SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST
Although they are separated by more than a thousand years, the incidents in today’s first reading and the Gospel have many striking similarities. They both recount a gathering of the faithful during a time of struggle hearing the assurance of God’s continuing presence and care for his people. In both incidents, there is a sacrifice and the expression of a covenant. And, although these two incidents are separated from us by thousands of years, what we are doing here at this sacred moment shares these same characteristics: a gathering of […]
THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST/WELCOME SEMINARIAN JOSHUA PARMET
THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST
This weekend, as we are privileged to host those leading the Seton Route Eucharistic Pilgrimage through our archdiocese as we continue the three-year National Eucharistic Revival, we are blessed to celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. I hope you are planning to attend one of the following events:
Evening Event with Young Adults at the Shrine of St. John Neumann (at 7:00pm on Saturday);
Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul (at 11:00am on Sunday) followed […]
TRINITY SUNDAY
Over the past few weeks, we have celebrated some very important feasts: Easter, Ascension and Pentecost. In these three feasts, we have celebrated some of the wonderful mysteries of our faith: Christ’s triumph over death, his return to heaven and the sending of the Holy Spirit. In these celebrations, we are given the hope of new life with God forever in heaven and, in the meantime, God’s accompaniment with us here on earth through his Holy Spirit. All of these great mysteries of our faith, however, are built upon the […]
SUPPORTING OUR FELLOW CHRISTIANS IN THE HOLY LAND
SUPPORTING OUR FELLOW CHRISTIANS IN THE HOLY LAND
We’re all certainly aware of the horrific ongoing war between Israel and the Hamas in Gaza that started last October as some members of the Hamas attacked Israel and took over 250 Israelis hostage. It is a tragedy that continues to worsen with hundreds of thousands of people now on the brink of starvation. In the middle of this living nightmare live a very small number of Christians who comprise less than 1% of the total population of Gaza and the […]
PENTECOST SUNDAY
As Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, we all learn about Jesus and are encouraged to develop an intimate relationship with him. We also learn about Jesus’ heavenly Father who sent Jesus into our midst to lead us back to God, our Father, who longs for us to join him forever in heaven. And today, we celebrate his giving of the Holy Spirit. As we hear in today’s readings, the Bible presents the introduction of the Holy Spirit on two occasions: on Easter day and on the Jewish Feast of Pentecost.
As […]
NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC PILGRIMAGE AND MANNA BAGS
NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC PILGRIMAGE
The national pilgrimage leading up to the Eucharistic Congress is almost here! As you will recall from my earlier articles, it will begin to pass through the Philadelphia area at the end of this month, coming from the Trenton Diocese on 30 May as it crosses over the Walking Bridge into Morrisville, PA, with a walking procession to Holy Trinity Church. The Pilgrimage will continue to St. John the Evangelist Church, Morrisville and St. Andrew Church, Newtown, before going to various churches in Philadelphia. On Sunday […]