Family Adventure After Mass Part of Diaconate Ministry

Lovers' Burning Passion for St. Catherine's Feast Day (Song of Songs 8:7)

"Deep waters cannot quench love,
Nor floods sweep it away.
Were one to offer all he owns to purchase love,
He would be roundly mocked."

- Common of Virgins Reading for St. Catherine of Siena

I am a mockery to the world and even to the servants of Your House.  But we build it for You.  I tasted tears of love, and they were like sweetest honey in the bitterness of the long road.  All for love of You, Jesus and Mary.

Credit: Deacon Lawrence Klimecki

(artist website forthcoming)

"Our Lord doesn't look at the greatness of our acts but at the love with which we do them."
- St. Therese of Lisieux

Encountering Jesus During Holy Hour

Last night, I spent an hour before Jesus exposed in the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist.  This chapel was open 24 hours a day.

I needed Him for clarity and enlightenment as my heart was burdened with a paper that was taking me a while to complete.  I had finished praying the glorious mysteries of the rosary during the day, and I thought that I would pray another set of the 5 mysteries of light during this Holy Hour with Him.  I imagined Mary present near the Blessed Sacrament.

After I finished the 10th Hail Mary from the first luminous mystery, which is the Baptism of Our Lord, I pictured Jesus as in lectio divina in front of me in all His humanity as much as I could.  I imaged Him being followed by Andrew and John, as if Jesus was on His way to the desert.  Then they spoke.  I was about 10 feet away. 

I had had this meditation before during the Ignatian Exercises two years ago.  This was a little different as Jesus seemed more serious in my meditation two years ago which I recorded in my diaconate discernment journal.  His face was different this time.

And then I imagined Jesus extend His right hand to me.  His palm was facing upward.  In American handshaking custom, it is an act of submission to do so, and hands should be offered equally with hands extended facing sideways.  I don't think these customs mattered to Jesus other than what it is in the heart.  I did not want to grab His hand with my hand facing downward.    But I reached out, and He received my hands sideways and pulled me toward Him the way one does with old friends.

He looked down at me as he side-hugged me on His right side.  I looked up at His face to my left as He stared at me.  He seemed happy with me, and His eyes and calm face showed me that He knew what I was doing for Him.  It was like He expected me to labor for Him.  It was also like my sins and failures did not matter at that moment, even though in my heart I knew myself to be a sinner laboring for Him.  My heart had so much joy, and I smiled at Him.  I was so happy.  He said, "I will write it for you.  Don't worry."

As I was trained by my spiritual director when I first learned how to meditate on the Gospels, I tried to stay in the moment.  I stayed in the moment with Him for about a minute or so.  And then I sensed the meditation to fade away.  My encountering Him seemed so brief.

I said, "No, please don't go."  He said, "I am with you."

I opened my eyes and stared at the silence of the Blessed Sacrament.  It was quiet again.  I continued praying the rosary with joy in my heart.  I prayed the remainder of the rosary slower than before.

Before I left, I saw someone I recognized in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, and I went up to him to say hello.

Later that night, I made progress with my paper in one night more than I have had progress in the past six months combined.

* * *

I gladly submit this (as I do with all that I write and say to teach the Faith) to the judgment of Holy Mother Church.

EJ Comments About Friends' Peer Pressure & 4 m.o. Turned Over

From my wife:

Baby Hope turned over by herself today.

Also from my wife:

When telling the kids the kinds of peer pressure they may exprience in the world, especially as they get older, E.J. responded to me, "I'd rather have no friends than disobey God."

John Paul Washing Priest's Hands

St. Catherine's Church, Vallejo
Sunday, April 24, 2016
10am Mass

Funeral for Dad of Dominican Nun Friend

 



We knew her as Angela Rubang in the world, but her name in religious life is Sr. Peter Catherine, O.P.

 

She is a Dominican Sister of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, one of many young adults in a fast-growing Order that is defining the identity of Religious Orders as Vatican II intended in the Church today.

 

Her father is Alex, Sr., but his baptismal name includes the name Peter.  We buried him today at All Souls Catholic Cemetery in Vallejo.  He was a U.S. Navy veteran, Knight of Columbus, and a devoted husband and grandfather.  He had full military honors at his burial, including a gun salute and taps.

 

I am deeply strengthened whenever I see young Sisters.  Their consecration shows the world how temporary this life is, even if one lives to an old age.  Consecrated life shows that the Kingdom of God is present now in this life because, in heaven, there will no longer be any marriages. 

 

Angela co-founded the Maris Stella Institute (MSI) as a board member back on May 10, 2008, when it was then first called the Young Adult Catechist Society (YACS).  She is a certified master catechist which took her many years to complete.  Before entering the Dominican Order, she served as a Catholic school teacher and youth minister.  She was down to earth like any young woman-- still is.  As Sister Peter Catherine now, she is in formation in Michigan.  It takes several years to become a fully professed Sister.

 

The Sisters that came to support her during this difficult chapter of her dad's passing came from Marin Catholic High School which is west of Vallejo and from Presentation Catholic Church in Sacramento. 

 

L to R: Dominican Sisters; me and Tove Ann w/kids;
Fr. Glenn Jaron (new Vicar for the Clergy); Deacon Rudy David



 

They chanted "Salve Regina" after the funeral Mass as they surrounded the coffin of Alex, Sr.  It was so beautifully angelic!  My daughter Mariana said, "There are so many nuns.  I want to be a nun."



Sister Mariana w/my daughter, Mariana





 One of the Sisters was named Sr. Mariana, which is the same name as my daughter, Mariana.  Mariana spoke to her.  Sr. Mariana teaches high school geometry. 

 

video clip w/nuns





Sister Mariana told me that her name in religious life is in honor of Our Lady.  She also said that there is a saint in Ecuador and in Hawaii that bear the same name.



 

Sisters w/a sleeping Faith Marie



The other Sisters with Sister Mariana teach English, religion and chemistry.  I don't know the name of the Sister in the picture above on the far left, but she teaches high school English at Marin Catholic.

 

Dominican Sister hugging my son John Paul





 

I was blessed to assist as the Deacon of the Altar which meant that my focus was on the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  We had just enough Hosts to feed a full church and were breaking Hosts so that we wouldn't run out.

 

Fr. Jess preached the homily about heaven already starting on earth, and Sr. Peter Catherine tearfully mentioned during her remarks on behalf of the family after the Post-Communion Prayer how the last time she spoke to her father one of the last things he spoke to her about was passing through seven Holy Doors at several pilgrimage sites during the Jubilee Year of Mercy.

 

Fr. Glenn Jaron, MSP, parochial administrator of St. Catherine's, was the main celebrant.  The bishop appointed him Vicar for Clergy effective July 1.

 

Fr. Fred of Holy Family Catholic Church in American Canyon concelebrated.  I saw some parishioners like Melissa with her new baby from Holy Family today.

 

Deacon Raj, who will be ordained to the priesthood in June, assisted with me and Deacon Rudy David.

 

Before the funeral Mass began, I gave Sister Peter Catherine a hug.  My wife, kids and I saw her after the Rite of Committal, too.  Sister is also EJ's baptismal godmother.  He is in the picture above but not looking at the camera.  When EJ was baptized in 2009, Fr. Jess turned to then-Angela (who would have been around 25 at the time) and said, "So you're a godparent.  But you're not rich."  Angela replied, "I'm rich in things of heaven, Father." 

 

I have memories of her being at our wedding and doing a dance routine during the wedding reception, too.  As Angela, she is deeply pro-life, teaches the Church's teachings, and fought for religious freedom.

 

The last time I spoke to Alex, Sr., I told him that a letter of encouragement that I wrote to Alex, Jr., who was serving overseas as a Navy corpsman, was returned to me.  And I asked to make sure his son received it.

 

A few days after I spoke to him, I saw him in church with Auntie Josie, his wife of 37+ years, looking at some materials in the narthex of St. Catherine's, but I couldn't go up to talk to him because I was in a rush to bring Holy Communion to someone who was ill and had to go right away.

 

My thoughts are a bit scattered above, but it's the middle of the night as I write this.  And I'm sleepy.  T'was a busy day.

 

+ Eternal rest grant unto Alex, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.  May he rest in peace.  Amen.

  

Homemade Cookies in Shape of Chalice and Hosts

Last week, my friend Jane baked us some cookies.  I had intended on taking pictures of them and posting here, but I think the kids ate them all before I could do so.  The cookies were in the shapes of a chalice and hosts from Mass.  They were very cute.  I told Jane that the chalice is very much related to the deacon's role.  I am grateful for such gifts.

Homily #58: Tending Christ's Sheep

 

 



Purificacion Family Portraits 2016

The last time we took professional family portraits like this was in 2010.  Before that, we did this in 2006. 

Here are the photos we took on the occasion of our parish directory in 2016.  The first and third pictures will be used in the official parish directory.

Purificacion Family

Tove Ann Catubig Purificacion, Ph.D.

John Paul

Emmanuel Jeremiah

Mariana Mahal

Faith Marie

Thérèse Maria Hope

Team P

"The future of the Church passes by way of the family."  - St. John Paul the Great

"The final battle between Our Lord and Satan will be over family and marriage."  - Sr. Lucia

Used My Dalmatic to Shield Elderly Woman From Rain

It was sprinkling.  An elderly lady used her walker to go out to the car where her driver was waiting.  I remarked to her while waiting that she and her family reminded me of some deacons I knew in Washington, D.C.

She did not have an umbrella.  I took off my dalmatic and held it over her while she walked to her car.

The driver, Robin, remarked that her phone was in her purse.  She wanted to take a picture.  I should have let her, but I was just excited using my dalmatic, the outer vestment, literally as the vestment of justice and joy at that moment.

God knows what happened, even if men don't see a picture of it.

Married Priest: Fr. Jeff Henry

On Sat., I had the privilege of assisting a former Lutheran pastor who entered the Catholic Church many years ago.  This was at the 5pm Mass.

The Holy See gave permission to ordain him to the priesthood, although he was married with a family.

He is currently the Travis Air Force Base pastor of St. Michael's.  I've assisted him before at St. Catherine's.  The former pastor at Travis AFB is now chancellor for the Archdiocese of the Military, USA.

Who would have thought 50 years ago of seeing a married priest and married deacon at a Catholic Mass?  Well that's what happened.

After Mass, I remarked that it was an honor to serve with a married priest.  He joked around saying ,"Don't tell the bishop."  Both of us then had a good laugh.

Tears for a Friend

While praying Lauds (Liturgy of the Hours) today in my car, all of a sudden out of nowhere I wept for an old friend.

Homily #57 & Order of Christian Initiation of Children (OCIC)




Stanley's mom asked me to baptize him.
His mom, Karla, was a Baptist who became Catholic at the Easter Vigil.
I taught some of their classes to prepare them for membership in the Catholic Church.
Stanley's dad is standing behind the godfather who is placing his hand on Stanley's shoulder.
(Photo taken by Dennis Tremethick)

Divine Mercy Sunday, April 3, 2016
Order of the Christian Initiation of Children (OCIC)
St. Joseph's Church, Vacaville, CA
12pm Mass



Homily #57b (830am Mass)



Homily #57a (7am Mass)

 

We posed after the first anointing with the Oil of Catechumens, before Mass began.

I was blessed to be part of preparing him for the Sacrament of Baptism.
 

Photos below were taken by Dennis Tremethick.  Thank you, Dennis!

Renouncing the flesh, the world and the devil followed by professing faith in the Father, Son and Spirit.

Father Aaron is a visiting Jesuit priest that teaches 9th grade history @ Jesuit High School in Sacramento.
He reminds me of when I taught at St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School in Vallejo.

Fr. Aaron wanted to hold the Rite of Baptism book for me,
and while I was awed by this, I told him that it was okay to have one of the altar servers hold it.
Eventually, one of the servers came to hold the Rite of Baptism for me.

Stanley's parents are behind him.

His godfather is a devout Catholic that will help him live his Faith.

N.

A.

Fr. Resti helped me during the ritual.

 

Leah, one of the parish leaders, helped me.

Sacred Chrism (second anointing)

"Receive the Light of Christ."

After Mass, a single dad approached me with his two kids and asked to have his kids baptized later.  I said we would follow up with it.

Another woman having trouble with her marriage asked me to pray for her, among other requests for prayers after Masses this weekend.

As I was sitting in the chapel after the 12pm Mass but before the 2pm Traditional Latin Mass (which I do not normally assist at), someone came up to me and asked me to eventually preach the homily at the TLM.  She said someone was at the 7am Mass and heard my homily, and so they asked me.  A couple of people also suggested that I go through training to assist as deacon at a TLM (Mass in the Extraordinary Form).

 

With these 5 baptisms, I have been blessed to baptize a total of 38 beautiful souls for God.

 

 

St. Faustina
 

HOMILY #57

Divine Mercy Suday 

On this Divine Mercy Sunday, I will promote three simple points:

First, Divine Mercy—what is it?

Second, St. Faustina – who is she?

Third, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy – how is it prayed?

Divine Mercy means that God’s mercy is greater than our sins.  Divine Mercy is urgent today because, in a world that uses violence in God’s name to kill and terrorize as if it was God’s will (especially in the Middle East), in a secularized Western civilization that thinks that it can have peace without God, the world will not have peace until it turns with trust to God’s mercy. 

We will be victorious against evil in the world for us and our children in this 21^st Century not because humanity’s limited way of fixing things, but by turning to the undeserved mercy of God!  Man is most glorious when he is on his knees before God.  Pope Francis himself declared this year a Year of Mercy.  Let us take advantage of the graces of the Year of Mercy.

The message of Divine Mercy is not just a mere devotion in the Church, like some nice little devotion to have on the side every now and then, but rather it is an integral part of the Christian message.  It is so essential that the Church has placed Divine Mercy on the liturgical calendar.  It is one week after Easter Sunday. 

As we heard proclaimed in the Gospel, after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead after three days, Jesus said to the Apostles, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.  … Receive the Holy Spirit.  Whose sins you forgive are forgiven.”  Jesus sends his priests to forgive us our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  God’s Divine Mercy is found in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance.  Penance!  Penance!  Penance!  This is what pleases God, not violence and terror.

In the Responsorial Psalm this morning, we prayed,

“Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say, “His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say, “His mercy endures forever.”
R. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.

God’s name is repeated as mercy and love, but we have to ask for His mercy.

 

 

The second point is St. Faustina – Who is she?  She was a simple nun in Poland.  All she did her entire life was serve as a quiet cook, a gardener, and a doorkeeper or usher.  There was nothing extraordinary about her.  But on Feb. 22, 1931, Jesus appeared to her.  It’s like in the Second Reading from the Book of Revelation where Jesus appeared to John the Beloved when John was an old man living on the island of Patmos.  Jesus still speaks today. 

Jesus said to St. Faustina, “Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You.  I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and then throughout the whole world.  I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish.  I also promise victory over enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death.  I Myself will defend it as My own glory.”

As you see, red and white rays come out of Jesus’ heart in the painting.  According to St. Faustina, “the two rays denote Blood and Water.  The pale (white) ray stands for the water that makes souls righteous.  The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls …   These two rays issued forth from the very depths of My tender mercy when my agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross” (Diary 299). 

His right hand which has the nail marks is raised in blessing.  His face is peaceful.  His left foot is stepping forward as He is walking to us.  The words, “Jesus, I trust you!” are at the bottom.

Eventually, Jesus sends Sister Faustina to the local priest who becomes her spiritual director.  The priest asks Sister to write down her interior inspirations and her spirituality in a book that eventually was called “Diary”.  If you’re looking for good spiritual reading, I recommend the “Diary” of St. Faustina.

Here’s a sample of what St. Faustina wrote: “[W]hen you go to confession, to this fountain of My mercy, the Blood and Water which came forth from My Heart always flows down upon your soul and ennobles it. Every time you go to confession, immerse yourself in My mercy, with great trust, so that I may pour the bounty of My grace upon your soul. When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I myself act in your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy. Tell souls that from this fount of mercy souls draw graces solely with the vessel of trust. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity. …” (#1602).

She also wrote, “The person of the priest is, for Me, only a screen. Never analyse what sort of a priest it is that I am making use of; open your soul in confession as you would to Me, and I will fill it with My light” (1725).

 

The last point is the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.  How do we pray it?

St. Faustina wrote, “The souls that say this chaplet will be embraced by My mercy during their lifetime and especially at the hour of death.”

Here, one uses a rosary to recite the prayers of the Chaplet of Mercy.  And while one can pray this any time, one favorite time to pray this is during the 3 o’clock hour because it is the hour of Jesus’ death.  It can be prayed for the dying and those in hospitals.  If you know people who are away from God, this is an ideal prayer for them.

In the Chaplet, we pray, “For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world”.  Here, we offer the Eternal Father the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ because it is the Passion of Jesus that pleases the loving and merciful Father.

 

So, in summary: Divine Mercy through the Sacrament of Reconciliation; St. Faustina as the Secretary of Divine Mercy; and the

Let us celebrate the Risen Christ this Easter and go to Confession soon during this Jubilee Year of Mercy.  Like St. Thomas in the Gospel, let us say, “My Lord and my God!”  Let us trust in His mercy and pray, “Jesus, I trust in You.”

Strength of the Eucharist

After Holy Communion this evening, I felt strength.  I felt so much joy that I couldn't help smiling as I closed my eyes.  Throughout the day, my heart was heavy.

The other time I was moved during Mass this evening was during the Gospel from Jn. 21 of Jesus's third appearance to His disciples making them breakfast.  I knew this was the Gospel of Jesus asking Peter, "Do you love me?" three times.  I was Peter this week.