Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion and Holy Week
“Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.” (Mt 21:9). On Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, we are called to join with our Lord, Jesus Christ, as he makes a triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and then suffers derision and mockery, scourging and finally crucifixion because he comes to offer a new way of life and claims to be who he truly is – the Son of God. This week is, indeed, what we Christians call it: [...]
Fifth Sunday of Lent and COVID-19 during these unusal times
The Season of Lent is given to use every year to recognize and admit how we have drifted away from God and then to turn back to him as we prepare to accompany his son through his suffering, death and Resurrection. It is a time to focus again on the eternal life God promises us rather than remain caught up in pursuing momentary pleasures here on earth. Lent always falls during spring – after all, that’s what the word “lent” means – and this is, for most of us, [...]
FIFTH SUNDAY LENT (Year A)
Welcome to my annotated commentary of Sunday’s readings. The purpose of my commentary is to give you the background for each reading, a little better understanding of its message and the message that the Sunday readings provide us. As we race toward Easter – Holy Week is only a week-and-a-half away – we hear all three readings speak of the dead being raised to new life. How exciting it is to live in hope of the Resurrection, especially now as we are bombarded with so much news of suffering and [...]
New Directives and Guidelines in Response to COVID-19
On Tuesday, 17 March, all parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia received the following two announcements: ARCHBISHOP NELSON J. PÉREZ ANNOUNCES THE SUSPENSION OF ALL PUBLIC MASSES IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA EFFECTIVE AT NOON TOMORROW Today, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced that Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez has suspended all public Masses in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia effective at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18th and until further notice. Last week, the Archbishop dispensed the faithful from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. Both decisions were made in response [...]
FOURTH SUNDAY LENT (Year A)
FOURTH SUNDAY LENT (Year A) 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6 – 7, 10 – 13a Welcome to my annotated commentary of Sunday’s readings. The purpose of my commentary is to give you the background for each reading, a little better understanding of its message and the message that the Sunday readings provide us. This Sunday, we hear the very interesting account of the selection of David to replace Saul as king of Israel. First of all, we remember that 1 Samuel is part of the Historical Books of the Bible, presented [...]
Welcome Archbishop Nelson J. Perez
Last month, our archdiocese welcomed Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez at the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul as he was installed as our new archbishop. At the end of this month – in two weeks – we will be privileged to welcome him here in our own church as he celebrates Mass for Deanery 2 on Monday, 30 March. As he mentioned at the installation Mass, Abp. Pérez wants to travel throughout the archdiocese to listen and learn from all of us. One of the ways that he will [...]