Requiem æternam, Emineza

Crowds came out in huge numbers to bid farewell to their beloved pastor. A man not without controversy, even in death. In the end, a holy priest, a beloved pastor of souls. Watch below the final commendation of the Archbishop-emeritus of Milan, Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, SJ: In paradisum deducant te Angeli; in tuo adventu [...]

The Scandals, Fr. Benedict, and Moving on… (UPDATED… AGAIN)

An interview with Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR was recently published on the NCRegister website.  It was quickly taken down, but not before it caused quite a stir.  The Huffington post and the NY Daily News both picked up on it.  Fr. Benedict is a remarkable priest – one that I’ve looked up to for many [...]

Monica, Mothers, and the Maniturgium

The Church today celebrates the feast of St. Monica – mother of the great Saint Augustine.  Many of us know the story of Monica – a devout woman who desired nothing more than to see her son converted to Catholic-Christianity.  Through her prayers, tears, and example Augustine as we all know eventually converted and is [...]

“I Had to Thank Him…”

From the NY Times “Recalling the Real Dog Day Afternoon’, 40 Years On.”  The story covers a harrowing experience of being taken hostage during a bank robbery 40 years ago in Brooklyn.  Ms. Goettisheim prayed for protection and felt she received it.  I wonder if in the last 40 years many of us lost this [...]

The other side of the screen

Deacon Greg brought it up here – pointing to a recent article in the Tablet.  Joanne McPortland wrote of her experiences in the confessions here. All this got me thinking.  I’m new at this.  Confessions.   It’s a beautiful thing.  I go between loving hearing them and dreading it… but not really.  I could never dread [...]

Al Smith, American Royalty, and Keeping Calm UPDATED

I’ve always loved politics – I even worked in politics during one of my summer breaks during college.  I love the back and forth, I love the debating, the exchange of ideas.  I love the way it can – when done well build us up as a country.  How rarely that happens anymore!  How often [...]

From sadness to joy… the day of a priest covers it all!

It’s amazing how a day in the life of a priest covers so many emotions.  This morning I attended the funeral of a brother priest - Msgr. Francis Midura, 67.  He died suddenly of a heart attack on July 30th.  He was a wonderful priest- a priest’s priest.  He was a beloved pastor – and a retired [...]

Missy (and the Jesuits) gets it right

America’s newest sweetheart has her head on straight. Missy Franklin won a gold medal in the women’s 100 backstroke final at the London 2012 Olympic Games. She is the youngest member of the Women’s swimming team – she is just entering into her senior year of Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora.  Speaking to the [...]

Life doesn’t just happen…

So in the midst of all the fun of launching a blog… parish duties call. One of the first things that strikes me as different between seminary and priesthood… beyond all the awesome stuff… is the lack of a schedule!  Parish Mass in the AM, possible funeral, but then an afternoon of… emptiness!  What to [...]

New beginnings for the New Evangelization

53 days and counting.  I’ve been a priest for 53 days.  They have been some of the best days of my life. I get to wake up every morning and celebrate Holy Mass.  What could be better? What could be more moving that to stand in the person of Christ at the altar each and every [...]