Arreverdici!

Well, the day has come!

Today was my last day, after 11 years, here at St. Therese. Thank you for the support and love you've given me as your pastor. I'm leaving a big part of my heart here with you.

My two new parishes are Francis de Sales and Church of the Visitation.

By clicking on the above links you can find my new addresses and phone numbers.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Thanks, Faith, for sharing this!

The Vatican

Ecumenical Councils of the Roman Catholic Church

Just a bit of information on the 21 ecumenical council held over the past 1700 years - NOT a complete breakdown of what went on when and where. It's important for Catholics to know where they come from, not just what they're doing and where they're going.

A New Beginning

Dear friends,

First of all, I thank you for this wonderful gathering of support for not only my ministry here, but for what we at St. Therese are, a loving and supportive community.

I must thank Gerry Jones and all who have worked long and hard to plan and make this gathering possible. Thank you, thank you. This is not just a celebration of me, but of us.

We can never be sure whether the news we receive is bad or good.
When I first was told I had to leave St. Therese, I was devastated – all I could think of was what I was losing:

– A community that has had it’s ups and downs and has stilled thrived.
– People with whom I’ve laughed and cried with and have grown to love.
– people who have helped me see what faith looks like in action.
– people who have challenged me to be more than I ever dreamed I could be.
– a community who have seen me at my worst and my best and have continued
to believe in me.
– who have accepted me as I am, warts and all, and have accepted the
factthat I am human – and have decided that’s ok.
– have argued and disagreed with me face-to-face and, because we are
community and in this together, have agreed to disagree and get on with
our mission.

Because of this, when I first was told by our bishop that I had to leave St. Therese, it seemed to be the worst of news.
And, because all the above is true, it is still bad news.

But you’ve heard me say , over and over again, that I believe the Spirit is always present in every situation.
I still believe this.
God’s Spirit will always prevail, no matter what any of us do to squelch it.
She works through the good and the bad.
No matter the way it happened....
No matter how we judge the situation or the manner in which it happened .
Because of this, I believe there’s a good reason I am leaving.
God has something wonderful down the road for me – and for you.

Leaving is painful.
For you and for me.
I’ve spent 11 years with you.
There’s such a big part of me that doesn’t want to go.
There’s a growing part of me that is becoming excited about what lies ahead.

I’ve always been a person who wanted to be in control.
Anyone who has ever watched me pacing back and forth while new Pastoral Council members were being discerned know this.
I would always listen to the nominees and – in my mind – pick out the ones I knew would be the best – the ones I wanted to work with.
Time and time again God’s Spirit always made different choices than I had made!
More often than not, the Spirit chose better than I did!
So, hopefully, I’ve learned to become more trusting in where the Spirit thinks I should be.

Something’s in store for me.
I don’t know how its going to play out.
But, if that’s where God wants me to be, it has to be Good News!

Now, let’s party and celebrate all we have been and all we are going to be.

Get and Stay Thin

The Human Experience

Haven't seen it yet, but intend to see if Netflix has it.

The Year of the Priest

Icon of St. John Vienney, patron saint of priests.

Last Friday begun the official year of the priest. To read the promulgation go to this site.

Scribes and Pharisees

(See Matthew 6:1-6 and Matthew 6:16-18)

Hypocrites: scribes, Pharisees and ...us?

Ouch!

Isn't it strange that Jesus tells us to wash our faces when we fast so that nobody will know we are fasting, and then on Ash Wednesday, when we begin our season of fasting, we put ashes on our faces so that everybody will know we are fasting.

And even though Jesus tells us to keep our charitable giving a secret, we insist on plaques with our names on them, or the names of loved ones, to indicate to all that we gave the money!

And imagine giving presents on holidays and special occasions without a card indicating from whom it came.

And no thank-you notes!

Jesus teaches that simple acts of self-denial produce a kind of cosmic debt that is paid in the next life.
Or, we can seek our reward in this life in the form of respect and admiration from others. One corrupts and passes away, the other blesses and endures for ever.
True disciples, in contrast to the hypocrites, see that our generosity toward each other is not an obligation, it is an act of love, not duty; it’s done in glory and thanks to God, not to gain honor and credit for us.

Making Christ Present

(The High Feast of the Lamb ((detail) Ghent altarpiece - Jan Van Eyck 16th c)


Today is the Feast of The Body and Blood of Christ (or Corpus Christi, for those who still remember their Latin). Historically it finds its origins in the thirteenth century as a feast in honour of the Blessed Sacrament; in earlier years it was traditionally marked by a procession.

Of course we not only offer devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, but most importantly, we receive it through the sacrament of the Eucharist and the sacrifice of the Mass. Through it we are nourished to live like Christ because through the Eucharist, Christ becomes one with us.

This leads me to reflect on something I saw happen during communion at Mass recently. A regular parishioner received communion, then began returning to their seat as quickly and as steadily as their mobility would allow. Another regular parishioner received communion immediately after, and seeing their fellow Catholic walking as best as they could, put an arm around them to support and guide them.

This was heart warming, yes. Yet it was much more. It reflected the very nature of the Eucharist. St. Augustine tells us that at Mass, we say “Amen” to that which we are. That is, we “become what we receive”; we receive and we are the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ today, the Church, must then commit itself to Christ’s mission. The call to “Love One Another” was acted out so instinctively in the service and love shared between these two parishioners. The very act of communion, becoming one with Christ and with each other, leads us (in the words of Mary MacKillop) to never see a need without doing something about it.

Let us never forget that during the celebration of the Eucharist, Christ is present not only in the person of the priest, the proclaimed word and the eucharistic elements, but also in the liturgical assembly who gathers to celebrate the paschal mystery, the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Losing My Religion

"Why do we stick with Christianity? And with the church? I was reading a thing on Beliefnet this morning about celebrities who've changed religions. And the majority of them had changed from some Christian denomination--Baptist, Methodist, Anglican--to something else...Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Scientology."

With these words, the author of the blog Stalking Holiness begins her article describing why she remains Catholic. It's an article worth reading.

Barnabas, apostle

Icon of St. Barnabas


Reflection on today’s gospel: Matthew 5:20-26

Today's Gospel passage speaks of angry thoughts and demeaning speech in the same breath as murder. Do I think before I speak? Do I gossip, just for "fun"? Do I consider the effects of my "good-natured teasing"? Do I find myself compelled to return an angry word to someone who has provoked me? In and of themselves, these sins are usually pretty minor. But they can lead to so much suffering and ill will. It takes courage and the grace of God to say, "I'm not going respond in anger" or "She confided in me; it stops here." Lord, be in my heart and on my lips that I may worthily proclaim your holy Gospel.

Maison Fortune Kids

For pictures of the boys and girls.

Scripture

I've just added a new feature to my blog. It allows you to instantly see any scripture passage by merely moving your cursor over the source.

Try it with this scripture passage from today's gospel: Matthew 5:20-26.

Remember When?

Liturgical Police!

Father Ron then added that the goal of the program is to empower the parishioners to expect and get a properly celebrated liturgical experience free of all distractions and inappropriate activities which might occur in a parish on a local level. "We don't want cookie mass or Barney Blessings. We want an authentic liturgy abuse free" said Father Ron

To read entire article go to this site.

Moving On 2

Just wanted to remind folks that I will continue this blog from my new parish. You will probably not be able to enter through the St. Therese wev site, but you can still read it at www.frrobertcummins.blogspot.com.

Moving On

Church of the Visitation

Most of you know that I will be moving at the end of this month. I will be Administrator of two small churches in Middlesex County: St. Francis De Sales in Mathews, VA., and Church of the Visitation in Topping.

You can visit their web pages by clicking on their names.

You know our recent history; I am at peace with this decision. I know I'm taking a chance, but if feel this move will be good for me and for my new parishioners. I believe I am the right priest for them at this difficult time in their lives. I also believe Fr. Jim Gordon will be good for you, so give him a chance.

Love Comes First

Reflection on today's gospel, Matthew 5:17-19

"I was always too strict with my daughter," the mother complained bitterly, "and now that she's gone, she won't have anything to do with me." The woman poured out her story of regret and loneliness, recounting all the mistakes she'd made as a mother, agonizing over the broken relationship between her and her daughter. She realized, maybe too late, that she had laid the law down too hard on her daughter while she was growing up. Now she was suffering the consequences.

The Jewish community, to whom Matthew's gospel was addressed, was critical of Jesus for not reaffirming the law as the way to salvation. Jesus taught that moral righteousness is of value in the kingdom, but even those who break the law have a place in the kingdom. Jesus places the relationship between God and human above maintaining moral righteousness.

Tribute to our Soldiers

Thanks to Faith for sending this to me!