Fr. Jim's Blog

I am away this weekend conducting a Mother's Day Retreat. The priest who is covering for me is not able to celebrate Reconciliation. With the shortage of priests (yes please pray for vocations) I wasn't able to find someone. Have a great weekend!

I wanted to share today's Daily Reflection from the Word Among Us. I thought it was really good. I have been thinking a lot how fear easily creeps into our lives and begins to control us and rob us of the Lord's gift of Peace. I am busy trying to get everything ready for the weekend retreat. I haven't yet reached the point of "letting go and letting God" but I'm pretty confident it will come sometime today. Have a great weekend! The Lord said to Paul, “Do not be afraid … for I am with you.” (Acts 18:9, 10) Again and again, Jesus tells us not to be afraid. Instead, we should have confidence—not because he guarantees a particular outcome but because he is always with us. He alone can see the big picture, a picture that includes many factors that are hidden from our eyes. For example, Jesus assured Paul that he had many friends in Corinth, just as God told Elijah there were seven thousand other faithful believers in Israel (1 Kings 19:14-18). So tak...

Where Is God?

I have changed the Photo Album and bought another plug-in for Rapidweaver which enables me to do a slideshow. I will add more photos in the days ahead. I have also updated the Video section of the website with a lot more videos, most of them about faith and renewal. I have decided to go home on Monday after the Monday Morning Offering at the school to celebrate my nephew Landen's birthday on Tuesday. The little guy turns 6 years old! It will be a very short trip as I have to be back for Mass at 8:30AM on Wednesday morning.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Today, the 1st of May, we celebrate St. Joseph the Worker and begin the month traditionally dedicated to the Virgin Mary. During this encounter, I would thus like to reflect on these two important figures in the life of Jesus, of the Church and in our lives, with two brief thoughts: the first regarding work, the second on the contemplation of Jesus. 1. In the Gospel of St. Matthew, one of the times when Jesus returns to his native region, to Nazareth, and speaks in the synagogue, the Gospel underlines his fellow villagers' astonishment at his wisdom, and the question they ask one another: is not this the Carpenter's son?" (13:55). Jesus enters into our history, he comes into our midst, being born of Mary by the work of God, but with the presence of St. Joseph, the legal father who guards him and even teaches him his trade. Jesus was born and lived in a family, in the Holy Family, learning from St. Joseph the carpenter's trade, in the wo...

I just recorded and posted the homily for the 5th Sunday of Easter. You can listen to it by clicking here.

We had a great time with Fr. Donald Calloway on Sunday. His vocation is an incredible sign and reminder of how God desires that everyone come to a saving knowledge of the Truth no matter how far away they may seem. Our Blessed Mother pointed the way for him to have a powerful encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ and I am convinced he is being used in a powerful way to help people come back to the Lord. In the little amount of time I had to visit with him, he shared some experiences in the parishes where he has visited that were quite disappointing. One of them involved the pastor standing up during his presentation and telling him to leave the parish. No doubt, Fr. Calloway is on the front lines and could really use our prayer and support. I want to extend a special words of thanks to our committee who invited him to come (three years ago) and worked so hard to make everything possible. A special word of thanks also to Kathi Swarthout who was in the kitchen preparing all of the food ...