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I am writing this blog to provide an extended answer to a question asked in a comment under my most recent blog article, “Whom Are You Looking For?” In case you haven’t seen the question, I include it here: My…
Read MoreThe gospel for tomorrow, Tuesday of Holy Week (April 14, 2020), John 20:11-18, is the passage that follows the gospel we heard on Easter morning (John 20:1-9). On Easter we heard that Mary of Magdala went to Jesus’ tomb “and…
Read MoreEaster VigilGenesis 1:1-2:2Exodus 14:15-15:1Isaiah 55:1-11Romans 6:3-11Matthew 28:1-10April 11, 2020 Tonight we celebrate our Easter Vigil. It is the highest liturgy of our liturgical year. We started our Easter Triduum Thursday evening with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper with the…
Read MoreIf you read this the same day I write it, Good Friday, the answer to the question in the title, “Who is Our Savior?” might seem obvious. However, there are people who don’t go for the Christian answer. There are…
Read MoreHoly ThursdayExodus 12:1-8, 11-14Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-181 Corinthians 11:23-26John 13:1-15April 9, 2020 As we begin our Easter Triduum tonight, I note that the Jewish people just began their Passover last night. Our first reading tonight is the story of the…
Read MoreWhat was your life like before the Coronavirus? Maybe you were very busy at work. Maybe you were very busy with your children’s (or grandchildren’s) activities. Maybe you are retired and you didn’t do much because it always seemed like…
Read MorePalm Sunday of the Passion of the LordGospel for the Procession Matthew 21:1-11Isaiah 50:4-7Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 (2a)Philippians 2:6-11Matthew 26:14-27:66April 5, 2020 The appointed time draws near so Jesus goes to Jerusalem. As He nears Jerusalem, He receives a…
Read MoreI write this on Saturday morning just before we celebrate Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday begins Holy Week with our celebration of the Easter Triduum culminating in the Resurrection of Jesus. This year Holy Week will be like no other Holy…
Read MoreIn my most recent blog article, “The Sacrifice of the Mass,” I wrote on how in our celebration of the Eucharist, God makes present for us the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. Now, I want to talk about our…
Read MoreIn the articles I have written during the Coronavirus crisis, my discussion about the Eucharist has so far focused on the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. It is his Body and Blood that give us spiritual nourishment. Now,…
Read MoreWhen I posted my homily last week, I included a link to an Act of Spiritual Communion and some information about it. It was the first week after Masses were suspended because of the Coronavirus in the Diocese of Rochester…
Read MoreA reminder that you can find a list of Masses online at https://catholiccourier.com/articles/list-of-parishes-with-livestreams-available 5th Sunday of Lent, Year AEzekiel 37:12-14 Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (7)Romans 8:8-11John 11:1-45March 29, 2020 Last week we hear the story of Jesus opening the…
Read MoreWe continue to be separated to do our part to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. I miss seeing the people. I miss gathering together to celebrate the Eucharist. Celebrating the Eucharist is the most important thing we can do.…
Read MoreWe are not currently able to gather together to celebrate Mass because of the Coronavirus. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith (Lumen Gentium, 11). Thus, this time without public celebration of the Eucharist might seem a…
Read MoreDifficult times can bring out the best and the worst in us. It is in our response to difficult times that we witness to the world what we really believe. It is in difficult times that we can find out…
Read MoreFor those unable to attend Mass this Sunday, here are some helpful links before sharing my homily: Catholic Courier list of TV and Online Masses Readings for this Sunday, March 22, 2020 Act of Spiritual Communion 4th Sunday of Lent,…
Read MoreI was scheduled to do the next presentation in my series on the Sacraments on March 25th. Like so many other things, because of the Coronavirus, that in-person has been cancelled. Because of the uncertainty of how long it will…
Read MoreOn Tuesday I wrote an article, “What are We to do Without the Mass” on how we can stay connected to God. There I spoke of the importance of the Eucharist in our lives and pointed to the new “Prayer…
Read MoreThe way in which we live out our faith has changed drastically in the last two weeks. We first heard of the Coronavirus in China back in December. It has been spreading since then. Other countries like Italy began to…
Read More3rd Sunday of Lent, Year AExodus 17:3-7Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 (8)Romans 5:1-2, 5-8John 4:5-42March 15, 2020 After God set them free from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites found themselves in the desert thirsting for water. Water is not just a…
Read More2nd Sunday of Lent, Year AGenesis 12:1-4aPsalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22 (22)2 Timothy 1:8b-10Matthew 17:1-9March 8, 2020 We hear today the story of Jesus’ Transfiguration. He took Peter, James, and John “and led them up a high mountain.” On the…
Read MoreToday I conclude the series of blog articles I have been writing in my attempt to reflect on the question, “How do you evangelize a culture that used to be Christian?” Of course, the ministry of evangelization will continue as…
Read MoreI just uploaded the video of my latest presentation in my series on the Sacraments. This video is almost two hours because the Eucharist is so important. Peace, Fr. Jeff P.S. Please pray that in future presentations, I always go…
Read More1st Sunday of Lent, Year AGenesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17 (3a)Romans 5:12-19Matthew 4:1-11March 1, 2020 We have begun our season of Lent. It is a time of preparation for Easter. So, it is a time for us to…
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