Solemnity of All Saints and Feast of All Souls
This Tuesday, 1 November, we will join with the universal Church is celebrating the Solemnity of All Saints. On Wednesday, we will celebrate the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed, commonly known as All Souls. Both of these annual feasts speak powerfully about one of the very important tenets of our faith – belief in everlasting life for everyone – and have ancient roots. The Solemnity of All Saints dates back to the days of ancient Roman, when the people throughout the Empire often deified and worshipped their ancestors, and […]
TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
As we look around our world today – whether it is the ongoing war in Ukraine or the increasing tension between China and Taiwan or the political tension in our country surrounding issues such as immigration, abortion or climate change, or car jackings and even stabbings right in our neighborhood, we see so much violence and injustice that plague the world around us. And, there is no earthly reason to believe that it can change. If you examine human history, you will find that it’s been like this ever since […]
TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
At this time of the year, we usually have a rash of kids catching cold. What’s the first thing parents are told when their kids get sick? Keep them home so they don’t spread their disease. Our readings today speak about another, much more serious disease – leprosy – that had devastating effects on those who were afflicted with it. And, unlike today when we have medication to treat it, there was no cure in the day of our Lord. It is a disease that causes serious deformity and even […]
STEWARDSHIP WEEKEND AND MISSION SUNDAY
STEWARDSHIP WEEKEND
“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” (Mt. 22: 21). As we hear in St. Matthew’s Gospel, when some of the religious leaders try to trap Jesus with a question about whether or not to pay the Roman taxes, Jesus reminds his listeners that everything belongs to God. After all, he is the creator of the universe and gives us all that we have. And so, on this Stewardship Weekend, I invite you to reflect on how we can all […]
MISSION SUNDAY and STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY
MISSION SUNDAY and STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY
“But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Lk 18:8). This Sunday’s gospel reading ends with a very disturbing question. We hear our Lord ask it 2,000 years ago and it is still one that we need to answer today. Sadly, so many people – including some of our family members and friends – have abandoned their faith for a wide variety of reasons. We, however, relish our faith and find great strength, encouragement and direction in it. Jesus Christ, the […]
TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
At this time of the year, we usually have a rash of kids catching cold. What’s the first thing parents are told when their kids get sick? Keep them home so they don’t spread their disease. Our readings today speak about another, much more serious disease – leprosy – that had devastating effects on those who were afflicted with it. And, unlike today when we have medication to treat it, there was no cure in the day of our Lord. It is a disease that causes serious deformity and even […]