Posts Tagged ‘Blog: Fr. Mike’s Musings’

Sunday, May 22nd 2022 | By Rev. Michael P. Hanifin The concept of hospitality is fundamental toward the growth and health of any Catholic parish. When we envision hospitality, we naturally think of offering a sincere and warm welcome — to visitors and those who are new to our parish, for instance. We picture inviting…

Sunday, May 15th 2022 | By Rev. Michael P. Hanifin Today’s readings on this fifth Sunday of Easter contain inspiring but challenging messages for us Catholic Christians. The Gospel from Saint John includes this well-known verse: “My children…I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should…

Sunday, May 8th 2022 | By Rev. Michael P. Hanifin Throughout the Easter season, our readings have given us glimpses into the life of the newborn Church and the bold witness of the early disciples in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ to all who would listen. The disciples were the first to live…

Sunday, May 1st 2022 | By Rev. Michael P. Hanifin We have already arrived at the third of the seven Sundays in the Easter Season. We have arrived as well to the month of May. In today’s Gospel, we find the Apostles dejected and discouraged following the death of our Lord. Poor Peter decided to…

Sunday, April 24th 2022 | By Rev. Michael P. Hanifin Today, the Second Sunday of Easter, is Divine Mercy Sunday. Our Gospel reading from Saint John is often called the story of “Doubting Thomas,” but the passage involves so much more than the encounter with the skeptical apostle. It is rich with lessons of Christ’s…

Sunday, April 10th 2022 | By Rev. Michael P. Hanifin Christ is risen! He is truly risen! This is what the celebration of Easter is all about — the truth that Jesus was crucified for our sins and three days later rose from the dead, conquering death once and for all. We know it’s true,…

Sunday, April 10th 2022 | By Rev. Michael P. Hanifin Two very different responses to our Lord’s passion are highlighted during the Gospel reading from Luke today: the response of Simon of Cyrene and the response of Jesus’ acquaintances. Of Simon we are told, “They took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was…

Sunday, April 3rd 2022 | By Rev. Michael P. Hanifin Once again this week, we are reminded of what a loving and merciful God we serve. The theme of the readings for this fifth Sunday of Lent are summed up beautifully in today’s Gospel passage from John, which recounts the story of the woman caught…

Sunday, March 27th 2022 | By Rev. Michael P. Hanifin At our Sunday Masses at Saint Joachim this weekend, we have replaced the Cycle C readings with the Cycle A readings for the Second Scrutiny for those preparing to enter the Catholic Church. However, the following is a reflection on the Cycle C readings. For…

Sunday, March 20th 2022 | By Rev. Michael P. Hanifin For the next three weeks, the Saint Joachim will use the Cycle A readings at Mass because of the Scrutinies for those who are entering into the Catholic Church. The Scrutinies are part of the formation process for our Catechumens and Candidates. To better accommodate…