March 30, 2014 - The Fourth Sunday of Lent

“So much the more the report went abroad concerning him; and great multitudes gathered to 

hear and be healed of their infirmities. But he withdrew to the wilderness and prayed.” 

(Luke 5:15-16)

Yup, Jesus took retreats. There are all kinds of retreats out there. The spiritual life center puts different ones on all the time. We have several each year. I write this week to remind the men of this parish of the opportunity April 12 here at Blessed Sacrament. There is going to be a retreat here for men ages 16 and older. It will focus on prayer.Sadly it’s only from 8:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m,  a very brief respite, but God is never outdone in generosity. I went on retreat this past week, with all the “new” priests of the diocese. It’s a joy to see these guys who I don't see as often as I would like, but it’s even more of a joy to step back for a day or two. To bring the focus back on who I am and what I do. We were given a book by Fr. Walter Ciszek, a Jesuit priest who was imprisoned for 20 years in Russian prisons. The book “He Leadeth Me” was about his time incarcerated and how he found God’s will through the suffering and the humdrum. There is actually a whole chapter on retreats. Now being in a communist prison camp working 12 hours of hard labor a day does not lend itself to the retreat experience we think of, but Fr. Ciszek recognized something so necessary in taking time for the Lord that he managed to carve out time for himself, and then to carve out time for others.

For Fr. Ciszek and the other priests in that camp their ultimate enemy was the loss of hope. I would argue that that is the ultimate enemy for all of us. The prison camp used mind numbing routine, exhaustion and hunger in an attempt to bend the will of those priests and those men. We don't have the hardship of a prison camp, but we do have the same battle. Boredom, frustration, unrest, failure in virtue- these all lead to us look at our feet and plod on. We lose sight of the hope that ultimately is what should drive us. Attend the retreat, or encourage your husbands or your fathers to go. We need to give the Lord time to let Him reveal Himself in our lives, to restore that hope which carries us through anything.

“To survive in this situation, a man needed more than food or even intellectual sustenance, he 

needed spiritual strength. Accordingly, I organized a retreat movement in each of the camps 

as best I could. I began with the priests, who agreed to the idea eagerly. They, more than 

others, certainly realized the need for a strong spirit of faith, a deepened spiritual life. Many 

of them, too, felt this need especially because they were on the brink of discouragement and 

sometimes of despair... Every moment of every man’s life is precious in God’s sight, and none 

must be wasted through doubt and discouragement.” (He Leadeth Me)

-Fr. Benjamin Green

March 23, 2014 - The Third Sunday of Lent

“If you knew the gift of God who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”  These words of Jesus to the woman at the well contain a powerful message of good news to those of us looking for something more in life. Jesus offers us the “living water” of God’s love to be received and spilled over to others. 

This week I had the opportunity of meeting with our Encore Leadership Team. Encore is a new ministry directed to serving those parishioners 55 years and older in living a more personal, passionate relationship with God and with others in our parish family. During the meeting, I shared a passage of St. Bernard from the book, Soul of the Apostolate, about the relationship between the spiritual life and the active life/ apostolate. “’If you are wise, you will be reservoirs and not channels.’ . . . The channels let the water flow away, and do not retain a drop. But the reservoir is first filled, and then, without emptying itself, pours out its overflow, which is ever renewed, over the fields which it waters. How many there are devoted to works, who are never anything but channels, and retain nothing for themselves, but remain dry while trying to pass on life-giving grace to souls! ‘We have many channels in the Church today,’ St. Bernard added sadly, ‘but very few reservoirs.’”

After sharing the above passage, one of the members of the group stated, “I see in those people who are aging, a reservoir that is filling, filling, filling. But the gates are locked up.” Her observation brought home to me a very important truth. Many of those who are aging have reservoirs filled with the love that comes from God and are ready to burst in their desire to share it. Unfortunately, the overemphasis of our culture upon strength, vitality, success and utility often lock up the gates to this reservoir of Divine love. Life becomes more about achieving than being.

What if we saw the aging among us as reservoirs of God’s love ready to be poured out? What if their love is a draught of the “living water” that Jesus comes to give us? Our world is thirsting and Christ is offering us a drink of “living water.” He is here in our midst and, I believe, in a special way among the aging members of our parish, whose “reservoirs are filling, filling and filling.”

Ad majorem Dei gloriam,
Fr. John F. Jirak

March 16, 2014 The Second Sunday of Lent

It has been a year since Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI resigned the Petrine ministry and
nearly a year since Pope Francis began his papacy. It has been an interesting year for
the Catholic Church. Pope Francis’ leadership has led some to worry about the future
direction of the Catholic Church. Some of the louder voices cry that he is changing
Church teaching and others, he is “getting with the times.” It is true that taken out of
context some of his comments on matters of sexual morality and the sacraments may be
interpreted as changing Church teaching.

The Pope’s vision of pastoring is the interpretative key to understanding his teaching
and preaching. Pope Francis is a very pastoral pope. He has commented that shepherds
should “take on the smell of the sheep.” In an address to the priests of Rome on March
6th he emphasized the importance of priests being with their flocks, which involves
“a suffering with the people, like a father and a mother suffer for their children, and I
would say also with anxiety.”

This is very pastoral approach doesn’t change doctrine, but does change the Church’s
focus to the circumstances of each individual challenged to live Christ’s teaching.
This focus came out clearly in a response Pope Francis recently made on the subject
of contraception. On March 5th, an Italian newspaper printed the Pope’s response to
a question on changing the Church’s teaching in Humane Vitae. He stated that “the
question is not that of changing doctrine but of going deeper and making pastoral
ministry take into account the situations and that which is possible for people to do.”

It is easy to know the teachings of the Church, it is not so easy to reconcile ourselves with
those teachings when weakness, sin, broken relationships and personal woundeness
enter into the picture. Such circumstances demand a gentle, compassionate and patient
approach. The approach is difficult and not near as black and white as we would like.
I believe that the Catholic Church is being blessed and stretched right now with a Pope
who will reconcile many people back to God. He is challenging all of us in how we live
out charity towards our neighbor. He is also introducing a model of the Church that
looks different from the Church as the Perfect Society. This came through clearly in an
interview last year when he stated, “I see the church as a field hospital after battle.”
How would the model of the Catholic Church as a “field hospital after battle” effect the
way that we live and experience the Christian life?

Ad majorem Dei gloriam,
Fr. John F. Jirak

March 9, 2014 The First Sunday of Lent

“Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is 
its own evil.” (Mt 6:34)

I think I've said this before, and I'm sure I'll say it again, it’s amazing how the readings tie into our lives. These past two weeks have been great, they've also been a little frustrating. I love the mountains, I prefer to be outdoors, and I have been blessed to do both. But I've let things worry me. Instead of relaxing on my vacation, or soaking in the mountain air with the CYO I've been worrying about the work piling up, skiing
conservatively so I don't screw up my new knee, and tracking what’s going on in Russia. I think it’s safe to say that 15 minutes watching any major news station will leave you wondering what in the world is happening to our country and our world.

I said Mass in a group room at a condo in Colorado for the Blessed Sacrament group,
and I preached about not letting worry into our lives. It’s prideful to worry. Worry
means we trust ourselves more than God, and we don't have the power to change much
as it is. Yet in the back of my mind was worry. It’s a good time for Lent. Lent is our opportunity to focus on turning back to the Lord. It’s also our chance to do something about our worry. Pope Francis implored us in his Angelus address to “combat evil with weapons of prayer, fasting and mercy.” Ash Wednesday’s Gospel expounded on our Christian duty to pray, fast and almsgive. Really we are being reminded of our
weapons to combat evil, our weapons against worry. " is Sunday we hear Jesus undergo temptation. After the devil tempts Jesus a third time He responds: “Get away, Satan! It is written: "the Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.” This is what Lent is about. Turning back to God, repenting of our sins, giving to God those things we worry about so that we can focus not on ourselves, but on what God
wants from us. It’s a reminder of the power of those weapons- prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It’s a preparation so that we can experience the joy of Easter, the joy God has planned for each one of us in our daily lives.

Listen for the Lord this Lent. He is constantly urging us. I was reminded multiple times. One beautiful ski run on the last day I paused at the top of a steep descent to look down. Flexing my leg I wondered how my knee would do. Pete skied up next to me and said “you should talk about this in your homily.” I looked up and saw what he was looking at, a beautiful sunny day, mountain peaks in every direction, pure beauty and
majesty. Give up something this Lent, add some prayer, show mercy to those that need it, and let God take your worry. Let Him remind you of the beauty He has created, the care He has for you, and the joy He has prepared for those who trust in Him.

-Fr. Benjamin F. Green

Opening The Word Scripture Study Week 3

Join us Saturdays and Sundays during Advent in the Bishop Gerber room for the Opening the Word Series! Saturdays: 4:30-5:10PM and Sundays: 8-8:50AM and babysitting will be provided for the 10-10:50AM session.

Catholics today are hungering to understand the Bible better - especially the Sunday liturgy!  Opening the Word will help you unpack the Sunday reading and you will be able to apply it to your life in a profound way!  During Advent, join us.  We will read the Sunday readings, watch a short video related to the readings, use a prayer journal for reflection and resolution, a small group sharing then all wrapped up with a closing prayer.

This 3rd Sunday of Advent, learn that sometimes God doesn't work in our lives the way we expect, but He has us exactly where he wants us to be for our perfect good and perfect growth in holiness.

You will break into small groups and share your own experience of a time of discouragement and what positive ways you worked through it. We will discuss how Jesus' answer to John's question, "Are you the one, the Messiah?" can bring encouragement and increase your faith. 

Opening the Word app is now available.  With this app, you will have the Sunday scripture reading for the entire liturgical year in the palm of your hand! You'll have commentary from scripture scholars revealing the messages and helping you. 

Click here to register.  If you want to learn more about Opening the Word, click here.

Special Lenten Message from Father Jirak

Special Lenten Message From Father Jirak

Happy Lent,

I am excited to join you in making this a great Lent!  As a parish we are most fortunate and blessed to have the following opportunities available to us:

Opening the Word   -  Saturdays at 4:30 PM, Sundays at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM in the Bishop Gerber Room Opening the Word is a resource that helps you unpack the Sunday reading and apply it to your life in a profound way.  Babysitting offered during the 10:00 session.  For more information about Opening the Word:   
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jCki9gAeVw

Stations of the Cross - Fridays at 2:40 Pm and 7:00 PM in the main church 
Spiritual devotion of reflecting on the saving events of Christ's passion.  Nearly every saint had a devotion to the Stations of the Cross.  For more information about Stations:
http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/documents/ns_lit_doc_via-crucis_en.html

Lenten Soup Suppers - Fridays at 6 PM in Bishops Hall  
Altar Society will host a Soup Supper before 7 PM Stations of the Cross

Lenten Vespers - Sundays at 5 PM in the main church
Vespers, also called Evening Prayer, is part of the Liturgy of the Hours. In the Liturgy of the Hours, the Church fulfills Jesus' command to "pray always" (Luke 18:1; see also 1 Thessalonians 5:17). Through this prayer, the people of God sanctify the day by continual praise of God and prayers of intercession for the needs of the world.

Lenten Journey Series - Tuesdays at 7:00 PM during Lent
March 25, 7pm: Galileo, Science and the Catholic Church: Myth and Reality presented by Dr. Kenneth Howell.  April 1^st, 7 pm: Authentic Feminism: Righting the Wrongs of Modern Feminism by Getting to the Heart of the Matterpresented by Erica Zurita.

Penance Service – Thursday, April 10th at 7 PM in the main church
8 priests will be available for confession at our Lenten Penance Service.  For more information about the need to confess one's sins, see Pope Francis message:
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-be-courageous-go-to-confession/

Lenten Devotionals - If you have not received one yet, please stop by the parish office. You can choose the Magnificat daily devotional, Magnificat Lenten Companion or Not by Bread Alone from Liturgical Press

Forty Days for Lent – Sunday before all Masses
The Knights of Columbus and St. Vincent de Paul ware inviting us to help stock God’s Food Pantry by setting aside a can or carton of food each day during Lent and place in grocery cats at the entrances of the church each Sunday before Mass.

March 2, 2014, The Eight Sunday in Ordinary Time

Last Thursday, February 20th, early in the morning as I was in the chapel, a text came across that we might have a new bishop. A few minutes later a Google Plus text popped up that we indeed had a new bishop. His name was Carl Kemme. As I left the chapel, I thought about making an announcement to the 6:30 am Mass goers. However, I held back because I didn't know how his name was pronounced. Was the second “e” pronounced or not pronounced. Maybe it was a short “e” and not a long “e.” I certainly did not want to mispronounce the name of my new boss.

After Mass, I headed down into Bishops Hall for our Thursday, Junior High Scripture Group. The religion teacher was waaayyyy excited! She enthusiastically approached me, “Did you hear about the Bishop.” I responded with a less than enthusiastic, yes, which kind of surprised me. As I listened to people celebrating the announcement of Bishop-elect Kemme, I did not really understand why I was not yet “feeling the joy.” My reserve started to shake off as I read his bio and found out that he was a farm boy; moreover, later in the day someone shared with me that he raised hogs! Oh my, this is good news! You can't go wrong with a hog farmer. :-)

Over the next several days I thought some about my hesitation to celebrate the appointment of a new bishop. For priests, the appointment of a bishop is the arrival of a new boss. A lot of our happiness is connected with our relationship with our boss, the bishop. Naturally, a number of questions arise in a priest’s mind on the appointment of a new bishop. Will he be a bishop that likes to move priests around?; Will he approve of the things that we are doing at our parish?; Will we relate to each other well?; Is he traditional or progressive?; and, of course, will he like K-State or KU?

It wasn't until Saturday, the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, that I realized the foolishness of my thinking. The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter is the celebration of Christ establishing the authority of the supreme authority of the Church, namely, the pope. The Gospel of the day is Mt. 16:18 where Christ tells Peter that he is the rock on which the Church will be built. Peter was given a special authority through the reception of the “keys.” It would be God’s plan to provide a shepherd’s care to each generation through the authority of the pope founded on the Chair of St. Peter.

It all became clear to me when Bishop-elect Kemme stated that he was humbled by Pope Francis’ choice in selecting him as the next Bishop of Wichita. This was how the good shepherd Jesus Christ was going to care for me and the people of our parish over the years to come. All of a sudden those questions about his style and background didn’t really matter anymore. Christ is at work shepherding us and, by the Chair of St. Peter through Pope Francis, we have been graced with Bishop-elect Carl Kemme. Of course, it doesn't hurt any that he was a hog farmer.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam, Fr. John F. Jirak