“Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.”

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God
January 1, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Nm 6:22-27 / Psalm 67 / Gal 4:4-7 / Lk 2:16-21
by Rev. Mr. Mike Stinson, Permanent Deacon

“Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.”

I’m a teacher, and one morning a few weeks ago, I was driving to school, and my son Jeremy was in the car with me. As we got to a long curve in the highway, I noticed a car that was coming the other way was drifting across the yellow line, moving into my lane.

I moved over slightly and assumed he would move back into his lane — but he didn’t. He kept drifting over towards me, and I moved over some more, and he kept coming, until finally at the last second I jerked my wheel to the right — then there was a loud bang! and then what was left of my rear view mirror was dangling from a wire, thumping the side of my car door as I drove on down the road.

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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…)

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…)

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…)

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…)

Rewards of Giving

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 26, 2015 – Year B
Readings:  2 Kgs 4:42-44 / Psalm 145 / Eph 4:1-6 / Jn 6:1-15
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Just over 6 years ago, a girl about 8 years old regularly attended Mass with her grandparents in my former parish of St. Luke’s in Virginia Beach. None of us in the parish bothered to ask why she was living with her grandparents instead her own parents. We were just happy to have her there because we enjoyed her company. She had a way of making everyone around her feel special and important just by being herself. (more…)

Rest a While

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 19, 2015 – Year B
Readings: Jer 23:1-6 / Psalm 23 / Eph 2:13-18 / Mk 6:30-34
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Just like the millennials and digital natives among us, who are also called the Y and Z generations, I believe most of us love using social media and all the other products technology can offer. We can read the Bible and other spiritual books on our smart phones. If we need information about anything, anybody, or any event, we can Google it. For almost any skill we need to learn, “there’s an app for that.” (more…)

A Prayer Away

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 28, 2015 – Year B
Readings: Wis 1:13-15, 2:23-24 / Psalm 30 / 2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15 / Mk 5:21-43
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Today’s Gospel illustrates the important message that God, in the person of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, always has time for us, His people.

St. Mark’s story in today’s Gospel relates to us that a large crowd gathered around Him. It was surely an excellent opportunity for Our Lord to reach a large number of people with His message. However, before He even began to teach, Jairus, one of officials of the synagogue, interrupted Him with an appeal for his critically sick daughter. (more…)

Storm and Faith

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 21, 2015 – Year B
Readings: Jb 38:1, 8-11 / Psalm 107 / 2 Cor 5:14-17 / Mk 4:35-41
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

At some time in the past, some of us have experienced a storm while at sea, at the lake, or even while driving. For many of us, especially those who travel quite often, the closest experience that we may have is turbulence on a plane. During that time, it is a big relief when someone gives us assurance that everything will be fine. (more…)