Sunday Sermon, August 30 - Both Simon and Peter, the Human Element in the Church

 Last week, Simon was named Peter, the Rock upon which Christ will build his Church. This week, Peter is caller Satan, for he continued to think as Simon, as men do rather than as God does.

Inspired by Archbishop Fulton Sheen, we reflect upon how the Church is both Simon and Peter, both human and divine. The human element in the Church can be painful, but the gates of hell will never prevail against her.

We discuss also the pain and confusion caused in our own city by the recent closure of two Catholic schools, emphasizing that the faithful have the right to ask questions of Diocesan leadership - but also emphasizing that it is gravely sinful to attack the Bishop and his staff  or to presume to assign motives or nefarious behind the scenes plans to the Bishop.

Listen online [here]!

Adult Faith Formation, August 25 - Wisdom Literature, Session 3 - The Book of Proverbs and Lady Wisdom

 We look to the first book ascribed to Solomon and officially recognized as "a book of Wisdom" - that is, Proverbs, the first of the five books traditionally seen by the Church part of the wisdom literature of the Old Testament.

Handout posted below.

Sunday Sermon, August 23 -- St Peter, the Keys, and the Papacy

 "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven."

We discuss the various analogies used by our Lord in relation to Peter's role as prince of the apostles (and, by extension, the Pope's role as head of the Church) -- especially the rock, the keys, and binding and loosing.

We consider the primacy of Peter and how this primacy is given through the petrine office to the bishop of Rome who is Pope of the universal Church. We also discuss what we do and don't believe about papal elections and about infallibility.

Listen online [here]!

Adult Faith Formation, August 18 - Wisdom Literature, Session 2 - The Book of Job

 In this second class, we consider the book of Job. One of the most difficult books to interpret, Job also highlights certain characteristics of the Wisdom Literature.

Handout is below!

Sunday Sermon, August 16 - Our Lady of Champion (External Solemnity of the Assumption)

 We celebrated the Assumption as an external solemnity, since the Saturday feast was not kept as an Obligation Day this year.  First, we note that this week and octave of the Assumption is the most important week of the year for Marian devotion - it is an octave in which we must celebrate with Mary and grow closer to her.

We consider the only approved Marian apparition in the USA - Our Lady of Champion. Mary appeared to Adele Brice on 9 October 1859, asking her to teach catechism to the children of the region.  Twelve years later (8 Oct 1871) was the horrific Peshtigo fire - but the shrine and all there were saved.

Listen online [here]!