Monsignor Dan Deutsch

Homilies

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From the Desk of Seminarian Bernie Sehr

On my visit to see His Holiness Benedict XVI

When I heard my alarm go off at 4:30AM Friday morning, I knew I was in for a long day. Yet, I did not dread the thought of rising so early, nor did I dread the thought of the day being long. You might wonder why anyone would be excited to rise at such an early hour, but then you must consider what could fill someone with such joy. I was excited because I knew I was going to see the Pope. I was beginning a pilgrimage journey to New York to see the Holy Father, a man that I both respected and admired. As a seminarian, he is a model example of someone I wish to imitate, although I have no wishes of becoming pope. He has the power to inspire people to a greater level of holiness simply through his everyday life, and that is what I want to imitate.

Thus, I participated in Mass at 5:30AM and got on a bus at 6:00AM, so that we, about one hundred seminarians altogether, might begin our journey east. As I settled into my seat, I heard a reminder from the front of the bus for everyone to check to make sure they had their ticket. At first I thought, "How silly. How could anyone forget their ticket, it is the only way in to see our Holy Father?" Yet, I still checked to make sure my own ticket was with me. To my great dismay, I realized that I did not have my ticket, and quickly rushed out of the bus and up the three flights of stairs to my room. Frantically, I opened my door and began tearing through every paper on my desk. After a fruitless twelve seconds, I looked around the room for other places I may have set the ticket down. Time seemed to be racing, and every second in my room was a second the bus would be late.  Knowing that time was precious, I actually stopped and took a deep breath. I allowed the panic of the situation to flow away and calmly looked around the room, considering where I left the ticket. Once I stopped and allowed the situation to settle I immediately remembered where my ticket was, grabbed it, and ran back to the bus.

I think my morning illustrates the entire journey well for the rest of the trip. The whole time I was eager with anticipation, but sometimes I would forget the basic things that are necessary to get to what I want. I would waste time trying to hurry something when, if I just stepped back to appreciate what was going on, I could enjoy the whole event better.

We traveled by bus to New York and stayed at a site just 40 minutes away from the following day's events. Saturday we went to St. Joseph Seminary, the site of the papal youth rally, and were there all day. We enjoyed music and dance from many people on fire with faith for God and Christianity. Still, the true excitement came at four o'clock. The pope came to us in his Popemobile waving enthusiastically. There was no doubt that he was as excited to see us as we were to see him. We, the seminarians and youth of the rally, presented him with images of saints who had worked in New York over the years. The Pope thanked us for our presence, the gifts, and for singing Happy Birthday to him. Then he offered us a message of hope, pointing out that we live in a world that offers mindsets and activities that stifle hope, and lead us away from God. He reminded us that he grew up in a world where evil was leading his government, and today that evil, while not as obvious as in his childhood, and no longer obviously leading the  government, is still present, and we must be on guard against it. Then he gave us his blessing and had to be on his way.

While his time with us was short, only a few hours, the joy and message of hope that he brought was something I would certainly travel any distance to receive. Most of all, his joy to see us was enough to inspire me, and certainly anyone, to want to be people of ever greater faith and love.

In Christ,
Bernie Sehr

MASS OF THANKSGIVING
Through the many prayers of the people of Holy Cross Parish and by the grace of God, longtime parishioner Matthew DeBlock will be ordained to the Priesthood on Saturday, May 24th, 2008 with great joy in his heart. 
Join Matthew on Sunday, May 25th, 2008 as he celebrates his First Mass (Mass of Thanksgiving)
here at Holy Cross at 2:30PM.
A reception will follow downstairs in Donovan Hall. Please come share this special day with Matthew.

Monsignor Dan Deutsch

I was born in 1962 in St. Charles, IL. My mom and dad, Pat and Bernie Deutsch and my 5 brothers and sisters and I grew up in St. Patrick Church. Most of my family still lives in the parish with the rest not far away.

Raised and educated in a strong Catholic faith, I graduated from Northern Illinios University with a degeee in finance and economics. I worked in Chicago at the Mercantile Exchange trading Eurodollars for several years. All the while, even from my earliest days I felt a great attraction to the priesthood. Finally, I realized that God was not going to stop pursuing me so I let go of the life of a bond trader and began my journey to the priesthood.

After being accepted by the Diocese of Rockford, I attended the University of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, IL for my formation and was ordained a priest in 1994. Upon serving as a priest in several parishes as an associate pastor and then pastor, I was appointed to lead Holy Cross in 2001. The joy of being the pastor of such a vibrant parish grows every day.

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Fr. Timothy Barr

Fr. Timothy Barr grew up in a small subdivision just outside of the town of Mundelein, Illinois. His parish was St. Mary’s of Freemont, a very small parish of about 18 pews in the country. He graduated from Freemont grade school and then attended Mundelein High School. He worked mostly in the trades, particularly rebuilding cars out of his garage and doing concrete construction until entering the seminary. In the year 2000 he entered Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota. Then, in 2001, he attended Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. In 2002 Father Barr transferred to Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut where he earned his bachelors degree in Humanities and masters in Theology. By God’s grace, Fr. Barr was ordained on May 20th of 2006. He asks for your prayers that, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, he may live his vocation under the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit.