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St. Patrick’s Monday - Friday… ...... 8:00 am
Livestreamed
Weekend Mass Times
Weekday Mass Times
St. Patrick
Saturday …6:00 pm, 7:00 pm (Spanish)
Sunday……7:30 am, 9:30 am
Sunday.......12:00 pm, (Spanish)
St. Francis
Sunday........................ 8:30 am, 9:30 am
Assumption
Saturday ………..….4:00 pm
Sunday......................10:30 am
Fr. Matthew Nicks, Pastor
Fr. Raymond Kalema,
Parochial Vicar
Fr. Curtis Seidel,
Chaplain Catholic Schools
Deacon Jim Barrow
Deacon Maclobio Robles
Deacon Olegario Reyes
Maddi Baird, R.E. Director
Karin Western, Facility
Coordinator / Bookkeeper
Ministry
Confessions
On the steps of Assumption 4:30-5:30 pm……..Wed.-Fri.
3:00 pm………….Sat.
Updates
Things may change due to Guidelines.
To stay up to date and be notified of changes,
please text: wwcatholic to 84576
or visit our website at:
wwcatholic.org
Masses are limited to 25% occupancy. You must sign up online to go.
There is a link on our website at: wwcatholic.org If you are unable to sign up, call the office
and leave a message or email: [email protected]
Tri Parish Phone:
(509) 525-3310
St. Francis: Ext. 1
Assumption: Ext. 2
St. Patrick: Ext. 3
Mailing Address:
408 W. Poplar
Walla Walla, WA 99362
VISIT OUR WEBSITE:
wwcatholic.org
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From the Seminarian July 5th, 2020
Hello everyone! My name is Nicolas Castoldi, and I’m a seminarian for the Diocese of Spokane. I have been studying in the seminary for four years now, including a Pastoral Year as well (which, for those of you who might not know, is sort of like an internship at a parish). I’ve just finished my first
year of studying Theology classes, and God willing have three more years left until Ordination to the priesthood. I want to say thank you to Fr. Nicks for giving me this opportunity to write letters to you all. This summer I am assigned to be a part of the Walla Walla Tri-Parish community, and since I am from here in Walla Walla, it feels good to be home again. The transitions because of the Coronavirus have been tough for all of us. While I was studying this recent semester, down at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California, we got some intense news in mid-March that the seminary would be shutting down for the rest of the semester. Within two days, we had to be packed up and traveling back to our own dioceses. Some seminarians didn’t know if they would be with their families or in a parish, where they would be living or what they would be doing. I am grateful to our diocese, because I think that us seminarians were taken care of very well during this time. As I was getting settled in, and used to online classes and social distancing, those who were suffering were on my mind. When I reached out to some people, there were two things I noticed in the conversations we were having as Catholics. People were sharing how they felt about the Mass, and about the Eucharist. It seems like Bishop Daly’s decision to proclaim a Year of the Eucharist for our Diocese was guided by God, because the topic of
the Mass and the Eucharist has been very close to our hearts. There were many different reactions to not being able to go to Mass, or receive Jesus in the Eucharist, but there were two that stuck out to me. First, those who really missed going to Mass, and who were genuinely very sad about not being able to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. One friend told me he felt like all his energy was gone, because he could not receive Holy Communion. Then, there were those who were not as deeply affected by this loss, and of course everyone in between. What I have come to learn is we are all in different places in our relationship with Christ. As I continued to pray about this, St. Therese of Lisieux came to mind. In the book Her Last Conversations, she said that “Everything is grace.” If you are one of those who was deeply disturbed with the reality of not being able to receive Jesus in Communion, that is a grace. God is showing you how much you long and yearn for him, and it is beautiful and inspiring. Recognizing how much we need God is a huge blessing! If you are of those who reacted with less intensity, that is also a grace! We know that we all should love the Mass, and especially the Eucharist, but some are not there yet, and that is ok. If this is you, do not feel bad. God is showing you an area in which there is an opportunity to grow closer to Him. This is a call to prayer, saying: “Lord, I need you, and I miss you. Please help me to receive you soon,” or “God, I want to love you more, please help me to learn to love you in the Mass, especially in the Eucharist.” Wherever we are in our faith journey, there is grace, and if we cooperate with that grace, it can turn into deep, fervent prayer. Please pray for me, and I will be praying for all of you!
God bless you,
~Nicolas Castoldi
P rayer of St. Faustina Before the Eucharist
“I adore You, Lord and Creator, hidden in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I adore You for all the works of Your hands, that reveal to me so much
wisdom, goodness and mercy, O Lord. You have spread so much beauty over the earth and it tells me about Your beauty, even though these beautiful things are but a faint reflection of You, incomprehensible Beauty. And although You have hidden Yourself and concealed Your beauty, my eye, enlightened by faith, reaches You and my soul recognizes its Creator, its Highest Good, and my heart is completely immersed in prayer of adoration.”
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Natural Family Planning For information on learning family planning methods approved by the Catholic Church call: Scott & Valerie Desomber at 509-524-8000 or Kathy Martuscelli at 529-1020.
Adult Education
Baptism Baptism classes are the first Saturday of every month. Please contact Deacon Jim Barrow at:
[email protected] or call your parish office.
Confirmation & First Eucharist Sign ups are over for this year.
Marriage Preparation
Contact one of the priests at least 4 months before your desired wedding date.
Anointing of the Sick
If you or someone you know is homebound, and wants to receive Communion or the Sacrament of Anointing, please contact your parish office.
RCI A Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
For info. email Roger Williams at: [email protected]
Tri-Parish Prayer Group: Monday Night Prayer Group | meets Monday
evenings at 7:00 pm in the nursery at St Patrick’s. Contact: Loraine Valencsin 529-4378.
Sacraments
If you have a loved one in a nursing home or facility who is Catholic, get them on the list
to receive Holy Communion. Call your parish office for contact information.
Women of Faith will begin reading and discussing the
book Rediscovering the Saints by Matthew Kelly on
March 26- through May. We meet in the St. Patrick
Nursery on Thursdays from 1-3. All women are
welcome. The book is free and may be picked up at your
church. The guide will be provided at the class. For more
info or to sign up, please email Sue Logsdon
Sacramental Prep & Religious Education K-5 Tri Parish R.E. Director | Maddi Baird R.E. Office, 408 W. Poplar, Walla Walla
[email protected] | 509-525-3310 Ext. 4 Maddi’s Office Hours: Tues. & Thurs. | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Wed. & Fri: 2:00 – 5:00 PM
If these times do not work, please call for an appointment .
Learning about our faith has never been more accessible! FORMED.ORG
Watch from your phone or computer and on Roku! Our Free parish access:
wwcatholic.formed.org
Walla Walla Valley Eucharistic Adoration
Thursday 12pm - Saturday 12pm
At Assumption Church in the Adoration Chapel
to the left through the main doors.
Contact a captain to sign up!
Praying for the physical and spiritual health of the
faithful and community of Walla Walla.
Please remember to keep atleast a 6 ft. distance from others who are praying.
Greg & Sue Fazzari: [email protected]
Mike & Terri Neal: nealfami ly@live .com
Don & Kathy Martuscelli: [email protected]
Check us out on:
.
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K N I G H T S O F C O L U M B U S Is God calling YOU to become a Knight? Application forms are available from any
member of the Knights of Columbus. W e b s i t e : w w w . k o c 7 6 6 . o r g
G r a n d K n i g h t : Carl Ungerecht [email protected] or [email protected]
CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS OF AMERICAS Court St. Cecilia #668 Deanna Smith- Regent 525-1516. Catholic Daughters are women from all
parishes working together to support our local charities through prayer and works. Thank you for your continued generosity! www.catholicdaughters.com
The Walla Walla Catholic Parishes mobile app is
packed with features to help you pray, learn, and
interact with the Catholic community. App
Features Include: Digital Rosary, Sun. Readings,
Mass Times, Common Catholic Prayers, Order of
the Mass, Daily Readings, Liturgy of the Hours,
Saint of the Day, Bible, Catechism, Catholic
Media and News Links, Social Media
integration, and Push Notifications.
S a n c t i f y i n g t h e A i r w a v e s w i t h t h e T R U T H ! 100.7 F.M. /KHSS
Fi nd th e p ro g ra m s ch edu l e and more at: http:/www.khssradio.co m
This is a fun group full of folks who
love G.K. Chesterton. For more
information, contact Kathy Wikman,
509 386-7813 or email:
To Get the App | Search in the App Store or Google Play Store for:
Walla Walla Catholic www.ParishSolutionsCo.com/Walla
Immaculate Heart Retreat Center Private Directed Retreats at Immaculate Heart Retreat Center are always available: Ignatian, or Scriptural Spiritual Direction retreats. 1-2 Day, 3-Day, 5-Day, 8-Day, or 30-Day
We can tailor a retreat to your spiritual, and emotional needs. For more information or to register in advance Please call: (509) 448-1224 or visit www.ihrc.net Cost per day is dependent on the length of the retreat with meals.
Mission Statement: The Ti-parish Catholic Social Concerns Ministry is made up of parishioners from St. Patrick, St. Francis and Assumption parishes, who strive, in the light of Gospel values, to raise awareness of and address social concerns in our community and society through word and deed. For more information regarding this column please contact Sue Logsdon at [email protected]
14th Sunday of Ordinary Time (A time to grow as disciples of Jesus)
LEARN: Through our Baptism we are called to become disciples of Jesus. What does it mean to be a Catholic disciple? Catholic discipleship refers to a committed approach to living a Christian life within the Catholic Church...The U.S. Catholic bishops have described disciples as those who “make a conscious, firm decision, carried out in action, to be followers of Jesus Christ no matter the cost to themselves”. Sept 29, 2017 How does Jesus model discipleship for us? In all his life, Jesus presents himself as our model. He is “the perfect man”, who invites us to become his disciples and follow him. In humbling himself, he has given us an example to imitate, through his prayer he draws us to pray, and by his poverty he calls us to accept freely the privation and persecution that may come our way. (CCC#520, citing GS #38) FROM SCRIPTURE: How can we grow as disciples? St. Paul says in his letter to the Colossians 3:12-13 “Put on, then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heart-felt compassion, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with one another. If one has a grievance against another, as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.” FOLLOWING CHRIST THROUGH ACTION: (Nationally)
Fight Racism – read the Pastoral Letter on Racism by the USCCB. Visit usccb.org/racism.
Support life – The WA state Bishops support 1-1698, which would prohibit abortions when a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Additional details can be found on the WSCC website.
Support peace in the world by ending Nuclear weapons testing: Take action! There is a bill in the Senate to prohibit the use of federal funds for a nuclear test explosion, S. 3886. Please let the administration and your Senators know you are opposed to any resumption of real world nuclear testing.
Update on DACA – The USCCB supports the DREAM ACT, which includes a path to citizenship (for minors of undocumented immigrants who meet certain requirements) and sent a letter to each Senator asking them to support S. 874. Urge your Senators to support S. 874 also.
(Locally) Donate to local ministries and agencies that help the:
homeless, the hungry, the needy, the under-employed, the discriminated against, the unborn, the abused, those struggling with addictions, those caught in domestic violence
Pray for the victims of racism, discrimination, sexual assault
Pray for those those who commit these crimes, so that they may change their lives to live in obedience to the will of God
F ounded in 1915 as a spiritual home for Italian immigrants, St. Francis is
a community of Roman Catholics who draw strength and vision from the Gospel and participation in the sacramental life of the Church, inspired by their patron saint’s spirit of humility and simplicity strive to be instruments of God’s peace and reconciliation by serving those in need in the Walla Walla Valley.
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
722 W. Alder Street - Walla Walla, Washington 99362 (509) 525-3310 Ext. 1
Tuesday & Thursday
8:00a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Office Manager: Terri Neal
Leave a message at 525-3310 Ext. 1
or email: [email protected]
St Ann’s Altar Society
Organizations Finance Council: Chair: Dominick Elia, Lorraine Manuel, Andrew Neal, Kevin Magnaghi Pastoral Council: Lisa Cox, Marguerite Daltoso, Tina Deccio, Rosalie Lesko, Claire Valente, Stephen Fausti, Donny Biagi, Chad Kjeldgaard, Tim Pettyjohn
President:
Lisa Cox
Altar Care:
July 11 | Pat Locati
July 18 | Anne Heath & Shirley Dunn
July 25 | Marguerite Daltoso
I f yo u k n ow o f a pa r i s h i on e r
w h o i s s i ck o r i n c r i s i s , ge t u s
t h e i r n am e and ad dr e s s an d w e
w i l l s end t h em a ca r d o f
en cou r agem en t . Ca l l t h e p a r i s h o f f i c e
an d l eav e a m es s age o r em a i l :
s t f r an c i s @ ww cat ho l i c . co m
PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR PARISH! Please continue to support your parish through these trying times. Some different options are: • Mail in your donation. • Set up online giving. It is easy and on our new
website: wwcatholic.org
We can now take specific Mass Intentions for our regular Sunday Mass time at 8:30am. Other Mass intentions will also be taken and offered at a daily Mass or at one of the extra Masses that we are currently having. Those Mass intentions cannot be specified to a particular day. Mass Intention 8:30 am Mass July 12 | Dominic Fazzari sp. int.
FINAL FACT ABOUT OUR PATRON His Grave Was Lost For Many Years Saint Francis died on October 3, 1226. His body
was originally placed in a Basilica, but not long after, out of fear that it would be lost in raids by invading Saracens, his body was hidden. The secret location was forgotten and
not rediscovered until 1818. St. Francis of Assisi Pray for Us!
Maria Goretti’s father moved the family in hopes of escaping poverty. Three years later, when Maria was nine, her father died tragically. It fell to her at that time to raise her five siblings while her mother worked the fields.
she also had to also cook and clean for her two next door neighbors–Giovanni Serenelli and his son, Alessandro–who assisted her mother with the farm tasks. Alessandro (age 20) began to develop an impure liking for Maria saying inappropriate and crude things to her. She would run away. After many months, Alessandro tried to force himself upon Maria. Though she prevented him from violating her, he stabbed her numerous times. Maria died the next day in the midst of an infection brought on by her wounds. Her last words were, “I forgive Alessandro Serenelli … and I want him to be in heaven.” She was only 11. Alessandro spent 30 years in prison. He said that he had a vision of Maria who forgave him and he immediately converted. He begged forgiveness from Maria’s mother and when released from prison, spent the rest of his life as a monk .
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Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church
2098 E. Alder Street Walla Walla, Washington 99362 (509) 525-3310 Ext. 2
I n 1953, Bishop Charles D. White established the Assumption of the Blessed
Virgin Mary Parish in Walla Walla. The community undertook the building of a grade school. Over the next decade, there were added a convent, the rectory and our spacious modern church. Following the example of our Patroness, Assumption Parish strives to live a sacramental life, witnessing the Gospel, in our service to others.
We WELCOME you to Assumption Parish. If you wish to learn more about us, please fill out the Welcome Card located in the pew racks. OFFICE HOURS:
OFFICE MANAGER: Mary White Email: [email protected] PASTORAL COUNCIL: Anne Golden, Mike Levens, Patty Konen, Sally Buchanan-Rojo, Jerry Anhorn Jr, Michelle Moramarco, Jon Wheeler, Chandra Hall PRAYER CHAIN: To participate in the prayer chain or if you have a prayer request contact: Rose Brown at 525-2488.
If you are interested in the children’s choir please email or call Olivia Teske at 200-3144.
Welcome back to Mass! It's such a blessing that we can
finally celebrate our faith together. The Baby Basket ministry has a huge supply of homemade quilts made with loving hands that we would like to pass on to families with a new
baby! And diapers, wet wipes, lotion, shampoo and newborn outfits come with
the quilt. Please call Mary Owens, 525 3697 or Kit Chryst, 301 0818 with news of your arrival! We can deliver your basket at your convenience!
TRI-PARISH DIAPER DRIVE There is now a Baby carriage in the back of Assumption Church to make donations of diapers and wipes for Catholic Charities and other agencies in town that are in
need of diapers. It will be there year round.
Mass Intention Saturday, 4pm 7/4/20 | Nick & Thelma Yragui + Sunday,10:30am 7/5/20 | Jim Melton +
Saturday, 4pm 7/11/20 | Thelma Yragui + Sunday,10:30am 7/12/20 | Assumption Parishioners
PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOUR PARISH!
Please continue to support your parish
through these trying times. Some
different options are:
• Mail in your donation.
• Set up online giving. It is easy and
there is a button on our new website:
wwcatholic.org or sign up here:
https://osvonlinegiving.com/4582
Limited office hours. Check back next week for the schedule.
Please pray the Rosary daily at home and unite in
spirit with our parish community! “Never will anyone who says his Rosary every
day be led astray. This is a statement that I
would gladly sign with my blood.”
Saint Louis de Montfort
St. Augustine
St. Patrick Catholic Church
408 West Poplar Street Walla Walla, Washington 99362 (509) 525-3310 Ext. 3
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9AM -1:00PM Office Manager: Sonia Muro Email:[email protected] Pastoral Council: Antonio Caso, Salvador Esquivel, Shawna Sweeney, Steve Droke, Catherine Worden, Monica Gaffrey, Roger Treis.
B orn of the original 1846 Diocese of Walla Walla, St. Patrick Parish
is a culturally diverse community of Roman Catholics who, in cooperation with other Christians in the Walla Walla Valley, strive to worship God, foster spiritual growth among its members, and serve others according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR PARISH! One easy way is to set up online giving. It is easy to do. https:osvonlinegiving.com/4583 There is also a button on our website: wwcatholic.org
“Saint Benedict has exercised the greatest influence on monasticism in the West. He was born into a distinguished family in central Italy, studied at Rome, and early in life was drawn to monasticism. At first he became a hermit, leaving a depressing world—pagan armies on the march, the Church torn by schism, people suffering from war, morality at a low ebb. He soon realized that he could not live a hidden
life in a small town any better than in a large city, so he withdrew to a cave high in the mountains for three years. Some monks chose Benedict as their leader for a while, but found his strictness not to their taste. Still the shift from hermit to community life had begun for him. He had an idea of gathering various families of monks into one “Grand Monastery” to give them the benefit of unity, fraternity, and permanent worship in one house. Finally he began to build what was to become one of the most famous monasteries in the world—Monte Cassino, commanding three narrow valleys running toward the mountains north of Naples. The Rule that gradually developed prescribed a life of liturgical prayer, study, manual labor, and living together in community under a common abbot. Benedictine asceticism is known for its moderation, and Benedictine charity has always shown concern for the people in the surrounding countryside. In the course of the Middle Ages, all monasticism in the West was gradually brought under the Rule of St. Benedict. Today the Benedictine family is represented by two branches: the Benedictine Federation encompassing the men and women of the Order of St. Benedict, and the Cistercians, men and women of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance.” From: franciscanmedia.com
Reflection
MASS INTENTIONS-JULY 5, 2020 Sunday 7:00 pm |Tri-Parish parishioners Sunday 7:30 am | James Krussel + Sunday 12:00pm | Patricia Garanzuay +
ANOINTING OF THE SICK If you or someone you know is homebound, and in need of the Sacrament of Anointing, please contact your parish office at 525-3310.
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BAUTISMOS Y PLATICAS
PREBAUTISMALES
PROXIMA PLATICA BAUTISMAL ???, 2020 A
LAS 7 PM EN EL SALON NATIVIDAD.
BAUTISMOS: PROXIMO BAUTISMO SERA
EL 27 DE JUNIO DE 2020. SOLAMENTE 2 O 3
FAMILIAS AL MISMO TIEMPO. POR FAVOR
LLAME A LA OFICINA PARROQUIAL PARA
REGISTRARSE PARA LOS BAUTISMOS Y
PLATICAS.
CATECISMO—2019-2020
Directora de Educación Religiosa, Maddi Baird.
LAS CONFESIONES SERAN EN LA
PARROQUIA DE LA ASUNCION EN LA
ENTRADA PRINCIPAL. ESPERE EN SU
CARRO HASTA QUE SEA SU TURNO.
CONFESIONES TODOS LOS MIERCOLES,
JUEVES Y VIERNES A LAS 4:30 A 5:30 PM.
Las Misas han comenzado en vivo, ya se
están aceptando 120 personas por Misa.
POR FAVOR ENTRE AL WEBSITE DE LA
PARROQUIA PARA REGISTRARSE PARA
ASISTIR A MISA, O LLAME A LA PARROQUIA
SI NO TIENE COMPUTADORA. wwcatholic.org
O TAMBIEN EN EL APP DE:
Horario de Oficina: Lunes, Miercoles y Viernes 9:00 – 1:00 Office Manager: Sonia Muro
Parroquia San Patricio 408 West Poplar Street Walla Walla, Washington 99362 (509) 525-3310
AVISOS EN ESPAÑOL X1V DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO
N acida original de la Diócesis de Walla Walla de 1846, la parroquia de San Patricio es una comunidad diversa culturalmente de Católicos Romanos que, en cooperación con otros cristianos en el V alle de Walla Walla, se esfuerza por adorar a Dios, fomentar el crecimiento espiritual entre sus miembros y servir a los demás de acuerdo al Evangelio de Jesucristo.
5 DE JULIO, 2020
JOVENES DE SECUNDARIA Y PREPA
MIDDLE SCHOOL/SECUNDARIA grados 6– 8
Mary White—525-3310. Las reuniones para los
jovencitos de secundaria son todos los Domingos
de 5—6 pm.
HIGH SCHOOL grados 9—12 Las reuniones
para los jóvenes de high school son todos los
Domingos de 6:30 –8 pm.
INTENCIONES DE MISAS-JULY 5, 2020
Sab. –Sat. –7:00 pm—Tri-Parish parishioners
Dom—Sun.—7:30 am– James Krussel (+)
Dom.—Sun– 9:30 am—
Dom.—12:00pm - Patricia Garanzuay (+)
**Ya se están tomando nuevas intenciones de
Misas, pero solo para las Misas normales de an-
tes.
EVANGELIO—En aquel tiempo, Jesús exclamó:
“Te doy gracias, Padre, Señor del cielo y de la
tierra, porque has Escondido estas cosas a los
sabios y entendidos, y las has revelado a la gente
sencilla!
Gracias , Padre, porque asi te ha parecido bien.
El Padre ha puesto todas las cosas en mis manos.
Nadie conoce al Padre sino el Hijo y aquel a
quien el Hijo se lo quiera revelar.
Vengan a mi, todos los que están fatigados y ago-
biados por la carga y yo los aliviaré. Tomen mi
yugo sobre ustedes y aprendan de mi, que soy
manso y humilde de corazó, y encontrarán
Descanso, porque mi yugo es suave y mi carga,
ligera”. (Mateo 11: 25-30)
CARTA DEL PARROCO 28 DE JUNIO DE 2020
Hola a todos! Mi nombre es Nicolas Castoldi, y soy un seminarista en la Diócesis de Spokane. He estado estudiando en el seminario por cuatro años, incluyendo un Año Pastoral (que para los que no saben, es como un internado en una parroquia). He terminado mi
primer año de clases en Teologia, y si Dios lo permite me quedan todavia tres años para que me ordene de sacerdote. Quiero agradecerle al Padre Nicks por darme esta oportunidad de escribir las cartas para el boletin para todos ustedes. Este verano estoy asignado a ser parte de las tres parroquias de la comunidad de Walla Walla, y como soy de aqui de Walla Walla me siento bien de estar en casa de nuevo. Las transiciones por el Coronavirus han sido dificiles para todos nosotros. Mientras que estaba estudiando durante este reciente semestre, en el Seminario de San Patricio en Menlo Park, California, tuvimos noticias intensas a mediados de Marzo, que el Seminario se iba a cerrar por el resto del semestre. En dos dias tuvimos que empacar y viajar de regreso a nuestras propias diócesis. Algunos de los seminaristas no sabian si iban a estar con sus familias o en una parroquia, donde iban a estar viviendo o que iban hacer. Yo estoy agradecido con nuestra diócesis porque creo que a nosotros los seminaristas nos cuidaron muy bien durante este tiempo. MIentras me estaba acomodando, y me acostumbraba a tomar clases en linea y la distancia social, todos aquellos que estaban sufriendo, estaban en mi mente. Cuando me acerqué algunas personas, habia dos cosas que note en las conversaciones que teniamos como Católicos. La gente estaba compartiendo como se sentian acerca de la Misa, y sobre la Eucaristia. Parece que la decision del Obispo
Daly de proclamar un Año de la Eucaristia para nuestra Diócesis fue guiado por Dios, porque el tema de la Misa y la Eucaristia están muy cerca a nuestros corazones. Habia muchas diferentes reacciones por no poder asistir a Misa, o recibir a Jesús en la Eucaristia, pero habia dos cosas que me llamaron la atención. Primero, aquellos que realmente extrañaban ir a Misa, y que estaban genuinamente muy tristes por no poder recibir a Jesús en la Eucaristia. Un amigo me dijo que sentia como que toda su energia se habia ido,porque no podia recibir la Santa Comunión. Luego, estaban aquellos que no estaban profundamente afectados por esta pérdida, y claro todos los demás que estaban en el medio. Lo que he aprendido es que todos estamos en diferentes lugares en nuestra relación con Cristo. Mientras que continúo orando acerca de esto, Sta. Teresa de Lisieux me vino a la mente. En el Libro de Su Ultima Conversación, ella dijo que “Todo es gracia.” Si usted fue uno de esos que estaba profundamente perturbado con la realidad de no poder recibir a Jesús en la Santa Comunión, esa es una gracia. Dios te está mostrando cuanto lo anhelas, y es hermoso e inspirador. Reconocer cuanto necesitamos a Dios es una gran bendición! Si usted es uno de los que reaccionó con menos intensidad, también es una gracia! Todos sabemos que debemos amar la Misa, y especialmente la Eucaristia, pero algunos de nosotros todavia no estamos alli, y está bien. Si este es usted, no se sienta mal. Dios le está mostrando un área en la cual hay una oportunidad para acercarnos más a El. Este es un llamado a la oración, diciendo: “Dios te necesito y te extraño. Por favor ayúdame a recibirte pronto,” o “Dios, quiero amarte más, por favor ayúdame a aprender a amarte más en la Misa, especialmente en la Eucaristia.” En dondeqquiera que estemos en nuestro camino de fe, hay gracia, y si cooperamos con esa gracia, puede llegar a ser una profunda y ferviente oración. Por favor oren por mi, y yo seguiré orando por
todos ustedes! Dios los bendiga,
Nicolas Castoldi