INTRODUCTING THE UPCOMING SYNOD OF BISHOPS
You may have heard or read that Pope Francis has called a Synod of Bishops; it opens in the Vatican on 9 October and in all of the (arch)dioceses around the world on 17 October. Archbishop Pérez will celebrate an Opening Mass for the Diocesan Phase of the Synod that evening at 6:30pm at our Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul.
The Synod of Bishops is a permanent council that acts as an advisory body for the pope. A pope convokes a synod to assist him in his ministry of […]
TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
I don’t know about you but I find it hard to believe that we’re already in the last days of September; where has the year gone!?! The ongoing pandemic has caused a real time warp and now the days are getting shorter, the nights are getting longer – real signs that the year is coming to a close. And, our liturgical year is coming to an end, as well; Advent begins in just eight weeks. Once again, our Scripture readings begin to point us toward the end times, and the […]
DEVELOPING A NEW PARISH PASTORAL PLAN
With Labor Day marking the unofficial end of summer three short weeks ago, our parish has exploded into action! Our school opened on 7 September, our Parish Pastoral Council met on 8 September, a training was held for the new members of school’s Board of Limited Jurisdiction on 9 September, a study of the Book of Genesis started on 11 September, our Youth Group held its first fall gatherings on 12 September, our Finance Council met on 13 September, we had our first Walking with Purpose meeting and Men’s Evening […]
TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Last Saturday, I had the great joy of joining with my family in celebrating my youngest great nephew’s fourth birthday – it was lots of fun! There were 40 people at the party and more than a dozen of them were under the age of ten. My nephew and his wife had rented a portable miniature golf and the kids, filled with laughter, took turns playing each hole as well as in the play house in the corner of their back yard and the jungle gym nearby – and just […]
TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Where were you on that awful day? Looking around here in church, I see some of you were not even born yet or too young to realize what was happening but most of us will always remember exactly where we were. It was a beautiful fall day 20 years ago yesterday, just like this morning. I was about to go to church to celebrate the 9:00am Mass at the parish where I was stationed at that time when a friend called me to let me know that a plane had […]
PARISH ACTIVITIES RESUME AS COVID-19 CONTINUES TO CHALLENGE US
Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priest, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this, he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said, “Whoever wishes to come […]