Why am I Catholic? Traditionally, the answer to the question why are you Catholic was, “Because my parents and grandparents are Catholic.” Being Catholic was part of our identity. One went to church for Christmas and Easter because that’s what Catholics do it. Today we identify this as being culturally Catholic. I was baptized Catholic …
I hope I am not sounding like a broken record that keeps repeating itself. Last week I wrote, “What’s It Going to Take to End the Violence.” There I said the answer laid in tears that came from the depths of our hearts. In my Sunday homily this week, I spoke about current events that …
Continue reading ‘What’s It Going to Take for People to Realize the State of Things?’ »
Yesterday I offered Part II in my series, Made for Discipleship. You can now view the slides and video at http://www.renewaloffaith.org/madefordiscipleshippart2. If you watch it in the next few days, you can complete an online evaluation afterwards at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeXAxnQnVoeUvYBRr1b_DAiFWrmh2IWtAExxBGeUsicdtPnSw/viewform?usp=sf_link. Part III will be December 7th. You can register for the live Zoom webinar at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TQLpHXVUSp6zLGxIDLg4fA. …
Continue reading ‘New Video – Made for Discipleship Part II’ »
I started my new series on discipleship, Made of Discipleship, yesterday. The video and slides for Part I are now available online at http://www.renewaloffaith.org/madefordiscipleshippart1 . If you view it in the next couple of days, you can give me feedback by completing an online evaluation at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf1RB6tN3yySwFvp9aQ2JN90BomDZ9WMnxT1vIk0IH2s_-mRQ/viewform?usp=sf_link . You can register for Part II (Thursday, …
Continue reading ‘Updated – New Video – Made for Discipleship Part I’ »
The number of Christian disciples in many parts of the world is shrinking. Fewer people identify as Christians. Some because they formally reject God while others have not been taught that God exists and loves them. Add to this the people who might identify as Christian but do not practice their faith. Who does this …
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AIsaiah 25:6-10aPsalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6, (6cd)Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20Matthew 22:1-14October 15, 2023 We say we are disciples of Christ but what does this mean? In secular terms a disciple is a student of a master. Jesus is the teacher we are his students. As disciples of Christ, we place …
Continue reading ‘28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily’ »
I am happy to say I will be beginning a new series of presentations in October exploring what it means to be a disciple of Christ. The series is called Made for Discipleship. Honestly, I am a little behind on my preparation, having just finished the gender article I posted about yesterday. With that done, I …
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AJeremiah 20:7-9Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 (2b)Romans 12:1-2Matthew 16:21-27September 3, 2023 Last week we heard Peter proclaim to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter got that right. Jesus knows Peter’s proclamation is based on revelation from God to Peter. Jesus then makes Peter …
Continue reading ‘22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily’ »
Pope Francis recently encouraged a group of young Russians to be “bridge builders.” I think this is something we all need to think about. Before I entered seminary, I literally helped build bridges. I worked for the New York State Department of Transportation as an engineer on projects designing, building, and reconstructing bridges. The bridges …
Two weeks ago I wrote my first article, “What Does It Mean to be a Eucharistic People,” on Timothy P. O’Malley’s book, Becoming Eucharistic People: The Hope and Promise of Parish Life (Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press. 2022, part of the Engaging Catholicism series.) followed last week by “Understanding Eucharistic Culture.” Today I will complete my articles reflecting on …
