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. …
Sunday’s Readings: Acts of the Apostles 10:34a, 37-43; Psalms 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Colossians 3:1-4 OR 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8; John 20:1-9
……from your Pastor’s Desk – HAPPY EASTER! A Happy Thought on a Happy Feast. – Have you ever considered that this is the only time when people, even strangers, give a spiritually based greeting? Merry Christmas is often replaced by ‘Happy Holiday’s’ and ‘Happy Thanksgiving’ has become a secular salutation; but so far ‘Happy Easter’ stands firm in its acknowledgement of what we commemorate. Even though there is more wide-spread celebration at Christmas, we are truly an Easter people. …
Sunday’s Readings: Matthew 21:1-11 (AT PROCESSION); Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalms 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14—27:66 OR 27:11-54
……from your Pastor’s Desk – Holy Week – This week we begin a time so sacred to us Catholics that it is called ‘Holy Week.’ It is true that as far as individual celebrations go, Christmas seems to overshadow Easter, but Holy Week is more than just Easter Sunday. Today’s Liturgy makes a diametrical shift from the celebration of our Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem to the agony of His Passion and death as told in the Gospel of Luke. This day is an ‘Overture,’ if you will, of the days to come. …
Sunday’s Readings: Ezekiel 37:12-14; Psalms 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45 OR 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45
……from your Pastor’s Desk – Spring Cleaning – March 20th was the first day of spring, although with all the rain and cold weather, you may not have noticed. Traditionally, spring is a time to throw open the windows and clean out all we have stored and accumulated over these many cold and wet months. …
Sunday’s Readings: Exodus 17:3-7; Psalms 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9; Romans 5:1-2, 5-8; John 4:5-42 OR 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42
……from your Pastor’s Desk – The Gospel Reading tells the story of a woman who is worthless by the standards of Jewish society at that time. Jesus has sent his disciples off for food, and he is sitting at a well when she comes to draw water. There is every reason why he shouldn’t talk to her at all. …
Sunday’s Readings: Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalms 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22; 2 Timothy 1:8b-10; Matthew 17:1-9
……from your Pastor’s Desk – Transfiguration – This week we have the wonderful gospel of the Transfiguration of Jesus. For one brief moment, his disciples are allowed to see what lies ahead for all who follow his way. …
Sunday’s Readings: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Psalms 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17; Romans 5:12-19 OR 5:12, 17-19; Matthew 4:1-11
……from your Pastor’s Desk – “Where have all the Flowers gone?” – A few years ago, it used to be fashionable at this time of the year in certain circles to say to people “Have a happy Lent!” I must say that I was guilty of it myself! I stopped saying it because I think that it made the penitential season of Lent sound just like Easter season which really is the proper liturgical time for great rejoicing. …