A Baby in a Basket: Our Frail Humanity
REFLECTIONS FROM OUR DEACON The local news media recently carried a story about an infant who was found in a clothes basket, just inside the Dayton Avenue entrance to the Cathedral of St. Paul on January 4. An employee of the Cathedral was making the rounds to lock up after [...]
Waiting in Joyful Hope
Waiting… We wait in checkout lines, traffic jams and doctors’ offices. We wait for our “fast” food to be delivered; we wait for babies to be born. We wait for much of what comes to us in this life. Given my own impatience, I can only imagine that the people [...]
Thirty Three Days
As Catholics, we honor our Blessed Mother with many devotions. In fact, there are seventeen days in the Church year dedicated to Mary. I would like to invite you to consider consecrating your life to Jesus through our Blessed Mother. This is a beautiful act of faith that draws us [...]
For All The Saints
We begin this month of November with back-to-back feasts. On November 1, the Church celebrates the Feast of All Saints. As Catholics, we are blessed to have a calendar that is full of celebrations of the lives of saints. The Church honors those who have gone before us and who [...]
Remembering Our Manners
One of the first things parents often teach their children is to use words like “please” and “thank you.” My three year old granddaughter is pretty good about remembering these words, but every now and again she needs a gentle reminder. In our gospel story this weekend, Jesus heals ten [...]
Festive All!
This weekend, we celebrate our Fall Festival – or as I like to say, “Festive All!” This is a time for our community to gather and celebrate all that God has given to this parish family. Gatherings are so important in the life of any family. I am the fourth [...]
Wading in the Ocean of Mercy
I met Frank at the Ramsey County Jail. He asked to see a chaplain, and I responded to his request with a visit. I gave him the Bible that he requested and asked if he wanted to talk. He did. Frank began to recount the story of how he ended [...]
Fear Not, Little Flock
My youngest granddaughter celebrates her first birthday on August 20. A year ago on that date, I was at New Melleray Abbey in Iowa for my pre-ordination retreat. I left home feeling pretty good about the fact that my daughter was due to have her first child any day. Anne [...]
Praying For Peace
In light of the troubling news stories about violence here and in other parts of the country, I was particularly moved by the liturgies on the weekend of July 10. I finished my Sunday duties at St. Peter’s and prepared for the family events that would occupy the rest of [...]
Giving Thanks
I hope you will indulge me for just a few moments, as I share a little of my human naivety and the wonderful lessons that God taught me as a result. Several weeks ago, the teeth on the bottom, right side of my mouth started to hurt. I could see [...]