Identity and Meaning
Last week Pope Leo XIV issued his new encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas. It used to take days, weeks, or, if you go back far enough in time, months before papal documents were readily available. In today’s age of the internet, Magnifica Humanitas was on the…
Read MoreThe Most Holy Trinity, Year AExodus 34:4b-6, 8-9 Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55 (52b) 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 John 3:16-18 May 31, 2026 Following Pentecost, we have returned to Ordinary Time. As we do so, the Church gives us two special solemnities this Sunday and next. Today we celebrate The Solemnity…
Read MorePentecost – Year A Acts 2:1-11 Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 (30) 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 John 20:19-23 May 24, 2026 It is fifty days since Jesus rose from the dead. It is now time for Pentecost and the descent of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirt arrived as…
Read MoreIn my homily on Sunday I announced that I would be leaving St. Mary’s of the Lake and St. Benedict’s on June 30th to become the Parochial Vicar (assisting priest) at St. Louis Church in Pittsford, NY. It was only on Thursday that I received…
Read MoreWhat does it mean to be Catholic? What does it mean to follow Jesus? The simple answer would be that being Catholic means a person is baptized in the Catholic Church. Being identified as Catholic starts with Baptism but it is more than…
Read MoreIn the last couple of days we have heard how God called Moses to lead his people out of Israel. Yesterday’s first reading concluded the call of Moses at the burning bush. Today’s first reading jumps ahead a few chapters. …
Read MoreYesterday I offered a new presentation, “Knowing the Holy Spirit.” During the webinar we had a glitch when our office internet cut out briefly. Fortunately, when I checked the video this morning, it is fine. Thanks be to God. You…
Read MoreI spoke about the choices we make in the article I posted Sunday, “To Whom Shall We Grow? – 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B.” Following on that article, today I begin with another question, “Do people really want…
Read MoreI recently wrote about graduation as one of life’s milestones (“Milestones-Graduation”). This summer I experienced what could have been a milestone in my life. I received a letter from AARP that said “Happy Birthday” on the envelope. No, the letter…
Read MoreLast week I held a current events discussion. One of the questions was very timely as we are just three months from elections. Therefore, I think it is a good topic to present here. A person asked, “What does the…
Read MoreOn Sunday I asked, “Do you believe in miracles?”. When Jesus walked on earth, the miracles He did were signs to reveal to people who He is. The power of God was at work in him as the Messiah, the…
Read MoreAs we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter in Year C, our first reading continues to come from the Acts of the Apostles. The Acts of the Apostles tells the story of the early church. In chapter 2 the disciples…
Read MoreI recently read The Fathers of the Church 3rd Edition: An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers by Mike Aquilina (Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division. 2013). When I saw an ad for the book, I was drawn to…
Read MoreThree weeks ago I began a series of articles reflecting on my reading of Sam Guzman’s book, The Catholic Gentleman: Living Authentic Manhood Today (San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2019). Today, I would like to offer my sixth and final article on The…
Read MoreThis is the fifth of sixth articles I offer here inspired by my reading of Sam Guzman’s book, The Catholic Gentleman: Living Authentic Manhood Today (San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2019). (For the previous articles see “Are You for Real?”, “More from “The Catholic Gentleman”,…
Read MoreThis will be my fourth article inspired by Sam Guzman’s book, The Catholic Gentleman: Living Authentic Manhood Today (San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2019). (For the previous articles see “Are You for Real?”, “More from “The Catholic Gentleman”, and “We Need to Stand for…
Read MoreToday I continue my series inspired by Sam Guzman’s book, The Catholic Gentleman: Living Authentic Manhood Today (San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2019). (For the two previous articles see “Are You for Real?” and “More from “The Catholic Gentleman”) Today I would like…
Read MoreA few days ago I began a new series of articles based on Sam Guzman’s book, The Catholic Gentleman: Living Authentic Manhood Today (San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2019) with an article titled “Are You for Real?” Today I offer my second article…
Read More“Authentic. Genuine. Handcrafted. Vintage. Real.” These are the first words in chapter 1 (page 17) of Sam Guzman’s book, The Catholic Gentleman: Living Authentic Manhood Today (San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2019). Are we who we claim to be? Do we…
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