Jesus told his apostles "I will make you fishers of men". Father Larry and I have been servicing Wilton Manors for the past 11 years. By some standards we should have burned the mortgage on a large church, have church committees doing all kinds of work, asking for donations for new stained glass windows in the church and paying soloists to sing in our large choir, etc. etc. etc.
Yet here we are , 11 years later in a home based chapel in Wilton Manors, once again trying, this time , by renting space in a large church , with our congregation that runs between 15 and 5. It cost over 125 a week between rent and ads and Father Larry and I have been covering the expenses and our collections run between and 10.00 and 38.00. We have never been able to attract the heavy hitters in the Wilton Manors area to help us financially. We don't go to the right places, nor seen at the best parties or have the luxury of paid public relations/fund raisers.
It could be we have not devoted enough time for us to be visible to the average person on the street. We haven't been dressing as priests and thus physically hiding who we are. This we are going to change....Both Father Larry and I will be wearing clericals so that people will identify us as priests and I hope ultimately get to know us as Fathers of Divine Mercy in the New Catholic community movement.
We know we have tough hurdles to overcome. Many people are still very angry with the Roman Catholic church. The Roman Catholic church has taken ownership to the name catholic. So when we say we are catholic, all the anger and disappointment that they have experienced . over the years .is projected upon us and its not easy to break down the walls put up and the judgements they automatically put upon us. But we chip away. I
But, we love the liturgy of the Mass and the sacraments instituted by Jesus and passed on to us by the early apostles, the true message of love as taught to us by Jesus himself and the call we constantly hear to go out and help people know that they are indeed loved and deserving of being a
member of Christs family, a son or daughter. Mother Theresa didn't ask for any ones permission to go out and pick up the dying and those who had been rejected by society. She left the comfort of teaching wealthy Indian girls in a convent and chose the rejected on the streets There are so many people in the Wilton Manors - Fort Lauderdale area who have been kicked aside. And I am talking about rich , poor, straight , gay , black ,white and all colors in between .
We pray that God uses us, in whatever way he wants, to reach those people
who feel unwanted, who use drugs, alcohol and other excesses, including more and more and more money, to cover up their hurt inside feelings. And like Mother Theresa, he wants out out amongst his people, not only those who are hungry and homeless but those who are also hungry for love, the love that lasts forever, the love of God.
I ramble today, on Thanksgiving Day But I think of the wonderful program of Alcoholic Anonymous, it was started by two men in Akron Ohio for those who had been ravaged by the disease of alcoholism Those two men, over 74 years ago, listening to their higher power, introduced the Program of Alcoholic Anonymous to the world. I guess my role models are Dr. Bob and Bill Wilson and my guide Mother Theresa. Also some of you too who have shown Father Larry and I the meaning of love. And we have so much more to learn.
Yes we are little fish in a big pond, but you know we are out there swimming. Jump in with us, the water is fine
Father John Joseph and Father Larry, Fathers of Divine Mercy
Newdivinemercy.org.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
THANKSGIVING WHAT IT MEANS TO US
It means being grateful for love, love that has and is being given and love which we give. At the very top of the list of love received is the love that God gives us each day.
Many of us can recall, when in the darkest of our hours, God steps in and shows us the way out either through our actions or through the guidance of an angel that God sends to us. Some day I will talk about my alcoholism and God giving me these past 36 years of sobriety. And through my sobriety meeting my partner Larry.
Then there is God working through us in our every day life. Sometimes when I feel low and don't know what God wants of me in gathering people together to build a community church, I will get a burst of energy (not bad for a 77 year old ) and go on, reaching out to his people, and someone will come into my life, showing me its the right thing to do
And again, the love which I receive from people, those from the past and those in the present. My partner of so many years, my birth family, my adopted family here in Wilton Manors, and the ordinary people I run into every day, whose face slights up when they say hello, how are you. Those who come to church and sing the new hymns and don't know the words yet.
Those who so much want to help make the church grow.
Life here on earth has shown me so much love and I know that when I go home, back to God, there will be a love which I can not describe here.
I love you all........At Thanksgiving pray for Father Larry and I. We will pray for you at Mass, here in a little shrine, Thanksgiving morning.
Many of us can recall, when in the darkest of our hours, God steps in and shows us the way out either through our actions or through the guidance of an angel that God sends to us. Some day I will talk about my alcoholism and God giving me these past 36 years of sobriety. And through my sobriety meeting my partner Larry.
Then there is God working through us in our every day life. Sometimes when I feel low and don't know what God wants of me in gathering people together to build a community church, I will get a burst of energy (not bad for a 77 year old ) and go on, reaching out to his people, and someone will come into my life, showing me its the right thing to do
And again, the love which I receive from people, those from the past and those in the present. My partner of so many years, my birth family, my adopted family here in Wilton Manors, and the ordinary people I run into every day, whose face slights up when they say hello, how are you. Those who come to church and sing the new hymns and don't know the words yet.
Those who so much want to help make the church grow.
Life here on earth has shown me so much love and I know that when I go home, back to God, there will be a love which I can not describe here.
I love you all........At Thanksgiving pray for Father Larry and I. We will pray for you at Mass, here in a little shrine, Thanksgiving morning.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Beautiful Mass today Feast of Christ the King. How lucky we are to be a part of New Catholic communities to welcome all. you want more information about who we are (we are wonderful) Newdivinemercy.org. We are looking for other opened minded priests to join up with us. Call 954-567-1930. Bishop John Joseph Reid.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Veteran's Day Thoughts
City of Wilton Manors did a fine job in creating a tribute to all veterans of all wars. I did the invocation, as a veteran of the Korean War.
As I looked around the room at those attending, I was struck with I know almost all the people here. The City Commissioners, the Police, the City Employees, the Veterans and the Residents of Wilton Manors. What clicked is that Wilton Manors is my home, I choose to live here, work as a Priest with the Chapel of Divine Mercy here and feel very comfortable here. I grew up in Boston, lived and worked there but honestly never felt comfortable and at ease there as I do here. Hats off to you Wilton Manors.
I also checked out that the largest group of veterans in attendance was a gay group of veterans, they also served for all of us. Many of them served under the fear they could have been kicked out, disgraced and not allowed to receive any veteran benefits. And hats off to them too. Strong people those men and women.
As I looked around the room at those attending, I was struck with I know almost all the people here. The City Commissioners, the Police, the City Employees, the Veterans and the Residents of Wilton Manors. What clicked is that Wilton Manors is my home, I choose to live here, work as a Priest with the Chapel of Divine Mercy here and feel very comfortable here. I grew up in Boston, lived and worked there but honestly never felt comfortable and at ease there as I do here. Hats off to you Wilton Manors.
I also checked out that the largest group of veterans in attendance was a gay group of veterans, they also served for all of us. Many of them served under the fear they could have been kicked out, disgraced and not allowed to receive any veteran benefits. And hats off to them too. Strong people those men and women.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
ITS ALL WORTH IT
On all Saints Day, November 1, 2009 Jeff Augustino was baptized, confirmed and received into the Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church at the Divine Mercy Chapel, Wilton Manors, Florida. Jeff's partner James was in attendance and Jeff's friend John, along with Father Larry acted as his Godparents. John also presented a Gold Cross to Jeff and we all gathered after Mass at the Fathers of Divine Mercy Residence here in Wilton Manors to celebrate. It was a wonderful and blessed day.
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