Dear Brother Knights:

In the Gospel reading of the Third Sunday in Lent, Jesus Christ talks about two political events in Palestine by which some people who started an uprising were killed viciously by the governing régime. He makes the people aware who are listening to Him that they were not worse off morally than the rest of the inhabitants in Judea. Then He tells a parable by which He explains what He means.

He warns the people that all will have a dreadful end if they don’t repent. The word repent is used, but quite often doesn’t bring the full content of Jesus Christ’s speech. In the later writings of the New Testament the term repent is replaced by “metanoia”. The best translation we can find is, to think differently. St. Paul uses this term quite frequently and his very life shows what is meant with this Word. Paul was a persecutor of the church and had no squabble to kill people who followed Jesus Christ. Paul tells at a later age that he has done more for the church than any of the other apostles, but he defines this doing as the ‘doing of Jesus’. Paul made himself weak to make the presence of Jesus strong. One can imagine that he meditated on Jesus life most of his time and became zealous for God and his church. At the end of his life, he has no difficulties to be killed by the Roman authority, because of his enthusiasm for his faith.

We all have to learn from this story to be in contact with our Saviour on a daily basis. To learn to think as Christ does must be a life-long undertaking and never stop until we die. This life style will fill our hearts with joy and also gives us surety that we are on the right track and live the right life.

My dear brother knights, what I attempt to explain to you and myself is not an easy task. However, I believe this is the only life to which we should aspire.

Fr. Frank Feldmann, SAC
Chaplain, Council 4878

Dear Brother Knights:

When Jesus Christ comes to Nazareth where He grew up and earned his living by doing the work of a carpenter, He had to go through a trial, which we would not expect. Jesus was well known to the people and they did not expect Him to be the Messiah and give them directions on how to live. Therefore He criticizes their lack of faith and points out in two stories out of the Old Testament that God can choose people who do not belong to Israel. People get angry when they are criticized even if it is justified. Jesus is taken out of town and they threaten to kill Him.

We all have an understanding about life and if someone comes and suggests something different, we immediately get an unpleasant feeling about the situation. It takes prayer and the graces of God to be open to a new understanding of how life should be lived. In my life I had quite a few parishes to look after and never found one where, what we find in the gospel in Nazareth, did not exist. Even a priest cannot make himself free of this sentiment and has to be continuously in contact with God. So my dear co-sinners we all have to beg God that He gives us an open mind and heart and helps us to overcome our selfish trends. At the same time when truth has to be defended we should beg God to give us courage to be on his side.

Fr. Frank Feldmann, SAC

Chaplain

Dear Brother Knights:

I would like to share a few thoughts with you on the Gospel on Epiphany.

Three wise men, or stargazers, come to Jerusalem. Apparently they had already a long journey behind them and most likely weeks of time to get to their destiny. Surprisingly the message of these three wise men does not cause joy and happiness among the authorities, may they be the temple authority or the political. The Holy Scripture experts tell Herod and the rest of the people that Bethlehem is the place where the New King should be born. The wise men immediately take the road to this place, while no member of the Old Testament people or the King makes the effort to go with them. The stargazers experience a great delight when they see the star appearing again and it leads them to the place they were longing for. They worship and offer gifts to the New Born King. Unknown pagans find the way to the Messiah while the people who received the promise of the Saviour do not interpret the signs in the sky important enough to do something about it.

We should ask ourselves as people of the promises of God: “Do we take the word of God seriously enough and do everything possible to develop the relationship between me and God, and improve the relationship between myself and others”. Quite often we are involved too much in ‘Self’ and do not see what is really necessary in our lives. I invite every one of us to take a few minutes to think about this and find the courage, with a prayer on our lips, to change what ought to be changed in our lives.

Fr. Frank Feldmann, SAC
Chaplain

Dear Brother Knights:

It always leaves me in awe and wonder when I see God again and again approaching humans to do some work for Him. In spite of so many fiascos He has experienced with us, God is a person who never gives up. This is the greatest wonder we should meditate on during Advent. The word itself namely “Advent” means arrival, arrival of God and his plans in human history.

Zechariah has to do his priestly ministry in Jerusalem. While he looks after the priestly action of incense venerating God, he experienced a vision in which an angel tells him that his wife Elizabeth, who is beyond the age of bearing children, will conceive a son. Zechariah knowing this and in his thoughts is counting his own age as well, can’t believe the message. On top of this, the angel says some famous things about the Son he and Elizabeth are promised to have. Zechariah being a priest of low rank is unable to believe this story. The angel tells him “this will come about in spite of your doubts”. Zechariah is a person of reality and doesn’t like to be fooled. The inability to share his thoughts by speech makes him accept the situation and change his belief in Gods promise.

It is worthwhile to read the story about him and the circumstances in his life written down by St. Luke the evangelist. In my eyes Zechariah is a beautiful man in accepting what God has done to him. When he regains his speech there is no complaint or any swear word but only praise and jubilation about the fulfillment of God’s promise. We should look at ourselves and put us into the shoes of Zechariah “What would I have done?”

Fr. Frank Feldmann, SAC
Chaplain

Dear Brother Knights:

On October 28th we meet Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, who meets Jesus for the first time. He does not know this but gets to know it from the people who accompany Jesus on his way. Immediately he screams  “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.“ People who tried to calm  him down and tried to stop him from shouting, are very unsuccessful.  Bartimaeus’s mind doesn’t want to have it and he shouts even louder. Jesus hears him and calls him. Bartimaeus rushes as fast as it is possible in his blindness to get to Jesus. Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man answers, “My teacher let me see again”.  It is very important for us to look at the sentence Bartimaeus utters. There is no doubt in his sentence, he believes and knows that Jesus can do it. As we know out of scripture when Jesus is facing faith like this, he always acts. There is another statement, which we  have to look at. When Bartimaeus can see again he has no plans for his own life but has  made the decision to follow Jesus. Every one of us should have a meditation about this story and I would bet that everyone can find something in it for his life.

Fr. Frank Feldmann, SAC
Chaplain

Dear Brother Knights:

On Thursday the 27th of September the Gospel was talking about the reaction of Herod to Jesus Christ’ public life preaching and healing. The king was very curious about Jesus and intended to meet him. We know out of holy scripture that Herod met Jesus only once and this took place shortly before Jesus Christ was crucified. We may ask ourselves why Jesus Christ did not have any interest in meeting Herod. The king was a schemer who had only interest in strengthening his political career. He supported the temple with money to get the support of the Jewish authorities and the liking of the people. At the same time he beheaded John the Baptist because he criticized justifiably the king. When Jesus Christ met Herod he did not say a word in reply to the many questions Herod uttered at him. I believe that Jesus didn’t get involved with this man because he was selfish and his interest was solely directed towards supporting his own kingdom and the future of his personal life. I believe that Jesus did not see a way to make this man change his mind. This example in holy scripture tells us if we want to live a meaningful life and fulfill the reason we were born for, we have to be in constant contact with our Lord and find out from Him what has to be done in our life. Self interest leads to self destruction. I would like to invite all of us to reach out to our Lord and find out from Him what has to be done in our life, may it be our personal life or the life of our families, and for that matter what one can do when we meet together as Knights of Columbus.

Fr. Frank Feldmann, SAC
Chaplain

My Brother Knights:
Greetings to you.

Time has come for me to say good-bye to you all. I take this wonderful opportunity to thank all the Brother Knights, with your families, for your love and concern shown to me as your parish priest. I know you will always support your priest. I admire your dedication, sacrifice, love and service for St. Cecilia’s parish community and to our Council 4878. I appreciate your enthusiasm and love shown for various charities especially for the vocation to the priesthood. May God bless the Council 4878 Brother Knights and your families. I’ll always remember you in my prayers and the Holy Eucharist.

In a society which values personal freedom and autonomy, it is easy to lose sight of our dependence on others as well as the responsibilities that we bear toward them. This emphasis on individualism has even affected the Church, giving rise to a form of piety, which sometimes emphasizes our private relationship with God, at the expense of our calling to be members of the redeemed community. Yet from the beginning, God saw that “it is not good that man should be alone (Gen 2:18).” We were created as social beings who find fulfillment only in love — for God and neighbour. If we are to truly gaze upon Him, who is the source of our joy, we need to do so as members of the people of God. If this seems counter -cultural, that is simply further evidence of the urgency for a renewed evangelization of culture.

This is a little thought for you to show concern, trust, and confidence in each other …Thus seeing your good deeds many young men will join your council to be at the service of the community.

God bless you all

Fr. Leo Felix Monroe SA

My Brother Knights,

I would like to share with you all the story of an Unconditional Love of a Mother.

Mrs. Johnson had only one eye and was an embarrassment to her  son Callen. She cooked for students and teachers to support  herself and her son after her husband’s sudden death. One day  Mrs Johnson came to the Elementary School of her son Callen to  say hello to him. “How could you do this to me?” he said to her  embarrassed. The next day one of his classmates said to him, “EEEE, your mom has only one eye!”

Next day Callen confronted his mother at home. He said to her, “If you are only going  to make me laughing stock why you don’t just die?” Mrs Johnson did not respond.

Several years passed by, and Callen completed his graduation and post-graduation with the money that his mom had saved. He secured as excellent position in a reputed company, got married and lived separately from his mom. He has two sons.

Then one day Mrs Johnson came to visit Callen. She was anxious to meet her grandsons. On seeing her at the door, Callen yelled. “How dare you come to my house and scare my children! Get out of here! ” as he shut the door on his mom. One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to Callen. He attended the function,  and then, out of curiosity, went to visit the old shack where he had grown up. His neighbours told him that his mom had passed away a week ago and had left a letter for him. Callen took the letter and on his way home he opened it and read it.

“My dearest son, I think of you all the time. I am sorry that I was an  embarrassment to you all the time. I am sorry that I came to your house and  scared your children. You see, son, when you were just two years old, you got  into an accident, and lost one of your eyes. As a mother, I could not stand  watching you having to grow up with one eye, so I gave one of eyes to you so  that you could see and enjoy the world through all your life. My love for you  has never depended on your response. A mother’s love is unconditional, my  son. I wish you well. I am proud of you!
Your Mom

May is the month dedicated to the Blessed Mother, when Catholics all over the world pay homage to Mother Mary, both in church and at home. Mother Mary is considered the Mother of the Church and is revered as a model, guide and inspiration to those who attempt to be a servant of God-man Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

God Bless you all
Fr.Leo Felix Monroe,
Chaplain

Dear Brother Knights:

A woman’s happiness was shattered by the loss of her brother, a good man, dearly loved. Torn by anguish, she kept asking God, “Why?” But hearing the silence, she set out in search of an answer. She had not gone far when she came upon an old man sitting on a bench. He was weeping. He said, “I have suffered a great loss. I am a painter and I have lost my eye sight.” He too was seeking an answer to the question, “why?” The woman invited him to join her and, taking him by the arm, they trudged down the road.

Soon they overtook a young man walking aimlessly. He had lost his wife, the source of his joy, to another man. He joined in the search of an answer to the “why” question.

Shortly they came upon a young woman weeping on her doorstep. She had lost her child. She too joined them. Nowhere could they find an answer.

Suddenly they came upon Jesus Christ.

Each confronted him with their questions, but Jesus gave no answer. Instead, he began to cry and said, “I am bearing the burden of a woman who has lost her brother, a girl whose baby has died, a painter who has lost his eyesight, and a young man who has lost a love in which he delighted”.

As he spoke, the four moved closer and they embraced each other. They grasped Jesus’ hands. Jesus spoke again saying, “My dominion is the dominion of the heart. I cannot prevent pain. I can only heal it.”

“How?” asked the woman.

“By sharing it,” he said. And then he was gone.

And the four? They were left standing holding each other.

Share the joy of Easter by holding each other.

Happy Easter to you All!

Fr. Leo Felix Monroe
Chaplain

Dear Brother Knights,

The Lenten Reflections from the City of Calvary by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal can be of use for our newsletter so that by reading them we can meditate fruitfully for our Lenten season.

In his Lenten message for 2011, the Pope denounced greed, as if men wanted to “devour the world.” He stated, “we are often faced with the temptation of accumulating and allowing the love of money to undermine God’s primacy in our lives.”

In 2008, he courageously said: “According to the teaching of the Gospel, we are not owners but rather administrators of the goods we possess: these, then, are not to be considered as our exclusive possession, but means through which the Lord calls each one of us to act as a steward of His providence for our neighbor.” Through this sharing and in communion, we live as in the early Church of Jerusalem. (“Apostolic Life” of the Early Christians in Acts 2 and 4; 2 Cor 8 and 9) The beloved apostle, John, wrote with severity: “If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him? (1 Jn 3:17).

The Holy Father’s Message for Lent this year takes the theme: “Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works.” (Heb10:24) Pope Benedict stated that, “Christians can also express their membership in the one body which is the Church through concrete concern for the poorest of the poor. Concern for one another likewise means acknowledging the good that the Lord is doing in others and giving thanks for the wonders of grace that Almighty God in his goodness continuously accomplishes in his children.”

For us sinners, mortals constantly confronted with our failures, fasting is an effective way to demonstrate our repentance and the desire to set right our failings. “It was in this way that after Jonah’s warning, through penance and fasting the Ninevites avoided God’s wrath and were granted His mercy.” (Jonah 3:10).

In the tradition of the Church, Lent is a preparation for the Easter Triduum, the “days during which the Bridegroom will be taken away from among us,” (Mt 9:15) and raised on the Cross.

Lent is a forty-day journey, symbolically representing the forty years of the Hebrew people in the desert – it is a call:
a) To meditate on the mystery of the Cross, that we might conform ourselves to the death of Jesus, (cf Rom 6:5) in light of a radical change in our lives;
b) To be docile to the action of the Holy Spirit, who will transform us, as he transformed Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus;
c) To adapt our lives with determination to the will of God, freeing ourselves from any egoism, lust for power, or avarice, by opening our hearts to the love of Christ and neighbor, especially the poor and the needy. Lent, as the Holy Father reminds us, is a providential time for us to recognize our frailty and welcome reconciliation, in order to orient ourselves to Christ.

May God bless you and your families in this grace filled season of Lent.

Fr.Leo Felix Monroe,
Council Chaplain