Mary Kept and Pondered
Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, January 1, 2026 Nm 6:22-27. Gal 4:4-7. Lk 2:16-21 Deacon Jim McFadden There is an old tradition that Luke the evangelist knew the Blessed Mother and he wove her memories into his…
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Christianity without the Spirit is Joyless
Solemnity of the Feast of Pentecost; June 5, 2022 Acts 2:1-11. Ps 104. 1 Cor 12:3-7,12-13. Jn 14:15-16,23-26 Deacon Jim McFadden Today, we reflect and re-live the liturgy of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit sent by the Risen Christ upon the Church. I say “re-live” this event because when we listen to the
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The Logic of Welcoming Love
6th Sunday of Easter (C); May 22, 2022 Acts 15:1-2, 22-29. Ps 67. Rv 21:10-14. Jn 14:23-29 Deacon Jim McFadden In today’s Gospel, we heard a passage from Jesus’ farewell discourses. Our Lord is giving his last thoughts as a spiritual guide to the Apostles before he enters his Passion and Death. Today’s reading
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Jesus is Present in a New Way
The Ascension of the Lord; May 29, 2022 Acts 1:1-11. Ps 47. Eph 1:17-23. Lk 24:46-53 Deacon Jim McFadden Today we are celebrating the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven, which occurred 40 days after the Resurrection and is the culmination of the Easter season in which Jesus is “lifted up” to full participation in
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Love Overcomes Barriers
5th Sunday of Easter (C); May 15, 2022 Acts 14:21-27. Ps 145. Rv 21:1-5. Jn 13:31-35 Deacon Jim McFadden Near the end of the mesmerizing German film Downfall (2005), as Soviet troops close in on Berlin, the focus of the film shifts from the battlefield to the Fuhrer’s secret underground office, where Hitler and
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The Risen Christ calls and loves
3rd Sunday of Easter (C); May 1, 2022 Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41. Ps 30. Rv 5:11-14. Jn 21:1-19 Deacon Jim McFadden We continue to read from the final pages of John’s Gospel which deal with the Resurrection appearances of Jesus. As we reflect upon them, let us immerse ourselves in the joy of the Lord’s
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The True Shepherd: He knows us…
He Knows us and We Know Him 4th Sunday of Easter (C); May 8, 2022 Acts 13:14,43-52. Ps 100. Rv 7:9,14b-17. Jn 10:27-30 Deacon Jim McFadden In today’s Gospel from John, Jesus is presented to us as the true Shepherd of the people of God, who is the Church. As such, the relationship that
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School Liturgy: Anastasis!
Troubies, when St. Paul entered the seaport city of Corinth to proclaim the Good News, he didn’t say, “Hey, let me tell you about this dead carpenter from Nazareth, who had some cool moral insights that I think you’d like.” NO! Instead he busted into the city square and bellowed in Greek, “Anastasis! Anastasis!
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Overcoming Fear Leads to Mission
Divine Mercy Sunday (C); April 24, 2022 Acts 5:12-16 Ps 118 Rv 1:9-13,17-19. Jn 20:19-31 Deacon Jim McFadden Jesus is Risen! What a joy to proclaim this wonderful message—one that is the ultimate “game changer”! The Resurrection is THE pivotal moment in all of Salvation History. Everything has changed; everything is relative to this
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Anastasis! He is Risen, He is Alive
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord Acts 10:34a,37-43. Ps 118. Col 3:1-4. Jn 20:1-9 Deacon Jim McFadden Today we are celebrating the apex of the liturgical calendar: The Resurrection of the Lord. Even though it is the pivotal event of our Faith, we are so familiar with this solemnity, that we may
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The Path of Patient Suffering
Palm Sunday; 6th Sunday of Lent (C); April 10, 2022 Is 50:4-7. Ps 22. Phil 2:6-11. Lk 22:14-23:56 Deacon Jim McFadden In our Gospel reading for the Palm Sunday procession, Jesus sends his disciples into Jerusalem to prepare for his triumphal entry. As he enters Jesus will be greeted with joyful acclimations as the
homilies
The Holy Family Were Refugees
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph; 12-28-2025 Sir 3:2-6. Ps 128. Col 3:12-21. Mt 2:13-15, 19-21 Deacon Jim McFadden On this first Sunday after Christmas, the Liturgy invites us to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family…
a God who gathers
Christmas (A) ; 12-25-2025 Is 52:1-7. Ps 97. Heb 1:1-6 . Jn 1:1-18 Deacon Jim McFadden Christmas celebrates God’s overwhelming desire to be united with us. Sometimes we wonder, why does he bother? He’s perfect—he doesn’t need anything since…
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