“After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove.  And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Lk 3:21-22).  On this, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we hear God the Father declare that Jesus, the son of Mary is, indeed, His Son as well.  And, He is well pleased with him.  Shortly after his baptism, […]

“See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the Lord shines, and over you appears his glory.” (Isaiah 60:2).  As we continue our celebration of the Christmas season with the celebration of the Epiphany of the Lord, we all need to hear these words of encouragement and assurance of God’s presence.  With the ongoing unrest worldwide and even in our own country, we all feel – in some way – to be covered in darkness with thick clouds covering us.  But, Jesus Christ, the […]

“As long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the Lord.” (1 Samuel 1:28).

As we continue our celebration of the Christmas Octave on this feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, this Sunday we hear readings at Mass that are about just that: family.  They are accented by dedication to the Lord, and faith and trust in God with an openness to His will.  In our first reading from 1 Samuel, we hear Hannah, the mother of Samuel, dedicate her only son – whom […]

On this, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we hear Elizabeth declare to her cousin, Mary, “blessed is the fruit of your womb.”  As Mary generously travels to be with Elizabeth who is expecting a child in her old age, Elizabeth recognizes that an even more generous gift is about to be born: the Savior of the World!  As you have been busily finding gifts for your loved ones, you have also followed Mary’s example of generosity in so many ways, and I want to thank you in the name of […]

This week, we join with the universal Church in celebrating the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Since it has been moved from Sunday to Monday – the Sunday of Advent takes precedence over the feast day – it is not a holy day of obligation and we will celebrate Mass at the usual weekday times: 6:30 and 8:00am.

Mary enjoys many wondrous titles but this one is of particular significance.  It is so important that it is under this title that Mary is Principal Patroness of […]

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the wave. …And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud. …When these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand” (Lk 21:25ff).

With these words, our Lord helps to prepare us for his coming.  As we begin a new liturgical year today, the First Sunday of Advent, allow me to […]

On this, the last Sunday of the Church’s liturgical year, the Church calls us to think of the end of our lives, our final judgment and our final destiny – the Kingdom of God.  The apocalyptic vision that we hear in today’s first reading from the Book of Daniel sets the tone by speaking about the coming of a “Son of man” who receives dominion, glory and kingship over all peoples, nations, and languages who will serve him.  The passage from the Book of Revelation that we hear today is […]

“As we settle into our new home, I invite you to consider making a gift to this year’s Seminary Appeal.  Your generosity directly impacts the lives of our seminarians and students, providing them with the resources they need for their journey – spiritual guidance, theological education, pastoral experience and the support of a vibrant community.”

This is the short and clear message that Bishop Keith J. Chylinski, the rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, wants us all to hear this year as we prepare to support our seminary during its annual […]

Christmas preparations are well underway in our stores; I saw Christmas cards and decorations in stores at the end of September!  We have the privilege of sharing the true spirit of Christmas that goes beyond the holiday parties, exchange of gifts and cards and seasonal decorations.  We have several parish initiatives that will allow you to give to those in need as you celebrate God’s great gift of his son, Jesus.  For those of you not familiar with them or who would benefit from a little refresher, allow me to […]

This Friday, 1 November, we will join with the universal Church in celebrating the Solemnity of All Saints.  We will celebrate a Vigil Mass on Thursday at 6:00pm and will celebrate Mass at 6:30 and 8:00am and at 12:10 and 7:00pm on Friday.  Throughout the year, we find encouragement in celebrating the feasts of saints who intercede for us in heaven so let us join this week with all the saints in heaven who are already enjoying the full celebration of the eternal banquet our God has prepared for all […]