Pentecost Sunday

Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 6/06/22

Acts 2:1-11 | Ps 104 | 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 (or) Rom 8:8-17 | Sequence | Jn 20:19-23 (or) Jn 14:15-16, 23b-26

With the feast of Pentecost, the wonderful season of Easter—the Great Fifty Days—comes to an end, and the Church gives us two accounts of this great event ... Read More »

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 5/21/22

Acts 14:21-27 | Ps 145 | Rev 21:1-5a | Jn 13:31-33a, 34-35

When Europeans first landed in the Americas, Christians were quick to send missionaries to preach the gospel to those native to our nation and Canada.

One of the courageous men to take up this challenge was Isaac ... Read More »

Second Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy)

Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 4/25/22

Acts 5:12-16 | Ps 118 | Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19 | Jn 20:19-31

Pause for a moment and pay attention to your breath.

Inhale, exhale. Breath in, breath out.

Our bodies make this movement tens of thousands of times each day. Oxygen comes in and carbon dioxide goes out. ... Read More »

Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord

Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 4/23/22

Acts 10:34a, 37-43 | Ps 118 | Col 3:1-4 | Sequence, Victimae paschali laudes | Jn 20:1-9

This death is different.

Her dear friend just died a dreadful death. Hours earlier, Mary of Magdala watched as Jesus cried out from the cross and breathed his last. Now she returns ... Read More »

Holy Saturday | The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night

Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 4/23/22

Lk 24:1-12

Imagine the memories haunting these women when they go to the tomb. They just lived Good Friday. Now they’re searching for the body of Jesus Christ, the friend they followed day after day, collecting so many memories. Two angels prompt the grieving women to enter back into ... Read More »

Good Friday | The Passion of the Lord

Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 4/15/22

Is 52:13-53:12 | Ps 31 | Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9 | Jn 18:1-19:42

The stories ring all too familiar: a Christian gunman opens fire on a synagogue. A Christian colleague mocks her Muslim co-worker for what she wears. A Christian insurrectionist clutches a copy of Sacred Scripture as he attacks ... Read More »

Holy Thursday | Mass of the Lord's Supper

Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 4/15/22

Ex 12:1-8, 11-14 | Ps 116 | 1 Cor 11:23-26 | Jn 13:1-15

On this night, year after year, as we begin the Sacred Paschal Triduum: one celebration spread over the course of three days. At this, the first celebration, there are principal mysteries commemorated in this Mass of ... Read More »

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 4/10/22

Procession: Lk 19:28-40 Mass: Is 50:4-7 | Ps 22 | Phil 2:6-11 | Lk 22:14-23:56

Little ever needs to be shared following the proclamation of Our Lord’s Passion. The Roman Missal even states: “After the narrative of the Passion, a brief homily should take place” (Palm Sunday, 22). I’ll ... Read More »

Fifth Sunday of Lent (Third Scrutiny, Year A)

Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 4/10/22

Ez 37:12-14 | Ps 130 | Rom 8:8-11 | Jn 11:1-45

Jesus came primarily as a warrior whose final enemy is death. It’s easy to domesticate Jesus, presenting him as a kindly moral teacher. But that’s not how the Gospels present him. He is a cosmic warrior who has ... Read More »

Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday); (Second Scrutiny, Year A)

Posted by Fr Terry Grachanin on 3/28/22

1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a | Ps 23 | Eph 5:8-14 | Jn 9:1-41

It’s a common theme, not just in Scripture, but in literature generally: someone unexpected to do great things is lifted out of the normalcy of their lives in order to, in fact, do great things. ... Read More »