One particular year I attended a preparation day and rehearsal for our deanery confirmation. Our time with the confirmandi and their sponsors began with informal small group discussions about living the faith, and the Catholic faith in general as seen from the viewpoint of the sacrament the youth were about to receive. People were encouraged …
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The 7 Gifts in Luke 14
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What is Wrong with my Catholic School
Two years ago there was a popular article shuffling about social media for Catholic Schools Week. It gave me reason to write my own reflections “why I support my own catholicschool.” All that I said there still holds, and I still support my own Catholic school, as a pastor, spiritually, morally, financially. But as time …
Gratitude
Are you grateful? Do you have any favorite Scriptures which you associate with gratitude? One of my projects for the next week is compile some Scripture quotes, both old favorites and new discoveries, which show that gratitude is not just a nice consequence of a Christian life (the icing on the cake), but is essential …
Because this Sunday our parish hosts Pre-Cana
10 Points on Prayer for Engaged Couples1. Prayer is not private. You may think, “this is something between me and God. My fiancé prays too. But it is too private. We don’t pray together.” Stop thinking that way. If you are married God will indeed judge the eternal salvation of your soul partially on the …
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Holy Thursday and Lay Holiness
Below is my homily from Holy Thursday 2016. Go love like Christ loved. Fr. Naples Holy ThursdayThe Mass for Holy Thursday has two options that I have never seen implemented. First, the celebrant or community can opt not to do the washing of the feet. Secondly there may be an offertory “for the poor” with …
Examination of Conscience for Parents of Teenagers
Examination of Conscience for Parents of TeenagersFriends Do I teach my teenage child to be caring towards all people? Do I pray that their relationship with the Lord Jesus will be the most important part of their life? Have I been responsible to know always what kind of people my teen spend time with?Have I …
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10 Reasons to have your marriage blessed by the Catholic Church
10 Reasons to have your marriage blessed by the Catholic Church10: Because you need God in your life. Period. When is the last time you did something with the specific intention of becoming a more devoted Christian, and regretted it? Even if you don’t really understand the Catholic Church’s idiosyncrasies about marriage, how on earth …
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You Are That Man: Reflections on Living as a Devout Catholic Man
Preface These reflections were admittedly written with a vocational discernment perspective. That is, they were written thinking first of those men, particularly younger men, who have not yet chosen a permanent state in life. Thus, the details of married life, or the priesthood, or life relationships are treated rather generally. The idea was certainly not …
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Why I Support My Own Catholic School
I did not ask to become the pastor of a Catholic School. In fact, I was slightly surprised to be assigned as a teacher in one of them at the time of my ordination. My brief experience teaching in, and then administrating, Catholic Schools has not always been fun, or edifying, or exceedingly hopeful for …
Ubi Petrus VT 