Pilgrim Priest

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (Year A) • God is a community of love. Jesus reveals the face of God to us. The Spirit reveals the face of God in us. The Spirit gives us Charisms which enable us to be instruments of God’s love. The Sign of the Cross is not just what we believe, but what we do.

(11 Jun 2017)

Point to Discuss: Today we covered 5 charisms: Encouragement, Mercy, Hospitality, Helps, and Service. Do you recognize any of those charisms in you? In others that you know?

Point to Ponder: God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,

so that everyone who believes in him might not perish

but might have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Write your name in the blank:

God so loved ____ that he gave his only Son,

so that ____ who believes in him might not perish

but might have eternal life.

Write your name in the blank:

God so loved the world that he gave ____,

so that everyone who believes in God might not perish

but might have eternal life.

Pentecost Sunday (Mass During the Day) • The Holy Spirit is always working in the background to make the Kingdom happen in our lives. The Spirit brings peace, joy, and unity. The Spirit also guarantees the truth of Catholic teaching and the presence of Jesus in the Sacraments.

The Spirit has blessed every Christian with charisms, special gifts for the service of others and the building up of the Kingdom. Some have Wisdom, some Knowledge, others Mercy. We all have a part to play in the evangelization of the world.

(4 June 2017)

Point to Ponder: When has the Holy Spirit put you in just the right place at just the right time?

Point to Discuss: Read Lumen Gentium, Chapter II and discuss what you read with a good spiritual friend.

I won’t have a new homily out for a couple of weeks. I just wanted to take a moment to say a special thank you to Sue, Michelle, John & Amy, and Judy for you recent donations. You can donate on the About page. Also consider leaving a review at iTunes, sharing us on Facebook or another social media platform, or saying a prayer. Thanks so much for listening!

Fifth Sunday of Easter (Year C) • Even ticks and mosquitos were created with a purpose. Of course you have a purpose: to radiate the love of God. Priests, deacons, all Christians are living stones. You are chosen and precious and have a special purpose to reflect the love of God. Feeling the love is something that should happen whenever and wherever we are.

(14 May 2017)

Point to Ponder: What is the special role God has for you in his Church?

Point to Discuss: A fellow told me that when they moved to the country they had so many ticks in the yard that, if you set a jacket down for a few minutes, it would be absolutely crawling with ticks. Now they have free range chickens in the yard and you never find a tick even if you look. Talk to a friend about more natural ways of addressing the annoying insects of summer.

Printed in the Bulletin This Weekend

Dear Parish Family,

When I said yes to a parish celebration of my 10th Anni- versary, I was not expecting such an amazing day. Mass was truly beautiful. A big thank you to the servers, lectors, and choir from all three parishes. The choir even wrote a few verses just for me. Thank you to the St. Anthony School 3rd Graders for the O Sanctissima meditation. Thank you to the Knights of Columbus honor guard.

Thank you to all those who decorated the hall. Thank you to Mike, Ken, Cindy, and JR for your kind words, and Fr. Bob and Fr. Patrick for your prayers. Thank you for the wonderful slide show, the dinner music, and the delicious food. Thank you to those who worked in the background to setup, serve, cleanup, and make guests feel welcome. A big thank you especially to Chef JR for being the visionary and catalyst to pull such an amazing celebration together. Of course, he couldn’t have done it without all your help. I know that not all could attend the Mass and the meal but every parish was well represented. Thank you especially to all of you who contributed towards the $2000 gift that was given to me, and to those who contributed $1515 to the Holy Trinity building fund in my honor. I felt very hon- ored. And humbled. And incredibly proud of what our three parishes can do when we work together.

My guests had nothing but good things to say about all of you. One guest summed it up with, “We could feel the love.” That is my dream. I hope and pray that anyone who walks through the doors of our church, school, office, or hall can feel the love of Jesus. I certainly did.

Gratefully yours,

Fr. Joel Sember

Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year A) • The Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. So how do we explain the trials we have to go through? We want abundant life. But to get there, our Good Shepherd must lead us through sufferings and trials. The sufferings are stepping stones.

(7 May 2017)

Point to Discuss: Have you ever resisted a change because you felt it would be terrible, only to discover it was a good experience after all? Talk with a spiritual friend about your experience.

Point to Ponder: Memorize Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;

he makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters;

he restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I fear no evil;

for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff,

they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

thou anointest my head with oil,

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life;

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

for ever.

Third Sunday of Easter (Year A) • We are on a pilgrimage to our Heavenly homeland, the New Jerusalem. At the end of our journey we will recognize Jesus — and realize He has been walking with us all along.

How can we recognize Jesus before the “big reveal”? We find Him at your local Catholic church, in the reading of the Scriptures and the breaking of the bread. Sunday Mass teaches us to hear and see Jesus.

Mass also transforms us into the presence of Jesus. Once you have seen and heard Jesus, You must begin to reveal Jesus to others. The Body of Christ? AMEN

(30 April 2017)

Point to Ponder: Where have you seen Jesus lately?

Point to Discuss: Read Revelation 21 with your family or friends. Talk to each other about what heaven will be like.

Point for Action: How can you reveal presence of Jesus to someone today?

Divine Mercy / Second Sunday of Easter (Year A) • Our scriptures show us the early Church: called together by Christ, gathered around the Risen Lord, filled with the Holy Spirit, and sent on mission. We need to lead others to faith.

Faith gives us a glimpse of our final destiny. We are like caterpillars preparing for a transformation into butterflies. Heaven wants you to know, “Don’t worry, it will be OK. You look great as a butterfly. Even your wounds are glorious.”

(23 Apr 2017)

Point to Ponder: What do we have to do to prepare for the transformation?

Point to Discuss: Talk to a friend about a struggle in your life that turned out to be a huge blessing. How does this experience strength your faith as face the next struggle?

Image from DiscoverWildlife

The Resurrection of the Lord (Year A) • This world is full of light and darkness. But the Kingdom of God is filled with all light and no darkness. Let the light of Christ illuminate your mind, yourself, and your world. Our faith teaches us that the secret to conquering all darkness and evil is obedience to our Father. Through obedience we walk in the light and radiate the light. Let your light shine!

(16 Apr 2017)

Point to Ponder: In what ways are you afraid of the darkness?

Point to Discuss: Talk with someone you know who radiates the Light of Christ. Share with them how you see Jesus in them.

Point for Action: How can I feed the flame of my faith? How can I share the Light of Christ with others?

Mass of the Lord’s Supper • Every Catholic priest is descended from the Last Supper. Though none of us are worthy we all share in the priesthood of Jesus Christ. In a different but no less important way, every Christian shares in the priesthood of Jesus Christ. Christ continues to be present through the Eucharist and through charity. His presence is an invitation. Before you take from His table ask yourself: am I prepared to return the gift — will I lay down my life?

(13 Apr 2017)

Point to Ponder: We know that the Eucharist is the Real Presence of Jesus, but when did Jesus’ presence become Real for you?

Point to Discuss: Priesthood is above all a ministry of sacrifice, intercession, and sanctification. Talk with a spiritual friend about what it means for you to sacrifice, intercede, and sanctify.

Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion • We have no idea how much God suffers, because we have no idea how much God loves us. Our sin separates us from God. So Jesus takes our sins and buries them in the tomb. “I love you this much,” says Jesus, and he stretches out his hands and dies for you.

(14 Apr 2017)

Point to Ponder: Do I allow my sins to be buried in the tomb, or do I keep digging them up?

Point to Discuss: Talk to a friend about your image of God. How does your image of God change when you consider Good Friday?