[laread_first_letter]A[/laread_first_letter]s I begin a time of vacation, I sit this evening with a bible, reviewing some of the recent Gospel readings from St. Matthew. I stopped to reflect upon the words regarding Jesus: Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the Read more…
Last week I spent three days in St. Paul on the campus of the University of St. Thomas, at the Center for Catholic Studies, with a very talented group of people exploring the serious possibility of beginning an Institute on Integral Ecology. The genius behind this idea is Dr. Christopher Read more…
With the Gospel from St. Luke fresh in our memory, when the Risen Lord appeared to the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus, here is a flash back to July 2013 from Pope Francis. Can the Church today still warm the hearts of our people? The icon of Emmaus Read more…
“O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures for ever” (Ps 135:1) Dear Brothers and Sisters, Happy Easter! Jesus Christ, the incarnation of God’s mercy, out of love for us, died on the cross, and out of love he rose again from the dead. Read more…
Catholic Schools Week 2016 Catholic Schools Week is celebrated each year beginning on the last Sunday of January. It is an opportunity to highlight the profound impact that Catholic education has on local communities as well as throughout the world. It is a time to truly give thanks and praise Read more…
We come together today to praise God for his creative genius. We come together today to proclaim once again that all life is good, and that every human life is very good. Every human life from the moment of conception is a sign of God’s free choice to bring forth Read more…
This week, President Obama raised the need for this nation to address gun violence. The manner in which this Administration and Congress have confronted this issue in the past has proven to be ineffective. What is needed is a constructive dialogue about the violence that is taking so many innocent Read more…
Tonight “a great light” shines forth (Is 9:1); the light of Jesus’ birth shines all about us. How true and timely are the words of the prophet Isaiah which we have just heard: “You have brought abundant joy and great rejoicing” (9:2)! Our heart was already joyful in awaiting this Read more…
Today, on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, a Holy Year of Mercy begins. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis inaugurates today a central theme of his pontificate, a year dedicated to deeper understanding of the Mercy of the Father. He calls all people of good will to use this year Read more…
As a new Advent season begins, our readings draw attention to creation. From references to ‘the mountain of the Lord,’ (Isaiah 2: 1-5) to trees, branches, and fruit, (Isaiah 4) to the creatures of the earth that learn to live together in peace, (Isaiah 11) we are reminded of the Read more…