May 20, 2012

 

Dear Parishioners,

            On the issue of gay marriage, I would say the following:

1. God has established a loving plan for marriage that is unchangeable. Jesus elevated marriage to the dignity of a sacrament, which cannot be defiled.
2. We have not arrived at some new “awareness” of human sexuality that justifies intrinsically immoral behavior. Abortion, adultery, fornication, masturbation are always sinful for the same reason – they are wrong in and of themselves.
3. This is not a “civil rights” issue. “Hate the sin, Love the sinner”. The Church defends and promotes the dignity of the homosexual person, but condemns homosexual activity.
4. If the institution of marriage cannot be defined as exclusively between a man and a woman, then it cannot be defined as permanent and faithful either.  
5. Society stands or falls on the strength of the family. Family stands or falls on the strength of marriage. Marriage stands or falls on the strength of faith.

 

When speaking to others about this issue, I would use these 5 points as a base for civil discourse.

            Here is what the Universal Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:

1. #2357 – Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.” They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
2. #2361 – Sexuality, by means of which man and woman give themselves to one another through the acts which are proper and exclusive to spouses, is not something simply biological, but concerns the innermost being of the human person as such. It is realized in a truly human way if it is an integral part of the love by which a man and woman commit themselves totally to one another until death.
3. #2362 – The acts in marriage by which the intimate and chaste union of the spouses takes place are noble and honorable; the truly human performance of these acts fosters the self-giving they signify and enriches the spouses in joy and gratitude. Sexuality is a source of joy and pleasure: “The Creator himself…established that in the generative function, spouses should experience pleasure and enjoyment of body and spirit. Therefore, the spouses do nothing evil in seeking this pleasure and enjoyment”.

God bless!  Fr. Walsh

                      

 

 

May 13, 2012

 

Dear Parishioners,

Happy “Mother’s Day”!

            Greetings! I just returned from a three day jaunt to Florida. I enjoyed my visit with an old buddy (Mike) and his wife Maureen. Mike and I have been friends since the days we drove our “Big Wheels” around and terrorized the neighbors in Scranton. Mike is scheduled for heart valve replacement surgery on May 30 and I wanted to spend time with him beforehand. I was hoping to be with him for the surgery itself, but have already committed to serving as a spiritual director for a seminarian retreat in Nebraska. Mike is doing well, but is understandably nervous about the serious surgery. As they say, “waiting is the hardest part”. On Wednesday (5/9) I went with Mike and Maureen to the Florida Hospital for a tour of the cardiac wing. We met his doctor and nurses and felt very confident about the good care he will receive. Since I couldn’t let a trip to Florida go to waste without a trip to a beach, we enjoyed a few hours at New Smyrna. I got in a run along the beach with the sun shining and the surf crashing into the shore. There is such beauty in the world!

            As our parish CCD program comes to the end of another season, I want to thank Mary Foglio and all the teachers who make this program a success every year. I am grateful for the dedication of so many volunteers and parents who make sure our children have the opportunity to learn their religion and live their faith! We had “First Holy Communion” on Saturday (5/12) and now have our 2nd graders receiving the precious body and blood of our Lord. God grants the increase! I hope all our Mother’s enjoy this “Mother’s Day” and know how much they are appreciated for saying “Yes” to gift of life. Our Mother’s Day breakfast is Sunday (5/13) which will benefit our youth group’s summer fun experience. Our heavenly mother Mary is given a special place of reverence during the month of May as you can see from the placement of her statue in the sanctuary. May her motherly intercession always be a source of comfort and peace!

            Our Capital Campaign continues on pace for our $300,000 goal. Thanks to all who made a pledge and are making payments. We will soon begin to do some of the work we laid out in our case statement. If you have not yet made a pledge, please know that we are still in need of further contributions and every bit of support is greatly appreciated. If you receive a phone call in the near future from one of the members of our finance council, please know it is just another phase of our campaign to make sure we are doing everything possible to be successful.

            Lastly, during this past week, both our President and Vice President came out in support of gay marriage. I will try to continue to present Catholic moral teaching in a way that defends the true dignity and integrity of the person created in the image and likeness of God. As Bishop Lori recently said in response to the current climate of our culture: “What’s foul is fair, and what’s fair is foul”. As St. Paul reminds us in Scripture: “We must never tire of doing what is right”. Prayer and courage are needed every day!           

God bless!   Fr. Walsh

                      

 

 

May 6, 2012

 

Dear Parishioners,

            Greetings! It is good to host Fr. Rafferty this weekend (5/6) and we should remember to keep vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life in our daily prayers. Like any institution, the Church needs people who are willing to assume leadership roles. Unlike most institutions however, the model of leadership in the Church is, as our bishop reminds us in his pastoral vision of the Diocese of Scranton, a “Servant Leadership” in imitation of our Lord. Positions of leadership in the Church are a sacred trust and those called to them take on a serious responsibility. Let’s keep our eyes open to perhaps see such vocations right here at St. John’s. It may be a neighbor, friend or family member. It may be the person sitting next to you at mass.

            We should also pray for an increase in lay ministry for our Church. We recently lost two people who served in lay ministry at St. John’s. Millie Renehan was a devoted lector and Tom Buneo was a devoted cantor and member of the choir. God has already inspired Carolyn Metaxis to come forward as a lector (she had her “debut” on 4/28) and Brianna                            to come forward as a cantor (she had her “debut” on 4/29). So, God does provide! But we are still in need of altar servers and will always benefit from having more available lay ministers who can serve at the liturgy.

            In the Holy Gospel this weekend (5/6) we hear that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. Unless the branch stays connected to the vine, it withers and dies. So too with us! Regardless of our role at the liturgy, or our status in life, Jesus wants to nourish us and keep us alive in faith! The Church exists so that we can have a never ending source of nourishment through the sacraments, prayer, teachings etc. We can always rely on the Church to keep us connected to the vine. It is my hope that every mass in particular, is a life-giving source of grace for everyone who walks through the doors of St. John’s. We cannot sustain faith on our own, no matter how hard we try. Faith needs to be replenished and God provides!

            I want to thank Lisa Stewart and Carmen Kakakios for setting up our “Giving Tent” in the rear of the church last week. It serves as a good visual for our upcoming “Catholic Camp for Kids” this summer. Thanks to all who took a “log” in support of this program. Any snacks, crafts or gifts can be placed inside the tent. After a few years of hiatus, we are looking forward to having the children of St. John’s back again for a week of faith-filled and fun activities. Registration for “CCK” has already begun, so make sure you sign up as soon as possible to ensure a spot with one of our four groups of campers:  the “Raccoons”, “Busy Beavers”, “Hedgehogs” and “Woodchucks”.

            First Holy Communion is next Saturday (5/12) and we wish all our 2nd grade children and their families all the best! With the Holy Eucharist at the center of our faith lives, God can do marvelous things! Also, don’t forget the Mother’s Day Breakfast next Sunday 5/13 after the 8:30 and 11am masses! $5 per person.                                     

  God bless, Fr. Walsh

 

 

April 29, 2012

 

Dear Parishioners,

            Greetings! I am looking forward to hosting my classmate Fr. Jim Rafferty next weekend. I invited Fr. Rafferty to preach at all masses and spread the good news about vocations in the Church. Fr. Rafferty is the “Vocations Director” for the Diocese of Scranton and has served in vocations ministry for many years. He is very insightful and supportive of men and women seeking to devote themselves more fully to the Church. It is important to raise awareness of the needs of our Church for priestly and religious vocations. God never stops “calling” people to the priesthood and religious life, but many times we are simply not responding. As a faith-filled community, we need to pray for and encourage such vocations especially among our young people. How great would it be to have a priest or religious brother or sister emerge from St. John’s! Check out our diocesan vocations web site at www.scrantonvocations.com.

            Well, the month of April has blown by. Time flies when you are having fun! I want to thank the St. John’s Seniors for letting me tag along on their bus trip to “Sight and Sound Theater” in Lancaster Pa. last Wednesday (4/25). This group of Seniors certainly knows how to have fun and enjoy life. They sponsor trips like this and host a monthly gathering in St. John’s hall which is good for fellowship, learning and expanding the waistline with Zaso food! The Seniors bring in speakers on important topics and support one another in many ways. We are fortunate to have such a solid group in the parish and I would encourage any senior to join.

            As we look forward to the month of May, in addition to Fr. Rafferty’s visit, over 25 members of our parish will attend the “Broadway in the Burg” Catholic Social Services fundraiser at the Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg on Saturday night May 5. Tickets are available at the door, so if your schedule allows, come and join us for a night of quality entertainment. Sue Stillo, our Saturday evening 4pm mass organist, is one of the featured actresses in the show. This event is one of two main fundraisers for C.S.S. organized by the Monroe County Board of Directors. Having Catholic Social Services in Monroe County is an important component of the mission of the Church.

            Also in May we will celebrate First Holy Communion and Mother’s Day! Our CCD 2nd grade children receive their First Holy Communion on Saturday May 12 and will also crown Mary as our Queen. This is such a happy day! Our parish youth group is hosting a special “Mother’s Day Breakfast” on Sunday May 13 – tickets are $5 a person and Mom’s will receive a complimentary flower. Please sign up after mass next weekend (5/6).  I am looking forward to the next “Holy Hike” with the youth group on May 19 and the “Multicultural Mass and Food Festival” on May 26. Thanks to everyone who will contribute an ethnic dish. At the end of the month of May, I will travel to Omaha Nebraska to serve as a spiritual director for seminarians on an 8 day Ignatian retreat at Creighton University. I had arrangements with Fr. Dan Yenkevich to cover masses while I was away, but he was recently appointed “Administrator” of a parish in Hazelton, so more details to come…

   
God bless,  Fr. Walsh