Sunday’s Readings: Exodus 19:2-6a; Psalms 100:1-2, 3, 5; Romans 5:6-11; Matthew 9:36—10:8

……from your Pastor’s Desk – HAPPY FATHER’S DAY – I am constantly amazed at how God can bring good out of bad. Case in point, I can’t tell you how many fathers got to spend time with their children during the time of Covid. Unplanned, of course, but to see them in the courtyard with their little ones teaching them to ride a bike, or out in the parking lot riding with them on bigger bikes together, or stretching and doing exercises on the lawn or just playing games with them. I’ve had a few say to me that they never realized how smart or joyful or loving their kids were before. But having, and taking, the time to be with them, well, was a real joy to these fathers. …

Sunday’s Readings: Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a; Psalms 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; John 6:51-58

……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. …

Sunday’s Readings: Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9; Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; John 3:16-18

……from your Pastor’s Desk – Beyond Human Reasoning – The Holy Trinity, today’s feast, is quite beyond human reasoning. “Two is company, three is a crowd” is a popular expression. But the New Testament would have it otherwise. There, the figure three symbolizes completeness and perfect symmetry. …

Sunday’s Readings: Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11; Psalms 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23

……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. It usually evokes a significant response in family members, especially in the strays. There is an awareness of the life she has given and nurtured. …

Sunday’s Readings: Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11; Psalms 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9; Ephesians 1:17-23; Matthew 28:16-20

……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 numerous deployments I went on in my years of military service and how touching the words were between husband and wife and parent and child. I have told you in a previous homily the last few words my mother said just before she died. Many of you have similar experiences with family and friends. A final word of encouragement and a blessing at these times often mean more to us and have a longer lasting impact on our lives than the accumulation of all words spoken before. …

Sunday’s Readings: Acts of the Apostles 8:5-8, 14-17; Psalms 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20; 1 Peter 3:15-18; John 14:15-21

……from your Pastor’s Desk – It is safe to say that for many of you who are reading this, both parents are deceased. My father died in 1997 – I was 42. My mother in 2009 – I was 54. Not a child by a long shot, but one of my friends said to me at my mom’s funeral, ‘So, how does it feel to be an orphan?’ I did not think of it that way, but it did make me pause and reflect. …

Sunday’s Readings: Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7; Psalms 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19; 1 Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12

……from your Pastor’s Desk – As I sit down to write this, looking out my office window I see the trellis covered with roses. Dozens and dozens. Also, beautiful Wisteria, one of my personal favorites. It’s May! May has been a favorite time of year for many Catholics. The month of May, which started last Monday, is dedicated to The Blessed Virgin Mary. This year almost the entire month falls within the liturgical season of Easter, which is represented by the liturgical color white — the color of light, a symbol of joy, purity and innocence (absolute or restored). …

Sunday’s Readings: Acts of the Apostles 2:14a, 36-41; Psalms 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; 1 Peter 2:20b-25; John 10:1-10

……from your Pastor’s Desk – Celebrating First Holy Communion and Confirmation – Some of the happiest moments priests have are to see members of their flock receive Sacraments for the first time. Knowing the many, many hours, even years, of classes and preparation it takes and finally coming to that moment, well, there is nothing quite like it. …

Sunday’s Readings: Acts of the Apostles 2:14, 22-33; Psalms 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11; 1 Peter 1:17-21; Luke 24:13-35

……from your Pastor’s Desk – On The Road to …Santa Rosa * – This is a ‘Work of Fiction’ inspired by a writing of a favorite Jesuit, John Foley. A modern-day allegory based loosely on the Road to Emmaus Scripture Story …today’s Gospel. This ‘story’ takes place March 22, 2020. Two days after the first ‘Lock-Down’ Remember what was happening then. …

Sunday’s Readings: Acts of the Apostles 2:42-47; Psalms 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31

……from your Pastor’s Desk – “Thinking Thomas” – No Doubt. – There is something to be said for doubt at times. It is a good thing to be able to doubt oneself, provided it doesn’t become an addiction that cripples us; to doubt one’s ideas, one’s principles, one’s work and to doubt much of what we hear. Although religion can provide emotionally unstable people with a vast canvas for their illusions, and a platform for the arrogant and the power-hungry – It is healthy and essential to be able to doubt many things. It is proof that your life is not on automatic pilot, that you have not finished thinking and weighing things up. …