The Canaanite Woman

My Dear Parishioners, The Canaanite woman featured in this week’s Gospel is usually praised for her persistence. It is true, she did not give up, and that perseverance is to her credit. I would say, however, what was most important about her and about her prayer was her humility. Some points on the Gospel: The…

Eucharistic Congresses

My Dear Parishioners, This past week was the 50th anniversary of the 41st Eucharistic Congress, held in Philadelphia, from August 1-8, during the Bicentennial year of 1976. If you are at least in your late 50s, you might remember it. You might have been there. Over 1,500,000 of the Faithful attended the Eucharistic Congress. Its…

Annual Missionary Appeal

My Dear Parishioners, This weekend we welcome Fr. Ron Kelso for the Annual Missionary Appeal. Our support for the Missions is a way of “paying back” and “paying it forward.” We support the Missions in gratitude for those who handed down the Faith to us. We also support the Missions so that others may share…

The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church

My Dear Parishioners, When I think of the person who sells everything to buy the pearl of great price, I think of the martyrs. I think of that true and beautiful expression: the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. How true is that expression! A martyr is truly a witness to…

Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

My Dear Parishioners, Whoever has ears ought to hear. The word “ought” indicates a moral obligation, a moral duty. The word “ought” is usually used in relation to things that are good for us: you ought to pray more, you ought to lose weight, you ought to limit your time on the computer, you ought…

Happy July4th!

My Dear Parishioners, Happy Fourth of July and Happy 250th Birthday of our Nation. May we be blessed this weekend and may our nation be blessed. Our Sunday Gospel passage seems a little out of place for Independence Day Weekend. It is a Gospel that is often proclaimed while administering Last Rites to the dying.…

Updates Of Happenings In Our Parish.

My Dear Parishioners, It is hard to believe that this is the last weekend in June and that next weekend we will be celebrating Independence Day and the 250th Birthday of our nation. Time does fly; the summer is going by a little too fast. Here are a few updates of happenings in our parish.…

Happy Father’s Day

My Dear Parishioners, Summer has officially begun, along with our summer vacations. It is a special time of year to “kick back” with family and friends. Whether we are at the shore or in the Poconos or in the backyard, we get to enjoy warmth and sunshine and nature and simply enjoy each other’s company.…

June is the month of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

My Dear Parishioners, It is sad that some want to label June as “Pride Month,” forgetting or ignoring those warnings from Sacred Scripture about the deadly sin of pride: every proud heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured that none will go unpunished (Proverbs 16: 5) and pride goes before disaster, and a…

Consecrating Our Nation to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

My Dear Parishioners, As our nation celebrates its 250th, our Bishops have asked us to join them in consecrating our nation to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Through this consecration, the Bishops aim to renew devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. They desire to acknowledge Christ’s kingship over all nations, including our own…