EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL – PARISH PHASE
Next week, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, we will join with all parishes throughout our country in the introduction of the parish phase of the three-year National Eucharistic Revival that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has initiated to renew the Church by enkindling a living relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.
In preparation for this National Eucharistic Revival, the USCCB published “The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church,” a compelling document to […]
PENTECOST SUNDAY
Today, we celebrate Pentecost, the third most important day of our liturgical year. On Christmas we celebrated the birth of Jesus, the Son of God who became the son of Mary. On Easter we celebrated his victorious resurrection from death. Today, we celebrate his giving of the Holy Spirit. This is presented on two occasions, according to Sacred Scriptures: on Easter day and on the Jewish Feast of Pentecost; we hear of both events in this evening’s readings.
As we just heard from the reading taken from the Gospel of John, […]
PENTECOST SUNDAY
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.
(Acts 2:1-4)
With this dramatic description from today’s first […]
SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
One of my favorite books on prayer is entitled Teach us to Pray, by Louis Evely. As he begins his book, the author writes: “Too many Christians regard God as pilots regard their parachute, namely, good if needed, but better if they can get along without it.” In our very busy world, and our culture of self-sufficiency, many of us find that we pray only when we’re faced with a situation that’s beyond our control. And yet, regular, ongoing prayer is so important. It unites us to God, who is […]
MANNA BAGS
Throughout the year, you are invited and encouraged to participate in a variety of food drives, both here in our parish and – I’m sure – from a number of charitable agencies in our area and around the world. In the name of all of those you feed with the support you provide, I thank you for responding to our Lord’s call to feed the hungry. The summer is a particularly challenging time for these agencies and I would like to invite you to participate in a food drive that […]
SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Again, congratulations to you boys and girls who are about to receive our Lord in Holy Communion for the first time in just a few minutes; I’m sure you’re really excited. You girls look so pretty in your white dresses and you boys look very handsome, too! What a special moment it is for you – and for all of us – as you receive the Body of Christ and become one with all of us who are the Body of Christ. Congratulations and welcome!
It is so fortunate for […]