Reflection of Pope Leo XIV at the Vigil for Peace

Last Saturday, 11 April, Pope Leo XIV led a Vigil for Peace.  I offer you his reflection during that Vigil for your prayerful consideration:

Dear brothers and sisters,

Your prayer is an expression of that faith which, according to the words of Jesus, moves mountains (cf. Mt 17:20). Thank you for accepting this invitation to gather here at the tomb of Saint Peter and in so many other places around the world to pray for peace. War divides; hope unites.  Arrogance tramples upon […]

WELCOME BACK, DEACON DAVID!

As quickly and unexpectedly as he left, we’re delighted to announce that Deacon David has returned.  You will recall that, due to the challenging situation between China and the Vatican, his ordination to the priesthood here in Philadelphia remained uncertain.  Then, at the invitation of the Diocese of Orange, California, he left us on 2 February with the idea that he would be ordained there and serve the Chinese community in that diocese.  In the intervening two months, however, an arrangement has been made between […]

Alleluia!  This Easter proclamation that we repeat over and over again during the joyful Easter Season has a powerful meaning, one that we should all know and embrace.  It is a combination of two Hebrew words: “hallelu” (the plural imperative of “hallel”) which means “praise” and “yah,” the first half of the Hebrew word for God, Yahweh.  So, it literally means: “Everyone praise God!”  We should praise God always because of all the good he does for us every moment of our lives.  But Easter is the time for us […]

 “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.”  (Mt 19:38).  On Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, we are called to join with our Lord, Jesus Christ, as he makes a triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and then suffers derision and mockery, scourging and finally crucifixion because he claims to be who he truly is – the Son of God – and comes to offer a new way of life.  This week is, indeed, what we Christians call […]

“God has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18).

Two weeks ago, 92 of our young parishioners received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time.  Our confessional lines have continued to grow every Saturday afternoon as more and more of our parishioners recognize the healing power of this sacrament.  I wish we had more priests who could help us on Saturday afternoons but, as you know, we’re all struggling with a shortage of priests throughout our archdiocese.  On Wednesday of this […]

LAETARE SUNDAY

Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her.

Be joyful, all who were in mourning;

Exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast. (Is 66:10:11)

Today, the Fourth Sunday of Lent, is also known as Laetare Sunday.  It gets this name from the first word of the Entrance Antiphon used at Mass without music; you will see it quoted above.  In Latin, the antiphon begins with the word “Laetare,” which, as you see above, translates into “Rejoice.”  As we quickly approach the end of Lent – next week is the Fifth […]

THE ARCHDIOCESE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES COLLECTION

 The Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS) was created by Pope John Paul II to provide the Catholic Church’s full range of pastoral ministries and spiritual services to those in the United States Armed Forces. This includes the men and women serving in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force and Coast Guard and their families in more than 220 installations in 29 countries, patients in 153 V.A. Medical Centers, and federal employees serving outside the boundaries of the USA in 134 […]

Salvador Dali Candlesticks

 You might have noticed some different candlesticks on the Daily Mass Chapel; I have used them every Lent.  But, it’s been a few years since I offered an explanation about them and a few people have asked to hear it again so I offer it, once again, for your information.  In the summer of 1979, I went on vacation to Spain with a priest-friend of mine.  Touring the country, we ended up one day in the little town of Figueres in Catalonia.  As we waited for the restaurants […]

Many of us are finding life to be a little more difficult this year as a result of the economic and political uncertainty that our country faces.  The challenges we face are multiplied many times over in other parts of the world where resources are much more limited and people struggle to survive even in normal times.  Many of the Catholics in the 34 countries and 14 dependent territories in Latin America are experiencing serious challenges.  A high percentage – 31% – of the people in Latin America live in […]

Jesus sat in the middle of the crowd on the hillside.  Some of them had been with him for a few days as he began his public ministry, but many of them were new today.  They had all come to hear his teaching.  Rumors were running wild about what he was going to say.  Most of the rumors were about this new kingdom he had announced was at hand.  Everyone was interested in a new kingdom.  They weren’t at all happy about the one that the Romans had imposed on […]