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Dear Friends, Welcome to my website! |
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April 2, 2006 Dear friends in life and in ministry . . . At last, Spring has taken up residence in the Southern Tier of New York. The beginning of Day light savings time may have taken away an hours sleep, but the feeling that Summer can't be far away makes the loss insignificant. Even though this past winter was not a severe one, it is so good to shed our winter coats and don sunglasses. The next few weeks will be exciting ones for the Church as hundreds in our Diocese and ten adults and two children from St. Mary's in Bath complete their journey to the Easter Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. On Friday night our Candidates for full membership in the Church and several children of our parish experienced the Lord's forgiveness through this Sacrament of Reconciliation. Later that evening, we celebrated communally God's desire to forgive at our Lenten Reconciliation Service. We are so blessed to be part of a Church that celebrates regularly that there is nothing any of us can do that will ever separate us from God's love and forgiveness. This weekend's column concludes the series entitled "Have a Heart" which was inspired by a parish mission by Fr. Scott Seethaler that Pat and I attended while in Florida. Hope your week is blessed . Ray
April 2 , 2006 Joyful and Trusting Hearts! Heart #7 Age 61-70: A Joyful Heart "If you wake up in the morning and nothing hurts, you are probably dead.” Reaching your senior years does not come with without its aches and pains. But even though our bodies may be “falling apart” our spirits need not be. This is a time in life that many people are able to lay down the burdens of child rearing and work and enjoy life. While not all are able to retire to warmer climates, many seniors find that they have time to try new things, volunteer for their church or favorite charitable organization and even do some relaxing work around the house. Many find that, without the responsibility of disciplining their grandchildren, they can truly enjoy them. One caveat, however. Try to let your “Joyful Heart” effect the demeanor of your uppermost extremity. If your truly a “Joyful Heart” — please notify your face. Its time to enjoy life - and show it! Heart #8 Age 71-80: A Trusting Heart By the time we enter our 70s, most of us are ready to lay down any worries we may have had and place our future in God’s hands. As one delightful parishioner remarked when asked how she would be spending the next ten years of her life, “I’ll be cramming for my final exam.” But in reality, by this stage of our lives, there is little need to cram, only to trust. Our Father/Mother God has attentively delighted in us as we’ve grown and developed now hearts throughout the stages of our lives. God has delighted in us as we’ve become thankful, generous, loving, faithful, courageous, forgiving and joyful people. Now, our “Trusting Heart” will allow us to live in confidence and peace until we are called to the next phase of our growth, Eternal Life. I hope you have enjoyed these reflections as much as I have enjoyed sharing them with you. Have a good Lenten Week Five. Serve one another well! Deacon Ray Defendorf |
Over the years, God has blessed me with many wonderful opportunites to minister. As a Roman Catholic permanent deacon of the Diocese of Rochester, New York, (ordained 1982), I have served in a wide variety of ministries. Whether I am ministering to my parish, hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, travel or retreat groups (e.g. Cursillo, Walk to Emmaus, Koiniania, Pre Cana, Youth) - music has played an important role in opening doors and hearts.
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This website is an extension of that ministry. Here you'll find the lyrics to many of my prayer-songs and, if you like, purchase from a collection of CDs I've recorded. There's also information about tours and pilgrimages that my wife Pat and I occasionally host and links to web sites I've found interesting. |
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I pray that you will enjoy this visit,
and if you like, . |
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