As all of the fall activities swing into full gear, I’m sure many of you are finding yourselves on playing fields or in a gym as you or your child or grandchild get involved in various sports.  As I’m sure you all know, when beginning to play a new sport, it is vital to learn the rules.  And, they’re different in different sports.  For example, basketball players may not kick the ball, but they may pass it with their hands.  On the other hand, soccer players may not touch the […]

Every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, we experience God’s presence in two amazing ways: in his living Word and in our Lord’s life-giving Body and Blood.  As we continue to join with all of the parishes throughout our country in the national Eucharistic Revival, we are called to focus on the great gift of the Eucharist, the true Body and Blood of our Lord that offers us spiritual nourishment on our journey to heaven.  One way we are doing that here is by offering Bishop Robert Barron’s excellent […]

“Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi.”  Today’s Gospel begins in a somewhat unusual way.  Rather than starting with the typical “Jesus began to teach them,” or “Jesus told his disciples another parable,” it starts with a statement about geography, about a particular city called Caesarea Philippi.  I’ve been there and can tell you that it’s well worth visiting; it’s a popular tourist attraction.  That’s because, well before the time of Jesus, this area was an important spot along one of the major trade routes from the east to […]

How would you respond if I asked you to have someone describe you in four words?  Well, you might respond, it would depend on how well this person knew and understood you and how qualified the person was to provide a valid description.  For example, if a newspaper critic wrote about a concert pianist with these four words, “He was a failure,” you might think, well that was just his opinion.  But, if one of the world’s greatest musicians declared, “He was a genius,” then you are apt to take […]

As those of you who have been in this parish more than 12 years know, I was assigned here in April 2011 – on Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion – as parochial administrator after your pastor at that time, Msgr. John Close had been placed on administrative leave while an allegation that he had sexually abused a minor some decades ago was being processed through a report to law enforcement and eventual canonical investigation.  I didn’t know Msgr. Close at all – I only had one dinner meeting with […]