Last week, more than 70 parishioners attended the first session of JESUS AND THE EUCHARIST. Everyone enjoyed it immensely! There were many spiritual gems to be found. One I will never forget is a quote from Saint Catherine of Siena: “ALL THE WAY TO HEAVEN IS HEAVEN! “I loved reading “Dialogue with God,” her spiritual masterpiece, but I had forgotten that insightful comment. JESUS said I AM THE WAY, the Truth and the LIFE. Jesus is the way to Heaven, the only Way. When we walk with Jesus to Heaven, our soul is already in Heaven. Yes, the entire Way to Heaven is Heaven. These seven words from Catherine of Siena are very powerful. Catherine is one of the greatest saints of all time. She was a Third Order Dominican with little education when God spoke to her and she recorded this personal dialogue with God. She had an incredibly...
How are you doing Father? This was the question a parishioner asked me recently with a worried tone of voice...Without thinking my answer was immediate: “I AM TOTALLY AT PEACE ! Later on I reflected on that response which the parishioner seemed to take by sur- prise : clearly someone who had not seen me for quite some time but may had heard of my stroke seven months ago and was genuinely worried about my well-being. My question to all of you is not “how are You doing today”? But rather “Are You at Peace?” Peace comes from God. Throughout my 14 years of priesthood, I...
Do you want to have a new encounter with Christ? Do you want to make this Lent the beginning of a total change in your Christian life? Do you want to be transformed and find Peace? Come and join us at 7 pm this Thursday, March 7th Or choose to begin at 9:45 am this Saturday, March 9th! This 7-session study is being provided in hundreds of parishes throughout our country as part of the National Eucharistic Revival. As your pastor I have decided to...
Every first Sunday of Lent we hear about “Jesus, immediately after his Baptism, was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness and remained in the wilderness for 40 days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts and the angels ministered to him” (Mark 1:12- 13). I invite you to meditate on these two short verses. Your own reflection can inspire your entire Lenten journey. IMAGINE that for the next 40 days you are in the middle of a desert! First, the desert is a place where there is nothing to do but PRAY. God invites you to spend your 40 days of Lent first and foremost in PRAYER. Put yourself in...
As we enter the 40 days (about a month and a half) of Lent, I invite everyone, including myself, to reflect on how to become saints. From our baptism we are all called to be saints: “Be perfect as my Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48) Jesus tells us all in his beautiful Sermon on the Mount. But since we are all sinners, how can we become perfect, how can we become saints? He reflects on this simple definition of being a saint: "A SAINT IS AN ORDINARY PERSON WHO DOES ORDINARY THINGS IN AN EXTRAORDINARY WAY!" I did not make this definition. This is the one... One in Christ, Father Alain
As I am getting older I feel closer to Simeon. He had been awaiting to see the Christ of the Lord as St Luke tells us (Chapter 2:22-40): “It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.” But you do not have to be 78-year old to appreciate this amazing encounter between Simeon and baby Jesus. We are all looking for JESUS to be the LIGHT of our life and bring PEACE to our hearts. This is what happened to Simeon: he was in the temple of Jerusalem when Mary and Joseph came to present him to the Lord! First day that the Son of God entered the Temple of Jerusalem. He was there! He took Baby Jesus (40-day old) into his arm and blessed God, saying:...
We have all been shocked by the death of Bishop Mario Dorsonville at the young age of 63! He was truly a friend and guide to our OLHoC parish! He will be missed by the souls he guided as Pastor of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodeau in Louisiana for the past 10 months. He will also be greatly missed by thousands of people in the Washington area, where he spent most of his last 30 years, including 10 years as an Auxiliary Bishop. We can all agree that he was always approachable, smiling, and radiating the deep love he had for Jesus Christ. Whether he was addressing our confirmation class, or leading our outdoor Eucharistic Procession at Corpus Christi, or celebrating our parish's various anniversaries/ holidays, he was always filled with Joy. On a personal note, long before I became pastor of OLHoC Father Mario Dorsonville had been part of my spiritual journey. I first met him when he ran the Catholic Charities Hispanic Center in DC. On several occasions he also celebrated Mass at my home parish, Our Lady of Mercy in Potomac, while I served as a volunteer organist (Vigil Mass on Saturday). More importantly, without his spiritual advice I would not be a priest today. After my wife's death in 2004, ...
Over 20 parishioners met to discuss the "BEAUTIFUL EUCHARISTIC" book last Monday. There was unanimity. It was a " must" read for any Catholic. It includes 12 beautiful and inspirational presentations about the Eucharist by famous Catholics, such as Father Mike Schmitz, Peter Kreeft, Bishop Andrew Cozzens (leader of the on-going National Eucharistic Revival), and Bishop Fulton Sheen. It was an easy read with many gems and insights that can deepen our understanding of the centrality of the Eucharist in our Christian life. The discussion was timely as our parish had decided to participate actively in the nation-wide Eucharistic Revival culminating in the Tenth Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis on July 17-21. The one-hour discussion was inspirational. People were also sharing...
COME TO THE PRESENTATION OF “BEAUTIFUL EUCHARIST” at 7 PM this Monday, January 22! You are all invited! You received this small and inspirational book (100 pages) as a Christmas gift. Come and share your own beliefs about the EUCHARIST! This discussion will be a starting point for our next six months as we, as a parish, commit to a EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL as part of the national initiative of the United States Conference of Bishops, culminating with the TENTH EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS in Indianapolis on July 17-21. The Eucharist is central to our Christian life. What are your beliefs about...
Many of you did not believe that the "The Three Kings were truly coming on camelback to Waldorf"? The most frequent question was: Are these camels REAL? Or some kind of fake. Then as the weather forecast predicted SNOW and RAIN, the new question was: Are the Kings still coming in this cold and wet weather? Can their camels come in the snow or rain? Aren't they coming out only in the sun? Even I at one time thought that on that cold and rainy morning they may not show up! Many parents called the office: is the celebration of the Kings cancelled? As Jesus said to Peter sinking in the waters: "0 you of LITTLE FAITH, why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:31) We all need to trust in the Lord's Providence: HE had a beautiful plan! Over 100 children...
We have been waiting for ten long years. Finally, they are arriving riding their camels at 1:15 PM this Saturday January 6: these are THE THREE KINGS coming from far away to adore the newborn baby JESUS at Our Lady Help of Christians in Waldorf. Children are all excited. Their parents and grandparents too! Everyone is invited to come and celebrate with the Kings the GREAT FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY! the Manifestation of Jesus Christ to the whole world. This will be a most joyful celebration of the Magi coming to adore the newborn King: Jesus! The children can...
I hope that you and your families all had a most Blessed Christmas !!! Here are FIVE REASONS TO GIVE THANKS TO BABY JESUS FOR A MOST JOYFUL CHRISTMAS AT OLHOC: RETURN OF ABRAHAM: We can all give thanks to God for the miraculous healing of Abraham, our 13-year youth who was totally paralyzed for three months and came back to worship with us on Christmas Eve. His parents have asked me to thank all of you for your prayers. God has listened to them. Abraham is back on his feet, he can walk, talk, read and laugh. It's a Miracle! Many people prayed through the intercession of several saints. We did so systematically at our parish through the intercession of Father Narcisse Martin and we will continue to do so for Abraham's complete recovery. VISITING THE HOMELESS: Less than five days before Christmas, one had the amazing idea to bring clothes, blankets and Christmas Carols to the homeless of Waldorf. In a record short time, one hundred volunteers brought us amazing quantities of gifts. It took nearly...
HE IS COMING ! THE LORD JESUS IS COMING! HE IS COMING TO SAVE US! HE IS COMING TO BRING JOY TODAY TO ALL OF US ON EARTH AND TO GIVE US HOPE THAT ONE DAY WE WILL BE FOREVER WITH HIM IN HEAVEN! THIS IS THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS! If you ask your neighbors or people in the streets of Waldorf, they will give you different answers about the meaning of Christmas: the joyful meeting of families around a good meal with ham and sweet potatoes on Christmas Day! Or the exchange of gifts, especially making children filled with expectation for weeks and now finally the Joy of discovering a new game or a new book! Or they love the 5 PM Children's Mass on Christmas Eve preceded by beautiful caroling by children, and everyone is dressed up! Or the more Solemn Midnight Mass that may be followed by special dinner and/or exchange of gifts! We know that Christmas is all about Jesus! But we may forget...
Did you attend the amazing performance by our Youth last Sunday? It was filled with pure JOY! THE JOY OF OUR YOUTH WAS CONTAGIOUS! It was drizzling outside. But the sun kept shining in Father Martin Hall: in the hearts of the 20 or so actors and helpers, but also in the hearts of the spectators. It is impossible to describe what went on in the audience, on the stage and backstage. You had to be there to experiment this new Advent event preparing for the greatest Joy children and parents are waiting for: the coming of the baby Jesus at Christmas: God becoming man! Advent is a time of expectation. Advent is a time of awaiting. Advent is a tome of fulfillment. An idea was born in France nine months ago: to create...
It is an immense joy and honor for our parish to welcome Cardinal Gregory. He has been our Archbishop for over four years (May 21, 2019). He is our Shepherd and oversees the 140 parishes of the Archdiocese of Washington. As announced earlier Cardinal Gregory will celebrate the 11:30 am Mass this Sunday December 10, the Second Sunday of Advent, just two weeks away from Christmas. He is coming to close the Centennial Memorial Year of Father Martin (December 31,1845- August 6, - 1923). Following the Mass, he will attend with all of us the first performance by our Children and Youth of the Play about the Life of Father Martin, who spent the last 29 years of his life as the local Shepherd for the areas of Waldorf, Baden and Aquasco (1894-1923). This is the third time...
“I was inspired to write my own dream experience, however, my experience happened while wide awake experiencing my first radiation treatment for colon cancer. Needless to say. I was scared to death. Dressed in a hospital gown, lying on a machine I was unfamiliar with, I began to pray to Jesus, (I wish I prayed more often when I wasn’t asking for something). Through the intercom system came the voice of radiation tech asking me if I wanted to listen to any music. While my eyes remained...
What a joy for Abraham, his parents and his sisters: he just came back home right before Thanksgiving! He had been in the hospital/ rehab in Washington for nearly three months. His parents came every day and ensured that there was always one of them with him 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For two of these months, Abraham was totally paralyzed and the only movement he could make was moving his eyes. I recall the first time Abraham could speak; he...
Great news! Cardinal Gregory has agreed to come to our parish for the closing of Father Martin’s Centennial Memorial Year. He will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving with us on Sunday, December 10, at 11:30 AM, and will attend the first performance a play about Fr. Martin’s life by our children and youth immediately following the Mass in the Father Martin Hall. Mark your calendars: Every parishioner, families and friends are invited! It will be a great celebration of joy! It will be a continuation of the Centennial Memorial Mass held in our parish on August 6, the exact day of the 100th Anniversary of his death in Waldorf (December 31, 1845-August 23, 1923). We have to be most grateful...
Since Father Robert Pittman’s stroke, I celebrated the Mass at the Body of Christ Farm Chapel, St. Julian Eymard at 7:30 am, every First Thursday of the month. After Mass, we had a full Holy Hour of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and then Benediction. Before Benediction we prayed the following Act of Faith in the Real Presence: “Lord Jesus Christ, I believe You are as truly present in this Holy Sacrament, under the signs of bread and wine, as you were when dying upon the cross for the salvation of all mankind, or as you are now enthroned in Glory in Heaven at the right hand of the Father.” You said that you...
As a result of my pontine stroke last July, I had to learn again the movements we take for granted including how to walk without losing equilibrium, how to swallow, and how to again move my left leg and left arm (including the paralyzed fingers of my left hand). The stroke had led to death of cells in my pons, which could be seen on the MRI films. I had no idea we all have a pons (Latin for “bridge”), which is the largest part of the brain stem, the key link between the brain and the spine. Following my release from the hospital, I had to spend hours of physical rehabilitation and learned that the most important way to improve, apart from prayer (and thanks for all your prayers—God listened to you), was to be totally focused! This total focus, in turn, helped me to encounter...