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Our Blog

Catholic Charities as the Work of the Church

By Fr. Jeff | 08/30/2016

This past weekend was the first weekend since I came to St. Michael’s that I haven’t preached.  Instead, we welcomed Deacon Peter Dohr who serves as the Executive Director of Catholic Charities Wayne County.  He spoke to us about the important…

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21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 08/21/2016

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 66:18-21 Psalm 117:1, 2 Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13 Luke 13:22-30 Who is welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven? The Jews saw themselves as a chosen people, the only ones who would get into the Kingdom…

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20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 08/13/2016

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10 Psalm 40:2, 3, 4, 18 (14b) Hebrews 12:1-4 Luke 12:49-53 Jesus tells us that he comes to bring division, to set father against son and mother against daughter, and in-laws fighting.  The…

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The Need for Martyrs

By Fr. Jeff | 08/10/2016

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Lawrence.  He was a deacon under Pope St. Sixtus II and was martyred in 258 A.D.  Yesterday we celebrated the optional memorial of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (aka Edith Stein) who…

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19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 08/07/2016

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time Wisdom 18:6-9 Psalm 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22 Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 Luke 12:32-48 Last week we saw Jesus’ reaction to the man who asks him to tell his brother to share the inheritance.  Jesus wasn’t interested…

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18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 07/31/2016

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23 Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17 Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11 Luke 12:13-21 A person comes to Jesus with a request, to tell his brother to share the inheritance with me.  Jesus seems to…

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Potter or the Clay?

By Fr. Jeff | 07/28/2016

If you look at today’s gospel, you will see it begin with Jesus saying “The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind.”  I think that is all some people hear today…

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One Month In

By Fr. Jeff | 07/27/2016

Tomorrow I complete my first month at St. Michael’s in Newark.  Of course, the month has been full of meeting new people.  Every parishioner is a new face to me.  While every person has been a new face to me,…

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The Violence Continues

By Fr. Jeff | 07/26/2016

Today’s (7/26/16) first reading comes from the Book of Jeremiah.  Jeremiah served as a prophet in a time when people had fallen away from faith in our God.  The people faced a very difficult time and wondered if God had…

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17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 07/24/2016

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Genesis 18:20-32 Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 6-7, 7-8 Colossians 2:12-14 Luke 11:1-13 Jesus tells us to ask and we will receive, seek and we will find.  Probably not many of us would have to…

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16th Sunday in Ordinary Team, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 07/17/2016

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Genesis 18:1-10a Psalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 5 Colossians 1:24-28 Luke 10:38-42 I know people who when they hear this gospel the question comes up so are like Martha or Mary?  Are you a doer…

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Two Weeks Later

By Fr. Jeff | 07/13/2016

Well, I have been at St. Michael’s for two weeks now.  I have felt very welcomed by the parishioners and that has been great.  The staff has also been great.  I realize now that I had forgotten what it was…

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15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 07/10/2016

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Deuteronomy 30:10-14 Psalm  69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37 Colossians 1:15-20 Luke 10:25-37 Our first reading comes from the Book of Deuteronomy.  Deuteronomy is written as Moses farewell discourse to the Israelites just…

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First Sunday at St. Michael’s Homily (14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C)

By Fr. Jeff | 07/03/2016

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Isaiah 66:10-14c Psalm 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20 Galatians 6:14-18 Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 As I thought about what to say for first weekend I here.  I’m sure you have questions about me.  I…

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Final Sunday Homily at Immaculate (13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C)

By Fr. Jeff | 06/26/2016

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C 1 Kings 19:16b: 19-21 Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 Galatians 5:1, 13-18 Luke 9:51-52 June 26, 2016 Elijah was a great prophet serving in a time when the kings and many people…

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Spanning the Diocese

By Fr. Jeff | 06/23/2016

As I prepare to move to my new assignment at St. Michael’s in Newark next week, I have thought about the various places I have served.  Next Thursday, June 30th, I will celebrate my ninth anniversary of my ordination to…

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My Final Newsletter Column at Immaculate

By Fr. Jeff | 06/17/2016

We are just about to mail our June 2016 parish newsletter.  As I prepare to leave the parish, below is the last column I wrote for the Immaculate Conception newsletter. Final Thoughts Four years ago, on June 26, 2012, I…

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11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 06/12/2016

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C 2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13 Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11 Galatians 2:16, 19-21 Luke 7:36-8:3 June 12, 2016 This Pharisee does a good thing.  He invites Jesus to dine with him. Then comes a…

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Following God’s Will

By Fr. Jeff | 06/11/2016

If you are a regular reader of my blog, by now you know that on June 28th, I will end my assignment as pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Ithaca and move to Newark, NY where I will become the pastor…

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10th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 06/05/2016

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C 1 Kings 17:17-24 Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13 Galatians 1:11-19 Luke 7:11-17 June 5, 2016 In our first reading Elijah restores the widow’s son to earthly life.  Jesus does the same…

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

By Fr. Jeff | 05/29/2016

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year C Genesis 14:18-20 Psalm 110:1, 2, 3, 4 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Luke 9:11b-17 May 29, 2016 In the few verses in our first reading we hear how Melchizedek “brought out bread…

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The New Assignment

By Fr. Jeff | 05/22/2016

A few weeks ago, I announced (https://blog.renewaloffaith.org/?p=1807) that I would be leaving Immaculate Conception Parish at the end of June.  This required a lot of faith in God for me because I like to know what is coming.  So I…

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Trinity Sunday, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 05/22/2016

Trinity, Year C Proverbs 8:22-31 Psalm 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 Romans 5:1-5 John 16:12-15 May 22, 2016 One day St. Augustine was walking along the seashore as he reflected on the Trinity.  He came upon a young boy who was digging…

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Video Presentation on Mercy

By Fr. Jeff | 05/15/2016

I just uploaded the video of my latest presentation “Exploring the Meaning and Need For Mercy” for the Jubilee Year of Mercy.  Be sure and check it out at https://www.renewaloffaith.org/video—exploring-mercy.html. Peace, Fr. Jeff

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7th Sunday of Easter, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 05/08/2016

7th Sunday of Easter, Year C Acts 7:55-60 Psalm 97:1-2, 6-7, 9 Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20 John 17:20-26 May 8, 2016 We don’t talk often about the Book of Revelation but today’s passage contains words spoken by the Lord to…

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