Returning to the Table In a letter to the Catholic faithful of the Archdiocese of New Orleans dated May 1, 2021, New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond invites all Catholics to “come to the table” by returning to regular Sunday Mass attendance beginning Sunday, June 6, 2021, the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, known as Corpus Christi.
Archbishop Gregory’s letter reminds us that our obligation to attend mass in person will be restored on Sunday, June 6th. We have received 120 responses to our church survey on how to create a safer environment as we increase seating in the church. The majority selected the option to divide the church in half….with ½ of the church maintaining social distancing (every other pew blocked off) and the other ½ of the church with no pews blocked off. Beginning with this Sunday we will be implementing the results of this survey. Thanks to all who responded.
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Oftentimes if you watch a parade or a sports’ event you will see someone hold up a sign with: “John 3:16”. You may often wonder what is that all about.
John 3:16 is part of today’s Gospel. It is really the heart of all the Scriptures in one sentence. “Yes, God so loved the world that He sent us His only Son. Anyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.” The message for all of us is that Jesus is the Center of our faith.
As we celebrate this Lent, we are reminded of God’s Unconditional Love. I am a firm believer that if we are able to understand how much God loves us we would truly be free. As we look upon the cross, we have to recognize God’s love.
I am always grateful that God is our final judge. He is so much more merciful and compassionate than we are with each other and ourselves. During this Lenten Season take some time to hold a cross and ponder on how much we are loved and forgiven.
Thank God for God’s Mercy….it will set us free!
Have a Blessed Week,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
We are entering the Third Week of Lent. When this Season of Lent began, we heard the words: “Repent and Believe the Good News.” Repent means to change and to grow. How am I growing spiritually during these forty days.
It is during this Season that receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation is encouraged. It is a time to look into our hearts and ask: “What must I change in order to grow spiritually?” I would encourage all of us to come to confession. We have made confession times more available: Every Wednesday before the noon Mass and also on Wed., March 10th, 17th and 24th from 5PM till 6PM the Church will be open for those desiring to come to confession. On Good Friday we will have confessions from 10 AM till Noon. Before every weekend Mass, confessions are heard one-half hour before Mass. Why not give yourself a real gift this Lent…..receive the Sacrament and experience God’s Loving Grace and Mercy.
Have a Blessed Lent,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
On this second Sunday of Lent, St. Mark’s Gospel reminds us of the Transfiguration of Jesus. In this Gospel, Jesus takes Peter, James and John mountain climbing. When they reach the top of Mt. Tabor, He was totally transfigured before their eyes. On either side of Jesus was Elijah, the great prophet and Moses who was given the law of God.
The disciples wanted to stay but Jesus reminded them to remember the vision of what they experienced. He wanted them to remember because in a few weeks, Jesus would be on another mountain called Calvary. Will they still believe in Him?
For me, the message of this event reminds me that when things are going well in our life, it is easy to believe but when we are going through difficult times it becomes harder. I truly believe that having Faith doesn’t mean we won’t have difficult times and crosses to carry. But having Faith means that we will have the strength to get through those times and crosses.
During this Lenten Season, may we all grow in a deeper trust in the Lord through our continued prayer, fasting and doing good works.
May we all have a Blessed Week,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
As we begin these forty days of Lent, we gather this weekend to remember our Deacon Rudy Rayfield. Deacon Rudy not only ministered to us here at Our Lady of Guadalupe but also served the poor and homeless who daily came to the Church. I will miss him for his support to me personally. We remember Iona, his wife, and his three wonderful children. May they find comfort in our prayers and love.
As we enter this Lent, we find Jesus in the Gospel going into the desert for forty days. He went there to prepare Himself for His ministry of teaching, preaching and healing. There He was tempted by Satan.
During these forty days, we are called to pray, fast and do good works of mercy. This Season reminds us to turn to the Lord for strength as we all face the temptations of life. During this time of the pandemic, we can be tempted to despair and give up hope. Our hope is Jesus. He promised to be with us throughout the difficult and tough times. May all of us grow in our faith during this Lenten Season. May Lent prepare us for new life that comes with Easter.
God bless you ,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
One of my favorite songs that we sing here is “He touched Me and oh what joy has filled my heart, Something happened and now I know He touched me and made me whole.” This hymn really relates to today's Gospel. We hear of the man with leprosy. He says to Jesus: “If you can, you can make me clean.” Jesus, moved with pity and compassion, touched the man and immediately he was made clean and whole.
As we begin our forty days of Lent this week, we too, ask Jesus to make us whole. He desires to touch each one of us with His healing power. What are you asking Him to heal and what will make you whole again?
During this season of Lent we are called to pray, fast, and do good works. What will you and I do to be touched by Jesus? How will each of us experience the JOY of being whole. I recommend receiving the Sacrament of Penance, attending Mass during the week join us for Bible Study on Wednesdays after the 7AM Mass especially making acts of kindness a way of life during these days.
May the Lord touch each of us so that we can truly experience the JOY of His touch and love.
Have a Blessed Week,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Normally, our City would be filled with tourists for Mardi Gras. This year is certainly different for all of us. My prayer is that this pandemic will soon be behind us and we can resume the many activities that we are so used to in New Orleans. However, it is a time to reflect on what is most important in our life. One thing that we are assured of is that God is with us. He doesn’t change. He promised to walk with us during the dark valleys of our life. His promise is for real.
As we reflect on our Gospel, we see how Jesus continues His healing ministry. He heals Peter’s mother-in-law and all those who were in need of healing. We turn to Him today to ask for our own personal healing.
In the Gospel, Simon tells Him: “Everyone is looking for You!” Today, each of us are looking for the Lord. We gather each Sunday looking for His mercy and healing. What are you looking for today? What are you asking the Lord for as you begin each day?
May each of us turn to Jesus and be aware that He is there to touch us with His strength. May the Lord bless all of us as we turn to Him daily.
Have a Blessed Week,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
We conclude our Winter Novena to St. Jude today. I want to thank Fr. Andy Sensenig, OMI, for his wonderful homilies. May the Lord be with him and his ministry at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Sarita, Texas.
In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus driving out the unclean spirit that a man had while he was in the synagogue. For me, this Gospel makes us aware that Jesus has the power to rid us of any evil that surround us. We don’t have to look very far to see evil in our world and in our nation and City. We must never forget that Jesus is more powerful than any evil. Let us turn to Him daily and put our trust in His Mercy and Power to flush out the evil that we endure.
Finally, today’s second collection is for the support of Catholic Education. There are many families that are unable to send their child to a Catholic School because of the tuition. This collection will assist those who desire a Catholic Education. We are very fortunate to be blessed with many Catholic Schools in our Archdiocese. Please support this collection so that more children will be able to take advantage of a Catholic School.
God bless you and keep safe,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Since 1935, we have had Novenas to St. Jude every four months. This weekend we once again begin our Novena to St. Jude. Over the years, so many people have told me or written how the Novena gave them strength and blessings. If there is ever a time in our Nation’s History for blessings, it is now.
I would like to encourage you to attend the Novena during this week. St. Jude is the Patron for Difficult Cases. These days are difficult. Each of us have our own needs and petitions. We will have Novena and Mass during the week at 7AM and Noon. The Noon Novena will be streamed on our Website(www.judeshrine.com) and on our Facebook page. Be assured of our prayers for all of you during this week of Novena.
We welcome Fr. Andrew Sensenig, OMI, Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Sarita, Texas as our Novena Preacher.
Finally, in today’s readings we hear how the Lord advised Jonah to tell the people to change their ways or they would perish. They heard the message and were spared. In the Gospel, Jesus’ message was to repent. He calls us to a conversion. Once again, our nation and world and each of us are called to turn to God during these days. He will protect and strengthen those who turn to Him. May these days of Novena, assist us and our world in turning towards the Lord.
Have a Blessed Week,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Many thanks to Fr. Tom Ovalle, OMI, who was our Fall Novena Preacher. His sharing with us the Beatitudes and how we can put them into practice was certainly appreciated and fit in with today’s Gospel. On this All Saints’ Day we hear how one becomes a saint. Jesus tells us it is our “Be-Attitude”. What is my attitude towards being poor in spirit, merciful, working for justice, being a peacemaker, etc? Each Beatitude reminds us that to be blessed and Happy we must put the Beatitudes into practice.
On Monday, Nov. 2nd we celebrate All Souls’ Day. Many continue the practice of visiting the cemeteries to remember our loved ones who have died. We also remember them at Mass . On Monday at the 7AM and Noon Masses, we will read off all those names, from our church family, who have died during this past year. Please join us on this special day.
Finally, don’t forget, Tuesday, Nov. 3rd is Election Day. Please remember your duty to vote and to pray that whoever is elected to office will keep all peoples in their decision making and especially the poor.
God bless you and have a safe week,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Love is the Answer! This is truly the theme of today’s Gospel. In the Old Testament there are over 400 laws and commandments that were to be followed. So, today, when the lawyer asks Jesus: “Which commandment is the greatest”? He had all these laws and commandments in mind.
Jesus makes it simple. There are only two: “Love God with your whole, heart, mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself”. Love of God and love of neighbor is the answer. If we truly love God, we will love our brothers and sisters. But Jesus adds something: “Love your neighbor as yourself”. This is the key to love. If we don’t love ourselves how can we love others? I am convinced that when we don’t love who we are this is projected onto others.
I truly believe that bullies act the way they do towards others because they don’t love themselves. If I love who I am, how can I put others down or hurt them, especially verbally.
We love ourselves because God loved me first. Every time I look at the cross, I know that I am loved. As Scripture tells us: “There is no greater love that to lay down one’s life for their friends”. Jesus laid down His Life for each of us.
May we truly see Love as the Answer each day.
God bless you and have a safe and blessed day.
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
I always enjoy reading the introduction to every letter of St. Paul. He writes to all the new Christian communities with basically the same words. Today he addresses the Thessalonians (these are the Greeks who just converted to Christianity). Paul writes: “We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
Today, as Pastor, I also say the same to each of you. I thank God for all of you and remembering all of you in my prayers. I know how you continue to work for our faith. I also know of your labor of love for God.
Yes, you are all a blessing to me personally and I do miss all of you during these months of pandemic. Be assured that every day you are remembered in my prayers and at daily Mass. God bless and protect you.
Finally, in the Gospel, they try to test Jesus about paying taxes. Jesus tells them render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. As we are about to go to the polls in a few weeks, it is our duty and responsibility to vote. As we vote may we certainly follow our conscience and ask the Lord to guide us. There are still copies of forming Your Conscience as you enter the church. Please take one to help you in your decision-making.
ave a Blessed Week and keep safe,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Excuses, Excuses!!!! That is what today’s Gospel isall about. The king gave a wedding feast for his son. He sent out his servants to invite guests but everyone had some excuse why they couldn’t attend the wedding banquet.
I don’t know about you but knowing my friends and family…..if there is a free meal we are going to show up! Well, that wasn’t the case in today’s parable.
When I reflect on this Gospel, I can’t help but think of how the Lord Jesus invites all of us to His Banquet, the Celebration of the Eucharist. He invites us but how often so many have some excuse why they can’t attend Mass. It isn’t that they don’t believe in God but rather they fail to see the true gift that Jesus prepares for us. He desires to feed us with His Word and with His very Body and Blood. My Dad always would say to us: “How can people not give but one hour a week to stop and give thanks to God?”
Although the pandemic gives us a valid reason for not being present at Mass, I do fear that as time goes on, people will get into the habit of not seeing the importance of being physically present with our faith community here at Our Lady of Guadalupe. Let us never refuse the invitation to this sacred banquet that the Lord has prepared for us.
Have a Blessed and Safe Week,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
This Sunday’s second reading is taken from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians. When I first read it I couldn’t help but think that St. Paul is writing to all of us today in the year 2020. He begins:“Brothers and Sisters: Have no anxiety at all”.
It seems very hard not to have anxiety with the pandemic, demonstrations, hurricanes and fires across the States. I guess most of us say---what next???
Well, St. Paul does try to guide us during these days. He tells us: “In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God, then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”.
So today, bring your fears and anxieties before the Lord. Tell Him what you are most afraid of and what causes you stress. Bring your needs before Him and rest in the Lord. He tells us: “Come to me all of you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest and comfort”. Jesus means every word He speaks. Surrender your fears to Him and allow Him to give you the peace you need during these days.
Let us pray for each other and may the peace of Christ be with you.
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
How often have we been disappointed by someone you ask to help out and they either say NO or say Yes and they never follow through with their promise.
I am sure that all of us can relate to the Gospel for today. The man had two sons…he asked the first son to go out into the vineyard to work and the son says: “NO”. I can’t imagine saying No to my parents. Well the other son is asked to go out to work in the vineyard and he says: “Yes” but he never goes. Finally, in the end the son who said NO has a change of heart and goes out to work in the vineyard. Which one did what the father asked of them? Well, we know it was the first son.
The message of this Gospel is that the Lord will always be patient with us even when we say No to living and serving as He desires. He always awaits our change of heart. The Lord calls each of us to conversion…..which is a change of heart .
He awaits daily for that change. He is very patient with each of us. He rejoices when the sinner turns away from sin and turns to Him. Remember His mercy endures for ever. Jesus doesn’t put a timeline for our conversion. He awaits for our change of heart. Let us examine our own heart today and truly mean our Yes to the Lord.
Have a safe and blessed week,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
When we listen to today’s Gospel, most of us would say: “This is not fair!” I agree that had been my first impression when I first read this Gospel. The Gospel certainly would seem to destroy all Worker’s Rights. When the landowner gives the same wage to those who worked all day and the same to those who came in the last hour of the day, this seems totally unfair.
The Gospel is not about wages and hours that we worked. It is really about God’s Mercy and Love. The message of the Gospel is that God will welcome us even if we recognize His Love and Mercy at the last hour.
Years ago I was giving a retreat in New Jersey. That evening I was hearing confessions and a man came in who had not been in a church in over 50 years. I said when he came into the confessional: “Welcome Home.” He began to cry. For over 50 years he had nothing to do with the church nor God. He told me that he wished he had come sooner. He said his life was never really happy. He felt that he missed the peace he longed for.
For all of us who recognize God’s presence in our life….we have truly been blessed. We also rejoice in those who recognize it in the last hour. However blessed are those who have known His Love and Mercy throughout their life.
This is the message of the Gospel: the Lord waits for all of us to experience His Compassion. Thank God for God. He is so Merciful and Loving. May we never forget the real message of today’s Gospel.
Have a Blessed and Safe Week,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
This coming Monday we celebrate Labor Day! This has certainly been quite a year to celebrate Labor Day. For many people they now work from home. For many they have been laid off since the pandemic. For those working in schools, teaching can be virtual or in class or both. We can go on and on with examples how work has changed over these past months.
The responsorial psalm for Labor Day is: “Lord bless the work of our hands.” Yes, on this day we ask the Lord to touch our hands and use them for His honor and glory. I really believe that if we could all be conscious to bringing the Lord into our Labor, it would take on a different result.
Imagine the tasks that we do each day: washing the dishes, the clothes, taking out the garbage, washing the car. Imagine if we asked the Lord to bless this labor each day. It would truly become a labor of love and somehow it would show in the results.
On Labor Day, let us pray for those who do have jobs and also for those who are out of work and are seeking to find work. May they find labor to be able to take care of themselves and their families. Let us also pray for the many people who work to provide us with safety and care during this pandemic.
“ Lord, truly bless the work of their hands.”
God bless you on this Labor Day and remember we will have Mass on Monday at 7AM and Noon.
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church,
In today’s Gospel Jesus spells out the three requirements to becoming one of His disciples. He tells them: deny yourself, take up your cross and follow in My footsteps. I have often wondered if there was an ad in the “Jerusalem Gazette”: it might say:” Wanted followers of Jesus”….the only qualifications are the three we just heard in the Gospel. How many would respond?
Jesus tells us to deny ourselves. We live in an age where self-denial is very seldom heard or practiced. Many feel do whatever feels good. Jesus also tells us to take up our cross. He doesn’t say His Cross but yours. All of us have a cross to carry. Am I willing to allow Jesus to carry it with me?
Finally, He tells us to follow in His footsteps. Are we willing to allow the Lord to lead us in our life and not to get ahead of Him but rather allow His guidance and direction?
Today we each have to ask ourselves: Am I willing to be one of His disciples and say YES to the requirements that He asks of us?
Have a Blessed and Safe Week,
Fr.Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Who is Jesus to you? This is a very important question for all of us to answer. In the Gospel for today Jesus asks the disciples: Who do people say that I am? Peter was the only one who had the correct answer. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
Because of Peter’s answer, Jesus tells him: “You are Peter( which means Rock) and upon this Rock I will build my Church”. Peter becomes the first and main shepherd of the church. We can now trace from Pope Francis all the way back to Peter on the popes and leaders of the church since its very beginning.
Jesus knew that He had to have structure in the Church or else everyone would go about teaching their own teachings and not those of Jesus Christ. We are blessed to be part of a church that can trace its lineage back two thousand years.
Let us pray for Pope Francis and all Shepherds in the Church. May they be continually strengthened and guided by the Holy Spirit, especially in these days. Let us also pray for all religious women and men to continue to be graced to continue the message of Hope that we are all called to witness.
Have a Blessed Week,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
In today’s Gospel, Jesus heals the Canaanite woman whose daughter was ill. Those from Canaan were considered foreigners. This doesn’t stop her from continuing to ask Jesus for a miracle.
Because of her faith, Jesus tells her: ”O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” The message for all of us is not to give up in our prayers. It is so easy to give up especially when we feel that the Lord is not listening to our prayers.
For me, personally, I pray for specific things and people, especially during this pandemic. But what I need most is strength and that is what I ask for the most each day. How often have you gone through a rough time and you look back and you ask yourself-----How did I get through it? It is during those times in your life, Pray especially for strength to get through any storm in your life.
God bless you and have a safe and Blessed Week,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
“ Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid”. These words Jesus spoke to the apostles today . They were frightened because of the waves that were tossing about their boat. I truly feel we can relate to this Gospel. Today many of us feel like we are in the midst of a storm. During this pandemic, our lives have been shaken. We are afraid and anxious. Jesus tells us: “Take Courage, it is I, do not be afraid”.
As we continue the Gospel, we see Peter questioning if it truly is Jesus. Jesus tells him to get out of the boat and walk on the water towards Him. Peter is doing well until he takes his eyes off Jesus and concentrates on the waves. This is when he begins to sink. The very message here is to keep your eyes on the Lord. If we get stuck on the waves that surround us, we lose sight that Jesus is with us and he calls us to come forward.
Today, in the midst of our own fears and anxieties, let us be aware that whatever storm we go through, Jesus is with us and He says to us: “Take courage, do not be afraid”!
God bless and protect all of us,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
In today’s Gospel, Jesus multiplies the fish and the loaves. Thousands of people longed to listen to Him. As the time went on Jesus was aware that the people must be hungry. How would they ever feed thousands of people. Well a little boy had some fish and loaves. The boy offered his food to the Lord. Jesus took it, blessed it, broke it and shared it.
Just as the little boy offered what seemed to be a meager gift, Jesus was able to take it and multiply it in order to feed everyone and still have leftovers.
When we give ourselves to the Lord, no matter how meager we may think we are, our gifts and talents Jesus takes it, blesses it, breaks it and shares it. Don’t ever hesitate to give the offering of ourselves to Jesus. He can use each of us no matter how small or big the gift.
God bless you and have a safe week,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
In today’s Gospel, Jesus multiplies the fish and the loaves. Thousands of people longed to listen to Him. As the time went on Jesus was aware that the people must be hungry. How would they ever feed thousands of people. Well a little boy had some fish and loaves. The boy offered his food to the Lord. Jesus took it, blessed it, broke it and shared it.
Just as the little boy offered what seemed to be a meager gift, Jesus was able to take it and multiply it in order to feed everyone and still have leftovers.
When we give ourselves to the Lord, no matter how meager we may think we are, our gifts and talents Jesus takes it, blesses it, breaks it and shares it. Don’t ever hesitate to give the offering of ourselves to Jesus. He can use each of us no matter how small or big the gift.
God bless you and have a safe week,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Once again Jesus speaks to us in a parable. Remember a parable is an earthy story with a heavenly meaning. In today’s Gospel, the parable is once again about weeds and wheat. The farmer sowed his wheat in the fields. At night time an enemy came and sowed the weeds. The immediate reaction is to pull up all the weeds. Surprisingly, the owner said: No, if you pull up the weeds, you will also uproot the wheat along with them. Rather let them grow together until harvest. At harvest time we can separate them, weeds will be tied up in bundles for burning and the wheat will all go into the barn.
This parable really applies to all of us. As we grow we must admit we are surrounded by both good and evil. I think one of the greatest fears of a parent is that their child will be influenced by the evil around them. As the Gospel states, we grow together but God will separate the good from the evil. This is because the Lord is so full of mercy. He always gives people a chance to grow and change.
So, today, let us pray for God’s Mercy to touch any evil influence that surrounds us. Let us pray that in God’s time they will turn to the Lord and experience His love and mercy.
There are so many times when I have personally seen people who seemed steeped in bad and who eventually have a conversion. Let’s pray for conversion today for all of us.
Have a Blessed Week,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
In today’s Gospel, we hear about a Sower who went out to sow his seeds. We hear how the seeds fell on different types of soil. Finally the seed falls on good soil and it produces a hundred-fold. This parable has a lot to do with each one of us.
The Sower is the Lord . The Lord goes out to scatter the seed which is the word of God. The different types of soil and ground represents each one of us. Some soil was rocky, some soil was filled with weeds, and some seed feel on the soil that birds of the air came and carried it away. Finally the seed falls on rich soil. The seed was able to grow and produce much fruit.
The Lord sends His Word to all of us. We must be open to taking the Word of God and allowing it to grow in each of us. Once the Word takes root, it is able to produce much fruit and that fruit is the love that we share with others.
I am sure that each of us have been touched by someone whose life has made a difference. Take time today to thank God for this person and to reflect on what was it that touched your life and made a difference in yours.
The question I ask is: What kind of Soil are you?
Have a Blessed Day,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
One of my favorite passages in the Bible is from today’s Gospel. “Come to Me all of you who labor and are heavily burdened and I will give you rest”.
Whenever I feel burdened or overwhelmed, I repeat these words of Jesus to us. Today we all feel stressed and burdened. With all that is going on in our world whether it be the coronavirus, the reminders of racial injustice, the hurricane season that is upon us…..we feel truly overwhelmed. In the midst of all this we hear Jesus’ words: Come to Me…..bring your fears and anxieties before Me and believe Me…..I will give you the strength and comfort you need. This is Jesus’ promise to all of us. He doesn’t say we won’t have problems in life but He does promise to give us what we need to get through the tough times.
Today, bring your burdens before the Lord. Tell Him what weighs on your heart and truly trust in Him to give you the courage and strength and peace that you need . I truly believe that it is through some of the most difficult times in our life, that the Lord wants to break through and be with us. Allow Him to be with you and me during these days.
God bless all of you, Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
When I was growing up, my Dad always told us to remember your priorities: First is God, second is your family and third are your friends. He always reminded us that if God is number one in our life, everything else falls into place.
I truly believe in that reminder. Often people place material goods, money, jobs, etc. even before their family. Is there any wonder that they never truly find happiness. Happiness comes when my life is in order with God.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds the apostles that their love for Him must surpass even their love for their families. Again, if we truly love the Lord, we will naturally love our parents and children.
He does remind us that we all have crosses in life…..it is not the cross but how we carry it that will matter. Remember He wants to carry it with us.
Today in the midst of a pandemic, demonstrations regarding racial injustice and fear of hurricanes, we turn to the Lord and seek His strength. He is our Hope as we carry the crosses of life. His cross on Good Friday brought Him to Easter Sunday. May our crosses bring us to new life and hope.
Have a Blessed Week and July 4th Weekend,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Today as we honor our fathers, grandfathers, godfathers and those who have been fathers to us we hear Jesus reassure his disciples by reminding them of the tender care of his heavenly Father. God, our Father, watches over us faithfully and lovingly.
These days are truly ones that find many of us with fear and anxiety. We have concerns about the pandemic that has plagued our world. We are anxious about the injustices and racial tensions that exist and surround us. Finally, we are also fearful about once again finding us into another hurricane season. In the midst of all of this we hear Jesus say to us in the Gospel: ‘ do not be afraid……you are truly worth more to me than many sparrows.’ He goes on to tell us:”if you honor me, I will honor you”.
In the midst of all that surrounds us these days, Jesus tells us: “DO NOT BE AFRAID--------Trust in Him!” He is with us to calm our fears and lead us throughout the dangers of life. Turn to Him with your whole heart and as the Psalm tells us today: “ Lord, in your great love, answer me.”
Let us turn to the Lord with our prayers and actions so that He may enter into our world, our nation, our city and our own hearts.
God bless all of you and keep safe,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
The greatest gift that Jesus left us was the Holy Eucharist. On the night before He died, He celebrated the Passover with His disciples . At the end, He took bread and wine and said the words: “ This is My Body: This is My Blood”……Do this in memory of Me! Every time we gather at Mass, Jesus is truly present in the Holy Eucharist. Communion means to be one with. Our communion makes us one with the Lord and gives us the nourishment that we all need at this time to continue our journey of faith.
So many people mentioned to me, how much they missed receiving Holy Communion. Last week, the Clarion Herald, had reflections from seniors whose senior year was changed drastically because of the pandemic. One young man, a senior from Jesuit High School, wrote that every Sunday his family would attend Mass together and receiving the Eucharist gave him the strength he needed for the coming week.
On this Feast of Corpus Christi ( the Body and Blood of Christ), let us reflect on what receiving Jesus in the Eucharist means to you. When we say : “Amen” before receiving the Lord, do we really believe in this Gift of Jesus!
Have a Blessed Week,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Trinity. Whenever we bless ourselves before we pray, we always make the sign of the cross. When we were baptized it was in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We were baptized into the Holy Trinity. There is only one God, He touches us as a Father who creates, as a Son who saves us and as the Holy Spirit who gives us strength.
This is truly a mystery to understand but one year while teaching high school we were talking about the Holy Spirit. One student gave me an example that truly struck me. He noticed that there was a beautiful rose bush outside the classroom. He said the Rose Bush is God the Father. God the Father desires to give us the most perfect Rose and that is God the Son and the fragrance that fills the air is the Holy Spirit.
Wow! I was always amazed at this example. Today we ask the Holy Trinity to truly bless us and our world during this time of pandemic and unrest all over the country. May They bring us Peace and Healing. Have a Blessed Week,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Happy Birthday! Yes, Happy Birthday! Today is Pentecost Sunday . It is fifty days after Easter. Today we celebrate the Birthday of the Church. Before Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, He told the disciples to wait until the Holy Spirit came to them. It was then that they would go out to spread the good news to all the nations.
Over two thousand years ago on this Sunday, the disciples were in the upper room and all of sudden a strong life-giving wind (the Holy Spirit) came into the room. They were filled with the Holy Spirit. A tongue of fire appeared over each of them. This was the symbol that they were on fire with the message . They began to speak in foreign languages. This was the sign that they were to go out to all the nations to spread the good news. It was on that day that the Church began.
The apostles were so filled that they had the courage to go forth and preach. The Holy Spirit is with us today. He desires that each of us have the courage and strength to go forth daily and spread the Good News. The Good News is that Jesus is our Hope and Joy.
Today, more than ever, we need the Holy Spirit. During this time of the pandemic, so many people are suffering from anxiety and fear. Many have experienced depression. It during these days, that we call upon the Holy Spirit to come upon us. May each of us feel the gifts of the Holy Spirit today and each day.
God bless you. Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
This week we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension. It is forty days after Easter and Jesus took His disciples up to the Mountain. There He gave them His last will and testament. These were the final words of Jesus on earth. He told them: “Go into the whole world and preach the Gospel, baptizing in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”. He ended by saying: “And remember I will be with you always”.
For over 2,000 years the Church has continued to fulfill Jesus’ message. The Gospel has been preached throughout the world. The Church has and continues to experience the good times but also the challenging times. However, no matter, it has remained because of Jesus’ words: “And remember I will be with you always”.
Today, Jesus reminds us that, no matter what we are experiencing, He will never leave us. He will be with us throughout the good days as well as the tough days. This gives me hope. This gives me the reason to look forward to a future when this pandemic will no longer make us fearful and anxious.
Jesus is Our Hope! In response to Jesus’s Last will and Testament, let us continue to share the Good News of Gospel. That Good news is don’t be afraid, but trust in our Loving God. Jesus is Our Hope!
Have a blessed week,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
The words of Jesus today in the Gospel really struck me. The disciples were confused: what would their future be when Jesus leaves them to return to the Father in Heaven.
Jesus: tells them:”Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me”. I think all of us need to repeat those words of Jesus especially during these months of the pandemic. Jesus knows how we are feeling right now. He knows of our fears, our confusion, our loneliness and our anxiety about the future. He tells us as He told the disciples: ”Don’t be afraid”.
He goes on to tell them:” I am the Way and the Truth and the Life”. Jesus is the Way when we feel lost and confused. He is the Truth when we are surrounded by messages that are not fully true or outright lies and finally He is the Life. He came to bring us life to its fullest. Jesus came to bring us the strength and hope that we all need when we are going through rough times.
Jesus is with us. Take time during these days to reflect on times in the past that were troubling to you. Hopefully you made it through those times. We will also get through these days and why because no matter what has changed, Jesus is the same Yesterday, Today and Forever. Don’t Be Afraid!
God bless you and have a Blessed Week.
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
I know that these weeks have been difficult ones for all of us. The routine that we were accustomed to has certainly changed tremendously. As we read the Scriptures for this Sunday, we hear how the disciples’ lives were thrown into confusion. They were filled with fear and anxiety. What would their future be like? We can all relate to them at this time .
Today two of the disciples were walking to a town called Emmaus. They were discussing all that had happened over the weekend. As they were sharing, Jesus appeared to them. Although they didn’t recognize Him , they were encouraged by the word He spoke to them. As He is about to go ahead they say to Him:” Stay with us”. He remains with them and it was in the Breaking of the Bread that they recognized Him.
This Gospel , for me, reminds me what we do when we gather. We hear the Lord speaking to us in the Scriptures and then He feeds us with the Bread of Life. We, too, say to the Lord :”Stay with us”. Don’t leave us. During this epidemic, the Lord didn’t leave us. He is with us to see us through this time of fear and anxiety. He promised to be with us and today He says to us: “Be not afraid…….trust Me”.
You are all in my prayers,
Fr. Tony
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
As we continue our “lock down”, as I call it, I pray that you are all finding new ways to deal with our lack of interaction with one another. I teach at the University of Holy Cross and since classes are all online, I have had to learn how to go on ZOOM. I have to be honest, I am not a person who is good at technology but it is certainly a blessing to be able to see and talk with families and friends through this process.
This Sunday is called Good Shepherd Sunday. The image of sheep dominates the readings today. For me, the image of Jesus as Good Shepherd has always appealed to me. There is a window in our Church with Jesus surrounded by sheep and one is on His shoulders. That window is over the piano in the front of the Church. Just as Jesus carries the one sheep that was lost, so too, He carries each one of us, when we feel lost and afraid.
Of the150 Psalms in the Old Testament, my favorite is Psalm 23. The Psalms were written to express our feelings of fear, confusion, sorrow, joy and hope. The one line that I repeat often is: “Even if I walk in a dark valley, I fear no evil for you are at my side to give me courage”. Today and throughout this pandemic we have felt like we were walking in a dark valley. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, desires to walk by our side. He will lead us out of this valley. He will give us the strength and hopefully we will be better for it. Whenever you feel alone and frightened read Psalm 23. It will bring you peace and comfort.
God bless all of you, Fr. Tony
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.a]">[a]
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousnessb]">[b]
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,c]">[c]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surelyd]">[d] goodness and mercye]">[e] shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwellf]">[f] in the house of the Lord
forever.g]">[g]
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
This past Easter was certainly one that we will never forget. I thank God that we were able to have Mass streamed on our website and Facebook. Mass is also able to be seen daily on television. For me, personally, it was quite strange to celebrate Mass without a congregation present. Although we are not physically present to each other, we are united spiritually . This is the one thing the virus can’t take away from us.
In 1965, there was a song that came out titled:“ Turn, Turn, Turn”. It was a song by a group called The Byrds. Now you can tell how old I am !!!!! The words actually came from the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament. The words are: To everything, turn, turn, turn. There is a Season , turn, turn, turn and a time for every purpose under heaven…….A time to be born, a time to die; A time to weep, a time to laugh…. A time to embrace, a time to refrain from embracing. The Book of Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a Season and a time for everything. In the midst of the time we are going through right now…..one thing doesn’t change….and that is the presence of God in my life. This gives me strength and hope. In this Sunday’s Gospel, we hear that Jesus, after His Resurrection, appeared to the disciples who were hiding behind locked doors. His first words were :” Peace be with you”. In the midst of their own fears and worry about the future, Jesus says….PEACE!
Today Jesus comes to all of us and He says:” Peace be with you”. He is with us… let us never let our fears overcome the peace that Jesus promises. My prayer for all of us is that today and each day we may experience the Peace that Jesus came to bring us. Open your hearts and allow His Peace to enter!
Have a Blessed Week!
Fr. Tony