NATIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
National Catholic Schools Week is an annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. Now entering its 49th anniversary year, it is an opportunity for us to recognize the importance of Catholic education and formation and to celebrate our school that has instructed and formed our children for over 100 years. Our school has enjoyed a strong reputation as an outstanding Catholic elementary school ever since it opened in 1916. It was originally founded to ensure that the Catholic children in this area would receive both an excellent education [...]
MARCH FOR LIFE
Every year since the fateful Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973 legalizing abortion in our country, we have been called to reflect on the Gospel mandate to protect human life from conception to natural death. Although Roe v. Wade has been finally overturned, the struggle to end abortion in our country continues. So many people – including those claiming to be practicing Catholics – have bought into the lie about a woman’s rights over the child in her womb and are working to overturn the effects of the [...]
RETURN TO ORDINARY TIME
As Christmas comes to an end with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord – which we celebrated this past Monday – we begin what the Church calls Ordinary Time. It is called “ordinary” because the weeks are numbered in order – 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. It is time – usually 33 weeks – ordered by God’s grace in between the sacred seasons of Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter. The priest wears green vestments. Our church’s Christmas decorations have come down and we all have returned to a [...]
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Year A
Isaiah 49:3, 5 – 6 As we return to Ordinary Time, this Sunday we will hear the second of the four "Servant-of-the-Lord" oracles (over the years, we have heard the First Song – 42:1-4; Second – 49:1-7; Third – 50:4-12; Fourth – 52:13-53:12). Since it is found in chapter 49 of the Book of Isaiah, we know that it is from Deutero-Isaiah which dates to the time of the Babylonian Captivity. As I have explained in the past, these servant songs never name the servant and, as we will see [...]
EQUIPPING EVERYONE TO SHARE OUR FAITH
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:19-20). The last words of Jesus recorded in both Matthew’s and Mark’s gospels included the clear command to go to the ends of the earth and proclaim his gospel – the good news of our salvation through him. Since then, the Church has engaged in this important work and we are blessed to respond to [...]
NEW YEAR BLESSING ON THE SOLEMNITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
“The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!” (Numbers 6:24-26) As we come to the end of our celebration of the Octave of Christmas and begin a New Year with the celebration of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, my heart is filled with joy and thanks as I celebrate this Christmas Octave with you once again here at St. Katharine of Siena Parish! What a generous Christmas [...]