Friday, November 6, 2009 By Scott Mussari “Those who do not take the opportunity to read who can, are no more advantaged than those who cannot” (Anonymous). It was family reading time, which meant everyone gathered collectively while reading individually. Our 5-year-old, Michael, decided that on this day book-thickness trumped …

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 By Terrance Callan Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: 1 Kings 17:10-16; Heb 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44 We are inspired by stories of heroism, such as that of St. Maximilian Kolbe who volunteered to die in the place of another concentration camp inmate who had been condemned to …

Thursday, October 29, 2009 By Father Rob Waller Children being sent five days a week to a Catholic school and not being brought to Mass on Sunday, and a pastor addressing the situation: it is like walking a tightrope.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009 By Terrance Callan All Saints: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12a This Sunday we celebrate the feast of All Saints. On other days of the year we commemorate particular saints. On this day we commemorate all who have attained the goal of human life …

Thursday, October 22, 2009 By Sister Carol Gaeke, O.P. There were three bricklayers who were working on a church. Someone asked the first one what he was doing and he answered, “laying bricks.” The second said that he was building a church, and the third answered, “I am helping to …

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 By Father Timothy Schehr 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Jeremiah 31:7-9; Hebrews 5:1-6; Mark 10:46-52 The Gospel reading for each Sunday this October introduces us to people who came to Jesus with questions. The Pharisees were looking for loopholes in God’s plan for us; a wealthy …

Thursday, October 15, 2009 By Father Kyle Schnippel Known for the way he developed the interplay between light and darkness in his paintings, the Italian master Caravaggio has had a lasting impact in the world of art since his troubled life ended nearly 400 years ago. His distinctive paintings, especially …

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 By Father Timothy Schehr Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Isaiah 53:10-11; Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45 James and John probably imagined themselves to belong to the Lord’s inner circle. They were among the Lord’s earliest followers, coming just after Simon and Andrew. Only James and John, along …

Thursday, October 8, 2009 By Scott Mussari Much of the origin of how the rosary came to be cannot be confirmed with certainty. Most historical theologians think the custom of using beads in prayer began sometime during the 1100s. Some believe St. Dominic developed the form of the rosary from …

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 By Father Timothy Schehr 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Wisdom 7:7-11; Hebrews 4:12-13; Gospel Mark 10:17-30 or 10:17-27. What do we want most from God? In the first reading for this Sunday King Solomon has an answer that question: he prays for wisdom. What he means …