The Diary of the 137th Annual Novena to St. Anne
St. Anne Shrine – Fiskdale
Administrated by the Assumptionist
The fifth night of our Novena began with the Rosary procession. Tonight, members of the Polish community carried Polish flags as they prayed. The Joyous Mysteries were said by a Polish Lay Assumptionist in English, and in Polish by a Polish parishioner from Our Lady of Częstochowa Church in Worcester’s Metanoia Prayer Community.
Father Grzegorz Chodkowski, Pastor of Saint Joseph Basilica in Webster was the celebrant of the Mass, and was joined by Fr. Krzysztof Korcz, the Pastor of Saint Andrew Bobola Church in Dudley.
Today’s Gospel was John 20: 1-2, 11-18, and Father Grzegorz asked if it was possible to not recognize someone you knew well. Mary Magdalene did not recognize Jesus when she saw Him! When she came to Jesus’ tomb, she was obviously stressed. She expected to find Jesus in the tomb, but did not. She didn’t know about His Resurrection.
We can also be blind to the world around us, rejecting the truth when things do not go our way. Mary Magdalene had to be shaken into recognizing Him when he called her by name. Then everything had changed.
We can also be lost, blinded in certain situations where we can’t see clearly, and not see what is in front of us.
If God is with us, truly, every day, we hear Him. This is only possible because He is really with us.
We may be lost, and confused at times, but it was the work of God that brought us to Mass tonight.
Father invited us to ask God every day to enter our lives. God wants to be invited.
Don’t run away from God. Stop. Listen to the voice of God that is inside your heart.
Jesus came for the lost sheep and he will come to us.
If we listen to Him, and heed his voice, we will no longer be lost.
At the end of Mass, Fr. Krzysztof Korcz told the congregation about Saint Andrew Bobola, and the miracles he has performed. He also asked us to pray for his Church, as the Bishop of Worcester is looking at two miracles that occurred in Dudley as a result of the intercession of Saint Andrew Bobola. The Church is also looking to be elevated to a Shrine, please pray for that as well.
