by Msgr. Joseph Calise As we celebrate the fourth Sunday of Advent on the liturgical calendar, the more worldly calendar is telling me that it is also the day before the day before Christmas. Gratefully, my Christmas chores are done – gifts are bought and wrapped, schedules are set and cards are in the mail. […]
Sunday Scriptures
Being Faithful? Ok. But Joyful?
by Msgr. Joseph Calise My closet and dresser are filled with clothes that I will probably never wear. Some were gifts and have a purely sentimental value to me. Others might (just might) fit again one day, and you never know if the rest will ever come back into style. Even though I do not […]
Proclaim the Faith at Any Cost
by Msgr. Joseph Calise Anyone who has ever seen Director Sidney Lumet’s movie version of the play, Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose, probably shares my admiration for how skillfully he directed the turning moment when Lee J. Cobb threatens to kill Henry Fonda. They were fellow jurors on a murder case which Cobb presumed […]
We Prepare for What Is Known
by Msgr. Joseph Calise If you were to ask most people in my age group who they considered to be the greatest mystery writer of all time, no doubt most of us would answer, “Alfred Hitchcock.” We would be able to support our answer with such movies as Psycho, North by Northwest, The Birds, or […]
A Crown in the New Jerusalem
by Father Caleb Buchanan There is a legend about an ancient kingdom that flourished in power and wealth many centuries ago. A very young king made a pledge he would never accompany his soldiers to fight in a war outside of his kingdom. He needed his crown prince to be ready to succeed him if […]
Trade Your Anxieties for Joyful Anticipation of the Lord’s Coming
by Father Caleb Buchanan “My Lord, what a morning! My Lord, what a morning! My Lord, what a morning, when the stars begin to fall!” This beautiful hymn is sung during the Advent season in many places because it stirs our hearts to anticipate the day of the coming of the Lord, the Parousia, […]
We Have Everlasting Faith in a Loving and Eternal God
by Father Caleb Buchanan “Indeed for your faithful, Lord, life is changed not ended.” That’s the way we Catholics see the world. As we have just celebrated the Feast of All Souls, we know through faith that death is not the last word in and over our lives. Our sinfulness, famines, droughts, war, terror, […]
Overcoming Spiritual Blindness
by Father William R. Dulaney Imagine you had the opportunity to have a conversation with Jesus at some point during His public ministry. What would you say? What question would you ask Him? What might He say to you? How would you react? The selections from Mark’s Gospel for last Sunday and today present individuals […]
We Are Not Alone
by Father William R. Dulaney ISN’T IT AMAZING how certain people or situations leave a lasting impression on you? During a Saturday morning bike ride in Marine Park some 35 years ago, I came upon coaches and parents from St. Thomas Aquinas’ sports program hard at work removing broken glass and clearing debris from a […]
The Word Is Meant to Be Living and Effective
by Father William R. Dulaney When someone dies leaving money and possessions the adage “you can’t take it with you” comes to mind. Chances are none of us recall seeing an armored car following the hearse in a funeral procession. Reason, common sense and our experience of the passing of loved ones and friends assure […]