ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
As I work in my rectory office which has a large window facing Aberdeen Avenue, I’m sometimes distracted by bright red, yellow and blue flashes as cardinals, finches and blue jays fly from the tops of nearby trees and swoop down to feed on the grass and shrubs in front of the rectory. It reminds me of today’s first reading from the prophet Ezekiel, where we hear God foretell the growth of a great nation using the image of a shoot that he will take from the top of a […]
SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST
Although they are separated by more than a thousand years, the incidents in today’s first reading and the Gospel have many striking similarities: they both recount a gathering of the faithful during a time of struggle hearing the assurance of God’s continuing presence and care for his people, a sacrifice, and the expression of a covenant. And, although these two incidents are separated from us by thousands of years, what we are doing here at this sacred moment shares these same characteristics: a gathering of the faithful during a time […]
TRINITY SUNDAY
I’m so glad to see more and more of you returning to our Eucharistic celebration in person! I’ve missed seeing you and I’m sure you’ve missed joining in person as we come together to worship our God. Today, we celebrate the feast of the Most Holy Trinity – our belief that the one God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And, I think this feast takes on new meaning for us this year, after more than a year of isolation when we have become more aware than ever of the […]
FAREWELL AND GOD BLESS MSGR. CARROLL
“You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4)
Seventeen years ago, Msgr. Carroll retired as pastor of St. Hilary of Poitiers parish, Rydal, PA, and Msgr. Jagodzinski invited him to come here as a senior priest. This is a designation given to a priest who has reached the age of 70 and is able to continue serving but is no longer required to be involved in administrative duties. Five years later, having reached the canonical retirement age, Msgr. Carroll chose to stay here, celebrating Sunday and […]
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 reading, we […]
SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
So, how have you received the news that we no longer need to wear face masks, as long as we have been fully vaccinated? Many of us received it with a great sigh of relief; those masks are a real bother. I received my second shot on Tuesday of Holy Week. That’s more than six weeks ago so I’m fully vaccinated and am very happy to shed the mask. Others among us are still a little hesitant, not sure if this is a good idea right now. Some are horrified, […]