2010 Lenten Booklet Contributors

Kathy Swedo, Larry Fujara, Fred Shafer, Elaina Grott, Jane Lambesis, Tom Moore, Bob Mathews, Ariel Arceo, Paula St. Louis, Lisa Honcharuk, Laura Carioti, Molly Sandberg, Debbie Lester, Jill Maher, Charlie Meyer, Lore Levene, Hank Matecki, Ken Dix, Mary Anne Benden, Jeanne Rooney, Bob Ryan, John Semerau, Patrick Benson, Joseph Gambino, Mary Kirby, Lisa Pacini, Ron & Bev Glovetski, Laurie Augustyn-Fier, Richard Pluth, Lou Coco, Tim Murphy, Matt Knott, Art Briggs, Sue Smedinghoff, Sue Sullivan, Carrie Conlon, John Monaco, Margaret Denten, Barbara Bychowski, Bonnie Falcone, Ginny Neugebauer, Chuck Hemler, Dorothy McGurn, B-L Pellicore, Jack Nuelle, Sandi Stoesser, Johnny Burnett

On behalf of the Lenten Team (Fr. Steve, Sr. Dee, Deacon John, Marty Mueller and myself) I want to take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful people who were willing to participate in this project. Your time, dedication and insights are truly inspirational. Special thanks to our booklet reviewer Sr. Dee and project coordinators Anne Granato and Roberta Nichols.

In the love of Christ,
Fr. Rodolfo G. Ramirez

image credit...designed, created and donated by Cindy Kiernicki ...Thank You!

April 4th, Easter Sunday

Acts 10: 34a, 37-43, Psalm 118: 1-2, 16-17, 22-23, Colossians 3: 1-4, John 20: 1-9

In today's Gospel we don't encounter the risen Lord just yet. The tomb is empty, but Mary of Magdala, Peter and "the other disciple" go looking for him there. Later that same day, Mary will encounter the risen Lord, but Jesus tells her, "Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father." In a sense, many of us still cling/hold on to the earthly Jesus, don't we? At this moment in the Gospel of John, a transformation is occurring, and our understanding is challenged whenever transformation and change occur. We tend to want to embrace old familiar ways, rather than accept new and different situations that for better or worse, are always going to come along in our lives.

I can certainly imagine how Fr. Steve Dombrowski and Fr. Bernie Pietrzak must have felt as they prepared to begin new lives in strange, new parishes, leaving behind the love of their established "church family." It is bittersweet, uncertain, and yet exciting!

For me, the empty tomb reminds me that we are now called to be the "earthly Jesus" to one another, and take him wherever we go on our journey. It was easy to believe in the "earthly Jesus", while he walked among us, but it challenges our faith, calls us to action, for us "to believe who have not seen" him. Jesus is Risen! Let him live in you!

How have you reacted when you've come to the "empty tomb" in your faith? Who will be Christ to others, if not you?

Johnny Burnett, believer, servant, musician.

April 3rd, Saturday, Easter Vigil

Isaiah 55: 1-11, Psalm 16: 5, 8-11, Romans 6: 3-11, Luke 24: 1-12

All of our readings today refer in some way to death, whether spiritual or physical, resurrection or rebirth, and an invitation to share an abundant and meaningful life through Christ Jesus. The Lenten season has extra special significance for me.

I was not born Catholic, nor was I raised in the Catholic faith. However, ten years ago I made the conscious decision to embark on the journey of a thousand miles by taking a single step. I became a candidate for RCIA, and expressed my desire to receive full fellowship and be accepted into the Catholic community. My decision was reached in part, due to the life and death of my father-in-law. We had a very close relationship, so we often had some very serious discussions. Many of those discussions involved my consideration of the Catholic faith. In his quiet, gentle manner, he told me that being Catholic is a way of life to be lived every day and not to be taken lightly. Little did anyone know that my father in law would be diagnosed with cancer in August and lose that battle in September of 1999.

During this time I asked him if he was afraid of death. His words were, “I have always known that there is a better place. So, no, I am not afraid. I believe.” He passed with the grace, dignity and faith that he lived his life. And so I knew that my decision to accept God’s invitation to allow my old self to die and become reborn in the newness of life was the right decision for me. I know that Hank watched as I was baptized. I know that he smiled as I received Holy Communion for the time. And because he loved me I heard him say, “This is my daughter in law, in whom I am well pleased.”

In whatever situation you may find yourself, Let go, and Let God. Rejoice! He is among the living, not the dead.

Sandi Stoesser, married to John for 21 years, mother, educator, singer.

April 2nd, Good Friday

Isaiah 52: 13 -- 53: 12, Psalm 31: 2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25, Hebrews 4: 14-16; 5: 7-9, John 18: 1 -- 19: 42

I hesitated initially when I discovered I had the reflection for Good Friday. Was I really expected to write about the Night of the Lord’s Passion and Death? What insight could I possibly share about the most holy day in Christianity? So, I did nothing. The reflection gathered dust, and I put off thinking about it, until I realized something: we understand what Christ did for us on Calvary, but do we take the time to think of how He went about doing it? That “how” is on what I would like to focus.

The message of Good Friday to me is one of humility. Christ lowered Himself for us. He bled for us. And He asked for nothing in return. He did not make sure He would be glorified by His actions. The words of Isaiah speak that message best: “ Yet it was in our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted…. Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth.” The crucifixion of Christ was not a vain action by any means. And as we realize that, we realize something about ourselves.

How often can we say that society does not play a major role in our decisions? I am swayed by the ideals of the majority more than I care to think. We look at Christ, the lowly Shepherd, the suffering servant, and we look at the face of utter humility. Can we honestly say we aim for that humility in our lives? Are we willing to change for it? Can we drown out the opinions of society and make our decisions based on the teachings and sacrifice of Christ? As we near the end of another Lenten season, we all, myself included, need to ask that of ourselves. We see Christ willingly and silently crushed by our sins, but will we change for it?

Jack Nuelle, junior at Saint Viator High School.

April 1st, Thursday of Holy Week

Exodus 12: 1-8, 11-14, Psalm 116: 12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18, 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26, John 13: 1-15

How many of us have ever been “imitated” by a child? We’ve all been there: that moment when a little girl squares herself, hands on hips, and exclaims to her younger brother: “Now, don’t forget to eat your vegetables, honey!” Or the little boy who stands side-by-side with his dad in front of the bathroom mirror, pretending to shave with a bladeless razor, using foaming bath soap for shaving cream.

At one time or another, we find ourselves teaching by example. The kids in our lives – our own children, nieces, nephews, friends, neighbors, students – look to us, as trusted adults, for guidance. I’ll never forget one night during a difficult time caring for my mom in her home. I’d asked my daughter, then a precocious three-year-old, to please bring grandma’s pills to her bedside. She took it upon herself to find a relish tray with separate sections, which provided the perfect vessel for the many required medications. After carefully dividing all pills out by color and size, she gingerly carried that all-important dish, normally reserved for pickles and olives, into her beloved grandma’s room, laying it with great care and compassion on the nightstand. It was the first time in weeks my mom laughed out loud. Still wiping the tears from her eyes she turned to me and chuckled, “I wonder where she learned how to take such good care of me!”

Teaching by example. It’s a responsibility we all have, and a lesson shared in two of my favorite scripture readings for today. In John 13, Jesus says to his disciples “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” And in the first letter to the Corinthians, he tells them to “be imitators of me.”

Especially during this Lenten season, let us all reflect on just how powerful those words are. To follow Jesus’ example is a gift. And one that we can only hope will continue to be shared for generations to come.

B-L Pellicore, mother to Renée, healthcare communications manager.

March 31st, Wednesday of Holy Week

Isaiah 50: 4-9a, Psalm 69: 8-10, 21-22, 31 and 33-34, Matthew 26: 14-25

Tomorrow starts the Triduum! Thinking back on my grammar school days, Wednesday of Holy Week was a day of great expectation. It was the day my friends and I planned our participation in the three days to come. We planned to visit as many churches as we could on Holy Thursday. In those days we walked to each church so distance did limit us. Each church was more beautiful than the last. Good Friday was the reading of the Passion and veneration of the cross. Holy Saturday was rich in signs and symbols of the "passing over" of Jesus from darkness to new life. It was worth all the planning because it was indeed a spectacular time in our lives.

Today's readings from the Psalms speak of the people pouring out their woes, their suffering and pleas of "do not let me sink" (Psalm 69: 14), in the lament tradition, and yet they are unfailing in their trust knowing the Lord hears and never forsakes the needy. We all have suffering in our lives; how do we deal with it?

In Matthew's gospel we hear one of the best known gospel stories, the betrayal of Jesus. While at the table with his disciples, Jesus said that one of them would betray him. Judas replied, "Surely not I, Rabbi." and Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you." Judas had sold Jesus out for thirty pieces of silver. How many times have we played the Judas role in our lives? And reversing the scene, how many times have we been betrayed? Everyone knows how it feels.

Later Judas tried to give back the silver and undo his crime but sin cannot be undone or erased, it can only be forgiven. Forgiveness is not hard; we just have to ask for it! It is one of the greatest gifts our God has given us. Let us take time today to savor God's forgiving love in our own lives.

Dorothy McGurn, widow of Charlie, mother of seven, (one in heaven), grandmother of 11.

March 30th, Tuesday of Holy Week

Isaiah 49: 1-6, Psalm 71: 1-2, 3-4a, 5ab-6ab, 15 and 17, John 13: 21-33, 36-38

A quick glance at the calendar reminds us that we’re coming down the homestretch heading toward the events of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. Today’s Gospel further sets the stage for what is about to occur.

But unlike a race, Easter will not be the finish; it will really be just the beginning. It will become the opportunity to gain the first real glimpse of just who this Jesus truly is and what his life has been about. We’ve heard his words and seen his signs done for others, but now we will come to see the unfolding of the Divine Plan.

Today’s first two readings emphasize that just as there was this Divine Plan for Salvation with Jesus at the center, the Lord God has created each of us with our own specific plan and purpose in mind. Our life’s task is to get in tune with that plan. Should we wander from that plan and purpose, the Lord God is there as the Psalm says to be our continuing protection and hope.

These readings remind us that Jesus knew the Plan and stuck with it. Can we continue to discover our individual plans and then live our lives following that guideline? That is our challenge not only for this Lent, but beyond.


Chuck Hemler - husband, father, grandfather, engineer.