First let me thank you for your Confirmation letters which I read carefully. From them three words emerged that sum up the faith: 1) Listen; 2) Love; 3) Serve…listening, loving, and serving… three words that capture what it means to follow Jesus as a member of the Church. Since I boiled it all down to...Read More

I. Introduction A. I am delighted to be with all of you for Sunday Mass during this time of ongoing Easter joy and on this special occasion when we will be breaking ground for the long-anticipated new church, here at the Church of the Nativity. B. It is a day for us to give thanks...Read More

I. Introduction Dear friends: I join you in expressing deep appreciation first to Father Bruce, who welcomed his assignment to Sacred Heart and St. Patrick with great enthusiasm, joy, and generosity. I also want to thank the Congregation of the Holy Redeemer for its generosity in staffing these wonderful and growing parishes and in making...Read More

I. El papel del pastor A. En el evangelio de hoy Jesus nos dice, a nosotros su rebaño: “Mis ovejas escuchan mi voz.” Jesús no solamente nos da información acerca de Dios o instrucciones morales. Lo primero y los más importante, es que Jesús quiere que sepamos cuánto nos ama Dios. Él quiere que veamos...Read More

I. Doubting Thomas A. The Gospel just proclaimed depicts the image of the “doubting Thomas.” Absent when the Risen Lord appeared to the eleven, Thomas refused to believe that the Master was alive unless he put his hand in the wounded side of Christ. B. A week later, the Risen Lord appears again – and...Read More

I. Introduction: Business as Usual A. In his mercy, God grants us moments when we sense how close he is to us. In a moment of prayer, we might feel the personal presence of Christ in our souls. When we receive Holy Communion, the magnitude and beauty of Jesus’ gift of self might dawn upon...Read More

I. Introduction A. On this particular Easter Sunday, taking place during the Jubilee Year of Mercy, I can’t help but think of Msgr. Art Valenzano. As many of you know, Msgr. Art served as Rector of this historic Basilica until his death last September. When I met him for the first time, in March 2012,...Read More