In this Sunday’s Gospel, things take a turn and get quite serious – all because Jesus is going up to Jerusalem. Until this point in Luke’s Gospel, things have been pretty straightforward and fairly rosy when it comes to getting to know who Jesus is, what He can do, and watching it all unfold. But as he makes His way to Jerusalem toward the drama of passion and death, it all takes a turn. We find out that following Jesus is a gift AND a challenge. In the scene for today, Jesus and his followers are not welcome, and they

As I was preparing to write something about the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, I came upon Gerald Darring’s reflection on world hunger in light of Jesus’s challenge in Sunday’s Gospel to “give them something to eat.” It puts things in perspective. Here’s what Gerald wrote: When the disciples came to Jesus with the request to dismiss the people to go find food, Jesus challenged them with the question: “Why do you not give them something to eat yourselves?” That question should haunt us today. More than enough food is grown to feed everyone on this planet.

Jesus speaks of the relationship between Spirit and Truth in today’s Gospel on this feast of the Most Holy Trinity. If we believe in Jesus, we know what truth is because he teaches truth and is Truth itself. If we believe in Jesus, we believe in the Spirit and receive all those amazing and helpful gifts (knowledge, counsel, understanding, and more), and if we believe that we have received all of that, we see a challenging world through a helpful lens. Jesus says it plainly: But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine in March, more than 3 million people have fled that country. Many have found a safe haven in neighboring countries like Poland. As you may have heard, the U.S. has agreed to welcome 100,000 refugees who are sponsored. Under the leadership of parishioner Paul Knag and his law firm Murtha Cullina, our parish has located a Ukrainian family to sponsor and support. Therefore, I am pleased to inform you that Saint Aloysius will support Andrii and Mariia Kosenko and their two daughters (age 8 and 9), providing a safe place and fresh

After I wrote last week about life and the growing indifference to the value and sanctity of human life, we hear about another tragic event – this time in Texas. Once again we weep, pray, and wonder why. The lament of Psalm 13 seems to sum up the feelings of many: How long, Lord? How long must I carry sorrow in my soul, grief in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look upon me, answer me, Lord, my God! Give light to my eyes lest I sleep in death, Lest my enemy say,

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. –Jesus The God of peace is never glorified by human violence. –Thomas Merton These two quotes have been the seeds of my contemplation this past week in the wake of so many violent deaths in our nation. I have been praying in a way I have not prayed before because I feel like I am running out of ways to help people sort through frustration and fear. What has

Our parish has been presented with a wonderful opportunity to support a family that has fled Ukraine. Attorney Paul Knag of our parish has been assisting families from Ukraine who have been evacuated to Mexico and are awaiting the help they need to move forward and make a temporary home in the United States. This is an urgent need and would involve a parish-wide effort to provide or facilitate housing, education, and other resources. I would ask that you pray about how God might be calling you or your family to participate. We would like to form a small committee

The month of May gives rise to thoughts of many things. We are happy to see signs of springtime in our gardens, our college students are making their way home for summer break, our mothers get their day today – and how deserving they are! But it is also a month where we mark priesthood and diaconate ordination anniversaries. As far as the signs of springtime go, I’m delighted to see everything in bloom (even though I see it through itchy, watering eyes). Spring speaks volumes to the renewal that is Easter. Each time I see what God is doing

There are four stories in this Sunday’s postResurrection Gospel: the appearance of Jesus to the disciples, the large catch of fish, the meal, and the commission of Peter. The sight of the Risen Lord to the weary and defeated fishermen-disciples should have had all the emotion of a reunion with loved ones, but only John (“the disciple whom Jesus loved”) recognized Jesus. Far from disappointed , Jesus does what Jesus does – he gives abundantly, and the disciples haul in “a net filled with 153 large fish.” The nighttime of emptiness becomes the dawn of fulfillment because of Jesus. We

I am hopeful that you are experiencing the great joy that comes at Easter time. As I think back on the beautiful liturgies of Holy Week and Easter, I am truly grateful to so many in our parish family who helped us to enter into the Paschal Mystery – Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection. We have come a long way from the isolation and limitations of the past two years, and it was a gift to see so many of you in church during this most sacred time. My thanks go out to: My brother priests and deacon who serve

Peter proceeded to speak and said: “You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all the

Yet I well remember The favors of these men. Were they not mine? Did they not sometime cry “All hail” to me? So Judas did to Christ, but He in twelve Found truth in all but one; I, in twelve thousand, none. ~Shakespeare, Richard II, Act 4, Scene 1 Our Holy Week begins with Jesus entering Jerusalem riding on a donkey – a king, who is welcomed with shouts of Hosanna’s from the crowd. King Richard seems to long for the “all hail’s” that he had often heard, but he quickly realizes that he has a Judas or two in

I’m turning this week’s column over to the Jesuit poet J. Janda because I believe that he speaks succinctly to the need for all of us who are sinners and who do a fair amount of judging of others to live a different way.     “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” ~ John 8:7 The Light You cannot change others, no but you can see them with new eyes Christ eyes who sees all with respect and understanding – J. Janda

Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found. The Parable of the Two Sons (aka “The Prodigal Son”) offers one of the most poignant stories about the mercy of God. Taking his inheritance early from his generous father, the young man leaves home, squanders his treasure, and compromises his virtue. Having run out of resources and fully shamefaced, he heads back home. What he experiences next is nothing short of surprising. Instead of criticizing his wayward boy, the father – who,

And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not

Our Holy Father has compiled a wonderful way of practicing fasting this Lent; here’s what he proposes: Fast from hurting words and say kind words. Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude. Fast from anger and be filled with patience. Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope. Fast from worries and have trust in God. Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity. Fast from pressures and be prayerful. Fast from bitterness and fill you hearts with joy. Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others. Fast from grudges and be reconciled. Fast from words and be silent so you

As we begin this Lenten season, our hearts are turned toward Our Savior who suffered and died for us, but we are also drawn to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine whose suffering leaves us speechless and wondering how this all could be happening. What shall we do? I propose that we enter more deeply into this season of penitence and preparation and humbly beg the compassionate Father of all mercies to protect and save the people of Ukraine. The senseless killing and devastation can leave us numb, but the powerful witness of faith that flows from the faithful and

You will soon hear again from our dedicated ProLife Ministry about a March for Life to be held on March 23 in Hartford. While it is likely that Roe v. Wade will be overturned, the shift of decision making back to individual states is not a signal to celebrate and move on. The fight to bring an end to abortion will move from Washington to state capitals. Come to our information evening on March 12 and join me in Hartford on Wednesday, March 23. More information is available in this bulletin. Believe it or not, March 2 is Ash Wednesday!

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus gives us one of the most challenging life lessons: To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do

And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. Imagine what it was like to be in the crowd when Jesus