This past October, as my family and I gathered to mark the tenth anniversary of my Father's death, I was struck by the unpredictable nature of grief. Those who have experienced loss can relate to…
WHY WE WORSHIP
God doesn’t need our worship. We do. This truth may come as a surprise to many Catholics. We’ve been told that it’s an obligation to attend Mass on Sunday, so much so that if we…
MOVING FROM ‘YOUR’ TO ‘OUR’
People will ask me from time to time how I write my homilies and what the process behind it is. As someone with attention deficit disorder, I can tell you, it ain't pretty! The kids…
FAITH & FREEDOM
I always have to be cautious when I say that there were many blessings that emerged from the COVID pandemic. It was such an incredibly challenging time for all of us, and the effects still…
DESPERATE CRIES
A couple of weeks ago at Sunday Mass, we heard from the Gospel the story of the “Rich Young Man” - the story of the guy who had it all, but lost out on everything. …
ARE YOU LISTENING?
There is an anecdote told about President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It is said that FDR, known for his infectious smile and dynamic personality, grew weary of the predictable small talk he would experience during White…
THE HEART’S TRUE HOME
Bishop Robert Barron is the Catholic shepherd of a small diocese in Minnesota, a place many might struggle to locate on a map. Yet, he is recognized internationally and respected both within and outside the…
ROCKY STRUGGLES & LIGHT WITHIN
When you hear the names Thomas Edison and Sylvester Stallone, it may be hard to imagine what they might have in common. Maybe we could find a general thread like "They're both famous people." But…
MILLSTONES & MERCY – EXAMINING OUR HEARTS
On first reading, this Gospel can sound really appealing. I'm not sure if it's the Italian in me, having experienced my share of being bullied in life or just getting aggravated when it seems some…