3 Takeaways from 2023 at the Newman Center Pasadena

Last updated on: January 4, 2024 at 8:45 am By Fr. Nicholas Sheehy, LC

What are the 3 takeaways from 2023 at the Newman Center Pasadena? 2023 has been characterized by community, formation, and service at the Newman Center in Pasadena. It is encouraging to see how God is working through the students and young adults who participate in the activities here. The importance of community, formation, and service are the 3 takeaways from 2023. Community Christ builds community. I have been impressed with how the groups are growing. Our campus minister, Jerome, has... Read more

5 Keys to Celebrate Blessings in Your Marriage

Last updated on: February 23, 2024 at 10:01 pm By Fr. Nicholas Sheehy, LC

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God wants us to be happy. This is why he sends us his blessings. A synonym for happiness within Christianity is holiness. God calls us all to be holy, which is to be ultimately happy. So, it makes sense that the Bible speaks about several life situations that are very relatable to our final happiness. Marriage is a basic human experience and figures largely in the Bible. “I don’t believe the Bible was ever intended to be a marriage book,... Read more

Experience Joy to Understand Christmas

Last updated on: January 4, 2024 at 8:45 am By Fr. Nicholas Sheehy, LC

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Pure joy What am I truly looking for? When is the last time you experienced joy? I invite you to think back over the last week and see times that you have seen other people experience joy. It may be hard for some of us. Personally, I can think of the face of a toddler who was sharing Sees’ candies with me. Really, I did not want any more chocolate, but her engaging smile and obvious joy won me over.... Read more

God’s Plan for Marriage: Friendship and Love

Last updated on: February 23, 2024 at 10:01 pm By Fr. Nicholas Sheehy, LC

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Friendship and Love Friendship and love go together. What can a priest say about marriage? Well, I suppose that if you are here, you assume that he has some light to shed on the subject. I don’t know if you have a movie that has impacted you, even affecting your life decisions. I pretty much always wanted to be a priest. And I grew up, reading lots of saints’ stories. I was close to several priests, and some were excellent.... Read more

Three Ways to Live Advent as Mission, following St. John the Baptist

Last updated on: January 4, 2024 at 8:45 am By Fr. Nicholas Sheehy, LC

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We are called to live Advent as mission. When we think of John the Baptist, we think of somebody who spent himself for the sake of another. This was a frightening concept for the men of his time, just as it can be a frightening concept for us. Who was the arch-nemesis of John? It was Herod. Herod ended up putting him to death. For us too, it can be frightening when somebody is asking us for real change and... Read more

How Heresy can Lead to Truth: When Being Wrong is Right

Last updated on: January 4, 2024 at 8:45 am By Fr. Nicholas Sheehy, LC

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The great thing about heresy is that is an occasion when being wrong is right. Heresy can lead to truth. This is our experience from the first centuries of Christianity. The heretics helped the Fathers of the Church clarify many aspects of the faith. Pilgrimage of Mary and Joseph It is good to think back on the pilgrimage that Joseph and Mary had to make, with Baby Jesus still within the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Even though they... Read more

Get Ready for Confession: First Week of Advent

Last updated on: December 12, 2023 at 12:21 pm By Fr. Nicholas Sheehy, LC

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Now that we are getting ready for Christmas, a lot of us are bringing our Christmas decorations out of storage. We might have the experience that it’s dark and dusty. When we need to find something, we turn on the light. With the illumination, the aspect of everything is transformed. Suddenly, we can see what was hidden. Advent seems a little bit like that. Light reveals sin. We have this liturgical time to get ready for the coming of our... Read more

Jesus is Coming: Get Ready

Last updated on: December 3, 2023 at 10:00 pm By Fr. Nicholas Sheehy, LC

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The waning sunlight at four o’clock means that it is almost Christmas. What do you like most about Christmas? Is it the candies, the presents under the tree, or getting together with family? For me, what I enjoy most is the expectation. Before Christmas, we have four weeks of Advent. Well, perhaps more precisely we can speak of four Sundays of Advent, because sometimes that last week can be pretty short. Each Sunday introduces a theme that can help us... Read more

Unforgivable Sins: Understanding the Limits of Divine Forgiveness

Last updated on: November 27, 2023 at 5:06 pm By Fr. Nicholas Sheehy, LC

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Listening to confessions is a profoundly humbling experience. It feels as though I am seated in the front row at a remarkable display of God’s boundless grace and mercy. Men, women, boys, and girls approach and kneel, baring their souls and confessing actions that weigh heavy with shame. It’s not uncommon for the penitent to carry a burden of guilt, doubting that God could extend forgiveness. Too many people think they possess unforgivable sins. In my role as confessor, I’ve... Read more

What was Jesus' profession before starting His ministry?