Every week I visit the 7^th and 8^th grade class. Last week I went over possible Lenten practices they could adopt starting this coming Ash Wednesday.

I explained that a good lent practice involves three things: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. I pasted out three by five cards and asked them to write down the three things they were doing as part of their Lenten practice: one for each area of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. For example, I am thinking about giving up red meat and alcohol, I will say and extra rosary each day and I will give a determined amount of money to the poor box each Friday. Continue reading “If you live Chapter 5 you won’t have to worry about Chapter 6! Matthew 6:24-34” →

I asked some high school students once what they got out of Mass. They said, ‘nothing.’ “Why do you think that is?” I asked them. “We don’t know,” they responded.”

Then I said, “Exactly right, because you are not at Mass to get anything out of it. You come to Mass to give everything you have to it.

This is an important day for us, boys and girls, isn’t it! This morning, these priest friends of ours have come to help us open our hearts to Jesus.

None of us is perfect, are we? Sometimes we make mistakes, all of us do, you do, your parents do, your brothers and sisters do and I do. Continue reading “Parish Children called to First Confession” →

You can’t get there from here.  Have you ever heard that saying? The other day when I was out on Communion calls, that is exactly how I felt — every road I was on, every turn I took led me to a road that was under construction or a detour sign.  And NOW, we even have a closed portion of Allendale Road.  I did not realize that the roads were in such bad condition.  Then I began to think about life and all the changes and twists and turns that we experience every day.  How do we face them?  How do we make the adjustment that is needed to move forward?  Even in our spiritual life, we undergo construction and detours.  The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a wonderful gift that we have that can help us take care of those detours that we take in life.  Our wrong choices, our unkind words that cause others pain, the times that we don’t give God His due — prayer, Mass, trust.  The words of Jesus through the person of the priest help to get us back on track and the grace received through this Sacrament gives us the strength to face all that we experience in life.  How blessed are we to know and love God who is our loving Father.  What have you seen this week?  Have you been able to look beneath the surface?

It fills my heart with joy when I see dads with their children.  The other day, I was meeting a friend for lunch at the mall.  I was sitting on one of the benches inside just people watching while I was waiting.  People are very interesting.  I was sitting in front of the Army Recruiting office and saw a dad go in with his son, who was about 8 years of age.  The dad said something to the soldier inside and then the little boy did the rest of the talking.  He was very happy when he left, as he walked out with army pencils and a few pictures.  It was obvious that the dad had been in the military.  Another dad passed by with 3 little children — one boy about 9 who was walking beside the dad.  The father was carrying his twin girls in his arms.  He was holding them tightly and kissing each one as he walked along.  Each child was receiving from the father just what they needed.  I can only imagine that is what God the Father does for us.  He carries each of us, His children, and provides exactly what we need at a given time.  How blessed are we to be called children of God.  What have you seen?  How has it touched your heart?