Council of Catholic Women

GENERAL MEETINGS - LeSage Hall
First Thursday of the Month
~September through May~
6:30 Hospitality, 7:00pm Meeting

Mission Statement

The National Council of Catholic Women
acts through its affiliated organizations
to support, empower and educate all
Catholic women in spirituality, leadership
and service. NCCW programs respond with
Gospel values to the needs of the Church
and society in the modern world.

NCCW - FCCW - PBDCCW - SSCC

Read Our full brochue HERE for more information and membership application

2023-2025 Executive Board

Spiritual Advisor- Deacon John Henderson

President- Barb Andreas

Vice President- Suzy Wilger

Recording Secretary- Michelle Morin

Treasurer- Paula Rosin

Past President- Ann Nolan

-Standing Committee Chairs-

Spirituality- Paula Witt

Leadership- Kathy Bray & Christine Wonsock

Service- Kathy Terrebonne

Legislative Advocate- JulieAnn Farrell

-Appointed Chairs-

Parliamentarian- Carol Therien

Historian- Lauren Famiano

Corresponding Secretary- Jeanne Curtis

Membership- Madonna Barashke

Hospitality- Marge Rapasz & Jeanne Santora

Let us thank the Lord for our new Pope! Pope Leo XlV Our First American Pope! God Bless our Holy Father!

Fun Fact: The term "heavenly host" refers to the multitude of angels who serve God. The term "host" signifies an army or great many, and in this context, it refers to the angels who worship and serve God in heaven.

Devotions, EXPLAINED! Christians have used beads to mark the recitation of prayers since ancient times, but in the 12th century, the Rosary emerged as a meditative devotion centering on significant moments in the lives of Jesus and Mary.

May is the Month of Mary! In the gentle warmth of spring, we pause to honor Mary, whose “yes” brought salvation into the world. Let us use Mary's example guide us closer to her son, Jesus. Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!

GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE May 4, 2025 3rd Sunday of Easter John 21:1-19 I eat breakfast. If I don’t have something substantial, I’m fading by midmorning. Breakfast is my key meal because it sets up my physical wellbeing for the rest of the day. Spiritually speaking, we need sustenance to get us going. This is true for the Apostles in this Sunday’s remarkable Gospel reading. The risen Jesus makes his third appearance to them in the early morning light and calls, “Come, have breakfast” (John 21:12). The exhausted and cold fishermen sit, and he feeds them bread and fish as the dawn breaks. They are overwhelmed by his presence to the point of awestruck silence. As they eat, their bodies and their hearts come alive. Once refreshed by their morning meal, they will be ready to feed others — indeed, the whole world — with the love of the risen Jesus. But first, they need breakfast from him. Do you realize how essential early morning prayer is? Jesus desires to refresh us every morning with his word of love, with his grace-filled presence. This week, hear Jesus calling to you: “Come, have breakfast!” Embrace some form of spiritual, meditative practice each morning for spiritual strength to get you going. — Father John Muir ©LPi

Mass Celebrated Around the World Question: Is the Catholic Mass really celebrated the same throughout the whole world? Answer: One of the truisms of the Catholic Faith is that “wherever you go in the world, the Mass is the same.” In fact, the answer to this question is both “yes” and “no.” On the one hand, the essential elements of the Roman Rite are the same. The structure of the Mass as it is presented in the Roman Missal is consistent and this is one of the beauties of belonging to a liturgical tradition. On the other hand, however, there are elements of celebrations that can vary depending on the country or even local region you might be in. For example, in certain parts of the world, certain feasts and solemnities are celebrated on different days (even here in the United States the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord can be celebrated on Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter or it may take the place of the Seventh Sunday of Easter, depending on what diocese you are in). Whether it is the use of certain liturgical colors, local celebrations of regional saints, special seasonal blessings of crops or produce, or the use of dance and processions all demonstrate a sort of organic variety that can exist even within our established liturgical tradition. While we always respect what is essential to the rite, such local variations and traditions are very much in keeping with the vision of liturgical renewal and adaption envisioned by the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (nos. 37-40). ©LPi

This Sunday, we hear the story of when Jesus bid the disciples to bring their bounty of fish to the fire, to gather around it, to be warmed and fed. God’s invitation is for all of us: come to the fire of His love. Be warmed. Be fed. Then, go forth, and feed the sheep. See you at Mass!

Today is the National day of Prayer! What is one of your favorite Catholic prayers?

Devotions, EXPLAINED! The rite of sprinkling, also called the Asperges rite, recalls the new life we receive in the waters of our baptism. Though most common during the Easter season, this rite can take place on any Sunday and is used in place of the penitential act.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK — The resurrected Jesus’ first words to his disciples are “Peace be with you.” How could you be a peacemaker this week with a family member or neighbor?

INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK — Thomas needed proof to believe the amazing things that had happened. God, in His mercy, gave him that proof — but it was up to Thomas to accept it. Do we accept the proof we see of God’s love every day?

Funeral Mass for Hank (Henry Silva) Will be on Monday, April 28, at 11:00 am At St. Sebastian Church. May his soul Rest In Peace!

On Tuesday, April 22, St. Sebastian had our Jubilee Year pilgrimage to St. Edwards Minor Basilica, Palm Beach.

GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE April 27, 2025 2nd Sunday of Easter John 20:19-31 It’s common for Catholics to hear the question, “Why do I have to go to a priest to have my sins forgiven?” I’ve never liked that question because not only is it clunky (confession is the ordinary way for the pardoning of serious sins, not lesser ones). But it misses the larger context: the wonderful origins of the sacrament itself. And this context is deeply Jewish. Ancient Jews associated forgiveness of sins with priests offering sacrifices in the Jerusalem temple. It was a solemn, public, and tangible way to access God’s mercy. So when the risen Jesus breathes on the Apostles and says, “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained” (John 20:23), the upshot is remarkable: he is the new temple and his Apostles are the new priests. Jerusalem is no longer the place to find forgiveness from sin. Jesus’ body, the Church, is. So why should we go to the Sacrament of Confession? For the same reason ancient Jews went to the temple in Jerusalem: to experience the intimacy, joy, and life-giving power of God’s eternal forgiveness. — Father John Muir ©LPi

Instruction on Receiving Communion Question: How many times a day can a person receive communion? Answer: To find an answer to this question, we need to turn to the Church’s Code of Canon Law. Here we read, “One who has received the blessed Eucharist may receive it again on the same day only within a Eucharistic celebration in which that person participates …” (no. 917). This tells us that the standard answer would be that we can receive communion twice in a day. Having said that, we also want to be sure that we pay attention to the entire instruction. The phrase “within a Eucharistic celebration in which that person participates” is important. It means a) that we always have to think of receiving communion as being within a celebration of the Mass and b) we have to be participants in that celebration – we can’t simply show up “in time” for communion. So, when would this rule apply? For example, if you attend Mass on a Saturday morning and then take part in the Sunday Vigil Mass on Saturday evening, you could licitly receive communion at both celebrations. Or, another example, if you receive communion at a wedding or funeral Mass, you could also receive communion at a daily Mass or Sunday Vigil celebrated on the same day. We always want to be sure that we observe the rules for fasting from food and drink before receiving the eucharist (see Code of Canon Law, no. 919). We should also remember that the Code of Canon Law instructs that anyone who is in danger of death or seriously ill may also receive communion a second time (no. 91, §2). ©LPi

This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday. Sunday at 3:00 pm we will have the expsoition of the Blessed Sacrament and Divine Mercy Chaplet. O Blood and Water that redeems and saves, have mercy on us! O Blood and Water that heals and restores, have mercy on us! O Blood and Water that strengthens and renews, have mercy on us! Amen.

Easter Sunday may be over, but our parish is just getting started! We celebrate Easter for 50 days leading up to Pentecost. Why? Because one day just isn't enough for the greatest victory of all!

We have planned for a Mass of Remembrance and Thanksgiving for Pope Francis. It will be on Thursday (April 24, 2025) at 6:00 pm, at St. Sebastian Catholic Church, Sebastian, Florida. Please get the word out and let us come together in Remembrance of our Beloved Holy Father and in Thanksgiving for his ministry to the church and world at large.

INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK — There is an invitation in the empty tomb and the abandoned burial cloths. What great things could we accomplish, if we only believe that Christ has conquered death? Go forth this Easter season, boldly embracing the hope of the resurrection.

Today we celebrate Earth Day! A Prayer for Earth Day — Lord, may You guide us in our care for creation. May Your love for Your people teach us to love the most vulnerable among us by protecting our planet —our shared environment and home that sustains us. Help us steward our living world and the resources you freely give us. Thank You for the Earth! In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Holy Father Pope Francis has gone to Our Father’s Home. Let us thank the Lord for his ministry to the church and world. May his soul Rest In Peace!

Prayer for Easter — Blessed be God who has triumphed over the grave! Our Lord is victorious! Alleluia, alleluia! May the joy of Easter fill every part of our lives! Amen.

Easter Vigil at St.Sebastian Christ is Risen! Alleluia! Indeed Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE April 20, 2025 Easter Sunday John 20: 1-9 When I was a young boy, my parents told me about their wedding. Then a few years later, they showed me my mother’s wedding dress and my dad’s suit. It was astonishing to see and touch garments that connected me to the event that led to my existence. Of course, I already believed they were married based on their word. But these holy garments made the event real and tangible for me. Something like this is at play when St. John reports encountering in Jesus’ tomb, “the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place” (John 20:7). Those two separate cloths, for his head and for his body respectively, meant a great deal to St. John and to the early Christians. Some years after the resurrection, there surfaced reports of two cloths with unusual characteristics, one bearing the image of a crucified man’s body, another smaller one with the image of a wounded man’s face. Some call them the Shroud of Turin and the Veil of Manoppello; they both can be seen today. These two cloths have a long and complicated history, and scholars debate aspects of them. If you’re curious, I encourage you to read about them. To be clear, I believe in the resurrection of Jesus because of the testimony of eyewitnesses and the gift of faith in the Church. Nevertheless, seeing these two mysterious cloths have made the life-giving event of Jesus’ resurrection more real and tangible for me. Maybe they will for you, too. — Father John Muir ©LPi

Happy Easter from St. Sebastian Easter Vigil Saturday at 7:30 pm Easter Sunday Masses 7:30, 9:30, 9:45 (LeSage Hall) & 11:30 am. Easter Egg Hunt after 9:30 am Mass.

It is Holy Saturday. Blessing of Food will take place at 9:00 am Our Solemn Easter Vigil will begin at 7:30 pm.

Today is Good Friday. As we move through the sacred Triduum, we prepare our hearts for Jesus. At St. Sebastian our Celebration of the Passion will begin at 3:00 pm It will be followed by a communal meal of Soups and Bread We will have our Live Passion from 7:00 pm

Today, Holy Thursday, is the start of the Triduum. At St. Sebastian we have a Mass in the morning at 9:00 am for those who can not drive at night. Our solemn celebration will begin at 6:00 pm. it will be followed by eucharistic procession to LeSage Hall and adoration at the Altar of Repose until 10:00 pm.

Devotions, EXPLAINED! The Seven Churches Pilgrimage is the practice of visiting seven different churches on Holy Thursday, in imitation of the journey of Christ on the eve of his crucifixion. Normaly it is done during the time of adoration after the solemn celebration of Maundy thursday.

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE AT ST. SEBASTIAN, SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA

INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK — The disciples followed Jesus’ careful instructions for his entry to Jerusalem, even though they did not understand his words. Today, we too, look ahead to his arrival. In obedience, let us prepare the way for the King.

GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE April 13, 2025 Palm Sunday Luke 19:28-40 “As he rode along, the people were spreading their cloaks on the road.” (Luke 19:36) Consider how useless it is to spread your clothes on the ground for a donkey to walk on. The clothes get smeared with hooves, and who knows the grimy places where they’ve been? The animal may leave some unsavory presents on them. They may get stolen by a thief looking to make a buck. The thorns, thistles, rocks and muck of the road will leave stains. The clothes may never be useful again, and you’ll probably walk home shivering without your normal covering. Yet this is precisely the gesture the people employ to welcome Jesus and his donkey. Why does this detail matter? Wastefulness is an essential part of celebration. Consider the unnecessary extravagance of Christmas decorations, confetti and ticker tape parades, baseball players spraying each other with bottles of champagne after a victory, birthday gifts for kids and so on. This wastefulness signals celebration and therefore participation in higher identities (as believers, winners, and parents, to mention the above examples). That’s what the wasted cloaks are all about. Those who donate their cloaks participate in Christ’s kingship in Jerusalem — and we savor it two thousand years later. The lesson? Learn how to “waste” money, time, clothes, and food on Christ. We do this at Mass, but in so many other ways, too, like serving the poor, going on retreats, and doing prayerful study. When we practice this holy wastefulness, Jesus will ride into our lives and we’ll be more deeply members of his kingdom. — Father John Muir ©LPi

On Friday evening “Seven Last Words of the Lord” was enacted by our Children, helping us to begin our journey through Holy Week. We thank them, their parents, teachers and Miss Debbie Bova.

Communion Question: Why can't everyone who wants to receive Communion, receive Communion at Mass? Answer: Outside of the Church, many organizations have all sorts of requirements for membership: dues, achievements, professional standings, etc. The requirements bring the group together in common purposes and goals. Within the Church, there are also basic “requirements” for receiving the sacraments. As Catholics, we believe that the Eucharist is the true “Bread of Life.” It is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. When we receive the Eucharist, we are receiving Jesus. Out of reverence for Christ, only those in union with this teaching and in a state of grace should receive communion. As Catholics, we should abstain from communion if we are in mortal sin. While we share many articles of faith with our Protestant brothers and sisters, their understanding of this teaching is fundamentally different. For most non-Catholic churches, they do not believe that Christ becomes truly present in the Eucharist. As such, they should not receive communion in a Catholic Church. These differences are greater for people of non-Christian faiths, and even more apparent for those who do not believe in God. Receiving communion is not a right, but a gift to be accepted in humble, trusting faith. ©LPi

This weekend, we celebrate Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week! Dear Lord, I open my heart to You, offering every day and night to You in sacred surrender. I pray for the grace to accompany You in a special way this Holy Week, joining and offering the trials I encounter on our shared journey to the cross …. and to a victorious hope. Amen.

Fun Fact — The story of Jonah being swallowed up in the belly of a whale for three days symbolizes Christ being in the tomb for three days before His resurrection from the dead.

Devotions, EXPLAINED! Prayed with an ordinary five-decade Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is an intercessory prayer invoking God’s mercy on the world, utilizing words drawn from the text of The Diary of St. Faustina Maria Kowalska.

Prayer of Community — O God, Help us to see each other as You see us, not by our faults or failings, but by our identity as Your own. Give us Your eyes to see, Your heart to love. Amen.

INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK — “Go, and sin no more,” Jesus tells the woman caught in adultery. Her life, like ours, has been saved. She, like us, has a chance for a new beginning. So he begs her, and he begs us: be changed by it. Let the mercy transform you. Go, and sin no more.

GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE April 6, 2025 5th Sunday Lent John 8:1-11 “The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle” (John 8:3). Why do they make her stand in the middle? Why not expose her on the periphery? The reason is something that affects us practically every day. The center is what stabilizes a community’s identity. We humans tend to center ourselves around an accused and condemned victim — though we rarely admit it. This renews our fragile communities and our power as those who weaponize the accusation. This is effective because it is often a victim who represents something truly dangerous for the group. In this case, adultery stands for the breakdown of a community and those within it, because it forces questions like: who is my father? Whose child is this? Is this child one of us, or that of an outsider? The accusers place the adulteress in the center because their community, like most, is built around turning an enemy into a victim. Once you understand this, you’ll see it almost anywhere humans group together (families, politics, workplaces, sports, schools, etc.). The good news is Jesus exposes this dynamic by deftly pointing out the sin-infected hearts of everyone besides the woman. They all leave, symbolizing the breakdown of the old order, and she is “left alone before him.” A new community has begun, structured around the merciful love of Christ. What is in your center? What is in the center of our parish and family communities? Strive to center on Christ’s forgiveness, and we experience the new, lasting community we call the Church. — Father John Muir ©LPi

Differences Between Priest & Brothers Question: What’s the difference between priests and brothers, friars, etc.? Answer: The distinctions titles and categories used for priests and the male members of religious communities can be confusing, especially since the categories can sometimes be intertwined as a man can be both a priest and a monk, or a brother and a friar. So, to help to piece the puzzle together, it’s important to begin by noting some basic distinctions: The distinction between priests (who are ordained for sacramental ministry) and brothers (who are non-ordained members of religious communities and who are committed to lives of prayer and service). Priests: A priest is a man who has been ordained for sacramental ministry and these fall into two categories: A) Diocesan (or Secular) Priests can either be attached to a diocese and who serve under a bishop. Their ministry is usually oriented toward pastoral service. B) Religious Priests are members of religious communities (like the Franciscans, Jesuits, Salvatorians, or Carmelites) and their lives are guided by the special mission and charism of their community. While both kinds of priest practice sacramental ministry, their spirituality and how they live out their priesthood can be very different. Brothers: Brothers are non-ordained members of religious communities (such as those mentioned above) who live lives committed to prayer and service. Religious priests and brothers serve together in their communities and their ministries include much more than the care of parishes. Monks, Friars, and Canons: These are broad categories that include religious priests and brothers, and each of these is connected to specific ways of life and spiritualities. ©LPi

This weekend is the 5th Sunday of Lent. In the Gospel reading, Jesus showed mercy toward the sinful woman when others were quick to judge her. Is there someone in your life who you could show mercy over judgment this week?

Fun Fact — The 40 days before Easter are also known as "Lent," where we focus on praying, fasting, and giving alms. One could also lend books during the 40 days, though.

Devotions, EXPLAINED! A novena is a nine-day period of prayer focused on a specific topic, saint, or devotion. There are four basic categories of novenas — novenas of preparation, of mourning, of prayer, and of indulgence. This 9-day period of prayer can be traced back to the Acts of the Apostles.

April is Month of the Holy Spirit! Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth. Amen.

GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE March 30, 2025 4th Sunday of Lent John 9:1-41 A man looking a bit downtrodden approached me as I filled my car’s gas tank. He asked, “May I share with you my testimony about how good God is?” “OK,” I skeptically answered. He went on to tell me that he had been an alcoholic and drug addict, and that God had healed him; now he was four years sober. He said, “I didn’t deserve it, but now I’m a different person. God is so good! Have a terrific Tuesday!” A few minutes later, as I drove away, I saw him smiling and handing a homeless person some money. I was confronted with a choice: either he was a total fraud or God had changed him. Something had happened to him, and it didn’t seem fake. Maybe it was God. When Jesus heals the man born blind, the man becomes a challenge to everyone who meets him. They must decide. Is he the same blind person who they knew before? Who healed him and how? And what is the status of the one who can heal such infirmities? We shouldn’t be surprised at the storm of doubt, hatred and animosity that swirls around the healed man — so it often goes when Jesus heals someone even to this day. Like we often do, the religious leaders confronting the healed man declare that God is not at work. They ask with mocking superiority and dismissive disdain, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” (John 9:34). And they cast him out. When Jesus clearly works in our lives, in us or around us, we should accept it, and give praise and thanks for this wonderful manifestation of his goodness. Lenten challenge: Think of one way the Lord has healed you. Perhaps he healed a form of selfishness, a physical ailment, or something else. This week, find a person to whom you can share that testimony, and share it. Don’t worry if they don’t accept it was God who did it. — Father John Muir ©LPi

Why Wear a Roman Collar? Question: Why do priests wear a Roman collar? Answer: The practice of priests wearing the Roman collar developed in the mid-nineteenth century as an alternative to wearing the cassock which in some places was seen as impractical or which was even outlawed by anti-Catholic legislation. Since its introduction, it has taken different forms, and if you visit different countries today, you will see variation in what priests wear. The Code of Canon Law simply observes that priests wear “suitable ecclesiastical garb” according to the judgments of the national bishops conferences and local custom (no. 284). The US Bishops have instructed that outside of liturgical functions, a “black suit and Roman collar are the usual formal attire for priests. The use of the cassock is at the discretion of the cleric.” Priests who are members of religious communities are to follow the rules of their institute regarding the habit or other approved clothing. In the end, whether a priest wears the Roman collar, a religious habit, or, as is the case in many European countries, a suit and tie (to distinguish them from Protestant clergy who wear a collar) the goal of their clerical clothing is to serve as a sign of their commitment to guide and to serve, and to also allow them to be truly public figures because they are ordained for the service of all. ©LPi

This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Lent! Let us pray: Dear God, As I fast, may Your presence be my sustenance. As I pray, continue to reveal Yourself to me. As I give to others, may I know You even more deeply. Amen.

Fun Fact: Lent is a penitential season. It is a time for us to be sorry for our many faults against God and to repent and amend to do better. The way we best do this is by going to the Sacrament of Confession where we receive forgiveness for our sins.

Devotions, EXPLAINED! Traditionally said after or before receiving the Eucharist, the Anima Christi dates to the 14th century and was a favorite prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Today is the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. This is the special day that we celebrate Mary saying "yes" to becoming Jesus' mother. How have you said "yes" to Jesus in your life recently? Mary, Mother of Jesus, pray for us!

QUESTION OF THE WEEK — Jesus taught that one must repent to bear good fruit in life. Can you think of some good fruit you have borne from repenting?

LOST DOG? WE FOUND IT! This beautiful dog was found near St. Sebastian this weekend. If you are looking for this dog please reach out to us and we will connect you to the person who rescued the dog and is taking care of it.

GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE March 23, 2025 3rd Sunday of Lent John 4:5-42 My childhood best friend was Xander Price. He was the fastest runner in school, an excellent baseball player and Jewish. Though his family wasn’t intensely religious, I felt totally at home with them despite our religious differences. Everything about their Judaism seemed to undergird and strengthen my own experience of being a Catholic. I knew they didn’t believe in Jesus like my family did, but I intuited somehow that Jesus was “hiding” in their religion. Like a cat moving under a blanket, ready to emerge at any moment, the Lord was hidden there in a special way. In the Gospel for this third Sunday of Lent, Jesus says, “For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, for he wrote of me” (John 5:46). Stunning words, those. Moses wrote about Jesus. The way therefore that we come to know and believe in Jesus is to discover him lurking in Moses’ writings. The Hebrew Scripture is the wonderful womb in which Jesus gestates within a host of images: Adam, Isaac, David, Melchizedek, the Temple, sacrificed lambs, prophets and so on. Right now, in your parish’s OCIA program, soon-to-be baptized people are carefully studying where Jesus is in the writings of Moses, so that they may believe in him. This works for all of us, too, who wish to deepen our knowledge and love of Jesus. Lenten challenge: Take some time to prayerfully study one of the images of Jesus listed above in the Old Testament. Identify which one you find compelling and consider why this is so. If you don’t know where to start, begin with the prophet Jeremiah as an image of Jesus. — Father John Muir ©LP

Ministry Appreciation Dinner 2025.

MINISTRY APPRECIATION DINNER 2025.

Spiritual Communion Question: What is spiritual communion, and do you need to be in a state of grace to receive it? Answer: The practice of making a “spiritual communion” dates back several centuries and St. Thomas Aquinas described it as “an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Holy Sacrament and a loving embrace as though we had already received Him.” Traditionally, a prayer of spiritual communion has been used by those who are unable to receive sacramental communion because of health, inability to attend Mass, or who cannot receive communion because of grave sin. This practice has been encouraged by many saints and spiritual writers and most recently Pope Francis encouraged the practice when the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic prevented so many Catholics from taking part in the Mass or receiving sacramental communion. Although the graces offered in spiritual communion are not the same as those offered in the sacramental communion of the Mass, this practice is still a powerful opportunity to express our desire for union with the Lord and to be united with Christ and the Church, even in an imperfect way. ©LPi

This Sunday is the Third Sunday of Lent! In the readings we will hear about how Jesus Christ is the ever-vigilant gardener. He desires us to bloom, that we will do what we were created to do, that we will bear the fruit that God intended. Will we let him cultivate our ground and prune our imperfections? Will we let him save us?

Devotions, EXPLAINED! Taizé is an ecumenical Christian movement that is known for its distinctive style of music and prayer. Taizé devotees have carried its music and traditions to Catholic and Christian communities throughout the world.

Today is the Solemnity of St. Joseph. On this day, we honor his example of obedience to God's will and great humility as Jesus' adoptive father. St. Joseph, pray for us!

March is Women's History Month. Take a moment today to say a prayer for all of the women of the Church who humbly serve the Lord and live their faith!

Monday, March 17 is St. Patrick's Day! "May Christ be with us! May Christ be before us! May Christ be in us, Christ be over all!" -The Prayer of St. Patrick St. Patrick, pray for us!

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at St. Sebastian.

GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE March 16, 2025 2nd Sunday of Lent Luke 9:28b-36 St. Thomas Aquinas said that friends share three things: time, possessions and secrets. For example, how do I know if you’re my friend? Well, let’s say we’ve been to Mexico together, you’ve tried my shaky attempts at pasta carbonara, and you know what ridiculous costume I wore in a music video I filmed in my early twenties. We, dear reader, are definitely friends. We’ve shared time, possessions and secrets. How does friendship with Jesus develop? The same way. Jesus lives and eats with his disciples. Then he takes Peter, James and John to Mount Tabor and there reveals to them his deepest secret: his glorious, divine Sonship. The majesty of God shines from within his humanity in a way that goes beyond description. God the Father confirms this “secret,” saying, “This is my chosen Son, listen to him” (Luke 9:35). It’s all so precious that “they fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone.” Do we take time to be alone with Christ, to allow him to mystically share this “secret” with us as his dear friends? Lenten challenge: This week, identify one time when you experienced an awareness of some specific aspect of Jesus — perhaps on a retreat, at Mass, in prayer or in an act of service. Spend ten minutes consciously re-living that experience in your heart. If you can’t recall one, set aside at least two hours this Lent as a mini retreat, either alone in nature or in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Focus on him and ask him to share the secrets of his heart with you. He will. Then, as his friend, share the secrets in your heart. — Father John Muir ©LPi

Wine Distribution Question: Why haven’t Catholic Churches gone the way of disposable cups for wine distribution? Answer: If a Catholic has ever attended a Protestant worship service and saw the communion service that was offered for that community, one of the things that might have stood out was the use of small, disposable cups for distributing the wine or grape juice. This is in stark contrast to the precious metal chalices used in Catholic churches during the Mass. Although practices for Protestant Christians can vary (ranging from large shared chalices, to personal-use cups, to dipping the bread in the wine/grape juice), the norms governing Catholic practices are fairly direct: “Sacred vessels are to be made from precious metal. If they are made from metal that rusts or from a metal less precious than gold, then ordinarily they should be gilded on the inside. In the Dioceses of the United States of America, sacred vessels may also be made from other solid materials that, according to the common estimation in each region, are precious … they are to have bowls of nonabsorbent material” (nos. 328-330). Rather than being a commentary on the beliefs or practices of those other communities, these rules are intended to highlight the reverence that Catholics have for the bread and wine consecrated at Mass, which become the Body and Blood the Lord. ©LPi

This weekend is the Second Sunday of Lent. During the Gospel reading, as Peter, James and John witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration, they heard God say, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” As the season of Lent continues, what do you hope to hear from God?

Fun Fact — Lent is a time when we strive to bring our hearts back to better union with Christ. To really walk with Him and be with Him in all that we do. Whether in our fasting or praying, it's important to spend the season of Lent journeying with Christ to the cross and our salvation.

LAST DAY OF LENTEN MISSION & COMMUNAL ANOINTING OF THE SICK Tonight we will conclude our Lenten Mission with the celebration of Communal Anointing of the Sick. All are welcome.

Devotions, EXPLAINED! Christians have been making the sign of the cross since ancient times. It is not only an important component of formal liturgies and sacramental rites, but also a daily devotional practice whereby the faithful invoke the blessing and protection of God.

March is dedicated to St. Joseph! On March 19, we celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. Joseph, pray for us!

St. Sebastian Lenten Mission Begins today at 6:00 pm With Adoration of the Eucharist Followed by Lenten Reflection By Fr. Martin Fitzgerald All are welcome!

INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK — Jesus is desperately hungry when the devil tells him to turn stone into bread. But his divine will is stronger than the weakness of his human body, and he resists the devil. In this season of fasting and self-denial, let’s remember Jesus’ strength.

GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE March 9, 2025 1st Sunday of Lent Luke 4:1-13 One of the most fascinating moments in American history is when George Washington could have become the king of the newly liberated United States and didn’t. At the height of his power and fame, on Dec. 23, 1783, he resigned his commission as Commander-in-Chief, and went home. The astonished King of England remarked that in doing so, Washington was “the greatest man in the world.” Greatness is often defined by what we could do but don’t. Greatness is measured by the temptations we overcome. Jesus’ greatness is revealed in his victory over temptations, too. The three offered him by the devil contain, we might say, all potential possible temptations: food, power and fame. They correspond to the triple human needs of body, soul and spirit. In overcoming these three, he says “no” in essence to every and even the greatest temptation. We see that every desire of his humanity — body, soul and spirit — is perfectly united to God, to love. This is a power available to each member of his body. It is the path to true greatness. How can we, who so easily fall into even small temptations, find the power to overcome large ones? By entering into the great dynamics of Jesus’ temptations. Lenten challenge: This first week of Lent, list some concrete ways you can overcome temptations that correspond with your desires. For example, you may give up snacks between meals, choose not to participate in an activity of which you are an expert, and decide to reduce social media posting by 50%. It may not seem like much, but by saying “no” to the tyranny of food, power, and fame (in this example), you’ll discover true greatness. — Father John Muir ©LPi

Confession & First Communion Question: Do children need to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before their First Communion? Answer: For centuries the Catholic Church has taught that a person needs to be in a state of grace (free from mortal sins) in order to worthily receive the Eucharist. To that end, Catholics should make an effort to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation any time they recognize the need for the sacrament (and in keeping with the precept of the Church that asks that we celebrate this sacrament at least once each year). In the case of children preparing for their First Communion, the Code of Canon Law is very clear that they should also celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation before receiving the Eucharist for the first time: “It is the responsibility, in the first place, of parents and those who take the place of parents as well as of the pastor to see that children who have reached the use of reason are correctly prepared and are nourished by the divine food as early as possible, preceded by sacramental confession” (Canon 914). While some might question the significance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation — especially in the case of children who might not fully understand the reality of sin or the meaning of the sacrament itself — a child’s “First Confession” can be a wonderful time for families to reflect together on the quality of their relationships, how they put their faith into practice, and, when it is possible, to celebrate the sacrament as a family. In the end, the celebration of these two sacraments marks important moments in the spiritual journeys of children and we hope their “First Confession” and “First Communion” help instill in them a love of the sacraments of the Church.

This upcoming Sunday is the First Sunday of Lent. In our second reading, we hear how Paul encouraged the Christians in Rome to have a genuine faith in Jesus in both heart and mind. As the season of Lent begins, how might you show others the sincerity of your faith?

Devotions, EXPLAINED! Though an icon depicts an image, it’s much more than a religious picture. An icon is visual theology. It expresses the same truths written in the Gospel, but through an artistic medium, mirroring how Christ’s incarnation made the Word visible to man in the flesh.

ASH WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE 7:00am Service of distribution of Ashes 8:30 am Mass with distribution of Ashes 10:30 am Service of distribution of Ashes 12:00Noon Service of distribution of Ashes 5:30 pm Service of distribution of Ashes 7:00pm Mass with distribution of Ashes

Whether you call it Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Pączki Day, Mardi Gras, or something else, the day before Ash Wednesday is a special one! Take time today to prepare your hearts for Lent and consider how you will live your faith during this upcoming liturgical season.

LIVE THE LITURGY — Remove the beam from your own eye, Jesus reminds us, before removing the splinter from your brother’s. This doesn’t mean we should not help each other to be holy. But holiness must come from within. If we don’t have it, we can’t share it. Are we looking hard enough at our own souls?

GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE March 2, 2025 8th Sunday of Ordinary Time Luke 6:39-45 One of the things that older pastors and younger priests occasionally quarrel about is the proper balance between work and prayer. I know one pastor who complains that his younger associate ignores the people and the parish because he wants to spend more time in prayer. And the young priest complains that the pastor gives him too much work to do and no time to pray. The Lord’s words this Sunday speak into this tension with an image that can help us find a proper balance between life and prayer. Jesus says, “For every tree is known by its fruit. For people do not pick figs from thorn bushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles” (Luke 6:44). When we are deeply rooted and cultivating our relationship with Jesus, we are going to bear the fruit of that love in our lives. No fruit, no good prayer. How do we know that we are praying well? We are experiencing concrete fruits of love for others in our lives. Someone who prays well will, sooner or later, burst forth the “figs” and “grapes” of acts of love. But without concrete commitment to deeds of selfless service to others, our prayer time is as useless as thorn bushes and brambles. Let’s recommit ourselves to be men and women of prayer and service. And hopefully the pastors will help their associates to pray and serve fruitfully…with minimal quarreling. — Father John Muir ©LPi

Confirmation Sponsor Question: What are the requirements for being a confirmation sponsor? Answer: Although many dioceses have specific requirements for who can be a sponsor for the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Code of Canon Law identifies certain requirements that are true for all dioceses and parishes. First, the sponsor should be chosen by the one to be confirmed (or, in some cases, by the parents or even the pastor). Second, a sponsor must be at least sixteen years old (unless the local bishop has chosen another age, or a special exception has been made). Third, the sponsor must be a Catholic who has been confirmed and who has already received the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Beyond this, they must lead “a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on.” Fourth, they can have no sort of canonical penalty or impediment. Finally, they cannot be either the father or mother of the one to be confirmed (See Canons 893, §1 and 874, §1). In some cultures, it is customary for one of the confirmand’s godparents to act as sponsor, although this is not required by Church law. To learn about the requirements for your parish or diocese, you can consult your pastor or your parish or diocesan director of religious education or the diocese’s office liturgy and worship. ©LPi

In this weekend's Gospel, we hear “A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Lk 6:45) See you at Mass!

Fun Fact: When celebrating the Sacrifice of the Mass, priests wear special garments known as vestments. They wear the Amice, the Alb, the Cincture, the Stole, and finally the Chasuble, the colorful outer garment.

Devotions, EXPLAINED! Fasting was practiced by righteous men and women of the Old Testament and later by Christ himself. It remains an important part of the Christian devotional life today, being most strongly associated with the penitential season of Lent.

Prayer of Christian Life — Dear Jesus, Help me to pray for and bless everyone I encounter, whether that be easy or hard. Help me to act in the mercy I have known through you. Help me to demonstrate generosity, as you have given so much to me. Amen.

INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK – Jesus’ message that we heard this weekend is one of radical generosity and abundant mercy, and it scandalized the people of his time. It shook them to their core. It should do the same for us. Are we ready to live as Jesus lived? Are we ready to offer love in the face of hate?

GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE February 23, 2025 7th Sunday of Ordinary Time Luke 6:27-38 One of my favorite new singers/songwriters is Noah Kahan. I’m a little biased because, like me, he is originally from Vermont. In a fine song entitled “Stick Season,” he sings of his hope to “cancel out the darkness I inherited from dad.” This lyric articulates his painful recognition of a dark spiritual “inheritance” from his father, and his hope to be free of it. We all inherit some degree of evil from our earthly forebears. It’s easy to feel doomed to repeat their darknesses. But we’re not so doomed, thank God. This week’s Gospel proclaims this. Whatever good or bad we received from our parents, we have a more definitive and perfect inheritance in God. Jesus commands us, “Be merciful just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). We have a perfect Father in heaven and are destined to inherit and reflect that perfect and merciful love. We have an inheritance of light, not darkness, and thus a whole new possibility of magnanimous love. Like any inheritance, this is a free gift to us. What are we destined to repeat? Not the darkness of our earthly parents. We are destined to be a reflection of God’s life. Jesus liberates us from the inevitability of repeating whatever evils and imperfections are in our familial or cultural upbringings. It’s time to claim that perfect inheritance. — Father John Muir ©LPi

Is Gossip a Sin? Question: Is gossip a mortal sin? Answer: To really ask this question, we must consider the Eighth Commandment: “You shall not bear false witness.” In its reflections on this commandment, The Catechism of the Catholic Church invites us to not only think about what bearing “false witness” means, but to also consider how we understand the truth and how we communicate more broadly. This is why so much of this section of the Catechism has to do with the gift of language. With this in mind, we will notice that the word “gossip” isn’t used by the Catechism. Instead, we find the words “detraction” and “calumny,” which are actually two forms that gossip can take, and both can be quite serious. First, detraction is the of revealing “another’s faults and failings to persons who did not know them,” without morally valid reasons. Calumny, by extension, is saying something about another person that is untrue, and it is sinful because it “harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgements” (see no. 2477). In all of our communication, we have to always recognize that we have a moral obligation to the truth and to always work to protect the reputation and honor of our neighbors (see no. 2479). Gossip can, in fact, prove to be a very serious sin. After all, the Catechism reminds us: “No one is bound to reveal the truth to someone who does not have the right to know it” (no. 2489). When we have gossiped, especially if we are aware we have damaged another person’s good name or reputation, we want to make every effort to undo the damage we have done, including seeking the grace and forgiveness offered in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. ©LPi

This weekend at Mass, we will hear about how Jesus presented his followers with some very challenging morals: love your enemy, do not retaliate, and always be willing to forgive. Does this high moral standard seem possible for you personally?

Fun Fact — The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter honors Peter as the head of the apostles, and by extension, the pope as the head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Devotions, EXPLAINED! Since the earliest days of the Church, Christians have meditated upon Christ’s passion and death. Over the centuries, the Stations of the Cross was popularized as a devotional means to experience the places and moments central to the story of Holy Week.

LIVE THE LITURGY — Too many of us make the mistake of expecting prosperity here on Earth as a reward for following Christ. But Jesus is very clear: sorrow and hardship are a part of life. But when we offer these sufferings to Christ, they become transformed. They become blessed. And so do we.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK — We heard this past weekend how Jesus brought comfort to those struggling in life and challenged those who lived a life of ease. Is there someone you know who could benefit from your words of comfort this week?

GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE February 16, 2025 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time Luke 6:17, 20-26 I craved four things as a teenager: success in sports, food, fun and the attention of popular people. However, I noticed that as I acquired them, I was more unsatisfied than before. So, I’d strive even more energetically, achieve more, and the sense of emptiness was greater still. These four things started to feel like burdens or even curses. Soon after, I encountered Christ in my high school youth group. Experiencing his love was totally different than anything those four things previously produced. It produced a lasting happiness. Jesus utters a kind of four-fold curse in this week’s Gospel of Saint Luke’s “woes”: “Woe to you who are rich…who are filled now…who laugh now…who are well-spoken of” (cf. Luke 6:24-26). How marvelous that these correspond perfectly to the four things that obsessed my teenage soul: riches, food, laughter and good reputation. The “woes” the Lord speaks are warnings: when those things are the purpose of your life, you’ll be miserable. He is saying, “You’ll be happy, or blessed, in the measure that these things do not determine the shape of our lives, and the kingdom of God does.” To some degree, we’re all spiritual teenagers, addicted to one or more of those four “woes.” How splendid that the Lord wants his to bless us — that is, to satisfy us, make us laugh with joy, and in the kingdom of God, offer us what will truly satisfy us. But first let’s admit what is causing our “woes.” — Father John Muir ©LPi

Saint Vs. Blessed Question: What is the difference between a “Saint” and a “Blessed”? Answer: The process of proclaiming someone as a saint in the Catholic Church has evolved over the course of many centuries. In the beginning, those honored as saints were almost exclusively biblical figures or martyrs. However, after the legalization of Christianity in the fourth century, new holy women and men came to be honored as saints, and this was often done by popular acclaim or by the local bishop or abbot. It was Pope Gregory IX (who was pope from 1227 to 1241) who officially proclaimed that only the pope had the authority to add someone to the official list (the “canon”) of saints. This is the meaning of the word “canonization.” Today, the saint-making process includes several steps, including detailed studies of the person’s life and a recognition that they died as a martyr or lived a life of “heroic virtue.” Once someone is recognized as a martyr or if a miracle is attributed to their intercession, they will be beatified and honored as “Blessed.” This means that they can be celebrated by Catholics in a particular country or region or by the members of certain religious community. If another miracle occurs and is approved, then the “Blessed” is canonized and honored with the title “Saint,” meaning that they are now officially recognized as a universal model of holiness and an intercessor. ©LPi

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