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Fr. Rich's Reflections

05.30.2010

“Through the Holy Spirit the saints become eyewitnesses of the world to come.”

- St. Symeon the New Theologian

While teaching my Monday night Bible study this past week, I was called to administer the sacrament of the sick to Maria Fabiilli (103 years old) at West Hills Rehabilitation and Nursing Home.  Immediately after finishing the Bible study, I hurried there.  I saw two cars pulled over to the side of the road by police officers on University Blvd. and Stoops Ferry Road issuing tickets to motorists.  I said a prayer for them and blessed myself, as I raced up the hill to Moon Township en route to anointing the oldest member of our faith community.

The family was all waiting patiently in Room 302, keeping vigil in prayer, faith, and love.  They showed me her Italian Bible and prayer -- this is everything to Mom!  They mentioned that she had been at West Hills just for 11 days.  They told me that Mom was ready to go home to the Lord and she assured them all of her love and prayers and that Jesus would take care of them all!  As I entered her name in our pastoral care of the sick book held in the rectory, I thought to myself that last Thursday after the children’s school Mass I blessed the newest member of our church only 3 weeks old, and now I blessed the oldest member in our church that night.  Both blessed by the same Sign of the Cross invoking the Blessed Trinity. Maria Fabiilli died just one hour after she was anointed, and her funeral was Friday at 11:00 AM.  On July 26, she would have turned 104.  The funeral directors often remind me, as one exits life another is born into life.  Life is a mystery -- so precious, so frail, so filled with infinity of love.

Today is Trinity Sunday.  Each time that we make the Sign of the Cross, we acknowledge the central mystery of our Christian faith and life.  It is the mystery of God Himself -- God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, yet one God.  The revealed truth of the Holy Trinity is at the very root of the Church’s living faith, principally by means of Baptism.  St. Gregory of Nazianzus, called “the Theologian,” gave this summary of Trinitarian faith to the catechumens of Constantinople: "Above all guard for me this great deposit of faith for which I live and fight, which I want to take with me as a companion, and which makes me bear all evils and despise all pleasures: I mean the profession of faith in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  I entrust it to you today.  By it I am soon going to plunge you into water and raise you up from it.  I give it to you as a companion and patron of your whole life.  I give you but one divinity and power, existing one in three, and containing the three in a distinct way.  Divinity without disparity of substance or nature, without superior degree that raises up or inferior degree that casts down … the infinite co-naturality of three infinities.  Each person considered together in himself is entirely God … the three considered together … I have not even begun to think of unity the Trinity bathes me in its splendor.  I have not even begun to think of Trinity when unity grasps me…" (Catholic Catechism #256).

The Trinity is one -- we do not confess three Gods separate but a single divine operation revealing the divine mission, one God, in three divine persons.  At every Sunday Mass we recite the Profession of Faith (Nicene Creed) in which the Trinity is the foundation for everything else that we profess and believe as Catholic.  The trinity is a holy exchange of love that flows over into our hearts and lives.  We must recognize and treat one another as sacred people who share in the abundance of our divine inheritance.  We are to live in relationships that reflect and reveal the essence, identity, and very life of the Trinity -- love, union, generosity, and holiness.

Very special thanks to Rudy Bolea at Junior’s Restaurant for hosting our Festival "Kick-off" Brunch last week on Pentecost Sunday, May 23.  Thanks to all our parishioners who assisted in serving us to make it such an enjoyable time together.  The Spirit was "a movin’" as 300 were served.  Thanks to Dr. Carla Lucente who read in Italian at the 10:00 AM Mass on Pentecost -- the Spirit speaks in many languages and communicates God’s love.

On Monday, May 24, was our Second Annual Tina Kokel Golf Outing and Dinner was held at the Montour Country Club as a school fundraiser.  There were 68 golfers for the event and 132 attended the dinner.  Thanks to all the donors, supporters, and workers for this great event.

Congratulations to our high school graduates who will be at the 12:00 Noon Mass today and a reception follows in Healy Hall.  The graduates will be given a Day by Day (Notre Dame Prayer Book) and a Holy Spirit graduation key chain on behalf of our St. Joseph Parish Family.  Remember graduates, behind you are memories, beside you are family and friends, and before you are your dreams to unfold through God’s grace, wisdom, and plan for your lives.  We are proud of the Class of 2010, and we pledge you our prayers!  Congratulations!

We are presently interviewing people to fill the Pastoral Associate position here at St. Joseph’s Parish.  There were 17 resumes sent -- both religious and lay candidates.  Sister Mary Ann Corr, who serves as the Director for the Institute for Ministries and Deptartment for Consecrated Life, sent us an additional listing of a possible 47 names from her database.  There was a fine article in the Pittsburgh Catholic last weekend about parish pastoral associates -- a lay professional who works with the pastor to help with the care of the parish.  This person is the “right hand person” of the pastor who works closely with the parish staff and parishioners in four general areas -- worship, education, pastoral services and administration of the parish.  Hopefully, we will have this position filled by July 1.  Thanks for your prayers in this regard.

Monday, May 31 is Memorial Day.  Mass is at 8:30 AM and the parish offices are closed.  We remember, we salute, we honor, and we pray for those who sacrificed their lives for our nation’s freedom.  God Bless America!

Prayer of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity:  "O my God, Trinity whom I adore, help me to forget myself entirely so to establish myself in you, unmovable and peaceful as if my soul were already in eternity.  May nothing be able to trouble my peace or make me leave you, O my unchanging God, but may each minute bring me more deeply into your mystery!  Grant my soul peace.  Make it your heaven, your beloved dwelling and the place of your rest.  May I never abandon you there, but may I be there, whole and entire, completely vigil in my faith, entirely
adoring, and wholly given over to your creative action."