Fr. John Sassani, Pastor
Worship Style - Traditional Roman Catholic
Last week, we attended the church in which Denise was baptized, so we decided this week to go to the church where David was baptized and grew up in as well. This is a beautiful older church with a lot of structural detail, the most impressive being the dramatic painting of Jesus above the altar that you can see in the photos. Certainly didn't take us long to find Jesus here! We were warmly greeted and given a music program. David was aware that they had recently done some renovation work, so we took in all the beauty of a church built with incredible love.
Since we have spent much time attending Mass, particularly when we travel, we are very familiar with the service. It is always very much the same even when you travel to another country, and that can be very comforting. The homily or sermon was on the subject of worry and based on the scripture of Matthew 6:24-34. The priest began by giving us some statistics about what we worry about; 40% worry about something that never happens, etc. Ultimately, only 4% of what we worry about is something we could actually do something about. Therefore, 96% of what we worry about is totally out of our control. So the question was asked, "What controls you - what runs your life?" Worry wants us to be in charge, where God wants to be in charge. You cannot serve two masters. The priest then said, "You are going to tell me that that is just the way you are, that it is your nature or disposition to worry... not if you are working on your relationship with God." He shared the poignant poem by Elizabeth Cheney entitled, Overheard in an Orchard,
Said the robin to the sparrow,
"I would really like to know
Why those anxious human beings
rush around and worry so."
Said the sparrow to the robin,
"Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father
such as cares for you and me."
Finally, he told a great story of a beggar and a priest. The priest approaches the beggar and asks him how he is doing? The beggar responds that he is well. "When it is sunny and warm, I thank God. When it is rainy and cold, I thank God." The priest says, "Who are you?" The beggar responds, "I am a King!" "You are, so where is your kingdom?" The beggar says, "My Kingdom is in my heart!"
Worship Style - Traditional Roman Catholic
Last week, we attended the church in which Denise was baptized, so we decided this week to go to the church where David was baptized and grew up in as well. This is a beautiful older church with a lot of structural detail, the most impressive being the dramatic painting of Jesus above the altar that you can see in the photos. Certainly didn't take us long to find Jesus here! We were warmly greeted and given a music program. David was aware that they had recently done some renovation work, so we took in all the beauty of a church built with incredible love.
Since we have spent much time attending Mass, particularly when we travel, we are very familiar with the service. It is always very much the same even when you travel to another country, and that can be very comforting. The homily or sermon was on the subject of worry and based on the scripture of Matthew 6:24-34. The priest began by giving us some statistics about what we worry about; 40% worry about something that never happens, etc. Ultimately, only 4% of what we worry about is something we could actually do something about. Therefore, 96% of what we worry about is totally out of our control. So the question was asked, "What controls you - what runs your life?" Worry wants us to be in charge, where God wants to be in charge. You cannot serve two masters. The priest then said, "You are going to tell me that that is just the way you are, that it is your nature or disposition to worry... not if you are working on your relationship with God." He shared the poignant poem by Elizabeth Cheney entitled, Overheard in an Orchard,
Said the robin to the sparrow,
"I would really like to know
Why those anxious human beings
rush around and worry so."
Said the sparrow to the robin,
"Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father
such as cares for you and me."
Finally, he told a great story of a beggar and a priest. The priest approaches the beggar and asks him how he is doing? The beggar responds that he is well. "When it is sunny and warm, I thank God. When it is rainy and cold, I thank God." The priest says, "Who are you?" The beggar responds, "I am a King!" "You are, so where is your kingdom?" The beggar says, "My Kingdom is in my heart!"