How Do You Pray?

This week 40 of our 7th and 8th grade students gathered together for a week long faith formation program focused on knowing and loving the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

One of the main themes of the week was building a relationship with Jesus through prayer.  Each night we communicated with God in a different way - the Mass, the Rosary, Praise and Worship music, Adoration, spontaneous prayer and the Examen.  The beauty of our faith and the Church is that there are so many different ways we can pray and communicate with God, there truly is something for everyone, we only began to scratch the surface of all the different ways you can pray.  

Think of prayer as conversation with God.  Whenever we pray we speak with God.  God loves us and wants to be loved by us. Prayer always begins by God’s prompting us to make our way to Him. Because we first are loved by God we can love Him. Prayer is this exchange of love. As we grow in recognition of God’s love for us we more easily and joyfully converse with Him.

What is your "go to" prayer?  Do you pray daily? How can you deepen your relationship with God by communicating with Him? 

How do you like to pray? Feel free to share your favorite prayer experiences below.

Relection by Matthew Bensman

The Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

As a young altar boy I used to place a large red cloth on the altar when Mass was over that had written on it in large gold letters for all to see, “Without Me You Can Do Nothing”. Today, we might say instead, “With God All Things Are Possible” (MT:19:26). I never really thought much about the meaning of this phrase when I was a kid, but it has always stayed with me. Of course, I now realize that it explains how Jesus could multiply five loaves and two fish and feed 5,000 of his disciples.

All miracles are significant but I learned recently that, other than the Resurrection, the multiplication of the loaves and fish is the only miracle mentioned in all four gospels. Had Jesus not performed this miracle the people would have had to look for food, some may have gone hungry, perhaps some may have become agitated, and the sense of community among them may have become disrupted. Instead, Jesus fed them and “all ate and were satisfied”.

Today, on the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (what used to be called the Feast of Corpus Christi) we emphasize that Jesus continues to “satisfy” us with His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. By receiving the Eucharist (which means thanksgiving) we are nourished spiritually, brought into communion with Christ and one another, recall His sacrifice on the cross, and are called to evangelize. Just as I wondered what may have happened had Jesus not fed the 5,000, I wonder what could happen to me if I were not able to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. One could imagine that my relationship with Jesus would be affected (for I definitely feel closer to Christ when I receive the Eucharist). My commitment to the Church, the Body of Christ, could weaken.  And, my struggle to avoid sin would be even more challenging. Think about times that, for whatever reason, you have not been able to receive the Eucharist. Think about how that may have affected you and your participation in your faith community. Talk to someone who does not have access to the Eucharist and explore what impact it has on them. I am fortunate to bring the Eucharist to a 92 year old man in the parish who is no longer able to attend Mass. His reception of the Eucharist in his home is so important to him.

On this Feast day I think how fortunate we are to have priests who, through the sacrament of Holy Orders, are able to provide us with the Body and Blood of Christ. We forget that there are people in this country and in the world who do not have a priest to serve them and who do not have regular access to the Eucharist. Let us thank God for all He has given us, especially the gift of Himself. Let us also continue to pray for an increase in vocations.

Reflection by Bob Fanning

Hope Does Not Disappoint!

Father's Day weekend!  For so many people this day means family barbecues, home-made gifts from school, a round of golf without feeling guilty and cards that say, "Happy Father's Day from your favorite kid!" 

It's supposed to be a day where we stop and take a moment to appreciate the men in our lives who have done so much for us and been a blessing to our families.  Yet for people who have lost fathers, had abusive fathers, absent fathers, or always wished to be a father, this day can be a time filled with loneliness, sadness or grief.   It can be hard to find gratitude when life's circumstances feel challenging.

In fact, in just a few weeks (on July 3rd)  it will be the second anniversary of the most challenging time in my life, when my father passed away.  As odd as it sounds, the only way that I COULD get through that difficult time was by focusing on the small blessings in those moments and by being grateful.  I was blessed when I talked with my parents on the phone and knew something was different and that I should schedule a flight to visit them.  I was blessed when my husband got a nudge that told him I should not put off the trip to the following week.  I was blessed that my parents picked me up from the airport, and when my father fell in the parking lot and was bleeding, some strangers helped us get him to the car.   I was blessed when my brother was able to join us for dinner the next night and we marveled that the four of us had not been alone, eating dinner together in that kitchen, in over 20 years.  I was blessed to be there with my mother when he passed out and stopped breathing.  I was blessed to be the one to take charge (so she did not have to) and perform CPR.  I was blessed to sit in the hospital room and grieve and cry but also witness the outpouring of love and support.  I was blessed with the caregivers who were sent from heaven and for my friends who drove hours to sit outside hospice "just if I wanted a break at some point."  I was blessed that my brother showed up 1 minute before my dad took his final breaths, with fireworks going off in the background, as he headed to be with our Lord.  Through this sadness and tremendous grief, those little moments, where I knew God was working through others or by giving me a nudge to guide me, gave me comfort and peace. 

As we read in the second reading this week from Romans, "knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us."  The pain and affliction that I felt during my father's passing was overwhelming at times.  Like a wave rolling over me.  However, when I breathed through the pain and remembered the many blessings that surrounded us, I felt gratitude, hope and joy through the tears.  There was overwhelming proof that we were being carried through this difficult time by the Holy Spirit.   Since then, my eyes have been opened to the many "coincidences", "God nudges", "God Moments" or "God Winks" that are surrounding us every day, encouraging us to believe, hope, support each other and get closer to God.    I've actually helped a friend find her cat who had been lost for three days because I felt the "nudge" to call her and then shared an article with her that gave her hope; the cat was found 20 min after we spoke.  I was on a call with a vendor and felt the nudge to talk about a colleague, who is a Rwandan refugee and looking for another job with a Visa.  He put her in touch with the right people, which gave her hope to keep trying.  This led to her dream job and her ability to stay in this country.  I randomly chatted up a man at a coffee shop who had lost his wife and felt the nudge to talk with him about their life together.  The list goes on.  We all have this happening daily.  The moments do not have to be big moments of tragedy for us to find them.  The weird coincidences and "random run-ins" are opportunities for us to help, love, and support each other.

When we fall on hard times, or we have friends/loved ones that fall on hard times, we should remember that "the challenges we face in life are always lessons that serve our soul's growth."   Part of the growth of the soul stems from gratitude then growths with hope. And hope?  Well, hope does not disappoint. 

Reflection by Gretchen O'Donnell

Uniquely Gifted for a Purpose

I have a fond recollection of the owner of a one-man service station near my hometown in South Quincy.  Our family would bring our car regularly to Joe Iacobucci to have it serviced as well as to get our gas.  He was a wonderful character who wore a handlebar style mustache, suspenders and sometimes a cowboy hat.  One couldn’t help but notice the fuselage of an airplane he was building in the left bay of his garage.  He was a rather quiet man, but always pleasant.  Joe was someone we could rely on to do an excellent job keeping our car safe and in good condition.  He was someone we liked, who was honest and we could depend on him.  He was our friend.  Joe has long since passed from this world.  The gifts God gave him were used very well.  He contributed to our family’s safety and trouble free journeys in the various cars we had over the years.  We depended upon Joe, his skill, his goodness, his fairness and his reliability.  He didn’t have a fancy job with a high-paying salary, but he made an important contribution to our lives.  

On this Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit and the outpouring of His many gifts upon the disciples.  The second reading of today’s Mass from 1 Cor. 12: 4 – 7 describes how each of us is uniquely blessed and gifted for some purpose. “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.  To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.”  It makes me think of Joe Iacobucci.  How blessed we are to have people in our lives uniquely skilled, gifted, talented and inclined in so many different ways, who, at the same time, are committed to share what God has given them for the good of others.  What would we do without them!  Think about it.  I really don’t know much about cars, except to drive them.  But, I can celebrate Mass and other Sacraments, and provide pastoral care to the people of God in our community.  That’s how God has gifted me.  How has God gifted you?  

Fr. Bob