Tag Archives: St. Andrew Catholic Church (Milford, Ohio)

Sometimes Gods Find Us

26 Jul

The latest Sunday Mass at St. Andrew is archived here: July 24, 2011. The homily is at minute 17:15 … The most important things in life, the things in life that matter most – sometimes we find them; sometimes they find us. There is  almost always an element of surprise, joy and commitment. Ask anyone about their spouse or best friend, “How did you meet?” Ask anyone about the work that they do or the school they attend, “How did you wind up in this job, at this high school, on the campus of this college?” Ask someone about a cause or a project about which they have such passion, “How did this involvement evolve?” In each story there will be an element of surprise, joy and commitment. Surprise: “I never expected to find it. It is so much more than I expected.” Joy: “I am so happy, contented, energized and encouraged. I didn’t know what I was missing.” Commitment: “I’ll do whatever it takes to keep it, to make it work and to pass it one.”     

Sometimes we find God. Sometimes God finds us. Sometimes God is discovered suddenly and unexpectedly, sometimes after much searching. There is almost always an element of surprise, joy and commitment.

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Focus With Two Eyes

25 Jul

Focus! That is important when taking photos, standing at the pulpit and creating a post for one’s blog. Every blog needs a focus, something about it that makes it different from others, something that brings people back, something that invites conversation (and referrals, of course).  

There will be many blogs about the implementation of the new English translation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal. Mine will be among those that will deal with this topic, but from the perspective of a pastor in a small town. A unique focus and emphasis that my blog will have is that it will speak of the life and the struggles of the Christians in the Holy Land.

We will keep one eye on the people as they worship at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Milford. Each post about the new Missal will be accompanied by this photo.  

We will also keep an eye on the people as they struggle in Beit Jala (near Bethlehem) and in the rest of the Holy Land, in entries found with this photo.

The blog will also take occasional side trips and journeys elsewhere, but will always keep a religious, reflective and Catholic tone to it.

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Two Loves on Main Street

15 Jul

If you pass by St. Andrew, you see from the street the two things that are most important to me.

At the top of the front steps of our church is a beautiful set of mahogany doors. My hope and my heart are deeply rooted and firmly set here in Milford.

Over the front porch of my home (to the left) there are three flags: Palestinian, American and Israeli. My heart is often in the Holy Land and my hope is for peace with justice.

The little town of Milford and the little town of Bethlehem – worlds apart, but one on my mind and one in my heart!

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Digital Continent Immigrant

14 Jul

On the digital continent I am a late-arriving immigrant, just trying to learn the language and understand the culture. I speak with an accent. But maybe the natives will at least appreciate that I have come to meet them in the world in which the live.

Hear what Pope Benedict XVI has said, “The new digital technologies are, indeed, bringing about fundamental shifts in patterns of communication and human relationships. These changes are particularly evident among those young people who have grown up with the new technologies and are at home in a digital world that often seems quite foreign to those of us who, as adults, have had to learn to understand and appreciate the opportunities it has to offer for communications. In this year’s message, I am conscious of those who constitute the so-called digital generation and I would like to share with them, in particular, some ideas concerning the extraordinary potential of the new technologies, if they are used to promote human understanding and solidarity.”

Hear what Father James Martin, S.J., has said, “No media should be beneath us to spread the Gospel. If Jesus could talk about the birds of the air, then we can tweet.”

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Removing Sandals Is Optional

13 Jul

God said to Moses, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” At Mass we do all we can so that no particle of the sacred Body, no drop of the precious Blood and no syllable of the proclaimed Word will fall to the floor without being consumed and taken to heart. With awe and reverence we receive the Body, the Blood and the Word of God. There is a lovely tune, “This is holy ground. We’re standing on holy ground. For the Lord is present, and where he is, is holy.” With that melody of awareness playing in our minds and hearts, we also stand humbly before every person we meet. The Lord is present in that person. Thus, we are standing on holy ground. Removing sandals is optional, but showing reverence is not. Have a reverent day!

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May the Peace of Christ Be With You

11 Jul

This is a beautiful Japanese folk melody, arranged by Lori True for worship services dedicated in memory of those affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan: “May the peace of Christ be with you. May the love of Christ dwell deep in your heart. May the Spirit enlighten your way. May you walk in the comfort of God’s care.”

For two reasons it is here. First, at evening prayer on Sunday, June 26, the people of St. Andrew and I sang this blessing over Bishop Joseph Binzer seventeen days after his ordination, using the verse, “Holy one of God, humble shepherd and guide, may you find contentment in Christ.” We did it. Second, I wanted to learn how to imbed a YouTube video in my blog. I did it!

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“new” Missal in “old” Milford

11 Jul

The implementation of the new English translation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal – that is precise, but it sounds so heavy. Yes, in the coming months we will be making some adjustments in the words we pray at Mass. Together we will learn our way and pray our way through the “new” Missal right here in “old” Milford. Look out YouTube, Facebook and Twitter! Here we come. 

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God Works “Smart”

10 Jul

The latest Sunday Mass at St. Andrew is archived here: July 10, 2011. The homily is at minute 20:40 … Is your attention drawn to the harvest, the soil, the seed or the sower? What seed of beauty or truth, what seed of consolation or challenge is the Lord planting in your life? God will continue to hoe and rain down whatever is needed. God keeps at it. God will not quit. God knows when and God knows how. God works smart!

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All Are Welcome

10 Jul

In accord with the special role our Andrew had among the apostles as the Great Introducer, it is the particular character and charge of St. Andrew parish to welcome and engage all who come to us, as “our doors open wide at the very thought of your coming,” hoping to introduce them to others and to Christ. All are welcome here.

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Ever Changing and Ever New

10 Jul

One would think that after 62 years of life, 36 years as a priest and 22 years as a pastor, my life would pretty much be set and in order. Yet life is still evolving, ever changing and ever new.

Since mom’s passing in 2006 my two sisters, Lee Ann and Peggy, send me a poem on the anniversary of my ordination. They are as bad as the ones my mother wrote over the years, and they make me smile as much: “Now it has been thirty six years. And your anniversary is music to our ears. If only we could bottle in a jar, Just how proud of you we are.”

May the good Lord bless you, guard you from evil, and guide you to eternity.

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