Code:
public static void X(JTextField jtf){
     String filepath = jtf.getText(); 

      try{
      FileReader fr = new FileReader(filepath); 

      System.out.println("WOOHOO!");



     }catch(Exception e){
      JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(GUI, " Unable to find file      requested " + " Please try again ");
      jtf.setText("");
      return;  // should return back to it's caller
    }
 }
So in that example, the message isn't printed? That's completely screwed up. What JDK do you have?