Two of the four Gospels tell the story of the birth of Jesus, though from different perspectives. However, both introduce Jesus to the world as a poor child, who prefers the company of poor and outcast people. In Luke’s Gospel, […]
The Gospel of Matthew tells us that Magi, wise men, saw a star that was unusual, not supposed to be there. These men were astrologers who studied the night sky and who saw a start that was new. The night […]
Christmas isn’t a day; it is a season. There is a silly controversy in society over whether we should say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays”, or perhaps “Seasons Greetings”. For us Christians, this season is a sacred time and the […]
We celebrate Christmas this week. Jesus was born among the poor in a cave near Bethlehem where animals were kept. The first witnesses to the holy birth were shepherds. While the Jewish and Roman leaders slept in their homes, the […]
Beginning on Christmas, the Catholic Church will begin the celebration of a “jubilee year”. Jubilee celebrations harken back to the Old Testament where every 50 years all debts were to be forgiven and all slaves freed. Ever since 1300, when […]
For the past two and a half years, Christ in the City missionaries have been attending our 12:05 weekday Masses. These young Catholics walk the streets of Center City befriending our homeless neighbors. This year there are 17 missionaries in […]
For months now, I have been telling you that we must soon begin a capital project and raise one million dollars. The patio behind the church is crumbling and under that deteriorating patio are the mechanical systems that keep our […]
My fellow Americans. We recently elected Donald Trump as president of the United States. Some of you reading my words are happy; others of you are not happy at all. I was in Hong Kong on election day. I was […]
I write this message from Hong Kong where I am preaching the annual retreat to the bishops and priests of Hong Kong and Macau. When I was assigned to Saint John the Evangelist Church in 1991, I began to work […]
I write to you to you today from Cathay Pacific flight 831 en route from JFK to Hong Kong. It is a 16 hour flight and I just read Pope Francis’ latest Encyclical, Delexit Nos (He loved us). It is […]