Senior Parochial Vicar Column
Fr. Dan's Message... September 24, 2023
Recently, I came across a beautiful prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi in my prayer book. Saint Francis certainly reminds all of us when we have our eyes fixed on Jesus and His commandments that God will provide the necessities of our daily life. So often we seek or want to seek these virtues in our life and find it hard to put them into daily practice. Let us pray this prayer with Saint Francis and recommit ourselves to our Lord. It is Jesus that we place our trust in.
"Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.
Where there is patience and humility, there is neither anger nor disturbance.
Where there is poverty with joy, there is neither greed nor avarice.
Where there is quiet and meditation, there is neither preoccupation nor unsettledness. Where there is fear of the Lord to guard the house, there the enemy has no place to enter. Where there is mercy and discernment, there is neither excessive demand nor hardening of the heart."
St. Francis of Assisi
The Church celebrates Saint Francis' feast day on October 4th. May Saint Francis intercede for all families and the Church that God's peace and love will be at the center of our lives.
Fr. Dan's Message... August 20, 2023
Do you seek healing from Jesus?
In scripture, Jesus said, "What do you want me
to do for you?" The blind beggar heard the crowd passing by on the road--feet hurrying, people talking, all moving quickly along. What
was going on? "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by". It was enough. Immediately the beggar shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me". He was making a nuisance of himself. "Shut up, they warned him." But this was not a man to be silenced. He had heard of the Nazarene. He knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he would help him. This was his chance and no one, no crowd was going to stop him. So, he shouted louder, "Son of
David, have pity on me!"(Mk 10:46-52).
Jesus stopped. The crowd stopped. The man was still shouting. Jesus ordered that he be brought to Him.These two men stood on the dusty roadway, face to face. One, the light of the world. The other in darkness. Then, with courtesy, with respect, Jesus asked, "What do you want me to
do for you?"
What a question! Today the Lord is asking how He can help you. How He can serve you. Of course He knows what you need, just as He knew what the beggar needed. But He wants you to turn to Him believing absolutely that He will hear and heal you. "The Lord," the prophet Isaiah said centuries before, "is waiting to show you favor." This is the God, who is "full of tenderness and compassion," who is ready to help us if we could only believe. Trust is the bottom line!
How will you answer this question? What is it
that you really and truly want above all else? Go deep into your heart, beyond that chatter of the crowd, beyond the endless distractions of the day and listen to Jesus!
Love and prayers,
Fr. Dan Young
Fr. Dan's Message... July 2, 2023
“Hello!” I am Father Dan Young and Bishop Fisher has assigned me to your family of parishes. I look forward to mee;ng you and serving you as a Senior Parochial Vicar. I was ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop Head on May 5, 1995. The last 21 years I have been a pastor at various parishes. I am coming from Good Shepherd Parish in Pendleton and Clarence Center and was there for 15 years.
I grew up in Wilson, New York and aOended Wilson Central High School...gradua;ng in 1983 (yes it's my 40th anniversary). I aOended Daemen College and Christ the King Seminary. My parents were Ralph and BeOy Young (both deceased). Dad was a 7th Grade Math teacher at Wilson Central and Mom was a devoted care giver of our family. I have two wonderful sisters...I'm in the middle of them. I have two grown nephews and one niece. I am the proud great Uncle of a nephew and niece. I enjoy reading and watching Law and Order (my uncle had his doctorate in criminology). I love to solve mysteries. I'm sure I got that from my Uncle. I am a huge fan of coffee from Tim Hortons.