St. Joseph Church – Bristol, CT

We are in one of those in-between times in the Church. We celebrated the Feast of the Ascension last Thursday. We are now waiting for the Feast of Pentecost which will be celebrated on Sunday, May 27^th. These nine days in-between are a novena, nine days of praying for specific intentions. May our prayers be for the Coming of the Holy Spirit in a powerful way upon the Church and each one of us.

The Feast of the Ascension celebrates the return of Jesus, Risen, in Body and Soul, to heaven sitting at the right hand of the Father. Pentecost celebrates the Coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples in the Upper Room to inspire and energize them in proclaiming the message of Jesus’ Good News.

Whenever I speak to our teenagers who are preparing for Confirmation, I try to impress upon them that when they think of the Sacrament of Confirmation they should also think of the Holy Spirit and Pentecost. These three things always go together: Confirmation, the Holy Spirit and Pentecost.

Most of us were confirmed many years ago. This year during these ‘novena’ days before Pentecost pray that the gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Right Judgment, Courage, Piety and Wonder and Awe in God’s Presence truly be alive in our own hearts and in the Church.

“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.”

- Fr. Joe

Happy Mother’s Day

This is a special and wonderful day. We honor all our mothers – those living and those who are deceased, natural mothers and our “other” mothers and all those who will be mothers someday.

We cherish the value of motherhood. Mothers give us life, nourish and nurture life. For that we are grateful. Mothers stay with us when we are sick, they are proud of us when we succeed and they support and encourage us as we move into adulthood.

It is no surprise that mothers can worry and be anxious for us as we venture into larger worlds, but they know letting children go is one way to truly teach them to grow up into mature sons and daughters.

By their selflessness mothers teach us to love, to share and to forgive. When we put these values into action by our deeds, we show that we have truly learned from our mothers.

We will honor our mothers with flowers, special breakfasts, candy and phone calls. Let us also pray for them in a special way and say thank you not only on Mother’s Day but every day.

May is a beautiful month. Each day there is more sunlight bringing warmth to the air. It is a time of delightful spring.

During the month of May we honor Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our Mother. Traditionally, we have prayed the rosary with special devotion during the month of May and have honored Mary by crowning her statue. We will honor Mary with the rosary and a May crowning on Monday May 14^th. The First Communion children will assist us that night. Watch the bulletin for details.

When we honor Mary with the recitation of the rosary, we also pay close attention to her Son, Jesus. Many of the mysteries of the rosary are directly related to the life of Jesus – his birth, his suffering and death, his rising to new life. Blessed Pope John Paul II added the Luminous Mysteries to the rosary. These mysteries focus on events during the public life and ministry of Jesus. Maybe during the month of May this year we could focus especially on these mysteries drawing closer to Jesus as we pray honoring his Mother, Mary.

The Luminous Mysteries are: The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, The Wedding Feast of Cana, The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, The Transfiguration and The Institution of the Eucharist. Each of these events focus on what Jesus did while he lived on earth, but they also help us to be aware of what Jesus does for us as his disciples today. From our own baptism to reception of the Eucharist in Communion, from hearing the Word of God proclaimed and experiencing the care of Jesus to the hope of the ongoing process of becoming more like the Transfigured Christ, Jesus is with us today.

This month pay close attention to the ongoing love of Jesus in your life reflecting from the events in the life of Jesus.

- Fr. Joe

The month of May begins this coming week. May is a beautiful month. The earth filled with fragrant spring flowers. In civil society and in the Church many things are celebrated this month.

May 1^st is celebrated as May Day with much public display in Europe in honor of workers. In the Church we honor St. Joseph the Worker. Joseph, the husband of Mary and the guardian of Jesus, is Patron of both the Universal Church and the Archdiocese of Hartford. St. Joseph is also the patron of our parish Church and community. May we take time to honor St. Joseph in a special way.

During May we also look to the loving care of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, the Mother of God and the Mother of the Church. Honor her by praying the rosary and reciting the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary. And as we honor Mary we are never far from honoring our own mothers on Mother’s Day.

This month will include the happy occasion of First Communion for our young people. Pray for them as they receive the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ, for the first time. This is a special day for them, their families and for the whole Church.

The month will bring some projects that we as a community work on each Spring: the baby bottle drive for Carolyn’s Place, Homefront projects – now called St. Joseph’s Community Outreach Day, and of course soliciting new members for our Parish Pastoral Council and preparing for our Annual Meeting.

These are only a few things that are taking place. In all these undertakings may we seek and pray for the guidance of our gracious God through the intercession of Mary and Joseph.

- Fr. Joe

Happy Easter to everyone.

“Jesus Christ is Risen today” is the title to one Easter hymn. Easter hymns are bright, lively and filled with joy. It is a day of great rejoicing. May all of us enjoy this day and be glad in the hope it brings.

We celebrate Jesus’ rising from the dead after his cruel death on the cross. In his dying and rising he is the Savior of the world. He has conquered sin and death, he opens the way to eternal life with God in heaven and the kingdom of light, happiness and peace.

Believers will rejoice on this Easter day. By the way you live may all see that you know and understand that faith and life are precious gifts of God. In the earliest days of Christianity it was often said of followers of Jesus Christ, “see how these Christians love one another.” May people see that in us today, and not just today, but all the days of our lives.

Jesus did not die only for those who believe in him. He died to save all people. He died for men, women and children of all time whatever their belief. This is somewhat overwhelming. He died for us as individuals: you and me. He also died for believers of all time. Further, he died for every human person no matter when they live, where they live, the language they speak, the belief system – or lack of one- they profess, whatever their orientation. This sometimes makes us stagger. But it is true.

After forty days of Lent and the celebration of the Easter Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil, may this Easter bring us a deeper understanding and appreciation of God’s powerful love in Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, raised from the dead.

A blessed Easter to all.

On Palm Sunday we begin the holiest week of the Church calendar. We call this week ‘Holy Week’ because we celebrate the final days of Jesus’ earthly life and his death and resurrection.

Today we bless palms and read the gospel of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem greeted by shouts of ‘Hosanna, to the Son of David’. We also read the Passion account of Jesus’ death according to Mark. As this gospel is proclaimed listen to the love that God has for the whole world by giving his Son who was willing to die so that we might share in the fullness of life with God in eternity.

On Thursday we will commemorate the Lord’s last supper at which he gave his disciples and us his Body and Blood in the form of Bread and Wine. With the words ‘do this in memory of me’ he institutes the priesthood. Jesus washes the feet of his disciples and gives them and us a powerful example of serving others.

On Friday we will proclaim and read the Passion and Death of Jesus according to John. This Passion narrative is read every Good Friday. In John’s Passion Jesus conquers sin and death. He enters willingly into his Passion for the salvation of the world.

On Holy Saturday at the Easter Vigil, the greatest of all Christian celebrations, we will bless fire, light the new Easter Candle and sing the Exultet. We will tell the story of creation and the action of God throughout history. We will sing the Gloria with joy and with happiness in our hearts sing the first Alleluia of Easter as the story of the Resurrection is told. Those adults completing the Sacraments of Initiation will be Confirmed and receive Communion.

These celebrations are the core of our Christian faith. They strengthen us with renewed faith to profess our belief in Jesus Christ, Risen Lord and Savior, and live that faith in the world. Join us for these celebrations.