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I wrote the following for our parish bulletin yesterday (the Feast of Christ the King) as we look forward to celebrating Thanksgiving this week. Giving Thanks Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King.  Jesus is indeed a king…

How do you decide when you are doing too much?  That is the question that has been on my mind this week.  I had six meetings and a preaching workshop this week.  Of course, there was the regular Masses and…

The End . . . The end of the year that is.  Our liturgical year is drawing to close.  Our secular calendar always begins a new year on January 1st.  Our church year ends around the end of November.  Why does…

We don’t hear much about Purgatory today.  Some people interpret that to mean that the Catholic Church doesn’t believe in Purgatory anymore.  That is not true.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church discusses Purgatory in paragraphs 1030-1032.  It speaks of the need…

This morning I joined our parish school children for morning prayers.  Today was ‘wear your favorite team’s shirt day.”  There certainly were a variety of shirts.  Even the principal had his “team” shirt on.  Of course, they were all sports…

The last couple of days have been busy days for me; nothing unusual there.  In these busy times I have been blessed with some moments of knowing that I was where I was supposed to be. Yesterday, I said Mass…

Why am I am priest?  Is it worth it? Let me begin by assuring you I am happy as a priest.  Sometimes it seems difficult but there are also moments of joy.  For example, I think back a couple of…

Atour Presbyteral Council meeting today, we had a discussion on how to connect to young adults in our ministry.  Each generation has its own way of looking at things. I ask you “What does the word church mean to you?” …

This week I did something I have never done before.  I went to New York City.  OK, technically I might not have been in the city.  I went to Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston.  I flew into JFK airport and…

Today I would like to share some thoughts about Mary and the Resurrection but it isn’t the Mary you might be thinking of. The Mary I am talking about is a friend of mine who just passed away.  She was…

The cooler weather is a sign of the beginning of Fall.  In New York State, high schools and elementary schools reopened this week.  Most colleges have also began their fall semester. The pace of life in the church also picks…

Today is the ninth anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attacks.  There are many memorial services happening today to honor those who lost their lives in those terrible attacks.  We also pray for their loved ones, asking the Lord to strengthen…

Today’s Gospel (August 27, 2010 -Friday, 21st Week in Ordinary Time) is a parable familiar to many, the Parable of the Ten Virgins.  All ten came when they heard the bridegroom was coming.  Five were well prepared and five were…

I sit here thinking about what my ministry is really meant to be about.  Of course, the obvious answer is Jesus.  But that isn’t what I am trying to get at.  I work on lots of things like RCIA, baptismal…

This has been one of those weeks that I have been busy with the same things as of late, the parish website (www.ourladyofthelakescc.org), working on some written materials to use for RCIA, CMA (our annual diocesan appeal that will begin in…

Well, I have been at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Community for five weeks now.  I continue to become involved in more things as each week passes.  This was probably my busiest week so far.  Fr. Bob was away…

We are at the peak of our summer season.  Today the forecast for here is a high of 88 degrees and hot, hazy, and humid. With summertime, many people are taking vacations.  I took some vacation time at the end…

Well, I have being at my new parish assignment for just over two weeks now.  The physical moving and unpacking is completely done.  Of the five churches, I have celebrated Sunday Masses at St. Januarius in Naples and St. Patrick’s in…

As I was reflecting on the readings for this coming Sunday this morning, I read something that caught my eye.  The second reading comes from the Letter of Paul to the Colossians.  From seminary, I always remembered that the only…

This weekend we celebrate our nation’s independence.  On July 4, 1776, the colonists signed the Declaration of Independence.  The colonists had fought for representation so that their voices could be heard.  They declared their independence and fought the Revolutionary War…

I arrived Tuesday afternoon (June 29th) at St. Michael’s Rectory to begin my new assignment at Our Lady of the Lakes.  It has only been two days so it has been quiet so far with activities focusing on unpacking and…