What does it mean to have a Mass “offered” for someone? An individual may ask a priest to offer a Mass for several reasons: for example, in thanksgiving, for the intentions of another person (such as on a birthday), or, as is most common, for the repose of the soul of someone who has died.…

My Dear Parishioners: (1) In the Beatitudes Jesus is not expressing a pious wish for something entirely unreal and outside of history. As they are presented in St Luke’s version, they are, to say the least, controversial. They are a challenge thrown down to us, because so much of what we see contradicts these statements.…

My Dear Parishioners: The month of February brings with it the thoughts of a short month, short days, and long nights.  It is fitting that we have Valentine’s Day in the middle of the month to sort of ‘dot’ the month with a bright spot.  Actually, my parent’s wedding anniversary is on Valentine’s Day!  It…

My Dear Parishioners: There are many customs in our Church that date back to its earliest time. We use incense, burn candles, bow, stand, and bless with water. Some customs come and go . . and come back again (chapel veils). All customs are to help us understand something of our faith.  All customs are…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…