Youth Ministry

Important Links:

Youth Minister

772-589-5790 or email Youth@stsebastian.com

This upcoming Sunday is Father's day! We will hear in the Gospel this weekend that, "Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” (Jn 16:15) St. Sebastian will be offering a Father's Day Novena Masses begining on Father's day.

Fun Fact — Nine days after Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit descended upon Mary and the Apostles in the form of fiery tongues. From this grace, the Apostles were able to speak in a way that anyone could understand them!

Devotions, EXPLAINED! The practice of praying before meals is Biblical, and in the Gospels, Jesus is shown praying before the Last Supper and other meals. In Laudato SI’, Pope Francis urged the faithful “to return to this beautiful and meaningful custom."

Prayer for Pentecost — Holy Spirit of God — Disturb this room with your presence today, filling us, empowering us, emboldening us. Descend upon us with your gifts, your inspiration, and your promptings. Lead us to where we should go, stirring within us the movement of God. Amen.

Today, June 9th, is the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. This memorial was established by Pope Francis in 2018 and is observed annually on the Monday after Pentecost, the day the church was born. Blessed Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us!

GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE June 8, 2025 Pentecost Sunday John 20:19-23 When I was a seminarian almost 20 years ago, a bank vice president taught us etiquette classes. She said, “Gentlemen, please make sure your breath isn’t bad. Take some breath mints before you hear confessions, okay?” We nervously laughed because the proximity that makes breath noticeable (whether pleasant or not) can be a bit awkward. When Jesus breathes on his Apostles (John 20:22), he must have been within inches of at least some of them. This closeness of his breath has a purpose: the purpose of forgiveness of sins. “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them” (John 20:23). Why in the world would the almost uncomfortable closeness of his breath forgive sins? In the Bible, breath is spirit or wind. It comes from above and makes that which is below to have identity. To not have a single identity is to be multiple, divided. The word “sin” comes from an ancient word that means “to split” or “render asunder.” Sin divides us sinners and the world around us; our spiritual “breath” leaves us and our identity splinters. Only breath from above restores. For example, a shattered vase is rendered whole because the craftsman breathes the spirit of the vase back into it when he repairs it. A human being shattered by sin is made whole by the breath of God, breathed by Jesus through his priests. His breath alone forgives sins. It's always done with his gentle, loving closeness. — Father John Muir ©LPi

Is it Right to Sue? Question: Is it right to sue someone? Isn't it a way of getting revenge? Answer: Revenge is inflicting harm for harm's sake, the idea of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and then some. There is often a fine line between justice and mercy, between compensation and forgiveness. Unfortunately, things can happen to us that cause harm, suffering, and damage, regardless of people's intentions. When someone is hurt, especially in such a way that special care or treatment is required, the cost of that care needs to be paid. In a perfect world, those with special needs, handicaps, or disabilities would find the help and care they need, including those who are injured or hurt. But justice is not always forthcoming, and people are not always fair. So, using the legal system to right a wrong is sometimes the only option. In some cases, it is the only way that people can get the help they need and deserve. However, frivolous lawsuits, or 'fishing for money' is not only unfair, but immoral as well. The law is there to protect people and making use of it when necessary is a good thing. ©LPi

This weekend we celebrate Pentecost! In the first reading, we'll hear about how the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and able to speak in multiple tongues so that all the people could understand them. When do you feel the Holy Spirit present in your life?

Fun Fact — St. Boniface is known as the apostle of the Germans. By the grace of God, he converted many of the pagans in Germany to Christianity. Today, June 6th, is his feast day. St. Boniface, pray for us!

Devotions, EXPLAINED! Though it is a less common practice in the modern world, early Church fathers like Tertullian and St. Jerome extolled the importance of praying after a meal, an action meant to inspire an attitude of thanksgiving and an acknowledgment of our dependence on God.

The month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This month we focus on and reflect on Jesus' love and mercy, symbolized by His Sacred Heart.

INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK — “Father, they are your gift to me.” This is what Christ says of his disciples. It is what he says of us. “I wish that where I am, they also may be with me.” Do we have the courage to be where Christ is? Can we be the gift?

GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE June 1, 2025 The Ascension of the Lord Luke 24:46-53 It was a Delta flight from Salt Lake City to Phoenix, and it looked like an on-time departure. As the large plane rolled away from the gate, the pilot announced over the intercom: “Ladies and Gentlemen, the crew outside didn’t fill up the tanks with fuel. We are going back to the gate to wait for them.” The passengers groaned with impatience. But over the next hour, we knew the waiting had a purpose: it meant fuel to get us to our destination. The disciples at the Lord’s Ascension are in a similar predicament but on a massively higher plane. They want the Kingdom of God to begin on earth as it is in heaven. But Jesus says, “I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). They stay together in prayer in Jerusalem and wait nine long days until the Holy Spirit descends. Empowered by supernatural gifts, they go forth to the ends of the earth and to their deaths proclaiming the Good News of Jesus. The wait was worth it. Before you begin a task or endeavor, do you take time to patiently pray for the Holy Spirit to come? The bigger the task, the more ardent the prayer should be. Try it this week, and you’ll be clothed with power to get where God wants you to go. — Father John Muir ©LPi

Should a Catholic Pursue an Annulment? Question: After a civil divorce, is a Catholic obligated to pursue an annulment? Answer: Many Catholics are not exactly sure what an annulment does. An annulment does not deny that a marriage took place, nor does it deny that there once was love. It does not mean that people say anything untrue, such as they never loved each other or that everything in their marriage was wrong. An annulment does not negate children, nor make them illegitimate. An annulment addresses the spiritual aspect of marriage. In effect, an annulment says that at the time of the wedding, there was either something present or something absent that prevented the sacrament from taking place. It is a spiritual determination that, if granted in the affirmative, allows a person to marry in the Church. Annulments have no legal standing and are unable to be used in a civil court. Therefore, a Catholic has no moral obligation to pursue an annulment. However, when the tragedy of divorce occurs, and there is no hope for reconciliation, annulments may help bring some spiritual closure to a person’s life. Some people have found the process to be healing and others have found it to be difficult. Speak to your priest or a member of the Diocesan Tribunal staff to decide what is best for you. ©LPi

This weekend we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus, World Communications Day, and the 7th Sunday of Easter! The Book of Revelation (and the entire Bible) concludes with John’s prayer of petition: “Come, Lord Jesus!” Is there something you really need from the Lord?

This weekend), we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ — when he returned to heaven, promising to be with us always. May we boldly share his Good News until he comes again!

Devotions, EXPLAINED! Our Lady of Perpetual Help is both a title of the Blessed Mother as well as a corresponding icon that dates to the late Middle Ages, both of which present Mary as a source of strength and comfort for Christ and his followers.

INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK — God makes His dwelling with those who love Him and keep His word. We must all make our lives places where God feels welcome to dwell. Our actions, our words, our decisions must all say in one voice: “Come, Holy Spirit!”

This Memorial Day, we honor and pray for all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. Parish office will be clsoed for Memorial day.

GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE May 25, 2025 6th Sunday of Easter John 14:23-29 Jonathan Haidt’s 2024 book entitled “The Anxious Generation” argues that today’s kids are marked by significant increases in anxiety, as the title suggests. Smartphones, social media, economic uncertainty, the chaos of a global pandemic, fear regarding climate change, and the so-called “meaning crisis” all contribute to strikingly high levels of anxiety in young people today. I’m a bit older than this generation, but I feel it, too. The world can be too much to handle. The Gospel this week offers a stunning solution for troubled souls. To his overwhelmed and anxious disciples, the risen Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (John 14:27). His peace is that of the one who was overwhelmed on the cross and then conquered death by the power of his divinity, his bond of love with the Father. He offers us this unshakeable peace. Of course, mental illness does not magically disappear because of the risen Jesus. But he does walk with us and offer us his peace in the midst of our suffering. The peace the world gives is not like his because it is weak, uncertain, and self-generated. Jesus’ peace is strong, sure, and given as a gift from God. He gives it to us amid our anxiety. Will you receive it as a gift? I hope so. He wants to fill the hearts of this generation with his peace. — Father John Muir ©LPi

Priests & Marriage Counseling Question: How can a priest counsel people about marriage when he has never been married? Answer: If a marriage counselor is in a bad marriage does that mean that he or she will be a bad counselor? If one's counseling ability depended upon first-hand experience, would that require counselors to be perfect before they can help others? Obviously not. Some of the skills necessary to help others do come out of personal life experience. But you don't need personal, first-hand experience in order to understand something. We would not think that a doctor, who is an oncologist, would not be able to treat cancer because he himself has never been sick. We also would not expect every doctor to treat cancer. It is the same with priests. Essentially marriage is a relationship and we've all been involved in different kinds of relationships: in our family, with our friends, and with God. And so counseling people about marriage is really helping them to look at the issues that really are part of their relationship, finding ways to better understand themselves in relationship to one another and in relationship to God. In many ways a priest's training, background, and experience, as well as his personal knowledge of many different relationships in families and couples, gives him a broad background from which to draw upon. Most priests are quite capable of helping couples prepare for marriage and discussing the issues that are important as they begin their life together. And they do not do it alone. With the help of married couples and specially trained counselors, most parishes offer a very good preparation for the sacrament of marriage. ©LPi

This Sunday at Mass, we hear how Jesus taught his disciples that the Holy Spirit will be sent to believers to teach them and remind them of his words. Can you share a time when you have felt inspired by the Holy Spirit? We can't wait to see you at Mass!

It is a beautiful morning in Sebastian! Praise God for one more day!

Fun Fact: In sacred art, we often see light radiating from the heads of the angels and saints. This light is known as a halo, and it's meant to symbolize that person's holiness and closeness to God.

Devotions, EXPLAINED! The words of the Hail Mary — undoubtedly the most recognizable Catholic prayer after the Lord’s Prayer — are deeply rooted in scripture, but Catholics did not begin to utilize the Hail Mary prayer in its current form until around the 11th century.

INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK — If you love like me, Jesus tells his disciples, they will know you are mine. We shouldn’t leave any room for doubt in the minds of each and every person we encounter. Let the whole world know: we love like Christ, and we belong to Christ.

Question of the Week — Jesus modeled for his disciples how to love one another. Do you have friends or co-workers who show you how to love others?

Official inauguration of the papacy of Pope Leo XIV

GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE May 11, 2025 4th Sunday of Easter John 10:27-30 A few years back, I felt as if I couldn’t hear God’s voice the way I used to. The words in the Bible seemed like cold ink on a page. Prayer felt like sitting anxiously in a lonely room. I was worried — how could I, a priest, preach or help others if I couldn’t hear God’s voice? It went on for months. Then a friend encouraged me to go on a retreat and spend as much time as possible in silence. After a day or two of quiet prayer, I noticed gentle but clear thoughts of repentance in two specific areas of my life. I asked God for the grace to change, and I went to confession. Suddenly, the divine silence that haunted me was filled with a sense of God’s closeness and goodness. I realized, gratefully, that God had been speaking to me in the quiet voice of my conscience. This week we hear Jesus say, “My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me” (John 10:27). Jesus links the hearing of his voice to following him. He speaks to us in our conscience in an intimate, personal way, when we most need to hear him. When you feel deaf to God’s voice, perhaps it is time to listen in silence for His voice in your conscience calling you to hear and follow the Good Shepherd of your soul. — Father John Muir ©LPi

Who Can Offer Anointing of the Sick? Question: Can anyone offer the Anointing of the Sick to a sick or dying person, or is that only something a priest can do? Answer: The Letter of James speaks to us of the ancient tradition of a special anointing and blessing of those who are sick: “Is there anyone sick among you? Let him send for the presbyters of the Church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord … If he has committed any sins, they will be forgiven him” (5:14, 15b). This passage forms the foundation for the theology of the sacrament that we call “Anointing of the Sick.” In keeping with what we read in the Letter of James and the ancient tradition of the Church, the anointing of a person of who sick or dying many only be performed by a priest or bishop. Although deacons and other members of the Church are not able to celebrate the sacrament with a person who is sick, we can read Sacred Scripture and pray with and for those who are ill. Resources like the Book of Blessings also contain special blessings that can be celebrated by deacons or lay ministers. In the end, we want to be sure that we show a special care and concern for the sick, helping them to always experience God’s loving comfort through made tangible through our acts of charity and service. ©LPi

This upcoming Sunday is Mother's Day! Do you or your family do something special for Mother's day?

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.

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