I was intrigued by Archbishop Dolan’s reflections on the “ad limina” visit he and other US bishops have been having at the Vatican. It sounds like a great way to come together and discuss, with colleagues in similar positions, the benefits and pitfalls of their particular locations as well as questions about the state of the church today. It also sounded a Read more
St. Benedict dedicates four chapters of his rule (RB, ch. 8-11) to a discussion of the “night office,” or what is also referred to as Vigils. The night office is a part of the monastic Liturgy of the Hours, during which the monks would rise during the middle of the night in order to pray the Psalms, hear the Word of God, Read more
While there are lots of factors that go into successful education, the recent study from the Center for Public Education notes the importance of parents. Not surprisingly, parental involvement helps students do better in school. It cannot do it alone of course—teachers, administrators, school boards, local communities, political leaders and more are all necessary for a well run school that foster student Read more
Is 40:1-5, 9-11 Ps 85:9-10-11-12, 13-14 2 Pt 3:8-14 Mk 1:1-8 As Tom mentioned last week in his reflection, Advent is a time of patience and hope as we await the somewhat unexpected Messiah. The readings for the second Sunday in Advent continue this theme of watchful and hopeful waiting, as seen especially in the second readings from 2 Peter: Do not Read more
There has been much discussion in the Catholic blog-sphere concerning the recent “Note on Financial Reform from the Pontifical Council on Justice and Peace.” (It will not surprise any of my readers that I strongly support the document and its stellar economic analysis). Over at Commonweal, Dan Finn asks “When is Self-Interest Moral? A Gap in Catholic Social Teaching.” As a professor of theology Read more
As a theological ethicist who also used to work in law enforcement, I feel obligated to comment on the latest incident involving police using pepper spray on Occupy Wall Street protesters. Garance Franke-Ruta over at The Atlantic provides, I think, a fair account of this, including most recently the one at the University of California-Davis. In my view, based on the videos Read more
Christopher Tollefsen has a new post at the Public Discourse on Moral Absolutes and the Moral Life. It is well worth reading–especially given that so little good thinking is done on this very important topic. Tollefsen is correct when he says that “moral absolutes are essential to the protection of human goods, and hence human well-being.” This is consistent with Veritatis Splendor Read more
The New York Times reported last week on the growth of the “near poor”–those whose incomes are fifty percent or less above the poverty line. This group is not poor, but they are close enough that an unexpected illness or bill can send them over the edge. The “near poor” and the truly poor together represent one in three Americans. The “near Read more
Isaiah 63: 16-17; 64: 2-7 Psalm 80 1 Corinthians 1: 3-9 Mark 13: 33-37 There is a decidedly apocalyptic tone to the readings for today – that is, the expectation that some kind of radical intervention by God is coming, and it is coming soon. The message, therefore, is quite clear, and Jesus repeats it several times in four verses from Mark’s Read more
November 20, 2011 ~ Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King Ez 34:11-12, 15-17; Ps 23: 1-2, 2-3, 5-6; 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28; Mt 25:31-46 Established in 1925 by Pope Pius XI, the Feast of Christ the King was a response to the growing secularism of the day. It was a feast to remind men and women of the integral relevance Read more
Saturday Morning: 8:00 am
Saturday Vigil: 4:30 pm
Sunday: 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 10:45 am,
12:30 pm, 5:30 pm
Saturday Vigil: 6:15pm
Sunday: 9:00am, 7:15pm
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 8:30 am
