A Letter From Our Pastor: Honoring Jesus And Meditating On “The Word Made Flesh”

Howdy Parishioners,

“And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14 NABRE).

As members of St. Scholastica Catholic Parish, we are privileged at this time and place to participate in the life and growth of Jesus. Jesus has given us a gift, a gift of land to build up His Church. Just like the Israelites who wandered through the desert for 40 years awaiting the promised land, so too has our parish been hoping, praying and longing for years, at least 20, if not many, many more, for the gift of land. God has now given us that gift!

Our forefathers’ labors, our many benefactors’ donations and all those who labored for the Lord have passed on to us a dream of building up God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. We are the ones to receive their hopes, we are the ones to enflesh them on the new land, and we are the ones called by God at this time in history to build up God’s Kingdom.

How should we do this? Let us imitate God! For God sent His only begotten son to establish His kingdom on earth 2,000 years ago. Therefore, in order to imitate God we must establish regularly scheduled Masses and sacraments on the new land and Christ is born for us! We must make it a place of prayer for all peoples, and reverently bow our hearts, minds and souls in worship of the God Who has come to save us.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this means that we have to participate through our prayers, our attitudes, and our labors. We have work to do! This work is a participation in God’s divine plan.

Prayers: In seminary, a very holy priest taught me the devotion of the Infant of Prague. Pray to the Child Jesus, who is God and man, for your needs because the more you honor Christ, the more Christ will bless us! I had forgotten about this devotion until last August, our parish picnic. Traditionally, we have celebrated the anniversary of our parish’s dedication, Aug. 18, 1899, by bringing together the majority of our parishioners with a Mass at Coal Miner Park, followed by a picnic. In 2020, only weeks after closing the sale, that celebration was held on our new property. That Sunday, Aug. 23, the Holy Spirit brought the Infant of Prague devotion to my mind and then it became a constant reminder. I believe the Holy Spirit wants us as a parish to unite in this prayer for the incarnation of Jesus on our land. This means utilizing our land for regularly scheduled Masses and sacraments, prayer services, catechesis, fellowship, outreach and hospitality. There have been many variations in praying the Chaplet of the Infant of Prague since it was composed in the 17th century. I’ve put out a couple of different ones since distributing the chaplet at last year’s Christmas Masses. I have recently put one together for this time of praying for the Incarnation of Christ on our new land. Please, I ask you to join me in this prayer every day.

Attitudes: Here is where the conversion of heart takes place and Stewardship begins — “An attitude of gratitude, grounded in humility following the way of the cross!” My first spiritual director first told me this. He knew that I needed to change from the Navy mode to the servant of Christ mode. Mary, Jesus’s mom, exemplifies this for she followed Jesus all the way, from the Archangel Gabriel, to Egypt, to the carpenter shop, to the public ministry, to the crucifixion, to the tomb, to the resurrection, to Pentecost, to the Assumption — through joy, isolation, pain, suffering, faith, death, life, eternal life — Mary was all-in from the beginning. Attitude is contagious! Attitude is reflected in Stewardship. Not only has God given us a gift of the new land, but God has also given us individual gifts. What will we do to increase those gifts? We must use the gifts that God has given for His Glory! Some will work and labor at their jobs to make large pledges. Some will donate their time and help where help is needed. Some will use their talent to provide expert services such as engineering, project management, people skills and other talents for God’s project. Many will be able to help in several of these categories. God is calling your individual gifts to be revealed! Let your attitude reflect your calling and see God’s greater glory be revealed.

Work: It may be hard to think about doing laundry as “clothing the naked,” or getting dinner ready as “feeding the hungry,” and that these are moments of grace for the whole family, but they are! Practice them at home so that when your family strives to work, help, donate or provide talents, it will be for God! Let’s work together on God’s plan as it is revealed through the efforts of our committees, contractors, and prayer warriors. Prayerful inspirations, the Christ-like attitude of doing God’s will and the plain hard work builds up God’s Kingdom. I have seen so many projects where the lady who prays whispers words to the project manager and problems are solved because she listened to God as the project manager was hoping for an answer. Now it’s our turn to work for the Incarnation of Christ and the conversion of our hearts to be all-in for God’s Word! Pray the chaplet of the Infant of Prague! God’s Word among us! God’s Word to recreate us according to His design!

Let us begin! Pray the chaplet of the Infant of Prague; instructions are available in the back of the church and the office. Honor Jesus by meditating on “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14).

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Robert Wedow, Pastor

Here at St. Scholastica, we will be meditating on the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, on Christ’s mysteries and Christ presence among us, in the sacraments, in our hearts and on our new land.

■ On the Medal (1) — Pray: “O Divine Infant Jesus, I adore Your Cross, and I accept all the crosses You are pleased to send me. Adorable Trinity, I offer You, for the glory of the Holy Name of God, all the adorations of the Sacred Heart of the Holy Infant Jesus.”

■ Three Beads (2, 3, 4) — Pray: “And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us!” “Our Father Who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.”

■ Twelve Beads (5-16) — On the 12 beads that represent the Mysteries of Christ’s Infancy and Childhood pray the “specific mystery,” then the acclamation “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” and the Hail Mary in memory of the 12 years of our Lord’s infancy and childhood from the manger to the temple.

I. “The Annunciation,” “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” “Hail Mary…”

II. “The Visitation” “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” “Hail Mary…”

III. “The Awaiting of the Birth of Jesus” “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” “Hail Mary…”

IV. “The Birth of Jesus” “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” “Hail Mary…”

V. “The Circumcision of Jesus” “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” “Hail Mary…”

VI. “The Visit of the Magi” “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” “Hail Mary…”

VII. “The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple” “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” “Hail Mary…”

VIII. “The Flight to Egypt” “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” “Hail Mary…”

IX. “The Exile in Egypt” “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” “Hail Mary…”

X. “The Return to Nazareth” “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” “Hail Mary…”

XI. “The Childhood of Jesus in Nazareth” “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” “Hail Mary…”

XII. “The Finding of Jesus in the Temple” “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” “Hail Mary…”

■ Final Prayer (17) – “Holy Infant of Jesus of Prague, Bless and Protect Us” Amen!

Please add these three petitions:

O Jesus, Who said, “All that you ask of the Father in My Name He will grant you,” through the intercession of Mary, Your most holy Mother, I humbly and urgently ask Your Father in Your Name that You may be incarnate on our new land.

O Jesus, Who said, “All that you ask of the Father in My Name He will grant you,” through the intercession of Mary, Your most holy Mother, I humbly and urgently ask Your Father in Your Name that You may be incarnate on our new land.

O Jesus, Who said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my word shall not pass,” through the intercession of Mary Your most holy Mother, I believe strongly that You will be incarnate on our new land! Amen!

Fr. Robert Wedow, Pastor