Monday, March 29, 2010

On the Road

Easter 2010: On the Road…

“Were not our hearts burning within us
while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24: 32

Today, as I read today’s Gospel, I picture myself on the road to Emmaus… won’t you join me? Close your eyes for a few moments and picture the scene… Jesus has just been crucified, buried in a tomb, but is no longer in the tomb. Where could He be? This is the topic of our conversation on the road to Emmaus. Rumors are abounding… Roman conspiracy, angels, grave-robbing? And lo… a fellow traveler comes along and joins our conversation… Can you imagine? Someone who has not heard the news of Jesus death and disappearance? As we fill in the stranger on the goings on in Jerusalem we feel warmth in our hearts. We do not know why but this stranger seems to know us. The stranger explains to us what was written in scripture has just been fulfilled. We are astonished… How could this stranger know?

As evening comes we invite the stranger to dine with us. He breaks the bread, gives it to us and provides us the blessing. It is now our eyes are opened! Jesus is with us! We also realize He was with us all along! It was He who caused our hearts to burn as He quoted scripture to us on our journey to Emmaus! As I lay myself to sleep I can’t help but think how often Jesus walks with us, talks with us, and carries us and we do not recognize Him… He comes to us in many forms… in scripture, in our family, in our friends and neighbors and in our hearts. We need only open our eyes, our minds and our hearts. The next time you feel your heart burning you will know Jesus is with you.Happy Easter to you all… Holly Clark

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Sacraments of Initiation

March 28, 2010

Sacraments of Initiation
This spring I am taking a course in Liturgy and Sacraments at St. John’s Seminary. I’ve just completed studying the Sacraments of Initiation which include Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. As I read the history and theology of these sacraments I am filled with awe and often find myself saying “just how cool is this!”

In Baptism we are healed of our broken relationship with God (caused by the Fall in the Garden of Eden). We are joined together to form a community, a Church, founded in Christ, to the benefit of ourselves and mankind. In Confirmation our Baptismal vows are strengthened with the seal of the Holy Spirit and we are given the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to help us to lead fruitful Christian lives. The summit of Christian initiation lies in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the ultimate sacrifice that we center our lives around. In the Eucharist we become one with Christ and share in the Paschal Mystery.

This year, at, our Easter Vigil, we will be receiving into the Church two young women, Jennifer and Robin Little. Robin will be receiving Confirmation and the Eucharist for the first time and Jennifer will be receiving Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. As we witness Jennifer and Robin receiving these sacraments for the first time let us reflect back upon our own reception into the Church. Let us recall the joy our parents, family and Jesus felt as we were baptized into the faith (and perhaps you recall your own joy if baptized as an adult.). Let us recall our awe and wonder as we received the Eucharist for the first time. And let us recall when the Holy Spirit came upon us when the Bishop proclaimed “be sealed with the Holy Spirit.” Let us pray for Jennifer and Robin as they begin their journey as newly initiated Catholics. Let us welcome them into our faith and our hearts. God Bless, Holly Clark

Power of Prayer

March 21, 2010

Power of Prayer
Every week in our parish bulletin we publish a list of names of people who are ill and have asked for our prayers. Do you wonder who these people are or how they are doing? Do you have faith that our prayers help the sick and dying?

This week we received an e-mail from Jesse Heikkila’s mom. Jesse is a little boy we have been praying for, for nearly a year. Last April, at about his 3rd birthday, Jesse was diagnosed with “High Risk Neuroblastoma,” a stage 4 cancer throughout this body, head, adrenal glands, and bone marrow. Chemotherapy was started two days after entering the ER of Children’s Hospital. For the first month it was touch ad go as Jesse endured endless treatments of chemotherapy and radiation. Jesse’s parents stood by his bed broken-hearted as they saw Jesse lose vision in one eye, and his hair would fall out onto his pillow. As Jesse’s mom says…” During this time, our faith was shaken but not lost. We decided to do whatever it took to get our son back. And we did. Jesse endured an intense schedule of chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, a bone marrow harvest and transplant, more radiation, many blood transfusions, an antibody treatment and now he is on Accutane.”

During this past year we, at Sacred Heart, along with Jesse’s family and friends, have been praying for his recovery. Jesse’s cancer responded well to his treatment and now he is cancer free and ready to celebrate his next birthday. Jesse’s mom, Suzzanne, states, “Our goal is to prevent relapse and we will. Because with faith, hope, and love for Jesse… anything is possible.”

The Lord has done great things for us;we are filled with joy. –Ps 126

God Bless, Holly Clark

Monday, March 15, 2010

Jesse's Story


Jesse’s Story

by Suzanne Heikkila

Jesse is a wonderful blessing to my husband Jeff and me. Our entire lives we wanted to be parents, and we overjoyed when Jesse was born. Jesse instantly became the center of our universe. We lived to make him happy, and loved every thing about him. Jesse is very sweet, compassionate, yet has a very strong and brave side. He loves Cars, Super Hero’s, playing with his cousins, and outside in his Power Wheels trunk. However, last April, Jesse complained of a headache during his 3rd birthday party. It was intermittent, but with each day, his pain increased. At first, we were treated for a sinus infection. When the pain increased and Jesse reported he could not see, we headed to Children’s Hospital Boston. A CT Scan was ordered after initial tests did not show any infections. My husband Jeff went into the room with Jesse, while I waited outside of the scan room, 8 months pregnant. I became nervous when they wanted to rescan Jesse. Once the second set of scans was completed, we were ushered back to the room with the doctor.

The doctor told me to sit down, and I knew in his young eyes, this was not going to be easy. All I heard was, “a large mass was found in his head”. Teams of doctors entered the room, gathering to do whatever it took to help Jesse. Over the next few days, another tumor was found in his adrenal gland, leading to the diagnosis of High Risk Neuroblastoma. It was Stage 4, a very aggressive cancer. It was in all of his bones and bone marrow, and his biopsy showed the DNA of the tumor was unfavorable. Chemotherapy started in the ICU just two days after walking into the emergency room.

That first month we stayed at Children’s; I did not know what would happen to my son. The pain the tumor in his head caused was intense, and he lost vision in his right eye as the tumor compressed his optic nerve. He was sick all the time from the chemotherapy and I watched his hair fall into his pillow, broken hearted. We would share a bed and he loved to lean in close to his unborn baby brother, Colton. Moments of comfort were short lived as Jesse would vomit every 15 minutes despite medication to help control nausea. Radiation started as well, to stop this aggressive tumor from growing in his head. During this time, our faith was shaken but not lost. We decided to do whatever it took to get our son back. And we did.

Jesse endured an intense schedule of chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, a bone marrow harvest and transplant, more radiation, many blood transfusions, an antibody treatment and now he is on Accutane. Jesse’s cancer responded well to his treatment and now he is cancer free. Our goal is to prevent relapse and we will. Because with faith, hope, and love for Jesse… anything is possible.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Unconditional Love...

March 14, 2010

Unconditional Love…
This week, as a part of a class I am taking, I was asked to write a paragraph or two on how I would respond to a hypothetical Catholic who is asking “Why do I have to go to Mass?” What would you say? How would you respond?

I pondered my answer for a while. I could respond that it is a mortal sin to not attend Mass; God will be disappointed; you can sacrifice an hour for God each Sunday; Jesus commanded it. These are all good, basic answers we usually give. I did think of one reason that isn’t mentioned too often – unconditional love. Mass is a time where we experience unconditional love in a variety of ways.

As I sat in Mass last week, I thought of love as I looked upon the stained glass depiction of Christ’s crucifixion. God so loved us he gave his only beloved Son to us. Jesus so loved us He was willing to die for us. I then started looking around at my fellow worshippers and I was thinking what a wonderful place we are in! We have all come together to love and worship our God and love one another. As I looked to my left and right I saw nothing but love. Each one of us here today belong to a group that was founded in love, unconditional love. Can you say that any other group you belong to is founded totally out of love?

In today’s Gospel we see a son who was lost for awhile and came back to his father who loves him unconditionally. In a few weeks, on Easter, we will have the chance to exhibit unconditional love for those who have not been to Mass in a while. Let us welcome back our prodigal sisters and brothers with unconditional love as our Father in heaven loves us, unconditionally.
God Bless, Holly Clark

Same Kind of Different as Me...

February 28, 2010

Same Kind of Different as Me…
This past week Fr. Dan Crowley gave me the following article for the bulletin. I felt called by the Spirit to share with you and some of my own thoughts at the end:

Blowing Your Horn
Patrick Henry Hughes attends the University of Louisville where he plays trumpet in their marching band. Patrick, born with natural musical ability, also came into the world with no eyes and a tightening of the joints that has crippled him for life. Blind and wheelchair-bound, Patrick and his father, who “rolls and rotates his son around the field,” never miss a band practice or a half-time performance. Patrick’s father also attends all of his classes, working the graveyard shift at UPS in order to do so. “We might not play baseball, but we can play music together,” his father proudly proclaims.


Placed in a wheelchair at a young age and fitted with artificial eyes, Patrick discovered his gifted musical ability at the piano before he reached the age of one. His mother could hit any note on the piano and within a few tries, Hughes would be able to match it. At the age of two, he could play requests.

When Mac Anderson, founder of Simple Truths and Successories, Inc., heard Patrick and his father at a conference, he knew he had found a hero to inspire others and chose Patrick’s story as the introduction to his book Learning to Dance in the Rain. Although hearing Patrick’s story was inspirational, seeing him play was an experience of energy and enthusiasm that lit up the stage, permeating the entire theatre with joy and an “attitude of gratitude.”
God made me blind and unable to walk. Big Deal! He gave me the ability... the musical gifts I have… and the great opportunity to meet new people.” Patrick allowed his life to be transformed and by doing so, transforms all those who come into his presence and hear his story. Jesus allowed his body and life to be transformed in order that his followers could continue the transformation after he was gone. This is the Lenten challenge, the Lenten call— transform your lives. - Dr. Constance M. Popp


I was very moved by this article and found myself identifying with much. I have often been asked by children why I have limited fingers and a different looking appearance. I often tell them it is because God made me different. God gave me limited fingers and toes (big deal!) but he gave me the ability to write and the great opportunity to meet you all and serve you in the ministry of our Lord. This Lent Let us invite special people into our lives… Let us be transformed with joy and love… Let us celebrate our differences… and… you may find that we are all different… the same kind of different as me.

God Bless, Holly Clark

What Challenges You?

February 21, 2010

What Challenges You?

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. Lk 4:1-2

Lent is often known as a season of “giving up.” Jesus suffered in the desert, He gave up food, water and had the devil on His shoulder promising an end to His suffering. We sympathize with Christ and we “give up” something for Lent. How often do you say to your Catholic neighbor “What are you giving up for Lent?” As I reread this Gospel I find myself not thinking about what to give up for Lent but rather my thoughts go to the challenge of not giving up to the devil and his temptations. Jesus challenged Himself by facing Satan one-on-one and I ask myself what challenges the devil sends me to tempt me to the road to ruin? I know he sends me brownies I shouldn’t eat, annoyances that I shouldn’t be angry at, and situations where I find myself alone and wondering what life and living is all about.

Everyday we face challenges great and small. What devils do you have sitting on your shoulder? What challenges and temptations do you face? As we travel our Lenten journey we will fast, pray and give alms. Let us also consider taking up a challenge. Let us face our demons. Let us this Lent resolve to take up the devil’s challenges one by one and say “no thanks”! This will not be easy and we may become discouraged…But remember, Jesus is walking with us Let us remember the words of St. Paul:

The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Rom 10:8,13


God Bless, Holly Clark

P.S. Please take a look at the banners on the wall today at St. Rose and Sacred Heart. The Generations of Faith children have illustrated Jesus in the desert with Satan. During our last set of faith festivals the children shared with me some of their demons and temptations. Sharing my faith with children and having them share with me is very uplifting… won’t you do the same?

Where is Your Heart?

February 7, 2010

When you come to Mass, what are you thinking about? Where is your mind? Are you thinking about your to-do list or worrying about work or family matters? Where is your mind and where is your heart? The documents of Vatican II call for the “full and conscious participation” of the laity in the Mass which means our minds, heart and soul should be concentrating on AND participating in the Mass.

I am taking Liturgy and Sacraments as a course this semester. Our instructor, Fr. Brian Mahoney, pointed out to us reaching the ideal of full and conscious participation in the Mass is very difficult to achieve because as he says: “Face it! Do we really fully and actively participate in the running of our own lives?” I have to admit he is right. Do you run your life the way you want or do you feel controlled by your schedules, family, friends etc.? Do you feel alive?

While at Mass, I often look around and look into your faces and ponder what brought you here today. Are you excited to be here and shout Amen with enthusiasm? Do you raise your voice in song? Are you listening to God’s Word with all your heart and mind? When we attend Mass let us try to not multitask our brains and relish the time spent with Jesus and with our companions in Christ. Let us not allow others to intrude on our time. Let us shout Amen! Let us sing out strong. (So what, if you can’t carry a tune… the Lord still wants to hear your voice!). Let us shout to the Lord, as Isaiah did… “Here I am!” (Is 6:8).
. -God Bless, Holly Clark