Mass Schedule
SATURDAY
5:00 P.M. - Vigil Mass at Our Lady of Consolation Church
8:30 A.M. - First Saturday Mass with Devotions (first Saturday of each month only)
SUNDAY
8:00 A.M. - Our Lady of Consolation Church
9:30 A.M. - St. Malachi Church
11:15 A.M. - Schneider Parish Center
Holy Days
7:00 P.M. Vigil Mass, 8:30 A.M. - Our Lady of Consolation Church
Daily Mass
8:30 A.M. - Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday* at Our Lady of Consolation Church
*First Friday Devotions following Mass on the first Friday of each month; there will no longer be a Tuesday daily Mass, except when Tuesday falls on a Holy Day of Obligation
Confession & Adoration
3:30-4:30 P.M. - Saturday at Our Lady of Consolation Church
5:00 P.M. - Vigil Mass at Our Lady of Consolation Church
8:30 A.M. - First Saturday Mass with Devotions (first Saturday of each month only)
SUNDAY
8:00 A.M. - Our Lady of Consolation Church
9:30 A.M. - St. Malachi Church
11:15 A.M. - Schneider Parish Center
Holy Days
7:00 P.M. Vigil Mass, 8:30 A.M. - Our Lady of Consolation Church
Daily Mass
8:30 A.M. - Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday* at Our Lady of Consolation Church
*First Friday Devotions following Mass on the first Friday of each month; there will no longer be a Tuesday daily Mass, except when Tuesday falls on a Holy Day of Obligation
Confession & Adoration
3:30-4:30 P.M. - Saturday at Our Lady of Consolation Church
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Pastor's CornerThe latest thoughts from Fr. O'Neill can be found in this week's bulletin.
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9-6-26
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As the “unofficial” close to the summer season arrives this Labor Day weekend, things like school, fall sports, and other activities become our focus. Jesus knew that in founding the Church, we would be guided by the Holy Spirit and that His grace would be operative in each one of us, her members. Yet, He knows our human weaknesses--recall Peter’s 180 degree turn from graced moment to falling into human short fallings the last two Sundays--and for this reason, gives us, through the Apostles, a way to deal with conflict and to keep one another accountable.
To have to admonish, correct, or ask for an accounting from someone, whether we have a position of authority over them, they are a peer, or even someone who has authority over us, is never an easy thing, especially when we are trying to do it in a Christian way. Jesus tells His closest disciples in another passage never to “lord it over” anyone, but to govern and act with humility, gentleness, and patience. That is also how we are called to deal with conflicts, wrongdoings, and even injustices.
This is part of loving our neighbor as ourselves, as St. Paul speaks of to the Romans. Admonishing sinners is a spiritual work of mercy. We know that saying the hard thing to someone is often the most loving thing we can do. However, the goal here is to win them over, not to alienate them further. Jesus wanted reconciliation as the goal, not exclusion. Bearing wrongs patiently and forgiving those who have wronged us are also spiritual works of mercy.
The process that Jesus lays out is both common sense and ordered to God’s justice and mercy. As we reflect over vacations, family gatherings, and other activities during the summer season, maybe we’ve said or done things hurtful to others. Maybe we’ve been on the opposite end of someone else’s harmful words or actions. Now is a perfect time to reflect on how we can reconcile ourselves with others we need to or have a conversation with someone who may have wronged us.
And may God bless our parents, school children, teachers, school administrators, and staff as we begin a new academic year, knowing that Jesus walks with us through all of it. And thank you to the American Worker! Happy Labor Day!!
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
As the “unofficial” close to the summer season arrives this Labor Day weekend, things like school, fall sports, and other activities become our focus. Jesus knew that in founding the Church, we would be guided by the Holy Spirit and that His grace would be operative in each one of us, her members. Yet, He knows our human weaknesses--recall Peter’s 180 degree turn from graced moment to falling into human short fallings the last two Sundays--and for this reason, gives us, through the Apostles, a way to deal with conflict and to keep one another accountable.
To have to admonish, correct, or ask for an accounting from someone, whether we have a position of authority over them, they are a peer, or even someone who has authority over us, is never an easy thing, especially when we are trying to do it in a Christian way. Jesus tells His closest disciples in another passage never to “lord it over” anyone, but to govern and act with humility, gentleness, and patience. That is also how we are called to deal with conflicts, wrongdoings, and even injustices.
This is part of loving our neighbor as ourselves, as St. Paul speaks of to the Romans. Admonishing sinners is a spiritual work of mercy. We know that saying the hard thing to someone is often the most loving thing we can do. However, the goal here is to win them over, not to alienate them further. Jesus wanted reconciliation as the goal, not exclusion. Bearing wrongs patiently and forgiving those who have wronged us are also spiritual works of mercy.
The process that Jesus lays out is both common sense and ordered to God’s justice and mercy. As we reflect over vacations, family gatherings, and other activities during the summer season, maybe we’ve said or done things hurtful to others. Maybe we’ve been on the opposite end of someone else’s harmful words or actions. Now is a perfect time to reflect on how we can reconcile ourselves with others we need to or have a conversation with someone who may have wronged us.
And may God bless our parents, school children, teachers, school administrators, and staff as we begin a new academic year, knowing that Jesus walks with us through all of it. And thank you to the American Worker! Happy Labor Day!!
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
8-23-26
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
One of Isaiah’s major tasks as a prophet was to convince the Judaic kings to remain uninvolved with neighboring secular powers, to sway them from the public opinion that such alliances would be the best for the Kingdom of Judah, regardless of how this isolationism made Jerusalem open to attack by her enemies. Isaiah viewed this approach as a sign of faithfulness to God and a reliance on His power and providence.
In our first reading, Isaiah calls out Shebna, a court official, for favoring allegiance with Egypt.
Our Gospel this Sunday shows Peter’s confession of faith at Caesarea Philippi. Jesus first asks what others are saying about Him, then He asks “Who do you say that I Am?” Peter, with all his flaws, gets it right. He replies that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. It is natural for us as human beings to seek something out to rely on, whether it be other people, power or wealth, that gives us a sense of security.
It is all part of our human longing for God, in whom alone can we truly be whole and secure. But we, as God’s holy people, and by His grace, live by faith, relying on Christ, the “Son of the living God.”
As the Church community founded on the faith of Peter, we profess this faith and because of the gift of faith, “the gates of the netherworld” cannot prevail against us, any more than they could confine or prevail against Christ Himself. On the basis of this faith, Peter is given authority in the Church. He and his successors up to our present Holy Father, Pope Leo, are to keep that faith alive and bring it to others, so that all people may recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of the living God.
This common faith unites us with the successor of Peter and with all the bishops, and all the faithful, in heaven, and earth. It is in communion with them, the Church, the Body of Christ, that we celebrate the Eucharist this Sunday. May our faith, built on the faith of Peter, continue to grow each day as it did in him and the Apostles, giving glory and praise to Jesus, the “Christ, the Son of the living God.”
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
One of Isaiah’s major tasks as a prophet was to convince the Judaic kings to remain uninvolved with neighboring secular powers, to sway them from the public opinion that such alliances would be the best for the Kingdom of Judah, regardless of how this isolationism made Jerusalem open to attack by her enemies. Isaiah viewed this approach as a sign of faithfulness to God and a reliance on His power and providence.
In our first reading, Isaiah calls out Shebna, a court official, for favoring allegiance with Egypt.
Our Gospel this Sunday shows Peter’s confession of faith at Caesarea Philippi. Jesus first asks what others are saying about Him, then He asks “Who do you say that I Am?” Peter, with all his flaws, gets it right. He replies that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. It is natural for us as human beings to seek something out to rely on, whether it be other people, power or wealth, that gives us a sense of security.
It is all part of our human longing for God, in whom alone can we truly be whole and secure. But we, as God’s holy people, and by His grace, live by faith, relying on Christ, the “Son of the living God.”
As the Church community founded on the faith of Peter, we profess this faith and because of the gift of faith, “the gates of the netherworld” cannot prevail against us, any more than they could confine or prevail against Christ Himself. On the basis of this faith, Peter is given authority in the Church. He and his successors up to our present Holy Father, Pope Leo, are to keep that faith alive and bring it to others, so that all people may recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of the living God.
This common faith unites us with the successor of Peter and with all the bishops, and all the faithful, in heaven, and earth. It is in communion with them, the Church, the Body of Christ, that we celebrate the Eucharist this Sunday. May our faith, built on the faith of Peter, continue to grow each day as it did in him and the Apostles, giving glory and praise to Jesus, the “Christ, the Son of the living God.”
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
8-9-26
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Matt. 14:27
It’s no accident when an angel of the Lord appears in the Sacred Scriptures, usually the first words spoken are “Do not be afraid.” Not only was it an extraordinary event, people also thought that they might be seeing a ghost. Additionally, people believed that seeing God or an angel meant certain death. So, when our Lord appears walking on the sea, the same reaction was evoked from the disciples in the boat.
At first, Peter and the others react with fear. But, then they cling to their faith. Peter responds to Jesus: “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” (Matt. 14:28)
When Jesus calls him to come out to the water, Peter’s faith has momentarily conquered his fears. But, like us, he struggles with fear. The stormy waters below distract him from Jesus. We, too, get overwhelmed with our worries and fears about our families, our health, our financial situation, and our future. Faith helps us to walk through these fears on solid ground, even when it seems to want to give out from beneath our feet and traverse through the turbulent waters of life.
May the graces we receive in the Eucharist this Sunday help us to fix our gaze on Jesus and overcome our fears and worries and to assist others in their worries and concerns, as well.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
“Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Matt. 14:27
It’s no accident when an angel of the Lord appears in the Sacred Scriptures, usually the first words spoken are “Do not be afraid.” Not only was it an extraordinary event, people also thought that they might be seeing a ghost. Additionally, people believed that seeing God or an angel meant certain death. So, when our Lord appears walking on the sea, the same reaction was evoked from the disciples in the boat.
At first, Peter and the others react with fear. But, then they cling to their faith. Peter responds to Jesus: “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” (Matt. 14:28)
When Jesus calls him to come out to the water, Peter’s faith has momentarily conquered his fears. But, like us, he struggles with fear. The stormy waters below distract him from Jesus. We, too, get overwhelmed with our worries and fears about our families, our health, our financial situation, and our future. Faith helps us to walk through these fears on solid ground, even when it seems to want to give out from beneath our feet and traverse through the turbulent waters of life.
May the graces we receive in the Eucharist this Sunday help us to fix our gaze on Jesus and overcome our fears and worries and to assist others in their worries and concerns, as well.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
8-2-26
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As Jesus looks upon the crowds, He is so moved by compassion for them that He asks His disciples what food they might have available. He takes what little they have--five loaves and two fish--and multiplied that so that not only was there enough, but there was an abundance, more than enough.
But, it was through the hands of His disciples that this wonderful gift that they gave to Jesus to be multiplied was received by the crowd. We can only imagine the smiles, the joy in the eyes and faces of these hungry people, and the words of gratitude that were expressed directly to the Apostles.
At this Eucharist, the Lord receives our offering, blesses it, transforms it, and sends us, His modern day apostles, out to feed the multitudes with Christ. May we have that same deep compassion in the core of our being as Jesus did for the needy, the “hungry” (the spiritually or physically hungry), and the suffering in our midst.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
As Jesus looks upon the crowds, He is so moved by compassion for them that He asks His disciples what food they might have available. He takes what little they have--five loaves and two fish--and multiplied that so that not only was there enough, but there was an abundance, more than enough.
But, it was through the hands of His disciples that this wonderful gift that they gave to Jesus to be multiplied was received by the crowd. We can only imagine the smiles, the joy in the eyes and faces of these hungry people, and the words of gratitude that were expressed directly to the Apostles.
At this Eucharist, the Lord receives our offering, blesses it, transforms it, and sends us, His modern day apostles, out to feed the multitudes with Christ. May we have that same deep compassion in the core of our being as Jesus did for the needy, the “hungry” (the spiritually or physically hungry), and the suffering in our midst.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
7-12-26
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Once again, as we listen to the readings for this weekend, we hear Jesus using examples from agriculture. The vivid pastoral images we hear in Isaiah with the gentle rains falling and making the ground fertile and the picture our Responsorial Psalm paints for us of the fields and valleys filled with flocks and grain are not only beautiful, but something we need only to gaze upon from our window at home or as we are driving. What a blessing for us to live in such an arrangement as to see the beauty of God’s creation at work all around us “out here in the country!” What may not be as visible or evident is the work of God’s creation and re-creation that is happening in us through His grace and our choice to follow Christ daily. Like the growth in the fields around us, it can be a slow process. Also, we may have setbacks and find we haven’t allowed God’s Grace to penetrate our hearts as deeply as He would want. That leads to the question: What do you and I need to do to become, like fertile ground for planting, more receptive to God’s Word and His grace? May we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit to sow the seeds of God’s Redemptive Word in our hearts!
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
Once again, as we listen to the readings for this weekend, we hear Jesus using examples from agriculture. The vivid pastoral images we hear in Isaiah with the gentle rains falling and making the ground fertile and the picture our Responsorial Psalm paints for us of the fields and valleys filled with flocks and grain are not only beautiful, but something we need only to gaze upon from our window at home or as we are driving. What a blessing for us to live in such an arrangement as to see the beauty of God’s creation at work all around us “out here in the country!” What may not be as visible or evident is the work of God’s creation and re-creation that is happening in us through His grace and our choice to follow Christ daily. Like the growth in the fields around us, it can be a slow process. Also, we may have setbacks and find we haven’t allowed God’s Grace to penetrate our hearts as deeply as He would want. That leads to the question: What do you and I need to do to become, like fertile ground for planting, more receptive to God’s Word and His grace? May we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit to sow the seeds of God’s Redemptive Word in our hearts!
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
6-28-26
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The birth of a child is certainly a joyful and exciting time for a family. All of the anticipation, preparation, expectation and the daily care of mom for her unborn child and periodic doctor’s visits to monitor the baby’s development are all part of the time leading up to birth. There is a moment right after the child is delivered where it can’t breathe. This is because the baby's lungs are filled with fluid. They are not inflated. The baby takes the first breath within about 10 seconds after delivery. This breath sounds like a gasp, as the newborn's central nervous system reacts to the sudden change in temperature and environment.
The moment of rebirth in Baptism is also a joyful, anticipated and exciting time for a family, too. Like a birth, preparations are made in coordination with the Parish church and the priest or deacon. A Pre-Jordan class for the parents and godparents helps them to prepare spiritually for their child as they desire the gift of Eternal Life for their child. The responsibilities and liturgical celebration is explained and a date and time are set up for the Baptism.
Now, most of us have been baptized by “infusion,” that is, water is poured on our heads at the font. But, St. Paul reminds the Christian community in Rome about their death to sin, and I’m sure they would have remembered vividly their own baptism when they were immersed into the font, usually a large pool or even a natural running water of a stream or river. We all know if we’ve been held under water at a pool how we come up out of the water, gasping for air, gasping for “life.” Just as a newborn child enters the world gasping for air, for life, so too do we, at least spiritually speaking, in baptism.
This is to remind us of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. He reminds us of our calling, which we received on the day of our baptism to leave all else behind, to take up our cross daily and follow Him.
It seems so antithetical to us then, that He would speak about us about not loving the very people who with God, created, our parents or for parents, to not love the very children that God has blessed them with, or even more fundamentally, to not love and cherish the very life God has given to us by “losing” it.
But, wait! Jesus doesn’t say not to love one’s parents or children or friends or our very lives. He does say not to love them more than Him. To love Christ over all others, over ourselves and over anything we may have or cherish gives us a different perspective. In fact, if we see our parents, families, loved ones and all human beings and our very lives through the lens of our relationship with Jesus that we place before all else, then we not only see these others only as relatives, children and friends and our lives and all we have merely on a human level, but it brings us back to the reality that we are related to one another through Him, as brothers and sisters in Christ and adopted sons and daughters of the Father. They are all gifts to us from God! Our life is seen as not only being on an earthly plane, but as that gift leading towards the New Life we gasped for at our Baptism.
We can ask ourselves: Do I try to see the world and my own little corner of it, with family, friends, work and my own personal life from the perspective of God? What sacrifices and changes do I need to make in dying to sin and being alive for Christ Jesus and putting into practice more faithfully the mission of Jesus entrusted to me at my Baptism? Maintaining this perspective is difficult. It’s part of our daily cross. It’s how we find the Life in Christ that we gasp for by losing our life for Him.
Our God is faithful and He will fulfill His promises to us for eternal life. (See Resp. Psalm, Ps.89:2-3)
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
The birth of a child is certainly a joyful and exciting time for a family. All of the anticipation, preparation, expectation and the daily care of mom for her unborn child and periodic doctor’s visits to monitor the baby’s development are all part of the time leading up to birth. There is a moment right after the child is delivered where it can’t breathe. This is because the baby's lungs are filled with fluid. They are not inflated. The baby takes the first breath within about 10 seconds after delivery. This breath sounds like a gasp, as the newborn's central nervous system reacts to the sudden change in temperature and environment.
The moment of rebirth in Baptism is also a joyful, anticipated and exciting time for a family, too. Like a birth, preparations are made in coordination with the Parish church and the priest or deacon. A Pre-Jordan class for the parents and godparents helps them to prepare spiritually for their child as they desire the gift of Eternal Life for their child. The responsibilities and liturgical celebration is explained and a date and time are set up for the Baptism.
Now, most of us have been baptized by “infusion,” that is, water is poured on our heads at the font. But, St. Paul reminds the Christian community in Rome about their death to sin, and I’m sure they would have remembered vividly their own baptism when they were immersed into the font, usually a large pool or even a natural running water of a stream or river. We all know if we’ve been held under water at a pool how we come up out of the water, gasping for air, gasping for “life.” Just as a newborn child enters the world gasping for air, for life, so too do we, at least spiritually speaking, in baptism.
This is to remind us of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. He reminds us of our calling, which we received on the day of our baptism to leave all else behind, to take up our cross daily and follow Him.
It seems so antithetical to us then, that He would speak about us about not loving the very people who with God, created, our parents or for parents, to not love the very children that God has blessed them with, or even more fundamentally, to not love and cherish the very life God has given to us by “losing” it.
But, wait! Jesus doesn’t say not to love one’s parents or children or friends or our very lives. He does say not to love them more than Him. To love Christ over all others, over ourselves and over anything we may have or cherish gives us a different perspective. In fact, if we see our parents, families, loved ones and all human beings and our very lives through the lens of our relationship with Jesus that we place before all else, then we not only see these others only as relatives, children and friends and our lives and all we have merely on a human level, but it brings us back to the reality that we are related to one another through Him, as brothers and sisters in Christ and adopted sons and daughters of the Father. They are all gifts to us from God! Our life is seen as not only being on an earthly plane, but as that gift leading towards the New Life we gasped for at our Baptism.
We can ask ourselves: Do I try to see the world and my own little corner of it, with family, friends, work and my own personal life from the perspective of God? What sacrifices and changes do I need to make in dying to sin and being alive for Christ Jesus and putting into practice more faithfully the mission of Jesus entrusted to me at my Baptism? Maintaining this perspective is difficult. It’s part of our daily cross. It’s how we find the Life in Christ that we gasp for by losing our life for Him.
Our God is faithful and He will fulfill His promises to us for eternal life. (See Resp. Psalm, Ps.89:2-3)
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
6-14-26
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Our readings today show us the loving care that God has for us. God’s Heart has been “moved with pity” for us throughout salvation history. He sees us in our wanderings, like sheep without a shepherd. Our readings for this 11th Sunday of Ordinary Time weave together a tender saga of God’s loving care for us as He works to gather us back unto Himself. In our first reading from Exodus, we hear how God makes a Covenant with the Israelites in the desert, preparing the way for the Messiah, who would restore all things in Him. He tells them that He bore them up on eagle’s wings and brought them to Himself, (see Ex.19:4) and that they would be to Him a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. (see Ex.19:6) By calling the Apostles, Jesus ensures that His love would be communicated through their pastoral care and through those who would succeed them. But the “Holy Nation” and “Kingdom of Priests” represents all the Church, not only those ordained to the Priesthood. In Baptism, all Christians share in this prophetic, priestly and kingly call to announce the Good News of Jesus Christ. Nourished in this Eucharist, may we be strengthened to live out our Catholic Christian vocations to follow Jesus and to share His Gospel message.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
Our readings today show us the loving care that God has for us. God’s Heart has been “moved with pity” for us throughout salvation history. He sees us in our wanderings, like sheep without a shepherd. Our readings for this 11th Sunday of Ordinary Time weave together a tender saga of God’s loving care for us as He works to gather us back unto Himself. In our first reading from Exodus, we hear how God makes a Covenant with the Israelites in the desert, preparing the way for the Messiah, who would restore all things in Him. He tells them that He bore them up on eagle’s wings and brought them to Himself, (see Ex.19:4) and that they would be to Him a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. (see Ex.19:6) By calling the Apostles, Jesus ensures that His love would be communicated through their pastoral care and through those who would succeed them. But the “Holy Nation” and “Kingdom of Priests” represents all the Church, not only those ordained to the Priesthood. In Baptism, all Christians share in this prophetic, priestly and kingly call to announce the Good News of Jesus Christ. Nourished in this Eucharist, may we be strengthened to live out our Catholic Christian vocations to follow Jesus and to share His Gospel message.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
6-7-26
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On this great Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, or “Corpus Christi Sunday,” we focus on the great mystery of the Eucharist: the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord, Jesus Christ truly and really Present under the appearances of ordinary bread and wine.
St. Thomas Aquinas, best known for his writings on the Eucharist and his famous Eucharistic Hymn, “Tantum Ergo,” shares this beautiful reflection on the Gift of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. The last couple paragraphs in this reflection are what the “Tantum Ergo” is based on. May we give thanks to the Lord today for this greatest Gift of Himself in the Eucharist.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
From a work by Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest
(Opusculum 57, in festo Corporis Christi, lect. 1-4)
O Precious and Wonderful Banquet!
"Since it was the will of God’s only-begotten Son that men should share in his divinity, he assumed our nature in order that by becoming man he might make men gods. Moreover, when he took our flesh he dedicated the whole of its substance to our salvation. He offered his body to God the Father on the altar of the cross as a sacrifice for our reconciliation.
He shed his blood for our ransom and purification, so that we might be redeemed from our wretched state of bondage and cleansed from all sin. But to ensure that the memory of so great a gift would abide with us forever, he left his body as food and his blood as drink for the faithful to consume in the form of bread and wine.
O precious and wonderful banquet that brings us salvation and contains all sweetness! Could anything be of more intrinsic value? Under the old law, it was the flesh of calves and goats that was offered, but here Christ himself, the true God, is set before us as our food. What could be more wonderful than this?
No other sacrament has greater healing power; through it sins are purged away, virtues are increased, and the soul is enriched with an abundance of every spiritual gift. It is offered in the Church for the living and the dead, so that what was instituted for the salvation of all may be for the benefit of all.
Yet, in the end, no one can fully express the sweetness of this sacrament, in which spiritual delight is tasted at its very source, and in which we renew the memory of that surpassing love for us which Christ revealed in his passion.
It was to impress the vastness of this love more firmly upon the hearts of the faithful that our Lord instituted this sacrament at the Last Supper. As he was on the point of leaving the world to go to the Father, after celebrating the Passover with his disciples, he left it as a perpetual memorial of his passion.
It was the fulfillment of ancient figures and the greatest of all his miracles, while for those who were to experience the sorrow of his departure, it was destined to be a unique and abiding consolation.”
On this great Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, or “Corpus Christi Sunday,” we focus on the great mystery of the Eucharist: the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord, Jesus Christ truly and really Present under the appearances of ordinary bread and wine.
St. Thomas Aquinas, best known for his writings on the Eucharist and his famous Eucharistic Hymn, “Tantum Ergo,” shares this beautiful reflection on the Gift of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. The last couple paragraphs in this reflection are what the “Tantum Ergo” is based on. May we give thanks to the Lord today for this greatest Gift of Himself in the Eucharist.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
From a work by Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest
(Opusculum 57, in festo Corporis Christi, lect. 1-4)
O Precious and Wonderful Banquet!
"Since it was the will of God’s only-begotten Son that men should share in his divinity, he assumed our nature in order that by becoming man he might make men gods. Moreover, when he took our flesh he dedicated the whole of its substance to our salvation. He offered his body to God the Father on the altar of the cross as a sacrifice for our reconciliation.
He shed his blood for our ransom and purification, so that we might be redeemed from our wretched state of bondage and cleansed from all sin. But to ensure that the memory of so great a gift would abide with us forever, he left his body as food and his blood as drink for the faithful to consume in the form of bread and wine.
O precious and wonderful banquet that brings us salvation and contains all sweetness! Could anything be of more intrinsic value? Under the old law, it was the flesh of calves and goats that was offered, but here Christ himself, the true God, is set before us as our food. What could be more wonderful than this?
No other sacrament has greater healing power; through it sins are purged away, virtues are increased, and the soul is enriched with an abundance of every spiritual gift. It is offered in the Church for the living and the dead, so that what was instituted for the salvation of all may be for the benefit of all.
Yet, in the end, no one can fully express the sweetness of this sacrament, in which spiritual delight is tasted at its very source, and in which we renew the memory of that surpassing love for us which Christ revealed in his passion.
It was to impress the vastness of this love more firmly upon the hearts of the faithful that our Lord instituted this sacrament at the Last Supper. As he was on the point of leaving the world to go to the Father, after celebrating the Passover with his disciples, he left it as a perpetual memorial of his passion.
It was the fulfillment of ancient figures and the greatest of all his miracles, while for those who were to experience the sorrow of his departure, it was destined to be a unique and abiding consolation.”
5-31-26
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today’s liturgical title is Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, one of the universal Church’s most awe-inspiring doctrines. But our parish faith communities are not local franchises of some international corporation.
We’re family, brothers and sisters baptized not in the name of a doctrine, but in the name of a community of Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The doctrine is upheld and believed because God has revealed this intimate truth about Himself to us. We are baptized into the Triune God, the very source of life Itself.
Yet, that life comes to us personally from the Persons of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Faith indeed is personal, not a theoretical idea. Our God is indeed almighty and everlasting, but also intimate and personal, a community of Persons, personally encountering us.
In the Nicene Creed, we declare Jesus “Only Begotten . . . born of the Father before all ages.” Paul calls Jesus “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24). Proverbs communicates the same truth less abstractly, much more personally: “Then was I [Wisdom] beside [God] as his craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, playing before him all the while, playing on the surface of his earth; and I found delight in the human race” (Proverbs 8:30–31). Paul also “personalizes” the Spirit: “the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Romans 5:5).
Today Jesus promises that “the Spirit of truth . . . will guide you to all truth” (John 16:13). Part and parcel to this is the mercy of God. Mercy reveals the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, showing us that God is a life-giving, love-sharing personal community and this Triune God fills our hearts with assurance that despite our sinfulness, we are loved—personally—forever.
How can we, as individual Christians, as families, and as Parish Family, reflecting the “family" of the Trinity, seek to bring that life-giving presence of our loving God to others in so many ways?
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
Today’s liturgical title is Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, one of the universal Church’s most awe-inspiring doctrines. But our parish faith communities are not local franchises of some international corporation.
We’re family, brothers and sisters baptized not in the name of a doctrine, but in the name of a community of Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The doctrine is upheld and believed because God has revealed this intimate truth about Himself to us. We are baptized into the Triune God, the very source of life Itself.
Yet, that life comes to us personally from the Persons of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Faith indeed is personal, not a theoretical idea. Our God is indeed almighty and everlasting, but also intimate and personal, a community of Persons, personally encountering us.
In the Nicene Creed, we declare Jesus “Only Begotten . . . born of the Father before all ages.” Paul calls Jesus “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24). Proverbs communicates the same truth less abstractly, much more personally: “Then was I [Wisdom] beside [God] as his craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, playing before him all the while, playing on the surface of his earth; and I found delight in the human race” (Proverbs 8:30–31). Paul also “personalizes” the Spirit: “the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Romans 5:5).
Today Jesus promises that “the Spirit of truth . . . will guide you to all truth” (John 16:13). Part and parcel to this is the mercy of God. Mercy reveals the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, showing us that God is a life-giving, love-sharing personal community and this Triune God fills our hearts with assurance that despite our sinfulness, we are loved—personally—forever.
How can we, as individual Christians, as families, and as Parish Family, reflecting the “family" of the Trinity, seek to bring that life-giving presence of our loving God to others in so many ways?
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
5-24-26
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On this great Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday, we conclude the Easter Season, empowered by the Holy Spirit and sent forth as the Apostles and the Early Church to continue the Mission of Christ. Let us reflect on this great Feast with these words written by one of the Fathers of the Church, St. Irenaeus.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
From the treatise Against Heresies by Saint Irenaeus, bishop
(Lib. 3, 17. 1-3: SC 34, 302-306)
The sending of the Holy Spirit
When the Lord told his disciples to go and teach all nations and baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, he conferred on them the power of giving men new life in God.
He had promised through the prophets that in these last days he would pour out his Spirit on his servants and handmaids, and that they would prophesy. So when the Son of God became the Son of Man, the Spirit also descended upon him, becoming accustomed in this way to dwelling with the human race, to living in men and to inhabiting God’s creation.
The Spirit accomplished the Father’s will in men who had grown old in sin, and gave them new life in Christ. Luke says that the Spirit came down on the disciples at Pentecost, after the Lord’s ascension, with power to open the gates of life to all nations and to make known to them the new covenant. So it was that men of every language joined in singing one song of praise to God, and scattered tribes, restored to unity by the Spirit, were offered to the Father as the first-fruits of all the nations.
This was why the Lord had promised to send the Advocate: he was to prepare us as an offering to God. Like dry flour, which cannot become one lump of dough, one loaf of bread, without moisture, we who are many could not become one in Christ Jesus without the water that comes down from heaven.
And like parched ground, which yields no harvest unless it receives moisture, we who were once like a waterless tree could never have lived and borne fruit without this abundant rainfall from above.
Through the baptism that liberates us from change and decay, we have become one in body; through the Spirit we have become one in soul.
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of God came down upon the Lord, and the Lord in turn gave this Spirit to his Church, sending the Advocate from heaven into all the world into which, according to his own words, the devil too had been cast down like lightning.
If we are not to be scorched and made unfruitful, we need the dew of God. Since we have our accuser, we need an advocate as well. And so the Lord in his pity for man, who had fallen into the hands of brigands, having himself bound up his wounds and left for his care two coins bearing the royal image, entrusted him to the Holy Spirit. Now, through the Spirit, the image and inscription of the Father and the Son have been given to us, and it is our duty to use the coin committed to our charge and make it yield a rich profit for the Lord.
On this great Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday, we conclude the Easter Season, empowered by the Holy Spirit and sent forth as the Apostles and the Early Church to continue the Mission of Christ. Let us reflect on this great Feast with these words written by one of the Fathers of the Church, St. Irenaeus.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
From the treatise Against Heresies by Saint Irenaeus, bishop
(Lib. 3, 17. 1-3: SC 34, 302-306)
The sending of the Holy Spirit
When the Lord told his disciples to go and teach all nations and baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, he conferred on them the power of giving men new life in God.
He had promised through the prophets that in these last days he would pour out his Spirit on his servants and handmaids, and that they would prophesy. So when the Son of God became the Son of Man, the Spirit also descended upon him, becoming accustomed in this way to dwelling with the human race, to living in men and to inhabiting God’s creation.
The Spirit accomplished the Father’s will in men who had grown old in sin, and gave them new life in Christ. Luke says that the Spirit came down on the disciples at Pentecost, after the Lord’s ascension, with power to open the gates of life to all nations and to make known to them the new covenant. So it was that men of every language joined in singing one song of praise to God, and scattered tribes, restored to unity by the Spirit, were offered to the Father as the first-fruits of all the nations.
This was why the Lord had promised to send the Advocate: he was to prepare us as an offering to God. Like dry flour, which cannot become one lump of dough, one loaf of bread, without moisture, we who are many could not become one in Christ Jesus without the water that comes down from heaven.
And like parched ground, which yields no harvest unless it receives moisture, we who were once like a waterless tree could never have lived and borne fruit without this abundant rainfall from above.
Through the baptism that liberates us from change and decay, we have become one in body; through the Spirit we have become one in soul.
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of God came down upon the Lord, and the Lord in turn gave this Spirit to his Church, sending the Advocate from heaven into all the world into which, according to his own words, the devil too had been cast down like lightning.
If we are not to be scorched and made unfruitful, we need the dew of God. Since we have our accuser, we need an advocate as well. And so the Lord in his pity for man, who had fallen into the hands of brigands, having himself bound up his wounds and left for his care two coins bearing the royal image, entrusted him to the Holy Spirit. Now, through the Spirit, the image and inscription of the Father and the Son have been given to us, and it is our duty to use the coin committed to our charge and make it yield a rich profit for the Lord.
5-3-26
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As you know, over the last several years, we have changed what used to be the Vision 2020 Campaign to the Parish Annual Appeal, which seeks to raise funds for particular Parish needs that have been identified for the upkeep and maintenance of our buildings and properties.
None of our previous Annual Appeals could have been done without your generosity, support and dedication to Our Lady of Consolation Parish. For this, I am most grateful.
Once again, I am reaching out to you for your generous help. As I mentioned briefly in the Thursday Email Blast last week, we were hit hard by utility bills in our three main locations this past winter. While those bills have been paid, it did create a bit of a shortfall in our overall operating account, due to snowstorms affecting weekly collections, and we were playing a bit of catch-up until Easter. As a result, funds needed for regularly scheduled maintenance at our several locations this spring and summer need to be augmented.
Our 2026 OLC Annual Appeal begins this May and June. We are hoping to raise $20,000 this year. I am personally asking you to prayerfully consider making a donation to the OLC Annual Appeal. As we have done in previous years, special monthly envelopes will be sent out for your convenience.
As always, I’m only asking you to consider giving what you feel you can give at this time, knowing full well that many of our families have other expenses and some are on a fixed income.
I am a believer that what we give freely and with a loving heart comes back to us in multiple ways in the blessings God bestows upon us. May the Lord Jesus, and His Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Consolation bless and keep you and your families.
Thank you in advance for your kind consideration to donating to our, Our Lady of Consolation Parish Annual Appeal.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
As you know, over the last several years, we have changed what used to be the Vision 2020 Campaign to the Parish Annual Appeal, which seeks to raise funds for particular Parish needs that have been identified for the upkeep and maintenance of our buildings and properties.
None of our previous Annual Appeals could have been done without your generosity, support and dedication to Our Lady of Consolation Parish. For this, I am most grateful.
Once again, I am reaching out to you for your generous help. As I mentioned briefly in the Thursday Email Blast last week, we were hit hard by utility bills in our three main locations this past winter. While those bills have been paid, it did create a bit of a shortfall in our overall operating account, due to snowstorms affecting weekly collections, and we were playing a bit of catch-up until Easter. As a result, funds needed for regularly scheduled maintenance at our several locations this spring and summer need to be augmented.
Our 2026 OLC Annual Appeal begins this May and June. We are hoping to raise $20,000 this year. I am personally asking you to prayerfully consider making a donation to the OLC Annual Appeal. As we have done in previous years, special monthly envelopes will be sent out for your convenience.
As always, I’m only asking you to consider giving what you feel you can give at this time, knowing full well that many of our families have other expenses and some are on a fixed income.
I am a believer that what we give freely and with a loving heart comes back to us in multiple ways in the blessings God bestows upon us. May the Lord Jesus, and His Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Consolation bless and keep you and your families.
Thank you in advance for your kind consideration to donating to our, Our Lady of Consolation Parish Annual Appeal.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
4-26-26
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Every year on the 4th Sunday of Easter, we see Jesus as our Good Shepherd. In fact, this Sunday is often referred to as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” In the Gospel reading from John 10, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd.” He continues with the analogy of referring to his followers as sheep.
Many of us today, if not the vast majority, have never really had any experience with sheep. So we may have a bit of a hard time following these words of Jesus. Sheep are not the smartest of animals. They’re not like man’s best friend, the dog.
They won’t go fetch your slippers or smother you with affection when you come home from a hard day of work. They’re not like dolphins, smart and intuitive. They pretty much just eat and bleat. But sheep are pretty good followers. If you round them up and point them in the right direction, they will follow the sheep ahead of them.
Jesus certainly didn’t mean to demean his followers when making this statement. He just knows how people are. And for the most part, people are followers. The question becomes, whom will you follow? There are plenty out there who want to lead us astray. They preach moral relativism, the gospel of “if it feels good, then it is good,” and “don’t let anyone tell you what you should or shouldn’t do.”
We can always choose to follow them. Or we can listen closely for the voice of the Good Shepherd, and follow Him. May we thank our Heavenly Father for giving us Jesus, our Good Shepherd, who leads us down the path of righteousness. May we always listen for His voice, and follow wherever He leads.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
Every year on the 4th Sunday of Easter, we see Jesus as our Good Shepherd. In fact, this Sunday is often referred to as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” In the Gospel reading from John 10, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd.” He continues with the analogy of referring to his followers as sheep.
Many of us today, if not the vast majority, have never really had any experience with sheep. So we may have a bit of a hard time following these words of Jesus. Sheep are not the smartest of animals. They’re not like man’s best friend, the dog.
They won’t go fetch your slippers or smother you with affection when you come home from a hard day of work. They’re not like dolphins, smart and intuitive. They pretty much just eat and bleat. But sheep are pretty good followers. If you round them up and point them in the right direction, they will follow the sheep ahead of them.
Jesus certainly didn’t mean to demean his followers when making this statement. He just knows how people are. And for the most part, people are followers. The question becomes, whom will you follow? There are plenty out there who want to lead us astray. They preach moral relativism, the gospel of “if it feels good, then it is good,” and “don’t let anyone tell you what you should or shouldn’t do.”
We can always choose to follow them. Or we can listen closely for the voice of the Good Shepherd, and follow Him. May we thank our Heavenly Father for giving us Jesus, our Good Shepherd, who leads us down the path of righteousness. May we always listen for His voice, and follow wherever He leads.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
4-12-26
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On this Second Sunday of Easter, we celebrate the tremendous mercy of God, manifested in the Incarnation, Passion, Death and Resurrection of His Only Begotten Son. We celebrate on this Octave of Easter “Divine Mercy Sunday.”
What is the origin of and the reason this Sunday of the Octave of Easter has been so designated? On April 30, 2000, this Sunday has been officially called “Divine Mercy Sunday” by St. John Paul II at the canonization of Sr. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun who received the message of Divine Mercy from our Lord in private revelations, who asked that this day be established as a set aside to commemorate His great mercy.
As we reflect on the unfathomable ocean of God’s tender mercy and how we ourselves, each of us, has experienced that mercy in our lives, let us reflect on the words of St. John Paul II in the homily he preached on this day almost 26 years ago. His explanation is far clearer and more eloquent than I could ever attempt to do so! Here is an excerpt from the homily of St. John Paul II on the occasion of the Canonization of St. Faustina Kowalska from April 30, 2000.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
EXCERPT OF THE HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER
MASS IN ST PETER'S SQUARE FOR THE CANONIZATION OF SR MARY FAUSTINA KOWALSKA,
Sunday, 30 April 2000.
6. Sr Faustina Kowalska wrote in her Diary: "I feel tremendous pain when I see the sufferings of my neighbours. All my neighbours' sufferings reverberate in my own heart; I carry their anguish in my heart in such a way that it even physically destroys me. I would like all their sorrows to fall upon me, in order to relieve my neighbour" (Diary, p. 365).
This is the degree of compassion to which love leads, when it takes the love of God as its measure! It is this love which must inspire humanity today, if it is to face the crisis of the meaning of life, the challenges of the most diverse needs and, especially, the duty to defend the dignity of every human person. Thus, the message of divine mercy is also implicitly a message about the value of every human being. Each person is precious in God's eyes; Christ gave his life for each one; to everyone, the Father gives his Spirit and offers intimacy.
7. This consoling message is addressed above all to those who, afflicted by a particularly harsh trial or crushed by the weight of the sins they committed, have lost all confidence in life and are tempted to give in to despair. To them, the gentle face of Christ is offered; those rays from his heart touch them and shine upon them, warm them, show them the way and fill them with hope. How many souls have been consoled by the prayer "Jesus, I trust in you," which Providence intimated through Sr Faustina!
This simple act of abandonment to Jesus dispels the thickest clouds and lets a ray of light penetrate every life. Jezu, ufam tobie [Jesus, I trust in you].
On this Second Sunday of Easter, we celebrate the tremendous mercy of God, manifested in the Incarnation, Passion, Death and Resurrection of His Only Begotten Son. We celebrate on this Octave of Easter “Divine Mercy Sunday.”
What is the origin of and the reason this Sunday of the Octave of Easter has been so designated? On April 30, 2000, this Sunday has been officially called “Divine Mercy Sunday” by St. John Paul II at the canonization of Sr. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun who received the message of Divine Mercy from our Lord in private revelations, who asked that this day be established as a set aside to commemorate His great mercy.
As we reflect on the unfathomable ocean of God’s tender mercy and how we ourselves, each of us, has experienced that mercy in our lives, let us reflect on the words of St. John Paul II in the homily he preached on this day almost 26 years ago. His explanation is far clearer and more eloquent than I could ever attempt to do so! Here is an excerpt from the homily of St. John Paul II on the occasion of the Canonization of St. Faustina Kowalska from April 30, 2000.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
EXCERPT OF THE HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER
MASS IN ST PETER'S SQUARE FOR THE CANONIZATION OF SR MARY FAUSTINA KOWALSKA,
Sunday, 30 April 2000.
6. Sr Faustina Kowalska wrote in her Diary: "I feel tremendous pain when I see the sufferings of my neighbours. All my neighbours' sufferings reverberate in my own heart; I carry their anguish in my heart in such a way that it even physically destroys me. I would like all their sorrows to fall upon me, in order to relieve my neighbour" (Diary, p. 365).
This is the degree of compassion to which love leads, when it takes the love of God as its measure! It is this love which must inspire humanity today, if it is to face the crisis of the meaning of life, the challenges of the most diverse needs and, especially, the duty to defend the dignity of every human person. Thus, the message of divine mercy is also implicitly a message about the value of every human being. Each person is precious in God's eyes; Christ gave his life for each one; to everyone, the Father gives his Spirit and offers intimacy.
7. This consoling message is addressed above all to those who, afflicted by a particularly harsh trial or crushed by the weight of the sins they committed, have lost all confidence in life and are tempted to give in to despair. To them, the gentle face of Christ is offered; those rays from his heart touch them and shine upon them, warm them, show them the way and fill them with hope. How many souls have been consoled by the prayer "Jesus, I trust in you," which Providence intimated through Sr Faustina!
This simple act of abandonment to Jesus dispels the thickest clouds and lets a ray of light penetrate every life. Jezu, ufam tobie [Jesus, I trust in you].
4-5-26
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On behalf of Deacon Gene and the OLC Parish Staff, I wish to extend to you a most joyous and blessed Easter! The Lord has truly risen! Alleluia! He has risen indeed, Alleluia!
The awesome Mystery of the Resurrection compels us to reflect on and thank God for His great love for us. As Dominican Fr. Romanus Cessario, O.P. writes: “There must be a Resurrection. God indeed saves us freely. Once, however, God decrees the saving actions that transpire during Christ’s Passion, his luminous Resurrection must follow. Put otherwise, were Christ’s life to have ended on Good Friday, the Christian religion would look very different.
Throughout the celebration of Holy Week, we ponder what Christ did and suffered for us. This meditation leads to the tomb whence the holy women hastened ‘as the first day of the week was dawning.’ Easter has to happen. Three reasons explain why we can’t live without Easter.
First, Easter proves necessary for Christ himself. Resurrection fulfills the requirements of divine justice, namely, that those who are brought low will be raised up.
Second, for us. We need Easter to confirm what we know by faith, to sustain our hoping for faith’s reward, and to give Easter form to our lives. Christians bear the marks of Christ’s cross, but their lives radiate the brilliance of Christ raised from the dead.
Third, for heaven itself. Easter announces that men can share life on high with Christ. Without Easter, heaven would seem more remote than it sometimes may. The Resurrection provides the model of the good things that Christ won for us.
What is important to remember? No cross, no crown. Christ won these benefits by making woeful satisfaction for our sins.”
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
On behalf of Deacon Gene and the OLC Parish Staff, I wish to extend to you a most joyous and blessed Easter! The Lord has truly risen! Alleluia! He has risen indeed, Alleluia!
The awesome Mystery of the Resurrection compels us to reflect on and thank God for His great love for us. As Dominican Fr. Romanus Cessario, O.P. writes: “There must be a Resurrection. God indeed saves us freely. Once, however, God decrees the saving actions that transpire during Christ’s Passion, his luminous Resurrection must follow. Put otherwise, were Christ’s life to have ended on Good Friday, the Christian religion would look very different.
Throughout the celebration of Holy Week, we ponder what Christ did and suffered for us. This meditation leads to the tomb whence the holy women hastened ‘as the first day of the week was dawning.’ Easter has to happen. Three reasons explain why we can’t live without Easter.
First, Easter proves necessary for Christ himself. Resurrection fulfills the requirements of divine justice, namely, that those who are brought low will be raised up.
Second, for us. We need Easter to confirm what we know by faith, to sustain our hoping for faith’s reward, and to give Easter form to our lives. Christians bear the marks of Christ’s cross, but their lives radiate the brilliance of Christ raised from the dead.
Third, for heaven itself. Easter announces that men can share life on high with Christ. Without Easter, heaven would seem more remote than it sometimes may. The Resurrection provides the model of the good things that Christ won for us.
What is important to remember? No cross, no crown. Christ won these benefits by making woeful satisfaction for our sins.”
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
3-29-26
"The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding Him and those following kept crying out and saying: Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.’ "
Matt. 21:8-9
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As we embark on this Holy Week, we seek to accompany our Lord, Jesus Christ, as He journeyed to complete His mission, the mission of our salvation. In our walk with Him this week, we look to Him for strength in the midst of our struggles, in our prayers and sacrifices for others, in our desire to reach out to loved ones and those in need.
May the Crucified One, by whose stripes we are healed and who emptied Himself for our sake, lift us up with Him in the New Life of the Resurrection promised to us and that even now we share in!
May this ancient sermon from St. Andrew of Crete be a source of inspiration for our reflection on this Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, which inaugurates this Holy Week. And may The Lord of Glory fill your hearts with His grace and blessings this Holy Week and Easter!
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
From a sermon by Saint Andrew of Crete, Bishop (Oratio 9 in ramos palmarum: PG 97, 990-994). Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the king of Israel.
"Let us go together to meet Christ on the Mount of Olives. Today He returns from Bethany and proceeds of His own free will toward His holy and blessed passion, to consummate the mystery of our salvation. He who came down from heaven to raise us from the depths of sin, to raise us with himself, we are told in Scripture, above every sovereignty, authority, and power, and every other name that can be named, now comes of His own free will to make His journey to Jerusalem. He comes without pomp or ostentation. As the psalmist says: He will not dispute or raise His voice to make it heard in the streets. He will be meek and humble, and He will make His entry in simplicity.
Let us run to accompany Him as He hastens toward Jerusalem, and imitate those who met Him then, not by covering His path with garments, olive branches or palms, but by doing all we can to prostrate ourselves before Him by being humble and by trying to live as He would wish. Then we shall be able to receive the Word at His coming, and God, whom no limits can contain, will be within us.
In His humility, Christ entered the dark regions of our fallen world and He is glad that He became so humble for our sake, glad that He came and lived among us and shared in our nature in order to raise us up again to Himself. And even though we are told that He has now ascended above the highest heavens—the proof, surely, of His power and Godhead—His love for man will never rest until He has raised our earthbound nature from glory to glory, and made it one with His own in heaven.
So let us spread before His feet, not garments or soulless olive branches, which delight the eye for a few hours and then wither, but ourselves, clothed in His grace, or rather, clothed completely in Him. We who have been baptized into Christ must ourselves be the garments that we spread before Him. Now that the crimson stains of our sins have been washed away in the saving waters of baptism and we have become white as pure wool, let us present the conqueror of death, not with mere branches of palms but with the real rewards of His victory. Let our souls take the place of the welcoming branches as we join today in the children’s holy song: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the king of Israel.”
Matt. 21:8-9
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As we embark on this Holy Week, we seek to accompany our Lord, Jesus Christ, as He journeyed to complete His mission, the mission of our salvation. In our walk with Him this week, we look to Him for strength in the midst of our struggles, in our prayers and sacrifices for others, in our desire to reach out to loved ones and those in need.
May the Crucified One, by whose stripes we are healed and who emptied Himself for our sake, lift us up with Him in the New Life of the Resurrection promised to us and that even now we share in!
May this ancient sermon from St. Andrew of Crete be a source of inspiration for our reflection on this Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, which inaugurates this Holy Week. And may The Lord of Glory fill your hearts with His grace and blessings this Holy Week and Easter!
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
From a sermon by Saint Andrew of Crete, Bishop (Oratio 9 in ramos palmarum: PG 97, 990-994). Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the king of Israel.
"Let us go together to meet Christ on the Mount of Olives. Today He returns from Bethany and proceeds of His own free will toward His holy and blessed passion, to consummate the mystery of our salvation. He who came down from heaven to raise us from the depths of sin, to raise us with himself, we are told in Scripture, above every sovereignty, authority, and power, and every other name that can be named, now comes of His own free will to make His journey to Jerusalem. He comes without pomp or ostentation. As the psalmist says: He will not dispute or raise His voice to make it heard in the streets. He will be meek and humble, and He will make His entry in simplicity.
Let us run to accompany Him as He hastens toward Jerusalem, and imitate those who met Him then, not by covering His path with garments, olive branches or palms, but by doing all we can to prostrate ourselves before Him by being humble and by trying to live as He would wish. Then we shall be able to receive the Word at His coming, and God, whom no limits can contain, will be within us.
In His humility, Christ entered the dark regions of our fallen world and He is glad that He became so humble for our sake, glad that He came and lived among us and shared in our nature in order to raise us up again to Himself. And even though we are told that He has now ascended above the highest heavens—the proof, surely, of His power and Godhead—His love for man will never rest until He has raised our earthbound nature from glory to glory, and made it one with His own in heaven.
So let us spread before His feet, not garments or soulless olive branches, which delight the eye for a few hours and then wither, but ourselves, clothed in His grace, or rather, clothed completely in Him. We who have been baptized into Christ must ourselves be the garments that we spread before Him. Now that the crimson stains of our sins have been washed away in the saving waters of baptism and we have become white as pure wool, let us present the conqueror of death, not with mere branches of palms but with the real rewards of His victory. Let our souls take the place of the welcoming branches as we join today in the children’s holy song: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the king of Israel.”
3-22-26
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord, whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will never die.” John 11:25
No matter how you cut it, death is the hard and inevitable fact of our lives that we all must face, not just once and for all at the end of our own earthly existence, but multiple times with the loss of spouses, parents, siblings, close friends, co-workers and others we come to know throughout our lives and even those that we may never have met. We are saddened when a famous entertainer, for example or sports figure, Pope, president or other famous person passes away, even those that are otherwise unknown who die tragically or through the malice of others that we hear about on the news saddens our hearts. Death was not part of God’s original plan for the human race. It is the result of the Original Sin of our first parents that sin and death have entered into the world and now affects all of creation. It is a great obstacle and conundrum for us, and burdens our hearts whenever we encounter it. How we deal with death is rooted in our faith.
For our Lord, death is no obstacle: He raised the widow of Nain’s son (see Lk. 7:11-17), the daughter of Jairus (see Mk. 5:21-43), and now Lazarus, His friend and the brother of Martha and Mary, also close friends, to reveal this fact. Being so close to the time of Christ’s own death, the raising of Lazarus was to be for “God’s glory” (v.4) and that those in the crowd might come to believe that the Father had sent Him. (see vv. 41-42) Indeed, Jesus would die not long after this, but death would not bind Him.
What Jesus does in the raising of Lazarus certainly is amazing, but it is only a glimpse of what is to come. Just as in His Transfiguration we focused on a few weeks ago, it was only a “preview” of His future glory in the Resurrection and meant to prepare His disciples for His own death. The raising of Lazarus does the same; it is a glimpse, a “preview” of and preparation for His future Resurrection from death on Easter and of our own on the last day. If Lazarus’ being raised from the dead is a mystery and a wonder for us to grapple with, even more so is the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ by His own power. The coming back from the dead for Lazarus, incredible as it is, is still something our minds can deal with. The Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord go beyond our human limits of comprehension. They do not contradict our human reason; rather, they go beyond where it can go. It is as if the Mystery of the Resurrection is a great sea and our human reason is the seashore: it has its definite point of limit that it cannot go beyond.
God in His mercy used the raising of Lazarus for the purpose of His love, to prepare us for the events of Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection and His return to Him in Glory. Lazarus’ raising was not the same as Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead. He was raised up, he was resuscitated, but not resurrected. Lazarus had to die again.
Martha and Mary would once again mourn their brother at some point. His being raised was not permanent. The unbinding of Lazarus from his burial cloths was a mere symbol that death could not bind Christ forever in death. Jesus’ Resurrection is permanent: He dies no more. With Him, Lazarus and all of us will never die again and Jesus will call us all to the Resurrection on the Last Day, when we will be unbound from the sleep of death and our bodies and souls will be reunited and He will truly raise us up. It is this promise of eternal life that we share in that we prepare to be renewed in during this Lenten season on Easter Sunday. In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
“I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord, whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will never die.” John 11:25
No matter how you cut it, death is the hard and inevitable fact of our lives that we all must face, not just once and for all at the end of our own earthly existence, but multiple times with the loss of spouses, parents, siblings, close friends, co-workers and others we come to know throughout our lives and even those that we may never have met. We are saddened when a famous entertainer, for example or sports figure, Pope, president or other famous person passes away, even those that are otherwise unknown who die tragically or through the malice of others that we hear about on the news saddens our hearts. Death was not part of God’s original plan for the human race. It is the result of the Original Sin of our first parents that sin and death have entered into the world and now affects all of creation. It is a great obstacle and conundrum for us, and burdens our hearts whenever we encounter it. How we deal with death is rooted in our faith.
For our Lord, death is no obstacle: He raised the widow of Nain’s son (see Lk. 7:11-17), the daughter of Jairus (see Mk. 5:21-43), and now Lazarus, His friend and the brother of Martha and Mary, also close friends, to reveal this fact. Being so close to the time of Christ’s own death, the raising of Lazarus was to be for “God’s glory” (v.4) and that those in the crowd might come to believe that the Father had sent Him. (see vv. 41-42) Indeed, Jesus would die not long after this, but death would not bind Him.
What Jesus does in the raising of Lazarus certainly is amazing, but it is only a glimpse of what is to come. Just as in His Transfiguration we focused on a few weeks ago, it was only a “preview” of His future glory in the Resurrection and meant to prepare His disciples for His own death. The raising of Lazarus does the same; it is a glimpse, a “preview” of and preparation for His future Resurrection from death on Easter and of our own on the last day. If Lazarus’ being raised from the dead is a mystery and a wonder for us to grapple with, even more so is the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ by His own power. The coming back from the dead for Lazarus, incredible as it is, is still something our minds can deal with. The Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord go beyond our human limits of comprehension. They do not contradict our human reason; rather, they go beyond where it can go. It is as if the Mystery of the Resurrection is a great sea and our human reason is the seashore: it has its definite point of limit that it cannot go beyond.
God in His mercy used the raising of Lazarus for the purpose of His love, to prepare us for the events of Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection and His return to Him in Glory. Lazarus’ raising was not the same as Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead. He was raised up, he was resuscitated, but not resurrected. Lazarus had to die again.
Martha and Mary would once again mourn their brother at some point. His being raised was not permanent. The unbinding of Lazarus from his burial cloths was a mere symbol that death could not bind Christ forever in death. Jesus’ Resurrection is permanent: He dies no more. With Him, Lazarus and all of us will never die again and Jesus will call us all to the Resurrection on the Last Day, when we will be unbound from the sleep of death and our bodies and souls will be reunited and He will truly raise us up. It is this promise of eternal life that we share in that we prepare to be renewed in during this Lenten season on Easter Sunday. In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
3-15-26
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We encounter some similarities in the Gospel reading for this 4th Sunday of Lent and that of last Sunday.
As with the Samaritan woman. Jesus again assumes the divine Name: “I AM the light of the world.” To the man born blind, however, Jesus is, at first, simply “the man called Jesus.” But as with the Samaritan, a movement occurs in the blind man’s understanding and ultimately, coming to know Jesus. Under interrogation, the blind man progresses: Jesus “is a prophet.” Finally, when Jesus finds him, so does faith, “I do believe, Lord.” But beyond spiritual movement, there is physical movement: Jesus searches and finds the man outside the temple, from which religious authorities have expelled him.
Simultaneously, an opposite movement occurs with the Pharisees. Unlike the man born blind, the so-called “non-blind” who are faithful to the Law go backwards: they regress rather than progress spiritually. Embracing the disciples’ theory, which Jesus rejected, namely, that sin caused the man’s blindness, these religious leaders spew self-righteous insult, “You were born totally in sin, and you are trying to teach us?” Unlike the once-blind man they finally expel, these spiritually blind devotees end up safely inside the temple, but locked out of the light-filled knowledge of Jesus as Lord: “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but you say, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.”
Scripture tells us that we judge by appearances, but God looks into the heart (see 1 Sam. 16:7). Judging others and not at the very least trying to put ourselves in their shoes can imprison us like the Pharisees in the comfort of their own self-made prison of self-righteousness. Jesus calls us to such a greater freedom! He calls us to see others as He sees them and us. As we continue deeper into our Lenten journey, may we seek a true encounter with Jesus, our light, allowing Him to guide us and to lead others to the light of Christ.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
We encounter some similarities in the Gospel reading for this 4th Sunday of Lent and that of last Sunday.
As with the Samaritan woman. Jesus again assumes the divine Name: “I AM the light of the world.” To the man born blind, however, Jesus is, at first, simply “the man called Jesus.” But as with the Samaritan, a movement occurs in the blind man’s understanding and ultimately, coming to know Jesus. Under interrogation, the blind man progresses: Jesus “is a prophet.” Finally, when Jesus finds him, so does faith, “I do believe, Lord.” But beyond spiritual movement, there is physical movement: Jesus searches and finds the man outside the temple, from which religious authorities have expelled him.
Simultaneously, an opposite movement occurs with the Pharisees. Unlike the man born blind, the so-called “non-blind” who are faithful to the Law go backwards: they regress rather than progress spiritually. Embracing the disciples’ theory, which Jesus rejected, namely, that sin caused the man’s blindness, these religious leaders spew self-righteous insult, “You were born totally in sin, and you are trying to teach us?” Unlike the once-blind man they finally expel, these spiritually blind devotees end up safely inside the temple, but locked out of the light-filled knowledge of Jesus as Lord: “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but you say, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.”
Scripture tells us that we judge by appearances, but God looks into the heart (see 1 Sam. 16:7). Judging others and not at the very least trying to put ourselves in their shoes can imprison us like the Pharisees in the comfort of their own self-made prison of self-righteousness. Jesus calls us to such a greater freedom! He calls us to see others as He sees them and us. As we continue deeper into our Lenten journey, may we seek a true encounter with Jesus, our light, allowing Him to guide us and to lead others to the light of Christ.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
3-8-26
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8)
One of the points that Lent invites us to focus on is the mercy and love that He has for us. We tend to fixate on what we need to do: our Lenten practices, what we choose to do or “give up” for Lent, etc. This is all very necessary and important.
But, as I always say, our relationship with God and working out our daily conversion, and the project of our salvation is always “both/and,” 100% God and 100% us. Last Sunday, the voice of the Father called us to listen to Jesus. This is a call to pay attention to Him and what He does. It is this a point that St. Paul makes when writing to the Romans. He wants us to be amazed at the wonderfully good news that Jesus’ love came to us “while we were still sinners,” even to the point of His death for us on the Cross.
This is something never heard of before: who would die for another person, even if they were innocent? Christ didn’t die merely for the innocent--He died for us, in our guilt and sinfulness. He knows our sins and the darkest corners of our souls, knows when we are making excuses, knows our temptations, knows how hard we find it to accept His love and forgiveness, knows how tough we find it even to forgive and love others and ourselves. He knows all of this, and He still died for love of us.
Correctly, we believe we are unworthy of His love. It’s not something we can earn: it is pure gift. For this reason, we struggle to accept His love. We may never have experienced a love like this before. This extravagant love seems to demand too much for us and we can feel overwhelmed. Perhaps we’re not sure we want to change and we fear what those changes will cost us. Yet, it was while we were still sinners that He shows His love for us most powerfully, and He remains near to us. The woman at the well in today’s Gospel from John teaches us a valuable lesson: Jesus is not going anywhere! While He will never force us, He will persist in calling us until we know and accept His love.
The response that Jesus invites us to, as He did with the woman at the well, is to lay down the burden of our sins and share His love with those around us. We may still feel uncertain: it may seem too difficult to do, or what may lie ahead may seem too foreboding. May our belief and trust in Christ, that His love knows no limits and empowers us to do great things in His name, urge us on during our Lenten journey and throughout our lives.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
“But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8)
One of the points that Lent invites us to focus on is the mercy and love that He has for us. We tend to fixate on what we need to do: our Lenten practices, what we choose to do or “give up” for Lent, etc. This is all very necessary and important.
But, as I always say, our relationship with God and working out our daily conversion, and the project of our salvation is always “both/and,” 100% God and 100% us. Last Sunday, the voice of the Father called us to listen to Jesus. This is a call to pay attention to Him and what He does. It is this a point that St. Paul makes when writing to the Romans. He wants us to be amazed at the wonderfully good news that Jesus’ love came to us “while we were still sinners,” even to the point of His death for us on the Cross.
This is something never heard of before: who would die for another person, even if they were innocent? Christ didn’t die merely for the innocent--He died for us, in our guilt and sinfulness. He knows our sins and the darkest corners of our souls, knows when we are making excuses, knows our temptations, knows how hard we find it to accept His love and forgiveness, knows how tough we find it even to forgive and love others and ourselves. He knows all of this, and He still died for love of us.
Correctly, we believe we are unworthy of His love. It’s not something we can earn: it is pure gift. For this reason, we struggle to accept His love. We may never have experienced a love like this before. This extravagant love seems to demand too much for us and we can feel overwhelmed. Perhaps we’re not sure we want to change and we fear what those changes will cost us. Yet, it was while we were still sinners that He shows His love for us most powerfully, and He remains near to us. The woman at the well in today’s Gospel from John teaches us a valuable lesson: Jesus is not going anywhere! While He will never force us, He will persist in calling us until we know and accept His love.
The response that Jesus invites us to, as He did with the woman at the well, is to lay down the burden of our sins and share His love with those around us. We may still feel uncertain: it may seem too difficult to do, or what may lie ahead may seem too foreboding. May our belief and trust in Christ, that His love knows no limits and empowers us to do great things in His name, urge us on during our Lenten journey and throughout our lives.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
3-1-26
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
A lot of “voices” vie for our attention every day. Whether it be on social media, the news or from other sources, we are often distracted by so many things. Our Gospel for this 2nd Sunday of Lent always presents to us the great event of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, this year from Matthew’s Gospel. God the Father exhorts us to listen to Jesus, His Son.
Unlike the uncertainty, confusion or unclarity of some “voices” we hear throughout a given day, we have no need to worry in listening to what Christ says to us. As so many who heard Him preach said, Jesus spoke with authority.
Knowing this, however, we struggle to listen to Jesus’ words to us. We know that His words are truth, that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and has only the best for us in our following Him. But, to take up our cross daily and follow Him, to enter through the narrow gate, to love and forgive our enemies, to seek out and help the poor from our own hearts, usually gets drowned out by other words that we allow to take precedence.
Lent invites us to hear and listen once again to the words of Jesus, who is the Word of God. What a wonderful thing it would be to take up and focus on the words of Jesus that our Father commands us to listen to.
May I offer a suggestion? Take up one of the Gospels--Mark is the shortest, Matthew is the current Gospel we are hearing at Sunday Masses this year, Luke has so many familiar parables and uniquely shows the universal message of Christ to all--and read it in one sitting. As we get closer to Holy Week, maybe we could read St. John’s Gospel.
Now, we may think that we’ve heard it all before and we know the various passages and words and actions of our Lord. But, I guarantee you that you will see, notice, “hear” the words of Jesus in a new and different way. The late Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R., in his book, “The King, Crucified and Risen: Meditations on the Passion and Glory of Christ,” shares that when he spent time in jail for praying a rosary outside of an abortion clinic, was only allowed one book: his Bible.
While in his cell, he relates that he read whole books of the Scriptures. As fruitful as this was, he found that after reading the Gospels in one sitting, something different happened. He said that every time he concluded reading a Gospel in one sitting, he had “the experience of knowing Jesus as I had never known Him before. “In fact,” Fr. Groeschel continues, “the clarity of each evangelist’s picture of Him, most of all the power of His words, electrified me.” (pp. 46-47)
In reading the Gospels in this way, see how a word, an idea comes into your heart and mind that you know does not originate from you, but from the words of the Gospel. Allow the words of the Father to remind you to “listen” to the words of His Son. Believe that this is the word or words that Jesus has for you to respond to as you continue through Lent, a word of renewal and grace for you, a word of conversion, an invitation to follow Him anew, not fearing the Cross, but seeing it as the entrance into new life in Him.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
A lot of “voices” vie for our attention every day. Whether it be on social media, the news or from other sources, we are often distracted by so many things. Our Gospel for this 2nd Sunday of Lent always presents to us the great event of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, this year from Matthew’s Gospel. God the Father exhorts us to listen to Jesus, His Son.
Unlike the uncertainty, confusion or unclarity of some “voices” we hear throughout a given day, we have no need to worry in listening to what Christ says to us. As so many who heard Him preach said, Jesus spoke with authority.
Knowing this, however, we struggle to listen to Jesus’ words to us. We know that His words are truth, that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and has only the best for us in our following Him. But, to take up our cross daily and follow Him, to enter through the narrow gate, to love and forgive our enemies, to seek out and help the poor from our own hearts, usually gets drowned out by other words that we allow to take precedence.
Lent invites us to hear and listen once again to the words of Jesus, who is the Word of God. What a wonderful thing it would be to take up and focus on the words of Jesus that our Father commands us to listen to.
May I offer a suggestion? Take up one of the Gospels--Mark is the shortest, Matthew is the current Gospel we are hearing at Sunday Masses this year, Luke has so many familiar parables and uniquely shows the universal message of Christ to all--and read it in one sitting. As we get closer to Holy Week, maybe we could read St. John’s Gospel.
Now, we may think that we’ve heard it all before and we know the various passages and words and actions of our Lord. But, I guarantee you that you will see, notice, “hear” the words of Jesus in a new and different way. The late Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R., in his book, “The King, Crucified and Risen: Meditations on the Passion and Glory of Christ,” shares that when he spent time in jail for praying a rosary outside of an abortion clinic, was only allowed one book: his Bible.
While in his cell, he relates that he read whole books of the Scriptures. As fruitful as this was, he found that after reading the Gospels in one sitting, something different happened. He said that every time he concluded reading a Gospel in one sitting, he had “the experience of knowing Jesus as I had never known Him before. “In fact,” Fr. Groeschel continues, “the clarity of each evangelist’s picture of Him, most of all the power of His words, electrified me.” (pp. 46-47)
In reading the Gospels in this way, see how a word, an idea comes into your heart and mind that you know does not originate from you, but from the words of the Gospel. Allow the words of the Father to remind you to “listen” to the words of His Son. Believe that this is the word or words that Jesus has for you to respond to as you continue through Lent, a word of renewal and grace for you, a word of conversion, an invitation to follow Him anew, not fearing the Cross, but seeing it as the entrance into new life in Him.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
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