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 From Father Samson:

Memorial Day

 Offices will be closed on Memorial Day, May 27th , 2024. There will be a Mass with Fr. Tschakert on Monday at St. Mary’s cemetery in Aberdeen at the Fr. Schell Chapel to honor Memorial Day. Bring a chair. The chapel at the cemetery is sufficient coverage for the Mass to be prayed in a protected area, but not big enough for all our guests! Preceding Mass at 8:45 that morning the Legion will present the honor guard and have a short prayer. The first national observance of Memorial Day was celebrated on May 30th 1868. This day memorializes and honors all those who died while serving in the U.S. military. What a great reminder that we have a human need to sacrifice for a higher good. That higher good might be the survival of your family, the good of your community, the protection of your country, or even simply the good of bringing some greater joy to someone else’s life. Ultimately, we serve a higher purpose in our relationship with God who is good, and loving, and worthy of our love and affection. Death makes us eminently aware of how dependent we are. This life is not given to us as a guarantee, but as a gift. We could die tomorrow. And how good if we die aware of the higher purpose for which we live. I pray that this Memorial Day is one of great grace. And may all those in our Armed Forces who have given their lives know the peace of God.

 Peace, Fr. Samson 

Happy Mother’s Day Happy Mother’s Day to all of our moms! What would this world be without all the love, work, and sacrifice our mothers have made for us throughout the years! And even if your mother has been deceased for some time, or you never knew your mother for whatever reason, there are those women in our lives that have ‘mothered’ us still. And spiritually, we all hold Mary, the Blessed Mother, as our spiritual guide. This year Mother’s Day falls on the Feast of the Ascension. This is the event of Christ, after the Resurrection, ascending to the Father. He now departs from this world in the manner of physical presence, but by the power the Holy Spirit given at Pentecost he remains present to us still. His bodily ascension is an amazing theological fact. There is now a body like ours in heaven united to the Trinity. This serves as a foretaste of our hope for a bodily resurrection to glory in heaven. And Mary not only receives a foretaste, but the actual fulfillment at her Assumption into heaven body and soul. A mother’s love for us on earth is something unique. Jesus knew that, and experienced it with his own mother, so why wouldn’t he grant her certain privileges? Why wouldn’t he honor her? And why wouldn’t he delight in her being honored by us? For of course he does all these things. I had an experience of taking my friend’s mother out for dinner. It wasn’t planned, but the three of us went out for a nice dinner in the Twin Cities (where they live). And it was delightful! Though it took some time away from our time together as friends, it deepened our friendship in that he saw me delight in his mother’s company. And in honoring his mother, I too felt like I was honoring my friend. They are so connected! On this great Feast of the Ascension, we remember our great destiny to be bodily with God in heaven as Mary already is. May our mothers - both living and deceased - be given every grace this day as we honor their important role in our lives. 

Peace, Fr. Samson

 From Father Samson:

End of the School Year The end of the school year is upon us. We’ve already celebrated 1st communion at Sacred Heart and St. Mary’s in Aberdeen (and will do so in Westport and Turton this weekend) and welcomed Bishop DeGrood to be with us for Confirmation for Aberdeen and Westport parishes. What a gift! Graduation celebrations fill much of the weeks ahead as we honor those who have achieved an academic milestone. High School and University graduations will take a lot of our attention in the weeks ahead. And by golly, we even honor those graduating from kindergarten and those elementary students moving onto middle school! Congrats to you I guess! As exciting as high school and college graduation can be, I think this moment holds its own unique combination of excitement, relief, and yes, probably a little fear. More school is in store for some, but for others the next step is an entrance into the work place. We give a lot of praise to our graduates; and we should. A degree of any kind is a big achievement. But sometimes accolades are confused for competence. As if this achievement of a degree means the work is done. But it is now that life begins! I think of my own experience of finishing seminary, getting ordained, and then jumping into the priesthood. Those first two years of priesthood taught me more than all eight years of higher education combined. And that’s not a knock on my professor’s or seminary training, it’s just the way it is. You learn by doing. Just as seminary cannot fully prepare you for priesthood and marriage prep cannot fully prepare couples for married life, so high school or college cannot fully prepare you for the years of work ahead of you. Besides, if we spend our time always striving to be perfectly and completely prepared, we will never begin to ‘do’. Being perfectly prepared is a myth, and a myth that paralyzes too many into inaction and mediocrity. So, congratulations to all the graduates out there. This is a great accomplishment. And if amidst the praise there is a tinge of worry, or you feel a little bit uncertain, then good, you are doing it right. But take a deep breath, refuse to be

Peace,

Fr. Samson 

The readings for this Easter season remind us again of the extraordinary claim that Jesus died and rose from the dead. This is an amazing fact for the apostles. This is an amazing fact for us! We also must ask: if Jesus is alive, where is he? How is he present for us today? We must all grow in a deeper awareness of how Jesus lives in each us of and how our communal life with one another makes him present again. He is present in the body, his Church, of which we belong. Also sacramentally, Jesus remains present for us. The scriptural evidence that Jesus truly gives us his body and blood to eat and drink is prevalent. Besides the bread of life discourse in John we have the institution narratives: (Mt 26.2628; Mk 14.2224; Lk 22.19f; 1 Cor 11.2325), and the teaching of St. Paul: (1 Cor 10.16f; 11.2729). Though in the form of bread, what is on the altar after the words of consecration becomes the substance of Jesus’ body and blood. Along with scriptural evidence we have historical testimony that Christians from very early on believed that the Eucharist they received was truly the body and blood of Jesus. Here are some quotes from saints in the early church: St. Ignatius of Antioch, (From the year 107 A.D.). “Do confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of the savior Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins, and which the Father in His loving kindness raised from the dead” (O’Connor 15-16). St. Justin Martyr, in his First Apology, written around the year 155 A.D.: “For we do not receive these as common bread and common drink; but just as Jesus Christ our Savior, having been made flesh by the word of God,… so likewise have we learned that the food over which thanks has been given by the prayer of the word which comes from him… is the Flesh and Blood of the same incarnate Jesus”. St. Irenaeus of Lyons, about the year 185 A.D.: “This chalice which is of creation, He has confessed to be His very blood, which was shed and which nourishes our blood; this bread, which is of creation, He has confessed to be His very own body, which nourishes our body”. What a gift it is to be Catholic! I hope you have a great week and continue to draw deeper into the mystery of God’s love through the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Fr. Samson Reminder, it is not appropriate to chew gum at Mass. If a Catholic plans to receive communion they must observe the one hour fast from food before reception. This includes gum. Thank you! 

From Father Samson:

Here it is. The first combined bulletin for Blessed Sacrament pastorate! Give us patience as we work out the details. Patty Simon at St. Mary’s is our bulletin captain and all submissions should be emailed to her by Monday noon for consideration in the bulletin. In formatting this first edition, we studied what four or five other pastorates in our diocese have already done with their combined bulletins. We took what we liked from their efforts and tried to avoid what we didn’t like. Fr. Schulte has a graphic design degree from SDSU so we used his expert eye. Even with all this, we know that our first few tries will result in some needed changes as we adjust to an earlier deadline. Most of all, we will try to be accurate and clear so that the bulletin can be a reliable source of information for all. We hope down the road to move to one website for the pastorate, with individual parish tabs for specialized information. Congratulations to our students at St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart who received their first communion last Sunday! What a gift to see their excitement and joy in receiving Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament for the first time. This is a heavy sacramental season as we welcome Bishop DeGrood to Aberdeen this weekend as he offers the Sacrament of Confirmation at St. Mary’s. Sacred Heart Aberdeen and Sacred Heart Westport students will also be confirmed at this special 1:30 Mass on Sunday April 21st . Pray for these students and their families that they be open to all that the Holy Spirit desires to give them! 

Peace, Fr. Samson 

From Father Samson:

First, thank you to everyone who participated in Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil) services. What a great three days. What a gift to pray in full  churches.

Second, we will begin having ONE bulletin for the entire pastorate beginning next weekend. This will allow some clearer and more consistent communication at Blessed Sacrament pastorate.

Third, our new pastorate name of “Blessed Sacrament” in no way negates or replaces our individual parish or institutional patronage or branding. St. Joseph’s in Turton is still St. Joseph’s, St. Mary’s is still St. Mary’s, St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center is still St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center, etc. The new name of Blessed Sacrament gives us a way to refer to the pastorate as whole, so instead of saying “pastorate 4”, we can now call our whole pastorate “Blessed Sacrament” for easy reference.

Fourth, an appeal for your patience. Many of you have asked about the townhall #2 questions that were submitted. I neglected to act quickly on this. We are in the works to make an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page and sharing that far and wide. This will take into consideration all the comments from the surveys, as well as both townhalls.

Fifth, Happy Easter! It is still Easter Season and we must continue to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus and live in the hope we have in Christ. Sixth, it is officially 1st Communion, Confirmation, and Graduation season. Perhaps you are looking for a nice card or gift for your loved one on these special occasions, but please don’t neglect to actually pray for them as well. Like actually pray for them. Stop in and pray in your local Church for 15 minutes in front of the tabernacle for their intentions, say a rosary for them, or offer a sacrifice of some suffering your life for them.  Do this first and then get a nice card/gift.

Happy Feast of Diving Mercy! Since the year 2000 this second Sunday of Easter is dedicated to the Divine Mercy of our Lord. Below is some further information with my emphasis added.

Happy Easter and Feast of Divine Mercy!

-Fr. Samson

FEAST OF MERCY

During the course of Jesus’ revelations to Saint Faustina on the Divine Mercy, He asked on numerous occasions that a feast day be dedicated to the Divine Mercy and that this feast be celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. This Feast was granted to the Universal Church by Pope John Paul II on 30 April 2000. In a decree, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments stated that throughout the world the Second Sunday of Easter will receive the name Divine Mercy Sunday, a perennial invitation to the Christian world to face, with confidence in divine benevolence, the difficulties and trials that mankind will experience in the years to come.

Jesus said to Sister Faustina: Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. This Feast emerged from the very depths of My mercy, and it is confirmed in the vast depths of my tender mercies.

On one occasion, I heard these words: My daughter, tell the whole world about My

Inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and

especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour

out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul

that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of

sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are

opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so

great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity.

Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every

soul in its relation to Me will I contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast

of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. Mankind will not have peace until it

turns to the Fount of My Mercy. (Diary699)

Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy, but there must also be deeds of

mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to our neighbors always

and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to absolve yourself from it. (Diary742)

I want to grant complete pardon to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy

Communion on the Feast of My mercy. (Diary1109)

From Father Samson:

From Father Samson:

Happy Easter! The Lord is risen from the dead! I share with you words from Pope Francis given at the Easter Vigil. These are profound and should draw our attention whenever he preaches:

This, then, is what the Passover of the Lord accomplishes: it motivates us to move forward, to leave behind our sense of defeat, to roll away the stone of the tombs in which we often imprison our hope, and to look with confidence to the future, for Christ is risen and has changed the direction of history. Yet, to do this, the Pasch of the Lord takes us back to the grace of our own past; it brings us back to Galilee, where our love story with Jesus began, where the first call took place. In other words, it asks us to relive that moment, that situation, that experience in which we met the Lord, experienced his love and received a radiantly new way of seeing ourselves, the world around us and the mystery of life itself.

Brothers and sisters, to rise again, to start anew, to take up the journey, we always need to return to Galilee, that is, to go back, not to an abstract or ideal Jesus, but to the living, concrete and palpable memory of our first encounter with him. Yes, to go forward we need to go back, to remember; to have hope, we need to revive our memory. This is what we are asked to do: to remember and go forward! If you recover that first love, the wonder and joy of your encounter with God, you will keep advancing. So remember, and keep moving forward. 

Remember your own Galilee and walk towards it, for it is the “place” where you came to know Jesus personally, where he stopped being just another personage from a distant past, but a living person: not some distant God but the God who is at your side, who more than anyone else knows you and loves you.

Brother, sister, remember Galilee, your Galilee, and your call. Remember the Word of God who at a precise moment spoke directly to you. Remember that powerful experience of the Spirit; that great joy of forgiveness experienced after that one

confession; that intense and unforgettable moment of prayer; that light that was kindled within you and changed your life; that encounter, that pilgrimage... Each of us knows where our Galilee is located. Each of us knows the place of his or her interior resurrection, that beginning and foundation, the place where things changed. We cannot leave this in the past; the Risen Lord invites us to return

there to celebrate Easter.

 Remember your own Galilee and walk towards it, for it is the “place” where you came to know Jesus personally, where he stopped being just another personage from a distant past, but a living person: not some distant God but the God who is at your side, who more than anyone else knows you and loves you.

Brother, sister, remember Galilee, your Galilee, and your call. Remember the Word of God who at a precise moment spoke directly to you. Remember that powerful experience of the Spirit; that great joy of forgiveness experienced after that one

confession; that intense and unforgettable moment of prayer; that light that was kindled within you and changed your life; that encounter, that pilgrimage... Each of us knows where our Galilee is located. Each of us knows the place of his or her interior resurrection, that beginning and foundation, the place where things changed. We cannot leave this in the past; the Risen Lord invites us to return

there to celebrate Easter.

From Father Samson:

Palm Sunday kicks off Holy Week. What a beautiful time of year. I hope everyone is able to celebrate Holy Thursday Mass, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil on Saturday night and/or Easter Sunday morning Mass. So many people put a lot of hard work into making this week a prayerful experience. Our lectors, musicians, ushers, servers, those who decorate, everyone who helps make this week what it is: thank you!

We do a lot of preparation for things that are important. We will have rehearsals for some of this week’s liturgies. Choirs have been and will be practicing, our servers will practice and our lectors are busy reviewing the readings. The Catholic liturgy is a prayer to God the Father; it is given to us from the Church and should be done well.  The priests aren’t winging it up there! There is some flexibility and room for spontaneity of course, but what a gift to be Catholic and participate in liturgies that are thousands of years old and have a reliable structure.

Again, we prepare for things that are important. The Mass is important, so we prepare. Most of us do not have a “position” to partake in this week during each celebration, but everyone participates. We are all there with our hearts and minds attentive to God before us, attentive to Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. Everyone’s participation and preparation is needed! Let us all prepare our hearts to be ready.

From Father Samson:

We all seem to know St. Patrick’s day is March 17 th . For those of Irish heritage in America this is a day to celebrate. Many Irish immigrants endured great persecution for their Catholic faith as they came to America. Undoubtedly, part of the ‘hype’ of this day in America as a celebration of St. Patrick is also to remember those Irish Catholic men and women who persevered through those difficult early years here in America. Liturgically, it is celebrated at Mass as a ‘commemoration’ during Lent, not a high Solemnity that some might think it to be.

And this year March 17th falls on a Sunday, and so at Mass we will celebrate 5 th Sunday of Lent. Join Sacred Heart parish in Aberdeen for a St. Patrick’s day potluck on Sunday night! Vespers isat 5pm and the potluck begins afterward.

If you are looking for a bigger celebration in the Mass and a bit of a break from the Lent, two days later we celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph on Tuesday March 19th . We spend all Lent NOT saying or singing the Gloria, but this is one of the days we supersede that rule and give praise to God for this great saint. St. Joseph’s in Turton will have Mass in honor of their patron that evening at 5pm (as they do most Tuesdays), Sacred Heart in Aberdeen will have their normal 5:30pm Mass in honor of St. Joseph.   

An interesting biblical figure, St. Joseph served as the foster father of Jesus. We have no

recorded words from him in all of Scripture and yet we honor him as one of the greatest saints.

In a world full of noise and the seemingly inescapable distraction of the internet, his silence is refreshing. Humanity inherently fears being forgotten. Will anyone remember me? Does my life have meaning? Am I ‘leaving my mark’ on the world? Whether they be subtle or blatant, these questions can haunt us. If no answer is found we can despair and withdraw, or shout louder and seek attention. In stark contrast and in his quiet, hidden, manner St. Joseph found his greatness, his purpose and his mission in and through Christ. Would that we live like him!

St. Joseph is the patron of the Universal Church, unborn children, fathers, workers,

travelers, immigrants and a happy death. This last one is always so moving for me. We ask

Joseph for a happy death because undoubtedly his death was blessed. Tradition holds that he

died before Jesus’ crucifixion, therefore, his passing would have been with Mary and Jesus by his side. Who doesn’t want to pass from this world and into the next with Jesus and Mary by our side?

Continue to enjoy this season of Lent, the feast of St. Joseph on Monday, and may our

sacrifices continue to expand our hearts to rejoice more fully at Easter!

Saint Joseph

Pray for Us

From Father Samson:

ARE YOUR CHILDREN MISBEHAVING AT MASS? First of all, we love having kids at mass! Bring them! Even if they are noisy, parents often over-estimate the perceived disruption. Some even apologize to me after mass, but rarely do I know what they are talking about because I didn’t notice. In my opinion, there ought to be a low roar going on because there are so many kids moving, complaining, and crying! It is the sign of a healthy parish. Not having you and your children here would be sadness for us all.

There is a threshold I suppose. There is a point where the tantrum has reached fever pitch and you just need to leave the church. Remember that our obligation is to attend Mass. Your presence matters for the whole community and maybe our attention ebbs and flows. Children are inconvenient, and they should be. Sometimes they are even disruptive at Mass. At those critical moments, parents feel free to use the parish hall, the foyers, the cry room when you need to get up and take a break. But don’t leave. And don’t stay away from Sunday Mass. We need you and your children here with us.

And will you get dirty looks from older people? I sure hope not. But if you do, you know what, they need to work on themselves and their charity. Part of the mistaken mentality toward Mass is that it is treated as a private devotion by some. It’s not a private devotion, Sunday Mass is a public prayer, a communal event. Granted, should Mass be reverent and should we train ourselves to be silent and respectful? Yes, of course. But I know some 2-year old’s who just don’t get that yet! Bring your children. Use these spaces as you need to. But don’t deprive the community of the presence of your family.

From Father Samson:

Thank you to everyone who came to the town hall last Wednesday. I hope it was helpful for those who attended. If you were unable, we do hope to keep communicating the work that is being done as we work toward a May 1st submission of a pastoral plan for our pastorate.

In many ways, pastoral planning is something we are always doing. Fr. Tschakert ended our gathering pointing to the many cemeteries we manage that no longer have a parish connected to it and the rich (albeit, ever adjusting) faith that is evident in this region. We might be smaller, but we’ve always sort of known that, and there are many reasons to be positive.

Changes are not foreign to us even in recent years. 2012-14 saw dramatic shifts in some of our smaller towns in how they come together for worship, religious education and community events.  In 2021 Aberdeen moved to one pastor instead of two. We’ve tried various ways of living together and praying together, different Mass schedules and initiatives. Sometimes events or schedules are successful and so they become staples that are almost synonymous with our faith. Take for example the parish bazaars in Aberdeen. These have a very long history. But let’s remember that they too have been radically transformed in recent years moving from two days to one.  The St. John’s day celebration in Turton that this year was held in the fall rather than the summer as it had been for generations. We ought to keep our hearts and minds open to new ideas even for old events. Sometimes those changes will help, sometimes they will flop, but we’ll never know if we don’t try. 

One thing that we’ve tried but doesn’t seem to be gaining traction is the priests offering

Morning Prayer (liturgy of the hours) on Tuesday mornings at St. Mary’s. A faithful few have

come to pray with us, and for that we are grateful. We will, however, go back to the drawing

board and see what else might serve people better. For now no more Morning Prayer on

Tuesday mornings at St. Mary’s as we readjust.

Mark your calendar’s for Saturday June 1st ! This will be a One Vine event celebrating Corpus

Christi weekend. Saturday Masses will be canceled in the parishes and all will be welcomed to

the Civic Arena for 5pm Mass. Sunday Masses will be prayed at the usual times. A Eucharistic

procession, kids games, food trucks and live music will highlight the day as we celebrate

together as a pastorate.

From Father Samson:

How is it already the end of February? Time flies and we are already in Lent. One aspect of this season is to increase our longing and desire for the Lord. This is good to be unsatisfied and long for God more and more. I feel the world is preaching the opposite; that we must be working toward contentment and comfort, obsessed with safety. But the goal of life is not to be financially secure, or comfortably safe from life’s sufferings, sadness's and strifes. The world stifles our longing with distraction and a relentless grasping after unattainable security. So we should lean into longing and grow our desire for the infinite. While never fully fulfilled in this life, we can get glimpses here and now that there is a real fulfillment for the eternal desire of our hearts.

Here is something helpful from St. Ephrem: “Be glad then that you are overwhelmed, and do not be saddened because he (God) has overcome you. A thirsty man is happy when he is drinking, and he is not depressed because he cannot exhaust the spring. So let this spring quench your thirst, and not your thirst the spring. For if you can satisfy your thirst without exhausting the spring, then when you thirst again you can drink from it once more; but if when your thirst is sated the spring is also dried up, then your victory would turn to your own harm. Be thankful then for what you have received, and do not be saddened at all that such an abundance still remains.” Let’s grow our longing for the Lord by our penances and sacrifices this Lent.

From Father Samson

Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are the three pillars of Lent. It will be good if we all take on something intentional in each of these three areas. Here are some ideas:

Prayer: · Attend a Daily Mass. · Check the bulletin for Friday Stations of the Cross or find a version you like online and pray it at home. · Grab a “Word Among Us” at the church entryway and follow the daily Mass readings. · Go to confession

Fasting: · All Catholics are asked to abstain from meat on Friday’s in Lent.  · Give up listening to anything in the car. · Get off social media and read or listen to only local news.

Almsgiving: · This is your parish. Everything we do comes from the generosity at Sunday collections, everything from priest remuneration and staff salaries, to paying for candles and heating the Church. · If you give nothing to your parish, consider starting. · Be faithful to your volunteer commitments, or see if there is a neighbor’s need you can meet by giving time or talent.

I hope to see you all at the parish townhall on Wednesday February 21 st at St. Mary’s! We have sent out a flocknote email for question submissions. If you aren’t on our email list, sign up using flocknote!

Let’s have a great Lent!

From Father Samson

This year Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day. This solemn day of fasting and abstinence takes precedence over the celebration of love we might be accustomed to on the 14th of this month. If you want to make plans for a date night out with your special someone, it would be best to do so on a different night of the week, or wait for the weekend. Ash Wednesday is one of only two days throughout the year (Good Friday being the other) where both fasting and abstinence from meat are required. A little reminder of what that means as we enter the season of Lent:

And what is the point of all this fasting, abstinence, ashes and penance? It is all for the love of God. When we learn self-discipline and become more detached from this world, there is more room for God in our hearts. As persons having a body and a soul, we do not dismiss the importance of bodily acts for spiritual growth. Or spiritual harm either for that matter! There is a reason chastity falls under the virtue of temperance, and that denying ourselves a second dessert, a little food, or some other self-denial can give us greater self-control in other areas of our life. It is all connected. These small penances bring spiritual fruit when done joyfully, willingly, and when we see them as a way of participating in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Let’s pray for one another in these days of Lent that we might grow closer to Christ!

From Father Samson

Two important things this week:   1. CFSA starts. That stands for Catholic Family Sharing Appeal. Each parish has an assessment to reach that will be sent to the chancery to support the ministries run by the diocese. Ministries that we benefit from! The Newman Center is one of them, diocesan resourcing that I and our parish staff utilize, seminary formation, and the marriage tribunal are just a few I can think of off the top of my head that I am grateful for. PLUS, please know that whatever you give over and above our goal goes directly back to the parish you are registered. So, be generous to this and know that the over helps us immensely to reach our goals as a parish.

2. Second thing. Second in importance but first on our minds and hearts. Two parochial vicars from pastorate 4 are competing in “LAST COLLAR STANDING” at 4pm on Sunday February 4th ! This is the diocesan, survivor-style gameshow pitting priests from the Sioux Falls diocese against one another until there is only one left! Fr. Mitchell and Fr. Schulte will be part of the 12 priests competing for the title. After winning the title myself in 2022 my life was never the same with all the prizes, the fame,  and the phone calls of congratulations from celebrities. Every day has only gotten better since then. I hope Fr. Mitchell or Fr. Schulte might experience the same!! Or maybe there isn’t enough room in one rectory for this much success. Ha!  Watch live on the diocesan YouTube channel at 4pm today.

From Father Tschakert

Father Samson wrote about Catholic Schools Week, which didn’t seem to fit our bulletin, so I am the substitute columnist this week.  He also mentioned several changes in the Mass schedule for Aberdeen this week, so you might want to check a St. Mary or Sacred Heart bulletin if you’re thinking of attending Mass on a weekday this week.

This week on Friday the church will remember The Presentation of the Lord in the Temple.  This event is recorded in the Gospel of Luke and recalls the day Mary and Joseph went with Jesus to the Temple on the 40th day after His birth.  There he was recognized by an old, old man named Simon who referred to Him as the Light of Word.  An elderly woman named Anna also spoke about Jesus eagerly to anyone who would listen to her.

This day is sometimes called Candlemas Day and is day when candle are sometimes blessed for use in the church or at home.  The lighted candles a sacramental to remind us that Jesus is the Light of the World and a reminder to us to live out our baptismal commitment to let our lights shine in a cloudy world.

I am reminded of the motto of a religious group called The Christopher’s: ‘it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.’  Let’s give that one a holy effort this week.

From Father Samson

We all need a little ordinary time. Christmas and Easter are great of course and Advent and Lent give us time to prepare, but sometimes a little rhythm, a little day to day, a little normalcy, a little ordinary, can be very nice. The Church gives us this time where we don’t focus intensely on a particular aspect of the life of our Savior.

We all need a little ordinary time. God is present to us in the ordinariness of life, our duties, our work, our waking and our sleeping. In fact most of Jesus’ own life was spent in the unspectacular routine of Nazareth. He grew up, listened to Mary and Joseph, prayed, worked, ate and slept. For 30 years he did this before just 3 short years of ministry. For 30 years his life was relatively unknown, obscure, and ordinary. This is comforting to know that this time of obedience and hiddenness also saves us. It isn’t just the miraculous birth in Bethlehem, or the dramatic sacrifice of the cross, but his day-to-day life in Nazareth also plays a part in saving us. If we forget this witness, if we forget these 30 years of Our Lord’s life, we will then forget how holiness can be found in the ordinary.

We all need a little ordinary time. The problem becomes when our spiritual life becomes only about the spectacular. If retreats and conferences, hard penances and mountaintop experiences become our only measure of spiritual progress, it will be like skipping over Nazareth, ignoring Jesus’ human life. Tempted to “make something happen” we won’t understand that daily duties, the stranger passing you in the hallway, family life, waking up; can all be lived with Jesus.  And if we can search for Him, beg for Him, and find Him here in these simple moments, perhaps we can live ordinary time with some intensity. There is meaning and purpose in every moment.

Ash Wednesday is February 14 th . We have about month of ordinary time. Let’s live it well.

From Father Samson

To hear God’s voice and to truly pray in him, we must have silence. Perhaps silence seems impossible for some of us! Life is busy, the house is full of chaos, and besides that, even when the opportunity presents itself, there are so many racing thoughts to distract. Yet, it is a muscle we must exercise. Silence takes practice. We must allow ourselves and even force ourselves to enter into stillness and silence, even if just for brief moments. I’d challenge any of us to replace our “scroll” time (social media, youtube, constant news) for silence. Life will be better if we do.

Hell is noise and over-activity. Hitler said, “The least of any activity is better than anyi nactivity”. In contrast, Mozart points out in his great masterpieces that “silence is more important than the music because it allows us to enter in.” Even secular sciences are finding the need for silence, coming out with apps now that lead you in a sort of quiet meditation. As Christians we’ve known this great treasure for millennia and focus that silence on the person of Jesus.

Today’s first reading on the calling of Samuel highlights the importance of silence and listening, even if it comes during one’s sleep. Perhaps that was the only time Samuel was silent! May the good God bless all of us with a spirit of quiet in these winter days that we may hear His voice.

From Father Tschakert

This past week I attended the dedication of the new Catholic School at St. Mary’s, Dell Rapids.  This school replaces the one built in 1910.  It represents a huge commitment on the part of the parish and a sign of hope for the future of the church.

Even in parishes where Catholic schools are not present or maybe closed a long time ago, those who attended Catholic schools tend to make a big impact on the life of the parish. 

I was thrilled to celebrate with many long-time friends at St. Mary’s.

From Father Samson

Today we celebrate the Epiphany, that great moment of the arrival of the “wisemen” to see Jesus in Bethlehem. In the time of Jesus the magi were a priestly class from Persia (present day Iran). They were known for the knowledge of astrology and astronomy. When they arrived in Jerusalem seeking the “newborn king of the Jews”they did so based on their study of the sky. They responded to their findings by traveling over 1000 miles for anywhere from three to twelve months by camel.

The wise men’s presence in the Nativity story of Jesus is a great foreshadowing of the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies that read: “A star shall advance from Jacob and a staff shall rise from Israel”, (Numbers 24:17), “The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts…all kings shall pay him homage, all nations shall serve Him” (Psalm 72), and from Isaiah, “All shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord” (Is. 60:6). Take note, Isaiah says “all shall come” with gifts for the Lord. But there were only a few wise men. (Also note scripture never gives the number of magi that came to see Jesus. Because there were only three gifts perhaps that is where we get just three wise men.)

While only a few wise men came to praise the Lord that night so long ago, their presence points to the fact that one day all will come to worship this child, that Jesus will be the one to open the door for all people to worship the one true God and that all are extended this invitation into relationship with him. He is not only the “newborn king of the Jews”, he is also the king of all, the prince of peace and the savior of the world, even the savior of these strangers from the east, and yes, even my savior and your savior. We have been given a great gift in the witness of the Magi and their generous response in seeking the Lord. I don’t claim to be a genius, much less would I number myself amongst the “magi” of our modern times, but like those men from the east,

those who are today considered “wise” are those who seek Jesus.

‘We have seen his star

in the East

and have come

to give him worship.’

From Father Samson

As Catholic Christians, while we do celebrate Christmas, this is also a season of multiple holidays, or holy days. We had the birth of Christ, followed by the celebration of the Holy Family over the weekend. This week we celebrate Mary Mother of God on Monday January 1 st (not a holy day of obligation this year) followed by the feast of Epiphany when the wise men arrive to see the child Jesus. As you see, we really do have a series of holidays that call for our celebration!

I had a chance to read Pope Francis’ homily from Christmas midnight mass in Rome. He said: “Today, the Son of God is born, and everything changes. The Savior of the world comes to partake of our human nature; no longer are we alone and forsaken. The Virgin offers us her Son as the beginning of a new life. The true light has come to illumine our lives so often beset by the darkness of sin. Today we once more discover who we are! Tonight we have been shown the way to reach the journey’s end. Now must we put away all fear and dread, for the light shows us the path to Bethlehem. We must not be laggards; we are not permitted to stand idle. We must set out to see our Savior lying in a manger.”

Everything changes. So often I have to remind myself about that. I have to go back and remember that Christ being born into our world changes everything. I have to go back to that encounter with Christ again and again to let Christ define me and in fact tell me who I am. In that sense, every Christmas we “once more discover who we are.” Pope Francis continues:

“In a society so often intoxicated by consumerism and hedonism, wealth and extravagance, appearances and narcissism, this Child calls us to act soberly, in other words, in a way that is simple, balanced, consistent, capable of seeing and doing what is essential.

In a world which all too often is merciless to the sinner and lenient to the sin, we need to cultivate a strong sense of justice, to discern and to do God’s will. Amid a culture of indifference which not infrequently turns ruthless, our style of life should instead be devout, filled with empathy, compassion and mercy, drawn daily from the wellspring of prayer.

Like the shepherds of Bethlehem, may we too, with eyes full of amazement and wonder,

gaze upon the Child Jesus, the Son of God. And in his presence may our hearts burst forth in

prayer: “Show us, Lord, your mercy, and grant us your salvation” (Ps 85:8).”

Hopefully this Christmas we can go with those eyes full of wonder and amazement to

gaze upon the Child Jesus. The scene of the nativity will be up in the church for another week

or so as we continue the Christmas season. All are encouraged to reflect upon this life changing, world changing, event of the nativity and make it a point of prayer. Perhaps even stop by the church and say an extra prayer before the scene and see how it defines you, how it changes everything and makes life new again.

Tidings of

Comfort and Joy

From Father Samson

Merry Christmas!  I found this excerpt so powerful. Though long, bear with it. God gives everything.

From St. John Henry Newman: It would be well if we were in the habit of looking at all we have as God’s gift, undeservedly given, and day by day continued to us solely by His mercy. He gave; He may take away. He gave us all we have, life, health, strength, reason, enjoyment, the light of conscience; whateverwe have good and holy within us; whatever faith we have; whatever of a renewed will; whatever love towards Him; whatever power over ourselves; whatever prospect of heaven. He gave us relatives, friends, education, training, knowledge, the Bible, the Church. All comes from Him. He gave; He may take away…

We are not our own, any more than what we possess is our own. We did not make ourselves; we cannot be supreme over ourselves. We cannot be our own masters. We are God’s property by creation, by redemption, by regeneration. He has a triple claim upon us. Is it not our happiness thus to view the matter? Is it any happiness, or any comfort, to consider that we are our own? It may be thought so by the young and prosperous. These may think it a great thing to have everything, as they suppose, their own way, - to depend on no one, - to have to think of nothing out of sight, - to be without the irksomeness of continual acknowledgment, continual prayer, continual reference of what they do to the will of another. But as time goes on, they, as all men, will find that independence was not made for man - that it is an unnatural state - may do for a while, but will not carry us on safely to the end. No, we are creatures; and as being such, we have two duties, to be resigned and to be thankful.  (continued inside)

From Father Tschakert

From the very beginning, the Church has always attempted to explain the mystery that is beyond explanation, the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.  Our first sources for this teaching are the letters of St. Paul and 4 gospels.  Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell the story of the Last Supper in which Jesus offered bread and wine and said, ‘This is my Body.  This is my Blood.’  In his First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul relates the same event.

St. Luke relates the story of the disciples and the Risen Lord at Emmaus where ‘they knew him in the breaking of the bread.’  In John’s gospel, Jesus promises to ‘give my flesh to eat,’ and ‘my blood to drink.’ 

In each era of church history, the reality of the Real Presence has been explained in different ways, adapting to the intellectual needs of the era.  It has been the constant teaching of the Church from the beginning that once consecrated, the bread and wine actually become the Body and Blood of Christ.  St. Thomas Aquinas used the language of Aristotle to say that the substance of the bread and wine become the body and blood Christ, while the appearance of bread and wine remain.  This teaching about transubstantiation has stayed with the church ever since.  Its main point is that Jesus miraculously and truly becomes present on the altar during Mass.

In the last part of the chapter Bishop Barron uses more contemporary reasoning to explain the change that happens to the bread and wine.  He writes about the power of words to change reality.

However we explain the mystery of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the central affirmation is the teaching of Jesus Himself. We believe that Christ is present because He said He would be.

From Father Mitchell McLaughlin

The focus of the second part is the Eucharist as sacrifice. Bishop Barron affirms repeatedly there can be no communion without sacrifice. Union with God is achieved through sacrifice. Bishop Barron has a knack for summarizing the important parts of the Old Testament. He reviews salvation history through the lens of sacrifices. God establishes communion with his people Israel through sacrifice. I would recommend praying with these scripture passages as a practice to grow in faith. Repeatedly, Bishop Barron is able to show the importance of sacrifice. Sacrifice always comes at a cost of something living. 

The sacrifices prescribed by the Old Testament were merely symbolic. They signified, among other things, the willingness not to be attached to the material world, the retribution if the covenant was broken, God’s promise to forgive sin, God’s promise to give and sustain life, and the Lord God’s covenant with his people. These sacrifices are important because they symbolize the meaningful old covenant, however, they are not the covenant in reality. 

When Jesus enters the picture, all these merely symbolic Old Testament sacrifices receive new meaning. They are prophetic pre-figurations of the sacrifice of Jesus. In Jesus, symbol and reality meet, this is a sacrament. The Passion of Christ is sacrificial because he willingly, and lovingly, died as the cost of the entire sin of humanity. The same power of love, and willingness to make up for the loss caused by sin, that is present in Christ’s Passion and Resurrection, is present in the Eucharist. All the baptized partake of this sacrifice at Mass, and incorporate God’s love into their very person by eating the Eucharist in faith. Through the Mass the reality of union with God and the forgiveness of sins is presented.

 From Father Schulte:  Salvation History is the history of salvation from the fall of Adam and Eve and God’s plan to restore mankind to its original holiness. This comes to fruition in Christ dying for our sins on the cross and being raised from the dead after 3 days. In “This is My Body” Bishop Barron in the first chapter  relates how God’s plan for our salvation comes to its culmination in the celebration of a sacred meal which is the Mass. From the time of creation, the fall, the formation of Israel, the Passover to freedom (Exodus), the vision of Isaiah’s holy mountain, the gracious table fellowship of Jesus, and the Last Supper; all of these point to one particular thing, the Eucharistic liturgy!

The book starts off by talking about God as love. Love is essentially wanting the good of another without anything in return for myself. God’s creation of the world is a supreme act of love because he doesn’t need anything from anyone. That is why the universe is an expression of God’s love; creation is desired utterly for its own sake and not because God has any need for it. Bishop Barron states, “Human beings were intended to be the means by which the whole earth would give praise to God, returning in love what God had given in love, uniting all things in a great act of worship…. God is a family of love and all salvation history can be read as God’s attempt to draw the human family into a relationship that mimics the love that God is. The Eucharist is the richest participation in the very being of the God who is nothing but love.” 

I remember in college as I was struggling with my faith and asking the question “Why am I here? Is there more to life than this?”.  I don’t remember who said this but it is a quote that has stuck with me for a long time. ‘You don’t have to change your life to love God, God will change your life with his love.’ How true that was for me. Part of me wanted to change but another part of me was too attached to my world vices but the more I fell in love with God then the more I desired to change my life for God. Even though we are sinners God is continuously calling us back to himself, to right praise and worship. This is accomplished every time we receive Jesus in our bodies at Mass. He freely gives himself to sanctify us to be more like him and in return we adore and glorify him who is our Creator.

From Father Samson:  This weekend we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. This feast was added to the liturgical calendar in 1925 by Pope Pius XI.. He did so as a response to the nationalism and secularism he saw thriving throughout the world. It is a feast to remind us that though governments and philosophies come and go, Christ reigns as King forever. Secularism divides us into public and private persons. Nationalism divides our loyalties. As Catholic Christians we boldly proclaim Jesus Christ is King!

To celebrate Advent and the preparation for Christmas we are reading a common text together through all 5 parishes of the pastorate. “This Is My Body” by Bishop Robert Barron is free for all to take after Masses this weekend. The book mark has a reading schedule, and check here in the bulletin for reflections on each of the three chapters by the priests. Over the next few weeks may we grow in anticipation of Christ’s coming at Christmas, and become more aware of Jesus’ true presence in the Eucharist.

Amid all the pastoral planning being done through Set Ablaze, we are also in a time of Eucharistic revival. We simply MUST understand the Eucharist as central to our lives as Catholics. It is our theology of the Eucharist that makes the Catholic faith understandable. If Holy Communion is just a symbol and requires no preparation, prayer, or particular faith, then all that we are doing on Sunday is a farce. Why go?

But, if Jesus is truly present in the tabernacle and upon the altar at every Mass, then the solemnity, the silence, the reverence, and the piety all make sense. Jesus demands a response.  Let’s take this Advent to seek a deeper faith and devotion to our wonderful Catholic faith in Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist.

Read along with the book. One chapter a week for three weeks is doable for almost all of us!

From Father Samson  The pastorate-wide survey is open until November 17! It was sent it out by flocknote last week (not getting flocknote by email? If you have a smart phone, Text ABERDEEN to 84576 and follow sign up instructions, or contact the parish for help). You can also scan the QR code right here in the bulletin to access the survey. Just open up your camera on your smart phone, focus it like you are taking a picture of the funny looking square below, and your phone will direct you to the survey website. I don’t know how it works, but it does.

Thanks for your input! We will examine some of these results together at our town hall meeting at Sacred Heart parish hall on Tuesday November 21st at 6pm. All from our pastorate are welcome to attend.

From Father Samson

When I die, I hope it’s in the month of November. This whole month is very intentionally set aside for praying for our deceased loved ones. At each parish we have a “Book of Life” where we can write down the names of all those we know who have passed from this life. Praying for our deceased and meditating on our own death for an entire month can’t help but have a profound influence.

Meditating on death isn’t meant to foster some sort of sad, morose, depressed, state of despair; rather it can be a joyful meditation. It puts things in perspective. Some day I will die. Life is a gift. I’m not in control. Whateverchallenge that is occupying my mind will surely pass, and even the heaviest burden on my heart; yes, that too will pass. Jesus is a merciful savior and if I live for him, have faith in him, hope in him, and love in him then I have nothing to fear.

Am I completely free of fear surrounding my eventual death? No. There are a lot of imperfections and sins I need to detach myself from. Revelation says, “nothing unclean shall enter Heaven”, and so if we don’t endure our purification in this life we have the gift of purgatory to complete our purification in the next.

That is why we pray for our dead, that those in purgatory would finally enjoy heaven. Make no mistake; we should aim for perfection as to enter heaven directly after death.

I do hope to die in November. Not this November mind you, or even next November, but sometime down the road. Because if this is the month we dedicate to praying for our deceased, it is my hope that more people will remember to pray for me when I’m gone! Heaven knows I need it….don’t we all? Keep praying.

 From Father Samson: As November is upon us we are reminded of the beautiful Catholic practice of praying for our deceased loved ones. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says “death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting the divine grace manifested in Christ.” Praying for our dead is not changing the fact that each soul receives their judgment at the point of death. Heaven or hell is determined at that point. Purgatory is not a second chance, or a limbo in between heaven and hell. It is a state of a soul, destined for heaven, which is “still imperfectly purified…” (CCC1030). And as scripture says, “nothing unclean shall enter heaven” (Rev. 21:27).

The teaching on purgatory is also not to say that what Christ accomplished on the cross wasn’t enough. What is ‘missing’, so to speak, in the sacrifice of Christ, is my participation (see Col. 1:24). When we repent and believe, all of our sins are washed away and all eternal punishment for our sins is paid. But who of us can say that sin still doesn’t have some hold on our life? That there isn’t still some residual affection for our sins, attachments to them, or wounds caused by them? The purification from our sins is ongoing in this life; and for souls still affected by their sin, but not going to hell, purgatory is the last stage of purification before entering eternal life.

Besides scriptural evidence, it is also good to look at the early church fathers as evidence of the truth of our beliefs as Catholics. St. Gregory the Great (540-604) says, “As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that…there is a purifying fire.” St. John Chrysostom (347-407) says, “Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.” And St. Augustine (354-430) says, “It cannot be doubted that the prayers of the Church relieve the holy souls.” November gives a dedicated time to pray for our deceased. To this end, most

parishes will have a “Book of Life” next to the Easter Candle that will remain there throughout the month.

From Father Samson:

So far this Autumn we’ve had a lunch/bake sale in Turton, a pork loin bazaar at Sacred Heart in Aberdeen, the chicken dinner in Westport, and a roast beef fall festival at St Mary’s. Lasagna in Groton will top off our “Fall Feasts” when they host a supper with bingo at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church on November 5 th . Stop over and show your support!

I’ve loved seeing all the hard work and cooperation that goes into putting on these wonderful parish events. Yes, they raise some money in support of the parish, but as important, they display and serve to build up the Catholic community we are all a part of.

Thank you to those who volunteer so much time and effort to make these events successful, and thank you to everyone who comes out to show their support. I love seeing how so many travel to their neighboring parish to share a meal or bid on a silent auction item!

Pray for the deceased members of our parishes. Funerals are always a part of our life as we accompany one another through all the stages of life, right up to the end. Attending a funeral for a fellow parishioner, even someone you perhaps didn’t know that well, is a great support to families and spiritual help for the deceased.

May God Bless us all as we continue through this month of October.

  From Father Samson:

Come on over to St. Mary’s Church and Roncalli Primary School for the Fall Festival Sunday October 15! Games and concessions start at noon. Roast Beef Dinner starts at 4pm.

October is respect life month. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you.” Jeremiah 1:5. I find it fascinating that God has a plan for my life even from the very beginning of my existence. The fact that in the mind of the Almighty God of the Universe, sees, hears, and knows little old me. That is a pretty amazing concept to contemplate. God knows us intimately; he thinks of us and loves us each individually. It is true for me and it is true for you. Every life has value in and of itself because God has created it.

Sadly, we often place value on life based on its usefulness. Who hasn’t met someone new and asked them, “what do you do for a living?” or who hasn’t asked an elementary school child “what do you want to do when you grow up?” These are innocent enough questions, but over and over again we as a culture place too much emphasis on what we do, as if our worth as a person were based on our productivity, success and intellectual abilities. In the eyes of God, the paraplegic and the athlete, the Alzheimer’s patient and the civil engineer all have equal dignity and value.

Life is a gift from conception to natural death. Human life deserves our respect in everystage of growth and we ought to uphold the dignity of every person no matter what form or deformity they possess. I hope you’ve taken the time to read the little blurbs in the bulletin about the “decline to sign” initiative and the particular education needed around some of the measures attempting to make it onto next year’s ballot. Please note that as a tax-exempt institution, yes, we have every right under American law speak out on moral issues