Coronavirus

The Sign of Peace

By Fr. Jeff | 04/23/2020

As we began to implement precautions against the Coronavirus before the suspension of public Masses, one of the precautions was to cease exchanging the Sign of Peace. It is ingrained in us to shake hands and to say “peace be…

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A Little About This Blog and an Invitation for Feedback

By Fr. Jeff | 04/20/2020

During this time of the Coronavirus I have been posting articles here on the blog every two to three days.  I have very much enjoyed being able to do this.  I started this blog about ten years ago (see “Why…

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2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy) Homily – Year A

By Fr. Jeff | 04/19/2020

2nd Sunday of Easter – Divine Mercy SundayActs 2:42-47Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 (1)1 Peter 1:3-9John 20:19-31 The disciples are in distress.  A lot has happened in the last few days for them.  They had come to believe that Jesus was…

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Is Society Losing Its Appreciation of Ritual?

By Fr. Jeff | 04/17/2020

In late February through early March, I wrote a series of blog articles on the question, “How do you evangelize a culture that used to be Christian?”. (Here’s a link to the final article in the series that in turn…

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The Liturgical Books for Mass

By Fr. Jeff | 04/16/2020

I just created a new video for my website called “The Liturgical Books for Mass.” It’s about eleven minutes long but it has been a longtime coming. Three years ago I created a seven minute video, “So What’s on the…

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Answering a Comment About Real Presence Through the Internet

By Fr. Jeff | 04/13/2020

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…

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Whom Are You Looking For?

By Fr. Jeff | 04/13/2020

The 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…

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Who is Our Savior?

By Fr. Jeff | 04/10/2020

If 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…

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Holy Thursday Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 04/09/2020

Holy 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…

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What Will Your Life be Like After the Coronavirus?

By Fr. Jeff | 04/07/2020

What 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…

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Passion (Palm) Sunday, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 04/05/2020

Palm 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…

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A Different Kind of Holy Week

By Fr. Jeff | 04/04/2020

I 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…

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More on Sacrifice

By Fr. Jeff | 04/02/2020

In 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…

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The Sacrifice of the Mass

By Fr. Jeff | 03/31/2020

In 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,…

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Our Desire for the Eucharist

By Fr. Jeff | 03/29/2020

When 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…

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5th Sunday of Lent, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 03/28/2020

A 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…

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Being “Church”

By Fr. Jeff | 03/26/2020

We 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.…

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Staying Connected

By Fr. Jeff | 03/24/2020

We 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…

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Seeing the Best and/or Worst in Us

By Fr. Jeff | 03/22/2020

Difficult 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…

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4th Sunday of Lent, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 03/21/2020

For 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,…

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Facing the Coronavirus With Prayer

By Fr. Jeff | 03/19/2020

On 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…

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What are We to do Without the Mass?

By Fr. Jeff | 03/17/2020

The 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…

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