Catholic? Come Home!

Maybe you have been away from the Catholic Church for a little while, or for a long time. 

Maybe you have felt a tug at your heart, the Lord inviting you to come back. This is a wonderful time of the year to say yes to this loving invitation from God.

No matter how long you have been away, you are part of our Catholic family and we have missed you! 

We are your brothers and sisters in Christ, and we want to help welcome you home!

Despite the human brokenness of his followers, Jesus is still working through his Church today. 

He wants to forgive you, nourish you, and strengthen you in your journey with him. Like the loving Father in the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15), Jesus is waiting for you and can’t wait to joyfully welcome you home!

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Come experience the Lord’s mercy!

Special opportunities will be offered for the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the main church. Even if it has been decades, the priest will help you and rejoice with you as you experience the Lord’s forgiveness and mercy.

Thursday, Dec. 13
5:00 – 7:00pm

Friday, Dec. 14
5:00 – 7:00pm

Saturday, Dec. 15
11:00am – 1:00pm

Thursday, Dec. 20
5:00 – 7:00pm

Friday, Dec. 21
5:00 – 7:00pm

Saturday, Dec. 22
11:00am – 1:00pm

Monday, Dec. 24
11:00am – 1:00pm

Christmas Masses

Christmas Eve
4:00pm, 6:00pm, 6:30pm (Español)

Christmas Day
12:00am (Midnight), 10:00am

Finding God’s Love at Auschwitz

The Heroic Sacrifice of Maximilian Kolbe

Three prisoners had escaped from the Nazis.

It was summer 1941 at Auschwitz, the German concentration camp in Poland. In retaliation, the commandant lined up the inmates and chose ten of them to suffer death by starvation. One of them, on hearing his name, cried out, “My poor wife and children, I will never see them again!” In the silence, another prisoner stepped out of the ranks and said, “I want to die in his place.” The commandant asked scornfully, “Who are you?”

The prisoner responded, “I am a Catholic priest.”

The exchange was permitted, and so began the final days of Father Maximilian Kolbe. The ten prisoners were already ragged and underfed, their bodies worn down by beatings and hard labor. They now were taken to an underground bunker to be starved to death. Since first arriving in Auschwitz, Father Kolbe had been a quiet light to these men, sharing his food with them, praying with them, and giving hope as all fought to survive another day. Now he would accompany them as they prepared for death.

In the death bunker, Father Kolbe kept ministering as a priest.

He reminded the other men of God’s love for them, and he encouraged them to forgive their persecutors. With his guidance, the prisoners could be heard singing hymns and lifting prayers to God. One guard remarked, “This priest is really a great man. We have never seen anyone like him.” After two weeks without food or water, only Father Kolbe and a couple of others held on to life. Growing tired of the whole process, the guards injected them with carbolic acid. Their bodies were cremated in the camp’s ovens.

Father Kolbe had always given everything for Christ.

As a young priest, Father Kolbe had energetically used radio and the printing press to share Christ’s message with as many people as possible. When the Germans invaded Poland, he chose to stay in his monastery where he opened a hospital for those in need and hid some two thousand Jewish people. He also denounced the Germans through illegal publications and radio broadcasts. For these crimes, he was arrested and sent to Auschwitz.

Even in the midst of great evil, God’s goodness can be seen.

Forty-one years later, Father Maximilian Kolbe was officially recognized as a saint by Pope John Paul II. Present for the ceremony was Francis Gajowniczek, the man whose life was saved by Father Kolbe. In his declaration, the pope cited words from the Gospel of John: “Greater love has no man than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Image © Tianna Williams. www.ti-spark.ca

Saints and Sinners

Encountering Brokenness Among Believers

“This gym will change your life!”

A friend raves about his gym, sharing enthusiastically how exercise changes one’s life, and you decide to check it out. Walking around, you see a number of very fit people, exercising with focus. But you also notice a lot of people who aren’t doing much. They seem more concerned with socializing than getting in shape. And in the corner, you see your friend, taking a nap on one of the exercise balls!

We experience a similar phenomenon in church.

In pretty much every faith community, one will find people who are passionate about God and live out their faith whole-heartedly. But one will also find people who are going through the motions, or who are not practicing what they preach, perhaps even among those who are leaders or well-regarded. If you have been hurt or scandalized by someone who should have been an example of faith, it might be helpful to consider the following reflections.

God is still worth knowing, even though his followers fail.

There are many things in life worth doing, even though people involved are flawed. In our analogy, the napping friend has not been faithful to exercise, but this doesn’t mean that exercise and good nutrition aren’t worthwhile pursuits. Just because some people who follow God don’t practice what they preach, it doesn’t mean that God isn’t real or that he isn’t worth knowing.

Each of us are sinners in need of salvation.

If we are honest with ourselves, we can probably see how we have often wanted to live a certain way but have failed, or sins that we have struggled with but just couldn’t seem to overcome. We are all broken to one degree or another; “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Remembering our own human weakness can help give us some perspective when we encounter indifference or outright evil among some of Christ’s followers.

There is no perfect gym, and no perfect group of believers.

If we were to wait for a church full of perfect members, we would never be part of a church! Jesus told us this would be the case: his church would be full of wheat and weeds, saints and sinners, until the end of time. (Matthew 13:24-30) To a certain degree, we are all weeds. We all have sins and brokenness. Thankfully, the Church is meant to be a hospital for sinners, not a club for perfect people.

Be inspired by those who are spiritually fruitful.

The quality of a gym is best seen by looking at those who take advantage of all it offers. Similarly, the value of a church is best seen by looking at those who make full use of its spiritual treasures. Such believers will still have weaknesses, but one should be able to see a peace and a joy in their lives. In the Catholic Church, we are inspired by people like Francis of Assisi or Mother Teresa, whose lives were transformed by Christ’s grace in beautiful and amazing ways.

Whom Do You Thank?

This week, we pause our message series for a small Thanksgiving reflection. The way we understand God has an effect on all areas of our lives, including how we approach Thanksgiving Day.

In a recent survey, 10% of Americans state that they do not believe in God or any sort of higher power.

Many people have embraced a materialistic view of the world: the only things that exist are those which can be observed and measured. If this is true, God does not exist, and neither does the human soul. Are we all here due to the workings of random chance? The quirky personality of a loved one, the hilarious wit of a relative, and the love we experience for them: are these merely the interaction of chemical processes in our brains, the firing of neurons? If so, we really have no one to thank.

33% of Americans state that they do not believe in God, but they believe “in some higher power or spiritual force.”

This reflects a trend in our culture to see God as an impersonal force or energy. Even as people turn away from religion, most instinctively reject a materialistic worldview, recognizing that there is more to reality than the visible world. But in matters of faith, God is seen as a “something” rather than a “someone.” A force or energy cannot know us or love us. In this case, thanking God on Thanksgiving doesn’t make much sense, any more than we would thank gravity for its constant help. Gravity isn’t aware of our existence; it doesn’t care that we are grateful that it keeps us from floating away like a balloon.

56% of Americans state that they believe in God as described in the Bible.

The God revealed in Scripture is a “someone,” rather than a force or energy. He created each of us with great care. He knows each of us intimately, down to the number of hairs on our heads. (Matthew 10:30) He loves each of us more than the best parents love their child. He is part of every moment of our lives, and he is the giver of all of the blessings we have. He is the one to whom we can offer our gratitude on Thanksgiving.

Angry With God?

Faith in Difficult Times

Why does God allow bad things to happen?

A father watches his son dying of leukemia. A child loses her mother at a young age. When we experience sorrows such as the death of a loved one, or bitter disappointments like the loss of a job, we can find ourselves becoming angry at God. If we do not manage these feelings in a healthy manner, we can begin to question whether God even exists, or at least whether he’s worth having as a part of our lives.

If you’re angry with God, you’re not alone.

In the Bible, Jonah was angry with God after feeling that he was mistreated (Jonah 4:1-11). Job expressed similar feelings (Job 3:1-26). In a way, it takes faith to be angry with God. If we didn’t think he existed, or if we thought he wasn’t in control of things, we wouldn’t have any reason to be angry. It is because we believe these things that we struggle with God. There are no easy answers here. For thousands of years, people of faith have struggled with the question of evil in the world. As Christians, we believe that God is good and he is all-powerful, and yet we recognize that evil exists. How can all three facts be simultaneously true? This is a mystery that goes beyond the limits of our human intellect and earthly perspective. But if you are feeling upset with God, there are constructive ways to move forward.

Talk to God about your feelings.

If you are angry or disappointed, tell him all about it. He already knows, but he loves you and wants to hear you share what you are going through. As we admit our feelings and express them to God, we can start working through these emotions with him. We can find ourselves growing closer to God, even while we are still struggling. Even if it seems difficult, continue to keep the lines of communication open.

Look with love at the cross.

The mystery of human suffering finds its culmination in what happened on Good Friday, when Jesus gave his life for us on the cross. God loves us so much that he actually became one of us; he freely allowed himself to enter into our suffering. We can reflect on how Jesus was completely innocent, and yet he endured such immense agonies. We can prayerfully unite our own sufferings with his sufferings on the cross.

Consider your blessings.

When we are suffering, it is also helpful to take some time to consider the ways that God has blessed us. For example, if we find ourselves seriously ill, we might thank God for the support of our family members or the blessing of good medical care. Even in the midst of great trials, we can recognize God’s love and his continuing presence.

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“Will God Ruin My Life?”

Making a Total Gift of Self

Viewed from the outside, marriage can seem limiting.

A young man, for example, might perceive marriage as a tremendous restraint on his freedom. If he marries, he will no longer be able to date whomever he wishes. He won’t be able to go wherever he wants or to do whatever he’d like. He worries that he will be a shadow of his former self.

A healthy marriage actually brings more freedom.

When this man finds the woman God is calling him to marry, he joyfully makes a total gift of himself to her in marriage. He then discovers that his earlier fears were unfounded. In a happy marriage, where both seek to build each other up and lead each other to Christ, he actually finds himself more free than ever before. By the daily gift of self in his marriage, he is becoming the man he was always meant to be.

This is the paradox of the Christian life.

Our hearts were created for perfect, infinite love. In life, we only find purpose and meaning to the extent that we are giving of ourselves in a total gift of self. In order to give of ourselves totally to one person, we inevitably have to let go of other persons or things that could have a claim on our hearts. But in such a total gift of self, we free ourselves for a new and deeper love than was possible before. This is true in marriage, as well as our own journey with God.

From the outside, the Christian life can also seem limiting.

With its high moral expectations, we can imagine the Christian life as a drag or a burden. We think that if we make a total gift of our heart to God, we will be limiting our freedom; we will no longer be free to do whatever we feel like doing. We worry that we would become unhappy, a lesser version of ourselves.

But God desires to bring us joy and true freedom.

God is not a grim taskmaster, intent on making our lives miserable with a lot of rules and burdens. Rather, like a loving husband who cares for his wife, the Lord desires our happiness and our well-being. As we grow closer to him, we naturally want to do those things which help us grow in our relationship with him and in our love for others. We will still enjoy many of the things that we thought were so important, but in a proper manner and in a way that builds us up.

Drawing closer to God, you will become more fully yourself.

We have nothing to fear. A relationship with God will not take away our freedom; we will find a new, deeper freedom. Our lives will not become boring; we will experience life as an adventure with even higher stakes than before. We will not become a lesser version of ourselves, but the person we were always meant to be.

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Engine Troubles

“I Don’t Need God”

Going down the highway, the “check engine” light comes on.

If you are driving an older car with lots of wear and tear, it would not come as a great surprise that you need a mechanic. You would be expecting to visit one sooner or later. But if your car is new and in great condition, it would be easy to assume you won’t be needing a mechanic. The indicator light might come as a real surprise, and you may ignore it as a false alarm.

Those who are struggling tend to be more open to God.

When people are vulnerable, aware of their weaknesses and their struggles, they are like the first drivers in our example. They more easily recognize their need for God, and they are often more receptive to his guidance. This is probably why, throughout Scripture, God tends to work through those who are lowly instead of the important and powerful.

With worldly blessings, we can think we don’t need God.

Those who have all of their material needs met, for example, are more likely to feel self-reliant. They don’t need to depend on anyone else, including God. Even if everything is not perfect, most of us live comfortably. We have family and friends who love us and care for us. We have plenty of ways to be entertained. In such times, it is easy to think, “I’m doing just fine without God.”

But there are often signs that all is not well.

Like the “check engine” light coming on in our car, there are often subtle signs that all is not going as well as we pretend. We may struggle with anxiety or depression. There might be a boredom to our lives, or a quiet sense that something important is missing. We may distract ourselves from these realities with constant noise or activities, so that we don’t have to be silent and ask ourselves deeper questions. Sometimes, this interior pain can manifest itself through unhealthy relationships or behaviors, or we try to dull the pain with overeating, pornography, drinking, or drugs.

Have you ever had unexpected joy?

Besides paying attention to the warning signs that you might be experiencing, it can also help to look at the times that life has surprised you. Have there been times in your life when you have felt that life could not get any better, and yet someone or something entered your life and brought you unexpected joy? This is how it can be with God. When we invite him into our lives, we begin to discover a joy and a peace deeper than what we knew before.

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Who Just Moved In?

Our Assumptions About God

You’ve heard things about the neighbor down the street.

Ever since he moved into the neighborhood, people have been saying negative things about him. This impression is strengthened when you see him out in his yard, mumbling to himself as he pulls weeds. As a result, you never try to speak with him or get to know him. But one day, he introduces himself to you and you both begin talking. It turns out, what you had heard about him wasn’t at all accurate, and he’s actually a wonderful person.

We tend to make presumptions about God, too.

As in our example, we might never have been properly introduced to God. We may have negative ideas about him from things we have heard from family or friends. We might have an impression of him that is inaccurate or incomplete, and these impressions can keep us from even wanting to seek God out.

What impressions might you have about God?

Perhaps God was never talked about in your family when you were growing up, and so you’ve never really considered matters of faith to be very important. Maybe you assume that God is just for people who are weak-minded or gullible. You may think of God as a force, an energy, or a higher level of existence, rather than as a person.

Wounds in our heart can also affect our view of God.

If we experienced problems in our relationship with one or both of our parents, we can unconsciously imagine God in the same way. For example, if our father was absent or emotionally distant, we may imagine God as being somewhat detached as well, not caring about our daily needs. If our mother held grudges and never seemed to forgive us, we can find it hard to believe that God is truly merciful and willing to forgive our sins. If our parents were overly demanding and hard to please, we could imagine God in the same way, thinking we have to earn his love by being good.

God has revealed himself as a loving Father.

When Christians speak of God, we mean the infinite being who created the universe and everything in it. He is a person, meaning he is a “someone” who loves and cares for us, rather than an impersonal force or energy. He created the human race and has revealed himself to us so that we can know him and enjoy a relationship with him. Of all the earthly images that he could have used to symbolize how he considers us, his favorite is to present himself as our loving and merciful father.

What might need to be healed for you to seek God?

Over the years, what has influenced the way you think about God? What might be the assumptions that you have about God, perhaps even without realizing it? If there are wounds from your childhood, perhaps you can talk to God about them and ask for healing. Like the neighbor in our example, it could be that God is different than we are imagining, and we will be glad that we got to know him!

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“I Can’t Hear You!”

Hearing God in a Noisy World

Have you ever been in a noisy restaurant?

You are with a friend, trying to have a good conversation and catch up with one another. But with all of the other voices coming from nearby tables, and the music playing over the speakers, it is almost impossible to hear your friend’s voice and understand what he or she is saying.

This is what our daily lives are like.

We are always surrounded by noise of some sort. Many of us never experience true silence from the time we step out of bed to the time we climb back in. We are always hearing voices competing for our attention, often literally on television and on the radio, but also through texts, alerts on our phone, and other distractions.

The noisiest things are usually the least important.

We are given breathless updates about changes to a celebrity’s diet, the latest sports drama, or the most recent political intrigue. We are constantly urged to focus time and energy on things which won’t matter a year or even a week from now. When you think about it, isn’t it rather exhausting? And does it ever bring us the peace that we seek?

God is speaking to us, but we can’t hear him.

He is like the friend in the restaurant, sitting at the table with you. He wants to share with you from his heart; he wants to help you get to know him. But with so many voices and distractions, his voice is drowned out. His voice is a quiet voice, a voice that is heard in the silence of our hearts.

Silence allows us to hear God.

In silence, we come to understand ourselves in a deeper way. We receive new clarity on the events happening in our lives. We can start to think about the big questions in life, such as “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?” And in this quiet reflection, we allow ourselves an opportunity to meet God and to be guided by him.

Why not make room for some silence in your day?

There are many ways to build some quiet time into the day. You could enjoy a quiet cup of coffee before leaving for work, thinking about the day ahead of you. You could turn off the radio on the way to work, or take a walk on your lunch break with your phone turned off. As little as ten or fifteen minutes of silence can help give peace and clarity to your entire day!

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What’s Holding You Back?

Friendship of a Lifetime

Think about the close friends in your life.

Perhaps with most of your friends, you hit it off right from the start and have been close ever since. But you might also have a close friend who was an acquaintance for a long time before you became friends. You may have known each other in passing at work or at school, and something held you back from getting to know him or her. Looking back, you’re now amazed that it took so long for you to become friends!

Many things can keep us from getting to know someone.

You might think you don’t need any more friends, or you don’t want to open yourself up to new people. The person might strike you as a bit odd, or you have heard negative things about him. With all the distractions of daily life, you may never have noticed him, or didn’t realize that he was interested in a friendship with you.

Our relationship with God can be the same way.

Perhaps you have been friends with God as long as you can remember, and friendship with him seems to come naturally. Or it could be that God seems to you more like a classmate or co-worker whom you only know in passing. You may have heard a bit about him, but something is keeping you from getting to know him.

Many obstacles can keep us from faith in God.

We may assume that God is a fairy tale, invented to give people comfort. We could have some misunderstandings about him. We might have experienced hurt or rejection from a particular church or its members. Perhaps we are just really busy, and we don’t feel like we need God. Maybe we have never realized that God is interested in us, deeply desiring for us to know him.

We don’t want to miss out on such a friendship!

It’s not easy to reach out to someone and try to build a new friendship, but an amazing friend is worth the effort. The same is true with God. With some time and effort, we can seek out a relationship with him. If Christians are wrong and God does not exist, then we will have spent worthwhile time thinking about life’s big questions; no harm done! But if God does exist, then we have an opportunity to enter into the greatest and most beautiful relationship of our lives.

What obstacles might you be experiencing?

There are many reasons to believe in God. But before exploring arguments for his existence, it is worth considering what obstacles might be keeping us from being open to him in the first place. In this message series, we will explore some common obstacles and suggest ways to overcome them.