Meeting this Sunday, December 1st!

Hello Folks,

Meeting this week, Special Advent Prayer Service with Deacon Wrabel - devotion to the Most Holy Eucharist and the Most Holy Rosary... then some Cookies!  This program is for all grades, meet in the Former Church at 7:15 pm - 8:30 pm... we will walk back and forth to the Daily Mass Chapel.

Get Advent started off right - pray in the Presence of the Lord!

(Sadly, I have to be away this week - but I leave you with Deacon Wrabel who is very honored to be with you all!)

God Bless,

Fr. W

Happy Thanksgiving!

As we prepare to enjoy Thanksgiving and begin Advent, I wanted to express my thanks for all of you, know of my prayers for you and how grateful I am for your enthusiasm; as well as my anticipation of our time together, I am looking forward to this December schedule and coming to know the Lord with you more as we anticipate Christmas!

Today, I would like to share with all of you some of the wisdom of Pope Francis, from World Youth Day Rio 2013, directed especially to Youth:

§        “Jesus is calling you to be a disciple with a mission! … Careful, though! Jesus did not say: ‘If you would like to, if you have the time,’ but: ‘Go!’”  (Homily at closing Mass)
 

§        “The Church needs you, your enthusiasm, your creativity and the joy that is so characteristic of you. … Do you know what the best tool is for evangelizing the young? Another young person. This is the path to follow!” (Homily at closing Mass)
 

§        “Bringing the Gospel is bringing God’s power to pluck up and break down evil and violence … selfishness, intolerance and hatred, so as to build a new world. Jesus Christ is counting on you! The Church is counting on you! The Pope is counting on you!” (Homily at closing Mass)
 

§        On marriage in the face of a culture that thinks a lifelong commitment is “out of fashion”:  “Be revolutionaries. ... Yes, I am asking you to rebel against this culture that sees everything as temporal and ultimately thinks you are incapable of responsibility, incapable of true love. I am confident in you, and I pray for you. Have the coverage to swim against the tide!” (Speech to volunteers)
 

§        On vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life:  “I will never forget that day, Sept. 21 – I was 17 years old – when, after stopping in the Church of San José de Flores to go to confession, I first heard God calling me. Do not be afraid of what God asks of you! It is worth saying ‘Yes’ to God. In him we find joy!” (Speech to volunteers)

I hope your Thanksgiving Holiday is safe and full of joy!

May God continue to bless you abundantly,

Fr. W

Youth Group meeting this week is our Movie Night!

Just a reminder... our Youth Group meeting this week is our Movie Night!

Our movie will be "Forever Strong" -- its about 2 hours... so Parents, there's plenty of room in the back of the room, feel free to stay... or ... arrive at about 9:10 pm, thanks!

( Note, the two scenes that are "iffy" will be omitted. ** Note it is rated PG-13 and A-II ** -- Catholic News Services commentary: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/movies/08mv152.htm )

God Bless,

Fr. Wilke

Schedule for the next few weeks…

Sunday November 24th: Youth Group Movie Night from 7:15-8:30/45, Former Church. (Parents Most Welcome to Join us!!!)

Sunday December 1st:  Contemporary Youth Choir sings at the 6 pm Mass.  Youth Group Meeting from 7:15-8:30, Former Church  -- Advent Prayer Service in the chapel following Mass.  Snacks and refreshments will follow in the former Church.

Friday December 6th:  The Feast of Saint Nicholas.  Christmas Magic “A Festival of Lights” at Rocky Ridge State Park…we will leave at 6 pm in front of the Rectory. 

Sunday December 8th: Youth Group Meeting from 7:15-8:30, Former Church -- Encounter Program for grades 6 – 8 and small group for grades 9 – 12th.

Sunday December 15th: Youth Group Meeting from 7:15-8:30, Former Church -- T3: The Teen Timeline for grades 9 – 12 and small group for grades 6 – 8th. 

Sunday December 22nd:  Youth Group Christmas Party at 7:15-8:30, Former Church. 

  

Sunday December 29th:  FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY…NO YOUTH GROUP MEETING.

Youth Group this Sunday!

Reminder!

This Sunday (November 17th): 6 pm Practice for the Contemporary Youth Choir followed by meeting.

Youth Group Meeting at 7:15 – T3: The Teen Timeline for grades 9 – 12; Small group for grades 6-8

See you there,

Fr. W

Go out into the Deep! Duc in Altum!

Go out into the Deep! Duc in Altum!

 As we continue our thoughts together, I want to encourage all of you to take Jesus Christ at his word - trust in Him - and confidently live as ones who have been transformed by knowing and loving Him!  Spend time today, and every day, with the Sacred Scriptures (the US Bishops have the daily readings on their webpage: click the calendar and read! ) as well as time with the Most Holy Eucharist ( our Church is open all day long, to stop in for a visit with Jesus! ). Perhaps even just review our posts from last week... on the call of Peter...

I am looking forward to catching up with all of you again this Sunday Evening!  Each one of us is called to become a saint in our very moment - in Harrisburg, Colonial Park, Central Dauphin High School... at Holy Name of Jesus Parish!  Don't be afraid to be inspired by Jesus Christ and the many saints who encountered Jesus and were forever changed by Him... don't be afraid to become a saint today!

 I pray that each of you will encounter Jesus Christ today - and be forever changed!

Yours in Christ,

Fr. W


"Faith is first and foremost a personal, intimate encounter with Jesus, it is having an experience of his closeness, his friendship and his love. It is in this way that we learn to know him ever better, to love him and to follow him more and more. May this happen to each one of us!" 

Pope Benedict XVI
General Audience, 21 October 2009

A word on “duc in altum”…

I posted with such haste earlier this week I forgot to note why I got started thinking about that phrase from the Gospel (Luke 5: 1-11): duc in altum – Go out into the depths!

Last Sunday, our Youth Contemporary Choir officially began with a wonderful start at the 6 pm Mass… of course, I was sneaking around to hear our friends singing (as I was unlocking in the Old Church and turning on a few lights for the meeting) and was thinking about that darkened stain glass window in the Choir Loft.  I thought to myself… I don’t recall that window… I wonder what that window depicts… and so… I found a little flyer-thing on the stain glass windows of our Church… and there it was: duc in altum – the very moment in the Gospel when Jesus calls Simon (aka: Peter) to be his disciple after the great catch of fish!

Anyway, my thought on that passage is still posted below, with the link to a nice little video for your musing… but here is what our Church program insightfully offers on the Rose Window in our Choir Loft:

The Rose Window – The Call of Peter

Before Peter was head of the Church, he was a simple fisherman named Simon.  This window depicts Jesus Speaking with Simon and his brother Andrew as described in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 5:1-10.  Jesus tells Simon to put out in the deep and let their net for a catch.  At first, Simon resists Jesus’ word, but he eventually listens.  The fishermen make miraculous catch that nearly breaks their nets.  They needed the help of others to haul in an abundance of fish that fills two boats.  In the window, we See Simon’s hand placed upon his chest as he humbles himself before the Lord Jesus, saying to him, “Depart from me, I am a sinful man.”  Peter then receives the call as Jesus responds to him, “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be a fisher of men.”  At this word, Simon leaves everything and follows Jesus.

(From “A Pilgrimage of Light: The Stained Glass Windows of Holy Name of Jesus Parish”)

In that one paragraph we receive a brilliant insight into the beauty both the Gospel and our Rose Window – we can reflect anew upon the life Jesus Christ… and thus I offered a few of my thoughts in my post from the other day… I hope this little extra insight into the Gospel and our wonderful stained glass window in the Choir Loft helps you to follow the Lord more authentically today. 

Let’s keep one another in prayer!

May the Lord continue to bless you abundantly,

Fr. W

duc in altum

“Go out into the depths!” Our Lord, Jesus Christ, invites us to trust him and follow him to abundant life – a life full of joy!  Don’t be afraid to welcome Jesus into your life, to invite him into your meals and snacks, into what you read and watch (even on YouTube or even late-night TV!), into your quick drive to work or school, or into your friendships – Jesus wants to be there with you and Jesus wants to fill your heart with joy!

Today, I would like to offer a little reflection and a video… First, a reading from the Gospel, Luke 5: 1-11:

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.  He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.  Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.  After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing.  They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking.  When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”  For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

Notice how Jesus just invades the life of Simon (aka: Peter), how he transforms even the ordinary life of a fisherman with his abundant grace! Jesus wants to transform our life – even if we are like Simon, an ordinary person.  It is in the Ordinary that Jesus wants to be with each of us… which reminds me of one of my favorite “blesseds” (a “saint-to-be”): Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati.  Check out this video on the Gospel we just read and this great witness of the faith: Pier Giorgio Frassati: A commentary by Fr. Barron

It was great to see so many of you last night at Youth Group!  Let's keep one another in prayer, as we accept Jesus into our ordinary daily life... take up the invitation of Jesus to each of us: Go out into the depths! 

Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, pray for us!

In His Name,

Fr. W

Schedule for the next two weeks - T3 & Encounter!

Schedule for the next two weeks:

Sunday November 3^rd:  Contemporary Youth Choir sings at the 6 pm Mass.  Followed by meeting: T3: The Teen Timeline for grades 9 – 12 and small group for grades 6 – 8.

Sunday November 10^th:  Practice for Youth Contemporary Choir at 6 pm followed by meeting at 7:15 pm.  Encounter Program for grades 6 – 8 and small group for grades 9 – 12. 

Looking forward to seeing all of you!

Fr. W