Wednesday, January 20, 2010 By Father James Shappelle On Jan. 22, in dioceses across the United States, Catholics will observe a day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of …

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 By Father Timothy Schehr Third Sunday in Ordinary Time: Nehemiah 8:2-10; 1 Corinthians 12:12-30; Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 The readings this Sunday celebrate the wonder of God’s plan of salvation. In the Gospel we will hear Luke tell his readers he wants to write down “in an …

Thursday, January 14, 2010 By Jeanne Hunt When I was a child, the good Sisters taught me that there are four states of life or vocations: the priesthood, the consecrated religious life, marriage and the single state. I believed that they were presented in that order because priesthood was the …

Wednesday January 13, 2010 By Father Timothy Schehr Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: Isaiah 62:1-5; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; John 2:1-11 On the list of most popular Gospel scenes, the wedding at Cana has to be near the top. One reason for its appeal is its connection with ordinary life. We …

Thursday, January 7, 2010 By Father Kyle Schnippel Every year, following the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the church in the United States celebrates National Vocation Awareness Week, this year from Jan. 10-16. This week is set aside as a call to remind that we all have a …

Wednesday, January 6, 2010 By Father Timothy Schehr The Baptism of the Lord: Isaiah 40:1-11; Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7; Luke 3:15-16, 21-22 So far this liturgical year we have been celebrating events in the Lord’s early years: His birth and the worship of the Magi. Now Luke records for us His …

Wednesday, December 23, 2009 By Sister Betty J. Lillie, S.C. The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph: Sirach 3:2-7, 12-14; Psalm 128:1-5; Colossians 3:12-21; Luke 2:41-52 Having celebrated the birth of Jesus, the structure of the holiest family in Nazareth  becomes visible. How did that family live? There is …

Thursday, December 17, 2009 By Sister Carol Gaeke, O.P. When the pregnant Elizabeth encountered the pregnant Mary, there was great joy at the mutual recognition of God among them in Mary’s womb.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 By Sister Betty J. Lillie, S.C. Fourth Sunday of Advent: Micah 5:1-4a;  Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19;  Hebrews 10:5-10;  Luke 1:39-45. The beautiful “O” antiphons that are sung at vespers from Dec. 17-23 remind us that Christmas is near. They recall for us the long period of …

Thursday, December 10, 2009 By Father Kyle Schnippel As we journey through the Advent season, at least part of me wonders what was going through Mary’s mind during that journey. The somewhat haunting refrain of a popular carol asks: “Mary, did you know that your baby boy would someday walk …