This weekend our parish is happy to welcome Mr. Colin Firda who is a seminarian studying to be a priest of our diocese. Colin will be with us for a couple of months, during which time he will be helping out by serving Mass, writing a short weekly reflection for the bulletin, and moving heavyContinue reading “A Few Announcements “
Category Archives: Other
What’s in a Name?
As the Church gets to know its new pope, one of the things that is helpful to consider is the name that Cardinal Robert Prevost took upon his election to the See of Peter. It has been the tradition since the sixth century for popes to adopt what are called “regnal names,” and the nameContinue reading “What’s in a Name? “
Tales of Conclaves Past
This week, members of the College of Cardinals of the Catholic Church will perform their most important function, which is to elect a new pope. The election takes place during what is called a “conclave,” which comes from the Latin words, con and clavis, which literally means “with key,” referring to a room with aContinue reading “Tales of Conclaves Past “
Pope Francis, R.I.P.
The first time I heard the name Jorge Bergoglio was the evening of March 13, 2013, when he stepped out on the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica as Pope Francis. I was a deacon, in my second-to-last year of studies in Rome, only months away from priestly ordination. Just weeks earlier I had been sittingContinue reading “Pope Francis, R.I.P. “
Putting in the Work
Shannon Sharpe is considered to have been one of the best tight ends to ever play professional football. He won two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos and one with the Baltimore Ravens and retired from the NFL in 2003 as league leader in receptions, touchdowns, and receiving yards at his position. These days, heContinue reading “Putting in the Work “
Not Doing What We Can
At last weekend’s Masses, the Church had us reflect on a scripture passage about King Saul falling into the hands of David (1 Sam 26:2-23). Saul had been making David’s life miserable for years, trying to kill him out of envy. Suddenly, David has a golden opportunity to put an end to his ordeal byContinue reading “Not Doing What We Can “
Drifting Apart, Marching Back
Last weekend our parish hosted a marriage workshop called “Adventures in Marriage.” Over the course of three days, 22 couples spent time learning how to constructively work through challenges together, and by all accounts the program was very well-received. I was able to watch parts of the presentation and witness some of the exercises thatContinue reading “Drifting Apart, Marching Back “
Candles
This weekend, Masses will begin a little bit differently than usual, with the blessing of candles for Candlemas. Candlemas is the feast on which we commemorate the presentation of the infant Jesus in the Jerusalem Temple 40 days after His birth. Historically-speaking, the Temple at the time of Jesus was known as the second Temple.Continue reading “Candles “
Coach Freeman
It’s been a good year for head coaches who are serious about their Catholic faith. Last June, Joe Mazzulla coached the Boston Celtics to their franchise’s 18th NBA title and is still known to stroll around the parquet floor praying the rosary before home games. This winter, in only his third season at Notre Dame,Continue reading “Coach Freeman “
Fires
Over the past few weeks, terrible wildfires have devastated the city of Los Angeles. As I write this, experts are forecasting more of the same Santa Ana winds that have fed and spread the destructive blazes. The fires so far have burned an area more than twice the size of the island of Manhattan, consumingContinue reading “Fires “
The Parish of St. Cecilia-St. Gabriel 