• What Are You Looking For?

    2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B); Jan. 14, 2018 1 Sam 3:3:3-10,19: Ps 42; 1 Cor 6:13-15,17-20; Jn 1:35-42 Deacon Jim McFadden; St. John the Baptist C.C.            Unlike the Synoptic Gospels, the Gospel of John does not depict Jesus calling the first disciples while walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee.  …

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  • A Dwelling Place for God

    4th Sunday of Advent (B); December 24, 2017 2 Sam 7:1-5,8-12,14,16   Ps 89   Rom 16:25-27 Lk 1:26-38 Deacon Jim McFadden         As Christmas is nearly upon us, the readings for the 4th Sunday of Advent focus our attention on the notion of a dwelling place for God. In the first reading, King David finds himself…

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  • Jesus is our Joy

    3rd Sunday of Advent (B); December 17, 2017 Is 61:1-2a, 10-11   (Ps) Lk 1:46-50, 53-54 1 Thes 5:16-24   Jn 1:6-8, 19-28 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison; SJB                           Advent is not a time of waiting for the coming of the Christ child—that already happened 2017 years ago. It’s rather a time in…

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  • Prepare the Way of the Lord

    2nd Sunday of Advent (B); 12-10-17 Is 40:1-5,9-11   Ps 85   2 Pt 3:8-14   Mk 1:1-8 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison   In today’s Gospel, we once again hear proclaimed the person of John the Baptist, who plays a prominent role in Mark’s Gospel. Who is this very eccentric guy with whom most of us…

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  • The Need for Watchfulness

    1st Sunday of Advent (B); December 3, 2017 Is 63:16-17,19; Ps 80; 1 Cor 1:3-9; Mk 13:33-37 Deacon Jim McFadden          Advent marks the beginning of a new liturgical year. We await the return of Jesus as he is born within us at a deeper level of intimacy and we prepare for that arrival by…

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  • Matthew 25: Love in Action

    Christ the King (A); November 26, 2017 Ez 34:11-12   Ps 23   1 Cor 15:20-26,28   Mt 25:31-46 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison            As we conclude our liturgical year, the Church invites us to fix our gaze on Jesus, the King of the Universe, who is the beginning and end of Salvation History. As…

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  • Are We There, Yet?

    32nd Sunday in O.T.; November 12, 2017 Wis 2:12-16   Ps 63   1 Thes 4:13-18   Mt 25:1-13 Deacon Jim McFadden; SJB C.C.            We are a hyper-stimulated, impatient people. Carrie Fisher, in her auto-biography once opined that “Instant gratification isn’t fast enough!” And, the electronic, digital age we now live in has only exacerbated this.  …

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  • Practicing and Repenting

    31st Sunday in O.T.; November 5, 2017 Mal 1:14b-2:2b,8-10   Ps 131 1Thes 2:7b-9,13   Mt 23:1-12 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison            Before we look at today’s Gospel reading in which Jesus denounces the Scribes and the Pharisees—the religious establishment of his time—it’s good to pay attention to what Paul said in his First…

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  • We are Family–in Jesus!

                Riffing off of Sister Sledge, We Are Family—the community of St. Francis High School.   But, as we gather in worship, we know that we are part of a greater family: the community of All Saints! ALL Saints: Troubies, do you get that?   There can only be a communion of Saints in “heaven” if there…

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  • Love is the Measure of Faith

    30th Sunday in O.T.; October 29, 2017 EX 22:20-26   Ps 18   1 Thes 1:5c-10   Mt 22:34-40 Deacon Jim McFadden            Today’s Gospel reading reminds us in no uncertain terms that the whole of the Divine Law can be summed up in our love for God and neighbor. Matthew offers an account in which the…

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homilies

Let us listen and follow

Good Shepherd Sunday (A); April 26, 2026 Acts 2:14,36-41.  Ps 23.  1 Pt 2:20-25.  Jn 10:1-10 Deacon Jim McFadden Today is traditionally known as Good Shepherd Sunday, which presents us one of the most beautiful images that has portrayed our…

Jesus speaks to us

3rd Sunday of Easter (A); April 19, 2026 Acts 2:14,22-33. Ps 16. 1 Pt 1:17-21. Lk 24:13-35 Deacon Jim McFadden Why was it so difficult for the two disciples to recognize the Risen Lord? Jesus’ death scattered his disciples and…

mulder and Thomas

Divine Mercy Sunday (A); April 12, 2026 Acts 2:42-47.  Ps 118.  1 Pt 1:3-9.  Jn 20:19-31 Deacon Jim McFadden             During the ‘90s, a popular, albeit off-beat television show was the X-Files, featuring agent Fox Mulder, an investigator of the…