180th Anniversary of St. Alphonsus Parish
Baltimore, Maryland
March 16, 2025
Introduction
I am happy to be with you on this occasion when we celebrate the 180th anniversary of St. Alphonsus Parish, a parish served for many years by the Redemptorists, then by priests of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and now by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. I take this occasion to thank Father Ian Bozant for his leadership as your pastor, together with his confreres. And I offer all of you my warmest thanks and my encouragement as you and your families seek to walk in the ways of faith, thus writing a new chapter in the history of this venerable parish.
The readings for today’s Mass shed the light of divine truth and love on the life and mission of this parish as it approaches its bicentennial. The Gospel is the the story of Zacchaeus, the reformed tax collector. The Epistle, from the Book of Revelation, speaks of the heavenly Jerusalem in whose liturgy we have already begun to partake. Let us look at each of these Scripture passages, beginning with the Gospel.
The Story of Zacchaeus
St. Luke makes clear that Zacchaeus had been an unsavory character. He was a Jew who worked for the Roman Empire as a senior tax collector, and he grew wealthy in the process. Not only was he aiding and abetting the oppressors of the Jewish people, he was profiting handsomely by doing so. In the estimation of many, he was a sinner to be feared but not respected.
Yet something was happening deep within Zacchaeus. He had heard of Jesus and was eager to see him. Being short in stature, he climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus. Zacchaeus was seeking Jesus but in reality it was Jesus who sought Zacchaeus. Just a Jesus would mount a tree for our salvation, so now he invites Zacchaeus to come down from the tree and receive him in his home. Of course, some people grumbled that the Master was keeping bad company but Zacchaeus stood his ground, making clear that he had undergone a conversion of mind and heart. His life had changed. He was ready to share his possessions with the poor. He was anxious to reimburse anyone whom he had defrauded. Jesus entered his house and made it a place of conversion and reconciliation.
Surely, we can look upon St. Alphonsus Church in just that way. It is sacred place where dwells the Eucharistic Lord Jesus and where the power to forgive sins he entrusted to the Apostles is exercised. How many souls have been converted and saved within these walls. How many, like Zacchaeus, have found salvation here, in the Sacrament of Penance and in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? Think of the powerful and moving sermons preached by St. John Neumann in the spirit of St. Alphonsus Ligouri. Cherish always the confessional used by Blessed Francis Seelos. People streamed from everywhere to have this gentle priest hear their confession. “Oh come without fear and trembling,” he once said, “I promise to receive you with all gentleness.”
It is for us to follow in the footsteps of the parishioners who went before us, who have experienced here the gracious mercies of the Savior. This is true all the time but it is especially true in this season of Lent when we are called to an ever deeper conversion of mind and heart through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
The Heavenly Jerusalem
The reading from the Book of Revelation or the Apocalypse opens our eyes to the truth and beauty of the Church in heaven, the new and eternal Jerusalem where Christ is seated at God’s right hand. It is here where countless angels and saints rejoice to partake in the Paschal Feast of heaven as they behold God face-to-face in the beatific vision. If the Church on earth is persecuted and sinful in her members, there the Church is resplendent with God’s glory, adorned as a chaste bride.
As we look about this magnificent church, we see it is adorned with images of saints and angels. Every time we celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass here, this very church reminds us that “a great cloud of witnesses” (Heb 12:1) surrounds us, whether it is a pontifical High Mass or a simple Low Mass. Preeminent in that cloud of witnesses is the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Alphonsus, your patron, who was so devoted to her. How blessed this parish is to have two saintly pastors, St. John Neumann and Blessed Francis Seelos. Archbishop Kenrick, the 6th Archbishop of Baltimore consecrated St. John Neumann a bishop in this church in 1852. Blessed Francis Seelos, after serving here, continued his missionary travels, far and wide, along the Eastern Seaboard, the Midwest, and the South.
As we rejoice in the intercession of saints who are near and dear to us, let us remember that whenever Holy Mass is celebrated we do indeed partake of the great liturgy of heaven. As the Letter to the Hebrews instructs us, we do not draw near to a fearful spectacle such as Moses witnessed but rather ‘we have approached Mount Zion and the City of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem and countless angels in festal gathering, and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect’ (Heb 12:22-24).
Christ Has Conquered, Glory Fills You
As we celebrate this anniversary, then, let us ask for two favors from Our Lord: First the grace of sincere repentance during this holy season of Lent, that we may experience a conversion and purification like that of Zacchaeus, and that we may gratefully receive absolution from our sins in the Sacrament of Penance. Cleansed and renewed in God’s mercy, let us resolve to fast, to pray, and to be generous to the poor.
Second, let us ask, above all, that it be the project of our lives to journey toward the new and eternal Jerusalem, especially in this Holy Year dedicated by Pope Francis to the virtue of hope. Every time we step foot within this church, may our hearts be set aflame with hope that one day you will share fully in the Paschal Feast of heaven “where every tear will be wiped from your eyes, where there will be no more death or mourning, or wailing, or pain” (Rev 21:5). “for Christ has conquered and glory fills you!” (Exultet)