Spreading the Gospel

I recently posted an article, “Helping Our Children be Disciples,” inspired by my recent reading of An Evangelizing Catechesis: Teaching from Your Encounter with Christ by James C. Pauley (Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing. 2020).  Today I would like to reflect on another section from Pauley’s book. Before I do, I should note that his …

Continue reading ‘Spreading the Gospel’ »

Helping Our Children be Disciples

Those who are regular readers of my blog know that evangelization, the sharing of our faith, is very important to me. The articles I write here, on my website, and the presentations (also available on my website) are all geared to the ongoing evangelization of adults (teens are welcome to join in). What about children? …

Continue reading ‘Helping Our Children be Disciples’ »

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BJeremiah 31:7-9Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 (3)Hebrews 5:1-6Mark 10:46-52October 24, 2021 As Jesus leaves Jericho, “Bartimaeus, a blind man,” is sitting by the roadside begging.  When he hears that Jesus of Nazareth is there, he begins to “cry out.” He may be physically blind but the words he cries …

Continue reading ‘30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily’ »

In Struggles We Find Hope

I recently read St. Joseph and His World by Mike Aquilina (New York: Scepter Publishers. 2020). I purchased this to read with the Year of St. Joseph called for by Pope Francis (Dec. 2020-December 2021) in mind. As indicated by the title, in this book Aquilina provides perspective on the world that Joseph, spouse of …

Continue reading ‘In Struggles We Find Hope’ »

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BIsaiah 35:4-7aPsalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 (1b)James 2:1-5Mark 7:31-37September 3, 2021 “Thus says the LORD:  Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not!” Fear can be a powerful thing.  Fear can dictate our actions.  What are you afraid of?  How does your fear effect your choices? Fear …

Continue reading ‘23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily’ »

Our Relationship With God

Earlier this week I wrote an article, “Is Faith a Matter of Opinion?”, based on F.X. Cronin’s book, The World According to God (Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute Press. 2020). That article reflected on the first fifty pages. Today I would like to jump ahead to discuss our relationship with God based on what Cronin wrote. Atheists …

Continue reading ‘Our Relationship With God’ »

Is Faith a Matter of Opinion?

Is what one chooses to believe merely a matter of personal preference? Does God exist? These are two of the key questions F.X. Cronin discusses in his new book, The World According to God (Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute Press. 2020). Cronin starts by discussing his conversion to Catholicism. “Even some of the Catholics I knew …

Continue reading ‘Is Faith a Matter of Opinion?’ »

What is a Missionary Disciple?

Recently, I have been using Fr. James Mallon’s new book, Divine Renovation Beyond the Parish (Frederick, MD: The Word Among Us Press. 2020) for reflection both on change and leadership. Today, I offer my final article using this book. In this book, Fr. Mallon focuses on what the church needs to be doing both on …

Continue reading ‘What is a Missionary Disciple?’ »