The Tree

 

THE TREE

This morning, I made my usual ministry call at St. Joseph's Nursing Home, Catonsville, Maryland. 

After Mass and my visits to room-bound residents, and as I departed the home and I made my way to my car, once again I was awestruck by the magnificence and beauty of the very huge, ancient, and winter-barren tree in front of the building.  Today for some reason, the tree's form and stature spoke loudly to my thoughts!

Imagine how much life that seemingly “dead” tree has in fact already sustained, and will no doubt continue to generate! 

As I gazed upward into the majestic stretches of the tree's many branches, my thoughts took me to an encounter I had with one of the residents just a short while earlier. 

As I made the rounds accompanied by the ever faithful Sister Theresa, we visited and prayed with a beautiful resident named Shirley, a very elderly woman and the mother of a beloved son named +Barry who passed-away just yesterday after a long struggle with a difficult illness.  Today, Shirley is stricken with tremendous grief, and although she and her family are Jewish and Sister and I Christians, we held hands and prayed together for +Barry's soul and for his family and friends who are filled with sorrow. It was a powerful moment, and I believe Shirley found at least some consolation through our prayers, and by the conversation we had during which she shared her heartache and pain.  

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the fragility of human life. In very recent times, I too have experienced pain, grief, and loss caused by the deaths of family and friends I have greatly loved.  From so many perspectives, my encounter with Shirley this morning certainly amplified my thoughts about these realities! 

I'm thinking . . . 

Some who've gone before us had lives cut way too short, others thankfully had quite long lives filled with many blessings! 

Nonetheless, our grief and heartache at the deaths of our loved ones, no matter the amount of years they spent on this earth, or whatever faith perspectives they had, or we might have, likely causes contemplation about the brevity of our own mortal lives (this at least as we consider hoped for “eternal realities”).

The stark truth is that no one can escape death, and the eventual end to our present lives. And this reality almost always causes sorrow, grief and heartache for those left behind.

Truth also is we have only 'today.'  Let's be grateful for every breath we take, and in this moment and every day, let's cherish our family members, friends, and loved-ones with whom we have been, and are now blessed to share the journey.  

It is a fact that the tree, although seemingly dead, actually is promised resurrection and new life!  Our faith in a loving, eternal God somehow points in that same direction!  For the tree, and for now, life has simply changed, not ended.  Its yearning for springtime is clearly evident and filled with joyful hope as its branches reach to the skies! 

My friends, may that fervent desire be ours as well! 

– Please pray for the consolation and peace of Shirley, and for the peaceful repose of her very beloved son +Barry.  And of course, may we never forget, and always cherish, the memories we hold within our hearts of our own family members, friends and loved ones who have passed from this life to the next! 

Praise God!

For those who grieve . . .

This morning at Mass, we heard the following words spoken in the “prayer of the faithful” (aka “the intercessions”):  

— For those who grieve the loss of a loved one, may God bring them consolation and hope, let us pray to the Lord.  

Last year (2023) was a grief-filled year for me and my family.

— On April 23rd, after my brother-in-law +Doug Bruchman’s long and heroic struggle with cancer, he passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family.  At the age of 58, he had been my sister Nancy Dore Bruchman’s husband of 34 years.

— On July 19th, after a short illness, my dad +Gene Dore, passed away peacefully at his home in Ocean City, MD.  When he died, he was surrounded by loving family and friends.  At the age of 87, and for five years before that, he had been the widower of my mom +Carolyn Marie Winterling-Dore. My mom and dad were married in October of 1959.  

— On July 29th, my sister Kelly Sheehan’s father-in-law, (the dad of my brother-in-law Toby Sheehan) +Thomas Patrick Sheehan, Jr., unexpectedly passed away while peacefully sleeping at home and at the age of 94. He left behind his lifetime soul-mate of 66 years, his wife Karen.  My niece and nephews consequently lost both their grandfathers within nearly one week’s time (that is, my dad and Tom too).

— On September 26th, my brother-in-law +Richard Sies died very suddenly after suffering a heart attack while on his job. At the age of 57, he had been my sister Tracy Sies’s husband for 32 years.  +Richie’s death was a great shock to all of us and was the fourth family death within six month’s time.

— Last year, I lost some long-time friends and former classmates as well (standing out most in my mind was my friend +Linda Malat Tiburzi).

As I contemplate all of these losses of 2023, already this year death has struck close to me.   

— Last week on Thursday, January 25th, death suddenly came knocking again. This time it was that of my young friend and protégé, +Nicholas Hickman.  He died suddenly and very unexpectedly under tragic circumstances.  His passing has caused me tremendous grief and profound sadness.  It’s so very heartbreaking to lose such a beautiful person who was so young (age 27), and who in life had so much joy and love to give to others.

Collectively, all of these deaths within a year’s time have been so difficult to face, even as I am a person of faith.  

This morning’s prayer spoke so loudly to me I found my eyes welling with tears . . .

Please God, eternal rest grant to all of these loved ones who without exception will be missed so much.  

🙏

** See a tribute slide show for +Nick on YouTube at the following link: https://youtu.be/2Nel8lKV2UA?si=Int12Yq_oj4jZkqO

 https://youtu.be/2Nel8lKV2UA?si=Int12Yq_oj4jZkqO

Room #1 and St. Joseph's Nursing Home

 

For the past couple of years I’ve been serving as a chaplain (along with other friars of my community) at St Joseph's Nursing Home, Catonsville, Maryland.  😇
 

Most days of the week I’m here for Mass and to “make the rounds” visiting and taking the Eucharist and/or praying with those residents who are confined to their rooms. 🙏

One of the reasons I love ministering in this place is because in the past both of my grandmothers (+Frances Eckholm-Dore and +Marie Koehler-Winterling-Haspert) as well as my mother (+Carolyn Marie Winterling-Dore) were residents here.  ❤️

In this photo, I’m standing at the door of room #1.  This was my mother +Carolyn’s room for the three and a half years she resided at St. Joe’s.  My dad +Gene Dore and I were with her in this room when she passed away on September 13, 2018.  😕

Today the current resident of this room asked me to pray with her for strength and healing.  I couldn’t do so without thinking of the many times I did just that with my own mom right there in the same space!  This gives me a sense of joy and consolation that I can’t express in words!  🥰

I always try my best to treat each and every resident of St. Joe’s as if they are my own grandmother, mother, or family member! 😊

Praise God! 🙏

“Carrollton Hall”

 

“Carrollton Hall”

This is “photo/art” I created today.  The subject is the “Carrollton Hall” manor house located on the grounds of the Conventual Franciscan Friary of St. Joseph Cupertino and the Shrine of St. Anthony, Howard County, Maryland.

At first, I wasn’t completely satisfied with the final “touches” I made to this image, but as I reflected on it, I changed my mind.

I like the multiple color schemes (enhanced by late afternoon sunlight), and the way the building is somewhat hidden behind the trees in the foreground.  My thought is that the “mystery” the image provokes somehow “pulls one’s eyes into its ambiguity.”

The building pictured was constructed (c. 1832) by Charles Carroll of Carrollton, a very wealthy Maryland landowner, patriot, politician, and the sole Catholic signer of the American Declaration of Independence.  

The friary property (of approximately 320 acres), a small part of the original Carroll estate, includes the manor house, a large “monastery-style” friary built nearby in 1930, a provincial house office and friary residence built in 1991, various service buildings, vast woodlands, rustic walking trails, gardens, manicured lawns on rolling hills, cow pastures and farmlands.  

Carrollton Hall, purchased by the Franciscan Friars in 1928 (after passing through the ownership of various proprietors), is today on the National Register of Historical Places.  It now serves as a cultural center, museum, and conference facility.  

I hope you like the photo as much as I now do!

Praise God!

The Holy Rosary

The Holy Rosary

—The faithful traditionally pray the five decades of the Rosary with specific mysteries on certain days of the week, and as follows:

• Monday: Joyful Mystery.
• Tuesday: Sorrowful Mystery.
• Wednesday: Glorious Mystery.
• Thursday: Luminous Mystery.
• Friday: Sorrowful Mystery.
• Saturday: Joyful Mystery.
• Sunday: Glorious Mystery.
  

 

—Begin with “the Apostles Creed" (said while holding the Crucifix): 

I believe in God, 
the Father almighty,
 Creator of heaven and earth, 
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, 
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
 born of the Virgin Mary,
 suffered under Pontius Pilate,
 was crucified, died and was buried; 
he descended into hell;
 on the third day he rose again from the dead;
 he ascended into heaven,
 and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
 from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Spirit,
 the holy catholic Church, 
the communion of saints,
 the forgiveness of sins,
 the resurrection of the body,
 and life everlasting.  Amen.

—On the first bead, pray an Our Father, then on the following three beads pray a Hail Mary on each (for an increase in faith, hope, and love).  Conclude this first part with a "Glory Be."  

—At the conclusion of each “decade” pray a “Glory Be” and the “Oh My Jesus (aka Fatima)” prayer: 

Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins; save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy. 

The Joyful Mysteries--Monday and Saturday.

1.  The Annunciation of the Lord to Mary (Mary is chosen to be the mother of Jesus). 

2.  The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth (Elizabeth recognizes Mary as the mother of our Lord). 

3.  The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ (the infant Jesus is born and placed in a very humble manger in Bethlehem). 

4.  The Presentation of our Lord (the baby Jesus is presented in the Temple of Jerusalem by Mary and Joseph). 

5.  The finding of the child Jesus in the Temple (the boy Jesus is found by May and Joseph discussing God's laws in the temple).

The Luminous Mysteries (i.e. "of Light")--Thursday. 

1.  The Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the River Jordan (God the Father proclaims that Jesus is his beloved Son). 

2.  The Wedding Feast at Cana (at his mother Mary’s request, Jesus performs his first public miracle). 

3.  The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God (Jesus calls all to conversion and service to the Kingdom). 

4.  The Transfiguration of Jesus (Jesus is revealed in glory to Peter, James, and John on Mount Tabor). 

5.  The Institution of the Eucharist (Jesus offers his Body and Blood at the Last Supper).  

The Sorrowful Mysteries--Tuesday and Friday.

1.  The Agony of Jesus in the Garden (In the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, Jesus prays when confronted with the sins of the world).

2.  The Scourging at the pillar (Jesus is whipped before His execution).

3.  The crowning of Jesus with thorns (Jesus is mocked with a painful crown of thorns).

4.  Jesus Carries his Cross (Jesus carries the weight of our sins to his crucifixion).

5.  The Crucifixion of our Lord (Jesus Christ dies to save all humankind). 

The Glorious Mysteries--Sunday.

1.  The Resurrection (God the Father raises Jesus from the dead).

2. The Ascension (Jesus returns to his Father in heaven). 

3.  The coming of the Holy Spirit (at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit comes to bring new life to the disciples). 

4.  The Assumption of Mary (at the end of her life on earth, Mary is taken body and soul into heaven). 

5. The Coronation of Mary (Mary is crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth).

—At the conclusion of the Rosary pray the "Hail Holy Queen":

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to the do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. 

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

—And then some also pray the "Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel".

Saint Michael Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

—Conclude the Rosary with the following prayer: 

O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation; grant we beseech thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Latin Phrases Everyone Should Know

 

Fourth Sunday of Advent -- Year B

 "Verbum caro hic factum est."

My Short Reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Advent -- Year B

My Sisters and Brothers:

A few years ago, I had the great blessing of making a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  My experience there was very profound, and it opened my eyes to the stories of the Gospels in ways I had never previously imagined.   During the pilgrimage I visited the city of Nazareth, the town of Bethlehem, the Shepherds field, the town of Cana, the birthplace of John the Baptist in the village of Ein Karem, the Jordan River, the Sea of Galilee, the town of Capernaum, the Mount of the Beatitudes, Jericho, the village of Tabgha (of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes) the Dead Sea, Qumran (of the Dead Sea scrolls), Mount Tabor (of the Transfiguration), many sites in the Holy City of Jerusalem, including the Upper Room, the Via Dolorosa, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre which includes Calvary and the empty Tomb of Jesus, and the Mount of Olives, including the Garden of Gethsemane, the Dome of the Ascension and the empty Tomb of Mary.  Because I had the opportunity to travel between all those holy places, and to visit specific places mentioned in the Gospels, I was overwhelmed with many spiritual insights on each day of that incredibly wonderful pilgrimage!

For me, the most profound and spiritually uplifting place on that pilgrimage was probably the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth.  This very modern church was built between 1954 and 1969, but previously there had been several earlier church structures dating back to at least the 4th century. Over the centuries, political and religious unrest, and the oppression of Christians, led to the complete destruction of some of the earlier churches.  Today, it is possible to see within the walls of the modern Basilica some preserved ruins and walls from those earlier buildings.  But for nearly two thousand years, the focal point of every manifestation of the Basilica has been a very simple and humble cave-like chapel known as the Grotto of the Annunciation.

The chapel, which is believed to have been the actual family home of Mary has been preserved from antiquity; it is located at the lowest level of the modern Basilica.  This is the place where most Christians believe the Angel Gabriel appeared to the her and announced that she had been chosen to be the Mother of the Son of God.  Of significance in the chapel is an altar inscribed with the words “Verbum caro hic factum est,” Latin for “Here on this spot the Word was made flesh!”  I was awestruck, and moved beyond telling, to be able to visit that place, the precise location of the Incarnation of our Lord and Savior!  And as if to magnify the blessings and sense of God’s presence during that visit, a Monstrance holding the Holy Eucharist was on that altar; this gave reason for all present to kneel in adoration and praise!  The very Body of Christ was present to us in the exact spot where the Word was made flesh!  Wow!  The experience moved me to tears of joy!

On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, this moment in our salvation history is recounted in today’s Gospel (see Luke 1:26-38).   The Angel said: “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you. Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end, for you have found favor with God.”  And with tremendous faith Mary responded “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word.”

Now, whenever I hear Mary’s response to the proclamations of the Angel Gabriel, so often recalled as we pray the Angelus and the Rosary, or when we read the Gospels, my memories are taken to that visit to the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth and my spirits are renewed by the profound sense of God’s presence I had in that very holy place.

Today, as we prepare for the coming celebration of Christmas and the Nativity of our Lord, let us be always grateful and inspired by the example and faith of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Nazareth.  May we like her, say YES to the will of God in our lives, and may we always rejoice because of the presence of Jesus among us, especially as we gather around the altar and we receive the very life of God by our sharing of the Eucharist!   Amen!

Praise God!  Friar Timothy