If you recall my homily last Sunday, Our Lady of Fatima stressed to the children in Portugal the importance of the faithful praying the rosary daily. Praying the rosary, as she indicated, has the power of changing the course of world events. On my day off, I usually go about the business of domestic chores while partly watching (but mostly listening to) EWTN. At one point, I stopped what I was doing to watch this ad. It went like this: A mom walks her young son into the bedroom to tuck him in for the night. The young lad has obviously just been through First Communion Sunday by the look of things. He takes out his rosary and says, “Hey, mom, do you want to pray a rosary with me?” The mother balks at first, she has so much to do, but then realizing the implications of her response, gives in. Then, dad walks by: “Hey dad, do you want to pray a rosary with mom and me?” The dad responds: “Gosh, I would like to but there is a good game on TV.” Realizing he has just put TV Sports above his son, he acquiesces and joins them. Then comes big sister walking by the room. She is on her way to a friend’s house to listen to music. She says “no” at first, but then realizing it will take only 15 minutes to pray a rosary, sits on the bed with the rest. They all end up in the boy’s room and it shows them starting the rosary together. Up pops a slogan: “It’s our Catholic faith…Let’s live it!” Great ad. And not just because it emphasizes the rosary, but that it emphasizes the importance of praying together as a family too. The late Fr. John Hardon coined the phrase we hear so often: “The family that prays together, stays together.” Are we praying together as a family, that is, besides church? Perhaps during this month of May, the month where we honor Mary and ask for her help, if we are not praying together as a family, now would be a great time to start.

Pray for us O Holy Mother of God!

Father Morgan

What is the greatest act of love? Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends, says today’s Gospel (Jn. 15:13). Jesus defines friendship, the mutual bond of trust and affection between two or more people, as the willingness to give totally of oneself even to the point of dying for one’s friends. What the Lord means is that true love is costly. Those who truly love give the best they can offer, and sometimes are willing to sacrifice everything they have for the sake of someone else’s health and well being, both spiritually and materially. Is such a love possible? I believe it is; and I believe there are many people in our parish who practice it daily. Think about it: Where would Holy Spirit Parish be if not for the many people who continually step up, week after week, month after month, event after event, ordeal after ordeal in order to make things happen around here? I owe a great deal of thanks to my staff for the many hours of self-sacrifice that they make that goes beyond and above the call of duty. Moreover, I cannot begin to thank the countless volunteers (many of them the same people time and time again) who step up with their self-sacrifice no matter the task (big or small) to ensure that parish life goes on as planned, from setting up tables and chairs to serving on the funeral committee to putting together the strolling social to singing in the choir…and everything else in between. Many of them are “unsung heroes” who just do it because they love God, they love the Church, they love their faith and they want others to experience the Lord’s grace and mercy in the same manner that they have experienced it. We know the buzz word here – stewardship – it is a way of life that we are called to live as proof that we are true disciples of Christ. Jesus called his disciples his friends. He not only showed his disciples that he cared for them. He enjoyed their company. He ate with them, shared everything he had with them – even his most intimate thoughts. He spent himself doing good for them. And in turn, He washed their feet and commanded that they do the same for the good of the Church. To those who have been “washing feet” for so long now…thank you. Please keep up the good work. For those who have not been “washing feet” in the parish I invite you to step up and take your turn: We need you, we would enjoy your company…and we love new blood to help refresh, renew and remind us that “Greater love” is what it’s all about.

He is Risen!

Fr. Morgan

There is good reason that South Dakota is sometimes called “the land of infinite variety.” Driving down the highway, north, south, east or west one encounters landscapes, sky and water that singularly are unremarkable, but put together paints a picture of serene beauty that only God Himself could create. There is a place on Highway 45 north of Kimball where you come over the top of a hill and suddenly find yourself with a view of the landscape and skyscape that goes on for miles and miles. Cattle in the distance look like pepper sprinkles on a fried egg. I have pulled over to the side of the road once or twice, just to stand there and admire it (no need to worry about traffic…a pickup truck might come by every 30 minutes or so). I get a very peaceful feeling standing there looking at such immense beauty; and a feeling that I’m in God’s protective care. Any farmer will tell you that the purpose of a shepherd is to protect his sheep. The Old Testament often speaks of God as shepherd of His people. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture (Ps. 100:3). The Shepherd brings a sense of peace and security to those He watches from above. “The Messiah” is also pictured as a shepherd of God’s people. He is the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls (1Pet. 2:25). Jesus – The Messiah – made three promises to his followers. He promised them everlasting life. If they accept His words and follow His commands, they will have the life of God in them. Jesus also promised them a life that would know no end. Death would not be the end but the beginning. Jesus promised a life that was secure. Jesus said that nothing would snatch them out of His protective hand, not even suffering, pain, sorrow or death. On this Good Shepherd Sunday, we are reminded that our lives are safe in the hands of the “real” good shepherd.

He is Risen!

Fr. Morgan

Everywhere we turn this week there will be constant reminders of the “Presence” that Christ has left with us. In the Gospel, they recognize the Lord in the “Breaking of the Bread.” At 8:00 and 10:30 Masses, our second graders receive their First Holy Communion. Since Wednesday, images of “Eucharistic miracles,” the exhibit from Vatican City, has been a part of the foyer and lower level décor. It will be here thru the 26th. Jesus gives Himself to us in the one action common to all humanity: Everyone must eat or they will not survive. “Eat of this food,” says the Christ, “the food of My Body, and your soul shall survive for eternity.” The Risen Christ in the flesh might seem like an historical figure, and the resurrection a long ago historical event. Yet, Christ gives us an action that transcends the historical, even the existential, so that we might come to understand that He is Who He says He is: Emmanuel – “God is with Us.”

Happy Easter, He is with us!

Fr. Morgan

One of the signs of a blessed and fruitful parish is the number of baptisms that are performed each year. Three years ago we had 97 baptisms at Holy Spirit. We have fallen off since then to about 70 per year, but it will continue to grow, believe me. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that, all in all, we are a young parish. Look and listen on any given Sunday at any given Mass and you can hear the noises and laughter (and of course the crying) of little ones. There are a lot of children in our parish…a lot of “young” children! With this in mind, I realize that there are some needs that have to be addressed. The question is “how do we address them?” The premise being: What can we do as a parish to help parents on Sunday with the care of their children, and yet not take away from the Mass or the religious dimension of bringing them to church? I am looking for young mothers who would be interested in coming together to brainstorm, and perhaps help with the planning of a nursery program/preschool program. I have put Val Whitney (pre-school and Religious Ed Director) in charge of directing such a committee of moms. We really want this to come from you. Please contact the parish office if you are interested, 371-2320. Thank you…and keep having babies!

He is Risen!

Fr. Morgan

On Holy Saturday 1968, my mother came home from Aberdeen with an Easter present. No, not another Morgan baby, well not exactly anyway. It was a “baby” of sorts – a day-old yellow duckling. “You bought us what?” we all chimed in. Some kids get a new bike for Easter, or a new pair of shoes…we got a duck. Though it was a gift for all the Morgan children, yours truly, as the oldest, was expected to take care of it. My parents thought it would die in a few days, either from consumption, loneliness, or from our rough play with it. But to their surprise, he lived on for weeks, months, even years. “Quacky” (that was the profound “duck name” we gave him) became part of the family. He hung out in our yard for nine years before succumbing to old age. He was so popular that the Ipswich Tribune did a front page obit on him when he passed-on to that great big duck pond in the sky. He walked with us or rode with us in numerous parades during the summer in our hometown. We would spend hours swimming with him in our small plastic pool (until we figured out what duck poop was). In the winter, Quacky would join us in sledding on manmade snow mountains created by the bobcats plowing out our driveway. He would pull himself to the top by holding onto our pant legs – unfold his wings, stretch out his neck, and slide down head first on his belly as if he were a penguin. He loved water and worms and cat food, and occasionally my mother would have to shoo him out of the garden. He chased every dog out of our yard when they would intrude…and for that matter, every girl that I wanted to date too. He suffered from an identity crisis – he was torn between being a duck, a human or a cat. For all his quirkiness, Quacky was a constant reminder to us of the “surprise” that unfolds at Easter.” The resurrection is certainly unexpected; it’s even strange: An empty tomb, an angel, and the words, “He is risen.” This was not what the women and John and Peter were expecting to find or hear. And the story gets more fantastic as time goes on, so we read. Sort of like the story of Quacky. Let “us” always be reminded of the story of Easter, the great surprise, the baffling gift that brings life and love and grace to those who accept the unexpected – Christ risen from the dead – and then go with it.

Happy Easter!

Fr. Morgan

In the movie A Man for All Seasons, the story of St. Thomas More, the Duke of Norfolk is trying to get Thomas More to join him and every other member of church and government to swear to an unlawful oath in contradiction to More’s Catholic Faith. The Duke says: “Oh confound all this. I’m not a scholar, I don’t know whether the marriage was lawful (Henry VIII) or not but dangit, Thomas, look at these names! Why can’t you do as I did and just come with us, for fellowship!”? St. Thomas More: “And when we die, and you are sent to heaven for doing your conscience, and I am sent to hell for not doing mine, will you come with me, for fellowship?”

Palm Sunday is not only the commemoration of Christ’s grand entrance into Jerusalem as King of the Jews, it is also the stark reminder that the “King” will be condemned and killed in a mere few days after His grand entrance for not selling out to the authorities of His day. In a mere few minutes at Mass today, we will go from hearing about His grand entrance among shouts of Hosannas, to His grand exit at Golgotha among sneers of “Crucify Him, Crucify Him.” It should cause us to bristle, and our consciences should be pricked. We are involved in both; willing participants in an “unholy fellowship” of fallen human nature. Holy Week is upon us. Have we repented in Confession? Have we prepared ourselves through prayer and fasting? Will we stand with the Way, the Truth and the Life in the end?

May your Holy Week be filled with grace,

Father Morgan

To think that winter may finally be over seems like an impossibility because winter hardly came. The few times that I actually took my shovel out of the garage, the sun had already melted the snow on the driveway. Although I wore my winter coat most days, very rarely did I need to button it up.

Lent is nearly over, and there is still time to kneel down in front of the crucifix and thank God for what He did for us. There is still time to attend Stations of the Cross and remember how Christ suffered for us. There is still time after Mass is over to kneel and thank God for receiving Him in the Eucharist. There is still time to be with Christ and receive His forgiveness in Reconciliation.

Deacon Tom Bates

“But unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3)

Lent is a true penitential season. It is a season when we remember that we are sinners and that we need to turn ourselves back to God. In this work of turning our hearts and minds back to the Lord, it seems well that we reflect on the following excerpt from the apostolic constitution written by Pope Paul VI following the Second Vatican Council:

“True penitence, however, cannot ever prescind from physical asceticism as well. Our whole being in fact, body and soul, (indeed the whole of nature, even animals without reason, as Holy Scripture often points out) must participate actively in this religious act whereby the creature recognizes divine holiness and majesty. The necessity of the mortification of the flesh also stands clearly revealed if we consider the fragility of our nature, in which, since Adam’s sin, flesh and spirit have contrasting desires. This exercise of bodily mortification, far removed from any form of stoicism, does not imply a condemnation of the flesh which the Son of God deigned to assume. On the contrary, mortification aims at the “liberation” of man, who often finds himself, because of concupiscence, almost chained by his own senses. Through “corporal fasting” man regains strength and the “wound inflicted on the dignity of our nature by intemperance is cured by the medicine of a salutary abstinence.”

Nevertheless, in the New Testament and in the history of the Church— although the duty of doing penance is motivated above all by participation in the sufferings of Christ-the necessity of an asceticism which chastises the body and brings it into subjection is affirmed with special insistence by the example of Christ Himself.

Against the real and ever recurring danger of formalism and pharisaism the Divine Master in the New Covenant openly condemned—and so have the Apostles, Fathers and supreme pontiffs—any form of penitence which is purely external. The intimate relationship which exists in penitence between the external act, inner conversion, prayer and works of charity is affirmed and widely developed in the liturgical texts and authors of every era.”

Having reached the halfway point of Lent, let us spur ourselves on in our work of turning our hearts, our bodies, and our whole lives toward God our Savior. We have turned away from God so many times. Let us exert even more energy in turning back to Him. By our sins we have told Him that we do not love Him, may our works of penance tell Him that we do love Him, and now we love Him more than before and more than all those things which previously led us to sin.

“And rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God: for He is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil. (Joel 2:13).

Fr. Venner

Rarely do I “reprint” the Pastor’s message from the past, but I found this one, and I think it would do us all good to read it again:

The question has come up why the liturgies during Lent seem like “Good Friday.” It’s a good question that must always begin with what we believe about the nature of our redemption. While I was checking up on the Winter Olympics on the web, I came across a story about athletes who win the gold, and then come back in subsequent Olympics to compete again. These athletes find that it’s harder to find the motivation and energy needed to prepare a second or third time. As one athlete put it, “once you’ve been to the top, you wonder why you would want to put yourself through all the pain and suffering to prepare for it again.” Most of them found that winning the gold a second time was different from the first, the third time different from the second, and so on. We’re reminded of how grace works through trial and tragedy. When we’re in it, it’s difficult to see God’s hand; but once the trial is over, we see God’s prints all over it. And then, when it happens again, it’s never the same. We’ve grown from the experience and thus seek to go even deeper in our discovery. We win the gold, so to speak, when we see God’s hand in the suffering and end up better for it. The resurrection story is analogous to this: To appreciate it and internalize it, we relive the trials and tragedy that got us here – the Passion and Death of Our Lord. It’s not fun. It’s not supposed to be fun. It’s supposed to be transcendent, reflective, introspective, prayerful, penitential. Every liturgy in Lent is supposed to feel like “Good Friday” because we want to be intimately connected with what brings us everlasting life. It’s our fallen human nature which would rather skip the meat and vegetables and go right to the dessert. We prefer the “warmth of the womb” rather than the “ecstasy of rebirth.” And that is what Lent is all about…the arduous task of preparing ourselves for rebirth on Easter Sunday.

Forza! (Italian for “Be Strong!”)

Fr. Morgan

Saint Paul reminds us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” We should not become discouraged or despondent when we look around at what is happening in the world. Certainly evidence exists in the world that the devil and people who follow the devil are trying to make the world a joyless place to live in. Given the way disease and tragedy occur also shows that the world is a difficult place to live in.
Despite all of this misery, God the Father sent His only beloved Son to die on the cross so that we could live forever in Heaven. To fix our eyes firmly on Christ who will lead us into the everlasting joy and peace of Heaven is the brave act of a wise person who trusts in the love of God.

Deacon Tom Bates

Discipline. It’s a dirty word in our modern age. Ever since the 60’s, the permission given has been one of rebellion and disorder, emanating from a narcissistic outlook on life. Yet anyone can tell you that the person with discipline can usually endure beyond their means and accomplish beyond their talent. A disciplined person knows him or herself: There is no lack of identity or of understanding of reality. Discipline draws us into the created order that is God. Lent teaches us discipline because it forcefully reminds us that life is much more than eating, sleeping, working and relaxing. We are called to fast from sustenance and go without; to give of ourselves and our material goods more generously; to pray Catholic devotions and read the Bible more intensely than is normally our custom. Our Gospel for this Sunday in Lent reminds us that we live always surrounded by angels and devils and the spirits of the departed. We are placed in between first paradise and our final destination. We have the assurance of God’s continual care within the Church to which we were united by Baptism; we remember the fearful warning that all this can end abruptly by our own death. Discipline is not a dirty word, then. Christ used discipline to fast for 40 days, and to do combat with the evil one. Whether we like it or not, we need discipline: It gets us to heaven. And what better opportunity to practice it, but now.

Blessed Lent!

Fr. Morgan (giving up sugar, cocktails and TV)
& Rudy (giving up being incorrigible most of the time)

Apparently the strong negative reaction these last several weeks by Catholic bishops, leaders in the Church and the Catholic faithful in regards to the Health & Human Services mandate requiring religious institutions to pay for abortion inducing drugs, contraception and sterilization, all in violation of Catholic Church teachings, has gotten the attention of the administration. There is capitulation, but according to Archbishop Dolan, president of the U.S. Bishops, the “capitulation” is nothing more than “manipulation.” Let me once again reiterate what this is really about. If you think this is about free birth control for those who “need it,” even if they are Catholic, you are wrong. The federal government through Planned Parenthood and other agencies already subsidizes free birth control so that it is readily available to anyone who wants it. No. To quote the Archbishop again (soon to be a Cardinal this week), this is about the federal government defining a religious individual’s or religious entity’s very identity. Not my Catholic doctrine, not the Gospel, not the Pope (the vicar of Christ on earth), not the bishops (successors of the Apostles), but the government, the government, is going to tell you and tell me, and tell those institutions who represent our faith how to “define” themselves. Religious freedom is the lifeblood, the cornerstone of the American way of life. When the Founding Fathers determined that the innate rights of men and women should be enshrined in our Constitution, they so esteemed religious liberty that they made it the “first” freedom above all the rest, and related to it, the freedom that no one can be forced to violate their conscience. Let us continue to pray that our President and our elected officials will come to their senses.

God Bless!

Fr. Morgan

It’s a great thing to know you’re loved. I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of Christmas greetings and gifts from you, thank you very much. Also, thank you for your concern and prayers while I was convalescing from knee surgery. I have had quite the medical year. This is my fourth surgery since late September: cataract surgery on both eyes; some carcinoma removed from below my eye; and now a scoping on my left knee. It continues to humble me and remind me that youth is of the spirit and mind, and not necessarily corporal. In our Gospel for this weekend, John the Baptist, in his characteristic humility, is eager to point beyond himself to the Christ. He did not hesitate to direct his disciples to the Lord Jesus and not to himself. Our health serves us only if it leads to a way of humility and gratitude, so we might hear Jesus say to us: “What’s the goal of your life? Do you come to Me for something more than what this life can give you?”

Blessings as you begin 2012 with a healthy soul!
Fr. Morgan

To pray as a family is to share in the life of the Trinity, to share in the love that exists between God, the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. When the family gathers together to share a meal and thank God for the food that they will consume, they join themselves together in the love they share with each other and with God. When the parents pray with their children before going to sleep, the entire family places itself under the protection and love of God. After praying, the parents can ask God to bless their children by praying:

May almighty God bless you For all the days of your life Both now and forever.

While the blessing is very short, the deep down desire of every father and mother is that someday their entire family will be reunited in Heaven where they will live forever in the love of God. To ask God to bless their children as they journey to Heaven is to fulfill the greatest desire that a father and mother have for their children. Praying the rosary with or for your children is also a good practice.

God’s Blessings,
Deacon Tom Bates

What’s the significance of a name? For the Jewish people the giving of a name had great importance. A person’s name expressed the reality of his or her being at its deepest level. A Jewish child was named at the time of circumcision, eight days after birth. This rite was instituted by God as an outward sign to single out those who belonged to the chosen people. It was a sign of the covenant that God made with Abraham and his posterity. In fulfillment of this precept, Mary’s newborn child is given the name Jesus on the eighth day according to the Jewish custom. Joseph and Mary gave the name Jesus because that is the name given by God’s messenger before Jesus was conceived in Mary’s womb. This name signifies Jesus’ identity and His mission. The literal Hebrew means the Lord saves. Since God alone can forgive sins, it is God who, in Jesus His eternal Son made man, will save His people from their sins (Mat. 1:21). In the birth and naming of this child we see the wondrous design and plan of God in giving us a Savior who would bring us grace, mercy, and freedom from the power of sin and the fear of death. The name Jesus signifies that the very name of God is present in the person of His Son who became man for our salvation. The name Jesus is at the heart of all Christian prayer. It is through and in Jesus that we pray to the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit. Many Christians have died with one word on their lips…the name of Jesus. Today, as we recognize Mary as the “Mother of God” we exalt the name of her Son and pray with confidence in His name.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Fr. Morgan & Rudy (a.k.a. “the donkey”)

Each year, the JC Penney Christmas catalog would arrive at the Morgan house with great fanfare. It sometimes came as early as the end of August. Though it was meant for the living room magazine rack, it didn’t stay there long. It usually made its way first to the girls’ room for a few weeks, then to the boys’ room for more than a few weeks, and finally would end up in the bathroom…its cover gone; its pages torn, curled and frayed like an ancient crossword-puzzle dictionary. For hours, we would sit and drool over the latest colorful gizmos and toys, revising the Christmas list continuously from September through December. That catalog was the big book of hopes, dreams and desires. How our hopes, dreams and desires change over successive Christmases. How our lists include less and less “things” and the need for more and more “blessings.” What are frayed and worn are our lives, not our catalogs. For when one peeks into the Manger and sees the fulfillment of every hope and dream in the birth of “the God Who is with us,” everything pales in comparison. We long to have that serenity and peace which is connected with the eternal rather than with the fleeting. Let us never forget that we carry the very life of God within us, through sanctifying grace in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Mary gave birth to the Lord Jesus in a manger…we give birth to Him in the deepest recesses of our hearts when we do His will in our lives. May you and your family have a very Blessed Christmas, my Holy Spirit family; and may the birth of the Christ child answer all your hopes, dreams and desires.

Christmas blessings!

Fr. Morgan & Rudy