June 12, 2011

Pentecost Sunday Readings: Acts 2:1-11;

1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13; Jn 20:19-23

As I write this pastor message we are expecting extraordinary thunder storms during the month of June.  I have always been amazed and a little fearful of the power and beauty of thunder and lightning.  I realize that science is able to explain this phenomenon, but it reminds us  of the unseen power that is present in the universe and world that we are a part of.  For the…

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June 5, 2011

Sunday Readings:

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord: Acts 1:1-11; Eph 1:17-23; Mt 28:16-20

 The Preface of the Eucharist Prayer for major feast often provides a good summary of the Church’s Teaching for the given day.  It is always a prayer that helps us express our gratefulness to God and today, on the Feast of the Ascension this is especially true.  It reads as follows: “Father, all powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere…

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May 29, 2011

Sixth Sunday of Easter: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; 1 Pt 3:15-18; Jn 14:15-21.

In her book, Living in Courage, Debra Oakland listed 144 qualities of love: Acceptance, Accountability, Activity, Adoration, Allowance, Attention,  Authority, Awareness, Balance, Beauty, Blessedness, Boldness, Boundless, Bravery, Calmness, Caring, Centered-ness, Charity, Clarity, Command, Commitment, Community, Compassion, Concentration, Confidence, Consciousness, , Consideration,…

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May 15, 2011

Fourth Sunday of Easter: Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Ps 23: 1-3a, 3b4, 5, 6; 1 Pt 2:20b-25; Jn 10:1-10



There is an old story about a famous actor who after performing soliloquies for a dinner gathering read as an encore Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd”. The audience was very impressed and gave him a standing

ovation. When they finished he spotted an elderly priest in the crowd and invited him to come and recite the same psalm. With a weak voice and true heart the… Continue

May 22, 2011

Readings for The Fifth Sunday of Easter:

Acts 6:1-7: 1 Pt 2:4-9; Jn 14:1-12

Directions were always very difficult when I

was studying Spanish in Guatemala

twenty-three years ago. Not because I did not

understand the language, Izquierda, derecha, derecho (left, right,

straight). The problem was that when you asked for simple

directions people would often point with their hands and say,

“go that direction and turn left, then go down a way… Continue

May 8, 2011

Third Sunday of Easter: Acts 2:14, 22-33; 1 Pt 1:17-21: Lk 24:13-35



Today’s Gospel has the story of the road to Emmaus. I am always reminded of a poster I had in the confessional of my first parish of an idyllic autumn road with the inscription, “Happiness is not found at the end of the journey, but along the way.” The two disciples were definitely not on the road to happiness. They were walking away from

Jerusalem, confused and dismayed. Only one of them is named,… Continue