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

Our Blog

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 09/09/2018

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Isaiah 35:4-7a Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10a James 2:1-5 Mark 7:31-37 September 9, 2018 Many times we hear of “crowds” that come to Jesus.  The Jews had been waiting for a 1,000 years for…

Read More

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 09/02/2018

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8 Psalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5 (1a) James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27 Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 September 2, 2018 Beginning today and for the next few weeks our second reading comes from the…

Read More

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 08/19/2018

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Proverbs 9:1-6 Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 (9a) Ephesians 5:15-20 John 6:51-58 August 19, 2018 Last week we heard about how the Jews murmured about Jesus saying, “I am the bread that came down…

Read More

Why Is It Hard to Forgive?

By Fr. Jeff | 08/16/2018

As Christians we are called to be people of forgiveness.  Every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer we say, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  We acknowledge our need to be forgiven and we…

Read More

Knowing God’s Presence in Our Lives

By Fr. Jeff | 08/13/2018

Today’s first reading (8/13/18 – Monday of 19th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2) from Ezekiel provides what can be both a powerful and confusing image.  It can be confusing to us because it relies on imagery unfamiliar to us…

Read More

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 08/12/2018

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B 1 Kings 19:4-8 Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (9a) Ephesians 4:30-5:2 John 6:41-51 August 12, 2018 Elijah was fleeing from King Ahaz and others after defeating the 450 prophets of the false god…

Read More

The Lord’s Prayer – Homily for Holy Hour August 2018

By Fr. Jeff | 08/07/2018

Homily for August 2018 Holy Hour Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9 Psalm 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6 Romans 8:26-27 Matthew 6:7-15 We started our monthly holy hour last September as part of our diocesan Year of the Eucharist.  So, it was only logically…

Read More

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 08/05/2018

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15 Psalm 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54 (24b) Ephesians 4:17, 20-24 John 6:24-35 August 5, 2018 Last week we hear from the Old Testament of when Elisha fed 100 people with 20…

Read More

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 07/29/2018

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B 2 Kings 4:42-44 Psalm 145:10-11, 15-16, 17-18 (16) Ephesians 4:1-6 John 6:1-15 July 29, 2018 During the time Elisha served as a prophet of the Lord, there was a famine in the land. …

Read More

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily “The Lord is My Shepherd”

By Fr. Jeff | 07/22/2018

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Jeremiah 23:1-6 Psalm 23:1-3, 3, 4, 5, 6 (1) Ephesians 2:13-18 Mark 6:30-34 July 22, 2018 God has always cared for his people.  He had appointed people as kings and priests to be…

Read More

Homily on “Freedom” for July 2018 Holy Hour

By Fr. Jeff | 07/18/2018

Homily for July 2018 Holy Hour Jeremiah 29:8-14 Psalm 123:1-2, 2, 3-4 Phil 2:5-11 John 15:9-17 Two weeks ago, we celebrated the Fourth of July as our national holiday.  As far as I know, we are the only country that…

Read More

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 07/08/2018

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Ezekiel 2:2-5 Psalm 123:1-2, 2, 2-4 (2cd) 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Mark 6:1-6 July 8, 2018 One might think that people from Jesus’ “native place” would welcome him with great fanfare as the hometown…

Read More

Some Insights on Our Catholic Understanding of Mary

By Fr. Jeff | 07/04/2018

Today, July 4th, I used my “independence” to do some spiritual reading.  The insights I am about to share are not my own but come from Dr. Edward Sri.  I had the opportunity to attend a presentation by him in…

Read More

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 07/01/2018

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23-24 Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13 (2a) 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15 Mark 5:21-43 July 1, 2018 Today we hear of Jesus doing two great healings.  One is for…

Read More

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,…

Read More

St. John Fisher, Patron of Our Diocese

By Fr. Jeff | 06/20/2018

Homily for June 2018 Holy Hour Jeremiah 1:4-10 Psalm 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15 1 Peter 4:12-19 Matthew 10:34-39 On the general saints’ calendar, June 22nd, which is this Friday, is an optional memorial of Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More…

Read More

Reflection for Baccalaureate

By Fr. Jeff | 06/18/2018

Tonight I have the honor of offering a reflection during the Newark High School Baccalaureate. It is addressed to this year’s graduating class. Here is my reflection for them: To our graduating seniors, you are about to celebrate a milestone…

Read More

Our Ancestral Heritage

By Fr. Jeff | 06/18/2018

Today’s first reading (June 18, 2018) 1 Kings 21:1-16, begins with two people wanting the same property. The first, Naboth, is the owner of the property. The second is King Ahab. Ahab wants the property to be his “vegetable garden,…

Read More

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 06/17/2018

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Ezekiel 17:22-24 Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16 (2a) 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 Mark 4:26-34 June 17, 2018 Using a parable, Jesus speaks to the crowds about the farmer scattering seed on the land and then…

Read More

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 06/10/2018

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Genesis 3:9-15 Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (7bc) 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 Mark 3:20-25 June 10, 2018 As Jesus came home, a crowd once again gathered.  How we long to see great crowds come…

Read More

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 06/03/2018

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year B Exodus 24:3-8 Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18 (13) Hebrews 9:11-15 Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 June 3, 2018 As we celebrate today’s Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, our…

Read More

Seeing With the Eyes of Faith

By Fr. Jeff | 05/31/2018

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  At the Annunciation, Mary found out she had been chosen to be the mother of Jesus.  Mary’s reaction is not one of pride.  She does not begin…

Read More

The Most Holy Trinity, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 05/27/2018

The Most Holy Trinity, Year B Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22 (12b) Romans 8:14-17 Matthew 28:16-20 May 27, 2018 Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.  It would be a wonderful time…

Read More

Column for the May 24, 2018 Sun & Record/Wayne County Mail

By Fr. Jeff | 05/25/2018

In addition to what you find posted here on my blog, I write a column about once a month for the Sun & Record/Wayne County Mail? His column this month is found on page 8 of the May 24, 2018…

Read More

Pentecost, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 05/20/2018

Pentecost, Year B Acts 2:1-11 Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 Galatians 5:16-25 John 15:26-27; 16:12-5 May 20, 2018 Our Easter season draws to a close today with our celebration of Pentecost.  To appreciate Pentecost, we need to look at…

Read More

Archives