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Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran BasilicaEzekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9 (5)1 Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17John 2:13-22November 9, 2025 On each day of the secular calendar there are memorials and feasts that are celebrated. Generally, when they fall…
Read MoreFrom October 22nd – 30th, the parishes I serve (St. Mary’s of the Lake and St. Benedict’s) prayed the Respect Life Novena from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) after daily Masses. Generally, some parishioners lead it but the leaders were not present one day. In their absence, they…
Read MoreOur federal government remains in partial shutdown since October 1st because of the inability of our elected representatives to agree on a budget. At times I want to write to Congress and the President to express my dissatisfaction with them. Members of each political party blame the…
Read MoreAll Souls’ DayWisdom 3:1-9Psalm 25:6, 7b, 17-18, 20-21 (1) or (3a)Romans 8:14-23Luke 7:11-17November 2, 2025 Please note that for All Souls’ Day there are a number of options for readings. Therefore, you may have heard different readings at the Mass…
Read MoreAs I looked through the news headlines this weekend for a topic to write about in today’s article, I couldn’t help but think, as is frequently the case, there are a lot of bad things in the news. Of course, this doesn’t surprise us. It’s why some people don’t watch the news. They find the news…
Read More30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CSirach 35:12-14, 16-1Psalm 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23 (7a)2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18Luke 18:9-14October 26, 2025 How do you approach Jesus in prayer? How do you look at yourself? Are you convinced of your own righteousness? …
Read MoreOn Sunday I offered a reflection on the first reading and the gospel (29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C). In Ordinary Time, the second reading is chosen independent of the theme that is common to the first reading and the gospel second reading. This often…
Read More29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CExodus 17:8-13Psalm 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (see 2)2 Timothy 3:14-4:2Luke 18:1-8October 19, 2025 The Israelites were attacked by Amalek. The Israelites did not start the war. Their response was a defensive action and it…
Read MoreIn the last week I have taught both our OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, formerly known as RCIA) participants and our family formation participants about our liturgical year in the Catholic Church. You can find an article, “The…
Read More27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CHabakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 (8)2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14Luke 17:5-10October 5, 2025 The prophet Habakkuk is lamenting the way things are for the Israelites. He has good reason to lament as they are…
Read MoreThere was another shooting in a church last Sunday. This time it was a Church of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) in Michigan. Current reports indicate the shooter hated Mormons. We need to stop the hate. There is too much hate. It…
Read MoreWe are fighting a battle in the world today. The enemy in this battle is not Israel, Hamas, Russia or Ukraine. It is not an opposing political party or Islam. The enemy we need to be most concerned with is…
Read More25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CAmos 8:4-7Psalm 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8 (see 1a, 7b)1 Timothy 2:1-8Luke 16:1-13September 21, 2025 There were those “who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor.” They were more interested in selling grain than practicing…
Read MoreI need (a lot) more patience. I’m not sure I have any patience left. I would be happy to have more patience. On Sunday, the first reading for the Exaltation of the Cross began, “With their patience worn out by…
Read MoreYesterday we celebrated the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. In my homily, I spoke about the importance of this feast in a world where shootings and violence are growing in number. Today, September 15th, we celebrate the…
Read MoreExaltation of the Holy CrossNumbers 21:4b-9Psalm 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38 (7b)Philippians 2:6-11John 3:13-17September 14, 2025 Our nation experienced another shooting this week. Actually, there were two shootings making the national news on the same day this week. I want the…
Read MoreYesterday we celebrated the Feast of the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary. The Bible tells us little about Mary. We do not have a record of the date of her birth. Yet, we know that she was born as all…
Read More23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CWisdom 9:13-18bPsalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, and 17 (1)Philemon 9-10, 12-17Luke 14:25-33September 7, 2025 Last week I spoke about humility and pride (see my homily). If we are truly humble, we recognize God knows…
Read MoreLast week we had another mass shooting. This one was in a church and involved children. Places of worship are not immune to attack. The Babylonians (6th Century B.C.) and the Romans both destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem (70 A.D.).…
Read More22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CSirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29Psalm 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11 (see 11b)Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24aLuke 14:1, 7-14August 31, 2025 Humility and pride. We talk about them as opposites. When we do, we view “pride” as boasting about what…
Read MoreDuring the announcements at our Masses this past weekend I encouraged parishioners to attend the “Stand For All Life” event that has been advertised in our recent bulletins. The event was organized by the group, Chemung Valley 4 Life. The…
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