Fr. Tom Hagan, OSFS, who has served as a missionary in Haiti for more than 20 years, reports some dire facts about the country he now calls home: Unemployment soars at 80 percent, and deforestation at 98 percent. Equally painful facts abound about infant mortality, disease, and hunger. Yet, these two statistics…
Aging: Super Bowl and Broadway
Until the New England Patriots showed a glimmer of life in the third quarter of Sunday’s Super Bowl, it appeared that the highlight of the game was going to be the glamour and glitz of Lady Gaga’s halftime show. Halfway across the country, another glamorous lady took to a familiar stage to return to…
The Masses at the Masses
Two masses in Washington, DC this past week gathered many to pray for peace, justice, and the dignity of human life.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York and leader of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, celebrated mass on Thursday night, prior to the next day’s annual March for Life that calls for an end to…
A Seamless Garment
Cover me, Lord, with the cloak of innocence and the robe of love. My God, do not let me appear before you stripped of good works.
Of the many beautiful prayers found in St. Francis de Sales’ Spiritual Directory, the dressing prayer has remained a personal favorite of mine. It expresses Francis’ genius that…
Poetry
With tomorrow’s inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, our nation will pause to consider his words. Amid the pomp and pageantry, we yearn to be inspired. Certain presidential inaugural addresses continue to ring in our ears, even though we may have only read them or…
The Autocracy of Auto-Correct
(Observed)
This first week of 2017 follows the nation’s celebration of two federal holidays: Christmas and New Year’s Days. Since each fell on a Sunday, most places of business chose to treat their employees to a holiday on the following Monday. On many calendars, the word Observed appeared in parentheses. For workplaces…
Family: Peaceable or Peaceful?
In addition to receiving the gift of Jesus in Holy Communion, we are also expressing our identity: We are the body of Christ. St. Paul (1 Cor 12:27) affirms this along with the great tradition of our church: We become what we celebrate. I remember, from my earliest days in Catholic school when we first learned…
Boats, Borders, and the Body of Christ
In addition to receiving the gift of Jesus in Holy Communion, we are also expressing our identity: We are the body of Christ. St. Paul (1 Cor 12:27) affirms this along with the great tradition of our church: We become what we celebrate. I remember, from my earliest days in Catholic school when we first learned…
The Humility Paradox
Waiting in Darkness
As winter draws near, our days grow ever shorter. The alarm rings in the morning, and instead of awaking to the glow of sunrise, we must begin our day in the shadows. As we exit our schools and workplaces, we enter into the quickly fading glow of sunset. Our 21st century American society has found a way to continue our…
A Pilgrim and a Pope
This week's reflection is written by Fr. Jim Greenfield, OSFS, provincial.
Advent has begun, and I’d like to suggest some good reading or offer an idea for a Christmas gift, for those who desire to know as much as they can about our pope: Mark Shriver’s recently released Pilgrimage: My Search for the Real Pope Francis. It is no surprise that Shriver employs the motif of pilgrimage as he comes to discover the real Pope Francis. Beginning the evening of…
Heaven and Thanksgiving
Make America Not Hate Again
The FBI released a report on Monday that mars the beauty of our country. The federal agency announced that last year hate crimes increased by 6.7 percent overall. What’s more painful is the massive increase by 67 percent in crimes against Muslims here in our country. Violence against blacks, Jews, and the…
Election Aftermath
In Flanders Fields
Ninety-eight years ago tomorrow, the guns fell silent on the Western Front, marking the conclusion of the most horrific war humanity had yet seen. On the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, the signing of the Armistice at last brought some semblance of peace across lands ravaged by…
THANK YOU!!! Black Tie for White Collars: Great Success!
Last year, more than 400 guests enjoyed the festive party that is know throughout our province as Black Tie for White Collars. Please be sure to purchase your tickets for the November 5 gala at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, DE. Cocktails are served at 7 PM. Dinner, dancing, and casino games follow. All proceeds from the night go to advance the mission of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. Please register here for tickets.
A Parish Closes But Never Dies
Seeing Jesus Up in a Tree and Under our Roof
We will hear this Sunday at Mass that we are in the 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time. As those numbers get higher, we get closer to the end of the liturgical year that concludes on the Solemnity of Christ the King. This year, it will also mark the end to the Jubilee Year of Mercy, which Pope Francis inaugurated at…