Summers are often filled with camps for young people determined to have fun and make new friends. The YSI Leadership Camp near Scranton, PA is no exception to this rule. An interesting distinctive element to this camp is its Jesus-focused component. Of course, many summer camps are Christian in their orientation, with classes in living … Continue reading Summer camp sacraments →

I've been intrigued for a long time about the origins of the word "repent" which I basically thought came from the Greek term "metanoia", and which I, in turn, thought meant a change of direction. Well, I was wrong, and now I find... (not Red, Red Wine as the answer... Thanks Neil Diamond for a … Continue reading Bishop Barron on Metanoia →

May crowning of Our Lady at Aquinas Academy, Pittsburgh (note flower crash on right: like ourselves!) As we make our way into the Ascension of Jesus and the expectation of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (even with the great help of Mary in May), perhaps we realize that we haven't lived the … Continue reading Final Countdown of Easter ’22 →

Recently I was passing through the Houston Airport, and I stopped at its Hard Rock Cafe for lunch and some "rock relic" gazing. They had a guitar on the wall from Blue Oyster Cult, and I was immediately reminded of "Godzilla" which is my favorite BOC tune for its lyrics as well as its searing … Continue reading St. Athanasius vs. Godzilla →

My good friend and artistically gifted, Sean Sadler, recently sent me a link to his latest Gospel hymn, which I simply titled, "'Cuz praise be..." Well, you can guess the rest of the title. Yes, it's "'Cuz praise be Jesus Christ!" We celebrate his Glorious Resurrection today, Easter Sunday 2022, and actually we (Catholics and … Continue reading ‘Cuz praise be…” →

Today is Good Friday, and Christians are called to meditate deeply on the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus. Let us briefly meditate on the his words "I thirst" (Jn 19;28), which he says moments before his death. I find it fascinating because (unlike us) Jesus, as far as I can tell, rarely remarks on what … Continue reading I thirst →

This year's Holy Week is interesting for me because it begins on the last day of a series of several retreats I have preached during Lent. There is nothing new to this, as many priests preach retreats during Lent, and many people attend retreats during this time as well. Awesome. What was a little different … Continue reading Into Holy Week 2022 →

I'm looking forward to today's consecration of humanity, and especially Russia and Ukraine, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. That it is made on the Solemnity of the Annuciation is extra significant, for the announcement to Mary that she would be the Mother of God, and the spiritual mother of us all, is a great … Continue reading Today’s consecration →

In today's Gospel (Luke 13), for the third Sunday of Lent, Jesus calls all his listener (and everyone) to repentance. He brings up this somewhat mysterious event of the falling of the "Tower of Siloam"; mysterious, because as far as I know, Jesus' reference to it is the only recorded one (I could be wrong). … Continue reading Universal call to penance →

Today's Gospel from Mass reminded me once again how simple the basics of Christianity are. Jesus says, "Give, and there will be gifts for you..." calling each of us to consider how we freely correspond to grace and how responsible we are for our growth in holiness and the holiness of those around us as … Continue reading New beginnings →