From the Desk of Fr. Mike
Answers Come in Their Own Time
Posted by Anne Serwe on 4/27/20
When I was pastor of St. Bernard’s there came a time when it became obvious that we were going to have to close the school. The population of students had dropped quite low and with that, the amount of money coming in also dropped. Over several years we tried ... Read More »
Happy Easter!
Posted by Anne Serwe on 4/17/20
What a day it was last Sunday as it snowed throughout the Springtime celebration. Because it is so much of a warming season the snow did not last long. It was beautiful to watch for the very fact I knew that it would not remain on the ground for ... Read More »
Knowledge of the Divine
Posted by Anne Serwe on 3/09/20
“Now we are seeing a dim reflection in a mirror; but then we shall be seeing face to face. The knowledge that I have now is imperfect; but then I shall know as fully as I am known.” (1 Cor 12:13)
I have often wondered how Peter, James and ... Read More »
40 Day of Lent
Posted by Anne Serwe on 2/24/20
I thought this was a fun little article about Lent. It is from: ThoughtCo. "How Are the 40 Days of Lent Calculated?" Learn Religions, Feb. 11, 2020, learnreligions.com Lent, the period of prayer and fasting in preparation for Easter, is 40 days long, but there are 46 days between ... Read More »
Our Choices
Posted by Anne Serwe on 2/18/20
If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you;if you trust in God, you too shall live. He has set before you fire and waterto whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand.Before man are life and death, good and evil,whichever he chooses shall be given him. (Sir15:15-16)
I like the way that Sirach phrases our involvement in our eternal life. The way of life or death is chosen by us and God gives us what we choose. Going to hell is not a matter of punishment because we have done bad things, instead it is the consequence of our choices. I do not think God is asking perfection from us as we attempt to keep his commandments. In the daily readings of the past week we read about King David and his utterly evil action of taking another man’s wife for himself and then having the man murdered by his general during a battle. Even though David goes that far off from God’s commandments, his heart is still turned toward the Lord. When he is confronted by prophetic witness David turns to God and begs his pardon, and God gives it to ... Read More »
Giving to All
Posted by Anne Serwe on 2/10/20
Jesus says:4 But I say, love your enemies![a] Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46(Mt.5:44=45)
... Read More »
Would We Follow Immediately?
Posted by Anne Serwe on 1/29/20
Peter and Andrew are sitting in their boat mending their nets, and there Jesus appears calling to them. We are told that they left their boat and began to follow him. I find myself wondering what they saw or heard that compelled them to immediately begin following him? There ... Read More »
The Way We LIve should be an Invitation
Posted by Anne Serwe on 1/20/20
“’...he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.” (Jn1:34)
I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. (Is49:6)
I was raised ... Read More »
Baptized Into His Mission
Posted by Anne Serwe on 1/13/20
In the Gospel of Matthew; John the Baptist is baptizing people as they confessed their sins. In a dialogue with the Pharisees, John tells them that he is baptizing with water for repentance as he fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah: “A voice cries in the wilderness; Prepare a way ... Read More »
Feast of the Holy Family
Posted by Anne Serwe on 12/31/19
On this feast of the Holy Family the Knights of Columbus are inviting us to once again consecrate our families through this prayer (which is at the end of the pews)
O Lord Jesus, you lived in the home of Mary and Joseph in Nazareth. There you grew in ... Read More »