Reflections from Our Seminarians and Deacons

As the school year ends and graduation season is upon us, I have been reflecting on my own educational milestones. It seems like such a long time ago that I graduated from grammar school, high school, and college. There have also been educational milestones in my faith as well, times that have brought me closer to God—like receiving my first Eucharist, confirmation, CRHP, and the deaconate formation program.

My faith in Jesus and God the Father has brought me to where I am today. However, just because I have finished classes or graduated doesn’t mean my education ends. My burning desire to learn more about my faith and God the Father hasn’t changed. If anything, that yearning has grown deeper and stronger as I developed a better understanding of God in my life. Yet just as my need to learn and grow continues, so too does my relationship with Jesus and God the Father. Education is learning, to help one understand and to grow in love to serve God.

I recently started watching the program The Chosen. It is about the disciples and how they came to follow Jesus. I am learning that by virtue of our own baptism, we are all disciples. We are all followers of Christ. (More on discipleship in my next reflection.

As people of faith, as people of the Catholic Church, I encourage you to listen, read, read scripture, or watch an educational TV program, expand your mind and your understanding. If you have questions, ask. There is so much more to learn, so much more to see and understand when following Jesus in our daily lives.

—Marie Dombai

During this recent Easter Season, I found myself reflecting on Mary and her role as a mother—not any mother, but the mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I wondered what that could have possibly been like to raise a child 2000-plus years ago. Did you ever think of what life was like for Mary? I cannot even begin to imagine what everyday life was like: no running water, no washing machines, no disposable diapers, and no technology.  Also, at the time in history when Jesus was born, women were persecuted for having a child out of wedlock. At the time when Mary found out that she had conceived a child by the Holy Spirit, she was betrothed to Joseph. They were not yet married. What could she have thought? She persevered because she had faith in God and knew what God was asking of her, to bring the Christ child into this world.

But more importantly how did Mary feel at the time of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection. What was it like to lose her son, her only son?

Being a mother of six, plus four, and the memaw to four beautiful grandchildren, the thought of losing any of my children is something that is difficult to comprehend. I cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like to lose one of them.

I know family and friends who have lost a child, and to watch them experience the pain and agony of the death of their own child is horrific. There is nothing anyone can say or do to help ease their pain.

Mary, knew that God had a plan and she accepted it, full of grace. Mary is a great role model for mothers, so that we too can see the many gifts God has given us and accept His plan. The gift of life and even the gift of death through the resurrection.

Mary didn’t fully understand her role in the beginning and pondered many things in her heart, but she did not hesitate to give her “yes” to the request to be the mother of God’s Son. Mary being chosen by God, the Father, to bring Jesus Christ into this world, and her willingness to do so is great cause for celebration on this Mother’s Day. Without her role, Jesus would not have been able to die for our sins, saving us, and thus giving us a second chance at redemption and life everlasting.

 Happy Mother’s Day to the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God and all the women who celebrate on this special day.

Marie Dombai

Lent is a time of preparation for Easter. It is a time of sacrifice, fasting, prayer, reflection, alms giving and change. Many of us give up something like a vice, a bad habit or something pleasurable as a means for repentance. We fast and make sacrifices to seek the cleansing of our sins. Just as we experience daily temptations in our own lives, Jesus was tested by Satan in the desert. By rejecting the devil's temptations, Christ has taught us how to praise and worship God, to help us overcome these temptations that lead to sin.

For me, Lent is more than a time of fasting, it is a season set aside to reminder me to pray, to thank God for my many blessings. Lent is also a time to take a deeper look at the sins I have committed, to be sorry for those sins and change my actions to live a life filled with the grace of God.

I cherish the season of Lent as a time for new beginnings and new growth. It is an opportunity to be sorry for the sins I have made and a time to be thankful for the saving grace we are given by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Spring is a time of change, and what better way to see the coming of Easter—the resurrection of Christ our Lord and Savior— as a time to get closer to God. The reward of our Lenten journey is a greater intimacy with God our Father.

I like to relate this new beginning to Bette Midler’s song “The Rose.” “That with the sun’s love”—the grace filled love of God—we can grow and become something beautiful like “the rose.”

“Just remember in the winter

Far beneath the bitter snow

Lies a seed that with the sun’s love

In the spring becomes a rose.”

Marie Dombai

News Flash from the New Pastoral Assistant

I am thrilled to share with you that, after several conversations with Fr. John and much reflection and prayer, I have agreed to take on the role of Pastoral Assistant for Saint Juliana. As of March 14th, my part-time role will be to assist in coordinating the educational, liturgical, sacramental, service, and spiritual needs of the parish.

With COVID restrictions being lifted, we can safely meet again. Some parish committees/organizations have already started meeting. In the next several months I plan to facilitate the reopening of many of our parish activities and events. I will also be working to reintroduce or begin new events in our parish. Some parishioners have already expressed an interest in women’s groups and retreats, just to name a few.

At times I will be eliciting the help of parishioners. It is my hope that ALL parishioners can become involved in a parish ministry or group that interests them, so that we can all work together to make Saint Juliana an even greater parish to be a part of. Updates will appear in the bulletin frequently.

If at any time you see the need for a new parish group or ministry or anything within the parish that I can assist in helping with the formation of, please feel free to contact me. Or if you are willing to volunteer to lead or assist in a specific ministry please let me know. You can call the parish office and leave me a message or email me at [email protected].

Thank you in advance for your support.

Marie Dombai

Pastoral Assistant

With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, I would like to focus on the love that a marriage is made of—love between husband and wife—which brings children to form a family. I have spent quite some time reflecting on what love is for me, especially since Tom and I are embarking on a new ministry. As we become PreCana facilitators, assisting couples that will be married in the Catholic Church, we have been thinking about and discussing our own marriage.

Even after thirty-six-and-a-half years, the love we share has grown exponentially through good times and bad, sickness and health. We have raised six beautiful children out of that love and witnessed four of them now sharing their love with their spouse or significant other. A couple of them are even raising their own children out of the love that they share. No, our marriage isn’t perfect—we can argue and have disagreements—but with open, honest communication and endless love, our relationship and love continues to grow. Back in 1985, one of the readings at our wedding ceremony was from Corinthians. From the beginning of our love story we have been patient, kind, not jealous, selfish or rude. Saint Paul reminds us that the gift of love from God, endures all things. Love never fails.

As our mutual love matured and communication changed over time, connecting with each other and our love became more subtle and more deeply rooted. Not to say that we have taken love for granted, because I feel we love each other more and more each day. But it is a different kind of love, a mature kind of love. I feel that our love comes from God’s love for us and the love of Jesus Christ. God loved us so much that he sent his only son. His son loved us so much that he suffered and died for us to save us from our sins so that we may someday enjoy eternal happiness with God the Father. This is what we as Catholics believe.

For me it shows God’s unconditional love, love that brings about sacrifice and unselfishness. The example of God’s love for us is an example of how to live our lives with each other. To have a reciprocal relationship with each other as God has with us, we become better people and live a life filled with love that will bring us to ever lasting life.

Marie Dombai

Did you ever ask yourself if God really exists? I feel I’ve been asking that a lot lately—what with a month-long illness in September (it wasn’t even Covid-19) and a knee injury in November that required surgery in December. I’ve been finding it hard to pray, and at times, even hard to love God. I am not looking for sympathy here, but maybe this is my confession to you. This year I found it hard to find the joy of Christmas in my life. There is even too much sadness in the world. Families unable to be together, the many lives lost to Covid and gun violence, even the devastating tornado in Kentucky had me asking, “Why?” Earlier this year we welcomed a new grandchild to our family and another new life in December, however, with the death of a loved one, our joy quickly turned to sadness.

Being a person of faith, the live nativity celebration brought me to tears—tears of joy—as we sang “O Come All Ye Faithful.” As I watched our four- and two-year-old grandchildren look with wonderment and amazement I was able to see this Christmas in a new light. Our two-year-old granddaughter was looking for baby Jesus among the animals, and it was then that I realized what was missing this Christmas has been here all along. Seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child helped me realize what Christmas is all about.  Even Father Elliott’s homily on Christmas morning about the Christ child being the light, the light to overcome the darkness in our lives helped me appreciate my many blessings and gifts from God. We all should look at the “bright side” of things in our lives and turn away from the darkness. With the birth of the Christ child I hope we can all see the great light in the new year.

The answer to my initial question is yes, God does exist, we just have to open our eyes and our hearts and see all the goodness, love, and happiness around us.

I wish everyone a very bright, healthy and happy new year filled with the light of Christ and the magic of the Christmas season.

Marie Dombai

The word “Thanksgiving” has two meanings. First, it is an expression of gratitude, specifically when thanking God. The second meaning details the holiday of Thanksgiving in North America. Today, many years after the first Thanksgiving, these meanings still hold true. Thanksgiving is still a time to come to together to celebrate with friendship in gratitude for a bountiful harvest, just as the pilgrims and Native Americans did.

As I prepare for a day with a delicious turkey feast, football games, parades, and family get-togethers, I begin to think of what Thanksgiving means to me. To me, Thanksgiving is a time where I celebrate my family and our family traditions. It is also a time of reflection—to recognize and appreciate the many blessings in my life.

I know and recite many songs, poems, and prayers that offer thanks. However, I have yet to find one that encompasses EVERTHING I am grateful for. Thus, I would like to offer my own prayer that gives thanks to all the people in my life and God.

On this special day, we give thanks for our many blessings.

We thank you Lord,

For this day of celebration and everyday,

For all those we love through many generations, past, present and future,

For all those in our lives today,

For all those who are not with us today, but sit at your heavenly feast,

For all those people in our lives united in marriage and the love that they share,

For the family they created with that love,

And the family circle that is ever growing,

For opportunities to grow and become closer to you,

For our lives, health, happiness,

For love and

For family,

For the food we put on our tables, the banquet that brings us all together,

For those who prepared the tasty treats and

For those lucky enough to share in that delicious feast.

THANK YOU LORD.

May God continue to watch over each and every one us and bless us with many more daily blessings. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Marie Dombai

The End Times: The cycle of the Church’s liturgical year is coming to an end next week. The “end of the world”—when God’s great plan for creation will be realized—is one of the themes of the liturgy today and during the coming few weeks.

Discussion and writings about “the end” and the various signs that will accompany it is a type of writing known as “apocalyptic.” Apocalyptic writing was used to communicate confident hope to fearful people by revealing how God would definitively save his faithful ones from any and all evil forces at the end of time.

Rather than focus on a day and an hour which is not ours to know or to determine, the author of Daniel (first reading) invites his readers to concern themselves with living wisely and justly in the present. Those who do so are promised a share in everlasting life. Similarly, Mark’s gospel encourages the early Christians to stand firm in their faith that God would prevail and save them. After a period of “tribulation” in which even the lights of the sky would be shaken, Christ will come again with “great power and glory” (Mk 13:26) to gather his people.

Today’s gospel reminds us we must always be ready to face our judgement because none of us knows just when we will be called from this life. While we all know that we will die someday, many of us are so immersed in the things of this world that we fail to prepare ourselves for the time of our death. We cannot avoid death, but we can avoid an unprepared death by striving always to follow the law of love Jesus taught and to keep a close relationship with the Lord.

The good news to keep in mind is that God is in charge. The Catechism tells us: “The Last Judgment will reveal that God’s justice triumphs over all the injustices committed by his creatures and that God’s love is stronger than death.” (CCC 1040) And so, along with Mark’s community, we too place our trust in the one who said: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Mk 13: 31)

Deacon Tom Dombai

The Red Mass: Many of us know that the U.S. Supreme Court begins its new court term on the first Monday of October each year. But you might not be aware that the Catholic Church celebrates a special mass known as the “Red Mass” to initiate the opening of the fall term of the courts. The Mass is offered to invoke God’s blessings on those responsible for the administration of justice, as well as on all public officials. Even though I have worked as a lawyer for the past thirty-six years, I am somewhat embarrassed to say that I only became aware of this tradition when I was invited to participate as a deacon in the Red Mass at Holy Name Cathedral earlier this month.

The history of the Red Mass dates to 13th century Europe when it was celebrated prior to opening the Ecclesiastical courts to invoke divine guidance upon those responsible for administering laws and justice. The name of the Mass is derived from the red vestments worn by the priests, to signify the fire of the Holy Spirit, and by the scarlet robes worn then by judges of the High Court. With so many participants in red, the celebrations became irrevocably known as the “Red Mass.” In the United States, the Red Mass tradition was inaugurated on October 6, 1928, at old St. Andrew’s Church in New York City. Since then, the Red Mass has been celebrated in cities throughout the United States each fall before the U.S. Supreme Court’s term begins.

Liturgically, the Red Mass is celebrated as the Solemn Mass of the Holy Spirit. It provides an opportunity for attending members of the legal community to reflect on the God given power attached to their office. Participants ask God to imbue all members of the legal community with virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit—wisdom, understanding, counsel and fortitude—for the right and just administration of their respective office. Today, the Red Mass is attended by judges, lawyers, and court officials of all faiths asking God to bless, strengthen, and enlighten all servants of the law and all people of faith so that in cooperation and mutual trust, we may effectively achieve justice.

Deacon Tom Dombai

Did you ever notice that during the Profession of Faith sometimes we recite the Apostles’ Creed and other times we recite the Nicene Creed? What’s the difference? Why do we recite one over the other?

The word “creed” comes from the Latin “credo” which means, “I believe.” Both creeds are statements of our Christian faith that proclaim the mysteries of what we believe.

The Apostles’ Creed is spoken mostly during Lent and the Easter season. It is considered to be the baptismal symbol of the Catholic Church, whereas, the Nicene Creed is recited mostly during all the other Sunday liturgies and is considered to be more of a Eucharistic approach to our faith.

The Apostles’ Creed comes from the old Roman Catechism. It is a statement of Christian faith that was developed from the baptismal creed. It is a faithful summary of our faith from the apostles that reminds us of the declarations that we make during baptism.

With the development of Christology in the fourth century comes the Nicene Creed, which is more explicit and offers more details. The Nicene Creed draws authority from the first Ecumenical Council of Nicea in 325 AD and the second Ecumenical Council of Constantinople in 381 AD.

The Council of Nicea in 325 AD clarifies the doctrine of the Trinity and helps to explain that Jesus is both human and divine. In 381 AD the primary focus of revising the Creed from Nicea was to explain in more detail the role of the Holy Spirit.

The Nicene Creed unites all Christians and is more of a summary of our beliefs with a deeper focus on the Holy Spirit. 

It wasn’t until the sixth century that the Nicene Creed became part of the Mass to profess our faith.

  I often look to the Profession of Faith as a way to see deeper into and understand more of the mystery of our faith. I feel that no mater which creed is professed they are both statements of my faith and what “I believe.”

—Marie Dombai

Tomorrow is Labor Day. It marks the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year. For most people, it’s a day off of work and an opportunity for parties, barbeques, picnics, parades, and other outdoor activities.

In the late 19th century, Labor Day was created by the labor movement, which pushed for better conditions for workers. It became a federal holiday in 1894 under President Grover Cleveland. It is a day of national tribute to the contributions and achievements honoring the American workers and recognizing them for the strength, prosperity, and well-being they bring to our country.

The Bible provides us with many examples of God’s view on work.

In the very beginning in Genesis, (1: 28, 2:15) we see that God worked. This tells us that we all have the ability to work and be like God. He also gave us the task of taking care of his creation. Also in Genesis, (1: 28) God plans for us to do good work as long as we live.

In Ecclesiastes, (2: 24-25) work is considered a gift of fulfillment to life.

In Colossians, (3: 22) we are called to be diligent, loyal, respectful and fair in our work.

In Ephesians, (6: 6-7) work should be done with pride and excellence.

And in Matthew, (5: 16) we see that work provides us with an opportunity to make a difference as followers of Christ.

These are just a few biblical examples. Work can be viewed as having several purposes: to provide money for the things necessary in life, to provide the satisfaction of doing a job well and to serve God.

Today many of us can be thankful for the jobs we have, whether we provide a service, comfort, educational, healing, or spiritual need. No matter what our jobs entail we need each other in today’s society to survive.

Today we thank all workers for what they do as we remember them in our prayers and thank God for their labor. We pray for those who work tirelessly at their jobs giving of themselves for others. We also pray for those seeking employment.

Happy Labor Day! Enjoy your day of rest.

Marie Dombai

Last week I had the pleasure to assist as a deacon at our back-to-school Mass. Beforehand, I reflected a bit on my school experiences from kindergarten at Stock School, to grammar school at Saint Juliana School, then Loyola Academy, and DePaul University for college and law school. Much later in life I attended Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary as I went through study and formation to become a deacon. I was so fortunate to have had many wonderful and dedicated teachers who helped and encouraged me along the way.

I thought about how happy I was that this year marked the beginning of the last year of graduate school for our youngest child who will become a doctor of physical therapy in May. Okay, maybe some of that joy is also because we are finally coming to the end of our tuition paying days.

I thought about how important and so very special Saint Juliana School has been for our family. My wife Marie and I became friends while we were students at SJS and our six children all went there as well. (And, yes, all eight of us had Mrs. Lidgus as a teacher!) This year our grandson, Henry, becomes the newest family member and our third generation to attend SJS, as he starts full day pre-school here.

Each new school year is a transition for our students, whether they are simply moving up a grade, making a new start at a new school, or heading off to college. This is a fitting time to pray for all our children and young adults as they begin this new school year. I offer this prayer:

Gracious and Loving Lord, we ask that you bless our students as they embark upon a new school year. Give them curious minds, an enthusiasm for learning, compassion for others and the joys of friendship. Give them teachers who are kind and caring and who inspire their students to explore their interests, do their best in their studies, and to become life-long learners. For the parents and caregivers of our students, help them to constantly encourage their children in their school work and ensure that they complete assignments. We pray that all our students, parents and teachers have a safe and successful year comforted in knowing that you are with them always.   Amen.

Deacon Tom Dombai

Hola from the Diocese of Cheyenne and Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church! I hope you all have been enjoying summertime at Saint Juliana’s. Although a part of me misses seminary and being in Illinois, it has been a very meaningful past couple of months here in Casper, Wyoming. A part of my summer that has had a significant impact on me has been spending time with three religious sisters from Mexico (from the Order of the Child Mary), who are staying here for five years with a mission to serve community members who primarily speak Spanish. Although I knew a little Spanish before this summer, it’s a new level of communication when I have three nuns talking to me in Spanish and I get to figure out what is going on!

Although many of my conversations involve me trying to put together simple sentences or pointing to objects and asking, “Cómo se dice ____” (“How do you say ____?”), I have found there is a relationship that can still be formed with someone just by listening and offering a smile, even if I don’t understand everything. Hearing stories about coming to the United States and their desire to develop a relationship with our Lord through the Catholic Church has inspired me to see how I can help our community continue to cast the net wide and make sure everyone knows about the truth, goodness, and beauty of Catholicism.

Apart from brushing up on my Spanish, I have enjoyed some of my favorite western activities, including fishing, hiking, and a couple of horseback rides. However, I am most grateful to feel welcomed into the lives of our parishioners here. Much like at St. Juliana’s, it has been a privilege to serve Mass and be with families through the ups and downs of life. From the highs of baptisms to the lows of funerals, it is powerful to see the grace and mercy of Christ at work. The combination of rest, prayer, and work in Wyoming has been good to me, but I am looking forward to seeing you all again this fall.

Lee Noel

The Lord’s Prayer: How often do you pray? How do you pray? What does prayer mean to you? Everyone prays differently. Whether you read the bible, recite the rosary, sing a song, recite the Lord’s Prayer, or just simply talk to God, all prayer is spiritual.

For me prayer is an opportunity to sit quietly and chat with the Lord.

A couple of weeks ago in the Gospel reading, the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. He spoke the words of the “Our Father.”

Many times I have recited the Lord’s Prayer, the Our Father, and I don’t always think of what these words actually and truly mean. Maybe you share the same experience with me.

The Lord's Prayer appears in two of the four Gospels: Matthew (6:9-13) and Luke (11:2-4). According to St. Luke, this fundamental prayer offers five petitions, and according to St. Matthew this prayer offers seven petitions.

In the tradition of our faith, The Catechism of the Catholic Church provides us a deeper understanding of what the words to this daily petition of prayer represents according to Matthew. The Lord’s Prayer is a summary of the whole Gospel.

The first three petitions recognizes the glory of the Father, in the sanctification of His name, the coming of the kingdom and fulfillment of his will. In the first series of petitions we are strengthened in faith and filled with hope as we see in the saving sacrifice of Christ.

The other four petitions present our wants. We ask that our lives be fed and nourished and that we are healed of sin and made victorious in the struggle of good over evil in our daily lives.

The Lord’s Prayer is an important part of the Christian sacraments of initiation—Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. It reveals to us the purpose of its petitions: hoping for the Lord “until he comes again.”

This simple prayer has so much more meaning to it than I can explain in a short reflection, but I have found that reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church has enlightened my thoughts and expanded my feelings when I pray, “Our Father….”

I hope and pray that this short reflection will do the same for you.

Marie Dombai

Humans have always been fascinated with miracles. In every age there have occurred events that cannot be explained through natural reasoning and which are seen as divine in origin. Being a Christian requires a belief in the miraculous. Jesus’ entire life was full of miracles, from his incarnation and virginal conception to his resurrection and ascension.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that a miracle is “a sign or wonder such as a healing, or control of nature, which can only be attributed to divine power. The miracles of Jesus were messianic signs of the presence of God’s kingdom.” The miracles of Christ and the saints are among the most certain signs of divine revelation which confirm for us the reality of the spiritual realm and reassure us of the existence of God.

In the Catholic Church the recognition of a miracle requires a rigorous process of verification. The church will not declare a person to be a saint until the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints determines that two miracles—typically miracles of physical healing, attributed to the candidate’s intercession—have taken place following the candidate’s death. In all cases the local bishop is the first authority to investigate a miracle. He creates a board of medical professionals to evaluate the event and then they report to him their results. If someone is suddenly healed after praying to a would-be saint, the Vatican has doctors verify there is no medical explanation for it.

In most cases the event is not verified as a miracle. Yet, despite this strict procedure, miracles are proclaimed on a regular basis. For each beatification and canonization the existence of miracles is a primary requirement, clearly showing the power of God through the intercession of an individual.

A saint is someone who lived a life of great virtue and holiness whom we look to and admire. A saint is also someone who is now in heaven, living in the fullness of life with God. The miracles properly attributed to such people are the signs that establish their sainthood.

—Deacon Tom Dombai

CHANGE

Change can be good or bad,

It can be unexpected or part of a plan.

It can be personal or universal

It can be freeing or constricting.

I love the analogy of the “not so” cute butterfly larva forming into a chrysalis that then morphs or CHANGES into a beautiful butterfly.

In our lives we are constantly experiencing CHANGE. We experience CHANGE as we move throughout our own life cycles, the changing of the seasons and through the changes within the world, our country, our state, our city and our church.

Over a year ago we made many life style changes and adapted to a pandemic that forced us to live in a different way. Now again, as we emerge from COVID, like that beautiful butterfly coming out of its cocoon, we experience a new CHANGE but with that comes a new sense of uncertainty.

Change can sometimes be hard to accept, but the worst part of change for me is the uncertainty. Knowing that God is with me always, helps me look to the future with an attitude of renewal.

With Father James’s upcoming departure and Father Emanuel’s just a month ago, Saint Juliana is facing a CHANGE. We will have a new administrator and associate pastor. Again the feeling of uncertainty is overwhelming, but in the spirit of renewal I have accepted this CHANGE as a new beginning, an opportunity to open my wings and fly.

I wish Father James and Father Emanuel all the best as they experience CHANGE and new beginnings on their continued path of service to God and His people.

I would also like to welcome Father John Siemianowski and Father Elliot Dees into the St. Juliana parish family as they too will be experiencing CHANGES on their own paths.

We all have to remember, to keep Jesus close in our hearts and know that God is with us always and watches over us during times of CHANGE. 

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

—Joshua 1:9

Marie Dombai

About 20 years ago, when Fr. Phil Dressler was the pastor of St. Juliana, he invited five men from our parish to each give a reflection on fatherhood at one of the Sunday masses on Father’s Day. I was one of those five men. At the time, my wife, Marie, and I were scrambling with the parental juggling act of working full time jobs, raising our six children—who then ranged in ages from about three to thirteen, being involved with their various sports, music, and scouting activities, and helping in our parish ministries. The last thing I needed at the time, or so I thought, was an additional chore on my plate. But I accepted his invitation.

I remember thinking about what I would say and praying to God for some words of wisdom that could touch people’s hearts. I thought about the wonderful example of patient, caring, and faith-filled love I received from my own father and the fine influence of my father-in-law and other male mentors in my life. I thought about the lessons I learned about treating other people with kindness and respect and the importance of doing our best at all we do. I thought about how I was taught that family and faith should always be foremost in my life. I thought about what sort of a job I did at integrating those values into my own life and I wondered whether I would capably pass them on to my own children.

During this process of reflection, I realized that, for me, fatherhood is primarily a combination of two things. First, being a parent, a father, a dad, to our children is truly a gift from God. Fatherhood is a blessing and one of the most special and treasured roles in my life. Second, being a father is also an important responsibility. As newborns, children are dependent upon their parents for every one of their needs. As children become a bit older, mothers and fathers become their child’s first teachers in understanding the world around them, learning how to get along with others, and in passing on the faith.

Now, with twenty more years of fatherhood experience under my belt, and the addition of a son and two daughters-in-law, three marvelous grandchildren and a fourth on the way, I continue to see fatherhood as a wonderful gift and a sacred responsibility. The fatherly role does not get any easier as the kids become teenagers and then young adults, but I am extremely proud of each of our children and so very thankful to be their dad and grandfather to their children. I am also grateful for Fr. Phil’s extra prodding to reflect on the gift of fatherhood those many years ago. It helped shape how I’ve looked at fatherhood ever since.

To all our fathers, grandfathers, and all men who mentor and guide our children, I wish you blessings and a happy Father’s Day!

Deacon Tom Dombai

Today we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Church. We know the Holy Spirit as our counselor, our advocate, the one who guides us to our best selves. But even with this knowledge, it is still difficult to comprehend how the Holy Spirt works in our lives. When I find myself searching for greater understanding of spiritual mysteries, I often turn to the words of Pope Francis. He seems to have a gift for explaining things in a way that makes sense to me.

In his Pentecost Sunday Homily of 2018, Pope Francis observed that in the first reading, the coming of the Holy Spirit is compared to “the rush of a violent wind.” (Acts 2:2). This image makes us think of a powerful force that effects change. Wind brings change: warmth when it is cold, cool when it is hot, rain when the land is parched. The Holy Spirit, on different level, does the same. He is the divine force that changes the world.

The Holy Spirit changes hearts. The disciples were timid while Jesus was still among them, but they became bold when he was gone. They go to the ends of the earth to bear witness to Jesus, because the Spirit changed their hearts. The Spirit grants intimacy with God, the inner strength to keep going. Yet, at the same time, the one who reveals God also opens our hearts to our brothers and sisters.

Like the wind that blows everywhere, the Spirit also penetrates and changes the most unimaginable situations. Pope Francis describes the Spirit as “the soul of the Church, who constantly enlivens her with renewed hope, fills her with joy, makes her fruitful, and causes new life to blossom.” In a family, when a new baby is born, it upsets our schedules, it makes us lose sleep, but it also brings us a joy that renews our lives, driving us on, expanding us in love. So it is with the Spirit: he brings a “taste of childhood” to the Church.

Enriched by these insights, we ask the Holy Spirit, the violent wind of God, to blow upon all of us, to change us from within, and to renew the face of the earth.

Deacon Tom Dombai

As we inch closer to summertime and the end of the school year draws near, about this time every year I am reminded of one of my most vivid memories from grade school: I was in third grade at St. Michael’s Elementary School in Sioux City, Iowa on the last day of school, and my friends and I could hardly wait as we rushed to line up by the door of Mrs. Loberg’s classroom after packing all of our things. We watched the clock as it approached 3:00pm. 3... 2... 1... RING RING RING RING! Summer was here! I smiled, pumped my fist in the air in jubilation, turned around... and was shocked. Some of my classmates were crying! What?! How can you possibly be sad?! It’s summertime! Freedom! Playing outside! Baseball season! No homework! No red polo shirt and khaki pants uniforms! No teachers! NO SCHOOL!

What was I missing in my understanding of that time? Maybe this classroom recollection can be relatable to our faith education as well. Jesus did indeed leave his disciples at the Ascension, but he only physically left them. In His place, God sent the third member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, to continue to guide and educate them. The disciples must have felt the consoling, joyful warmth of the Spirit as it descended upon them at Pentecost and uplifted their hearts to spread the Gospel message.

I think I can use this scene as a stark example to remind myself why it’s important to not take a summer vacation from learning about the significance of being Catholic. I was reminded of the reasons to take our faith education seriously after a quality talk with a good friend last week. We continually have the Holy Spirit at our side and we are called to go and make disciples of all nations. Furthermore, our faith carries eternal consequences! I need to remember to pursue my faith education as seriously as I pursue other hobbies so that as St. Paul writes in 1 Peter 3:15, I can be ready to defend the faith and give a reason for the hope that we all share in eternal life with Christ.

Lee Noel

In my last reflection in April, I wrote that, through the body and blood of Christ, we share in the unity of faith to come together to love and serve our Lord as the disciples did. We are all called to be disciples.

A disciple is a follower or a student who then becomes a teacher. Throughout my life, I have taken my role as a disciple very seriously. Being a mother is only one way that I am a follower and a disciple of Jesus. I think there is a big similarity between discipleship and motherhood. Mothers are like Christ’s disciples, who teach the way of the Lord.  As a mother I began my discipleship as I carried out the role of teacher. I became the teacher of Christ words and deeds. For it is through examples that our children learn how to live their lives—their lives with Christ. In raising our six children, Tom and I have taught the importance of family, good moral values, life lessons and faith all while teaching love: love for self, each other, family, friends, and God. God has given us many gifts but our six children are the biggest and greatest blessings from God. And we are truly blessed.

Our blessings continue to grow as our family grows, and now, as a grandmother, I see that what I’ve learned and what I’ve successfully taught to my children as they live their lives and raise their children in a Catholic environment.

I would be remiss if I didn’t share with you my admiration for the blessed Mary. She, too, is my mother and has taught me what motherhood is all about through her raising of the Son of God. Mary has become my heavenly superhero, someone whom I look to and pray to for support and guidance that I, too, may become a disciple of Christ.

I am extremely thankful for the gift of motherhood and I am truly blessed to have my own mother and Mary the Mother of God at my side, who have given me and continue to give me so much to be grateful for.

 Happy Mothers Day!

Marie Dombai

In God’s hands and in your prayers

Reflecting on my vocational formation, I am in awe of God’s presence in my life. He has blessed me with many people who have shown me his love, mercy, and support.

 St. Juliana Parish and School have been an essential aspect of my vocational journey. From Masses to social gatherings, from CCD classes, to the cooperation and understanding of COVID-19 adjustments, I am grateful to all of you. I treasure our many conversations, prayers, laughs, and moments shared, which have brought me into a deeper relationship with God.

 With God’s help, I will be ordained a transitional Deacon in May. As I will be prostrated on the floor, the Church of Christ, the triumphant Church in heaven, and the militant Church (Catholics on earth) will be united in one prayer for my vocation and ministry. At that time, please know that I will present your intentions to our Lord.

 It will be a blessing if all of you could participate in my ordination by joining my family and me in the celebration’s live stream. The ordination will occur on Friday, May 14, 2021, at 8:00pm, Chicago time. You can access the celebration at www.stjosephwen.org. Please, let’s pray for one another.

Christian Melendez-Cruz

Much like the gospel of John from last week, in today’s gospel reading Luke tells the story of the Risen Christ appearing to the disciples after His resurrection. However, Luke is emphasizing that the Risen Christ will be known and fully experienced in the breaking of the bread and in the community sharing the Eucharist. 

We are all called to be disciples of Christ. Part of the role of a disciple is to be in communion with one another, to be in the union with all who gather in the “community of faith.” To share, not only the body and blood of Christ but to share in the unity of faith, to come together as faithful people to love and serve our Lord.

Unlike the apostles, we have to come to the table to share in the Eucharist, believing, trusting and having faith without seeing the physical presence of Jesus. As we become Christ’s disciples, Luke wants us to see for ourselves and recognize Jesus in our lives.

Earlier in Luke’s gospel, in the story of the road to Emmaus, Jesus appears again. In this story, Luke emphasizes that in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, the humanity and divinity of Christ is connected and is still present. Through His life, death and resurrection we believe that the human nature of Christ was created for His divine nature so that we can see OUR road to salvation and everlasting life.

Salvation is the goal of humanity. The Catholic Church began with the acceptance and understanding of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection being necessary for our salvation. The human nature of Jesus Christ connects us to the Trinity so that we too can receive divine properties of and toward salvation, that we too can experience eternal life and immortality.

Marie Dombai

I must admit that as a grade-schooler I was not very fond of today’s gospel reading. Due to my name and my inquisitive nature as a youth, I took a fair amount of ribbing from my classmates for being a “doubting Thomas.” But over the years I have come to understand that this gospel is more about God’s love and mercy than it is about the doubt of Thomas. And that is a wonderful blessing because there is a bit of “doubting Thomas” in all of us.

Even though it had been a week since the disciples had first seen the risen Lord, they were still fearfully sitting behind closed doors, unable even to convince Thomas, the only one absent, of Christ’s resurrection. What does Jesus do in the face of this disbelief? In the words of Pope Francis, “He returns and, standing in the same place, ‘in the midst’ of the disciples, he repeats his greeting: “Peace be with you!” (Jn 20:19, 26). He starts all over. The “resurrection” of his disciple begins here, from this faithful and patient mercy, from the discovery that God never tires of reaching out to lift us up when we fall. He wants us to see him, not as a taskmaster with whom we have to settle accounts, but as our Father who always raises us up.”

In the face of doubt, selfishness and even rejection, Jesus reacts with merciful love. Jesus offers Thomas the opportunity to place his fingers in his wounds, because if that is what Thomas needs to have faith, Jesus wants to give him peace. Although we all have times when we may fail in our faith and fall into sin, the Lord knows this and he is always ready to raise us up as well. In our failings he sees children in need of his merciful love. The Lord waits for us to offer him our failings so that he can help us experience his mercy and his peace.

Today the simple and disarming love of Jesus revives the heart of his disciple. Like the apostle Thomas, let us also seek and accept mercy, the salvation of the world. And let us show mercy to others as well; for in this way we help bring about the kingdom of God.

Deacon Tom Dombai

This Lent was unlike any other for me, as it marked the first time I spent the entirety of the forty days at seminary. Now with the rejoicing of Easter upon us, it gives me the opportunity to reflect on the highs and lows of the season while trying to let the message of the Resurrection permeate into every corner of my heart and daily life.

I was jarred early on in Lent when the priest leading our prayer group shared a quote he had heard: “If you do Lent the same every year, expect to have the same Easter every year.” I am definitely guilty of setting the bar too high with fasting and then I end up making the season all about me, and Easter loses its meaning. Although I fell in that trap numerous times this Lent, it was a tremendous privilege to start consistently seeing a priest here for counseling sessions. His guidance has been invaluable as he walks me through a prayerful process of recognizing my identity as a beloved son of God, just because of who I am. It’s powerful to be reminded of that, and it encourages me to (try to!) respond with that same love in my daily actions. I think that’s a big message of the Resurrection: Jesus rose from the dead to remind us how deeply He treasures a relationship with each of us.

A second big silver lining has been conversations with my grandpa. These have taken on a whole new meaning since the passing of our grandma in December. Usually rooted in the Cubs and the Hawkeyes, our phone calls have turned more to Catholicism. His number one question to me: “How do we explain to people why it’s important to be Catholic and attend Mass?” In other words, “What’s the benefit of making your faith your number one priority in life?” This question has been on my mind recently because of its significance; I am praying that we will let the gift of the Resurrection inspire us to prayerfully see the importance of a relationship with Christ.

Lee Noel

St. Joseph, Pray for us!

Yearly on March 19, the liturgical calendar celebrates the Feast of Saint Joseph. On December 8, 2020, Pope Francis declared a year in honor to Saint Joseph. Besides being the adoptive father of our Lord Jesus Christ and the virginal spouse of Mary, who was Saint Joseph? What can we learn from him?

The scriptures provide little information on who Saint Joseph was/is. In the following lines, allow me to present information to increase our knowledge of Saint Joseph.

Since the 19th century, the knowledge of Saint Joseph has rapidly grown in the Church. To mention a few instances, in 1889, Pope Leo XIII wrote Quamquam Pluries, an encyclical letter on Saint Joseph. In 1917, in one of the apparitions at Fatima, Saint Joseph appeared holding the Child Jesus while blessing the world. In 1909, Pope Pius X approved the Litany of Saint Joseph. These attributes exult the different virtues lived by Saint Joseph and present us with the opportunity to ask for his intercession. In 2013, Pope Francis inserted the name of Saint Joseph into all Eucharistic Prayers. These are just a few examples of the richness found in our Church relating to Saint Joseph.   

My dear brothers and sisters, we are invited to ask Saint Joseph for his intercession. He is our spiritual human father who wants us to go to him for his paternal help. My family and I are consecrated to Saint Joseph. In current times, families and marriages are threatened by the forces of evil. Let us together pray for Saint Joseph’s help.

Christian Melendez-Cruz

Resource: Colloway, Donald. H., MIC. Consecration to ST. Joseph. The Wonders of our Spiritual Father. Stockbridge, MA: Marian Press, 2020. 

Back in November, on All Saints Day, Fr. James talked about his love for the saints. He shared that the saints are great examples and inspirations that show us how we can live out the gospel, in our lives, as Jesus taught us.

This week we celebrate two of the most popular saints for the month of March, St. Patrick and St. Joseph.

The feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is March 17th. He is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century. This day is special, not because we wear green, have parades, drink green beer, and Irish whiskey, but because we celebrate the evangelization that St. Patrick brought to Ireland. And you can’t have St. Patrick’s day without a shamrock or the presence of God in our lives. St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the trinity as he evangelized throughout Ireland.

On March 19th we celebrate the birthday of St. Joseph as his feast day. As the husband of the Virgin Mary and the corporeal father to Jesus, we honor him as the patron saint of fathers. Many people petition St. Joseph as the protector of the family, to help with family matters, employment, and selling or acquiring a home. This feast day is celebrated with customs like wearing red, carrying a blessed fava bean for good luck, and preparing a St. Joseph’s table and an altar to honor him.

I remember, growing up, my parents belonged to the St. Juliana Italian Catholic Federation. Every year in Italian tradition they sponsored an elaborate St. Joseph Table, including an altar for prayer to St. Joseph. This celebration was in memory of the answered prayers to St. Joseph that ended the drought and famine in medieval Sicily. This feast falling during Lent was meatless, but complete with pasta, fish, bread, fruit, and sweats. The homeless, orphaned, and hungry were invited to share in this bountiful banquet, and leftover food was given to the poor communities.

This week as we celebrate St. Patrick and St. Joseph wearing green or red, regardless of our nationality or heritage, let us remember what they did for the Lord and their communities of faith. For it is through the intersession of the saints that we can find our own inspirations, to live out the gospel in Jesus’ name.

Marie Dombai

I like the image of looking at the season of Lent as a “journey.” During Lent we travel along with Jesus on his journey toward Calvary and the cross. Along the way we seek to encounter Jesus in prayer and the reading of scripture, we strive to free ourselves from our sinful habits, and we make small sacrifices in our daily lives that help us better appreciate the ultimate sacrifice Jesus makes for us. We can use the Sunday Gospels in Lent as a handy tool to measure and reflect upon the progress we have made along the path of our Lenten Journey.

On the First Sunday of Lent, we hear that immediately after Jesus is baptized, he is led to the desert where he prepares himself for his public ministry by first spending forty days in prayer and fasting. We are challenged to ground our lives in faith so that we might overcome the difficulties and temptations we face. And we need to prepare ourselves now because “the kingdom of God is at hand.”

On the Second Sunday of Lent, the gospel story of the Transfiguration gives us a preview of Christ’s dazzling resurrected glory. God reaffirms that Jesus is His own beloved son, and we, like the three disciples, are directed to listen to him attentively. How well have we heeded Jesus’ call from the week before to “Repent and believe in the gospel”?

On this Third Sunday of Lent we hear the story of our Lord’s cleansing of the temple by driving out the money changers and animal sellers. Church fathers have interpreted this Gospel spiritually: with the animals and money changers representing attachments and sins that turn our souls (our interior temple) into dens of iniquity. Have we allowed Christ to come to us in this Lenten Season, to “clean house” and to renew us, so that we are not just going through the motions, but rather become filled with zeal for the Lord?

As we continue on these next few weeks to prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery, we can look to the remaining Sunday Gospel readings of Lent for further guidance on how we are progressing on our personal Lenten journey. It provides a nice opportunity for prayerful reflection and, quite possibly, for our own encounter with Jesus.

Deacon Tom Dombai

Nearly one year ago, we had the privilege of taking a service trip to Peru with fourteen seminary classmates and two priests. Our first hours in Peru were spent touring magnificent old churches in the capital of Lima as well as historic sites where we were able to learn more about the three saints of Peru (Santa Rosa de Lima, San Juan Martin de Porres, and San Juan Masias) and take time in prayer. The sun was always shining, it was warm for the duration of our trip, and the mangoes were the juiciest I’ve ever had in my life, but the most beautiful blessing of the trip was witnessing multiple human examples of the Transfiguration in our daily experience.

After our half day layover in Lima, we flew to Piura where we stayed for five days at a local church. During our time there we helped serve Mass, met local parishioners, prayed together, and put our Spanish knowledge to work! The most transformative times, however, came when we were able to serve people on the outskirts of the community. Their houses consisted of dirt floors, mud and straw walls, and tin sheds for roofs. Children ran around in bare feet chasing the dogs and chickens. Sometimes their parents would be taking care of the grandparents, who were ill or tired to the point of being bedridden; my mind is forever seared with the memory of entering a room where an elderly woman was lying in her bed, covered in a cloud of flies, yet being lovingly cared for by her daughter.

We would consider them materially poor, but they were spiritually rich. When a priest was with us and they were able to bless a home or celebrate the sacrament of the anointing of the sick, the faces of these people shone brightly, much like Jesus in today’s Gospel. Their witness of the reality of suffering combined with the beauty of Catholicism forever changed our hearts. Let us use this Lent to look for mini transfigurations in our daily lives and allow those moments to transform our souls.

Lee Noel

Almost there…

Querida Familia, it was right after lunch when I was sitting at the rector’s office in the seminary. After the rector shared a few letters of affirmation from faculty members, students, and administration staff, I heard what my heart has longed for many years, “Tian, I will recommend you to your bishop for you to receive the Holy Orders of Deaconate.”

Everything stopped for a minute, and my years of discernment and formation promptly conquered my thoughts. A verse from The Letter of Paul to the Philippians came to my mind, “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:6). How unworthy I am of such grace! 

I am aware of my strengths and areas of growth, my lights and shadows, my desires and needs. Despite all of my weaknesses, God, in His infinite mercy and grace, has decided to call me to be in persona Christi (Latin for “in the person of Christ”). As another Christ on earth, God is utilizing me as his instrument, which is a call to “do everything for the glory of God,” as it is written in 1 Cor 10:31, the second reading of the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. 

As I am called to minister to the people of God in the ministry of the priesthood, our Lord calls each and every one of you to serve in different ministries. There are various opportunities where we can exhibit a charitable spirit towards our neighbors, such as becoming a lector or greeter. There are no small roles when serving God. 

I want to thank all of the beautiful people from Saint Juliana Parish and School. I am blessed to serve in a dynamic and spiritual community. Please, know of my prayers for you, and rest assured that I have all of you in my prayers. See you soon! 

Christian Melendez-Cruz

With Valentine’s Day a week away, I thought that a reflection on the sacrament of matrimony would be appropriate since St. Valentine is the patron saint of love, marriages, and engagements, among other things. People pray to St. Valentine to intercede for them before God about their romantic lives. He teaches people how to recognize and experience true love.

Valentine’s Day has become a holiday to celebrate romantic love with chocolates, flowers, and pretty cards, but we can also look at love as one of the many gifts from God.

The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony is about that love and commitment, not only for one another, but for God too. 

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, matrimony is one of the sacraments of service of communion, signifying the union of Christ and the Church. Through service to others, matrimony is one example that is directed toward the salvation of others and personal salvation.

In the sacrament of marriage we receive grace. Through our sacred union, through our declared consent, through our own ministering to each other, spouses give each other the gift of grace. Grace also helps us see Jesus in our everyday lives, because the sacraments are not over on the day they are received, we continue to live in the sacraments as part of our daily lives.

The Catechism also states that matrimony is a covenant between man and a woman establishing partnership of the whole of life, helping one another attain holiness in their married life, welcoming and educating children. The Christian home is the place where children receive the first proclamation of the faith. For this reason the family home is rightly called the “domestic church” a community of grace and prayer, a school of human virtues and of Christian charity. Through our love, faith, words, deeds, and examples in our ministry of marriage, we can teach our children, our grandchildren and thus new generations to come, not only about understanding the love of the Lord but how to live the life of Christ.

May God’s love fill your hearts with love and happiness on Saint Valentine’s Day and always.

Marie Dombai

Last week, while preparing my Sunday homily, I happened to read that just a year ago, Pope Francis declared that the third Sunday of Ordinary Time should be observed as “Sunday of the Word of God.” The Pope highlighted the importance of reading and reflecting on the Word of God, and said that doing so was itself a form of prayer. I think this is a message worth sharing every day of the year.

In his homily for that first “Sunday of the Word of God,” Pope Francis began by stating that through the gospels, “the One who is the Word of God has come to speak with us, in His own words and by His own life.” The ministry of Jesus begins with a call to repent and the message that the kingdom of God is at hand. God is near to us; He came to earth and became man out of love for us. This helps us to understand the direct demand that Jesus makes: “Repent,” in other words, “Change your life.” It is an invitation to live in a new way, it is time for living with and for God, “with and for others, with and for love.” 

As the pope so beautifully said: “That is why the Lord gives you His Word, so that you can receive it like a love letter He has written to you, to help you realize that He is at your side. His Word consoles and encourages us. And the same time, it challenges us, frees us from the bondage of our selfishness and summons us to conversion.” In our daily prayers, we need to make sure that in addition to those treasured prayers that we pray “by heart,” we should also take time each day to reflect on God’s Word. As Pope Francis urges all of us: “Each day let us read a verse or two of the Bible. Let us begin with the Gospel; let us keep it open on our table, carry it in our pocket, read it on our cell phones, and allow it to inspire us daily.”

The more we read scripture, the more we discover that God is close to us. Through His word he asks us to allow him to enter our very lives. We are constantly bombarded by messages from many sources in our everyday lives. Many of those messages are unimportant and only waste our time. That is why we need his word: “so that we can hear, amid the thousands of other words in our daily lives, that one word that speaks to us not about things, but about life.”

Deacon Tom Dombai

When my brothers and I were in college, we had the opportunity to work as dockhands for three summers at a boat marina in Okoboji, Iowa. Our labor at the local lake wasn’t nearly as grueling as fishermen in ancient Israel, yet I still find myself relating to Simon, Andrew, James, and John… slightly. These four men were so convicted by the simple calling of Jesus when He said, “Come after me,” that they immediately abandoned everything to follow Him. How strong the divine gaze must have been from Jesus and how confident His tone must have sounded to compel these men to leave their livelihoods behind! The Letter to the Hebrews (4:12) mentions that “The word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” If I truly lived and believed that passage from scripture, how much more seriously would I let the words of Christ influence my life? Would I be ready to abandon the world and come after Jesus instead? My trust is sorely lacking compared to the fishermen!

It’s likely that most of us are not being called to physically leave our families, homes, and occupations behind to follow Jesus, but I think there are spiritual lessons to learn from this Gospel passage, especially in this year of St. Joseph that runs until December 8, 2021. When Jesus invited James and John to follow Him, the Gospel specifically mentions that they left their biological father, Zebedee, in their fishing boat to pursue Christ. With that emphasis, I think this offers us an opportunity to contemplate how we are cultivating a relationship with the foster father of Jesus (and hence our spiritual foster father), St. Joseph. We know he must have been compassionate but strong as he helped raise the Son of God. He wants to show that same love to us that he showed Jesus. Let’s look to Joseph this year to help us fulfill today’s psalm and teach us the way to God.

Lee Noel

As I sat in the doctor’s office the other day, I couldn’t help but listen and watch one of the TVs blaring some twenty-four-hour news network and see how the craziness of 2020 has bled right into 2021. I yearned to turn it off and block it out, but it followed me everywhere—on my phone, at the airport, even newsbreaks during the Bears game. The world imposes upon us and won’t let us alone.

That’s why today’s Gospel is so refreshing. It’s all about Jesus proposing to , not imposing on, his future disciples. ““What are you looking for?” he asks, not telling them what lifestyle they should be living or products they should be buying. He gives them room to share their own desires, which is to be with him (“Where are you staying?”) Really, they are asking Jesus, “What are you all about? Why is everyone talking about you?” Jesus doesn’t tell them, “Well you see, I’m the Son of God come to save you. You’re lucky I’m even speaking to you.”

Instead, he offers the simplest of invitations: “Come, and you will see.” Come, and experience what fullness of life is. Come, and your life will never be the same. The only promise that Jesus makes is that we will see, we will experience. He’s not locking us into a contract with carefully constructed clauses, but offers nothing less than himself. This doesn’t mean an easy or comfortable road. It does mean beholding things that those who came before waited entire generations to witness.

Following Jesus isn’t escapism from the world, but following the One who will guide us through the chaos that threatens to overtake us at any time. It may feel sometimes that being a disciple of Jesus is even more chaotic than the world. In my three-and-a-half years as a seminarian, I’ve found myself in situations I’ve never dreamed of, but they were never terror-inducing or constricting. Instead, Jesus was with me to open myself up in ways I never though possible. “Come, and you will see,” may sound scary, but it’s a call to be drawn into something instead of that something being dumped into your life. Leave the exhausting world of the news aside and see what Jesus is offering freely.

--Kevin Gregus

Understanding Grief as Catholics

For many people, Christmas time is filled with happiness. However, some experience sadness when remembering the loved ones who departed from this world. How do we understand grief as Catholics?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church ([CCC] par. 1021) states that “Death puts an end to human life,” allowing the beginning of the eternal life (heaven, purgatory, or hell). We are told that the “Church commends the dead to God’s mercy and offers her prayers, especially the…Eucharist” (CCC, par. 1055). By doing this, the militant church (those living on earth) and the triumphant church (saints, souls in heaven) pray together for those who are purifying their souls in purgatory. Therefore, we are called to pray for the repose of our loved ones.

When in grief, it might be helpful to go to Jesus and Mary, who also experienced bereavement. In the narrative of Lazarus’s rising, we are told that Jesus wept (see John 11:1-44). At the foot of the cross, the Virgin Mary coped with her grief in silence. One of the most helpful ways to manage grief is to ask Christ and Mary for their guidance and support. 

Let us remember that God is always with us, “Do not fear: I am with you; do not be anxious…I will strengthen you…help you…[and]…uphold you with my victorious right hand” (Isa. 41:10). It is good to remind ourselves that we will rise and participate in Christ’s resurrection. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep” (1 Thess. 4:14).

Amidst the suffering of grief, let us care for our departed loved ones with our continuous prayers, always trusting God and his mercy. We cannot avoid emotional pain, but we can soothe our souls when we pray. Please, know of my prayers for all of you.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Christian Melendez-Cruz

In last week’s reflection, Deacon Tom said goodbye to 2020.  I would like to say, “Hello, 2021!” As we welcome the New Year with open arms and much hope for better things to come, we need to stay focused on God in our lives. Today we celebrate Three Kings Day, the Feast of the Epiphany. The Epiphany is a time when Christians remember when the magi first saw Jesus. The three kings had the revelation of God’s presence, as seen in Jesus, God’s incarnate son; meaning that Jesus is both fully human and divine. 

As the three kings honor the Christ Child and recall the wonderful deeds of God our Father, we must also look to the Lord and trust Him. Trust Him with our future, for we do not know what 2021 will bring. Hopefully, it will bring an end to this pandemic, an end to both the physical and mental suffering that many of us have experienced, and an end to our isolation and loneliness. 

An Epiphany can also be an enlightening or realization of understanding about a particular situation or experience from which one can gain a deeper perspective. We need to open our eyes and our hearts and recognize the Christ Child in our lives.  Christ brings hope, peace, joy and love as promised by God the Father.  Like the three wise men, we too can have our own epiphany, our own awakening and see God in our everyday lives and see Him in 2021. 

Soon we will be able to rejoin family and friends, together, whether it is sharing a cup of coffee or a meal; but until then and while we wait, we can see God in our lives everywhere. God is present in all of us.  He is with us during the best of times, these trying times and especially during this pandemic.

Whatever our hopes, dreams and expectations for the future, for 2021, I hope that we can include God in our everyday life and that we can all feel His presence.  

Marie Dombai