Example of using your talents, in an unexpected time and place, an encounter at a ND football game, to spread God's Kingdom

This weekend we heard the parable about the talents given by the master and what we do with them. We can bury them and keep them to ourselves or use them and grow the Kingdom of God.  I just read a story, an unexpected visit, from John Shaughnessy, Assistant Editor of the Criterion, that is a great example of using his talents to spread the Kingdom of God through chance encounter at an ND football game.  I think you'll enjoy it. Behold your Mother and may God bless you.

Deacon Ron's Homily: Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome - A holy church – a holy people

Today we celebrate the feast of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome.

You may be wondering  - 'why do we celebrate this building?'

Before I answer that, let's look at the history of the feast and of the building.

This feast has been celebrated since the 12th century.

It's not often that we celebrate this feast on a Sunday because it’s always celebrated on November 9th.

When November 9th is on a Sunday, it takes precedence and is celebrated throughout the world.

Some of you may have toured this beautiful basilica while on vacation or pilgrimage to Rome.

It's a beautiful and sacred building that has a fascinating history.

Some facts:

The emperor Constantine, who legalized Christianity, gave the palace and its lands to the church in 311.

It is also known as the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

The basilica is built next to the palace of the Laterani family, which is how St.

John seemingly got a surname.

There really isn't a person named John Lateran.

The basilica celebrates both St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist.

It is also dedicated to Christ our Savior.

It's full official title is “The Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior and Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist at the Lateran.”

Did you know that the Lateran Basilica is the cathedral church of the bishop of Rome?

It's the pope's cathedral, not St. Peter's as many people assume.

A church council was first held at the Lateran in 313.

Over the years, the Lateran has been damaged by earthquakes, attacked and ransacked by Vandals, and destroyed by fire twice.

After each of these incidents, the Lateran was rebuilt and refurbished.

The Lateran basilica is considered the mother church of all Catholic churches

around the world.

So what we are really celebrating is not the building but our identity as a worldwide church and our union with the Church of Rome.

Remember, we are Roman Catholic and the word 'catholic' means universal.  

Today is a day to remind ourselves that we are part of something much bigger than our own parish.

Last weekend’s celebrations of All Saints and All Souls reminded us that our family extends through time.

Today's feast reminds us that we extend geographically around the world .

My friends, we are all connected, centered around Christ and the successor of St. Peter, the Pope.

We are truly a universal church.   

This brings to mind some masses that I attended in different countries and among different cultures.

I have been to mass in Vienna where the mass was celebrated in German.

I have been to mass in Mexico where the mass was celebrated in Spanish.

Once I attended a Vietnamese mass in Anaheim CA.  The mass was celebrated in Vietnamese and the church was filled to capacity.

At each of these masses, I couldn’t understand the other languages, but I knew the order of the mass and I didn’t feel out of place.

Although I was an outsider, I felt as though I was part of their community, and I was.

Yes, we were different and spoke different languages, but we shared our faith in Jesus Christ and the Roman Catholic Church.

Worshiping and praying together in this common brotherhood and sisterhood was awesome.

I loved the experience and I love the fact that we are a universal church.

Knowing that despite all of our differences, the universal Church brings us together as the Body of Christ here on earth.       <pause>

Like many of you, I also love visiting different church buildings, the old and the new.  

I remember the mass at St. Stephensdom in Vienna which was built in the 12^th c.

What a sight it was to behold!

The architecture, the stained glass, the statues, and the altar all give me a sense of God’s presence in a special way.  

The many churches that all of us have seen are sacred and holy places.

These beautiful buildings are gathering places for the faithful to worship God and to encounter Christ in sacrament, in prayer, and in each other.

But they are just buildings - for 'Church' is really the people.

The great spiritual writer, Fr. Henri Nouwen had this to say about Church:

"The Church is the people of God.  The Latin word for "church," ecclesia, comes from the Greek ek, which means "out," and kaleo, which means "to call."  The Church is the people of God called out of slavery to freedom, sin to salvation, despair to hope, darkness to light, an existence centered on death to an existence focused on life.  When we think of Church we have to think of a body of people, travelling together.  We have to envision women, men, and children of all ages, races, and societies supporting one another on their long and often tiresome journeys to their final home."

My friends, church is all of us here at SSFC and all of the faithful around the world.

That’s wonderful knowing that we are church and that we are all on a journey connected through Jesus Christ.

Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians reminds us that we Christians are sacred and holy.

“You are God’s building.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
… for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.”

And it is the holiness and sacredness of the gathered faithful that makes the church ‘buildings’ holy and sacred places.

This feast day reminds us that we are called to be a holy people who gather together in community, here and around the world, to worship God and to live the gospel message.

In a few minutes, as we approach the altar to receive our Lord in Holy Communion, let's ask for God's grace to help us become a more holy people and make this space a more holy space.

May we strive for that each and every day.     God bless!

Deacon Steve's Homily: Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome - A holy church – a holy people

Deacon Steve's Homily - A holy church – a holy people

Today we celebrate the feast of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome.

You may be wondering  - 'why do we celebrate this building?'

Before I answer that, let's look at the history of the feast and of the building.

This feast has been celebrated since the 12th century.

It's not often that we celebrate this feast on a Sunday because it’s always celebrated on November 9th.

When November 9th is on a Sunday, it takes precedence and is celebrated throughout the world.

Some of you may have toured this beautiful basilica while on vacation or pilgrimage to Rome.

It's a beautiful and sacred building that has a fascinating history.

Some facts:

The emperor Constantine, who legalized Christianity, gave the palace and its lands to the church in 311.

It is also known as the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

The basilica is built next to the palace of the Laterani family, which is how St.

John seemingly got a surname.

There really isn't a person named John Lateran.

The basilica celebrates both St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist.

It is also dedicated to Christ our Savior.

It's full official title is “The Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior and Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist at the Lateran.”

Did you know that the Lateran Basilica is the cathedral church of the bishop of Rome?

It's the pope's cathedral, not St. Peter's as many people assume.

A church council was first held at the Lateran in 313.

Over the years, the Lateran has been damaged by earthquakes, attacked and ransacked by Vandals, and destroyed by fire twice.

After each of these incidents, the Lateran was rebuilt and refurbished.

The Lateran basilica is considered the mother church of all Catholic churches

around the world.

So what we are really celebrating is not the building but our identity as a worldwide church and our union with the Church of Rome.

Remember, we are Roman Catholic and the word 'catholic' means universal.  

Today is a day to remind ourselves that we are part of something much bigger than our own parish.

Last weekend’s celebrations of All Saints and All Souls reminded us that our family extends through time.

Today's feast reminds us that we extend geographically around the world .

My friends, we are all connected, centered around Christ and the successor of St. Peter, the Pope.

We are truly a universal church.   

This brings to mind some masses that I attended in different countries and among different cultures.

I have been to mass in Vienna where the mass was celebrated in German.

I have been to mass in Mexico where the mass was celebrated in Spanish.

Once I attended a Vietnamese mass in Anaheim CA.  The mass was celebrated in Vietnamese and the church was filled to capacity.

At each of these masses, I couldn’t understand the other languages, but I knew the order of the mass and I didn’t feel out of place.

Although I was an outsider, I felt as though I was part of their community, and I was.

Yes, we were different and spoke different languages, but we shared our faith in Jesus Christ and the Roman Catholic Church.

Worshiping and praying together in this common brotherhood and sisterhood was awesome.

I loved the experience and I love the fact that we are a universal church.

Knowing that despite all of our differences, the universal Church brings us together as the Body of Christ here on earth.       

Like many of you, I also love visiting different church buildings, the old and the new.  

I remember the mass at St. Stephensdom in Vienna which was built in the 12^th c.

What a sight it was to behold!

The architecture, the stained glass, the statues, and the altar all give me a sense of God’s presence in a special way.  

The many churches that all of us have seen are sacred and holy places.

These beautiful buildings are gathering places for the faithful to worship God and to encounter Christ in sacrament, in prayer, and in each other.

But they are just buildings - for 'Church' is really the people.

The great spiritual writer, Fr. Henri Nouwen had this to say about Church:

"The Church is the people of God.  The Latin word for "church," ecclesia, comes from the Greek ek, which means "out," and kaleo, which means "to call."  The Church is the people of God called out of slavery to freedom, sin to salvation, despair to hope, darkness to light, an existence centered on death to an existence focused on life.  When we think of Church we have to think of a body of people, travelling together.  We have to envision women, men, and children of all ages, races, and societies supporting one another on their long and often tiresome journeys to their final home."

My friends, church is all of us here at SSFC and all of the faithful around the world.

That’s wonderful knowing that we are church and that we are all on a journey connected through Jesus Christ.

Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians reminds us that we Christians are sacred and holy.

“You are God’s building.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
… for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.”

And it is the holiness and sacredness of the gathered faithful that makes the church ‘buildings’ holy and sacred places.

This feast day reminds us that we are called to be a holy people who gather together in community, here and around the world, to worship God and to live the gospel message.

In a few minutes, as we approach the altar to receive our Lord in Holy Communion, let's ask for God's grace to help us become a more holy people and make this space a more holy space.

May we strive for that each and every day.     God bless!

Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica - Water's flowing from temple nourishes & heals

Good morning!  This is normally the 32^nd Sunday of Ordinary Time just before the end of the Church year, but since today is November 9^th, we are celebrating the Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome.  This is the Cathedral Church of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope.   Most people think of St. Peter’s Basilica as the seat of the Pope since it’s located in the Vatican where he lives, but it is actually St. John Lateran.  St. John Lateran is the oldest Church in Rome dating back to the early 4^th century when the Emperor Constantine issued a decree permitting the practice of the Christian faith.    Before that time there weren’t any public churches.   People came together secretly to worship God and celebrate the Eucharist by hiding in homes and the catacombs.  The church was the assembly of the Christian faithful during these times and the people who did worship together risked their life in doing so.   After Constantine legalized the practice of the Christian religion, he had St. John Lateran built.   From the time it was built through the next 1000 years this was the place where the pope resided.  Since the early 18^th Century the Church has celebrated this feast day celebrating this special church.

Why are we be celebrating a feast for a Church?    St. John Lateran being the oldest and first church building has a special place in the life of the Church. It’s the seat of bishop of Rome and it’s the mother Church of where all of our churches

throughout the world flow.   The image from the prophet Ezekiel of the water flowing from the temple emptying out into the sea and making it fresh is a good image connecting St. John Lateran with all the churches throughout the world. In Ezekiel’s prophecy the water flows upon Arabah, which is the area of the Dead Sea.  The water in the Dead Sea has seven times more salt in it than normal seawater and nothing can live in it.  But in the prophecy water from the temple makes the water of the Dead Sea fresh.   It’s so fresh that it provides trees on the banks of the river to produce fruit for food and leaves for medicine every month of the year.  This water from the temple is a life-giving source that nourishes and heals. The reading from prophet Ezekiel was written at a time when the people of Israel where in exile in Babylon and they were longing for their temple which had been destroyed.   They longed to return to their homeland and the Temple where God dwelled.  The Temple restored and refreshed their soul to be in the dwelling place of God. 

 This prophecy is fulfilled in the rebuilding of the temple, through the coming of Jesus.  Jesus told us the temple would be destroyed and raised up in the days.    Jesus changed the paradigm of the temple as a place in a single location to be in the presence of God to being in a relationship with a person anywhere in the world.   Our church here at Ss. Francis and Clare and in all the Catholic churches throughout the world, provide us with the ability to be in relationship with Christ in Word and Sacrament. 

The image of the fresh water and trees with leaves never fading and bearing fruit reminds me of places I’ve gone on vacation that refresh and restore me.    When we’re worn and weary from work, school, or the trials of life we yearn for a place to restore us from our burdens and refresh us to give a new outlook on things.  So we may seek out an escape to a beach or lake, with the warm sun, and lots of lush plants and trees to relax and refresh.   Anyone need a place like that now?  This does wonders to restore us temporarily, but does it truly restore our soul and allow us to rest in God? Whenever I go on vacation I also always make sure there is a church nearby as well, because my relationship with Jesus is what I need to nourish and heal my soul.  There’s usually a church almost anywhere you can go, made possible through the seat of Catholic Church in Rome, St. John Lateran, The mother church where all others flow from. 

Through the Church, wherever we are at, either at home or traveling, we can get that nourishment and healing every week by worshiping with the Body of Christ. Thank the Lord for the ability to do this every week, or even every day, by having sacred places set aside to worship and participates in the sacraments of the Church.   In our Catholic tradition our churches are sacred spaces set apart from the world, to provide an environment to experience the presence of God.   The nourishment comes from hearing the Word of God to feed our hearts and soul and give us a fresh perspective from the challenges in the world.  It also comes from being fed by the Eucharist, and Christ becoming part of us.  We are healed through the penitential rite in the Mass or if needed through the sacraments of reconciliation or anointing of the sick.    

So today we thank God for the gift of the Church of St. John Lateran Basilica, the seat of the bishop or Rome.  Through this mother Church we have a church that we can be nourished and healed on a weekly basis.  So please make it a priority to be in the presence of Body of Christ through or churches to be restored and refreshed.  May God bless you.