What do you do at the end of the day?

If you are like me you probably go over the events of the day and think about the things that went wrong and how to correct them or maybe you make a mental list of what you need to do tomorrow. Your mind is often racing in a million directions. All you want to do is quiet your mind and get a good night’s sleep. This is a perfect time to pray! You may not think so but it is!
A lot of us “say” prayers before going to bed or maybe read some scripture but have you ever actually shared your day with Jesus? Have you ever thought of conversing with Jesus about your daily worries and problems? Have you thanked God for the graces you have received during the day? Have you ever shared your hopes and dreams with Him?
St. Ignatius suggests that you take a few minutes every evening and look back over your day and examine how and where Christ was with you during the day:

Get comfortable and close your eyes
Let Christ show you this day as you lived it…
The people you met…
The circumstances you encountered…
The activities you engaged in…
In Christ these things are God’s gifts to you, revealing His presence in a new way...
Recall the feelings and moods that were evoked:
Love, hope, contentment, joy, anger, fear, shame…
These feelings can reveal your movement toward God or away from God…
Sit with Christ and tell Him how you feel….
Listen to what Christ is telling you…
Thank God for the blessings of the day.
End with an Our Father…

This form of prayer will be challenging at first. We have a lot of “noise” in our heads and staying focused will require much practice… but always remember… Christ is with us until the end of time… God Bless… --Holly Clark

Got Talent? We Need YOU!

In our Church today, we find in our laity a huge reservoir of talent and expertise just waiting to be called on in the service of the Kingdom.
Theresa EE-Choi, Member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity (Malaysia)

Do you have talents to offer? In this new millennium we are facing a culture of pastoral planning as the number priests and religious decline drastically. We each need to do a serious inventory of our gifts and talents and discover where we can put them to the best use in service to our Lord and our parish. You may say “I have no talent. I have nothing to offer…” Nonsense! Everyone has a talent for something! Even a baby can give away a smile. Everyone, I repeat, everyone is a part of the team!

A few years ago I was unemployed and feeling a bit worthless when I was at Mass one Sunday morning and saw a Stewardship form for volunteering time and talent. I thought as I was not working that I had plenty of time to offer and did an inventory of my talents. I filled out the form offering my graphic design skills. My first project was designing a bulletin board for CCD classes. Later projects included flyers, PowerPoint presentations and building the parish website. Through this stewardship of time and talent I found myself reawakened spiritually. I fell in love with ministry! Stewardship lit the flame of my heart and I decided to dedicate my life to ministry. (You never know what God has in mind for you!)

As we enter a new way of mission- the team-approach: staff, clergy, volunteers- I would ask each of you to reflect upon your talents. Perhaps you can ask your friends and families where they think you are talented. I guarantee you there is spot here for you! Be brave! Walk into, or call, the church offices at Sacred Heart or St. Rose and say “YES! I am here to donate my time and talent!” If the church is to survive and thrive in the third millennium she will need ALL of us working together in communion with Christ.

Let us go forward in hope! A new millennium is opening before the Church like a vast ocean upon which we shall venture, relying on the help of Christ.
Novo Millennio Ineunte, Pope John Paul II, 2000

God Bless, Holly Clark

The Times, They are A-Changing…

I should like you to be free of anxieties.
1Cor 7:32
As you attend Mass, look around you. Are the pews as full as when you were a child? Do you see as many priests, nuns and sisters as you did as in previous years? Do you see very many people volunteering for different ministries? (Do we even have as many ministries as we used to?)
For the past few decades Mass attendance has dropped, the numbers of clergy and nuns has fallen, and with that collections have dropped forcing parishes to go into what is called a “maintenance mode” or perhaps in “crisis mode.” In maintenance mode individual parishes try very hard to keep their doors open by saving every penny, recruiting volunteers to do the work that used to be done by the clergy and religious. The mission of the Church (to serve the Lord, evangelize and help the poor and needy) takes a back seat as we focus on just staying open day-to-day. Each parish, historically, has focused on bringing God’s Word to its own individual faith community, be it a single town or an area within a town—but the times they are a-changing!
The past few weeks I, and the Staff of Sacred Heart and St. Rose, have been attending Pastoral Planning meetings at the Archdiocese, along with all of parishes of the Archdiocese. We are being asked how we can best serve our faith communities in a mission-based mode rather than maintenance or crisis modes. As I sat at the meetings I looked around me and wondered how many of us were in maintenance or crisis modes. I was surrounded by individuals with great hopes of getting back to the mission of our Church and some who were fearful of the future. I listened to the new proposed plan and found myself filled with hope… hope of a new future for all our Church.
The new plan will consist of Pastors heading multiple parishes with a “Pastoral Service Team” (PST) with one Finance Council and one Pastoral Council. Parishes would come together to provide and share services that alone one parish cannot. Instead of competing for resources and parishioners, parishes will unite in the Holy Spirit to return to the mission of Christ.
Change is always difficult and, at times, frightening. In today’s second reading Paul would like us to be free of all anxieties. Paul, in his letters, tells us that we are becoming a new creation… this is true today as well. We ask for your prayers as we prepare to meet the challenges that await us. Keep open minds and always remember, the Holy Spirit will be with us and will guide us.
God Bless, Holly Clark

Come, Follow Me...

Jesus happens upon a couple of fishermen and says "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men," whereupon the two men drop their nets, leave their work and families, to follow Jesus. As they travel along, a few more men also drop their nets and work to follow Jesus. When I read this passage I ask myself would I have been able to up and walk away, with nothing for the journey, and follow a man who just happened to pass by me? Would I be able to give up my family and way of life to follow Jesus? What would my family think? As you travel back to the early days of Christianity, imagine yourself as Simon, Andrew and James, in the presence of Jesus. Think of what presence and charisma Jesus must have had in person!
Jesus called upon certain men to be His disciples. He knew they were strong people who could give up their way of life to follow Him into a new way of living. Today Jesus still calls to us to follow Him. He does not ask that we all leave our families take up Holy Orders or the sisterhood but rather He calls upon each of us to live our lives in His footsteps, each according to His gifts. The challenge to each of us today is to discern our gifts, recognize our gifts and then use them as Jesus would like us to.
So… How do you follow Jesus in your lives? Give some thought today to your gifts… be they small or large… and pray that we can be faithful followers of Christ. We do not need to worry that our gifts may be inadequate—Jesus will appreciate them and will guide us on to better lives. Come follow Him…
God Bless, Holly Clark

What are You Looking For?

"What are you looking for?"

In John's Gospel, Jesus asks a couple of His disciples “What are you looking for?” How often I have asked myself this question and now I find, in prayer, Jesus asking me this very same question. Over the past few months He has asked me this question repeatedly and like the disciples of today’s Gospel I do not have a concrete answer either. How many of you could answer Jesus right away with a well thought out plan to your life? Do you know where you are going and what you are seeking? And… do you ever find what you are seeking?
In my life I’ve often taken time out of my life to “find myself” but I never do! I always, after much prayer and reflection find myself with more questions than answers about life. John Paul II in his encyclical letter, Faith and Reason, calls the journey to know oneself the same journey as one seeks to know God:

“God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know himself—so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves…”

As I reflect upon this I have come to realize that Jesus does not expect an answer to His query. He asks us what we are looking for in an effort to get us to think about our lives and faith journey. We will never find the answers we want on our own but it is the quest and journey to know ourselves and God that is of importance.
My journey to know myself and to know God begins with a simple question… What am I seeking… and thus the adventure begins! Won’t you join me?
God Bless, Holly Clark

The Gifts of the Magi

We all know the story of the Three Wise Men who came Bethlehem to honor the baby Jesus. They brought three gifts with them: gold, frankincense and myrrh. I have read this Gospel story many times but have not really looked at the deeper meaning of it. I asked myself why these three gifts? Shouldn’t they have brought more sensible gifts like food, blankets or diapers? Or was there more significance to these gifts? As I have been studying the Bible the past few years I find there is always more symbolism to be discovered! The Magi presented Jesus with gold, frankincense and myrrh. These gifts were very prophetic for they spoke of our Lord's offices of King, Priest, and Savior. The Gifts of the Magi do, indeed, hold special significance:

Gold: This carries obvious significance. It's precious and worthy across all cultures and times. It's a gift fit for royalty. It says to the Christ child, You will be a King

Frankincense: This resin is touted for its medicinal and soothing properties. Herbalists say it is calming, restorative, gently clarifying, and meditative. Ancient people burned frankincense, believing it to carry their prayers to heaven. Its use as incense illustrates His role as our Priest.

Myrrh: This is perhaps the most mysterious of the Gifts. Myrrh is an Arabic word for bitter, and it is considered a wound healer because of its strong antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Calling it mo yao, the Chinese used it for centuries to treat wounds, bruises and bleeding and to relieve painful swelling.

This holiday season (which really begins on Christmas!) let us accept from the hand of our Lord the gifts He desires to give to us; the same gifts He received. Gold (salvation), frankincense (holiness), and myrrh (suffering and subsequent healing), that we might be one with Him as He is one with the Father.
God Bless, Holly Clark

Sources: http://www.magi-gifts.com/
Catholic Source Book – Harcourt Religion Publishers

Mary, Mother of God

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.LK 2:16-21

Whenever I read the above Gospel selection I find myself reflecting on Mary and what kind of person she may have been. I see Mary as a strong person but yet gentle and reflective. Mary was given a choice to be the Mother of God, she could have said no… but she didn’t! She said Yes! Mary knew that Joseph, her potential husband, could abandon her and she would be an outcast, if not put to death. Mary could not have predicted what it would be like to raise the Son of God--- but she said Yes! Can you picture yourself saying Yes to such an unknown journey? Can you imagine how Mary felt when even the shepherds, strangers to her, were telling her that she was the Mother of God? Mary kept all these things, reflecting upon them in her heart. What faith and trust in God she must have had!

There have been times in my life when I have been afraid to take the road less travelled. It is safe and secure to never think about taking chances… I often turn to Mary when I know I have a decision to make. I sit in the pew and gaze upon our statue of Mary… I look into her eyes and see the warm glow of love she has for the Babe in her arms. I can almost hear Mary telling me, challenging me, to take everything into my heart, reflect upon my heart and then with Her Son’s guidance act upon my heart. Sometimes that might mean taking the path that is not safe, secure and a known destination. Imagine where we would be if Mary said No to the angel?

Take everything into your heart and reflect upon them. Hear God’s voice and find your path. The destination may be unknown but with the Father, Son, Holy Spirit and the Mother of God at your side, you know your journey will be an interesting one!
Blessings on the New Year, Holly Clark

The Perfect Christmas?

The Perfect Christmas?
As I progressed through Advent and crowded my days and my thoughts with all the things I needed to do for Christmas, I thought to myself is this what Christmas is all about? Getting everything just right? I fretted over cooking and shopping… made a ton of to-do lists… worried over having enough energy to get it all done. What would happen if I didn’t get everything done? Would Christmas be a disappointment if my M&M cookies didn’t get baked?
I was starting to feel a bit rebellious and started to devise ways of eliminating my to-do lists. But then I came into my office one morning and discovered a gift bag sitting in my chair. The gift bag was thoughtfully and artfully laced up with pretty curly-q ribbons and the gifts inside carefully wrapped with tissue paper. In an instant I knew what Christmas was all about!
As Christians we all struggle with the commercialism vs. prayer and faith aspects of Advent and Christmas. We want the peace that our Savior’s birth promises us. But that peace doesn’t come without hard work, sacrifice and love. As I gazed upon my gift bag for a bit I realized that someone had put a lot of work, time and love into creating a gift for me. I thought how blessed I am and this is the true meaning of Christmas: Sacrificing our time, energies and talents for others. God’s Christmas “gift” to us is the birth of his only Son, whom he knew would be rejected by mankind and eventually sacrificed on the Cross.

We can never have the perfect Christmas, since that only occurred once a little over 2000 years ago, but we can sacrifice our time, talent and energies in our gift-giving, baking & cooking, and prayers of joy and love. It is not about achieving the perfect Christmas but the love we put into the effort!
Merry Christmas and God Bless, Holly Clark

Interruptions: Gifts or Disturbances?

The angel Gabriel was sent from God… to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, and the virgin's name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."
Luke 1:26, 27, 28

As you read theGospel above, transport yourself back in time and put yourself in Mary’s place… you are about to go to bed… you are thinking about the next day’s chores or maybe planning your upcoming wedding, or just going about your thoughts as usual. And lo! A bright light appears in front of you… are you frightened or do you feel a strange warmth come about you? The light begins to speak… "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." Like Mary, you wonder what sort of greeting this could be. Could it be a sign of going mad? Or a true messenger of God? (And why would God be talking to me, of all people?) As you converse with the angel you begin to sense a larger presence, a sense of history about to unfold. You say “Yes!” to God’s request to bear a child… you know you could die for not being married yet and you know there are hardships to come. You think if this is really God interrupting my life then it must truly be important.

Have you ever had an interruption in your life that changed the course of your life’s journey? Have you ever said yes to something when you had no idea of the outcome? Mary’s life was changed because of an interruption that she was not expecting… and look what her gift of “yes” gave the rest of the world! Today reflect back on your own interruptions of life and ask yourself are they gifts from God or disturbances to curse? You may surprise yourself with the answer!
God Bless, Holly Clark