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Reflection for First Sunday of Lent: February 26, 2023 Gen 2:7-9; 3:1-7: From its very beginning, this passage reminds us of our total dependence upon God, for everything. Reflect upon the fact that we even depend upon God for the very “breath of life.” We are not our own; belonging to ourselves. We belong, as do all living things, to our God, Who is the Source of all life. Notice God’s generous and thoughtful love; providing for all of Adam and Eve’s needs… plus making a Paradise of beauty, the Garden of Eden, for their enjoyment. Our attentive and loving Heavenly Father, tenderly cares for us and wills only for our health and salvation. Nevertheless, as described, sin entered the world, when Adam and Eve turned away from God. Today, we still await the fulfillment of God’s plan for salvation… Jesus’ Sacrificial offering being poured out upon us all! Psalm 51: “Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.” Like Adam and Eve, we all have sinned and turned away from God, at various points in our lives. Lent is a time for us to reflect and pray; as illustrated in this wonderful penitential psalm. Let’s pray to recognize and become aware of our sins. Sometimes, in our pride, we don’t even recognize that we’re nurturing unfair and judgmental attitudes or that we’re failing to be as loving as we could be. Sometimes, our sins can be failures to do something good in a situation; rather than just doing something wrong. It can help to keep it simple: Let’s pray that God’s Holy Will be done… unto us… and by us. That’s a simple and powerful prayer. After this prayer, we may find ourselves going out of our comfort zone to help people or minister to them in some new way that we hadn’t before. Be open! Romans 5:12-19: St. Paul reflects that we all inherited the stain of original sin, through Adam and Eve, as our nature was corrupted. Nevertheless, our God is, ultimately, a God of mercy, forgiveness and generosity. Our God has made us inheritors of Jesus’ redeeming Sacrifice for us, on the Cross. Reflect on and share Paul’s gratitude that Jesus has showered us with an “abundance of grace” and the “gift of justification.” Jesus has given us all the graces we need to become truly holy. We can, starting now, become better than we’ve ever been before. Lent is a time of penance and repentance… but it’s also a time of great hope. Our God is offering us forgiveness… but we’re also being called to change our lives and follow Jesus more consistently; changing our behaviors and lifestyles, as needed. Let’s pray to be open to change. Matt 4:1-11: Reflect upon this passage and notice that the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert to His time of temptation by the devil. There’s a subtle message, here. Jesus was never left alone. Since the Holy Spirit led Jesus; it’s clear that the Spirit was with Jesus in His time of trial. Similarly, there’s a reassurance here for us. When we’re being tempted or under trials in our lives, the Holy Spirit is leading us or accompanying us, also. We’re never left alone; to handle things on our own. Our God is with us! Doesn’t Jesus promise us, at His ascension, “Behold, I am with you, always… even to the end of the age…?” This ought to reassure us as we work to transform our lives during this Lenten season. We’re never alone. The Holy Spirit is ever present and available. Be at peace!

During this first week of Lent, we begin our journey in the wilderness to deepen our   relationship with the Lord by coming face to face with our sins, our trials, our challenges. We reflect on our desires, examine our    motives, adjust our priorities, and evaluate our interactions. To help, God gives us three great tools of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Prayer is the vehicle of communication and conversation with our God to open our mind, heart, and soul to change. Fasting is to    deprive ourselves for a short period of time of foods that we like or to limit its intake  during a sacred time. Fasting can also be done by less engagement or to eliminate involvement in an activity that we take  pleasure in such as being on social media, etc. And, Almsgiving provides us opportunities to give to those most in need like giving food, clothing, or monetary gifts to the poor. Almsgiving can also be sharing of ourselves with others by offering our time, talents or treasures for an individual, our family, our parish, or our community.  Jesus tells us that “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you   everything and remind you of all that [I] told you,” John 14:26. (click on orange title for complete article)

Reflection for Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: February 19, 2023 Lev 19:1-2,17-18: In these weeks before Lent starts, we’re being called to holiness. In this passage, we’re being called to a holistic change of heart. Literally, the Lord wants us to let go of the hatred we’ve held in our hearts for our brothers and sisters… even when they have seriously harmed us. We’re especially urged to avoid seeking revenge; which can often escalate conflicts and even result in violence. God instructs us to “cherish no grudges.” Reflecting on that, we can easily see that those who hold grudges get consumed by their own bitterness and anger. The unsettling moods of those holding grudges and planning revenge can compromise the bitter person’s health; mentally, physically and spiritually. May God remove all anger and bitterness from our hearts and replace these destructive feelings with love, mercy and forgiveness! Psalm 103: “The Lord is kind and merciful.” Instead of harboring anger and grudges, we’re called to be, like our God, kind and merciful. The psalmist inspires us to remember always and to nurture an ongoing appreciation for God’s generosity toward all of us. In particular, we’re being reminded to reflect on God’s merciful forgiveness; which is beyond our comprehension. We’re also being urged to thank God for His redemption of us and for God’s healing and powerful Presence. As we’re reflecting on God’s benevolent kindness toward us and forgiveness of our many faults, we must naturally experience a transformation within us that will enable us to pay forward the forgiveness we’ve received. Humble recognition of the clemency we’ve received should compel us to extend that to others, with an attitude of reciprocity with God. Let’s pray this week, to be filled with God-like compassion and love! Then, healing can come to us all. 1 Cor 3:16-23: Heretofore, we’ve been focusing on the dignity that our God accords us, even in our imperfection. We’ve also acknowledged that we’re indebted to extend to others the same mercy and forgiveness that we’ve unworthily received. Now, St. Paul uplifts us, anew, by alluding to us as temples of the Holy Spirit that are beloved by God and under His protection and guardianship. We’re reassured that anyone who attacks one of our Savior’s flock will be surely and severely punished. We’re cautioned not to let ourselves to become prideful or to get into a mindset that we’ve earned or somehow attained for ourselves the blessings and status we enjoy. Instead, we’re sternly told to admit and be convicted of our true place as servants and beneficiaries of a loving God, Who is the Source of all of our talents, treasures and very beings! Glory to God, alone! Matt 5:38-48: In today’s Gospel, Jesus describes for us the radical life transition to unselfish holiness to which we’re called. In essence, we’re told not to “fight back” against our enemies, but to respond with love. When they “forcefully take” from us, we’re being asked to give them, ungrudgingly more than they unfairly and sometimes violently wrested from us. We’re being commissioned to conquer our earthly enemies with the more powerful armament of ungrudging love. We’re asked… even mandated to become leaders in generosity, mercy, compassion and all forms of unselfish giving. In turn, we’ll be freed from enslavement to materialism, bitterness and self-serving pride and greed. The demands on the Christian disciple are high, but the rewards and the fellowship to be savored are worth it! Reflect on the fact that we’ve received unconditional love. Now, we’re fairly being asked to pass it on. Amen! Let’s proceed! Deacon Matt

The City of Olean would like to thank the St. John the Evangelist Parish for helping us plan, coordinate and host a very unique course to better prepare our local first responders in the event, God forbid, a mass casualty incident like this should ever occur in our area. The Active Threat Integrated Response Coarse (ATIRC) is a 24-hour performance level direct course designed to improve integration between law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services (EMS) in active shooter events. The training provides law enforcement officers with key medical skills based on tactical emergency casualty care (TECC) guidelines which can be used at the point of injury (POI) to increase survivability of victims. The instruction also provides a model framework for law enforcement, fire, and EMS to integrate responses during an active shooter event through the rescue task force concept using the Active Shooter Incident Management Checklist. This course has been designed to improve the safety and survivability of victims of active shooter and mass shooting events and increases the effectiveness, coordination, and resource integration between law enforcement, Fire and EMS personnel when responding to these events. The Course Provider, National Center of Biomedical Research and Testing ( NCBRT), is a member of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium and is based out of Louisiana State University. Instructors from Louisiana, Alabama, Texas and Arizona came to Olean to teach the first responders from all across Western New York. The class had 47 registered participants, a required 10 victims to take part in the drill, and was observed by BOCES Criminal Justice Class as well as elected officials. We could not have pulled this all together with the help and support of our community partners like you. Thank you! Sincerely, Tim Richardson City of Olean Fire Chief Our Pastor Fr. John, is actively developing a mental health team and a emergency response plan. Our parish at the Basilica will join our linked community in offering thorough training to leadership in our parish for emergency response such as CPR, emergency contact and technique and crisis management in the near future.

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STEPHEN MINISTRY provides Christian care to individuals dealing with difficult life issues by using prayer, listening skills, and bi-weekly peer supervision to help the care receiver on the road to wholeness. Contact Carol Autieri at [email protected] or call 372-4841 ext. 144 for more information on receiving help or how to volunteer. COMMISSIONING: Congratulations to Christine Uhl and Lori Lombardo who were commissioned as new Stephen Minister Leaders on Sunday, February 5, 2023.

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Let us thank all those who teach in Catholic schools. Educating is an act of love; it is like giving life.”              — Pope Francis @ Pontifex click on orange title for complete article