Blog (Page 14)
Christ at Mass: August 11, 2019
This week we are reminded that faith is not merely a set of beliefs. Rather faith is a way of knowing. It is a way of being. When we say of certain individuals that they surely live their faith, we can appreciate how faith is a form of action. God depends on our daily actions of faith. Human faith is the necessary ingredient in the realization of God’s will. In Wisdom 18:6-9 we see how the “divine institution” of the…
Sunday Mass Reflection for August 4th, 2019
The parables of Christ are wonderful teaching tools. They are carefully crafted to catch our attention. Remember the parable of the landowner who goes out in the morning and hires workers for his vineyard? He goes out at the end of the day and hires some more workers who only work for an hour, but he pays everyone the same. I have read that parable many times, but I still sympathize with the morning workers who exclaim, “Not fair!” Today…
Know Your Fellow Parishioner: Father Thomas Kochalumchuvattil
Few people could trace a Christian lineage as far back as Father Thomas Kochalumchuvattil. He was born in the state of Kerala in southern India, where St. Thomas the Apostle is believed to have brought the Gospel between 48 and 58 A.D. “We are called St. Thomas Christians,” he said of his home community, which has remained a center of Catholicism in India across the centuries. Like his namesake, Fr. Thomas has traveled long distances in the service of Christ,…
Sunday Mass Reflection for July 28th, 2019
We take Sacred Scripture very seriously, as we should. The Bible is the truth of God. As we encounter Scripture, at Mass, in our private reading, we need to be challenged by the words. In one of my scripture classes in seminary, the professor told us that when we find a passage that is disturbing or troubling, we need to really look hard at that message. There is a deeper truth there. Today, I believe, our Gospel reading has an…
Know Your Fellow Parishioner: Robert Malfitano
When Robert Malfitano volunteered to become an altar server at St. Augustine Church, he thought it would help him stay more alert during Mass. “I did get a little bored sometimes,” he smiled, “and I knew I wanted to help the church.” Now, beginning his third year as an altar server, 12-year-old Robert experiences a deep spiritual engagement as he performs his duties. “I feel the closer I am to the priest, the more engaged and connected I am,” he…
Know Your Fellow Parishioner: Francis McCormac
When Francis McCormac attended an Ocean City High School football game a few years ago wearing his World War II Veterans cap, little did he know that he was about to be drafted. History teacher Andrew Bristol spied the cap and asked Francis if he would be willing to visit his classroom to talk firsthand about his war experience. Of course, Francis agreed. Saying yes to service has been a constant in his 98-year life. Francis Xavier McCormac was born…