Sunday, 31 March 2013
Thursday, 28 March 2013
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
Fr. Antony
I just came across this picture of Fr. Antony. Can you pick him out? (front row second from the left) I like the happier version we have today.
Pope's Homily [text]
Here is the prepared text provided by the Vatican for Pope Francis' homily at his inaugural Mass Tuesday in Vatican City.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I thank the Lord that I can celebrate this Holy Mass for the inauguration of my Petrine ministry on the solemnity of Saint Joseph, the spouse of the Virgin Mary and the patron of the universal Church. It is a significant coincidence, and it is also the name-day of my venerable predecessor: we are close to him with our prayers, full of affection and gratitude.
I offer a warm greeting to my brother cardinals and bishops, the priests, deacons, men and women religious, and all the lay faithful. I thank the representatives of the other Churches and ecclesial Communities, as well as the representatives of the Jewish community and the other religious communities, for their presence. My cordial greetings go to the Heads of State and Government, the members of the official Delegations from many countries throughout the world, and the Diplomatic Corps.
In the Gospel we heard that "Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took Mary as his wife" (Mt 1:24). These words already point to the mission which God entrusts to Joseph: he is to be the custos, the protector. The protector of whom? Of Mary and Jesus; but this protection is then extended to the Church, as Blessed John Paul II pointed out: "Just as Saint Joseph took loving care of Mary and gladly dedicated himself to Jesus Christ's upbringing, he likewise watches over and protects Christ's Mystical Body, the Church, of which the Virgin Mary is the exemplar and model" (Redemptoris Custos, 1).
How does Joseph exercise his role as protector? Discreetly, humbly and silently, but with an unfailing presence and utter fidelity, even when he finds it hard to understand. From the time of his betrothal to Mary until the finding of the twelve-year-old Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem, he is there at every moment with loving care. As the spouse of Mary, he is at her side in good times and bad, on the journey to Bethlehem for the census and in the anxious and joyful hours when she gave birth; amid the drama of the flight into Egypt and during the frantic search for their child in the Temple; and later in the day-to-day life of the home of Nazareth, in the workshop where he taught his trade to Jesus.
How does Joseph respond to his calling to be the protector of Mary, Jesus and the Church? By being constantly attentive to God, open to the signs of God's presence and receptive to God's plans, and not simply to his own. This is what God asked of David, as we heard in the first reading. God does not want a house built by men, but faithfulness to his word, to his plan. It is God himself who builds the house, but from living stones sealed by his Spirit. Joseph is a "protector" because he is able to hear God's voice and be guided by his will; and for this reason he is all the more sensitive to the persons entrusted to his safekeeping. He can look at things realistically, he is in touch with his surroundings, he can make truly wise decisions. In him, dear friends, we learn how to respond to God's call, readily and willingly, but we also see the core of the Christian vocation, which is Christ! Let us protect Christ in our lives, so that we can protect others, so that we can protect creation!
The vocation of being a "protector", however, is not just something involving us Christians alone; it also has a prior dimension which is simply human, involving everyone. It means protecting all creation, the beauty of the created world, as the Book of Genesis tells us and as Saint Francis of Assisi showed us. It means respecting each of God's creatures and respecting the environment in which we live. It means protecting people, showing loving concern for each and every person, especially children, the elderly, those in need, who are often the last we think about. It means caring for one another in our families: husbands and wives first protect one another, and then, as parents, they care for their children, and children themselves, in time, protect their parents. It means building sincere friendships in which we protect one another in trust, respect, and goodness. In the end, everything has been entrusted to our protection, and all of us are responsible for it. Be protectors of God's gifts!
Whenever human beings fail to live up to this responsibility, whenever we fail to care for creation and for our brothers and sisters, the way is opened to destruction and hearts are hardened. Tragically, in every period of history there are "Herods" who plot death, wreak havoc, and mar the countenance of men and women.
Please, I would like to ask all those who have positions of responsibility in economic, political and social life, and all men and women of goodwill: let us be "protectors" of creation, protectors of God's plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment. Let us not allow omens of destruction and death to accompany the advance of this world! But to be "protectors", we also have to keep watch over ourselves! Let us not forget that hatred, envy and pride defile our lives! Being protectors, then, also means keeping watch over our emotions, over our hearts, because they are the seat of good and evil intentions: intentions that build up and tear down! We must not be afraid of goodness or even tenderness!
Here I would add one more thing: caring, protecting, demands goodness, it calls for a certain tenderness. In the Gospels, Saint Joseph appears as a strong and courageous man, a working man, yet in his heart we see great tenderness, which is not the virtue of the weak but rather a sign of strength of spirit and a capacity for concern, for compassion, for genuine openness to others, for love. We must not be afraid of goodness, of tenderness!
Today, together with the feast of Saint Joseph, we are celebrating the beginning of the ministry of the new Bishop of Rome, the Successor of Peter, which also involves a certain power. Certainly, Jesus Christ conferred power upon Peter, but what sort of power was it? Jesus' three questions to Peter about love are followed by three commands: feed my lambs, feed my sheep. Let us never forget that authentic power is service, and that the Pope too, when exercising power, must enter ever more fully into that service which has its radiant culmination on the Cross. He must be inspired by the lowly, concrete and faithful service which marked Saint Joseph and, like him, he must open his arms to protect all of God's people and embrace with tender affection the whole of humanity, especially the poorest, the weakest, the least important, those whom Matthew lists in the final judgment on love: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and those in prison (cf. Mt 25:31-46). Only those who serve with love are able to protect!
In the second reading, Saint Paul speaks of Abraham, who, "hoping against hope, believed" (Rom 4:18). Hoping against hope! Today too, amid so much darkness, we need to see the light of hope and to be men and women who bring hope to others. To protect creation, to protect every man and every woman, to look upon them with tenderness and love, is to open up a horizon of hope; it is to let a shaft of light break through the heavy clouds; it is to bring the warmth of hope! For believers, for us Christians, like Abraham, like Saint Joseph, the hope that we bring is set against the horizon of God, which has opened up before us in Christ. It is a hope built on the rock which is God.
To protect Jesus with Mary, to protect the whole of creation, to protect each person, especially the poorest, to protect ourselves: this is a service that the Bishop of Rome is called to carry out, yet one to which all of us are called, so that the star of hope will shine brightly. Let us protect with love all that God has given us!
I implore the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, Saints Peter and Paul, and Saint Francis, that the Holy Spirit may accompany my ministry, and I ask all of you to pray for me! Amen.
Monday, 18 March 2013
Coffee with Mom and Dad
Fr. Peter Keller
St. Michaels & Sacred Heart
(519) 344-2992 ext 23
Ubi amor, ibi oculus - Where there is love, there is insight
Friday, 15 March 2013
I like this guy more and more
I could see sharing my troubles with this guy on the subway on my way home from work.
Thursday, 14 March 2013
From Bishop Fabbro
We have a Pope! Many of us stopped what we were doing to watch the news coverage of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, greeting for the first time the people in St. Peter's Square, asking for their blessing and blessing them. We witnessed their joy and joined them in praying for our new pope.
His election is truly historic. This is the first time the pope is from the Americas. Coming from Argentina, he will have a new perspective to bring to the papacy. We are just learning about him. He is a holy man, who has led a remarkably simple life and has been a good pastor to the people of his diocese.
I was surprised that he chose the name Francis. He is the first pope to choose this name. Surely, he must have a great devotion to St. Francis of Assisi and see him as a model for the Church's mission of evangelization. As bishop and cardinal, he proclaimed Jesus' love for those in need and was a courageous advocate for the poor.
For the past few weeks, since the announcement of the resignation of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the anticipation of a new pope has been building. Was this excitement of people everywhere – believers, and non-believers too – not an expression of our need today for the unique gift that the Successor of the Apostle Peter brings to the world? We need his witness of faith and his bold proclamation of the Good News which gives us hope.
Jesus promised to pray for the Apostle Peter, so that he might strengthen his fellow disciples in the faith (Luke 22:32). We thank God for giving the Church Pope Francis and pray for him. May the Holy Spirit pour out on him the gifts he will need for his ministry to the Universal Church.
Fr. Peter Keller
St. Michael's & Sacred Heart Faith Community
His election is truly historic. This is the first time the pope is from the Americas. Coming from Argentina, he will have a new perspective to bring to the papacy. We are just learning about him. He is a holy man, who has led a remarkably simple life and has been a good pastor to the people of his diocese.
I was surprised that he chose the name Francis. He is the first pope to choose this name. Surely, he must have a great devotion to St. Francis of Assisi and see him as a model for the Church's mission of evangelization. As bishop and cardinal, he proclaimed Jesus' love for those in need and was a courageous advocate for the poor.
For the past few weeks, since the announcement of the resignation of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the anticipation of a new pope has been building. Was this excitement of people everywhere – believers, and non-believers too – not an expression of our need today for the unique gift that the Successor of the Apostle Peter brings to the world? We need his witness of faith and his bold proclamation of the Good News which gives us hope.
Jesus promised to pray for the Apostle Peter, so that he might strengthen his fellow disciples in the faith (Luke 22:32). We thank God for giving the Church Pope Francis and pray for him. May the Holy Spirit pour out on him the gifts he will need for his ministry to the Universal Church.
Fr. Peter Keller
St. Michael's & Sacred Heart Faith Community
What Pope Francis Likes to Eat and Drink: BA Daily
A great welcome to Pope Francis! Even "Bon Appetit" is featuring our new Pope. He seems to like cooking for himself.
What Pope Francis Likes to Eat and Drink: BA Daily
http://www.bonappetit.com/blogsandforums/blogs/badaily/2013/03/what-new-pope-likes-to-eat.html
Sent via Flipboard
Fr. Peter Keller
St. Michaels & Sacred Heart
(519) 344-2992 ext 23
Ubi amor, ibi oculus - Where there is love, there is insight
Wednesday, 13 March 2013
Tuesday, 5 March 2013
Wilma 60th anniversary pin
Fr. Peter Keller
St. Michael's & Sacred Heart Faith Community
Saturday, 2 March 2013
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