ST. JOSEPH PARISH

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

December, 2010

GOSPEL REFLECTION

The Gospel for Wednesday of the First Week of Advent is Matthew15:29-37 (please read this first). This Gospel has to do with feeding and with healing. Jesus heals the multitudes from their many illnesses and injuries, and then we hear of the second multiplication of loaves and fishes (the first one fed 5,000 people, this one feeds 4,000 people).

When we read the Gospel, we need to remember that it is trying to tell us who Jesus is, and therefore who God is, and what God wants for us in our life (i.e. discipleship).

What is this passage telling us about Jesus? People of that time thought that sin caused illness. If one heals, then one is also forgiving sin. Who can forgive sin? Only God can do that. Therefore it is telling us that Jesus is God. Healing was also something indicative of what would happen when the Messiah comes, so therefore it is also telling us that Jesus is the Messiah.

The feeding of the people has very strong Eucharistic overtones. Jesus multiplies the loaves and fishes, and his words and actions remind us of the words and action at Mass. There is plenty for everyone, with several baskets left over. God’s love is like that: it can never be exhausted. God provides nourishment to enrich and strengthen us as we make our journey through life until we reach the eternal banquet table of heaven. God cares for us and wants to be intimately involved in our lives.

What is it telling us about discipleship? As disciples, we need to be fed with the Eucharist. Not only to be nourished and strengthened, but also to be transformed; to be healed of our sins and to become more like God in every way. It is only when this happens that we can go out and share God’s love with others: we can’t share what we don’t have.

We are called to be healers: we are healed and we bring that healing those we meet. One important way to heal is to be affirming. Affirming ourselves doesn’t work. We need others to affirm us. This makes a world of difference: we feel good about ourselves and also more confident in ourselves. Saying things like please, thank you, good job, thanks for al you do, I appreciate you, are some ways we can affirm others and be healing.

A priest was telling me a story about a wake he attended where the pastor emeritus (retired pastor) showed up and sat next to the family on the couch for 2 hours and never said a word. When asked later about the most meaningful part of the wake and funeral, the family said, “When the pastor emeritus sat next to us at the wake.” Sometimes we can be healing and affirming without even saying a word. Our presence shows that when we care and are willing to help someone carry their burden, we are helping them to heal.

I hope we can all be affirming, and therefore healing, to those in our lives.

REMEMBER:   Jesus is Better than Santa

Santa lives at the North Pole.

JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh.

JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year.

JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies.

JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited.

JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa.

JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap.

JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what’s your name?"

JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly.

JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO.

JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry."

JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.”

Santa's little helpers make toys.

JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but

JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree.

JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

It's obvious there is really no comparison.

We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.

We need to put Christ back in Christmas.

Jesus is still the reason for the season.

May the Lord Bless and Watch over you

and your loved ones this Christmas 2010

and may He prosper and bless the work

of your hands in the New Year.

2010 Christmas Message and Schedule

In the midst of all we do in December, we remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. His birth marks an important event in salvation history: God sends his Son to become human to give us peace and happiness in this life, and to show us the way to eternal life. This is truly a great season of hope. Who can fail to be grateful for this great gift?

We are so blessed here at St. Joseph Church by the gifts of time, talent, and treasure so freely and lovingly given by all of you. You are what makes this parish the best one in the diocese. Your generosity enables us to continue the mission and ministry of Jesus and to be truly Church. Thank you for all that you do.

We are sending you our Christmas schedule with the hope that all our parish family will come and share the spiritual benefits offered in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and at the celebration of the Christmas Masses. We especially invite and hope that those who have been away for a while might be encouraged to come and take advantage of this special season of grace. We want you to know that you are welcomed with love and understanding.

To all I extend my prayerful best wishes for a joyous and blessed Christmas. I am deeply grateful to all of you for all that is being accomplished in the life of our parish. As I ask your prayers, I assure you of mine, and that in the New Year, we who are God’s family may serve Him with gladness and joy.

Sincerely,

Fr. Philip LeBeau & the Staff of St. Joseph Parish

Christmas Schedule for the sacrament of reconciliation:

 (individual confessions)

Saturday, December 18, 2010

   3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Monday, December 20, 2010

6:00 pm to 6:45 pm

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

    7:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Anytime by calling the rectory for an appointment

 

Christmas Mass Schedule

Friday, December 24, 2010

            Christmas Eve

4:00 pm            Christmas Pageant

4:30 pm            Special Family Mass

6:30 pm            Mass

11:00 pm          Mass

Saturday, December 25, 2010

       Christmas Day

8:00 am            Mass

10:00 am          Mass

12 Noon          Mass

NOTE: NO CONFESSIONS OR 5:30 PM MASS TODAY

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Feast of the Holy Family

8:00 am            Mass

10:00 am          Mass

12 Noon          Mass

Fable of the porcupine

It was the coldest winter ever.

Many animals died because of the cold.

The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided
to group together. They were covered and protected, 
but the quills of each wounded the closest 
companion. 
After a while, they decided to distance themselves,

and they began to die, alone and frozen.

So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of 
their companions or disappear from the Earth. Wisely, 
they decided to go back to being together.  They 
learned to live with the little wounds that were caused by their
close relationships because the most important part

was the heat that came from the others. 
They were able to survive.

The best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect

people, but the one that forms when individuals

learn to live with the imperfections and

admire the good qualities of others.

My ISRAEL TRIP.

I HAD A GREAT TRIP, but it was too short. We saw a number of places, but there is so much to see it would take months to see everything. We went to Haifa to see Stella Maris Church and visit the Carmelite monastery. We went to Mt. Tabor to see the church of the Transfiguration. It is an exciting ride up the side of a mountain which is steep, but a spectacular view when on top.

We went to Cana in Galilee where Jesus performed his first miracle at a wedding. I was able to celebrate Mass in that Church, and we also had the married couples renew their marriage vows. The church provided them with wedding renewal certificates.

We went to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation where the Angel Gabriel visited Mary, and we also saw Mary and Joseph’s home and carpentry shop where Jesus lived for the first 30 years of his life.

We went through thee town of Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene, then stopped at Tabgha, site of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. We went to the Mount of Beatitudes, a very lovely and peaceful spot. We then stopped at the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter on the Sea of Galilee where Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom to Peter.  We crossed the Sea of Galilee in a wooden boat and had lunch at Kibbutz Ein Gev, where we had a meal of St. Peter’s fish. The gospels tall a story of St. Peter finding a coin in the mouth of a fish to pay the Temple tax, thus St. Peter’s fish. Actually, it was Tilapia, and they served it whole of filleted. I’ll take mine filleted, if you don’t mind.

We went to Capernaum and saw the synagogue where Jesus would have worshipped.  We then went to Jerusalem.

We went to the top of the Mount of Olives with a breathtaking view of the whole of the city of Jerusalem. I was lucky enough to get a camel ride there. We descended down the Mount of Olives and stopped in a Jewish cemetery where many dignitaries are buried. It is believed by the Jews that the Messiah will arrive on the Mount of Olives and they will be the first to be raised. We also saw the Church of the Pater Noster, where the Our Father is on plaques in over 100 languages. We also stopped in the Church of the Ascension, and saw the Garden of Gethsemane at the bottom of the Mount of Olives. It is said that the olive trees in this garden are over 2,000 years old and would have been there when Jesus underwent his agony in the garden.

We then went to the Church of St. Peter Gallicantu (cock crowed) where Peter denied Jesus 3 times. We visited the room of the Last Supper, the tomb of King David, and the Church of the Dormition, commemorating Mary being taken up body and soul into heaven.

That afternoon we went to Bethlehem which is under Arab control. Our tour guide was not allowed to go there so we picked up a Christian Arab guide once inside. There are a handful of cities that the Israeli’s have put under Arab control and it is like going to another country. We brought our passports just in case, and we had to go through a checkpoint going in and going out (by the way, there is a checkpoint on the outskirts of Jerusalem, too). In these Arab towns, there are no Israeli soldiers patrolling and tensions are low. This doesn’t prevent a determined terrorist, but the chance terrorist, like a rock thrower who can incite a crowd. In fact, there are a lot less armed soldiers on the streets than I remember from my first trip, except in the Old City of Jerusalem and by the Western Wall (the Wailing Wall). I put a little slip of paper in the wall praying for the intentions of our parish. All in all, I felt completely safe every where we went. I certainly felt a lot safer in Jerusalem than I ever did in Manhattan.

Anyway, back to the trip. We also went to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem built over the spot where Jesus was born, where I got to celebrate mass in an outdoor chapel. I toted my vestments all over Israel, but that wasn’t necessary since every church we visited had their own vestments for the use of visiting priests and deacons. We had a deacon from St. Peter’s in Parsippany with us and he preached at this Mass. He was really thrilled that we asked. In hindsight, we should have asked him to preach in Cana when the couples renewed their vows.

The next day we went to my absolutely most favorite spot in Israel, the Old City of Jerusalem, which has an Arab, a Christian, and a Jewish section. It is like stepping back 5 centuries in time. I just love it. I could have spent 2 or 3 days there easily. In the Old City, we visited St. Ann’s Church (the birthplace of Mary), the Chapel of the Flagellation, and the Ecce Homo Arch (Behold the Man). We carried a cross and did the Stations of the Cross down the Via Dolorosa. We visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre which has the place where Jesus died and was buried. We celebrated Mass there, also. After this, we went to the village of En Karem which is the birthplace of John the Baptist and is the site of the Visitation. There are dozens of wall plaques with the Magnificat in many languages.

Our final day of the tour we went to Masada, the last outpost of 967 Jews who committed suicide rather than surrender to the Romans in 70A.D. We swam in the Dead Sea. Well, actually, we floated in the Dead Sea. It is about 60% salt and it’s impossible to sink. But don’t put your face in, it will hurt and possibly damage your eyes. It’s also big, about 3 times the size of the Sea of Galilee.

By the way, the Sea of Galilee is smaller than you might think. It is easy to see across it to the other side. We need to think in terms of a lake, and not a sea. Think of a larger Lake Hopatcong, and you have the Sea of Galilee.

The Jordan River is also not much larger than the Beaver Brook that runs behind the rectory and is no more than a few feet deep. Some countries have diverted water from the headwaters of the Jordan so that it dries up and there is a dry stream bed. Consequently, the Jordan is stagnant and it smells awful and is polluted. People were actually getting in it!  It takes all kinds.

The State of Israel is not much larger than New Jersey, and a lot of it in the south is desert. The part pilgrim’s traverse is similar to driving around northern NJ, with as much traffic as we have here. We were all very impressed with the bus drivers who drove a full size bus in small streets crowded with pedestrians, parked cars, and traffic. I think I’d rather walk than drive a bus there. There are no interstate highways, but some roads like state highways, similar to routes 46 and 23. Even with traffic, it is possible to get to almost everywhere in under 2 hours; it is about an hour from the Tel Aviv Airport to Jerusalem.

The locals live differently than we do. I found the meats and fish not nearly as good as here, but they have loads of all kinds of fruits and vegetables, which are even served at breakfast. My favorite foods were hummus (crushed chickpeas) and falafel, which is fried hummus in pita bread.

Our Israeli tour guide told us that most Israelis do not own houses, but live in apartments, what we would call condos, of about 1,000 square feet. That seems small to many people, and he said that the one big problem is a lack of closets. Pack rats would have a terrible time there.

Our guide also said that since water is in short supply, every house has a collection drum on the roof, and the water is heated by solar panels. It’s not enough for all needs if not conserved, so they take a shower by getting wet, turning the water off, soaping up, and rinsing off. They can take several showers and use the same amount of water as we do with one shower. They don’t make the hotels conserve water this way, and that leads to lots of waste. I began taking an ‘Israeli shower’ after I learned this, but I went back to my old ways at home. After all, our problem here in Lincoln Park is too much water. Our guide shook his head at that.

As you can see, it was a busy trip. I was too tired in the evenings to go out, so I stayed in and relaxed, getting ready for the next day. Every day we went to several places that have their own important significance in our salvation history. It’s impossible to pick a favorite spot, one that touched me more than others, but it was the cumulative effect of the whole trip that was important to me. I felt the presence of the Lord where ever we went and was uplifted in my own faith and in my priesthood in ways I just can’t describe. You would think that seeing one special place after another would lessen the effect, but for me, it was just the opposite.

After leaving Masada, I told our guide that I was thinking about what he had said on top of the mountain, and I asked him if he had ever heard of the Catholic saying, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of faith.” He hadn’t, and his response was that the blood of the Holocaust was the seed of the State of Israel. I hadn’t thought of it that way, but how true that is.

The blood of Jesus on the cross is the seed of Christian faith to untold billions of people over 2 millennia. Many have suffered and died to pass on the faith to us. As I ponder everything we did on this trip, I wonder how far I would be willing to go to pass on the seed of faith to others. Is any price too high? Our sacrifices are not only the seeds of faith to others, but the birth of salvation in us.

As we approach the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I pray that we all can open our hearts to his love, peace, and forgiveness, and that we can be the seeds of faith for others.

May God bless you and your families in this holy season and all year round.

FR. PHIL