Evangelization

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 09/09/2018

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Isaiah 35:4-7a Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10a James 2:1-5 Mark 7:31-37 September 9, 2018 Many times we hear of “crowds” that come to Jesus.  The Jews had been waiting for a 1,000 years for…

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14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 07/08/2018

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Ezekiel 2:2-5 Psalm 123:1-2, 2, 2-4 (2cd) 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Mark 6:1-6 July 8, 2018 One might think that people from Jesus’ “native place” would welcome him with great fanfare as the hometown…

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Seeing With the Eyes of Faith

By Fr. Jeff | 05/31/2018

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  At the Annunciation, Mary found out she had been chosen to be the mother of Jesus.  Mary’s reaction is not one of pride.  She does not begin…

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New Presentation on Video – What It Means to be a Church

By Fr. Jeff | 02/10/2018

Almost two weeks ago I did a presentation here at St. Michael’s.  I had planned my calendar around being able to edit and caption the video the day after the presentation so I could get it online as soon as…

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3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 01/21/2018

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:14-20 January 21, 2018 Back at the start of December we began a new liturgical year.  Our readings as found in the…

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What Sort of Church Should We Be?

By Fr. Jeff | 11/24/2017

If you are a long-term reader of my blog and website, then you know that I fell away from the Church after Confirmation but returned after 16 years.  It is very important for me to be mindful of those who…

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The Feast of Saints Simon and Jude

By Fr. Jeff | 10/28/2017

Today (October 28th) we celebrate the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude.  In the gospel reading for this morning’s Mass, we hear both Saint Simon and Saint Jude named among the twelve that Jesus had chosen to be Apostles. Simon…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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.”…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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. …

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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