Pope Francis has declared this Third Sunday in Ordinary Time to be “Sunday of the Word of God.” The purpose of this particular emphasis is to promote a closer relationship with holy Scripture and its spread throughout the world. As Catholics, we believe that all Scripture is the Word of God, written by sacred authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. To that end, the pope is encouraging all Catholics to embark on a journey with the sacred text. What might this look like? It could be as…

Throughout the last week, I have been enjoying a little “staycation,” resting up a bit, and spending some time getting things in order. One of the joys of parish life is belonging to a community of believers. And along with that sense of belonging comes the responsibility of fulfilling the role to which we are called. In my case, along with the pastor, that role is to minister to the people. And naturally, each person in the congregation has different needs or concerns. But, in the same way, the…

Today, at the beginning of a new year, a new decade, we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. This feast marks the culmination of the Octave of Christmas and was traditionally celebrated on the 1st of January as far back as the time of Emperor Constantine, in the fourth century, at least until it was overshadowed by the feasts of the Annunciation and the Assumption. After that, the feast day was moved to October, while today, exactly eight days after Christmas, commemorates…