Social Justice

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 09/05/2021

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BIsaiah 35:4-7aPsalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 (1b)James 2:1-5Mark 7:31-37September 3, 2021 “Thus says the LORD:  Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not!” Fear can be a powerful thing.  Fear can dictate…

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Treating Life with Dignity and Love Part IV

By Fr. Jeff | 04/15/2021

Last night I offered the fourth and final webinar in my series, Treating Life with Dignity and Love, covering Catholic Pro-Life teaching. You can view the video and see the slides at www.renewaloffaith.org/prolife4. For the next couple of days, you can…

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25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 09/20/2020

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AIsaiah 55:6-9Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18 (18a)Philippians 1:20c-24, 27aMatthew 20:1-16aSeptember 20, 2020 Jesus continues to teach us about the Kingdom of Heaven.  Today He describes it using a parable of a landowner and his vineyard. …

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Receiving a Penance

By Fr. Jeff | 09/01/2020

After we have confessed our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we receive a “penance.” We are not just “given” or “assigned” a penance as punishment for our sins. We must receive the penance. By “receive” I mean we willing…

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How Do We Look at the World?

By Fr. Jeff | 06/09/2020

How do you look at world? How many people want to know what the world can do for them? They make everything they do about themselves. They are interested in what makes them look good (pride). They are interested in…

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5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 02/08/2020

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AIsaiah 58:7-10Psalm 112:4-5, 607, 8-9 (4a)1 Corinthians 2:1-5Matthew 5:13-16February 8, 2020 Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world.” Who is He speaking to?  Who is the…

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Biology Makes Me Pro-Life

By Fr. Jeff | 01/31/2020

The gospel reading for today (January 31, 2020, Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time) points to why I think biology points us to the fact that life begins at conception and is to be cherished. In this gospel…

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Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

By Fr. Jeff | 01/22/2020

As today’s gospel begins, Jesus enters the synagogue on the Sabbath. “There was a man there who had a withered hand. They watched Jesus closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath.” They did not like Jesus…

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The Application of Just War Theory

By Fr. Jeff | 01/03/2020

I just watched the national news talking about the killing of an Iranian general. Our government says he is responsible for terrorism and was currently planning attacks against American citizens. I do not want to make any judgment on the…

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27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 10/06/2019

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CHabakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 (8)2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14Luke 17:5-10October 6, 2019 Habakkuk the prophet cried out, “How long, O LORD? I cry for help but you do not listen!” Have you ever…

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You Can’t Fight Hate with Hate

By Fr. Jeff | 08/05/2019

We continue to see violence. This Saturday, August 3rd, there was a shooting in El Paso, Texas at a Walmart. The death toll now stands at 22 with more than two dozen injured. Law enforcement officials say the evidence points…

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15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 07/14/2019

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CDeuteronomy 30:10-14Psalm 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37 (33)Colossians 1:15-20Luke 10:25-37July 14, 2019 We hear the “scholar of the law” ask Jesus a question.  We are told that he asked Jesus the question “to…

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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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