Thanksgiving and What Lies Ahead

Today is Thanksgiving.  It’s a national holiday but it is also an appropriate day to celebrate in the church.  We are a people of thanksgiving.  The word Eucharist actually comes from a Greek word that means thanksgiving.  Every time we celebrate Mass we give thanks to God.  Our prayers at Mass speak of our thanks …

Continue reading ‘Thanksgiving and What Lies Ahead’ »

Homily – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C Malachi 3:19-20a 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12 Luke 21:5-19 November 17, 2013   Next week we will celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King and then the weekend after that we will begin Advent.  Advent marks the beginning of a new liturgical year in the church. Before we can begin …

Continue reading ‘Homily – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C’ »

Homily – 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5 Luke 20:27-38 November 10, 2013   The Resurrection is a central mystery of our faith.  The Resurrection is essential to who we are as Christians.  At Easter we proclaim “Jesus Christ is Risen today.” But what does the Resurrection really mean …

Continue reading ‘Homily – 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C’ »

What Pope Francis Has Been Doing, Part I

Today, I would like to write about two different things that Pope Francis has done this week.  The first happened today.  At noon Rome time, Pope Francis named Bishop Salvatore R. Matano as the ninth Bishop of Rochester.  I was able to watch the news conference via the Internet on the Catholic Courier website. He …

Continue reading ‘What Pope Francis Has Been Doing, Part I’ »

Homily – 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

31st Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C Wisdom 11:22-12:2 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2 Luke 19:1-10 November 3, 2013 Zacchaeus was seen as a sinner.  He was a tax collector and tax collectors were known for their extortion.  In those days, extortion was almost expected but yet still was stealing and thus broke the commandment.  To add …

Continue reading ‘Homily – 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time’ »