St. Therese of Lisieux: Today – October 1st – is the feast day of St. Therese of Lisieux (+ 1897). When a saint’s feast day falls on a Sunday, it is “suppressed.” In other words, we do not celebrate it in the Church’s liturgy because the Sunday celebration always takes precedence. Nonetheless, I cannot let this day pass without acknowledging my good friend and heavenly patroness, St. Therese of Lisieux! I became enamored with her story as a young man, I was able to visit her shrine and her childhood home while I was a seminarian, and when I was ordained a priest, I chose her and St. Catherine of Siena to be my particular intercessors (along with my own name saint, St. Stephen the Protomartyr). She is an awesome saint!...
Rowing in the Same Direction: Unity of purpose is not something that is easy to achieve, but something that holds tremendous importance. This is true for families and corporations, sports teams and parishes. Only when everyone is rowing in the same direction are great things accomplished. Jesus himself longed for this unity, didn’t he? The Lord said on the night before he died: “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us (John 17:20).”...
From the CRO (Chief Reminding Officer): Why do we exist as a parish? To turn people’s lives upside down through an encounter with the redeeming love of Jesus Christ. How do we behave? Christ is at the center of all that we do and all that we are, we strive to be selfless and willing to sacrifice for others, and we persevere in the face of any struggle. How will we succeed? We invite to ignite, we thirst for the sacraments, and we make our parish a place of refuge. What is most important for us right now? Igniting the fire at Holy Redeemer.
Marriage and family are at the very core of God’s plan for salvation. Adam and Eve formed a family. The people of Israel considered themselves a unified and extended family. The Church is a family. Notably, the Lord Jesus himself freely chose to be born into a family and to live the life of an obedient son. In our time, as much as in any time, families are under attack. Spouses, parents, and children are repeatedly targeted by the evil one. Our cultural elites, too, promote things that are utterly destructive to family ties...
Burning With Love: Ignite the fire at Holy Redeemer! That is our goal. That is our rally cry. Johnny Cash might have been on to something when he sang about a “burning ring of fire.” And with apologies to Billy Joel, we actually do want to start the fire and to see it burning as the world keeps turning! It’s impressive how many times the opening prayer for Mass, especially on the feast days of saints, speaks of having a heart on fire with the love of Christ...