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Our Blog

Whose Responsible For the Religious Education of Our Children?

By Fr. Jeff | 09/17/2012

Here I share my homily from Sunday about how we learn about our faith. 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Isaiah 50:4-9a James 2:14-18 Mark 8:27-35 September 16, 2012 Jesus asks his disciples “Who do people say that I…

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Celebrating the Good Things in Life

By Fr. Jeff | 09/15/2012

I have written here in recent months about how many funerals I do.  I see funerals as an opportunity to minister to the funeral, to let them know that we care and that God cares.  Being new in the parish,…

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Why Do Catholic Parishes Have Catholic Schools?

By Fr. Jeff | 09/11/2012

Last night we celebrated Mass for the beginning of the new school year followed by a dish-to-pass supper.  As the new pastor, it was my privilege to preside and preach at this Eucharist.  I would like to share my thoughts…

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Spiritual Hearing and Our Fears

By Fr. Jeff | 09/10/2012

Here is my homily for this past week.  In the past I haven’t posted many of my homilies here because I think most people reading this blog probably heard the homily in church.  So, I would only post the homily…

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Church Teaching, Social Justice and Labor Day

By Fr. Jeff | 09/02/2012

This weekend I spoke from the readings about Church Teaching, particularly Catholic Social Teaching and Labor Day.  Here is my homily.  I hope it leads you to reflect on the Labor Day Holiday and how God is calling you to…

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Homilies on the Bread of Life Discourse #5 of 5

By Fr. Jeff | 08/27/2012

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b Ephesians 5:21-32 John 6:60-69 August 26, 2012 During the past four weeks, we have heard that Jesus fed 5,000 people with just five barley loaves and two fish.  He…

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A Week Without Writing

By Fr. Jeff | 08/25/2012

I realized yesterday that it has been a few days since I have written here.  There are typically two reasons for when I don’t write something here.  The first is that I don’t have the inspiration to write something and…

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Sunday Homily Bread of Life Discourse #4 of 5

By Fr. Jeff | 08/20/2012

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Proverbs 9:1-6 Ephesians 5:15-20 John 6:51-58 August 19, 2012 Lady Wisdom has prepared a great meal and invited the “simple” and those “who lack understanding.”  One might think Lady Wisdom would invite only…

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The Assumption of Mary

By Fr. Jeff | 08/15/2012

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary.  It is a Holy Day of Obligation (Click here to see the readings).  Here are some of the thoughts I shared in my homily. The fact that today is a…

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Homily #3 of 5 – Bread of Life Discourse

By Fr. Jeff | 08/13/2012

Here is this week’s homily from the Bread of Life Discourse 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B 1 Kings 19:4-8 Ephesians 4:30-5:2 John 6:41-51 August 5, 2012 Elijah has apparently decided to give up but why? If you go…

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How Strong is Your Faith?

By Fr. Jeff | 08/11/2012

Today’s Gospel Reading (Saturday, 8/11/12, 18th Week in Ordinary Time) always make me ask how strong is my faith.  In this particular gospel, a man comes to Jesus seeking help for his son.  Jesus’ disciples (who have already done some…

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Homily for Sunday, August 5, 2012

By Fr. Jeff | 08/06/2012

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15 Ephesians 4:17 20-24 John 6:24-35 August 5, 2012 Jesus has fed the people (5,000 of them!).  They are following him.  Ideally they would be following him because they had come…

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Homily for Sunday, July 29, 2012

By Fr. Jeff | 08/06/2012

Our Sunday gospels right now come from Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John.  For those new to my blog I don’t often put my homilies on this blog because my homily constantly develops over the week and I don’t…

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Ministry Continues

By Fr. Jeff | 08/03/2012

Another ten days has passed since I last wrote.  The funerals have slowed down with just one funeral in church and a separate burial last week.  That doesn’t mean everything has slowed down. I spent Tuesday and Wednesday of this…

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Life Continues

By Fr. Jeff | 07/24/2012

Well, today is four weeks since my arrival at Immaculate Conception.  If you remember my earlier writings, Sr. Edna had spoken to me as I was carrying in my boxes to schedule a funeral.  Tomorrow, I will preside at my eighth funeral since my…

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The Need for Constant Renewal

By Fr. Jeff | 07/23/2012

Here is my homily for Sunday, July 22nd. 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Jeremiah 23:1-6 Ephesians 2:13-18 Mark 6:30-34 July 22, 2012 Once again the apostles gather with Jesus.  But this time their gathering takes on a different…

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Another Week

By Fr. Jeff | 07/17/2012

Today is three weeks since my arrival as the pastor of Immaculate Conception Church.  Last week I spoke about how busy I have been.  I continue to be busy with funerals and meetings.  What I am really trying to focus…

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Summer Slow Down

By Fr. Jeff | 07/10/2012

I titled this article “Summer Slow Down” but there really hasn’t been one for me.  The primary reason for that, of course, is my recent appointment as Pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Ithaca.  Being new to the parish I…

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Celebrating Our Freedom

By Fr. Jeff | 07/04/2012

Today (July 4th) we celebrate our country’s independence.  It is a good day to think about the principles our country was founded on. The Declaration of Independence, the founding document of our country, states We hold these Truths to be…

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It’s a Small World

By Fr. Jeff | 07/04/2012

One of the things I have been reminded of during my transition to Immaculate Conception is how interconnected we can be.  Here are some examples. When one parishioner introduced herself, I recognized the last name and discovered I know her…

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First Homily at Immaculate

By Fr. Jeff | 07/02/2012

Here is my homily that I offered this weekend as I began as pastor of Immaculate Conception Church.   For those who haven’t seen me preach, I adjust from Mass to Mass so what follows isn’t always exactly what I said…

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Five Days Later

By Fr. Jeff | 06/30/2012

I officially arrived at Immaculate Conception Church as the pastor on Tuesday (June 26th).  As I was carrying boxes into the office, Sr. Edna asked to talk to me about a funeral.  She apologized for having to ask so quickly. …

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An End or a New Beginning

By Fr. Jeff | 06/22/2012

It is the time of year for graduations.  Nowadays, we have graduations from Pre-K, Kindergarten, elementary school, high school, and college.  Graduations mark the accomplishment of learning.  They come at the end of the school year and are often thought…

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A Different Change

By Fr. Jeff | 06/16/2012

I left my job with the New York State Department of Transportation in 2000.  I then spent two years in Rochester completing my pre-theology studies.  Then I went to Washington, DC at Theological College for two years.  Next, I was…

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A Word on Spam

By Fr. Jeff | 06/11/2012

Knowing there are a number of new people reading my blog in the last couple of months I just want to take a moment to let people know that if you post a comment, it is important that you make…

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