POPS FRANCIS’ APOSTOLIC LETTER ON THE LITURGY

I hope you found some helpful instruction and inspiration in last week’s presentation of the first half of Pope Francis’ recent apostolic letter entitled Desiderio Desideravi.  It’s an opportune moment for us all to reflect on the importance of liturgy in our spiritual lives as we return to participating in the Eucharistic Celebration in person after being deprived of it for a time due to the coronavirus pandemic.  As I noted last week, this apostolic letter also helps us to understand why Pope Francis and so many bishops around the […]

2022-07-22T15:28:34-04:00July 23rd, 2022|

POPE FRANCIS’ APOSTOLIC LETTER ON THE LITURGY

POPE FRANCIS’ APOSTOLIC LETTER ON THE LITURGY

We all know that the liturgy is the source and summit of our faith.  As the Second Vatican Council declared so clearly, it is “the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed and, at the same time, the font from which all her power flows” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, § 10).  Recently, Pope Francis offered the universal Church some powerful reflections on the liturgy and especially the Eucharistic Liturgy in his apostolic letter, Desiderio Desideravi, promulgated on 29 June 2022, the Solemnity of […]

2022-07-15T14:25:52-04:00July 16th, 2022|

THE TIME TO BEGIN THE WORK OF BUILDING A POST-ROE AMERICA

In response to the Supreme Court of the United States issuing its ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities issued the following statement:

This is a historic day in the life of our country, one that stirs our thoughts, emotions and prayers. For nearly fifty years, America has enforced an unjust law that has permitted some to decide whether others […]

2022-07-01T06:32:55-04:00July 2nd, 2022|

CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT/REFINISHING CHURCH TERRAZZO FLOOR

CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Although we live in the wealthiest country in the world, here is an urgent need to care for millions of poor people right here in our midst.   And, for more than half a century, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has demonstrated the Church’s solidarity with the poor in America, supporting community organizations that work to ease poverty and promote human development.  The CCHD is the national anti-poverty and social justice program of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).  CCHD was begun […]

2022-06-25T12:35:02-04:00June 25th, 2022|

TRINITY SUNDAY

n the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  This is how we Christians begin all our prayers because we believe in and worship a triune God.  But, what do we actually mean when we say that God is a Trinity?  As we celebrate Trinity Sunday, allow me to offer some reflections on this very important mystery of our faith.

First of all, it is important to realize we are dealing with a mystery, a reality that is well beyond our total understanding, just as […]

2022-06-11T09:41:06-04:00June 11th, 2022|

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 […]

2022-06-03T10:57:29-04:00June 4th, 2022|

WELCOME TO REVEREND MONSIGNOR FRANCIS W. BEACH

As we announced last week via Flocknote and at the Sunday Masses, we are happy to introduce Rev. Msgr. Francis W. Beach, who is currently the pastor of St. Jude Parish in Chalfont, PA, and has been assigned as a senior priest to our parish, effective on 20 June.  Msgr. Beach graduated from Roman Catholic High School in 1967 and was ordained a priest in 1976.  He has had a wide variety of assignments throughout his 46 years of priesthood.  His first appointment was as a parochial vicar at St. […]

2022-05-27T09:02:14-04:00May 28th, 2022|

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (Year C)

Please note that this will be my last commentary until September; have a great summer!

 John 14:23 – 29

Last Sunday, we heard the prologue to John’s Last Supper Discourses, in which the new commandment – to love one another – was introduced.  This Sunday, we hear a portion of the first Last Supper Discourse.  It appears to be a continuation of last week’s presentation on love.  As you will see in your footnote, most scholars consider the section of 13:31 – 17:26 to be Johannine compositions, modeled on farewell discourses found […]

2022-05-23T14:05:42-04:00May 23rd, 2022|

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

As they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.  While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.  They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?  This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”  (Acts 1:10-11)

This Thursday, we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of […]

2022-05-20T15:18:16-04:00May 21st, 2022|

SIGN OF PEACE RESUMES AT MASS and EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL

A recent update from the Archdiocesan Office for Divine Worship notified all parishes that the invitation to offer the sign of peace during the Communion Rite of the Mass may resume.  It is another important moment in the Eucharistic celebration and I would like to offer some information about it as we resume its practice.  It is intended to be a liturgical action when we offer the peace that Jesus offers us all.  It is not the moment for us to say “hello” to friends and neighbors; we do that […]

2022-05-13T15:50:05-04:00May 14th, 2022|
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