Sunday’s Readings: Acts 12:1-11; Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; Matthew 16:13-19

…from your Pastor’s Desk – Peter and the Love the Church is Founded On – Jesus chose Peter as the rock on which the church is founded, and so Peter’s life is an exemplar for us of the way our lives should be lived. At the other extreme is Judas, who is an example of the worst in human life. But here is a perplexing thing: both Peter and Judas are guilty of the same sin. Each of them betrayed Christ. …

Sunday’s Readings: Genesis 14:18-20; Psalm 110:1, 2, 3, 4; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Luke 9:11b-17

…from your Pastor’s Desk – The Eucharist and SCUBA – People have commented that when I raise the Host after Consecration, I hold it up longer than most priests. Well, if I do, I am not doing it for dramatic effect! When I hold up the Eucharist after Consecration, you and I spend a moment in adoration. At that moment I know that you and I are exactly on the same page. The “Disciple Makers Index Survey” showed that 82% of Catholics “Strongly agree” that the “Eucharist really is the Body and Blood of Jesus.” (As Mother Church teaches) …

Sunday’s Readings: Proverbs 8:22-31; Psalm 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15

…from your Pastor’s Desk – The Most Holy Trinity – The Mystery of The Most Holy Trinity – It is Jesus Himself who teaches us the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. The Gospel today, from Saint John, is clear that Jesus understood both Father and Spirit. The development of this doctrine takes time because Jesus was not a teacher of philosophy or of theology. Jesus lived the mystery and spoke in such a way that we are able to come to understand it. …

Sunday’s Readings: Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 OR Romans 8:8-17; John 20:19-23 OR John 14:15-16, 23b-26

…from your Pastor’s Desk – HAPPY BIRTHDAY! – A few years back, we had a very cool conflation of celebrations. Mother’s Day and Pentecost were on the same day. And, as was brought to my attention just before mass that day, a mother and her daughter were both celebrating their birthdays on that same day! A mother’s birthday has a special appeal. …

Sunday’s Readings: Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9; Ephesians 1:17-23 OR Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23; Luke 24:46-53

…from your Pastor’s Desk – Ascension Day – Parting messages have their own impact. The last words said by someone moving away or even going away for a long time hold special places in our hearts. I remember the many deployments I went on in my years of military service and how touching were those words between husband and wife and parent and child. …

Sunday’s Readings: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23; John 14:23-29

…from your Pastor’s Desk – MEMORIAL DAY – Thank You for those who have guarded not only our cities, but our country, allies, and many other communities from unjust and unprincipled aggressors. On this Memorial Day, with a solemn and sacred spirit, we pause to remember and honor the brave men and women in our Armed Forces who gave up their lives for their fellow Americans at home and abroad. …

Sunday’s Readings: Acts 14:21-27; Psalm 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13; Revelation 21:1-5a; John 13:31-33a, 34-35

…from your Pastor’s Desk – “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” A theme of today’s Mass is Love – a subject that is so easy to write badly about, so hard to write well about. …

Sunday’s Readings: Acts 13:14, 43-52; Psalm 100:1-2, 3, 5; Revelation 7:9, 14b-17; John 10:27-30

Our Hope and Strength – The risen Christ is our shepherd. “We are his people: the sheep of his flock.” He gives us eternal life, and we shall never perish. The risen Christ is “a light to the nations,” so that all people everywhere are renewed by the Easter event. …

Sunday’s Readings: Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41; Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19 OR 21:1-14

…A View – from the Pew… From 2015, but could have been written today. – Many of you have told me of spiritual quickenings or illuminations that came to you either at Mass or other times during the week from something you experienced at Mass or other parish activities. Times when you knew God was speaking directly to you. I thought how edifying it would be to share these with other parishioners. …

Sunday’s Readings: Acts 5:12-16; Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19; John 20:19-31