Catholic Charities Appeal Update
“Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me. …As often as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me” (Mt 25:34-36, 40). For the past 61 years, Catholic Charities Appeal has provided assistance for over 10 million [...]
CATECHETICAL SUNDAY
“Stay with us,” we hear the two disciples of our Lord implore their unknown fellow traveler as they approach Emmaus. We all know the story of these two disciples – how, after our Lord was crucified, they were on their way from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus. They were talking about everything that had just happened to their beloved friend, Jesus, when he began to walk with them but, as we read in Luke’s gospel, “their eyes were prevented from recognizing him” (Lk 24:15). We might ask, “how could [...]
Fall Activities Resume
As we celebrate Labor Day weekend, I hope you have all had time for some rest and relaxation. Now, it’s time to return to full swing! Our school begins this Wednesday, 4 September, PREP begins next Monday (9 September) and Wednesday (11 September), and all the other parish organizations resume their full fall schedule over the next few weeks. It will be great to have the parish facilities become fully alive again! Of course, the parish facilities have been rather lively all summer as we hosted various camps: Around the [...]
GENDER MATTERS WORKSHOP
I’m sure you are aware of the great controversy swirling around in our country and in many other parts of the world over gender identity. There is a small, but important, segment of society that struggles with it. And, our Lord, who calls us all into an intimate relationship with him and his heavenly Father, calls us to both generosity and truth as we address this issue. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia Office for Life and Family is sponsoring a workshop on Saturday, 7 September, here in our Parish Center, [...]
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
On Thursday, we will join with the universal Church in celebrating the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, into heaven. It is a Holy Day of Obligation and 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 is called the Dormition, or [...]
True Joy
“As the Father loves me, so also I love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” (Jn 15:9-11) In the Gospel of John, we hear Jesus speak these words to his disciples at the Last Supper. They speak powerfully of true love and true joy. We are called to [...]