Evangelization

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 10/22/2017

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 Psalm 96:1, 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5 Matthew 22:15-21 Last week we heard Jesus tell a parable about a wedding banquet for the king’s son.  There were many…

Read More

Bearing Light to the World

By Fr. Jeff | 09/25/2017

Today’s gospel begins with Jesus saying, “No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light.” If we buy a…

Read More

Conflict and the “Joy of the Gospel”

By Fr. Jeff | 08/08/2017

I have been reading Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) for the last couple of weeks (I read slowly as I reflect over the text).  I just read paragraph 227 and was deeply struck by it.  I think it…

Read More

Some Thoughts on the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

By Fr. Jeff | 07/15/2017

Those of you who are regular readers of my blog might notice that the title of this article is “Some Thoughts on the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A” as compared to the normal title including the word “homily.”…

Read More

The Fourth of July and Our Faith

By Fr. Jeff | 07/04/2017

Back on June 22nd I wrote about St. John Fisher, St. Thomas More and the “Fortnight for Freedom.”  That “Fortnight for Freedom” began on June 21st.  It ends today on July 4th, the day we, in the United States, celebrate…

Read More

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 06/25/2017

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Jeremiah 20:10-13 Psalm 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35 Romans 5:12-15 Matthew 10:26-33 Jesus says “Fear no one.” What do you fear?  For our new graduates, they can be happy and excited to have graduated…

Read More

St. John Fisher and the Fortnight For Freedom

By Fr. Jeff | 06/22/2017

Today, June 22nd, is the Optional Memorial of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More.  In the Diocese of Rochester (United States), St. John Fisher is the patron saint of our diocese.  That means for our diocese today is a…

Read More

Pentecost Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 06/04/2017

Pentecost Acts 2:1-11 Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 John 20:19-23 Our Easter Season draws to a close today with our celebration of Pentecost but we should never think of Pentecost as simply an end to…

Read More

6th Sunday of Easter, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 05/21/2017

6th Sunday of Easter, Year A Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 Psalm 66:1-3, 4-5, 607, 16, 20 1 Peter 3:15-18 John 14:15-21 The Samaritan people were despised by the Jews but Samaria is where Philip to proclaimed Christ to the people in…

Read More

3rd Sunday of Easter, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 04/30/2017

3rd Sunday of Easter, Year A Acts 2:14, 22-23 Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 1 Peter 1:17-21 Luke 24:13-35 Once again, we hear a story of the disciples right after the tomb was found empty.  This time it is…

Read More

Video Presentation – Evangelization and Apologetics

By Fr. Jeff | 04/08/2017

Monday I led my third and final presentation for this Lent.  This topic is very important to me as I think helping people develop their own relationship with Jesus and then to share it with others is an essential part…

Read More

4th Sunday of Lent, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 03/26/2017

4th Sunday of Lent, Year A 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 Ephesians 5:8-14 John 9:1-41 March 26, 2017 Saul has turned out to be a bad king so God sends Samuel to anoint his successor. …

Read More

3rd Sunday of Lent, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 03/19/2017

3rd Sunday of Lent, Year A Exodus 17:3-7 Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 Romans 5:1-2, 5-8 John 4:5-42 March 19, 2017 The Israelites have just left slavery in Egypt.  You might think they would be very thankful for being set free…

Read More

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 01/29/2017

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13 Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Matthew 5:1-12a January 29, 2017 The prophet Zephaniah wrote in the 7th century B.C.  This is shortly before Jerusalem falls to the Babylonian…

Read More

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 01/22/2017

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Isaiah 8:23-9:3 Psalm 27:104, 13-14 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 Matthew 4:12-23 January 22, 2017 Paul had helped start the Christian community at Corinth.  Now, he has heard about division and immorality going on…

Read More

Epiphany – Homily – The Gift of Jesus

By Fr. Jeff | 01/08/2017

The Epiphany of the Lord Isaiah 60;1-6 Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 5:1-12 January 8, 2017 Today we hear what we consider as the last piece of the Christmas story.  Here come the magi.  We don’t…

Read More

The Re-Evangelization of America

By Fr. Jeff | 01/05/2017

Today (January 5th) is the Memorial of St. John Neumann.  He was born in Bohemia in 1811.  He came to the United States and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of New York in 1836.  At that time, the…

Read More

Some Resources on Apologetics

By Fr. Jeff | 12/15/2016

I just finished reading two separate books on “Apologetics.”  Before going any further I probably should provide a definition of what “apologetics” is.  Patrick Madrid in his book How to Do Apologetics: Making the Case for Our Faith (Our Sunday…

Read More

Asking Questions About Our Faith

By Fr. Jeff | 06/28/2013

Last night we had another gathering for our Young Adult Group.  For those unfamiliar with the group, we started the group in January and it is open to any young adult (Eighteen – thirty-something) Catholic in the Tompkins County Area. …

Read More

My Last Presentation – “Talking About God: Sharing Our Faith”

By Fr. Jeff | 04/07/2013

When I did my last presentation on March 18th, it was a snowy night so not many were able to attend.  The good news is that the video is now ready and available on my website at https://renewaloffaith.org/evangelization/sharingfaithvideo.htm. Check it…

Read More

Homily for Holy Hour

By Fr. Jeff | 03/04/2013

Homily for Holy Hour Using Readings for 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Exodus 17:3-7 Romans 5:1-2, 5-8 John 4:5-42 March 2, 2013 These readings that we are using for our Holy Hour tonight are taking from the Third…

Read More

The Gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation

By Fr. Jeff | 02/20/2013

Many of you may have seen my presentation recorded in January on the story of my faith journey.  One small part in that presentation was a mention of the first time I went to the Sacrament of Reconciliation after my…

Read More

A Special Presentation

By Fr. Jeff | 01/17/2013

Before Christmas our Parish Evangelization Team was brainstorming on ideas to reach out to the people who come to Mass on Christmas and those who may not come to church at all.  It was decided that I would do a…

Read More

Evangelization – What Is It?

By Fr. Jeff | 10/27/2012

Our Evangelization Team met this week for an extended session to help learn about what they have done in the past and what they would like to do in the future.  It was also a chance for me to share with…

Read More

Annual Diocesan Evangelization and Stewardship Day

By Fr. Jeff | 04/28/2012

For 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 More

Archives