We all have to navigate the experience of loss many times in our lives, varying in intensity from minor to traumatic and everything in between. Losses - whether the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, the loss of health, a job, or even a cherished dream - can deeply affect our emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. Our reactions to loss often bring feelings of sadness, anger, ....

Stop 4: Freedom - Liberty The heart of the Eucharistic Procession represents Christ's liberating presence moving through the world. The exposed Blessed Sacrament carried through the streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces symbolizes God's freedom from the confines of sacred buildings to encounter humanity in their everyday contexts. By this procession, the people of God witness their faith....

Eucharistic procession was instituted in the thirteenth century in honour of the Blessed Sacrament on the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. The procession celebrates the consecrated host (the Eucharist) that is carried through the streets or within church grounds, typically displayed in a monstrance for public veneration. It serves as both public worship and evangelization. It is a journey of faith....

Over the next two weeks, our collaborative parishes will celebrate a beautiful moment of grace: the Sacrament of Confirmation for our young people. Most of these candidates are in the tenth grade, though a few are upperclassmen—and one is an adult Catholic who, until now, had not been confirmed. Each of them has walked a path of preparation. For most, this included....

Once again, our towns and our nation celebrate Memorial Day. This year it is going to be a relatively cold holiday weekend, which can serve to remind us that it only secondarily marks the unofficial start of summer! During the Easter season, our liturgy frequently proclaims....

With great joy, our collaborative parishes are united with the whole Church in welcoming Pope Leo XIV, the 268th successor of St. Peter—and the first pope born in the United States! A professed religious in the Order of St. Augustine and a missionary at heart, Pope Leo has spent decades serving in communities marked by both poverty and faith, isolation and deep belonging. His witness is....

By the time you read this bulletin, the white smoke may have already risen and we may have a new Holy Father. Or, perhaps, the Cardinals gathered in Conclave are still discerning, still waiting on the voice of the Holy Spirit. As Catholics, we trust that the Spirit of God is at work in....

Like all aspects of our lives, our spiritual life is a journey. Accordingly, the final period in the process of adult initiation into the Catholic Church is called mystagogy—a word that may sound unfamiliar to many, but it holds profound meaning for all of us. Mystagogy means “to lead into the mystery.” It is the time after the celebration of the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist when the newly....

This week, as the Church throughout the world gathers with hearts full of both sorrow and Easter joy, we remember and give thanks for the life and ministry of Pope Francis, who has now passed into the loving embrace of the Risen Lord. It is fitting that we mourn him during this Easter season and, in this weekend in particular, on Divine Mercy Sunday — when the Church rejoices....

My brothers and sisters, Easter is not a single day. It is not just an event to be remembered—it is a reality to be lived. Like the eight-day feast of Easter overflows into a season even longer than Lent, the joy of the Resurrection is not a fleeting feeling but a living flame that the Risen Jesus lights in our hearts. As Pope Francis reminds us, “Christ is alive. He is our hope, and in a wonderful way He brings youth to our world.”....

We are grateful that our new Archbishop Richard Henning has taken the time to write words of spiritual encouragement to all of us. It is always good to hear him in his own words as our new shepherd and successor of the apostles who cares for us and our needs - especially in Holy Week and Easter Week, the most sacred weeks of the Church year. This is the time for each of us....

Before we look ahead to Holy Week, I want to take a moment to give thanks to God for the communal and personal blessings of this Lenten journey, and for the many people who contributed to all the Lenten opportunities in our collaborative parishes. From the Exodus 90 fraternity and Ash Wednesday, the men’s day of reflection and the women’s pilgrimage to La Salette, Father Abraham’s presentations on sacred icons, Lenten exercises....

A paraphrasing of the Parable Son. (Also known as the Parable of the Forgiving Father: Lk 15:11-32)

Hope is essential, for without hope, life loses meaning. We can endure hardships, uncertainty, and even suffering, but without hope, our hearts grow weary, and we feel lost. In Spe Salvi (“Saved in Hope”), Pope Benedict XVI wrote, “The one who has hope lives differently.” Pope Francis builds on this, urging us to see hope as the foundation....

Only one more week until the centerpiece of our Lenten offerings – the Collaborative Lenten Mission-Retreat! New details on each day are in the article below, but please take seriously the idea of inviting someone to join you… it’s a lot easier to invite someone to a special event than to Mass! Meanwhile, the highlight this week is the visit from Father Abraham Miller, a priest of the St. Nicholas Eparchy (like a diocese) for Ukrainian Catholics in the USA. Like many Eastern Rite Catholics, Father Abe has a

As we have begun our Lenten journey anew, the Church reminds us that this time of fasting, prayer, and acts of loving charity is for us, who are already Catholics, a companion journey with those who are preparing to receive the Sacraments of initiation this Easter. Our collaborative parishes are abundantly blessed....

Lent is a season of grace, a time when the Lord gently calls us to draw closer to Him. It is not just about giving something up but about making space for God — allowing Him to renew our hearts, to fill us with hope, and to transform our daily lives. This year, as we embark on our Lenten journey, we do so in the spirit of the 2025 Jubilee Year, as Pilgrims of Hope. A pilgrim sets out not only,,,,

“Hello. I need you to do me a favor. Let me know if you’re available. Blessings, Fr. Joe” What would you do if you received this message as an email from me? Naturally, most of us want to help our parish - especially when....