Dear Friends,

Three weeks ago, I announced in this column that Bishop Dolan has asked me to step down as Parochial Administrator (aka, Pastor) of OMLC. In that regard, “thank you” to all who have expressed your gratitude for the service I have been able to offer you over these past months.

Dear Friends,

We have two very special Lenten events coming up this week that I hope you will put into your calendars. On Wednesday, Dcn. Dennis Lambert, an author and Deacon of our Diocese, will come to speak to us about the Real Presence of the Eucharist. For Catholics, the belief that Jesus Christ is truly present in the Holy, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity is (or should be) a given. This doctrine, above all others, is the bedrock of our Catholic Faith.

Dear Friends,

Three weeks ago, we hosted an exposition depicting some of the great Eucharistic miracles that have occurred throughout the centuries. While the circumstances of every miracle were different, in each case the events had the effect of reminding people anew that Jesus, the Son of God, is truly present in the Holy Eucharist.

It can be so easy for us to grow inattentive or even indifferent to this startling reality. After all, the species still has the appearance of ordinary wheat bread and grape wine even though it really is the Body and Blood of Christ. If we lose sight of this fundamental truth or it no longer moves us, then we are in danger of questioning everything else the Church teaches. The Fathers of the Church described this phenomena with the Latin term, Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi—the way we pray and worship will shape what we believe.

Dear Friends,

It has been two years since Bishop Olmsted asked me to serve at Our Lady of Mt Carmel as interim pastor. Our original agreement was for me to serve for one year after Fr John’s departure until a permanent pastor could be appointed. But it seems the Lord had other plans.

As many of you by now have heard me recount, shortly after my arrival the Lord, in many ways, made it clear that He wanted an Adoration Chapel for the parish. Following that prompting, which was confirmed at each step, and in consultation with Bishop Olmsted, I agreed to continue to serve for as long as it would take to complete the chapel.