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So far Barbara Lombardi has created 843 blog entries.

PENTECOST SUNDAY

Before ascending into heaven, Jesus told his disciples to remain in Jerusalem and await the coming of the Holy Spirit. We heard that on Ascension Thursday just ten days ago.  The disciples did this, and in today’s first reading we hear an account of that powerful day when the Holy Spirit descended upon them.  With a noise like a strong driving wind, and tongues as of fire that came from the sky, the Holy Spirit transformed the disciples and gave birth to the Church.  This is such an important moment […]

2025-06-09T14:10:05-04:00June 9th, 2025|

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and you had time with family and friends.  Mine was particularly precious since I was able to spend some time with my brother and sister-in-law who were visiting from California.  They were here to celebrate with their oldest granddaughter – my oldest great niece – as she graduated from college.  We are all proud of her as she fulfilled her goal of working at the Smithsonian Institute and aiding in the conservation of endangered species throughout our country.  I also enjoyed […]

2025-06-04T11:48:17-04:00June 4th, 2025|

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

If you knew that the prayers you offered up today would be among your last, what would you pray for?  Wouldn’t you focus on your highest priorities and most heartfelt desires – for yourself, for those dear to you?  That’s what Jesus did.  Our gospel passage today is part the last major prayer Jesus offered before his arrest and crucifixion.  He had just spent three years in his public ministry sharing God’s love.  Thousands of people had heard his message and seen and experienced his miracles.  By his death, he […]

2025-06-02T11:21:32-04:00June 2nd, 2025|

IN PREPARATION FOR PENTECOST SUNDAY

“I have told you this while I am with you.  The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. (Jn. 14:26)

As we prepare to come to the end of the Easter season once again with the celebration of Pentecost Sunday next week, I would like to offer some reflections on the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church and in each of our lives.  If you have been paying […]

2025-05-30T15:42:10-04:00May 30th, 2025|

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give it to you.”  Jesus spoke these words on the night before he was to suffer a most grueling, painful death on the cross.  And yet, he is in peace and offers his peace to his followers.  How is this possible? 

It’s important to recognize that there are two kinds of peace: worldly peace and heavenly peace.  Worldly peace is temporary and varies from person to person.  To a lazy person, peace […]

2025-05-28T11:11:14-04:00May 28th, 2025|

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

 

As they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.  While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.  They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?  This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”  (Acts 1:10-11)

 

   This Thursday, we will celebrate the […]

2025-05-23T15:56:05-04:00May 23rd, 2025|

Fifth Sunday of Easter

As I’m sure you all know, Pope Leo celebrated his inauguration Mass just a few hours ago.  In his homily, he called all people to live in unity and love.  Allow me to quote a few lines from his brief but powerful homily:

I come to you as a brother, who desires to be the servant of your faith and your joy, walking with you on the path of God’s love, for he wants us all to be united in one family.

Love and unity: these are the two dimensions of the […]

2025-05-19T10:43:28-04:00May 19th, 2025|

HABEMUS PAPAM!

 This has certainly been an exciting – and, indeed, historic – time for the Universal Church as 132 cardinals from 70 countries around the world recently met in the Sistine Chapel to elect our next pope.  And, after just four ballots, so many of us watched excitedly as white smoke billowed from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel just after noon on 8 May.  I don’t know about you, but I certainly did not expect an American to be elected – the first pope from the United States of America […]

2025-05-16T14:53:20-04:00May 16th, 2025|
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