For me, Israel and Palestine is a place to which I want to return over and over again, because each time that I visit, my faith is deepened and I am more connected to the Scriptures and more centered in the celebration of the Eucharist. When you walk where Jesus walked, you are never the…
*”The Hound of Heaven,” a poem, by Francis Thompson (1859-1907). Recently Pope Francis, on behalf of the Catholic Church, stated that the death penalty is now inadmissible. The death penalty for whatever crime is no longer an option. The Catechism of the Catholic Church will now be changed to reflect this decision. This Pastor’s Column…
The secret of the world lies wherever we can discern the transparency of the universe. —Pierre Teilhard de Chardin Letters from a Traveller Do you ever seek a geographic solution to your problems or difficulties? I know that I do! If there are some really intense frustrations or tensions in my ministry, in my personal…
Fr. Ron Kelso sent me this picture a few days ago. I looked at it once, then again, and then I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. I was mesmerized by it and I couldn’t understand as to why! The tree was felled, yes! And it continued to grow and flourish in new directions…
The following thoughts were written by Gary Zukav, an American philosopher, and taken from his book, Evolution and Business: As the human species awakens to itself as a collection of immortal souls learning together care for the environment and the earth will become a matter of the heart, the natural response of souls moving toward…
Welcome to Father Daniel Nganga from the Diocese of Kitale, in north western Kenya, East Africa, who joins us today, at all Masses to seek support for his young Diocese. Father Dan was ordained a priest in 2002, and generously serves today with the rural faith community of Our Lady of Assumption Parish—Kapenguria, as…
A number of years ago the late Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, Archbishop of Chicago, coined the phrase, “The Seamless Garment”. It was a reference to the moment right after the death of Jesus on the cross when the soldiers decided to divide the garments of Jesus. They realized His tunic was seamless and rather than try…
July 1 is my 15th anniversary as the Pastor of St. Thomas More Catholic Church. I share with you, once again, my first Pastor’s Column dated July 6, 2003. It is my desire each year to give you my first Pastor’s Column in which I shared with you the words of Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk as…
On Thursday, June 21, we celebrated the Summer Solstice. Hopefully, we will slow the pace down, relax more, spend more time with family and friends, and recreate, that is re-create! Let us give thanks to God for the gift of summer: Under the warmth of the summer sun the world awakes and blossoms into every…
This weekend we celebrate the National Holiday of Father’s Day. In honor of this day, I share with you a variety of quotes about fathers. Some are serious and sincere, some are in jest, and some are painfully true. All are meant to call attention to fatherhood, its importance, and to encourage all men to…