If you are interested, you can see the "Memorial Photo Tribute" slide show I put together for my dad +Eugene Anthony "Gene" Dore's funeral at the following link (from "Tribute Wall" of the Charles L. Steven's Funeral Home, Baltimore, Maryland):
https://www.charleslstevensfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Eugene-Dore/#!/TributeWall
I WAS ONCE A CATHOLIC...
"I was a Catholic once,” said the lady a few yards from me in the parking lot. “Now I’m a Christian and you can be one as well.” She preceded to hand a tract to a gentleman standing next to the opened trunk of his car. I couldn’t help it.
“Excuse me,” I said to the lady “but could I too have a tract?” The lady's face beamed. “Are you saved?,” she asked. “Of course I am; I’m a believing Catholic,” I retorted. She looked at me as if I had bad breath or something.
She continued, “I was just telling this gentleman that I too was a Catholic - a Catholic for thirty-some years in fact. Now I've found Christ and I’m trying to tell everyone I know about salvation through Christ.”
“Wow, that’s really something! May I ask why you left the Church?” I could tell that, by asking this question, my new acquaintance was getting excited. After all, she had probably been snubbed by dozens of people and now she has someone that she can “witness” to Christ. I didn’t mind much either, but I tried not to show it.
"You see,” she said, “I was born Catholic. I attended Mass every week, received the Sacraments and graduated from a Catholic school. Not once did I ever hear the gospel proclaimed. Not once! It was after the birth of my first child that a good friend of mine shared ‘the gospel’ with me and I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior and became a Christian. Now I belong to a ‘Bible-believing’ church and I’m sharing the gospel with whomever will listen.”
This shocked me. “You mean you belonged to the Catholic Church for over forty years and you never heard the gospel?,” I said. She was getting more excited. “Yes, I never once heard the gospel of salvation preached or taught or even mentioned in the Church. If you don’t preach the gospel, excuse my bluntness, but you're simply not Christian.” I scratched my head and said, “that’s strange. I’ve been a Catholic all my life and I bet I hear the gospel ever week at Church.” Her smile quickly faded into a look of curiosity. “Maybe, I’m missing something,” I continued. “Tell me what you mean by ‘the gospel?’”
The lady reached back into her purse to pull out a little tract and said, “This tracts explains the simple gospel of salvation. It can be broken down into four easy steps.
“First, we acknowledge that we are all sinners in need of God’s forgiveness.
Secondly, we recognize that only God can save us.
The third step is that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for our sins and to bring us to God.
And the fourth and final step is that each individual accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior to be saved.”
I thought for a couple of seconds and said, “If I could demonstrate to you that Catholics hear “the gospel” every Sunday, would you agree to take a closer look at the Catholic Church?” Now, she knew she had me over a barrel. “Prove it,” she said. I excused myself for a second and ran to my car to grab a Missal.
“Since you have attended Mass nearly all your life, you probably remember these prayers.” I flipped open to the beginning prayers of the Mass and proceeded to show her how Catholics hear, pray and live the gospel message every Sunday.
The first step in my new found friend’s tract stated that we are all sinners in need of God’s forgiveness. After the Greeting, the Mass continues to what is known as the Penitential Rite. I read loud the text to her while she followed reading silently.
“I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault. In my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do.”
I mentioned that it is here in this section that each Catholic states publicly that he or she is individually a sinner - not merely in a general sense - but specifically in thoughts, words and deeds. You can’t get much more complete than that. I continued reading,
“and I ask Blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and to you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.”
The priest reaffirms this confession of sin by praying,
“May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.”
And the whole congregation says “Amen,” that is, “I believe.” The priest continues.
“Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy,”
and finishes by saying;
"Lord show us your mercy and love. And grant us your salvation.”
I looked at her and said, “You see, we Catholics start every Mass with a public declaration of our own personal sinfulness and look to God for forgiveness.” She responded, “But Catholics don’t believe that God alone can save them. They believe Mary and the saints will save them.” I shook my head in disagreement. “No, we don’t. Remember what we had just read in the Mass. Catholic ask Mary, the angels, the saints and the whole congregation to pray to God for mercy on their behalf - just like I would ask you to pray for me to God. Does that mean that I look to you to ‘save’ me? No, of course I don’t believe that. I’m just asking for your help. Besides the ‘Gloria’ of the Mass proves that Catholics look to God alone to save us.”
I began reading the Missal emphasizing certain words to prove my point:
“Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us, you are seated at the right hand of the Father, receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father."
Likewise, the doxology spoken just prior to communion reads,
“Through him, with him, in him; in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is your, almighty Father, for ever and ever.”
As I looked up, I could see the lady intently reading the page. She couldn’t believe that she had prayed these prayers for years and never noticed what it was saying. Yet, there it was in black and white. I continued with the third step - the acknowledgment that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and to bring us to God.
The Profession of Faith reads,
“For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate.”
In the Eucharistic Prayer 1, the priest prays:
“Remember [Lord] all of us gather here before you. You know how firmly we believe in you and dedicate ourselves to you. . . We pray to you, our living and true God, for our well-being and redemption . . . Grant us your peace in this life, save us from final damnation, and count us among those you have chosen.”
The prayer ends with an appeal to God for salvation through Jesus Christ:
“May, these and all who sleep in Christ, find in your presence light, happiness and peace. For ourselves, too, we ask some share in the fellowship of your apostles and martyrs . . . Though we are sinners, we trust in your mercy and love. Do not consider what we truly deserve, but grant us your forgiveness. Through Christ our Lord you give us all these gifts. You fill them with life and goodness, you bless them and make them holy.”
Similarly the second Eucharistic Prayer proclaims,
“Dying you [Jesus] destroyed our death, rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in glory. . . Have mercy on us all; make us worthy to share eternal life with Mary, the virgin Mother of God, with the apostles and with all the saints who have done your will throughout the ages.”
Likewise, Eucharistic Prayer 3 reads,
“All life, all holiness comes from you through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, by the working of the Holy Spirit . . .
Father, calling to mind the death your Son endured for our salvation, his glorious resurrection and ascension into heaven, and ready to greet him when he comes again, we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice. Look with favour on our your Church’s offering, and see the Victim [Christ] whose death has reconciled us to yourself . . .
May he make us an everlasting gift for you and enable us to share in the inheritance of your saints . . . “
Lastly, the fourth Eucharistic Prayer reads,
“Father, you so loved the world that in the fullness of time you sent your only Son to be our Savior . . .
In fulfillment of your will he gave himself up to death; but by rising from the dead, he destroyed death and restored life.”
In this prayer, the congregation proclaims the mystery of faith:
“Lord, by your cross and resurrection, you have set us free. You are the Savior of the world.”
“You see, every week Catholics proclaim that Jesus died for them,” I said to the lady who was now searching for something to say. After a brief moment of silence, she shot a response back at me.
“What about accepting Jesus Christ and their personal Lord and Savior?” She retorted. “They may be saying all this stuff, but they don’t make a personal act of acceptance.” What she didn’t know was that I deliberately didn’t mention the last “step” of her “gospel.”
I explained that if Catholics don’t believe what they are praying, they ought not to be publicly proclaiming it. Since we can’t read the dispositions of other people’s hearts, we ought not to judge whether they truly believe what they are saying. Next, I pointed out the last step - where Catholics are accepting Jesus into their hearts. Right before communion the priest holds up the host (which is now the body, blood, soul and divinity of Our Lord under the appearances of bread and wine) and prays.
“This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.”
And the congregation responds,
“Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.”
I looked straight into the lady’s eyes and said, “It is here that all those who are prepared to receive Jesus Christ walk up to the front of the church but they don’t just believing in Christ or merely asking Jesus into their hearts.” “They don’t?” She asked. “No,” I answered, “they receive that same Christ who died on the cross on Calvary into their mouth and into their stomachs - body, blood, soul and divinity - and become one with him in an unspeakable way. Now that's accepting Christ!” She didn’t have a response. I’m not sure that she had ever really thought about the Mass and Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist because she appeared to be both surprised and intrigued.
I gave her my phone number and invited her to a study group I was heading in the neighborhood which examined the Biblical foundation for Catholic doctrine. As we departed, I couldn’t help but wonder how many other people, like my new friend, left the Church thinking that it had nothing to say about salvation. Yet the richness of the liturgy of the Mass and even more so Christ’s real substantial presence in the Eucharist so outshines our separated brethren’s “low church” prayer services that there is no comparison!
Credit to: Father Emmanuel Anyan
As we begin the season of Lent on this day of prayer, penance, and hope, I offer to you the following prayer I composed (based on the 1st reading of Ash Wednesday—Joel 2:12-18). Peace, Friar Timothy
A PRAYER FOR THE SEASON OF LENT
—Based on the first reading of Ash
Wednesday—Joel 2:12-18
Good
and gracious God,
Enable
me to return to you
with
my whole heart!
During
this Lenten season,
give
me strength O Lord,
to
persevere in fasting,
to
replace sadness with joy,
to
serve others with delight,
and
always to give witness
to
the wisdom of the beatitudes!
Allow
me O Lord
to
rend my inner self,
to
love others from my heart,
and
not to seek the esteem and praise
of
my sisters and brothers
because
of who I am, or what I do!
Help
me to return to you
my
Lord and my God!
O
Lord, give me the strength
to
be gracious and merciful,
to
be slow to anger,
to
be rich in kindness,
never
to desire revenge,
and
always to comport myself
without
the slightest contempt
for
my family members,
for
my neighbors,
for
those with whom I work,
and
for all others I encounter
today
and always!
Please
forgive me O Lord
of
my sins and shortcomings,
and bless me with your grace!
For
to you my God,
I
offer all that I am,
for
you are my Lord and Savior,
and
you my God
are
the source and purpose
of my life's happiness and joy!
Amen!
Praise
God!
My Sisters and Brothers:
For seventeen years I was stationed at Most Holy Trinity-St. Mary, a wonderful parish in Brooklyn, New York. The diverse membership of our church community perfectly reflected the multicultural and densely populated urban neighborhood surrounding us. There were Latinos from many nations, many African Americans, recent immigrants from various parts of Africa, a large Polish community, others with roots in various European countries, people with Indigenous American backgrounds, Asian Americans, and others from just about every place in the world!
The image of “a melting-pot” used to describe the United States, which I had first encountered in middle school social studies classes, was a perfect description of our parish and of our corner of New York City. And for all those years I was in Brooklyn, it was apparent to me those different types of peoples, with their unique ethnicities, customs, languages, and traditions, all lived in relative harmony and with respect for one another. In fact, I believe our various communities relished each opportunity they had to celebrate and even reverence the diversity of their neighbors and friends.
The celebration of that multiculturalism and diversity in the parish was especially true when throughout every year each unique community would sponsor religious events and social activities highlighting their faith, their cultures, their special traditions and their foods! For example, one week our Polish community might have a dance in our parish hall featuring contemporary Polish music, and lots of delicious food such as Bigos, Pierogis, Kielbasa, Gołąbki, and many delightful Polish pastries; the very next week and in the same space our Puerto Rican community would sponsor a fiesta featuring Salsa music and dance, food that included Arroz Con Gandules, Yucca, fried Plantanos, Empanadillas, and Pernil, and then the next time another one of our many communities with their different traditions, music, and food would also be celebrated! Together, many people from every one of our diverse communities would attend all these events. For me and for others, it was completely wonderful to have the chance to celebrate, to enjoy and to learn about so many unique cultures and ethnicities. I loved the people of our parish and neighborhood, and the opportunity to live and minister with them in Brooklyn!
Each year, usually on the first Sunday of January and the Feast of the Epiphany, our broader civic community would sponsor a “Three Kings Parade.” People of every cultural group, especially those who were Latino, would march in the parade that passed very close by our church. Large crowds with people from every nation, our parishioners and neighbors, would gather on the sidewalks to cheer the passing floats and those walking in the parade. Even our various local public schools would participate, and many of their students and teachers would stream by in the jubilant procession. It was always very exciting to experience this tremendously wonderful local event. And at the finale of the parade, just before very noisy but festive fire trucks appeared bringing it to conclusion, three magnificently dressed Kings accompanied by several large camels and other animals would march triumphantly down the street. It was a site to behold, and it brought great joy to everyone!
Today in our church we once again celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, or the “Three Kings.” Those “wise men” came from distant lands to pay homage to Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, and in doing so they represented people of every nation, race, language and culture. On this day let’s recall that Jesus came to live among all human beings, and as such dignifies, reverences, and celebrates the diversity of our world. May we, like my parishioners and neighbors in Brooklyn, follow his example as we live our lives, and in the way we live among and respect others we encounter in our society and world, especially those who might be different than us! Happy Three Kings Day!
Praise God! Friar Timothy
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
“The angel Gabriel said to Mary, ‘Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you. . . . Do not be afraid for you have found favor with God’ . . . And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word’.” (Luke 1:28, 30 and 38) “love” ‘Love’
My Sisters and Brothers:
Today we celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this day, we affirm our belief that Mary was spared by God from any stain of sin from the first moment of her conception. We believe that she was free from the effects of original sin during every moment of her life. We believe that she was never without the fullness of grace. We believe that in every moment of her life she enjoyed a perfect and living relationship of friendship with our God.
This privilege was not given to Mary by God because of any merit of her own, but rather because she was chosen to be the Mother of Our Lord Jesus. We must not forget that the purpose and significance of the Immaculate Conception of Mary is that it gives honor and respect to Jesus. Jesus is the reason for the Immaculate Conception.
God the Father reverenced his Son by providing him with a mother who was uncorrupted by the effects of original sin. Mary, for her part, responded to this grace with fidelity and joy. Mary responded to the call of God with enthusiasm as she embraced her duty as the mother of Jesus.
We are called to have the same fervor in our response to the call of God in our lives. Mary is our model. We are called to follow her example.
In response to the angel of the Lord, Mary said I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say. Let us desire to serve the Lord as Mary has done. Let us accept the call of God in our lives as she did. In our response to the call of God, may our lives, like Mary's, give honor and respect to Jesus!
Praise God! Friar Timothy
Mi breve reflexión sobre la Inmaculada Concepción de Santa María en español:
Hoy celebramos la fiesta de la Inmaculada Concepción de la Bendita Virgen María. En este día afirmamos nuestra creencia de que María fué perdonada por Dios de cualquier mancha de pecado desde el primer momento de su concepción. Creemos que ella fué libre de los efectos del pecado original durante cada momento de su vida. Creemos que ella siempre estuvo llena de gracia. Creemos que en cada momento de su vida ella disfrutó de una relación de amistad perfecta y viviente con nuestro Dios.
Este privilegio no le fué dado a María por cualquier mérito propio, al contrario ella fué escogida para ser la Madre de Nuestro Señor Jesús. No debemos olvidar que el propósito y significancia de la Inmaculada Concepción de María es para darle honor y respeto a Jesús. Jesús es la razón por la Inmaculada Concepción.
Dios el Padre, reverenció su Hijo al proveerle con una madre pura. María, por su parte, respondió a ésta gracia con fidelidad y alegría. María respondió a la llamada de Dios con entusiasmo cuando aceptó su deber como la madre de Jesús.
Nosotros somos llamados a tener el mismo fervor en nuestra respuesta a la llamada de Dios en nuestras vidas. María es nuestra modelo. Nosotros somos llamados a seguir su ejemplo.
En respuesta al ángel del Señor, María dijo “Yo soy la esclava del Señor. Hágase en mí que según su palabra.” Que siempre deseemos de servir al Señor como María ha hecho. Que aceptemos la llamada de Dios en nuestras vidas como ella lo hizo. En nuestras respuestas a la llamada de Dios, hagamos con nuestras vidas, como María ha hecho para dar honor y respeto a Jesús nuestro Señor!.
Paz y Bien, Fray Teo
My friends:
I am 100% “Pro-Life!”
* As such, I believe I must support political candidates who share my values “most consistently,” and “across the board!” I believe they must hold the greatest possible “seamless” convictions with regard to all “Pro-Life” issues (and I would argue and agree that such an approach to political support of any candidate involves “very high standards,” but I do live in hope!).
* Even so, I have come to realize that most candidates on the political spectrum (to the right and to left) unfortunately do not share each-and-every one of my convictions.
* As I see it, therefore it seems we can only achieve our long-term “Pro-Life” goals by having great patience in the struggle and by accepting the best electoral outcomes possible, and that are actually available to us today (and in the here and now).
* The fact is, my “Pro-Life” values include my enthusiastic commitment to the protection, support, and promotion of the dignity of every human life, including the lives of those already living and walking among us who are marginalized, disenfranchised, discriminated against, despised, struggling with illnesses and addictions, incarcerated, and/or who are enslaved by the evils of poverty and despair. And I wholeheartedly believe every human life matters, from “the womb to the tomb.”
* For me, it’s as simple as that!
Furthermore . . .
There is no doubt in my mind that my Christian faith guides my understandings of the sacredness and dignity of every human life. However, I believe these values are also simply in line with “basic human principles” and what might otherwise be called “the natural law.” I am absolutely sure that even if I were an atheist, I would still have exactly the same “Pro-Life” values and beliefs I have, and have always had!
I believe we unfortunately live at a time in the U.S.A. when there are virtually no politicians, and for that matter, very few citizens (Democrat, Republican or Independent) who completely share our true “Pro-Life” values of respect for, and the desire to protect the dignity all human lives, from conception to natural death.
I believe there are times in history when people must first focus their attention and struggles (albeit and perhaps painfully—and maybe unavoidably tragically) on their long range goals and hopes for the perfect society. This is probably one of those times.
I believe that if in our “politics” we obsessively and aggressively focus on only one or two “Pro-Life” issues, then we run the risk of paralyzing our overall efforts to achieve the broadest range of possible “Pro-Life” victories. In the same vein, I believe if we are inflexibly entrenched in “single issue politics,” then we expose ourselves to complete alienation from our “opponents.” To do so would destroy any chance of working together with such people, and of promoting common interests and societal goals. Such a negative approach to “politics” on our part would likely make us completely impotent to the possibility of effecting changes to the values and the practices in our society that threaten the dignity of every single human being, from the womb to the tomb.
I also believe those with whom we disagree must never be treated with contempt, animosity, hostility, bitterness and/or hatred (nor any other related type of disrespect). In fact, I believe we ought to open our minds, our hearts, and our ears to the possibility that we might have something to learn about the perspectives and values our “opponents” hold dear. Therefore, I believe we must always strive to show deference, esteem, and respect, and never any type of animus, towards our nemeses (after all “it's in giving that we receive”).
I don't think we are required to agree completely with others (and with the values and/or political views they hold dear) in order to be able to function together and to achieve progress as members of the same civil society! What comes to my mind here is that old adage, “we can agree to disagree” (and this DOES NOT mean to do so just in the little things, like whether or not we like cream and sugar in our coffee!).
At this point in time, I believe we must work with and elect those politicians who at least champion the vast majority of our values, beliefs, and causes. When we win far reaching “Pro-Life” victories today, we can then pray, work, and hope tomorrow will bring more complete and definitive changes in the hearts of minds of those who haven’t yet come to our understandings of the complete sacredness of every human life, even those in utero. This is how I decide about how I will vote for this or that candidate when I go to my local polling place on election days.
Therefore, I believe I do so as a “Pro-Lifer” who believes in “consistent ” and “seamless” approaches to all questions regarding the value of every human life. And as I stated above, it’s as simple as that!
Hence: Would I vote for a candidate who would staunchly back laws prohibiting abortion, but who at the same time would vote overwhelmingly in support of other types of legislations we clearly understand to be “anti-life?”
Most likely, not!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
** Such “anti-life” policies and ideas might include some and/or all of
the following:
—Laws permitting state-sponsored death penalties.
—The
withdrawal of public funding for health care services for the poor and the
needy.
—A
reduction in social security benefits for the elderly and disabled.
—The cancelation of social programs designed to help those
enslaved by various types of addictions.
—Laws prohibiting the use of taxpayer money that would
encourage and support “school choice” for parents.
—Opposition to fair, reasonable, and constitutionally sound “gun control”
legislation.
—Increased funding for unnecessary expansion of our
military and the production of weapon of mass destruction.
—Elimination of, or reduction of funding for, “welfare” programs that aid impoverished people and families with children.
—Draconian reductions in subsidies for childcare assistance, education, energy, housing, and utility expenses of those in great need.
—Attitudes or ways of thinking that promote hatred or prejudicial treatment against those from different ethnic backgrounds, racial communities, age groups, genders, gender identity populations, and/or from among those who have special physical, psychological, or health needs.
—Legislation that would seek to discriminate against or even criminalize those who do not follow "traditional" understandings of marriage, consensual sexual expressions, and family structures.
—Laws that fail to protect the “religious liberties" and freedoms of expression of each citizen.
—As well as many other policies and ideas I haven't listed here that might fail to respect and uphold the freedom, dignity, and well-being of all of our citizens . . .
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
These are my thoughts about how I would vote for truly “Pro-Life” candidates, and . . .
my friends, I assure you, I am 100% “Pro-Life!”
Peace, Friar Timothy
