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 through Friday* at Our Lady of Consolation Church
*First Friday Devotions following Mass on the first Friday of each month
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 through Friday* at Our Lady of Consolation Church
*First Friday Devotions following Mass on the first Friday of each month
Confession & Adoration
3:30-4:30 P.M. - Saturday at Our Lady of Consolation Church
Pastor's Corner
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The latest thoughts from Fr. O'Neill can be found in this week's bulletin.
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8-25-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The theme for today’s readings on this 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time is fidelity between God and his people. Joshua offers the people a choice to go their own way or to choose the Lord their God and His ways. Resoundingly, the people responded that “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods.” (Josh. 24:16) Peter speaks for the rest of the 12 when Jesus, having doubled down that eating His Flesh and Blood is necessary for eternal life, asks them if they wanted to leave Him after so many in the crowd had left. “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (Jn. 6:68) How loyal are we to Jesus? Are we able to take Peter’s words as our own? How well do we even know the words of Jesus? Let us recommit ourselves to deepening our knowledge and love of the Lord.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
The theme for today’s readings on this 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time is fidelity between God and his people. Joshua offers the people a choice to go their own way or to choose the Lord their God and His ways. Resoundingly, the people responded that “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods.” (Josh. 24:16) Peter speaks for the rest of the 12 when Jesus, having doubled down that eating His Flesh and Blood is necessary for eternal life, asks them if they wanted to leave Him after so many in the crowd had left. “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (Jn. 6:68) How loyal are we to Jesus? Are we able to take Peter’s words as our own? How well do we even know the words of Jesus? Let us recommit ourselves to deepening our knowledge and love of the Lord.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
8-18-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On this 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time, we continue to read from the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, the “Bread of Life Discourse.” Today’s Gospel elaborates further on the teaching that Jesus began in our liturgy last week. In that reading, the crowds wondered about how Jesus could say that He had come down from heaven because they knew Jesus to be the Son of Joseph and Mary. In today’s Gospel, another layer is added, because some have difficulty with Jesus’ teaching that He is the living bread sent from God. Recall that Jesus had told them that just as God gave the Israelites manna to sustain them in the desert, so now God has sent new manna that will give eternal life. We hear the concluding verse of last week’s Gospel repeated in today’s reading: Jesus Himself is the bread sent by God; Jesus’ flesh is the bread that is given for the life of the world. Among the stumbling blocks for those who heard but did not understand Jesus is the teaching that the bread that Jesus will give is His own flesh. In response to the people who quarreled over His words, Jesus doubles down and teaches with even greater emphasis that salvation comes to those who eat His Body and Blood. Jesus doesn’t seem to answer the question posed about how salvation will come about, perhaps because this reality can only be understood after His death and Resurrection. Instead, Jesus teaches about the life that He will give to the world. To many ears, Jesus’ words are jarring and difficult to hear. Many who heard Jesus could not accept what He said. Many today continue to struggle to accept these words. But they are important words because they reveal our intimate connection with Jesus. This is the mystery that is at the heart of our eucharistic theology. In the elements of bread and wine, Jesus’ Body and Blood are made truly present. When we share in the Body and Blood of Christ, Jesus Himself comes to dwell within us. This Communion with the Lord makes us one body, brings us eternal life, and sends us forth to be Christ’s body for the life of the world.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
On this 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time, we continue to read from the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, the “Bread of Life Discourse.” Today’s Gospel elaborates further on the teaching that Jesus began in our liturgy last week. In that reading, the crowds wondered about how Jesus could say that He had come down from heaven because they knew Jesus to be the Son of Joseph and Mary. In today’s Gospel, another layer is added, because some have difficulty with Jesus’ teaching that He is the living bread sent from God. Recall that Jesus had told them that just as God gave the Israelites manna to sustain them in the desert, so now God has sent new manna that will give eternal life. We hear the concluding verse of last week’s Gospel repeated in today’s reading: Jesus Himself is the bread sent by God; Jesus’ flesh is the bread that is given for the life of the world. Among the stumbling blocks for those who heard but did not understand Jesus is the teaching that the bread that Jesus will give is His own flesh. In response to the people who quarreled over His words, Jesus doubles down and teaches with even greater emphasis that salvation comes to those who eat His Body and Blood. Jesus doesn’t seem to answer the question posed about how salvation will come about, perhaps because this reality can only be understood after His death and Resurrection. Instead, Jesus teaches about the life that He will give to the world. To many ears, Jesus’ words are jarring and difficult to hear. Many who heard Jesus could not accept what He said. Many today continue to struggle to accept these words. But they are important words because they reveal our intimate connection with Jesus. This is the mystery that is at the heart of our eucharistic theology. In the elements of bread and wine, Jesus’ Body and Blood are made truly present. When we share in the Body and Blood of Christ, Jesus Himself comes to dwell within us. This Communion with the Lord makes us one body, brings us eternal life, and sends us forth to be Christ’s body for the life of the world.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
8-11-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In today’s Gospel, Jesus is confronted by obstacles, much like Elijah was in the first reading. Both Elijah and Jesus take on the challenge. As we continue through John’s 6th chapter, the Bread of Life Discourse, many of Jesus’ hearers would not accept who Jesus said He was. They begin to debate with Him. However, Jesus did not give up. Instead, he remained focused. He insisted: “I am the living bread, which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever, and the bread I give is my flesh for the life of the world.” As we will see next week, many in the crowds who previously followed Jesus would leave, unable and unwilling to accept Jesus and believe in Him. Maybe some would later return to Jesus, we don’t know. For those of us who do believe in Jesus, good news today is that He draws us to Himself every day through the Eucharistic to nourish and strengthen us for our journey. He is the living bread that satisfies our spiritual hunger. He equally fills us with His Spirit, who directs us on the right path on our journey. So today, God is saying to us as he spoke to Elijah in the desert, “arise, eat, drink,” and continue your journey with new hope, zeal and a new spirit. Finally, let us take advantage of this generous gift that God had given us through the Holy Eucharist to enrich our lives. We must do what the psalmist tells us today: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” He is the living bread of life. He is the Mystery of our faith and the life of the world.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
In today’s Gospel, Jesus is confronted by obstacles, much like Elijah was in the first reading. Both Elijah and Jesus take on the challenge. As we continue through John’s 6th chapter, the Bread of Life Discourse, many of Jesus’ hearers would not accept who Jesus said He was. They begin to debate with Him. However, Jesus did not give up. Instead, he remained focused. He insisted: “I am the living bread, which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever, and the bread I give is my flesh for the life of the world.” As we will see next week, many in the crowds who previously followed Jesus would leave, unable and unwilling to accept Jesus and believe in Him. Maybe some would later return to Jesus, we don’t know. For those of us who do believe in Jesus, good news today is that He draws us to Himself every day through the Eucharistic to nourish and strengthen us for our journey. He is the living bread that satisfies our spiritual hunger. He equally fills us with His Spirit, who directs us on the right path on our journey. So today, God is saying to us as he spoke to Elijah in the desert, “arise, eat, drink,” and continue your journey with new hope, zeal and a new spirit. Finally, let us take advantage of this generous gift that God had given us through the Holy Eucharist to enrich our lives. We must do what the psalmist tells us today: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” He is the living bread of life. He is the Mystery of our faith and the life of the world.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
8-4-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As we continue through Chapter 6 of John’s Gospel, Jesus tells the crowd to seek food that endures to eternal life. He identifies Himself as the Bread of Life, offering spiritual nourishment that never fades. Those who come to Him will never hunger or thirst. It’s interesting to see the dialogue between Jesus and the crowd in this reading. First, the crowd asks Him how He arrived there. Jesus rightfully says they are only looking for Him because their bellies were filled and not because of the sign, or miracle that He performed. Jesus then exhorts them to work not for food that perishes, but for food that endures unto eternal life. The crowd is intrigued by our Lord’s words, because He puts the ball back in their court, and so they ask, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answers that believing in Him-the One whom God the Father sent is the “work” that they are called to do. As if the sign/miracle of the multiplication were not enough, the people ask Jesus what sign can He do that they might believe in Him. Funny how quickly they’ve forgotten and how true are the Lord’s words about only seeking Him because they were physically fed by the loaves! We now begin to get to the heart of the matter here and we even hear in the question from the crowd a reference from our first reading from Exodus, when through Moses, God provided manna in the desert. Jesus corrects them by reminding them it was the Father who provided this bread, not Moses, and that even that bread was not lasting. He reveals to them that the Father will indeed give to them the true Bread from Heaven. They respond that they desire that they might have this Bread always and Jesus reveals that He is the Bread of Life of which He has been speaking. Whoever comes to Him will never hunger and whoever believes in Him will never thirst. Jesus’ words invite us to seek Him above all else. While physical food sustains our bodies, Jesus provides what our souls truly need. By coming to Jesus and believing in Him, we find true fulfillment and purpose. Like the people in the crowd, we sometimes lose focus on what is most important for other, lesser things. This reading challenges us to reflect on what we are seeking in life. Are we focused on temporary, earthly things or on the eternal, spiritual nourishment that Jesus offers? By turning to Jesus, we can find lasting peace and satisfaction. May we desire this true Bread of Life, our Eucharistic Lord, always!
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
As we continue through Chapter 6 of John’s Gospel, Jesus tells the crowd to seek food that endures to eternal life. He identifies Himself as the Bread of Life, offering spiritual nourishment that never fades. Those who come to Him will never hunger or thirst. It’s interesting to see the dialogue between Jesus and the crowd in this reading. First, the crowd asks Him how He arrived there. Jesus rightfully says they are only looking for Him because their bellies were filled and not because of the sign, or miracle that He performed. Jesus then exhorts them to work not for food that perishes, but for food that endures unto eternal life. The crowd is intrigued by our Lord’s words, because He puts the ball back in their court, and so they ask, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answers that believing in Him-the One whom God the Father sent is the “work” that they are called to do. As if the sign/miracle of the multiplication were not enough, the people ask Jesus what sign can He do that they might believe in Him. Funny how quickly they’ve forgotten and how true are the Lord’s words about only seeking Him because they were physically fed by the loaves! We now begin to get to the heart of the matter here and we even hear in the question from the crowd a reference from our first reading from Exodus, when through Moses, God provided manna in the desert. Jesus corrects them by reminding them it was the Father who provided this bread, not Moses, and that even that bread was not lasting. He reveals to them that the Father will indeed give to them the true Bread from Heaven. They respond that they desire that they might have this Bread always and Jesus reveals that He is the Bread of Life of which He has been speaking. Whoever comes to Him will never hunger and whoever believes in Him will never thirst. Jesus’ words invite us to seek Him above all else. While physical food sustains our bodies, Jesus provides what our souls truly need. By coming to Jesus and believing in Him, we find true fulfillment and purpose. Like the people in the crowd, we sometimes lose focus on what is most important for other, lesser things. This reading challenges us to reflect on what we are seeking in life. Are we focused on temporary, earthly things or on the eternal, spiritual nourishment that Jesus offers? By turning to Jesus, we can find lasting peace and satisfaction. May we desire this true Bread of Life, our Eucharistic Lord, always!
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
7-21-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today’s readings for the 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time highlight the glory of Christ’s ministry, which was foretold by the prophets and proclaimed for all peoples for all times and places. The crowds followed Jesus, seeking His teaching and His healing. We, too, are members of this flock, whom He shepherds; we are taught, fed, and healed. How can we pass on this joyful message of comfort to those around us?
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
Today’s readings for the 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time highlight the glory of Christ’s ministry, which was foretold by the prophets and proclaimed for all peoples for all times and places. The crowds followed Jesus, seeking His teaching and His healing. We, too, are members of this flock, whom He shepherds; we are taught, fed, and healed. How can we pass on this joyful message of comfort to those around us?
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
7-14-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On this 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time, we see how God calls His messengers, the prophet Amos and the Apostles, to proclaim His Word. In the first reading and the Gospel, Amos and the Apostles are sent to convey God’s perfect message, which tends to make sinners feel uneasy. Like Amos and the 12, we may not feel like we’re up to the task. Amos even said that he was a shepherd and dresser of sycamores. He never saw proclaiming God’s message as a prophet on his original to-do list! The Apostles, too, must have had some trepidation when being sent out. But, Paul reminds us in the second reading that we have all been chosen by God. No matter how inadequate we might feel, we are chosen and sent to proclaim the Good News. If God has chosen us, how can we argue with that? This Sunday, several of our young people will be going to Wilmington, DE on their annual Mission Trip sponsored by Catholic Work Camps. These young people will be doing what they and all of have been chosen for: to proclaim the Gospel. This doesn’t always have to be done by word, in fact, often it is through action. Our youth will be going out to assist others in need by day and praying together at night as they grow in the faith that they share. We pray that this missionary journey may be not only a rewarding experience for them, but an opportunity to share the love of Jesus with others and with one another. At the 11:15 AM Mass, we will be praying for them as we send them off much like Jesus did in sending off the 12 in the Gospel. We pray that they and the adults accompanying them will bear much fruit for the Kingdom of God.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
On this 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time, we see how God calls His messengers, the prophet Amos and the Apostles, to proclaim His Word. In the first reading and the Gospel, Amos and the Apostles are sent to convey God’s perfect message, which tends to make sinners feel uneasy. Like Amos and the 12, we may not feel like we’re up to the task. Amos even said that he was a shepherd and dresser of sycamores. He never saw proclaiming God’s message as a prophet on his original to-do list! The Apostles, too, must have had some trepidation when being sent out. But, Paul reminds us in the second reading that we have all been chosen by God. No matter how inadequate we might feel, we are chosen and sent to proclaim the Good News. If God has chosen us, how can we argue with that? This Sunday, several of our young people will be going to Wilmington, DE on their annual Mission Trip sponsored by Catholic Work Camps. These young people will be doing what they and all of have been chosen for: to proclaim the Gospel. This doesn’t always have to be done by word, in fact, often it is through action. Our youth will be going out to assist others in need by day and praying together at night as they grow in the faith that they share. We pray that this missionary journey may be not only a rewarding experience for them, but an opportunity to share the love of Jesus with others and with one another. At the 11:15 AM Mass, we will be praying for them as we send them off much like Jesus did in sending off the 12 in the Gospel. We pray that they and the adults accompanying them will bear much fruit for the Kingdom of God.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
7-7-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Both Paul and Jesus speak about their struggles in their ministry in the readings for this Sunday. We can all relate to times when others didn’t accept our kindness and good intentions. It is baffling at times, and we might ask, “Is it me or something I did?” In our second reading from 2 Corinthians, St. Paul speaks of the “thorn in his side” that he begged God to remove, but God said His grace would be sufficient for him to continue despite this “thorn.” Paul assures us through his own experience that the challenges of faith allow Christ’s power to shine through. Amazingly, even our struggles can help us grow closer to God! Paul’s message is clear: we do not need to be perfect to be loved by God. Our weaknesses and difficulties can be opportunities for God’s strength to be shown. We can embrace our struggles and trust that God is working through them. Paul’s words encourage us to rely on God’s power rather than our own. When we face hardships, we can remember that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
Both Paul and Jesus speak about their struggles in their ministry in the readings for this Sunday. We can all relate to times when others didn’t accept our kindness and good intentions. It is baffling at times, and we might ask, “Is it me or something I did?” In our second reading from 2 Corinthians, St. Paul speaks of the “thorn in his side” that he begged God to remove, but God said His grace would be sufficient for him to continue despite this “thorn.” Paul assures us through his own experience that the challenges of faith allow Christ’s power to shine through. Amazingly, even our struggles can help us grow closer to God! Paul’s message is clear: we do not need to be perfect to be loved by God. Our weaknesses and difficulties can be opportunities for God’s strength to be shown. We can embrace our struggles and trust that God is working through them. Paul’s words encourage us to rely on God’s power rather than our own. When we face hardships, we can remember that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
6-30-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As Independence Day draws near, we say Happy 249th Birthday to the Good Ol’ USA! As we celebrate our nation's birth, we give pause to reflect on the words contained in the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." These words penned by Thomas Jefferson and accepted by the Continental Congress, we're not embracing a "free-for-all" lifestyle, whereby one could simply do what one wants all the time and that happiness was just the result of such a lifestyle. Granted, the Founding Fathers would have had nothing against our wanting to do well, make money and indulge ourselves a bit in life's enjoyments. However, their understanding of "happiness" goes beyond this. It goes deeper, it goes to what the philosophers of old, like Aristotle, believed about happiness: it meant pursuing ones full potential, following the purpose for which we exist, in effect, happiness for these ancient thinkers and the Founders of our country meant to flourish fully as human beings. Even despite great pain and loss, deprivation and humiliation, happiness need not be lost. In fact, one's happiness cannot be snatched away even as a result of these negative experiences. The Book of Wisdom in this Sunday’s readings reminds us that we were created in God’s image, but that we tarnished our dignity by misusing the freedom that He gave to us. By choosing against God’s will, we damaged the intimate union and communion with God. Damaged, but not destroyed. God’s plan was to send His Son to redeem us. By His Cross, Jesus restored us to union and communion with the Father. He has given us freedom from sin. When our Lord invites us to take up our Cross daily and follow Him, He is essentially telling us that if we die to ourselves, and find our true life in Him, then we will truly be happy and free. Our Gospel today relates the freedom given to the woman with the hemorrhage and the daughter of Jairus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. The freedom that our Lord gives releases us from the bonds of sin and death. As citizens of God’s Kingdom and of our beloved nation, we are called to the duty of helping others to be freed from oppression, as well. The Founders of our great nation, while most believed in God and were raised as Christians, would not have meant the "pursuit of happiness" in the Declaration of Independence as becoming a disciple of Christ, but for us, as His disciples, we do understand that true and full happiness, that "full human potential" can only be completely attained by being disciples of Jesus. Ours is the freedom of the children of God. This freedom is what fueled the Apostles and martyrs, the early Christians and saints throughout the centuries to endure great trials and hardship for their faith. It is what inspired countless others to die defending freedom on our own soil and in foreign wars so that others might enjoy this freedom to pursue happiness, to follow Christ or the faith and religion of one's choosing. We have seen it in the sacrifices that our own family members and parents have made for us, too. As citizens of God’s Kingdom and members of God's family, our names are written in heaven. God our Father knows each one of us completely and tenderly, desiring for us the best that we can be, that is, the fullness of happiness. Today, as Americans, may we offer gratitude and praise to our God that we live in a country blessed to preserve, promote and defend those unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit if happiness. As disciples of Jesus, may we continue to proclaim the message of the Gospel of Life to our society that has lost sight of this gift so fundamental and precious in the eyes of God.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
As Independence Day draws near, we say Happy 249th Birthday to the Good Ol’ USA! As we celebrate our nation's birth, we give pause to reflect on the words contained in the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." These words penned by Thomas Jefferson and accepted by the Continental Congress, we're not embracing a "free-for-all" lifestyle, whereby one could simply do what one wants all the time and that happiness was just the result of such a lifestyle. Granted, the Founding Fathers would have had nothing against our wanting to do well, make money and indulge ourselves a bit in life's enjoyments. However, their understanding of "happiness" goes beyond this. It goes deeper, it goes to what the philosophers of old, like Aristotle, believed about happiness: it meant pursuing ones full potential, following the purpose for which we exist, in effect, happiness for these ancient thinkers and the Founders of our country meant to flourish fully as human beings. Even despite great pain and loss, deprivation and humiliation, happiness need not be lost. In fact, one's happiness cannot be snatched away even as a result of these negative experiences. The Book of Wisdom in this Sunday’s readings reminds us that we were created in God’s image, but that we tarnished our dignity by misusing the freedom that He gave to us. By choosing against God’s will, we damaged the intimate union and communion with God. Damaged, but not destroyed. God’s plan was to send His Son to redeem us. By His Cross, Jesus restored us to union and communion with the Father. He has given us freedom from sin. When our Lord invites us to take up our Cross daily and follow Him, He is essentially telling us that if we die to ourselves, and find our true life in Him, then we will truly be happy and free. Our Gospel today relates the freedom given to the woman with the hemorrhage and the daughter of Jairus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. The freedom that our Lord gives releases us from the bonds of sin and death. As citizens of God’s Kingdom and of our beloved nation, we are called to the duty of helping others to be freed from oppression, as well. The Founders of our great nation, while most believed in God and were raised as Christians, would not have meant the "pursuit of happiness" in the Declaration of Independence as becoming a disciple of Christ, but for us, as His disciples, we do understand that true and full happiness, that "full human potential" can only be completely attained by being disciples of Jesus. Ours is the freedom of the children of God. This freedom is what fueled the Apostles and martyrs, the early Christians and saints throughout the centuries to endure great trials and hardship for their faith. It is what inspired countless others to die defending freedom on our own soil and in foreign wars so that others might enjoy this freedom to pursue happiness, to follow Christ or the faith and religion of one's choosing. We have seen it in the sacrifices that our own family members and parents have made for us, too. As citizens of God’s Kingdom and members of God's family, our names are written in heaven. God our Father knows each one of us completely and tenderly, desiring for us the best that we can be, that is, the fullness of happiness. Today, as Americans, may we offer gratitude and praise to our God that we live in a country blessed to preserve, promote and defend those unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit if happiness. As disciples of Jesus, may we continue to proclaim the message of the Gospel of Life to our society that has lost sight of this gift so fundamental and precious in the eyes of God.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
6-23-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
God speaks to Job in the First Reading today because Job has undergone a tremendous amount of loss and grief. He has essentially lost everything and try as he may to trust in God and reject the counsel of his friends, he begins to wonder about God's intentions in all of this. Job's prayers to God seem to have gone unanswered. God responds and reminds Job that He has set the limits and laws of all creation, including the seas, which He has made to not cross the dry land. It is as if God, like a good parent establishing rules at home, has set the "ground rules" for the ocean and all of creation. God’s point in all of this is to remind Job that He has poured out all His love on the creation which He alone fashioned. God is telling Job there is a plan. God's delay in answering Job was needed to fortify his faith and trust. And Job is able then to see his own complaints and disappointment were shortsighted. God was always present to Job and His love for him was always there. A similar incident occurs in the Gospel, when a late night squall erupts on the Sea of Galilee Jesus and the 12 are in a boat. Our Lord is asleep in the stern. The disciples panic, and like Job wonder if Jesus even cares that they are about to perish. Upon awakening, Jesus immediately responds, quieting the storm, something only God could do! As His Father challenged Job, Jesus asks His disciples about their faith: He asks if they even have any faith. Our readings these last two Sundays delve into the reality of God’s care for us, His plan and our call to deepen our faith and trust in Him. Whatever storms come up in life, God is with us, even if He seems to be “asleep” as Jesus was. Not only do these storms not last forever, but our Lord has power over them. We ask Him to strengthen our faith and trust in Him.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
God speaks to Job in the First Reading today because Job has undergone a tremendous amount of loss and grief. He has essentially lost everything and try as he may to trust in God and reject the counsel of his friends, he begins to wonder about God's intentions in all of this. Job's prayers to God seem to have gone unanswered. God responds and reminds Job that He has set the limits and laws of all creation, including the seas, which He has made to not cross the dry land. It is as if God, like a good parent establishing rules at home, has set the "ground rules" for the ocean and all of creation. God’s point in all of this is to remind Job that He has poured out all His love on the creation which He alone fashioned. God is telling Job there is a plan. God's delay in answering Job was needed to fortify his faith and trust. And Job is able then to see his own complaints and disappointment were shortsighted. God was always present to Job and His love for him was always there. A similar incident occurs in the Gospel, when a late night squall erupts on the Sea of Galilee Jesus and the 12 are in a boat. Our Lord is asleep in the stern. The disciples panic, and like Job wonder if Jesus even cares that they are about to perish. Upon awakening, Jesus immediately responds, quieting the storm, something only God could do! As His Father challenged Job, Jesus asks His disciples about their faith: He asks if they even have any faith. Our readings these last two Sundays delve into the reality of God’s care for us, His plan and our call to deepen our faith and trust in Him. Whatever storms come up in life, God is with us, even if He seems to be “asleep” as Jesus was. Not only do these storms not last forever, but our Lord has power over them. We ask Him to strengthen our faith and trust in Him.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
6-16-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On this Fathers' Day, we wish all of our Dads and Granddads a Happy Fathers' Day and our appreciation for all that they do and are for us. Dads always seem to have a plan. Whether it was some project we were embarking upon, building something, fixing a bike or packing for a vacation, Dad seems to have a plan on how to do that and do it right. Dads always seem to know where everything is, as well. Whenever I was looking for something as a kid, no matter what it was, my Dad would ask, "Did you look in the drawer in the kitchen?" or "Did you look in the garage? "or on top of the TV, etc. It was almost always where he asked me to check, probably because he saw it lying around somewhere and put it there! In going about making something, from a fort to a pinewood derby car, to a birdhouse or fixing the car, the sink, or whatever else needed repair, there was always a plan. The right parts and materials were needed, and a correct step-by-step process was needed to get the job done right. Even packing for a vacation trip down the shore had a logical method, and although he appreciated help, he knew how things were to fit exactly into the car so that we could still fit in there for the trip. God the Father speaks to the Prophet Ezekiel in the First Reading announcing His plan to take the crest of the highest cedar and plant it on the mountain heights of Israel for all to see, where birds will gather. It is a symbol of God re-establishing Israel in its native homeland after exile in Babylon. As a loving Father, God seeks to rebuild and bring healing to His family. He has a plan. Like our earthly fathers, God our Father wants us to learn a valuable lesson. Like our Dads let us go for the first time without training wheels on our bikes or our first at-bat in a Little League game, God wants us to surrender and move forward so that His grace within us can be active and create that growth within us. Yet, He's just a step away, as Dad was at the first attempt on our bike or at the game. Jesus' message, with his parables of the mysterious growth of the seeds and the mustard seed, connects with God’s loving and providential care for us, His children. And Jesus, who reveals His Father’s will. Dad's got a plan. He just wants us to trust Him and put our faith in Him that no matter what He's with us and His love never fails. No matter how we’ve come up short in life, whether through our own fault or through no fault of our own, our Father, God, is there to guide us. Like any father, He desires our happiness. Happy Fathers' Day to God the Father and our Dad's on earth and in heaven.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
On this Fathers' Day, we wish all of our Dads and Granddads a Happy Fathers' Day and our appreciation for all that they do and are for us. Dads always seem to have a plan. Whether it was some project we were embarking upon, building something, fixing a bike or packing for a vacation, Dad seems to have a plan on how to do that and do it right. Dads always seem to know where everything is, as well. Whenever I was looking for something as a kid, no matter what it was, my Dad would ask, "Did you look in the drawer in the kitchen?" or "Did you look in the garage? "or on top of the TV, etc. It was almost always where he asked me to check, probably because he saw it lying around somewhere and put it there! In going about making something, from a fort to a pinewood derby car, to a birdhouse or fixing the car, the sink, or whatever else needed repair, there was always a plan. The right parts and materials were needed, and a correct step-by-step process was needed to get the job done right. Even packing for a vacation trip down the shore had a logical method, and although he appreciated help, he knew how things were to fit exactly into the car so that we could still fit in there for the trip. God the Father speaks to the Prophet Ezekiel in the First Reading announcing His plan to take the crest of the highest cedar and plant it on the mountain heights of Israel for all to see, where birds will gather. It is a symbol of God re-establishing Israel in its native homeland after exile in Babylon. As a loving Father, God seeks to rebuild and bring healing to His family. He has a plan. Like our earthly fathers, God our Father wants us to learn a valuable lesson. Like our Dads let us go for the first time without training wheels on our bikes or our first at-bat in a Little League game, God wants us to surrender and move forward so that His grace within us can be active and create that growth within us. Yet, He's just a step away, as Dad was at the first attempt on our bike or at the game. Jesus' message, with his parables of the mysterious growth of the seeds and the mustard seed, connects with God’s loving and providential care for us, His children. And Jesus, who reveals His Father’s will. Dad's got a plan. He just wants us to trust Him and put our faith in Him that no matter what He's with us and His love never fails. No matter how we’ve come up short in life, whether through our own fault or through no fault of our own, our Father, God, is there to guide us. Like any father, He desires our happiness. Happy Fathers' Day to God the Father and our Dad's on earth and in heaven.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
6-9-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Challenges are part of the fabric of our daily lives. I don’t have to tell you that! Some challenges are more difficult than others. In some cases, we might even purposely challenge ourselves to improve skills, grow in virtue or discipline ourselves for some purpose. At other times, challenges come that are not so welcome, and they can vary from mundane and low-level things to experiences that may stretch us and our faith to unprecedented levels. Jesus was not immune to this. Living on this earth, taking on our human nature, He, too, faced many challenges during His ministry. One of these is the focus of our Gospel today. Like many of our challenges, it involved His own family. Jesus’ family did not understand Him. Furthermore, the religious leaders opposed Him. Facing all of these problems, Jesus stayed focused on His mission. He basically tells us that Family from God’s point of view is much bigger than our blood relatives. We are members of God’s family. The sign of this is how we follow the Father’s commands. We, too, may have had similar challenges. People may not understand our faith. They might challenge us. But like Jesus, we are called to remain committed to God’s will for our lives. Through the Sacraments, God Himself gives us the grace to carry this out. All of our readings for the 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time remind us to stay steadfast in our faith. We have hope in God’s promises. We are part of His family and truly live that out when we follow His commands. As we reflect on these readings, may we always remember God’s love and mercy. Despite our failures, He offers us hope. By staying strong in our faith and doing His will, we are living out our vocation as members of His true family. Let us face our challenges with courage, knowing that God is with us and that faith in God sustains us through all difficulties.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
Challenges are part of the fabric of our daily lives. I don’t have to tell you that! Some challenges are more difficult than others. In some cases, we might even purposely challenge ourselves to improve skills, grow in virtue or discipline ourselves for some purpose. At other times, challenges come that are not so welcome, and they can vary from mundane and low-level things to experiences that may stretch us and our faith to unprecedented levels. Jesus was not immune to this. Living on this earth, taking on our human nature, He, too, faced many challenges during His ministry. One of these is the focus of our Gospel today. Like many of our challenges, it involved His own family. Jesus’ family did not understand Him. Furthermore, the religious leaders opposed Him. Facing all of these problems, Jesus stayed focused on His mission. He basically tells us that Family from God’s point of view is much bigger than our blood relatives. We are members of God’s family. The sign of this is how we follow the Father’s commands. We, too, may have had similar challenges. People may not understand our faith. They might challenge us. But like Jesus, we are called to remain committed to God’s will for our lives. Through the Sacraments, God Himself gives us the grace to carry this out. All of our readings for the 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time remind us to stay steadfast in our faith. We have hope in God’s promises. We are part of His family and truly live that out when we follow His commands. As we reflect on these readings, may we always remember God’s love and mercy. Despite our failures, He offers us hope. By staying strong in our faith and doing His will, we are living out our vocation as members of His true family. Let us face our challenges with courage, knowing that God is with us and that faith in God sustains us through all difficulties.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
6-2-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In honor of this great Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Corpus Christi Sunday, let us reflect on these words of St. Thomas Aquinas, the “Angelic Doctor,” and author of the famous Eucharistic Hymn, “Tantum Ergo,” which we sing on Holy Thursday, 40 Hours, and during Adoration and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. It is also our Sequence for this Sunday’s Mass. May our loving Jesus, with us always until the end of the age in the Real Presence of the Eucharist, feed, nourish and transform us day by day.
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 for ever, 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.“
In honor of this great Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Corpus Christi Sunday, let us reflect on these words of St. Thomas Aquinas, the “Angelic Doctor,” and author of the famous Eucharistic Hymn, “Tantum Ergo,” which we sing on Holy Thursday, 40 Hours, and during Adoration and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. It is also our Sequence for this Sunday’s Mass. May our loving Jesus, with us always until the end of the age in the Real Presence of the Eucharist, feed, nourish and transform us day by day.
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 for ever, 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.“
5-19-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Holy Spirit will come down upon them and they will begin fulfilling their call to witness boldly to Christ. We, too, have received the Holy Spirit and have received the same calling to continue Christ’s mission on earth as His members. In honor of this great day of Pentecost, let us read with joy and reflection a portion of this homily given by St. John Paul II on Pentecost Sunday, May 31, 1998.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
“Under the Holy Spirit’s action, man fully discovers that his spiritual nature is not veiled by corporeity but, on the contrary, it is his spirit which gives true meaning to his body. Indeed, by living according to the Spirit, he fully manifests the gift of his adoption as a son of God.
It is in this context that we find the fundamental question of the relationship between life and death, which Paul touches on when he says: “If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom 8:13). It is exactly so: docility to the Spirit gives man continuous opportunities for life.
4. Dear brothers and sisters, it is a great joy for me to greet all of you who have wished to join me in thanking the Lord for the gift of the Spirit. This totally missionary celebration extends our gaze to the whole world, with a particular thought for the many missionary priests, religious and laypeople who spend their lives spreading the truth of the Gospel, often in the most difficult conditions. …..
What exciting prospects the Apostle’s words offer to each of you, dear friends! Through the actions and words of the sacrament of Confirmation, you [are]…given the Holy Spirit, who will complete your conformity to Christ, already begun in Baptism, to make you adults in the faith and authentic and courageous witnesses to the Risen One. With Confirmation, the Paraclete opens before you a path of continual rediscovery of the grace of adoption as children of God, which will make you joyful seekers of the Truth.
5. Veni, Sancte Spiritus!
The magnificent sequence, which contains a rich theology of the Holy Spirit, would also be worthy of meditation, stanza by stanza. Here we will reflect only on the first word: Veni, come! It recalls the waiting of the Apostles after Christ’s Ascension into heaven.
In the Acts of the Apostles, Luke presents them to us gathered in the Upper Room in prayer with the Mother of Jesus (cf. Acts 1:14). What better words than these could express their prayer: “Veni, Sancte Spiritus” — the invocation, that is, of the one who moved over the face of the waters at the beginning of the world (cf. Gn 1:2), whom Jesus had promised them as the Paraclete?
The hearts of Mary and the Apostles at those moments were longing for his coming, alternating between ardent faith and the confession of human inadequacy. The Church’s piety has interpreted and passed on this sentiment in the hymn “Veni, Sancte Spiritus.” The Apostles know that the work Christ has entrusted to them is arduous, but decisive for the history of humanity’s salvation.
Will they be able to complete it? The Lord reassures their hearts. At every step of the mission that will lead them to proclaim and witness to the Gospel to the furthest corners of the globe, they will be able to count on the Spirit promised by Christ. The Apostles, recalling Christ’s promise on the days between the Ascension and Pentecost, will focus their every thought and sentiment on that veni — come!
6. Veni, Sancte Spiritus! Thus beginning her invocation to the Holy Spirit, the Church makes her own the substance of the Apostles' prayer as they gathered with Mary in the Upper Room; indeed, she extends it in history and makes it ever timely. Veni, Sancte Spiritus! Thus she says over and over in every corner of the earth, her fervour unchanged, firmly aware that she must remain in the Upper Room, always awaiting the Spirit. At the same time, she knows that she must leave the Upper Room and travel the world's roads, with the ever new task of bearing witness to the mystery of the Spirit. Veni, Sancte Spiritus! So we pray with Mary, sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, a most precious dwelling-place of Christ among us, so that she may help us to be living temples of the Spirit and tireless witnesses of the Gospel. Veni, Sancte Spiritus! Veni, Sancte Spiritus! Veni, Sancte Spiritus! Amen!”
-St. John Paul II, Homily for Solemnity of Pentecost, Sunday, 31 May, 1998, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Rome
Holy Spirit will come down upon them and they will begin fulfilling their call to witness boldly to Christ. We, too, have received the Holy Spirit and have received the same calling to continue Christ’s mission on earth as His members. In honor of this great day of Pentecost, let us read with joy and reflection a portion of this homily given by St. John Paul II on Pentecost Sunday, May 31, 1998.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
“Under the Holy Spirit’s action, man fully discovers that his spiritual nature is not veiled by corporeity but, on the contrary, it is his spirit which gives true meaning to his body. Indeed, by living according to the Spirit, he fully manifests the gift of his adoption as a son of God.
It is in this context that we find the fundamental question of the relationship between life and death, which Paul touches on when he says: “If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom 8:13). It is exactly so: docility to the Spirit gives man continuous opportunities for life.
4. Dear brothers and sisters, it is a great joy for me to greet all of you who have wished to join me in thanking the Lord for the gift of the Spirit. This totally missionary celebration extends our gaze to the whole world, with a particular thought for the many missionary priests, religious and laypeople who spend their lives spreading the truth of the Gospel, often in the most difficult conditions. …..
What exciting prospects the Apostle’s words offer to each of you, dear friends! Through the actions and words of the sacrament of Confirmation, you [are]…given the Holy Spirit, who will complete your conformity to Christ, already begun in Baptism, to make you adults in the faith and authentic and courageous witnesses to the Risen One. With Confirmation, the Paraclete opens before you a path of continual rediscovery of the grace of adoption as children of God, which will make you joyful seekers of the Truth.
5. Veni, Sancte Spiritus!
The magnificent sequence, which contains a rich theology of the Holy Spirit, would also be worthy of meditation, stanza by stanza. Here we will reflect only on the first word: Veni, come! It recalls the waiting of the Apostles after Christ’s Ascension into heaven.
In the Acts of the Apostles, Luke presents them to us gathered in the Upper Room in prayer with the Mother of Jesus (cf. Acts 1:14). What better words than these could express their prayer: “Veni, Sancte Spiritus” — the invocation, that is, of the one who moved over the face of the waters at the beginning of the world (cf. Gn 1:2), whom Jesus had promised them as the Paraclete?
The hearts of Mary and the Apostles at those moments were longing for his coming, alternating between ardent faith and the confession of human inadequacy. The Church’s piety has interpreted and passed on this sentiment in the hymn “Veni, Sancte Spiritus.” The Apostles know that the work Christ has entrusted to them is arduous, but decisive for the history of humanity’s salvation.
Will they be able to complete it? The Lord reassures their hearts. At every step of the mission that will lead them to proclaim and witness to the Gospel to the furthest corners of the globe, they will be able to count on the Spirit promised by Christ. The Apostles, recalling Christ’s promise on the days between the Ascension and Pentecost, will focus their every thought and sentiment on that veni — come!
6. Veni, Sancte Spiritus! Thus beginning her invocation to the Holy Spirit, the Church makes her own the substance of the Apostles' prayer as they gathered with Mary in the Upper Room; indeed, she extends it in history and makes it ever timely. Veni, Sancte Spiritus! Thus she says over and over in every corner of the earth, her fervour unchanged, firmly aware that she must remain in the Upper Room, always awaiting the Spirit. At the same time, she knows that she must leave the Upper Room and travel the world's roads, with the ever new task of bearing witness to the mystery of the Spirit. Veni, Sancte Spiritus! So we pray with Mary, sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, a most precious dwelling-place of Christ among us, so that she may help us to be living temples of the Spirit and tireless witnesses of the Gospel. Veni, Sancte Spiritus! Veni, Sancte Spiritus! Veni, Sancte Spiritus! Amen!”
-St. John Paul II, Homily for Solemnity of Pentecost, Sunday, 31 May, 1998, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Rome
5-12-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Jesus’ beautiful prayer to the Father the night before He suffered and died for us, known as “Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer,” has brought comfort, strength and inspiration to the Church for over 2,000 years. Jesus prays that just as He and the Father are one, so too might we be one with Him and the Father. The Lord’s promise to send an Advocate, the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth, which we will celebrate next week at Pentecost, is a reminder that He never abandons us. As we celebrate Mother’s Day today, we give thanks to God for the gift of our Mothers, Grandmothers and all those women who have showed us a mother’s tender love and care. These wonderful and amazing women are reminders of God’s care for us and that He never abandons us. As we honor our mom’s this day, please be sure to wish them a Happy Mother’s Day. Even if they’ve gone home to the Lord already, we can still do that and thank them for their motherly love for us in prayer. May we give thanks to God for His providential and tender care for us in the gift these amazing women that we call Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunts and all women who have influenced our lives! Happy Mother’s Day!!
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
Jesus’ beautiful prayer to the Father the night before He suffered and died for us, known as “Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer,” has brought comfort, strength and inspiration to the Church for over 2,000 years. Jesus prays that just as He and the Father are one, so too might we be one with Him and the Father. The Lord’s promise to send an Advocate, the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth, which we will celebrate next week at Pentecost, is a reminder that He never abandons us. As we celebrate Mother’s Day today, we give thanks to God for the gift of our Mothers, Grandmothers and all those women who have showed us a mother’s tender love and care. These wonderful and amazing women are reminders of God’s care for us and that He never abandons us. As we honor our mom’s this day, please be sure to wish them a Happy Mother’s Day. Even if they’ve gone home to the Lord already, we can still do that and thank them for their motherly love for us in prayer. May we give thanks to God for His providential and tender care for us in the gift these amazing women that we call Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunts and all women who have influenced our lives! Happy Mother’s Day!!
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
5-5-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Jesus is speaking to His closest disciples at the Last Supper, the very night He will be betrayed and arrested. He is giving his “farewell” speech and does a few things during this time. Last week, He said that if we keep His commandments, we will remain in Him, and we truly show our love by keeping His commandments. Jesus also redefines the relationship between Him and His disciples. They are no longer just servants; they are His friends, because He has shared everything with them. He has chosen them, He has chosen us. By choosing us, just as He chose His first disciples, Jesus has given us a mission to bear fruit in the world— fruit that will last. This means that our actions must reflect the love of Christ each day. Jesus assures us that whatever we ask the Father in His name will be granted, emphasizing the power of living in accordance with His command to love. We experience God's presence through the love we give and receive in our everyday interactions. Through His words and example, Jesus has equipped us to bring this divine love into the world. He has also given us the Holy Spirit to empower us to fulfill this noble task. As followers of Christ, we are called to live out the love of God in a real and tangible way, showing love to everyone we meet without partiality. This is what it means to be a disciple of Christ. When we love genuinely, we make the truth that "God is love" visible and active in the world. Let us strive to embody this love in all that we do, bringing the light of Christ to every corner of our lives and beyond.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
Jesus is speaking to His closest disciples at the Last Supper, the very night He will be betrayed and arrested. He is giving his “farewell” speech and does a few things during this time. Last week, He said that if we keep His commandments, we will remain in Him, and we truly show our love by keeping His commandments. Jesus also redefines the relationship between Him and His disciples. They are no longer just servants; they are His friends, because He has shared everything with them. He has chosen them, He has chosen us. By choosing us, just as He chose His first disciples, Jesus has given us a mission to bear fruit in the world— fruit that will last. This means that our actions must reflect the love of Christ each day. Jesus assures us that whatever we ask the Father in His name will be granted, emphasizing the power of living in accordance with His command to love. We experience God's presence through the love we give and receive in our everyday interactions. Through His words and example, Jesus has equipped us to bring this divine love into the world. He has also given us the Holy Spirit to empower us to fulfill this noble task. As followers of Christ, we are called to live out the love of God in a real and tangible way, showing love to everyone we meet without partiality. This is what it means to be a disciple of Christ. When we love genuinely, we make the truth that "God is love" visible and active in the world. Let us strive to embody this love in all that we do, bringing the light of Christ to every corner of our lives and beyond.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
4-28-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We've all had times in our lives when we felt like outsiders, maybe the new kid at school or new to a job or a group. The awkwardness, uncertainty of our place or wondering if we are welcome can cause great anxiety. Perhaps we can feel isolated or fearful. Usually, we overcome this. We do our best to get to know others and share something of ourselves, etc. However, it can be particularly difficult at times. We can only imagine what this must have been like for St. Paul. His was a daunting task: after his fantastic conversion on the road to Damascus, it must have been awkward for him to feel accepted into the Christian community of the Church that he had previously persecuted with great ardor. That same zeal he had for destroying the Church was now set in the direction of spreading the faith. Our first reading this Sunday from Acts recounts this crucial moment. We hear that despite the fear and suspicion of the disciples, Paul "spoke out boldly in the name of the Lord." Paul’s courage was more than what he said. It was about a complete change in his way of life. This was a result of his dramatic conversion through his encounter with Jesus on the way to Damascus and the power of the Holy Spirit He was “all in” on living the Gospel as the pattern of his life. Paul’s boldness is something we are all called to. Sometimes we feel uncomfortable about sharing our faith. But, like St. Paul, this is exactly what would help the others to be emboldened and strengthened in their faith. The early Church flourished precisely because of such boldness in both word and action. We are therefore challenged to consider how is God calling us to be bold in our faith today? How can our words and deeds help to build up the Body of Christ and spread the Good News of the Gospel in our times?
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
We've all had times in our lives when we felt like outsiders, maybe the new kid at school or new to a job or a group. The awkwardness, uncertainty of our place or wondering if we are welcome can cause great anxiety. Perhaps we can feel isolated or fearful. Usually, we overcome this. We do our best to get to know others and share something of ourselves, etc. However, it can be particularly difficult at times. We can only imagine what this must have been like for St. Paul. His was a daunting task: after his fantastic conversion on the road to Damascus, it must have been awkward for him to feel accepted into the Christian community of the Church that he had previously persecuted with great ardor. That same zeal he had for destroying the Church was now set in the direction of spreading the faith. Our first reading this Sunday from Acts recounts this crucial moment. We hear that despite the fear and suspicion of the disciples, Paul "spoke out boldly in the name of the Lord." Paul’s courage was more than what he said. It was about a complete change in his way of life. This was a result of his dramatic conversion through his encounter with Jesus on the way to Damascus and the power of the Holy Spirit He was “all in” on living the Gospel as the pattern of his life. Paul’s boldness is something we are all called to. Sometimes we feel uncomfortable about sharing our faith. But, like St. Paul, this is exactly what would help the others to be emboldened and strengthened in their faith. The early Church flourished precisely because of such boldness in both word and action. We are therefore challenged to consider how is God calling us to be bold in our faith today? How can our words and deeds help to build up the Body of Christ and spread the Good News of the Gospel in our times?
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
4-21-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The image of Jesus as our Good Shepherd is one that is very comforting and assuring. Jesus, our Lord and Good Shepherd leads us, He protects us and He lays down His life for us. Jesus’ love for us compels Him to put Himself at risk for us and re-creates us into adopted children of God the Father. This is what we celebrate during this Easter Season: our becoming the children of God in Baptism and the love of God that has taken hold of us. When we realize how great this gift of salvation is, our minds are illuminated and we recognize the great dignity that is ours and all that God has done for us. May our joy in knowing that Jesus, our Risen Lord and Good Shepherd, moves us to bring healing to others in His Holy Name!
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
The image of Jesus as our Good Shepherd is one that is very comforting and assuring. Jesus, our Lord and Good Shepherd leads us, He protects us and He lays down His life for us. Jesus’ love for us compels Him to put Himself at risk for us and re-creates us into adopted children of God the Father. This is what we celebrate during this Easter Season: our becoming the children of God in Baptism and the love of God that has taken hold of us. When we realize how great this gift of salvation is, our minds are illuminated and we recognize the great dignity that is ours and all that God has done for us. May our joy in knowing that Jesus, our Risen Lord and Good Shepherd, moves us to bring healing to others in His Holy Name!
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
4-14-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Courage and peace are the hallmarks of the believer, and are the gifts necessary to face the challenges of this world. Jesus understood this so well. In our Gospel for this 3rd Sunday of Easter, Jesus walks along with the 2 disciples on their way to Emmaus and gives them that courage and peace by breaking open the Scriptures to them and in the Breaking of the Bread. They go back to the Upper Room to tell the others that they encountered the Risen Jesus. Then, Jesus does the same for the entire group in the Upper Room. In breaking open the Scriptures for the disciples, Jesus dispels their greatest fears and doubts and gently brings them into the fullness of true peace. Because of this, they now have the courage to proclaim him before the world – to become his witnesses. May this same courage and peace that we have received from the Holy Spirit help us as we live out our faith each day.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
Courage and peace are the hallmarks of the believer, and are the gifts necessary to face the challenges of this world. Jesus understood this so well. In our Gospel for this 3rd Sunday of Easter, Jesus walks along with the 2 disciples on their way to Emmaus and gives them that courage and peace by breaking open the Scriptures to them and in the Breaking of the Bread. They go back to the Upper Room to tell the others that they encountered the Risen Jesus. Then, Jesus does the same for the entire group in the Upper Room. In breaking open the Scriptures for the disciples, Jesus dispels their greatest fears and doubts and gently brings them into the fullness of true peace. Because of this, they now have the courage to proclaim him before the world – to become his witnesses. May this same courage and peace that we have received from the Holy Spirit help us as we live out our faith each day.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
4-7-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Every year on the Second Sunday of Easter, we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. The message of our Lord’s divine mercy for the human race is nothing new: all throughout salvation history, beginning with the Fall, we constantly see God’s tremendous love and mercy for the human race, wounded and weakened by sin. Ultimately, it was in sending His Son, that God the Father completes His promise of mercy for the human race once promised in Genesis 3:15, when the offspring of Eve will crush the serpent, as the serpent strikes at His heal. As He did with the others, Jesus shows mercy to Thomas, who was not present at His first appearance to the disciples in the Upper Room. Rather then rebuke Thomas, Jesus obliged his struggles to believe by allowing him to touch His Sacred Wounds. On April 30, 2000, St. John Paul II officially declared this Second Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday. This took place during the canonization Mass for St. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun and mystic, who between the years 1931 to 1938, received messages from Our Lord on His love and mercy for the human race. In his Homily, St. John Paul II mentions the compassion and love our Lord revealed to St. Faustina and how it in turn, transformed her love and compassion for others. St. John Paul II said in part in his homily that day: “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].”
(Homily for the Canonization of St. Faustina Kowalska, April 30, 2000.)
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
Every year on the Second Sunday of Easter, we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. The message of our Lord’s divine mercy for the human race is nothing new: all throughout salvation history, beginning with the Fall, we constantly see God’s tremendous love and mercy for the human race, wounded and weakened by sin. Ultimately, it was in sending His Son, that God the Father completes His promise of mercy for the human race once promised in Genesis 3:15, when the offspring of Eve will crush the serpent, as the serpent strikes at His heal. As He did with the others, Jesus shows mercy to Thomas, who was not present at His first appearance to the disciples in the Upper Room. Rather then rebuke Thomas, Jesus obliged his struggles to believe by allowing him to touch His Sacred Wounds. On April 30, 2000, St. John Paul II officially declared this Second Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday. This took place during the canonization Mass for St. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun and mystic, who between the years 1931 to 1938, received messages from Our Lord on His love and mercy for the human race. In his Homily, St. John Paul II mentions the compassion and love our Lord revealed to St. Faustina and how it in turn, transformed her love and compassion for others. St. John Paul II said in part in his homily that day: “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].”
(Homily for the Canonization of St. Faustina Kowalska, April 30, 2000.)
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
3-31-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The Lord is Risen, Alleluia! He has Risen indeed, Alleluia! On behalf of Deacon Gene Favinger and our Rectory Staff, I extend to you and your families sincere and joyful Easter blessings! We also welcome with great joy the newest members of the Church and of our OLC Parish Family: Katie Kish, Wendy Nafe, Travis Oswald, and Andrew Rodrígues.
On this Day that the Lord has made, let us truly rejoice and be glad, for the tomb is empty and Jesus Christ, Our Lord is truly Risen. We who are baptized into his death have been raised with Him and are called to proclaim the Good News that everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins through His Name. Christ, our Paschal Lamb has been sacrificed. Let us feast with joy in the Lord and find in the Banquet of the Eucharist in His Word and Sacrament the strength to bear faithful witness to His Resurrection!
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
The Lord is Risen, Alleluia! He has Risen indeed, Alleluia! On behalf of Deacon Gene Favinger and our Rectory Staff, I extend to you and your families sincere and joyful Easter blessings! We also welcome with great joy the newest members of the Church and of our OLC Parish Family: Katie Kish, Wendy Nafe, Travis Oswald, and Andrew Rodrígues.
On this Day that the Lord has made, let us truly rejoice and be glad, for the tomb is empty and Jesus Christ, Our Lord is truly Risen. We who are baptized into his death have been raised with Him and are called to proclaim the Good News that everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins through His Name. Christ, our Paschal Lamb has been sacrificed. Let us feast with joy in the Lord and find in the Banquet of the Eucharist in His Word and Sacrament the strength to bear faithful witness to His Resurrection!
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
3-24-24
“Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. Those preceding him as well as those following kept crying out: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come! Hosanna in the highest!” Mk. 11:8-10
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 fears, in our prayers and sacrifices, and in our efforts to serve our neighbor. 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.
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 fears, in our prayers and sacrifices, and in our efforts to serve our neighbor. 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.
3-17-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We begin Passiontide with this 5th Sunday of Lent, meaning that we are at the threshold of Holy Week. Our readings begin now to focus more on the events leading up to Jesus’ passion. Today, our Lord uses the image of a grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying as a sign of His own death leading to new life in the resurrection.
He calls us as His disciples to do the same. Here is a reflection that echoes that desire to die to self so that the new life in Christ might come to fruition, based on a personal experience of God’s grace and loving providence, written by St. Patrick in the 5th Century, from his Confessions.
He desires to be “spent” for the people of Ireland who once enslaved him and now desires their eternal salvation in Christ: “If I am worthy, I am ready also to give up my life without hesitation and most willingly, for his name. I want to spend myself in that country, even in death, if the Lord should grant me this favor. I am deeply in his debt, for he gave me the great grace that through me many peoples should be reborn in God, and then made perfect by confirmation and everywhere among them clergy ordained for a people so recently coming to believe, one people gathered by the Lord from the ends of the earth.
As God had prophesied of old through the prophets: "The nations shall come to you from the ends of the earth, and say, 'How false are the idols made by our fathers: they are useless.”’
It is among that people that I want to wait for the promise made by him, who assuredly never tells a lie. He makes this promise in the Gospel: They shall come from the east and the west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is our faith: believers are to come from the whole world.” -St. Patrick, Confessions, ch.16
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neil
We begin Passiontide with this 5th Sunday of Lent, meaning that we are at the threshold of Holy Week. Our readings begin now to focus more on the events leading up to Jesus’ passion. Today, our Lord uses the image of a grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying as a sign of His own death leading to new life in the resurrection.
He calls us as His disciples to do the same. Here is a reflection that echoes that desire to die to self so that the new life in Christ might come to fruition, based on a personal experience of God’s grace and loving providence, written by St. Patrick in the 5th Century, from his Confessions.
He desires to be “spent” for the people of Ireland who once enslaved him and now desires their eternal salvation in Christ: “If I am worthy, I am ready also to give up my life without hesitation and most willingly, for his name. I want to spend myself in that country, even in death, if the Lord should grant me this favor. I am deeply in his debt, for he gave me the great grace that through me many peoples should be reborn in God, and then made perfect by confirmation and everywhere among them clergy ordained for a people so recently coming to believe, one people gathered by the Lord from the ends of the earth.
As God had prophesied of old through the prophets: "The nations shall come to you from the ends of the earth, and say, 'How false are the idols made by our fathers: they are useless.”’
It is among that people that I want to wait for the promise made by him, who assuredly never tells a lie. He makes this promise in the Gospel: They shall come from the east and the west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is our faith: believers are to come from the whole world.” -St. Patrick, Confessions, ch.16
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neil
3-3-24
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In our Gospel from John today, Jesus boldly announces to the money changers and the Jewish authorities “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”(Jn2:19). But, which understanding of His Body was He referring to? His physical Body? The Eucharist? The Mystical Body of the Church? All three!! Jesus takes this very personally!! John narrates that Jesus was referring to the temple of His Body, meaning His physical Body and a foreshadowing of His Passion, Death and Resurrection after three days. (See Jn 2:21) However, on his way to Damascus, the young Saul, the one time persecutor of the early Church, later to become St. Paul, one of the Church’s greatest saints, was literally knocked onto the ground by our Lord, who now risen and at the Father’s right hand, asks why he was persecuting Him. When Saul asks, “Who are you?”, the Lord replied, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” (See Acts 9:4-5) Paul would later go on to develop the theology of the Mystical Body of the Church, seeing each member as a member of Christ’s Body and that each of us as a living temple of the Holy Spirit. (See 1 Cor. 3:16-17) Each one of us, then, is a temple, a “sacred space” for the Lord to dwell in within the world. We receive Him in the Eucharist and each member is fortified and enlivened by this great grace and His Presence and healing. Jesus takes our redemption literally. He identifies with us, as His living Temple, His Body, but each of us is a “mini-temple,” a member of His Body the Church. Each week, we find solace, refreshment, and an encounter with our loving God in the sacred space of our church here at Our Lady of Consolation during our Sunday worship, our other celebrations, and personal prayer time. May the Lord, present within us and nourishing us in the Real Presence of the Eucharist, form us into that sacred space for others, as His instruments and “mini-temples,” so that others may find solace, refreshment, and an encounter with God through His Presence to them through us in the midst of the rat race of their daily lives. In what ways can we take personally the temple cleansing or Lenten “spring cleaning” that God is inviting us to do during this holy season to better encounter Him within us and become people in whom others can meet the compassionate and loving Christ dwelling within us?
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
In our Gospel from John today, Jesus boldly announces to the money changers and the Jewish authorities “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”(Jn2:19). But, which understanding of His Body was He referring to? His physical Body? The Eucharist? The Mystical Body of the Church? All three!! Jesus takes this very personally!! John narrates that Jesus was referring to the temple of His Body, meaning His physical Body and a foreshadowing of His Passion, Death and Resurrection after three days. (See Jn 2:21) However, on his way to Damascus, the young Saul, the one time persecutor of the early Church, later to become St. Paul, one of the Church’s greatest saints, was literally knocked onto the ground by our Lord, who now risen and at the Father’s right hand, asks why he was persecuting Him. When Saul asks, “Who are you?”, the Lord replied, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” (See Acts 9:4-5) Paul would later go on to develop the theology of the Mystical Body of the Church, seeing each member as a member of Christ’s Body and that each of us as a living temple of the Holy Spirit. (See 1 Cor. 3:16-17) Each one of us, then, is a temple, a “sacred space” for the Lord to dwell in within the world. We receive Him in the Eucharist and each member is fortified and enlivened by this great grace and His Presence and healing. Jesus takes our redemption literally. He identifies with us, as His living Temple, His Body, but each of us is a “mini-temple,” a member of His Body the Church. Each week, we find solace, refreshment, and an encounter with our loving God in the sacred space of our church here at Our Lady of Consolation during our Sunday worship, our other celebrations, and personal prayer time. May the Lord, present within us and nourishing us in the Real Presence of the Eucharist, form us into that sacred space for others, as His instruments and “mini-temples,” so that others may find solace, refreshment, and an encounter with God through His Presence to them through us in the midst of the rat race of their daily lives. In what ways can we take personally the temple cleansing or Lenten “spring cleaning” that God is inviting us to do during this holy season to better encounter Him within us and become people in whom others can meet the compassionate and loving Christ dwelling within us?
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. O’Neill
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