Sometimes we are tempted to find excuses and complain, acting as if we could only be happy if a thousand conditions were met. To some extent this is because our “technological society has succeeded in multiplying occasions of pleasure, yet has found it very difficult to engender joy.

I can say that the most beautiful and natural expressions of joy which I have seen in my life were in poor people who had little to hold on to. I also think of the real joy shown by others who, even amid pressing professional obligations, were able to preserve, in detachment and simplicity,a heart full of faith. In their own way, all these instances of joy flow from the infinite love of God, who has revealed himself to us in Jesus Christ. I never tire of repeating those words from Benedict XVI…”Being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person,which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.”

-Pope Francis

Martha and Mary were good friends of Jesus and some of his first and most faithful disciples. We hear in today’s Gospel that their brother Lazarus, also a friend of Jesus, has fallen ill. By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had died and was already been in the tomb for four days. This doesn’t stop Jesus. What follows is rather touching because Jesus goes directly to the tomb and calls out,“Lazarus, come out.” To everyone’s surprise, Lazarus, alive, comes out. From this comes the famous proclamation of Jesus, “I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in me, even if he dies,will live…” With Jesus much is possible.

Each week I give you the latest report that I have received from the Cardinal’s Appeal Office. We are slowly but steadily moving along toward our goal. I am grateful for those people who have already given to the Appeal, many very generous in their donations. Whatever you can afford or are willing to sacrifice is greatly appreciated. If you have put the Cardinal’s Appeal donor envelope aside or lost yours, there are envelopes available in church. Take one and either give an outright gift or make a pledge.You may also do this online at cardinalsappeal.org.  (Please indicate “St. Francis of Assisi, New York” as your parish).

Thank you!

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.

Jesus and the man born blind is the focus for today’s Gospel on this Fourth Sunday of Lent. Reading through this lengthy Gospel, you will notice that it is filled with many people who are blind. Perhaps they may not be physically blind, but their refusal to attempt to understand who Jesus is can be seen over and over again as the disciples, the neighbors, and the Pharisees ask question after question of the “blind” man. Some want to “see” and others just want to refuse that Jesus could heal this man. There is a good lesson for all of us about our being blind. All of us suffer from this condition, but remember, Jesus can open our eyes…and our heart.

Lent is moving along quickly. Here we are at the Fourth Sunday. On Friday of this week, March 31, we will have our Communal Penance Service, Pardon and Peace. It begins at 7:00 PM with a Scripture Service, followed by individual confession of sins. There will be a number of confessors available for anyone who would like to confess one to one. It is an inspiring service when we gather as a community of sinners to be healed by the gracious love of God, who “never tires of forgiving us” as Pope Francis has reminded us.

A reminder that if you prefer to go to confession during the week, we have extra confessors each day. Don’t wait until Holy Week.

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.

This weekend we will celebrate two important saints in the life of the Church of New York: St. Patrick, our patron saint, and St. Joseph, the husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus.

These two feasts underscore the fact that the Church of New York is essentially a church of immigrants.

St. Patrick is one of the patron saints of Ireland, and when the Irish Catholics immigrated to the United States in the 19th century they brought with them their devotion to this great 5th century saint.  Patrick immigrated to Ireland from his home in Britain and is credited with bringing Christianity to that country.  When New York’s first cathedral was dedicated in 1815, old St. Patrick’s on Mott Street, the diocese was placed under the patronage of St. Patrick.  To this day St. Patrick’s day is a huge celebration for our city.  St. Patrick’s feast day is March 17th.  Below is the famous prayer called the “Breastplate of St. Patrick.”

The second feast we celebrate this time of year is the Feast of St. Joseph on March 19th.  Joseph barely needs an introduction.  He was immensely important in welcoming the Son of God into the world and protecting His mother Mary.  Joseph is remembered for his strength, obedience, faith and his simplicity.  Joseph is the silent saint.  In the gospels we never hear Joseph speak.  All we know about him is that he was a carpenter who was engaged to Mary.  When Mary was found to be pregnant he trusted the angel’s message and married her despite the fact that the child wasn’t his.  Joseph’s life wasn’t always easy.  He had to migrate to Egypt to protect his family, and then live in fear that enemies of Jesus might still seek the child’s life.  And yet Joseph lived a simple life:  he was a husband, a father, and a worker.  His life resembles the lives most of us live: quite, normal lives striving to do the will of God.  Maybe it is for this reason that he was named the patron saint of the universal Church.  In many catholic countries, St. Joseph’s day is also celebrated as “Father’s day.”  In New York, devotion to this great saint was brought from Europe by the mass waves of immigrants from Italy in the late 19th and early 20th century.

May St. Patrick and St. Joseph, whose devotions were carried to the new world in the hearts of immigrants fleeing from poverty and oppression pray for immigrants today who come to our shores seeking refuge and opportunity.  And may these great saints, who were immigrants themselves, pray for us that those of us who are established here may welcome with open hearts the newly arrived immigrants in our midst.

Here is the famous Breastplate of St. Patrick, a prayer attributed to the Saint who lived in the 5th century.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.