EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL UPDATE
Did you know that there have been nine National Eucharistic Congresses here in the United States of America? Many of us fondly recall the 41st International Eucharistic Congress that our archdiocese hosted in August of 1976. It was a great boost to our faith and followed a long line of Eucharistic Congresses held around the world since the first one in Lille, France in 1881! But, there have also been National Eucharistic Congresses – nine in all – beginning in 1895; the last one was in 1941. And, you will […]
THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
As with any good book, the books of the Bible can only be fully understood if you read the whole book. This past year, we have been privileged to hear much of one of these books, the Gospel of Matthew, and it’s important to recap some of the points made earlier in this Gospel to fully understand today’s passage. Otherwise, it might seem as if the five wise virgins we heard about were being rather unchristian in not sharing their oil. After all, doesn’t Jesus teach us to share? So, […]
Adopt-a-Family. Christmas Food Baskets, Mercy Hospice Giving Tree
After an extended time with summer-like weather, I hope you are enjoying the cooler days of fall. As you have surely already noticed in the stores, Christmas preparation has begun. We have several parish initiatives that will allow you to give to those in need as you celebrate God’s great gift of his son, Jesus. For those of you not familiar with them or who would benefit from a little refresher, allow me to explain each of these excellent programs: Adopt-a-Family, Christmas Food Basket and the Mercy Hospice Giving Tree.
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Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
“I did not come to be served but to serve,” we hear Jesus declare after two of his disciples, James and John, asked to be seated at his right and his left when he established his kingdom. It sounds as if even his closest followers did not understand the Gospel that Jesus had come to proclaim – or, at least, they were unwilling to accept it. Like the Jewish leaders whom we hear Malachi condemn in today’s first reading and Jesus condemn in our Gospel, they were more interested in […]
THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
What is love? Each of us probably has our own understanding of love, as well as varying experiences of loving or being loved. We need love as much as we need the air we breathe. So, it’s important to ask ourselves: what is love? Is it just an emotion, or a virtue? Is it chemistry or a psychological commitment, or is it a rational decision? As Catholics we will find the answer by looking to Jesus and his teachings. And, as you know, Jesus came to fulfill the law and […]
Solemnity of All Saints and Feast of All Souls
This Wednesday, 1 November, we will join with the universal Church in celebrating the Solemnity of All Saints. We will celebrate a Vigil Mass on Tuesday at 6:00pm and will celebrate Mass at 6:30 and 8:00am and at 12:10 and 7:00pm on Wednesday. I encourage you to join in celebrating with all the saints who intercede for us in heaven. As we read so simply but powerfully written in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ document prepared for our reflection during this three-year Eucharistic Revival entitled The Mystery of […]