Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time MT 16:13-20 August 27, 2017 A few months ago, I helped a close friend, one of the senior priests of the Diocese, (even more senior than myself)...
The Canaanite woman spoke for us Read the newsletter… Stean This is beautifully written with clarity and strength and it is very moving. The Christian Mission is here. It is especi...
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time MT 15:21-28 August 20, 2017 A 20-year-old man from Maumee, Ohio, has added his name to the growing list of hate mongers. Last Saturday, motivated ...
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time MT 14:22-33 August 13, 2017 Jesus’s “walking on water” is a very dramatic Gospel that is well known to people of faith and to non-believers as we...
Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord MT 17:1-9 August 6, 2017 Celebrating the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord midsummer on what otherwise would have been the 18th Sund...
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time MT 13:44-52 July 30, 2017 The other morning, I walked into my mother’s apartment at the assisted living facility where she lives. I wasn’t surpr...
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time MT 13:24-43 July 23, 2017 If you drive past my house during the spring and summer, one glance will alert you to the fact that I am no gardener. I ...
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time MT 13:1-23 July 16, 2017 Trying to write with a broken pencil is pointless! This was one of a number of little riddles that a friend recently forw...
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time MT 11:25-30 July 9, 2017 The experts tell us that: Every pound of excess weight exerts about 4 pounds of extra pressure on the knees. So a person...
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time MT 10:37-42 July 2, 2017 Early on, students in composition classes learn about a literary technique called “the back story.” The concept isn’t ne...
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time MT 10:26-33 June 25, 2017 On Wednesday, June 14, 2017, we woke to the shocking news that over 20 U.S. Congressmen, staff members, and lobbyists were...
Body and Blood of Christ JN 6:51-58 June 18, 2017 A friend recently told me about a chance encounter at Sunday Mass with a mutual friend of ours. She said: “I love that just sittin...
Trinity Sunday JN 3:16-18 June 11, 2017 One of the first things that American elementary school students learn about our government is that there is a system of checks and balances...
Pentecost Sunday JN 20:19-23 June 4, 2017 This past Sunday, I was standing near the doors of the church after Mass, greeting people as they made their way to their cars. A young fa...
The Ascension of the Lord MT 28:16-20 May 28, 2017 Featured speakers at the White House correspondence dinner this year were Woodward and Bernstein. Both gave short talks…mor...
Sixth Sunday of Easter JN 14:15-21 May 21, 2017 In the First Letter of St. Peter, our Second Reading (3:15-18), we are told to “always be ready to give an explanation to anyo...
Mother’s Day Reflection Read the newsletter… Susan My 98-year-old mother and I appreciated the beauty and wisdom of Sister Laura’s reflection and are so thankful that y...
Fifth Sunday of Easter JN 14:1-12 May 14, 2017 Once upon a time, telephones were just for talking. Then, one day, it somehow happened that phones became “smart.” They l...
Fourth Sunday of Easter JN 10:1-10 May 7, 2017 Just before Holy Week, I had an extremely unnerving experience that is worth sharing as we begin this 4th week of Easter. The pastor ...
Third Sunday of Easter LK 24:13-35 April 30, 2017 Today’s Gospel is something of a treasure map…with a few added details. Somewhat uncharacteristic of the Gospels, and offered in a...
Second Sunday of Easter JN 20:19-31 April 23, 2017 A fair number of years ago, when I was much younger, healthier, and more fit, I was in a convenience store fairly late in the eve...
The Resurrection of the Lord JN 20:1-9 April 16, 2017 We began this Lenten Season marveling at the fullness of Jesus’s human nature as He withstood the temptations of the flesh. He...
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion MT 26:14—27:66 April 9, 2017 Early in my ministry, when I still found preaching more nerve-provoking than delightful, (BTW, after over a qua...
Fifth Sunday of Lent JN 11:1-45 April 2, 2017 This is the third Sunday in a row that we’ve been given powerful images on which to ponder and reflect. First, there was a drama...
Fourth Sunday of Lent JN 9:1-41 March 26, 2017 On this 4th Sunday of Lent, our Readings are filled with physical things that are brilliant communicators IF one takes the time to no...
Walking each other home Read the newsletter… Joe Wow! That’s thought provoking stuff. It should motivate us to complete our preparations though we won’t need a casket. ...
Third Sunday of Lent JN 4:5-42 March 19, 2017 If you look at a map of the Middle East, it’s amazing to think that it took Israel 40 years of wandering through the Sinai Peninsula b...
Second Sunday of Lent MT 17:1-9 March 12, 2017 This past week, I was watching an “online” video about the Sacraments of the Catholic Church. At one point, the lecturer used a word ...
First Sunday of Lent MT 4:1-11 March 5, 2017 There is a BIG difference between “excuses” and “reasons.” For one thing, we can learn, improve, and make progress when we search for a...
Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time MT 6:24-34 February 26,2017 I haven’t seen the most recent movie directed by Martin Scorsese, “Silence.” It has been called his “ma...
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time MT 5:38-48 February 19, 2017 If a youthful, mop-topped blond kid walked into my parish by himself on a Sunday morning, I would be delighted. I’d mak...
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time MT 5:17-37 February 12, 2017 It’s possible that, in the near future, there will be a wall separating the U.S. and Mexico. The mere suggestion that a w...
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time MT 5:13-16 February 5, 2017 Last week, my oldest and dearest friends invited me to join them on a short trip to Cuba. The “price was right,” so I deci...
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time MT 5:1-12A January 29, 2017 In our First Reading, the Prophet Zephaniah depicts “the law” as a kind of shelter for the righteous. This ma...
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time MT 4:12-23 January 22, 2017 Marveling at the fact that we are already nearing the end of January, a friend explained that each year, he experiences a ...
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time JN 1:29-34 January 15, 2016 The calendar doesn’t always cooperate with the telling of The Story of Salvation. We celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany...
Epiphany of the Lord MT 2:1-12 January 8, 2017 I did something this week that I have never done before. I woke up from a very disturbing dream, ran right past the coffee pot, skipp...
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary LK 2:16-21 January 1, 2017 I was talking with a parent who has concerns about the direction the life of an adult child is taking. After listeni...
The Nativity Of The Lord MT 1:1-25 December 25, 2016 Most people have a very special “Christmas memory” from years gone by. Maybe we treasure the year we were snowed in and had no ...
Fourth Sunday of Advent MT 1:18-24 December 18, 2016 I celebrated a birthday last Sunday. It wasn’t a big one…but close…very, very close to a BIG one. Ironically, the day before, m...
Third Sunday of Advent MT 11:2-11 December 11, 2016 People who are not grounded in faith consider the Bible to be “ancient literature.” Those who cannot bring themselves to embrace...
Second Sunday of Advent MT 3:1-12 December 4, 2016 We began the Advent Season last weekend with a set of Readings that, when proclaimed against the backdrop of the current state of...
First Sunday of Advent MT 24:37-44 November 27, 2016 The division within our country can’t be denied. LET US PRAY for a spirit of empathy, so that Americans at least attempt to see...
The Feast Christ the King LK 23:35-43 November 20, 2016 A friend gave me a gift. It is intended to hang on a wall as a decoration. It is a miniature deer mount. It is shiny chrome....
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time LK 21:5-19 November 13, 2016 Last Sunday, through Luke’s Gospel, Jesus gave us a glimpse of what awaits those who are redeemed in the Blood of ...
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Luke 20:27-38 November 6, 2016 A new sit-com aired on network television this fall. It’s called “The Good Place.” I’ve only seen the first epi...
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time LK 19:1-10 November 30, 2016 I was invited to some friends’ for dinner. Shortly after I arrived, their young son asked if I wanted to see some ...
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time LK 18:9-14 October 23, 2016 One of the lingering images from this past summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro is not about a victory, but what s...
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time LK 18:1-8 October 16, 2016 A small, rural parish decided to undertake a much needed restoration of their historic church. So, in addition to hi...
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time LK 17:11-19 October 9, 2016 The 2016 Noble Prize in medicine was announced on Monday morning. It was awarded to Japanese researcher, Yoshnori ...
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time LK 17:5-10 October 2, 2016 A key issue in the presidential debate conducted this past week was how to deal with international, as well as dom...
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time LK 16:19-31 September 25, 2016 I worked in downtown Detroit, Michigan, for over 20 years. Twice a day, year after year, I drove past a little g...
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time LK 16:1-13 September 18, 2016 Timing couldn’t have been better. Last week, I heard the news that Wells Fargo Bank fired 5,300 employees w...
Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time LK 15:1-32 September 11, 2016 Last Sunday, September 4, on the 19th anniversary of her death, Pope Francis canonized Mother Teresa a saint of ...
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time LK 14:25-33 September 4, 2016 Last Sunday afternoon, within the span of about 90 minutes, I was contacted by four different friends. Two were d...
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time LK 14:1, 7-14 August 28, 2016 I have, and treasure greatly, many Filipino friends, in spite of my persistent disregard for one of their custom...
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time LK 13:22-30 August 21, 2016 There is a new, state-of-the-art, extremely hi-tech “doorbell” on the market. I’ve seen it advertised on television...
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time LK 12:49-53 August 14, 2016 As the rest of the world looks on as nervous “observers,” we Americans are living between two battle cries: LET’...
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Luke 12:32-48 August 7, 2016 The martyrdom of an elderly French priest in Normandy, France, during morning Mass on Tuesday, July 26, 2016, was al...
The lesson from Jesus’ meeting with Martha and Mary Read the newsletter… Alyson Thank you for that, due to illness I have had to “do things differently” and yes i...
