Fr. Tomasz's Blog

I am back

2008-02-04T16:33:00.000-08:00

Hello to all my friends and vistors,

I am back after a somewhat prolonged silence on my blog. I invite you to visit it more often as I try to share with you what happens in my life, my parishes, and the church at large. Blessings and God's peace as you begin this Lenten Season. May it be a time for all of us of dawing closer to Christ and embracing his way of life.

Back from the Cape

2007-08-11T18:09:00.000-07:00

I would like to thank all of you for your prayers last week which I spent, as you well know, on the Cape, one of the most beautiful places in NE. I had a wonderful time. The first couple of days (last weekend) I spent with my Polish friends from Shrewsbury, Ma - Marzena and Tomek, and their two beautiful daughters Juliette and Ania (and of course Grandma). On Sunday John and Jay from Jasna Gora came with their daughter Elena for a day. Together we went to Christ the King Parish to celebrate the Lord's Day and then off to the Sandy Neck Beach -Elena's frist time on the beach - she was precious). We finished the day with a supper at the Cook's in Mashpee, Ma - awsome seafood place. On Sunday I also found out from my brother that my Aunt in Poland, Zofia, passed away. Please, keep her in your prayers and her husband, my uncle Stanislaw and the entire family. They can use your prayerful support. Well, now I am back and very much gald to be with my parishioners. I look forward to many wonderful things that will be happening in our parishes. We still have a little bit of summer left, so please, make sure to find some time to rest and re-connect with God's beautiful creation. Go for a walk, or a beach. Take a day off. It is worth it. God's peace be with you and know that you are in my prayers.

Hi I will be on vacation

2007-08-02T16:48:00.001-07:00

Hi to all. Even though this blog is still new and you would expect me to post something soon, I won't be able to since I will be spending the next week on vacation at the Cape. I never take my computer with me and anyways there is no internet access where I usually stay. I try to rest, read, and will attempt to finish out a stone patio which I started last year. Make sure you get some time off this summer as well.

Ok, this is my second summer vacation trip. As you may remember at the end of June 07, I went to Rome with two of my friends, Fr.Dennis and Billy Trainor. Thanks be to God, we had the most wonderful time together, not to mention the fact that we had a chance to attend Vespers with B16 at the Basilica of St. Paul on the day before the Feast of St. Peter and Paul (my brother's Name's Day). During our visit to Rome we stayed at the NEC (North American College where seminarians from USA study in preparation for the priesthood) and this is the view from the roof of the college. Guess what it is?

During one of our many escapades outside of Rome, we visited Orvieto, a small and beautiful town north of Rome. There you have to visit the most amazing Cathedral where the Feast of Corpus Christi was established. (read below)

The Feast of Corpus Christi -- which is always on the Thursday following Trinity Sunday -- has an interesting history. Its inspiration is due to two things: the first is the Miracle of Bolsena, which happened in A.D. 1263. Peter of Prague, a German priest, during a pilgrimage to Rome, stopped at the Church of St. Christina there to offer Mass. While he was a holy and devout man, he harbored doubts about the Real Presence -- doubts which were completely resolved when the Host he consecrated during that Mass began to bleed. He rushed to meet Pope Urban IV in Orvieto, bringing the Host with him. The miracle was declared, and the Host is still on display at the Cathedral of Orvieto today. Here is the picture of the beautiful reliquary where the host is kept. Learn more about the feast.

The miracle that led to establishing the feast of Corpus Christ some 8 centuries ago was not the only miracle that took place in Orvieto. That miracle was not as miraculous as the fact that Fr. Dennis actually ran into one of his parishioners from St. Mary's in Shrewbury, Ma (where he served prior to moving to Harvard, Ma). During one of our unexpected shortcuts through the town, suddenly we run into, behold, a former parishoner of Fr. Dennis. The conversation was very simple: Hi what are you doing here? and what are YOU doing here? I can't believe it. - miracle.

Here is a picture to prove it.

I do believe that it was much easier for Jesus to become present in the form of bread and wine - fully human and divine, than pulling this one out. But when it comes to Fr. Dennis, nothing suprises me anymore.

God bless you all

Hi I just opened this blog

2007-08-01T18:04:00.000-07:00

Hi this blog I would hope will give us a great opportunity to share my thoughts and reflections about the matters related to the church, our parish life, and many other interesting topics. I invite you to comment and converse with me on many different subjects related to the life of our parish, the diocese, the church and whatever else happens to be posted here.... peace and blessings and remember God loves you more than you can imagine... and so do I...