Regardless of what the groundhog said, winter's grip will be over on February 14. The good news... I'm not preaching that weekend, so I can pull an all-nighter watching back-to-back episodes of season 2. Francis Underwood, I'll be watching.

 

February 4, 2014 

Msgr. William J. King

 

Phenomenal photo taken over the weekend from City Island in the Susquehanna River at Harrisburg. Dare I say that at the same time I was in Atlanta for a very quick overnight trip to speak at a conference there: 60 degrees and sunny on Saturday, despite the crippling ice storm a few days earlier.

February 4, 2014
Msgr. William J. King

Wednesday evening of this week — come here a fascinating talk about something vital to the Christian faith: the truth of the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Did it really happen? Dr. Steven Smith (MA, Wheaton College, PhD, Loyola University of Chicago), a parishioner and a professor of Sacred Scripture at Mount Saint Mary's Seminary, will examine the evidence and the arguments against the historicity of the Resurrection. 7pm in the parish church, just minutes from the Gettysburg Pike exit of the PA Turnpike, and a minute less than that from US Route 15.

February 4, 2014
Msgr. William J. King

Time To Admit It: The Church Has Always Been Right On Birth Control

www.businessinsider.com

What has happened since the 1960s?

February 2, 2014
Msgr. William J. King

Next Sunday our Life Teen will sponsor a Super Bowl party for the whole parish of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Mechanicsburg, PA. It's a pot-luck dinner, so bring your own food. Drinks will be provided. Life Teen Mass is at 5pm, and the party will being after Mass. TEENS... BRING SOME FRIENDS. We'll have wholesome entertainment during Half-Time.

January 25, 2014
Msgr. William J. King

Under the competent guidance of our Emcee Dr. Ed Arke, teams competed fiercely tonight in the parish Trivia Night. Head drawn low in shame I admit that I walked away humbled: my team did not prevail, though I'm convinced the winning team cheated. I don't know how they did it, but next year I'll be watching!

January 25, 2014

Msgr. William J. King

The prophet Isaiah, the great prophet of the rights of the downtrodden, proclaimed that God had “formed me as his servant from the womb” (Is 49: 5). This ties together the 2 moments of civil rights that we celebrate in the coming week.

On January 15, 1929, Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. was born. His work led to fundamental rights being recognized for a class of persons. 44 years and 1 week after his birth, the United States Supreme Court removed the fundamental right to life from another class of persons.

That Rev. Dr. King had a dream. I am another Rev. Dr. King. I have a nightmare.

My nightmare is this: that on the Day of Judgment, when I stand before the throne of God, the chilling voices of the 60 million unborn martyrs killed since Roe v. Wade will cheer me on to Hell, because while they were being slaughtered in the womb I did so little to save them.

January 19, 2014
Msgr. William J. King

Today the Church begins "ordinary time." Past the feasts of the Christmas season and before the seasons of Lent and Easter, we enter into ordinary time. The Latin word "ordo," from which we get the word ordinary, means "lifestyle." So Ordinary Time is the time when we live the lifestyle of a Christian, without special feasts and seasons, just life and grace. It is a time of living the lifestyle of a follower, a disciple, a believer — a rather extra-ordinary thing, wouldn't you agree?

January 13, 2014
Msgr. William J. King

In NYC waiting out the polar vortex. Still the best city on the planet, even when frozen.
January 7, 2014 

Msgr. William J. King

Life Teen Mass Sunday Night January 5 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton church, followed by Life Night --- the introduction of a theme for the coming weeks of Life Nights. Everyone's welcome for the Mass at 5. High School teens and parents are welcome for the Life Night afterward. And don't forget everyone's welcome for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every Sunday evening 6-7 to pray for our teens.

January 4, 2014
Msgr. William J. King

The newest organization at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish was launched today. The Columbiettes held their degree ceremonies and the installation of officers. 36 women from the parish joined what the Pennsylvania State President described today as a group of "God-fearing, fun-loving, charitable women." From what I saw today, that's a pretty accurate description! The Columbiettes are the affiliated auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus. We look forward to deepening faith and charitable service.

(4 photos)

 

January 4, 2014

Msgr. William J. King

So, the jack-of-all-trades pastor thinks he's going to do something good today and save a little money. The lights in the garage door opener don't work and the problem is not with the bulbs but the opener itself. Sears says it's 30+ years old, no parts, etc. Okay, so the pastor says to himself, "Compared to all the problems in the world this is pretty minor, so don't worry about it." Today the pastor decides to replace the light switch in the garage with a motion-activated switch, so we can have lights come on when the garage door is opened. Sounds like a plan, right? Except for the fact that nothing is ever that simple. I was reminded of the truth that when this Rectory was built, it was built a little odd. Every time we do work in here we're reminded of that truth. I removed the old light switch, a 3-way, and took out the new motion sensor switch. The colors on the wires don't match. Okay, no problem, I've installed lots of light switches before: what can go wrong? I try my best to match colors but end up with one wire not attached to anything else. Let's just stick it in here: what can go wrong? Flip the power back on at the box. Nothing. No lights. Power off. Move the extra wire to the next screw. Power on: what can go wrong? Nothing. No lights. Power off again. Move the extra cable to the third screw: what can go wrong? You got it: nothing. No lights. Power off. Move the cable to the last screw. Gotta work; no options left, right? You got it: nothing. No lights. I guess I'll call an electrician on Monday, and hope I don't get an emergency call tonight, because the garage door opener is on the same circuit. I'd have to walk! Oh, by the way, I just discovered the power in my bedroom is on the same circuit too. Alarm clock? What alarm clock? God will have to get me up for morning Mass tomorrow. Anyone know a good electrician?

December 28, 2013
Msgr. William J. King

What a powerful quotation, and true. For the preacher of tolerance all other voices are unwanted dissent. Tolerance wants only its own voice to be heard.

Amen!
www.cukierski.com
"Healing mind, body & soul"

December 28, 2013
Msgr. William J. King

G.K. Chesterton was a prolific Catholic author of the early 20th Century, known for his incisive wit and profound theological insights. He was also known as a curmudgeon, and the older he got the more absent-minded he became as well. One day he was out strolling in London when he became quite lost. He stopped at a nearby telegraph office and sent a telegram for urgent delivery to his wife. In it he wrote, "Dear, I find myself quite lost. Am at Harborough Square. Where should I be?" He waited for more than a few minutes while the telegram was delivered and he got a response. Finally the click of the telegraph key indicated his wife's reply. As only a wife could say, she responded, "You should be home." Chesterton sent another telegram and asked, "But how do I get there?" He waited at the telegraph office for the reply. It said, "Am sending a boy. Follow him home."

Is that not the truest meaning of Christmas: God's simple message, "Am sending a boy. Follow him home."

Merry Christmas.

December 24, 2013
Msgr. William J. King

We have a winning team from tonight's "Reindeer Games" at SEAS Life Teen. Revenge may be sweet at next year's competition, and if we have the same candy competition as tonight, it will be very sweet! See you next Sunday evening at 5 for Life Teen, and on Sunday, January 5 for Life Teen Mass at 5 pm followed by Life Night. (6 photos)

December 22, 2013
Msgr. William J. King

Up at the North Pole Santa's elves are packing the sleigh, and here in the church the musicians are practicing for Christmas Midnight Mass. All for Jesus! O come. let us adore Him: on Christmas eve at 5 and 7, Midnight, and Christmas morning at 10:30. The childrens' pageant is at the 5 pm Christmas Eve Mass -- be forewarned: last year people were standing in the parking lot! This year we will have overflow seating in the Parish Center with a live audio/video feed from the church. 7 pm should be a bit less jammed. Our wonderful choir will begin a Christmas concert at 11:15pm, prior to the Midnight Mass (yes, our Midnight Mass is still at Midnight!). 10:30 Mass on Christmas morning is always a beautiful celebration as well. Be sure to come early for any Mass -- seats go fast (always a good sign). Merry Christmas to all!

December 22, 2013
Msgr. William J. King

Tonight at 5 in the Parish Center at St. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. Everyone of High School age is welcome. Bring some friends.

December 22, 2013
Msgr. William J. King

High School Teens in the Mechanicsburg PA area, don't miss "The Reindeer Games" at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Life Teen tomorrow evening at 5.

December 21, 2013
Msgr. William J. King

Life Night tonight with SEAS Life Teen. Deacon David Hall and his wife Libby led us in a quiet and moving prayer service in the church before we moved over to the Parish Center where "Holly Spirit" led us in a game to identify the Gospel passages. Tonight's episode of "The Gospel Show" was an interview with the 4 Gospel writers which focused on why the descriptions of Jesus' birth are different in the various Gospel texts.

December 15, 2013
Msgr. William J. King

Today we had the organizational meeting for Trail Life Troop 101 at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton parish. Trail Life USA is an outdoor adventure and character-building program for boys and young men, with programs for age groups from 17 down to 5 years old. Trail Life is solidly Christian in its vision and values. It will be an important part of our parish youth ministry. We have experienced adult leaders and we're starting out with a great group of kids.

— with Scott Rainey.

December 15, 2013
Msgr. William J. King