Letter from the Pastor

This is a very special day of the year.  It is Easter Sunday.  It is a day that has come to mean many things to many people.  In some parts of the country, it is the unofficial beginning of Spring.  There may still be some chill in the air, but the vernal equinox is past.  The days grow longer and the nights shorter.  The thermometer shows an erratic yet steady climb, and once more winter has lost its seasonal struggle with the sun.  Then again, many people think of Easter as a sort of style show.  It’s a day when […]

Today’s Gospel reading is a courtroom scene.  A trial is taking place, not in the modern, western sense, with a judge and jury and attorney present.  It was instead a Roman trial.  It took place in the private chambers of the Roman governor.  Only two people were present, Pilate, the governor, and Jesus, the accused.  Pilate was both judge and jury.  He held the power of life and death. This is probably the most famous trial in history.  We all know this story well. There is no need to repeat it here.  Rather I want us to try to give […]

The New Testament tells a story of how Jesus performed a real miracle to feed five thousand hungry people in the desert.  He performed this miracle only after reminding His disciples, and each of us, of our obligation to feed the poor.  Jesus had just heard the sad news of John the Baptist’s murder.  His heart was full of sorrow, and He went out into the desert to be alone for a while.  But the people would not leave Him alone.  Suddenly there is a large crowd gathered around Him.  As usual He begins to teach, to heal and to […]

Many centuries ago, a Hebrew poet wrote a psalm that begins with the line: “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God.”  He said that concerning the temple which King Solomon built in Jerusalem.  To him it was the most beautiful and the most sacred place on earth.  It was the house where God lived.  To visit the temple was to be in the very presence of the Lord. But that beautiful and sacred building is no longer there.  It was first destroyed in 586 BC by the invading armies of Babylon.  Some seventy years later, it was rebuilt.  […]

Our Church canonizes saints largely because they are successful models of Christian living and are helpful to us as we try to be better followers of Christ.  Saints are given to us not so much for our admiration as for our imitation. During the month of March, the church honors two special saints.   St. Patrick whose feast we celebrate on March 17 and St. Joseph whose feast we celebrate on March 19.  St. Patrick is the patron saint of the Archdiocese of New York and St. Joseph is the patron saint of the Universal Church. Details of St. Patrick’s life […]