Today is Tuesday of the fourth week of Lent.  At the beginning of Lent we all made a Lenten promise.  How are we doing with that promise?  If we are doing well then great keep it up.  If we have failed in our Lenten promise it is time to get back up and start over. 

How are we doing this Lent?  Have we gone to confession? If not we should go in order to prepare to receive Jesus this Easter!  Are we afraid of the confessional?  Do not be.  The priest can't tell anyone anything that he hears in the confessional and he probably won't remember anyway.   Has it been a long time since we've been to confession?  It doesn't matter how long it has been since our last confession.  It could be 10 years, 20 years, 50 years or 100 year since your last confession.  Do not be afraid for in the confessional you will find a merciful Jesus waiting for you.  Remember that it is Jesus through the priest in the Sacrament of Penance (also known as Confession or Reconciliation) who takes away our sins!

God Bless You!

Today we are once again beginning the holy season of Lent. Ash Wednesday is once again upon us.  Interestingly this year it is also Valentine's Day in the United States of America.  I wonder which will win tonight, the restaurants or the Church.  For us Catholics today is both a day of fasting (one full meal for the day) and abstinence (no eating of meat today.)  Today a wonderful thing happens.  Catholic churches are filled.  For those who do not come regularly today is a day not to come and see but to come and stay!  The ashes remind us of what Pope Francis said, the Church is a hospital for sinners and not a museum of saints.  Confession is available for whoever wishes to be forgiven and come back to the fold.  As we walk around with the crosses on our forehead we remind all about God.  God is love and he loves you very much.

For further reading on Ash Wednesday, Lent, Fasting and Abstinence please see: www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/questions-and-answers-about-lent.cfm

God loves you!  He created the world, He created us, He is all powerful, the only God and He is good.   He gives us 168 hours in a week and only asks us for one hour back.  God loves us so much he waits for us at Mass every Sunday (remember that Sunday Masses begin Saturdays at any Mass which begins at 4pm.)  The bread at Mass literally changes into the Body of Christ.   The wine at Mass literally becomes the Blood of Christ.  You see God loves us so much that he bothers to come to Mass to unite Himself with us (if we are properly disposed to receiving Him.)  The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is awesome.  That one hour can transform our lives for ever.  I hope to see you in heaven.

I hope 2017 is an awesome year for you!  I wanted to share some insights with you.  As priests we are able to witness the profound love Jesus has for us.  Recently I went on two sick calls and I was amazed.  Here is Jesus, body, blood, soul and divinity in my pyx.  He is with me as I walk around Washington Heights.  He is with me visiting the sick.  Jesus' love is amazing.  What humility, the only true God, King of the Universe in a pyx traveling with me to visit the sick.  What love, what love!

This past July and August I went to my first World Youth Day in Poland!  It was great to see that the Church is young.  For the first time in my life their were so many priests hearing confessions that I was told I had to wait for one of them to leave before I could hear confessions.  The best times for me at World Youth Day were the same as anywhere else, celebrating Mass and spending time in front of our Eucharistic Lord.  I am very happy that the next World Youth Day will be in Panama.  I hope to start preparing for that World Youth Day soon.   I hope to see you there!

As I was preparing to explain the Season of Advent to our Youth Group I found the video above from Concordia Publications.  It is a good brief description of advent.  During this season I recommend that we all make a good confession so that we can better receive Jesus this Christmas.  I plan to go in the Third week of Advent.  

The video by De La Salle below is also good.

On the left the Gospel of Luke with the picture of Pope Francis.  It was given out last night at Evening Prayer at Saint Patrick's Cathedral.  On the right was my ticket.

In my last blog post I mentioned that even I couldn't get a ticket to see Pope Francis in Saint Patrick's Cathedral.  Evening prayer took place on September 24, 2015 and I received a ticket on the 23rd.  I jumped with excitement.  I was in the Lady Chapel.  I incorrectly thought that these seats were not good as we would not be able to see the Pope well.  I was completely wrong these were the best seats in the house.  I arrived at about 2 pm and waited with many others.  I knew many of those who were waiting.  Once we were allowed in the Cathedral I met some of my priest friends and then I sat in the chapel for a few hours waiting for the pope.  My mind was on my parishioners who were outside.  I hoped the pope would not come into the Cathedral too quickly so that they can see the pope!  Some were waiting since about noon and it was already about 6:30pm!  Fortunately my people saw the pope!  The atmosphere in the Cathedral was one of excitement when Pope Francis entered.  Someone gave him roses and he put them in front of the Pieta.  What a beautiful reminder for us to go to our Mother!  Then the most amazing thing happened he knelt in front of a tabernacle which had Jesus reserved inside.  I had been near that tabernacle for hours but since it is usually not used and there were many people I didn't notice he was there.  Had I noticed I would have spent my time in waiting there.  What a great reminder for us to go to Jesus.  He knelt for a short while.  This was visible from the chapel where I was!  Many stood up to see him from about 15 feet.  He then went into another chapel and was vested for Evening Prayer.  I enjoyed the excitement in the faces of the people behind me as I pointed out to them where the pope was seating.  He was very far away from us but he was visible.  Evening prayer was awesome as it was sung!  I love singing evening prayer!  The Choir of Saint Patrick's Cathedral was singing which made the prayerful experience even better!  When the pope spoke he began by addressing the Muslims who suffered death and tragedy at Mecca yesterday during a stampede.  I thought this was a beautiful gesture.  The Pope spoke in Spanish so it was great to hear him speak in a language I understand.  There was an english translation on tv screens for people to follow. It was infinitely better to hear him speak and understand.  He challenged us priests!  He spoke about our time off and how we can spend more time off helping the needy.  He mentioned that it is not good to defend our time off although time for rest is needed.  He also spoke about how the fruits of our labor are not always visible.  He said "from a human point of view, Jesus ministry ended in failure on the cross."   Boy did I need to hear that one!  Thank you Pope Francis!  After evening prayer the pope unvested and went into the Cardinal's residence.  He then came back out and I was able to see him from about 25 feet.  Seeing the Pope was exciting but I realized in my own life that I should be as excited to see Jesus.  Unfortunately we priests are used to being near Jesus all the time so we lose that excitement.  Pray for us priests!

If anyone has extra tickets to Central Park or MSG please text me.  I have a long list of parishioners who would like to see Pope Francis!  My public number is (845) 204 -8981  Please do not call or text to ask for tickets as I do not have any.