Holy Family Parish at 195 Walcott St., Pawtucket, RI 02860 US - Father Bob's Page
|
Father Bob's Page
|
1. Because we hunger for the Body and Blood of Christ. ACCEPTING JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR Statement of the Diocese of Providence Relative to Rev. Timothy Gorton So many people see in death nothing but a cruel separation from loved ones. A WORD OF CONSOLATION If a tiny baby could think, it would be afraid of birth. To leave the only world it had known would seem a kind of death. But immediately after birth the child finds itself in loving arms, showered with affection, and cared for at every moment. I'M FREE Don't grieve for me, for now I'm feee. A CHRISTMAS STORY I would like to share with you a Christmas story for Christmas 2011... Missing Jesus? Usually, when we buy a product or gift for Christmas, we find that there is something missing from the box. But this story is about a family that found two of the same thing in their box. "If you are missing the child Jesus, call the Smith family." The days of Advent were coming to a close, but no one had called the family. On Christmas Eve, a woman called. She spoke to the father of the family . She said she was not missing Jesus, but that she had many problems. Her family needed food, blankets and heat. She felt that if someone wanted to return a statue to its rightful owner, they would be concerned with her plight. The father of the family responded immediately, driving to their home.
Evangelization Tools
If you are considering helping someone come back to the Church you might consider the information in the next article as a starting point.
"Return To Me With All Your Heart"
Holy Family Parish us a
vibrant community formed from
three former parishes:
St. Joseph,
Sacred Heart,
and Our lady of Consolation.
We have been growing together as a
community as we celebrate in
two different churches at the
present moment. We know a
little about waht it feels like to
be "lost" in the confusion and
tensions of the world, but also
to be found in Christ.
This article really begins with you. It
is an attempt to help you reflect upon where you
are in your faith life at the present moment and is
filled with reasons that you should join us on our
faith journey together.
Maybe you have been away from the Church for
a while. Maybe you are not sure you want to
return . but you are willing to at least take a
second look. We understand. That is why we are
here.
Perhaps you are not sure if you agree with, or
fully understand some Catholic teachings. You
may have issues concerning marriage or divorce,
or even have had your faith shaken by scandal.
WELL, YOU HAVE COME TO THE RIGHT
PLACE!
Many people who have left the Church,
for whatever reason, still feel a powerful draw
to come back to her. We believe that this mysterious
pull comes from God. It is His way of using grace
to help nudge us in the direction that He wants us
to go.
In all of this, the Catholic Church is like a
lighthouse. It was established nearly 2,000 years
ago by Jesus Christ, to guide people to heaven.
Even though the Catholic Church is comprised of
human beings, and therefore sinners, what it
teaches comes from the Lord Jesus.
COME AND JOIN US!
Here are ten reasons to come back to
Church.
2. Because we want to help others and not leave people on their own.
3. Because we want to belong and be part of a community.
4. Because we want our children to have faith and to have courage to look to the future with confidence.
5. Because the Catholic Church has the fulness of truth and grace developed by Jesus Christ.
6. Because we want to be healed by the wounds given us by society.
7. Because we need to forgive others as we wish we were forgiven.
8. Because we make mistakes and we sin.
9. Because childhood memories surface as we seek simplicity.
10. Becasue we want meaning in life.
The real purpose of our lives
is to develop a deep, personal
and loving relationship with God (Luke 10:27).
We can have a much deeper
relationship with Jesus than
with any other person.
Because Jesus is human. He
relates to us on our level.
Because Jesus is divine. He
can speak to us about spiritual
things in human ways.
Jesus can...
put thoughts in our minds,
orchestrate events,
put words in people's mouths,
and make us remember certain
things, communicate in our subconscious, and express
Himself beyond the power of
speech.
The Holy Spirit guides us to and
through Jesus to the Father.
We will grow in love if we just
speak to Jesus.
Every moment of life is charged with the
excitement of discovering more about
His love.
The Lord will not force His love on us
and is doing more than we can ask or
imagine.
We must let the Lord do things for us.
We need the community if we are to
open up to all the ways that God wants
to speak to us.
It may seem impossible at times,
however we need not despair,
His grace is sufficient for us.
You will receive His love freely,
personally, deeply and totally
if you seek Him as Lord.
(Providence, RI) The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence today issued the following statement relative to the retirement and revocation of faculties for Rev. Timothy Gorton.
"The Diocese of Providence takes very seriously allegations of sexual abuse by a member of the Church. When allegations of misconduct by Rev. Timothy Gorton were received by the Diocese, allegations that date from approximately 30 years ago, law enforcement officials were notified immediately. The Diocesan Review Board, a committee comprised of laity and clergy which is charged with reviewing such allegations, thoroughly studied the matter and provided its recommendation to the Diocesan Bishop.
As a result of this preliminary study, and in the light of persistent health concerns, Fr. Gorton has retired from the active ministry of the priesthood and his faculties to function as a priest have been revoked by the Bishop. In accordance with Church Law, the matter will be referred to the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome for any further action that might be required."
It is the policy of the Diocese of Providence to urge any individual with credible information aboutsexual abuse of minors to report it to law enforcement officials and the Diocesan Office of Education and Compli-ance at (401) 941-0760.
In death there is certainly the very real pain and sorrow of physical separation. But it is equally true that our loved ones remain with us. They do not just go off to some dark and distant place. They simply continue into eternal life. We do not see them becdause we are still in the darkness of this world. But their spiritual eyes are always watching us as they wait for the day when we shall share their perfect joy.
I have often reflected upon this beautiful truth and found it the greatest and surest comfort in time of mourning. A firm faith in the real and continual presence of our loved ones has brought the conviction and consolation that death has not destroyed them, nor carried them away. Rather it has given them life! A life with power to know fully and to love perfectly. With this new life and new power our loved ones are always present to us, knowing and loving us more than ever before.
The tears that dampen our eyes in time of mourning are tears of homesickness, tears of longing for our loved ones. But it is we who are away from home not they! They are still with us, lovingly and tenderly waiting for the day when we too will enter the doorway of our eternal home. It is such a mistake to see death as a separation and nothing more. For us who believe, death is a preparation for eternal union with those we love, in peace and joy.
Passing through death is really a birth into a new and better world. Those who are left behind should not grieve as if there were no hope. Life is changed, not taken away. Our dear ones live on, in a world beautiful beyond anything we can imagine.
There they await the day when they will welcome us with joy.
I'm following the path God laid for me.
I took God's hand when I heard the call;
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day
to laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way,
I found that place at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void,
then fill it with remembered joy.
a friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss
ah, yes, thse things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My Life's been full, I savored much,
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;
don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me--
God wanted me now, God set me free.
I woulkd like to tell a story about two figures of Jesus who came in one Christmas Season. As all of us do, we go around looking for that special gift for the home that we really need and want. This particular year in a small town in the Mid-West, a father realized that his family needed a new manger. So he went out to find one in the local store, whose owner was a parishioner in the local church. There were many boxes filled with mangwers with the words, "some assembly required". Words we don't like to read on any package.
He bought the manger, took it home and realized that one of the packets must be missing one of the statues of the baby Jesus, because he had two. Hence, he asked the store manager to put a sign on the shelves where they were selling the mangers which read...
When he had assessed the situation of the woman and her children, he called the oil company and requested an emergency supply of oil for the address. Since the company knew the woman could not pay for the oil, he had to tell them that he would pay for it. Hurrying to finish the delivery, the driver was there right away. Meanwhile, the father went for food and blankets.
Having assured the family that they would have a good Christmas, the father began his trip home. as he left the home, he saw the baby Jesu statue on the table in the kitchen. And he began to reflect upon the evening.
There were three Jesus statues in the story, showing us God's protection.
What a wonderful story. He couldn't wait to tell his family. To tell them that if they are missing Jesus, they will find him when they give their heart to him. Jesus is not missing, if we keep him in our hearts and are willing to act humbly.
First, we must realize that he is missing from the sight of many in the world.
Seconly, we must be humble enough to ask others to help us find him.
Thirdly, we have to be willing to help people look fo him.
JESUS CAME NOT TO DECORATE OUR HOMES, BUT OUR HEARTS.
Jesus can't remain in the manger.
He must live outside every manger and bring people to him. Since the time of Jesus
no one has really missed Jesus and his message.
When we think he is gone then we must look in different places; in stores in homes, in others and most importanly in our hearts.
Is someone in your life looking for Jesus?
Is someone discouraged in this happy time?
Don't say he is missing, go and find him.
This is the story and the mission of Jesus, Our Savior.