“At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”
(Mt. 9:36-38)
This past Saturday, June 13, during my homily at the Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood, I mentioned that the original date on our Diocesan Calendar for priesthood ordinations in 2026 was Saturday, May 30. This past fall, as we were looking ahead, we realized that, for a few reasons, it would be better to move the priesthood ordinations to Saturday, June 13 (and schedule the ordination of eight men as permanent deacons on May 30).
In the homily, I mentioned that I had spoken to the two men who would be ordained priests, Father Lucas Folan and Father Jender Medina, to let them know the date of the ordination and telling them that I hoped they had or would have a devotion to St. Anthony of Padua, as they would, God willing, be ordained priests on the Feast of St. Anthony. At that time, I had not realized that, in 2026, St. Anthony would “share” his Feast Day with the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Church celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the day after we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, which we celebrated on Friday, June 12.
In his encyclical letter, Dilexit Nos, Pope Francis emphasized the close relationship that the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary share, “Thanks to the abundant graces streaming from the open side of Christ, in different ways the Church, the Virgin Mary, and all believers become themselves streams of living water.” It is a grace for our newly ordained and all of us who pray for them to remember this special association that their ordination has with the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart.
In recent months, although it would mean that we would have a very busy few days/weekend, I had been happy to realize that, from Thursday, June 11 through Monday, June 15, we would share in: (on Thursday, June 11) the bishops of the United States consecration of our country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of our independence; (on Friday, June 12) the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, priesthood ordinations on Saturday, June 13, and the presence of the National Eucharistic Procession in our diocese on Sunday and Monday, June 14 and 15 – a “full weekend,” to put it mildly.
Like most priests or deacons and many lay people, I usually try to look at the Readings for an upcoming Sunday on the Monday or Tuesday before. Due to travel (to Florida for the USCCB meeting) and some other responsibilities, I did not have a chance to look at the Readings for Sunday, June 14 (the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time) until Friday, June 12, as I was returning from Florida. At the same time, I was putting the “finishing touches” on my homily for the Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood. When I read the Gospel for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mt. 9:36 – 10:8, I was amazed by the connections.
As I quoted above, in verse 36 of Chapter 9, Matthew’s gospel offers us a “glimpse” of our Lord’s Sacred Heart: “At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them…” As He speaks to His disciples, in v. 37-38, we can hear Jesus telling us that, “…The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few…” and then asking or instructing us to pray (for Vocations), “…so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”
As Matthew tells us, at the beginning of Chapter 10, Jesus then “summoned his twelve disciples”. In verses 2 – 4, we are told the names of the 12 apostles. Hearing the names of the 12 apostles can be an opportunity for us to remember that we believe that Jesus, from our baptism, calls us each “by name.” The gift and blessing of the ordination of two new priests is also a reminder of the ways in which parents, families, priests (and bishops), consecrated religious, parishioners, catechists, youth ministers, and others can be instruments of grace by praying, inviting and encouraging youth and young adults to be open to “hearing” and responding to God’s call, especially if the Lord may be calling someone to priesthood or consecrated religious life. “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.
As we heard at the conclusion of Sunday’s Gospel, after Jesus “called” the disciples, He then sent them out: “… As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” (Mt. 10: 6-8).
In the homily at the Ordination Mass, I shared some of Pope Leo XIV’s words, from a homily he gave on April 26, when he ordained 10 new priests for the Diocese of Rome. After reflecting on the way in which a vocation, “… comes to us in a deeply personal encounter with the person of the Son…”, Pope Leo spoke to the men about to be ordained about being “sent”:
In the communities where you will be sent, the risen One is already present, and many have already followed him commendably. You will recognize his wounds and distinguish his voice. You will encounter people who will direct you towards him. These communities will also help you to become saints! For your part, help them to walk together, following Jesus, the Good Shepherd, so that they may become places — gardens — of life that rise anew and share themselves with others…”
I write these words on Monday morning, June 15, after having participated last night in the National Eucharist Pilgrimage. There was a procession through the streets of Passaic, leading to a beautiful Mass in Boverini Stadium. More than 1,000 people participated. The Lord blessed us with beautiful weather. I look forward to another Eucharistic procession in Paterson this evening, followed by Mass in our cathedral. The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage is just one of countless ways that we do what Jesus asks us to do as he sends us out to His people, the sheep of His flock, “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ”
P.S. It truly was a beautiful (long) weekend. For some of us, something else took place on the weekend that made it even more enjoyable – (in case you had not heard) on Saturday evening, the New York Knicks won their first NBA Championship in 56 years!
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A beautiful Gospel for a beautiful weekend! #Catholic –
“At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”
(Mt. 9:36-38)
This past Saturday, June 13, during my homily at the Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood, I mentioned that the original date on our Diocesan Calendar for priesthood ordinations in 2026 was Saturday, May 30. This past fall, as we were looking ahead, we realized that, for a few reasons, it would be better to move the priesthood ordinations to Saturday, June 13 (and schedule the ordination of eight men as permanent deacons on May 30).
In the homily, I mentioned that I had spoken to the two men who would be ordained priests, Father Lucas Folan and Father Jender Medina, to let them know the date of the ordination and telling them that I hoped they had or would have a devotion to St. Anthony of Padua, as they would, God willing, be ordained priests on the Feast of St. Anthony. At that time, I had not realized that, in 2026, St. Anthony would “share” his Feast Day with the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Church celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the day after we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, which we celebrated on Friday, June 12.
In his encyclical letter, Dilexit Nos, Pope Francis emphasized the close relationship that the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary share, “Thanks to the abundant graces streaming from the open side of Christ, in different ways the Church, the Virgin Mary, and all believers become themselves streams of living water.” It is a grace for our newly ordained and all of us who pray for them to remember this special association that their ordination has with the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart.
In recent months, although it would mean that we would have a very busy few days/weekend, I had been happy to realize that, from Thursday, June 11 through Monday, June 15, we would share in: (on Thursday, June 11) the bishops of the United States consecration of our country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of our independence; (on Friday, June 12) the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, priesthood ordinations on Saturday, June 13, and the presence of the National Eucharistic Procession in our diocese on Sunday and Monday, June 14 and 15 – a “full weekend,” to put it mildly.
Like most priests or deacons and many lay people, I usually try to look at the Readings for an upcoming Sunday on the Monday or Tuesday before. Due to travel (to Florida for the USCCB meeting) and some other responsibilities, I did not have a chance to look at the Readings for Sunday, June 14 (the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time) until Friday, June 12, as I was returning from Florida. At the same time, I was putting the “finishing touches” on my homily for the Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood. When I read the Gospel for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mt. 9:36 – 10:8, I was amazed by the connections.
As I quoted above, in verse 36 of Chapter 9, Matthew’s gospel offers us a “glimpse” of our Lord’s Sacred Heart: “At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them…” As He speaks to His disciples, in v. 37-38, we can hear Jesus telling us that, “…The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few…” and then asking or instructing us to pray (for Vocations), “…so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”
As Matthew tells us, at the beginning of Chapter 10, Jesus then “summoned his twelve disciples”. In verses 2 – 4, we are told the names of the 12 apostles. Hearing the names of the 12 apostles can be an opportunity for us to remember that we believe that Jesus, from our baptism, calls us each “by name.” The gift and blessing of the ordination of two new priests is also a reminder of the ways in which parents, families, priests (and bishops), consecrated religious, parishioners, catechists, youth ministers, and others can be instruments of grace by praying, inviting and encouraging youth and young adults to be open to “hearing” and responding to God’s call, especially if the Lord may be calling someone to priesthood or consecrated religious life. “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.
As we heard at the conclusion of Sunday’s Gospel, after Jesus “called” the disciples, He then sent them out: “… As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” (Mt. 10: 6-8).
In the homily at the Ordination Mass, I shared some of Pope Leo XIV’s words, from a homily he gave on April 26, when he ordained 10 new priests for the Diocese of Rome. After reflecting on the way in which a vocation, “… comes to us in a deeply personal encounter with the person of the Son…”, Pope Leo spoke to the men about to be ordained about being “sent”:
In the communities where you will be sent, the risen One is already present, and many have already followed him commendably. You will recognize his wounds and distinguish his voice. You will encounter people who will direct you towards him. These communities will also help you to become saints! For your part, help them to walk together, following Jesus, the Good Shepherd, so that they may become places — gardens — of life that rise anew and share themselves with others…”
I write these words on Monday morning, June 15, after having participated last night in the National Eucharist Pilgrimage. There was a procession through the streets of Passaic, leading to a beautiful Mass in Boverini Stadium. More than 1,000 people participated. The Lord blessed us with beautiful weather. I look forward to another Eucharistic procession in Paterson this evening, followed by Mass in our cathedral. The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage is just one of countless ways that we do what Jesus asks us to do as he sends us out to His people, the sheep of His flock, “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ”
P.S. It truly was a beautiful (long) weekend. For some of us, something else took place on the weekend that made it even more enjoyable – (in case you had not heard) on Saturday evening, the New York Knicks won their first NBA Championship in 56 years!