My Dear Parishioners: In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and due in no small measure to advances in science and technology, a new methodology dealing with society’s physical, psychological, ethical, moral, and social ills has been developed. Foremost among these methods is that of rehabilitation. From the Latin re, which means again, and habilitare, which…
Pastor’s Corner
January 16, 2022 – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
My Dear Parishioners: Finally! The Season of Christmas has concluded. Of course, for most of society it concluded weeks ago. For some it concluded as the sun went down on Saturday, December 25. But we know the truth of the season. Christmas begins with the first Mass on Christmas Eve and the season concludes with…
January 9, 2022 – Baptism of the Lord
My Dear Parishioners: Voyagers: Life can be viewed as journey (Pilgrim’s progress; Exodus; Odyssey), or still better as voyage (because driven by forces more powerful than ourselves, like wind and waves.) We sail upon a rippling surface of events, feeling the joy of movement, being alive and going somewhere. When things go well, we feel…
January 2, 2022 – Epiphany of the Lord
My Dear Parishioners: In 1850 John Millais (1829-1896) painted the scene of the teenaged Jesus working in Joseph’s carpentry workshop, entitled Christ in the House of His Parents. Young Jesus had given himself a bad gash in his finger and blood streamed down onto his feet. Mary was there comforting him. Although only an imagined…
December 26, 2021 – The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
My Dear Parishioners: The gospel today shows us a very devout Jewish family. Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem to present to the Lord as their first-born. Jesus’ parents were very observant Jews. They introduced Jesus to their own religious tradition as soon as he was born. Jesus was shaped by…
December 19, 2021 – Fourth Sunday of Advent
My Dear Parishioners: As we now move into the Fourth Week of Advent and the final Sunday of this great season, we hear a very familiar Scripture story of the Angel Gabriel and the words delivered to Mary. How many times have we heard this Scripture read? If it is very familiar to us, we should…
December 12, 2021 – Third Sunday of Advent
My Dear Parishioners: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Let us pray. I abandon myself into your hands, do with me whatever you will. Whatever you do, I thank you: I am ready for all; I accept all. Let only your will be done in…
December 5, 2021 – Second Sunday of Advent
My Dear Parishioners: THERE ARE MANY STRANGE NAMES in today’s Gospel. They are the names of people and places most of us have never heard of. Why does Luke mention these people and places? First of all, because he is simply following the custom of his day both for Jewish and Greek writing. But, more…
November 28 – First Sunday of Advent
My Dear Parishioners: On the first Sunday of Advent, the scripture readings do not turn us towards the warmth of Christmas or the wonders of the season. We aren’t invited to follow Mary’s path into Bethlehem, or share in the joy of a new babe. We don’t see shepherds on the hillside, or hear the…
November 21 – Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
My Dear Parishioners: Paul speaks of Jesus Christ at the end of time handing over the Kingdom to God the Father. Today’s preface repeats this, describing Christ’s kingdom as one of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice, love and peace. This ideal is not to be merely a future hope but is…