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Today, I would like to write about two different things that Pope Francis has done this week. The first happened today. At noon Rome time, Pope Francis named Bishop Salvatore R. Matano as the ninth Bishop of Rochester. I was…
Read More31st Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C Wisdom 11:22-12:2 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2 Luke 19:1-10 November 3, 2013 Zacchaeus was seen as a sinner. He was a tax collector and tax collectors were known for their extortion. In those days, extortion…
Read MoreHere is an article I wrote for the cover of our bulletin. A Time to Honor Those Who Have Gone Before Us On Friday we celebrated All Saints’ Day. Throughout the year there are feasts and memorials of many different…
Read MoreToday (November 1st) we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. There are many saints known by name. When I asked our parish school children to name some saints, half of their hands went up immediately. Saints are important to us. …
Read More30th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 Luke 18:9-14 October 27, 2013 I have competed well, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. These are the words Paul writes to…
Read More29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Exodus 17:8-13 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2 Luke 18:1-8 October 20, 2013 Jesus speaks today about the necessity to pray always. Pray always? Doesn’t that mean praying 24/7? How can we do that? We need to work,…
Read More28th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2 Kings 5:14-17 2 Timothy 2:8-13 Luke 17:11-19 October 13, 2013 Ten lepers, all in need of healing, come to Jesus. They ask for pity. With no other action, Jesus tells them to go to…
Read More27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Habakkuk 1:2-3, 2:2-4 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14 Luke 17:5-10 October 4, 2013 “The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The apostles had faith but they knew their faith was not as strong as…
Read More26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Amos 6:1a, 4-7 1 Timothy 6:11-16 Luke 16:19-31 September 29, 2013 Paul writes to Timothy to offer him guidance as the leader of a community. Paul’s instructions to Timothy might sound simple. “Compete well for…
Read MoreWe live in a very busy world. Families can spend all their time going to their children’s events whether it be sports, plays, or concerts. Many adults spend tremendous hours at work. I even know some retired people whose volunteer…
Read More25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Amos 8:4-7 1 Timothy 2:1-8 Luke 16:1-13 September 22, 2013 Today Jesus tells us the Parable of the Dishonest Steward. In those days a steward was essentially the complete manager of the owner’s property and…
Read More24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-32 September 15, 2013 The Israelites had become “depraved.” How? Because they had ‘turned aside from the way God had pointed out to them.’ Through Moses God had…
Read More23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Wisdom 9:13-18b Philemon 9-10, 12-1 Luke 14:25-33 September 8, 2013 “Who can know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the Lord intends?” These are the opening words of our first reading today from the…
Read MoreToday, along with many other schools in the area, we began a new school year at Immaculate Conception School. We have many returning students but there are also new students. The Pre-K3 class is all new, many of the Pre-K4 classes…
Read More22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a Luke 14:1, 7-14 September 1, 2013 I think we get confused about what humility is. Sometimes humility is interpreted as the opposite of pride. In its sinful meaning,…
Read More21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 66:18-21 Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13 Luke 13:22-30 August 25, 2013 Isaiah speaks the message of the Lord that he will invite people of every language to see his glory. He speaks of how ALL will…
Read MoreThe other day I was out to a parishioner’s house and a few of their friends were there. Among the topics of conversation was a discussion on how we look at our faith. Do we see our faith as a…
Read More20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10 Hebrews 12:1-4 Luke 12:49-53 August 18, 2013 They are after Jeremiah to get rid of him. Why? We’re told it’s because he is demoralizing the soldiers and all the people. They think…
Read More19th Sunday in Ordinary Time Wisdom 18:6-9 Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 Luke 12:32-48 August 11, 2013 It’s all about faith. We’re here today because we are drawn here in faith. We’re here because we seek God in faith. We’re here today…
Read More18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23 Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11 Luke 12:13-21 August 4, 2013 Qoheleth speaks of vanity and putting too much effort into building up earthly things? What is the point? A person asks Jesus…
Read MoreWe all need keep learning throughout our lives. Learning about faith doesn’t end with Confirmation or when religion classes end. I have a master’s degree in theology and I feel like I just know the tip of the iceberg of…
Read More17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Genesis 18:20-32 Colossians 2:12-14 Luke 11:1-13 July 28, 2013 I’m always astonished at this story of how Abraham barters with God. Normally when we barter is to find a mid-range price. We might…
Read MoreToday (July 26, 2013) is thirteen months from the day I arrived as Pastor of Immaculate Conception. I have learned a lot and I hope I have helped our parishioners come closer to God. Most directly, this comes from homilies, the…
Read More16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Genesis 18:1-10a Colossians 1:24-28 Luke 10:38-42 July 21, 2013 This gospel might beg the question, “So are you more like Martha or Mary?” Some people are ‘doers’ and ‘followers.’ Martha is trying to…
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