Pastor's Blog

Dear Parishioners, In 1961 Pope John XXII shocked the Catholic world when he announced that he would convene an Ecumenical Council. This would be the first such Council held since the First Vatican Council called by Pope Pius IX which closed on June 29, 1868. That Council was the first Council since the Council of Trent which was held three centuries earlier. ...Read more

Dear Parishioners, October 5, 1938 a young religious by the name of Sr. Faustina (Helen Kowalski) died in a convent of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady in Cracow, Poland. She came from a very poor family that had struggled hard on their little farm during the terrible years of World War I. Sr. Faustina had only three years of very simple education. Hers were the h ...Read more

Dear Parishioners, When the women arrived at the tomb, a young man said: "Do not be afraid. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised, he is not here." With these simple words, a new chapter in salvation is opened. For Christ, through his resurrection has conquered sin and death and has opened for all time the gates of heaven for all who believe.  ...Read more

Dear Parishioners, A popular devotional prayer during Lent is the Stations of the Cross. Many of us walked this journey to Calvary as children. We offer it each Friday evening during Lent, our children experience it as part of their Religious Education class and on this Friday, as the world pauses to celebrate Good Friday and the death of Christ, we will walk the Station ...Read more

Dear Parishioners, One day last week the scripture reading for the Divine Office was taken from Psalm 69, and in the wake of the storms, the loss of power and the flooding, I thought how fitting it was, what proof that the scriptures are ever old and ever new. The psalmist wrote: "Save me, God, for the waters have reached my neck. I have sunk into the mire of the deep wh ...Read more

Dear Parishioners, On this Fourth Sunday of Lent, as we reach the mid-point of this sacred season, the Church interrupts its penitential tone to introduce a new word "rejoice" in the entrance antiphon (eliminated when the verse is sung). The Latin word for "rejoice", laetare is the source of the day being known as Laetare Sunday. Remember we interrupted the preparation for the ...Read more

Dear Parishioners, Some time ago Paulist Press published a little book called "Celebrating Lent." It was a compilation of articles first published in the New Catholic World magazine. It consisted of various articles by individuals sharing their celebration of Lent One article, written by a Benedictine monk, Louis Schaper, was titled "Our Way of Lent" and shared the experi ...Read more

Dear Parishioners, The Gospel reading for this Second Sunday of Lent has always been among my favorite passages in scripture. Perhaps this is because I had the opportunity to ascend Mount Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration and propel myself back in time to that day when Jesus took Peter, James and John there, before his chosen witnesses were revealed in all of His glory ...Read more

Dear Parishioners, Our 40 day Lenten journey began on Ash Wednesday with the ashes visible on our foreheads as we began to walk the road to Calvary with the Lord, ending it with the Passion, Death and Resurrection. The scripture readings on Ash Wednesday set the tone for our Lenten experience. The prophet Joel said "even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fa ...Read more

Dear Parishioners, There is a familiar hymn which begins: "They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love." On Wednesday, as we observe Ash Wednesday, as we leave the Church, they will know we are Christians by the ashes in the sign of the cross imposed upon our foreheads to the words: Remember you are dust and unto dust you will return." I don't know the ...Read more