Sunday’s Readings: Jeremiah 31:7-9; Psalms 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6; Hebrews 5:1-6; Mark 10:46-52

…from your Pastor’s Desk – Halloween – Secular or Sacred? – October 31st is Halloween. Many people, especially Christians, dismiss Halloween for what it has become. Fact is though; we are the ones who invented it, or rather, in ancient days ‘converted it’ as we did many other pagan festivals. …

Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 53:10-11; Psalms 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22; Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45 OR 10:42-45

…from your Pastor’s Desk – I love the fall. And as I quietly contemplate on what I might write, I watch dappled sunlight shifting through trees stirred by a warm, soft and gentle breeze. Leaves that are already on the cusp of turning into beautiful and stunning shades of gold and brown as winter awaits. …

Sunday’s Readings: Wisdom 7:7-11; Psalms 90:12-13, 14-15, 16-17; Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30 OR 10:17-27

…from your Pastor’s Desk – There is something appealing about the question in today’s gospel. It comes from a sincere young man who was serious about finding the way to eternal life. It is a serious question, “What must I do to gain eternal life?” He REALLY WANTS an answer. …

Sunday’s Readings: Genesis 2:18-24; Psalms 128:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6; Hebrews 2:9-11; Mark 10:2-16 OR 10:2-12

…from your Pastor’s Desk – This Sunday the readings invite us to consider marriage and the relationship between a man and a woman in marriage. Just a few years back that would not be even considered remotely controversial. Today, such a topic has so many challenges because; let’s face it, modern culture has changed the perception of marriage, the perception of commitment, the perception of chastity and the perception of love. …

Sunday’s Readings: Numbers 11:25-29; Psalms 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

…from your Pastor’s Desk – St. Francis and the Blessing of Animals – As many of you already know, years ago, many Franciscan priests and brothers served in our Diocese. At one time they covered all of Lake County. And, as some of you also know, I, too, have a Franciscan background. There is still evidence of our Franciscan roots throughout the Diocese. The spirit of Francis lives on, especially more so now with our beloved Pope Francis. …

Sunday’s Readings: Wisdom 2:12, 17-20; Psalms 54:3-4, 5, 6 & 8; James 3:16—4:3; Mark 9:30-37

…from your Pastor’s Desk – Some Truths are Hard to Hear – Some questions are hard to ask. We can all struggle at times to listen to someone if what they say arouses painful emotions in us. They might be trying to tell us something about ourselves that we find difficult to hear. That very human tendency is reflected in the disciples in today’s gospel. …

Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 50:5-9a; Psalms 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35

…from your Pastor’s Desk – “Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” This is part of this Sunday’s Gospel. …

Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 35:4-7a; Psalms 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10; James 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-37

…from your Pastor’s Desk – This Wednesday will mark the twenty-third year since the September 11 (“9-11”) terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, New York City. Most of us can recall exactly where we were when we first heard of the attacks. But the details already fade. And, for those who were not yet born, it is ancient history. …

Sunday’s Readings: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8; Psalms 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5; James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

…from your Pastor’s Desk – History is not the past; it is the present looking at the past. By placing the Pharisees before our eyes in so many readings the Liturgy today is clearly calling us to see ourselves in them. …

Sunday’s Readings: Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b; Psalms 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21; Ephesians 5:21-32 OR 5:2a, 25-32; John 6:60-69

…from your Pastor’s Desk – I want to get rid of the large elephant in the room. It entered during the 2nd reading for today’s Mass. From Ephesians 5:22 “Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.” This reading ALWAYS captures the attention of married couples, since it is so often misunderstood. …