On Friday here at Holy Family, we celebrated the last day of school. If you have ever been on a school campus on that last day, the typical sights we see are students walking out with backpacks half-zipped, a yearbook signing here and there, and maybe a few emotional goodbyes, especially to teachers and assistants.…
Every time we pray – whether it’s a simple whispering of “Jesus, help me” or something a little more formal like the Rosary – we’re doing more than just talking to God. We’re extending an invitation. And sometimes – without even realizing it – we’re praying something that can be a little dangerous and not…
Have you ever had an encounter with someone – whether that be with a friend, family member, coworker, classmate – where you just felt really encouraged? Like someone breathed new life into you? That’s kind of what Paul and Barnabas are doing in this reading from the Acts of the Apostles. After traveling, preaching, and…
Psychology teaches us that our memories can sometimes be very much connected to our senses. A smell, a sound, even the texture of something that we touch can suddenly unlock a long-forgotten memory. Sometimes those memories can be comforting and sometimes they’re a little bit more painful. The smell of freshly cut grass might take…
Today is the day that the Lord has made. This is the day death lost its sting, the day sin lost its grip, the day the tomb was emptied and the promise fulfilled. Jesus, our Savior, who suffered and died, who was buried in a stone-cold tomb… is now alive. And not just in our…
On this final day of the Easter season, we come together to celebrate the great feast of Pentecost, which was a pivotal moment in the life of the Church when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles as they were locked in the Upper Room fearful and dejected. As they hid away out of fear…
On Friday, we celebrated the Memorial of St. Philip Neri, who has become one of my favorite saints over the last couple of years. He is well known for his humor and cheerfulness, his gifted spiritual direction, and his habit of making a fool of himself for humility’s sake. On one occasion, he even shaved…
Homily for Tuesday of the 7th Week of Easter In the final days of the Easter season, the Church invites us to reflect back on the events leading up to the Passion of Jesus. Yesterday, we were reminded of the moment when Jesus told His disciples that they would abandon Him. Today, the Church gives…
Homily for Monday of the 6th Week of Easter Our Gospel reading this morning comes from a section of the Gospel of John where Jesus is talking to his disciples about the world’s hatred for those who follow Him. Jesus knew what kinds of challenges the disciples would face in the days that were to…
Homily for the 6th Sunday of Easter Audio version of the homily can be found below. First of all, I want to take this opportunity to personally wish all of our mothers, grandmothers, and spiritual mothers a very happy Mother’s Day. Thank you for always caring for us and supporting us in all that we…
Fr. Tom Pringle 