“And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.”  As the world celebrates the beginning of a new year with fireworks, parties and parades, we come to celebrate New Year’s Day by reflecting on the most important new beginning in all of history – the birth of Jesus.  By having his Son born of a woman, God has invited us to participate in the mystery of our salvation.

This first solemnity of the New Year is one that celebrates Mary, and her role as the Mother of God. […]

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with some time to enjoy this special time with your families.  And, I hope you didn’t encounter too many problems as you spent more time with each other than you usually do; that can sometimes lead to unpleasant moments.  I don’t know about you but I don’t know a family that hasn’t had its struggles.  Sometimes the struggles are very evident for all to see; other times, they’re hidden from public view but still very real.  My parents divorced after quietly struggling […]

Finally, just six years ago, in 2013, Pope Francis decreed that St. Joseph should be included by name in the Eucharistic Prayers, when we mention Mary, the apostles and martyrs and all the saints whom we wish to join in the glory of heaven.  It’s about time that we recognize his extraordinary place in Salvation History; we hear about it today.  Just like Mary, we hear very little about Joseph in the Bible.  Outside of Matthew and Luke’s infancy narratives, Joseph is mentioned only in the Gospel of John where […]

Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”  We tend to think that Jesus endured a trial only at the end of his life before the Sanhedrin and the Roman leaders.  But, if we read the Gospels more carefully, we see that Jesus was on trial for the entirety of his public ministry, from friend and foe alike.  Every time he did or said something – healed the sick, raised the dead, forgave sins, asserted that he was one with God – we hear […]