When I was a pastor, I was invited by the parish’s women’s group to a parish lunch. After lunch, the group gave me a Christmas present.
Tag: lange
Coping with grief and loss
Losing a loved one to death is painful. Many parents say the loss of a child is arguably the most painful of losses.
October invites us to respect life in all its stages
Catholics observe October as Respect Life Month.
Let us appreciate our grandparents every day
In 1978, President Jimmy Carter proclaimed that National Grandparents Day would be observed on the first Sunday after Labor Day.
Reducing stress can help us survive the pandemic
Stress seems a unique modern problem; but, it is not. In Mark 6:31, Jesus said to the apostles,”Come away to a deserted place by yourselves and rest a while. For many were coming and going in such great numbers that it was impossible for Jesus and his apostles to even eat.”
The quiet blessing of ministry to retired priests
This year, five of us priests were honored for serving 50 years in the priesthood. Barring a cancellation because of the coronavirus, we will be honored again at the Priests Assembly.
Remembering those who died for our country
Navy Chaplain Curtiss Dwyer stated that Memorial Day originally was known as Decoration Day.
Earth Day and Laudato Si’
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A parishioner asked his pastor, “Father, it seems that every time I read a Catholic newspaper, I read about taking care of the environment. Shouldn’t we Catholics be more concerned about taking care of the world’s bigger problems such as war, hunger, and sickness?”
The priest responded, “Haven’t you heard about Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ encyclical on ecology? It is the first encyclical in Catholic Church history to focus on ecology and care for creation. In this encyclical, Pope Francis makes a connection between care for the environment and war, hunger, and sickness.”
The Annunciation is a very important feast
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We celebrate the feast of the Annunciation on March 25. The American Catholic Church will probably never add another Holy Day of Obligation in my life time, but if it does, it could add the feast of the Annunciation.
On this feast day, we celebrate the good news that Mary conceived Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.
It certainly is a holy day, but presently not of obligation.
Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli inspires us
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Carlo Gaetano Samuel Mazzuchelli was born on November 4, 1806, in Milan, Italy. He died on February 23, 1864, at St. Patrick Parish in Benton, where he was pastor. Years later, when I became pastor of St. Patrick’s, my knowledge and admiration of him deepened.
Father Samuel accomplished so much that I get tired just thinking about it. One parishioner appropriately called him “our steam engine missionary.” It would take books to completely cover his many accomplishments and gifts, so I will focus on just a few areas.
A mysterious occurrence
On October of 1863, according to Sr. Nona McGreal, Father Samuel rode to St. Matthew Parish in Shullsburg to celebrate Confirmation conferred by Milwaukee Bishop John Henni.