THE CATHOLIC VOTE. The old adage goes “one should not talk about politics or religion in polite company.” Well, I’m going to do both! To begin with, Catholics shouldn’t be too comfortable laying their head on either the Democratic or Republican pillow as neither one fully conveys our Catholic Social Justice tradition. The Magisterium’s…
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time; July 24, 2016 Gn 18:20-32; Ps 138:1-3,6-8; Col 2:12-14; Lk 11:1-13 Deacon Jim McFadden Thirteen years ago I was facilitating a catechist class at Folsom Prison (Minimum Security), preparing some for Confirmation. One of the men, named ‘Juan’ was telling his story. He narrated that his…
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time; 7-3-16 Is 66:10-14 Ps 66 Gal 6:14-18 Lk 10:1-12, 17-20 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison Brothers, quick question: how many of you are missionary disciples? Hmmm, another question: how many of you are baptized. O.K., if you’re baptized, you’re meant to be a missionary disciple. Why? By virtue…
The Sacrament of Ongoing Christian Life The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Cycle C; May 29, 2016 Gen 14:18-20 Ps 110 1 Cor 11:23-26 Lk 9:11-17 Deacon Jim McFadden During the Easter season, a major concern in the Sunday Scripture readings was how the movement begun by Jesus of Nazareth would continue…
The Most Holy Trinity (C); May 22, 2016 Prv 8:22-31 Ps8:4-9 Rom 5:1-5 Jn 16:12-15 Deacon Jim McFadden; St. John the Baptist C.C. It’s difficult enough to believe in a single God, but have you ever tried to explain the Trinity to a non-believer? It’s not easy. Believing in three persons who is…
Solemnity of the Feast of Pentecost; May 15, 2016 Acts 2:1-11 Ps 104 1 Cor 12:3-7,12-13 Jn 14:15-16,23-26 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison 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…
The Feast of the Ascension; May 8, 2016 Acts 1:1-11 Ps 47 Eph 1:17-23 Lk 24:46-53 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison Today we are celebrating the great Feast of the Ascension, which is the culmination of the Easter season in which Jesus is “lifted up” to full participation in the…
6th Sunday of Easter (C); May 1, 2016 Acts 15:1-2,22-29 Ps 67 Rv 21:10-14 Jn 14:23-29 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison 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…
Farewell Mass; April 27, 2016 Acts 15:1-6 Ps 57 John 15:1-8 Deacon Jim McFadden; St. Francis High School Soon the St. Francis community will temporarily disband as we venture into summer vacation. We say Farewell to several of our teachers and staff, who are being sent to other ways of serving the Lord…
Divine Mercy Sunday (C); April 3, 2016 Acts 5:12-16 Ps 118 Rv 1:9-11,12-13,17-19 Jn 20:19-31 (New) Folsom Prison; 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…
The Cross is the Way Home 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); August 30, 2026 Jer 20:7-9. Ps 63. Rom 12:1-2. Mt 16:21-27 Deacon Jim McFadden After establishing Peter as the rock of his Church, Jesus then begins to speak…
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); August 23, 2026 Is 22:19-23. Ps 138. Rom 11:33-36. Mt 16:13-20 Deacon Jim McFadden Midway through his public ministry, Jesus ventured with his disciples to the northern reaches of the Promised Land, to the…
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); August 16, 2026 Is 56:1,6-7. Ps 67. Rom 11:13-15,29-32. Mt 15:21-28 Deacon Jim McFadden Today’s Gospel (Mt 15:21-28) presents us with a unique example of faith in Jesus’s encounter with a Canaanite woman,…
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