July 2, 2023

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

For the well-being of Francis, our Pope and ____, our Bishop. May God instill within our leaders a compassionate heart to welcome the weary and the lost.

We pray to the Lord.

For harmony and rest within our nation. May we work for the good of all people and toward a secure future for people who ache for sufficient housing and adequate food. May we know justice in dawn’s early light.

We pray to the Lord.

For foster parents and parents who have adopted children. May their homes and hearts become a place of genuine hospitality and welcome for children lost along the fray.

We pray to the Lord.

For the good of our earth, our fields of growth, and our refreshing waters. May we work toward the benefit of the planet upon which we live. May we enjoy and delight in farm fresh fruits and vegetables of summer.

We pray to the Lord.

For the well-being of our loved ones on this holiday weekend. May we enjoy the richness of family picnics or at the bedside of an ill loved one or on the beach or mountainside.

We pray to the Lord.

For hospitality workers and people who serve us every day. For window washers, caregivers, aides, waitstaff, personal assistants and cashiers. May we recognize the beauty of hospitality and the acceptance of all people.

We pray to the Lord.

For our abandoned poor and people longing for survival. May we take the gospel to heart and live with the assurance of God’s grace as we reach out to strangers in need.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who grieve in hot summer days. May our grief find sunlight and hope. May we be consoled by God’s forgiveness and comfort.

We pray to the Lord.

For our beloved dead. May our loved ones find eternal rest in the glory of God’s presence. May they stand before the face of Christ Jesus.

We pray to the Lord.

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CLICK HERE to read my article in The Springs Echo, July 2023

The Springs Echo is a street newspaper from Colorado Springs, CO. The newspaper advocates for people in poverty and offers them a voice about social issues. Unfortunately, the paper will end production in August. It has been a pleasure to contribute to this newspaper for the past few years.

CLICK HERE to read my latest article in The Priest Magazine, July 2023

The Priest Magazine is published by Our Sunday Visitor, Fort Wayne, Indiana

June 25, 2023

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

For people who lead our Church. May Francis, our Pope, ___, our Bishop, raise up people diminished by hopelessness and despair. May God, in great mercy, turn toward us.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who feel lost in society’s anguish and hatred. May we erase fear among people and calm the torment of their hearts.

We pray to the Lord.

For families who have lost children to gun violence. May we have the courage to work together toward the well-being of our next generation. May our children be worth more than many sparrows.

We pray to the Lord.

For resources and education toward climate awareness. May we grow in our efforts to work toward healing and rejuvenation of our planet. May God help us heal the earth upon which we live.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who do not feel worthy to stand upon the earth. May we embrace people who have been abused and shamed in life. May we all walk together with hope and integrity upon our land.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who are ill and who live with chronic pain and disease. May we tend to our loved ones who ache for consolation and love.

We pray to the Lord.

For immigrants and those who seek freedom and home. May our hearts welcome the stranger and help them discover their value worth more than many sparrows.

We pray to the Lord.

For our children who play in summer and who invest themselves in exploration and travel. May our young find delightful rest in the heat of summer. May they remain curious about their future and our common lives.

We pray to the Lord.

For our loved ones who have died. May they be welcomed into a homeland of abundant worth and forgiveness.

We pray to the Lord.

CLICK here to read today’s scriptures

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June 18, 2023

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

For Francis our Pope, and for _____, our Bishop. May their legs be strong in welcoming those who flee faith. May their hearts be broken open as they listen to the stories of the sinner.

We pray to the Lord.

For a new vigor in our call to serve the weary and forgotten. May we be fed at our Eucharistic Tables and then be sent in love to every corner of the earth to work for justice.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who feel unmotivated to pray. May the Good Shepherd chase us down when we feel discouraged, lost and depressed. May Christ inflate us with hope.

We pray to the Lord.

For families on summer vacation. May our rituals of travel or rest help restore our relationships of love. May we deepen our ways toward a richer union with our loved ones.

We pray to the Lord.

For our fathers, Godfathers, step fathers, foster fathers. May the Good Shepherd lead those who father us into strength and fidelity.

We pray to the Lord.

For liturgical musicians, artisans, writers and sacristans. May the Good Shepherd inspire leadership for our common worship and in our ministries of service and consolation to others.

We pray to the Lord.

For our loved ones who live with disabilities. May the Good Shepherd support people who depend on walkers or canes. May Christ be our stability when life is fearful.

We pray to the Lord.

For people whose lives are torn apart from violence and war. May we not grow numb to people who must survive such tragedy and loss.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who grieve the loss of friendships of the past. May the Good Shepherd lead us all into healthy and supportive relationships. May we learn we cannot change the past.

We pray to the Lord.

For our loved ones who have died. May Christ lead our beloved into the great mystery of the Kingdom of God.

We pray to the Lord.

CLICK here to read today’s scriptures

CLICK here to listen to today’s reflection

I learned of Shelia’s death this past week. She embodied Vatican II. I worked with her in the Office for Divine Worship. She dedicated her life to family and the mission of the Church. From her obituary: “Sheila was dedicated to Chicago’s Catholic community. She was the first woman and layperson to serve as the Director of the Archdiocesan Office for Divine Worship. Later, she served as the Director of The Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Center for Theology and Ministry at Catholic Theological Union. She was a knowledgeable and trusted leader in the church and made many enduring friendships during her decades of service.”

I wrote this tribute to Shelia for Pastoral Liturgy Magazine: I worked with Sheila McLaughlin for my three years at ODW (1987-1990). Her laugh echoed down the hallway when she entered the building and her kindness still radiates in the corridors of my memory. She was the master organizer and she tied together many of my loose ends when I did not have events organized well. More importantly, Sheila believed in Jesus. She understood the depth of our worship and the real reasons for our ministry, our educational sessions, and our liturgy planning and celebrations. She believed in the Church’s mission to pray, to bring people into communion, and into the joy and delight of love, song, and sacred healing. She loved ODW and she inspired me as a priest to continue to preach and to preside for the well-being of people and glory of God. I adored her. Sheila, rest in peace, my sister. Rest in the Beloved.

June 11, 2023

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

For integrity and justice within our Church. May our leaders feed on the wisdom of Christ and serve to unite the Body of Christ here on earth.

We pray to the Lord.

For our beloved poor who survive in food deserts. May all people have access to sufficient food to nourish their bodies and futures.

We pray to the Lord.

For our family members who feed on loneliness. May people know true belonging and care within our churches. May God offer only food of forgiveness and tenderness.

We pray to the Lord.

For the support of our earth to provide sufficient food for our survival. May we protect our lands and our farmers who work persistently for the support of our bodies and minds.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who survive on our streets and who eat from dumpsters. May people with addictions and mental anguish know true food of love, hope, and nourishment from our churches.

We pray to the Lord.

For the renewal of the Eucharist within our worshipping assemblies. May we see the Body of Christ on our altars and on our street corners. May we receive the Body of Christ at Mass and become the Body of Christ in our daily lives.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who feed on regret and shame. May Christ offer forgiveness, mercy and hope to all in anguish on earth. May the Blood of Christ pour forth love upon the earth.

We pray to the Lord.

For blood donors, organ donors, and for people who sacrifice to care for our ailing bodies.  May the Body of Christ be broken open in healing mercy in our hospitals and trauma units.

We pray to the Lord.

For our beloved dead. May our loved ones who have nourished our souls with love now find new life for all eternity.

We pray to the Lord.