“Please let me, your servant, have two mule-loads of earth.” (2 Kings. 5:17).  What a curious request we hear at the end of this Sunday’s first reading.  Elisha, the great prophet in Israel, had just cured Naaman, the great army commander of the Arameans, of leprosy.  Why would Namaan want this pile of earth from Israel?  You will recall that the people at that time believed in local gods.  They believed that these local gods ruled over particular lands.  That’s why various Old Testament books speak of the gods of […]

This weekend, we join with the Church Universal in celebrating World Mission Sunday with its theme: “Missionaries of Hope Among All Peoples”.  As we continue to celebrate this Jubilee Year, the late Pope Francis called everyone in his 2025 World Mission Day Message to prayer, reminding us that prayer is not only the “primary missionary activity,” but also the key to “keeping alive the spark of hope lit by God within us.”

Our Holy Father delivers his Mission Day Message in February in preparation for World Mission Sunday which is observed […]

After the celebration of the Eucharist itself, what better Eucharistic event is there than our annual Forty Hours Eucharistic Devotion?  It’s a great opportunity to linger with our Lord, recalling all that he has done for us and preparing for our eternity with him.   Our annual Forty Hours Eucharistic Devotion will begin next Sunday after the 11:30am Mass and conclude with a 7:00pm Mass on Tuesday.  I encourage everyone to join in this wonderful devotion!

As you know, we believe that, when we celebrate Mass, we participate in the Paschal Mystery: […]

“Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has poured out into our hearts.” (Rom 5:5)

You may recall that the late Pope Francis introduced a Jubilee Year that began last Christmas Eve.  It will come to a close on 6 January 2026, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.  During this Jubilee Year, Pope Francis called us all to be “pilgrims of hope.”  This hope is not just an idle wish but, as one of the theological virtues, it is the confident assurance that God’s love will prevail […]

The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is celebrated every year on 14 September.  It is such an important feast that it supersedes the celebration of the Sunday in Ordinary Time when it occurs on a Sunday.  Of course, this doesn’t happen very often.  In fact, the last time it occurred on a Sunday was in 2014.  Allow me to provide some historical and theological background for this feast which we celebrate today.

There are three historical events that are commemorated in this celebration: the discovery of the True […]

As summer quickly comes to an end on this Labor Day weekend, I hope you have all had time for some rest and relaxation.  Now, it’s time to begin thinking of returning to full swing!  Our school begins this Wednesday, 3 September, PREP begins on Monday, 15 September, and all the other parish organizations resume their full fall schedule over the next few weeks.  It will be great to have the parish facilities become fully alive again!

Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)

As fall activities resume, I would […]

CARLO ACUTIS AND PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI

 On 7 September, Pope Leo XIV will preside over the canonization of two young saints, Pier Giorgio Frassati from the early twentieth century and Carlo Acutis, the first twenty-first century saint.  As you may recall, Carlo Acutis’ canonization was originally scheduled for 27 April, to coincide with the Jubilee of Teenagers, and Pier Frassati’s canonization was set for 3 August, the culmination of the Jubilee for Youth.  Both canonizations were postponed due to Pope Francis’ death on 21 April.

The declaration that both of […]

CATHOLIC CHARITIES APPEAL UPDATE

 Every year, you are invited and encouraged to join with all of the parishes throughout our archdiocese in participating in the annual Catholic Charities Appeal and every year you respond with great generosity!  To date for this year, your contributions to CCA total $95,095.  We’re ahead of last year at this time when contributions totaled $84,854.  But, the need throughout the archdiocese continues to increase as the cost of almost everything, including the daily essentials of food and housing, continues to rise.  Your contribution helps thousands of […]

On Friday, we will join with the universal Church in celebrating the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, into heaven.   As we continue our celebration of the Jubilee Year with its call for us to be Pilgrims of Hope, allow me to reflect on Mary as the model par excellence of a Pilgrim of Hope.  After all, her deepest hope was realized in her Assumption.

When the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, he made this most startling announcement:

“Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, […]

While I was away on vacation last week, I took the opportunity to read Bishop Robert Barron’s outstanding new book entitled What Christians Believe: Understanding the Nicene Creed.  It’s short – only 139 pages – but filled with deeply insightful reflections on the basic tenets of our faith that we recite every Sunday at Mass.  I strongly recommend it for everyone and offer some reflections on it to whet your appetite.

Bishop Barron begins with an excellent reflection on the very first two words of the Nicene Creed: “I believe.”  Many […]