THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST/WELCOME SEMINARIAN JOSHUA PARMET
THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST This weekend, as we are privileged to host those leading the Seton Route Eucharistic Pilgrimage through our archdiocese as we continue the three-year National Eucharistic Revival, we are blessed to celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. I hope you are planning to attend one of the following events: Evening Event with Young Adults at the Shrine of St. John Neumann (at 7:00pm on Saturday); Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul (at 11:00am on Sunday) [...]
SUPPORTING OUR FELLOW CHRISTIANS IN THE HOLY LAND
SUPPORTING OUR FELLOW CHRISTIANS IN THE HOLY LAND We’re all certainly aware of the horrific ongoing war between Israel and the Hamas in Gaza that started last October as some members of the Hamas attacked Israel and took over 250 Israelis hostage. It is a tragedy that continues to worsen with hundreds of thousands of people now on the brink of starvation. In the middle of this living nightmare live a very small number of Christians who comprise less than 1% of the total population of Gaza and the West [...]
THE MOST HOLY TRINITY (Year B)
Deuteronomy 4:32 – 34, 39 – 40 God revealed himself to Adam and Eve, Noah and Abraham. And, he revealed himself by name to Moses and entered into a covenant relationship with Israel through him. In this Sunday’s reading from the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses enjoins the people to put their faith in God because he has demonstrated such great power for them. The text we will hear on Sunday is part of a magnificent, comprehensive homily on the election of Israel. It is one of the stylistic and theological [...]
PENTECOST SUNDAY (Year B)
On this, Pentecost Sunday, we come to the end of the Easter Season as we celebrate the birth of the Church and hear an exhortation of how we are to live as the Church. Different readings are prescribed for the Vigil Mass than for the Mass on Sunday and that there are options for both sets of readings. I will reflect on the readings for Sunday that I will use at the Masses I will celebrate. I don’t know which readings Fr. Reilly will use, so don’t be surprised if [...]
NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC PILGRIMAGE AND MANNA BAGS
NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC PILGRIMAGE The national pilgrimage leading up to the Eucharistic Congress is almost here! As you will recall from my earlier articles, it will begin to pass through the Philadelphia area at the end of this month, coming from the Trenton Diocese on 30 May as it crosses over the Walking Bridge into Morrisville, PA, with a walking procession to Holy Trinity Church. The Pilgrimage will continue to St. John the Evangelist Church, Morrisville and St. Andrew Church, Newtown, before going to various churches in Philadelphia. On Sunday evening, [...]
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers of the parish and the mothers of all our parishioners! We all know how important our mothers are to us as we grow up and so we join with our nation in honoring them today. Mother’s Day is not part of the Church’s liturgical calendar. In fact, liturgical directives state that “this secular observance must in no way diminish the primary focus of Sunday as the celebration of the paschal mystery.” Yet, this national holiday allows an opportunity to reflect on the essential role [...]