The Christian journey takes perseverance. Scripture says that even “the just man falls seventimes a day” (Proverbs 24:16). Despite the factthat we seek to avoid sin and to practice virtue,our human nature is prone to weakness. Often wecan feel this weakness as a great burden, yet Jesus is there to console us. In Eucharistic Adoration we come into contact with a God who has madeHimself ‘small and weak’ in order to make usstrong-- in Him. We can come to Jesus with ourburdens and ask Him to heal us and to give us Hisgrace to persevere to the end. God does not ask usto be successful but to be faithful. Then we cansay with St. Paul, “When I am weak, then I amstrong” (2 COR.12:10).

How many times have you been lost? Not knowing whereyou are and having a hard time finding your way back.The earliest memory for me was when I was five yearsold. Lost in what a five year old might consider the biggest world, Disney. Caught up in the excitement, forjust a moment I was distracted and wandered off. Thankfully my guardian angel grabbed my hand and brought me to the nearest security. It was scary. But when I finally saw my parents, their love was what I desperatelydesired.

My Dear Friends in Christ,

It has come to my attention, from a devout parishioner, that there will be a fortune teller sponsored by Shop Rite of Clinton on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of all days! I think this is more than coincidence but a truly gross act of anti-Catholicism. Going to mediums, fortune tellers and playing with Ouija boards are a direct opposition to our faith and a grave matter for confession. As your pastor, I would be remiss not to warn of the severity of such a thing.

Where did the Catholic tradition of venerating saints' relics come from?

Scripture teaches that God acts through relics, especially in terms of healing. In fact, when surveying what Scripture has to say about sacred relics, one is left with the idea that healing is what relics "do."

When the corpse of a man was touched to the bones of the prophet Elisha the man came back to life and rose to his feet (2 Kings 13:20-21).

A woman was healed of her hemorrhage simply by touching the hem of Jesus' cloak (Matthew 9:20-22). The signs and wonders worked by the Apostles were so great that people would line the streets with the sick so that when Peter walked by at least his shadow might 'touch' them (Acts 5:12-15).

When we arrive for Mass, we may notice a flurry of activity taking place – someone, sometimes dressed as an altar server, may be setting up items on the Credence table in the front near the altar. This person is probably a sacristan. We asked Zander Dowd, one of the sacristans, to tell us about hisexperience.

Describe the duties of a sacristan. As a sacristan I am responsible for preparing the altar for each Mass. I set up for each Mass by lighting the candles, getting the hosts and chalice ready and helping out with anything else that needs to be done before each Mass. In addition, I can also serve for Mass if needed. This is my first year as sacristan, and so far I enjoy it. I like helping out to make things run smoothly, the chance to chat a little with the priests, and breakfast before the 9:00 Mass!

My Dear Friends in Christ,

I would like to thank Fr. Walter and his committee for the organizing a wonderful fiesta in on honor of Our Lady of Columbia. Along with the bilingual celebration of Holy Mass in which many priests concelebrated, there altar was festoon with flowers and a beautiful image of our lady was decorated. Afterwards, the children and teenagers performed local dances from their homeland, and the parish center was turned into a spectacular hall for merriment. Along with the priests, sisters and deacons there countless people who came to celebrate. It was a wonderful way to celebrate our unity as Catholics, and diversity with different ethnic flavors.

Jesus desires to be near us. What an incredible thought.Not only does He allow Himself to become our food, He remains ever-present in the tabernacle. But why does Hechoose to remain so close to us? The only sufficient answeris love. When two people begin to court they like to spendtime with one another and learn about the likes and dislikesof the other. Yet there comes a time when love has matured and there is no longer a need for words. There is something profoundly beautiful about a married couple who have saidall there is to say and simply wish to abide in the presenceof the other. Whether we are beginning in our relationshipwith Jesus or have walked with Him for a long time—thelanguage of love is silence and the mode in which He communicates this love is in His presence.

In November the Church commemorates the souls of the faithful departed. We recall that while the Souls in Purgatory are suffering in anticipation of their entrance into Heaven, they can no longer pray for themselves. We are each called to pray for the dead. In Eucharistic Adoration, we bring our own needs but also the needs of those who have gone before us. Praying for the dead is a powerful reminder that this life is not our final destination. One day we will also need the prayers of those whom we have left behind. May we recognize the value of human life and feel compassionate for our brothers and sisters in Purgatory.

My Dear Parishioners,

I would like to give you an update on some of the maintenance projects we are doing in the parish. First, we are addressing the roofing needs at the Parish Office and gym. They are flat roofs which causes all sorts of problems. Also, the roofs are quite old and there are deep cracks in them. The company placed a fresh coat of tar and silicone, and with regular maintenance the roofs might not have to be replaced for another 8 years. Our cost was $19,600.00 for the lower roof and $16,500.00 for the upper. This is a significant saving to the parish, since a new roof at the Parish Office and gym could easily cost over a $150,000.00. We are replacing the roof at Hope House at a cost of $4,600.

While we are one body in Christ, if you happen to be a Catholic saint, the many parts of your own body might be spread out all over the world. Take, for example, St. Catherine of Siena. A young and renowned third-order Dominican during the Middle Ages, she led an intense life of prayer and penance and is said to have single-handedly ended the Avignon exile of the successors of Peter in the 14th century.

Jesus frequently came into contact with people who were considered ‘unclean’; He met lepers, tax-collectors, and prostitutes. The incredible thing is that once these people encountered Jesus they could never be the same again. Yetthey still had to decide whether they wanted to remain in their state of isolation-- an isolation due to either physical orspiritual sickness (sin), or be healed. The same dilemma ispresented to each of us in Eucharistic Adoration. We approachthe holiness of God, and in so doing simultaneously come into contact with our own sinfulness. Like the leper, the taxcollector, and the prostitute we must ask ourselves if we arewilling to be changed by Jesus, to see not only what we are,but who God has created us to be. May the grace which gavethe leper the courage to cry out to Jesus also be ours; may we be reconciled with God our Father.

Come let the Lord love you. Come be with the Lord.

The Ark of the Covenant was a kind of chest, measuring two cubits and a half in length, a cubit and a half in breadth, and a cubit and a halfin height. Made of setim wood (an incorruptible acacia), it was overlaidwithin and without with the purest gold, and a golden crown or rim ran around it. At the four corners, very likely towards the upper part, four golden rings had been cast; through them passed two bars of setim wood overlaid with gold, to carry the Ark. These two bars were to remain always in the rings, even when the Ark had been placed in the temple of Solomon. The cover of the Ark, termed the"propitiatory" (the corresponding Hebrew means both "cover" and "that which makes propitious"), was likewise of the purest gold. Upon it had been placed two cherubim of beaten gold, looking towards each other, and spreading their wings so that both sides of the propitiatory were covered. It is worth noting that this is the only exception to the law forbiddingthe Israelites to make carved images, an exception so much the more harmless to the faith of the Israelites ina spiritual God because the Ark was regularly to be kept behind the veil of the sanctuary.

Following Jesus. We see in scripture that his call to the disciples is not just about learning from him. Being his disciple transformed their hearts, increased their faith and allowed Jesus to guide their lives. We saw this in the blind man and so many others. Following Jesus means trusting his guidance and to be part of the appointed seventy-two he sent out ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. (Luke 10:1). By doing this we participate in his prophetic mission, preparing the hearts of those we bring the 'Good News', so they are open to Christ's presence in their lives.