Childlike Humility

What does it mean to become childlike? Traditionally, we have juxtaposed the virtue of being childlike with the vice of childishness. Childishness is when we give a greater priority to what is less important, when we stubbornly insist on having our own way, and when we refuse to put others’ good before our own. This […]

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Familiarity and Indifference

There is an old saying that goes, “familiarity breeds contempt.” As human beings with limited attention spans we tend to grow tired of the things we have and desire the new and improved. New ideas are more interesting than traditional wisdom, new toys are better than old ones, and a new acquaintance seems more interesting […]

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Witness and Mediocrity

Our Lord’s public ministry is about to come a crucial turning point. There is a “large crowd” following Him because they have seen the miraculous signs he has performed in curing the sick and casting out demons, but many people in the crowd still see Him as a miracle worker, an extraordinary man who has […]

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Ordination and First Mass Photos

Many people have been asking me about photos from my Ordination and especially my first Solemn Mass. I am very happy to announce that they are now available at the following links. I am particularly indebted to Mrs. Anastassia Cassady, whose photographs are truly works of art. You can learn more about her here: http://photographybyanastassia.webs.com/. Thanks also to […]

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Suffering Persecution with Love: A response to the Supreme Court decision on “same-sex marriage”

Homily for the XIV Sunday Through the YEar 5 July 2015 Parish Church of St. John the Baptist, New Haven “I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” Thus St. Paul speaks to us in today’s epistle. Persecutions. (PAUSE) […]

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Corpus Christi

Sermon for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi (My First Mass of Thanksgiving) 6 June 2015 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Fort Wayne A priest of our diocese tells a story about a trip he made to China. He was visiting Beijing and he and some others had hired a local man to show them around. […]

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