John the Baptist gives witness in this Sunday's gospel, reminding us of our baptismal promise to do likewise. How do we measure up? May our witness be found in our stumbling and falling! Finding the courage to try again and testify God is here; constantly at work in our messy, imperfect lives.

We hear of Jesus' baptism today and the nagging question we ask ourselves is "Why?" He is without sin. But Jesus came to make himself one with us, sinners as we are, and walk through the cleansing waters with us, to show that the love of God reaches those in need of mercy. We are his people!

Our observance of Christmas ends this Sunday as we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. For some Christians, it begins today! Our brothers and sisters in the Orthodox tradition observe it as Christmas Day. May it be a joyful time for them, and reminder for us to always proclaim the incarnation!

Today is the anniversary of St. Francis Xavier Cabrini. She died in 1917 at Columbus Hospital in Chicago after faithfully serving the immigrant community of the US. As she was also an immigrant, we invoke her as the patron saint of immigrants. May she continue to intercede for us! 🙏

All decorated at St. Gregory the Great! Our outdoor nativity scene reminds us of what we're journeying to!

This Sunday is Gaudete Sunday. In 2012 it was the day of the Sandy Hook School shootings; 26 victims. It has always stayed with me. I watched my parishioners in the following days hugging their own children a little bit closer. Let's pray for those families who lost loved ones in the tragedy. 🙏

We started Advent at St. Gregory the Great with a parish mission and reconciliation service. It was wonderful to have Fr. Frank DeSiano, CSP lead it, and Fr. John Hurley, CSP join us as well. Our parish is now helping to "prepare the way of the Lord"! 🙏

My early years of priesthood were spent ministering to those afflicted. I watched so many wither before my eyes. It pained me terribly as they went home to the Lord; ostracized and abandoned. Their funerals were often only myself and the funeral director. Please join me in remembering them. 🙏

He is Christ the King. How will we serve him? He answers in a whisper, “I am the hungry person on line at the food pantry; I am the abused child; I am the convict in a prison cell; I am those living in fear. These are the faces you are to serve. They are mine! Remember them as I remember you!”

Today we hear Jesus admonish those admiring the temple. Understandably, it was the center of their lives; their house of faith, home of their covenant. Truth be told, it is about the temple. But not that one. Rather, it's our heart. That is where the Holy Spirit dwells with love and compassion.

We celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica this Sunday. One of our school students asked me earlier, "What's that?" 🤣 I'm guessing many people in the pews will be thinking that as well. May the Holy Spirit help all presiders and preachers find the right words! 🙏

This day we Commemorate the Faithful Departed. Experiencing the death of a loved one is hard. It is then we ask hard questions about our own lives, and the faith sustaining us. Death is real. So we reflect on the reality of heaven with Jesus' promise that all who believe will have eternal life.

Working on my Sunday homily. Like the tax collector portrayed in the gospel, we find ourselves challenged in this day and age. To be a bit more gentle, to be less judgmental, to be kind and forgiving-knowing that we've been forgiven. We worship a God who touches us with mercy; can we do any less?

In today's gospel, Jesus tell us to pray without becoming weary. A Protestant minister once told me, "You don't know what prayer is until you stand at the door and knock until your knuckles bleed." That image has stayed with me. Have we lost the sense of what it means to beg God for what we want?

"How long, O Lord? I cry for help but you do not listen. I cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not intervene. The vision still has its time…If it delays, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not be late." (Hb 1:2,2:3) Hope in times of despair is more than any mustard seed can alone provide.

Today's Gospel paints a picture of discipleship that’s not exactly painless, or simple or even very safe. It teaches that some of the most serious offenses against God are not sins of commission, but sins of omission; apathy, blindness, absence and neglect. Lazarus is still waiting at our gates...

Yesterday's celebration of the Exaltation of the Cross invites us to stay close to it; the place where human misery and divine mercy meet. The place where God offers us his greatest gift. The place where time continues to be transformed; where hope is restored; where death is destroyed forever.

We remember the lives lost and the courage found by so many on this day in 2001. We also witness the deep scars it has since left on others. May those memories always remind us to be strong in our obligation to build a compassionate world. 😢🙏

We celebrated our first school mass today. Annunciation parish in Minneapolis was in our prayers. The students gave voice to hope; "may God bring comfort, healing and peace as we continue to work for safety and love in our schools and world." May that resonate in all our hearts, always!

Our gospel this Sunday reminds us to look beyond the polarization of society today. Who would you invite to a meal? Who is on the guest list? Might it lead to transformative conversation about racism, LGBTQ+ rights, indigenous rights, vilification of the undocumented and homeless, healthcare?

“Lord, will only a few people be saved?” This question is asked in today's gospel. It’s so hard for us to understand this mystery of salvation, a salvation that is not limited by law, ritual, or our own expectations on who will be saved and who won’t. Salvation is offered to all; no exceptions.

San Diego Diocese assembles volunteers to accompany immigrants in court. www.ncronline.org/news/san-die...

The gospel this Sunday tells us not to build bigger barns. What are we to build? Let's start with longer tables to share what we have. Tables laden with the Lord's goodness. Tables where everybody has a seat.

The gospel for this Sunday reminds us of the importance of prayer. "Your kingdom come" is to ask that we live according to God's will. That is answered through the actions of other people in our lives. We, in turn, need to be mindful that other people's prayers are answered through our actions.

“And who is my neighbor?” the scribe asks Jesus in today's gospel. Jesus is clear that it isn’t only the victim. It is also those who disagree with him, annoy him and irritate him. It is also the Son of God, standing in our common flesh, showing us how to love by becoming neighbor to all.

In today's gospel Jesus sends the 72 out in mission, and we are them as well. Despite our feelings of inadequacy in proclaiming the message, all he asks is we encounter others the way he encountered them; to enter their lives with the single message that God’s Kingdom of Mercy has come to us.

We do understand! Aloha is the language of evangelization. The love, joy and food celebrates our oneness as God's family. I'm so happy to have shared in your celebration. Mahalo! And may your ministry to the people of God always be nurturing and fruitful! Ad multos annos!

Praise be to God this Pentecost! Who rushes like wind into our rooms charged with fear and anxiety! Whose song of peace all people long to hear beyond the echo of bombs and vilification of people! Who empowers us to proclaim the extraordinary news of joyous salvation to our very ordinary world! 🙏

Today, in the ecclesiastical provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Philadelphia and Omaha, is the Ascension of the Lord. In the rest of our country it is an Easter Weekday. The date needs to be harmonized! We had some confused visitors at mass this morning. I hope the USCCB realizes this.

Today's memorial is St. Isidore, the patron saint of farmers. And in many communities fields are blessed around this time, sometimes known as Rogation Days, in preparation for planting. Please say a prayer for those who grow our food! Farming is hard work; it's done 24/7 and 365.

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Matthias. It also happens to be my ordination anniversary! I am grateful for the many blessings I have experienced and the people I have accompanied on their faith journeys. May he continue to guide all of us! 🙏

We have been gifted by the Holy Spirit with Pope Leo XIV. He has served the people of God faithfully, and will continue to do so. "Ad multos annos!" 🙏

I must admit to being amused by the "conclave handicapping"; lots of names with varying odds. Let's allow the Holy Spirit to do its job! "Veni Sancte Spiritus!" It knows our true needs... 🙏

Today is sometimes referred to as "Low Sunday". And I'm sure many of us are feeling that way. The Pope's funeral is now making us keenly aware of his departure. Yet the Lord appears, as he did to Thomas, as those whose lives were touched by the Pope's ministry. His presence will always be felt!

RIP Papa Francesco. You will be missed, but your presence will always be felt. 😥🙏

"Christus resurrexit! Sicut dixit, Alleluia!" The cry of the ancient church rings out in this day and age as well. "Christ has risen! He has risen as He said, Alleluia!" A blessed Easter to us all! May the joy of our celebrations always resonate in our hearts and souls!

This #HolySaturday we stand at the tomb and weep. The magnitude of what has happened is incomprehensible. And yet the Lord's promise whispers in our ears. "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (John 2:19)

This year is the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea. It gave us the Creed used by both East and West. May it be an added impetus to mending our strained relationship! 🙏

Today we hear again the Lord's Passion. It leads us deep into the mystery of Jesus choosing to die so others may live. He chooses to, so we can be freed of sin. And we finally recognize God’s love, in human form, dying for us. This is so incredible that even today it boggles the mind.

This #HolyThursday we gather at the Lord's Table. As we look at those with us, let us also cast our eyes towards those who aren't; the maginalized, the dispossessed. They need to be at the table as well. Let us help them find a seat! After all, it's a really BIG table...

We have begun our Holy Week at St. Gregory the Great, here in San Diego, CA. "Hosanna in the highest!"

Today, on the Roman calendar, is the feast of St. John Baptist de La Salle. Let us offer up prayers of gratitude and encouragement for all the FSCs and their foundations. The brothers have done great work! Go Jaspers!

The Scrutinies have all been celebrated. The elect are eagerly anticipating the Easter Vigil, while also being profoundly awed by our parish's prayerful journeying with them. May these coming days continue to deepen our relationship with the Lord as we all make our way to Golgotha.

I was blessed to celebrate the Second Scrutiny this weekend. We have 30+ elect anticipating the celebration of the Easter Vigil. Witnessing them, with their sponsors, standing in the sanctuary was very moving for our parish community as we prayed over them. Let us pray for all the elect!

Today's gospel has Jesus pointing out demons do not have the power to cast out other demons, otherwise their kingdom would not stand. The same holds true for Christians. We have cast out others (Great Schism, Reformation) and caused divisions. Let us all be renewed in building God's kingdom!

The gospel this Sunday touches on the vexing and age old questions, "Why do we suffer? Why does God allow it?" Tragedy will always happen and people die. If they make us bitter, we have become the devil's martyr. With God's help, we find sources of consolation we never knew, and affirm life.

Today's gospel seems quite apropos. I'm sure the rich man knew of Lazarus at his gate; he just became numb to him. How numb are we? Homelessness and panhandling are everywhere. Abraham exalted Lazarus' dignity. We must exalt his dignity as well, wherever and whenever we encounter him.

Let us all start our celebrations with this prayer!

As we stand this Sunday on the Mount of Transfiguration, we can see another mount; Calvary. It's ascent will be particularly painful for all of us. Today's encounter has us look beyond it to glimpse the summit of the Resurrection; the end of all our journeys. That is where the Lord waits for us!

In today's Gospel we hear Jesus tell us, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' Empathy is not a weakness...it is our strength for helping to build a just society. May we ponder this during our Lenten journeys!