St. Mary's Catholic Parish: From the Pastor Fr. Paul E. Demarais, Pastor - St. Mary's Parish

May 25, 2008 - The Body and Blood of Christ

Every time we come to mass just before communion we pray; Lord I am not worthy to receive you, only say the word and I shall be healed.  Do we think about what these words mean?  We come to mass each week or each day, we come in the need for God's blessing in our lives.  We come with our dreams and hopes, we come with our cares and concerns, we come with sickness or sin; but we all come in need of mercy.  We come for healing or forgiveness; we come praying for the needs of someone else.  But do we take seriously the words only say the word and I shall be healed?  Do we think about the power behind the phase?  Do we think about the words we are praying?  We come here today because we believe in the power of the presence of God in the Eucharist.  We believe that in the mass we are encountering the real presence of Jesus, that real presence being His love.  He knows how hard it would be for people to believe in His presence in bread and wine.

A priest by the name of Robert DeGrandis taught a formula by which we can experience more powerfully the love of God in the Eucharist.  1) Come to mass early and present to our Lord the needs that we have, tell our Lord in prayer what we are praying for.  2)  At the offertory lift up our petition to him.  We make our prayers our offering for the mass we are at.  3) When we receive communion, believe that our Lord is answering our prayer as we receive him and his love.  4) Go back to your seat and continue to pray for our petition.  Keep doing this until our prayer is answered.

May 18, 2008 - The Most Holy Trinity

Driving by someone’s house I saw a father and son playing catch together, yet while they were doing this, the father was on his cell phone talking to someone else.  The father was giving his time to his son but he was not really paying attention to him.  The father was distracted from his son.  It is easy in life to become distracted from the people and things in life that matter.  How much time is spent in front of a computer or television or a video game?  Cell phones have become so sophisticated we can just text message someone and not even talk to them on the phone.  We can become distant from the very people we live with because of all the things that can distract us from one another.

How many times have we heard a cell phone ring in a restaurant or in church or at the dinner table and the person gets; up and leaves to go outside to answer this call?  The call becomes more important than the person we were face to face with.

This weekend we celebrate the feast of the Blessed Trinity.  In their relationship with each other; God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are fully attentive to each other.  Their love for each other is so complete because nothing gets in the way of their love for each other.  In our relationship with others and with God and Jesus; do we give to them the attention they deserve?  The relationship God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit have can teach us how to be attentive and caring of one another.  They teach us how to live in the present moment with the ones we love.  The next time you are doing something with someone, try turning off the cell phone and give that person or God your full attention when you talk to them.

May 11, 2008 - Pentecost

When our Confirmation candidates received the Holy Spirit on their Confirmation Day, they heard Arch-Bishop Pearce say to them, Receive the Holy Spirit…Peace be with you.  They and we have received the power of God in our life.  The Holy Spirit is the one who gives to you and me; wisdom, knowledge, understanding, piety (the ability to pray), fear of the Lord, (the gift that helps us recognize the presence of God in our life).  We receive kindness, mercy, gentleness, patience, humility.  The peace we receive from our Lord comes to us because of these gifts.  God gives us what we need in our everyday life to grow closer to Him.  His gifts and love are always a part of our daily life.  His peace is the strength to see him in all we do.  That can be difficult for us at times.  It takes faith in God and ourselves to be the best Christian we can be. 

We have the best model to teach us and help us follow our Lord and that is Mary His mother.  Mary put her faith and trust in God to help her be the mother of the Savior.  Even when she was told a sword would pierce her heart, even when she witnessed the passion and death of her son; she did not lack from the belief that God would be with her.  Mary; is our helper and intercessor who prays for us before the Throne of God.  When our Adoration Chapel was named Mary Mother of Mercy Chapel, we placed ourselves and our parish into her merciful hands.  I would invite anyone in the parish to read the Book of Blessings we have in our adoration chapel to see how God's mercy has touched the lives of so many people. 

This month we honor Mary who accepted the will of God in her life and now intercedes for us.  This is also the 150th anniversary of Mary's appearance in Lourdes France where she appeared to St. Bernadette to tell her to proclaim the message of repentance and God's healing mercy.  Ever since Mary's appearance at Lourdes, people have found peace, healing; some have been physically cured, but people talk about the healing love of God in their hearts and lives when they go on a pilgrimage to Lourdes. 

We are always in need of people to pray before our Lord in our Adoration Chapel.  What a beautiful way to come closer to God than to spend time with him each week in our chapel.  See how the love and mercy of our Lord can fill your heart by spending time with him in adoration.            

May 4, 2008 - The Ascension of the Lord

In today’s Gospel Jesus prays and intercedes for his disciples.  He prays for their safety and protection.  He prays that God will watch over them on this life's journey.

How many times do we ask someone to pray for us and our intentions?  People call the rectory asking for prayers for themselves or someone they love.  Each Sunday we as a parish community pray for the needs of the world and our parish family.  There is strength and hope that we draw upon when we know someone is praying for us.  We find comfort and help knowing that people support us in our time of need.  We do not feel alone or isolated in our need because God is with us through the love of so many people we know or don’t know.  Jesus wanted his disciples to know they would not be alone in life's journey.  Jesus wants us to know we are not alone.

April 27, 2008 - Sixth Sunday of Easter

Jesus says to his disciples you are in me and I am in you.  Jesus wants us to know that we are not abandoned by him, that we are not alone in the world.  The best expression of Jesus statement of love is how we care for each other and support each other.  We are not alone in the world because of our call to help and love one another.  St. Theresa of Avila said we are the eyes, hands and feet of God in the world today.

This past Tuesday the confirmation candidates of our parish were blessed by the power of the Holy Spirit.  They were blessed so that the work of God to build the kingdom of heaven on earth can continue.  We pray thy kingdom come. on earth each time we pray the Our Father.  I ask you to help support the Catholic Charity Fund Appeal to help our diocese continue to build the kingdom of heaven on earth.  Your support allows so many people in our diocese to feel they are not alone in the struggle of their life.  Today when you leave here, may your love and comfort bring love and hope to the people in your lives who need it the most.

April 20, 2008 - Fifth Sunday of Easter

Jesus says Do not let your hearts be troubled.  For many today it's a hard thing to ask of them with the way things are going in the world.  We ask ourselves the question How can He possibly help me when I am in such need.  Feeling that we are alone can be a scary thing.  Feeling that we have to deal with stuff alone can leave us feeling overwhelmed.  When Jesus says do not let your hearts be troubled, he also says I am with you.  He let's us know we are not by ourselves.  His grace and mercy are with us when we trust in Him.

As we approach Pentecost we are being reminded that the Holy Spirit is with us.  Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Fortitude, Patience, Kindness and Mercy are just some of the gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to us.  Do not let your hearts be troubled I am with you

April 13, 2008 - Fourth Sunday of Easter

On the weekend of April 26 & 27, our parish will begin the Catholic Charity Fund Appeal Drive.  The Diocese of Providence has supported many programs over the years.  When I was in full time youth ministry work; working in two Catholic Youth centers, my salary was paid by the Catholic Charity Fund Appeal.  The appeal helps people and families from birth to death.

Please be as generous as you possibly can be in the difficult financial times.  Your generosity to the Catholic Charity Fund Appeal and the Parish is very much appreciated.

April 6, 2008 - Third Sunday of Easter

They recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread.  The Eucharist is the quickest way we can come to have a personal relationship with God.  What better way can we have for receiving Him into our hearts than the Eucharist.  The Mass is the fullest expression of His love for us.  His death on the cross, His sacrifice of love.  His blood and water from His wounds that heal us and wash us clean of our sins.  Each and every time we come to Mass our hearts are filled with this love.

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus are touched by the love the; receive through Jesus body and blood.  The power of the Eucharist takes away the fear they have of going back to Jerusalem in the middle of the night to tell the other disciples that they have seen the Lord.  The power of God's love took away this fear.  The power of God's love in the Eucharist can do so much for us by receiving that love as often as we can.

We do not starve our bodies by denying it the food it needs.  Why would someone not come to Mass and starve their souls of the food it needs.  When a person loves us do we stay away from them?  Why would someone stay away from the love that God gives to all of us so freely?

March 30, 2008 - Second Sunday of Easter

This weekend we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday.  This weekend we focus on the mercy and love of God that is greater than the sinfulness and darkness of the world. 

The devotion to the Divine Mercy of God was given to a Polish nun named Sr. Maria Faustina.  In a series of visions given to her by our Lord; she was told that the blood that came from Jesus heart was for our healing.  The water that came from his side was the cleansing of our sins.  Jesus asked that all people pray the Divine Mercy on the Sunday after Easter. 

Too many people forget that the passion, death and resurrection is for them.  All of us are called into a deeper relationship and friendship with our Lord.  People ask; how do I do that?  Pray to our Lord, talk to him.  Be quiet long enough to let him talk to you.  I pray in the church or the chapel because it's too noisy in the rectory.  Jesus throughout his life reminded us how close he is to us.

March 23, 2008 - Easter Sunday

“I am the light and the darkness could not overcome it. These are Jesus words in John's Gospel. We heard in the passion story this past week how Jesus was crucified because of jealousy, envy, pride and arrogance. We heard how he was betrayed and abandoned by his followers. All the evil and darkness cannot overcome the power of the love of the resurrection. The power of love has overcome the darkness of evil.

We are here because we are people of hope. We believe in the power of Jesus love in our world today. We believe his mercy and forgiveness are greater than sin. He is the light that guides us on our life's journey. On this Easter morning despite all the uncertainty in our world right now, we believe that the power of God's love through Jesus resurrection is the promise of hope for our world.

March 16, 2008 - Palm Sunday

We now enter into the most sacred week of our entire church year. The reason we are Catholics is for this week coming.  What brings us to church each week is to thank God for what His son does for us this week.

On Thursday we celebrate the institution of the Eucharist: The life giving body and blood of our Lord. The source of our spiritual life. On Good Friday we celebrate the passion and death of our Lord which gives us our salvation. The sacrifice of our Lord that allows our sins to be forgiven. Jesus death on the cross lets us see that the mercy of God is greater than the sinfulness of our lives. On Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, we celebrate the light and love of our Lord which overcomes the darkness of the world and overcomes death. Let us use this week to thank God for His wonderful love for us by attending our Holy Week Services.

March 9, 2008 - Fifth Sunday of Lent

In this weekend's gospel we may wonder why on earth the Scribes and Pharisees would plot to kill Jesus after raising Lazarus from the dead.  What could they possibly not like in Jesus?  Why were they rejecting Jesus power?  We may have seen in others or ourselves; jealousy, envy or even anger because someone else can do something better than others or ourselves.  We can become so jealous or envious of others gifts and talents that we loose sight of what God has given to us.  We loose sight of our own goodness.  We forget that God uses all of us with our gifts for His greater honor and glory.  Jesus simply calls you and me to love and serve Him and others.  We leave the details to Him.  All we do for Him and for others depends on His grace and when we are blessed by Him we can accomplish great things.

Jealousy, envy, pride, fears; all this made the Scribes and Pharisees come to be afraid of Jesus, His power and His message.  They failed to recognize and see how God could use them to build up the kingdom of Heaven.  It's a tragic story that in the midst of such power and grace, there is such jealousy and pettiness.

Let us come to recognize the gifts and abilities we have, let us use them for the greater glory of God.  Let us not become jealous or envious of one another.

March 2, 2008 - Fourth Sunday of Lent

Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance, but the Lord looks into the heart.

How many times have we felt miss-judged by people who don't really know us?  Our Lord knows our hearts; He knows our thoughts, feelings, our dreams and our hopes.  He also knows our sins, faults and weaknesses.  He is always ready to bless us with His love and mercy.  He is ready to forgive us when we come to Him.

At our parish mission this past week Mr. Flynn stressed that God wants a personal relationship with us.  St. Paul said to the Greeks "In Him we live, and move and have our being, we are His offspring.  Take the time this Lenten season to come to know God our Father.  Take the time to grow closer to Him."

February 24, 2008 - Third Sunday of Lent

As the body needs food and water daily for its nourishment, so too, our spiritual lives need to be fed. 

A parish mission is a time to spiritually renew ourselves.  It is a time to get away from all the noise of our lives to hear what the Lord has to tell us.  It is the time to be uplifted by the grace of God in our .lives.  I invite all of you to attend our upcoming parish mission this week.  What a better way to celebrate this Lenten season than reflecting on our relationship with God our Father, Jesus and Mary and their relationship in our lives, and the Power of the Eucharist.

February 17, 2008 - Second Sunday of Lent

As we approach the time of our Lenten Parish Mission, with Vinny Flynn; there is a healing to share from last year's Mission, held during Holy Week.  A woman attending the first night was so touched by Vinny's message of the Divine Mercy; that she invited her friend to attend the second night.  This friend attended the Tuesday night's Mission, with her husband.  Her husband had suffered a serious heart attack during the year.  He was to meet with his cardiologist the next day for testing to determine the extent of surgical procedure needed.

This man was also converting to Catholicism, in the R.I.C.A. program.  However, he was doubting the belief that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist. Vinny's topic that night was The Eucharist and closed with the Hem of the Garment healing procession with the Eucharist. When this man was leaving St. James that night, he shared with his wife that he felt touched by Jesus and truly believed that Jesus is alive in the Eucharist.  He was now looking forward to Holy Thursday, the night he would become Catholic. When he met his cardiologist, after the testing, he then really understood the depth of the healing power and love of Jesus; his doctor couldn't explain it - but all previous heart damage had vanished!

February 10, 2008 - First Sunday of Lent

The two sins of Adam and Eve we see in our word today, disobedience and the lack of a need for God in our world today.  The devil temps Adam and Eve by saying that if they eat of the fruit of the tree they will be like gods with knowledge of good and evil.  Who needs God when we can be like God.  We have no need for His rules and laws.  We can make our own rules. We can rule and govern ourselves.

Consumerism, technology and science are the new gods we worship today.  Nothing wrong with science and technology as long as they don't replace God.  Jesus is tempted by the devil to put himself above his Father and His plans for our world.  Jesus over and over again says not my will but your will be done.  Jesus is ever obedient to the will of the Father.

Lent is about coming back closer to God.  What are the things during Lent that I can do to draw closer to God?  Take time to pray, spend time before the Blessed Sacrament.  Get away from the business of life and come ant talk to God about your life.  Give to Operation Rice Bowl to help with the churches mission to the poor.  Attend our parish mission on February 25, 26, and 27.  There are many things we can do to ever deepen the relationship we have with our Lord.

February 3, 2008 - Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

It seems we have just gotten over the hangover of the Christmas season and now lent is upon us.  This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday.  We now focus on the reason for the birth of Jesus.  Repent, the kingdom of God is at hand.  Repentance is not only about sinning less or going to confession, it is about a change of life.  What are the obstacles that get in the way of my relationship with God and others?  What changes do I make to come closer to God and what changes do I make to become a kinder more peaceful person with others?  We are called during lent to make sacrifices to help us make the changes we need to make to be better people.  Lent reminds us that our treatment of God and people c an always be better.

Our Lenten Mission this year will be on February 25, 26, and 27th.  Mr Vincent Flynn will once again lead our parish mission focusing on the love and mercy God has for us.  You are invited to all three nights, even if you can only make it one night you can come.

January 27, 2008 - Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

When someone chooses their life's journey, there are many sacrifices to be made.  There is no certainty that with all the sacrifices made, that there will be success at the end.  A person may study and train for years and years for a certain job only to find that someone else is hired for a position they are seeking.  Someone invests all their savings into a family business only to see the business close because they were not able to make it work.

Jesus disciples give up everything to follow him.  They leave their families, their homes and their jobs to follow Jesus.  There is no guarantee of success, no assurance of what there future will be like.  It had to be a scary moment to drop everything and follow Jesus.  They had to have faith in Jesus care and love for them.  Peter would one day say Lord where shall we go you have the words of everlasting life.  This is how the disciples would live their lives.  Trusting in the power of Jesus love to watch over them even at Calvary when all seemed lost, Jesus love for them was still there.

When Jesus walks into the upper room where the disciples were hiding, Jesus would say to them, "Peace be with you."  When the life's journey seems so unsure Jesus through the Holy Spirit is here to watch over us.  Jesus says "My peace I give you, my peace I leave you."  That peace is the power of the Holy Spirit.

January 20, 2008 - Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

It seems like an odd statement to make by John the Baptist about Jesus.  "I do not know him."  After all they were cousins.  It took John a lifetime to learn what it meant for Jesus to be the Messiah.

When John will ask Jesus if you are the Messiah, Jesus will say, "Look around you, the deaf hear, the blind see, the lame walk, the poor have the good news of Jesus preached to them."  Jesus did not use fancy arguments to prove he was the Messiah.  He said; look at the acts of love.  We come to know Jesus as our Lord simply because he loves.  The Wednesday night healing services and the monthly healing Mass is one powerful way we are touched and can be touched by Jesus love.  Our parish feeds hungry people.  Parishioners offer friendship and companionship to one another.  When people say to us where is God today in our world?  They should see him through the power and love of Jesus and our witness of that love for each other.

January 13, 2008 - Baptism of the Lord

By his baptism Jesus shows the people around him that he completes our humanity.  He has come into the world to take upon himself our sinfulness but also to show us the power of his love.  It is a love that forgives; it is a love that heals.  It is a love that brings justice to the world.

Jesus wanted to change and transform people's lives.  A person cannot receive forgiveness, or love, or a healing and not be changed.  Love gives people a new purpose to live, to get up in the morning.  This is what Jesus wants to do for us.  His love makes us new people.  It gives us hope, a reason to live each new day.  He wants us to know that he understands all our struggles and fears, our hopes and dreams.  He wants to be the center of them.  He can only do this if he is a part of our world, the center of our lives.

January 6, 2008 - The Epiphany of the Lord

Today we celebrate the feast of the Magi who came seeking Jesus looking for the one who would be the light and truth to a dark world.  They had to be full of hope to leave everything behind.  They left their wives, sons and daughters.  They left the comfort and safety of their home.  They risked their very lives to make this journey.  They did not know what would happen on this journey but they would do whatever they had to.

We do not know where our life's journey will bring us.  We don't know what kinds of challenges we will face.  All we can do is put our faith and confidence in Jesus to guide us on the right path of life.  In the decisions and choices of life our faith helps us make the right ones.  The Magi were guided by a star.  We are guided by the Holy Spirit.  The Magi had faith and trust and confidence that they were on the right path.  In our life's journey we to are called to put our trust and faith and confidence in the power of God.

From the Pastor: September, October, November, December 2007

From the Pastor: June, July, August 2007

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