Home in the Lord

Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord
December 25, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Is 9:1-6 / Psalm 96 / Ti 2:11-14 / Lk 2:1-14
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

I love Christmas music. I start listening to it at the beginning of Advent, and I listen to it all the way through Advent and Christmas, all the way up to the Baptism of the Lord. This started when I was a little boy. My parents had an assortment of Christmas albums and I had a little record player, and I would sit and I play them over and over. And my parents had everything from “Oh Holy Night” to “Blue Christmas” by Elvis. I think I wore those albums out.  This year one particular song got stuck in my head throughout the whole month of December. That song is “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” (more…)

Blessed Are You Who Believe

Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 20, 2015 – Year C
Readings: Mi 5:1-4a / Psalm 80 / Heb 10:5-10 / Lk 1:39-45
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

About 3 days ago, a couple visited our sister parish, Resurrection, in Moneta. They were looking for a priest because they claimed they could see demons in their home. Since I wasn’t there, they told their story to Deacon Chris. He prayed with them, and gave them holy water to take home and sprinkle on their house. By the way, this couple wasn’t Catholic. But yet they believed that, somehow, our church could assist them in driving out their demons. When I heard this story, it reminded me of a post from one of my Facebook friends. It said something like, “People make fun of us Catholics until they see demons in their homes.” (more…)

Rejoice Always

Third Sunday of Advent
December 13, 2015 – Year C
Readings: Zep 3:14-18a / Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6 / Phil 4:4-7 / Lk 3:10-18
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

While I was waiting for my food at one of the local fast food restaurants yesterday morning, I had the wonderful opportunity to see living examples of why the town of Bedford deserves its title of “The Christmas Capital of the State of Virginia”. It is not only the beautiful display of lights, which are one of the best in the state, but because of the people who live here. There was an elderly couple, or if I may use the words of St. Luke: “a couple advanced in years”, who were so vibrant, spreading the joy of the season by just being themselves, and greeting everyone with “Merry Christmas”. (more…)

Mercy and Forgiveness

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
December 8, 2015 – Year C
Readings: Gn 3:9-15, 20 / Psalm 98 / Eph 1:3-6, 11-12 / Lk 1:26-38
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

During my first few months as pastor here and at our sister parish, Resurrection, I had the privilege to know an extraordinary young man named Alex Earnandes. He and his family were members of Resurrection Parish. He was highly regarded by both young and older members of the community and well known and loved by the congregation of Resurrection. He had been an altar server at Resurrection for many years before I became pastor. He was a member of the men’s group and helped in many other ministries as well. (more…)

Living and Praying with Joy

Second Sunday of Advent
December 6, 2015 – Year C
Readings: Bar 5:1-9 / Psalm 126 / Phil 1:4-6, 8-11 / Lk 3:1-6
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

The recent Bedford Christmas 5K race and the concert by the Lynchburg Youth Symphony Orchestra remind me of the significance of this year’s theme of the Bedford Christmas Parade: “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It was obviously taken from the classic movie of the same title that’s supposed to have taken place in a town called Bedford Falls. (more…)

Be Prepared!

1st Sunday of Advent
November 29, 2015 – Year C
Readings:  Jer 33:14-16 / Psalm 25 / 1 Thes 3:12 – 4:2 / Lk 21:25-28, 34-36
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

Happy New Year! Today is the first Sunday of Advent, so it is the First Sunday of the Church’s year. And Happy New Year… the world is ending! How about that Gospel to start off the season of Advent?

I’m lucky that I have been able to be involved with Boy Scouting for the past 11 years. (more…)

Journey with Our King

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
November 22, 2015 – Year B
Readings: Dn 7:13-14 / Psalm 93 / Rv 1:5-8 / Jn 18:33b-37
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

St. Augustine once said that the world is a book and those who do not travel, read only one page. All of us have been traveling with the Lord Jesus in the company of God’s family at Holy Name of Mary since November 30, 2014, the first Sunday of Advent. Today, which is the feast of our Lord Jesus Christ, as King of the universe, marks the end of our spiritual journey in cycle B in our liturgical calendar. (more…)

Intercessors

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
November 15, 2015 – Year B
Readings: Dn 12:1-3 / Psalm 16 / Heb 10:11-14, 18 / Mk 13:24-32
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

We are all aware of the horrific events of last Friday, the 13^th, when the whole world was shaken by the attacks on innocent civilians in Paris. Pope Francis, after offering condolences and prayers, forcefully condemned the violence.   He described the attacks as ‘not human’, and he added that it is difficult to understand how such things could be done by human beings. The Holy Father knows, as we do, that there can be no rational explanation for such irrational and evil acts. (more…)

Priming the Pump

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
November 8, 2015 – Year B
Readings: 1 Kgs 17:10-16 / Psalm 146 / Heb 9:24-28 / Mk 12:38-44
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

We all know that there is no such a reality as something for nothing. There is a term called “priming the pump” which literally means that we should pour some water into the pump to enable it to begin pumping more water. This is part of life’s reality. We have to give at least a little in exchange for something we would like to get in life. (more…)

True Colors

Solemnity of All Saints
November 1, 2015 – Year B
Readings: Rv 7:2-4, 9-14 / Psalm 24 / 1 Jn 3:1-3 / Mt 5:1-12a
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

A few years ago when I was still a priest in Norfolk, I got a call to go to a nearby hospital. When I arrived I was met by a jolly male nurse who was dressed as a clown for Halloween. After he greeted me with “Happy Halloween,” he gave me a rare compliment on my outfit. He said, “Nice costume. You really look like a priest.” I told him I loved being a priest and he responded, “Well who knows, you might be a priest someday.” (more…)