Catholic Relief Service Annual Collection
As you hear about devastating natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis and fires or man-made tragedies such as war and persecution, have you ever wondered how you can help? Next week, we will all have the opportunity to help as we join with all parishes throughout the country in taking up the annual collection for Catholic Relief Services. When tsunamis recently struck Indonesia and the Philippines, CRS responded with much needed aid to millions of people who had lost their homes, families, farms, jobs and schools. Currently, CRS is assisting [...]
The Epiphany of the Lord
Happy New Year! I hope you have enjoyed this marvelous festive season as we celebrated once again the birth of our Savior at Christmas as well as the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph last Sunday. Gathering together with family and friends is certainly a wonderful way to commemorate our Lord joining our human family so that we could become once again worthy to be part of God’s family! The Christmas season ends with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord next Sunday. As we [...]
Solemnity of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
“And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. …And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:15ff). As we continue our celebration of the Christmas Octave with the celebration of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, my heart is filled with thanks and joy as I celebrate Christmas with you here at St. Katharine of Siena Parish! What a generous Christmas spirit so many of you [...]
The Incarnation – Part III
(We continue to benefit from Paul Peterson’s paper on the Incarnation. I hope you didn’t miss the first two sections that were offered here over the past two weeks; if you did, you’ll find them on our parish web site under my name. As Paul concludes his reflections, he helps us to understand how the Incarnation allows us to become one again with God. I invite you to reflect on his presentation; it will lead you even closer into the mystery of the Incarnation and its importance in our eternal [...]
INCARNATION – PART II
(As I mentioned last week, Paul Peterson, one of our parishioners, recently shared a brilliant paper he had written on the mystery of the Incarnation. With his permission, I am offering it to you for your reflection and inspiration as we prepare to celebrate our Lord’s birth at Christmas. Last week, he offered some very worthwhile reflections on the mystery of the Incarnation. As we hurry toward Christmas, we benefit this week from his reflections on the eternal plan of God in the Incarnation.) Saint Paul’s first experience of Jesus [...]
Incarnation – Part 1
(Advent is the time when we await the coming of our Lord, both in time as the son of Mary and at the end of time as the Risen Lord who draws all the faithful to our heavenly Father. This is a good time to reflect on one of the great mysteries of our faith: the Incarnation. Paul Peterson, one of our faithful parishioners who was a civil engineer and a religion teacher - he taught for 11 years at Bishop Shanahan High School, Downingtown - recently shared a paper [...]