the shortest distance is between
Sunday, march 8, 2020
Trust in the Lord. Fear Not. Over and over again, we hear this message from scripture and in our faith—precisely because it is important for us to remember its substance when (not if) we are confronted by moments of uncertainty and fear
Sunday, feb 16, 2020
Next weekend we will launch the 2020 Diocesan Development Drive. St. Mary’s Young Adult Coordinator Brian Schumacher will join us to give a testimony on his vocational journey. This fall, Brian will enter the seminary for our diocese, and, God-willing, maybe one day will have the opportunity to serve you as a priest for St. Mary’s. You will have the opportunity to make a commitment to support Brian and all of the seminarians of our Diocese, who bravely answer Christ’s Call.
continue readingSunday, feb 9, 2020
Let's get ready for Lent. Including this weekend, we have three Sundays left before Ash Wednesday, Feb. 26. Historically, this Sunday is called Septuagesima. But: Isn’t Lent a time of preparation for Easter? So, why prepare for a time of preparation?
continue readingSunday, feb 2, 2020
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. This feast is the final conclusion of the cycle of Christmas and Epiphany. Today, 40 days after Christmas, we complete the Christmas celebration because according to the Mosaic Law, it was necessary to offer one’s firstborn son to the Lord 40 days after his birth. God Himself is presented in the temple, and the law is finally, and fully, fulfilled.
continue readingsunday, jan 26, 2020
Blessings come in many different packages, and seldom labeled to make them look appealing. One of the blessings I’ve been thinking about since my Dad’s death has been the tremendous gift that is priestly celibacy.
continue readingsunday, jan 19, 2020
My dad died January 10 after a very short illness. Just a week before, he had been diagnosed with stage IV adenocarcinoma and given between a week and a month to live. With many thanks to our parish staff, I was able to spend that week with him and my family as we prepared for his death.
continue readingsunday, jan 12, 2020
Throughout the year, we celebrate Christ in His mysteries, in the moments of His life. These are events that nourish us through Scripture as things already done and that continue to challenge us through living them anew year after year. In Christ’s manifestation, His Epiphany, there are three moments that we celebrate: first, the arrival and veneration of the Magi; second, the baptism of Christ and the signs that accompany it; third, the wedding feast of Cana.
continue readingsunday, jan 5, 2020
At the last Mass on Christmas Day we read the prologue of St. John’s Gospel. This is the dense, rich Gospel of Christmas that has no Christmas story at all—just some notions about the Word of God, and light, and a man named John. While I was thinking about this beautiful Gospel in a quiet moment on Christmas Day, I focused on the three gifts mentioned in it, gifts that we receive: glory, grace, and truth.
continue readingsunday, dec 22, 2019
O Wisdom from the mouth of the Most High; O Adonai and ruler of the house of Israel; O root of Jesse who stand as a sign among the peoples; O key of David and scepter of the house of David; O dayspring, sun of justice, brightness of eternal light; O king and desire of the nations: O Emmanuel, our king and lawgiver, the hope and savior of the nations, come and save us, Lord, Our God.
continue readingsunday, dec 15, 2019
REJOICE! The Lord is near! There are a couple Sundays throughout the year that have special names taken from the entrance antiphon for the Mass. This Sunday is one of them: Gaudete Sunday. Today, the text in the Missal begins “Rejoice (Gaudete) in the Lord always!”
continue readingsunday, dec 8, 2019
Is Advent a penitential season? I think the question isn’t quite right. Temperance is a virtue we should always follow, that should always be a part of our habits. Every Advent we want to use this special time to open our hearts to receive the Lord—it seems to me that we won’t find the room to welcome the Lord unless we empty ourselves at least a little!
continue readingsunday, dec 1, 2019
This weekend we begin Advent, that time in which we prepare for Christ’s coming centuries ago in Bethlehem. Advent has a two-fold character: it’s a season to prepare for Christmas when Christ’s first coming is remembered, and as a season when that remembrance directs our mind and heart to await Christ’s second coming at the end of time.
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