The parables told to us by Jesus are meant to teach us how to be and think more like our Father. It is not that we should desire to be God, but to be like God, as we live with our brothers and sisters. God is a God of mercy, forgiveness and love who sought to save us from the destruction and slavery of sin that we might share eternal life with him.

What is mercy to you? Have you ever had to ask for the mercy of another person and what was...

Have you ever looked at the actions of another and deemed them to be wrong or sinful? Or thought to yourself, “thank God I never did anything like that?” What is your purpose in such thinking? Is it to place yourself above another? Or perhaps just a way for you to judge yourself as “not being that bad”? In the Gospel reading for today, just such a thing is happening. Jesus is asking, do you think that the hardships others experience are...

The coffee is always on here at St. Francis Xavier after week day morning Mass and a small number of people gather to chat before going out into the day. The conversations had around the table are sometimes about world and local news and weather, but often become theological discussions drawn from the Scripture read at morning Mass. On this First Sunday of Lent we read the account of Jesus inviting Peter, James and John to go with him up...

As we prepare here at St. Francis Xavier for our Parish Mission: “God’s Story, Our Story” (April 7-10), it seems a good time to reflect on the story of our salvation – the story of the Paschal Mystery. The word paschal – root word – pesah or pascha – which refers to “pass over” as in the Jewish Passover feast or Christian feast of Easter. Jesus is the Paschal Lamb that was slain; suffered, died and rose again on the third day. We will sp...

This week our Catholic Church and all Christian churches the world over, move into the liturgical season of Lent which officially begins on Ash Wednesday.

And even though Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation, the Church is pleased at the number of people who gather for Mass. Some have joked that it is because we are giving something away for free; the ashes. I believe it to be a bit deeper and more important than that!...