Pastor’s Column 3rd Sunday of Easter May 1, 2022 "Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something." Once, many years ago now, I journeyed to the Sea of Galilee and got on a traditional fishing boat much as Peter, James and John would have used (see picture of this boat at left). And during our time at sea, we naturally went fishing. The guide was casting his net over the side of the boat to show us how this was done at the time of Christ. Of course,

Pastor’s Column Mercy Sunday April 24, 2022 “Be merciful as your Father is merciful. Do not judge and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned, because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.” Luke 6:36-38 Jesus Christ is both perfect mercy and perfect justice, and yet there is no contradiction here. When we come to the Lord seeking forgiveness, especially in the

Pastor’s Column April 17, 2022 My favorite picture from childhood was taken on Easter Sunday, when I was a child many years ago, right after we got home from church. We were dressed up and the whole family was visiting. I have this picture in a place of honor in my home, but it is also a picture with a flaw: it is slightly out of focus. To me, such a picture of a cherished memory can be a kind of image of the way we remember good times from the past. Like a favorite memory fr

Pastor’s Column Palm Sunday, 2022 Today I wish to share with you this great prayer by St. Claude La Colombière, the spiritual advisor of Saint Margaret Mary, visionary of the Sacred Heart devotion. This prayer seems particularly appropriate when we meditate on the great sacrifice of Jesus, who shows himself to be a true friend for you on Palm Sunday. Father Gary Jesus, You Are My Only True Friend You share my troubles, you bear them with me, you know the secret of bringing g

Pastor’s Column 5th Sunday of Lent April 3, 2022 I am always very intrigued by a very simple action that Jesus performs in John’s gospel this Sunday (John 8:1-11). Every word of John's Gospel has theological meaning and has been carefully constructed. John, therefore, invites us to meditate on the intimate details of Jesus’ life that he often provides in his writing. We, therefore, reflect on one remarkable detail: Jesus draws or writes on the ground while he's being spoken t