Posts from November 2025

The First Sunday of Advent quietly acknowledges a big difference in liturgical ministries in the church. It’s a gentle beginning of the Christmas season – a moment to pause, reflect, and look forward with hope. Whether we light a candle, hang a wreath, or simply take a breath before the December rush, this day invites a sense of anticipation and togetherness. In a world that often feels rushed and noisy, this First Sunday of Advent offers a rare invitation to…

What is the Kingdom of God? What is the Kingdom of Christ the King? Here is a beautiful explanation given by Gerald Darring (St. Louis University: The Kingdom of God is a space. It exists in every home where parents and children love each other. It exists in every region and country that cares for its weak and vulnerable. It exists in every parish that reaches out to the needy. The Kingdom of God is a time. It happens whenever…

Jesus’ words “by your perseverance you will secure your lives” call to mind the experiences of birds as they make a seasonal migration. Multiple times a year various species of birds travel thousands of miles in response to changes in food availability, habitat, or climate. Despite the threat of predators and exhaustion, every bird is biologically cued to make the migration with its species. During these migrations, many species work together as a team. Large birds, for instance, will often…

Today we celebrate a basilica in Rome named after Saint John and its original donor, the Lateran family. It is a consecrated place which withstood centuries of destructive forces and yet endured—like the universal church itself. We celebrate the Lateran basilica as a symbol of all the holy places in this world, communal and personal, that elevate our thoughts and move our hearts to the grand reflection of the universal church. Such sites help us to see as God sees:…

This week is National Vocation Awareness Week. It a week to remind us of what God calls us to do in our lives, from religious vocations, marriage, careers and the like. But today I reflect on a vocation to the priesthood. What attracts a man to the priesthood? For me, it was the priest in my parish growing up that was always working with the kids. He talked with us and challenged us in life. The ‘old’ pastor was even…