One of the great joys of my life, second to being a priest, is being an uncle. Having young children in one’s family can be a deeply enriching and gratifying experience.

This weekend’s Gospel story is a familiar one for us. A nameless rich man was living lavishly and well, without regard nor compassion to the poor and sickly Lazarus situated by his door.

Whenever I have a group discussion about the topic of trust, I can always expect for people to have a lively conversation.

This Sunday’s Gospel is one of the most familiar stories we often hear in Church and maybe during retreats, especially the one about the prodigal son. It is a parable that does not run out of meaning no matter how many times we hear it.

Growing up between my adoptive and birth families introduced me to twice as many relatives as a normal person. Each of them has some kind of interesting story or thought to share at the right moment.

As a kid growing up in Brooklyn, both my parents set rules that almost never could be broken. One of which was to always be back home in time for dinner.

Whenever I have had the oppor- tunity to talk about vocations to the priesthood, or my own personal vo- cation to the priesthood, one of the common questions that would arise is, “How long does it take to become a priest?” The answer to that ques- tion of course is varied.