Christmas 2011 Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church

Merry Christmas Mariachi

Mariachi

Merry Christmas

Santa Claus in Town 2011

Let go

Let go
Let go and let God has his wonderful way
Let go and let God has His way
Your sorrows will vanish
Your nights turns to days
Let go and let God has His way.


God Provides. From Sunny John

Location:Euclid Ave,Middletown,United States

National Shrine Of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Middletown New York

National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Talk On New Roman Missal

Rosary

Carmelite All Souls day Part 2

All souls day celebration St Elias Province, New York

https://picasaweb.google.com/102281842525101387557/CarmeliteAllSoulsDay2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCNq9_u-Wp-nA-gE&feat=directlink

Carmelite All Souls Day Part1

Senior members friendship Luncheon

God Provides. From Sunny John

A Prayer to our blessed Mother Mary

Take my hand o Blessed Mother,
Hold me firmly lest I fall;
I a, nervous when I'm walking
And on thee I humbly call.

Guide me over every crossing,
Watch me when I'm on the stairs,
Let MD know you are beside me,
Listen to my fervent prayers.

Bring me to my destination,
Safely every single day,
Help me with my understanding
As the hours pass away .

And when evening falls upon us,
And I fear to be alone,
Take my hand o Blessed Mother,
Once again and lead me home.
(author unknown )

God Provides. From Sunny John

Trick or Treat

October Snow

Thank God for every Blessing

This is the photo I took early morning before sunrise with my point and shoot camera. October 11 Tuesday 2011

Recently I was waiting for my friend to give a ride to bus station for me to go to the city. As my normal routine. I got up early and was ready an hour before the scheduled time. I went out of the building. It was chilly and dark. Sun was just getting ready to get rise and spread it light around us. I could see things around. I saw a special animal just in front of the building. A real fascinating creature. AS you already imagined I took my camera and got very near to him and took two shots. The flash was so hard on its eyes. Because it was not so bright, I had to be so close to it to get a good shot. I was angry due to the powerful flash on its eyes and it got angry and starts to look like ready to attack me. I just pulled me back and stamped on the walkway. He lifted his tail and I took some photos. I showed to my friends when I reached the city and they told me Sunny you are so blessed man, otherwise you were not able to come here today. That creature was a Skunk. The odd smell will not go away for more than a week after many tomato juice baths you take throwing away the clothes you were. I did a small study on it. And here is what a skunk is. Good looking but when you go near to it you may need a real luck like the one I had if you do not know them. Thank God for saving me from the skunk. I was so close to him but God was more close to me.
Skunks (in the United States, occasionally called polecats) are mammals best known for their ability to secrete a liquid with a strong, foul odor. Although the most common fur color is black and white, some skunks are brown or grey, and a few are cream-colored. Although they have excellent senses of smell and hearing – vital attributes in a crepuscular omnivore – they have poor vision. They cannot see, with any clarity, objects more than about 3 meters (10 ft) away, making them vulnerable to death by road traffic. They are short-lived animals: Fewer than 10% survive for longer than three years. The most notorious feature of skunks is their anal scent glands, which they can use as a defensive weapon. They are similar to, though much more developed than, the glands found in species of the Mustelidae family. Skunks have two glands, one on each side of the anus. These glands produce a mixture of sulfur-containing chemicals such as methyl and butyl thiols traditionally called mercaptans, which have a highly offensive smell that can be described as a combination of the odors of rotten eggs, garlic and burnt rubber. The odor of the fluid is strong enough to ward off bears and other potential attackers and can be difficult to remove from clothing. Muscles located next to the scent glands allow them to spray with a high degree of accuracy, as far as 3 meters (10 ft). The smell aside, the spray can cause irritation and even temporary blindness and is sufficiently powerful to be detected by a human nose up to a mile downwind.
‎Skunks are reluctant to use this weapon, as they carry just enough of the chemical for five or six uses – about 15 cc – and require some ten days to produce another supply their bold black and white coloring however serves to make the skunk's appearance memorable. Where practical, it is to a skunk's advantage simply to warn a threatening creature off without expending scent: black and white warning color aside, threatened skunks will go through an elaborate routine of hisses, foot stamping, and tail-high threat postures before resorting to the spray. Interestingly, skunks usually do not spray other skunks, with the exception of males in the mating season. Though they fight over den space in autumn, they do so with teeth and claws.

My friends told me . You are so blessed. Otherwise we were not even able to come near you for a week. Even from the creatures we have a lot to learn. Thank God for saving me from the foul odor which will keep me away from my regular duties. God really take care of his faithful believer. He provides. Indeed He does.

Thought

Die to see how much they love me.
Give you your flowers when I can smell it and appreciate your love ; do not wait until I cannot even smell it.

God Provides. From Sunny John

Location:E 71st St,,United States

Sacred Heart University Chapel inside

Conversing with God as a friend

Conversing with God as a friend

Accustom yourself to speak to God, one to one, in a familiar Mann as to the dearest friend you have and who loves you best of all. It is a great mistake to treat God with uncertainty and to enter God's presence like a slave who, ashamed and full of fear, comes trembling with terror into the presence of a prince. It is even a greater mistake to think that conversation with God is nothing but boredom and tediousness. Nothing could be farther from the truth. "for association with her involves no bitterness / and living with her no grief, but rather joy and gladness"(wis8:16). Ask people who love God with a true love and they will tell you that in the troubles of their lives they have found no greater or more genuine relief than in loving conversation with God.
This loving conversation does not demand that you constantly strain your mind at the expense of your other activities or even your recreation. It only requires that, without neglecting your other obligations, you act on occasion toward God in the same way that you act toward those whom you love or who love you .
Your God is ever at your side, indeed, within you. "in Him we live and move and have our being" (Act 17:28). You don't need to work through a doorman if you want to approach God. God delights in your intimacy. Discuss all your business with God, your plans, your troubles, your fears-anything at all that concerns you . And do so with confidence, with your heart open wide. God can secretly speak to the person who does not speak to God. Those who are not accustomed to speaking with God will scarcely recognize God's voice when He does speak.
When we love God we find a most affectionate friend. That is why God desires to converse with us often-like a friend, without the slightest embarrassment.
St. Alphonsus de Liguori

God Provides. From Sunny John

Location:E 71st St,,United States

Live for others

Most of the days I pass through this curved outdoor bench overlooking Conservatory water in central park new York, but have a made a pause to see what it is written and what it means to me! I did not. It has rich meaning, but only when I am able to pause and see and meditate on the words. It is same with everything in my life. It has only meaning only when I make it my own and live with it.
"Alteri vivas opportet si vis tibi vivere" (One must live for another if he wishes to live for himself). A small sundial at the back of the bench bears another Latin inscription: Ne diruatur fuga temporum (Let it not be destroyed by the passage of time).

God Provides. From Sunny John

Location:E 71st St,,United States

I said a prayer

I Said A Prayer For You

I said a prayer for you today
And know God must have heard.
I felt the answer in my heart
Although He spoke no word
I didn't ask for wealth or fame
(I knew you wouldn't mind)
I asked him to send treasures
of a far more lasting kind!
I asked that he'd be near you
At the start of each new day;
To grant you health and blessings
And friends to share your way!
I asked for happiness for you
in all things great and small
but it was for His loving care
I prayed the most of all!
(author unknown)

Fr. Sunny (Vincent) John Pazhukkakulam O. Carm.

Location:Liberty St,Albany,United States

Saints in the painting

Prophet Elijah; Cyril of Constantinople ;Andrew Corsini, Bishop and Peacemaker; Mary Magdalene de'Pazzi; Brocard, the first Superior of Mount Carmel; Thérèse, The Little Flower; Simon Stock; Our Lady of Mount Carmel with Child Jesus; Albert of Sicily; Teresa of Jesus; Berthold, the Second Prior General of the Carmelites; Patriarch Peter Thomas; Angelus of Sicily; John of the Cross; and the Prophet Eliseus.

God Provides. From Sunny John

Location:E 71st St,,United States

Our lady of mount Carmel painting

Carmelite Saints with Our Lady and the Child Jesus


This beautiful painting depicts some of the Carmelites Saints before Our Lady and the Child Jesus.

(Left to right): Andrew Corsini, Bishop and Peacemaker; Cyril of Constantinople; the Prophet Elijah; Mary Magdalene de'Pazzi; Brocard, the first Superior of Mount Carmel; Thérèse, The Little Flower; Simon Stock; Albert of Sicily; Teresa of Jesus; Berthold, the Second Prior General of the Carmelites; Patriarch Peter Thomas; Angelus of Sicily.

(Kneeling): John of the Cross; and the Prophet Eliseus.

God Provides. From Sunny John

Location:E 71st St,,United States

St Joseph Carmelite Church in Troy

Travel's prayer

For travelers.

Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Who made heaven and earth.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, whose glory fills the entire creation and whose presence we find wherever we go, preserve those who travel and in particular those about to begin this journey. Surrounding them with your loving care, protect them from every danger and bring them back in safety to their journey's end. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Into the way of peace and prosperity, may the almighty and merciful Lord lead us, and may the Angel Raphael be with us on the way so that we may come to our home again in peace and health.
Save your servants, my God, who hope in you.
Lord, send us your help and strengthen us out of Sion.
Be unto us, o Lord, a tower of strength from the face of the enemy.
Let not he enemy prevail against us, nor the son of the iniquity have power to harm us.
Blessed be the Lord daily and may the God of our salvation make our way prosperous.
Show us your ways, O Lord, and teach us your paths.
O Lord, hear our prayer and let our cry come unto you.
May your holy angel accompany us. Be unto us, O Lord, help when we go forward, a comfort by the way, a shadow from the heat, a covering from the rain and the cold, a refuge in trouble.
Graciously hear our supplications, we beseech you, O Lord, and grant that your family may fare onward in the path of salvation so that this journey will teach all the great less ion of patience, brotherly love, kindness, and gratitude for all the gifts bestowed on mankind by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Travelers' blessing
Bless us in our travels. We praise you, O God, for this privilege of letting us admire these sights of nature- these mountains, these rivers, these lakes,these forests.we thank you for calling us to be your pele, to admire all appreciate what you have given us. Help us to continue in your love and to praise you for ever. Amen.


God Provides. From Sunny John

Location:3rd St,Troy,United States

Garbage collectors by john h hampsch

Garbage collectors are somewhat taken for granted as they go about their malodorous task. But their importance becomes obvious when a city - wide garbage collectors' strike erupts;that's when the maggoty garbage piles up day after day' as flies and rats breed freely. If the strike is unresolved, the threat of disease sets in. Then we realize how important our daily garbage collectors are.
Wise men says that we do not realize how blessed we are when we could see the beauty around. We realize the power of our eye sight only when it fades in our life. We forget to realize the power of friendship that we have. We will know when we loose them. Start to know and thank them and God before we loose them.
Everything we have is a grace from God, the place we are in, the people we work with, the friends who are ready to do anything for us, the people who love us and those who criticize us for our lack of understanding, etc. They are all part of our growth. When we miss them we know how great they were in our life.
Before I miss you all from my life. Let me start saying to you THANK YOU.


God Provides. From Sunny John

Location:3rd St,Troy,United States

HYMN

O Lord my God! when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed:

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul! my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul! my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

”How Great Thou Art” by Melinda Kirigin-Voss; Originally this was a Swedish folk melody, “O Store Gud” by Carl Boberg (1859-1940) and was translated by Stuart K. Hine in 1899.



God Provides. From Sunny John

A Prayer for Priest
Keep them, I pray Thee, dearest Lord,
Keep them, for they are Thine-
Thy priests whose lives burn out before
Thy consecrated shrine.
Keep them for they are in the world
Though from the world apart
When earthly pleasures tempt,allure-
Shelter them in Thy heart.
Keep them,and comfort them in hours
Of loneliness and pain
When all their life of sacrifice
For souls seems but in vain.
Keep them, and O remember Lord
They have no one but Thee
Yet they have only human hearts,
With human frailty.
Keep them as spotless as the Host,
That daily, they cares-
Their every thought and word and deed,
Design, dearest Lord, to bless.
( unknown )

Location:3rd St,Troy,United States

Fireworks 2011

Rose is the king of Flowers

Rose Garden Part1

Hudson River Parade of Ships 2011

May Crowning 2011

Aquarium

Peacok

One World One Mother

Thank YOU

Star Show 2011 USA

Easter 2011 Homily by Fr Sunny John O.Carm.

Meditation for Good Friday part 2

Meditation for Good Friday Part1

Autobiography of Sam a bird part1

Autobiography of Sam a bird Part 2

Autobiography of Sam, a bird A Narrative story by Fr. Sunny John O.Carm. April 5, 2011 Hello everyone. We never met. My name is Sam and I am a bird. I am very jealous, proud and angry. I do not have any close friends, as I do not want any complications in my life. Why should I burden myself and love someone other than myself? I am not ready to accept that I am a braggart. I want others to treat me as a saintly bird. When we go hunting for food, I am the selfish one who always left my co-hunters behind as I was rushing to get all the choice food for myself. After I finish eating, I then start complaining about the food. I am never satisfied in my life and not at all concerned about anyone else. I do hope you are getting to know me a bit better! That used to be me, the greedy and unkind Sam. Yes, I was very greedy once and not at all worried about anything or anyone in this world. I was only concerned about myself. Why shouldn’t I be? I was healthy, handsome and good-looking. I never thought that what I was doing was bad. One day I decided to take a long trip to the beachside to get some fresh seafood, which I had not had in months. I had a long flight to the beach and I flew around to see what was going on. It was not a familiar place and I did not have any friends that went with me. I was alone and for the first time in my life, I felt lonely. I noticed that everyone except me was happy and they were talking to each other and were very concerned about others. There were children who were playing, couples who were enjoying their vacation and people fishing. Some were with their children enjoying the beauty of the creation. I could not enjoy anything that is going around me, because I was only concerned about myself and the fresh seafood I was about to enjoy. I went around and found food and after eating it all, I was very full. I went to enjoy the sunset and the full moon. But I realized that something was missing, I could not figure out what I was lacking. Why am I not happy like everyone else? The other birds were happy as they flew together and helped each other find food. I was starting to feel the loneliness in my life. I noticed some birds were taking a rest and I went to talk to them. However, they did not want to talk to me and I asked them if I could join them or stay with them. They were very furious and chased me away. They did not want to talk to a stranger. I was feeling down for the first time in my life and felt there was something missing and I am not as good as I think I am. I tried to make friends with the people who were fishing nearby, but even though I was very close to them, they did not even notice me walking around. I was sad and went to a corner of the beach where there was no one around. At last, I found a beauty. She looked very beautiful with a long pink mouth and colorful. Her name was Grace. She came over to ask me whether I needed any help. She realized that I am not from the area and that I was visiting. She seemed to be a very happy "person" and I was so happy to see her near me. I asked her why she was so happy and that I was not. She told me that if I wanted to be happy, I needed to forget thinking about myself and love others as I loved myself. I did not get it. But she told me about her Master and the Lord Jesus Christ in whom she has great faith. She added that Jesus is the one who protects her and provides everything and she is not worried about anything in her life. I listened to what she was telling me and I was very interested in her words because she was the only one who gave me some attention. Grace started to talk about her family. She has two "children" to take care of and was actually gathering food for them. I realized the food she shared with me was the food she collected for her "children". I was pleased that someone was caring for others, as I could not imagine myself doing that. I never helped anyone in my life; I had no friends or family to love or to feel being loved. I fed myself, saved for my future, and never thought of others. She wanted to learn more about me. I was very frank with her and told her that I never helped any one in my life and never felt any need to do so. I had no friends or any help from anyone to realize that what I was doing was wrong. No one seems to help me. Everyone was criticizing me and no one was ready to help me. She started to cry when I was telling my story. She told a story that she heard from her friends, about a sannyasi in India who was a very religious priest. The sannyasi, a wise Hindu person, had reached the outskirts of the village and settled down under a tree for the night when a villager came running up to him and said, “The stone! The stone! Give me the precious stone!” “What stone?” asked the sannyasi. “Last night the Lord Shiva appeared to me in a dream,” said the villager, “and told me that if I went to the outskirts of the village at dusk I should find a sannyasi who would give me a precious stone that would make me rich forever.” The sannyasi rummaged in his bag and pulled out a stone. “He probably meant this stone,” he said, as he handed the stone to the villager. “I found it a on a forest path some days ago. You can certainly have it,” The man gazed at the stone in wonder. It was a diamond; probably the largest diamond in the whole world, for it was as large as a person’s head. He took the diamond and walked away. All night he tossed in bed, unable to sleep. Next day, at the crack of dawn, he woke the sannyasi and said, “Give me the wealth that makes it possible for you to give this diamond away so easily.” Grace told me that it is not your possessions and what you have that make you happy. It is always what you give away that makes you happy. As long as you are greedy, you can never be happy in your life. If you try to live for others and love them more than you love yourself, then you will realize what real love, joy and happiness are. The soothing sound of the waves was teaching me wisdom, was really washing off the hardness of my life, and was making me a kind bird. She told me what the French novelist Marcel Proust (1871-1922) wrote: “We do not receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves, after a journey through the wilderness, which no one else can make for us, which no one can spare us, for our wisdom is the point of view from which we come at last to regard the world.” I realized no one else can make you happy but you, no one can take your joy away but only you can do that. I started to see others, their beauty and their kindness. For the first time, I started to look at others not as my enemy but as my own. That was a real awakening. I started to see who I was and why I was not happy. I thanked God for the realization. I never thanked God or even accepted his existence. I realized that God exists to control nature in its own order. How will it be if everybody is going to do it in their own way? God has His own harmony for everything according to what He sets for them. For the first time in my life and from the depth of my heart, I praised God for giving me life. I went to my friend to learn more about God. My heart was thirsting and hungry to know more about Him. I never cared for anyone like that and I never wanted to know about anyone in my life. I was so restless and I wanted to know more. I asked her to teach me about the Lord and she said that she did not know too much but she learns about Him from the church. She said God is all about love. She knew that people who trust in the Lord are always happy. I asked her to tell me more so that I will believe in Him, as I want to be content with myself. Let me be free of all my negativeness. She told me that one day she was searching for food near a catholic church and the church windows were open. She could see and hear all what is going on in the church and went to the window to hear more clearly. She saw the priest coming to the pulpit with a rusty, bent, old birdcage, and set it by the pulpit. Everyone was surprised to see him with a cage. Eyebrows were raised and the priest began to speak…"I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this birdcage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the boy and asked. ”What you got there, son?” “Just some old birds,” came the reply. ”What are you going to do with them?” I asked. ”Take them home and have fun with them,” he answered. ”I’m going to tease ‘em and pull out their feathers to make them fight. I’m going to have a real good time.” But you will get tired of those birds eventually. " What will you do?” “Oh, I got some cats,” said the little boy. ”They like birds. The priest was silent for a moment. “How much do you want for those birds, son?” “Huh??!!! Why, you want the birds , mister. They are just plain old-field birds. They do not sing. They aren’t even pretty!” “How much?” the priest asked again. The boy sized up the priest as if he was crazy and said, “$10” The priest reached in his pocket and took out a ten-dollar bill. He placed it in the boy’s hand. In a flash, the boy was gone. The priest picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free. Well, that explained the empty birdcage on the pulpit, and then the priest began to tell this story. One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. "Yes, sir, I just I set a trap with bait and caught a whole lot of people because they could not resist. Got ‘em all! ”What are you going to do with them?” Jesus asked. Satan replied, “Oh, I’m gonna have fun! I’m gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink, smoke and curse. I’m gonna teach them how to kill each other. I’m really gonna have fun!” "And what will you do when you get done with them?” Jesus asked. "Oh, I’ll kill them,” "How much? Jesus asked. They’ll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don’t want those people!” Jesus asked again. How much? Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, “All your blood, tears and your life.” Jesus said, “DONE”! Then He paid the price. Then the priest picked up the cage and walked away from the pulpit. Grace stopped telling the story and I saw tears coming from her eyes. I was very touched when she told me the story. It was enough. I got it… I was not able to hear anything more. I was broken. Tears came from my eyes; they were tears of joy and peace. I felt like I am totally a new person. I bend my knee and prayed for the first time as St. Padre Pio prayed ; Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You. You know how easily I abandon You. Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength that I may not fall so often. Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light, and without You I am in darkness. Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will. Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You. Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much and to be in Your company always. Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You. Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of love. Amen. Thank you my friends for listening to my story. Jesus who saved us will bless you with his love and mercy. I am Sam.

St Thomas Provincial Chapter 2011

Snow In Central Park, New York

Fr Sunny John O.Carm. performing a small magic in Trinidad on his Birthday

Fr Sunny John O.Carm's birthday celebration in Trinidad and Tobago on Ma...

Ordination anniversary

My priestly Ordination and Feast of John Neumann
In June of 1836 on the day of his first Mass, Father John Neumann (1811-1860) whose feast we celebrate today, uttered a prayer that consisted of only five words: “Dearest God, Give me holiness.” He had only recently arrived in the United States. He had studied for the priesthood in his native Bohemia, but there were so many priests in his homeland that the bishop decided there would be no more ordinations for an extended period. So at the age of twenty-five John Neumann set out for America and was there ordained to the priesthood by the Bishop of New York. The next day, he prayed those five words: “Dearest God, Give me holiness.” As he celebrated the Eucharist at the very beginning of his priestly service, he prayed for holiness. My dear brothers and sisters, today is the anniversary of my own ordination. I was ordained in January 5th 1997. Please pray that I will be dying as a holy priest.
Vocation of the prophet Jeremiah says in Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."And God’s further words to Jeremiah were also verified in John Neumann: "To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you...says the Lord."
The words of Saint Paul, the great missionary Apostle, apply so well to Saint John Neumann: “I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some. All this I do for the sake of the Gospel, so that I too may have a share in it” (1 Cor 9:19; 22-23).
In his book Written in Blood, Robert Coleman tells the story of a little girl, Mary, who needed a blood transfusion. Her little brother, Johnny, had suffered from the same disease that she had and had recovered two years earlier. Since her best chance of recovery was a transfusion from someone who had recovered from the disease, her little brother was identified as the ideal donor. "Would you give your blood to Mary?" the doctor asked. Johnny hesitated. His lower lip started to tremble. Then he smiled and said, "Sure, for my sister." Soon the two kids were wheeled into the hospital room. Neither of them spoke, but when their eyes met, Johnny grinned. As the nurse inserted the needle into his arm, Johnny's smile faded. Johnny watched his blood flow through the tube. When the ordeal was over, Johnny's shaky voice broke the silence. "Doctor, when do I die?"
It was only then that the doctor realize why Johnny had hesitated, why his lip had trembled when he agreed to donate his blood. He thought giving his blood to his sister meant giving up his life. When he agreed to give the blood, Johnny had agreed to die so that his sister would live. Fortunately, Johnny did not have to die to save his sister.
No matter what type of good work a priest does the highpoint of the priest’s ministry is celebrating the Eucharist. It is the most important moment of the day for the priest.
Prayer and the Eucharist is the most important time of every day in the life of a priest and religious.
I always look for my joy in knowing that I am doing what is best for the kingdom of God. Whether 10% or 99% of people appreciate what I do is not the decisive factor in whether I am happy or unhappy. Because I am human it is a consideration but it is not the decisive factor. Last Christmas day one woman who was a lapse catholic came to me and said “father I was against catholic life but because of you I am coming back.” that was my best Christmas gift this year.
I remember the words of my patron saint, St. Vincent de Paul “To rely on our talents is a cause of great loss. When someone places confidence in his own prudence, knowledge, and intelligence, God, To make him know and see his insufficiency, withdraws from him His help and leaves him to work by himself. This is often why our undertakings miserably fail.’ “Dearest God, Give me holiness.” Amen.

Happy New Year and Epiphany