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Reflection for the 18th Ordinary Sunday 2025

Christian Witness

Reflection for the 18th Ordinary Sunday 2025

Christian Witness

Reflection for the 18th Ordinary Sunday 2025

Homilies,

Reflection for the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity

Can you explain?
Ummmmm, maybe?

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”

It is amazing that on the day we consider the greatest mystery of mysteries – the Holy Trinity, we are confronted with the Jesus’ command to go and do the most simple and straightforward of things – baptize.

We recall from catechism class that anyone can baptize. In an emergency, any person can take some water, pour it over a person’s head, and with the words “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” they have baptized that person.

In ages past, this was quite necessary. Unfortunately, many children died shortly after being born. People were caught up in wars and other tragedies. Christians in many places were the subject of persecution and martyrdom. Healthcare, safety, and religious freedom were a far cry from what they are today. Still to this day, every Christian has the right and duty to baptize when necessary.

Today’s Christians in the Middle East, North Korea, and China still baptize in emergencies, in prisons, whenever and wherever necessary. Soldiers in harms way baptize their brothers and sisters. Healthcare workers baptize in urgent situations.

In baptizing, in this simple act, we join the newly baptized to the Holy Trinity, to this great mystery, and to the Christian community.

The key is that in baptism, in regeneration into people of God, we come to recognize that our wisdom and intelligence are not enough. We realize that we are participants in God’s life. We must listen to and understand God’s mystery as a child would; accepting God’s greater wisdom.

Jesus praised His Father in saying: “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and revealed them to little children.”

We cannot explain the mystery of the Trinity. We can however explain what He has revealed to us and what we have accepted in baptism as His children. It is this simple fact: The Father loves us so much that He offered up His Son so that we might have eternal life. He loves us so much that He gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to sustain, instruct, strengthen, and enlighten us; to join us together.

That’s a mystery we can all explain – love, A.K.A. God.

Events, PNCC, , , , ,

Civil War re-enactors enjoy Polish Food

From the Tribune Democrat: Bandshell series to commence with performance, encampment

Roxbury Bandshell on Franklin Street in Johnstown will be the site of a summer concert series that benefits the continued preservation of the historic structure.

Music and a Civil War encampment will begin at 2 p.m. May 27 as the Roxbury Bandshell Preservation Alliance launches its entertainment schedule.

The alliance saved the historic structure from demolition, and a team of volunteers has worked tirelessly to raise money to pay for ongoing repairs.

A big part of that effort has been the development of the concert series.

Mary Borkow, alliance president, is eager to kick off the series and commemorate Memorial Day.

“Our initial concert will begin with members of the 54th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry conducting a flag-raising,” Borkow said. “They are a dedicated group of re-enactors who show people what the life of a soldier was like during the Civil War.”

The encampment has been a popular addition to the event, and parents enjoy bringing their children to the park to take part in the experience.

“The 54th will offer our visitors an opportunity to witness authentic drills, cooking demonstrations and a Civil War-era medical tent during a re-enactment,” Borkow said.

“It’s quite educational, and it’s the best way to learn about the Civil War without going to Gettysburg.”

The remaining concerts will begin at 5 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 9, except for the last concert, which will begin at 2 with an open-mic stage.

Along with the military camp, people will enjoy performances by Ole 97, a Johnny Cash tribute band, at 3; and the Desperados’ rock sounds at 5.

The alliance is inviting people to sample food provided by members of Holy Cross National Catholic Church in Moxham (534 Woodland Ave, Johnstown, PA).

Parishioners Pam Fish and Linda Ringler will lead a team that will prepare hamburgers, hot dogs, gobs and occasionally authentic Polish dishes such as pierogi and haluski.

Proceeds from food sales and any donations collected at the free concerts will go toward the bandshell’s restoration fund.

“We have had a good response when we pass around a drum for people to donate, and we appreciate every penny,” Borkow said.

All the musicians have donated their time and talents toward the preservation effort.

Christian Witness, Homilies

Reflection for Pentecost Sunday

The Father, the Son, and Who?
I really dislike fill-in-the-blanks…

“Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.”

In preparing the bulletin this week I came across a picture. The image of God the Father and of Jesus. The third frame showed and empty picture frame. Above it says Father, Son, and Who? Our automatic reaction is to fill in the blank. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The empty picture frame is filled up with the picture of a dove or a flame, like the tongues of flame that came to rest on those in the upper room. The picture complete, we feel a sense of completeness. But are we done?

Truly, the Holy Spirit filled those in the upper room. They burst out onto the balcony above the street, and Peter gave the very first homily. The Apostles were filled, and so we think the blank is filled. The Spirit is in the picture frame; the bishops are there to lead our faith journey. Aren’t we set? They were committed, committed to the mission that Jesus passed onto them. Committed to filling in the blank. Isn’t that enough?

We often think that God will take care of everything. Certainly He will. He fills the blanks in our lives. But God also needs us to fill in the blank space. Jesus needed the Apostles to step up, to follow the instructions He gave them, to go out into the world and preach the Word, to baptize, to proclaim salvation through the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus calls us to the same mission. He needs us to do exactly those things. To do what the Holy Spirit prompts us to do. To fill in the blanks.

God Has taken care of the courage, energy, and determination we need. As He empowered the Apostles through the gift of the Holy Spirit. He empowers us through our baptism and confirmation. The Holy Spirit is more than an empty frame. The blank is filled in by those called to do God’s work in the world.

Consider those picture frames. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Then fill in the last picture frame with a picture of you. Don’t just put a dove in the frame and walk away satisfied. Put a picture of yourself in there because every Christian must fill in the blank. The Holy Spirit fills us. The dove won’t do God’s work or carry our Jesus’ instructions. We have been filled with the Holy Spirit for a reason. He gives us all we need to do His work.

Homilies

Reflection for the Seventh Sunday of Easter

I know it hurts
But, be joyful and celebrate; it’s for your own good…

“I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely.”

The game is over. You’re sore.

Today’s Gospel reminds us that we are to be joyful. How do we combine a spirit of joyfulness and our temporary pain? Is there anything in sports that might help us be Jesus’ joy to the world?

One athlete who, in light of eternity, always thought her God-given abilities in sport were “kind of a dumb gift”. For years she wished she had been given a gift to play an instrument or to be good at public speaking so that she could easily reach out to others with God’s love. Then one day she discovered a ministry that uses sports to share the love and life of Jesus with people around the world. It seemed like a perfect fit. In her heart, she felt like God was telling her, “Look, here is what I’ve been wanting you to do with the gift I have given you!” All of a sudden, what once seemed like a “dumb gift” now seemed like an incredible gift that God had purposed all along. It was a gift that gave her joy and brought Him glory.

For her, and for us, the sports field is a sacred place where we experience life with God; life within our faith community. In play we shine brightly for Him.

God desires that we live joyful lives and that we bring His joy into all we do. We can and must celebrate God, our salvation, and have great joy at the same time.

As Christians we do all as a means to declare and display the significance of Who He is – even in our temporary aches and pains.

As we live our daily lives, playing sports, exercising, working, teaching, being family, neighbors, and friends, let us consider what it means to worship God through all those avenues. Let us consider how in doing all this we, like that one athlete, bring God’s joy to the world.

In the film Chariots of Fire, athlete Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian says, “I believe God made me for a purpose: China. But he also made me fast! And when I run, I feel His pleasure.” These words reflect his attitude, which revealed a holy competitiveness. He felt at joyful and at peace using his God-given ability to run fast in worship of God.

Don’t let worship be just about singing, music, or sitting in church. Let worship be the joy filled way we approach all we do, and how we show God’s joy in all we do.

Homilies,

Reflection for the Sixth Sunday of Easter and Mother’s Day

I can’t give you all the answers.
Some things you have to figure out for yourself.

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

We have all likely had that experience with our mom. We have a question, or need an answer, and suddenly we are confronted with her challenge – that we figure it out for ourselves. That’s one attribute of a mother’s love. After spending years nurturing us, helping us, she recognizes that moment when we must attempt to fly on our own.

If our moms didn’t live by Jesus’ instruction on sacrificial love, they would hold on to us, think only of their needs, hobble us and keep us dependent. But here we are, strong, faith filled, independent adults who are strong enough to discern answers, to figure things out.

Of course mom stands by in the background, for if we were to reach out in genuine need, perhaps for a kind, reassuring, and loving word, she would be ready to generously offer what we need.

As we face our tomorrows, even those dark and difficult tomorrows after we loose our moms to eternal life, we face them prepared because of her love.

We know mom has done her utmost, not to simply make us independent, strong, and faith filled but to give us the one gift that make our lives perfect.

In their love for us, our moms gave us the gift of eternal life in the joy of heaven. They did this by baptism, their prayer on our behalf, the instruction we need to know and love Jesus, and the way they modeled and encouraged life within His Holy Church. We saw her pray and worship, finding the calm and reassurance that she needed. She heard Jesus speaking directly to her – “No one has greater love than this…” This is the commitment she lived.

Now it is time for us to step up, to figure this one out for ourselves. This is what my mom means to me. This is what she did to make my life so very special.

.

We love you mom!!!

Events,

Urban Institute – Federal/State Charity Regulation Meeting

The Urban Institute is presenting its annual IRS Form 990 and State Charity Regulation Meeting on Monday, May 14, 2012 from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm. The meeting will be held at the Urban Institute, 2100 M Street NW, 5th Floor, Katharine Graham Conference Facility, Washington DC 20037. A continential breakfast will be available at 8:15 am.

The Urban Institute’s National Center for Charitable Statistics in collaboration with the National Association of State Charity Officials will host the Annual IRS Form 990 and State Charity Regulation Meeting on May 14, 2012. This year’s meeting will focus on state regulation of charities.

The meeting will include a re-examination of the “Charleston Principles,” the guidelines that state charity officials developed in 2001 to guide state reporting requirements for internet solicitations and regulation of hybrid organizations such as B-Corps. There will also be discussion of IRS Form 990 and state e-filing issues and initiatives and other efforts to improve the availability and quality of data available on the nonprofit sector.

The event is free. Registration is required to attend. Contact the Urban Institute at (202) 833-7200 or register online.

Calendar of Saints, Christian Witness, Poetry,

Submissions requested – poems about saints

From Dr. John Guzlowski

Dr. Mary Ann Miller, Associate Professor of English, Caldwell College, Caldwell, NJ, is calling for submissions of poems for a proposed anthology of contemporary American poems that contain references to one or more Catholic saints (excluding Jesus and Mary).

All e-mail submissions must be Sent To Dr. Miller by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 1, 2012. The subject line should read: “saint poem(s)”

GUIDELINES:

  • Up to 3 poems per poet will be accepted for consideration.
  • Each poem must be no longer than 3 pages.
  • The poems should NOT be historical poems, i.e. “lives of the saints” in modern idiom, written in the voice of the saint speaking in the first person “I,” NOR should they be prayers addressing the saint in the second person “you.”
  • Personae SHOULD be contemporary voices, male and female, from a variety of social, regional, and occupational circumstances. Voices of poems already selected from traditional research are speaking within very specific contemporary dramatic contexts, such as: a mother trying to get her newborn to fall asleep at 3 a.m., a man returning to a depressed coal town in western Pennsylvania after abandoning it to live elsewhere, a Native American child experiencing the pains of assimilation in a Catholic school, an older brother concerned about the kind of marriage his younger sister might make, a burn victim’s compassion for a small child with whom he shares a hospital room, a woman holding the hand of her dying mother, a Hungarian Catholic woman whose marriage to a Jewish man causes her father’s rejection, a woman doing laundry, a family moving out of their home, a disillusioned nurse whose back goes out from lifting so many bodies, a medical doctor struggling to inform a patient of his terminal illness, a friend of a gay person who died of AIDS, a friend of a woman who attempted suicide, a patron of a food pantry who finds money on the floor.
  • Poems of humor and irony are welcome.
  • Published and unpublished poems may be submitted. If published, please include all original publication information in bibliographic format at the end of the poem.
  • Send submission as a single-file Word attachment to Dr. Miller. The first page should list the poet’s name, phone number, and e-mail contact information, a brief 4-line bio, and the titles of submitted poems. The poet’s name should appear on each poem.
  • The editor will respond by e-mail to all submissions within a month of the submission deadline.
  • The editor is in the process of finding a publisher for this anthology and, therefore, cannot guarantee its publication. She is proposing a collection of approximately 50 poems.
Events, PNCC, Poland - Polish - Polonia, , , ,

Polish Constitution Day celebrated in the Cleveland area

From WTAM and also at Newsnet5: Celebrating the Polish Constitution: Big parade held in Parma.

The annual Polish Heritage Parade was held in Parma Sunday afternoon [May 6th].

Thousands watched as marchers stepped off at Parma Circle, and made their way on Ridge Road to Essen Avenue in honor of Polish Constitution Day.

After the parade there was a party at the Little Polish Diner on Ridge Road.

Festivities actually began on Friday with a celebration at the Donna Smallwood Activities Center, and continued Saturday at Polonia Hall.

Polish Constitution Day is celebrated around the nation. The constitution was ratified on May 3, 1791, with Poland being the second nation in the world to do so, following the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1788.

A friend in Cleveland advises that there were two Polish Constitution Day parades in the Cleveland area. One held a week ago in Little Warsaw or Slavic Village in the city, and the one noted above in the suburb of Parma. He rightly points out that it is amazing because the bulk of Polish immigration arrived in the United States over a hundred years ago. And yet, we the descendants still remember our Polish ancestry and our cultural and democratic heritage.

St. Mary’s PNCC Parish in Parma took part in Sunday’s parade. You can view photos at their website.

Homilies,

Fifth Sunday of Easter – 2012

First reading: 1 Acts 9:26-31
Psalm: Ps 22:26-28,30-32
Epistle: 1 John 3:18-24
Gospel: John 15:1-8

“I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit”

“Ja jestem krzewem winnym, wy – latoroślami. Kto trwa we Mnie, a Ja w nim, ten przynosi owoc obfity”

Christ is risen, alleluia! He is truly risen, alleluia!
Chrystus zmartwychwsał! Prawdziwie zmartwychwsał!

Following Jesus or starting at Jesus

If we asked our children to follow us we would quickly find out a lot about how we follow Jesus. Sure, they would follow us for a bit, trailing close behind, but then they would see a friend, and there they go. After a bit they would come back, only to be distracted again, look at the pretty girl. Back again, the next distraction, yummy food in the kitchen, the TV.

As we wait for our children to come back and follow us, so Jesus waits for us. But, can we become something more than followers?

Ben:

Children believe in greatness. Ask the most impoverished kid what they will be when they grow up, and you will receive big answers. Some will be firemen, some professional athletes, others presidents, kings and princesses. Ben remembered being asked this question. Looking the lady who asked square in the eye he said,”I will be a cultural anthropologist.” She had no idea what he was talking about, so he quickly changed my answer to “football player” and she patted him on the head and walked away.

Somewhere along the way Ben’s dream of greatness died. Truthfully, the dream never died for Ben, it only became covered over by selfishness. Ben was on a very bad path, a road to nowhere, but God stepped in. When God entered his life Ben finally reconnected to the great possibilities he remembered from his childhood. Ben found the right starting point, he was able to see Jesus as his starting point.

Paul’s change:

Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus. This meeting brought him into the community of faith. It was his beginning. Like Ben, Paul reconnected to greatness. He went from Saul, a man filled with loathing for Christians, who stood by as Stephen was stoned, as someone judgmental, and found his starting point in Jesus. He went on from this new beginning to become an apostle. Paul then changed the world according to God’s will. With God as his starting point the message of Jesus would be preached to the gentiles and the Holy Church would grow to be open and inclusive of all.

Changes:

There are a lot of of songs, poetry, and stories about change. Reflecting on them two jumped to mind, “Changes” by David Bowie. Perhaps you recall the opening lyrics – “Turn and face the strange. Ch-ch-changes” and “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by The Byrds is the second.

Both Ben and Paul experienced profound change. They turned from following their own way to following Jesus. Then from following Jesus to making Jesus their starting point. They were changed at the very center and core of their lives.

Where do I start?

We gather today as people of faith. We gather in confidence that our beloved members of holy memory have not been destroyed, have not passed out of existence or into memory alone, but live as we will one day, with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ as our one center. We should take a moment to consider where we are centered. Where is our starting point? So let’s take a moment to really dig down and answer that question.

Once we clear out all the noise around and within us, the obligations, our wants, needs, and desires, once we silence ourselves we will hear the voice of Jesus. We will feel the power of the Holy Spirit already in us, that lives within each of us as our starting point.

We all start:

We all start with God. St. Paul told the Colossians (Colossians 1:16) this:

For everything, absolutely everything,

above and below, visible and invisible, …

everything got started in Him and

finds its purpose in Him.

So if we listen, if we chose God as our starting point, His voice and His will will become a lot clearer. The noise will subside and will be replaced by the greatness we are called to achieve.

The vine:

Jesus tells us that we are intimately connected to Him, as much as branches are connected to the vine. As long as we stay connected to the source, the starting point of our strength and direction, we will have joy. We will be productive by defining everything we do based on our attachment to the vine — to Jesus. If Jesus is our starting point we will “bear much fruit and become His disciples.”

Our connection to Jesus, our starting point, feeds us, reassures us, gives us confidence, makes us part of something so much greater than ourselves. It connects us not only to our communities of faith, but to all who live in Christ in our world and in eternal rest. Our connection starts in our listening, in our dependence on Jesus as our starting point, and our clear decision to love one another, keep His gospel, and remain in Him.

Freedom in the vine:

Ben recognized Jesus call. He let Jesus assert Himself as the center of his life. Ben pointed out that the change in his starting point did not immediately fix all his ‘issues.’ But Ben did say that he found “a crack in the door to the greatness screaming to be released for within, and from the tiniest crack life will flow.” Life flowed into Ben. Marvelous work was begun in him.

Moving from mere followers to living with Christ as our starting point will fill us with life here and eternal life. It will move us to marvelous works. St. Paul prayed that this change would come upon the people of Ephesus saying: “May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.” Just as a tree draws nutrients from the soil, we draw nourishment from Jesus – We are His Church, His community, all joined together in one source, one vine, one starting point. Amen.

Homilies

Reflection for the Fifth Sunday of Easter

Hand me a shovel,
I’ve got to find the source of this vine.

“I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit”

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? There are many versions of this question that we could propose, was it the tree or the seed, the ocean or the rain?

As we work through our week we are confronted with this question more often than we think. Consider the fact that we live in community, in a family, in a neighborhood, in an apartment building. If we work we face the community of our workplace. Whether we belong to a club, go out to a movie, go shopping, or prepare to vote later this year we are constantly confronted by differing versions of community.

Now consider where we are this morning, in church. Certainly the family of faith is a community, and our unity with God and each other is a shadow of the perfect community for which we are all destined. But is this community of faith somehow estranged from the rest of our communities? Is it an endpoint?

We need to ask ourselves that all-important question, what came first, all these other communities or the community of God? When we come to church do we extract ourselves – is church something we do at the “end” of the week, or do we see our church community as our place of beginnings?

Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus. This meeting brought him into the community of faith. It was his beginning, a beginning that would change the world; the character of the Church from one limited the near east and the Jewish people, to full inclusiveness for all.

We need to pick up our shovels and dig into what is for us the foundation of everything we do. In digging in do we see the Church, our baptism, our weekly worship, as our beginning, our starting point? Is this where we start or where we end?

Jesus tells us that we are intimately connected to Him, as much as branches are connected to the vine. As long as we stay connected to the source of our strength and direction, as long as we know our starting point, we will have joy. We will be most productive by defining everything from our attachment to the vine. If we do we will “bear much fruit and become His disciples.”

St. Paul told the Ephesians that the secret to loving is living loved. “May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.” Just as a tree draws nutrients from the soil, we draw nourishment from our starting point – God and His community, all joined in one source, one vine.

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