A FEW PRE-LENTEN THOUGHTS Scanning the secular news headlines about escalating war, looming financial “correction”, the collapsing American infrastructures, unrelenting waves of crime and chaos, and the abject failure of politics to solve any social dysfunctions… there is no doubt we are in troubling times. From a Catholic perspective: if we know what Scripture and … Continued

Revival At the beginning of a new year, we all look for ways to “revive” our lives: cleaning and organizing our homes; deciding on a new exercise regimen or renewing our commitment to our current one; or maybe even embarking on “Bible in a Year” or “Catechism in a Year” with Fr. Mike Schmitz! 😉  … Continued

Epiphany! This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.  The feast marks the end of the Christmas season.  Traditionally, Epiphany was observed on the January  6 and is a feast of the Church older than Christmas.  Since 1970, the celebration is held in some countries on the Sunday after January 1; more … Continued

What a Sunday, the Solemnity of the Holy Family…J.M.J., Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! There was no Catholic school in our town,  so Mom and Dad chose to homeschool my sister and me.  J.M.J was the first thing written on all our papers.  To this day, I type or write those initials on my papers.  Why?  … Continued

God Making Himself Small for Us Dear Parish Family, In over 18 years of priesthood, I’ve celebrated the baptisms of many infants.  Babies draw everyone’s attention and affection.  There is little that disarms us and endears us more than a small baby.  The biggest wonder of Christmas is the gift of the infant Jesus.   Our … Continued