Last Thursday, our church was packed for the celebration of the Lord's Last Supper: HOLY THURSDAY, the first day of the TRIDUUM of the HOLY WEEK. When I say packed, I mean that we reached the maximum number of people allowed by the current 6-foot distancing. It was great to see so many people back in church. It was music to my ears to hear so many people tell me, "Father, I am so happy to be back." THE JOY OF BEING BACK had begun on PALM SUNDAY. IT IS CONTINUING! PRAISE THE LORD! Let us pray that more and more people will come back to join us to celebrate the Eucharist together as an assembly in our church! Over 200 people participated in Holy Thursday Mass of the last Supper. The Narthex was packed with about 30 people (maximum allowed currently) and the Father Martin Hall with 60 people. The Altar Guild had done a wonderful job decorating the Father Martin Hall to allow the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at the end of the Mass and until midnight. They had used their spiritual imagination and had decorated the Hall with Palm Trees and Flowers and had renamed the Hall, "THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE." The good surprise for all of us was when...

As Deacon Rich and I arrived at the altar, like everyone in the large assembly, we were waving our palms. We venerated the altar. Suddenly, I felt A GREAT JOY take over my HEART. I had not felt so joyful in a long time. It took me some time to realize what was happening. As the Mass went on, it became clearer to me. This was the JOY OF EASTER! THE JOY OF THE RISEN LORD! As we processed in the church, we were entering with Jesus into the Heavenly Jerusalem! We were entering into the HOLY WEEK, which will culminate in EASTER VIGIL AND EASTER SUNDAY. Unconsciously, I...

Jesus told Martha, “I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?" (John 11: 25-26). This is the question that Jesus is asking each one of us as we complete our Lenten journey, our climbing the mountain of Easter, the mountain of the Resurrection. We have walked together for 40 days, anticipating the Joy of the Risen Lord. Can we answer Jesus' question with the awesome words of Martha: "YES! LORD, I HAVE COME TO BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE MESSIAH, THE SON OF GOD, THE ONE WHO IS COMING INTO THE WORLD." (John 11:27) The last three Sundays, we have...

CAN YOU BE TRANSFORMED BY THE CROSS? This is what happened to Simon of Cyrene. It can happen to you. In the fourth talk of the GIFT OF LOVE last week, many of us were touched by Dr. Sri's presentation of what happened to Simon of Cyrene, "As they led Jesus away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus" (Luke 23:26). It appears that Simon of Cyrene was initially "forced" to carry Jesus' Cross. He just happened to be visiting Jerusalem. He did not know Jesus at all. However, there is no doubt that his experience of carrying Jesus' Cross made him feel compassionate for this young man crowned with thorns, being insulted and enduring immense sufferings on his Way to Calvary. Later on,...

Earlier this week I had a vision: a clear vision of a Crown of Thorns. It happened as I was in deep meditation in the little chapel of our rectory. This Lent, one of my resolutions has been to be as silent as possible when praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament. By silence, I mean total silence. As you know, the world's constant distractions make total silence quite a challenge, but it is one of the best ways to listen to God. What is God tell- ing me through this SILENT GIFT OF A CROWN OF THORNS? The main vision was a beautiful Crown of Thorns. First, it seemed to float alone up in the air. The crown was not moving at all. But there was some movement behind it: there were amazing...

In the second session of THE GIFT OF LOVE last Thursday, we discussed Jesus being abandoned by his disciples and even being betrayed by two of them: Judas and Peter. While there is no comparison between the sins of Judas and Peter against Jesus, we can learn from "contrasting what they did after their sinful actions". This can help us reflect on our own sinfulness and on the real meaning of REPENTANCE in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. But before talking about REPENTANCE, let's compare those two sinful actions based on St Mark's Gospel where Judas is the one that Jesus singled out at the Last Supper: "Amen I say to you, ONE OF YOU WILL BETRAY ME, one who is eating with me". The disciples began to be distressed and to say to him, one by one: "Surely it is not I?". Jesus responded:...

One of my "little" joys this week was to learn from a proud mother parishioner that her two youngest daughters (still little children) enjoyed watching on our YouTube channel the morning show of "Fr. Alain and Fr. Ben" praying the daily reflections of the 33-day Consecration to St Joseph. I was rather puzzled, and I questioned these little children: "what have you learned about St Joseph? " and I got the most beautiful answer:

Every year as we celebrate Ash Wednesday, we hear God say to us through the Prophet Joel, "RETURN TO ME WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning ...and RETURN TO THE LORD, YOUR GOD. For gracious and merciful is HE, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment." (Joel 2:12-13). This is a joyful way to enter into the 40 days of Lent. The Prophet Joel gives us HOPE. The kingdom of Judah and Jerusalem had just experienced a great disaster (locust invasion) and Joel announces the coming of a much worse, unprecedented disaster unless the people turn back to God. If Joel were alive today, would his message to us be the same? Most of us would say...

I would like to share with you a beautiful experience about the Eucharist and the Cross. It happened at Mass last Sunday when one of our little children had a vision at the very moment of the Elevation of the Consecrated Host and then of the Chalice. To maintain privacy and anonymity, the parents have allowed me to share that experience with you provided that I do not mention any name but simply refer to "a little child." Here is the vision in the child's own words: “I SAW THE BREAD WAS GROWING A...

THE GIFT OF LOVE is the theme of our Lenten Parish Retreat. THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE THAN TO GIVE ONE's LIFE for his friends. This is what Jesus did for all of us when dying on the Cross. Yes, all of us are called to become His friends. He is truly GOD. His LOVE is INFINITE. The great teacher and theologian St Thomas Aquinas (we celebrated his feast day last week) says it more eloquently: "Why did the Son of God have to suffer for us? There was a great need, and it can be considered in a twofold way: in the first place, as a remedy for sin, and secondly as an example of how to act. It is a remedy, for in the face of all evils which we incur on account of our sins, we have found relief through THE PASSION OF CHRIST. Yet, it is no less an example, for ...

The ongoing pandemic has impacted our daily lives in ways we could not have imagined one year ago. It has also impacted our spiritual lives. It has impacted our responses to God's commandments, including the third commandment: KEEP HOLY THE SABBATH. "KEEP HOLY THE SABBATH" is not a suggestion from God. It is an order. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) makes it clear on how we should implement this order as baptized Catholics, "Sunday is to be observed as the most holy day of obligation in the universal Church. On SUNDAYS and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass " (CCC 2192). The Mass is the center of our Christian life. Not attending Mass on Sundays is a major sin (unless we are sick). Because of the pandemic and the health risk to many people, Archbishop Gregory ...

"HOPE IS THE ANCHOR OF THE SOUL" (Hebrews 6:19). We, Christians, are people of Hope. We know that God loves us and that He has a beautiful plan for each of us. Many people are suffering today because of the continuing pandemic. About 400,000 Americans have died of Covid-19 within the last 12 months. Everyone has been affected through the loss of a relative or friend. Many are afraid of being infected and have not yet come back to attend Mass at church. Many are asking, "God, where are you? Why are you allowing this pandemic to continue? " I always say that GOD IS A GOD OF HOPE! God will never abandon us. We believe in the resurrection of the bodies. We believe in eternal life. We believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior. We believe in the Catholic Church. We are never alone on our journey of Faith. We have been praying for the end of the pandemic. We have been using a strict protocol in our own parish, in our own church so as to protect lives. Now that vaccination is available in Charles County, ...

I believe that God never stops calling us. He knows each of us by name. He knows everything going on in our lives. He knows all our thoughts and desires. He has created us in His own image. He loves each of us personally. Since our baptism, we are all called God's children. He has a plan for each of us, a beautiful plan because He loves us and He wants each of us to be close to Him. He sends His only Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, to reveal Himself to each of us, to redeem us from our sins, to guide all our steps on our pilgrimage on earth so that we can return to Him and be with Him now and forever. The question we are all struggling with is: "What does God want me to do?" Every day is a new day, a new beginning. Every day, we can ask God: "What do you want me to do today?" As we have completed our wonderful journey of Advent and Christmas, it is a good time to reflect on God's plan. It is a good time to...

"I HAVE BAPTIZED YOU WITH WATER; HE WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT" (Mark 1: 7-11) says John the Baptist. Do you remember the day of your own Baptism? (If you don’t, ask your parents or call the parish where you were baptized). Who baptized you? Like Jesus being baptized by John in the waters of the Jordan River, were you fully immersed in water? Did you feel the Holy Spirit? Did you feel becoming a totally new person? Are you aware that your Baptism was the beginning of a new life? Are you aware that since the day of your Baptism, you became God's child as a full member of the Body of Christ, His Church, the Catholic Church? This weekend, we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord as we close the Christmas Season and enter the First Week of Ordinary Time. This is a time to reflect on our own Baptism and on the permanent dwelling of the Holy Trinity at the center of our inner being. This is a time to reflect and pray to the Holy Spirit in the SILENCE of our hearts. Given the daily challenges we face, including ...

I hope you all had a most blessed Christmas and that despite the ongoing challenges in your daily lives you could find the JOY OF THE NEWBORN KING in your hearts! Together, let us GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR THE JOY OF THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON: THE PRINCE OF PEACE has come down from heaven and joined us on earth. We can proclaim with the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 9:1-6): "The people who walked in darkness have seen a GREAT LIGHT; upon those who dwelt in the LAND OF GLOOM A LIGHT HAS SHONE. You have brought them ABUNDANT JOY AND GREAT REJOICING...For a child is born to us, a son is given us...They name him... PRINCE OF PEACE. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful.'" Through this Christmas Season lasting until January 10, the Baptism of the Lord, and including the three celebrations of the Holy Family, of Mary Mother of God, and of the Epiphany of the Lord, let us...

In this Year of St Joseph, I invite the entire parish to seek a PLENARY INDULGENCE by praying the Litany of St Joseph this Sunday as we celebrate the FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY and JOSEPH: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. God our Father in heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. Holy Mary, pray for us. Saint Joseph, pray for us. Noble son of the House of David, pray for us. Light of patriarchs, pray for us. Husband of the Mother of God, pray for us. Guardian of the Virgin, pray for us. Foster father of the Son of God, pray for us. Guardian of virgins, pray for us. Faithful guardian of Christ, pray for us. Head of the...

Are you ready to celebrate the JOY OF CHRISTMAS 2020? While we still have a few days to enter into that Joy, I would like to share some reflections about the JOY OF MARY AND JOSEPH at Christmas and how this most Holy Couple can inspire us. Like both Mary and Joseph before Jesus's birth, we have many FEARS in our daily lives. We are afraid of the unknown. We are afraid of accepting God's will as it may go against our own will. Wouldn't you be afraid if a messenger of God, an angel, were to appear to you and begin to talk and tell you what to do? The Angel Gabriel told Mary, "DO NOT BE AFRAID MARY, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him JESUS. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High." (Luke 1:31-32). Joseph, learning Mary was pregnant before living with him, had decided to divorce her quietly when suddenly the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "JOSEPH, son of David, DO NOT BE AFRAID to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the HOLY SPIRIT that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him JESUS, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:20-21). In both instances, Mary and Joseph through GRACE and FAITH overcame their fears and said, "YES” to God. We too like Mary and Joseph can...

Today, Tuesday, December 8, 2020, as we celebrated the great Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, POPE FRANCIS surprised all of us, he proclaimed a "YEAR OF ST JOSEPH" beginning immediately and ending on December 8, 2021! I announced this GOOD NEWS at the end of Tuesday’s 7 pm Mass and I now would like to invite all of you to ENTER INTO THIS YEAR OF ST JOSEPH with great JOY and HOPE! Why is Pope Francis proclaiming this Year of St Joseph today? Exactly 150 years ago, December 8,1870, Blessed Pope Pius IX proclaimed ST JOSEPH PATRON OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH. Recalling that 150th anniversary, Pope Francis announced his proclamation of a special Year of St Joseph and published a new Apostolic Letter, "Patris Corde" ("With a Father's Heart"), In which he describes St Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an accepting father, a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows. In introducing this new Apostolic Letter,...

Last week, I suggested that this Advent we focus on preparing the Way of the Lord to receive Him in our hearts while we keep praying, "COME LORD JESUS". When we pray these three powerful words, do we think of Jesus' first coming at Christmas (The Perfect Gift) or do we think of Jesus' second coming at the end of time, the Day of Final Judgment? Or are we simply asking Jesus to come and stay in our own hearts right NOW? When is Jesus coming? IS JESUS COMING TODAY? I was invited to give an Advent talk to a group of young Catholic women earlier this week. By coincidence (or God's incidence) I was asked to talk about "ADVENT AND THE COMING OF JESUS, COME LORD JESUS!" The interesting part was not my talk (it is always difficult for me to connect in virtual meetings, when unable to see the reactions of individuals) but rather the questions and reflections by the participants. I will share only some of the takeaways from our discussion...

As we are celebrating THANKSGIVING Day this week, we can be GRATEFUL for all the blessings that God has poured upon each one of us, our families, our workplaces, and our parish in the last 12 months. Everything good we have in our lives comes from God. We have to be GRATEFUL to God, at all times, not only on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of our lives. Should we be also grateful to God for what does not go so well in our lives? The last six months have been challenging. Many people have suffered and are still suffering. God does not want us to suffer. HE has given us a free will. We believe that by accepting our suffering for God’s Glory, we can be transformed and get closer to Him. I remember that I felt angry when last March we had no choice but to close our doors to all of you. This was painful for all of us. As six months have now passed, we see that we achieved many goals: ...