Matthew 26:38
“Last year, nearly one in 30 deaths recorded in Canada was an assisted suicide death.” Catholic ethicist Charlie Camosy cited this troubling statistic during his recent interview in The Pillar of Amanda Achtman, a human rights advocate who works with Canadian Physicians for Life. Since the 2016 introduction of Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID)Continue reading “Matthew 26:38 “
St. Cecilia
This Tuesday (11/22) is the feast of St. Cecilia our co-patron. Born in the third century into a wealthy Roman family, her parents arranged for her to marry a young pagan nobleman by the name of Valerius. Unbeknownst to them, however, Cecilia had become a Christian, and like many young Christian women at the time,Continue reading “St. Cecilia “
Resisting Colonization
I had never heard of Bo Burnham until I came across a clip of a recent conference at which he spoke about the impact of social media on culture. Burnham is a 32-year-old comedian and musician who received critical acclaim for a comedy special he produced during the COVID-19 lockdowns called Inside. Originally from Massachusetts,Continue reading “Resisting Colonization “
God’s Plan for St. Martin
In the first thousand years of Christianity, St. Martin of Tours was one of the most widely-venerated and beloved saints in the Church. Born to pagan parents just a few years after the legalization of Christianity in 313, Martin embraced the Christian faith at an early age. As the son of a retired Roman militaryContinue reading “God’s Plan for St. Martin “
Communion
This Tuesday, November 1, is the Solemnity of All Saints. It is one of the greatest feasts of the year because it is a celebration of those who have reached the final destination for which we are made and to which we all aspire, with the help of God’s grace. It’s important to remember thatContinue reading “Communion “
Altars
The most important object in every Catholic church is the altar. An altar is a table-like structure upon which is offered a sacrifice to God. In the worship rituals of the Old Testament, a sacrifice of an animal or grains would be offered to the Lord on the altar. The sacrifice would then be burned,Continue reading “Altars “
An Odd Sort of Mercy
Graham Greene was one of the most acclaimed writers of the 20th century, whose best novels feature morally complex characters who experience grace through their very real struggles with fallen human desire. I recently read his 1951 novel, The End of the Affair, which takes place in London in the mid-1940s. A writer named MauriceContinue reading “An Odd Sort of Mercy “
Bending the Knee
When I was a seminarian, I had a summer assignment at a parish where the pastor gave me the task of training the altar servers. I was very pleased when a pretty decent number of kids showed up to the training session. The first thing we practiced was processing down the aisle at the beginningContinue reading “Bending the Knee “
The Beautiful Life of St. Francis
In the Italian city of Assisi there is a small church named San Damiano located halfway down the hill upon which the city is built. There, in the year 1205, the young Francis knelt in prayer before a large crucifix. Suddenly, he heard the voice of Christ speaking to him from the crucifix, calling toContinue reading “The Beautiful Life of St. Francis “
Singing and Parking
On Singing: “He who sings prays twice.” This is a phrase attributed to St. Augustine of Hippo, the patron saint of our Diocese. He is saying that when we sing our prayers, we adorn the words we speak to the Lord with a beauty that comes from our hearts’ love for Him. It is likeContinue reading “Singing and Parking “
Gift Exchange
“O, marvelous exchange! Man’s Creator has become man, born of the Virgin. We have been made sharers in the divinity of Christ who humbled Himself to share in our humanity.” This is the Antiphon that opens the liturgical celebration of the Solemnity of Mary (Jan 1). It expresses a central claim of orthodox Christianity: thatContinue reading “Gift Exchange “
Survey Says
A couple of months ago, the Diocese approached me and asked whether our parish might be interested in participating in a program that assists in outreach and ministry to married couples and families. After listening to what they had to say, I saw it as a good opportunity. There seems to be little debate thatContinue reading “Survey Says “
Knowing Ourselves
When the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope were released in July, the public response was astonishment. What the Hubble Telescope had revealed faintly was now seen with unprecedented clarity – thousands of galaxies in a patch of sky the size of a grain of sand, some of whose light took over 13Continue reading “Knowing Ourselves “
On the Calendar
In the kitchens of my sisters’ homes a guest will notice a large calendar hanging on a prominent space on the wall. Except, it’s not just a calendar. In their homes it is referred to as THE calendar. According to them, the calendar is what keeps their homes from falling into complete and utter chaos. Continue reading “On the Calendar “
Throw Away Culture
In his encyclical “Laudato Si,” Pope Francis writes about “throw away culture.” While much of the encyclical discusses themes about the environment, “throw away culture” refers to much more than littering or the wasteful nature of consumerism. Lucia Silecchia, a law professor at Catholic University of America, has argued that Pope Francis intends the phraseContinue reading “Throw Away Culture “
What’s Most Real
I’m a big believer in having a daily routine. The year before I entered seminary, my daily routine consisted of waking up at 6:30 and getting to daily Mass at 7:30am on my way to work. After work, I’d get some exercise before making myself something for dinner. Then I’d go to a nearby churchContinue reading “What’s Most Real “
Parish Potential
Next Saturday, August 13, is the feast day of Blessed Michael McGivney. Fr. McGivney is well-known for having founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882, which today is a Catholic fraternal organization that has over 2 million members worldwide, providing hundreds of millions of dollars in charitable giving as well as countless man-hours of serviceContinue reading “Parish Potential “
“They Glorified God in Me”
The title of this article is the phrase with which St. John Henry Newman introduces his short poem titled: “Transfiguration.” The poem is as follows: I saw thee once and nought discern’d/ for stranger to admire;/ A serious aspect, but it burn’d/ With no unearthly fire./ Again I saw, and I confess’d/ Thy speech wasContinue reading ““They Glorified God in Me” “
Summer Family Saints
Late July is the heart of the summer, when we spend time with family and rest in the heat of the season. This last week of the month, we celebrate the feasts of several saints, all of them laypeople, who became holy through life in the family. On Tuesday (7/26) we celebrate the feast dayContinue reading “Summer Family Saints “
Clearing up Confusion after Dobbs
In the wake of the recent Supreme Court decision Dobbs v Jackson, there has been a good deal of confusion over the significance of its overturning of Roe v Wade and Planned Parenthood v Casey. Surveys show that a very large number of Americans, up to 68% in some polls, believe that Dobbs criminalizes abortion,Continue reading “Clearing up Confusion after Dobbs “
Hospitality
Since beginning my formation for priesthood as a seminarian, I have been on many retreats. The best retreat experience I ever had was at a monastery called Monte Oliveto Maggiore, which is the home of a community of Benedictine monks in the Italian region of Tuscany. For a week, I lived, ate, and prayed withContinue reading “Hospitality “
Reconstruction
On Friday, June 23, the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its much-anticipated opinion Dobbs v Jackson which struck down its 1973 opinion Roe v Wade and the 1992 decision Casey v Planned Parenthood. Dobbs effectively ended the 49-year federal prohibition of legal restrictions onContinue reading “Reconstruction “
St. Cyril of Alexandria
This Monday (6/27) is the feast of St. Cyril of Alexandria, who succeeded his uncle as bishop of that Egyptian city, and served there from 412 A.D. until his death 32 years later. St. Cyril lived during a period called the Patristic Age, which historians generally understand to have spanned the late 1st century throughContinue reading “St. Cyril of Alexandria “
Sacred Heart, Sacred Body
The month of June is dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. One may be forgiven for not knowing that, since the Sacred Heart of Jesus is not something that attracts corporate sponsorship or media attention. Sadly, there are no parades organized to celebrate the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Which is surprising, in aContinue reading “Sacred Heart, Sacred Body “
Blessing of Priesthood
Several weeks ago, I attended a Mass at which a newly-ordained deacon gave his first homily. he preached about his experience of vocational discernment, which led him to the priesthood, to which he will be ordained next year. As a boy, people asked him if he wanted to be a taxi driver like his fatherContinue reading “Blessing of Priesthood “
Adrift No More
At this year’s graduation ceremonies at New York University, pop star Taylor Swift addressed the class of 2022. If you’re not familiar with Taylor Swift, she is one of the best-selling musicians of all time, having sold over 200 million records since her debut album which came out in 2006 when she was 17. DuringContinue reading “Adrift No More”
Confirmed in the Spirit
This Thursday evening (May 26), 68 young men and women from our parish will receive the sacrament of Confirmation at the hands of Bishop Frank Caggiano. With the reception of this sacrament, they will be fully initiated members of the Catholic Church, and will have received an increase and a deepening of what they firstContinue reading “Confirmed in the Spirit”
Rosary & Renovations
Pray the Rosary May is the month of Our Lady, and a good time to resolve to pray a daily rosary. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Just a couple of weeks ago, two world-famous Catholics made strong pitches for the daily rosary. There was Pope Francis, of course, who exhortedContinue reading “Rosary & Renovations”
First Communion
One of the best days of the year in every Catholic parish is the Saturday on which we celebrate First Holy Communions. Everybody is dressed up and the church is filled with the buzz of excited family members. The best part of the experience for the priest, of course, is giving the young men andContinue reading “First Communion”
Vicki Thorn, R.I.P.
“A number of times over the years I’ll be someplace, and someone will have introduced me, and all of a sudden this woman will come up to me, and she’ll say, ‘May I give you a hug?’ And she’ll just wrap her arms around me and hold me very tight, and she whispers in myContinue reading “Vicki Thorn, R.I.P. “
St. Mark
This Monday (4/25) is the feast day of St. Mark the Evangelist, the patron saint of Venice, whose symbol is a winged lion. Mark was born in the early 1st century and his family was prominent among the earliest Christians in Jerusalem. His uncle was St. Barnabas, who was St. Paul’s primary collaborator during hisContinue reading “St. Mark”
What It’s All About
There’s a story about a young Italian priest who was travelling by train and found himself sharing a compartment with a group of high school students. Since it was 1952 and there were no smart phones to distract them, the priest and the young people engaged in conversation. What the priest discovered through the conversationContinue reading “What It’s All About”
Behind the Veil
This weekend we enter Passiontide, the final phase of the Lenten season, during which we traditionally veil statues and holy images in our churches until the Easter Vigil. I recently came across a poem by John Hart entitled, “Veiled Images at Passiontide,” which contemplates this ancient custom. A purple kite against the wall with theContinue reading “Behind the Veil”
Forgiveness & Healing
Forgiveness is the subject of a new book by moral theologian Fr. Thomas Berg and clinical psychologist Dr. Timothy Lock, who both serve on the faculty of St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers, NY. The book is called Choosing Forgiveness: Unleash the Power of God’s Grace, and they recently gave an interview to The Pillar aboutContinue reading “Forgiveness & Healing”
Fish on Fridays
By now, it is a well-known story. In the early 1960s, a man named Lou Groen noticed a dramatic decline in business on Fridays at his McDonald’s restaurant in Cincinnati. He realized that this was due to the city’s large Catholic population – and Catholics did not eat meat on Fridays. So, Groen approached RayContinue reading “Fish on Fridays”
Sleeping St. Joseph
I was recently at the home of some friends and during dinner they were telling me about a particular challenge they were facing as a family. They told me that they were asking for the intercession of “sleeping St. Joseph.” They must have noticed the confused look on my face, because they said with surprise:Continue reading “Sleeping St. Joseph”
Learning from Alvaro & George
When I was 25, I lived for four months in Madrid as a guest of a large Spanish family of 8 children, most of whom were grown and living on their own. I was introduced to the family by a friend who briefed me about them as he drove me to their home. In theContinue reading “Learning from Alvaro & George”
Lenten Disciplines
Lent 2022 kicks off this Wednesday, when together we will begin another 40-day pilgrimage to Easter. It’s about this time every year that we start giving some thought to what our Lenten discipline will be, that is, what we plan to give up for Lent. Traditionally, Catholics are called upon to do three things duringContinue reading “Lenten Disciplines”
The Memory of St. Polycarp
Years ago, prior to entering seminary, I worked in an office where, during their lunch break, a group of my co-workers would gather in the break room and watch their favorite soap opera. The show was sufficiently ridiculous to be entertaining, so occasionally I’d join them. My favorite storyline was about a character who awokeContinue reading “The Memory of St. Polycarp”
Comprehending Brianna’s Choice
In this month’s edition of the Fairfield County Catholic (Jan 2022), there is a beautiful article about a young woman named Brianna Farens who grew up in Shelton, and is a graduate of St. Joseph High School (2010) and Providence College (2014). She had always thought about pursuing a career in medicine, like her father,Continue reading “Comprehending Brianna’s Choice”
St. Josephine Bakhita
In 1877, a seven-year-old member of the Daju tribe in Sudan was kidnapped and sold into slavery. Her kidnappers sold her to people who treated slaves brutally, including frequent severe beatings which almost killed her. One of her owners subjected her to an excruciating process of decorative cutting, which left her chest, abdomen, and rightContinue reading “St. Josephine Bakhita”
Spooky Music and Smoke
One of the kids in the parish recently asked me about the “spooky” music in the Mass. After asking him a few questions I realized that he was referring to the music that we hear after the entrance hymn, when the priest has arrived to the sanctuary and before he makes the Sign of theContinue reading “Spooky Music and Smoke”
St. Francis De Sales
This Monday (1/24) is the feast day of St. Francis De Sales, the Bishop of Geneva from 1602-1622. Born of a noble family, St. Francis was groomed by his father from a young age for service as an imperial magistrate. He experienced a profound conversion at the age of 19, however, which set his life on a different path. It was around that time thatContinue reading “St. Francis De Sales”
The Blessing of Children
Pope Francis got himself into trouble with the commentariat last week for some things he said during his January 5 audience that were critical of married couples who decide against having children. “Many couples do not have children because they do not want to, or they [intentionally] just have one – but they have two dogs, two cats [that] take the place ofContinue reading “The Blessing of Children”
Family Matters
There’s an excellent essay by Helen Alvare in the current edition (Jan 2022) of Magnificat, entitled “Who is my Neighbor?” Alvare is a tenured law professor at Antonin Scalia Law School (George Mason University), an advisor to the Vatican and the US Bishops Conference regarding issues of family policy and religious freedom, and the author of many articles and books. Here it is in its entirety: I haveContinue reading “Family Matters”
Hopes and Resolutions
What do we hope for in this new year of 2022? Certainly, we continue to suffer the effects of the pandemic. COVID-19 has exposed many of the hidden maladies of our society, including a widespread sense of isolation and a desperate yearning for meaning and purpose in life. We have seen how social alienation is easily co-opted by political movements and ideologies that foment resentment andContinue reading “Hopes and Resolutions”
Christmas Lights
Lights make Christmas beautiful. Driving around Stamford, it’s amazing to see the lengths people will go to coat their homes in the brilliant festive hues of Christmas. I find there’s something mystical about sitting quietly before a Christmas tree in a darkened room, basking in the radiant glow pouring forth from among the branches. It’s beautiful. It’s also a fitting way to celebrate the birth of Jesus, Our Savior, in Bethlehem. WeContinue reading “Christmas Lights”
Norm
Over the next couple of weeks, the media will begin its annual practice of reflecting on the events of the past year, including the passing of celebrities and politicians. One of the people who surely will be mentioned is comedian Norm MacDonald, who died of cancer in September. MacDonald was best-known as a cast member of Saturday Night Live and for anchoring theContinue reading “Norm”
Assembling the Assembly
I recently ordered a piece of furniture, a little television stand for the rectory. It arrived requiring assembly. I’m not much of a handyman, so when I saw all of the pieces, with different-sized screws, and various other pieces of hardware, I was a bit worried about how it would come out. Fortunately, there were instructions that I could follow. It took aboutContinue reading “Assembling the Assembly”
Friends with Nones
I recently read a very sad article entitled, “’Nones’ at the Peripheries.” It appeared on the website of a Catholic news provider called The Pillar and was the final installment of a series of articles about a survey commissioned by The Pillar which I also wrote about in this space a few weeks ago. This particular article focused in on a segment of our country’s population that is religiously unaffiliated. They are often referred to as the “nones,” since their response to theContinue reading “Friends with Nones”
Remembrances and Anticipations
Advent has come quickly this year. It is a season of anticipation, of looking forward to the fulfillment of divine promises. Yet, it doesn’t seem right to move on from Thanksgiving to Advent just yet. With time moving so quickly, it is important not to shortchange the opportunity that Thanksgiving provides, which is to remember. Unlike the anticipation of Advent, the gratitude of Thanksgiving is a backward-looking virtue, and aContinue reading “Remembrances and Anticipations”
Life in the Real World
Do we have a problem with reality? You might think so based on the recent announcement by Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who has decided to rename his company “Meta” and unveiled his dream project of creating a virtual reality platform he calls the “metaverse.” At first glance, it seems strange that a 37-year-old man who is worth $120 billion wouldContinue reading “Life in the Real World”
One of the Greats
In the two-thousand-year history of the Church, only two popes enjoy the honorific “The Great,” according to Church tradition. The fifth century pontiff, St. Leo is one of them (his sixth century successor, Pope St. Gregory, is the other). Prior to his election as pope at the age of 40, St. Leo was already known as a great administrator and promoter of political peace. When conflicts brokeContinue reading “One of the Greats”
Dressing Up
This is the time of year when people, young and old, dress up in costumes for trick-or-treating and Halloween parties. For this reason, I thought it opportune to write about liturgical vestments and the significance of the garments that the priest wears for liturgy. It’s important to note, however, that there is a fundamental difference between aContinue reading “Dressing Up”
Formation for Evangelization
Leonard DeLorenzo is a professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame. He recently wrote an article in Church Life Journal entitled, “Evangelization: If We Just Keep Them, We’ll Lose Them.” The “them” he refers to are the young people who are the object of intense concern in the Church. DeLorenzo argues that the Church makes a mistake when framing the issue in negative terms,Continue reading “Formation for Evangelization”
Dr. Irenaeus
I remember years ago doing a little research to find out if my birthday was also the feast day of a saint. When I found the answer, I said to myself in disappointment: “Who is St. Irenaeus?” As you read this, you might be saying the same thing. But these days St. Irenaeus has been making a big comeback. Just a couple of weeks ago, Pope Francis announced hisContinue reading “Dr. Irenaeus”
Good Pope John
In October 1962, almost 60 years ago this month, Pope St. John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Council. The First Vatican Council had been cut short and left unfinished in 1870 by the War of Italian Unification. Prior to that Council was the Council of Trent, which was the Catholic Church’s response to the crisis of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th Century. Less than 20 yearsContinue reading “Good Pope John”
God’s Minstrel
This Monday, October 4, is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi (1881-1226). St. Francis is one of the most beloved saints in the Christian tradition, especially among the people of his native Italy. An Italian friend of mine once joked that Italians love St. Francis best, then comes St. Joseph, then Padre Pio, then Jesus! St. Francis captured theContinue reading “God’s Minstrel”
Carthago Delenda Est
There was an article in the New York Times a number of years ago that reported on a place that scholars have called “the largest cemetery of sacrificed humans ever discovered.” It’s located near the North African coast, not far from the city of Tunis, the site of the ancient Phoenician city of Carthage. In its day, Carthage was one ofContinue reading “Carthago Delenda Est”
Forming a Eucharistic Strategy
Last week someone shared with me a recent article from Commonweal by Cardinal Blaise Cupich, the Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago. Cardinal Cupich is generally considered to be a “progressive” member of the American episcopate, though those types of political labels are often unhelpful when applied to the Church. Irrespective of one’s leanings, the article offers some compelling observations. In it, the Cardinal outlines several themes about the Eucharist that he believes should be the foundation of a strategy to address the significant challenges the Church faces inContinue reading “Forming a Eucharistic Strategy”
Seeking Refuge
Over the past week we have been doing much as a nation to commemorate the terrible events of September 11, 2001. Part of the ritual has been to share with each other our own experiences of that horrible day, which set so many things in motion and changed our world in so many ways. I was living in Spain at theContinue reading “Seeking Refuge”
Holy Hour for Vocations
Several years ago, when I was the Vocations Director for the Diocese of Bridgeport, I came across a talk that Mother Teresa of Calcutta gave back in 1993. In it, she told the story of an old man that her sisters discovered and pulled out of a gutter. He was in very bad shape. They brought him toContinue reading “Holy Hour for Vocations”
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
In 1882, there was a terrible outbreak of smallpox in the small nation of Haiti. Over the course of several months, tens of thousands of Haitians died of the disease. The epidemic was made worse by a drought that was unusually long for the tropical island. On February 5, 1882, Archbishop Alexis Jean-Marie Guilloux gathered the people to the church of St. Francis Xavier in the Bel-Air neighborhoodContinue reading “Our Lady of Perpetual Help”
Breaking the Spell
There was a very interesting opinion article in last Sunday’s New York Times (“How to Think Your Way Into Religious Belief” 8/15/21). It was written by Ross Douthat, who has had a column in the Op-Ed section of the Times since 2009, and has on occasion used that space to write about religion. Douthat is Catholic, and his writings demonstrate a broad interest in religious belief,Continue reading “Breaking the Spell”
The Assumption
It is a very unusual thing not to be celebrating the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time this weekend. Instead, this Sunday the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is unusual because Sundays have a privileged place in Catholic liturgy. Sunday is the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, the day on which Christ rose fromContinue reading “The Assumption”
Ordo
In the sacristy of every Catholic church there is a little book called an Ordo. Published annually by the Bishops of the United States, the Ordo provides all the information about the liturgy that one needs for every day of the year. It tells us what readings we’re supposed to read at Mass, what prayers we’re supposed toContinue reading “Ordo”
Return
Brandon Vogt is the Senior Content Editor at Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, an organization established by Bishop Robert Barron to provide tools of evangelization for Catholics. Recently, I listened to Vogt speak about his new book called Return: How to Draw Your Child Back to the Church. The book was the fruit of Vogt’s many years of research on the sky-rocketing number of people who were raisedContinue reading “Return”
Building on What We’ve Received
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”
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
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”
The Eucharist in The Times
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”
Finding a Quiet Place
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”
New Mass Schedule
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”
12th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Please click the following link to view the Mass of the 12th Sunday of Ordinary Time on our parish YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/M5qZ90P_8KI posted 6/20/21
Guardians of the Family, Guardians of Truth
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”
R.I.P. Sr. Mary Joseph, O.C.D.
Last weekend I received word that Sr. Mary Joseph, a member of the Carmelite Monastery of Des Plaines, IL., had passed away at the age of 92. Sr. Mary Joseph was an unlikely member of her Carmelite community. Born Ann Russell, she grew up as a wealthy San Francisco socialite whose father was the chairman of Southern Pacific Railroad. She married Richard Miller atContinue reading “R.I.P. Sr. Mary Joseph, O.C.D.”
Mass of Corpus Christi
Please click the following link to watch our parish Mass for Corpus Christi on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/NARihC7yDV4 posted 6/6/21
The Sacred Heart
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”
Memento Mori
A couple of weeks ago, the New York Times featured a story by journalist Ruth Graham about a young religious sister who spends her days encouraging people to remember not just the dead, but to remember death itself. Sr. Teresa Aletheia, a member of the Daughters of St. Paul, has developed a huge online following by encouraging people to cultivate the daily habit of reflecting on their mortality. Memento mori, in Latin, was a practice of ancient pagan philosophers but has also been part of Christian lifeContinue reading “Memento Mori”
Confirmed in the Spirit
This Wednesday (5/26), Bishop Caggiano will be coming to confirm 23 young men and women of our parish. It’s a lovely thing to have Confirmations so soon after celebrating Pentecost, the great feast on which the Church commemorates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the world 50 days after Easter. As part of the liturgy of Pentecost, the Church gives usContinue reading “Confirmed in the Spirit”
Together in Person
Last week, the bishops of the three Connecticut dioceses jointly released a statement announcing the reinstatement of the obligation of the faithful to attend Sunday Mass. This obligation to attend Sunday Mass (or Saturday Vigil Mass) in person has its roots in the Apostolic age, when the members of the Church gathered every Sunday to celebrate together the paschalContinue reading “Together in Person”
Receiving the Body of Christ
Last weekend we celebrated First Holy Communions for 44 young members of our parish. First Communions are always one of the best days of the year. As the priest celebrant, I had the special privilege of seeing them approach the sanctuary with deep reverence, and receive the Most Blessed Sacrament with obvious faith. It wasContinue reading “Receiving the Body of Christ”
Month of Mary
May is the month of Mary. In May 2020, when the world was still suffering in the early stages of the pandemic, Pope Francis shared with the faithful his own devotion to the Blessed Mother and encouraged us to pray the rosary each day. “Contemplating the face of Christ with the heart of Mary our Mother will make us evenContinue reading “Month of Mary”
4th Sunday of Easter
Please click the following link to watch our parish’s Mass for the 4th Sunday of Easter on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/ju-GjOlFbQ4 posted 4/25/21
Hearing the Call of the Shepherd
In this Sunday’s gospel, Our Lord refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd, thus inviting us to consider the mystery of vocation. The Second Vatican Council reminds us that there is a universal vocation to holiness, which means that every single person is called to be a saint. For the sake of helping people respond to the universal vocation, we believe the Lord gives aContinue reading “Hearing the Call of the Shepherd”
The Spirit Moves Us
It was my first year in seminary and I was out with my family at a restaurant in Fairfield when we ran into some old friends of ours who had lived in our neighborhood when we were growing up. Jim, the father, was interested in what I was doing and so we talked about how my experience at St. JohnContinue reading “The Spirit Moves Us”
3rd Sunday of Easter
Please click the following link to view the parish Mass for the 3rd Sunday of Easter on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/zWQVkgv91jI posted 4/18/21
Learning the Narrative
You hear sometimes people in politics and public relations talking about “controlling the narrative.” Usually, this means trying to get a jump on a story by being the first to explain what is going on. The hope is that a “narrative” friendly to one’s position will be established in the mind of the public so that adversaries will be at a disadvantage,Continue reading “Learning the Narrative”
Emmaus
We have come to the end of Easter Sunday. Yes, the Solemnity of Easter was a week ago, but we must remember that Easter is such a big deal that the Church gives us eight days to celebrate it properly. We call that eight-day period the “Easter Octave.” The second Sunday of Easter – Divine Mercy Sunday – is the final day inContinue reading “Emmaus”
Easter
Msgr. Luigi Giussani (1922-2005) was an Italian priest and professor of theology, who spent many years teaching in Milan but who is best known as the founder of the Communion and Liberation movement. When he died in 2005, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (the future Pope Benedict XVI) preached his funeral Mass, saying: “[Msgr. Giussani] understood that Christianity is not an intellectualContinue reading “Easter”
Hosanna
It is part of the human experience that when we do something enough times it becomes second nature to us. When it’s a good pattern of behavior, we call it virtue. It’s it bad, we call it vice. Even things that seem complicated and difficult at first can become, over time, so much a part of us thatContinue reading “Hosanna”
Detox
The first reading for today’s Mass is from the Book of Numbers (21:4-9). Numbers is one of the first five books of the Bible, which together are called the Torah. Numbers tells the story of the Israelites after their liberation from slavery in Egypt, during their 40-year period of wandering in the desert before entering the Promised Land. In those days of wandering, theyContinue reading “Detox”
Veiled Images
There’s an old saying that “the early bird catches the worm.” In some cases, however, the early bird is just early. I thought of that last weekend when I realized too late that I had our volunteers veil the images in our churches too early. My apologizes for putting a damper on your Laetare Sunday! Traditionally, the properContinue reading “Veiled Images”
The Mysticism of St. Patrick
As saints go, St. Patrick is underrated. I think that’s especially true at this time of year when we see him everywhere, advertising green beer and corned beef sandwiches, waving the tri-color while holding his shamrock-covered crozier. The real St. Patrick, who was responsible for the fifth century spread of Christianity in Ireland, was one of the greatest missionariesContinue reading “The Mysticism of St. Patrick”
From the Ruins
Last weekend, perhaps overshadowed by the media coverage given to Oprah Winfrey’s interview of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Pope Francis made a historic pilgrimage to Iraq, becoming the first pope to visit that country. The images from the visit are remarkable, especially the Holy Father’s visit of the city of Mosul. Mosul is the second-largest city in Iraq, and was theContinue reading “From the Ruins”
Fr. Emil Kapaun
Fr. Emil Kapaun was a Catholic priest from Kansas who served as a U.S. Army chaplain in both World War II and the Korean War. During his service in Korea he was taken prisoner and died in a Korean prison camp in 1951 at the age of 35. In 2013, he was awarded the MedalContinue reading “Fr. Emil Kapaun”
3rd Sunday of Lent
Please click the following link to watch the Mass for the 3rd Sunday of Lent on our parish YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/kYVztRqCLk0 posted 3/7/21
True Aid in Dying
The Connecticut state legislature is debating once again a bill that would legalize physician-assisted suicide, calling it an “Aid in Dying” law. Below is part of an essay by Dr. Michael Brescia, the founder of Calvary hospice, that helps us to understand the true needs of those facing terminal illness. Not poison, but presence, love, and compassion. People ask for physician-assisted suicide because of suffering,Continue reading “True Aid in Dying”
Understanding and Misunderstanding
I’ve been re-reading a book by Caryll Houselander called The Reed of God, which is a really beautiful book filled with great insights into the spiritual life, with the Blessed Mother held up as the spiritual master par excellence. In the chapter entitled “Fiat,” Houselander writes about the effect of our surrendering ourselves to the will of God, noting that it simultaneously brings both greater understanding and greaterContinue reading “Understanding and Misunderstanding”
2nd Sunday of Lent
Please click the following link to view the parish Mass for the 2nd Sunday of Lent on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/9iUZIq-a3Go posted 2/28/21
The Search
Everyone likes a good movie/show recommendation. In that spirit, I’ll share one with you. It’s a series called The Search, which was produced by the Augustine Institute and which is available to our parishioners for free through our online FORMED account (you can access it through our parish website). Released last spring, The Search is well worth your time. It is a 7-part video series hosted by Chris Stefanick, with eachContinue reading “The Search”
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The Parish of St. Cecilia-St. Gabriel 