The LORD bless you and keep you!The LORD let his face shine uponyou, and be gracious to you!The LORD look upon you kindly andgive you peace! Happy New Year to all of you!...
The birth of Jesus ushered into the world a true Day of joy. The announcement of his coming, his presence in Mary's womb and his actual birth brought joy into the life of...
The birth of Jesus brought into the world a new Day of peace. As the scriptures tell us, Jesus is "the Prince of Peace; his dominion is vast and forever peaceful." This too...
The coming of our Savior was the dawning of a day of light. Isaiah prophesied that "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the...
With Jesus' birth is the dawning of a new day. What does that day mean for us today? The era of permanent alienation from God came to an end with the birth of...
"Love, indeed, is the source of all good things; it is an impregnable defense, and the way that leads to heaven. He who walks in love can neither go astray nor be afraid:...
"Let us open our hearts to receive the grace of this Christmas day, which is Christ himself. Jesus is the radiant 'day' which has dawned on the horizon of humanity. A day of...
"And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord. And my spirit leaps for joy in God my Savior. For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his...
As we approach Christmas, is there a spirit of joy within us? The imminent coming of the Messiah brought great joy into the world, into people's lives and into relationships. Joy was the...
"Songs, good feelings, beautiful liturgies, nice presents, big dinners, and sweet words do not make Christmas. Christmas is saying yes to something beyond all emotions and feelings. Christmas is saying yes to a...
As we enter into these last days before Christmas, let us reflect on these words from Pope Francis: "The external signs of Christmas--the tree, the lights, the carols, the gifts--invite us to welcome...
"In the anguish of my heart, I groaned aloud. All my desire is before you, Lord." Such is the prayer of the psalmist. What is the real desire of our heart at this...
Christmas Novena: December 17-23 O Lord, Word of God, You, whose glory is complete, came to us in perfect humility as a child in the womb. Your love for us and humility is...
“During Advent, we are called to enlarge the horizons of our hearts, to be surprised by the life that is presented each day with its newness. In order to do this we need...
Information: The December Mass for Men was moved from the First Saturday to this coming Saturday: December 17, 2016 7:30am Bishop's House: 107 Albany Dr. Houma, La Come, and bring a friend. ...
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. The...
"What we need most in order to make progress is to be silent before this great God with our appetite and with our tongue, for the language he best hears is silent love."...
"Do not choose to be conformed to this age, but instead, be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may choose the will of God: what is good, pleasing and...
"Know for sure...that I am the perfect and ever Virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the God of truth through Whom everything lives, the Lord of all things near us, the Lord of heaven...
When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we...
“I am a nobody, I am a small rope, a tiny ladder, the tail end, a leaf.” (Saint Juan Diego) St. Paul reminds us that God chooses the weak to confound the strong; the...
“Mary, a virgin not only undefiled but a virgin whom grace has made inviolate, free of every stain of sin.” St. Ambrose) The gift of being conceived free from sin was God's sign...
“No one heals himself by wounding another.” (St. Ambrose) It is so easy for us to say things that hurt another person without realizing the consequences. Guarding the tongue is a difficult task. Yet, will this...
"Prepare the way f the Lord!" This was the cry of Isaiah to the people of Israel. This was the cry of John the Baptist to the contemporaries of Jesus. This is the...
"A highway will be there, called the holy way;....It is for those with a journey to make, and on it the redeemed will walk." (Isaiah 35:8-9) Advent is a journey, both externally and...
Correction: Because I will be out of town this weekend, giving a retreat in Pittsburgh, the December Mass for Men has been rescheduled. New Date: December 17, 2016 7:30am 107 Albany Dr. Houma,...
“The journey is never finished....There is always a need to restart, to rise again, to recover a sense of the goal of one’s own existence.” (Pope Francis) Advent is that new journey that...
The two words we can reflect on are taken from today's Mass readings: trust in the Lord and do the will of God. Because of who God is and because of my relationship...
On this Feast of St. Andrew, the Apostle, our reflections center around his response to Jesus. Along with John, he was the first to encounter and be encountered by Jesus. He was the...
Novena in Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec 3-11, 2016 First Day Dearest Lady of Guadalupe, fruitful Mother of holiness, teach me your ways of gentleness and strength. Hear my humble prayer...
John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" This call is consistent with the prophetic message of the Old...
The opening prayer from today’s Advent Mass will be the point of our reflection. “Look with favor, Lord God, on our petitions, and in our trials grant us your compassionate help, that, consoled...
Put Christ Back Into Christmas! I invite you to join me in this most important effort if the birth of Christ has touched your lives. How? 1. Pray a Hail Mary each day...
Our life as Christians is a journey in which we encounter Jesus at different moments in different circumstances. These encounters are not initiated by us, but by Jesus, who desires to encounter us...
Prayers for Lighting the Advent Wreath Candles by William G. Storey First Week All-powerful God, increase our strength of will for doing good that Christ may find an eager welcome at his coming...
Lord, I do not know the amount of time I have left in this life. I do know that my life on earth will end. What matters is how I live my life...
To be thankful cannot be limited to one day a year, just as our blessings do not happen only once a year. Everyday we receive many blessings, some of which we are not...
Jesus said to his disciples: "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. This coming of the Son of Man can...
We should not be afraid of death, since death is inevitable and an instant in our journey. What we should be afraid of is dying outside of relationship with God. This will be eternal....
Thanksgiving Day Blessing Service Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. All: Amen. Leader: Let us glorify the Lord who fills us with his...
"Indeed the blessed Mary certainly did the Father's will, and so it was for her a greater thing to have been Christ's disciple than to have been his mother, and she was more...
"Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, 'It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made...
Even thought the celebration of the Year of Mercy ends this Sunday, our reflection on and gratitude for God's unfathomable mercy should never end. As his mercy continues to be poured out upon...
November Mass for Men: Due to conflict scheduling, I had to change the Mass for Men from the First Saturday of November to this coming Saturday. Men's Mass November 19, 2016 7:30am 107...
"O Sacred Heart of Jesus, fountain of eternal life, Your heart is a glowing furnace of Love. You are my refuge and my sanctuary. O my adorable and loving Savior, consume my heart...
The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, "He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God." Here we have a connection with the temptation of...
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me." (Rev 3:20)...
In the Book of Revelation we read what the Spirit spoke to the Church in Ephesus: "Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name, and you have not grown weary. Yet,...
"The saints are God's holy people. The apostle Paul speaks about all those who belong to Christ as 'holy people' or 'saints.' He directs his letters to 'those who have been consecrated in...
“No one, however weak, is denied a share in the victory of the cross. No one is beyond the help of the prayer of Christ.” (Pope St. Leo the Great) On the cross...
Christ the King Novena Prayers (Nov 11-19, 2016) Christ, our Savior and our King, renew in me allegiance to Your Kingship. Day 1 – I pray for the grace to place You above...
St. Thomas More: A Father for All Seasons by Steve Wood You and I have only one chance to be a good Catholic father. We have to do it right the first time because...
"But each one must be careful how he builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ." (1 Cor 3:11) Is Jesus...
