25th Anniversary

Posted by St. Joseph

I can’t believe it’s been 25 years since I was ordained to the priesthood and celebrated my first Mass!  A lot of events, honors, talks, Masses, confessions, anointing, classroom teaching, vocation work, being an associate pastor and a pastor—you can pack many goings-on in 25 years.

It is a ... Read More »

Mother's Day

Posted by St. Joseph

My mom turns 83 in September.  She gave birth to me 59 years ago at the age of 24.  I am number 4 of 8, and, we were quite the handful.  But, she did a great job teaching us life lessons, disciplining us when we deserved it, and, showing ... Read More »

First Communion & May Crowning

Posted by St. Joseph

Today, we celebrate with our second graders, their First Communion.  It is an opportunity for you and me to renew our commitment to the Eucharistic Christ and reaffirm our belief that when we go to Communion we are receiving the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.  ... Read More »

Divine Mercy Sunday

Posted by St. Joseph

Pope St. John Paul II instituted the Sunday after Easter as The Sunday of Divine Mercy.  St. Faustina received personal revelations from our Savior Jesus Christ involving His great mercy which flows from the wounded side of Christ from a lance at His crucifixion.  Jesus said to St. Faustina, ... Read More »

Happy Easter

Posted by St. Joseph

“The Resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ.  A faith believed and lived as the central truth by the first Christian community; handed on as fundamental by Tradition; established by the documents of the New Testament; and preached as an essential part of the ... Read More »

A Personal Invitation

Posted by St. Joseph

We enter into the holiest of weeks, what is called Holy Week.  Entering into the Passion (suffering), Death and Resurrection our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, binds us to the Holy Cross, both an instrument of death and the vehicle to our salvation.  All these days invite us to ... Read More »

Fourth Sunday of Lent--Prayer

Posted by St. Joseph

Prayer is of great interest and a vital necessity for the Christian life.  Many people pray, but, they are not always sure they are “doing it right”.  Simply put, prayer is talking with Him, listening to Him, and resting in silence before Him.

First, if we are true believers ... Read More »

Third Sunday of Lent--Fasting and Abstinence

Posted by St. Joseph

This week, as Lent progresses, I want to write about fasting and abstinence as part of our Catholic tradition.  You already know that abstinence is required of all Catholics from the age of 14 until you die.  Fasting is also expected on only 2 days of the Lenten season:  ... Read More »

Second Sunday of Lent--Penance

Posted by St. Joseph

The idea of penance as part of our spiritual practice has been with us from the first days upon Christ’s Ascension.  The Church has always proposed acts of penance as a means of uniting ourselves to the suffering of Christ on the Cross and His walk on the Way ... Read More »

First Sunday of Lent--Temptation

Posted by St. Joseph

The 1st Sunday of Lent always deals with the temptations of Jesus.  It is a teachable moment for us as to handling a temptation or vice that either comes upon us regularly, is part of a habit, or is difficult to resist.

First, it is important to realize that ... Read More »