In 1981, Pope John Paul II began an annual tradition of baptizing children of Vatican employees at St. Peter’s Basilica on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Infant baptism has been a consistent practice of the Church since its earliest days, as evidenced in Sacred Scripture and early Church documents. Baptism is not simply a ceremony in which someone publicly acknowledges they have faith. Baptism actually changes the person who receives it. This change is needed because all of us enter the world withContinue reading “Celebration of Baptism “
Category Archives: Sacraments
The First Tablet
A few months ago, I was at a (non-parishioner’s) wedding reception and found myself in a conversation with a group of people I knew, but not very well. The conversation took place at that point in the evening when guests suddenly feel relaxed enough to freely share their opinions on politics and religion. In dueContinue reading “The First Tablet “
Building Happy Marriages
What is the secret to a happy marriage? According to experts, going on dates (with one’s spouse) is very helpful. Unfortunately, most couples rarely enjoy a date night together. Based on a nationwide survey of over 2000 married couples, 52% of married couples report either never or seldom go on dates together, with 48% reportingContinue reading “Building Happy Marriages “
Jesus Among the Inmates
One night this spring, at the James A. Lynaugh Prison Unit in Fort Stockton, TX, a prisoner knelt in his cell and said a prayer. While it is not uncommon for inmates to pray, this prayer was very specific. The man asked God to grant him some kind of opportunity to deepen his faith, thatContinue reading “Jesus Among the Inmates “
Confirmation
Confirmation season has arrived. This weekend, I will confirm four adults at the 11:15 Mass of Pentecost. Next Saturday, Bishop Caggiano will come himself and confirm 53 young members of our parish. Among the sacraments, Confirmation seems the most obscure; the other six seem much easier to understand. Baptism has to do with new birthContinue reading “Confirmation “
Sanctified along the Way
“Hallow” is the number one Christian prayer app in the world. This Lent, it has featured daily readings from The Way, a spiritual classic first published in 1934 by St. Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei. The Way is a book filled with short, paragraph-long meditations on various subjects. The intended audience for theseContinue reading “Sanctified along the Way “
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 “
Called by Name
In Tampa, Florida there is an all-boys Catholic high school where over 100 students were received into the Catholic Church between 2010-2023, including 22 students in 2021 alone. In a National Catholic Register profile, an alumnus of Tampa Jesuit spoke about how his experience there helped him to discover a vocation to the priesthood. “IContinue reading “Called by Name “
Stay Hungry
In her recent address to the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Sr. Josephine Garrett said that a Eucharistic revival will only move forward if built on a two-legged foundation. One leg is greater reverence for His sacred presence – above all in the Eucharist, as well as in our neighbor. The other leg, she said, isContinue reading “Stay Hungry “
Munera
Ordaining priests is one of the great privileges of a bishop. Last Saturday, Bishop Caggiano ordained two new priests for the Diocese of Bridgeport – Fr. David Klein, and Fr. Jozef Ukaj. In his homily, Bishop Caggiano described their vocations as the fruit of God’s call, but also the good influence and example of theirContinue reading “Munera “
The Parish of St. Cecilia-St. Gabriel 