DEDICATION OF SAINT JOHN LATERAN BASILICA
Today, we celebrate the dedication of the first Christian church which is also the pope’s cathedral and, as the inscription over its doorway reads, “Omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput,” that is, “Mother and head of all the churches of the city and of the world.” This great basilica, now dedicated to both Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist, is also called “the Lateran” because it stands on the site of the palace of the ancient Roman Laterani family. We celebrate this church today around […]
SAINT CHARLES BORROMEO SEMINARY ANNUAL APPEAL
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary opened once again this September for the education and formation of 176 seminarians from 12 (arch)dioceses and six religious congregations; 67 of the seminarians are preparing to become priests in our archdiocese! Founded in 1832, it has provided excellent priestly formation for our archdiocese and (arch)dioceses around the country. I am very proud of our seminary and grateful for the preparation it offered me to be your priest. It’s clear that we need a seminary to prepare more men to become priests to serve the faithful […]
COMMEMORATION OF ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED
We have certainly experienced a real change in season over these past few days, haven’t we? We’re clearly into fall now and, with all of the beautiful trees in our neighborhood losing their leaves, we experience, once again, nature shutting down for winter; it’s the natural cycle of life here on earth. That seems to be the way of this world: life, death and life and death once again. For us Christians, however – we who believe in an eternal and all-loving God – there is an important break in […]
Adopt-a-Family, Christmas Food Baskets, Christmas Giving Tree
Adopt-a-Family, Christmas Food Baskets, Christmas Giving Tree
Halloween is just behind us, Thanksgiving and the beginning of Advent are still a few weeks away and yet, Christmas preparations are well underway in our stores; I saw Christmas cards and decorations in stores at the end of September! Fortunately, we have the privilege of sharing the true spirit of Christmas that goes beyond the holiday parties, exchange of gifts and cards and seasonal decorations. We have several parish initiatives that will allow you to give to those in need as […]
THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
What is truth? We hear Pontius Pilate ask Jesus that question as Jesus stands before him in judgment. And Jesus answers by dying on the cross, demonstrating a very dramatic and fundamental truth of our faith: God loves us so much that he would send his Son to die for us.
In today’s gospel, we hear a Pharisee and a tax collector both stand before God, each expressing his own truth. On one level, the Pharisee is correct in his self-analysis. By all the […]
Solemnity of All Saints and Feast of All Souls
Ready or not, next Saturday is already the first day of November! We will join with the universal Church in celebrating the Solemnity of All Saints. Since it occurs on a Saturday, it is not a Holy Day of Obligation this year. We will not celebrate a Vigil Mass on Friday and will celebrate the regular 8:00am Mass on Saturday. Although it is not a Holy Day of Obligation, I encourage you to attend the 8:00am Mass as we celebrate this important solemnity. We find encouragement throughout the year in […]