Christ Taking Leave of the Apostles, Duccio di Buoninsegna, c. 1308 – 1311,
Museo dell’Opera metropolitana del Duomo (Siena)

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Second Reading
Seventh Sunday of Easter
1 John 4:11-16
May 16, 2021

Paraphrasing an old Italian saying the 17^th century French philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote: “Man is neither angel nor beast, and unhappily whoever wants to act the angel, acts the beast.”

John the Presbyter (elder) shares this concern. (For background on the authorship of John’s letters, see the commentary for April 11, 2021) We have followed him these six Sundays of Easter and saw that the community his great predecessors the Evangelist and the Beloved Disciple formed and inspired had become fractured and divided over the nature of sin and redemption. The differences had become so complete that he referred to his opponents as “antichrists.”

As we come to the end of our reading of the first letter of John, is there a lesson for us? Unfortunately, there is, and it is both timeless and timely.

Continue reading “7th Sunday of Easter – Treating All as Brothers and Sisters” →

Photo by Max Harlynking on Unsplash

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Second Reading
Fifth Sunday of Easter
1 John 3:18-24
May 2, 2021

Have you ever been asked if you were “saved” and felt that you didn’t quite know the answer John the Presbyter (elder) who wrote the first letter of John will help us answer this from today’s reading.

If the person who asked the question is a traditional Protestant, he is assuming that to be saved means to have had a strong and unmistakable experience that God has chosen you for his own. If she has a good grounding in Calvinism, she knows that this reflects the belief that humankind is hopelessly corrupt and broken, and even God cannot make us holy and whole. Therefore, God accepts – saves – some people by ignoring their sins. They are not changed by God’s grace, it is a free and gratuitous gift of God.  Therefore, after one has had this experience, a person cannot be unsaved. It is permanent. No wonder that it is called being “born again.”

There is a great truth here. No one can save himself; God’s action must come first and is absolutely necessary. Yet Catholicism believes that we are not totally corrupt. God’s grace – that is a relationship with Jesus – can change us so that we become more like Him. Therefore, although the church has an ancient and well-developed mystical tradition, no one experience of God is definitive. Although our actions cannot save us, they will show if we are in a right relationship with God. The Catholic question is “Is your conscience clear?” After examining our consciences, do we find ourselves free of Mortal – deadly – sin which would sever our relationship with God?

Continue reading “5th Sunday of Easter – Actively Loving Each Other” →

Julia Greeley (c. 1840 – 1918), Ex-Slave, Housekeeper, “Denver’s Angel of Charity,” Servant of God
By Mike McGowan

Whatever was thrown at her,
Julia kept her good eye on her lover nailed to a cross and
chose to follow his lead in not fighting back,
while sharing his love to all.
Thus in a world, where so much racial vitriol still abounds,
Julia gives all a sterling example of respecting the dignity of all our brothers and sisters.

An Hour with Julia Greeley, Fr. Blaine Burkey, O.F.M.Cap, 2020

Julia Greeley lived a humble life devoted to helping those in need and to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She is an example to us when we face challenging situations. She also shows us how to love and serve our neighbors compassionately.

Continue reading “Black Americans on Their Way to Sainthood: Julia Greeley” →

Response to 2020 Appeal – Thank you very much for your generosity to last year’s appeal. Not only did we support many wonderful ministries, but we went so far over goal that we received $12,075.50 back for the needs of the Parish.

Contributing to 2021 Appeal – We ask you to be as generous this year. Please remember that the money collected for the Annual Catholic Campaign does not support the administrative needs of the Diocese, but specific and necessary ministries that help the people of Brooklyn and Queens. Do you want to be part of a Diocese that does not adequately provide Chaplains for Hospitals and High Schools or care for elderly Priests? We will look at these ministries over the coming weeks but ask you to think and pray about it now.

We encourage all to watch the brief 2021 video to learn about the faith of the Church at work in Brooklyn and Queens. You can access it online at: https://catholicfoundationbq.org/ACAVideo/#. The work and services made possible through your donations to the Annual Catholic Appeal help people in Brooklyn and Queens in ways that no one parish can do alone.

You can donate by going to https://catholicfoundationbq.org/annual-catholic-appeal/ or texting ACAto 917-336-1255. Please remember to select our parish, St. Charles Borromeo – Brooklyn (1043), from the alphabetized list of parishes when making your donation.

Father Augustus Tolton (1854-1897), Ex-Slave, Priest, and Devoted Servant of God
By Alicia Washington

The story of Father Augustus Tolton is a twist on the classic rags to riches story.  Though born into slavery (“rags”), he grew to be rich beyond compare.  His riches did not come from monetary wealth, though; instead, he was rich in faith, an unrelenting faith that has led him to the road to sainthood.

Continue reading “Black Americans on Their Way to Sainthood: Fr. Augustus Tolton” →

Sr. Thea Bowman, (1937-1990), teacher, preacher, public speaker
By Tevin V. Williams

Sister Thea Bowman was born in Canton Mississippi in 1937 to a loving family. Although she was not born into slavery in the United States, her grandfather was a slave. Despite this and the time period, Sister Bowman’s father was a physician and her mother was a teacher. Surprisingly, she was born into a Methodist family and at the age of 9 years-old she asked to become a Catholic.

With her faith being guided by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, she started to honor her Catholic faith through her work and personal life. Sister Bowman earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English at Viterbo University, and then went on to complete her Master of Arts and Ph.D. in English at Catholic University of America. As a teacher she honored her Catholic faith by spreading God’s love through her work, and being a light to all. She taught in elementary school in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and then at a high school in Canton Mississippi. Going on to teach at the university level, she was a professor at Viterbo University, Catholic University of America, and Xavier University. After being an educator for 16 years, she was invited by the bishop of Jackson, Mississippi to become a consultant for intellectual awareness. Her role included bringing people together through various forms of singing, gospel preaching, prayer, and storytelling all aimed at breaking down the racial and cultural barriers. As a consultant, her “ministry of love” stretched internationally from Nigeria to Canada, all the way to New York. Sister Bowman was also highly influential in the publishing of the Catholic hymnal: Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. (The first of its kind made by the black community.)

Continue reading “Black Americans on Their Way to Sainthood: Sr. Thea Bowman” →