Saint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + Parish

(December 19, 2021) Did you know that prophecies are meant to encourage, build up, and console? That prophets themselves are messengers of God’s love, and that their prophecies are that very message? This is what is at the heart of Deacon Alex Bogdanoff’s message this Sunday.  "By virtue of our baptism,:  Deacon Bogdanoff  said, the Holy Spirit dwells inside of us; He calls us to be His prophets. To follow His will, we first need to embrace His presence within us; then, pray to Him to guide our words and our actions; and lastly, step out in full confidence in His power and grace. "This process prepares us both internally and externally to be a witness to the Glory of God and a part of His Kingdom on earth, both now and when He returns.

(December 12, 2021) “We are celebrating Him, but He is celebrating us,” was how Father Charles L. Persing started off his homily today.  "God wants us to rejoice in His presence. God wants us to be able to look at Him as He looks at us: with favor, with love, with compassion. He wants us to rejoice and live in that love; He takes delight in us because He has chosen us, He has forgiven us," Father Persing said."So, on this Sunday of the pink candle, let us look carefully and not lose sight of what is already under our noses – the delight of Christmas, Christ in our midst," Father Persing concluded.

(December 12, 2021) Have you ever wondered how Mary Magdalene overcame the mistakes she made? This theme is at the heart of Father Samuel Dubois’s homily today. Mary Magdalene was a sinner who encountered Jesus; Jesus reminded her that she was more than her past and her mistakes. Through a “beautiful adventure with this mysterious Jesus,” Father Dubois said, “Mary Magdalene got a chance for a new start.” This situation may be applicable for us as well. Let us relate to it as “the beauty of the Sacrament of Confession. We go in one person, and we come out someone totally different,” Father Dubois emphasized. Being washed clean in the grace of God prepares our hearts for the coming of the Lord. Father Dubois closed his homily with the following words: “Do not be afraid; allow Jesus to call your name; allow Him to embrace you in the Sacrament of Confession, with His grace and His love, and to set you free. You deserve it.”

(December 5, 2021) In his homily, Father Charles Persing reflects on the time of preparation for the season of Advent. As we approach its second week, Father suggests that we us ask our God to forgive us our sins and listen to His guiding voice. Our God has already shown His ultimate demonstration of His love for us: by His birth, His death, and His resurrection.If we are searching to find a true peace and happiness, we do need to surrender everything to Jesus. Quoting from the Old Testament Book of Baruch, Father Persing emphasizes  that God’s mercy and His righteousness are a promise to us that He will never abandon us. Therefore, let us look beyond daily cares, Father Persing suggests; let us examine “what lies heavy on our soul?” Are we ready to surrender it fully to God? Or keep carrying it on our own? As the followers of Jesus, let us make the right choice.   

 (December 5, 2021) Priest in Residence at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Father Anthony Eseke, reminded us that, both in the Book of Baruch and in the Luke’s Gospel, we can sense a liberation: the days of sadness and pain are over, and the coming of our Lord is near. The crux of the message from these two readings is the discernment of what is of value. Preparing our spiritual lives this Christmas season, let us take a step back and re-think of what is truly of value in our lives. Father Eseke summed in up as the “three Rs:” recognize, repent, and renew your relationship with God. The grace that is given at the Sacrament of Confession is what we are invited to today; our interior freedom is the sensing the grace of true discernment. Let us then come to the confessional and renew our lives in Christ. 

(November 28, 2021) Father Charles L. Persing, pastor of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, shared  a story about a group of people who froze to their deaths while around the campfire. Intrigued? A few verses reveal that these people did not freeze "from the cold without, but from cold within." "Let us be for these four weeks a hand that reaches out," Father said,  "a smile for those who have no reason,  the light for those who live in darkness. Let us be hope, peace, love, and joy."

(November 28, 2021) Father Samuel Dubois,  parochial vicar of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton parish, welcomes us to the season of Christmas. All other worldly things set aside, this Advent season should be the time of  "preparation, time of centering our lives and focusing on Jesus." 

(November 21, 2021) Drawing upon today’s Gospel message, Deacon William Dwayer, in serving at the parish from Mount St. Mary's Seminary, shared his thoughts about the end of the world.We all have different preconceptions when we think about the Second Coming of Christ, he said. However, if  look not only at what is "ending" but also at  what is "beginning,"  we should not have anything to fear; God the Son came into this world to restore the prime covenant between fallen humanity and God the Father. "Sin and death will pass away," Deacon Dwayer said, "and we shall see God as He is, in all of His glory." We need to be prepared for His judgment, he said, whether "Jesus comes to us, or we go to Him."

(November 21, 2021) Deacon Alex Bogdanoff, of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, reminded us that Jesus came into this life "not just to take part; King Jesus came to take over." He yearns for 100 percent of our being to follow  His footsteps into His eternal Kingdom.  To have a personal, intimate encounter with Jesus is "to experience His closeness, His friendship, and His love," Deacon Bogdanoff concluded.

Father Charles L Persing gives his perspective of Thanksgiving as a national, secular holiday as well as our understanding of it in our faith tradition -- and takes a moment to thank the staff and the people of the parish for the wonderful things we do for the glory of God. 

(November 14, 2021) "If we love Christ, then why are we so fearful? Are we fearful of Him, or are we fearful of giving up the sins we love?" Father Persing asked us to keep this Augustinian quote on our minds as we consider the Second Coming of Christ.  Are our names going to be written in the Book of Life, and are we ready to change and prepare ourselves for that most certain event? 

(November 14, 2021) Father Samuel Dubois, parochial vicar for Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, took a deep look at today's Gospel message. Father Dubois emphasized that we, despite not knowing when the Second Coming will exactly take place, need not be worried and afraid. Our human nature does makes us worried, afraid, and stressed, but we need to remember that Jesus is always with us, now and forever.  

Father Charles L Persing reflects on the history and meaning of Veteran's Day, honoring all those who served our nation. 

(November 7, 2021) Father Anthony Eseke, priest in resident at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, explores the difference between giving when we expect something in return, and sacrificial giving, which we see demonstrated in the readings in today's Mass. Father describes three special  ways that we can practice sacrificial giving in our own lives in response to the grace of God.

(November 7,  2021) Father Charles L. Persing, pastor of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, shares a story and his reflection based upon Saint Mother Theresa's quote: "Do small things with great love."

Father Charles L. Persing reads from the Book of Wisdom and prays for the souls of all the faithfully departed. 

 (October 31, 2021) At the heart of Father Samuel Dubois’s homily is the message that our Church is not an entity that restrains Her faithful. Rather, our Church is all about saying “yes” to many things in our lives. She calls us to holiness by saying “yes” to God, “to the dignity, the honor, the beauty that we are called to hold and have,” Father Dubois said.By saying “yes” to these things “we are called to hold and have,” Father concluded, “we will be very close to the Kingdom of God in this life; and in the life to come, we will dwell within its very borders.”     

(October 24, 2021)  In our journeys of life, we may have dark places of frustration and brokenness, like Bartimaeus in today's gospel, says Father Anthony Eseke. We can learn three lessons from Bartimaeus's story:  First,  we have Jesus, who is ready to help and heal our dark places.  Second, we have to have the faith and the courage to call out. And finally, faith is not what we do when we need something from Jesus; faith is what we do as a sign of gratitude for all the great things God has done for us.

(October 23, 2021) Father Charles L. Persing, pastor of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, considers the blind man,  Bartimaeus, as a man of great hope and great courage. "How many times have you and I gone to the Lord to ask for things that are impossible, to ask for things for which we personally don't think there's an answer?" Maybe we doubt the power of God in our own lives, Father says, but let us never stop calling out in hope to Jesus.

(October 17, 2021)  In this week's message, Father Charles L. Persing, pastor of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, focuses on examples of servanthood in the Gospel and in a story from the Colonial days of what is now the United States. "Nothing is below our dignity in the eyes of God when we are true servants," Father said. He challenged us to look for occasions to serve each other, because "the closer we come to Jesus, the more we are expected to follow His example."