TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Year B)
Numbers 11:25 - 29 This Sunday, we will hear from the Book of Numbers. As usual, it is a passage that prepares us for the Gospel. And, as has been the case over the past few weeks, it is taken from a book that we have not heard from in a while, so let’s review the who, what, when, where, why and to whom. It is the fourth book in the Torah and derives its name from the Vulgate title, “Numeri” which is taken from the Greek αριθμοι. What word [...]
TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Last Saturday, I had the great joy of joining with my family in celebrating my youngest great nephew’s fourth birthday – it was lots of fun! There were 40 people at the party and more than a dozen of them were under the age of ten. My nephew and his wife had rented a portable miniature golf and the kids, filled with laughter, took turns playing each hole as well as in the play house in the corner of their back yard and the jungle gym nearby - and just [...]
TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Year B)
Wisdom 2: 12, 17 - 20 Welcome back, everyone, as we return to Bible Study/Faith Sharing in person and virtually. I hope you all had a great summer and that you and your families have continued to successfully navigate this pandemic. Our God has continued to remain with us and his plan for us continues to unfold, just as it has throughout the ages. We just need the wisdom, humility and courage to understand and accept it. This upcoming Sunday’s readings help us to do just that so let’s begin [...]
PARISH ACTIVITIES RESUME AS COVID-19 CONTINUES TO CHALLENGE US
Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priest, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this, he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said, “Whoever wishes to come [...]
THE WINDOWS OF ST. KATHARINE OF SIENA CHURCH
Last summer, while we were in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, I began a series of presentations in my Parish Bulletin articles on the beautiful stained glass windows of our church. This was in response to an increased interest in them that had resulted from a highlighting of some of the stained glass windows during our live streamed Masses that began when all public Masses were prohibited due to the pandemic. Beginning in July and ending in December, I offered explanations on all of the windows in the nave, [...]
ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Today, we will join with the universal Church in celebrating the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, into heaven. It is not often that we actually celebrate it on a Sunday. It is the principal feast day of the Blessed Mother, so I would like to offer you some reflections on it. The commemoration of the death of Mary is known as the Assumption because of the tradition that, shortly after her death, Mary was raised up, body and soul, into heaven. In the Eastern Church, it [...]