Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The rich man, enjoying his wealth and ignoring the beggar at his door, recognizes the beggar too late. As the beggar Lazarus was comforted in Heaven, the rich man was tormented in Hell, eternally separated from God. Still, he begs Abraham to make Lazarus come to his aid. Abraham refuses - it is too late.

Perhaps, more than any other parable, that is a main point of this parable: Now is the time to repent, to change our lives and recognize not only our need for God, but the need of those at our doors. Now is the time to discern God's will for us and to do it. While we may not yet be in a full, lifelong vocation, we can be taking a step to that vocation by listening to the Law and the Prophets.

Operation Andrew Dinner Information, 2010

As in the past 8 years, we will be offering three Operation Andrew Dinners for young men who may be (or at least you would like to invite to be) discerning a vocation. The dates and locations are:

St. Mary's, Bird Island October 13 (6-8 pm)

St. John's, Darwin October 27 (6-8 pm)

St. Anne's, Wabasso November 8 (5-8 pm due to a parish mission at St. Anne's 7:30 pm)

The evenings begin with Evening Prayer, a meal, a video on the priesthood, and some personal sharing by the Bishop and some priests and seminarians (if available). RSVP one week in advance to the contact person on the brochure or through me.
Download the brochure and Permission slip here.
For more information, email me!

2010-2011 List of Seminarians

We have posted our newest list of Seminarian information. Download it here.

Twenty-fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time

"Jesus, who was rich, become poor, so that through His poverty, we may become rich." This passage, the Alleluia verse this weekend, captures the divine exchange of God and man. What we have, the stuff around us, is nothing compared to the wealth that God gives us, and we are called to use those gifts prudently, and perhaps even squander them. We are all called to be detached from the stuff, the Mammon, of the world, and some do this radically by taking the vows, so that we can be filled with God's gifts.

Our Lady of Sorrows - Stabat Mater Dolorosa

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. Praying the Stabat Mater Dolorosa is especially appropriate today.

At the cross her station keeping
stood the mournful Mother weeping,
close to Jesus to the last.

Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
all His bitter anguish bearing
now at lenght the sword had passed.

Oh, how sad and sore distressed
was that Mother highly blessed,
of the sole-begotten One!

Christ above in torment hangs,
she beneath beholds the pangs
of her dying, glorious Son.

Is there one who would not weep,
'whelmed in miseries so deep,
Christ's dear Mother to behold?

Can the human heart refrain
from partaking in her pain,
in that Mother's pain untold?

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
she beheld her tender Child
All with scourges rent.

For the sins of His own nation,
saw Him hang in desolation,
Till His spirit forth He sent.

O sweet Mother! fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above,
make my heart with thine accord.

Make me feel as thou hast felt;
make my soul to glow and melt
with the love of Christ, my Lord.

Holy Mother! pierce me through,
in my heart each wound renew
of my Savior crucified.

Let me share with thee His pain,
who for all our sins was slain,
who for me in torments died.

Let me mingle tears with thee,
mourning Him who mourned for me,
all the days that I may live.

By the Cross with thee to stay,
there with thee to weep and pray,
is all I ask of thee to give.

Virgin of all virgins blest!,
Listen to my fond request:
let me share thy grief divine;

Let me, to my latest breath,
in my body bear the death
of that dying Son of thine.

Wounded with His every wound,
steep my soul till it hath swooned,
in His very Blood away;

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
lest in flames I burn and die,
in His awful Judgment Day.

Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,
by Thy Mother my defense,
by Thy Cross my victory;

While my body here decays,
may my soul Thy goodness praise,
safe in paradise with Thee. Amen.

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our Heavenly Father loves us so much that He searches for us when we are lost. He is the loving father, watching for the return of the wandering, giving them back their dignity. But He also loves the sons who do not wander, even when their hearts are far from Him. Do we understand His love of us as our father, or do we only serve Him as a master.

Twenty-Third Sundy of Ordinary Time

Following Christ means taking up our cross. It is not something we should do lightly or half-heartedly, but something with full consideration. It will require us to leave behind family, at times, if they are not able to follow the Lord themselves. That is what it means to 'hate' them as we are instructed in the Gospel.