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Our Blog

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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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,…

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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. …

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There is Hope

By Fr. Jeff | 12/19/2021

In today’s first reading for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year C, Micah offers the Israelites hope during a difficult time. It is written following the fall on the northern kingdom. The Israelites are worried what is going to happen…

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God’s Gift of Mercy

By Fr. Jeff | 12/18/2021

I just finished reading Understanding Divine Mercy by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC (Stockbridge:MA. Marian Press. 2021). He writes as a member of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception from the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, MA. Fr.…

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Spreading the Gospel

By Fr. Jeff | 12/14/2021

I recently posted an article, “Helping Our Children be Disciples,” inspired by my recent reading of An Evangelizing Catechesis: Teaching from Your Encounter with Christ by James C. Pauley (Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing. 2020).  Today I would like to…

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Helping Our Children be Disciples

By Fr. Jeff | 12/12/2021

Those who are regular readers of my blog know that evangelization, the sharing of our faith, is very important to me. The articles I write here, on my website, and the presentations (also available on my website) are all geared…

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Gaudete Sunday – A Time to Rejoice

By Fr. Jeff | 12/12/2021

Today (December 12, 2021) we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent, Year C. The normal liturgical color for Advent is violet (we often say purple). We use the color violent as a sign of penance, especially in Lent. Thinking of…

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The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

By Fr. Jeff | 12/08/2021

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin MaryGenesis 3:9-15, 20Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 (1)Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12Luke 1:26-38December 8, 2021 Our readings today begin in the Garden of Eden.  Adam and Eve were there in paradise until the cunning serpent came…

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St. Nicholas and the True Spirit of Christmas

By Fr. Jeff | 12/06/2021

Today, December 6th, is the Optional Memorial of St. Nicholas. We don’t know much about him. During our present season of Advent, the memorial of saints aren’t given as much attention. However, this year I feel inspired to use what…

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2nd Sunday of Advent, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 12/05/2021

2nd Sunday of Advent, Year CBaruch 5:1-9Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 (3)Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11Luke 3:1-6December 5, 2021 At the time of the event in today’s gospel, Jesus has already been born.  Soon He will begin his public ministry.  However, before…

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The Third and Final Webinar in My Series on Prayer

By Fr. Jeff | 12/03/2021

Last night I offered the third and final webinar in my series, Giving Our Hearts to God: What It Means to Pray. You can view the recording of this webinar and see the slides at www.renewaloffaith.org/prayer2021partIII. The recording is 1…

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The Communion Debate

By Fr. Jeff | 11/30/2021

There is confusion over the question of who can receive Communion in the Catholic Church. The question comes up in the news because of prominent politicians who are Catholic but support abortion. Unfortunately, this leads to the politicization of the…

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Preparing for the Coming

By Fr. Jeff | 11/28/2021

Soon we will celebrate the first Coming of Jesus with our Christmas season. Christmas is too important to celebrate with just a single day. We celebrate Christmas a season that begins with our Christmas Masses and lasts until we celebrate…

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What Jesus Thinks of You

By Fr. Jeff | 11/26/2021

In today’s first reading (Friday, 34th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I), we hear of a vision the prophet Daniel has. It contains imagery we may not understand, at least I know I don’t understand. The Bible continues a lot…

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Thanksgiving Giving Day Homily 2021

By Fr. Jeff | 11/25/2021

Thanksgiving DaySirach 50:22-24Psalm 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-111 Corinthians 1:3-9Luke 17:11-19November 25, 2021 Ten lepers came to Jesus calling out, “Jesus, Master!  Have pity on us!” Jesus replied by cleansing them of their leprosy.  They had come to Jesus looking…

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A Polarized People

By Fr. Jeff | 11/23/2021

I recently saw a news headline where a health official involved in the government’s handling of the Coronavirus pandemic said he did not cause political divisiveness. He is right. We have been becoming a polarized people for some time. This…

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Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 11/21/2021

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Year BDaniel 7:13-14Psalm 93:1, 1-2, 5 (1a)Revelation 1:5-8John 18:33b-37November 21, 2021 This is the last Sunday of our liturgical year.  We always celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of…

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