Deacon Greg Maskarinec’s Homily for the 5th Sunday of Easter

We all have our pet peeves…things that annoy us.  One of my pet peeves is someone not giving me a direct answer to a question.  They give a detailed background, possible answers and all the implications.  For those of you who know me you’re probably thinking, “Look who’s talking!”  Yes, I often find myself doing the same thing!

Another of my pet peeves – and let me be clear that it’s something that I too sometimes fall into the habit of – is the way we sometimes treat the Church’s Liturgical seasons.  For example, we wish people a Merry Christmas on December 25th and on the morning of December 26th or 27th we drag our Christmas trees to the curb and rush off to the Mall to return the “much appreciated” gifts from our loved ones.

Or consider how some of us begin the Easter Season a little early.  Out of fear that we won’t see each other on the Day of Resurrection we began exchanging the Easter greeting during Holy Week; after the Mass of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, after Jesus’ Passion and death on Good Friday, and on Holy Saturday or the day of the Great Silence.  And some of us end the Easter Season a little early.  On the Friday after Easter I greeted somebody with the words “Happy Easter” to which he replied, “You’re 5 days late!  Wasn’t Easter last Sunday?”  We sometimes forget that the Easter Season doesn’t start until the celebration of the Easter Vigil and it doesn’t end until Pentecost Sunday.   In fact, in the words of Saint Athanasius the 50 days from the Sunday of the Resurrection to the Sunday of Pentecost are celebrated as one “great Sunday”.  So it’s really not appropriate to wish someone Happy Easter during Holy Week!   And if you don’t get a chance to wish somebody Happy Easter on Easter Sunday, or even if you already have,  you can say it without feeling awkward all the way to Pentecost Sunday! Continue reading “The Paschal Joy of Easter!” →

Calling all kids for a week of fun & faith!

2017 VBS Registration Form
(Send to the MDP Parish Office, Attn: VBS)

Kids entering K – 5th grade are invited to join us on June 26-30, 9am – Noon, for Vacation Bible School!  We will explore how we are “CREATED BY GOD – BUILT FOR A PURPOSE” and enjoy time for music, sports, crafts, and prayer!

Students entering 6th – 12th are invited to be “camp counselors.”  Adults 18+ needed to chaperone.  Contact Lauren Joyce with questions: 610-337-2173 or LJoyce@MDPparish.com.

Deacon Greg Maskarinec’s Homily

PALM SUNDAY

We are obsessed with reality TV…shows like Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Dancing with the Stars, Survivor, and the like.  There’s another series known as “Undercover Boss”. It features a company’s founder or senior executive who temporarily gives up his or her power and authority to become an entry-level employee at the bottom rung of the ladder.  The “boss” goes “undercover” to investigate what’s really going on in their company so that they can improve the business and reward hard-working employees. They are not tyrants…they’re sincerely interested in the welfare of their business and their workers.   They’re on the road away from home and spend time agonizing about how to solve the problems of the companies.   At some point the undercover boss returns to the workforce and reveals their identity.  The exceptional workers are rewarded for their efforts and are given the financial means to help make their dreams come true.

On this Palm Sunday, the beginning of the week we call “Holy”, the readings speak to us of a somewhat similar figure, but one who offers us infinitely more than any reality TV show or personality. Continue reading “THE ULTIMATE REALITY” →

This week our middle school students visited Camilla Hall Retirement Home for the IHM Sisters.  We played board games and shared stories with these lovely, holy women!

To sign your 6th-8th grader up for Service Projects, email Lauren Joyce: LJoyce@MDPparish.com.