Introduction Sometimes things just come together in a wonderful way. This is one of those Sundays. It is the patronal feast of your parish, the 135th anniversary of its founding, the 40th anniversary of the priestly ordination of your pastor, and into the mix is added my first though not last pastoral visit. Who could...Read More
Introduction: Beware of Honors With apologies to St. Norbert, whose feast day it is, we have chosen to celebrate this morning a Saturday Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and for two reasons: it is a first Saturday, a day of special devotion to the Blessed Mother associated with her apparitions at Fatima;...Read More
Introduction St. Boniface was a natural leader. He was well-educated, well-connected and everyone thought he would stay in his native England to pursue a promising career as a churchman. If he had stayed, there is little doubt he would have succeeded yet his name would have been all but lost to history. Had he chosen...Read More
Introduction Thank you, Worthy Supreme Knight. It is a pleasure to be with you this morning and to have the opportunity to congratulate our newly elected state deputies and to offer a few reflections and words of encouragement to all our state deputies, together with the Supreme Officers and Supreme Directors. The first job of...Read More
Introduction In case you haven’t noticed, charity and love are risky. In fact, today’s Scripture readings say as much. And that should be of the greatest concern to an organization that sells life insurance and has charity as its first principle. Let me explain. In that long reading from the Book of Tobit, we meet...Read More
Introduction I’m happy for the opportunity, at long last, to offer Mass here at St. Joseph’s Parish and to bless the new parish center dedicated to formation and fellowship. Let me also join with you in thanking Father Neville O’Donohue for his effective and dedicated leadership as your pastor! Let me also take a moment...Read More
Introduction It is a special joy to install Father Michael DeAscanis as the pastor here at St. Philip Neri Parish. Already you have experienced his fidelity, dedication, and pastoral love. He is working closely with you in offering that leadership which is so necessary for a parish to be united and to fulfill its mission....Read More
Introduction On this very special day, the Lord Jesus calls you and me his friends. What joy this should bring to all of us – to be the friends of Jesus. What a precious gift friendship is. We may have many acquaintances but only a few really good friends. Jesus is truly our friend: he...Read More
This past weekend, our church celebrated two great events: Pentecost, which marks the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus, and the beatification of Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was beatified in San Salvador where he served as archbishop until his assassination in 1980. Not coincidentally, our Holy Father, Pope...Read More
Introduction Thank you so much for being here. In particular, I want to thank Father Patrick Carrion who oversees cemeteries in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. I also want to thank my brother Knights of Columbus for your presence this morning and for your constant support. For a few moments, let’s reflect on Memorial Day. It...Read More
The Spirit Given Sacramentally In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles we heard that, “when the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire...Read More
Introduction On this beautiful day when we open our hearts anew to the Holy Spirit we also celebrate the Beatification of Archbishop Oscar Romero. This morning, as we speak, he is being beatified in San Salvador where he served as Archbishop until he was killed in his Cathedral in 1980. How grateful we are to...Read More