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On Monday, December 13th, twenty men safely gathered at Transfiguration Parish in Maspeth, NY for our annual Christmas celebration. It was good to be in person this year. Although a few of our men had to cancel due to Covid, we managed to still gather in fellowship. As we know, this year was one of changes and challenges— and that was surely   present for us that night. We started the night with Mass (instead of ending with it) Matt Bellis has been our vocalist/guitarist at previous Christmas gatherings but was unable to attend this year (we missed you, Matt!). Msgr. Joe Calise said a beautiful Mass, gathering us around the altar in true Cursillo style. His homily made us think about the fact that as situations change (whether we agree or not), it’s always us who have to take a look deep within. He set the tone for a great night to follow for dinner and sharing. After an array of desserts,  we had one large sharing circle instead of breaking up into groups. The men all needed to hear what each one present had to say. The sharing was deep, intimate and much needed. As the men were speaking, I wrote down some key phrases and (with their permission) was allowed to share them with you: “It feels so right,” “I missed you all so much,” “You guys feed me,” I was spiritually bankrupt during COVID,” Our Zoom meetings really helped me,” “This filled my tank,” “God is with us, so why do we worry,” “Cursillo has always been my lifeline,” “ I had more time to listen to God,” “I always feel better when I leave you guys,” “Since my Cursillo, everything about me has changed.”

All in all, with all changes this year, it didn’t matter. What mattered is that 20 men were able to be with each other and share our faith, challenges and renewal to Christ!
Happy 2022 everyone and let’s all hope that it will be a better year for all of us . DeColores!   

 

Happy New Year to All!

On December 7th our Monthly Ultreya was replaced by the Annual Advent Prayer Service. This year we were able to put together an almost totally media filled presentation thanks to Theresa McHugh and her computer skills, and Tom Leavens who was able to present our program! A special thanks to Tom for also reading a prayer.

Our program’s theme, Mary’s Yes, put together by Ann Marie Dodd,  Jo Anne Ayers and Theresa McHugh, was a spirit filled program. We saw, though Our Blessed  Mother Mary, her willingness to put her Lord God first and to be a part of His plan for salvation for the world. For Mary, her YES, was the answer to an invitation from God.  Mary is our model, she inspires us because she said YES first, she said YES for us. Mary is a shining  example of trusting God and for us to say YES to His path for us.

Through prayer, song, poem and movie clips all of our  senses were engaged; allowing us to have a real impression of what it was like for Mary and Elizabeth during that time.  We were able to see and feel the genuine love for the Lord not only with Mary, but with Elizabeth also. They came together to comfort, encourage, support and inspire one another as they shared their faith filled journey bringing light into each other’s lives. Mary and Elizabeth leaned on each other and showed us how to be there for each other and to love, as Jesus taught us, unconditionally,

The evening concluded with sharing from the community.

 

Stand at the crossroads and look,

Ask for the ancient paths;

Which was the good way?  Take it

And you will find rest for yourselves.

Jeremiah 6:16

Life is a journey.  We are always “on the road”.  Each time January greets us, we have an opportunity to pause, to see where we have been, to      notice how far we have come, and to ponder how that journey has been for us.  Each new year is also a time to clear our vision, to take stock of our resources, and to refresh our dreams.

There are times when we may feel stuck in a rut, facing a dead end, or caught up in a very ordinary pattern of life.  Yet, if we pause to look deeper, to examine our life more closely, we will see that many people and events have called us to growth.

Who knew that I would learn how to Zoom!  Through the gift of Zoom, I was able to “see” people that I haven’t seen in a while and on a regular basis.  I was able to faith share with them.  Those sessions have greatly enhanced my spiritual life. This pandemic has caused many of us to change our ways.  If we look real hard, we can see some gifts that this pandemic has brought.  Maybe you can’t see the gifts because you have lost a loved one, and that can be very difficult. Hopefully, if you look real hard, you can see at least one gift.   Our daughter did not have the big wedding that she always dreamed of, but she had a quiet wedding on the beach in Florida.  I spent more quiet time at home.  Sometimes that was a gift and sometimes it was a pain in the neck!

As we look back over the journey of the past year, it is helpful to identify the places that blessed us, affirmed us, enlivened us and enriched us.  We also need to reflect on the situations that     challenged us, tested us, discouraged us, or even tried to destroy us.

Where was God in all of this?  Did you talk to Him?  Cry to Him?  Get angry with Him?  Praise Him?  Did you remember that He was here with you through it all?  I know for me, it’s how I have made it through this pandemic so far.

Think about some of these questions:

Who are the people or events that called you to growth last year?

What are the places that blessed you, affirmed you, enlivened you and enriched you?

What situations challenged you, tested you, discouraged you or even tried to destroy you?

Are there things you want to do differently in 2022?  Are there things you want to do the same? 

Whatever you do, remember that God is always there with you.  Rely on Him.  He will show you the way.  Happy  New Year and De Colores

 

Merry Christmas! I pray this finds you fully alive in the awesomeness and wonder of this amazing God of ours as we celebrate His breaking into our humanity…

Christmas brings the hope, joy, and the confidence we sometimes forget in the busyness of our lives, of knowing He is born in us every single day if we choose to live in that reality…

And let that choice always be a yes, especially right now in this time and place of darkness, our world and our society have repressed the hearts of many, and maybe for you and I at times as well…

But Christmas reminds us again and again that the Light of Christ can never be shut out, can never be dampened, can never be taken away… you and I are called to be the proof of that reality…

So, let us encourage one another to lift our hearts and minds to God – it’s where life happens and freedom awaits!

It’s time for us to get back in “spiritual shape” – time for us to step out of this darkness – take a leap of faith – take a chance – it’s our calling… And you and I know this “because following Jesus was never meant to be safe.”     

In the next few days, we will be entering into a brand-new year, a fresh start, a reset, let’s make it a “spiritual reset.” 

Let’s live “out loud” the Jesus alive in us!

I recently read one of Richard Rohr’s daily meditations where he quotes Thomas Merton.

“Make ready for the Christ,

whose smile like lightning,

set’s free the song of everlasting glory that now sleeps,

in your paper flesh, like dynamite”

 He goes on to say: 

“The birth of Christ in our souls is for a purpose beyond ourselves: it’s because His manifestation in the world must be through us.”

So, are you ready? I mean does anyone have a match out there?

Let’s light the fuse…

That having been said, I‘m really excited to announce that we now have 2 men’s Cursillo weekends planned for 2022!

The first will be held at the Seminary of The Immaculate Conception in Huntington on May 19-22

The second will be held at Thomas Berry Place in Jamaica Estates on Sept 29-Oct 2 

 God has a plan for all of us in this encounter we know as Cursillo – let’s make ourselves ready!

 Peace, and every bit of what God offers… Jim  

 

This morning, when you got out of bed, did you look in the mirror?  Maybe comb your and hair, brush your teeth, taking steps to change your appearance?

Changing our physical appearance can be simple, how do we change our inner self?

The guided meditation, that was presented in October, began with a knock at my door and Jesus entering as my guest. After a sense of awe, I invite Him in. His manner is extremely comforting, and I immediately want to have a cup of coffee with Him and serve food. In the gospel stories, Jesus has typically asked if there was anything to eat, to share a meal with the disciples.

However, that is not the reason for the visit. Jesus is going to read a passage to me, St Paul’s letter, 1Corinthians, chapter 13, the virtue of love.

 Jesus has a large hand mirror and holds it up to His face as he reads the scripture, using God in place of the word love. I watch Jesus’ face as He speaks aware that I am in the presence of God, who is love. I am smiling.

 One of the questions: What was it like to for me to look at Jesus in the mirror as He spoke?

 My first thought: I saw His incredible love for me. And at the same time knowing that I am flawed. Do I reflect the compassion and love I see in Jesus to others?

There has been an analogy that the “Bible is a mirror”.  The word of God and the light of the Holy Spirit will reveal the changes needed to be the person God has meant me to be. I can learn by reading scripture and following the word of God. The Bible is God’s gift to us. When we look at ourselves in the mirror of God’s word, we can see where we need to change, our appearances will be changed through the gifts of grace offered to us.

Paul wrote that love never fails and endures forever. Verse 12-13: “for now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope, love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Our faith is the foundation, hope is our focus and love is our service to others.

“Our goal is simply to stand before God with a prepared and willing heart and then let God do His work.”

May the Holy Spirit lead you and show you your reflection in the mirror of Christ.

 

The Christmas Season is always bittersweet for me. It all started in December 1977. Members of my family were back and forth to the doctor due to the flu or upper respiratory infections. On Saturday evening, December 10 my mother experienced an episode and went to the ER the next morning with my dad. All was well. She did not experience a heart attack – rather a reaction to newly prescribed medications.

 

That Sunday night my dad headed to the 5:30 Mass only to return within 30 minutes complaining of nausea and other symptoms. The assumed culprit was the flu. In reality, it was a heart attack. My dad was admitted to the hospital and by all accounts was doing well until he wasn’t. On Saturday, December 17 we returned home from the Funeral Mass of a close family friend in the parish only to get a call to come immediately to the hospital. It was a long day. I remember praying in the St. John’s Hospital Chapel, “God, please let my dad live.” By 7:00pm that evening my dad, age 47, passed into the arms of God. On December 27th my mother turned 46. In a matter of days my mom lost her best friend, Joanie and the love of her life, Jim. Me, I was numb.

 

It was the outreach of close family, friends, neighbors and the parish community that saw us through. And isn’t that what Christmas is about – community and outreach to one another so that we are reminded of the joy of the season – that God chose to understand our reality by becoming one of us.

 

Death is a part of our human reality, a very painful part that shapes our lives for better or worse. As we close this Year of St. Joseph I cannot help but wonder how old Jesus was when Joseph died? The last mention of Joseph in the New Testament occurs when Jesus is about 12 years old.  I wonder who Mary turned to for community and financial support.

 

May we as the St. Paul’s Community look around our neighborhoods, parishes and workplaces and seek out those who mourn or are lonely during this festive time. In reality the Menorahs, Kwanza Kinara, with its seven candles and Christmas Trees and the house lights that shine brightly, are ways that religious and secular cultures keep the reality of darkness at bay.

 

Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world! Science tells us we are a walking energy field! Let’s radiate God’s love and compassion this Christmas Season! Let us be beacons of hope for those who experience oppression. Let’s keep the darkness at bay. At this moment I hear strains of, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine….let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!” How about you?

 

On November 17, 2021, the 14th session of the St. Paul’s Spiritual Enhancement series was held over Zoom Conferencing. Joe Amato invited Msgr. Tom Caserta back as a new format for the series was introduced. The series will continue every other month (rotating with Darlene McGovern’s Guided Meditation program) with an invited guest speaker to present a topic. This session was called, “Know Yourself & the Spiritual Journey.” After Joe led us in prayer and introduction, Msgr. Tom used the Know Yourself talk outline from Cursillo and expanded on it, referencing scripture, saints & great Church figures, and personal witness stories. It was beautiful, thought provoking and inspiring. Msgr. Tom ended the session with the Thomas Merton prayer depicted below, followed by answers to questions & comments shared by the attendees. The evening concluded with Joe Amato playing the Cyndi Lauper song, “True Colors.”

A recording of the session is available on our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBi2rBWdfnE

Please watch it and be moved by it – and share it with the people in your lives. They will come to know Cursillo from it!

 

On November 10, 2021, we invited God to whisper in our ears. That was when we participated in an evening of prayer led by Joe and Catherine Amato who described how they had seen God’s hand and heard God’s voice guiding them on their journey, their marriage. They described how God had been with them in good times and in bad and continues to join them as they live out their commitment to each other.

As we listened to Joe and Catherine, we were able to recognize where God had been present in our own journey. We realized that God was with us through times of joy, pain, guilt, confusion and doubt. He was always there whispering in our ears, leading us forward.

• Sometimes we listened and heard His voice.
• Sometimes we heard nothing.
• Sometimes it was just a gentle whisper.
• Sometimes we took it on our own and didn’t listen.
• Sometimes God’s voice was so loud that we couldn’t ignore Him. It was inescapable.

We realized our own prayers were being answered.

We applaud Joe and Catherine for overcoming the limitations of a ZOOM call and creating an environment that allowed the participants to be    reflective, open and honest in the private conversations we had about our own marriages while we reflected on St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 13.

Love is patient and kind, it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not rude or selfish nor does it take offense…Love never gives up and its faith, hope and patience never fail.

We find that participating in these married couples events, whether on ZOOM or in person, helps us to stop and listen, knowing that God is     always with us. We invite you to ponder the questions Joe and Catherine asked the couples to discuss.  “Where do you need to be more patient,  more kind, more understanding and more  forgiving with yourself, your spouse or with others.”  God Bless us all.

 

 

 

On Saturday, October 23, 2021, fifteen brave souls gathered at Christus Vivit in Jamaica Estates, NY, to embark on a day retreat for Grief and Loss. Led by Jim Linden and his team of Nancy Massaro, Rich Grillo and Angel Barbara Benedict.

The day unfolded nicely, as discussions led the group to take a look at the grief and loss in their lives and how to move forward from it. Lots of emotion was shared, as well as smiles and growth. The day wrapped up with a beautiful exercise of heart. Thank you to the fifteen who joined us—we pray that your journey has lightened a bit. We will definitely run this program again, so stay tuned for your chance to join us.

Here are a few comments from the people who joined us:

“The honesty of the talks enabled me to be open and honest at table   sharing.”

“Enabled me to look at grief from a different perspective.”

“Very impactful—each speaker showed his/her courage in sharing such a personal account of his/her own grief.”

“The talks were captivating, heart felt and comforting.”

“It was effective in seeing the difference and similarity of our grief.”

“Let me know that, although my grief is individual, I certainly am not alone.”

“Very touching to share our grieving.”

The Team was described as, “Excellent,” “Spectacular,” “Cream of the crop.”

Comments for the Prayer Service and Ritual:

“Had the opportunity to say what we needed to so we could let go.”

“Extremely meaningful! The prayer service was comforting and the      message release was emotional and healing.”

“Brought grief to the forefront and enabled me to address something I am not comfortable with”. 

 

How many Advent reflections begin by reminding you that Advent is about more than buying gifts, wrapping presents, planning dinner and decorating?  Most, I’d venture to say. That’s because we easily get overwhelmed by the tasks of the season, and it helps to be reminded that we are being called to do more. So, while we know we have to attend to a host of material things leading up to Christmas, we sometimes need to be prodded to remember to tend to our spiritual needs as well. What does the Advent ahead look like for you?

I always used to think of Advent as a time of solemn reflection. Although it leads us into Christmas, with all its attendant joys, I still understood it to be a time of introspection and repentance. And of course, it is. We should all take the opportunity, as we await the coming of our Savior, to consider our own lives, to take stock of where we are, and where God wants us to be.

 Yet, even with that challenging task at hand, today I am far more taken with the idea that Advent is a time of great hope. Hope that, despite our own expectations and desires, God has things firmly in hand.

 I think about Mary, and how she had to surrender probably every expectation she ever had about how her life would turn out, and how much hope she must have held for God’s plan being manifested in her very self. Hope that God’s presence among us would save us, would change the world.

 I think about Peter, and all the apostles, and how hard it was for them to hear and understand what Jesus was saying to them — what He said was so often at odds with their own  expectations and desires. But they stayed, because in Jesus they found hope for salvation, for new life. Hope that God’s presence among them would save us, would change the world.

 I think about Paul and all the early Christians, waiting breathlessly, expectantly, for the imminent return of Jesus; and I think of John, left when all the rest had gone. Left to remind us that while He hadn’t yet returned, that day will come. He gave us hope for what awaits in the last judgment, the gateway to the Kingdom. Hope that God’s presence in the final coming will save us, and change the world — bringing us to a new, transformed existence.

 It turns out that for all the Christmas preparations that dress it up, Advent isn’t just about getting ready for the coming of the Christ child. It’s also about His presence with us every day, right now, through the Sacraments and through the Holy Spirit, helping us to prepare for the Second Coming — to be ready, to be right with God when the moment arrives when we will be saved. When the world will be forever changed.