Author Archives: stceceliastgabriel

I watch too much YouTube.  More often than not, it’s a big waste of time.  But sometimes you can come across something interesting there.  I recently watched an interview of the film director Spike Lee.  He was asked by the interviewer to put together a list of films that he would recommend to anyone interested in film.  At one point, he expressedContinue reading “Building on What We’ve Received”

During a recent conversation with a member of our parish, he told me that over the past few years he has come to a greater love and appreciation for the True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.  He attributed this awakening to his experience of reverence in the liturgy.  In particular, he said that attending Eucharistic exposition and benediction,Continue reading “Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi”

There was a very interesting article in The New York Times two weeks ago in which journalists Elizabeth Dias and Ruth Graham reported on the Eucharist (“Beyond the Politics of Communion, an Ancient Holy Ritual”, 6/27/21).  The impetus for the piece was the recent meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, at which the bishops discussedContinue reading “The Eucharist in The Times”

In my mind, July is when summer really begins.  The weather starts to get consistently hot, life for most people slows down, and if they’re lucky they can get away for a vacation.    This week, I’ll be one of the lucky ones who gets some time away from the routine demands of ordinary life.  Every year IContinue reading “Finding a Quiet Place”

A wise priest once told me that there are certain decisions that a pastor must make, even at the risk of his own life.  One of them is deciding to tinker with the parish Mass schedule.  Last year, after the shutdowns, the unique circumstances required the adjustment of the liturgical schedule.  If you recall, prior to the pandemic the Mass schedule was as follows: 4pm vigil (St. Gabriel), 5:30pm vigilContinue reading “New Mass Schedule”

On June 11, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I had the privilege of attending a Mass at St. Mary’s Church in New Haven where Mr. Patrick Kelly was installed as the 14th Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus.  The Knights of Columbus are the largest Catholic fraternal organization in the world, with overContinue reading “Guardians of the Family, Guardians of Truth”

In October 1986, Pope John Paul II made a pilgrimage to a place called Paray-le-Monial, a town in eastern France.   Paray-le-Monial is called the “City of the Sacred Heart” because it was the home of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a 17th century religious sister whose visions of Christ led to widespread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. During an audience, Pope John Paul II saidContinue reading “The Sacred Heart”