From Our Pastor

PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION

You know this is a special Sunday when we have two gospels.  And, you can’t help but notice how different our two Gospel passages are in tone and sentiment.  We began with Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem to the adulation of the crowd, and followed it with Mark’s account of his passion, at the hands of that same crowd.

As Jesus enters Jerusalem, he is at first the focus of Israel’s deepest hopes and dreams.  Frenzied crowds shout with pleading and joy – Hosanna – which means both, “save us, we […]

2024-03-26T10:10:24-04:00March 26th, 2024|

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion and Holy Week

“Hosanna!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!  Hosanna in the highest.”  (Mk 11:9-10).  On Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, we are called to join with our Lord, Jesus Christ, as he makes a triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and then suffers derision and mockery, scourging and finally crucifixion because he claims to be who he truly is – the Son of God – and comes to offer a new way of life.  This […]

2024-03-22T11:58:26-04:00March 23rd, 2024|

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Once again, Happy St. Patty’s Day!  It’s fun to see so many of you dressed in green.  My nod to the Irish is this little button that has a green stripe across it and says: “If you’re not Irish, fake it!”  Last Sunday, a number of our proud parents watched with great delight as their children participated in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Philadelphia.  I enjoyed watching some of it on television and I caught it just as our group came on.  It was great to see these […]

2024-03-18T11:41:02-04:00March 18th, 2024|

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

“God has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18).

Last week, 78 of our parishioners received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time.  On Wednesday of this week, everyone in the parish is encouraged to attend our Lenten Penance Service, which begins at 7:00pm; several priests will be available to hear your confession.  During this Season of Lent, when we are all invited to recognize our sinfulness that put Jesus on the cross, we are also encouraged by Jesus’ clear teaching […]

2024-03-16T14:18:28-04:00March 16th, 2024|

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

My mother was a great cook and rather good at making pastries – cakes, pies and my favorite, cream puffs filled with real whipped cream and drizzled with dark chocolate.  Whenever we would celebrate our birthday, my mother would let us choose what we wanted for dinner, including dessert; what a treat that was!  My mother was also good at teaching us how to cook and eager to help us do well.  One day, as my mother’s birthday approached, my older sister, Yolanda, announced that she would make the dessert: […]

2024-03-11T11:27:48-04:00March 11th, 2024|

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

Over the past three weeks, the Sunday readings have reminded us of God’s covenant relationship with us.  Remember, a covenant is an agreement between two parties, based on love and calling for a faithful relationship. God has established covenants with us because of his infinite love.  He promises to care for us and calls us to be faithful to him. On the first Sunday of Lent, we heard of God making a covenant with Noah, promising him that “there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth.”  This is […]

2024-03-05T08:53:27-05:00March 5th, 2024|

CHILDREN, GIFTS FROM GOD

I imagine you have learned that the Alabama Supreme Court recently ruled that embryos are to be recognized as human beings.  As a result, several fertility clinics in the state have informed their clients that they will no longer be able to continue their in vitro treatments for fear of possible lawsuits.  This has caused an uproar in the media.   Allow me to offer you a summary of the Catholic Church’s very clear teaching in this regard; you will find it in our Catechism of the Catholic Church.  It begins […]

2024-02-29T13:12:35-05:00March 2nd, 2024|
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