HOMILY EASTER SEASON WEEK 05 01 – Year I Living and Praying the Paschal Mystery: Feast of Saints Philip and James (1 Cor 15:1-8; Ps 19; Jn 14:6-14) ***************************************************************************************** Today’s first reading begins with St. Paul reminding his readers of the Good News that he proclaimed to them in which they were “standing,” and by […]

EASTER SEASON SUNDAY 05 B Believe and Love; Faith and Fellowship (Acts 9:26-31; Psalm 22; 1 John 3:18-24; Jn 15:1-8) ************************************************************ On the wall of the chapel at the Domano Retreat Centre in Prince George, there is an impressive vine with a strong stem reaching up to the ceiling, and numerous branches reaching out in […]

HOMILY EASTER SEASON WEEK 04 06 – Year I This Is Exciting! Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker (Acts 13:44-52; Ps 98; Jn 14.7-14) **************************************** When was that last time that you really got excited? The readings today us to pray for faith that will excite us – faith in Jesus arisen from the dead, […]

HOMILY EASTER SEASON WEEK 04 05 – Year I A Home for Us All: Memorial of St. Marie of the Incarnation (Acts 13:26-33; Ps 2; Jn 14.1-6) ***********************************************   The late Oblate missionary, René Fumoleau, recounts the story of a house that burned down to the ground in one of the Indigenous communities he served […]

HOMILY EASTER SEASON WEEK 04 04 – Year I After God’s Own Heart – Living a 9th Beatitude: Memorial of St. Catherine of Sienna (Acts 13.13-25; Ps 89; Jn 13.16-20) ***************************************************** If you were invited to speak in a synagogue, what would be your message? The readings today provide us with one: have faith in […]

HOMILY EASTER SEASON WEEK 04 03 – Year I Believing in God – Listening to the Spirit – Living as Church: Optional Memorial of St. Peter Chanel (Acts 12.24-13.5; Ps 67; Jn 12.44-50) ****************************************************** The readings today continue to plumb the deeper meaning of the Resurrection event, extending to us an invitation to grow in […]

HOMILY EASTER SEASON WEEK 04 02 – Year I A Positive Faith (Acts 11.19-26; Ps 87; Jn 10.22-30) ************************************** Fr. Bryan Massingdale, a black priest who in 2017 received an honorary doctorate from the Oblate School of Theology for his ministry in theology and social justice, delivered a passionate and inspiring talk at the  commencement […]

HOMILY EASTER SEASON WEEK 04 01 – Year I The Cross and Resurrection: Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Good Counsel (Acts 11.1-18; Ps42; Jn 10.11-18) ********************************************* Sr. Lùcia Silva’s nephew was walking home one night with a friend when he looked up and saw they were by a tall wooden cross bathed in bright […]

EASTER SEASON SUNDAY 04 – Year B Shepherds of the Heart (Acts 4:7-12; Psalm 118; 1 John 3:1-2; John 10:11-18) ****************************************************** The late spiritual writer, Henri Nouwen, used to think love involved being good, being efficient, using one’s intelligence and time well, and doing things for others. Then he chose to live with the mentally […]

HOMILY EASTER SEASON WEEK 03 06 – Year I Growing our Relationship with Jesus ((Acts 9:31-42; Ps 116; Jn 6:53-69) ********************************************* What do you think was the most pivotal moment of Peter’s life with Jesus? What would ours be? St. Peter is strikingly central to both readings today, inviting us to grow in our relationship […]