Hey Father Gary!

I have just returned from celebrating two weddings, one in Connecticut and the other in London, England. In a few weeks time I will be heading back to London to officiate at another friend’s wedding and the wedding of one of my great niece’s in Ireland. Yes, I am getting old! In England we call this a ‘busman’s holiday’ when you go away from home to work somewhere else! However, I do not think of it in that way. To celebrate a Sacrament is a privilege and a joy for any priest. To officiate at weddings of family and friends is an added bonus and joy. If you have a priest in the family, or as a close friend, you naturally turn to them at significant moments: baptisms, marriages and funerals. While it was not easy to preside at my mother’s funeral a number of years ago, I also realize that it was a privilege to celebrate her birth into eternal life knowing that she was the one who brought me to birth in this world. The symbolism is profound.

Marriage is such a precious gift. To see two people offer themselves to each other in such a beautiful sacrament is always a joy to behold. A couple’s intimate union with each other is a living sign of Christ’s union with us. This intimate union we celebrate at the Eucharistic table. I think the following blessing, which can be used at the exchange of rings, says a great deal about a marital commitment: May these rings be blessed by God, as tokens of his all-enfolding love. May you wear them as a constant reminder of love which is unbroken, commitment which is costly and faithfulness encircling all your days.

I am so glad that we honor those who are celebrating a wedding anniversary by inviting them to bring the gifts of bread and wine to the altar at Mass. This gives us the opportunity to give thanks for the vocation of marriage and the gift of family life.

The school year has got off to a very good start and our Principal, Kathy Bogataj, is doing a sterling job! She is backed by a fine staff and faculty. I am grateful for the selfless way they serve the school. I would also like to thank all the parents of our great kids for supporting Catholic Education. I realize you are making a great sacrifice.

The Wednesday and Sunday Faith Formation programs begin on September 10th and 14th. The parish department of Evangelization, Life Long Faith Formation and Youth are offering a wide range of programs and events for the coming year, with exciting opportunities to grow in knowledge and understanding of our faith. There will be lots to celebrate! Please make sure you receive a copy of the program of events. There is something for everyone. It also includes the Sacramental information for Baptism, Communion (Reconciliation) and Confirmation. This booklet is a must for every household!

This is a sad weekend for our parish community as Father Theo leaves us on Monday, September 1st. He will say a few words at all the Masses. There’s a reception in the Conmy Center after the 930 and 1130 Masses. We will miss this gentle and ardent servant of Christ. I will continue to value his friendship. Thank you Father Theo for the way you have blessed and graced this parish community. You will always be held in our prayers.

- Fr. Gary Dowsey

On Friday, August 15th, we celebrate the feast of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven. It is a holyday of obligation. The Angelus is one of the traditional prayers of the Church that honors the faith of Mary. It has always been the custom to pray this prayer at 12 and 6pm.

The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary………………………
Behold the handmaid of the Lord:
Be it done unto me according to your word.
Hail Mary………………………
And the Word was made flesh:
And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary………………………
Pray for us, O holy mother of God:
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, your Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may be brought by his passion and cross to the glory of his resurrection, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

When the Holy Father, Pope Benedict, was in Australia for World Youth Day he spoke about the Angelus and Mary’s openness and faith:

“In this prayer we reflect on Mary as a young woman, receiving the Lord’s summons to dedicate her life to him in a very particular way, a way that would involve the generous gift of herself, her womanhood, her motherhood. Imagine how she must have felt. She was filled with apprehension, utterly overwhelmed at the prospect that lay before her.

The angel understood her anxiety and immediately sought to reassure her. “Do not be afraid, Mary….The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you” (Luke 1:30, 35). It was the Spirit who gave her the strength and courage to respond to the Lord’s call. It was the Spirit who helped her to understand the great mystery that was to be accomplished through her. It was the Spirit who enfolded her with his love and enabled her to conceive the Son of God in her womb. In the angel’s message, it was as if God made a marriage proposal to the human race. And in our name, Mary said yes.

In fairy tales, the story ends there, and all “live happily ever after”. In real life this is not so simple. For Mary there were many struggles ahead, as she lived out the consequences of the “yes” that she had given to the Lord. Simeon prophesied that a sword would pierce her heart. When Jesus was twelve years old, she experienced every parent’s worst nightmare when, for three days, the child went missing. And after his public ministry, she suffered the agony of witnessing his crucifixion and death. Throughout her trials she remained faithful to her promise, sustained by the Spirit of fortitude. And she was gloriously rewarded.

So let us turn to her and ask her to guide us as we struggle to remain faithful to the life giving relationship that God has established with each one of us. She is our example and our inspiration, she intercedes for us with her Son, and with a mother’s love she shields us from harm.”

- Fr. Gary Dowsey

Today we listen to the gospel story of Jesus feeding the five thousand. Jesus responded to the basic need of the people in front of him, they were hungry and he fed them. We too are called to respond to the basic needs of one another. To recognize the presence of Christ in those who hunger and thirst, for what we do for them we do for him. Our St. Vincent De Paul Society has been extra busy of late responding to the basic needs of those in our own community. These needs have increased since the slowdown in the economy. Please continue the excellent tradition of bringing food each Sunday. By doing so we are fulfilling today’s gospel in today’s world. The food is distributed Monday, Wednesday and Friday by our St. Vincent De Paul Society in the DuBois Center.

The newly appointed Principal of our school, Blake Rahman, has resigned for personal reasons. I am very happy to announce that Kathy Bogataj, Assistant Principal, has been appointed Interim Principal. Kathy is in the process of completing her Catholic School Leadership Educational Degree from Barry University, Miami. She is loved and respected by the parents and will lead the school community with great wisdom and vision. She has my full trust, support and confidence.

Frank Capisciolto has been appointed to the new position of Youth and Campus Minister. He will start in September. Frank is from Canada and has recently been working in youth ministry in North Dakota. He has coordinated retreats and worked as a camp director, reaching out to hundreds of young people. In applying for the position he wrote: “As youth minister I have been challenged to find different ways to reach out to the youth of the community. Christ has blessed me and my colleagues with amazing growth in our ministry.” We look forward to his arrival.

We are also pleased to welcome Monique Knapp to the staff of the school and parish as Director of Stewardship and Advancement. She will organize many efforts that will lead to the growth of our parish and school. She has already given much time in a selfless way on a part-time volunteer basis over the last year. To sustain and expand our many ministries as a parish, it will be important for us to build on the ways we inspire and invite the sincere and good-hearted generosity of this faith community. Monique and her husband, Brian, and their son, Sean, moved to this area and joined our parish two years ago.

Please remember that we have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every Wednesday and Saturday after the 9 AM Mass. On Wednesday, Exposition continues in our Chapel from 1030 till 7pm. We have a beautiful little chapel. Have you visited it? Come and spend sometime in Christ’s presence. Bring your family. A family that prays together stays together! Please sign the watching list in the narthex. Parishes with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament have been blessed in many different ways. One of the fruits has been an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Christ has blessed us with this gift as a visible reminder of his presence among us. We are a privileged people!

- Fr. Gary Dowsey