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Here is my homily that I offered this weekend as I began as pastor of Immaculate Conception Church.  For those who haven’t seen me preach, I adjust from Mass to Mass so what follows isn’t always exactly what I said…
Read MoreI officially arrived at Immaculate Conception Church as the pastor on Tuesday (June 26th). As I was carrying boxes into the office, Sr. Edna asked to talk to me about a funeral. She apologized for having to ask so quickly. …
Read MoreIt is the time of year for graduations. Nowadays, we have graduations from Pre-K, Kindergarten, elementary school, high school, and college. Graduations mark the accomplishment of learning. They come at the end of the school year and are often thought…
Read MoreI left my job with the New York State Department of Transportation in 2000. I then spent two years in Rochester completing my pre-theology studies. Then I went to Washington, DC at Theological College for two years. Next, I was…
Read MoreKnowing there are a number of new people reading my blog in the last couple of months I just want to take a moment to let people know that if you post a comment, it is important that you make…
Read MoreHere is the homily I gave today. Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood, Year B Exodus 24:3-8 Hebrews 9:11-15 Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 June 10, 2012 While in the desert, the Israelites received the Law from God through Moses. …
Read MoreI am not one to like change but I also believe change is a necessary part of life. There can be no growth without change. Change has been a regular part of my life since I left my job with…
Read MoreI attended a presentation presented by our diocesan tribunal entitled “Where Do Laws Come From?” by Emmett G. Wells, Lay Director of the Tribunal. As the title indicates, the presentation examined the origin of “law” in general. Today, many might…
Read MoreI present my homily for today (May 20, 2012 – 7th Sunday in Easter, Year B) here because, building from the first reading, I talk about how we select leaders in the church and government. If you have never heard…
Read MoreHere is the article I wrote for the cover of today’s (Mother’s Day) bulletin. In the Church today we celebrate the Sixth Sunday of Easter but we also recognize today as Mother’s Day. We take time each year on the…
Read MoreI put the title of this article in quotations because it is not actually my title. It is the title of a talk I heard today by John L. Allen, Jr. and it is also the title of his book…
Read MoreIn this Sunday’s (May 6, 2012) Gospel, Jesus proclaims “I am the vine, you are the branches” and He calls us to “remain in him.” What do we do to remain in Jesus? It begins with coming to Mass but…
Read MoreFor several years the Diocese of Rochester has held an annual Stewardship day with a featured speaker. This year it was a combined theme of Evangelization and Stewardship with a guest speaker. The New Evangelization calls us to learn more…
Read MoreYesterday I spent time both at Immaculate Conception Church and Our Lady of the Lakes at St. Januarius’ Church. I went to Immaculate Conception where I will become the pastor on June 26th to met with the current pastor and…
Read MoreWell, it has been almost a month now since I received the phone call from Bishop Clark appointing me as the pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Ithaca on June 26th. The response expressed from my current assignment at Our…
Read MoreThe news has been covering the continuing controversy over the issue of religious liberty as it pertains to the new rules issued by the Federal Department of Health & Human Services requiring insurance to cover contraceptives. Our bishops have been…
Read MoreIt is mid-afternoon on Easter Sunday. Over the last three days, we have celebrated Holy Thursday where Jesus celebrated the First Eucharist and calls us to do the same. On Good Friday, we celebrated the Crucifixion but we can only…
Read MoreI attended our Chrism Mass last night at the Cathedral. For anyone who is unfamiliar with the Chrism Mass, it is a diocesan celebration that always occurs during Holy Week. It is a Mass so there is the celebration of…
Read MoreWell, if you have been reading my blog for a while, you may know that I was ordained a priest in June 2007. My first assignment was St. Mary’s on the south side of Elmira. I served there for three…
Read MoreOne of the common devotions of the Catholic Church, especially in Lent, is the Stations of the Cross. In praying the Stations of the Cross, we remember what Jesus went through during his final hours for us. Some of the…
Read MoreThere seems to be an attitude today among some people that the government should fix all the problems. Does the government serve a key role in solutions to many problems? Yes, but that doesn’t mean it is the government’s job…
Read MoreHere is my homily for this Sunday. Peace, Fr. Jeff 4th Sunday in Lent, Year B 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23 Ephesians 2:4-10 John 3:14-21 March 18, 2012 The Book of Chronicles speaks of the infidelities, the abominations of the Israelites,…
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