Welcome to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church (OLPH) website! I'm glad you're checking us out!
I am Deacon Steve Cooley. I was ordained to serve the people of God in 1997, and I have had the privilege of
serving that people in Ministry, Word, and Sacrament at OLPH since 1999. This community is a vibrant and faith-filled
one. I encourage you to visit our Ministerial and Event pages to see what we are currently doing and to volunteer to
be a part of one or more of our dynamic programs.
If you would like to contact me either call the parish office
or send me an e-mail. I will respond as soon as I can.
May God bless you and grant you a fantastic rest of
the day!!
Deacon Stephen Cooley
 Deacon Steve's Homily
Can You Hear Me Now? 2nd Sunday of Lent Cycle AMarch 20, 2011 Maybe God should have prefaced his announcement at
the Transfiguration with "Can you hear me now? This is my Beloved Son, Listen to Him!" The voice on
the Mountain of the Transfiguration, the voice of God the Father, was not speaking to Jesus who had radiated His Divinity.
It
was not speaking to Moses, who had come to discuss the Word of God in the Law with the Word of God in the Flesh. It
was not speaking to Elijah who was there to discuss the Word of God in the Prophets with the Word of God standing before him.
No, "This is my Beloved Son, Listen to Him," was directed to the disciples Peter, James and John. The
voice is directed to the disciples, Sue and Mary, Pete and Chris. The voice is directed to each of us. Can
you hear me now? Those on that mountain had been discussing the Plan, God's plan for the salvation of mankind, the return of mankind
to God. The Word of God become Flesh would offer His Flesh on the Cross to begin the Plan. The disciples,
who listen to Him, will continue the Plan until God's will is complete. We will continue the Plan, at least if we are
willing to embrace a life worth living. We have been called to be Christians. We have been called to follow Christ
in every aspect of our lives, until our part in the Plan is complete. Anything less, is insufficient, inadequate,
incomplete. Perhaps, God has called you to the sacrament of marriage. Don't just love your spouse the way every other man
or woman in the world loves their spouse. That's insufficient, inadequate, and incomplete. Love your
spouse the way that Jesus loves us, on the Cross, at the Resurrection. Love with sacrificial love. Love
with life giving love. Put your spouse first, and let the rest of the world experience Christ in your love. You
are far more than a couple whom biology and necessity and pheromones have brought together. No, you are called to be
part of the Big Picture, the Plan for mankind's return to God. Be the Light on the Mountain, show the world the way
that Christian Love transforms a house into a home, into a little Church. Maybe you have been called to be a parent, or parents.
Don't just take care of your children. That's insufficient, inadequate, and incomplete. Your children were made
by you and your spouse, or perhaps by their biological parents who gave them to you through the grace of God. But they
were also made by God. They were created by God to bring a new reflection of His Love to the World. They have
spiritual potential beyond our ability to imagine. Don't let them waste their potential. Don't train them to waste
their lives. Teach them to make God's love their Center, their reason for being. Do this by the way you live your
lives, as well as by the way you pray. Challenge your children to embrace a life worth living. Perhaps you are not called
to marriage or to parenthood, but live as a single man or woman embracing a career. Whether you are married or single,
don't just go to work to make money. Even pagans do that. There are people there in that office, on that job site,
in that hospital room, doctors office, law firm, wherever ... there are people there who are longing for God, - even if they
don't know why their lives are so desperate, so meaningless. Don't just go to work. Bring Christ to work.
Work as a Christian. Treat others with the kindness that was the real magnet that drew others to Jesus. Let others
see that you live the values you profess. Anything other than that is just wasting your time for the sake of
making money. You are so much more than that. You are so much better than that. Perhaps your careers are over,
your children are raising your grandchildren and perhaps even those are in college now. Perhaps age and sickness have
reduced what you can physically do. Perhaps you are tempted to say to yourself, "I've done my best to complete
what God wants from me in life. I've run the good race, I'm done now. I've done my part." That's insufficient,
inadequate, and incomplete! Your life is not over until it is over. How do you know what God's plans are for you?
Maybe there is that one person you are going to visit to cheer up this week who will finally embrace Christ because of you.
Maybe there is that one prayer you will say today that will convince someone to give in to Grace, to change his or her life,
to turn to God. The race is not over until we cross the finish line of life. God decides what the Big Picture,
the Plan of our lives is, not us. And it is the same for all of us who are completing our work lives, or who are senior
citizens. We have got to finish our part in His Plan. Anything else is insufficient, inadequate, and incomplete.
Perhaps you are like me and you say, "But I have not run a very good race. I have had parts of my life where I
gave up, caved in to sin and gave myself over to Life without Christ." Don't look back! God has forgiven you, you
need to forgive yourselves. Don't look back. Remember what happened to Lot's wife. She looked back at Sodom
and Gomorrah, those cities of sin. She looked back longingly at that physically satisfying, yet decadent style of life, and
then she was frozen in her place, turned into a pillar of salt and rock. That is what happens to us when we look back
at the sins of our lives. We become petrified, pillars of rock that can no longer move forward. God forgives us
so we can move forward. He forgives us so we can assume the role he has for each of us in His Plan. God is speaking
to our young adults as well. Do not waste your lives! You do not exist for the sake of Middle School, High School,
College or Grad School. Don't sell yourselves short, infinitely short. You were created to be part of God's Plan.
Look for the Big Picture. God has a role for you in His Plan for mankind. "This is my Son, my Beloved, Listen
to Him." Listen to Jesus. Can you hear him now? There will be times when you are all upset, tied up
in a knot, because your girlfriend or boyfriend dumped you, or because you knew that you needed to dump him or her.
Life is so much more than this. Or maybe you are all upset because you did not make the team, or the college.
God, obviously, has other things in store. Look for the Big Picture. You were created to lead others in the quest
for meaning, in the quest for Christ. You are an integral part of the Plan. Yes, you may temporarily hurt because of
something that happened to you. But don't let that hurt dissuade you from your whole purpose for being. We are all
so much more than what meets our own eyes. As Chris Tomlin, the popular Christian singer and song writer, wrote in his
song, "Made to Worship" You
and I were made to worship
You and I are called to love
You and I are forgiven and free
You and I embrace surrender
You and I choose to believe
You and I will see who we were meant to be.
Chris Tomlin nailed it in song. You and I need to live it in our lives.
"This is my Beloved Son, Listen to Him!" Can you hear me now? Musings
October 4,2010
I can hear the collective sighs of relieve, October is here, school is back in session and the heat
of the summer is a thing of the past – yeah. Things have also picked up here at the Parish: Religious
Education has started, the RCIA has started with close to twenty candidates between Holy Family and ourselves, the Parish
Council has started a new year, the cluster coordinating committee is meeting again to explore ways the cluster parishes can
work together, and the Holidays are not far off. I have gotten more involved over the summer in a pastoral ministry important to our cluster
community and that is the visitation and spiritual support of those walking the final few yards of their journey, those in
Hospice care at Mandarin House on Rt. 2. I bring communion and Viaticum to the Catholics, visit any resident
who wants a blessing, pray with the residents and their families, commend the dying, and support the staff as they tend their
charges. I have been going there three days a week sharing the warmth of this Community and the Love of
Christ with those in the midst of entering the Valley between this life and eternity. It is a fulfilling
ministry, a ministry of discipleship, and one I encourage all to explore. May God’s blessings be yours and may you enjoy a safe and
healthy Fall season God
bless, Deacon Steve June 3, 2010
Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Hear Ye!
Be it known that an arrest warrant has
been issued by this Military Adjutant, under the authority of his majesty King Henry III, for Reverend Deacon Stephen Cooley
of the Papist Church of Baltimore in the Royal Colony of Mary Land for seditious and treasonous behavior in the city of Williamsburg,
the Capital City of the Royal Colony of Virginia, this 30th day of May. Said Deacon was observed
inciting riotous behavior at the south entrance to the Capital Building and refused to sign papers of loyalty to the Crown.
Signed;
Brigadier General Benedict Arnold
Obviously, Suzanne and I had a good time in Williamsburg last weekend!! Thank you all
so much! Many times during our weekend, we reminded ourselves of how privileged we are to belong to such
a wonderful parish. We offered prayers of thanksgiving for all of you at the beginning and at the end of
each day.
We arrived on Friday afternoon after a nice drive through the countryside down VA. Rt. 17. We
checked into the Williamsburg Lodge and enjoyed the Lodge’s famous Friday night seafood buffet – it was delicious!
After dinner we hopped on the bus and rode the perimeter of Colonial Williamsburg planning our activities for the next
day.
On
Saturday we awoke early, and took the bus to the Palace stop where we disembarked to attend Mr. Thomas
Jefferson’s address in the Palace gardens. He spoke of his time as Secretary of State, of the political
turmoil surrounding his election in 1800, and of the marked disagreements between himself, Mr. Adams and Mr. Hamilton.
He entertained questions from the floor, or garden, as it were, and posed for pictures. The individual
portraying Mr. Jefferson was very knowledgeable of the history, politics, philosophy and principles of the man.
Suzanne decided that she liked Thomas Jefferson. All told, a very enjoyable hour and a half.
We then
strolled the Palace Green and went through a tour of the Wythe house. Afterwards we went to the Bruton
Parish Church and were just in time for midday prayer from the Book of Common Prayer followed by a historical review of this
still active Episcopal church. We then walked the Duke of Gloucester Street stopping at the Lumber House,
the Shoemaker’s shop, the Magazine, the Court House – from where we watched the fife and drum corps parade, to
Chownings Tavern where we stopped for a late lunch. After lunch we continued our walk down the Duke of
Gloucester Street toward the Capital Building stopping at shops along the way. At 3:30 PM we caught the
bus back to the Lodge to get ourselves ready to attend 5:30p.m. Mass at St. Bede’s, a relatively
new church in the round with a large narthex and over 10,000 parishioners.
We went back to the Lodge after Mass and caught
the bus for the Tavern stop where we disembarked for a wonderful dinner at the King’s Arm Tavern. Suzanne
had a salad and I tried the peanut soup; both were superb. With a bottle of Merlot to accompany our meal,
we both had the game pie for dinner, which was also delicious, but a word to the wise – one pie would have been enough
for the both of us. During our meal our waiter shared some of the history of the tavern and of the room
where we had our meal. We ate upstairs and as it turns out it was a bedroom used during colonial times.
Men visiting colonial Williamsburg would rent a space in a bed in this room. There could be as many
as 12 at a time – two to a bed. No ladies were allowed, so Suzanne was told she should feel very
privileged to have been allowed in this room. We were also entertained by a local minstrel during our dinner.
It was a memorable experience. Following our meal we leisurely walked back to the Tavern bus stop
and went back to our hotel where we enjoyed a night cap to the sounds of Mo & Jo in the Lodge’s lounge.
Sunday
we got up late, a treat in and of itself, and went to the Lodge’s restaurant for brunch. What a spread!
They offered everything from scrambled eggs, eggs benedict, locks and bagels, custom made omelets to a dinosaur sized
leg of beef. Suzanne and I agreed that our favorite entrée was the jambalaya, which we both had
second helpings of. After our meal we went to the Merchants Square where Suzanne did some shopping –
no buying, just shopping. We left there and went back to the Palace for a tour of the insides.
Following our tour we walked to the Getty House and Founder where we watched the founders pounding out an 18th
century musket. Recall that Sunday was hot and these guys were working at a stoked fire. I’m
glad it was them and not me. We were told it would take around 400 hours to fabricate one rifle.
From the
Getty house we walked across the street to the Lumber house to catch our 3 PM carriage ride. We rode in
the open Red Carriage and Charlie was our driver – good with his horses and sharp with his wit. He
quickly pegged us as 18th century gentry imposters as men were clean shaven and women never exposed their skin
to the sunlight, nor exposed their joints which were considered ugly (Suzanne had on shorts). After our
ride we walked down the Duke of Gloucester Street to the Capital where they did a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence
from the west side of the building. That was followed by a re-enactment of the British raid and occupation
of the city in 1781 on the south side of the building, where I apparently ran afoul of the traitor Arnold. Fortunately
for all, le Marquee de Lafayette avec General George Washington rode up to Raleigh Tavern on their way to Yorktown and I was
granted a stay of arrest. With our nerves frayed we returned to the Lodge where we had a delicious dinner.
After dinner we returned to the Capital Building for a candle light recital by a re-enactor of Mr. Peter Pelham, the
organist at Bruton Parish Church and Keeper of the Public Goal. While waiting for the concert to begin
Suzanne tagged along on the beginning of the Williamsburg Ghost tour. After three stops she returned to
the Capital for the concert. The music was predominantly of 18th century English composers, with some of
Mr. Pelham’s original compositions included. We returned to our room at the Lodge afterwards and
reminded ourselves of all the memorable moments of this visit and how all of you made those possible.
The next day we checked out
and drove the 17 or so miles toYorktown where we drove most of the battlefield driving tour. We went into
the city which was packed with holiday celebrators and beach goers. There is much to see there, as well
as at Jamestown, and we committed ourselves to returning to see them in the fall when the foliage should spectacular.
A little after noon we left for home going back up VA Rt. 17 and across the Rt. 301 Potomac River bridge.
Thank you
all once again for a most delightful weekend!!!!
Deacon Steve
March 15, 2010 Fr. Joe showed me his Update Central OLPH web site section and invited me to post my
own version; so, here it is. I'll call it Musings, as it is analogous to day dreaming and I do that well. And, speaking
of analogies - I am not Miss Piggy, Beaker maybe, but certainly not her highness.
This is a picture of Beaker,
and no that is not Fr. Joe . . .
Back to day dreaming. . . I'm in the final phases of helping our Elect and Candidates
prepare for their entrance into full communion in the Church and in our community. It has been, and continues to be, a remarkable
journey. They are excited and nervous at the same time and it is refreshing to share those feelings with them. It has also
been humbling to experience their Lenten journey and reflections as they seek connection and re-connection and forgiveness
through reconciliation. They are in a state of joy and excitement that I hope they never lose, and one I hope we can all embrace
during this season of Lent. If you see Chris, Jean or Brandie before Easter let them know that they are in your prayers, and
better yet, plan on being at the Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday April 3rd.
God bless,
Deacon Steve
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