Our Compassionate Savior

Sunday Readings here. 

There are two ways that we can consider today’s gospel reading.

We can and should look at these healings from the viewpoint of our own needs and those of our family and ask the Lord for healing. That is certainly valid. “Ask, and you shall receive,” the Lord said. We can ask the Lord and receive His care.

The second way we can and should also look on these healings from the viewpoint of the Lord. We are called to be followers of Christ. We are called to love as He loves. We are called to have compassion for the hurting. We are not called to judge the cause of their pain. We are called to care for them. And yet, sadly, some of us will say that a person’s condition is his or her own fault and then move on and away from them.

So many see the cause of the sickness and not the sick people. Do those sick due to their own sinfulness merit less care from us than other people? Of course not. At least, not if we are followers of Christ. Some people may now be sick, but have always been difficult. These are the relatives, neighbors or business associates we are required to see and to endure. And now they need our help. It is not easy putting up with their comments. It is easy to ignore them. Yes, they may be a pain, but they also may be in pain.

Jesus didn’t care if the woman had a situation which would have caused the temple priests to call Him defiled. He didn’t care if curing a person would get Him in trouble with the authorities if that cure was on the Sabbath. He didn’t care of He had to drop everything and rush to the bedside of what the world would see as an insignificant little girl, enduring mockery in the process.

So, what we have in our Gospel today is defiled lady, a dead child, and a Compassionate Savior. His care, love and healing were far more powerful than the prohibitions of Jewish law, far more powerful than the forces of nature, and far more powerful than the forces of death. Jesus is only concerned about those who hurt and who need His healing. How can we be any different and still call ourselves His followers?

- Rev. Joseph Maloney, Pastor 

Saint Aloysius…Pray for Us!

Sunday readings here. 
 
Alright folks, we have arrived at this most significant week; this most important week in our life as a parish- the week of the Feast day of our patron saint, Saint Aloysius himself.  

If you don’t mind my saying, I remember five short years ago, when I first arrived here at Saint Aloysius Parish, and I did just happen to move in on June 21 (which is Saint Aloysius’ feast day, and I do not believe in coincidences!), I instantly made up my mind that we were going to mark our parish feast day with a novena, with Forty Hours and a parish feast day celebration.

I am very happy to say that at the end of my fifth year, because of the tremendous support of all of you, we now have a wonderful, at least “mini tradition,” of celebrating our Feast Day with Forty Hours devotions and a parish festival. We begin today with our annual novena to Saint Aloysius. On Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, June 20 and 21, we will be holding our parish Feast Day Food Festival in Begley Hall.  I humbly ask that you participate in our Festival. Please stop in and enjoy our ethnic cuisine or hamburgers/hotdogs etc.  

Also, our Forty Hours celebration will take place on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday evening, June 21-23 at 7 PM.  The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed after the morning Masses on Monday and Tuesday until the evening services at 7 PM. Please find time to come and adore the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and pray for our parish through the intercession of Saint Aloysius!  On Tuesday evening we will venerate the relic of Saint Aloysius and process down Hanover Street toward King Street with the relic, our Saint Aloysius statue and the Blessed Sacrament before returning to church for the closing Benediction. After the Benediction there will be a light reception in our Gathering Center.  

Our preacher this year will be Father Christopher Moriconi, who just celebrated the first anniversary of his ordination and who serves as parochial vicar at St. Eleanor’s Parish in Collegeville. Fr. Moriconi will preach at all the Masses, including the Vigil Mass next weekend. Every one, and especially our First Communicants, and Altar Servers (dressed in their communion attire, and their albs) are strongly encouraged to participate and walk in the procession. Of course, it promises to be a tremendous celebration of who we are….SAINT ALOYSIUS!  Do not miss it!

- Rev. Joseph Maloney, Pastor