Social Justice

Another Tragic Shooting

By Fr. Jeff | 11/08/2018

I woke this morning, November 8, 2018, to hear the news of another mass shooting, this time in a bar in southern California.  Twelve people are dead along with the shooter himself.  As I watch the news this evening, a…

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Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 06/24/2018

Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist Vigil                                                                            Day Jeremiah 1:4-10                                                          Isaiah 49:1-6 Psalm 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15, 17 (6b)                             Psalm 139:1-3, 13-14, 14-15 (14a) 1 Peter 1:8-12                                                              Acts 13:22-26 Luke 1:5-17                                                                 Luke 1:57-66, 80 June 24,…

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20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 08/20/2017

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Isaiah 56:1, 6-7 Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 Romans 11:13-15, 29-32 Matthew 15:21-28 Jesus moved on to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  This might have seemed surprising to the Jews.  Tyre and…

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Korea & the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 08/13/2017

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a Psalm 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14 Romans 9:1-5 Matthew 14:22-33 Jesus’ disciples found themselves a few miles offshore “being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.” …

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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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The Visitation and Life

By Fr. Jeff | 05/31/2017

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  The gospel reading (Luke 1:39-56) for today tells the story of Mary going to visit Elizabeth.  In this story there are four living people taking part in the story…

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Care for Creation

By Fr. Jeff | 04/19/2017

Yesterday I attended our annual diocesan Ministerium.  The speaker was Fr. Donald Senior, CP.  His topic was “Laudato Si’: Biblical Reflections for a Spirituality of Creation.”  Using Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Laudato Si” he spoke about our relationship with God, each…

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Responding to Syria

By Fr. Jeff | 04/07/2017

It was reported in the news earlier this week that there was an attack in Syria using chemical weapons.  This is considered an attack by the government in power against its own people.  In response to this specific attack following…

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Assisted Suicide & the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 02/04/2017

This is our diocesan public policy weekend.  This year’s issue reflected below is speaking against a bill introduced in the NYS Legislative recently to allow assisted suicide.  For more on this issue, check out the USCCB “To Live Each Day…

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A Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Life

By Fr. Jeff | 01/23/2017

The title I have given this article, “A Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Life” is not my own line.  It is the name given to this day by our United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Yesterday…

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27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C & Respect Life Sunday

By Fr. Jeff | 10/02/2016

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Habakkuk 1:2-3, 2:2-4 Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14 Luke 17:5-10 October 2, 2016 The Apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith.  It seems like a good request.  I suspect many…

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Catholic Charities as the Work of the Church

By Fr. Jeff | 08/30/2016

This past weekend was the first weekend since I came to St. Michael’s that I haven’t preached.  Instead, we welcomed Deacon Peter Dohr who serves as the Executive Director of Catholic Charities Wayne County.  He spoke to us about the important…

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15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 07/10/2016

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Deuteronomy 30:10-14 Psalm  69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37 Colossians 1:15-20 Luke 10:25-37 Our first reading comes from the Book of Deuteronomy.  Deuteronomy is written as Moses farewell discourse to the Israelites just…

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5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 02/07/2016

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8 Psalm 138, 1-2,2-3, 4-5, 7-8 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Luke 5:1-11 February 8, 2016 Jesus continues to heal and to preach.  He is drawing great crowds that press upon him.  So,…

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Standing Up For Life

By Fr. Jeff | 01/22/2016

Today is January 22. 2016 and that means the March for Life is going on in Washington, DC today.  In recognition of our call to prayer and action, we celebrated a Vigil Mass for Life last night.  Below is the homily…

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Supporting Women – Public Policy Weekend Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 02/08/2015

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Job 7:1-4, 6-7 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23 Mark 1:29-39 February 8, 2015 Public Policy – Supporting Women Are women important? Apparently Mark thought so when he wrote this gospel.  Often we are not…

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Celebrating the Gift of Life on January 22nd

By Fr. Jeff | 01/22/2015

Today is January 22nd.  That means people have gathered for the March for Life in Washington, DC.  I heard on the radio this morning that they are expecting 650,000 people, a massive display for the gift of life.  The March…

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Homily – Death Penalty – 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

By Fr. Jeff | 02/23/2014

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 Matthew 5:38-48 February 23, 2014 “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” – Jesus reminds his disciples of these words that are found…

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The Problem of Euthanasia

By Fr. Jeff | 10/05/2013

I just read an article (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/05/20803178-painless-death-or-precipitous-cliff-transsexual-chooses-euthanasia-after-failed-operation?lite) on the NBC News website about a “man” who choose to be euthanized because of “unbearable psychological suffering.”  “He” was born a woman and choose to have a sex change operation but the operation…

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Standing For Life

By Fr. Jeff | 06/08/2013

Life is a precious gift. I pray everyday that “all who public office respect the dignity of all life from womb to tomb.”  An individual’s life begins at conception.  In earthly terms, a unique individual is created with a particular…

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Boston Bombings and the Death Penalty

By Fr. Jeff | 04/26/2013

As they question the surviving suspect in the Boston bombings from last week, there is talk in the media about giving him the death penalty if convicted.  What do you think? For me the answer is simple, no! If you…

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Hearing Our Call to Care About Others

By Fr. Jeff | 02/10/2013

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Luke 5:1–11 February 10, 2013 It isn’t easy to be a disciple of Jesus.  When Peter realized it was Jesus standing with them, he felt so unworthy…

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Life is a Gift

By Fr. Jeff | 01/21/2013

This week marks the 40th Anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.  On Friday, January 25th, many will unite to march in Washington.  There will speakers and Masses said in support of life. There are many people…

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