Important Advent Dates

Advent is approaching quickly! Please keep all these dates in mind to keep Christ’s coming at the core of your Advent season.

See you in the Eucharist, St. Colette!

Always keep Jesus in your heart and a BIG SCOOP of ice cream in your bowl! :)

As we conclude the Bread of Life Discourse in this August month, I recall a homily I heard last Advent that made a huge impact on how I look at things.  Father talked about the goodness in this life: things of the earth, a relationship, an experience, how all of those gifts, no matter how GOOD are meant to point us to something and someone so much greater.  That we appreciate the goodness, realize the GREATNESS to which it points , and then follow the path to which it points.  This hit home for me in many ways.  I’m the person that cries when Christmas is over, bemoans the last bight of dessert, or laments the last evening walk on the beachside boardwalk one week before vacation even begins!  I don’t like when “things are over.”  And really, who does?!   But those are indeed those “good” things we were always meant to have and always meant to enjoy. That’s why a part of our heart breaks when “it’s over.”  We were meant for the things that last forever… we were meant for eternity.  That right there is what Jesus has been talking about in the Gospels all month.  Everything, EVERYTHING perishes, ceases, ends as we know it.  And if we cling too closely to those things, we will live in a life of discouragement and disappointment.  Because only He can satisfy. 

I will never fully be able to express to you, the parish family of St. Colette, what you mean to me, and what you will always mean to me.  I’ll always be grateful for that little priest who called me out of speech class, that 16, almost 17-year-old girl at Holy Name one March morning.  He changed my life forever, yes.  BUT it was you, St. Colette, that became my family.   You are that good gift, relationship, experience, and you’ve pointed me to Him, the Greater One.  And now He’s called me to serve Him in new ways.  And I’m so excited to serve Him.  I know there is deep sadness within many of your hearts that there is “an experience at St. Colette that is ending with my departure.”  But don’t cling to those experiences!!!  You’ll end up missing the GREATER ONE to whom the experience of music and more with you were all meant for.  And you’ll miss the beautiful miracles of God’s grace along the way in who he has prepared for next, as well as all the beauty that exists in this holy place.  Don’t cling to the things, the people, the experiences that fade.  Cling to the only One who lasts forever, Jesus.  It’s been my greatest honor to serve you.  Know that.  But know more so that any sadness within you only means you are aware that there’s more beyond this world… and that each encounter at Mass is a taste (literally) of what that will be like for us. 

They say a picture’s worth a thousand words.  And I had no idea someone snapped that Euclid Beach Rocket Picture titling this article at our Parish Picnic— thank you to the thoughtful parishioner who did.  But it perfectly describes my beautiful seventeen+ years at this wonderful parish.  Thank you for bringing me into your family.  Thank you for loving me and my family.  Thank you for the fun, and the laughter!  Thank you for the food! :) Thank you for praying for my Anthony when he went through his most difficult days.  Thank you for sharing your beautiful faith with me and for teaching me what community in Jesus means.  Thank you for your support and encouragement over the years and especially now.  My heart can’t express its fullness because of who you are to me.  As St. Colette continues to grow and evolve through the years, always keep that beautiful Spirit that’s been here since its first days in the garage chapel of Fr. Montovan’s rectory on Nancy Circle.  I’ve loved learning about the goodness of St. Colette’s people and past, and I am grateful, so grateful to also be a part of parish history, as this place will always be a part of me… you will always be a part of me.  And I will take you with me wherever I go, sharing all that I’ve learned of Jesus and of Church through you.  Thanks for the ride, St. Colette!  It was fun… really, really fun.   

See you in the Eucharist!

~Sara

He Chose YOU for His Goodness!

The readings this week embody the reality of our call.  Our reality in conjunction with our uniqueness is as St. Paul says, that we are chosen by God to work with Him.  Sometimes we forget that, or think we’re not worthy of it, but yeah— He CHOSE us! And every Eucharist is a reminder of His choice so we may exist (as St. Paul continues) for the praise of His glory.  And through that, comes our call from Jesus in today’s Gospel, to let him work through us on our journey whether we’re loved for it or despised, whether we’re welcomed or ignored.  To stay until it’s time to go, or to go when we’re not welcomed to stay.  And the best part is, we need nothing for the journey but Him.  Understanding what this means for each of us comes from our own relationship and encounters with Christ.  The challenge comes by remaining patient along the way as his plan unfolds for us.  One things for sure, it always does! The Apostles were scared to go off on their own, two by two to begin their call with Jesus, but they were able to muster the courage because they had faith in HIS faithfulness.  The song after Communion today is called “The Goodness of God”.  It’s been the theme of our VBS campers all week (and my goodness what a WONDERFUL WEEK!!).  That at the end of the day, He is and will always remain faithful amidst the uncertainly of our journey or that of our call.  If you’re at the 10am Mass this weekend, I hope you enjoy the voices of the children acclaiming this song of praise.  If not, I still hope you enjoy the song!  Add it to your playlist!  May it uplift your soul and remind you of God’s faithfulness to you right where you are in your journey today, whether you’re loved or despised, whether you’re coming or going.  May it remind you that he chose you… that he needs you… that he loves you.

I know you as my Father!

I know you as my Friend.

And I have lived,

And I will sing,

the

Goodness of God!                             

Always.                  

~Sara

Tremendous thanks to all who made this week GOOD for our kids. That the God who chose you for goodness continue to inspire you to that will, to that call each and every day!

Enjoy the song that was the inspiration for VBS 2024!

My Heart belongs to You

The month of June surely is a colorful one… and one where love and hearts and all their definitions are plastered all over every website, store, social media, TV, newspaper, magazine, billboard, sports team… you get it…everywhere.  And at the end of the day if each individual loves according to their own ideology, then hey, what a ONEderful world…. Sounds lovely in theory, but can it stand the test of time? 

In the Gospel today, Jesus says that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, and a house divided against itself cannot stand.  So it sounds like looking out for #1 is not only unsustainable, but also pretty lonely…. And of course it is!  It goes against our very nature as relational beings and follows a path of distortion.  Fluffy hearts and niceties aside, love at the heart of it means “to will the good of another FOR the other’s good.”  It’s not the love that’s easy or always appealing, but it’s the love we were made for and the love we desire above all things.  It’s the love for which we’re screaming and marching and demanding that people just GET!  “Gosh, just know me!  Just love me!”... 

June is the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Around since the 11th century (made official in the 17th century) it is a time the Church designates for us to immerse ourselves in the ocean of Christ’s infinitely loving heart.  A time to remind us that He gets us.  HE GETS US!!!  He gets that we’re sinful.  He gets that we have baggage, and issues, and anxiety.  He gets that above all, we just want to be loved.  And that’s why He tells us in the Gospel today that anyone… ANYONE (no specifications… anyone means anyone) who does the will of my Father is mother, brother, sister to Me.  It’s not always easy.  It doesn’t always look nice, but it’s real.  My exposed heart, crucified heart, heart made flesh is real so that you may know with every assurance, I love you… FOR YOU.  Come to me.  And I will give you everything you need in community, not isolation.  You have nothing to fear. 

This age of progress and politics is still full of hardships and heartaches.  And no sunshine, butterfly nor even the most colorful of rainbows can mask the fact that beneath the surface of every human heart lies a tremendous desire for the One who loves with our every good in mind...who’s Heart has stood the test of time.  Sacred Heart of Jesus, we trust in you.  ~Sara 

Carlo Acutis-- Soon the first Millennial Saint!

Sancto Subito!

.

Since his beatification in 2015, Blessed Carlo Acutis always had a special place of prominence in our parish (there’s a picture of him between the two pope statues and our cry room is named after him).  Born in 1991 to not particularly devoted parents, he developed a fervent love for Jesus in the Eucharist at a very young age.  After making his first communion at the age of seven, Carlo made it a priority to attend Mass every day.  Talking with him and relating to Carlo is what made him extraordinary because he was just a regular kid.  He was a great friend, enjoyed volunteering, and loved computers, soccer, and playing video games.  His devotion to the Eucharist not only converted his parents but led him to create an online documentation of all the Eucharistic Miracles that have ever taken place.  He did so in such a way that the portal could be downloaded as an exhibit for public display and visitation.  I had the privilege of attending one last year and it was outstanding.  Carlo died of leukemia at the age of fifteen, yet he had the faith of a lifetime.   

On May 23, 2024, Pope Francis officially announced the validation of a second miracle through Carlo’s intercession, which means that he will be canonized a saint as soon as this October (his feast day is October 12th) or during the Church’s jubilee year in 2025.  This makes Carlo the FIRST millennial saint.   I know I never thought I’d see a picture of a saint in jeans and soccer shoes!   What an inspiration to millennials like me and our young people!!   On the surface though, what did  Carlo really do that was so “saint worthy?”  He once said,  “All people are born as originals but many die as photocopies.”  His life wasn’t extraordinary, but he lived it for the one who is— Jesus.  He loved Jesus in all the things he did.  And that friends, is the whole point.   As we approach this Corpus Christi weekend, may we be inspired by our future saint among the Named to do the same!!  Blessed Carlo, pray for us! ~ Sara

THis is the actual website carlo created that is evangelizing the world to this day!

Extraordinary Indeed!

I’d like to label this  time of the Church Year, “Ordinary Time Plus.”  You see, Pentecost, celebrated two weekends ago, ended the most glorious season of the Church Year, Easter, and prior to that Lent, and not too much before that Christmas and Advent.  Believe it or not, there was even a brief blip of Ordinary Time in between all of that.  That’s what we’re back to now: Ordinary Time.  Like after all the work put into a grand celebration or an intense presentation at work, the ordinary days are a welcomed break.  On the other hand, it’s also an excuse of a time to grow lax in joy or excitement as one day looks the same as the previous.  There’s stability in the “norm” but also a lack of luster if not open to the whispers, surprises, and the unexpected extraordinary. 

I think this idea translates to our faith as well.  Sometimes in faith we’re really fired up about all of it, belief, prayer, evangelization, peace… and other day’s are just “meh, at least I made it to Mass this week.”  And when it’s just one “green” weekend after another, what’s really exciting?  It’s almost like we forget the grand celebrations... Just like we forget the rush of the roller coaster ride, or the joy in the 90th birthday party, or the giant smile after Anthony rode his two-wheeler for the first time.  If we human beings weren’t constantly reminded of the goodness, the good times, or that we’re loved, we absolutely would “forget” the joy.  It’s just human nature.  This isn’t doctrine, nor dogma, but I think it’s why the Church gives us “Ordinary Time Plus” prior to the twenty-fourish weeks of green before we hit any major celebrations again (November 24th, Christ the King, to be exact).  In “Ordinary Time Plus” we have the feast of the Most Holy Trinity, just celebrated, and today’s feast Corpus Christi.  Two major feast days to kick-off Ordinary Time… two feast days promenaded to exaggerate the absolute truth that EVERY Mass is a celebration of the Most Holy Trinity, and EVERY Mass is a celebration of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ (Corpus Christi).  We make these celebrations BIG in the hopes that we’ll carry and REMEMBER the reverence of Father, Son and Spirt every time we Cross ourselves; and the oneness with Christ every time we receive him.   

Today is the Feast of Corpus Christi— the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.  Unlike the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Last supper which also includes washing of the feet, Triduum, agony in the garden, etc., this day solely focuses on Christ’s real and true presence in the Eucharist.  On this day and since the 1200s, Catholics have processed the Eucharist throughout the neighborhoods as a sign of faith and an even more obvious reminder that piece of bread, that sip of wine isn’t just a symbol, but our God who doesn’t want to be just a memory, an image on a crucifix or holy card, or Words in a book, but an actual part of us; the “Source and Summit” as the church calls it,  for our everyday existence.  Whether or not it’s a great day, whether or not it’s a day filled with to-dos”, He’s with us, a part of us, and He love us in EVERY Eucharist.  Because honestly, we need the weekly, if not daily, reminder!!!   Happy Feast of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.  Thank you, Lord for this most precious gift!... A gift that makes every ordinary day extraordinary indeed!  ~Sara

Don't Look Up At the Sky

A wise friend of mine once said, “you are the version of God He wanted to share with the world.”  And our readings today on this beautiful Ascension feast, echo that sentiment: But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked through them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs (Mark 16:20).  We’re not all called to the same life, but we are all called to the same command— to be that version of God… and know that he’s always working through us. 

This excerpt is taken from Santuncci’s Meeting Jesus, A New Way to Christ.  And for “forever” it will resonate in my heart as a profound explanation of the Ascension of our Lord.  He’s been everywhere we’ve been and will be… because He dwells not “in the clouds” but in the version of Him that is YOU.  GO share Him.  ~Sara 

When the clouds have hidden me from your eyes, you’ll go on gazing at their restlessly shifting shapes against the silk of heaven.  You’d like to stay there for thousands of years, because you were told he’ll come back exactly as you saw him rise.  Then  two men dressed in white will tell you to go home.  Obey them, go down with the others.  And when you’ve shut your door behind you, and stand among your poor possessions, and then lean out of your window, know that I have still another thing to tell you.  Don’t look up at the sky.  On this, the day of the Ascension I’m hiding behind a cloud, but I could equally hide myself behind a bush, in the hollow trunk of a tree, or in a pool in Galilee.  The Father to whom I’m going doesn’t live beyond the flight of birds.  He’s on the moors swept by the wind, in unknown haystacks where you may happen to sleep one night, on mountain ridges, under the bed, and on the roofs of cities. 

After I’ve ascended, he and I will be wherever you are in the world.  Then nothing will be strange to you.  Whenever you set foot in a strange land you’ll recognize it behind some hidden memory because I shall have lived there for you. Whenever you leave a country you’ll know that you’re not altogether abandoning it, because you’ll leave me there.  Everywhere will become your motherland and your home.  Distances will be wiped out from the moment when I left the hilltop and set out on my travels through the world.  Then you’ll understand that I only pretended to go away.  You’ll understand it for this reason: that you’ll no longer feel afraid. 

My life doesn’t end here; if it ended you too would die.  It goes on even when you wish for dissolution, because it’s precisely in me that you long to be dissolved.  Every despair, every travail of your day is a desire to reunite yourselves with me, to see me again on the clouds, to serve me at table (221-222).

Heaven for the First Time!

My Dear Friends in Christ,

What a grace–filled weekend! One of my favorite moments in ministry is to offer Holy Communion to my people; especially to those receiving Holy Communion for the first time. This Saturday our Church was filled with great joy as our children opened their hands and hearts to receive Jesus. Thank you, my dear parents, for your faith and love of God that you impart on your children. Thank you, instructors as you have been a source of love and support, teaching our children about Jesus. Thank you to Chris and Larry Pizon, who have provided such beautiful leadership of our Parish School of Catholic Formation and the sacramental life of our Parish! Finally, thank you to our children, receiving Holy Communion. Your joy becomes our joy, your faith becomes our faith. Your love, our love as well. Please come to the altar often, celebrating God’s incredible love for us in Jesus! 

God Bless You,

 Fr. Tim

What’s your idea of heaven?  We all have one, but I’ll bet that all of our images would include “a place where God dwells.”  Something I read in a book recently changed my whole thought process on this forever, especially each time I go to Mass.  And on this First Communion Weekend, it seems appropriate to share.  Paraphrased it reads that each time we receive Eucharist, we are making ourselves a heaven for Jesus, the place he’s wanted to dwell from all time.   

From all time….

From the time his immense goodness and begotten, consubstantial, trinitarian love breathed THAT spirit into Adam and Eve…

From, the time he first formed a people through Abraham…

From the time he delivered that people from slavery and gave them his law….

From the time he first revealed his kingly heart through David…

From the time he spoke comfort, repentance and promise through the voices of the prophets...

From the time his heart was made flesh, and his promise fulfilled; and the tidings made glad to the afflicted; and the kindship exemplified through washing feet; and the Words from his very mouth said, “Do this, remember Me.”….

 God’s plan from ALL TIME was to be one with his children, to make his ‘Heaven’ in us.  And like a child learns by building upon knowledge relative to their level of understanding, God did the same for us as he formed relationships then, and the deepest, most virtuous friendships today.  Friendship with the beautiful, innocent second graders who made themselves a “heaven for Jesus” for the first time… and friendship with us too.

 It’s hard to be “all in” sometimes in the thought that my sinful heart could be any heaven worthy of the most holy One.  It’s easier to think of heaven as somewhere I’m trying to go.  And maybe you feel that way too.  However, as the readings from today profoundly depict (as does God’s track record from “all time”), we are more than the sum of our own thoughts.  We are the sum of the One who has chosen us, who loves us, and who calls us friend… everything.  Remember that each time you make yourself a heaven for Jesus. ~Sara

 The book is I Believe in Love, by By: Jean C.J. d'Elbee  (it WRECKED my heart in the best way, I highly recommend it).

On the Anniversary...

And in a moment, everything changed…

a phrase in a small picture frame that used to hang in Fr. Krizner’s rectory.  It was the front of an Easter card he got some years ago and I remember him showing it to me, in awe of the message.  I thought it kind of silly at first that he’d frame a greeting card picture.  But of course it all makes sense now.   

Change comes to all of us.  And while often change is planned and exciting, more often it’s unexpected.  As human beings, we’re not so good at the unexpected.  But the truth is, that’s where God loves to surprise us! 

God’s plan of salvation was made known since man’s beginning and through Jesus so many times.  Yet how “unexpected” it came to his closest friends.  Mary Magdalene, Peter, John and the other Apostles probably loved their life and ministry with Jesus and never wanted it to change.  But it did.  And the change was hard initially, but brought about the greatest of rewards they and all of us could ever hope for: the assurance that every discomfort prunes us for greater things, every pain and suffering leads to insurmountable joy, every loss of physical proximity with a close friend brings indescribable spiritual closeness… oneness… in the ultimate triumph of Life Eternal with the One who changed everything.   

Much has happened one year later… and for our parish family of St. Colette – MANY good things, including Fr. Tim!  We are so blessed!  Like the first crocus that bloomed beneath the winter snow, our mourning, suffering, and gloom has been resurrected to newness of life and hope for the future.  And that’s what’s supposed to happen.  Could you imagine if the women who anointed Jesus remained in despair?  Or if the Apostles had not “gone out” and proclaimed what they were taught?  Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection was always meant to be shared… through us!  Not kept in the tomb of our grief.  And the same goes for our loved ones, including Fr. Krizner...shared through us.  And in turn, we’ll be reminded of their presence (believe me, Fr. Krizner’s been busier than ever up there!  I’m sure a good many of you would say the same:)). 

That greeting card now it hangs in my office.  I pass it every day and smile, reminded of the assurance of Easter: that Father, who believed in the Resurrection with all his heart walks with the ONE who changed everything. 

God love you!  Happy Easter! ~Sara 

Join us Monday Evening April 1st at the 6:15PM Mass as it is offered for Fr. Krizner on the one-year anniversary of his resurrection to eternal life.  

 May his soul and all the souls of the faithfully departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Do this. Remember Me.

Do this.  Remember Me.

Announce your joy, your excitement, and like a loud ‘hosana’ shout in every corner of your life the moments you’ve known My goodness.  Let those moments mark your heart… for how easily they forget the goodness when the shouts of joy fade… when the warmth of a Sunday dims to the cold darkness of the looming days ahead. 

Do this. Remember Me.

Rest in my presence.  As you bustle about in preparation for the celebrations, the traditions, the meals, the easter baskets, take the moment… make a moment for Me… You know where to find Me… I’m in the holy sanctuary waiting for you… and I’m in the sanctuary of your ‘inner room”, the heart that only you know, and I know more deeply.  Come and rest. 

Do this.  Remember Me.

In the moments you feel alone, forgotten, or betrayed, know that I know just how you feel.  I’ve experienced my closest friends and confidants leave me one by one, as flames extinguished into darkness, and I alone stood still… the only candle lit in a stone-cold church.  I know what it’s like to face the hardest days alone.  Don’t be afraid of the darkness.  For I AM the one light burning brightly beside you.   

Do this.  Remember Me.

I AM all you need.  I will fill your deepest desires.  I chose not only to come into this world and to save it, but also to stay behind so that you may be strengthened each day.  Renew your heart in the immense love I have for you, for I’ve become your servant.  Know My goodness.  Know you are loved.  Come receive Me in Holy Eucharist. 

Do this.  Remember Me.

I thirst for you.  I’ve known you for all time.  And from all time, I knew that I could never be parted from you.  I’ve become all things to save you.  Embrace My arms outstretched in mercy… in incomprehensible love.

Do this.  Remember Me.

Remember what I’ve taught you… especially when you feel hopeless or uncertain. For I Am in the ‘in-between’.  The sealed tomb, guarded by the fiercest regime couldn’t contain My plan… and neither will it for My dreams for you.  This week of weeks you will remember forever.  And it is good that you do.  For these events you recall and live are a gift to you, that through My suffering and death you may experience, in every sense My glory.  And I promise you—you will see My glory!... For by coming back from death’s domain, I shed my peaceful light on humanity, and live and reign forever and ever.*

Do this.  Remember Me.

Let this week be in you what it was always meant to be.  Praise the Beautiful Lamb! 

~ Sara

*(taken from the Easter Proclamation)

Live in the shadow... of the CROSS!

To live in the shadow… of the Cross..

Today’s Gospel has the verse probably most popular and memorized of all the verses in Scripture by Catholics, Christians, and even non-believers, John 3:16.  For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life.  We know it, we love it, but do we believe it really?   

John goes on to encourage us to live in the light—to let not only our goodness, but also our nastiness be upfront and honest in the light of truth, the light of Jesus.  For he didn’t come to condemn us of our sins, but to save us. For he so LOVES the world!!!  We don’t always want to believe it.  We’re afraid of “showing ourselves” to Christ in the light for fear of failure, unworthiness, disbelief, or the blatant contentment with our own sinfulness.  Because honestly, sometimes it’s just easier to live in the shadows…

 In a way, Jesus says that’s alright… so long as it’s HIS shadow… You see, it is Christ, the true light, who walks before us, shielding the darkness from our path and saving us from ourselves.  He’s been doing it since day one and gives us an example from about 1500 years earlier than this Gospel, during the time of Moses.  As they did for many of their 40-year wanderings, the Israelites turned against God’s goodness.  Consequently, they are infested and bitten by poisonous seraph snakes.  Ironically, but not surprisingly, they ask Moses to pray to God to drive the snakes away and heal them from their sickness.  God has Moses build them a bronze serpent mounted on a pole for all to see.  Anyone who looked at it recovered.  Jesus, being the “New Moses” compared his saving grace to this incident: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up. So that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”  

The only shadow we are to live in is his own, the one he casts on us from his holy cross, the one that illumines our goodness and shortcomings alike.  The one that if we gaze upon it and believe we too will be saved from the sinfulness that infects our being.  Through it we have nothing to fear… not even the darkness. For if we believe the line we all know and have memorized, then we must believe that God really loves us that much.  Know that love always ~ Sara

Farewell, Alleluia

Isn’t Lent the most beautiful time of the year?  It’s cold, muddy, brown, dreary, barren… you can’t eat meat on Fridays, the tone is “sad” in church…. Or is it?   I LOVE Lent.  I love it.  The sacrifice, the barrenness, the dryness, the symbolism… oh the symbolism….  Followed by the stark contrast of Easter day.  There’s nothing else in the world like it.  And I’m so grateful for the Church’s traditions and rituals so that I may experience fully the death of my sins to a taste of the fulfillment of my greatest of hopes: to be in that constant state of joy, peace, and love… to be with God in heaven one day.

It’s been a long-standing tradition of the Church, and for our church as well to “bury” the Alleluia on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.  The purpose as with all visuals of our faith is to draw us deeper into the reality taking place.  Sometimes the absence of something beautiful, so beautiful as an Alleluia (or a piece of cake….), is meant to intensify the desire in our hearts for it or redirect our unclean heart to its true purpose.  Our Gospel today gives beautiful imagery of this.  The “unclean” leper, void of relationships, health, and normalcy makes his reproach of faith to Jesus.  He lays it all out there, “If you wish, you can make me clean.”  Mark goes on to say that Jesus was moved with pity… “I do will it.  Be made clean,” He says.  During Lent, we’re given that same opportunity to die to the things that make our hearts not as they should be… whatever that means for us… and to rest assured that any act of faith on our part, surly moves the heart of Jesus in his mercy and goodness…. So much so that he died for it, and redeemed in through resurrection. 

So welcome the dryness, emptiness and perhaps ugliness of the Lenten season…. Relish in it… LOVE IT!  Take part in all the traditions and symbolism, including burying this bulletin cover.  Know that at the end of the day, the discomfort is only temporary, but the new life from it is one step closer to eternity in paradise… now isn’t that something beautiful, indeed.  Happy Lent! ~Sara

God Bless You, Fr. Montavon, faithful servant of God!

In the Gospel this Sunday Jesus asks the disciples, “What are you looking for?”  Mesmerized by the Lamb of God, as he was named by John the Baptist, Andrew and the other disciple realized their heart’s greatest desire in Jesus.  The first thing Andrew did was tell his brother, Simon, bringing him to Jesus who then named him Peter… and the rest is history.

In light of this Gospel, I can’t help but think about Fr. Monatvon and what the early days of St. Colette were like for him.  I didn’t know him personally so this is all my imagination based on what I’ve learned over the years.  But, I’d imagine Fr. Montavon’s desire to start St. Colette was a similar encounter with Jesus when asked by him what HE was looking for… Fr. Montavon had the heart of a Shepherd, the heart to serve the Lamb of God.  And at whatever moment in his life “John the Baptist” said to him, “Behold the Lamb”, he never looked back, but only forward to how he could fulfill God’s will in His plan for the Church.  And over time, patiently, prudently, vigilantly, loving, he built the church of St. Colette from the ground up (literally).  And what a truly AMAZING parish he built.  Bishop Woost said in his remarks once that “great priests are formed by great communities.”  And the community of St. Colette is indeed a great community.  The elements of family and hospitality, joy, humility and generosity are all Fruits of the Spirit that you possess.  God needed a “St. Colette” and he knew that Fr. Montavan was the priest, His priest, that could pave the way, plant the seeds for it to grow.  How blessed we are to have a founding pastor like him, a successor in Fr. Krizner who saw your beauty and goodness and made it flourish, and our current pastor, Fr. Tim who possesses these same great virtues and spiritual resolve.  St. Colette is certainly a  blessed, holy place.  Thank you, Fr. Montavan for your astonishment at the Lamb of God, for “looking for him”, and for serving him so beautifully.  We are forever grateful. 

Please consider submitting a “Lampstand” about Fr. Montavon and the early days of St. Colette.  We’ll continue to publish them over the next few weeks.  And enjoy the pictures of our earliest days!!  They’re who we are and where we come from… thank you, Lord.  Our future we leave to His providence, thank you, Lord!…. And our present is certainly a gift we cherish right now.  For all of it, we love you and praise you, beautiful Lamb of God! 

God bless you, parish family! ~Sara

We Keep on the Legacy!

Our Hearts Keep the Memories and We Keep on the legacy...a little saying that’s been in my heart over the past nine months.  By the time you read this it will be two weeks since our parish hosted Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Little Christmas Village.  And what a joyful day indeed!  Corbie Hall bustled with children and families anticipating Santa’s arrival, creating lasting memories in those childlike, precious moments.  Jesus tells us in the Gospels so many times to be “childlike” in faith.  And I know I'm not the only adult who felt the childlike wonderment of Christmas Village.  Christmas is indeed the perfect time of year to be childlike. 

To be honest, however, the week leading up to the event and the “day” itself was a little difficult for me.  It was a “first.”  I’m sure many of you understand the “firsts” with your loved ones in heaven… perhaps this Christmas is your “first” too.  And while I in no way will turn this beautiful Christmas article into a sad story… the wonderful memories that flooded my heart over that Village weekend made me think of the holiday in a beautiful, new way.  So I will share it with you.   

You see, while memories of Christmas past flooded my heart and will undeniably continue to do so over the next few holy days, so did the unbelievable desire to carry on the traditions that have formed me. And it got me thinking of that first Christmas 2,000 years ago… For how amazing it must have been to be a relative of Jesus and know him personally as a child, a friend, a teacher.  How amazing all the things Mary treasured in her heart, and lived through her life.  Of all the ways the Apostles and first disciples of the faith passed the stories down, generation after generation through the Gospels and word of mouth, despite hardships, persecutions, and death.  What ALL of their hearts must have held… BUT what their lives continued to live to this very day. 

 Keeping the “legacy” of Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas today… the very reason we have a faith today.  And we’re the ones who reap the benefit.  Those who knew Jesus personally didn’t keep him to themselves.  Rather, they realized the tremendous gift of him… and gifts are meant to be shared, paid forward.  So on this Christmas weekend, like Mary, treasure all of the things, all of the loved ones, all of the memories in your heart, those of the present and those of the past.  They’re what formed you!… but don’t let them stay there.  Continue all you’ve learned in all the ways that you can.  Continue to let your life reflect your gratitude.  Live each day like it were Christmas Day, for Jesus Christ is our greatest gift… and it’s our turn to share him.  How amazing the privilege to continue His legacy. 

Merry Christmas!~  Sara

Our Lord, Jesus Christ, King of the Universe... King of My Heart

It’s easy to get lost in the poetic feel of today’s Gospel… when I was hungry you fed me, sick, you cared for me, in prison, you visited me and so forth… Come, inherit the kingdom.  Or, “you didn’t do those things… eternal punishment for you.”  Grasping this concept refreshes the events of Holy Week— the Good Friday to Easter Sunday… and brings it all full-circle…  how much are we willing to sacrifice for the sake of the kingdom?  What are we willing to give, to do, to be that takes us out of ourselves, our own comfort, to extend that hand, go that mile, carry that cross.  The movie The Passion of the Christ beautifully depicts the imagery of Jesus kissing his cross as he’s handed it by his torturers to carry to his death… he kisses it,  He loves the hurt because It means salvation, loves the discomfort because it will bring others peace, loves the long dusty road to Calvary because it leads to Easter Sunday morning.  The Feast of Christ the King is a call to love the suffering as Jesus did.  Whatever it is in our lives: the inconveniences, the care for loved ones, the pain of loss and loneliness,, or rejection.. That Christ be the King of our hearts and fill all of those “holes’ in our lives with his purpose, his love, his companionship— the faithful lover who will never leave us.  When we see Christ in all we do, and all we meet, we die to the things that pass away, and live for the one who died to love us.  And that my friend, is not just good poetry… it’s everything.  May Christ reign King of our hearts each and every day.  Happy end of the church year!  And here’s to resurrection and new life in the church year ahead!

~Sara

Happy Priesthood Sunday!

It’s Priesthood Sunday!  And it’s the weekend before All Saints and All Souls Day so there’s a lot of connections happening in this article.  Priests are not gods…. they’re fully human, flawed men, yet they’ve sacrificed their lives in love for God, and his church.  As Christ laid his life down on the cross, they do the same for us in many ways, but most profoundly through the sacraments.  Sacraments are encounters with God.  And while each brings about that encounter in a specific, necessary, and important way, it’s through the Mass—The Eucharist, where literally, “heaven and earth kiss.”  Priests act “in persona Christi”, in the person of Christ, and make the invisible a reality for the Church to be sustained and inspired.  Priest’s great sacrifice transcend time and space, yet they remain humble through their service.  We’ve certainly gotten to know several priests over the course of this year.  And none of them raise a banner for themselves in any regard.  They do what they do for the purpose and calling as priests.  For as Scripture suggests, “You are a priest forever in the line of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4), their calling is not only charitable, but eternal.  And I think the perfect example of that is the eternal priesthood of our former pastor, Fr. Krizner. 

This day first and foremost makes me think of him… I cant’ help it!  For sixteen years he was “my priest”—and I often called him that… my priest… not because I think he only belonged to me, or that my relationship was anything special compared to others.  His relationship with all of us was unique and beautiful.  But truthfully no one has been more inspirational in my life.  He made everything come alive from Church feast days to every day little things, like a donut in a car ride to nowhere.  He made me laugh and brought me joy… and I miss him every day.  Every single day.  But the thing is, even though I miss him, I feel like I know him more profoundly now than I ever did… and that all the things he taught me are now just a part of me.  Like he lives through all the goodness I share… and I all I want to do is share it.  That there is the beauty of All Saints and All Souls Day.  Our faith teaches us that we’re not “done” here when we die.  Rather, the fullness of our potential is realized as we’re not bound to our imperfections any longer. 

The Gospel today gives us the greatest commandment: to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbor with that Godly love. And God bless us for trying…. We try!!!  But our own limitations make it impossible for us to do that perfectly.  When we get to heaven, however, we can!!  For we “know fully as we are fully known” as St. Paul says, and we love anyway… all that remains is love (1 Corinthians 13)!  So maybe why I feel Fr. so fully and differently in my life is that all that’s left of him is the love of God through him.  And from what I’ve heard from your experiences in the last seven months, you feel that love too.  And I hope you channel that for all the loved ones in your life now with Jesus!  This week we celebrate them!   

Fr. Krizner is still my priest, now more than ever.  He’s a priest forever, and he’ll continue to be a part of my life every day.  And every day I remain grateful to him for his ministry… and to every priest for who they are and what they do.  So on this priesthood Sunday we remember and pray for all priests in heaven where they continue to pray for us, and on earth where they continue to work for us.  And while they would never ask for this… it goes without saying that they deserve a shout-out: Abbot Gary—for his big-heart and joyful smile that just beams the love God; Fr. Caesar and his passion for the faith through stories of heroic saints and the tender mercy of God; Fr. Marc’s witty insights to the Gospel message and love for his mother (it’s always fun to have a personal connection); Fr. Dan’s laugh, and practical, logical, easy- to- grasp approach to the Gospel and faith in Christ; Fr. Andrew’s profound wisdom, down-to-earth-ness, and the unrivaled joy of Jesus he brings to each and every Mass; and to Fr. Bob… for his constant selflessness and self-sacrifice…if there was ever a priest who truly cared about every sheep in his flock and who would go to any length to make sure each sheep was cared for beautifully, it would be Fr. Bob.  And these past months for our parish are so indicative of that.  I hope you see that too and feel every bit of gratitude as I do.  And to our future, Fr. Tim: may the Lord bless him, keep him, and continue to shine every beautiful blessing upon his priesthood.  Thank you, priests of God!  ~Sara

Where I go, you know the Way

This week I decided to take a break from my computer and walk the church grounds… pretty soon it’ll be too cold to enjoy that pleasure!  I found myself meandering to the newly finished “Good Shepherd Garden”.  Fr. Bob’s been extremely influential and instrumental in making sure our parish has a “place” to memorialize Fr. Krizner.  And it makes sense why it’s “this” place… the Resurrection was everything to him.  As I walked through the grass to get to the statue, a conversation I had with a friend about the garden came back to me… regarding why the path leads from the Mary statue to the garden, and not directly from the parking lot.  And then the whole of the inspiration behind this article was born: because both metaphorically and literally “the path to Mary always leads to Jesus.”

 A little over a year ago Fr. Krizner, a few members of the parish staff, and I were sitting in a “meeting”… it was lunchtime 😊. We were discussing new name ideas for our outdoor shrine and ultimately decided on the name “Gate of Heaven Shrine”.  One of the many appropriate titles of Mary is the “Gate of Heaven”, for she always leads the way to her Son.  So it seemed fitting that this title would be given to a place that’s become not only a place to honor Mary, but a peaceful afternoon retreat of a walk through the outdoor Stations of the Cross, concluding with the beautiful Resurrection statue.  How Fr. loved that statue, so much so he obtained two others for our church (one is behind the sanctuary and the other used during our Easter procession). Besides the pictures of Lily, Gracie and Annie, I don’t think he took more pictures of anyone or anything else more than that statue—in different times of day, with different lighting, in the different seasons… He’d use them in the bulletin from time to time, but I think the pictures, the statue, meant much more to him than good imagery. 

Like a picture of a loved one we hold as a reminder, or show off proudly to others, statues serve similarly.  Fr. loved, lived, and shared the image of the Resurrection.  And to him, having the statue of the Resurrection on our grounds, and pictures of it with him served not as only a reminder of what he believed, but as a reminder of someone he was proud to have in his life… someone who was his friend…a friend that he wanted to share…a friend that he loved with all his heart. 

With all of that said, however, if you count the number of Mary statues on our property, comparatively the number is at least triple to that of his beloved Resurrection!  So what does that mean?  It’s an answer as simple as Fr. Krizner’s faith: a solid friendship with Jesus is easier to have through the loving intercession of Mary.  So after sixteen years in the making, here it is the lasting legacy of Fr. Krizner left in concrete on the grounds of St. Colette: the path to Mary always leads to Jesus. The initial walk of faith to Mary’s heart offers us the peace and comfort of a mother on life’s winding road.  Sometimes this road is filled with the beautiful colors and sounds of nature, and other times it’s laden with the sufferings of a heavy cross.  In the end, her tender love is the “Gate of Heaven” to the Good Shepherd, and the friendship with him we’re called to nurture on our journey. ~Sara

Do not look up at the sky

I am with you now and always.

Where I go you know the way.

I have taught you all I know

And I ask you now to go.

Your Good Shepherd leads the way.

Do not look up at the sky.

(Taken from Do Not Look Up At the Sky, 2023.  Written in loving memory of Fr. Krizner)

Our Lady, Queen of Victory, Pray for Us!

Of the many devotions, the rosary is certainly a favorite amongst Catholics, and for good reasons.  Mary promises good things (fifteen of them to be exact) to those who recite and propagate the rosary: things like eternal life in heaven, triumph over sufferings, deliverance from purgatory, and more.  In its early form as a meditation on the psalms, to its present reciting that’s won battles sustaining Western Civilization (see full history), the popular piety and the meditative peace that come from the prayer are just a few of the many reasons these beloved beads are loved so much. 

The rosary is not a complicated prayer, but a prayer that takes time, takes mindfulness—a familiar term used today by various industries.  To be “mindful” means to focus on one’s state of being in relationship to the world around them.  This state, in turn, should increase positivity and reduce anxiety amidst difficult circumstances.  Society offers various ways of how to participate in mindfulness… so does our faith.  Today’s Second Reading from Philippians tells us to have no anxiety at all, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving to make our requests known to God.  Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Phil.4:6-7).  Because Mary is always trying to lead us to Jesus, the rosary certainly does these things: it’s a prayer lifted to God, petitions our needs through Mary’s love, and gives the glory back to God with a grateful heart.  The reason why the rosary isn’t just a fad of chants, “good vibes” or a relaxed state is because it roots itself in the true, the pure, the lovely, the gracious, and all the things of God that are worthy of praise (Phil. 4:8).  It calls upon the heart of a Mother, given to us by her Son to comfort us, and lead us to Jesus, the Peace that surpasses all tranquility. 

It’s no coincidence the rosary has remained as popular as it is.  Perhaps it’s something that you pray often, or an heirloom given to you by grandma just waiting to be unleashed into insurmountable blessings it can be your life.  Either way, it’s a beautiful tool that’s inspired believers, answered prayers, won battles, and brought about peace.  Take advantage of Mary’s gift to you!  Our Lady, Queen of Victory, Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us! ~Sara

A bit of history: the rosary has evolved over time to draw Mary’s heart closer to ours, and our hearts closer to her Son’s.  A meditation on the life of Christ through the eyes of Mary, the rosary takes its roots in scripture. In the early church, it was a popular devotion for Christians to pray all 150 psalms.  Because not all could read, the faithful instead prayed a “Hail Mary” 150 times, eventually keeping track of them on a knotted rope.  In 1214, Mary appeared to St. Dominic, giving him the form of the rosary that we know today with the three sets of five-decade mysteries: Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries.  St. Pope John Paul II later added another set of mysteries, the Luminous Mysteries, for a modern prayer that includes four sets in all.

The Month of the Rosary and its feast day, October 7th, gets is patronage in the 16th century when the Ottoman Empire ran rampant, endangering the Roman Catholic Church of its time.  Severely outnumbered against Muslim forces, on October 7, 1591, Christians prayed the rosary for the soldiers in battle.  When they rose victoriously Pope St. Pius V named the day, The Feast of Our Lady Queen of Victory, later changed by Pope Gregory XIII to Our Lady of the Rosary. 

O Jesus, I Surrender Myself to You!

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!  Such a seemingly simple sentence of childlike faith: O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!  Yet it’s one of the most profound acts of faith.  We often think that to surrender means to give up, or give in.  But to surrender in a spiritual sense means to give up the things we can’t control and allow God to take the wheel.  O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything.  For all of us, our week has been defined by the calendars in our phone or on our fridge, the morning alarm, the relationship with a family member, friend, or coworker, the pressure of a deadline, the media, the results from a medical test, the anxiety regarding the upcoming…. whatever it is.  And because we’re human beings we’re so good at figuring it all out, at making sure every detail of our lives and relationships are perfect… at being in control!... aren’t we?  O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!  We’re not good at it.  We’re not.  We forget to check the calendar, set the alarm, we often say hurtful things to loved ones or people we work with, we take advantage of situations, we let the media and current events affect our behavior and thoughts, we’re crushed by news of illness… and the loss of loved ones… and the idea of change.  For me personally, and for our parish family, we were “crushed” on April 1st of this year when our beloved pastor was called home.  I can’t tell you the exact time that the Surrender Novena was introduced to me, but I know that the phrase from it, “O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything” has been on my lips many, many times since that day.  I’ve been praying the whole novena here and there as well but took some “time off” from it to focus on other prayers throughout the summer.  This past Tuesday, however, I decided to start it up again.  I thought it appropriate since it was the day the parish staff was meeting Fr. Tim Gareau for the first time.  I was—we were—very excited!  It's time for this… we’re ready for this… But it’s a new experience, and out of our control… and that’s always scary.  O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!  I’ve heard only wonderful things about Fr. Tim’s spirituality, humility, gentleness, and pastoral leadership… and even that “Fr. Krizner hand-picked him”…. Fr. Krizner was good at handpicking people.  When he noticed that “Jesus part of YOU” the parish needed—that the world needed, he brought it out it the best ways for ministry, parish life, and worship.  We all know, we ALL know how much Fr. Krizner loves us—all of us.  He was a good shepherd to our parish and gave all he had for us until his last day.  So at that “first meeting” on Tuesday, when Fr. Tim met us with a friendly greeting, warm gathering, and a gift for each of us—a copy of the “Surrender Novena” which he’d been praying these last few months on his journey to come here, I knew with all my heart that Fr. Krizner hand-picked him too (he also brought a big box of the most beautiful donuts… just sayin!).  O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!  There’s more to the story for another day.  Today, we surrender to Jesus! And we take comfort in his care for us as a parish family and in every part of our lives!  In the Gospel today, he tells us that “if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”  Perhaps, like me, you’ve been praying the Surrender Novena throughout the past five months, or perhaps not.  But I know you’ve been praying that God would send us a good pastor, and that Fr. Krizner would intercede.  And how beautiful that God has heard our prayers united and gave us Fr. Tim Gareau!  How grateful we are, and we just can’t wait for you to meet him!  O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!   As Fr. Bob so beautifully stated last weekend, we continue forward as a team in God’s good time.  On behalf of him, Deacon Scott, Lisa, Noah, Jeanette, Ed, and the rest of the gang it truly is our honor to serve the amazing people of St. Colette. O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!   Fr. Tim invited the parish staff to pray the Surrender Novena with him perpetually through November 20th.  By the time you read this, we’ll already be on Day 5 or 6, BUT we invite you to join us!  It doesn’t matter when you start, just that you do!  Continue to pray for Fr. Tim as he says goodbye to his people at St. Rapheal, and as he prepares for his ministry with us.  Continue to pray for each other and our extraordinary parish family… Continue to surrender yourself to the God who only wants what’s good for you… and see how he gives us what is good!  O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!... today and always.  God love you this week!~ Sara