SET THE EARTH ON FIRE I have to admit that when I read today’s readings in preparation for this column my spirit groaned within me. Over the years I have not spent any time meditating on this particular gospel passage
Journey to OZ Our Franciscan retreat master, Fr. Johnpaul Cafiero OFM took us on a Journey to Oz this past week. His family holds one of greatest collections of the “Wizard of Oz” movie memorabilia, some 25,000 pieces. Father used
Greetings! I am Fr. Philip Dinh-Van-Thiep. I am 73 years old this year. From July 1st Bishop Ricken has granted me a “priest senior status” –a fancy way to say “retirement.” At the same time, Bishop has assigned me to
Hearts Must Follow This weekend my family will be gathered to celebrate our youngest granddaughter, Molly, who turned one on July 2nd. Molly is a reminder to our family of just how precious life is. Her parents longed for and
Today is the third Sunday of Ordinary Time since the end of the Easter season, and the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time on the current liturgical year’s calendar. We celebrated Solemnities the past two Sundays, so it still seemed a
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I am approaching a transition in my ministry, and I am about to leave you. I want to thank all of you for the many ways you allowed me to serve you as parochial vicar
I came across a blog called “prayer-wine-chocolate” which features bits of inspiration for our faith journey. I loved the writer’s “11 Quick, but Powerful Prayers” and am planning on printing them out to hang on the refrigerator this summer as
John 14:23-29: “Those who love me will keep my Word and my Father will love them and we will come to them and make our home with them…” These words were part of Jesus’ farewell discourse during the Last Supper
The God of Newness Today’s gospel reading is short but so amazing. God only asks one thing of us, to love one another as God has loved us. Compare that command to all the challenges you have heard in your
An Unlikely Doctor Writing this on April 29, I am overjoyed to see that this date celebrates the feast of one of the greatest role models for women (and men, of course): Saint Catherine of Siena. Catherine, a lay Dominican
