Adult Initiation & Sacrament Preparation

Since the close of the Christmas season we’ve been following Jesus as he begins his ministry.  We’ve seen him Baptized by John, we’ve seen him gathering his first Apostles (Andrew, Simon-Peter, James and John), and this week we continue our journey as Jesus begins to preach, teach, and heal.  Jesus has many different titles, but this week we focus on three:  Prophet, Teacher, and Lord. The Word for the 4 th Sunday of Ordinary Time Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 Mark 1:21-28 First, so that we have a clear understanding of what it means to be a prophet, our first reading from the book of Deuteronomy tells us.  In our passage Moses says to the people that a prophet is one like himself… someone chosen by God to speak for God.  Now upon hearing this you might ask why God can’t speak for himself?  Addressing that exact point Moses continues by reminding the people that it was they themselves who requested that ...

This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, but for those who remember their Latin, you might better recognize it as the feast of Corpus Christi (Latin for Body of Christ).  The Feast was originally established in 1246 by Bishop Robert de Torete, of the Diocese of Liège, Belgium, but not without the 40 year effort of St. Julia of Liège, a Norbertine sister who had a special devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, who spent most of her life petitioning for this special feast day. The Word for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 John 6:51-58 When Jesus established the Eucharist at the Last Supper, his use of bread and wine was deliberate and purposeful.  They were the most ordinary of foods, yet represented what was necessary to sustain us.  In Jewish ritual, bread and wine are an important part of the Passover meal, and have long been associa...

I hope everyone had a good Independence Day holiday. It’s a great time to gather with friends and family and enjoy the color, light, and sound of the fireworks as we celebrate the birth of our nation. Oddly enough, this holiday also reminds me of the birth of our Church. Just as the members of the Continental Congress sought freedom from the taxes and burdens of the British Crown, Jesus and his disciples sought the freedom to engage in relationship with God without the taxes and burdens of the Sanhedrin and the Temple hierarchy. Just as the British Crown had grown bloated and complacent to the colonists, the Temple had grown bloated and complacent to the followers entrusted to their care. July is the month of new beginnings. For many, July marks the beginning of the new fiscal year. July is also when many pastors and administrators start their new assignments in the Archdiocese (as we celebrate the 5th anniversary of Fr. Ray coming back to OLR as her pastor). This theme of new beginn...

What exciting times we live in!  Not only is it the beginning of Lent, but the resignation of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, makes this one Lenten season one for the history books.  No doubt we'll be keeping up with all this news and the coming Conclave to elect a new pope. This week our topic is "Divine Election".  What is Divine Election?  It recognizes that it is God who chooses us to be his people.  While we must individually come to accept that invitation, it is in fact, God, working through the Holy Spirit, that calls us to him, and inspires us to take this journey through Initiation.  Through these past few weeks we have been listening to the "call" of various prophets.  Now as we enter the season of Lent, we discern our own call to God. The Word for the 1st Sunday of Lent:         Deuteronomy 26:4-10         Psalm 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15    ...

What exciting times we live in!  Not only is it the beginning of Lent, but the resignation of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, makes this one Lenten season one for the history books.  No doubt we'll be keeping up with all this news and the coming Conclave to elect a new pope. This week our topic is "Divine Election".  What is Divine Election?  It recognizes that it is God who chooses us to be his people.  While we must individually come to accept that invitation, it is in fact, God, working through the Holy Spirit, that calls us to him, and inspires us to take this journey through Initiation.  Through these past few weeks we have been listening to the "call" of various prophets.  Now as we enter the season of Lent, we discern our own call to God. The Word for the 1st Sunday of Lent:         Deuteronomy 26:4-10         Psalm 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15    ...