Hey Father Gary!

July is traditionally dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. This gives us another opportunity (as we did on the feast of Corpus Christi) to reflect on the real presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

During the last two years our diocese has been engaged in ‘The Living Eucharist’ initiative. This began with the Bishop issuing a Pastoral Letter on the Eucharist in Advent 2007. This letter not only reaffirmed our belief in the real presence but also our responsibilities as a Eucharistic people, to become what we receive and to bless this world with mercy and justice. At every Mass we pray the ‘Living Eucharist’ prayer. I encourage you to pray this prayer at home. Copies are available at all the main entrances and exits.

We lead by example. We are encouraged at every Sunday Mass not to leave early, especially at communion. I find it somewhat distressing to meet people leaving Mass at communion still in the process of consuming the host. Why are we in such a hurry? Why do we want to rush from the table of Lord?

I read the following in the bulletin of Christ the King in Tampa:

“What does receiving Jesus in Holy Communion really mean to me? Am I a changed person because of His presence in me? Do I allow Him to be my strength and support in difficult times or do I forget that He is with me in a special way because of receiving Him in Communion?

Communion in the hand can deepen our faith in the dignity of every Christian as a member of the Body of Christ. Irreverence of any kind must be avoided. One of the abuses of our time is the automatic and routine reception of Holy Communion without prayerful involvement with the Lord.

St. Cyril of Jerusalem in his Easter sermon in the year 348 said: “When you approach Holy Communion, make your hands the throne, which will receive the King.”

The norm for the reception of Holy Communion in the dioceses of the United States is standing. Stop before the minister of the host, bow your head and put your hands in the throne position (the right hand cupped under the left) – unless you are receiving on the tongue.

Look at the minister while being addressed, “The Body of Christ.” Answer with a strong “Amen” which means “That is so.” Raise the hands to receive the host. Then step to the side and reverently place the host in your mouth. Then move toward the minister of the cup. Again stop before the minister, bow your head, and answer with a strong “Amen” when the minister says, “The Blood of Christ.” Reach out and hold the cup firmly taking a small sip. Place the cup firmly back in the hands of the minister, without hurry. Rejoin the procession, perhaps with hands folded together, and join in the song that gives expression to our solidarity at this table.

Think about “custody of the eyes” during this time (avoid turning communion into people watching time). There will be time for silent prayer when communion is finished.”

Please remember, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament takes place every Wednesday in the Church and Chapel from after the 9AM Mass till 7PM. Come and soak up God’s love for you!

- Fr. Gary Dowsey

Every Eucharist is a celebration of healing and life. Life is the most precious gift we have. It is the one gift that we want to hold onto. It is the gift we find most difficult to let go of. If life is that precious to us just think how precious it is to the One who is the source of life. At every Eucharist we proclaim that God is the source of life, the conqueror of sin and death. At the Eucharist we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad! The reason we gather on a Sunday is because it is Resurrection Day, Alleluia! We have been blessed with the gift of eternal life. Praised be Jesus Christ!

We also recognize that the Eucharist is a sacrament of healing: ‘Lord, only say the word and I will be healed.’ We hear in today’s gospel a miracle of healing and the joy and amazement at a young girl being raised from the dead. God does not will suffering on anyone. God does not inflict suffering on anyone. Suffering and death is not God’s will. We see God’s will in today’s gospel: to heal and to restore to life. Sickness, suffering and death are part of our human condition, this we have to accept. But God in Jesus has made it clear that they will not have the last word; they have been redeemed by his cross and resurrection. Our God did not immune himself from suffering and death but embraced them upon the cross and transformed them through his resurrection. This we celebrate at every Eucharistic feast: ‘By dying you destroyed death, by rising you restored life. Lord Jesus, come in glory!’

On June 19th we began the Year for Priests. This year, proclaimed as such by Pope Benedict, coincides with the 150th anniversary of the death of St. Jean Vianney, more familiarly known as the Cure de Ars, patron saint of priests.

Jean-Marie Vianney was born into a peasant family in Dardilly, France in 1786. With great difficulty he became a priest at age thirty-two and, in 1818, he was appointed parish priest of Ars-en-Dombes, a remote town where the faith was no longer celebrated and practiced. He brought the gift of faith back to life through the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). His parish was known as the ‘hospital of souls’ because thousands came to celebrate God’s mercy and love. Father Vianney would spend up to sixteen hours a day in the confessional! He died in 1859 and was canonized in 1925.

In his letter to priests, to mark the beginning of this special year, Pope Benedict quotes Jean Vianney who said that “the priesthood was the love of the heart of Jesus.” The Pope goes on to say: “The Cure de Ars was quite humble, yet as a priest he was conscious of being an immense gift to his people: “A good shepherd, a pastor after God’s heart, is the greatest treasure which the good Lord can grant to a parish, and one of the most precious gifts of divine mercy. Without the Sacrament of Holy Orders, we would not have the Lord. Who put him there in that tabernacle? The priest. Who welcomed your soul at the beginning of your life? The priest.
Who feeds your soul and gives it strength for its journey? The priest. Who will prepare it to appear before God, bathing it one last time in the blood of Jesus Christ? The priest, always the priest.” These words, welling up from the priestly heart of a holy pastor, might sound excessive. Yet they reveal the high esteem in which he held the sacrament of the priesthood. Dear priests, Christ is counting on you. In the footsteps of the Cure de Ars, let yourselves be enthralled by him. Be heralds of hope, reconciliation and peace.”

- Fr. Gary Dowsey

Today is ‘Father’s Day’. We pray for all those who bear this distinguished title. Fatherhood is a very special vocation that carries enormous responsibilities. Jesus taught us to call God ‘Our Father’. He invites us to have a close, intimate and personal relationship with the One who is our Creator. Yes, we are invited to call God ‘Abba’ which literally means ‘Dad’. All fathers share in the creative love of God. We pray that they will be men of honor, faith and stability. There will be a special blessing for all ‘Dads’ at the Sunday Masses.

A father’s day story: A young boy had just gotten his driver’s permit and inquired of his father if they could discuss the use of the car. His father said that he would make a deal with his son.

“You bring your grades up from a C to a B average, study your Bible a little, get you hair cut and we’ll talk about the car.” The boy thought about that for a moment decided he’d settle for the offer and they agreed on it.

After about six weeks his father said, “Son I’ve been real proud. You brought your grades up and I’ve observed that you have been studying your Bible, but I am real disappointed you haven’t gotten your hair cut.”

The young man paused a moment then said, “You know Dad, I’ve been thinking about that, and I’ve noticed in my studies of the Bible that Samson had long hair, Moses had long hair, John the Baptist had long hair and Jesus more than likely had long hair.”

To this his father replied, “Did you also notice they all walked everywhere they went?”

We are in the stormy season. We pray to be protected from hurricanes. In Florida we know from first hand experience how devastating storms can be, how much damage they can do. Over the last year or so we have been going through a financial storm. The financial downturn and crisis has turned our world upside down and has devastated and changed many people’s lives. We recognize that we cannot build a loving and fulfilling life on greed, risk and self interest. Our values have been built on sand and not solid foundations.

Every Sunday, everyday, we are invited by Christ to come to him in order to build our lives on solid foundations. The Eucharist is our daily, weekly, opportunity to put Christ at the center of everything: our choices, decisions and relationships.

Christ keeps us together, united, as family and friends when the going gets tough. We need the loving strength and support of one another. This need is answered at the Eucharist. Very few people, if any, escape storms, challenges and difficulties in life. Jesus invites us to come to him. He invites us to gather and listen to his word and be strengthened through the food of everlasting life.

If you are burdened, come to Christ. If you feel anxious or afraid, come to Christ. There is nothing magical about the Eucharist. Our personal storms and difficulties will not suddenly disappear. But through the Eucharist Christ holds us together, restores faith in ourselves and strengthens us to face the difficulties and challenges that lie ahead. The Eucharist reassures us that we are not alone!

- Fr. Gary Dowsey

Today we celebrate the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. History is written, changed and transformed through the power of sacrificial love. The greatest act of sacrificial love took place on Calvary. Life and love were changed forever through Christ’s death and resurrection. This gift of salvation is experienced at every Eucharist where Christ continues to offer himself for the salvation of the world.

At Mass we are transformed through Christ’s redeeming love. Sin and death continue to be conquered. The new covenant, the new bond of love and friendship, commitment and faithfulness, between us and God is Jesus Christ. The new covenant is affirmed each time we gather around the table of the Lord.

The Mass is the wedding feast of the Lamb. It is where Christ declares his commitment to us: for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love us and cherish us for all eternity. This sacrificial love of Christ must be reflected through us. As Pope Benedict exhorted us in the document ‘Sacramentum Caritatis’ (Sacrament of Love): “Our communities, when they celebrate the Eucharist, must become ever more conscious that the sacrifice of Christ is for all, and that the Eucharist compels all who believe in him to become “bread that is broken” for others, and to work for the building of a more just and fraternal world. Each of us is truly called, together with Jesus, to be bread broken for the life of the world.” Yes, life and history are changed through the power of sacrificial love. Praised be Jesus Christ!

In honor of this beautiful feast, there will be a Corpus Christi procession today after the 1130 Mass. Everyone is welcome! This procession reminds us that we are a pilgrim people, fed and nourished by Christ, the bread of life and the cup of salvation. We need the food of everlasting life, we need Christ!

The insert in today’s bulletin, produced by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, is entitled: ‘Who can go to Holy Communion?’ This leaflet reminds us that the Eucharist is not a means to unity but the symbol of unity. It encourages us to pray and work for unity between all Christians. The prayer of Jesus is for all who follow him to be one. May we do everything we can to answer his prayer.

Pope Benedict has announced ‘The Year for Priests’ which begins on Friday, June 19th, the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. This year coincides with the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Mary Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests. Cardinal Hummes, who is in charge of the Congregation of Clergy in Rome, said: “The overwhelming majority of priests are people of great personal integrity, dedicated to the sacred ministry; men of prayer and of pastoral charity, who invest their entire existence in the fulfillment of their vocation and mission, often through great personal sacrifice, but always with an authentic love towards Jesus Christ, the Church and the people, in solidarity with the poor and suffering. It is for this reason that the Church is proud of her priests wherever they may be found.”

Please pray for your priests with greater intensity during this special year. May the Eucharist continue to mold us, shape us and fashion us into the image of Christ.

- Fr. Gary Dowsey

Every Eucharist unites us to the Most Holy Trinity. It is the Prayer of Thanksgiving to the Father, through His Son, Jesus Christ, by the power and action of the Holy Spirit. The Eucharist leads us to recognize God’s intimate presence in our lives. God’s voice no longer speaks to us from the midst of fire (first reading of today’s Mass) but from the intimacy of a table: “This is my Body; this is my Blood.” The Eucharist unites heaven and earth in one glorious act of praise, it is the place where we, as God’s people, acknowledge that “the Lord is God in the heavens above and on earth below, and that there is no other.”

This is the gathering where we celebrate our love and belief in a God we are invited to call “Abba, Father.” We cannot, on this side of heaven, get closer to God and to one another as we do at this table. But the nourishment we receive, through Word and Sacrament, is not comfort food for our own personal journey of faith. It empowers us to fulfill what we hear in the Gospel: “Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations.” We are SENT to live and proclaim all that we receive, to share the Good News revealed by the One who fulfills at every Eucharist the great promise of today’s gospel: “I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

Children give us a very natural insight into God, they are very open and direct. I love the books ‘Children’s Letters to God’; here are a few of the letters:

“In Sunday School they told us what you do. Who does it when you are on vacation?” Jane

“Dear God, On Halloween I am going to wear a Devil’s costume, is that all right with you?” Marnie

“Dear God, Is it true my father won’t get to Heaven if he uses his bowling words in the house?” Anita

“Dear God, I went to this wedding and they kissed right in church. Is that ok?” Neil

“Dear God, I like the Lord’s prayer best of all. Did you have to write it a lot or did you get it right the first time? I have to write everything I ever write over again.” Lois

Schools have now closed for the summer vacation. Good luck parents! It has been a very good year at our parish school. The Principal, faculty, staff and students have excelled themselves! We offer academic excellence in a safe, loving and Christ centered environment. The school office is open throughout the summer from 8am – 2pm. If you would like a tour of our school please call: 733 3776. We have openings in most grades. The foundation stones of our school are faith and family. Grants and scholarships are available. We will do our best to support every family seeking a Catholic education for their children.

Next Sunday we celebrate the beautiful feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). This gives us the opportunity to renew our faith in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is not just a memorial, symbol or sign but the living presence of our loving God. After the 1130 Mass we will have a Corpus Christi procession. The Blessed Sacrament will be carried in solemn procession around the grounds. This procession reminds us that we are a pilgrim people led by Christ!

- Fr. Gary Dowsey

Today we celebrate the birth of the Church, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost is Greek for fiftieth. It is now fifty days since the Easter season began. For the Jewish people this feast celebrates the closing of the harvest festival and the giving of the Law (Ten Commandments) to Moses on Mount Sinai. Christ has given us a new commandment, to love one another as he loves us. Not simply to love one another but to love as HE loves us. We celebrate today the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self control, chastity, wisdom, understanding, right judgment, courage, knowledge, reverence and wonder and awe. We will reap a new harvest in the world if we live these gifts each day of our lives. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to fall afresh upon us and to renew the face of the earth!

In the preface of the second Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation we pray: “In the midst of conflict and division, we know it is you who turn our minds to thoughts of peace. Your Spirit changes our hearts: enemies begin to speak to one another, those who were estranged join hands in friendship, and nations seek the way of peace together. Your Spirit is at work when understanding puts an end to strife, when hatred is quenched by mercy, and vengeance gives way to forgiveness.”

In this column over the last few weeks I have referred to the speeches and homilies Pope Benedict gave while he was in the Holy Land. They are inspiring and fulfill the above words from the Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation, they witness to the presence and action of the Spirit of God in our midst. At a recent General Audience in Rome he continued to reflect on his recent pilgrimage: “In this Land blessed by God, sometimes it seems impossible to get out of the spiral of violence. But nothing is impossible for God and for those who trust in him! Because of this, faith in the one God, just and merciful should pour forth its treasure of respect, reconciliation and collaboration. Jerusalem is the crossroads for the three great monotheistic religions (Jew, Muslim and Christian) and its very name - ‘city of peace’- expresses the design of God for humanity: to make of it a great family. This design, announced to Abraham, was entirely fulfilled in Jesus Christ. All believers, therefore, should leave behind prejudices and a will to dominate and practice in harmony the fundamental commandment: to love God with all our being and to love our neighbor as ourselves.”

When he stood a couple of weeks ago at Christ’s empty tomb he proclaimed with great hope: “History need not be repeated, memories can be healed, the bitter fruits of recrimination and hostility can be overcome, a future of justice, peace, prosperity and cooperation can arise for every man and woman, for the whole human family, and in a special way for the people who dwell in this land so dear to the heart of the Savior. May we grow in the life of the Spirit through conversion, penance and prayer. By the power of that same Spirit may we overcome every conflict and tension born of the flesh, and remove every obstacle, both within and without, standing in the way of our common witness to Christ and the reconciling power of his love.”

Through the grace and power of the Spirit may these words be fulfilled not only in the Land that first experienced the power and presence of the Holy Spirit but in each of our own hearts and lives.

- Fr. Gary Dowsey

Last Saturday a new priest was ordained for the Diocese of St.Petersburg, Father Carl “Buster” Melchior. It was a beautiful celebration. Father Carl has been assigned to St. Catherine’s on Belcher Road. Please continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Every Wednesday we have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from after the 9 o’clock Mass until 7pm. One of our prayer intentions is vocations. This is an opportunity to spend some quiet time in the presence of the risen Christ, to deepen our commitment and discipleship with him (our baptismal vocation) to strengthen our marriage, family life and friendships. To surround who we are and what we do in prayer. If you are able to spend some time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament please sign the list in the Narthex. I also encourage you to sign up for the travelling chalice. We are invited to take the chalice home as a visible reminder to prayer for vocations. A family that prays together stays together!

While the Holy Father, Pope Benedict, was in Nazareth, during his recent visit to the Holy Land, he spoke about the special role that children have in leading their parents to holiness: “Children have a special role to play in the growth of their parents in holiness. I urge you to reflect on this, and to let the example of Jesus guide you, not only in showing respect for your parents, but also helping them to discover more fully the love which gives our lives the deepest meaning. In the Holy Family of Nazareth, it was Jesus who taught Mary and Joseph something of the greatness of the love of God his heavenly Father, the ultimate source of all love, the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. (cf. Eph 3:14 – 15).” Our first communion Masses displayed the great love and reverence children have for Jesus. Their faith strengthened mine. Thank you children! May we continue to strengthen family life through the gifts of prayer, understanding and compassion.

A number of our young people are ending and beginning a new chapter in their lives with the graduating ceremonies that have and are taking place. We pray for all the young people who are graduating from Elementary School, High School and College. I was impressed with what President Obama said to the Graduating Class of 2009 at Arizona State University: “As you think about life after graduation, as you look in the mirror tonight, you may see somebody with no idea what to do with their life. But a troubled child might look at you and see a mentor. A homebound senior citizen might see a lifeline. The folks at your homeless shelter might see a friend. None of them care how much money is in your bank account, or whether you are important at work, or famous around town – they just know that you’re someone who cares, someone who makes a difference in their lives.”

Our parish school eighth grade students graduate on Tuesday, May 26th at 7pm. The ceremony begins with Mass, you are invited to attend. Please come and support our young people, the Church of today and the hope of tomorrow.

Monday is Memorial Day. I encourage you to come to Mass and to pray for all who have given their lives in service of their country, to secure our peace and freedom. We pray for those who serve in the military today, especially in Iraq, Afghanistan and other war torn areas of our world. May they return safely to their families. May the peace of the Risen and Ascended Christ fill our hearts and homes, alleluia!

- Fr. Gary Dowsey