October 5, 2022October 8, 2022
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From the Pastor’s Desk | October 9, 2022 | Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time


“And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.”
~ Luke 17:15-16a

 

Brothers and Sisters,

“Behold, I make all things new.” The Eucharist is or should be, the source and summit of the Christian life. Yet, in a hurting, hectic world, many of us are separated from or take Jesus Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist for granted. The National Eucharistic Revival aims to help Catholics in the US restore our understanding and devotion to the gift of the Eucharist. (eucharisticrevival.org). With this purpose in mind, those leaders behind this joyful, grassroots effort ask us to consider:

  1. Becoming a prayer partner through prayer, fasting, and penance.
  2. Sharing a testimony at the Revival website. If you are called to share, please let us know by emailing the Parish at olphparish@archbalt.org.
  3. Calling on the Holy Spirit to inspire a renewed love of Christ in your heart and the hearts of others.

Maybe you’ve noticed that I like to give the Communicants a test before Mass when I celebrate First Communions. I sometimes surprise myself with the questions I ask, but I’ve been asking one in particular with constancy. “As Eucharist is a Greek word, what does the word Eucharist mean in English?” For those who worry you don’t have the correct answer, please keep this hint I give the kids in mind. It’s a holiday in November (sometimes I even mention turkeys). It’s fun to see the children pleased with themselves when they enthusiastically offer the correct reply: Thanksgiving! I usually follow up with, “if the Eucharist means giving thanks to God, then each time we celebrate Mass, we should ask ourselves — what am I thankful for today?”

Could you ask yourself the same? What are you most thankful? And in particular, why are you grateful to God? Today’s Gospel tells the familiar story of the ten lepers cured and made clean by Jesus. Still, despite such transformational healing, only one among them returned to offer thanks. The Gospel emphasizes that the one who returned to Jesus “realized he had been healed.” I wonder, did the other nine miss their transformations entirely? Or were they taking their blessings for granted?

Now, join me in asking, do I take the Eucharist or Mass for granted? We are so incredibly blessed at OLPH to have our Good Shepherd Adoration Chapel (https://olphparish.org/adoration-chapel), a sacred space to meet our Lord throughout the day and to grow in love for the Eucharist and each other. Have you been able to take advantage of this beautiful space yet? Please go gentle on yourself as you weigh your answers, knowing that when we challenge ourselves to give the Eucharist and the Mass their proper weight in our lives, true transformation is possible. Jesus is just waiting for our response in gratitude to make all things new!

In closing, please keep Archbishop Lori, our bishops, and priests in prayer, as they and many priests from Baltimore will be attending the 3-day Convocation this Oct 10-13. As such, the Parish will offer a Communion Service (Liturgy of the Word and the Communion Rite) on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Likewise, the Sacrament of Reconciliation will not be available on Wednesday, October 12th. Thank you in advance for your understanding and prayers.

 

Some considerations:

  • HAPPENINGS AT THE SHRINE OF ELIZABETH ANN SETON | Back from the Dead Cemetery Walks – Hear what the saints have to say about their visions of hell and learn about the meaning of suffering in the afterlife in this powerful experience. Visit setonshrine.org to reserve your tickets today; tickets are selling fast! Hands-On Living History Activities – Every 2nd and 4th Saturday at the Seton Shrine, historic hands-on activities are offered for families of all ages. From pen and ink, colonial games, and more, you’ll learn something new each time. Virtual Memento Mori Book Club – Teens and young adults welcome! Beginning Oct. 13th, the Seton Shrine is offering a virtual book club series on the importance of remembering the Last Things: death, judgment, heaven, and hell. Visit setonshrine.org/bookclub to learn more.
  • RED & BLUE MASS | Sunday, Oct. 23, 11 am | St. Joseph’s Monastery Parish in Southwest Baltimore – The Archdiocese of Baltimore is inviting active and retired law enforcement officers, firefighters, public safety professionals, paramedics, and other first responders – as well as their families for a Mass and blessing that will honor those who were injured and died in the last year, including Officer Keona Holley and firefighters Lt. Paul Butrim, Kenneth Lacayo, Lt. Kelsey Sadler, and Capt. Anthony J. Workman. Archbishop William Lori will celebrate this Mass.
  • MARRIAGE, DIVORCE, AND ANNULMENTS – FROM A CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE | The Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Baltimore will be giving a presentation in our area concerning divorce and annulment from the Catholic perspective. This presentation will be helpful for divorced Catholics, those divorced who wish to marry Catholics, those parish leaders involved in the RCIA process, and any others who may have an interest because of family or friends. This session will be held on Monday, October 17th at 7:00 pm at St. Mark, Catonsville, in the Coakley Room. No prior registration is required. For further information, please call 410-547-5533. If you have any questions or need more information, please call the Tribunal.
  • CRAB FEAST | The Mortel Foundation is holding High Hopes for Haiti – an all-you-can-eat picnic and crab feast to raise funds and celebrate Dr. Mortel’s life and legacy. It is happening on October 22 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at Oregon Ridge Park. For details and tickets, visit www.highhopesforhaiti.org/events or all 844-466-7835.
  • MADE FOR MORE – VISIONS OF THE PROMISED LAND | Oct 26, 7-9 pm at St. Philip Neri Church. Where do we come from and where are we going? These questions are DECISIVE for understanding what it means to be human and how to orient our lives and our actions toward authentic fulfillment. Join Christopher West and Mike Mangione as they creatively weave together dynamic presentations with live music, movie clips, YouTube videos, and sacred art for an evening of beauty and reflection on the meaning of life, love, and human destiny. You will come away with a faith-filled vision of hope that will instill in you the sheer wonder and joy of being alive. For more info, contact Timothy M. Feeney – tfeeney@st.philip-neri.org – 410-859-0571.
  • CATHEDRAL COLLOQUIUM | The Cathedral Colloquium is a new initiative to bring together parishioners and friends of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen to speak on a relevant theological topic from their respective areas of academic or professional expertise. This fall, the Colloquium kicks off this Fall with Heavenly Portals: Visions of Heaven in the Middle Ages. Speakers include: Dr. Eric Mabry (University of St. Thomas in Houston), Dr. Christie Sciacca (The Walters Art Museum), Mr. Samuel Rowe (The Baltimore Basilica), and Dr. (Deacon) Fritz Bauerschmidt (Loyola University). Over four weeks, they will raise our sights to see heaven reflected in the theology, art, music, and literature of the Middle Ages. Be part of the inaugural Cathedral Colloquium October 17, October 24, November 7, and November 14 at 7:00pm in the Cathedral Parish Center. No RSVP is required. Attend as many sessions as you would like.
  • WHAT MADE ME, ME? Workshop Series: Starts November 1 | Our Lady of Bethesda Why do people do what they do? Deepen your own self-awareness and discover the psychological and spiritual narrative of your life. Learn how your childhood has helped shape who you are today. This new workshop series will lead you through the psychological and spiritual development of a person during each stage of life. Over the course of these workshops, you will see how each stage of development, from Early Childhood through Adolescence, shaped the person you are today. Presented by Dr. Kathleen Musslewhite, Executive Director of the Alpha Omega Clinic, the series will run monthly on Tuesday afternoons: Nov 1, Nov 29, Jan 31, and Feb 28, 12:30-2:00 pm. The cost for each session is $60 per person, or sign up for the entire series for $180 per person. Come to all or some. Register: www.ourladyofbethesda.org

In the Lord,

Rev. Michael S. Triplett