All too often we forget

All too often we forget what is most important in our lives. We are so worried about what our friends and our peers will think that we forget about those who love us the most.

How often is what our parents think the last thing that we think about? It is our parents who give us life and who give us most of what we possess. It is our parents who wait up for us when we are not home on time, even if they get on our nerves by nagging us and trying to make us see the bigger picture. Yes, even me, at my age - I still often forget to call my mom when I drive home from a visit to her home. I figure, well as long as she hears nothing bad then she knows that I am home. This relationship that I so often forget is a lifelong journey from infancy to adulthood to someday caretaker.

But this is not the only one that we forget...

As we journey through Holy Week this year, do we forget about the One who loves us most? Do we forget about the One who loves us so much that He became flesh, lived among us, and died that we might have eternal life? It is precisely because God first loved us that we even exist. And as we continue this Holy Week to the celebration of the most sacred days in our Church - The Triduum, we should never forget that God love us so much that God sent the Son (the Word made flesh in Jesus) so that we could have eternal life.

On Holy Thursday, we celebrate the gift of His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. How much more intimate could God get than to give us his own flesh and blood in Jesus, so that we might take and eat in the Sacrament of the Eucharist and become Jesus for those who may not know him in any other way?

On Good Friday, we celebrate the death of our Lord and Savior on the Cross. He loved us enough to die for us and for our sin. Do we love him enough to give him a few hours over this weekend so that we can get to know him even better? Or will this be another relationship forgotten? As many of us will sing in Church on Friday, "Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom." He remembers us, but do we remember him?

And then on Holy Saturday at the Easter Vigil, our most sacred liturgy (Mass) of the whole year, we celebrate Christ's resurrection. This is his triumph over death so that we may have eternal life. This is what enables us to spend eternity with the blessed Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

All too often we forget about those who love us most. This Holy Week, don't forget how much God loves you. Spend some time with Him. Go to Church and really learn how much God really does love you. He showed us how much with his death on the cross.

COMPANIONS ON THE JOURNEY

For four years now, you have been journeying side by side with friends, bffs, teachers, staff. Remember that life is not a sole and solitary journey that we take by ourselves. We have many companions on the way. Remember that you are companions on the journey.
In a Catholic high school, like Paramus Catholic, this takes on a much different meaning. We are not simply journeying through life, but we are jouneying to help each other achieve eternal life. When we pray at the beginning of each class, of celebrate the Eucharist together in the Mass, or go out and do service for those in need. Each of these has hopefully drawn us closer to God ad closer to each other.
God loves us so much that he has invited us to share in his divine life throught the Word made flesh, Jesus, in the incarnation. And that love continues. Because he loves us, Jesus gave us his body and blood in the Eucharist. When we share in the Eucharist, we become Jesus for others. Therefore, those that we journey with and receive the Eucharist with, we go out otgether to be Christ to the world for others. Remember that you are never alone. We are journeying together. With Christ and with each other, WE ARE COMPANIONS ON THE JOURNEY. From the hallowed halls of PC to our colleges to eternity.

IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT...

It's the end of the world as we know it.

It's the end of the world as we know it.

It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.

Most of us know the refrain if not most of the lyrics to this R.E.M. song. But what is it that's changing our world so much and so quickly? It's us - our attitudes and behaviors, likes and dislikes, virtues and vices, triumphs and failures. All of these effect the way our world is and what it is becoming.

Just as our world can be changed in a negative way by one person, one group of people, one corporation, one nation - so too can it be changed in a positive way.

We know a world in many ways that is dying - our planet's natural resources are vanishing, our ozone layer is depleating, violence and terrorism are growing, and our rain forests are disappearing.

Let's make a pact this summer that we are going to end this way of viewing the world. Let's be our brother's keeper - our planet's keeper. As we are relaxing this summer, why not do things that will help our planet, our neighbors, and those most in need. What can we do?

• Recycle [paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, toner cartridges]
• Plant a tree [in your yard, your neighborhood park]
• Clean up a park [get involved in summer clean sweeps]
• Volunteer with a homeless organization or soup kitchen [help those in need http://www.bridgesoutreach.org/ - http://www.shelteroursisters.org/ - http://www.cfanj.org/ ]
• Volunteer at a local animal shelter to help pets find homes with loving families
• Tutor smaller/younger children
• Coach a team
• Plant a garden in your back yard - grow your own produce
• PRAY - we are our planet's keeper - our brother's keeper - our sister's keeper.

JUST GET INVOLVED. Make this summer vacation a memorible one for you and for those that you serve. You really can make a difference.

Wall-e Invades PC Faith and Media

Did you ever think that an animated film about a robot and his love life some 700 years from now could change the way you view life and the earth now? Well, for me, Wall-e has done just that. Disney-PIXAR's Wall-e has caused me to question how much I rely on technology. Not that tech is a bad thing, because it is not. Actually, the longer I teach this Faith and Media course, the more of a tech junkie I am becoming. But what I need to confront is the question of "Do I control technology or does it control me?" If my computer is down or there is no power, can I still have a great class without using Power-Point? If I forget my cell phone, do I go nuts because I feel out of touch with the world - even though there are 1700 people all around me? Can I have a sit down, face to face conversation with a friend sitting next to me or across from me, without being distracted by beeps, rings, or anything else? When I go to Church this Holy Week for the Easter Triduum Celebrations, can I sit in God's presence and worship and praise Him without worrying about the latest tech gagets in my pocket? As we finish Lent and move into Easter and the Easter Season, will I let tech be the help that it is and let GOD BE GOD. Jesus tells us that we can't serve two masters. We have to choose. We can choose to let technology run our lives or we can choose to serve God and be joyful in that LOVE that comes only from our Loving God, who gave us Jesus - the Word made flesh - to suffer and die for us to rise to new life that we might be made new and whole. And he didn't need Tech for that!

A HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER.
Mr. Wilson

The end of an era - the beginning of life.

On April 2, we end the third quarter. Grades are due on Friday. For the Seniors here at PC, it means that there is less than two months remaining - you hope :o) - in your high school careers. It's the end of an era. You and those you have gone to school withfor the past four, eight, or twelve years are all going to be moving on to new and exciting parts of your lives. In many ways, life is just beginning for you.

It is really weird. As I was thinking about what to write for this post, I received an email about the planning of my 30 year grammar school reunion. Now I know I am getting old - 30 years. But I began to think back, remembering the friendships, the feuds, those that to this day I still consider family. Thirty years ago, I don't think I ever even thought about where I would be in 30 years. But the friends I made in eighth grade, the friends I made in the next four years in high school, then the friends I made in college - though I have not seen many of them for a long time - all helped to make me who I am today. It's because of them and many of my teachers that I am in a classroom at PC today. And I need to thank them for helping to make me to be who I am right now. In a sense, they were "co-creators" with God. By helping to shape and form my life choices, they let God speak through them. They are a part of my life forever.

In Isaiah 64:7 we read: "Yet, O LORD, you are our father; we are the clay and you the potter: we are all the work of your hands." God, the artist - the master potter, used my friends to make me who I am. He does the same with each of us. But we need to remember, sometimes we like what has been created, sometimes we do not. But it is our choice who we let influence us. As you journey out of high school and into college and beyond, into the real world and real life do yourself a couple of favors:

1. THANK YOUR FRIENDS that you have now. Thank them for helping you to be the best you that you can be. Thank them for being "co-creators" with God.
2. SAY I'M SORRY to those friends you have hurt or lost because of argrument, fights, disagreements, stupidity, selfishness. Let them know that you will always be greatful for them and always love them - simply for who they are or were in your life.
3. CHOOSE YOUR FUTURE FRIENDS WISELY. Remember they will be just as important to you as your current friends are.
4. THANK GOD, THE POTTER, for creating you and your friends. He made us to be in relationship - to have friends.
5. POST YOUR COMMENTS...

A homework assignment for the homeless - Features

A homework assignment for the homeless - Features

A MOMENT OF SILENCE

It's Thursday morning - just at the end of homeroom. It's still quiet in my classroom. It's rare that we get a chance for quiet. I know in my own life, quiet-time is a choice I have to make. It is very often in the quiet that I meet and encounter God in new and exciting ways.

If you are looking to experience God in the quietside of life, try the BETHANY RETREAT on April 3 and 4th. See me... your religion teacher... or Miss B for a permission slip.