Please enter a valid email address.
Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.

Our Blog

Some Preliminary Thoughts on the Situation in Ukraine

By Fr. Jeff | 02/27/2022

In my homily this Sunday I included what is going on in the Ukraine as among the tribulations we face in the world today. Now I would like to offer some preliminary thoughts on Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine. I…

Read More

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 02/27/2022

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CSirach 27:4-7Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16 (see 2a)1 Corinthians 15:54-58Luke 6:39-45February 27, 2022 In Sirach we hear, “so in tribulation is the test of the just.”  We face “tribulation” (i.e. distress) in our world today.…

Read More

A Troubled World

By Fr. Jeff | 02/22/2022

One does not have to look far to see that we live in a troubled world. We have been dealing with the Coronavirus for two years now. Right now, the number of cases in the United States has dropped significantly…

Read More

Are We Really Supposed to Love our Enemies?

By Fr. Jeff | 02/20/2022

As Jesus continues his Sermon on the Plain, today’s gospel begins, “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.“ Are we really supposed to love our enemies?…

Read More

New Video – Starting Lent Right

By Fr. Jeff | 02/18/2022

I just uploaded the video and slides from my last presentation, Starting Lent Right, at www.renewaloffaith.org/startinglentright. For the next few days you may complete an evaluation of the presentation online at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScNg08BBe2TvL4tM6GsFmrT73ZZv-BPLlq5oS4ASNZ-ki84cw/viewform?usp=sf_link At one point in the presentation, I mention…

Read More

Final Reflections on “The Catholic Gentleman”

By Fr. Jeff | 02/15/2022

Three 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 More

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 02/13/2022

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CJeremiah 17:5-8Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6, (40:5a)1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20Luke 6:17, 20-26February 13, 2022 In this gospel passage Jesus begins his Sermon on the Plain.  The passage is explicit in saying He “stood on…

Read More

Work, Sainthood, and Holiness

By Fr. Jeff | 02/08/2022

This 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 More

God’s Calling

By Fr. Jeff | 02/06/2022

We are all called to be disciples of Jesus. We are all called to serve God in some way. In today’s readings we hear three call narratives. It begins with the call of Isaiah in our first reading. Isaiah is…

Read More

How Do You Look at Things?

By Fr. Jeff | 02/03/2022

This 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 More

We Need to Stand for Something

By Fr. Jeff | 02/01/2022

Today 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 More

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 01/30/2022

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CJeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19Psalm 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15, 17 (see 15ab)1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13Luke 4:21-30January 30, 2022 “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” This is the first verse of today’s gospel.  It is…

Read More

More from “The Catholic Gentleman”

By Fr. Jeff | 01/28/2022

A 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

Are You for Real?

By Fr. Jeff | 01/25/2022

“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…

Read More

The Importance of God’s Word

By Fr. Jeff | 01/23/2022

God’s Word is important. God’s Word helps us know how we are called to live. Unfortunately, we don’t always listen. If we do hear it, we don’t always pay attention. This was true for the Israelites. Through revelation, the Law,…

Read More

Unpredictability

By Fr. Jeff | 01/18/2022

It is winter where I live. This means cold weather and snow but how predictable is the weather? Since about mid-last week, the weather forecasters in the northeast were calling for a significant snowstorm for Sunday into Monday. By last…

Read More

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 01/16/2022

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CIsaiah 62:1-5Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10 (3)1 Corinthians 12:4-11John 2:1-11January 16, 2022 Two Sundays ago, we celebrated the Epiphany of the Lord.  Last Sunday we ended our Christmas season with the Baptism of the…

Read More

Hope, Death, and Suffering

By Fr. Jeff | 01/11/2022

I recently finished reading After Suicide: There’s Hope for Them and For You by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC and Br. Jason Lewis, MIC (Stockbridge, MA: Marian Press. 2019). As indicated by the title, the book is specifically written for those…

Read More

The Baptism of the Lord

By Fr. Jeff | 01/09/2022

With this Sunday’s celebration of the Baptism of the Lord our Christmas season ends. Christmas is a time of great hope. We hear the Christmas story of Jesus’ birth, we see Jesus laying in the manger, and our hearts are…

Read More

Upcoming Webinar – Starting Lent Right

By Fr. Jeff | 01/05/2022

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (March 2nd) and ends as we begin the Easter Triduum (Easter Sunday is April 17th).  We know the rules about abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent.  Have you ever thought…

Read More

What Do We Want to be Different in 2022?

By Fr. Jeff | 01/04/2022

Last week I wrote an article about new year’s resolutions (“A New Beginning”). Today I will share some thoughts about what we might be looking forward to in 2022. I think the thing most obvious thing that we would all…

Read More

The Epiphany of the Lord – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 01/02/2022

The Epiphany of the LordIsaiah 60:1-6Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 (11)Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6Matthew 2:1-12January 2, 2022 Today we celebrate The Epiphany of the Lord. We know the story of the magi, traditionally referred to as the three kings.  They came…

Read More

A New Beginning

By Fr. Jeff | 12/28/2021

In a few days this year of 2021 will come to a close. Like 2020, 2021 has been a challenging year because of the Coronavirus pandemic. In July, it seemed things had turned for the better. The number of new…

Read More

The Feast of the Holy Family

By Fr. Jeff | 12/26/2021

With Christmas falling on Saturday this year, after spending my time this week preparing a Christmas homily, I am grateful that one of our deacons preached today (Sunday) as we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary,…

Read More

Christmas Homily 2021

By Fr. Jeff | 12/25/2021

Christmas – Mass During the NightIsaiah 9:1-6Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13 (Luke 2:11)Titus 2:11-14Luke 2:1-14December 25, 2021 Why are we here? The answer is no secret.  If you have been in stores recently, it is obvious that it is Christmas. …

Read More

Archives