The Holy Land

I write once again to call your attention to the Annual Good Friday Collection which will be taken up this year on March 29, 2013, to provide assistance for the churches in the Holy Land.  With all of the continuing violence that is occurring in the Holy Land, it is even more urgent that we provide financial support for them in their time of need, especially in the Lenten season.

Each year, the Franciscans, who have custody of the Holy Shrines in the Holy Land are grateful for your support for the mission entrusted to them by the Holy See.  Without the encouragement and support of Catholics throughout the world, the Church in the cradle of Christianity would endure difficulties even greater than those currently faced. 

I ask you to take up a collection on Good Friday and to send the proceeds as soon as possible to the Office of Finance at 419 NE Madison Avenue, Peoria, IL  61603

Thanking you in advance once again for your generous contribution to this important cause.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

+Most Reverend Daniel R. Jenky, C.S.C.

Bishop of Peoria

Chrism Mass 2013

For Chrism Mass Homily click here: Chrism Mass Homily

Blessing of Sacred Chrism click here: Blessing of Chrism 

Palm Sunday 2013

For my Homily click here: HOMILY Palm Sunday

Invite and Schedule for Holy Week

Please join me for Holy week.  All events will take place at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, 607 NE Madison Ave., Peoria, IL.

Tuesday, March 26th, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. Join me for the CHRISM MASS

Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 7:15 p.m. join me for HOLY THURSDAY MASS

Friday, March 29, 2013 at 8:00 a.m. join me for MORNING PRAYER

Friday, March 29, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. join me for GOOD FRIDAY LITURGY (confessions to follow)



Saturday, March 30, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. join me for BLESSING OF THE EASTER BASKETS

      

Saturday, March 30, 2013 at 8:15 p.m. join me for SOLEMN VIGIL MASS OF THE RESURRECTION

Sunday, March 31, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. join me for SOLEMN MASS OF EASTER





Thoughts on Lent

Jesus knew terrible hunger and thirst.   Jesus knew the searing heat of day and the freezing cold of night. Jesus knew the desolation and terrible isolation of existing in an empty space, tired, week, hungry, Jesus knew real temptations from the devil, but Jesus never sinned.  God alone was always His guide and His sustenance.  Jesus once described His enemy the devil as the father of lies.  From the floor of the desert to the top of a mountain the devil by deception tries to pull Jesus down.  Satan tempts Jesus to doubt His relationship with the Father and to abandon His mission on earth as the Messiah promised by God.   Jesus refuses to rely on anything but his unshakable faith in God.  Jesus believes in the words of His Father not in the lies of Lucifer.  And like the most brave and courageous warriors Jesus shows us how to conquer the enemy. Jesus the physician of souls offers us a remedy for sin. Jesus the greatest of all teacher’s, teaches us the truth.  Jesus the savior of the world shows us by example how to walk and live by faith.  In this year of faith learning to imitate Jesus is essential for our salvation.  Lent presents us with a challenge, to really live what we say we believe and not just talk about it.  Lent is an opportunity for profound conversion.  Lent gives us a chance to become deeply convicted Roman Catholic believers in practice not just in theory.  We all enthusiastically admire athletes who harshly discipline their bodies and sacrifice all sorts of things in order to win which is after all only a transient victory.  Should we not also imitate their energy and determination as we seek an eternal victory over the world, the flesh and the devil.  The Christian vocation is to cooperate with God’s gift of Grace.  Visiting the Sacrament of Reconciliation more frequently is an enormous help to die to sin and to be born again more fully in Grace.  Christians in this world are basically unfinished saints, a work in progress.  Reconciliation, like all the Sacraments is fundamentally an act of worship.  We confess our faith in His great mercy.  Reconciliation powerfully renews all the transforming Graces of Baptism and Conformation.  The priest serving in the person of Christ dispenses the medicine of mercy.  Every Sunday including the Sundays of Lent are little Easters.  In every Mass the Lord’s victory over sin and death is truly and substantially renewed upon the altar.  Christ who died on the cross and rose from the grave is present among us.  He becomes our food and drink for our journey from this life into eternity.  So let us surrender our lives to Him and in our Holy Communion listen to Him, speak to Him and more than ever before cling to His love.  Jesus is our victorious leader Who trampled satin under His foot.  Jesus is the true physician of our souls who heals every bit of alienation from God. 

Faith

Our witness to the power of Faith reminds us over and over again that only God Is God.  No possession, no other experience or relationship is as necessary or as good as God.  Faith in God liberates us from the sad mistake of imposing divine expectations upon one another or upon material things.  Faith in God then allows us to give real value to everyone and everything that enters our lives.  Faith in God repudiates despair. Faith in God frees us from sins and addictions.  Faith in God shows us the significance of all our decisions and undertakings.  Faith in God reveals the wonder of life and the splendor of creation.  Faith renews our understanding of the scriptures and creeds that the Church has always proclaimed.  For Christian believers, living and dying are really only acts of faith.  Making room for God, trusting in God, letting go and letting God be God are all profound expressions of faith.  Jesus said: Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Have faith in God and faith in me. (John 14:1)





The Fourteenth Station of the Cross

The Fourteenth Station:  Jesus is Buried in the Tomb – reflections by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC

Narrator: Mary, Joseph, and Nicodemus brought the body of Jesus to the tomb and prepared it for burial.  Mary arranged the body with fragrant aloes and spices and wrapped it with cloth and linen.  When they completed their work, the stone was rolled in place and the tomb was sealed.  Because the chief priests recalled what had been said about Jesus, they demanded that soldiers be assigned to guard the tomb so that it would be impossible for someone to steal the body and claim that Jesus had been raised.  Pilate granted their wish, and two guards were placed near the tomb.  Now it was getting dark, and the time for waiting was to begin.  According to scripture, Jesus was not yet finished with His work.

All:  Merciful Lord, by Your three days in the tomb, You sanctified the graves of all those who have fallen asleep, overturned the citadel of Satan, and opened the way for us to eternal joys of heaven.  There was no sepulcher that could ever hold You, no guards who could imprison You, or stone that could impede Your glorious Resurrection.  Jesus You are an eternal spring and a sun that never sets.  O Christ, You are the Savior of the world. Amen.