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 [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (Year C)
John 10:27 - 30 This Sunday, we hear a portion of the beautiful, symbolic presentation of Jesus known as the Good Shepherd. Of course, we do not hear Jesus refer to himself in these terms this Sunday; that happens earlier (cf. 10:14). The verses we hear on Sunday are part of his discourse against the Pharisees. The good shepherd discourse continues the theme of attack on the Pharisees that ends John 9. We will recall the account of the man born blind whom Jesus cured. In this account, we see [...]