Each year the season of Lent gives us a time to reflect on our lives, and enter into a time of spiritual growth. So how do we make the most of the season? Recently seeing a parishioner post on their Facebook page some insights from Pope Francis about the things we can fast from, I …
Padre Paul's Ponderings: Lenten Ideas from Pope Francis Continue »
In just over a week, we’ll celebrate the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. On that day, as ashes are imposed on our foreheads, we’ll hear the words “repent, and believe in the Gospel.” The season gives us a chance to look at our lives and ask ourselves where are we going, and what in …
Padre Paul's Ponderings: Faith Formation Lays the Groundwork for Sainthood Continue »
As I mentioned in my homily last week, when I visited New York City a few months ago, for all of the amazing buildings, scenery, and of course great food, one of the places that struck me most was the shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. The first native-born American saint, she was instrumental in …
Padre Paul's Ponderings: Saint Joseph’s School: Preparing Children for Life & Heaven Continue »
A few weeks before I was ordained, a reporter from The Catholic Spirit, the newspaper of the archdiocese, contacted me. They were speaking to each member of our class about our upcoming ordination, and the questions where what you’d expect: who is your biggest influence, how did you become a priest, what are you looking …
Padre Paul's Ponderings: Be a Fisher of Men Every Day Continue »
This past Monday, January 8th, we celebrated the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Often this will be on a Sunday, but when the Epiphany is celebrated on a Sunday after January 6th, the feast gets moved to the Monday after the Epiphany. This Sunday is the second Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Baptism …
Padre Paul's Ponderings: Ordinary, Yet Extraordinary Continue »
One time in a homily, I remember the priest telling a joke about a newly arrived group that was going through heaven. The group visited various parts of heaven, but upon getting off the bus to walk through a neighborhood, the tour guide told the people to be quiet. When one person asked why silence …
Padre Paul's Ponderings: Jesus is a Gift for Us All Continue »
Christmas blessings to you and your family. I hope that you’ve been able to by this point enjoy some time together with loved ones, and hopefully relax a bit after the busyness in the days that led up to Christmas. Christmas in the Church is not just a one day event, but a season, albeit …
Padre Paul's Ponderings: Family is truly the Gift that Keeps on Giving Continue »
By now many of us are finishing up our last-minute shopping, and trying to get the right gifts for those on our list. But one of the greatest gifts we can give to others is to help them foster a meaningful relationship with God. And most often this will happen in ways we might not …
Padre Paul's Ponderings: Giving the Gift of a Relationship with God Continue »
One of the parts of my ministry as a priest is to be with families as they cope with the loss of a loved one. When there is a death, I meet with them and get a biography of the person’s life. I typically like to use a story too to lead into the homily …
A story I’ve heard more than once is of a man who died in a flood. The storm was predicted, but the man decided to wait in his house and ignored the weather warning. The police came buy and urged him to leave before it got too bad, but he said no, I will be …