The gospel reading for Sunday, Jan. 22, recounts Matthew’s call story of the first disciples of Jesus. It is commonly accepted that Matthew drew on Mark’s Gospel for the “backbone,” one could say, of his narrative. Comparing both accounts enables one to see the similarities and differences between the two passages. Mark begins the section […]
In the Gospel account of the “Judgement of the Nations,” Jesus warns us that not attending to the basic needs of our suffering brothers and sisters for food, drink, clothing, companionship, and welcome alienates us from him – possibly eternally so. Among his clear warnings here is “I was … a stranger and you gave […]
Catholic Charities of Buffalo has announced the members of its Appeal 2023 leadership team which include Adam Sumlin, Ph.D. as chair, Kevin Gannon as vice chair, Kevin Brayer and Daniel Mecca as corporate division chairs, and Laurie Brown-Croyts-Alford as community division chair. Sumlin, who served as vice chair for Appeal 2022 and as parish chair […]
What is the greatest lesson you learned from Covid-19? For Pope Francis it is that “we all need one another.” So true, and yet, so often ignored. With this essential, foundational life lesson, the Holy Father builds a New Year’s invitation for global peace. In his Jan. 1, 2023, World Day of Peace message […]
During this wonderful time of the year, when Christians throughout the world focus minds and hearts on the coming of God himself upon the earth as one of us, our attention naturally turns to the place where the incarnation occurred. While all the earth is a holy creation of the Almighty, Bethlehem and the surrounding […]
A new Liturgical Year begins on the First Sunday of Advent. This year many of the Gospel readings at our Sunday Eucharists are from the Gospel of Matthew. On the Fourth Sunday, we read of the annunciation to Joseph, Matt.1:18-24 (Luke’s gospel has the annunciation to Mary). The narrative relates Joseph’s discovery that his betrothed […]
Over 21 years ago, when Catholic News Service offered me the wonderful opportunity to write a biweekly syndicated social justice and peace column, I wondered if there would always be enough to write about. But during my 11 years writing for CNS, and in the last 10 years as a self-syndicated columnist, God has always […]
During his conversation with journalists on his flight back to Rome from his recent pastoral visit to Bahrain, Pope Francis shared his thoughts on many of the world’s current human-made tragedies – including today’s numerous armed conflicts which reminded him of the World War II Allied military landings at Normandy, France. He said, “It was […]
Although the recent celebration of All Saints Day (Nov. 1) has come and gone, God’s personal invitation to you to strive for holiness continues. God is calling you to be a saint. And Lord knows, our wounded world needs saints. Not next week, not next month, not next year, but now is the time humanity […]
The next time you are hungry, imagine that instead of going into your kitchen and reaching for various foods to prepare a meal for you and your family, that there is no food to reach for, no vegetables to pick from in your garden, and that you have no money to buy food for you […]
