Author: Father Cioppi

CHRISTMAS – “My longing will be satisfied & my peace will be perfect”

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It is good that our parish can gather on these holy days because God has summoned us here to worship Him on the Mountain. We gather with family and friends, even with total strangers at our side, we come to the manger, and seek out what has become lost in our lives. We wonder n the solitude of this moment what happened to the manger of our hearts. How easy it is for me to ignore the humanness of those around me, especially the stranger or those who are in anyway poor. It seems that humanity has been entombed with anger, busyness and boredom. These things are not in the manger and they have no place here, because they are not a part of what makes us human.

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Through her wondrous ‘yes,’ may Mary intercede for us! Luke 1:26-38

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As we begin our final movement in the fourth week of Advent, I would like to reflect a moment on Mary, ‘the sign of true hope and comfort for the pilgrim people of God’ (Lumen Gentium).

Mary, a simple woman of faith, an example of virtue in her Son, is our mother as well. She walks with us everyday in our effort to become a truly virtuous parish. She is present to us through her example and through her powerful intercession-she is a model for our own call to holiness.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the birth of the Church we value this model of virtue because it is through our meditation on her life that, ‘the Church reverently penetrates more deeply the mystery of the Incarnation and becomes more and more like Christ” (LG-65) . Continue reading “Through her wondrous ‘yes,’ may Mary intercede for us! Luke 1:26-38” →

“My soul rejoices in God” Luke 1:46-48

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“My soul rejoices in God my Savior”

During the play yesterday in Providence Hall, there was a song (I forget the title) but one of the lines of the song was ‘beware the Christmas Shoppers.’ It was a spoof on what it is like to live around the Mall during this season. Dealing with the onslaught of visitors, not only in and around the Mall, but also on the street! And how badly they drive!!

I got to thinking about the stress and anxiety of just normal living through these holidays can really distort what the celebration is all about. My friends, Joy does not come from outside us. The psalmist says, MY SOUL rejoices in God my Savior.”

Joy is a result of the practice of three virtues: faith, hope and charity.

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We celebrate a ‘living faith’ in Jesus!

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I want to thank all our parishioners who participated in Founders’ Weekend, celebrating six years of living faith in Jesus Christ here in King of Prussia. The Advent Carols on Friday Evening, the Dinner Dance on Saturday the Mass on SUnday with combined choirs AND those trumpets and trombones and the luncheon afterward. It was a momentous weekend!!! I want to thank my staff for sacrificing so much time and preparation: you are always there when there is a need! I am grateful to Mr. Bill Mentz for orchestrating the music. Job well done! And to all of you who packed the Church on Sunday – THANK YOU.

I am leaving you with my long homily to mark the anniversary:

The shepherd feeds his flock. He gathers the lambs in His arms and leads the ewes with care.

This weekend we celebrate a significant milestone for the community of Catholics in our region. In 1953, the Venerable Pope, Pius XII declared the first Marian Year for 1954 at the end of which Archbishop O’Hara of Philadelphia founded eight parishes! Imagine eight parishes in one year; such was the need for a worshipping people. All these parishes were consecrated to God under a title of the Blessed Mother; ours being Mother of Divine Providence. A rather small but not uneventful shrine in Rome; a copy of the miraculous painting is kept safe here on our Marian shrine for your devotion.

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“Be watchful! Be Alert” – Mark 13:33-37

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As we begin this solemn season of advent, we visualize the coming of Jesus in the manger at Bethlehem. The simplicity of that event speaks to our complex and distracted hearts and calls us to be still and then run joyfully to the Lord, a desire that comes naturally to the Christian heart.

For it is in the Bethlehem of our hearts that St. Augustine reminds us of the Second Coming when he said, “ It is by design that Jesus hid the last days from us- so that we’d be on the look out for him every day of our lives.”

Today, the first day of our parish retreat we should watch and listen for the stars in the sky. They will help us learn more about when Christ will come to finish his work; the work he began when took on flesh in the incarnation.

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“When I am strange to you, try to understand me.” (Matthew 25:31-46)

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On this last Sunday of the liturgical year, we proclaim Jesus, the Risen Christ as Universal King. Today He takes possession of what the Father has given Him and thus He reigns as King over all creation.

As His true disciples, we proclaim Jesus to be our Shepherd, our Lord and our Goodness. For He promises that when we find ourselves scattered, or confused or living in dark places- He Himself will pasture us; He himself will give us rest; He Himself will find us when we become lost, or injured or sick.

Jesus is a king who loves and because of His love, He shed His blood, and freed us from sin, because only in love is He capable of liberating us from the bondage of shadows and fear, thus making us part of His Kingdom which is good, loving and forgiving. Continue reading ““When I am strange to you, try to understand me.” (Matthew 25:31-46)” →

Use your gifts with great joy! – Matthew 25: 14-30

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The parable the Church gives us today reminds us that God gives each one of us different gifts. One man received five talents, another two and another one. But, you know it’s not a person’s gift that matters; what matters is how he uses it. God never demands from a person more than he has received.

The fact of the matter is that we are not equal in talent, but we can be equal in effort. Whatever talent or gift we possess whether it is great or small, we must use in the service of God and for the building up His kingdom.

It’s a great lesson in life, if we learn it, because we don’t have to be jealous of anyone or envious of someone else’s life. Each of our lives is special and a unique reflection of God’s love.  The only way to use our gift, even the gift of faith, is to use it in the service of the Lord and in the service of one another. If we don’t use it, we will surely loose it.

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BAPTISM UPDATE

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Part 3 of 3:  The Importance of the Parish Community at Baptism and After

The very prayers of a Baptism help explain why it should be celebrated among the parish family.  It is not just the parents and godparents who have responsibility for the new member of the Church, the baptized infant — all members of the community have an important part to play in the Baptism of the child!  The entire parish helps to support and to nurture the faith of the child through their example and prayers for the child and family.  Everyone becomes responsible for the spiritual growth of the child; this responsibility also helps the community grow in their faith.  So, if you see a child being baptized at a parish Mass sometime soon…remember that you and the people in the pews around you are in important part of the ceremony — you are part of the community of faith that will help this child get to Heaven!  This update is part of a series on Baptism Celebrated within Mass. Our first experience with this will be at the 11:30 A.M. Mass on Sunday, December 7th. Please join us for this wonderful experience.

REMEMBER those who have gone before us, marked with the Sign of Faith

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Today we commemorate our deceased brothers and sisters by praying for the purification of their souls; honoring them as members of our mystical family who fought heroically ‘the good fight and won the race for eternity.’

We re-establish links with them during the month of November; and come to understand better our relationship what the Communion of Saints really means; that we cannot reach heaven alone and there are consequences for our sins and consequences when we do not confess our sins to a priest. Through their life and death, they encourage us to continue to work for purity of heart and chastity of mind, body and spirit.

The important thing is not to give up and above all not to lose sight of our ultimate goal because the Souls today light the way into the mystery of God, Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, on which is based our common Baptism. Here, we touch each other, living and dead, in the great communion of the Church.  In Baptism, death is destroyed and a new road to unending life established through Christ.

Therefore, the souls give us a great hope for the future. We remember their lives and their love. We pray that their souls be purified in perfect love and they become worthy of their eternal reward. We ask too for their prayers as we strive to work for unity among each other and everlasting life for each one.

 

BAPTISM UPDATE

Posted on by Father Cioppi

Part 2 of 3:  Why Celebrate Baptism in the Sunday Liturgy?

Today, many parishes celebrate Baptism within the Sunday Eucharistic Liturgy.  Why?  All of the Sacraments are community events.  They are not primarily “private” moments or individual celebrations.  The Sacraments are celebrations of the whole Church, represented by the parish family!  This is especially true of Baptism, because it changes the status of the one being baptized into a member of the Church community.  The baptized person enters into a special relationship with the Church and with God.  This status or identity is renewed in Sunday Eucharist.  Celebrating Baptisms of babies during Sunday Eucharist signifies that baptism is incorporating the baby into both the Church and the Life of Christ.  It also gives mature Catholics a chance to reflect on the meaning of their own baptism which happened so many years ago.  Next week we will learn about the importance of the parish community at Baptism.  This update is part of a series on celebrating baptism during Mass. This will be an option for our parishioners beginning in December.