The Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross St. Catherine wrote in Letter 102: We were that soil into which the banner of the most holy cross was set; we became a sort of vessel to receive the blood of the Lamb which rand down from the cross. Why Read more
Saint John begins tonight’s Gospel with a line that opens a window into the very heart of Jesus. “So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took Read more
After receiving a beautiful invitation from the Pastor, Sisters and parishioners of St. Francis Xavier Parish on the San Juan Islands, I spent the 4th weekend of Lent with them earlier in March. I arrived at St. Marys in Anacortes on a Saturday morning to visit with the two priests Read more
Palm Sunday places before us a striking contrast: the crowds acclaim Jesus as king, yet St. Paul reminds us that Christ reveals his kingship not through power or domination, but through humility, obedience, and self-giving love.In the Letter to the Philippians, Paul tells us that Jesus, “though he was in Read more
Tonight, once again, we gather as Church, a small portion of the Body of Christ. The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council teach us that the Church “is an enduring source of unity, hope and salvation for the whole human race. It is established by Christ as a communion of Read more
Every year in the days following Ash Wednesday those who are preparing to receive the Easter Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, (catechumens) along with those who are already baptized who are preparing to profess full Communion with the Catholic Church (candidates) take a formal step in what is called Read more
Tuesday, February 17 marked this year’s celebration of Lunar New Year. This is a significant moment in the life of much of the Asian community. Last Saturday I celebrated the Lunar New Year with the Vietnamese Catholic Community at the Vietnamese Martyrs Parish in Tukwilla. Normally the celebration extends for Read more
Today’s Gospel speaks of the necessity to deny self in the fashion of Jesus. (Luke 9:22-25) Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” Read more
Ash Wednesday Homily – 2026 I recently came across a quote from Flannery O’Connor that seems especially fitting as we begin our Lenten journey this Ash Wednesday. She wrote: “All human nature vigorously resists grace, because grace changes us—and the change is painful.”As we begin Lent, I recognize the truth Read more
Most bishops today get plenty of mail from parishioners – much of which asks or demands that we respond to the latest issue of their concern. Very often in today’s world those issues are directly related to politics and how one political parties’ efforts to enforce or promote their agenda Read more