Author: St. Charles Borromeo

Messages from the Pastor

Fr. Smith on Romans: Surest Way to End with God is to Begin with Him

| St. Charles Borromeo

Paul Writing His Epistles, attr. Valentin de Boulogne, 17th century, Museum of Fine Arts (Houston)

Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ
June 14, 2020

It has been my custom to examine the first reading of the Mass in some detail for our emails and website. This is usually from the Old Testament. The passages are unknown to many Catholics and the wisdom contained in them can be quite a revelation. For most of the year the second reading is from St Paul. It is surprising that he too is often unknown and even when acknowledged usually misunderstood. From next week to mid-September we will be reading the Letter of Paul to the Romans and I have decided make this a summer project.

It is in some ways a very good choice to look at Paul through Romans. It is the most comprehensive letter: it covers the most topics. These topics are among the major issues of our faith. He also speaks in calm and disciplined manner and does not go off on tangents. This letter is so critical that some theologians have called all subsequent theology footnotes on Romans. By the end of the summer, I hope you will understand why. Continue reading “Fr. Smith on Romans: Surest Way to End with God is to Begin with Him” →

Messages from Parishioners

Reflections from Our Confirmation Class

| St. Charles Borromeo

Photo by Olivia Snow on Unsplash

The Confirmation Class of 2020 has continued their preparation for the sacrament throughout the lockdown. Today we are sharing some of their reflections on how being unable to participate in the Mass has affected them:

Although we are not able to attend Mass during these times, which makes me feel disconnected from God and my faith, I feel very close to my family and I am spreading my love through them.
– Nicholas N. Continue reading “Reflections from Our Confirmation Class” →

Homilies, Videos

Most Holy Trinity – Homily (Fr. Smith)

| St. Charles Borromeo

How strong is love? Let us make it personal “How much do any one of us make decisions because of love”. Do we think that love is nice but real-world decisions are based on how much we will make or how we can appease or use the prevailing social and political powers? Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Trinity. This is God’s answer to this question, and it comes none too soon. Continue reading “Most Holy Trinity – Homily (Fr. Smith)” →

Bulletin, Events

Online Community Mass – Most Holy Trinity 6/7 11:15 am EDT

| St. Charles Borromeo

Please join us for our Online Community Mass for Trinity Sunday on June 7 at 11:15 AM EDT. Click the video below to view:

Instructions to view the Mass are available here.

 

Messages from Parishioners

Walking Before We Fly, (Pt. II) – Joe Genova

| St. Charles Borromeo

In Part I of Walking Before We Fly, I focused on Faith Formation, and on what I should have called Faith Maturation. Children do not choose to be born into a Christian family. We want them to embrace and flourish in it, not be frightened either into it or away from it. That is a challenge, even with adults. In between, we have the teens and young adults, like the girls’ volleyball team helping with food distribution at St. Finbar’s on May 29. Not only were they practicing their faith, but they were in a room full of adults doing the same thing. That reinforces the faith for them, as it did for the adults.

Following up, I agreed to comment on Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’ (On Care For Our Common Home). Father Bill said “it is not just recycling.” True, but recycling is like learning to ride the bike (see Part I) toward protecting Mother Earth. If we cannot be bothered recycling, how will we face the big issues—changing our own lifestyles, even if it is inconvenient, and becoming advocates for protecting the environment, even if it is politically unpopular? Continue reading “Walking Before We Fly, (Pt. II) – Joe Genova” →