EVERY LIFE: CHERISHED, CHOSEN, SENT
"Even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, are masterpieces of God’s creation, made in his own image, destined to live forever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect.” Pope Francis’ Day for Life Greeting With these words, Pope Francis has captured so well our Catholic understanding of human life and insistence that every person, from the moment of natural conception to natural death, receive the care he or she needs to live and thrive. Pope Francis has captured the world with [...]
Annual Eucharistic Adoration
"The Second Vatican Council rightly proclaimed that the Eucharistic sacrifice is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life. …For the most holy Eucharist contains the Church’s entire spiritual wealth: Christ himself, our Passover and our living bread. Through his own flesh, now made living and life-giving by the Holy Spirit, he offers life to all.’ Consequently, the gaze of the Church is constantly turned to her Lord, present in the Sacrament of the Altar, in which she discovers the full manifestation of his boundless love.” In this opening paragraph [...]
Reflections on the ongoing CLERGY SEX ABUSE SCANDAL
Every morning, when I open the newspaper, I brace for yet another article about the ongoing clergy sex abuse scandal. Ever since the Grand Jury Report was published in mid-August, it seems that the media has made it a point to feature an article about this terrible scourge almost every day. It is, indeed, a time of great sadness and confusion in our Church. I encourage you to join me in prayer for those who have been sexually abused. When John Carroll was appointed the first bishop in the newly-formed [...]
Catechetical Sunday
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” we hear the risen Lord instruct his followers after his Resurrection. We, the descendants of those first followers, are given the same command. Not only are we to live according to the Gospel ourselves, we are called to share the Good News of our salvation with everyone, call them to discipleship and teach them all that our Lord taught us. This weekend, we join with the Church throughout our nation and around [...]
Improving Your Faith Journey
RCIA (The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) After a rather warm and wet summer, I hope you’re ready for fall. This is a time when our children get serious about their education once again after a summer of fun and relaxation. This is also the time when I invite the adults of the parish to consider getting serious about their ongoing education and formation in the faith. There are three excellent programs that can help you get more serious about your faith journey. One of them is called The [...]
Black and Indian Mission Collection
Over the past several months, the local media has drawn a great deal of attention to the inequality in the quality of education offered in predominantly Black neighborhoods in Philadelphia. We are blessed to be involved in supporting a school in our sister parish – St. Martin de Porres – that helps over 500 children in one of the most challenging areas of the city to receive a high quality education. This inequality in educational opportunity has a long history throughout our country and next week, we have the opportunity [...]