Living gratefully is an intentional lifestyle.

05-29-2022Everyday Stewardship - Recognize God in Your Ordinary Moments

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:13)

This is a reminder of how we as Christian Stewards should live our lives 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – putting God first in all that we do. Not only when I am at Mass and parish activities, but when I am in the world, at work or at school. Living gratefully and generously is an intentional lifestyle. Every decision you make either moves you closer to God or farther away. Choose wisely!

The Holy Spirit's Role

05-29-2022The Pastor's PenFr. Matthew R. Paratore, S.T.L., J.C.L.

Dear Friend,

The Holy Spirit's distinctive role is to fulfill what we may call a floodlight ministry in relation to the Lord Jesus.

I remember walking to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris one winter evening to preach on the words, "He will glorify me" (John 16:14). Seeing the building floodlit as I turned a corner I realized that this was exactly the illustration my message needed.

READ MORE

"Thank God!" "Amen!"

05-22-2022The Pastor's PenFr. Matthew R. Paratore, S.T.L., J.C.L.

Dear Friend,

I hope this week's "pastor's Pen" will give you a laugh. A man has been lost and walking in the desert for about five days. One hot day - actually, they’re all hot - he comes to the home of a community of Irish missionary priests. Tired and weak, he crawls up to the house and collapses on the doorstep. One of the priests takes him in and the community nurses him back to health. Feeling better, the man asks for directions to the nearest town. The Superior of the house tells him the directions, and offers to lend him his horse to make it.

READ MORE

Trust God's Plan

05-22-2022Everyday Stewardship - Recognize God in Your Ordinary Moments

“…Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27)

Our limited human understanding cannot begin to understand the immense power of God. Instead of trusting in God, we often think we can control every outcome. Do you want to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans. The next time worry, anxiety or fear creeps in, thank God for all He has given you and trust that He has a Stewardship plan for you. Make God your first choice and not your last resort.

Love One Another

05-15-2022Everyday Stewardship - Recognize God in Your Ordinary Moments

“I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another." (John 13:34)

“As I have loved you,” this is the hard part - Jesus’s love is unconditional; our love usually comes with strings attached. It is easy to love someone when they love you back. But it takes the Stewardship of mercy and compassion to love someone when you feel unappreciated, feel used or feel like your opinion doesn’t matter. It takes courage and the grace of God to “love my neighbor” when they may be someone you don’t like, someone you don’t know or someone that doesn’t look like you.

Enduring Love

05-15-2022The Pastor's PenFr. Matthew R. Paratore, S.T.L., J.C.L.

Dear Friend,

We need to possess an enduring love. Endurance: the power to withstand hardship or stress, to keep on going despite all setbacks.

I recently heard of a Catholic woman who, after having four children, started running then entered marathons. This year, she is running the London Marathon, but before she does, she will run four other marathons each day before the London Marathon.

READ MORE

Happy Mother's Day

05-08-2022The Pastor's PenFr. Matthew R. Paratore, S.T.L., J.C.L.

Dear Friend,

I believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of the loving God, who was born of the promise to a virgin named Mary.

I believe in the love Mary gave her son, that caused her to follow him in his ministry and stand by his cross as he died.

READ MORE

Make Room for the Holy Spirit

05-08-2022Everyday Stewardship - Recognize God in Your Ordinary Moments

“The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 13:52)

The disciples heard Our Lord’s call and were able to spread the Gospel message with strength and vitality. We, too, can experience that same joy if we make room for the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts. When we live Stewardship by using our gifts in the way that God intends, He fills us with supernatural joy. A joy that others notice and are attracted to!

Keeping Mary Close: Devotion To Our Lady Through Ages by Aquilina & Gruber

05-01-2022Book Recommendations

If you've ever wondered what devotion to Mary is all about, you'll treasure this one of a kind, popular glimpse into the early Church's life, doctrine, and devotion to Our Lady. Through lively stories, teachings of the Church fathers, and evidence from ancient archaeology, the authors invite you to enter the fascinating world of the early Christians, giving you an imaginative glimpse into how they demonstrated their love for Mary through their prayers, art, and daily life. Along the way, you'll gain a deeper understanding of Mary's role in your own life and that of the Church today.

Right Now

05-01-2022The Pastor's PenFr. Matthew R. Paratore, S.T.L., J.C.L.

Dear Friend,

Healing takes time, patience and determination to persevere through the long process of healing. It’s not easy, but it is the reality of the healing process.

A good friend recently told me his own experience with the healing process of his right knee. About two years ago he had a total right knee replacement.

READ MORE

Do You Love Me?

05-01-2022Everyday Stewardship - Recognize God in Your Ordinary Moments

“…Peter was distressed that Jesus had said to him a third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’” (John 21:17)

How often do you actually say the words “I love you” to Jesus, to family members, or to friends? We are made to be in relationship with God and each other. Sincerely telling someone that you love them is the best gift you can give them because it comes from your heart. You are giving them the gift of yourself. We all crave love. Live your Stewardship by telling someone you love them every day.

Peace be with you

04-24-2022Everyday Stewardship - Recognize God in Your Ordinary Moments

“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’” (John 20:21)

Peace the first gift of the risen Lord. Just as Jesus sent the apostles out into the world, so too, He sends us. As Stewards of Jesus, we are called to be compassionate and merciful; and not with just those who are our friends, but also with our “enemies.” Think of someone in your life who you need to reconcile with. Call them right now or better yet, go visit them.

Enduring Love

04-24-2022The Pastor's PenFr. Matthew R. Paratore, S.T.L., J.C.L.

Dear Friend,

We need to possess an enduring love. Endurance: the power to withstand hardship or stress, to keep on going despite all setbacks.

I recently heard of a Catholic woman who, after having four children, started running and then entered marathons. This year, she is running the London Marathon, but before she does, she will run four other marathons each day before the London Marathon.

READ MORE

Christ has Risen, Alleluia!

04-17-2022The Pastor's PenFr. Matthew R. Paratore, S.T.L., J.C.L.

Dear Friend,

Walter Sangster began to notice some uneasiness in his throat and a dragging in his leg. When he went to the doctor, he found that he had an incurable disease that caused progressive muscular atrophy. His muscles would gradually waste away, his voice would fail, and his throat would soon become unable to swallow.

READ MORE

Receive God's mercy, then show the same to others

04-17-2022Everyday Stewardship - Recognize God in Your Ordinary Moments

“…He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38)

We can’t give what we don’t have. Open your heart to receive God’s love, mercy and forgiveness. Then, show the same to others through your Stewardship. As God’s adopted sons and daughters, we are made in His image and likeness. As Pope Benedict XVI says, “we are made for greatness.” Let our lives reflect His light to others. Pray to live a grateful and generous life. Strive for greatness! We are made for more! We are made for God!

Importance of Confession

04-10-2022The Pastor's PenFr. Matthew R. Paratore, S.T.L., J.C.L.

Dear Friend,

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen used to tell that on one occasion he was preaching on the importance of confession of sin and, wherever possible, of restitution for wrong done to others. Afterward a young man named Patrick came up to him and said: "Archbishop, you have put me in a sad fix. I have wronged another and am ashamed to confess it or try to put it right. I am a boat builder, and the man I work for is an unbeliever. I have talked to him often about his need of Christ and have urged him to come and hear you preach, but he scoffs and ridicules it all.

READ MORE

Speak Up

04-10-2022Everyday Stewardship - Recognize God in Your Ordinary Moments

“…I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows this day, you will deny three times that you know me.” (Luke 22:34)

How many times have you heard someone make a disparaging comment about God or our Catholic faith Stewardship? How did you react? Do you remain quiet not to cause a disturbance? Or, because you don’t want people to think negatively about you? Or, because you don’t think you know enough about the Catholic faith? Pray for the courage to speak up and enter into a respectful dialogue when the opportunity arises. Joyfully share your faith with others.

Hiddenness

04-03-2022The Pastor's PenFr. Matthew R. Paratore, S.T.L., J.C.L.

Dear Friend,

Of all the classical Spiritual Disciplines, Christian Stewardship of Time Talent and Treasure is the most conductive to the growth of humility.

When we set out on a consciously chosen course of action that accents the good of others and is for the most part a hidden work, a deep change occurs in our interior spirit.

READ MORE

Keep God First in Everything

04-03-2022Everyday Stewardship - Recognize God in Your Ordinary Moments

“…For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ…” (Philippians 3:8)

The first commandment says that we should not put other gods before the Lord. Living Stewardship by sharing all of our gifts our time in prayer, our talent in charitable works and our treasure to support the Church helps us keep God first in everything. It helps us from putting other gods before God. It helps us from becoming a slave to our possessions. It helps us to use our gifts for the glory of God and not for the glory of ourselves.

Hope Always Our Anchor In Life's Storm by Frank Kris

04-01-2022Book Recommendations

Of the three cardinal virtues of faith, hope, and charity, hope may be the hardest to define. A deceptively simple virtue, people often reduce hope to a mere optimism about the future, or they may see it as synonymous with trust in God. In Hope Always, Kris Frank, a popular Catholic speaker and youth minister, offers his down to earth and personal reflections on hope and how this crucial but often misunderstood virtue can change our perspective on life’s difficulties.

READ MORE