Where is the Green Sheep?

Dear Friends and Family,

In the midst of this world's storms, I pray that this post finds you with some share of the peace and joy that only our Savior can give. The photo above is from St. Stephen's parish where I had the joy of offering the Holy Mass Sunday afternoon for the parishioners there. It's a national landmark, a truly beautiful church built by hard working immigrant families. I also preached, for the first time in my life, from this location:

Other priests have told me that preaching from this location helps. For one thing, it keeps the Sanctuary reserved for the celebration of the sacred mysteries and the more "human" element--the priest's sermon--out closer to the people. The fact of being above people and looking out at the beautiful architecture seemed to facilitate focussing on the Lord while trying to communicate his message to people. So, if I'm invited back again, I'll plan to preach from here again.

We were also blessed with a snowfall last week (some snow flurries are falling now but I'm not sure if they'll stick).

Among many blessings of the past week was reading a number of books to one of my nieces, including "Where is the Green Sheep?" Sorry for my camerawork...

It goes through a series of rhymes and on the last page you finally find the "green sheep." Simple, silly things but ones that are so much fun to read with little children.  Hope you all have occasion to do things like this with children in your homes.

I'm in the midst of online final exams at the moment and then will be taking a plane Saturday back to Rome for the second semester. You all are in my daily prayers here and will continue to be so when I return to the Eternal City.

May Our Lady be your comfort and joy.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,

Fr. Pillari

Squirrels' Amazing acrobatics

 

Dear Friends and Family,

Blessed Second Sunday after the Epiphany! 

Though the picture above does not show it very well, the squirrels in my parents' yard have continued to perform amazing acrobatics. The red bird feeder has attracted some beautiful birds, including cardinals, but perhaps the most entertaining of God's creatures that it has attracted have been the squirrels.

A squirrel begins by shimmying up the pole, similar to how a man would shimmy up the pole by holding the pole alternately between his legs and his hands, except that in this case the squirrel holds the pole alternately between his hind paws and between his front paws. Then, when he reaches a sufficient hight, he holds the pole between his back paws, so that he supports all of his weight on his back paws, and in this way is able to reach out with his front paws to keep the feeder open while he eats the seed. Sometimes he hangs from the side, as seen above, but more often he hangs down from the top part. 

Because the bird feeder is designed to close if anything other than a bird puts his weight on that part, I find it rather impressive how the squirrel has figured out how to keep it open inspire of weighing much more than a bird.

It is also interesting to see the squirrel's awareness of us. We can come up the window to watch him, within a few feet of him, and he doesn't move and isn't bothered by us. However, if we bang on the window he might look our way, and if we bang hard enough (to chase the squirrel away and keep the feeder free for birds), or obviously if we go out and chase the squirrel away, he scurries away. 

Rather amazing creatures, and we can see their nests high up in the trees. Remarkable that God has made them to do all this.

But to say a word about an even more wonderful little creature: my little 4 year-old nephew came upstairs as I was typing this and asked to go into to the chapel with me. So I stopped typing and we went into the chapel to "say hello to Jesus", and practiced kneeling down, making the sign of the cross, adoring Jesus for a few moments in silence, praying a Hail Mary to Our Lady, and then "saying goodbye to Jesus" and exiting.

A wonderful blessing.

As we begin this new year, may Jesus grant you the courage and the peace and calm to live and proclaim the Faith, and may Our Lady be your comfort and guide.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,

Fr. Pillari

The Beauty of Northeast Ohio Nature

 

This Sunday Morning for the Feast of the Holy Family

Dear Friends and Family,

Blessed Feast of the Holy Family! The weather is certainly cooperating here this morning, adding joy to this celebration of Our Lord's resurrection and celebration of the Holy Family. 

Here, I had a very blessed celebration of the 12 days of Christmas. The daily Mass, Rosary, Holy Hour, etc. formed the backbone of every day. What a gift to be a priest! But there were also many joyful celebrations with my family, including a trip to South Bend, Indiana to see my brother's family. 

While there, God granted a beautiful snowstorm, the effects of which can be seen here.

The visit brought back so many memories of graces received while studying at the University of Notre Dame. I'm so grateful to Our Lady for helping me say yes to God to the call to become a priest. 

Regarding the events of this past week in Washington, I shared a few words at the end of today's rosary. So, rather than write something here, I will refer you to those comments here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VdllWKhUU8 for those who wish.

As 2021 begins, I will be praying for each of your families. May God grant us to say yes to Him, one day at a time, and cooperate with His plans for 2021.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,

Fr. Pillari

Merry Christmas!

 

Dear Family and Friends,

Merry Christmas! What a wonderful, joyful day when we celebrate the birth of Our Savior! King of Kings! Prince of Peace! Truly Emmanuel, "God with us!"

You all were in my prayers in the midnight Mass and the two Masses this morning. Truly it is a blessed night! I had the joy of a beautiful Christmas Eve dinner with my parents, my sister and brother-in-law and their children, and my aunt and uncle and niece. Then, after Compline and a nap, I headed to our chapel to pray the office of Matins for Christmas--a beautiful office with nine readings. Then followed a candle-lit Holy Hour waiting for midnight, and then a candle-lit Midnight Mass. We moved the creche to the chapel for the occasion, and I processed in with the Child Jesus as we sang O Come All Ye Faithful, and then continued on from there...

Among many Christmas blessings, God gave me a white Christmas! Yesterday afternoon it began to snow as you can see here:

During the night, over a foot of snow fell, such that I awoke to see everything blanketed in white, and the snow continues to fall now. So I will leave you with some pictures below of the snowfall and of the living room.

Merry Christmas! You all will be in my prayers during my Christmas novena of Masses.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,

Fr. Pillari

Almost Christmas...

 

Snowy Bird-Feeder outside the back window

Dear Friends and Family,

Christmas is almost here! We had a beautiful snowfall the other day which, as you can see, coated all the tree branches in white. Really beautiful. Birds continue to come to the bird feeder, including some cardinals. It is fun to watch them at work. Squirrels are also quite creative in trying to get the bird seed but, as far as I can tell, have been largely unsuccessful. 

This past week involved a trip to see one of my brothers and his family. Since they are living in South Bend Indiana, almost next to the University of Notre Dame, I was able to make a Holy Hour at my alma mater, including dome time spent praying in this side chapel of the Basilica.

The photo is not very good, but there are a great many relics. It is a side chapel with particular memories for me of the times I prayed there as an undergraduate, trying to discern God's will for my life.

The Basilica has beautiful artwork. Here is a glimpse of one part of the ceiling:

It brought back many good memories to pray there and at the Grotto. Hopefully, I will have the occasion to return there on this trip and to pray the rosary at the Grotto.

But the highlight of the trip was the opportunity to visit with my brother and sister-in-law and their children and to bless their home. And then this evening I was able to visit with two other nephews and a niece. And now.... Christmas is just a few days away!

You all will be in my prayers this week and throughout the Christmas Octave, when I will be leading the daily online rosary before the exposed Blessed Sacrament. 

May Our Lady prepare your hearts to greet the newborn King.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,

Fr. Pillari

Now Licensed to Teach Theology

 

Dear Friends and Family,

Blessed Gaudete Sunday! I pray that Our Lord will grant you an extra dose of joy this Sunday and that Our Heavenly Mother will help you enter more fully into this divine joy.

The above photo was taken yesterday, on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I went running around a beautiful golf course and in the middle of the run... a full rainbow appeared! Though you can only see part of the rainbow in the photo, it was a complete rainbow, touching the ground on both sides, and with a vibrant spectrum of colors. In addition, there was a second rainbow, which you can faintly see off to the left. It was quite beautiful, and seemed a sign that God was smiling down on us on the Feast of Our Lady, especially since my parents informed me that such a rainbow was extremely rare here.

And I have other good news to share: this past Thursday I successfully defended, via Skype, my licentiate thesis for L'Instut Saint Thomas d'Aquin in Toulouse France. The two-hour defense was the conclusion of two years of theology study with the Dominicans of Toulouse and resulted in them granting a licentiate in theology from the pontifical university in Toulouse, which means that I am now licensed to teach theology in seminaries. Thank you to all who have been praying for me, and who have made donations, to make this possible.

The two-hours spent defending my 100-page thesis were rather intense. Their faculty is known for being tough during examinations, but in the end, they were pleased with the work and awarded the degree. The examination consists of a jury of three Dominicans cross-examining you on the topic of your paper. At the end, I breathed a sigh of relief. This means not only that I will now be capable of teaching classes in theology or canon law in seminaries, should the need arise, but also is a necessary step for doctoral studies.

In a short while I will have the special joy, on this Gaudete Sunday, of welcoming two of my little nephews, and a niece, for some time of Eucharistic Adoration here in the little chapel we have created in my parents' home. I'm very much looking forward to that and then to dinner with them.

During these difficult times, you all are in my daily prayers. Thank you again for yours, and for all that you have done to help me reach this key milestone in my studies.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,

Fr. Pillari

In Cleveland Ohio with my Family

Dear Friends and Family,

God blessed my travels across the ocean, and even gave an abundant snowfall, to my great delight, upon my arrival! Above is the view from the back porch of my parents' home. A really beautiful view that I have been taking advantage of while praying some parts of the Divine Office.

The journey from Rome to Cleveland was the most stress-free international travel I have ever made. At the airports, there were very few people, such that you walked right up to the security desk with no wait, had plenty of quiet and personal space in the airports, etc. As for the international flight from Rome to New York, take a look at my section of the plane here below:

It was almost like having a private flight! I must say that I think Delta is correct when they assert that flying with them right now is about as dangerous as going to the grocery store. Though in fact going to the grocery store might be more dangerous...

It is a real blessing and joy to have some weeks at home, and to know that I will be home for Christmas for the first time in 24 years. We have created a small chapel in a room in the house, where I offer the Holy Sacrifice each day and where we have begun to have Eucharistic Adoration. I am most grateful for the opportunity to be with my parents in these difficult times when parents are often separated from children and family members. And as a bonus... I should have the blessing of baptizing a new nephew!

You all are in my daily prayers here, especially in the rosary and in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. May God grant you a blessed Second Sunday of Advent.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,

Fr. Pillari