For some time now I’ve been on Twitter and have quite enjoyed the interaction there.  I use it more for news consumption than for anything else.  Late last week however, I started getting a lot more mentions than usual.  It seems that I’m not the only Michael Duffy around!  I already knew of a few other Father Michael Duffys, including the Franciscan that preached at Fr. Mychal Judge’s Funeral. Via all those new mentions I came to know of another Michael... Read more

I was struck by this picture of NYC Mayor Bill DeBlasio at St. Patricks Cathedral during Communion yesterday.  It is clear from this picture Hizzoner has done his homework and knows how to be respectful to the Church’s teachings.  While he was baptized a Catholic, Mayor DeBlasio does not practice the faith. When we are not practicing our faith, or when we are not in Communion with the Church’s teachings we should not present ourselves for Holy Communion.  If we find... Read more

It’s short, simple, and profound.  Even Santa needs to pray.  Make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament this Christmas Season to really celebrate the birth of Our Lord. Read more

Whenever I hear the reading from Isaiah that was proclaimed at Mass this weekend I can’t help but think of Handel’s Messiah. Watch the clip and never hear this reading the same again: Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated; indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins. A voice cries out:... Read more

Every so often a need arises to remind ourselves of what we are doing here on social media, on the internet, in the public sphere.  Having engaged in a number of discussions and witnessed a number of tirades on social media recently I am moved to think that today may be a good time for such a reminder. As a Priest I am called to be a living sign of Jesus Christ in the World.  That reality goes deeper than... Read more

Paragraph 55 of the synod document released today didn’t get the necessary 2/3s votes to pass.  This paragraph deals specifically with homosexuality.  Buzzfeed translates the Paragraph for us: 55. Some families live the experience of having members who are of homosexual orientation. In this regard, questions have been raised on pastoral care which is appropriate to deal with this situation by referring to what the Church teaches: “There is no basis whatsoever to assimilate or to draw even remote analogies... Read more

This was my fourth visit to Rome, but my first as a priest.  I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, all I can say is that it was quite overwhelming.  I used part of my summer vacation to lead a pilgrimage to Lourdes and Rome and then to stay in Rome a few days with just some priest friends.  It was an incredibly graced period, time that I know will impact my priesthood for years to come.  There is something... Read more

While I was in seminary, I was blessed to be able to come to know an organization that does a tremendous amount of good behind the scenes for vocations.  The executive offices for NCDVD – the National Conference of Diocesan Vocations Directors were located in the building where I went to seminary.  Every year I would watch with awe as so much energy and effort went into the yearly national conference that this group put on.  This year, that conference... Read more

This recent blog post by Cardinal Dolan is a welcomed bit of clarification re the St. Patrick’s day Parade.  His post exudes charity.  Something we can all learn from.  I’m reminded that in all things we should have charity.  Everyone in the world knows what the Church teaches about homosexuality.  Maybe instead of being perceived so negatively as we have been, the charity of Cardinal Dolan in this instance, will help people to meet Jesus Christ.  Below I reprint his... Read more

  Everyone knows the name of Fr. Mychal Judge, the first official casualty of the September 11th terrorist attacks.  Not many people will recognize the name of Father Francis Grogan, C.S.C.  Fr. Grogan was a passenger onboard United Airlines Flight #175 when it hit the second tower.   The newspaper of the Diocese of Albany recalls Fr. Grogan: In 2001, Father Grogan, 76, was in between ministries. The former director of the Holy Cross Residence in North Dartmouth, Mass., had just accepted... Read more