The Father’s Merciful Embrace
El Abrazo Misericordioso del Padre
Dear Mother Seton Parish
These past two summers, our parish received two newly ordained priests. Last summer, Father Benjamin Bralove was with us and, since July, has been permanently assigned to St. Mary of the Mills in Laurel, having returned from his final year of studies in Rome.
This July, we welcomed Father Chukwuma Odigwe in the first months of his priestly ministry. Though we knew our time with him would be brief, we are deeply grateful for the many ways he has served and blessed our community.
Through his priestly hands, we have received Jesus in the Eucharist, both at Sunday and Daily Masses. He has heard Confessions, led us in Adoration, and celebrated Baptisms, Weddings, and Funerals. He has brought the love of Christ to the sick and homebound, including visiting Father Lou at Tribute, and has offered the Anointing of the Sick to those in need.
Beyond the sacraments, Father Chukwuma gave his time generously— spending Saturday mornings with the Men’s Group, and Sunday evenings with the Youth Group. He has truly been a living presence of Christ the High Priest.
It has been a blessing to have him in the rectory (cooking pasta and having chats into the night) and in the office and sacristy (bringing his skills of organization and attention to detail). We send him with our prayers, anticipating his return to our Archdiocese for permanent service in the parish that his priestly service will bless. Thank you, Father Chukwuma, for serving and loving us. You go with our prayers and gratitude.
Last week, I wrote about the power of prayer. One meaningful way to prepare our hearts for the weekly celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord on Sunday is by reading the Scripture readings earlier in the week and allowing them to speak to us.
This Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and you can find the readings for this special celebration [here] (link). Since this Feast replaces our usual Sunday readings, I also encourage you to spend time this week with a true masterpiece of Scripture: Luke, Chapter 15.
In this chapter, Jesus shares three parables—the stories of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son (commonly known as the Prodigal Son). Each of these tells of something—or someone—that has gone astray. But the heart of the story is not the loss itself; it’s the joyful discovery, the reunion, and the restoration.
In the final parable, the father sees his son “while he was still a long way off”—and he runs to him, embraces him, and welcomes him home. The depth of compassion and forgiveness in this moment is staggering.
As you prayerfully engage with this chapter, take a moment to reflect: Who do you connect with?
- Are you the son or daughter who has wandered for a time?
- Are you the parent, longing and waiting for a child to return – to the Church, to the faith, to home?
- Are you the other sibling, standing outside the celebration, wrestling with forgiveness and fairness?
You may find a bit of each within yourself.
In any case, we are all invited to encounter the Father’s mercy—a mercy that doesn’t make logical sense, but is deeply rooted in love, in joy, and in the victory of the Cross, which we celebrate this Sunday. That Cross stands as the sign of God’s immeasurable compassion for us and for the whole world.
Let’s pray this week for hearts open to that mercy—and for the grace to extend it to others.
Yours in Christ,
Father Kevin Regan
Nous sommes reconnaissants au père Chukwuma pour son ministère sacerdotal auprès de nous cet été. Nous prions pour qu’il fasse bon voyage à Rome pour ses études et qu’il revienne en toute sécurité dans l’archidiocèse pour une affectation paroissiale permanente.
Alors que nous célébrons la fête de l’Exaltation de la Sainte Croix, nous regrettons de ne pas pouvoir entendre le chef-d’œuvre qu’est le chapitre 15 de l’Évangile de Luc, en particulier la parabole de la brebis, de la pièce et du fils perdus. Prenez un moment pour prier avec ce texte et redécouvrez l’amour miséricordieux du Père qui attend que nous revenions vers lui et dans ses bras.
Chúng ta xin chân thành cám ơn Cha Chukwuma vì sự phục vụ của ngài dành cho giáo xứ trong mùa hè vừa qua. Chúng ta cầu nguyện cho ngài có một chuyến bay an toàn đến Roma và hoàn tất chương trình học tập với kết quả tốt đẹp trước khi trở về phục vụ Tổng Giáo phận một cách hiệu quả như lòng Chúa mong ước.
Trong khi chúng ta mừng lễ Suy Tôn Thánh Giá, chúng ta mất đi cơ hội lắng nghe đoạn Phúc Âm Chương 15 thật tuyệt vời của thánh Luca, đặc biệt là dụ ngôn về Con Chiên Lạc, Đồng Xu Lạc và Người Cha Nhân Hậu. Chúng ta hãy dành một chút thời gian suy ngẫm và cầu nguyện với đoạn Phúc Âm này để nhận ra lòng thương xót của Chúa, Đấng luôn chờ đợi chúng ta trở về trong vòng tay của Ngài.
Queridos feligreses,
Durante los dos últimos veranos, nuestra parroquia ha recibido a dos sacerdotes recién ordenados. El verano pasado, el Padre Benjamin Bralove estuvo con nosotros y, desde julio, ha sido asignado permanentemente a St. Mary of the Mills en Laurel, tras regresar de su último año de estudios en Roma.
Este julio, dimos la bienvenida al Padre Chukwuma Odigwe en los primeros meses de su ministerio sacerdotal. Aunque sabíamos que nuestro tiempo con él sería breve, estamos profundamente agradecidos por las muchas maneras en que ha servido y bendecido a nuestra comunidad.
A través de sus manos sacerdotales, hemos recibido a Jesús en la Eucaristía, tanto en las Misas dominicales como en las diarias. Ha escuchado confesiones, nos ha guiado en la Adoración, y ha celebrado Bautismos, Bodas y Funerales. Ha llevado el amor de Cristo a los enfermos y a los que no pueden salir de sus hogares, incluyendo la visita al Padre Lou en Tribute, y ha ofrecido la Unción de los Enfermos a quienes la necesitaban.
Más allá de los sacramentos, el Padre Chukwuma entregó generosamente su tiempo: compartiendo las mañanas de los sábados con el Grupo de Hombres y las noches de los domingos con el Grupo de Jóvenes. Verdaderamente ha sido una presencia viva de Cristo, el Sumo Sacerdote.
Ha sido una bendición tenerlo en la rectoría (cocinando pasta y conversando hasta altas horas de la noche) y también en la oficina y la sacristía (aportando sus habilidades de organización y atención al detalle). Lo enviamos con nuestras oraciones, anticipando su regreso a nuestra Arquidiócesis para un servicio permanente en la parroquia que su ministerio sacerdotal bendecirá. Gracias, Padre Chukwuma, por servirnos y amarnos. Va con nuestras oraciones y gratitud.
La semana pasada escribí sobre el poder de la oración. Una manera significativa de preparar nuestros corazones para la celebración semanal de la Resurrección del Señor el domingo es leer las lecturas bíblicas con anticipación durante la semana y dejar que nos hablen.
Este domingo celebramos la Fiesta de la Exaltación de la Santa Cruz, y pueden encontrar las lecturas para esta celebración especial [aquí] (enlace). Dado que esta Fiesta reemplaza nuestras lecturas dominicales habituales, también los animo a dedicar tiempo esta semana a una verdadera obra maestra de la Escritura: el capítulo 15 de San Lucas.
En este capítulo, Jesús comparte tres parábolas: las historias de la Oveja Perdida, la Moneda Perdida y el Hijo Perdido (comúnmente conocido como el Hijo Pródigo). Cada una relata algo—o alguien—que se extravió. Pero el corazón de la historia no es la pérdida en sí, sino el descubrimiento gozoso, el reencuentro y la restauración.
En la última parábola, el padre ve a su hijo “cuando aún estaba lejos”, y corre hacia él, lo abraza y lo recibe en casa. La profundidad de compasión y perdón en ese momento es asombrosa.
Mientras oren y mediten con este capítulo, tómense un momento para reflexionar:
- ¿Con quién se identifican ustedes?
- ¿Son el hijo o la hija que se ha alejado por un tiempo?
- ¿Son el padre o la madre, esperando con ansias el regreso de un hijo— a la Iglesia, a la fe, al hogar?
- ¿Son el otro hermano o hermana, que permanece fuera de la celebración, luchando con el perdón y con la idea de la justicia?
Tal vez encuentren un poco de cada uno en ustedes mismos.
En cualquier caso, todos estamos invitados a encontrarnos con la misericordia del Padre—una misericordia que no tiene sentido lógico, pero que está profundamente enraizada en el amor, en la alegría y en la victoria de la Cruz, que celebramos este domingo. Esa Cruz permanece como el signo de la inmensa compasión de Dios por nosotros y por todo el mundo.
Oremos esta semana para tener corazones abiertos a esa misericordia—y para recibir la gracia de poder extenderla a los demás.
En Cristo,
Padre Kevin Regan
As you prioritize prayer, please always pray for Vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life!
| For the past ten years, I’ve help to organize and participated in the Ride for Vocations. As we celebrate our 10th Annual Ride for Vocations, I wanted to share with you my love for cycling and my desire to offer space and assistance for our young people to discern God’s Will for their lives. I’ve been training to ride the 100-mile route with some priests and seminarians.Each year, a group of priests, seminarians, and laypeople from across the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington participate in a distance ride as a way to promote vocations through prayer, sacrifice, and raising financial support. The Ride for Vocations Team invites cyclists of all experience levels to join us for our Southern Maryland Catholic Churches Century. On Saturday, September 27, 2025, leaving from Sacred Heart, LaPlata, you can ride the 100, 70, or 50-mile, 21-miles distance. Click below to find out how you can support and participate. See you on the road! |
