Flocknote Facebook Email Phone YouTube

From the Pastor

- December 8, 2024
  
  NEW
  Dear Parishioners,
  In this season of preparation, of waiting in joyful hope, our readings invite us to heed the voice of John the Baptist: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.
  What do our preparations for Christmas usually include? Planning, buying gifts, cleaning, baking? There is much that can demand our attention at this time of year. In contrast to these many pressures and voices, the Church offers these words from John the Baptist, quoting the prophet Isaiah: Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth.
  This echoes the command from our reading from Baruch, that every lofty mountain be made low, and that the age-old depths and gorges be filled to level ground.
  What does this mean for us? How can we carry this Word into our lives? Well, it likely means some time spent in prayer and discernment. It means prioritizing listening to God’s voice over some of the other pressures, tasks, and voices that can crowd in this time of year. If we can create some space for silence — for reflection and prayer — we might find God speaking into the questions raised by today’s readings.
  What mountains are keeping us from drawing nearer to God? What barriers are affecting our relationship with Christ? What valleys might be impeding our journey into the heart of the Divine? What wounds or fears might be keeping us from drawing close to his Sacred Heart?
  This is the invitation of this sacred season: to pray with these questions. This is the work of this holy season. This is our calling as we prepare for the joy of Christmas. May our God who crosses mountain and valley to draw near to us make us pure and blameless... filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
  How can we open space for Jesus to draw near to us today? One way to do so is to experience God’s mercy in the sacrament of Confession. And so, we will have a Penance Service for the season of Advent in the church at St. Gabriel on Wednesday, December 11 from 7:00 – 8:30 PM, including the opportunity for individual confessions. There will be other priests available for confessions that day. Through confession and forgiveness, we humble ourselves and break the chains that bind us to our sins. We are able to experience God’s mercy, and it is through this that we experience true freedom.
  God be with you in the week ahead!
  – Fr. Canisius Tah
- December 1, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  Here we are again: today is the first day of the new liturgical year for the Church. We are entering Advent, a time of preparation for Christmas. We will begin preparing our hearts to celebrate the birth of Christ, and in anticipation of his return.
  Hope, light, joy, and "holy waiting" are all terms that illustrate the spiritual movement of these four weeks. But there is another word that underlies them and is highlighted in our readings today: justice.
  Justice might not be the first word that comes to mind as we prepare our hearts to celebrate the nativity of baby Jesus. So often when we think of justice, it is in the legal sense. We think of right and wrong or fairness.
  God's sense of justice is deeper than that, however. It is about the proper state of things in the world, and about the order God wants in his creation. This is what Jeremiah prophesies in today's first reading. The redemption that awaited God's people was not just about saving us, but about bringing forth God's order in the world. God’s way is justice, and it is authentic. This is the fullness of the kingdom that awaits us. This is the time when God’s just judgment will fall upon each of us, so the Lord tells us to be active in preparation and free from anxieties in life.
  Every Advent is a time to prepare for our own journey to Bethlehem, and to await the return of the Son of Man. We take a serious look at our practices and consider how we can grow closer to God. There are countless ways to do this. Perhaps it is a dedicated time each day for prayer. Or maybe it is in reconnecting with a loved one. It could even be starting a new act of service. It might look different from person to person, but God is calling us to prepare to receive him and prepare for his return.
  Pope Francis stated in his February 2022 letter announcing the Jubilee 2025:
  "We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision. The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire..."
  Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus as we begin the season of Advent.
  May God be with you in the week ahead!
  – Fr. Canisius Tah
- November 24, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  Today is the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, and it is a feast we celebrate at the end of each liturgical year. Instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925, one of its aims is to reaffirm our belief that Christ is King and rules over all things for all time. Worldly things and worldly governments rise and fall, but Christ is now and forever.
  Our first reading from the prophet Daniel and the second reading from the Book of Revelation share an apocalyptic vision of the Son of Man coming on the clouds to rule over all. Yet we see in John’s Gospel that Jesus is already king. He has come to establish the kingdom of heaven here on earth. When Pilate asks Jesus about being King, he does not answer Pilate’s question directly but tells him that his kingdom does not belong to this world and that he came into the world to testify to the truth.
  He came from God, and God is the source of his authority. God revealed himself through Jesus’ earthly ministry and especially through his death and resurrection. Those who hear Jesus’ voice are his disciples. To understand the truth, we must also be born from above. When we are baptized, we receive new life in Christ. We are freed from sin and reborn as members of his kingdom, priests for his God and Father.
  Jesus often refers to himself as the Son of Man. He is the One in and through whom God’s people are saved. We no longer hope for a future messianic kingdom, because in Jesus these hopes have been realized. If we believe in the Incarnation, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection, then eternal life is now and will continue to be available to us. This is our goal and our hope. This is the truth to which Jesus bears witness and calls us to bear witness with him.
  Jesus is truly King of the Universe, both now and forever. So how do we participate in it, as the prophet Daniel says, that all peoples, nations, and languages will serve him? To answer this question, we must look at our own lives. Each of us is called to bear witness to the truth in our own sphere, whether it be in the Church or in the world. Christ the King reigns over all the earth, both now and forever. May we live out our baptismal call to make his reign known. Let the Eucharist transform us for the good of the world and the kingdom we are called to build.
  Have a very happy Thanksgiving holiday, and God be with you in the week ahead!
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- November 17, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  In the Gospel it is written, And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.
  We do not know the day we will see Christ coming in the clouds. If we are not ready for his coming, we will not be part of the gathered elect, but rather part of those who live in everlasting disgrace that Daniel prophesied. The gates will be locked, and we will not be able to enter.
  When we hear about the end of the world and the second coming, some may feel fear, others excitement, but many feel uncertainty. How could we not feel these things? It is the great unknown.
  Some of what we think and feel about the end of days arises from taking Jesus' words to heart: we know we need to be prepared for the Lord to bring us home.
  Although we have no idea when that day will be, human nature lets us believe we have more time than we do. In addition, we have things to plan for here! Graduations, moves, weddings, births, jobs, retirement. After all, we live in this world, with all its necessities and demands.
  
  A bulwark against getting distracted by the desires of this life, to the detriment of planning for the next, is the sacramental life of the Church. Through God's word and the Eucharist, we participate in the communal life of faith, and so come to know, understand, and appreciate the end for which we were actually created: eternal life with God. To that end, we see our lives here as a gift.
  
  We have the opportunity to prepare, and to receive the grace to do so. Will we do it perfectly? Unlikely. Will we do it well? With God's help. Will we do it all? That, in the end, is up to us.
  
  God be with you in the week ahead!
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- November 10, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath. These words began our first reading today, and the introductory phrase, in those days, provides a context clue for us. God is doing something specific, and he is doing it at a specific time. We understand God's movement in history more fully when we understand what was going on in that history.
  What was going on, in those days, was that God's people were a mess. Their King, Ahab (the seventh King of Israel), had married a princess from a pagan nation. Under her influence, he led the Israelites in turning away from the Lord to worship Baal, making it the official state religion. Israel was mired in disobedience, idolatry, unfaithfulness, and stubbornness, and Elijah was the latest of many prophets whom God would send to Israel to make known to them the evil of their ways and call them to repent.
  And yet, the very first interaction he has in his mission belies what was just said. The widow to whom he was sent is a model of faithful obedience. She has great trust in God and his provision, and she is rewarded in her sacrifice. Even in the midst of darkness, a small light of faith shines brightly. Through the actions of the widow the Lord demonstrates the importance of genuine faith, the significance of sacrificial giving, and God's provision and faithfulness to those who trust in him.
  Also, the sacrifice and faithfulness widow in the gospel, draws the praise of Jesus. She paid her temple tax with money she, by all intents and purposes, didn't have. Jesus sets her before his disciples and says: "This is what discipleship looks like. Give your all, give what is worth most to you, most important to who you are, most necessary for flourishing, over to God. Sacrifice what you have out of love and devotion." Through the actions of the widow the Lord demonstrates the importance of genuine faith and the significance of sacrificial giving. God’s provision and faithfulness to those who trust in him.
  As a community of faith, let us remember the importance of giving. Our parish relies on your generosity, a community united in faith, service, stewardship, and mission, to support our ministries, programs. Our financial contributions make a tangible difference. Together, we can make an impact and share His love with all.
  May God be with you in the week ahead.
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- November 3, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  Which is the first of all the commandments? This question, posed to Jesus by a scribe in today's Gospel, has us thinking that this might be another "test" by a learned Jewish scholar. In fact, the Gospel of Matthew explicitly calls it such (Mt 22:35), and it appears within the context of several such tests by the Pharisees and scribes. But the Gospel we read today is Mark's, and his account of this exchange is much more collegial — and he does not call it a test.
  Jesus answers the scribe with a Scripture verse that would have been familiar to any faithful Jewish person. It comes from the Book of Deuteronomy, and we heard it in the first reading: love God with all your heart, soul, and strength — your whole being.
  The foundation for the covenant is love: God's love. God loves his people and is working wonders to save them. God has proven his great love and fidelity for his people; he asks for our love and fidelity in return. If we take this to heart, and love God with all we've got, everything will be all right. All God wants to do is love us, care for us, and bring us into the land flowing with milk and honey. What we need to do is be open and cooperative and not turn our backs on God. We need to keep focused on loving God, fully and faithfully: keep focused on loving God and letting him love us.
  The second commandment Jesus offers is from Leviticus, another book of law given through Moses. God's people are to love their neighbors as themselves. This command is connected to the first, since when we love God fully and faithfully, we want to follow his ways, do as he does, and love like he loves.
  In answering with these two commands, Jesus reinforces that God's law is a law of love. It is not a weapon to condemn or instill fear and anxiety, but rather it is intended for our well-being. It is both a prescription and a description: God loves and cares for us, and we are to love and care for one another. This is how Jesus teaches us to understand and use the law, and when we do, we come closer together to the kingdom of God's love and peace, the foretaste of which we share in this Eucharist.
  God be with you in the week ahead!
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- October 27, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  Today's Gospel offers a beautiful story of encounter, healing, faith, and discipleship, and offers many insights and lessons. Let us delve deeper into one of the moments in the story and one of its many insights.
  Jesus is going through Jericho and a blind man, Bartimaeus, hears of it, and begins to call out to him. He eventually succeeds in catching Jesus' attention and Jesus calls for him to come over. In response, Bartimaeus doesn't just get up and walk over. No, Mark tells us that Bartimaeus threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
  It isn't just the enthusiasm that should catch our attention. The cloak he threw would be the cloak upon which he’d collect whatever coins people might throw his way, a cloak he needed as a beggar. But he threw that aside, confident that he wouldn't need it anymore, ready to let that way of life go – on the hope that Jesus would make something different possible.
  In response to Jesus' question, Bartimaeus tells Jesus that he wants to see. Jesus gives him that, and more. Not only does Bartimaeus receive his eyesight, even more importantly, he is granted salvation because of his faith. Bartimaeus responds by becoming a disciple of Jesus – by embracing that new life he had been ready for when he'd heard Jesus was coming through town, and following Jesus on the way.
  Bartimaeus doesn't just go from being blind to having sight. He has faith that enables him to let go of his previous life and embark on a new one, one of discipleship. Sometimes, when we hear healing stories such as this one, we can start to wonder, Why not me? Why doesn't the Lord heal my loved one? Am I not praying enough? Have I not persevered enough? All of these are understandable questions, arising from a place of doubt rather than faith. Faith lets us ask, "What will I do with the Lord’s answer to my prayer?"
  Let today's Gospel challenge us to consider whether the Lord is inviting us to find that new way of seeing and being. Are we ready to throw aside our cloak and accept his healing and salvation? Let us keep growing together.
  Remember to join us on All Saints Day, Friday, November 1, a Holy Day of Obligation, and our observance of All Souls Day.
  May God be with you in the week ahead!
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- October 20, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left." The ambitious desires expressed by James and John in today’s Gospel probably take a different form in our hearts and minds depending on our personalities and experiences. We’re not immune to their lure, however.
  There are so many pressures that surround us: impress others, demonstrate how capable you are, rise to the top, take care of yourself, be noticed, grab that spotlight. It is exhausting to list them, let alone try to live them!
  In contrast, the Church gives us the true path to freedom: servant humility, the greatest “greatness.” Isaiah prophesies a Savior who will suffer, one through whom the will of the Lord will be accomplished because of his affliction. He is a servant, who in his obedience shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear.
  This is a different kind of Savior, a different kind of ruler than what the people expected. It would take Christ’s death on the cross for God’s people to begin to understand. “For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."
  In contrast to the pressures to grasp for power, comfort, and fame, our Church proclaims humble service. As disciples, we understand that the only path to greatness in the kingdom of God is the path of self-giving love. This is the secret of life. A good life lies not in rising to the top, but rather, in pouring oneself out in love for others. This is certainly a counter-cultural call, and it is not always easy.
  But our Church also proclaims grace. The woundedness of our nature is powerful and so the pressure of these cultural forces is strong. The challenges of giving ourselves in this world are many. But our Church reminds us that in every struggle and in every temptation, we can approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.
  Let us, in receiving this holy Eucharist, draw near to Christ who pours himself out to us. Let us receive his strength so that we might be great as he is great: powerful in love, crowned by sacrifice, made holy in the giving of all we are. Let us invite Christ to rule our lives, so that in humble service for his kingdom, we may participate in his salvation.
  May God be with you in the week ahead!
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- October 13, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  In the Hebrew Scriptures, wealth and possessions are seen as signs of God’s favor. This is why the disciples are so shocked in today's Gospel when Jesus says how hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! How could the people God favors have a hard time entering his kingdom? If that is true, the disciples wonder, who can be saved?
  Jesus' reply holds the key: with God all things are possible. Wealth, power, and merit tend to give us a false sense of security. They can trick us into thinking we are in control of everything, including our own salvation. But nothing is possible without God. Salvation is God’s free gift, not something we earn, like money or reputation.
  Jesus tells the young man that if he sells what he has and gives to the poor, he will store up treasure in heaven. Peter tells Jesus that they have given up everything to follow him. We can imagine the question behind the statement: “What else can we do?” Jesus' reply to Peter goes beyond giving away possessions to giving up land and even family. To follow Jesus wholeheartedly means valuing our relationship with him above all.
  Each of today's readings reminds us that this life is not the end to which we are called. To be a follower of Christ means keeping our eyes fixed on the ultimate good of eternal life with God. Those who pursue wisdom receive all good things with her – countless riches at her hands. Those who give up family, homes, and lands for the sake of the Gospel receive a hundred times more now… and eternal life in the age to come. This is the treasure we hope to possess. This is our inheritance as God's children. Although this gift is already ours, we can lose it if we become too distracted by the world.
  To pursue Christ above all else does not mean that we put blinders on to the rest of the world. It means that we seek Christ where he can be found, in the Eucharist and in those around us.
  Thank you all for joining us at our Diversity Day celebration. It is important for us to recognize the beauty and the wonder and awe of the parish family. Belonging to a parish community is meant to provide a place where we find a true family centered in Christ Jesus Our Lord. What are the ways, therefore, in which you can participate fully in the life of your parish?
  May God be with you in the week ahead!
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- October 6, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  Today's readings invite us to contemplate the mystery and the gift of the sacrament of marriage, and its importance for the world.
  Our first reading begins with Gods own words: It is not good for the man to be alone. In response to this fundamental need of the man, God forms one who is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.
  
  God made us for relationship with him and with one another and calls us to a unity that is described as nothing less than one flesh. Jesus emphasizes the reality of what marriage truly is in today's Gospel.
  
  Marriage is something God has done and does. We often think of marriage as something a couple does: they "get married." And while it is true that in this sacrament, each person is the minister of the sacrament to the other, the relationship within matrimony is what God has joined together.
  
  Every sacrament, in fact, is God's work made tangible, knowable to our senses. The couple participates in this work, the couple must consent to this work, the couple even makes this work tangible to one another in speaking their vows, but it is God's gift.
  
  God is always faithful. In every sacrament God pours out his grace, acting as he has promised to act through the material signs of each sacrament. And in these sacraments, we receive this grace, and open ourselves more fully to the gift already given. Ah, but we all know the heartbreaking reality into which Jesus speaks. Divorce, brokenness, and separation are still possible and all too present.
  
  There is a deep challenge here. But there is also good news. God has united married persons as one flesh, and he wants to give every married person the love needed to live this reality.
  But today's message is not only for those who are married. To love rightly and justly is to imitate the love of God who created us and who is united with us through his Son. This love is meant to be the foundation of every human relationship. Although it has a particular form and expression in marriage, the self-giving, self-sacrificial, other-directed nature of love is what we are commanded to undertake in following the Lord, in all things.
  
  How do we love those God has placed in our lives? Through participation with his grace in the sacraments. In the gift of the Eucharist we will soon receive, may we be given the grace we need to love as Jesus commands.
  
  I look forward to seeing you all at our Diversity Day Celebration this Sunday.
  
  May God be with you in the week ahead!
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- September 29, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  When a person says they are "spiritual but not religious," what does that mean? It can be understood that what is generally meant is that a person is interested in spiritual realities — but is suspicious of the systems and structures that humans use to engage with these realities.
  This suspicion should give those of us intimately bound up in these systems and structures pause, and our hearts should go out to those who might make such a claim.
  The claim to be "spiritual but not religious" is problematic in that it demonstrates a profound misunderstanding of the human person. As embodied souls, spiritual and material beings, we encounter the spiritual through the tangible. And this is what religion is: the tangible, audible, visible, touchable, seeable ways in which we connect with the spiritual. The word religion comes from a Latin term that means "to bind." Religion is how we are bound together with spiritual realities — most importantly, God.
  To be "not religious," then, is to be unbound, untethered, disconnected from the spiritual. There is a real danger here, for we are religious beings by nature! If we are not tethered to God by practices, teachings, rituals, and sacraments given to us by God, then we will, by nature, bind ourselves to … other things. Lesser things.
  In the reading from the Letter of Saint James, we hear a litany of these lesser things. Oh, the temptation to bind ourselves to treasure and luxury and pleasure! Yet none of these things can last. None can carry us through misery in a satisfactory way. None can endure through the doorway of death. They are not enough.
  And so, if we are not bound by the obligations, structures, and teachings of religion, we may find ourselves afloat, lost in a sea of choices — none of which can satisfy the deepest of our human needs.
  As we approach the greatest of these gifts, the Eucharist, let us ask God to show us the areas where we are placing our trust which are outside of his goodness. Let us request the grace to open our hearts to his unexpected gifts. May we be drawn into his life and his love, bound to him in this Blessed Sacrament.
  God be with you in the week ahead!
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- September 22, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  In today's Gospel, Jesus is trying to prepare his disciples for what is coming. This is the second time in Mark’s Gospel that he has told them about the passion and death he must endure, and the resurrection that would follow. But the disciples weren’t getting it; they didn’t understand what Jesus was talking about. How could they? Everything he was saying was so foreign to them that it makes sense that they were confused.
  One might think that the disciples would be curious, that they would want to know more, to understand what Jesus was talking about. But they do not engage the topic, and all we know is that they were afraid to question him.
  Instead, they move on to a different question, one they are not afraid to broach with Jesus: Who among them is the greatest, the second in command? Jesus answers that it is the last, the servant of all. He says that to receive a child in his name is to receive him, and whoever receives him receives the one who sent him, the Father.
  Jesus is focused on what will happen, while the disciples engage in speculation. Jesus wants to change the way the disciples think; he wants to teach them that they will be judged based on the humility with which they serve others, not how important they are.
  Humility, service, and childlike faith — these are qualities of the kingdom. We might argue that curiosity, as a child is curious, is also a kingdom quality because it is a desire to know God more and more, and to be fearless in seeking that knowledge.
  This is an opportunity for us to reflect and change as necessary how we think about our relationship with God. Instead of focusing solely on things of the world, we can seek wisdom that is of God. We can strive to be more Christ-like in our way of living. We pray for the grace to be who he asks us to be and do what he asks us to do: to live humbly and serve one another in love.
  Thank you so very much for the different gifts you all bring to parish life. I kindly encourage everyone to look for something within our parish and be involved with. We are all part of Jesus' family, the Church.
  May God be with you in the week ahead!
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- September 15, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  In today's Gospel, Jesus asks his disciples what other people are saying about him. Then he asks them, Who do you say that I am? When Peter answers that he is the Christ, Jesus warns his disciples not to tell anyone about him. There are certainly practical reasons for this instruction. If the disciples had begun preaching that Jesus was the Messiah, it likely would have angered the Roman and Jewish officials.
  
  After Peter's confession, Jesus immediately begins teaching the disciples about his coming suffering, death, and resurrection. This is the first such prediction in Mark's Gospel. Peter has just confessed that Jesus is the Christ. He has a hard time accepting that Jesus will suffer and die. Though he takes Jesus aside and privately begins to rebuke him, Jesus responds to Peter in front of all the disciples. He tells him that he is thinking like a human being and not like God. He then addresses the entire crowd of potential believers, saying that if any of them want to follow him, they must deny themselves and take up their own crosses.
  
  We should ask ourselves who we say Jesus is and what it means for us to follow him. How do our ideas about suffering fit into this picture? Today's first reading from the prophet Isaiah assures us that when we suffer with Christ, and especially when we endure suffering for Christ, God is with us. The Lord God is our help. If we persevere in following Christ’s way, the way of the cross, we will not be put to shame. If we lose our life for Christ's sake and that of the Gospel, we will be saved.
  
  I kindly ask that you keep our Catechists and Faith Formation leaders as well as our children in prayer as we begin another year of journeying with our children this weekend. If you have not registered your child for Religious Education classes, please do so. It is a beautiful gift you are giving them.
  
  God be with you in the week ahead.
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- September 8, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  The people around Jesus were amazed at the healing they witnessed, and with good reason. They would have been intimately familiar with Scripture, and the promises of God contained therein. They would have recognized these miracles as signs of God’s coming to save. As we heard from the prophet Isaiah in the first reading, when God comes to save, then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared.
  We may be drawn to wonder, then: If they recognized these signs, how did the story end with the crucifixion of their Savior? The salvation Jesus brought did not look like what they expected. They read that God would come with vindication and thus they anticipated a glorious military victory.
  Lest we relegate their confusion to the past, let us consider how often we have missed the signs of God acting in our lives. Many Catholics have the practice of meeting with a spiritual director, a person trained to help others listen for the voice of God and recognize God’s action in their lives. Many saints, such as Ignatius of Loyola, share practices that can help us to listen – to be attentive to God acting and speaking in our lives. All of this is precisely because it is easy to miss, or misunderstand, God working in our lives.
  We, too, might need our eyes to be opened and our ears cleared. Truly, there is a mystery to God's action; we do not know why God acts in certain ways and not in others. But there is still much we can know with certainty. We know that God comes to save us. God is acting for the ultimate and full good of all who are wrapped up in the complex tapestry God is weaving through history. God knows our needs and is present with us. And so, if our hearts are frightened, the voice of the prophet Isaiah rings out still: Be strong, fear not!
  God is with us, intimately close, just as Jesus was to the man in our Gospel today. Here too, he lays his hand on us, offering his healing, bringing springs of water to the thirsty ground of our souls. May we, in this Eucharist, be given eyes to see his loving presence and strength to participate courageously in his saving work.
  Remember to register the children for our Religious Education Program.
  God be with you in the week ahead.
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- September 1, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  I hope you have all had time to be refreshed over the summer months with family and friends. If you have been away for the summer, welcome back as we continue to journey together in faith. Thank you for your presence, dedication, and support of our parish.
  
  In today's Gospel, Jesus takes the Pharisees and scribes to task for being hypocrites: for "honoring God with their lips" while having "hearts that are far from him." In direct opposition to the instructions given to the Israelites by Moses all those many years ago prior to being allowed to enter the Promised Land, they have added to the statutes and decrees of the Lord. They disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition, and teach human precepts as doctrines. They have been imposing too many rules on people which they do not necessarily follow, making observance of the law more burdensome.
  
  If Jesus were here today, what would he call us to task about with regard to God's commands? Would he say we have added too much, subtracted too much, that we focus more on our traditions than on God's law?
  
  Although some of us might fall into the temptation the Pharisees did of focusing on a legalistic, too-strict observance of God's commands, most of us may fall into the opposite temptation: We add too many excuses as to why it's okay for us not to faithfully follow the Lord's law, and so subtract from it. That's not unusual. Granted, it's not a great way to go about our day, and sin is never a healthy choice for a life of holiness, but it's not something new to God.
  
  He knows us. He loves us. He wants us to do better, to be better. He wants us to be in communion with him, here and for eternity.
  
  So, when we struggle, the Lord is there to help us, especially through the sacraments. Going to confession can be difficult, but in this sacrament, Christ not only frees us from the burden of our sins but also strengthens us to resist temptation. And in the Eucharist, the great sacrament we are gathered to celebrate, we receive the Lord himself. Let us not be shy about receiving that help and encouraging everyone we know to do so as well.
  
  God be with you in the week ahead!
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- August 25, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  To be people of faith can mean celebrating moments of great joy and enduring moments of great tribulation. This is our salvation history, and the Scriptures narrate the struggles of ancient Israel and of Jesus' disciples. It can also be a struggle for us today. It may be easier when things are going well. For example, in the first reading, after God handed his people victory in the Promised Land, they heartily commit with Joshua to serve the Lord above other gods. Still, they will be tempted as the memory of what God has done fades or as their fortunes turn.
  
  The same may be true today; living as a disciple can mean undergoing particular trials that others do not, and it is tempting to give up when it becomes too difficult. It can be hard to accept that things are not always going to go our way, that we are not just going to be handed victories all the time by God. It is hard to understand that Jesus did not come to give us wealth and power, but his body and blood as a sacrifice. He came out of love to give himself as the bread of life, to be broken and shared for us.
  This is the mystery of our faith: Jesus was crucified, died, and rose to save us. We will never fully fathom this mystery until we are united with Jesus in heaven. To be people of faith does not mean understanding every teaching or never struggling to accept; faith is more about trust. When Jesus asked the Twelve if they, too, were going to leave, Peter replies that Jesus is the Holy One, so where else would they go? They trust Jesus enough to continue to follow. In time they see and receive what the bread of life means, and this feeds their faith.
  
  We must remember that faith is a gift. We receive it from God, and we respond by committing to serve him and follow Jesus, even when it is not easy. To be people of faith means we trust God to fill us, especially through the mystery of the Eucharist, with the grace we need.
  
  I kindly ask our parents to register the children for our Religious Education Program.
  
  God be with you in the week ahead!
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- August 18, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  In today’s Gospel reading, we continue to hear from the Bread of Life Discourse in John. Unlike the Synoptic Gospels, John's Gospel does not contain an institution narrative (Jesus' words and the narrative surrounding them during the Last Supper when he gave us the Eucharist), so this discourse serves as the foundation for his Eucharistic theology. In today's reading, Jesus summarizes what he has said previously, but also adds to it by identifying the living bread with his flesh which he gives for the life of the world. In other words, he identifies this bread with the sacrifice he will make on the cross.
  
  When the Jewish listeners wonder how he can give them his flesh to eat, he asserts, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. When we consume the Eucharist, we eat and drink Christ's body and blood. We take into our bodies the death and resurrection of Christ, our salvation. The Catechism says: "the principal fruit of receiving the Eucharist … is an intimate union with Christ Jesus." We take Christ’s body into our bodies, becoming what we receive. The Eucharistic banquet is the foundation of life in Christ (CCC 1391). When we eat Christ’s flesh and drink his blood, we are not simply reminded of his death on the cross; we partake of it. Those who eat his flesh and drink his blood receive his life, the life of the Father, life eternal.
  
  When we are baptized, we receive new life in the Spirit as sons and daughters of God. But this life in the Spirit must be sustained. Just as we need food to preserve our bodily life, so do we need the Eucharist to preserve our spiritual life. Each time we receive the Eucharist, the life of grace we received at our baptism is preserved, increased, and renewed (CCC 1392). We are brought into union with Christ and his Church. Our venial sins are wiped away, and we are preserved from mortal sins. Celebrating the Eucharist each Sunday is not something extra we do as Christians; it is the essence of who we are. We are God’s people, called together to receive him in his word and in this sacrament.
  
  May the God of Mercy be with us all in the week ahead!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- August 11, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  Last Sunday began a series of weeks where we hear from John's Gospel, with passages from what is known as the Bread of Life Discourse. Complementing these readings are Scripture passages from the Old Testament, where God provides food and sustenance for the people in the stories. Today's recipient of God's provision is Elijah. The Lord hears him, but rather than provide what Elijah asks for, he gives him what he needs: food, drink, sustenance, and strength.
  
  When Jesus speaks of himself as the bread come down from heaven in today's Gospel, the Jewish people to whom he spoke would have known intimately the stories of the manna during the exodus and God’s provisions for Elijah. So one can understand why they would find Jesus' words puzzling and strange and murmur about them among themselves. After all, Jesus was clearly not bread, but flesh and blood standing before them; and Jesus could not have come down from heaven because, as they point out, they know his parents, human parents, from their town. So was Jesus lying? Confused?
  
  Of course not. He is the bread of life come down from heaven. And we, of course, know this, don't we? After all, this is what we are here to celebrate and receive. We are here because we believe that Jesus is the incarnate Word of God, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity who took on human flesh. He did this to reveal to us the heart of God, to show us through his words and actions, and especially through his passion, death, and resurrection, the boundless love of God for us. He remains present in our midst in the Eucharist, the most Blessed Sacrament, sustaining us on our earthly journey with the promise that our life here will continue in heaven, with him, forever.
  
  What an awesome revelation, and what an awesome gift. May God always give us the grace to appreciate it from the depth of our hearts and praise him for his mercy, because believing in Jesus, the Son of God, means he must live in our hearts. He must take up residence there, and rule there, which means we must obey his commands. The Lord feeds us in the Eucharist and we are commanded to go out to the world, on mission to his people.
  
  As we come forth to receive Jesus in the Eucharist this day, let us do so with hearts hungry for his forgiveness, hungry for his love, hungry for his strength to imitate him and be willing to love and sacrifice as he did for us.
  
  God be with you in the week ahead.
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- August 4, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  It takes time, in relationships, to build trust. We learn to have faith in one another based upon our encounters with each other and how well our expectations are communicated and met. Consider children who learn to trust based on the attention and care they receive before they even begin to realize there is a world outside of themselves. If their needs are not met at this stage, they will have difficulty trusting others when they are older. Or consider our relationships with advisors and mentors; if they prove trustworthy in small matters, we will consider them so in more significant matters.
  
  The same is true of our relationship with God. Abraham had doubts and some incredulity when God first called him and promised him a family and a future. Generations later, God called Abraham's descendants, the Israelites, out of Egypt. They relied on a blessed assurance from him on their journey through the desert to the Promised Land, a journey we meet them on today. Hungry and groaning, they are worried as to whether God would sustain them in the desert. God does, of course, giving them bread from heaven to meet their needs.
  
  We see this in today's Gospel. The time had come for God to feed them not only perishable, daily bread, but bread that endures for eternal life. Jesus tells them about this bread from God that gives life to the world.
  
  God continues to feed us our daily bread and the bread of life, given to us here in the Eucharist. These are so freely given, so readily available to us, that we may forget how we came to rely on God to always provide, and what this means. There is no hunger or need he cannot fill; there is no matter – small or great – we cannot entrust to him.
  
  Let us entrust these small and great matters to God and focus on thanksgiving and praise for the sustenance of daily and eternal life that we are so graciously given. We can do this as we celebrate the Eucharist, and we can remind ourselves daily at every meal.
  
  May God be with you in the week ahead.
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- July 28, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  In today's readings, we hear two stories about miraculous feedings. In the first reading, the prophet Elisha feeds 100 people with only 20 barley loaves and some ears of fresh grain. In the Gospel reading, Jesus feeds 5,000 from only five barley loaves and two fish.
  
  The reference to barley loaves in John's Gospel clearly recalls the story about Elisha. Those present interpret this miracle as a sign that Jesus is the Prophet, the one who is to come. They recognize him as the prophet-king, the messiah. Jesus is in line with the prophets, the fulfillment of prophecies about the messiah, yet he is more than a prophet. He is the Son of God, the Word become flesh.
  
  In both of these stories, an offering is made. God does not feed the crowds from nothing. He takes what is offered and multiplies it. Each week, when we celebrate the Eucharist, God does the same for us. We bring forth an offering of bread and wine, "fruit of the earth and work of human hands," and they become for us the body and blood of Christ. It is not wheat and grapes that are brought forth, but bread and wine. It is God's creation transformed by our work. Though we may have very little connection to the actual production of the bread and wine that are offered, they represent our work, the sacrifices we make each day to bring the world closer to God's dream for it.
  
  With God, nothing is wasted. Our smallest efforts—our prayers, our works, our sufferings—when united with Christ's sacrifice, can be transformed into Christ's very body and blood. We take what God has given us—our bodies, our lives, our talents and abilities—and use them to transform creation through our work. This is what we bring to the table, hoping that God will transform it—transform us—along with the bread and wine.
  
  As we prepare our hearts to receive the Eucharist today, we offer our gifts to God, so that they may be multiplied and that we may become Christ's body, united in our one faith as a sign of our one Lord, who is over all and through all and in all. What a beautiful witness of faith at the National Eucharistic Revival gathering!
  
  I kindly ask parents to be on the watch-out for information on registration for our Religious Education Program.
  
  God be with you in the week ahead!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- July 21, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  Imagine the vibrant and perhaps even chaotic scenes in today's Gospel passage. First, the Apostles are gathering with Jesus and reporting to him all they had done and taught. We do not know the full report, but we can guess it included quite a bit of excitement, stories, and perhaps even loud talking over one another. After all, these were committed disciples who were not afraid of conversation, and Jesus' response was to tell them to come away and rest for a while.
  
  Then, while they are trying to take this much-needed break, they arrive at their place of rest and see a vast crowd awaiting them. People who had seen them leave, and others from all the towns, had hastened by foot to arrive at their destination first. We can imagine this crowd of people coming from many different towns was likely not a quiet one.
  
  If it were one of us facing this group just as we arrived at our destination, intending to embark on a much-needed rest, would we feel sorry for them or for ourselves? Once again, Jesus' selfless and self-sacrificing actions show us the way. He is not upset when he sees the crowd before him. Rather, he is moved by their presence. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
  
  They were like sheep without a shepherd. In the first reading, we heard the Lord condemning the bad shepherds in the world. They were the ones who did not care for their sheep and let them fall away from the flock. The Lord promises that he will send good shepherds who will care and ensure that no one is lost or will go missing. Jesus is the Good Shepherd that the Father sent, and he is taking care to ensure that no one goes missing, as we see him respond to this crowd.
  
  As we hear the Gospel story today, we might consider all the ways in which God is revealing himself to us and consider what is our relationship to him. At times we may feel like we are one of the throngs of people pursuing Jesus and his Apostles, with something in our lives that has us yearning for God’s healing presence. In his infinite mercy and goodness, he responds, shepherding us, teaching us, leading us home.
  
  Or maybe we are following Jesus as the Apostles did, joining him on a journey toward others in need, whether we see it ahead of time or not. In the moment of encounter, Jesus shows us the way, demonstrating compassion and giving us the grace for our hearts to be moved. In our noticing, God is calling us to a responsive action. May we be attentive to God's calling wherever we may be this day.
  
  Two missionaries will join us this weekend for the annual Mission Appeals. Fr. Anthony Sebamalai from the Congregation for the Oblates of Mary Immaculate will celebrate and preach at the English Masses at St. Gabriel. Sister Suny Augustine with the Sisters of the Destitute will speak at all Masses at St. Charles Borromeo.
  
  I am on retreat this week and thereafter I will take some days away for the summer.
  
  God be with you in the week ahead!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- July 14, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  At the beginning of the rite of baptism, the person who is about to be given this adoption in Christ is called by name. This reflects a truth that runs through all of our theology: we are here today because God has called us, by name, as individuals. God knows each of us and has created us to be a part of his loving plan for goodness.
  
  In today's Gospel, we see the striking aftermath of this kind of a call. The disciples are sent, and they drive out many demons and cure many who are ill. They combat the powers of evil and darkness and bring God’s goodness everywhere they go. They also anoint with oil and offer tangible evidence of God’s presence and share God’s healing generously.
  
  There is a temptation to relegate this pattern to the past, to assume such effects could only be manifested in the lives of great saints of other times. But God's power has not changed. God's capacity to work mighty deeds has not diminished.
  
  And our calling is no different: we are created to be saints! Like Amos, we may be going about our own work, but God says to us, “Go.”
  
  Hearing this call requires us to stop and listen, to be formed in prayer, and to attune our hearts and minds to God’s voice. God is calling us at every moment: calling us to relationship with him, calling us to love him and one another while sharing the Gospel, and calling us to a life of holiness in witness to the Gospel message.
  
  No matter where we are today, going about our work like Amos, following Christ like the Twelve Apostles, or somewhere in between, we have been summoned here by God. He has drawn us here to nourish us, to give us nothing less than his whole self so we can answer that call and participate in God’s work in the world. As we prepare to receive him in this holy Eucharist, let us listen for Christ's call and ask for the grace we need to answer courageously, to respond actively, and to transform our world with his love.
  
  We pray for Deacon Steve Roscher from St. Charles and all those attending the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis this week, July 17-21. God hears our prayers for the renewal of our Church. He will answer them through a life-changing transformation of our own hearts. The 10th National Eucharistic Congress is an invitation to experience profound personal revival so we can be sent out to share Christ’s love with a world that so desperately needs it.
  
  I will be going on retreat next week and thereafter take some days away for the summer. Be kind to Fr. Miguel.
  
  God be with you in the week ahead!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- July 7, 2024
- Give to the 2024 Annual Appeal
- June 30, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  Today's Gospel account proclaims two connected miracle stories, one embedded in the other. The story that bookends the account is the healing of Jairus' daughter. A synagogue official such as Jairus would be a man of wealth who supported the synagogue. He was therefore a man of prominence and stature.
  
  This man of wealth and prominence had a serious problem: his daughter had a terminal illness and was, in fact, close to death. It is difficult to imagine the agony he and the child’s mother must have been going through. He could have been filled with anger or despair.
  
  But Jairus' response was neither: instead, it is one of humility and faith before the Lord. Mark writes that seeing Jesus, Jairus fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying … Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live. Jairus recognized that Jesus had greater stature and authority than he had; he also believed that Jesus could heal his daughter and restore her to life.
  
  Mark then interrupts the conclusion of the story of Jairus with her episode. In this account, we encounter a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhagic illness for 12 years and had spent all her money seeking help. Mark tells us this woman came to Jesus and touched his cloak, believing that if she did so, she would be healed. She was made pure and healed by Jesus' touch because of her faith. When questioned about the encounter, like Jairus, she fell, in humility, before Jesus.
  
  In today's Gospel, Mark demonstrates how we are to approach Jesus with our petitions. Whether the petitions are for ourselves or for loved ones, whether we are people of wealth, prestige, or the most inconsequential, seemingly invisible people in the world, we are to come to Christ with faith and humility. And how can we come to have the kind of faith that Jairus and this woman had in Jesus? They seem so confident that Jesus could and would do what they asked, as they needed. Let us strive to have such faith, such confidence in the Lord. Approach the Lord with humility and faith.
  
  Thank you all so very much for your prayerful wishes on the 10th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood. I am blessed to be your pastor and walk this journey of faith with you. Thank you for loving me, and may God continue to bless us and our families, His holy Church, and bring to completion the great work He has begun in each one of us!
  
  God be with you in the week ahead!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- June 23, 2024
  
  Dear sisters and brothers,
  
  As we enjoy the summer months, I want to thank all our volunteers and all who give their time, talent, and treasure in service to our parish family. Thank you for making time to join us at last Saturday’s volunteer appreciation dinner. We enjoyed the company of each other as well as delicious and plentiful food. Let us continue to journey together in faith.
  
  What a scary scene in today’s Gospel passage from Mark. A violent squall quickly comes upon the disciples, and they are besieged with wind and rain. There is nowhere to go for shelter, and the waves are breaking over the boat.
  
  If we place ourselves in this situation, it is completely understandable that the disciples wake Jesus from his sleep as they face this great storm. We likely would have done the same. In their panic, they ask Jesus if he cares that their lives are in danger. Jesus wakes up and miraculously commands the winds and the waves to stillness once again.
  
  Jesus' response to the disciples is striking as he asks them: Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith? He does not rebuke them for waking him up but wants to know why they were afraid. He is wondering about their faith.
  
  Although faith is at the core of everything we do and all that we are, we can still underestimate it. Consider what we think we need from God. We might wonder if what we think we need is truly everything we ought to receive, or perhaps we are holding back from asking God for something. There might be situations in our lives that feel like too much of a longshot to ask God for help with.
  
  Perhaps it is the strained relationship that just seems to get worse year after year. Perhaps it is bad health news. Whatever it is, we need not be afraid to ask Jesus for help in these situations. And we certainly should not underestimate his power. The Gospel tells us that Jesus is right there in the midst of our turmoil. Ask him to get involved. Ask him to calm the winds and the waves that shake us. Ask him for whatever healing or need we have in the present moment. Have faith in him. Our God is one who inspires awe in us. He is the One whom even the wind and the sea obey. As we prepare to receive his greatest gift, the Eucharist, we see how God continues to bless us and be here for us. May we not be afraid to have faith.
  
  God be with you in the week ahead!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- June 16, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  Our readings today talk about the kingdom of God – how it is established, how it grows, and how it will reach its fulfillment.
  
  In the first reading, Ezekiel uses the image of a cedar tree planted at the top of a mountain to prophesy that God will restore Israel under a new king from the line of David. We know that Jesus is this new king, the long-awaited Messiah of Israel. But his kingdom is not the political dynasty the people hoped for. Jesus came to proclaim the kingdom of God.
  
  In the Gospel, Jesus tells two parables about the kingdom of God. In the first, he says the kingdom is like a man who has scattered seed. He does not know how it grows, but he harvests it as soon as it is ripe. In the second, Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a mustard seed. Though it is a small seed, it grows into a large plant that can shelter birds in its branches.
  
  In both parables there is a contrast between small or humble beginnings and great conclusions. There is also an element of mystery in the process of getting from the beginning to the end that suggests divine guidance. The emphasis of the parable is that God is the source of growth.
  
  Where are we in these readings? Somewhere between the planting and the harvest. Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection are the seeds that have been planted. These seeds are scattered and sown each time we hear the word of God or celebrate the sacraments. The kingdom of God is already here. But we also know that Christ will come again. As Paul writes in the second reading, we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
  
  Until then, we walk by faith, not by sight, knowing that what God has in store for us is greater than anything we could imagine. The work of the present is to build the kingdom of God, trusting that he will provide for its growth, even when we cannot see it. We are called to do good and avoid doing evil so we will be ready when harvest time comes.
  
  Everything we have comes from the Lord. We give thanks for it, and we give thanks for the opportunity to care for our sisters and brothers. Most of all, we give thanks when we celebrate the Eucharist, receiving Jesus and experiencing a glimpse of the fullness of the life he prepares for us in heaven.
  
  Have a blessed week!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- June 9, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  Hope you are all finding some time to be refreshed in these summer months and enjoy the beauty of the weather and sun. June is delightfully warm but generally not too humid, the days are long with an entire summer to yet unfold.
  
  The Gospel depicts an eventful day for Jesus, to say the least. His relatives are out to seize him; the scribes are calling him Satan; and on top of it all, he cannot even eat because the crowds are so large.
  
  No doubt, the disunity Jesus felt in this moment pained him. Imagine having the leaders of your faith community and your own family out to get you. If God is a relationship of love, as the Scriptures consistently tell us, then disunity is the antithesis of God. Perhaps this helps us understand the meaning of the Gospel’s reference to blaspheming against the Holy Spirit, the only sin that Jesus says cannot be forgiven. Jesus tells the crowd that if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. Disunity tears us away from ourselves, from others, and from God. We blaspheme the Holy Spirit, who is God's uniting force, when we cultivate division or independence over unity and interconnectedness.
  
  In today's first reading from Genesis, Adam eats the apple in disobedience, and the immediate result is separation. For the first time, the Lord and Adam are detached, and thus the Lord calls out to Adam, Where are you? Adam replies that he hid himself in the garden out of fear. He does not trust God's mercy and love for him, the bedrock of unity, and instead blames his sin on the woman.
  
  This foundational story of our faith tradition reminds us that we were created for unity. It is in our DNA, so to speak; unity is the very essence of who we are, what we were made for, and to which we ultimately will return. In today's Gospel, when Jesus replies Who are my mother and my brothers? his intention is not to slight his family, but to widen the circle of connection. He reveals that everyone around him are his mother and his brothers – a revolutionary shift from bloodline to generational relationships.
  
  Jesus came to teach us that the circle of God's love encompasses everyone, making all of us family. Our job is to widen the circle until no one is left standing outside of it. This was very much evident in our multi-cultural concert last Sunday. Thank you for making our pastorate a beautiful representation of God’s unity in diversity and the many gifts we all bring to parish life.
  
  As we come forward to the table with outstretched hands, we recognize that the Eucharist is the "sacrament of unity." May our hearts and bodies long for this transcendent unity, with God and with one another.
  
  Have a blessed week!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- June 2, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  Today's Gospel recounts the Last Supper with Jesus and his disciples. Although we are familiar with this story, there is one detail we can focus on today. As Jesus is at table with his disciples, he takes the cup and describes it as my blood of the covenant. Covenant is a unique term in our religious language, and one we do not usually encounter in our daily lives. It signifies a holy agreement between us and God. It also shines a light on who we are as God’s people.
  
  Moses was the leader of the people of the first covenant. Bound to God in love and worship, they were his chosen ones; he was their God. Today we heard proclaimed that Moses was following the word of the Lord. To seal his commitment to the covenant, he sacrifices young bulls and uses their blood. This was a serious action that showed unwavering commitment. We know how momentous Moses and this moment was in salvation history.
  
  And yet Jesus goes far beyond this sacrifice. At the Last Supper, he takes the bread and the cup, blesses them, and gives them to his disciples. He proclaims that this is the new covenant. This is what defines us as God’s people. This is what we remember and give thanks for with every celebration of the Mass.
  
  As we celebrate the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, let us reflect on how it defines who we are. It is not just about the sacrifice of Mass we take part in on Sundays, but rather it imbues our whole being. We are a Eucharistic people. We give thanks for the abundant blessings God has given to us, especially the salvation won by his Son. We remember his sacrifice and use it to guide us in how we live in the world. How we see ourselves and how we treat others is rooted in our belief that God loves us so much that he sacrificed his only Son. His Son willingly took part in the sacrifice so that we can be part of his eternal kingdom.
  
  In a few moments, we will once again gather around the table, hearing the words Jesus first spoke at the Last Supper. Let us pray for the grace to grow in understanding of the Eucharist and ourselves. We are a people to whom God gave his only Son to save. We are a people called to be a blessing for all. Every time we celebrate the Eucharist, we remember and give thanks for the new covenant Jesus established with us.
  
  Beginning this weekend, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, we will once again offer the Precious Blood during Communion. Through the Eucharist, God desires to heal, renew, and unify the Church and the world. I thank Deacon Steve Roscher from St. Charles for his inspiring reflections on the Eucharist in light of the National Eucharistic Revival. He will be travelling to Indianapolis in July for the Congress.
  
  Have a blessed week!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- May 26, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  Today, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, we hear about who God is and how he relates to us. In the time of Moses, God did something new, revealing himself to his people and fighting on their behalf. Moses tells the people that God is the Lord of both heaven and earth. There is no other God. Therefore, they should follow his commandments so they can enjoy his promises.
  
  In and through Jesus, God begins to fulfill these promises. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus instructs the Apostles to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. He tells them to teach all that he has commanded and promises to be with them until the end of the age, when all will be fulfilled.
  
  The sending of the Spirit is how God is present to us even now. As Paul writes in his Letter to the Romans, we receive a Spirit of adoption at our baptism. We become children of God. The doctrine of the Trinity teaches us that God is three persons, united in love. We are baptized into this community, this family. We have received the Spirit that makes us sons and daughters of God the Father. God did something new when he revealed his name to Moses, but he did something even more radical when he became a man. Christ became human, so that we might become divine. Through our baptism we share in this divine life, the life of the Trinity.
  
  Anything that God did then, God still does today. God still speaks to us, fights for us, and delivers us. God came to dwell among us once, but he also promised to remain with us always. On this Trinity Sunday, let us reflect on how our own lives, our own individual stories, fit into the grand history of salvation. As we prepare to celebrate Christ’s presence with us in the Eucharist, may we thank God for the gift of faith that was born in us at our baptism and is nourished by this holy communion.
  
  The Parish Religious Education Program had its last classes this past week. Ana Trujillo and Allison Mooney did an outstanding job with this program all year. We have very fine teachers in the program who are faithful to the ministry of training the children in the Catholic Faith. A huge thank-you goes out to each and every one of them!
  
  Thank you for joining us in the beautiful celebration for Deacon Bienvenu and the many gifts we all bring to parish life.
  
  Have a blessed week!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- May 19, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  Today is a great feast. It is one of the solemnities – a feast day of the highest ranking – of the Church year. This is the feast of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church. It is a joyous celebration, with special colors and music. We give praise and sing, Come, Holy Spirit, Come!, as we recall the story of Pentecost and the power of the Holy Spirit in our Church and world.
  
  As recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit descends on the Apostles appearing as tongues of fire and with the sound of a driving wind. The Spirit empowers the Twelve to speak the native languages of all those gathered. It says later in this same chapter that about 3,000 people are baptized and given new life in the Spirit that day (2:41), and from here the community grows. We celebrate this as the beginning of the Church, borne by the Spirit into the world.
  
  The Spirit has a history of giving life. The Spirit is the mighty wind that swept over the waters at creation. It is the breath of God that gave life to Adam. The Spirit anointed Israel’s kings and spoke through the prophets. By the power of the Spirit, Jesus was born of Mary. The Spirit descends on Jesus at his baptism and remains with him throughout his ministry.
  
  The Spirit not only gives life, but renews life. The Holy Spirit has given us life, and given life to the Church. But we are not perfect; like the disciples we will always be in need of healing and comfort. Thus, the Spirit continues to be poured out upon us, to heal our wounds and give us strength anew. With every intercession the Spirit makes on our behalf, with every word of Jesus the Spirit reminds us of, and with every sacrament in which we participate, we are renewed. With new life in the Spirit, we are able to go forth to love and serve the Lord. The Holy Spirit supports and sustains us, empowering us with gifts for the good of the Church.
  
  Thank you for celebrating the different ways in which the Spirit is manifested in our community and in each one of us. We are the Body of Christ. Let us together rejoice in the Spirit and proclaim the Good News boldly.
  
  May God's peace be with you in the week ahead!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- May 12, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  Happy Mothers Day to all our mothers on this Solemnity of the Ascension. We greatly appreciate the gift of motherhood and your presence in our community! May we honor them, our mothers, by giving the love they have given us.
  
  We all likely have had a moment or two where we felt like we just could not complete some task, or walk a particular road that stretched before us, or carry a burden that pressed us down. We have had moments where we didn’t know how to move forward.
  
  In today's Gospel, Jesus gives the Eleven a heavy task: Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. He also commissions each one of us to this work, through our baptism. In our families, our schools, and in our places of work, Jesus sends us forth to make his presence known.
  
  This is a profound challenge! And if we already feel as if we might be stumbling under our given loads, we may feel questions arise. How can I do this? How could God ask more?Why is this so difficult?
  
  On today's feast of the Ascension, we lift our eyes along with the disciples to behold our risen Lord's glory. In doing so, we have the answers to our questions.
  
  For as soon as Jesus gives his disciples this command, he promises salvation for all who come to believe. His words convey assurance that they will not act on their own, or be alone, but that his power and authority will flow through them.
  
  God invites us to participate in his work, and our Lord carries these burdens with us. He does not take them away, but he lifts them as he walks with us. And in his ascension, Jesus carries our burdens with him to heaven.
  
  Christ does not leave us in the Ascension, but he does lift our eyes, inviting us to behold his power and glory. He reminds us that this power and glory is given to us, in a particular way, through the sacraments. In the Eucharist, Christ gives himself to us. He is with us in our struggles and helps us carry our burdens; he makes this presence known in a way we can taste and see.
  
  May the Ascension renew our hope, fill us with confidence, and raise our vision. May our eyes, as they rise to behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, be given clarity to see the promise of Christ's presence in our lives.
  
  Congratulations to all our children who celebrated First Holy Communion this weekend. Whenever I celebrate these Masses, I recall my own First Holy Communion. Receiving the Eucharist for the first time is an event that Catholics remember for the rest of their lives! Hopefully, that will be the same for the new recipients!
  
  May God be with you in the week ahead!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- May 5, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  Each of today's readings puts God's love at the center of its message. Perhaps we can envision our own experiences of God’s love in our lives. Each one of us has our own particular encounters where we have felt love from God, including through the love of others. It might be the love we have felt from a parent who carefully passed down the faith to us. It might be the love we have felt from a dear friend who understands us so well. It might be the love we have felt when we take a moment to feel gratitude for the blessings in our lives.
  
  Our Gospel passage from John shines a light on how divine love shows itself to us. Jesus tells his disciples: As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. Jesus here is asking his disciples to begin with their experience of his love. They witnessed Jesus’ love when they saw him bring healing to those suffering from incurable illnesses. They witnessed Jesus' love when he spoke words of hope to those who were on the margins. They witnessed Jesus' love when he picked them as his followers and empowered them to share his message with others. Now, Jesus is asking them to take the love they have witnessed and practice it in their lives with those around them.
  
  Furthermore, Jesus is not just giving them an example to follow with his instructions. It is how he reveals himself to us. If we want to grow in understanding of God, then we must begin with love. God invites us into friendship with him; we follow his call when we share his love with others.
  
  The Easter season is not over; let us continue to open ourselves up to experiences of God's love. Remain in it. Share it with others. As we continue our journey together, partaking of this holy sacrifice, let us pray for the grace to strengthen our friendship with God. May it increase our understanding of him as we are sent into the world.
  
  More than 110 children of our pastorate will make their First Holy Communion next Saturday, May 11 and on Sundays in Easter. I kindly ask you to keep these children and their families in your prayers. May this sacred and solemn event be always cherished as they continue to grow in faith. We are called to friendship with God, living in his example of love.
  
  May God's peace be yours!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- April 28, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  Springtime is here! Spring is the season for preparing fields and gardens for growth. Debris is cleared away. Soil is turned over for seeding. Dormant plants are nurtured for regrowth. I love to see plants spring up from the earth this time of the year! A skilled grower knows how to trim and prune to encourage new, revitalized growth. With care and tending, the field or garden will be a beautiful and abundant sight.
  
  Jesus uses this imagery of pruning and growth to teach us about the nurturing relationship we have with the Father. The Father is the vine grower, Jesus is the true vine, and we are his branches. By remaining in Jesus, as branches of the vine, his Word remains in us and bears good fruit.
  
  All we need to do is remain. Jesus says "remain" eight times in the eight verses of this Gospel. Remain in me, as I remain in you, he says. Remaining together in him, his Word bears fruit in us. As in today's second reading, Jesus' word is to love one another. As the Father trims and prunes us, we grow and flourish, bearing more and more fruit of love for one another.
  
  We remain in Jesus, and we leave the pruning and tending to the Father. The Father knows what we need — and don't need — to flourish and be fruitful. He knows what sins need forgiving and what fears and bad habits need breaking. He knows what regrets and old hurts need forgetting and what brokenness needs healing to make way for new, revitalized growth.
  
  With his care and tending, the Father makes us, his vineyard, a beautiful and abundant sight. With the Father's care and tending, we flourish. We are fully alive with hearts open wide to his love. We grow together as a fellowship of disciples nourished by Jesus' word.
  
  Like Saul in our first reading who speaks out boldly in the name of Jesus, we give witness as a flourishing and fruitful community. Those in need of Jesus and his saving love are attracted to the beauty and abundance they see. They are drawn to our fellowship. They desire the nourishment of Jesus' word, the care and tending of the Father, and the love of the community.
  
  Anyone who is new here or returning after time away: know that all are welcome in this vineyard. Remain with us, and together we will remain in Jesus, as his disciples. This is all we need to do: remain. Remain in Jesus, remain together, remain in his love. By the grace of his Word and sacraments, we will grow and flourish together. What a wonderful way to give God glory as we continue to celebrate this Easter season.
  
  Have a blessed week!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- April 21, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  As Jesus says at the start of the Gospel, he is the Good Shepherd. And what makes him a Good Shepherd? First, he lays down his life for the sheep. Second, he knows his sheep, and they know him.
  
  First, he lays down his life for the sheep. The Lord didn't just say he was willing to die for us; he did so. Many of us sacrifice a great many things for our family, friends, or country, or in our commitment to a cause. The people we love are worth those sacrifices, and we likely even have the sense that we would give our life for them. Jesus came into our human history, took on human flesh, and willingly chose to offer himself to the Father as the ultimate and perfect sacrifice of love.
  
  But Jesus wasn't just human. He was, and is, fully divine as well. He is the incarnate Son of God who died for us out of love, to offer us salvation; to bring us back into communion with God so as to be called the children of God. He knows us, and we know him. But how can we come to know our Shepherd even better?
  
  One way to come to know our Shepherd is by reading and meditating on the Scriptures, which are his own words to us. As we immerse ourselves in the story of salvation, we encounter a God who seeks a personal relationship with his flock, who knows each one of his people: our strengths, our weaknesses, our desires, our hopes and aspirations, our sins, our disappointments, and heartaches. We also learn that despite our less-than-stellar response at times to the riches the Lord showers upon us, he continues to seek us, to pursue us, and ultimately call us to his side for eternity.
  
  Another way to come to know our Shepherd is to do what we are doing here — gathering to celebrate and receive the Eucharist, the body and blood of our Good Shepherd. May God give us the grace to truly know and receive his tender love in this sacrament.
  
  And so, thank you for joining us every Sunday around the table of the Lord and for your continuous dedication and support of the work of our parish. We are on this journey together. God gave us the Good Shepherd so that for all time we would have an advocate and protector.
  
  May God's peace be yours in the week ahead!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- April 14, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  Fear is one of the most common of all emotions. We all fall into its grasp from time to time. It can be very real and even cause us to freeze up and not act as we should. The disciples certainly experienced this when Christ appeared in their midst as they were listening to the two disciples recount what had taken place on the way.
  
  The risen Christ came, offering them reassurance and peace. It is one thing to hear a story about Christ's post-resurrection appearance; it is another to see it with your own eyes. The evangelist does not hold back in describing their fear, even their incredulity. They see Jesus, but they immediately think it might be a ghost or a hallucination.
  
  But Jesus will not allow that fear to have the last word. Reassuring them of his real, actual presence, he proves it by the most common of all actions: He invites them to look at his hands and feet, and to touch him so they will sense the reality of flesh and bones, which a ghost does not have. And then eats in front of them — something else a ghost would not do. But more than just ameliorating the disciples' fear, Jesus’ presence has a triple purpose: to prove his resurrection, to help them understand the fulfilled Scriptures, and to prepare them for their mission before the world.
  
  It is easy in our broken humanity to allow fear and doubt to control us. Yet they must never have the last word: Christ always finds a way to reassure us of the truth and reality of the Resurrection, and its offer of life. As believers, we find that reassurance in the sacramental and liturgical life of the Church where the Scriptures are proclaimed, and the Spirit is at work. Here we encounter Christ. Here he takes away our fears and doubts and frees us to go out and share the Good News. Jesus has conquered sin and death. The reign of fear is over. When we are able to move past our fears, Jesus is there to accompany us on that journey out of darkness.
  
  We can always trust in the words of Jesus. We need not be afraid. Jesus is with us always, no matter the time or the place. We don't have to wait for a convenient time. We don't have to make an appointment. He is always available to us. How liberating to know that he will take on the burden of our fears if only we trust in him. His love is unconditional. His comfort is there for the taking. His promise is forever. We need not live in fear when we can instead live surrounded by his most holy peace.
  
  Have a blessed week!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- April 7, 2024
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  Today we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. Jesus asked Saint Faustina to institute this feast during one of his appearances to her in 1931. On this day, we are encouraged to trust in God's merciful love for us and draw near to him and also to perform spiritual and corporal works of mercy out of love for God, who redeemed us by his suffering and death.
  
  In today's Gospel reading, Jesus shows the disciples his hands and his side. His glorified body still bears the marks of his passion, signs of what he suffered for our sake. It is out of his side that the blood and water flowed when Jesus was pierced with a spear, while he was on the cross. In the Divine Mercy image, we see the rays of red and white pouring from Jesus' heart, representing that blood and water and symbolizing the graces available to us in the sacraments. We are encouraged to approach him in the sacraments of reconciliation and Eucharist to receive his healing and nourishment.
  
  Jesus breathes on the Apostles and says, Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained. It is through this gift of the Holy Spirit, passed on through apostolic succession and priestly ordination, that we can be assured of the gift of God's forgiveness today. Each time we turn back to God, we will find that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms.
  
  When we receive God's mercy, it frees us to see more clearly who we are and how we are to act. Today's feast invites us to perform acts of mercy out of love for God. We are invited to share the truth with others because we know that Jesus desires to show mercy for their souls, as he has for ours. As children of God, what we are given is meant to be shared. We are called to be forgiving because we have been forgiven, and to be merciful as God is merciful.
  
  As we celebrate the Easter mystery, let us ask for that same courage and commitment to living and sharing the promise of the risen Lord with others. Whatever our fears or worries, may the peace of Christ console our hearts and give us joy and peace this day.
  
  Thank you for participating with us in the Holy Week and Easter services. The Easter season is just beginning! The joy of Easter Day lasts not for one day, but for fifty! I look forward to seeing you all throughout this joy-filled time.
  
  God be with you in the week ahead! Happy Easter!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- March 31, 2024
  
  Dear Brothers and Sisters,
  
  Happy Easter. Christ the Lord is risen! Alleluia, alleluia!
  
  The Resurrection is both an event in human history and an event not subject to time. The Logos, the Word of God, the second person of the Trinity, became Incarnate to rescue us from the bondage of sin and death. Jesus himself became sin who knew no sin (2 Cor. 5:21). He took on all the sin of the past, present, and future, and he destroyed it so that it no longer has dominion over us or holds us captive. He truly set us free from Satan. And, in being raised from the dead, he has conquered death. By virtue of our baptism, we are grafted onto Christ and so we, too, witness to the Resurrection. We encounter the risen Christ in the Eucharist, and at an appointed time we will be raised with him to everlasting life.
  
  Easter reminds us that God does fulfill his promises and that he will never abandon us. Jesus continuously provides moments of rising to new life in our lives. He is continuously setting us free from sin through the sacrament of reconciliation, reigniting our strength with reception of the holy Eucharist, and speaking to us through his word.
  
  As we begin this holy Easter season, let us ask for the grace to fall more in love with the resurrected Jesus in the Eucharist. Let us ask him to continuously reveal himself to us, that every time we receive him, we recognize that we are tasting a bit of heaven. Whatever our fears or worries, may the peace of Christ console our hearts and give us joy and peace this day.
  
  Thank you for participating with us in the Holy Week services. I thank all of you for your kindness, your faithful witness to the truth, and for all that you do to make this pastorate of Saint Charles Borromeo and Saint Gabriel a place of faith and of devotion to Our Blessed Lord and His Holy Church!
  
  I wish to thank all of those who contributed to the celebrations of Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. I am grateful to all who decorated the church, those who assisted with the music, our Lectors and Extraordinary Ministers, and the Altar Servers who assisted with some of our celebrations. The ushers and parish sacristans are such a help to us, and so thank you, too. I am grateful for all our office staff. Know of my prayers and deep appreciation for all you do.
  
  May the Lord bless and protect you in the week ahead!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- March 24, 2024
  
  Dear Brothers and Sisters,
  
  Palm Sunday ushers in Holy Week. Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem marks our entrance into the holiest week of the year. I kindly ask that you note the schedule of liturgies and events for Holy Week. I look forward to celebrating the Triduum with you all.
  
  Today we cover more ground with Jesus than on any other Sunday. We begin with Jesus at Bethpage, preparing for his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Once in the city, Jesus joins the disciples in the Upper Room for the Last Supper. Later, he awaits his fate in Gethsemane. After his arrest, he is taken to the high priest, then to the governor. Finally, he is scourged at the praetorium, crucified at Golgotha, and buried in the tomb.
  
  On this circuitous journey from Bethpage to Golgotha, so much changes, and so much is lost. Jesus goes from hailed hero to crucified criminal. He loses his status, his friends, and his dignity. His disciples face losses as well; they lose their courage, their leader, their sense of security. Jesus predicted his passion more than once, but never in specific terms. Neither the disciples nor Jesus himself knew exactly what it would take from them.
  
  On our journey with Jesus through life, we, too, experience changes and loss. We often make sacrifices out of love for children and grandchildren, our parents, and other relations. We give to, and do for, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and fellow parishioners. And we all experience loss living on this earth — some more than others.
  
  Jesus is with us in our loss, and he knows what it means to sacrifice for love. He emptied himself, becoming human to be with us, to love us, and to show us how to love like him. He surrendered his hero status and humbled himself out of love, even to the point of accepting death as a crucified criminal.
  
  Jesus' passion is our passion, too. We journey together through loss — never alone, but always united with him. In this Eucharist, we recall the Last Supper and how he shares himself with us out of love. Gathered as one with him through this sacrament, we face together whatever losses may be.
  
  May we together walk with Jesus during these solemn days and nights, remembering how he emptied himself in his life and death and that he lives resurrected in our midst. For this, too, presents endless possibilities for our lives.
  
  God be with you in the week ahead.
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
The Gift of the Eucharist
- Talk #3: March 14, 2024
- Talk #4: March 21, 2024
- March 17, 2024
  
  Dear Brothers and Sisters,
  
  As we get closer to Easter, I look forward to celebrating the sacraments for many of our children and all those in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). The whole liturgical life of the Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments. There are seven sacraments in the Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation (Penance), Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.
  
  Sacraments are "powers that comes forth" from the Body of Christ, which is ever-living and life-giving. They are actions of the Holy Spirit at work in his Body, the Church. They are "the masterworks of God" in the new and everlasting covenant.
  
  Jesus invites everyone into His Church. Once we accept His invitation, He welcomes us with the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion. Baptism initiates us into the death and resurrection of Christ; Confirmation initiates us into a relationship with the Holy Spirit; and Holy Communion initiates us into communion with the Father, who receives the same body and soul of His Son that we receive in this sacrament.
  
  If you are an adult, practicing Catholic who missed the sacrament of Confirmation, please contact me or use the sign-up sheet in the Narthex and I will work with you to celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation.
  
  God's good works are all around us; we need only open our eyes to see and our hearts to believe. In this season of repentance, may we remember that resurrection is coming. May we sing praise to God, who has already won the victory for us.
  
  Our Lenten Pastorate Penance service takes place this Wednesday, March 20 at 7:00 PM in the church. If you have been reluctant to come to the sacrament, have been away for some time, or just find it difficult to get to a Saturday afternoon confession time, this is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with Christ and his Church.
  
  Have a blessed week.
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- March 10, 2024
  
  Dear Brothers and Sisters,
  
  The days of Lent call each of us into a closer union with the person of Jesus Christ. It is always good to see each and every one of you every Sunday together with your families — the whole community of St. Gabriel gathered around the table of the Lord as one family journeying in faith. And so, it is important that you make it a point to come to church on Sundays here at the parish that you call your spiritual home. That's the beauty of parish life. And I mean every Sunday! Not one Sunday and then followed by a couple of Sundays on which we are not present!
  
  This is our Sunday duty. When we talk about the "Sunday Obligation", we generally mean that as Catholics, we have a duty to participate at Mass on Sundays and certain other Holy Days, except when prevented by a legitimate reason. I therefore encourage you to come to St. Gabriel, your parish home, every Sunday.
  
  In the words of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, "the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist is at the heart of the Church's life. We Christians go to Sunday Mass to encounter the Risen Lord, or better still to allow ourselves to be encountered by him, to hear his Word, to nourish ourselves at his table, and thus to become the Church, that is, his mystical living Body in the world…. Without Christ we are condemned to be dominated by everyday weariness, with its worries, and by fear of the future. The Sunday encounter with the Lord gives us the strength to experience the present with confidence and courage, and to go forth with hope. For this reason, we Christians go to encounter the Lord on Sunday, in the Eucharistic celebration."
  
  I am pleased to share with you that the Archbishop has accepted to ordain Seminarian Bienvenu as deacon on May 18, 2024. This is the last step before ordination to the priesthood. We are grateful to be part of Bienvenu's journey. Thank you all for providing a suitable parish setting for his pastoral year experience. As Bienvenu prepares for ordination, I kindly ask that you keep him in your daily prayers.
  
  On Wednesday, March 20, we will have a number of priests available to hear confessions at our Pastorate Lenten Penance Service. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring your family to the Sacrament of Penance as preparation for the celebration of Easter! We will begin at 7:00 PM. Our Lord Jesus Christ entered this world to bring about the forgiveness of sins and to open the gates of heaven for the faithful. This He accomplished through the Paschal Mystery of His own suffering, death, and resurrection. We enjoy the benefits of this mystery in the confession of our sins in the Sacrament of Penance. Let this be a time of joy and blessed relief for us all!
  
  God be with you in the week ahead!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- March 3, 2024
  
  As we continue our Lenten journey, more than 102 children in our Religious Education Program are preparing to make their First Holy Communion. The parish has been preparing 30 of our young people to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. I sincerely thank Ana Trujillo, Dan Bremehr, and all of our volunteer teachers and catechists for facilitating these programs. Deacon Manuel has also been facilitating all those from within the Spanish Community in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults to be baptized—and in some cases received into the Catholic Church—at the Easter Vigil. What a blessing for our community to journey and support them on their faith journey!
  
  As a parish family, we help organize, instruct, and witness the passages of those preparing for baptism, Holy Eucharist, Confirmation, and reception into our faith community. We experience the distinct honor of assisting these seekers while remembering our own times of faith-life cycle events. Moving through this season towards the great days of the resurrection festival, we pray sincerely for all of these candidates for the sacraments, for ourselves, for each other, and for the extensive work of our parish.
  
  I kindly ask you to mark your calendars for these very important dates:
  
  March 16, 2024 at 10:00 AM:
  First Reconciliation (Confession) for our Children
  
  April 20, 2024 at 9:00 AM:
  First Communion Retreat
  
  May 11, 2024 at 9:00 AM:
  First Communion Mass (English)
  
  May 11, 2024 at 11:00 AM:
  First Communion Mass (Spanish)
  
  May 25, 2024 at 11:00 AM:
  Confirmation Mass
  
  I thank all of you for your kindness, for your faithful witness to the truth, and for all that you do to make this parish of Saint Gabriel a place of faith and of devotion to Our Blessed Lord and His Holy Church! May the Lord bless and protect you in the week ahead.
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- February 25, 2024
  
  Dear Brothers and Sisters,
  
  The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is our treasured gift as Catholics. The Church believes and proclaims the true nature of the Most Blessed Sacrament — it is the Body and Blood, soul, and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. At the Last Supper, Jesus intended to give to His Apostles, and through them given to us, His Precious Body and Blood! How can this be so? Our Lord and God has power and authority over all things. It is not at all beyond Him to change what a thing is without changing its basic characteristics… He can and does change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus without changing its look or its taste. How magnificent!
  
  Each time we attend the Mass, the mystery unfolds before our very eyes! The music, the prayers, the environment filled with sacred character and with the presence of the Holy and Divine. The altar, kissed by the priest at the beginning and at the end of the Mass, is the place where the sacrifice is revealed. The altar of sacrifice itself is a place of holiness — privileged in its own right. How glorious is the Mass where we receive not only the Word of God but also the Holy Eucharist, making us one with Jesus Christ and one with each other. Let us rejoice and be glad in Him!
  
  Thank you all for joining us at Mass every Sunday. Invite a friend or family member to our community. Also, mark your calendars and join us for our Lenten Discussion Series — Renewed in the Lord: The Gift of the Eucharist on Thursdays at 7:00 PM in the church: February 29 and March 7, 14, and 21. Please take advantage of this opportunity to grow in your knowledge and love of the Holy Eucharist as part of your Lenten journey!
  
  I have been spending quite a bit of time introducing Fr. Miguel to parish life at the pastorate. Fr. Miguel enjoyed his first week among us, meeting various parishioners in the mix.
  
  God be with you in the week ahead!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- February 18, 2024
  
  Dear Brothers and Sisters,
  
  Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. The palm branches from last year brought to the church by you were burned to make the ashes to be imposed on the faithful. The custom of collecting and burning palm branches is the long-standing tradition of the Church. Thanks for your contribution.
  
  This season of Lent offers us an opportunity to reflect on how we might allow Jesus to repair our spirits when we are troubled by events in our lives or when we fall into temptation and sin. Lent also offers us a time to evaluate how we are helping others to bring goodness and beauty to their lives. Please check the bulletin for the various events that will help us on our Lenten journey.
  
  The 2024 Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries, Faith in Action: Transforming Lives and Impacting Communities, is well underway! We thank all those who participated in the in-pew commitment weekend. Every family's involvement, no matter the amount given, is crucial and valued! It’s our hope and prayer that we can all participate, reflecting our commitment to both our parish and the broader Church community.
  
  Thank you for your presence, participation, and continued support of our parish. Be sure to give a warm welcome to Fr. Miguel.
  
  God be with you in the week ahead!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- February 11, 2024
  
  Dear Brothers and Sisters,
  
  As we begin this year's Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries and reflect on what it means to give in faith, hope, and love, remember that your support is more than just a financial donation. It's an active engagement in the transformative work of our Church. Since 1992, your generosity has helped to transform thousands of lives across the Archdiocese of Baltimore by supporting more than 100 life-affirming ministries — a testament to our shared commitment to making a difference.
  
  On this weekend when we also encourage more volunteers to participate in parish ministries, remember that your gift to the Annual Appeal also directly supports our parish. A portion of every gift is rebated back to St. Gabriel, funding ministry right here in our community and nurturing our local parish life. The participation of every St. Gabriel family in this mission is crucial and valued, and no gift is too small. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration and for the many ways you contribute to our Church’s life and mission!
  
  Lent begins this week, and we will have many parish activities for this season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Stations of the Cross will be prayed in the church every Friday at 7:00 PM in English and at 8:00 PM in Spanish. We will hold a Penance Service for the pastorate on March 20.
  
  As we know, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is sponsoring a three-year initiative to increase the belief in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. We are already at the parish phase of the National Eucharistic Revival from June 11, 2023 – July 17, 2024. This second phase fosters Eucharistic devotion at the parish level, strengthening our liturgical life through the faithful celebration of the Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, missions, resources, preaching, and organic movements of the Holy Spirit. Thank you all for joining us at Mass every day, and remember that the chapel is open Monday through Friday for personal prayer. Christ is the center of all that we do! As part of our pastorate participation in this revival year, I will offer a series of talks about the Eucharist on four Thursdays in Lent from 7:00 — 8:30 PM. I hope you will take advantage of this opportunity as part of your Lenten journey.
  
  We are excited to welcome Fr. Miguel, our new Associate Pastor, to St. Gabriel and St. Charles this week! He will celebrate some of our 9:00 AM Masses in the days ahead, and he will be here at St. Gabriel next weekend. Please introduce yourself to Fr. Miguel and make him feel at home in our parish.
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- February 4, 2024
  
  Dear Brothers and Sisters,
  
  Lent will soon be here, and this is an excellent time to begin reflecting on the ways that you and I plan to journey together with Christ towards Easter this year. What changes and sacrifices can we make in our lives with our time, talent, and treasure? Our full schedule of parish Lenten activities and observances will be available next week, and we look forward to your participation in the Stations of the Cross, opportunities for the sacrament of reconciliation, and other meaningful ways to follow the traditional practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving at St. Gabriel during Lent.
  
  We will hold our annual Ministry Fair next weekend after all Masses. St. Gabriel is blessed with wonderful parish volunteers who selflessly give of their time and talents to serve with us in liturgical ministries at Mass, in our faith formation programs, and in our parish committees, but we always need more "laborers for the harvest". This week, be open to the ways in which God may be calling you to give of yourself through service to others and to your parish community. Our volunteers will answer your questions next weekend and help you learn much more about the many ways that you can use your talents to serve the parish of St. Gabriel. We need you!!!
  
  And on February 10-11, we will also speak at all Masses about the 2024 Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries. The Appeal is a beacon of hope that supports more than 100 ministries, educational programs, and community services in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Through the Appeal, Catholics in Maryland put their faith in action with generosity that transforms lives and helps to meet today’s urgent needs in ways such as:
  
  The work of Catholic Charities and St. Vincent de Paul, providing millions of meals, job placements, and shelter nights
  
  Financial aid and scholarships for Catholic schools
  
  Vital ministries and services in prisons, hospitals, and college campuses
  
  Crisis Pregnancy centers, Hispanic Ministry, Vocations, Evangelization, Clergy Care, and Youth Ministry — the list goes on and on! Each of these ministries forms the backbone of our mission to live out the Gospel in tangible, compassionate ways.
  
  Please join in this mission by making a gift to the Annual Appeal. No matter the size, your gift is a powerful act of faith that allows us to continue these essential works of mercy, love, and outreach. If you a dedicated contributor to the Appeal, I thank you for your continued generosity and humbly ask you to consider renewing your pledge. If you have never given to the Appeal, let's prayerfully consider how each of us can best contribute to the vital work of the Appeal's ministries. The involvement of every St. Gabriel family, no matter the amount given, is most important, and remember: we, as a parish, also benefit from the Appeal!
  
  Thank you, and may God bless you!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- January 28, 2024
  
  Dear Brothers and Sisters,
  
  On the weekend of February 10-11, we will speak at all Masses about our Annual Appeal for 2024, a time when we embrace the theme “Faith in Action: Transforming Lives and Impacting Communities.” This theme is a call to each of us to live out our faith through deeds that extend beyond our church walls. It is about putting our beliefs into practical, loving action — to transform lives and positively impact our communities.
  
  Since the Annual Appeal began, Catholics across Maryland have generously contributed over $64 million, supporting more than 100 ministries that spread far and wide across the state. Gifts to the Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries support Family Ministry, Clergy Care Ministry, the Office of Divine Worship, Black Catholic Ministries, Camp Glow, Prison and Hospital Ministry, Youth Ministry, and many more — providing essential spiritual care, enhancing liturgical life, and strengthening family bonds throughout our Archdiocese. In these examples of our Faith in Action, our faith becomes a beacon of hope and a force for change.
  
  Importantly, your gift also directly supports our parish. A portion of every gift is rebated back to us, funding ministry right here in our community. This means that your generosity not only reaches across the Archdiocese but also nurtures our local parish life at St. Gabriel! In 2024, our appeal rebate will help us to complete much-needed repairs in the Annex Chapel and provide a proper set-up for Eucharistic Adoration.
  
  I thank those of you who have supported the appeal in previous years! This year, our parish goal is $32,100, with a “stretch goal” of $42,801. We have fallen short of our parish goals for the past three years here at St. Gabriel, with only a small percentage of our parish families participating. It is my hope and prayer that we can reach and exceed the target this year, reflecting our commitment to our parish and to the broader Church community.
  
  I invite every family in our parish to participate in the Annual Appeal, regardless of the size of your contribution. As we reflect on what it means to give—in faith, hope, and love—remember that your support is more than just a financial donation. It is an active engagement in the transformative work of our Church.
  
  At Mass next week, let us focus on increasing our collective participation in this mission. The involvement of every family, no matter the amount given, is crucial and valued. Let's consider how our faith in action can bring about meaningful change.
  
  Thank you for your thoughtful consideration and for the various ways you contribute to our Church's life and mission. May God bless and guide each of us in our reflections and decisions in the coming week.
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- January 21, 2024
  
  Dear Brothers and Sisters,
  
  I hope you have adapted well to the winter storms and our first snowfall in two years! I also want to share some very important news for our pastorate that I received from the Archdiocese of Baltimore. To help us better minister to our large Hispanic population, the Archdiocese has decided to assign an Associate Pastor to us who comes from a Spanish-speaking culture. This will happen quickly — our new bilingual priest will join us in February, and I will have more information about him in the weeks ahead as we warmly welcome him to St. Gabriel and St. Charles Borromeo. Fr. Rodney will be moving, and his final day with us will be January 31st.
  
  We thank Fr. Rodney for working and serving with us during these past five months, especially in a time of great changes and challenges for a new pastorate! He will preside at all English Masses next weekend, January 27-28. Please greet Fr. Rodney in the Narthex after the Masses with your good wishes and words of thanks.
  
  Lent will soon be here, and it begins on February 14th with Ash Wednesday. We have some adjustments to the usual liturgical schedule for Ash Wednesday this year as we try to accommodate the parishioners of St. Gabriel and St. Charles in the best possible way. Please note the schedule of services and activities during Lent in our parish bulletins, and we will announce them repeatedly through all of our communication channels.
  
  It is wonderful to see more and more St. Gabriel parishioners returning to Mass, and we look forward to seeing even more of our flock in the weeks ahead. If you have not been to Mass for one reason or another, please know that you are missed and always welcome to return to St. Gabriel.
  
  Lent would be an excellent time to rejoin us! One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is courage: the courage we need to be faithful in our daily lives — to stand up for the Lord and His Gospel. Let us use that gift to live faithfully in Christ.
  
  God be with you this week,
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- January 14, 2024
  
  Dear Brothers and Sisters,
  
  Each year in mid-January, our nation celebrates the life and legacy, the dream and the memory, of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We honor his peaceful, nonviolent struggle against racial injustice. We also prepare for the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. as tens of thousands of people will gather to protest the fateful decision made on January 22, 1973 by the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade, unleashing a policy of abortion on demand.
  
  The civil rights and pro-life movements continue to battle against the same evil that exists throughout all of recorded history — denying the God-given equality of worth and dignity of every human life, born and unborn. Our beautiful Catholic faith stresses respect for the sanctity and dignity of every human life, from conception to natural death, since each of us is created in God's image:
  
  ‘It is in Christ, "the image of the invisible God," that man has been created "in the image and likeness" of the Creator.’ (CCC 1701) ‘The divine image is present in every man.' (CCC 1702)
  
  Jesus Christ is the One who restores dignity to every human life, and His Church is always concerned for the most fragile, marginalized, and threatened among us. How wrong it is for any person to determine who can receive human rights and who cannot, and our Creator has entrusted us to defend and promote the dignity of each human person (CCC 1929).
  
  This week, as members of St. Gabriel Parish, let us pray for peace, justice, and respect for life in our nation and in our world. Prayer has great power! If you cannot join the March on Friday in D.C., spend some time in the Annex Chapel and pray for the marchers and for our elected officials. It was the Archangel Gabriel who announced that Mary would conceive the unborn Savior in her womb. Ask Saint Gabriel’s intercession for the conversion of hearts and minds…… that the image of God will be recognized by all in every human life.
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- January 7, 2024
  
  Dear Brothers and Sisters,
  
  We've turned the calendar to a brand new year. On this Solemnity of the Epiphany, we observe, in our worldwide Church, the final weekend of the Christmas Season. On Monday we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, marking the end of the Church’s liturgical season of Christmas; then on Tuesday we must put all of our festive Christmas decorations away for another year and return to Ordinary Time. Believe it or not, Lent is only a little more than five weeks away!
  
  After a few weeks of enjoying a Christmas break, our parish children return to their Religious Education classes this weekend. One hundred and twenty of those children will soon begin preparing for the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist on Sunday mornings, and twenty-five teenagers will continue their preparation for Confirmation. Please keep these children and their families in your prayers! And pray that the parents will bring their children back to faith formation classes in future years to continue to learn the wonders of our Catholic faith. We are blessed to have a vibrant program this year thanks to the dedication of our leaders and volunteer catechists who sacrifice their time to teach and share the faith with our youngest generation of Catholics. If you ever feel called to participate in this important and very rewarding church ministry, please let me know at any time.
  
  We know that Marylanders always panic at any mention of the word "snow", so as we get deeper into the winter months, we want to establish a consistent inclement weather policy for our parish (see below). As with all things, you can be on the lookout for Flocknote message alerts or check the parish website or phone line for announcements about any weather-related delays or cancellations at this time of year. We will do our best to maintain the regular operating schedule of the parish, but always use your best judgment. Our Lord would rather you be safe than take risks in very bad weather.
  
  God be with you in the week ahead!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- December 31, 2023
  
  Dear Brothers and Sisters,
  
  The secular world always seems to forget about Christmas immediately after December 25 — the Christmas music ends, businesses start promoting other events, and people rush on to the "next best thing". But as Christians, we celebrate the birth of our Savior for an entire season, and we are in the middle of that beautiful Christmas Season right now here at St. Gabriel. Continue to celebrate and rejoice with us! Enjoy the marvelous Christmas hymns at Mass and our uplifting decorations in the church that help to keep our spirits high. If you did not get a chance to tour the Parish Office for our Christmas Open House, come and visit us at the office Monday through Friday and take a stroll through the halls and rooms as you view our festive Christmas decorations.
  
  It was a blessing to celebrate Christmas Mass with you at St. Gabriel for the very first time. I thank everyone who helped to make our Christmas liturgies so special: our liturgical ministers, musicians, planners, decorators, and many more volunteers who offered their time and talents for the benefit of our faith community. Let's keep that same spirit of worship and joy alive throughout the New Year.
  
  It's hard to believe that we are entering the year 2024 already! Beginning on January 2nd, our Parish Office hours will shift very slightly by ½ hour. We will open each day at 8:30 AM from Monday through Friday and close at 4:30 PM. The Annex Chapel will also open at 8:30 AM for individual prayer. This will help everyone avoid the school traffic that makes our parking lot so busy at 8:00 AM. The office is closed from 12:30 — 1:00 PM to give our staff some time to eat lunch.
  
  After a long period of negotiations, we reached an agreement in December with Watershed School on a new lease for our school building that will continue our relationship for many years. I will provide more details about this in the future.
  
  I am taking some much-needed vacation time in these weeks after Christmas after a very busy six months as your new pastor in the pastorate of St. Charles Borromeo and St. Gabriel parishes. There have been a few unexpected surprises and bumps in the road during that time, but I am very pleased with the state of our parish! I look forward to seeing all of you and continuing our faith journey when I return.
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- December 24, 2023
  
  Dear Brothers and Sisters,
  
  This week we celebrate the greatest event in human history — the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ! God loves us so much that he chose to become one of us in a way that no one could have anticipated. Although a king, he became man in the most humble of circumstances and by his life demonstrated the way we should live in loving God and loving our neighbor.
  
  This Christmas, Jesus is not going to be born again in a stable, but we should pray that he will be born again in our hearts. Christmas gives us a wonderful opportunity to contemplate the example that Jesus, the Christ, set for us in his time of walking the earth... and to ask the Holy Spirit to give us the wisdom to know God’s will for each of us and the fortitude to follow in the footsteps of Jesus in our daily lives.
  
  I thank all of you who participated in our Advent Penance Service, Christmas Open House, and special celebrations like the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe as we prepared our hearts for Christmas during the Advent Season. We are truly blessed with a wonderful community that sees our parish of St. Gabriel as their spiritual “home.” We are surrounded by men, women, and children from such a wide variety of cultures, races, ages, places of origin, and spiritual journeys gathering in unity as one in love to worship the King, Jesus Christ, and to show our love for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We then take that love of God beyond our walls as missionary disciples to our families, workplaces, and communities both near and far.
  
  I also want to thank, in a special way, our liturgical environment committee and all volunteers who gave of their time and talents to decorate our church, office, and other campus spaces and make our buildings feel so welcoming and inviting. Their handiwork will help to uplift our spirts in worship during our beautiful celebrations throughout the season of Christmas!
  
  As the paralyzing effect of the pandemic has become less of a threat, our attendance at weekend Masses has slowly climbed. If you have been away from Mass due to the pandemic or for reasons known only to you, please accept our invitation to come back to worship as a community and to receive our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. We would be delighted to welcome you back to your “spiritual home” in our parish here at St. Gabriel, and the new pastoral leadership desires to deepen their acquaintance with you. It has been a rewarding experience for me to serve as your new pastor these past few months as I look forward to our future years together.
  
  May God bless you this Christmas and throughout the year of our Lord, 2024. On behalf of our priests and deacons (Fathers Canisius Tah and Rodney Eugene, Deacons Manuel Aliaga and Vito Piazza, and Seminarian Bienvenu Ilanga), we wish you a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- December 17, 2023
  
  Dear Brothers and Sisters,
  
  Did you know that our weekly parish "Flocknote" is the #1 way that St. Gabriel parishioners receive news of our events and activities? Each Friday, we send more than 600 emails and text messages to our congregation in a bilingual format to highlight the top parish news for that week — along with links to relevant parish website sign-ups and webpages that provide additional information. We also include a digital, full-color copy of our bulletin.
  
  If you don't receive our Flocknotes yet, why not sign up today? You will get the most up-to-date parish news and alerts via email or text message (your choice) as soon as we have it available, and you can opt out at any time. Our printed bulletin will also continue be available at all Masses!
  
  To sign up and connect with Saint Gabriel,
  visit stgabrielch.flocknote.com
  or text GAB to 84576
  
  And as I noted in last week’s column, our online giving system for offertory support of St. Gabriel has gotten an upgrade!
  
  Online Giving
  
  Many of you have asked me for this, including the capability for text message giving — now it is here! Please contact us at the Parish Office, and we will be glad to guide you through the new system:
  
  ·   Several convenient methods for easy online giving, with simple ways for guests to give when they visit
  
  ·   Quick text message giving
  
  ·   Enjoy a faster, easier, and more secure giving experience, with instant gift completion (3 seconds or less!) for repeat givers
  
  ·   Set up recurring and future scheduled gifts with ease, with recurring giving creation in a single click
  
  ·   Choose and add 2nd collections in one transaction
  
  We are excited for you to check it out! For those who support St. Gabriel through WeShare, we are very grateful — and we will be in touch to help you transfer to the new system.
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- December 10, 2023
  
  Dear Brothers and Sisters,
  
  Thank You for Your Generosity — A Community United!
  
  My heartfelt gratitude goes to each and every one of you who has made a gift commitment to our Offertory program. Your dedication and generosity are truly inspiring, and I am immensely grateful for your continued support.
  
  In a world that can often feel divided, it is heartwarming to see our community united in faith and compassion. Your commitment to our parish not only strengthens our spiritual family but also enables our parish to fulfill its mission of spreading love, hope, and kindness to those in need.
  
  Your contributions make a significant difference in the lives of so many individuals and families who rely on our parish for support and guidance. It is through your generosity that our parish sustains and strengthens ministries, outreach programs, and community services that touch the lives of the most vulnerable among us.
  
  As I reflect on the unity that binds our parish family together, I find comfort and strength in knowing that we are such a caring and compassionate community. Your selflessness and commitment to the betterment of our parish truly embody the teachings of our Lord.
  
  May God bless you, and may our community remain united in faith, love, and service. Together, we can continue to make a positive difference in the lives of those around us.
  
  With gratitude and prayers,
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- Our NEW online giving platform is here!!!
  
  www.stgabrielch.org/give
  
  Give instantly, with 3 seconds or less one-click gift completion for repeat givers
  
  Set up recurring and future scheduled gifts with ease, with one-click recurring giving creation
  
  Make a one-time or recurring gift quickly and easily with a text message
  
  Use credit cards, electronic checks, or even Apple and Google Pay for easy online giving, with convenient ways to log in to your account — or donate and even give recurring as a guest
  
  This new giving tool will save time for our staff and volunteers. It is faster, easier, and more secure, and our hope is to provide a better giving experience for everyone at St. Gabriel!
- December 3, 2023
  
  Dear Brothers and Sisters,
  
  Welcome to Stewardship Commitment Weekend! As a community united in faith, service, stewardship, and mission, this special weekend enables us to come together, reflect on our blessings, and reaffirm our commitment to living as faithful stewards of God's gifts.
  
  This weekend we will explore ways to grow together while proceeding on our stewardship journeys, to support one another, and to make a positive impact in our community and beyond. As a united community we invite each member to prayerfully consider his or her role in supporting our ministries, programs, and outreach efforts. I encourage you to take a moment in prayer and reflection to decide on your new Offertory commitment to our parish. Your generous support enables us to continue our mission of spreading God's love and serving those in need. Together, we can make a significant impact in the lives of others.
  
  Thank you for being faithful members of our community united. Your commitment and dedication inspire all of us along this shared journey of faith, service, stewardship, and mission. I echo the words of St. Paul in our Second Reading:
  
  "I give thanks to my God always on your account
  for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
  hat in him you were enriched in every way."
  — 1 Cor 1:4-5
  
  I am excited to announce that our online giving system is getting an upgrade! Our hope is to provide a better giving experience for everyone. This new giving tool works in sync with our parish databases — streamlining processes for donors, our staff, and volunteers. It will be faster, easier, and more secure, and it offers flexible features such as simple text giving and fingerprint recognition. We are excited for you to check it out!
  
  Our staff will be in touch with those of you who currently use WeShare and our older giving platform to help you transfer your recurring gifts to the new system. Moving your gifts will be easy!
  
  Visit stgabrielch.org/give for updates, full details, and to make your new gift commitment today. We are continually grateful for you and your generosity that enables us, together, to impact our world for Christ.
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- November 26, 2023
  
  Dear Brothers and Sisters,
  
  This weekend, as a community of faith that is united in our love of God and our commitment to one another, we come together and celebrate this faith, this community, and our mission.
  
  During Announcement Weekend, we will reflect on our journey of faith, share stories of hope and transformation, and commit ourselves to living as faithful stewards of God's gifts. We will also plan for the future of our parish community so that it can continue to be a guiding light in the world. I have asked three parishioners to share the blessings of their being members of St. Gabriel with us at each Mass this weekend.
  
  This special opportunity for us to come together as a community and reaffirm our faith in God presents us with time to reflect on our commitment to one another and to our mission in the world. In the next week, we invite you to take some time to pray and reflect on how you can increase your Offertory giving.
  
  Consider how much you are currently giving and whether you feel it is a reflection of your faith and commitment to our community.
  
  Think about the ministries and programs that are important to you and how your Offertory gifts can help support them.
  
  Pray for guidance as you discern how much you can contribute and how you can make your Offertory gift a more meaningful part of your faith life.
  
  We hope you will join us for Commitment Weekend! It will be a time of great joy and celebration as we come together to reaffirm our faith in God and our commitment to one another.
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- November 19, 2023
  
  Dear Parishioners of St. Gabriel,
  
  Greetings in the abundant love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ! Thank you all so very much for taking time last Sunday to register as a member of St. Gabriel parish or update your contact information with us here at the parish. This will enable us to serve you better. If you didn’t have the chance of doing so, I kindly ask that you register or update your information. Cards are available in the narthex. Registration is not just a form, it's a beautiful commitment.
  
  As we enter into a new season of stewardship at our parish community, I write to you with great anticipation and excitement for the journey ahead. It is my pleasure to announce that this coming weekend, during Mass, we will have the privilege of hearing a heartfelt personal testimonial from one of our dedicated parishioners.
  
  In this testimonial, we will witness firsthand the transformative power of faith, service, stewardship, and mission. Our fellow parishioner's personal journey serves as a reminder of the profound impact these pillars of evangelization can have on our lives and the lives of others. It is my hope that the testimonial we are about to hear will inspire and encourage each one of us to deepen our commitment to and embrace our role as active participants in our community's journey of faith here at St. Gabriel.
  
  At the core of our community, we are united in faith, service, stewardship, and mission. With great anticipation, we invite you to mark your calendars for Commitment Weekend, which will take place on the weekend of December 2/3. This significant event serves as a catalyst for our faith community to join together and make our new commitments to Offertory giving. This is an occasion for deep reflection and heartfelt prayer as we consider how we can personally enhance our sacrificial giving, thereby empowering our faith community, expanding our service to those in need, and amplifying our stewardship initiatives. Together, we can extend the reach of our transformative mission work, both within and beyond the boundaries of our parish.
  
  I warmly invite you to join us this weekend as we come together in worship and celebration. Let us assemble once more as a community united to build a brighter future for ourselves and those we serve.
  
  God bless you.
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- November 12, 2023
  
  Dear Brothers and Sisters,
  
  The days seem to be going by so fast. I have been blessed to be among you for almost five months now as your pastor. Lots of good things are happening here at St. Gabriel, and I would like you all to be involved. As I have said before, today parishioners are expected to have a true sense of ownership in their parish. This means looking at your parish as more than just a place where you go to Mass. We all have to think of ourselves as part of the parish family and truly belong!
  
  The first step to doing so is registering at the parish. By registering at St. Gabriel, you are declaring your desire to be part of a Catholic faith community. If you have been coming to St. Gabriel for years and have never officially registered, I invite you to do so! If you have recently moved to the area or if you are a long-time resident, please consider registering at the parish where you participate. There is information in our parish bulletin, website, or in the office about how to register.
  
  I will be asking you all this weekend at all Masses to register and/or update your contact information. When in doubt, ask a priest after Mass. In most cases, you will need to visit the Parish Office and fill out a simple form or register online. I would like to see you all visit or come to the Parish Office.
  
  We are delighted to have you join our parish family! Registration is not just a form; it's a beautiful commitment. As followers of Jesus and registered parishioners of St. Gabriel Church, we commit to:
  
  Worshipping together at weekly Mass, nourished and sustained through the Sacraments
  
  Growing spiritually in our relationship with Jesus, alongside others in our parish
  
  Actively supporting the mission of the Church—entrusted to us by Jesus—through financial support and service, essential parts of worship
  
  After you register, you'll receive:
  
  Terrific information in our weekly parish e-newsletter, Flocknote
  
  Offertory envelopes if desired, or the ability to support the parish through online giving
  
  Let us have a sense of belonging and identity in a parish community. It is a commitment to practice your faith. Registration enables the parish pastor and staff to get to know you better, to welcome you, and to minister to you.
  
  Thank you for being an active member of our parish family. Have a blessed week!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- November 5, 2023
  
  Dear Brothers and Sisters,
  
  Although Mass is our central focus, other parish ministries, activities, and events help to increase spirituality and build community as well. Whether it's a mission, a prayer group, a spiritual talk, gathering for our annual crab feast or the Miracle Player shows, our Diversity Sunday celebration and fellowship. As parishioners, we take advantage of these opportunities to meet new people, feel more connected, and affirm fellow parishioners and all who work hard to plan and execute these events. Because we are a family of the Body of Christ, we also gather for all these events outside of Mass. Take a look at all that goes on here at St. Gabriel and see how you can more readily be a part of the journey. Invite family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to join us.
  
  I also encourage each one of you to support the parish financially. You know how expensive it is to run your own home. Parishes face even higher costs and depend on parishioners to help meet them. The daily operations and running of the parish come from the Sunday weekly collection. These operations include salaries and benefits for staff, maintenance, buildings, equipment, materials, liturgical supplies, and programs and services that benefit all members of the parish and those in need of support.
  
  And so, brothers and sisters, your gifts given in thanksgiving for the many gifts God has given you will make a difference in the life of your parish. Take a serious look at the money you give to the parish each week. Mark your calendars for our Stewardship Commitment Weekend on December 2/3. It's a time when we, as a community united in faith, service, stewardship, and mission, come together to reflect on our blessings and commit to living as faithful stewards of God's gifts. Join us as we explore ways to grow together, support one another, and make a difference in our parish community and the world. Stay tuned for more details!
  
  We are already a month into our Religious Education classes for our children. The classes are running smoothly! I thank the many parents who registered their children this year to learn and grow in our Catholic faith.
  
  This weekend, our sister parish St. Charles Borromeo begins a year-long celebration of 175 years. You are all invited to the many events that will take place throughout the year. Let us continue to work together, recognizing that we are one in Christ. As a pastorate, we are given a unique opportunity to forge a new understanding of ourselves in communion with others.
  
  God be with you this week!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- October 29, 2023
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  The weeks seem to be going by so fast as we get ever closer to the end of the liturgical year. This Sunday is the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time already! It means we are just four weeks away from the beginning of the season of Advent.
  
  Last week, I shared with you some ways in which we can participate fully in the life of our parish. This is your spiritual home! I invite you to use your gifts and talents for the good of the parish. God has given each person unique gifts and talents that are intended to be shared. Like public speaking? You might get involved as a lector. If you are friendly and outgoing, you could be an usher or greeter. You can share your deep devotion to the Eucharist by becoming an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion or an adult altar server. If you play an instrument or sing, the music ministry might be the place for you. Maybe you have an interest in technology; you can help with our livestream and screen projections during Mass. Maybe you’re a teacher and could help with religious education. Any expertise in business, finance, public relations, photography, grant writing, engineering, carpentry, building maintenance, or even such skills as cooking, baking, cleaning, or gardening can find a place in the parish.
  
  Maybe your greatest gift is time; if you’re already an Extraordinary Minister, you can take Communion to the sick and homebound. Or you can help with our parish outreach ministry to the poor.
  
  You might even have an idea for a new ministry, support group, organization, or event, and your enthusiasm and energy can help other people get excited and involved. What are you passionate about? Bring that passion to parish life!
  
  We can use only the gifts we have been given, but if we use them as God intends, he will multiply them. If, on the other hand, we sit idle or hide them away, their benefits will be taken from us. The ultimate benefit, the final payout for a life of good and faithful service, is eternal joy with God.
  
  Have a blessed week!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- October 22, 2023
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  In the journey of faith and as a parish family, our lives and our ministries are God’s grace at work around us. By our baptism into Christ, we are ministers and stewards of his purpose. Blessed are we, the psalmist says, the people the Lord has chosen to be his own. We accomplish this through the varied gifts of the life of the Church. In our own individual lives, regardless of our roles or stations in life – we each, in our own unique way, participate in the ministry of Jesus, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.
  
  What are the ways in which we can participate fully in the life of our parish? Today, more than ever, parishioners are expected to feel a sense of ownership in their parish. That means looking at your parish here at St. Gabriel as more than just a place where you go to Mass. We all have to think of ourselves as part of the parish of St. Gabriel. It is not just a select few. We all have a role to play. Family members share a common heritage and history. They are grounded in the same beliefs, values, and traditions. They embrace new members of the family with a spirit of love and acceptance. Family members don’t always agree, but they do feel a strong commitment to one another and to the family as a whole. This is your parish home.
  
  Let us all be welcoming. When we come together on the weekend for Mass or any other church event, think of it as a large family reunion, with people you know well, know slightly, and don’t know at all. As we receive the Eucharist today, let’s remember that we are receiving the love of God. It is an authentic love that strengthens us and empowers us, so that we are drawn out of ourselves and into union with God and his Church. Above all, we have the Eucharist which transforms us in grace in order to do that which we are asked to do.
  
  God be with you in the week ahead!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- October 15, 2023
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  Every month, I make time to go see my spiritual director. Since my seminary days, I have found it helpful to meet my spiritual director regularly. In spiritual direction, the goal is to seek discernment of how the Holy Spirit is leading in one's own particular life. I speak with him about everything going on with me. One of the topics for our conversation in the last months has been about my transition to a new assignment here at St. Gabriel with the understanding of a pastorate. I have shared with him the many good things happening here at St. Gabriel.
  
  An interesting question that came out of my conversation with my spiritual director a couple of weeks ago was: “as the new pastor of St. Gabriel, what will you do and how will you proceed in leading and guiding Saint Gabriel's?” We had many discussions around it, and having been a pastor for long, he gave me many points for consideration.
  
  This past week I thought about the question again. Like any priest in a new assignment, I thought that was a legitimate question deserving of an answer. Every parish is individual and unique. There is not one exactly the same anywhere. Each has its own personality, its own history, its own character, its own life, its own being. Spiritually speaking, a new pastor has to sit back for a bit and watch and learn about the new parish. That is what I have done the past four months!
  
  Every parish has good things going on within. It is important for me that I have become familiar with all the good that is happening here, and there is much good! This will take some time, perhaps months. Only then can a pastor begin to build upon the good foundation already in place through the work of previous pastors. Also realizing that there are things in any parish that we could look at differently and discern what direction we should take as a parish. This may stretch and challenge us.
  
  Likewise, each pastor is equipped with and brings with him the gifts and talents that are his by the Lord’s doing. Administratively, I can begin to adjust more quickly to the way things are done in a manner comfortable to me. So, we will see how all of this begins to play out in the course of time. Thank you for your patience and presence here at St. Gabriel.
  
  In the next few weeks, I will write on ways in which we can make our parish better as we grow and journey together in faith.
  
  I am starting to learn names at this point. This is one of the most difficult pieces of the puzzle, but it is getting better.
  
  God be with you in the week ahead!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- October 8, 2023
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  Thank you all so very much for the beautiful celebration last Sunday in thanksgiving for the ordination of Orlando as a deacon. It was good to see many of you too at the ordination ceremony at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. What joy and a blessing for our parish family! The Lord calls each and every one of us to ministry in his Church; some as ordained and we all participate in the life of the church in different ways. That is what parish life is all about! That we respond to the call of God and give of ourselves entirely to His service. What is the Lord calling you to do in our parish? What special ministry can you bring to parish life? How can I put my gifts and talents at the service and good of the parish? Belonging to a parish community is meant to provide a place where we find a true family centered in Christ Jesus Our Lord. We support and encourage one another no matter what is going on.
  
  I am pleased to announce that the Archbishop has assigned Manuel Aliaga, one of the newly ordained deacons, to our pastorate. He is a parishioner at St. John the Evangelist in Columbia and has worked with the Church in various parts of the country. We welcome him to our community! Our own deacon Orlando is going the opposite direction to St. John in Columbia. I am sure they all will bring many gifts and blessings to where the Lord leads them.
  
  I am grateful to the parents who have already registered the children for our Religious Education and Confirmation programs. Classes started last Sunday. It was such a joy to see the excitement and enthusiasm in the eyes of the children. Classes are held according to grade levels. Religious education is for all children, and not just for those preparing for First Eucharist. Give your child the gift of growing in faith!
  
  Let us attend to where our faith is. Wherever we would place it, we know that God can strengthen it. His powerful presence is always in our lives, and we can always place our trust in his great love for us. The Eucharist we gather to celebrate and to receive gives us the strength and grace to continue to build up the body of Christ that is the Church. May the shining presence of Christ always be seen and shared here at St. Gabriel.
  
  If you are a group leader of a prayer or social group that meets here at the parish, please call the office to set up an appointment to speak with me about your group.
  
  May God be with you this week!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- October 1, 2023
  
  Dear Parish Family,
  
  Congratulations to Deacon Orlando Beltran! After years of discernment and preparation, what a joy it is to finally celebrate his ordination. He now serves with us through the ministry and vocation of the diaconate along with Deacon Vito.
  
  Every member of the Church is called to holiness (Lumen Gentium, Ch V), and God creates each of us with a purpose — a mission. That mission is known as vocation: a call from God to a distinctive state of life in which we can reach holiness. We might be called to holiness through marriage, the religious life, ordained priesthood, the diaconate, or serving the Church in the freedom of the single life. Each vocation requires some sacrifice in the service of others.
  
  God calls us in HIS time — not ours. It is never too soon or too late. Fr. Rodney and I were very young when we heard our Lord’s call to serve Him in the priesthood. It was similar for Seminarian Bienvenu, who has been giving reflections during weekday Masses in the Chapel. Deacon Orlando was married with children when he discerned a call to the diaconate. And listen to the vocation story of our parish bookkeeper, Sister Janet:
  
  As a child, I always wanted to be a nun. I loved praying in Church, and I found such peace just being in the presence of our Lord. But as I became a teenager, I gave up on the idea and entered the business world. Thirty years later, after a surgery that kept me from receiving the Eucharist for six weeks, I thought back to my love of the Church and how much I missed it. With the guidance of a priest and others in my parish, I contacted a community that accepted older vocations. After 6 years of study, I took final vows in 2004.
  
  We often hear the words of Jesus in Matthew’s gospel: “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. (Mt 9:37-38)” This is true more than ever in our world today. But what are we doing about it? Most young people have never been asked about the possibility of an exciting, joy-filled life as a priest or a religious sister or brother. Do we encourage them? It takes courage to ask! They could laugh or think we are crazy, but you might be surprised by their positive responses, and most feel complimented when asked.
  
  Many Catholics have no idea about what the priesthood or the consecrated life really is. Let’s learn what it means to be involved in one of these ministries, and then let’s invite and encourage our children, grandchildren, students, and friends to be open if God calls them to the priesthood or religious life. I would be happy to speak with them any time if they have questions or interest!
  
  And are we really praying – “asking the master of the harvest” – for vocations? On this First Friday, October 6th, why not devote one Holy Hour in the Annex Chapel in earnest prayer to Our Lord... that young men and women will hear and respond generously to His call? It is the responsibility of all of us. At St. Gabriel, let’s “plant the seeds” and become a parish that fosters and nourishes vocations. Beautiful things will grow!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- September 24, 2023
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  Happy Feast of St. Gabriel this week!
  
  We continue to journey together as our faith formation programs prepare to kick off. We welcome Ana Trujillo, who will coordinate our religious education program this year. Ana has worked in the formation of children in parishes for many years. She will share with us her many gifts and blessings. Thank you, parents, children, catechists, and all who attended the parent/child orientation last Sunday. What a great joy to the heart to see the excitement on the faces of our children! Let us support and encourage them as they grow in understanding of our Catholic faith.
  
  Christ knows who we are even before we walk through the doors of our church. He knows the struggles of our lives and welcomes each one of us as we are. So, the focus is always on Jesus Christ and not on us. He is the one who gathers us here! The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is our treasured gift as Catholics. The Church believes and proclaims the true nature of the Most Blessed Sacrament – it is the Body and Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. At the Last Supper, Jesus intended to give to His Apostles, and through them given to us, His Precious Body and Blood! How can this be so?Our Lord and God has power and authority over all things. It is not at all beyond Him to change what a thing is without changing its basic characteristics. He can and does change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus without changing its look or its taste. How magnificent!
  
  Each time we attend the Mass, the mystery unfolds before our very eyes! The music, the prayers, the environment filled with sacred character and with the presence of the Holy and Divine. The altar, kissed by the priest at the beginning and at the end of the Mass, is the place where the sacrifice is revealed. The altar of sacrifice itself is a place of holiness – privileged in its own right. How glorious is the Mass where we receive not only the Word of God, but the Holy Eucharist making us one with Jesus Christ and one with each other. Let us rejoice and be glad in Him!
  
  And so, we are called to participate fully in the celebration of the Eucharist in a variety of ministries and roles. One of those roles is that of the deacon. As a parish family, we rejoice with Orlando Beltran who will be ordained a permanent deacon next weekend. The ordination ceremony will take place on Saturday, September 30th at 10:00 AM at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. There will be a parish reception after the 12:30 PM Spanish Mass on Sunday, October 1st to celebrate with him as we as continue our parish feast day celebration.
  
  May God be with you this week!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- September 17, 2023
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  I am pleased to announce that this past Tuesday, the Tabernacle was installed in the Annex Chapel. It was such a joy to bless the Tabernacle and we can now reserve the Blessed Sacrament in the Annex Chapel. The chapel will be open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 8:00 pm for personal prayer. Come spend some time in the presence of the Lord! Christ is the center of all we do as a parish. He is the center of our lives.
  
  Jesus is calling us deeper. He promises to restore and renew his people. Our world is hurting. We all need healing, yet many of us are separated from the very source of our strength. Jesus Christ invites us to return to the source and summit of our faith in the celebration of the Eucharist. The National Eucharistic Revival is a movement to restore understanding and devotion to this great mystery here in the United States by helping us renew our worship of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
  
  The Revival is now reaching the pews and must reach the pews of our parishes of St. Gabriel and St. Charles! This year is about fostering Eucharistic devotion at the parish level, strengthening our liturgical life through the faithful celebration of the Mass, Eucharistic adoration, missions, resources, preaching, and organic movements of the Holy Spirit. How are you answering the call? Invite someone to Christ. This food for our journey helps us to act on the word that we break open in the Scriptures. May we listen with our whole heart and have the courage to respond.
  
  May God be with you this week!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- September 10, 2023
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  Be careful on the roads as things get hectic with the end of summer and the return from vacation. Schools are now open for most of our young people. There will be more children out and about, more traffic headed for schools, school buses on the road and making stops, active crosswalks in our neighborhoods, and excitement and anticipation among the children. Teachers and staff have been engaged in various meetings in preparation for the days ahead! Watershed school on our campus has been busy as well. I am sure that the homeschoolers are gearing up, too! I have to figure out a different route between St. Charles and St. Gabriel that does not have school bus stops.
  
  Along with the sadness of the coming of summer’s end, there is the renewal of friendships, the anxiousness of new challenges ahead, and the joy of being back together again. Our school building is ready, and our Parish Religious Education program is ready to welcome the children once again. As I have said over and over, I kindly ask parents to register the children now. This will help us plan appropriately in terms of the number of materials to order.
  
  We have been assigned Deacon Julian Cuervo-Lozada who will be joining us on weekends during the school year from Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg. If you didn’t get a chance to meet him last week, make sure you say hello to him this weekend. I know that you will receive him with enthusiasm and heartfelt support in his discernment and final steps to being ordained a priest.
  
  Have a blessed week!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- September 3, 2023
  
  Dear Parish Family,
  
  We all have family! We are born into one, and sometimes we even adopt one. Family is the most important building block of every culture throughout all of human history. No family is perfect, darn it, but it is the essential place where our desire to be loved is most earnestly met and our desire to offer love is most readily accepted. Our home, our family is the very foundation of our individual lives. It is there that we can most freely be ourselves and find a sense of security and peace in a busy world.
  
  Our family offers to each of us complete acceptance. Knowing our faults and failings, our insecurities and our own personal quirks, our family loves us all the same. On our part, we love and have genuine concern for the members of our family even though these things are true of them as they are of us. Within the bonds of family life, we find that our own personal gifts and talents are appreciated even as we appreciate the uniqueness of each other. We find encouragement when life is hard or challenging, and we find support in meeting the responsibilities that are ours. We are together when life brings blessings and great joy and when there is sadness and difficulty.
  
  I bring these things to mind because it is important for us to recognize the beauty and the wonder and awe of the parish family. We are much more than a collection of individuals that just happens to wander in off the street each Sunday for Mass. Belonging to a parish community is meant to provide a place where we find a true family centered in Christ Jesus Our Lord. We support and encourage one another no matter what is going on.
  
  The sacrifice of the Mass is the heart and soul of that relationship. It is in this unique setting and celebration that you bond with me as pastor. It is the Mass where I bond with you as parishioner and as a member of the parish family of Saint Gabriel Church. Most importantly, it is in the Mass where together all of us as a parish family bond with Christ Jesus Our Lord in an unbreakable friendship with Him, most profoundly in the reception of Holy Communion, His precious Body and Blood!
  
  Our parish has been accepted by Mount Saint Mary's Seminary to be a place of learning for the young men enrolled there for priestly studies. We have been assigned Deacon Julian Cuervo-Lozada who will be joining us on weekends during the school year.
  
  Let us rejoice in the gifts and blessings that are ours! God be with you in the week ahead.
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- August 27, 2023
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  Christ is the center of everything we do as a parish! The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. The Eucharist is the focal point of the Catholic Faith because it is Jesus present with us here on earth today. And so, those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord's own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist. We should be spending all of our lives drawing closer and closer to, and falling in love with, the Eucharist, which is Jesus Himself, "body and blood, soul and divinity."
  
  In the spirit of the National Eucharist Revival phase in our parish, we will foster Eucharistic devotion. Beginning in September, we will have the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every First Friday of the month following the 9:00 AM Mass until 7:00 PM. The day will end with evening prayer and benediction. Parishioners will have the opportunity to stop by or come to spend some time with the Lord. There will be a sign-up sheet for an hour of prayer each First Friday. I kindly ask that you consider an hour that works for you so we know there will always be someone with the Lord. Since my arrival here, I have been touched by the many people who come to the parish looking for a place to pray. We hope the people of St. Gabriel parish will take advantage of this opportunity to grow in faith.
  
  Thank you all for being a part of our journey together here at St. Gabriel. Invite someone to come worship with us. God is always urging us to come to him where he anxiously waits to embrace us in his all-encompassing love.
  
  God be with you in the week ahead!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- August 20, 2023
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  The summer is beginning to wind down at this point. I hope you have all found some time to be relaxed and refreshed with family and friends. The parish religious education program is receiving applicants already on a daily basis. I kindly encourage all parents to register their children.
  
  Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time of transition. Transitions can be difficult. Even the most thought-out and well-designed transitions can be stressful.
  
  In the past few weeks, people have been asking, "How is your summer?" "How are you doing?" I can certainly say that it has been a hectic last couple of weeks juggling between St. Gabriel and St. Charles. I am glad our Associate Pastor, Fr. Rodney is here with us. I can also confidently say that it has been a good summer. I have been filled with joy at the graciousness of this parish family to me and the many opportunities afforded to a parish priest. We will continue to discern how we can make our parish fully alive and longing for God! Each Holy Mass here is a testament to the fact that this parish family longs to place God at the center of their lives. Each spiritual direction meeting has been an encounter with a soul wanting to know and love God more. Each dinner at a home or house blessing has been a testament that this community is seeking true happiness in Christ.
  
  That is what we celebrate at every Mass: Love that does not end. God gives Himself to us. This is what our hearts truly long for: Love that does not end and mercy that is boundless. This is our divine patrimony. God invites us into that life. We do not need, nor will we be fulfilled by spending our lives fishing for that which passes away. God invites us: "Come and I will give you love without end."
  
  God shares his mercy with us in an unlimited way so that we can always have a way to turn back to God and heal our relationship with him. We must do the same for one another so that our communities can become places of healing and peace.
  
  Blessings for the week ahead!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- August 13, 2023
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  As I noted in last week's column, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is sponsoring a three-year initiative to increase the belief in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Prior to the 1950s we had to fast from all food and beverage (except water) from midnight until we received Holy Communion. In the 1950s the Church changed the period of fasting to 3 hours prior to Communion. Following the Second Vatican Council the fast was only to be 1 hour prior to Communion. The purpose was to make the reception of the Eucharist more accessible to people. Our fasting should not only be one from food and beverage, but also a fasting from sin. If one is in the state of mortal sin, then it is imperative to abstain from receiving the Eucharist until confessing the sin in the sacrament of Reconciliation.
  
  Deacon Dennis Lambert reminds us in his great little book, For Real, Christ's Presence in the Eucharist (page 112),
  
  "Since Catholics believe in the literal teaching of Christ regarding his complete, total, Real Presence in the Eucharist, we believe we must be free from serious sin (in a state of grace) in order to worthily receive Christ in the Eucharist. Thus, before the celebration of the Eucharist at Mass, we take time to examine our conscience. Through thoughtful introspection, we determine if there is any serious sin that we have committed that requires reconciliation. If there is, we cannot receive holy Communion until that reconciliation with God, through the sacrament of reconciliation, occurs. In fact, to knowingly receive the Eucharist while in a serious state of sin is a grave sin itself."
  
  In this year of Eucharistic Revival, let's do our best to ensure we are worthy to partake of this great gift by taking advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. When was the last time you came to the sacrament of Confession? Jesus seeks that we are reconciled with one another and with him. Who are the people in our lives with whom we need to seek reconciliation? How can Jesus be present in those moments to allow for forgiveness and healing?
  
  Have a blessed week!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- August 6, 2023
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is sponsoring a three-year initiative to increase the belief in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Our world is hurting. We all need healing, yet many of us are separated from the very source of our strength. Jesus Christ invites us to return to the source and summit of our faith in the celebration of the Eucharist. The National Eucharistic Revival is a movement to restore understanding and devotion to this great mystery here in the United States by helping us renew our worship of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist (www.eucharisticrevival.org).
  
  This revival is taking place on three levels. First at the diocesan level which ran from June 19, 2022 until June 11, 2023. We are already at the parish phase which runs from June 11, 2023 – July 17, 2024. The second phase will foster Eucharistic devotion at the parish level, strengthening our liturgical life through faithful celebration of the Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, missions, resources, preaching, and organic movements of the Holy Spirit. This second year will be emphasized within the parish level. The third phase July 21, 2024 – Pentecost 2025 which is the year of going out on mission.
  
  And so, as a parish community, we will foster Eucharistic devotion. Christ is the center of everything we do as a parish. Since my arrival here, I have been touched by the many people who come to the parish looking for a place to pray. I am looking for helpers to fix our Parish Annex Chapel for this purpose to be open for extended hours. The Blessed Sacrament will be reserved there as well. We hope the people of St. Gabriel parish will take advantage of this opportunity to grow in faith. Be looking for special prayer opportunities during the coming year centered on the Eucharist.
  
  I continue to be delighted at the gradual increase in the number of parishioners and others who come to daily Mass. It is really quite a joy to have prayerful people who are faithful to daily Mass or even a couple of days a week. It is such an honor and a priestly privilege to offer Mass here at Saint Gabriel, weekdays and Sundays!
  
  I am looking for someone interested in volunteering to work with Jeff Ment to continue to build and take care of the new parish website, keeping it current and up to date with parish information. I know that the younger generation is really good at this kind of work…and although I have a 'smart phone', it is stuck with a 'dumb owner' when it comes to technical ingenuity! If you think you might be interested, you can give me a call to chat without a commitment. Thanks for considering this project.
  
  Don't forget to give a warm welcome to our associate pastor Fr. Rodney as he joins us this weekend.
  
  God be with you in the week ahead!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- July 30, 2023
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  A splendid and joyful celebration took place here at Saint Gabriel last weekend with my installation as pastor. It was a joy to see many parishioners gather with our Archbishop as one Body in Christ. Thank you for making St. Gabriel your parish home! We never walk the journey of faith alone. The Lord Himself journeys with us in whatever moment of life we find ourselves or wherever we are in our faith journey. Know always of the support of the parish and your fellow parishioners. Again, thank you for your kindness to me as I become more and more familiar with the daily life of the parish; witnessing the various ways our parish seeks to grow closer to Christ. In the next couple of months, we will focus on what it means to say that we are members of a particular parish — in our case, parishioners of St. Gabriel Church.
  
  Fr. Rodney Eugene will be joining our parish staff on August 1, 2023, as well. He is coming from Immaculate Conception Parish Towson, where he has resided while serving as hospital chaplain at GBMC. I will let him tell you about himself on his arrival. Together we will acquaint him with the life of the pastorate of St. Charles Borromeo and St. Gabriel. I am especially looking forward to his arrival! I know he will bring many gifts to parish life.
  
  In last week’s in column, I spoke about Faith Formation and Religious Education as one key aspect of the life of the parish. I kindly ask that you register your children for these programs. In the wors of St. John Paul II: "The mission to educate demands that Christian parents should [...] take care to show their children the depths of significance to which the faith and love of Jesus Christ can lead." (Familiaris Consortio, P.39).
  
  It is our desire in our Religious Education Program to assist parents in this holy task. Preparation for First Eucharist and First Reconciliation will be a one-year program. However, the children must be attending Religious Education classes. Our Religious Education classes will be arranged according to the grade level of each child this year.
  
  God loves you!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- July 23, 2023
  
  Dear Parishioners,
  
  We are glad to have the Archbishop visit our parish this weekend. We welcome him to our community. He will celebrate a bilingual Mass at 10:30 AM.
  
  As we enjoy the summer months, I wanted to bring to your attention a key aspect of parish life as we plan ahead. Faith Formation is a very important aspect of the life of any parish. Over the last several months, I have held many meetings and conversations with all those involved with various aspects of Faith Formation at St. Gabriel as well as St. Charles. We have listened to each other, re-evaluating the whole Faith Formation Program and assessing our current efforts. Sr. Sonia’s responsibility will be to focus on this key aspect of parish life. In fact, that is her staff title: Director of Faith Formation.
  
  After an initial meeting on February 27 with the Faith Formation teams from St. Charles Borromeo and St. Gabriel, feedback was requested on hopes and recommendations for a joint Faith Formation program within the pastorate to be held on the campus of St. Gabriel. Several options were presented by the Office of Parish Renewal and the Office of Family, Youth & Young Adult Ministry from the Archdiocese based on the current programs, feedback received, and what is offered in other parishes. The group met again on March 28 and reviewed these models, identifying challenges and preferences.
  
  Our mission in religious education is to collaborate with parents to form a new generation of Catholics who know and love Jesus Christ and live as his disciples in the community of the Catholic Church. Toward that end, we strive to offer a unified, solid, and engaging religious education program.
  
  Per the new Sacramental Guidelines, we also discussed how to disentangle sacramental preparation from Faith Formation so that sacramental preparation is less tied to a grade/age, and Faith Formation is understood to be a lifelong pursuit that runs parallel with sacramental preparation. Preparation for First Eucharist and First Reconciliation will be a one-year program. Our Religious Education classes will be arranged according to the grade level of each child this year.
  
  There was also discussion about how to strengthen and enliven Youth Ministry in the pastorate with an initial goal of building a strong team. I can assure you that we have an exciting year of Faith Formation ahead! So, I kindly ask you all to be on the lookout for registration information for these programs.
  
  Summer always seems to pick up speed and move along more quickly. Let's enjoy each and every day. Let's enjoy our family and friends. Enjoy your children while you have them home with you for the summer! By the way, someone did tell me this week about a nearby bike trail. Let me know if you can join us bike riding.
  
  God be with you in the week ahead!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- July 16, 2023
  
  Dear brothers and sisters,
  
  Hope you all had a fruitful and productive week. I was able to meet many fine parishioners last weekend after all the parish Masses. Again, thank you for your kindness to me as the new face on the block.
  
  This past week I have enjoyed offering daily Mass with a few parishioners and the Missionary Sisters of Divine Providence in attendance. Daily Mass is celebrated at 9:00 AM in the Parish Annex Chapel. I kindly ask to join us for Mass if you are able. Invite a friend!
  
  I also spent some time with our office staff and volunteers in the day-to-day functioning of our parish office. I am still in the process of setting up my office and that of Fr. Rodney. I also went off to check out a few eating places. Not that I am always thinking about food, but I was able to point out some of the things I enjoy. I also pop into stores here and there to pick up this and that from time to time. If you see me be sure to say hello!
  
  The summertime offers a unique time to relax. Most of us look forward to vacation time somewhere along the way during these months. The long days and warm weather are inviting times. If vacation time is coming your way, enjoy being together with family and friends. God's blessing to you while you are away. Please remember St. Gabriel and continue your contributions to the parish during these summer months.
  
  Remember Archbishop William Lori will be visiting our parish next Sunday. He will celebrate a bilingual Mass at 10:30 AM. Come and join us for Mass on this very special occasion! There will be NO 12:30 PM Spanish Mass on July 23.
  
  By the way, if you know of any bike trails nearby, please pass the word. My now 'stationary' bike is looking for some outdoor exercise, and I guess a bike ride is good for me now and again, too.
  
  God be with you this week!
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- July 9, 2023
  
  I arrived at St. Gabriel Saturday July 1, 2023. I am glad to have spent my first weekend with you all. This past week, I have spent some time getting acquainted with the property and the various buildings and figuring out the common things like keys and locks, light switches, and where things are for the celebration of the Mass. It is going to take some time as you might suspect.
  
  Over the last several months, I have held various meetings with our staff to understand what they each do for the smooth running of our parish and office. These discussions will continue in the next several weeks as we mark out clear responsibilities for each person as they work with our wonderful volunteers. Know that we are here to serve you. Come to the parish office or call during regular office hours if we can be of any help to you. I will keep you informed of the re-organization we have determined for our parish staff responsibilities and duties in the weeks ahead. Staff members are the face of any parish!
  
  I am glad to inform you that we have hired Jeff Ment as our Pastorate Operations Manager. The Pastorate Operations Manager serves as a staff resource in support of the Pastor, fulfilling parish administrative needs in finance, buildings, and grounds, personnel, and communications. He directs these efforts with relevant expertise within a framework of shared ministry and Catholic values. And so, I welcome Jeff to our parish. You will get to meet him. His office will be here at St. Gabriel.
  
  I look forward to meeting you! It will take me some time to learn names and faces. I trust that you will be patient with me! Thank you for being part of our parish!
  
  May God bless you.
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah
- July 2, 2023
  
  Dear brothers and sisters,
  
  I am humbled to come to you as your new parish pastor with a heart filled with joy and gratitude. Together, we will continue to journey in faith and hope. I want to get to know each one of you individually, and to bring the parish closer to each other and closer to Christ in the fullness of the church and the faith. God has a plan for each one of us and he leads and guides us along life's journey in unexpected ways. His grace has brought us here at this time!
  
  I thank Fr. Tom for his spiritual and pastoral leadership of St. Gabriel for many years. We wish him a full and rich retirement. You may be feeling a bit upset or sad that Fr. Tom is retiring, and understandably so. He has journeyed with you for more than a decade.
  
  As a community of faith, we will continue to journey together, realizing that the Lord calls each and every one of us to be faithful. With God's grace, we can be faith-filled even in, and especially during difficult times, in times of transition. A change in leadership at a parish is a significant time in the life of the parish, and requires openness, patience, and some adjustment for all of us.
  
  I have been blessed by your friendship, support and encouragement as conversations developed in our understanding of a pastorate with St. Charles Borromeo which began more than two years ago. These conversations will continue with our staff, parish lay leadership and all of you about creative ways that our parishes can work together. There is an opportunity here for us to see beyond our parish boundaries and to recognize that we share a faith in Jesus Christ with our neighbors at St. Charles. As we work together, recognizing that we are one in Christ, we are given a unique opportunity to forge a new understanding of ourselves in communion with others.
  
  Please know that you are in my prayers, and I ask you to hold me in yours as we begin this journey of faith together. Finally, I ask for your prayers for the staff and parishioners at St. Gabriel and St. Charles Borromeo. Let's pray that we may benefit from an open and ongoing commitment to be a people who grow and are ever renewed by the life-giving love of the Risen Lord!
  
  I look forward to meeting you in the coming months. I will be writing regular columns like this in the bulletin hoping that it will be a helpful way to focus us on scripture and to keep abreast with what is happening in the parish and pastorate.
  
  Please come by the parish office and say hello and if you have any questions or concerns, please give me a call. Thank you for your faith and for being part of our parish family.
  
  May God bless you.
  
  - Fr. Canisius Tah

From the Pastor

Give to the 2024 Annual Appeal

To sign up and connect with Saint Gabriel, visit stgabrielch.flocknote.com or text GAB to 84576

Online Giving

To sign up and connect with Saint Gabriel,
visit stgabrielch.flocknote.com
or text GAB to 84576