Senior Parochial Vicar Column
Fr. Dan's Message... February 25, 2024
How has our Lenten journey taken root in our lives? Did we use this time to prepare our lives and our homes for the great festivities of Easter? If not, we still have time! The Church provides three special days to highlight what Jesus will do for us: suffer, die, and rise. We know that Jesus came to save us from our sinful nature and to open the gates of heaven for us. These three days, known as the Sacred Triduum, will focus our minds and hearts on Jesus’ mission for each of us.
The Triduum—the Three Days—aren’t merely stories. These days are a time for us to reflect on how well we have taken into our minds and hearts Jesus’ words and actions because Jesus is asking something of us: as He has done, we must also do. Holy Thursday, March 28, focuses our attention to be servant to one another, to realize the gift of Jesus in the Priesthood and in the Sacred Eucharist. Do we truly believe that Jesus is present—body, blood, soul, and divinity?
Good Friday, March 29, brings to us the hope of the cross! We know the story of the Passion and death of Jesus so well that we can sometimes take the details we find in the gospels for granted. And it is easy to be focused on what is happening right now in our lives—our family commitments, job concerns, financial worries, the fatigue that we feel when we think about the violence, fear, and terror that dominates the news—that we lose sight of how God is present and at work in our lives and in our world, even in the dark places where death and destruction seem to be winning out.
We are here because, in Jesus, God joined us in our very human experiences of joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, hope and fear, love and loss. And on the cross, Jesus poured out all that He was, offering everything back to the Father. On Good Friday we especially remember that Jesus also offered us to God. We have been lifted up with Jesus on the wood of the cross and in the glory of His Resurrection.
Holy Saturday, March 30, we remember what Jesus has done for each of us. But just like Holy Thursday and Good Friday, we aren’t supposed to be remembering for the sake of remembering. This night we have also been witnesses of the empty tomb and our Alleluia! is our proclamation to the world that everything is changed, that we are changed, by what we have seen and heard.
Please join your parish family in these special three days. If you cannot attend, please take some time each day to reflect on these days.
Love & Prayers,
Fr. Dan
Fr. Dan's Message... December 17, 2023
The Third Sunday of Advent, is traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday, so-called from the first word of the antiphon at the Introit. Gaudete ("Rejoice"), taken from the Latin translation of Phil. 4:4-5, sets a tone of joyful expectation for the Lord's birth and Second Coming. The advent candle and clergy vestments are the color rose (not pink...LOL).
Advent is a time to recall the cry of the early Christians: Maranatha! "Come Lord Jesus!"This is a wonderful time to prepare our hearts and homes for the joyous birth of our Savior. An infant, with His arms outstretched, sent to us by God. To save us from our sins and to bring us ever closer to
His Father's love. Jesus' love is unconditional and available to each person. This season gives us the opportunity to thank God for all the blessings and gifts that He has given to us all. The first gift we should be grateful for is the Gift of Life. God has breathed His life given breath into us and has made us in His image, children of God. That is, indeed, a reason to be joyful. We cannot do anything in life without God. HIs grace and love is the reason for this sacred time of the year...we rejoice in His Beloved Son Jesus....Come Lord Jesus!
As the world wind of activities and responsibility comes our way...let us set aside a time for prayer! A time to focus our attention on God's love, His Son's love and the mercy that is ours each and every day!
Fr. Dan's Message... November 12, 2023
The month of November we remember our beloved dead. One question that frequently comes up during this month...do Catholics still believe in
Purgatory? Yes. We continue to believe in this doctrine. Purgatory is the suffering of the faithful
which causes a "purging" of temporal punishment due to sin. It is explained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (#1054) as a process (not a place), a
purification after death for those who are saved, so that they may achieve the holiness necessary to enter heaven. It is implied in Scripture (Revelation 6:9-
11; 1 Peter 3:18-19), taught by the early fathers, and defined by the Church (especially the Council of Florence). The Souls in purgatory can pray for us,
however, they cannot pray for themselves. That is why we pray for them and offer Masses for our loved ones! Gentle Heart of Jesus Prayer: Gentlest Heart of Jesus ever present in the Blessed Sacrament, ever consumed with burning love for the poor captive souls in Purgatory, have mercy on the soul of Thy departed servant. Be not severe in Thy Judgement, but let some drops of Thy Precious Blood fall upon the devouring flames and do Thou O merciful Savior send Thy angels to conduct Thy departed servant to a place of refreshment, light and peace. Amen.
May the souls of all the faithful
departed through the mercy of God
rest in peace.
Amen.
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.