Mr. Stephen Stringer, Music Director at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, assisted by Mr. Anthony Ciucci, Mrs. Maryann Hunt, and Mr. Matt Shaw, conducted the closing concert of this week's Youth Choir Camp. Wow! These kids worked hard all week and sang their hearts out for the Lord tonight. Congratulations to all, and thanks to the hard workers who provided lunches every day. — Youth Choir Camp Closing Concert 2012 (3 photos)

August 17,2012
Msgr. William J. King

There are relics of Apostles, martyrs, and confessors of the faith in numerous churches throughout the world, placed there to venerate the great mercies of God and gifts of the Holy Spirit which shone forth in the lives of these holy saints. There are no relics of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and for a good reason. Today the Church recalls and honors the moment at which Mary, body and soul, was take

n into Heaven at the instant of her death, to share in the her son's victory over death. She was the first disciple of Jesus, and so the first to share in the merits of His cross and resurrection. Mary, our hope, pray for us, that we may follow you into the arms of God most high, through the mercy and merits of Jesus your son.

 

August 15, 2012

Msgr. William J. King

I John 3:16 — "The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." When John writes of "love" it is not an abstract reality, but personal. He writes of love as an actual person: "The way we came to know love was that HE laid down his life for us." Love is personified in Jesus. In a mystical way, each act of love we show othe

rs makes Jesus present, gives new birth to the Lord, and is a new moment of the incarnation of God in our world. Each opportunity to love and be loved that we miss is a denial of the incarnation of Jesus, love itself. You never knew you had such power, did you? In any given day, we have only a finite number of opportunities to love and be loved: use them well.

 

August 14,2012

Msgr. William J. King

Imagine my surprise: I thought the choir of angels were visiting our country parish, but lo! it was the sound of our youth choir camp, goin on all week at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish. There's a closing concert Friday evening at 7, so come on out and emjoy the music. Bring along some friends, neighbors, and family. We're at the corner of Mount ALlen Drive and Hertzler Road in Upper Allen Township (near Messiah Village). — Youth Choir Camp at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish (3 photos)

August 14, 2012
Msgr. William J. King

Spend a Saturday morning away from the distractions of late summer and back-to-school preparations. A mini-retreat for busy people will be held the morning of August 25 at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton church, 310 Hertzler Road (at the corner of Mount Allen Drive and Hertzler Road, near Messiah Village) in Mechanicsburg. It starts at 9 AM with Mass, but you can also show up at 9:30 just for the rest of the morning. It's open to everyone -- all our parishioners, and all our neighbors and friends. Father Edward Malesic, Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Harrisburg and Pastor of Holy Infant Parish in York Haven, will lead the retreat. There will be time for quiet, for camaraderie, for personal prayer, and group conferences. It will end about Noon.

August 11, 2012
Msgr. William J. King

Yesterday I had the occasion to visit the studios of Holy Family Radio, AM 720, to tell the story of my vocation to the priesthood. Not much of a story, really, except an epic duel between a selfish young man who wanted to be a physician, and a selfless God who wanted him to be a priest! Two questions ruin both the plot and the ending: 1. who do you think won? 2. Was it ever a fair fight? The piece will air on Monday at 12:30 PM. If you haven't yet become a fan of Holy Family Radio, listen in on AM720, especially during to drive to and from work -- it's better than yelling at the other drivers. Turn it up a bit and you won't hear them yelling at you!

August 11, 2012
Msgr. William J. King

Some thoughts from the Bible readings at Mass today:
.
. The young man stood quietly before the judge’s bench. There was no hint of emotion in his eyes, no movement in his muscles. “Do you wish to say anything before the court sentences you,” the judge asked. After a moment’s delay, the young man began to sob violently. He turned to face his young wife, who was held tightly in the embrace of her parents. “I am so sorry,” he sobbed, “so sorry. I never meant to kill our son.” Through his tears he retold what everyone in the courtroom already knew: “I was alone with our baby and he kept crying. I tried everything to get him to stop. I fed him, and he kept crying; I changed him, and he kept crying; I held him, and he kept crying; I rocked him in my arms, and he kept crying. I didn’t know what else to do. I started to shake him, because I was so frustrated.” He could say no more.
. Moses spoke to God in similar words about the Israelites in the desert, overwrought with frustration that they kept crying out no matter what he did. When that event from Exodus is retold in the book of Numbers we learn that Moses didn’t pray for the people’s death – he was so frustrated with the constant crying and complaining of the people, that prayed for his own death so that he wouldn’t have to put up with the complaints any longer!
. God, however, being God, didn’t do that. He just gave and gave and gave. When the people cried out in bondage in Egypt, He set them free. When they cried out in hunger, He fed them – quail by night and manna by morning. When they cried out in thirst, He brought forth water from a rock. When they were lost, He gave them a pillar of fire by night and of smoke by day. He just kept giving and giving and giving – just enough for each day, because that’s what God does. One day at a time. Every day. Just enough.
. Fast forward to the time of Saint Paul. Frustrated by similar behaviors among the Christians at Ephesus, he wrote to them, cautioning them not to be caught up in the “futility” of their minds. Our minds, you see, can play tricks on us, and lead us to anxiety and worry, distress and fear. Instead, Paul urged the Ephesian Christians to look to Christ, and with sarcasm dripping from his pen as he wrote, Paul adds, “I assume you have heard of Christ.” Of course they had: Paul had taught them himself. Now, however, they were acting as though they hadn’t heard of Him.
. Christ it is who gives us the greatest example of trusting in a heavenly Father who provides for our needs, and not giving in to anxiety or fear or worry. He even taught us to pray that way, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Not a year’s worth or a week’s worth, but a day’s supply only. Not enough to provide for a comfortable retirement, but just enough to provide for a trust-filled and worry-free day. The Father will take care of tomorrow in its own time. Jesus also reminds us in John 6, “It was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.” Every day. Just enough.
. So we turn to the Father, not as infants who cry incessantly with our every need, but as Believers who know better, for we know that the Father will never stop giving and never stop providing what we need, one day at a time. Every day. Just enough.
. That is the example Christ left us. I assume you have heard of Christ?

August 5, 2012

Msgr. William J. King