Weekly Reflections

Holy Week and Reverence

Parish Life, PNCC /

During March as we continue in this year of Reverence we are called to focus on Holy Week. We pray that you will experience a Reverent Holy Week

a7bd6afb62d04241b9fa29289351ca2bWe are about to embark yet again on a beautiful journey where we are blessed through the sacred Liturgy of the Church to share in the Salvific events of the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us not take these opportunities for granted but rather embrace them with gratitude and respect. Make the time for Jesus as He will become present to His people though the beautiful Liturgies of Holy Week.

Palm Sunday with the blessing of palms and procession recalls the triumphal entry of our Jesus into Jerusalem. We rejoice as we receive the palms but know how quickly the hymns and shouts of Hosanna change to crucify him as this year the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Luke will be proclaimed during the Holy Mass of Palm Sunday.

Clergy and Faithful of our dioceses will be gathering around their Bishop for the majestic Chrism Mass – where the Holy Oils used throughout the dioceses are blessed by the Bishop and the priests renew their vows of service to Christ and His Holy Church.

Holy Thursday begins the Paschal Triduum and celebrates the Last Supper during which our Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist – giving us His presence in His Sacred Body and Precious Blood that we receive. We also experience the Mandatum – with the solemn washing of feet reminding us that we are to follow the example of Jesus and are not here to be served but to serve. The Liturgy concludes with a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose, the vespers of Holy Thursday and the stripping of the Altars.

On Good Friday the Church gathers to remember the death of our Lord Jesus Christ upon the Cross on the hill of Calvary. We read the passion according to St. John, adore the Cross upon which hung the Savior of the world and receive His presence in the Eucharist during the Liturgy of the Presanctified. We are called to spend time in reverent prayer at the symbolic grave of our Lord and in the presence of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the blessed Sacrament.

On Holy Saturday the Church blesses fire, water and the Paschal Candle (the symbol of the Risen Savior – Christ as the light of the world) – the exhortations are read instructing the faithful and an Easter Vigil Mass may be celebrated. The is a beautiful moment for baptisms of people entering the Christian Faith.

We then gather on Easter morning for Resurrection Mass and procession – celebrating Christ’s glorious Resurrection from the dead. Proclaiming that Christ is Risen – He is risen indeed – Alleluia! Alleluia!

May we approach these sacred Liturgies of the Church with great reverence and solemnness. We have a wonderful opportunity over these next days to share with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the events of salvation. Take advantage of the opportunity we have and approach these beautiful Liturgies of the Church with reverence, respect and allow them to draw us closer to Jesus and our brothers and sisters in the faith.

Have a blessed Holy Week commemoration.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

PNCC Supreme Council Future Direction Committee

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Reflection for Ash Wednesday – Lent 2013

From the Pastor, PNCC /

My brothers and sisters in Christ, today we enter a new liturgical Season. Together, we have gathered here on this evening to celebrate “Ash Wednesday,” the first of forty days of the Lenten Season that precedes Easter.

At the beginning of Lent, on Ash Wednesday, ashes are blessed during Holy Mass, after the homily. The blessed ashes are then “imposed” on the faithful as a sign of conversion, penance, fasting and human mortality. The liturgical Rite of Ash Wednesday gives two formulae for the imposition of Ashes:

One is: “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return”.

It is a reminder of the fragility of human life. It reminds us that we entered life without things and that we will leave life without things. So, we are challenged to reflect on what our life means, and what it means to be truly human.

The other formula is “Repent and believe the Gospel”.

It is about a change in life, a turning round. Repentance is also about returning to what is essential in human life. The first reading calls us to: “Come back to [God] with all your heart.” The Prophet Joel urges us to return to the Father “with your whole heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning… For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment.” To practice sincere repentance, the Lord God tells us to change our hearts. We are called to examine our most inner self, our hearts, souls, our whole life and turn away from our sins and to walk in God`s righteous ways.

During today’s Second Reading from the Second Letter to the Corinthians, we heard St. Paul appealing to us on behalf of Jesus to be reconciled to God. God the Father sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us on the cross. He who was without sin took our place and was treated as a sinner, so we might become righteous in the eyes of God. Now is the time for us to show our appreciation to the Lord God by walking in His righteousness so we may inherit the salvation that we have asked of Him and which He is granting to us through His infinite love and mercy.

How do we walk in righteousness?

Jesus answered that question during today’s Reading from the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus warns us against hypocrisy, those who are pious so they may be seen by others. They have received their rewards through those who admired and praised them for it. For them, there is no reward from God the Father in Heaven.

During the Lenten Season, our piety must manifest private time between the Lord God and ourselves. Lenten season is a time to reflect on our lives and on the faith into which we were baptized. We must walk with Christ in our lives every minute of the day, from the time we rise in the morning until the time we go to bed at night.

Be reconciled to God!

These are the guidelines that the Church has received from God so the faithful may experience true repentance in order to receive Divine mercy and forgiveness. As we enter the Lenten Season, let us remember these words every day! Practice them! And I assure you that God shall reward us!

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Reflection for the Solemnity of the Humble Shepherds

From the Pastor, PNCC /

My dear sisters and brothers in Christ, today we celebrate the first Sunday after Christmas –The Solemnity of the Humble Shepherds.

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’

When the shepherds heard the Word of the Lord through the angels, how did they respond? Did they go and pray about what they had heard to see what they should do next? Did they go and talk to the priests and Pharisees to make sure they had it right? What was their reaction?

Their reaction was spontaneous, they didn’t think, they didn’t pray, they just reacted with excitement. We have to remember these shepherds likely did not receive a kind word from anyone. But they received — Good News — not just from anyone on earth, but from God Himself who made the greatest event ever known first to them.

They couldn’t wait.

They went in haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the manger; once they saw, they understood what had been told them concerning this Child. All who heard of it were astonished at the report given them by the shepherds. Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart.

While Mary was treasuring all that God was accomplishing before her, what did the shepherds do?

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, in accord with what had been told them. The shepherds returned home.

This was the beginning of the good news of Jesus` coming into the world. The shepherds went to the manger and presented their respect worshipping the newborn savior of the world. They left praising God for the great fortune of humanity and they participated in the great event by telling everyone they could. They were the first witnesses of the great News that Jesus is Savior of the world and salvation is here.

Jesus came to save what was lost, to enlighten the world with his teaching and to save and sanctify with His Grace. Jesus came to change hearts of stone to convert them into hearts of flesh, full of love and compassion. He came to assume full responsibility for our sins with His death on the cross to participate his salvation if we repent and amend ours ways.

Jesus is the bridge between heaven and earth. He invites us to walk with him into everlasting glory. We have to humble ourselves like the shepherds did, come and pay homage to our savior every day of our life, rejoice in our salvation and share the good news to all people on earth.

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Reflection for 1st Holy Communion Sunday

From the Pastor, Parish Life /

Dear Natalie, you have been looking forward to this day for a long time and now you are so excited. You are very special and important today and that is why we are all here for you. I have never seen you looking as pretty as you do this morning. You look like a little princess!

You have put on your new beautiful dress to meet Jesus in Holy Communion. But more important than the clothes you wear – is that you have also prepared your heart to meet Jesus. That is why you made your First Confession yesterday. You have been praying to Jesus for so long because you want to make sure your heart is ready for Jesus.

When Jesus comes to you, tell him you love him, and thank him for coming to you. After Holy Mass everyone will greet you. They are going to wish you all the best. Some people will even give you presents. But, you must remember the most important present today is Jesus coming to you in Holy Communion. Jesus coming to you is the best gift you will receive today and forever. Jesus is more important than all the money or presents, delicious food or cake.

Parents, for you this is a special day, and a happy day as well. Today you see your child taking a new step in faith as you present her to share with us all in the fullness of the Lord’s Supper for the first time. You were her first teachers in the ways of faith. You have to remember that it is through parents more than anyone else children come to know about God.

Even if you are a teacher, an excellent one, priest or parish, unless the children sense their parents’ faith they will not absorb faith. Teachers and priests cannot plant faith in the heart of children if parents do not.

Family, friends, people of the parish, this is a time of great rejoice for you too. You all in various ways have helped to lead Natalie to this special day. And I am sure you will help with her future growth in this faith. Please do so and please remember her in your prayers.

Finally Natalie the last word is for you.

I still remember my First Holy Communion and remember the place in the Church where I sat with my family. I hope you don’t forget today’s day too, your First Holy Communion Day. May Jesus make this day a very special one for you and your family. May he bring you great joy and fill your heart with his love.

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Reflection for the Third Sunday of Easter – 2012

From the Pastor /

My brothers and sisters in Christ, today, all three readings from the Holy Scriptures echo that Jesus suffered for the forgiveness of sins.

During the First Reading, we heard the words, “God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.”

During the Second Reading, we heard, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Today`s Gospel tells us:

“Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”

My dear brothers and sisters, today Holy Scripture and the Church tell us that Jesus came to this world to suffer and through His suffering destroyed death, sins and evil. He came to suffer and forgive our sins and sins of the whole world. He came to give salvation and open the gate of heaven for all people in the past and in the future.

My friends today`s world is not different from of our ancestors. It is not easy for us to admit that we are sinners and that there is sin in the world. Today people speak of mistakes, of faults, of misunderstandings – but sin is a reality that is still unpopular, even though we are all sinners. It is not easy change people and to tell them that they are in sin and need to repent. But, the Church proclaims that Jesus and the Holy Spirit can change us and people around us. With God’s grace true repentance is possible.

My sisters and brothers, today we are invited to look into our hearts and to know that we need salvation. We are invited to recognize that we are sinners and we need repentance. We are invited to accept that Jesus came to die for us and for our sins and that in Him we are redeemed. We are invited to proclaim repentance and the forgiveness of sins throughout the whole world. We are invited to follow Jesus Christ in every aspect of our lives.

This is not an easy road! This calling can only be achieved by the grace of God the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit in the Most Holy Name of Jesus. As we continue with the celebration of the Holy Mass, let us keep in mind that Jesus suffered in our place for the forgiveness of our sins. That is an incredible message of hope and love.

Let us rejoice because Christ is risen!

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Message for Easter Season 2012

From the Pastor /

Christ is Risen!
He is Risen indeed!

As you know our country and the entire world lives in a very difficult times when moral values and human life itself is in a danger. Economic and financial crisis is very serious. People are concerned and afraid about future, what is going to happen next day.

My friends, God is stronger than any difficulties and any evil forces.

On first Good Friday, many believed that everything has ended with the crucifixion of Jesus. They lost faith and hope, but only for few days. On Sunday morning the women returned from the tomb and told the Apostles that Jesus had risen, as He had promised. They told them and the whole world that Jesus is alive and He conquered death.

As we approach joyous Easter let us not forget how important and significant is Lent as a preparation for the Feast of Resurrection. Lent and Easter is a good opportunity for renewal of our faith, for deepening unity with our Savior, and also for deepening our love for God and people.

Easter Season reminds us that Jesus has redeemed all people. The message of Easter is that we too will experience a resurrection and live in eternal happiness with God. This is the truth and mystery which may be difficult to comprehend, but we know that it happened, because we have the testimony of the witnesses, the Apostles.

On Easter Sunday let us rejoice with the Risen Lord. Jesus is our Lord, our truth and our hope in the time of happiness and difficulties.

Best wishes for a Blessed, Holy and Joyous Easter Season.

Fr. Andrew Koterba

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Reflection for 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time – 2012

From the Pastor /

Welcome everybody to our Church. Today we celebrate 6th Sunday Ordinary Time. Today’s readings from the Holy Scriptures tell us how the history of salvation was changing.

During today’s First Reading from the Book of Leviticus, we heard of society’s treatment towards those who suffered temporary skin disorders. According to the Mosaic Law they were isolated from the community. They were expected to move outside the community, wear torn clothes, leave their hair disarranged, cover their lip and cry out, “Unclean, unclean!” This would last as long as the person was afflicted with the skin disease. They were treated as a second category of people.

In the New Testament there is different Law. Jesus brought new law. In the Gospel of Mark we see Jesus who heals the leper who was excluded from society under the Mosaic Law. Jesus gave to this man new life, new opportunity and new goal in his life. Jesus as we know came to the world to save the people, to save the lost sheep, not those who were already saved. He opens His arms to all, drawing them to His Sacred Heart that radiates with infinite healing love.

The cured leper was excited. He had found the truth, the way and the life in Jesus. He went forward and shared it with others for the glory of God the Father.

My dear brothers and sisters, there is a lesson to be learned here for all of us.

Jesus many times in our life is helping us. He give us strength, grace, power to live according to God’s commandments. He cures our deceases like He did for the leper. He takes care for us in every aspect of our life. Our work is to respond to Jesus.

Our spiritual work is to proclaim the good News to others, like a leper from the Gospel did. We must tell the people that Jesus can help them in their problems. They have to only ask Jesus for help. They have to pray. The best place and time is in church and during Holy Mass.

My brothers and sisters that is today’s message from God to you! May His Words enrich your spiritual growth in Christ!

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Reflection for 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time – 2012

From the Pastor /

“I will raise up for them a prophet!” From today`s first reading.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today, we celebrate the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Readings for today’s Sunday are telling us about a great prophet, promised Messiah.

In the First Reading, we heard of God’s promise to Moses that He would raise up for us a prophet. This is only one of God’s many promises that were made and are found in the Old Testament. All these promises were fulfilled in New Testament in Jesus Christ. Five weeks ago we celebrated the arrival of the promised prophet in the incarnation of God through Jesus Christ. In a few months, we will celebrate the resurrection of the greatest of all prophets, the Lord Jesus.

St. Paul in his letter to Timothy tells us “There is one Mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all – this was attested at the right time.”

In the Gospel, we heard that Jesus entered the synagogue and taught in Capernaum. Those who heard Him were astounded at His teachings because He taught with authority, not as the scribes, and He had power over evil and Satan. In the presence of Jesus a man with an unclean spirit cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” The evil spirit that possessed the man recognized Jesus as the Messiah. The evil spirit calls the name of Jesus twice, first as Jesus of Nazareth and then as the Holy One of God. The demons recognized Jesus as a Messiah as a true God. Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to be silent and to come out of the man. Once that happened, those who were present were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching – with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” The people had never seen such great power, nor ever heard of it since the days of Moses.

Summarizing today’s Holy Readings, in Jesus, we have seen the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a prophet like Moses. Jesus spoke with authority. He was not like the scribes and Pharisees. He didn’t just speak the truth, He was the Truth Incarnate. Jesus gave orders to unclean spirits, and they obeyed him. It wasn’t the words that kicked the devil out; it was the person who spoke those words.

My dear brother and sisters Jesus is calling us today to speak with authority about Gospel, God’s love, his commandments. He called us to be His presence for others. We are called to destroy evil in our world and around us. We are called to live our vocations, place our faith, hope and trust in Jesus Christ the Son of God.

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Reflection for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time – 2012

From the Pastor /

Follow me and I will make you fishers of men! From today`s Gospel.

Welcome my brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus to today’s celebration of the Holy Mass. Our participation in the Holy Mass is our answer for God`s calling. During every Holy Mass Jesus is calling us to be his Apostles and His witnesses in today`s world.

During today’s First Reading from the Book of Jonah, we heard how Jonah answered God’s calling. Jonah was called by God and told to get up and to go to Nineveh, that great city, where he was to proclaim the message of the Lord. In obedience to the Lord God, Jonah went to Nineveh. He proclaimed the Divine Word of God, advising the sinful people that unless they repent of their sins, in forty days, their city would be overthrown. As we all heard, the people turned away from their evil ways and God changed His mind. Through Jonah, the faithful servant of the Lord, the people were once more united in the righteous ways of the Lord God.

During today’s Reading of the Gospel of Mark, we heard Jesus calling the Apostles; Simon, Andrew, James, the son of Zebedee and his brother John. Each and every one of them left what they were doing to answer the calling of Jesus. By answering their calling, they became faithful servants of the Lord.

Jesus said, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.”

Fishers of men are ambassadors of Christ. They represent Christ. Christians, through their Baptism and Confirmation are called to be lights in the world. They are called to go forward and to evangelize the world as Jonah, Paul and all the disciples of the Lord Jesus did, some even to death. They are called to evangelize all; family members, friends, co-workers, the strangers, all of those with who they come in contact during their lives.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, we all have a calling to answer. Whatever we are doing in our life has to be answer to God’s calling. It doesn’t matter if you are parent, priest, teenager, child, married or single. Jesus calls you to follow him and be his Apostle and fishermen.

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Reflection for 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – 2012

From the Pastor /

My dear brothers and sisters, today we celebrate the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. Every time we go to the Church we have to ask ourselves “Why are we here today? What are we looking for?” I believe we are here because of our desire to answer God’s calling.

During today’s First Reading from the First Book of Samuel, we heard that the Lord God called Samuel. Samuel believed that Eli was calling him. Three times after hearing a call, he went to Eli and asked him what he wanted. Each time, Eli told Samuel that he had not called him. After three times Eli realizes that it was the Lord God who was calling Samuel.

Samuel answered his calling from God. He learned the Words of God, from inspirations of the Holy Spirit, and also from the teachings of Eli. Samuel valued those words! He memorized the laws of God, His commandments. He kept them in his heart. He answered God’s calling by his faith and life. The life of Samuel is a living example to each and every one of us. As Samuel grew in the knowledge and understanding of the Lord, we too are called to grow in the knowledge and understanding of the Lord.

In the Reading from the Holy Gospel of John, we once more recognize God’s calling. It is revealed to us by the actions of the two disciples of John the Baptist who followed Jesus. For it is Jesus that we must follow in order to be saved. He is the Lamb of God, the perfect human sacrifice for the redemption of ours sins. Jesus is our Rabbi, our Teacher. He shows us the way, the truth and the life.

From the Gospel Reading, we also learned how Peter came to follow Jesus. His call came through Andrew who was God’s instrument of grace to call Peter.

My dear brothers and sisters, in the Scripture for today’s Sunday there is a spiritual lesson for us to learn. If we allow our hearts to remain in harmony with the grace of God, His Spirit will enlighten our intellect so we will be able to obediently walk in living faith alongside Jesus Christ.

We are called to be like Samuel, ready to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to us through the words of the Holy Scriptures, through priests and parents, through the Church, songs at Liturgy, and through our lives of holiness and acts of charity. Let us then pray that we listen to God’s call in its many forms and are willing to respond to that call as did Samuel long ago, Andrew and John and so many others in our time – people who always live according to God’s Commandments.

This is the Good News of our call and response today!

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