady of the Abandoned is the refuge of the mentally ill, abandoned children and the elderly.

Amelia “Meng” Canlas, who has produced and directed the popular TV program “Seven Last Words” on Channel 13 for the past 26 years, has married Toronto-based Emmanuel “Noli” Vasquez on April 17 at Our Mount Carmel Parish on Broadway Street in New Manila, Quezon City. No less than Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle performed the beautiful nuptial rites.

Both were in middle life.

Love story

The couple’s wedding invitation carried their love story.

Meng relates: “On Jan. 14, 2006, we had a civil wedding at Scarborough City Hall in Toronto, Canada. We caught everyone by surprise with that major decision.  But such is life. Nothing happens by chance.

“Today, seven years after we took that leap of faith, at our ‘golden-plus age,’ we decided to seal our commitment with the grace of the Almighty.

Again, we surprised everyone. Some think we are too old for it. Others say it is best to be practical and save the money. A few felt the ‘grace’ is not a sure formula for a lasting union.

“But what really guarantees permanence? What can ensure a successful, happy, forever partnership? None. Not even a piece of paper. For even life itself is not for keeps. So why get married in Church? Because we still believe in love. Because we still believe in seeking divine blessing for this love we share and hope to keep.

“Knowing that ultimately we belong to Him, with deep faith in our hearts, we seek God’s mercy, that He may allow this commitment to make it work for us, for His greater glory.” This column wishes Meng and Noli good health and happiness together.

Desamparados fiesta of Santa Ana, Manila

Several activities have been planned to celebrate the feast of Nuestra Señora de Desamparados (Our Lady of the Abandoned) in Sta. Ana Church, which falls on May 12.  Popularly known by the poor and the elderly as “Ang Inang Mapag-ampon” (The Mother who Adopts), the Virgin is the refuge of the mentally ill, abandoned children and the homeless.

For the first time, the church held the “robbing” of the image of Our Lady of the Abandoned on April 23 inside the camarin. While this was going on, the urnacilla, or altar from where the Virgin is seen, was being covered with a curtain. Fr. Willy Benito, OFM, the new parish priest, led the concelebrated Mass at 6:30 p.m.

Book launching

The book “Spiritual Direction and Counseling (Franciscan and Rogerian Perspective),” by Fr. Nello C. Bulawan, OFM, will be launched 3 p.m. Sunday. Proceeds will benefit old and sick Franciscan friars.

Father Bulawan is building a center for Franciscan spirituality and spiritual direction and counseling in the south.

Misa Cantada

NOLI Vasquez and Meng Canlas tie the knot in church at age 50.

Misa Cantada will be held May 3, 6:30 p.m., first day of the novena sponsored by the National Museum, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Parish Heritage Board and Parish Pastoral Council.

Main presider is Fr. Andres “Chito” Ranoa, OFM, the chaplain of St. Clare Monastery in Katipunan, Quezon City.

On May 12, the feast of Our Lady of the Abandoned, there will be the Misa Mayor at 9:30 a.m. Main presider is Fr. Lino Gregorio Redoblado, OFM, provincial minister of the Order of Friars Minor.

Fiesta theme is “Maria: Larawan ng tunay na pananampalataya: naniniwala, nagtitiwala, tumatalima (Mary: Portrait of true faith, believing, trusting and nurturing).”

The Camarin Caretaker Group is headed by retired Central Bank employee Fely Halili, with Millet Silvestre, Lyn Buenviaje, Nicky Garcia and Ernie Panis as members.

Healing Masses in Quezon

Charismatic healer Fr. Diwane Cacao of the Diocese of San Pablo has been invited by Belen Villaluz to hold healing Masses in Quezon province.

The schedule of Masses: May 6, 3 p.m., Immaculate Conception Parish in Catanuan, Quezon; May 7, 11 a.m., Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish; May 8, 11 a.m., St. Francis of Assisi Parish in San Francisco town; May 9, 11 a.m., St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Malunay; and May 10, 11 a.m., Conversion of St. Paul Parish in Pitogo town.

Our Lady of Manaoag in Pandacan

The Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Manaoag, patroness of Pangasinan, will be visiting Sto. Niño de Pandacan on Nov. 2-9.

The visit has been billed as a “reconciliation between the Holy Mother and Holy Child” just a few days before the Sto. Niño de Pandacan Parish concludes its 300th anniversary and closing of Jubilee Door on Nov. 23.

The visit is called “Tara na sa Pandacan” (Let’s go to Pandacan”). Pilgrims to the Pandacan church will get plenary indulgence.

Pilgrim Mass is held every   Tuesday at 12 noon and Sunday, 12:15 p.m. See you there!

Dominicans host conference

The Dominican Province of the Philippines will be holding “Praedicare,” a three-day conference on the conventional and new preaching methods geared to respond to the Church’s call for new evangelization, April 30-May 2, at Institute of Preaching, San Pio V Bldg., Sto. Domingo Compound, Quezon City.

A highlight of the affair is the conferment of the Domingo de Salazar Preaching Award, which is given in honor of the first bishop of Manila, to an outstanding non-Dominican preacher. Its first recipient will be Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, archbishop of Manila, who will preside over the opening Mass of the event.

Conference speakers are Fr. Stephen Cuyos, MSC, a hall-of-famer in the Catholic Mass Media Awards for best website; inspirational speaker and best-selling author Michael Angelo Lobrin; Sr. Mary Epifania Brasil, OP, superior of the Dominican Sisters of Regina Rosarii; youth pastor Ryan Tan; and distinguished Filipino preacher Fr. Enrico Gonzales, OP.

Representatives from the Light of Jesus Community and the Philippine Educational Theater Association will also facilitate sessions on preaching and theater, respectively.

For inquiries, call 3544494 or 0916-4136378.

Tribute to Ben Farrales

As tribute to Ben Farrales, founding chairman of Congregacion del Santissimo Nombre del Niño Jesus, the theme of this year’s Flores de Mayo is “The Colors of Mindanao.” In its 35th year, the event will be held at the SM Mall of Asia on May 5, 4 p.m. Direction by Ogee Atos.

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Spiritual Direction and Counseling (Franciscan and Rogerian Perspective)

Jesus is ‘The Original Hipster’ says Brooklyn Catholic Diocese – Brooklyn Vegan

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Martinez Church Gets Ready To Celebrate Its 140th Anniversary

The bell at St. Catherine’s of Siena Catholic Church will be ringing loudly on April 27.

And for good reason.

The landmark Martinez church will be celebrating its 140th anniversary.

The gala event will begin at 4:30 p.m. next Saturday with a liturgy. It’ll be followed at 6 p.m. with a fellowship hour and then at 7 p.m. by a sit-down dinner.

Mark Poyadue, the president of the church’s pastoral council, joked the celebration is in “preparation for the 150th anniversary.”

He and other church leaders say the event really centers on paying homage to those who have built the parish over the decades.

“It’s to recognize those who have gone ahead of us,” said Father Leo Asuncion.

Today, the church still sits on an acre of land at the corner of Ferry and Mellus streets. It has more than 1,100 members and is the second oldest Catholic parish in the Oakland diocese.

The church also has a kindergarten through eighth grade school with 175 students on the property.

The church’s beginnings go back almost 150 years. That’s when the first Catholic Mass in Martinez was said at a local store. It was offered by the Dominician Fathers from Benicia.

Two early attempts to build a church failed. The facility was finally erected on the third try. In 1873, Father James Henry Aerden became St. Catherine’s first resident pastor.

In that first year, new facilities were added and a two-story rectory was constructed. In 1890, the church expanded again to accomodate its growth in members.

In 1923, the oversight of the parish was transferred from the Dominican Fathers to the Diocesan Clergy.

The current church was built in 1940. The school was opened in 1949.

Church leaders say part of the reason for the parish’s success is that people live in Martinez all their lives and get attached to institutions like St. Catherine’s.

“In Martinez, families don’t leave, they stay,” said Poyadue. “There’s a generational connection.”

Asuncion added there is a strong Catholic tradition in Martinez, partly because of Italian and other immigrants.

Deacon Albert Dizon also noted the church is involved in a lot of community activities from providing food to the needy to organizing athletic opportunities for young people.

“We’re a focal point for the community,” Dizon said.

For the future, the biggest plans are to build a gymnasium on what is now a parking lot near the church.

And, of course, there’s the 150th anniversary celebration.