The last few days have been difficult. I had to go to the emergency room. I was diagnosed with acute bronchitis. The doctor prescribed antibiotics and asked me to rest for a few days. It was very hard for me to rest. I missed celebrating the Mass with you and I look forward to seeing you all in church this weekend. But resting was also helpful. It gave me more time to reflect and be with God in silence. I am grateful to God that He has given me good health. The only time I was very sick was...

This coming Sunday January 22nd, we will begin the Salesian Family's Novena to St John Bosco, to end on Monday January 30th, the eve of St. John Bosco Feast Day (January 31st). We will pray the Novena at the end of each daily Mass: Novena to St. John Bosco Day 1 Love for Christ in the Blessed Sacrament St. John Bosco, who loved Christ in the Blessed Sacrament so deeply and spread that love to so many, help me to understand this mystery of God’s love for us that I too may find, in frequent attendance at Mass and Holy Communion and visits to the Blessed Sacrament comfort and strength throughout my life and at the hour of my death....

We have just completed a beautiful Christmas Season. Our hearts were filled with the LOVE OF JESUS. The Nativity Scene, the poinsettias, the Christmas trees, and the decorations are gone. But the JOY of CHRISTMAS continues in our hearts. MAY OUR JOY BE COMPLETE NOW AND FOREVER! Last Thursday, Pope Francis presided over the Funeral Mass of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. It was an extraordinary event: the funeral of a retired Pope being presided by a reigning Pope! The Church's tradition is that a Pope is buried before the College of Cardinals elects a successor. Pope Benedict XVI resigned 10 years ago, the first Pope to do so in 600 years (see last week's column REMEMBERING POPE BENEDICT XVI). When Pope John Paul II died in 2005, his long-time associate Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger presided over his funeral at St Peter's Square. I watched this amazing funeral Mass which gathered the largest-ever crowd. I will never forget...

He lived like a frail, old monk in silence and isolation from the world for the last 10 years of his life. His own little monastery was within the Vatican. He chose this prayerful and humble life following a resignation that shocked the world: the first pope to resign in 600 years! The entire Church, including our own parish, is now praying for the repose of his soul. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died last Saturday, on the last day of 2022. He was 95 years old. Did Pope Benedict affect your own life? For me personally, ...