tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287990432012-02-16T13:43:02.140-05:00<strong>"The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway"</strong> <br> <em>Attributed to Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta</em>Fr. Gerard Gentlemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348727264215979488noreply@blogger.comBlogger201100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28799043.post-73106537260944015962012-01-25T14:04:00.002-05:002012-02-01T21:41:57.065-05:00

English history always intrigues me so after catching some repeats of the Showtime series, "The Tudors," on BBC America, my interest in English was peaked again and I was prompted to do some more reading on the history of King Henry VIII and his court.  In addition to being remembered for the renaissance he brought to the monarchy, his multiple wives and executions of his enemies, his legacy also

Fr. Gerard Gentlemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348727264215979488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28799043.post-50082361739215721642011-12-25T14:13:00.000-05:002011-12-25T14:13:55.207-05:00

On Thursday I was out for the day finishing my Christmas shopping.  If you remember it was an unseasonably mild day, close to 60 degrees.  Throughout the day I heard people remarking on the temperature and many of them said because of the days’ mildness, “it doesn’t feel like Christmas.”  That statement got me thinking, because I have heard it before. Sometimes, because particular events affect

Fr. Gerard Gentlemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348727264215979488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28799043.post-19278593079564250712011-05-01T23:22:00.010-04:002011-05-02T14:26:14.980-04:00

As I sit here waiting for the President's announcement of the death of Osama Bin Laden, it occurred to me that there is a mystical irony of this announcement coming on the day of the beatification of Pope John Paul II.  Here is what I had written for my bulletin column this week. In the Jubilee year 2000, Pope John Paul II declared this Second Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday at the Mass

Fr. Gerard Gentlemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348727264215979488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28799043.post-34221561911551352282011-03-02T21:38:00.012-05:002011-03-02T23:55:58.176-05:00

Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope  1 Peter 3:15As I have been reflecting on the the events of my previous week these words of St. Peter came to mind. I could not help but think of how quickly I moved from a moment of contentment in God’s presence to the chaotic moments of tragedy and sadness. On Wednesday, February 23rd I went to bed well

Fr. Gerard Gentlemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348727264215979488noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28799043.post-20845652056528647182011-01-12T21:24:00.002-05:002011-01-12T21:29:57.030-05:00

 I have waited, waited for the LORD, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.  And he put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God. Throughout this past week much of our national attention was directed to the assassination attempt on Arizona Congresswomen, Gabrielle Giffords, and the subsequent injuries and loss of life of others in the crowd assembled with her.  Senseless acts of violence

Fr. Gerard Gentlemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348727264215979488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28799043.post-14634041498269472272011-01-02T12:02:00.002-05:002011-01-12T21:30:40.057-05:00

New Year's Epiphany  Resolutions The Magi opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.Resolve to offer the gift of yourself to the Lord.  Make a commitment to Sunday Mass, Daily Prayer and the Scriptures And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, the Magi departed for their country by another way. Resolve to change your path, change

Fr. Gerard Gentlemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348727264215979488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28799043.post-90098993537534989242010-12-30T11:52:00.002-05:002011-01-12T21:31:13.062-05:00

“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”  In addition to the Christmas albums of Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis and the Ray Conniff singers, I recall my Mom playing an album by Gregory Norbet and the Monks of the Western Priory. One of my favorite songs on that album was “Shepherds and Kings.” The refrain went as follows,  Shepherds

Fr. Gerard Gentlemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348727264215979488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28799043.post-26563969819780852010-12-25T09:31:00.001-05:002011-01-12T21:31:50.975-05:00

Do you believe it’s Christmas?  That is the question everyone seems to ask.  Can you believe that time has moved so quickly?  It seems as if summer was just yesterday.  We are a busy and thoroughly occupied people and so it makes sense, that events, such as Christmas, or birthdays, or deadlines or exams (for those of you home from college,) seem to catch us by surprise or at the very least,

Fr. Gerard Gentlemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348727264215979488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28799043.post-84351680772461180822009-12-28T23:23:00.002-05:002009-12-28T23:30:44.756-05:00

My parish celebrated its feast day this weekend, unfortunately it is hard to make a parish celebration of it when it falls a few days after Christmas.  The other disappointing thing for this new pastor was that the deacons were scheduled to preach.  So I did not even get to preach on the parish feast day.  So I thought I would share one thought that would have been a building block for a homily.

Fr. Gerard Gentlemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348727264215979488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28799043.post-9959192386000854112009-12-25T10:14:00.009-05:002009-12-27T12:54:42.521-05:00

Not too long ago, I saw a headline for a story online that grabbed my attention. I cannot remember the specific wording but the headline called attention to an article about an atheist who was promoting the telling of the Christmas story in public schools. This intrigued me so I clinked on the link to the article and found that the woman’s premise for teaching the Christmas story was that

Fr. Gerard Gentlemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348727264215979488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28799043.post-18860923182186435812009-11-27T09:06:00.002-05:002009-11-27T09:19:05.660-05:00

Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent Ten years ago, perhaps fueled by the Y2K hysteria, the book “The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Guide was published. Some of its chapters were, How to Escape Quicksand, How to Fend Off a Shark, How to Jump from a Car, How to Perform an Emergency Tracheotomy and How to Land a Plane. While

Fr. Gerard Gentlemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348727264215979488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28799043.post-3223199232753838962009-10-22T21:38:00.002-04:002009-10-22T21:40:39.734-04:00

It was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest, but rather the one who sent him. We find these words in this Sunday’s second reading from the letter to the Hebrews. As I read those words I could not help but think of this past week’s “Balloon Boy” saga. It seems now that this event was part of a larger attempt to gain fame through the creation of yet another “reality”

Fr. Gerard Gentlemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348727264215979488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28799043.post-26408313930125442692009-10-18T22:03:00.004-04:002009-10-18T22:19:36.667-04:00

“Teacher, we want you to do something for us.” Does that sound like an odd statement, a student asking a teacher to do something for them? Is not the master, the teacher, the superior supposed to expect that the student will serve his teacher? That may sound like the ideal, but the lived reality is that a teacher is one who serves. • From the basic necessities of the elementary student • To

Fr. Gerard Gentlemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348727264215979488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28799043.post-56909499527737196842009-10-18T21:58:00.005-04:002009-10-18T22:20:03.230-04:00

Encouraged by some and with a desire to focus myself on my new mission as pastor, I will attempted to be faithful to this blog.http://licatholic.org/2009/10/100709/new_pastor_holy_family.html

Fr. Gerard Gentlemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348727264215979488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28799043.post-77755577075587244752009-04-16T13:20:00.001-04:002009-04-16T13:30:19.784-04:00

We are so blessed on Long Island because the Ocean and beautiful beaches are literally our front yard. Even in still chilly Spring temperatures, folks find themselves contemplating the waves and are soothed by their consistent pattern. And yet God is greater. Not even these crashing waves and its life giving waters can fully present God's power, creativity and love. Let's Bless the Lord for the

Fr. Gerard Gentlemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348727264215979488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28799043.post-44894061622683199992009-04-13T11:17:00.006-04:002009-04-13T12:20:32.553-04:00

Well it's the home opener at Shea Stadium -- uh Citi Field. I am hoping for two things today. First a Met win, with some offense. So far they are still looking like the same old team, no offense and surprisingly still some bullpen issues. The second thing is that Citi Field starts to feel more like a home to the Mets. I was there for exhibition game against Boston. Its a great park and it

Fr. Gerard Gentlemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348727264215979488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28799043.post-74297908423635440202009-04-12T22:49:00.003-04:002009-04-13T12:21:04.595-04:00

Ordination of Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone, Charleston SC.  I am pictured with the Bishop and other priests of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting.

Fr. Gerard Gentlemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348727264215979488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28799043.post-72949047413182690682009-04-12T12:31:00.008-04:002009-04-12T13:09:50.283-04:00

Click here for Easter Sunday readingsRemember those without hope, who do not know that you have risenI recently came across these words in the intercessory prayers of Holy Saturday evening prayer. These words got me thinking about who it is that does not know the story of the resurrection. Certainly none of those who come to Easter Mass are surprised by the story.Those who do not share our

Fr. Gerard Gentlemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348727264215979488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28799043.post-49072795791575777672009-04-11T09:30:00.005-04:002009-04-12T13:09:20.291-04:00

Click here for Good Friday readings"Father can you bless this crucifix? It’s from my aunt. It was my grandfather’s. It’s for my godson who is being baptized next week. It’s for my daughter who is being deployed overseas, It’s for my friend who has cancer."Rarely have I been asked to bless a crucifix or any other sacred object that did not have the story of a relationship behind it. More

Fr. Gerard Gentlemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348727264215979488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28799043.post-15928377763463639572008-12-25T10:05:00.010-05:002008-12-25T13:43:32.186-05:00

CHRISTMAS 2008Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.As the Christmas story is proclaimed again today we can easily let our minds wander. We know the story well and we have many other thoughts going on in our heads. As the story of the birth of the Messiah is told again, we may find our minds mulling over the preparations still

Fr. Gerard Gentlemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348727264215979488noreply@blogger.com0