Adoration parking lot and entrance closed for maintenance Sept. 21-Oct. 3. Read more at seasparish.org/adoration.
Dominus Est is cancelled, Adoration is closed until Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.

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Fr. Dave's Articles and Updates

- Fr. Dave has a Homily page too!
  
  Click here for Fr. Dave's homilies.
- Fr. Dave's Article in the September 25 Bulletin
  
  After receiving Communion and spending time in prayer, we come to the end of Mass. The priest prays the prayer after Communion and we have now arrived at everyone’s favorite time in the Mass - the announcements! As you know, we usually don’t have announcements. For me personally, I have suffered PTSD from having to listen to announcements at Mass. Obviously, I am exaggerating but I could never understand why the priest or someone else would read the bulletin to us. For me, it was a bit annoying. I just spent the past hour worshiping God and then I have to hear about meetings or fundraisers or blood drives. I just don’t think it is effective to force people to receive information. It is better to reach someone in ways that they want to listen.
  
  At our parish, we have four ways where information is relayed to you - the weekly E-news, Facebook, our website and the bulletin. We trust that you will use these resources. When we do have an announcement at Mass, it will be for the purpose of furthering our mission of making disciples. If you want to know what is going on in our parish or school, you can use the sources listed above to keep you informed.
  
  After the final blessing, the congregation sings the closing song. For some, there is a mad dash to Mother Seton Hall to get a donut after the song is finished. Because there are always enough donuts, maybe you might consider pausing for a few moments to pray and give thanks to God. It is a good way to remind yourself that you are being sent on a mission to your life outside the church. How can I live out what I just received? When leaving, be sensitive to those who do choose to stay and pray. Keep your conversations to a minimum until you get to the gathering space.
  
  If you have any specific questions about Mass that you would like answered, please send us your question. Go to our parish website (www.seasparish.org), place your cursor over the ABOUT tab and then click on “Contact Us”.
- Fr. Dave's Article in the September 18 Bulletin
  
  A couple of weeks ago, I addressed how to receive Communion. After receiving Communion, what are you supposed to do when you return to your pew? The Church does not regulate your body posture or how you pray. It recognizes that everyone is different and has different personal devotions.
  As you enter your pew, you can either sit or kneel. You can choose whatever body posture will help you pray. Traditionally, if people are able, they will kneel. You have just had a sacred encounter with God. Kneeling is a posture that signifies your own interior prayer of humility and a reverence for the gift just received.
  
  The purpose of this time is thanksgiving and adoration. For some, you will choose to join in with the communion hymn to give thanks. Others will choose to spend some time in quiet thanksgiving. Some of you may have certain memorized prayers that you pray. Sometimes, the moment is so profound that you just remain silent in awe that Jesus loves you so much to come to you in the Eucharist. It is really a moment of great intimacy. It can also be a time of reflection. Am I living a life worthy of the gift I have just received? Where is the Lord calling me to love greater? How can I be a walking tabernacle after I leave Mass?
  
  These are the moments when we are so close to Jesus. Our Lord is alive in us. You have just received our Savior who died on the cross. In our heart and soul is the creator of the universe. There is no greater gift than the one we have just received. It is God’s gift of Himself in the Eucharist. At this moment, you are a living tabernacle.
  
  One question people have is when they should be seated after communion. Technically, you don’t have to sit down. You can remain kneeling until the prayer after communion. Traditionally at our parish, everyone sits down after vessels are cleansed and the priest and/or deacon is seated. Ideally, if we are going to sit down together as a parish, it is more appropriate to do it after the priest or deacon places the remaining consecrated hosts in the tabernacle. Once this happens, there will likely be a few more moments of a communion meditation song or silence.
- Fr. Dave's Article in the September 11 Bulletin
  
  Last week, I mentioned that I was going to write about what to do after receiving Communion. I am going to wait until next week because something happened recently that I want to pass on to you.
  
  After the 10am Mass, I was in Mother Seton Hall talking to a parishioner when a woman approached me and wanted to speak with me. I was a bit apprehensive because I was thinking I was going to get a complaint. She mentioned that she works at a Catholic parish and was here as a visitor. She realized that it can be difficult to be welcoming in a parish that is large like ours. I braced myself for the bad news. I was relieved to hear what she said! She wanted to compliment all of us for welcoming her family. She mentioned that they felt welcomed on many levels as they entered the gathering space and the church. Then after Mass, a number of parishioners approached her family because they recognized them as visitors. They were asked where they were from and welcomed them to our parish. One family even volunteered to show them to Mother Seton Hall for coffee and donuts.
  
  I don’t know who was all responsible for this but I want to say thank you! We have been preaching and talking about becoming a parish where people feel welcomed. We all have that great responsibility to see Christ in each person and to have them experience the love of Christ.
  
  What can we continue to do to be a welcoming parish? One easy thing to do is to not be a pew blocker in the church at Mass. What I mean is to move to the center of the pew so that others who are looking for a place to sit can easily enter the pew you are in.
  
  More importantly, always be on the watch for visitors and people who might be new to our parish. We need people to serve as “spotters” in the gathering space and Mother Seton Hall especially after the Sunday morning Masses. A “spotter” is someone who is looking to reach out and welcome people. Invite them to hospitality. If you notice someone who is by themselves in Mother Seton Hall, sit down with them for a conversation. If interested, contact Laura, our Director of Evangelization. It doesn’t require a lot of training. All you need is a joyful and generous spirit.
- Fr. Dave's Article in the September 4 Bulletin
  
  Everything that happens at Mass should prepare us for our most important encounter with God - receiving Holy Communion. As you get out of your pew and begin your walk to the sanctuary, is there something that you should be doing at that moment to keep your focus on what is about to happen?
  
  I think it is important to remember that you are not getting in line to get something like you would at a fast food restaurant or to check out at the grocery store. You are being called to an encounter with Jesus. Whether you repeat a prayer or a line from scripture or imagine that Joseph and Mary are escorting you to their son, you want to keep your focus on the Lord.
  
  As you approach the minister, you bow. We bow as a sign of reverence to Jesus. Our King and Lord is right there in front of you. The minister will then say - the Body of Christ. You boldly respond by saying “Amen”. Our amen states that we believe it is the Body of Christ. Our amen states that we would stake our life on this gift given to the Catholic Church. Then we receive.
  
  The ancient practice of the Church has been the reception of Communion on the tongue. If you receive this way, simply open your mouth and place your tongue out and hold your head still. The minister will place the host on your tongue. The other option is to receive Communion on the hand. St. Cyril of Jerusalem in the fourth century is quoted as saying “Receive Communion by making a throne, one hand under the other, and receive our great King.” Make a throne with your hands with your dominant hand underneath the other hand. Once the host is placed in your hand, step to the side, place the host in your mouth and then walk away. Communion in the hand requires the use of two free hands. If that is not possible, you should receive it on the tongue.
  
  As a priest, it is my responsibility to protect the Blessed Sacrament. It is important that either myself or the deacon of the other ministers see you consume the host. Far too often the host is found in the pew or in a hymnal. An even more grave possibility is that the host is used for desecration.
  
  Next week, I will talk about what to do once you return to your pew.
- Fr. Dave's Article in the August 28 Bulletin
  
  Why does the Church require us to fast before Mass? Some of you might remember the “midnight fast.” A person could not eat before Mass starting from the midnight before. Because of this, most Masses were celebrated early in the morning and it was very rare to have an evening Mass. Most people would not want to fast all of Sunday before attending Mass.
  
  This practice was in the Church until it was reduced to three hours in 1957. In 1964, it was lowered to one hour before reception of Communion. Here is the actual canon law. “A person who is to receive the Most Holy Eucharist is to abstain for at least one hour before holy communion from any food and drink, except for only water and medicine” (Canon 919 §1). It continues by stating that “the elderly, the infirm, and those who care for them can receive the Most Holy Eucharist even if they have eaten something within the preceding hour. (Canon 919 §3).
  
  I will often get the question - do I fast one hour before the start of the Mass or before I receive Communion? Technically, the law says one hour before Communion. More important is not the timing but the purpose of fasting before Mass. We find many examples of fasting in both the Old and New Testament. Most of the time, it was done in preparation for an encounter with God. This is true for us at Mass. We are called to prepare ourselves for our encounter with God.
  
  Our fasting before Mass is to create a hunger in us for Jesus. Our physical hunger should help us in our spiritual hunger for God. If we fill ourselves with a bacon cheeseburger and fries, or eggs, sausage and pancakes before Mass, it is going to dull our spiritual hunger.
  
  This demand placed on us is not difficult. We have plenty of food in our lives. The challenge for us is to embrace this fast. I think it is praiseworthy to simply fast for at least one hour before the beginning of Mass. We want to make room in our soul for Jesus Himself. This simple act of fasting can play an important role in our worship at Mass.
- Fr. Dave's Article in the August 21 Bulletin
  
  A few weeks ago, I wrote about the important role that music plays in worship. In this article, I am going to the other extreme in advocating for the role that silence plays in worship. We have a large gathering space where you can have great conversations with friends and fellow parishioners before and after Mass. We want it to be a place where you are welcomed. But once we step inside our church, we begin our preparation for Mass. There is a temptation to carry on many conversations there or read the bulletin or balance your checkbook. The purpose is to get ourselves ready for a sacred celebration. We are about to encounter God. We are silent not only for ourselves but also out of respect for others.
  
  During the Mass, there are two moments of prolonged silence. The first moment is after the homily. After hearing God’s Word and the homily, we allow this period of silence to stir our soul. What word or image or teaching spoke to me today? What is God asking of me? Deacon Rod and myself are making an effort to give more time in silence after the homily.
  
  The second moment is after Communion. After everyone has received Communion and the music is finished, we kneel or sit in silence. We have just been nourished by the bread of life. Jesus is dwelling in our heart and soul. Does it get any better than that? Even with all that is going on in our lives, we treasure the great gift of the Eucharist.
  
  For parents with young children, we know that you do your best to foster silence. But sometimes your children have something to say. We love to hear children’s voices. So don’t worry if your child makes noise during the silence. Maybe it’s God reminding us of His presence.
  
  Once Mass is over, don’t feel rushed to leave. I would encourage everyone to pause for a few moments in silence to give thanks. If you are not able to do that, be respectful of those who are praying after Mass.
  
  It was St. John of the Cross who said - “God’s first language is silence.” May we all find silence in our lives to hear the voice of God.
- Fr. Dave's Article in the August 14 Bulletin
  
  It has been a few weeks since I have updated you on the proposed renovation of our sanctuary. Hopefully, most of you have watched the video about the renovation (almost a thousand people have.) Most of the feedback I have received has been positive. Because of that, we are going to continue to move forward.
  
  Here are a few things that need to be done. With this possibility that the project may happen, we need to get the Archdiocese involved. We will need their approval on two fronts. The first is in regard to changing the sanctuary space. Whenever there is a significant change, they need to review the plans to make sure it is in line with diocesan guidelines. The second is in regard to fundraising. They are going to make sure that adequate funding is in place. I will be working with parish leadership to discern the raising of money for this project. We have a couple of options. Do we hire a professional firm to help us, or do we do it on our own?
  
  The determining factor will be the amount that we decide to raise and whether we include other projects with this campaign. We already have just under $300,000 in funds which includes some money that is pledged. If you desire to give to this project, you are more than welcome to donate at seasparish.weshareonline.org (then click on Beautification of the Sanctuary in the Parish Church.) Please know that if for some reason we do not move forward with this project, all money collected for the renovation will be returned to the giver.
  
  As we move forward, please continue to pray that we do the will of God. This project will only bear fruit if this is what God wants. Next week, I will get back to my articles on worship. I hope my past articles have helped you to pray at Mass with more fervor and devotion.
- Fr. Dave's Article in the July 31 Bulletin
  
  For many people who come to worship at Mass on the weekend, music plays an important role. As you can imagine, there are many opinions. Some prefer praise and worship. Others want traditional hymns or chants. Then there are a few who want no music. The director of liturgy is in a no-win situation because not everyone is always going to get what they want. I read an article written by a priest and he said that music sets the stage. What is it setting the stage for? An encounter with God.
  
  Its purpose is to lift our heart, mind, and body in worship. He goes on to say that “music serves and prepares the table but it’s not the feast. It clears the room of the heart and mind that comes in so busy but doesn’t fill it with its own busyness…Sacred music is that beauty that prepares us to pray, that opens our heart to receive the Word within us.” The priest also mentioned that if we leave Mass “far more engaged with the musicians and the composition than the fact we met our Lord, then yes, we need some correcting.”
  
  As a priest, I like many different types of music. Whether it's a traditional hymn played on the organ or a Latin hymn sung by our choir or a praise and worship song, each of them can touch my soul in different ways. If it happens that I don’t like a song or it is one that I have never heard before, I am still grateful that we have musicians in our parish who share their talents. I keep reminding myself that I am not at Mass to be entertained but to worship God.
  
  The one thing that all these songs must have in common is that God is the focus and holiness is the goal. When a song focuses on me or earthly things, it is no longer worship. Before Mass begins, you may want to open your hymnal to look at the songs selected (the song numbers are listed on boards hanging from the pillars.) You will probably notice some theme that will connect with the readings. This can also be a way to pray before Mass begins.
- Fr. Dave's Article in the July 24 Bulletin
  
  You are in your pew waiting for Mass to begin. Did you know that we should all come to Mass with a personal prayer intention in mind? In Mass, we are taken to the cross at Calvary. The sacrifice of Christ to his Father is made present to us. We are all invited to offer up these prayer intentions during the offertory, which comes right after the petitions.
  
  This is one reason we no longer have a collection during Mass. Think of it as a “spiritual offering” instead. In a Catholic publication, a priest wrote, “The collection causes a break in liturgical action, and leads us to focus on what is temporal.” He continued, “...it adds nothing to the dignity of the Mass. Shoving baskets into people’s noses does make them go into their pocket and get out a dollar, but you are not getting to the heart of why they need to tithe.” I would also add that it distracts them in their worship.
  
  When the priest is saying the prayers for the bread and wine to be offered, imagine your prayer intention being placed along with bread and wine. After the priest is finished with the prayers, he says. “Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice AND YOURS may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.” You respond by saying, “May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands, for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church."
  
  The wonderful thing about this intention is that it can be anything you want. It can be a prayer of petition for someone who is ill or for a family member who is away from the faith. It can be a prayer of thanksgiving or for a soul who has died. What happens if you forget to do this? A wise priest suggested a general intention. Tell God that if you forget, the intention is for a certain purpose. For example, a holy death, vocations to the priesthood, or for your children.
  
  If you allow this to be a part of your worship, it will give you great purpose as you pray and participate in a very active way.
- Fr. Dave's Article in the July 17 Bulletin
  
  In last week's article, I talked about two gestures - dipping our hand in the holy water and making the sign of the cross and genuflecting before we enter the pew. Now that you are in your pew, what do you notice? When you look around, what do you see? This is where the environment in the church makes an impact.
  
  This is one of the reasons we are considering a renovation to our worship space. In an article on beautiful churches, Fr. Landry said that “one of the most important means of calling people to transcendence, to lifting up their hearts to the Lord, to tasting and seeing the possibility of eternal human excellence, is through beauty in sacred art.”
  
  Pope Francis recently wrote a letter on the liturgy. He wants all Catholics to be well formed in the liturgy “in order to revive a sense of wonder at the mystery of the sacrifice of the Mass.” Before we even do anything after entering the pew, we want our surroundings to raise our hearts and minds to heaven.
  
  Because our life is so filled with earthly realities, we want to leave that behind at Mass and put our focus on heaven. At Mass, I want to be inspired by images of the saints and angels. When we sing the Holy Holy, I want to imagine the angels of heaven surrounding the altar. When I hear the saints' names mentioned in the prayers, I want to be reminded by their presence in our church.
  
  When I see the candles burning by the side altars, it will remind me to pray for all those who have offered their prayers. The confessionals will be an expression of God’s gracious mercy in that sacrament and at Mass.
  
  I would encourage you to watch a video we have produced in regard to the renovation. I know many of you were not able to come to the presentations. Hopefully this video will help you to see why this is an important step for our parish. This video is available HERE.
- Fr. Dave's Article in the July 10 Bulletin
  
  How was your worship impacted by spending time with the Mass readings during the week and arriving at Mass on time? I hope you noticed a difference. This week, I want to address two gestures we do as Catholics as we enter the church.
  
  The first thing we do is to dip our hand into the holy water and make the sign of the cross. While it is a simple gesture, it is packed with meaning. The sign of the cross professes our belief in one of the deepest mysteries of our faith - the Trinity. We also make the sign of the cross to remind us of the saving work of Christ on the cross.
  
  Most importantly, the water and the sign of the cross remind of our own baptism. According to the Catechism, “Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons and daughters of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission.” (CCC 1213)
  The second gesture we do after the sign of the cross is to show reverence to Jesus’ presence in the tabernacle. Before we enter the pew, we either genuflect or bow. So often, I see this done very casually without much thought. It is easy to just go through the motions.
  
  As Catholics, we genuflect for our Divine King, Jesus Christ. We believe that Jesus is present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Eucharist in the tabernacle. This is our way to honor our God and to express our faith that we believe this to be true.
  
  This weekend, when you enter the church, pay more attention to these two practices. When you dip your hand in the water and make the sign of the cross, remember it is a prayer with deep meaning. When you genuflect or bow before entering your pew, make sure you direct your attention towards Jesus in the tabernacle. Allow yourself to be inspired to say a short prayer or words of praise.
- Fr. Dave's Article in the July 3 Bulletin
  
  Last week, I left you with the question, “What is one thing you can do to help your experience of Mass be focused on worship?” I want to continue and talk about ways to strengthen our worship at Mass.
  
  There are two things that can have a dramatic impact and they happen before Mass even starts. The first thing is to read the scripture readings before you arrive. They are always listed in the bulletin and reading them just once helps in your preparation for worship. If you can read them more than once and even check out a commentary, that will even further enhance your worship. Has it ever happened to you where you can’t hear the lector or your mind wanders during the readings? If you are already familiar with the readings, you still will be able recall the readings and hopefully the homily will still make sense. Sometimes there are names or stories that can be hard to follow if you are hearing it for the first time at Mass. If you are familiar with them, you will not get lost or frustrated.
  
  Most importantly, your familiarity with the readings will help you to see the connection between the hymns, the message of the homily and the prayers at Mass. All of this should lead you to deeper devotion and awe for your encounter with Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
  The second thing that can have a dramatic impact is to arrive early for Mass. It gives you a chance to greet people. You can find your seat and quiet yourself with prayer or maybe read the scripture readings again. We are not robots. We cannot just turn off the busyness of life. This time will prepare your heart, mind, and body for worship.
  
  Arriving late is also a distraction for those who arrive on time. Obviously, there are circumstances out of your control that may prevent you from arriving early. If that is the case, begin your preparation in the car. Turn off the radio. Maybe say a prayer or just be silent. When you enter the church, try to be as discreet as possible.
  
  Together, let us allow these two things to inspire us to greater worship.
- Fr. Dave's Article in the June 26 Bulletin; A New Series on Our Worship at Mass
  
  As I was reading some of the feedback we received about the renovation of our sanctuary, one thing that became clear to me is the wide variety of reasons that people come to Mass. Some mentioned the music, others talked about the preaching or community, and some even commented on the donuts after Mass. How would you answer the question, “Why do you come to Mass each weekend?” Of all the things you could do on a Saturday night or Sunday morning, why choose Mass?
  
  Above all, the most important reason for coming to Mass is to worship God. There may be other reasons, but they should never be more important than our worship of God. If you are in that category where the worship of God is not the most important, the challenge for you is to ask God to help you realign your reasons for coming to Mass. Unless that happens, there is always going to be that tendency to make the success of the Mass focused solely on your experience there. You find yourself wondering what you got out of it.
  
  When we come to Mass, we are not the audience. We are not the ones sitting back and watching like we do for a performance or show or sporting event. We are not at Mass to be entertained. We are the performers and God is the audience. Worship must always be focused on God. How would God rate our performance each weekend?
  
  The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer. It was given to us by Jesus Himself. At each Mass, we are called to experience mystery and reverence and awe. As we come before the altar during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Jesus is made present to us. The Mass is where heaven and earth collide. It is mind-blowing to imagine that the creator of the universe is present to us at each Mass.
  
  Over the next few weeks, I will be writing more about our worship at Mass. Specifically, I will be addressing things that can help us in our worship. Until then, what is one thing you can do to help your next Mass experience be focused on worship?
- Fr. Dave's Article in the May 22 Bulletin, #7 in a Series
  
  Many of you are probably wondering who will be replacing Fr. Matt. Unfortunately, the Archdiocese will not be assigning an associate pastor to our parish. If there was a priest available, we surely would have welcomed one. I am hoping that within the next year or two we will once again have an associate pastor.
  
  This change will affect us in several ways. Beginning June 20th, we will no longer have confessions or Mass on Monday mornings. The confession and daily Mass schedule will remain the same for the rest of the week except for Saturday morning. Morning Mass with confessions following it will only be offered on the first Saturday of each month. The biggest challenge will be scheduling funerals. With two priests, we could usually accommodate a family's request along with the other Masses we offer at our school, the care centers and senior living facilities. Going forward, it will not be as easy.
  
  For almost a year, Fr. Matt and I have been celebrating Mass on Sundays at Regina. We are working with Regina to see how they plan on moving forward without a priest available on Sunday. I will continue to offer the sacrament of anointing and viaticum (last rites) to the residents in senior living and patients in the hospital.
  
  One area that we are still working on is what to do when I am not available for emergency situations. On my day off or when on vacation, I could always count on the associate to take care of that. When we have a procedure in place, we will let you know.
  
  Many school parents have asked me if I am going to take Fr. Matt’s place at recess for kickball. After pondering that for a while, my answer remains - no, unless Pope Francis makes me. I am getting too old. I will see if Deacon Rod would like to take Fr. Matt’s place. I will continue to offer Mass each week at the school and be present in the classrooms and at lunch.
  
  We are trying to turn this into a blessing for our parish. We are coming up with ways to invite parishioners to be more involved in the life of the parish. There are many things that can be done that do not need a priest present. I am also meeting with Deacon Rod to see where we can use his skills and pastoral presence.
  
  This shortage of priests also reveals to us the need for more vocations. We are blessed to have our own parishioner, Deacon John Utecht, who will be ordained a priest in just a few weeks. We are in the process of starting a vocations committee for our parish and we know there are young men and women being called by God to a religious vocation.
  
  Please pray for Fr. Matt and our parish during this transition. Change is difficult but we know that God is in the midst of it. We place our trust in God who will make us stronger and more faithful during this time.
- Fr Dave's Article in the May 8 Bulletin, #6 in a Series
  
  For several weeks, I have been writing about rediscovering the sacred. The topic that probably caught most of your attention was a possible renovation of the church. During this time, I have been meeting with small groups from the parish to get their feedback on a proposed design. I did that because I wanted to get some perspective and questions from parishioners. Some of the questions that I have received are:
  
  Why should we do this?
  
  What’s wrong with the current design of our church?
  
  Knowing the struggles the parish has faced with finances, is now the best time?
  
  Wouldn’t it be better to spend this money on the poor?
  
  How does this affect the desire to build a new school?
  
  Do we really want to go into debt again?
  
  Is the Archbishop forcing us to do this?
  
  Are we going back to pre-Vatican II times?
  
  It has been fruitful to hear these questions because it allows me to address all these issues when I present the proposed design to all of you. Below are three dates where you will have an opportunity to hear more about this. These meetings will take place in Mother Seton Hall.
  
  Tuesday, May 10, at 6:30 p.m.
  
  Wednesday, May 11, after morning Mass at 8:40 a.m.
  
  Saturday, May 21, at 9:00 a.m.
  
  As we gather, it is my hope that we would be respectful of all opinions. We can disagree and remain kind and courteous in our discussions. I have heard that some have already made up their mind even before hearing any details. This is still a proposal. Together, let us pray that the Holy Spirit will guide any decisions to be made.
- Fr. Dave's Article in the May 1, 2022 Bulletin, #5 in a Series
  
  You probably know that our Church believes that all life is sacred. As we continue to rediscover the sacred, I want to focus on the sacredness of young families in our worship at Mass. I recently read an insert that a parish placed in the pews of their parish. I think they state it wonderfully.
  
  Dear Parents of Young Children,
  
  Welcome! We are grateful that you and your family have joined us for Mass. It is our hope that your little ones will grow up to be vital members of our parish family. We are grateful that you begin this journey with us.
  
  Please relax! We know that it’s not easy to get your whole family to Mass, and it can be even more difficult to keep all of your little ones still throughout, but your kids should know that this church is their home and we, the community, are all brothers and sisters. They should feel welcome and at home in this place of worship, in the house of God.
  
  We invite you to sing, pray, teach, respond, and explain what is going on at Mass with your children. Our liturgy is full of life and our little ones learn how to worship through you and your participation. Children learn by example and your dedication to coming to Mass and attentiveness to it will be their best lesson.
  
  Also, everyone knows that children sometimes cry, make noise, or escape from your watchful care. Don’t be overwhelmed, and don’t be afraid to ask for help! We are one family, and in christian charity we are called to help our brothers and sisters.
  
  Here at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, we need to go out of our way to welcome and encourage young families. That effort can go a long way in helping our families feel that they are part of our parish family. So rather than giving a dirty look or making comments about a young family who struggled with their children at Mass, offer to help them or give them some supporting words after Mass. Young families at Mass are such a sign of hope. Let us make sure that each young family knows how much of a treasure they are to our parish family.
- Fr. Dave's Article in the April 24, 2002 Bulletin, #4 in a Series
  
  At the Easter liturgies last weekend, I knew something sacred was happening. There were many signs of it. Aside from the obvious indicators of the music and environment, I also noticed how people were dressed for the occasion. It was wonderful to see so many people who wore their “Sunday best” to the liturgies.
  
  I mentioned in my desire to “rediscover the sacred” that how we dress can impact our experience of the sacredness of Mass. I say that because it does matter what we do with our body. We sit and stand and kneel at different points of the Mass to reflect what is happening in the Mass. It is the same with the clothes we wear. It helps in our preparation to encounter God.
  
  This is exactly what we do every Sunday. We want our worship to be an encounter with God. At Mass, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ happens in an unbloody manner. At the altar when the priest prays the words that Jesus prayed at the Last Supper, we are present for that. How we participate, even in how we dress, reflects our belief in this. The Mass is the most incredible event that happens in our lives each week.
  
  I remember years ago when I was on a mission trip in Nairobi. While in the slums, we worshiped with the people on Sunday. I was so astonished at how they were dressed. They struggled to put food on their table each day, yet they still wore their very best to worship. It didn’t matter how many miles they had to walk; they made the Mass the most important part of their week.
  
  Many will ask - Does God really care? Isn’t God just happy that we are present at Mass? While I don’t know the mind of God, I would think that God does care. God cares because how we dress affects how we worship and it does impact others. If children see their parents and other adults dress up for Mass, they will learn that Mass is something important. We don’t dress up to impress others. We do it because God is greater than us. Mass is greater than any other activity we do throughout the week.
  
  What I don’t want to happen after reading this article is for all of us to become the “dress code police” in the gathering space. This article is not written so that we look outwardly and judge others' appearances but perhaps reexamine our own dress. We all know there are times and seasons when dressing up is beyond our ability. This may be due to tight finances, young children, unexpected delays, or other reasons. We need to be careful not to worry about anyone else but decide if we should examine our own choices to be better prepared for Mass. We want to be people who show the joy of being a disciple to everyone who worships with us.
  
  Give some thought to how you dress for Mass. I would encourage you to be bold and start a trend here at our parish. I think you will notice how it impacts your worship and our goal of “rediscovering the sacred.”
- Fr. Dave's Article in the April 17, 2022 Bulletin, #3 in a Series
  
  For the past two weekends, I have mentioned how we are trying to “rediscover the sacred.” For some, the word sacred often brings up images of monks in a monastery or Sisters living in a cloistered convent. Their pace of life is routine. There is a lot of silence. Some would even say it is somber and very serious and boring. Those who live in a monastery or convent would probably disagree with that assessment but that is our perception. Is that what we want here in our parish and in our life? Is that what sacred will look like?
  
  Our celebration of Easter reveals an aspect of the sacred that is often forgotten. There is a lot of JOY in the sacred! Imagine when Mary Magdalen realized that Jesus was alive, or when Peter and John understood that Jesus was not dead; those were incredibly sacred moments. On the road to Emmaus, imagine the sacredness of the moment when the two disciples realized Jesus was in their midst.
  
  Those sacred moments were filled with joy! There is nothing somber or serious about them. That is the sacred that I want all of us to experience. Every encounter with our living God is both sacred and filled with joy.
  
  The challenge for us is to find the sacred in our daily lives. Where do you see the sacred in your daily life? Whether it is in your work or family or nature, the resurrection of Jesus allows us to see everything differently. You may have heard that we are called to be Easter people. No matter where we are, we can have hope and joy because we know there is something greater waiting for us. God is not only with us at Mass but also in every moment of daily life.
  During this Easter Season, let us ask God to help us see the sacred. As we see and experience God, let us be like those who experienced the resurrection of Jesus. Probably a bit surprised, but more importantly, filled with joy that our God is alive and is always with us.
- Fr. Dave's Article in the April 10, 2022 Bulletin, #2 in a Series
  
  Last week I introduced our goal to “rediscover the sacred” in our worship space. I have a very important reason for doing this. We all agree that we want our young people and young families to be an active part of our parish. Which parishes are the ones that this group of people flock to? The ones where teachings of the faith are boldly proclaimed and where they are challenged to holiness. The ones where their worship is holy and reverent and joyful. They want things that are sacred because it is completely different from what the world offers them.
  
  Young families have left our parish because they want to find a place where their children are exposed to beauty in their worship. They want their children to be part of a community where the sacredness of the Eucharist is reflected in the environment and in the people. Beauty and reverence do matter when it comes to the liturgy.
  
  Now back to the topic that I said I would address this week - our worship space. One of the important things about our Catholic faith is the importance of beauty. We have all seen beautiful Catholic churches. The question before us is this: What things can be done to our worship space that will reflect our desire for beauty? I have asked a liturgical designer from the Twin Cities to give us some ideas as to what is possible and practical for our needs. I hope to be able to show you some options very soon.
  
  Any decision to move forward with this will only be the result of your desire to do so. As your current pastor, I know that my time is limited here, but many of you are going to be here a very long time. This decision must be all of ours. The leadership of the parish is aware of this. They, like you, are waiting to see what is possible. Obviously, any type of change like this requires a substantial financial investment. That is where you will decide if this is something that you want.
  
  One donor has already stepped forward with a gift of $150,000. We also have another $100,000 from an estate that is to be used for this purpose. That gives us a $250,000 starting point. While that is a large amount, and we are grateful for the seed monies, the renovations will still need additional funding.
  Some will ask whether this is the best use of our funds. If it means that this investment will help us to love Jesus more, attract our young families back to worship, and facilitate an encounter with the Divine during Mass, then I would say it is worth it. Please note that we will not use any money dedicated for the daily operations for this renovation. Our priority continues to remain making sound financial decisions which keep this parish strong.
- Fr. Dave's Article in the April 3, 2022 Bulletin, #1 in a Series
  
  I have some good news! I am not going to talk about finances in this article. Instead, I want to talk about something that has been on my heart for a while. I think most of you know that something is not right here in the parish. Many of you notice the empty pews at mass that should be filled with our family and friends.
  
  Much of what Catholic parishes have been doing over the past 40-50 years has not kept people here. One of the mistakes we have been making for decades is that we have been trying to evangelize through the Mass. Unfortunately, the Mass is not meant for evangelization. The Mass is for our worship of God. Yet, we have tried to make the Mass more accessible. In doing so, the Mass has lost its sense of awe and wonder. We only need to look at the low percentage of Catholics who believe in the real presence of the Eucharist to realize that these changes did not have the desired impact. In fact, many expect the Mass to be like the other secular activities in their lives. When people come to Mass and step into the church, there should be a drastic difference from everything else they do the rest of the week.
  
  Because of that, we at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton are implementing our mission of forming disciples who make Jesus Christ known and loved. That will always be at the forefront of what we do as a parish and school. I read a bulletin article about a parish down south that said they were trying to “restore the sacred”. For our parish, I would suggest that we “rediscover the sacred”. For too long, we have lowered the bar on what the Mass should be. We no longer expect people to dress up for Mass. We don’t expect people to be silent when in the sanctuary. Even the architecture in churches has changed to where we see it as a space to gather rather than a sacred and holy place to encounter and worship our God.I want to address a number of these things over the next few weeks.
  
  Next week, I want to discuss some significant renovations to our church that may help us rediscover the sacred. Some of you may be wondering if this is about going back to pre-Vatican II times. I don’t believe in looking back or living in the past. Yet, there are some aspects of our church history that stand the test of time. A beautiful church that inspires our worship is one thing that has been true for centuries. I look forward to what happens at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton as we rediscover the sacred.