Fr. John's Blog

I have been reading a series of emails from the Office for Justice, Peace, and Human Development of the United States Conference on Catholic Bishops (USCCB) concerning Poverty Awareness month, which we are currently observing. I was particularly moved by several of their reflections on several events that will occur this week. I thought that I would share these reflections with you in this week’s column.

From January 5-11, 2020 (last week) the Church in the United States celebrated National Migration Week. The theme for this year’s celebration was “Promoting a Church and a World for All.” This reflects the need for Catholics to be inclusive and welcoming to all our brothers and sisters. It is a call for unity to stand in solidarity with and care for those who are excluded and marginalized.

On December 1, 2019, Pope Francis issued an Apostolic Letter entitled Admirabile Signum (“Enchanting Image”) on the meaning and importance of the Nativity Scene. As you read this it is now four days after Christmas. Happily we are still within the Christmas season which will last until January 12 when we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. One of the scenes that Pope Francis recalls in his Apostolic Letter is the origin of the Christmas crèche and the role that St. Francis of Assisi had in its origins. Let’s listen to the Holy Father tell this story:

One of the songs of the Christmas season that I like is “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” which Andy Williams made popular a number of years ago now. One of the reasons that I think that it is the most wonderful time of the year is seeing the selfless generosity of so many people.

I want to make some more remarks in my column today about hospitality since we will have many more people attending Mass during the next couples of weekends to celebrate Christmas with us.

Today in my column I am presenting the last in the series of biographies of Saints canonized by Pope Francis on October 13, 2019. These were in the English edition of L’Osservatore Romano on October 18, 2019. This week we are looking at Saint John Henry Newman.

On Sunday, October 13, 2019, the Holy Father celebrated Mass and presided at the Rite of Canonization of five Blesseds: John Henry Newman (1801-90), Cardinal of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, Founder of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in England; Josephine Vannini (1859-1911), Foundress of the Daughters of Saint Camillus; Mariam Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan (1876-1926), Foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family; Dulce Lopes Pontes (1914-92), professed religious of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God; Marguerite Bays (1815-1879), lay woman and Secular Franciscan. I intend to spend the next several weeks presenting a brief biography of each of them so we can get to know these newly canonized saints. The source of the material will be the English weekly edition of L’Osservatore Romano. Today let’s look at the life of Saints Josephine Vannini and Dulce Lopes Pontes.

On Sunday, October 13, 2019, the Holy Father celebrated Mass and presided at the Rite of Canonization of five Blesseds: John Henry Newman (1801-90), Cardinal of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, Founder of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in England; Josephine Vannini (1859-1911), Foundress of the Daughters of Saint Camillus; Mariam Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan (1876-1926), Foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family; Dulce Lopes Pontes (1914-92), professed religious of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God; Marguerite Bays (1815-1879), lay woman and Secular Franciscan.

Recently I was stopped by a parishioner after Mass who wanted to ask me a question. The parishioner had heard in a news report that the Holy Father had changed the text of the Our Father. The parishioner continued by asking me when I was going to follow suit and have us start praying the Our Father according to the change that the Pope had ordered. I had not seen this news report, but I promised the parishioner that I would research this and let the parish know what was going on with this.

I was looking forward to the presentation by our former parochial vicar, Fr. Robert Boxie, on racism. Unfortunately, Fr. Boxie was not able to deliver his talk yesterday owing to a conflict that had developed in his schedule. We are hoping to reschedule his talk soon. He had planned to offer some more reflections on a recently issued pastoral letter by our bishops on racism.