Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Fourth Sunday of Easter, with its Gospel reading focused on Jesus as Good Shepherd, is marked in a special way as the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. In particular, we are asked to pray for those whom God is calling to serve as priests and religious. We pray not only for greater numbers, but that those who have been called to this noble vocation would be given the grace to be true imitators of Christ. Jesus uses the image of a good shepherd, one who truly guards the flock and keeps vigil, not simply out of employment obligation but out of true concern. This is how the Incarnate Son of God approaches His flock. Just so, we pray today that those whom the Lord is calling to the priesthood and to religious life, would have the grace to imitate the Good Shepherd.

To be a faithful, courageous shepherd is no easy task, especially in the society in which we live. While the dangers faced by one keeping watch over the sheep are particular – lions, wolves, hazards of geography or climate – the dangers we face today are very different. One of the greatest dangers is the what if. Perhaps the phrase is inelegant, but “whatifism” runs rampant in the minds of clergy, myself included. What if I say the wrong thing? What if, by speaking about what the Church teaches, I run afoul of popular opinion? What if I let fear get the better of me, avoid the sensitive topic, but end up leading people further from God as a result? “A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away,” Jesus says in the Gospel. This is a true temptation for every priest, no matter what form the wolf might take. On the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, the Church invites us to pray that those the Lord is calling to minister as shepherds might have the courage and strength of the Good Shepherd, that they might be free of these fears, and if not free, then courageous in facing them with the strength that comes from God.

To pilgrims at World Youth Day in Lisbon last year, Pope Francis said, “Rise up!” Let us awaken from sleep, let us leave indifference behind, let us open the doors of the prison in which we so often enclose ourselves, so that each of us can discover his or her proper vocation in the Church and in the world, and become a pilgrim of hope and a builder of peace! Let us be passionate about life, and commit ourselves to caring lovingly for those around us, in every place where we live.” He echoes these words in his message for this World Day of Prayer for Vocations. There are so many zealous souls being called by God to the priesthood. May they maintain that fervor, have it tempered by charity, and so become courageous, generous, good shepherds who reveal the heart of Jesus to all they serve.

A prayer for vocations in the Diocese of Bridgeport

Almighty and eternal God,
in your unfailing love you provide ministers for your Church.
We pray for those whom you call to serve the Church of Bridgeport as priests.
Inspire in them a generous response.
Grant them courage and vision to serve your people.
May their lives and service call your people to respond to the presence of your Spirit among us
that, faithful to the Gospel and hope of Jesus the Christ, we may:
announce glad tidings to the poor,
proclaim liberty to captives,
set prisoners free,
and renew the face of the earth.

Amen.

Peace,

Fr. Sam

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

There is a story I heard as a seminarian and which I have recounted many time since. If it isn’t true, it ought to be. The story goes that a great professor of theology gained a reputation among his students, often immersed in a skeptical university environment, for his plainspoken approach to the discipline. At the beginning of each lecture, after a prayer, he would look at the lecture hall and say simply, “The Incarnation happened,” before proceeding with the lecture of the day. He signaled the end of his discourse by repeating once more, “The Incarnation happened.” If the exact details of the story have gotten blurry in the retelling, the fault is mine, but I believe the message holds up. Jesus Christ, God the Son, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, really and truly took on our human flesh, uniting His divinity to a real human nature, and He dwelt among us. This is no mere pious tradition, it is historical fact. The great G.K. Chesterton suggests that there is only one real subject, one real topic which all other things depend upon, and that is the Incarnation. Our theological understanding, our whole spiritual life, is built not on some superstition, but on the bedrock of God’s intervention in human history.

As the Easter season continues, the Church proclaims not only that the Incarnation happened, but also that the Resurrection happened. Just as Jesus took on our human flesh and lived in this world, so too He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. And, as we joyfully claim each Sunday in the Creed, He rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. The tomb that once held the body of the Lord remains empty to this day because the Resurrection happened. The triumph over sin and death accomplished by our Lord through His Passion and glorious Resurrection is a reality with which we, and the Apostles, will be confronted again and again in this holy season. We will also see how this was God’s plan all along.

Today’s Gospel begins with the two disciples recounting what happened when they met Jesus on the road to Emmaus. On that seven-mile journey, our Lord appeared to them and opened their minds and hearts to understand everything that the Scriptures had said about the Messiah, that is, everything that God had revealed as His plan for the salvation of the world. Their eyes, finally, were opened when Jesus broke bread before them. With that story told, the Risen Jesus stands in their midst, proof of the Resurrection in the flesh. As He had on the road to Emmaus, Jesus summarizes all of Scripture, showing the apostolic band that everything written in the prophets pointed to the Messiah’s glorious resurrection. With all of this said, Jesus commissions the apostles: “You are witnesses of these things.”

It is in the apostolic mission that past meets present, that the stubborn fact of the Incarnation and Resurrection become more than events in an historical moment and are transformed into present realities. From Jerusalem, the Apostles will go into the whole world proclaiming both the historical events and the current reality that Jesus is alive, God has visited his people and still dwells among us. The mission of the Apostles, to be witnesses of these things to the whole world, is the mission of the Church, and thus the mission of each individual Christian. We are called to be witnesses of these things. Our witness will be stronger if we understand the history, the prophecies, and the living reality of our Risen Savior. The Easter season invites us to learn our history – the Incarnation and the Resurrection happened – and to engage with the God who is present with us here and now – Jesus is risen from the tomb and is alive, and we recognize Him in the breaking of the bread, the Eucharist. The Incarnation happened. The Resurrection happened. You are witnesses of these things.

Peace,

Fr. Sam

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As many of you know, last May I celebrated my 15^th anniversary of priestly ordination. In the months leading up to that anniversary, I began a conversation with Bishop Caggiano about a unique opportunity afforded to priests of the Diocese of Bridgeport who have served for fifteen or more years: a sabbatical. The purpose of a priest’s sabbatical is to engage in a time of prayer, study, rest, and ministry that is otherwise not possible during his ordinary priestly ministry. Bishop Caggiano has very kindly granted me permission to take a three month sabbatical this summer, covering the months of June, July, and August. Just to make sure everything is clear: this is a sabbatical, not a leave of absence, and I will resume my pastoral responsibilities here at St. Pius X at the end of August. While I am gone, Fr. Brendan will serve as temporary administrator of the parish. I am very grateful to him for taking on this role and for his generosity in allowing me to step away for this time.

Part of the sabbatical is to give a priest the chance to engage in a ministry he does not ordinarily exercise. Since ordination, I have (mostly through St. Pius!) worked with Catholic Heart Workcamp and the young people who serve with them. As a chaplain for the last twelve summers, I have been introduced to the good work done behind the scenes of this organization, and have gained some significant insight into the needs of their staff. For a few years, I have had a conversation with CHWC about some of these elements, and this summer, they have invited me to assist with their staff training in June. From there, I will accompany a team of Catholic Heart Workcamp staff and serve as the chaplain at three of their camps. This is a ministry I have come to love and enjoy, and I look forward to spending June with CHWC.

Another important component of sabbatical is prayer. A portion of July will be dedicated to a time for retreat and solitude. After that I will make my way to Wyoming. There, I will offer daily Masses and some spiritual conferences to Catholic families at a ranch who come for a week of outdoor – device free – refreshment. With a fairly relaxed schedule, I will also have some time for reading and fishing. At the end of August, I will pack up and head back to Connecticut.

I am very grateful to have the chance to take this sabbatical. It is made possible by the generosity of Fr. Brendan and our parish staff who will keep things going here while I am gone. I am grateful to all of you, also, for your understanding. I am looking forward to this opportunity, and will keep you all in my daily prayers!

Peace,

Fr. Sam