This weekend, we’re all about the First Holy Communions. They’re always special celebrations. Special at the Easter Vigil, when, after all the readings, after the baptisms, after the confirmation, we welcome new Catholics to share with us for the first time in the Sacrament of the Altar. Special for our second graders after all the class time, after retreats and practices, after making their first confessions. They, too, are welcomed to get in line just like their older sisters and brothers, just like the adults all around them, to make their way to the Lord&rsq...

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If the Lord does not build the house In vain do the builders labor. When I was pastor at Resurrection—in the midst of a major building project—I often quoted those words from the psalms. They became part of my prayer. I hope they became part of the parish’s prayer. We all need, after all, to be reminded that all good efforts should be grounded in God. And that’s why we pray. Today, Vocation Sunday, calls us to prayer. We can have all sorts of ideas and opinions about how best to call men to the priesthood. We can create projects that keep the ...

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For parents preparing for a child's baptism, join us for a 90-minute informational meeting from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the St. Boniface rectory.  We are offering two sessions: May 17 June 14 You will meet with our baptism leader and a mentor who will support and guide you through the process. Call the parish office at (570) 326-1544 to register.

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If you or a family member is hospitalized or admitted to a nursing facility and would like a pastoral visit from a priest, please contact the parish office at 570-326-1544. Hospitals and healthcare facilities do not make the parishes aware when someone is admitted. Our priests can administer the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. To arrange these sacraments or for any visits, please call. If it is an emergency after the office is closed, please follow the directions on the answering machine for extension 306.

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I’ll admit it. There are a lot of times when I ask you to do something. There are a number of times when I tell you to do something. I tell you when there’s a holy day of obligation. I tell you you’re supposed to come to Mass on those days— and all the Sundays of the year. Sometimes I ask you to avoid a very crowded Mass (e.g., 4 pm Christmas Eve) or to attend a very important Mass (e.g., the Easter Vigil). I encourage you to make a confession on a regular basis. I’ll always tell you to pray. I’ll invite you to educational and spiritua...

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Couples in the Diocese of Scranton celebrating a milestone 10th, 25th, 40th, or 50th anniversary are invited to participate in a special Mass on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Scranton. To register, visit www.dioceseofscranton.org or call the Office of Parish Life at 570-207-2213.

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Maybe (or maybe not) you’ve wondered about the paschal candle. We see it in the sanctuary every Easter. It seems to be a different candle – sometimes highly decorated. It’s really tall and hard to light. And, if you were at our Easter Vigil (or check out the photos on social media), you know that we had three paschal candles by the end of the evening. The paschal candle has a long, long history in worship. Easter begins when it’s lit and carried into the church. It’s a new candle, lit from a fresh fire. It keeps a prominent place near the pu...

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Registration is now open for children in Pre-K through 5th grade! VBS 2026 will take place June 15–19, from 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at SJNRA High School (901 Penn Street, Williamsport). Take advantage of early bird pricing through May 31: $20 per child or $60 maximum per family (3+ children). Beginning June 1, registration increases to $40 per child. To register, visit Tinyurl.com/lycovbs26 or scan the QR code in the church bulletin. Middle school, high school, and adult volunteers are needed to assist with this year's program. Contact the parish office f...

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Vacation Bible School

We have several Mass and Candle Intentions openings still available at all worship sites, including some immediately upcoming in April and May. Please contact the Parish Office (570-326-1544) regarding openings through December 2026.

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Remember the mini-series Jesus of Nazareth, from back in the ‘70s? Remember the final line of that production? Both the friends and foes of Jesus think his story is over. But one of the characters looks into the empty tomb and says, “Now it begins. It all begins.” So, too, with our Lent and our Easter. We might have done pretty well during those 40 days of Lent. We didn’t even look at a piece of chocolate or a beer. We remembered to drop something into the Rice Bowl or to give to Rectory, Set  Cook. We made it to Stations or to a daily Mas...

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One of my favorite parts of Holy Week comes on Holy Thursday: the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass. I love the quiet of that time. I love the way it keeps us in a spirit of prayer, that spirit of prayer that began with the Eucharist. But I also love that it invites us to move. To go from church to church, visiting the Sacrament in each of those sacred spaces. I’ve appreciated the drive that night from parish to parish. I’ve enjoyed the way each parish sets up its shrine for the Eucharist. I’ve appreciated the people I meet on the way—...

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Like many people, my life often seems to run on deadlines. When will the paper be due? …How late can I send in that RSVP? …Exactly what kind of time do I need to allot to drive from here to there? At this point in Lent, we’re called to meet some deadlines. (Of course, since Lent really points to Easter and since our God is a God of mercy, we can expect a bit of shifting in the deadlines.) Rectory, Set, Cook: The absolute deadline for giving is this Friday, March 27, at 5 pm. After that, no donation, no vote for Team St. Ann & St. Bonif...

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We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Hallow, the #1 Catholic prayer app! Through prayer and meditation rooted in the Catholic faith, Hallow helps people grow closer to God and find peace every day. Users can pray alongside Fr. Mike Schmitz, Sr. Miriam, Mark Wahlberg, Jonathan Roumie, and many others. The app also offers mental health and sleep content, audiobooks, and sacred music. Join Our Parish Page All parishioners — both subscribers and those using the free version — are invited to join our parish page. On our page, you can: Crea...

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Congratulations to seven of our students who will be recognized as leaders in Christian service and commitment to the St. Boniface Parish community during a Mass celebrated by Bishop Bambera this Sunday afternoon (March 22) at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton. We thank Senior Noelle Collins and 8th Graders Charlotte Beiter, Valerie Beiter, Charlotte Cappel, Aubrey Holt, Tommy Reid, and Caleb Sampsell. We pray for them as they continue to share the gifts they have been given in the service of others.

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I’ll admit it. It took me 50 years to get the point. I’d passed by the poor boxes in St. Boniface Church off and on for 50 years. Sometimes I’d fish around in my pocket for loose change (that was in the days when we had loose change in our pockets) and drop a few coins in the slot. I’d notice the words of Jesus carved into the boxes: I was hungry, I was thirsty…you fed me, you gave me to drink. But only recently did I get the point. Those boxes aren’t objects nailed to the wall—something added long after the building was buil...

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Fast. Pray. Give alms. Last week I talked a little about fasting. Inspired by Pope Leo’s Lenten words, I urged us to fast from angry words and harsh judgments. Next week, I hope to say a few things about almsgiving (AKA works of charity). But, for now, let’s look at prayer. Especially during Lent, we might have a pretty good idea about how to pray. We try to get to Mass more often… We stop by a church to pray before the Blessed Sacrament... We say our rosary… We make the Stations of the Cross… All good! Don’t stop doing these thi...

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So, Lent’s begun again. Once more, we turn to the old challenges: to fast, to pray, to practice works of charity. Sometimes the list looks pretty familiar: We’ll give up this dessert, this drink… We’ll say our rosary, do the Way of the Cross... We’ll throw that loose change in the Rice Bowl... All good stuff, mind you! But this year, Pope Leo suggests another form of fasting. Listen to his words: I would like to invite you to a very practical and frequently unappreciated form of abstinence: that of refraining from words that offend and hurt...

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Lent’s finally at hand. Ash Wednesday comes this week (hopefully after some festive Mardi Gras celebrations on Tuesday!). Time to start the old routine—What do I give up? Where can I find fish on Fridays? What can I add to my prayer schedule—a weekday Mass, some visits to the Blessed Sacrament, Friday Stations? This year, we’re adding something that’s not part of our usual routine. We’re going to start using (or re-using, depending on your own experience) some old music. Some Gregorian chant. It’s quiet and reflective. Often e...

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I know we’ve had a number of changes in our parishes’ lives these past few months. I know I’d like to settle down and just do the “normal” (whatever that might be!) for a while. But, as Lent, Holy Week, and the Sacred Triduum approach, we’ll face some changes. Some of those are internal to us, as the linked parishes of St Ann and St Boniface. We’ll try to avoid overlapping or duplication as much as possible. (How many meatless meals do we all need to share together? How many adult formation events do we need to schedule in how ma...

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Last Saturday, when we saw record numbers at Masses, people asked us: “What are you going to be doing Sunday?” A good question... The snow had cancelled all but one Mass—and that with probably a record low of six souls (including the two priest concelebrants). What were Fr. Dias and I to do? We cooked. Now, that’s not hugely surprising. One or the other—or both—of us cook most days. But we have a project coming up: Rectory, Set, Cook. I’ve avoided this for years, but Fr. McCarroll recommended me to one of the organizers of this v...

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Around this time last year, I walked down the hall of St John Neumann Elementary School. As is usual, students had artwork hanging on the wall. And, as is always quite usual in a school setting, the focus was timely. January includes Martin Luther King Day; February is set aside as African American History Month. So, I saw a good number of pictures of people like Frederick Douglass— who wrote a firsthand account of how brutal slavery in America had been—and Dr Martin Luther King—whose nonviolent spirit promoted racial justice in the 1960s. I thought at ...

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I know for the past few months—and, actually, for the past couple of years—we’ve been asking “How will things be different when St. Ann and St. Boniface Parishes link? What will change? What will be ‘business as usual’?” Today’s feast, the Baptism of the Lord, gives us a chance to look at a change: The way in which we prepare and celebrate the baptism of our children. There are two aspects to this question—one’s practical, the other’s theological. Both matter! The practical: Both parishes bring a histor...

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If you would like to dedicate flowers in front of the altar in honor or in memory of a loved one, please contact the St. Boniface Parish Office to reserve your date. Call 570-326-1544 or email stboniface@comcast.net. The dedication will be noted in the parish bulletin. Donation amounts are as follows: • One bouquet in front of the altar: $75 • Two bouquets on each side of the altar: $130 Please place your payment in the Sunday collection or send a check made payable to St. Boniface Parish.

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There’s an old tradition that during the Epiphany Mass, the priest or deacon would announce—with solemn chant, mind you—the dates of the movable feasts for the coming year. Ash Wednesday, Easter, Corpus Christi, and even the rather distant First Sunday of Advent would be proclaimed as a glance into the Church’s future. This Epiphany, I have a few announcements for our parishes, announcements that offer us a glance into our local Church’s future. First, Chris Dell, our secretary at St Boniface, has decided to return to school. We wish her ...

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This week, we’ll say our farewell to 2025! And we’ll greet 2026 Anno Domini! In the busyness of all that, let’s now forget that January 1—known to the secular world as New Year’s Day—is also a Catholic holy day of obligation in honor of Mary, the Mother of God. Masses, of course, are available at all our county parishes. Here we have 4 pm (St. Boniface) on New Year’s Eve, and 8 am (St. Lawrence) and 9:30 am (St. Ann) on the day. But, as we look back on this past year, let’s highlight some key moments for us as the C...

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Not long ago, someone asked me, “Why can’t we put the church’s Nativity scene in front of the altar? If it were front and center, wouldn’t we see it better?” There’s an easy answer: The Church says no. The Book of Blessings tells us, “If the manger is set up in the church, it must not be placed in the sanctuary. A place should be chosen that is suitable for prayer and devotion and be easily accessible by the faithful.”  “Must not” are strong words whenever we encounter them. And they’re strong word...

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We’re looking for dedicated students to join our altar server team and assist Father McCreary and Father Dias at Mass. This is a great way to take an active role in the liturgy, deepen your understanding of our faith traditions, and serve our parish community. Students of all ages who have received their First Communion are welcome. If you’re interested or would like more information, please contact Karen Balestino at sbslprep@comcast.net.

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Do you know when I put up the small Christmas tree in my sitting room? Usually, Christmas Eve in the morning. Maybe the evening before that. I can put that tree up that late Advent day because I don’t have to do all the things you do on Christmas Eve. (And if these words inspire just one young man to consider the priesthood, that’ll be a plus for us all!) You’re travelling. You’re cleaning the house again. You’re getting gifts under the tree. You’re prepping fish or fowl for meals (to say nothing of remembering the allergies that might su...

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John the Baptist speaks words that might make us uncomfortable. Words about sin. Words about judgment. Words about repentance. Sometimes words like these are so uncomfortable that we try to explain them away. Usually, we attempt some sort of history. John preached before Jesus, we say, and he was all about an angry God. Jesus changed all that, talking only about love and mercy. Or we try to pin it on Vatican II—the Council changed all that! At worst, we just shrug our shoulders and say something like: “Oh, nobody cares about that stuff anymore.” Of c...

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I want to tell you about a change. It’s not a big one. But it means something. It means something about Mass, and that makes the small change an important one. Recently, I heard a priest quote a line from the Missal.  The quote came from the section that describes the importance of silence at Mass.  Here’s the quote: “Even before the celebration itself, it is a praiseworthy practice for silence to be observed in the church, in the sacristy, in the vesting room, and in adjacent areas, so that all may dispose themselves to carry out the sacre...

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At next weekend’s 5:30 p.m. Mass, the linkage between St. Ann and St. Boniface Parishes takes another step.  At that Mass, I’ll be installed as pastor of St. Ann Parish.  It’s an extremely simple ritual: a few words spoken, two pieces of paper signed.  We can do it in any number of ways—an office visit with the Bishop or his Vicar for Clergy, a ritual moment within the community’s normal celebration of Mass. If we imagine this is principally about the priest, we’d be wrong.   Listen to what I’m asked to say...

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A week and a half ago, I walked into St. Boniface Church. Technically, the building was closed. The organ workers needed the space to dismantle the pipes. But I had a key. I needed to get into the church to pick up a vestment from the sacristan. And I was curious about what this project would look like. I’m glad I popped in. Enormous organ pipes were carefully placed over the pews—protected by soft pieces of cloth. Every pipe was lying in its appropriate place—next to its neighboring pipes. Wooden crates were sitting around, all carefully sized and mark...

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The other day I walked into a store. There I discovered that the display of Halloween lawn creatures—skeletons and witches, werewolves and vampires—was just starting to be crowded out by a giant collection of figures from Rudolph—the Abominable and the elf/dentist, the gold prospector and the poor misfit deer. Yes, with the beginning of November, we’re already on the rush towards Christmas (with Thanksgiving getting little more than a polite nod)! That means it’s finally time to talk about the Christmas schedule at our churches. Let me ju...

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Let’s talk about next weekend. That complicated weekend—Halloween, All Saints Day, All Souls Day. Three days that ask us to look in all sorts of directions—into the darkness, into the light, into the very face of death. But, three days that speak of one great Christian mystery—Christ’s triumph over sin and death.  Before Halloween became commercialized (and we probably could say the same in a few months about Christmas), the connections between these observances were a little more obvious. The dark side of Halloween, even the hellish...

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When I wake up these mornings, I run through a series of questions: What day is it? Where am I supposed to go? And, when I get there, what am I supposed to do? I know in time, our changed schedules will fall into a new normal ritual. But that’s not happening these next two weeks! Already, we face some adjustments to what happens in which place on what day—temporary adjustments, but very real ones. WEEK OF OCTOBER 20-24 One of the early steps in repairing the storm-damaged pipe organ begins. The pipes will be removed and taken to Albany for refurbishment. ...

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The letter sits in front of me on my desk. The letter from Bishop Bambera that begins with the words: “In response to the needs of the faithful of the Diocese of Scranton, I am appointing you Pastor, Saint Ann Parish, Williamsport…[you] will continue to serve as Pastor, Saint Boniface Parish, Williamsport.” It sounds pretty tidy. A pastor and a parochial vicar (Fr. Dias received a similar letter the same day) were assigned to two separate parishes. What does that mean in practical terms? How do our lives as St. Ann and St. Boniface Parishes change? How...

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As part of this weekend’s Priesthood Sunday (yes, it’s a thing—not sure if the Church or Hallmark created it, though), the parish Vocation Committee has asked me and Fr. Dias to play a sort of icebreaking game —This or That. So here we go: Early Bird or Night Owl. Definitely an early bird. I try, not always with success, to adjust the end of my day so that I still get enough sleep with an early rise. Coffee or Tea. Both actually. Coffee for morning, tea later in the day. (And I mean real tea with the caffeine still in it!) Godspell or Jesus ...

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Download the comprehensive fall 2025 Adult Faith Formation schedule to see all opportunities offered on Sundays and throughout the week. Programs include PREP Talks on Sunday mornings, The Creed Series with Father Dias, Mondays with The Chosen, and more.  The PDF schedule provides dates, times, locations, and details through December 31. All parishioners are welcome, and you’re encouraged to bring a friend.

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Adult Faith Formation

As many of you are aware, for the 21 years that I was pastor at Resurrection Parish, I was also responsible for serving as Catholic chaplain at the women’s prison in Muncy. Recently, it has become challenging for Resurrection Parish to continue that ministry. Given that St. Boniface Parish is the only parish in this county with two priests, Bishop Bambera asked to resume this ministry. What does that mean to us as a parish? In the first place, it adds a Sunday evening Mass at the prison. On a normal Sunday, that allows Fr. Dias and me each to celebrate two Ma...

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Lately, I’ve heard a couple of interrelated questions: When will we begin work on the new organ? Is that (the keyboard you hear at 4 pm Mass) the new organ? And if that’s not the new organ, why not just keep playing that? Doesn’t it sound just fine as it is? Let’s start with the work question. Actually, work has begun on the “new” organ. I’d prefer we talk about restoring or rebuilding the instrument. The pipes—the most important part of the organ—were not damaged last year. They need some 50-year maintenance, bu...

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Many of you have been asking, and the wait is nearly over! Tomorrow, September 8, the books for Mass intentions open up. That date always seems to create a rather a frenzy as people try to get their requests for Masses in as soon as they can. For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about—and for those who do—some explanation might be in order. As Catholics, we have a long tradition of oīering Mass for particular intentions. Of course, every Mass is oīered for the salvation of the entire world. The Mass is, after all, the sacrifice of Jesus...

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Join us on Mondays over the next several months to watch and explore topics covered in The Chosen, a historical drama television series about the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, primarily set in Judaea and Galilee in the first century. The series depicts Jesus's life through the eyes of the people who interacted with him. Hosted by Jack Houston, we meet at 6:30 p.m. in the St. Boniface rectory basement (RAC) for refreshments and post-video discussion. Bring a friend! Schedule of Mondays: September 8 October...

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In the midst of the upcoming events I listed out a couple of weeks ago, I forgot one. It’s the Diocesan Catholic Ministries Appeal. And it’s going to happen. Some of you may already have been receiving the request letters from the Diocese. Some of us may already be thinking about our giving budget and making decisions about how much to give to that worthy cause. Just a heads up: This year, the Ministries Appeal will be treated a little differently for St Boniface Parish. We’ll have a goal. We’ll put the ask out there for you. I will never tell ...

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There’s no way around it. We have a number of things going on these last weeks of summer. They’re all important. They all deserve some attention on this page. I’ll try to give each of them space in the bulletin these next few weekends. First, it’s Little League. That’s a time to be especially attentive to how we welcome people. Don’t think for a moment this is just a St Lawrence Church thing. Fans and teams have always shown up at any and all of our parishes in Lycoming County. We routinely had Little League people come to Resurrection...

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At the end of June, whether from a seat in the cathedral or facing a computer or TV screen, many of us watched Fr McCarroll’s ordination. That ancient ritual contains any number of striking moments: the candidates prostrate before the altar while we sang the Litany of Saints, the long prayer that asked God to change these deacons into priests, the moment when each of the newly ordained, for the first time, shared aloud a part in the Eucharistic Prayer. But, one rite that many of you commented on was the laying on of hands—first the bishop, then the procession...

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These past few weeks and months, I’ve had rather a lot to say about today’s Dedication Anniversary. Let’s pause for a few moments and reflect on the prayers that were offered that day, 50 years ago. They’re words that, yes, tell us about a building. But they’re words that describe our work as Church. 50 years ago, the Bishop prayed, “Here may the waters of baptism overwhelm the shame of sin; here may your people die to sin and live again through grace as your children.” Still, we’re called to evangelize, to draw those who s...

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Once in a great while, I’ve encountered stories of a priest on the occasion of his ordination anniversary offering a list of his sacramental data: how many baptisms, how many confirmations, how many marriages and funerals, how many Masses he celebrated over the course of 25 or 50 years. I can’t begin to imagine how anyone amasses those particular numbers. Does he keep some sort of clicker in the confessional to keep the number up to date? Does he hold on to half a century’s worth of appointment books to track the Masses and sacraments? For me, any of those...

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Many of you, I know, saw the pictures on Facebook. St Ann’s Parish has moved the statue of St. Ann from the front of the rectory to near the front of the church. And that’s already prompted some of you to ask: “Wasn’t something supposed to happen with St. Ann and St. Boniface Parishes this summer? Wasn’t July the date for our upcoming linkage?” Yes, you remember correctly! Our linkage was originally set for July 2025. But, because of some other situations with priests and parishes in the Diocese, that date was pushed out to October. ...

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Over the past more than thirty years, I’ve been welcomed into any number of communities. Sometimes—think the first days in a seminary—it was a highly organized, incredibly active orientation program. Occasionally, it’s the cookies and punch reception after Sunday Mass. In one parish, I was intrigued that the cookies were precisely lined up, and since they were the chessmen cookies, they were organized in rook, pawn, and bishop piles. I thought that might be a sign that that particular parish would be extremely organized in all parts of its life. I...

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I’d always thought that in summer things slow down. I’ve often been proven wrong. This summer looks like one of those times. Let me give you some idea of what’s coming up in the next few months: Pipe organ repairs. We recently signed a contract to do repairs (and upgrades) on the Ruffatti instrument damaged last August by Tropical Storm Debbie. This will be a long process. A new console will be built. Pipes will be removed for refurbishing. And much of the labor requires specialized workers. We probably won’t hear the completed instrument until la...

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This past week, as we all look forward to Deacon McCarroll’s ordination to the priesthood, I heard a number of questions about the priesthood and ordination. Some of them pretty everyday things: Is there still room on the bus? Where’s parking available around the cathedral? How long does this thing go on? I’m away that day: can I watch the ordination somewhere? But, one person asked me: What’s it feel like to be ordained? What’s it like once those prayers have been said, those hands anointed, that invitation to stand at the altar with the bi...

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Many mornings, I'll try my luck with the online puzzles that the New York Times provides: the crossword, Wordle, the Sudoku. The one I actually enjoy the most is called Spelling Bee. They give us seven letters and challenge us to build words. They have some rules about the words. They have to be in English usage. I'd argue that "penne" is an Italian word, even though the Times counts it as English. I'd also argue that "goal" is an English word, but the Times says no to that one. But the word that always gets rejected is the word "nove...

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Saturday evening, the Vigil of Pentecost, we hear (or heard) Jesus speak about the Spirit “on the last and greatest day of the feast.” With Pentecost, we reach a milestone. We’ve kept 50 days of Easter joy. We’ve arrived at the moment that began with the preparations for Lenten fasting and prayer. We’ve celebrated the Lord’s death and resurrection. We’ve baptized new believers. We’ve welcomed children to the Lord’s table for the first time. Today we confirm our young people. It feels like we’ve done a lot. Time ...

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Many of you use books like Magnificat or The Word Among Us. I know you appreciate how they help you to follow the readings and prayers at Mass, both weekdays and Sundays. But, once in a while, we come to days when they just don’t seem to work. The readings we hear at Mass aren’t the ones printed in the magazine! What goes on here? Did the publishers print the wrong texts? Did the lector (or even the priest) turn the wrong page? The answer: None of the above. Some days in the church’s year allow a number of options. Publishers of books like The Word A...

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The other weekend, Deacon McCarroll opened his homily with some commentary on the names that the Sunday after Easter has been given over the centuries. Maybe, as he suggested, it might seem rather liturgical nerdy stuff. But the other morning, I happened to listen to a podcast where people were talking about the name of Easter itself! So, let’s take at what the names are and what they mean. First of all, what you call Easter (and it’s not just the Sunday, but the 50 days of Easter that will end this year on June 7) depends on where you live, what language you...

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Think of this irony. In 1924, Al Smith, Governor of New York, lost in the US presidential election. Among the reasons: he was a Catholic, and many feared a Catholic presidency would merely be a “pipeline to the Pope.” Just slightly over 100 years later, against all the prophecies and predictions that it couldn’t happen, an American was elected as Bishop of Rome, Pope Leo XIV. Amongst all the chatter of the past couple of weeks—his Chicago origins, the Villanova years, the Augustinians, the mission work in Peru, his mother’s Creole heritag...

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Today is… I know, you’ve expected me to say “Mother’s Day,” and you’d be right. We’re grateful for the women who gave us birth, who nurtured our lives and our faith. We pray for them—the living and the dead. But today’s also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. And I’d be remiss—we’d be remiss— if we didn’t pay attention to this day when we ask the Good Shepherd to bring us shepherds to continue his work with his flock. Just as we need mothers to give and sustain human life, we need...

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Last spring, Deacon McCarroll created a poster—a picture of his face superimposed on an image of Uncle Sam. “Deacon McCarroll Needs You to be a Eucharistic Minister!” That silly image worked. You responded, and we’ve had communion ministers to help at weekend Masses.I don’t have a fun poster for you. But I have a need. It’s not really my need exactly. It comes from Jesus, the Jesus who said (and will one day again say): “I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me to drink. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” People...

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Part of our work for our upcoming linkage between St. Ann and St. Boniface Parishes was creating a new Mass schedule. You read a little bit about that two weeks ago when we described the work of our transition teams from the two parishes. Now it’s time to talk about the results. But first, a little bit about the process. Between St. Ann Parish and St. Boniface Parish, we currently have 7 weekend Masses (3 on Saturday evening, 4 on Sunday morning). In addition, we have 9 weekday Masses between us.   While we’re promised a second priest in July, we&...

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Did you notice where the gospel ended today? It didn’t feel like the conclusion of other stories, did it? We didn’t hear the words “…and they lived happily ever after”! Instead, at the Easter Vigil, the gospel ended, “Their story seemed like nonsense, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.” Hardly the happy ending we might have expected. Then this morning we hear John’s account ending with the words:...

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We’ve come to a busy week.  A Holy Week for the Church.   And not just a Holy Week because these things happened to Jesus of Nazareth almost 2000 years ago. A Holy Week because our celebration builds up our faith and strengthens us for our witness to the world. And it only works if we show up! Let’s think about the moments when we need especially to be Church this week: Holy Thursday.  Our celebration of the Lord’s death and resurrection begins with the 7 pm Mass, the Mass that recalls the beginning of Christ’s Passion, his gift ...

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Remember spring cleaning? When the days grew longer and the temperature rose, people would set about cleaning their homes and their yards. Leaves were raked and gutters emptied out. Open windows let in fresh air. Winter sweaters were put in mothballs. Lighter clothing was pulled out of storage. Floors were mopped, carpets swept, and old food from the back of the fridge was tossed. Some of that spring cleaning is connected to Lent and Easter. People expected guests for the great holiday. Special foods needed to be prepared. We wanted our homes to look their best, our k...

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Father, how often should I come to confession? I get that question a lot. Sometimes from nonbelievers who want to understand this strange religious system of ours. Sometimes from people interested in becoming Catholic—they want to know just what they’re getting into. Sometimes from Catholics who are confused about the messages they’ve received— everything from “God doesn’t really care about sin anymore” to “Why aren’t you like Mother Teresa or John Paul II, who when to confession every single week?” The answe...

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Last Sunday afternoon I was sitting in St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton. I had traveled over there for the Rite of Election—an important part of the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) which used to be called Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). As I sat there waiting for the liturgy to begin, I realized just how long it had been since I last participated in that particular ceremony. For many years of my priesthood, I had to skip that rite because I had evening Mass responsibilities. Since coming here, my Sunday afternoons and evenings ha...

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From time to time, I hear people assert that the Church had done away with something. Friday penance or Sunday Mass obligation, confession, or indulgences. Usually, it’s accompanied by an appeal to an event (like Vatican II) or a person (like the Pope). “Didn’t Vatican II  get rid of that?” “Didn’t Pope Francis change that?” Truth: none of the aforementioned items have been changed. Not by a Council, not by the pope, not even by the synodal process. Check out how often Pope Francis has invited u...

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A couple of times in the past few weeks I’ve talked about the Holy Year—as part of a homily, in the bulletin. We’ve reflected on Jesus’ words in the Nazareth synagogue—“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…to proclaim a year of favor from the Lord.” We’ve talked about pilgrimages and shrines and holy doors. Imagine my surprise when I learned that the Bishop wanted to mark St. Boniface Church as a diocesan site for pilgrimage this year. Suddenly, Holy Years weren’t things that happen somewhere else&mdash...

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If you listen carefully to the prayers in today’s Mass, you’ll notice a focus on the Church’s unity. (Actually, you might first notice that they don’t exactly line up with the prayers given in publications like The Word Among Us and Magnificat.) This week each year the Church— along with other Christian communities, Orthodox and Protestant—invites us to pray that Christ’s believers might grow to be one as he so deeply desired—and himself so deeply prayed at the Last Supper. Let’s not forget that unity has always been ...

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