Bulletin

New Joiners Welcome for Bible Study; Catch-up Session this Sun. at 5 PM

| St. Charles Borromeo

We recently formed a Bible study group that explored the four Gospels during Advent. The group will continue to meet and examine the other New Testament books and letters.

We are using the Panorama of the New Testament study guide published by Little Rock Scripture Study, which is recognized as a leader in assisting Catholic parishes encounter the Bible for over 40 years. The materials are written by respected Catholic biblical scholars and include short video lectures to reinforce the lessons. As the title of the study guide, Panorama of the New Testament, suggests, these sessions will provide a broad overview and are perfect for folks whose only experience with the Gospels is hearing them proclaimed at Sunday Mass.

The next meeting of the Bible study group will be on Sunday, January 10 at 5 PM via Zoom.

Fr. Bill is available to hold an online catch-up session this Sunday, January 3 at 5 PM to orient you to what we covered during Advent. Please email him, [email protected], if you are interested in attending the catch-up session.

Bulletin

Thursday Book Club: Fratelli Tutti

| St. Charles Borromeo

The Thursday night book club is reading Pope’s recent encyclical Fratelli Tutti, the Pope’s recent social encyclical on important contemporary issues.

This Thursday at 7 PM, we will discuss Chapter 5, “A Better Kind of Politics” (paragraphs 154-197) and be joined by Bill Cavanaugh, theologian and professor at DePaul University, whose review of the encyclical is available here, https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/radical-truths.

Homilies, Videos

Mary, Mother of God – Homily (Fr. Smith)

| Fr. William Smith

On behalf of Msgr. LoPinto, Fr. Gribowich, and of course myself, I would like to express our best wishes as we close out the calendar year 2020 and pray for 2021. It is comforting to do this not only as Christians but as Catholics. In our tradition this is the “Octave of Christmas.” As the name suggests Octave means 8 and reflects the Latin way of counting. It means however a week and is a way of marking very special feasts. There were once many Octaves but now they have been reduced to two: Christmas and Easter. The Octave of Christmas has celebrated many things over the years. Some of us may remember when it was the feast of the circumcision of our Lord. But Pope St. Paul 6th realized that it should be dedicated to Mary. An octave is an echo of Jesus major interventions into history and Mary is the most perfect echo of Jesus’ incarnation.  Of all the possibilities of recognizing Mary’s special connection to the Incarnation he chose “Mary, the Mother of God.” Let us look at why and another Gospel selection before returning to the Gospel chosen today and a more pertinent lesson.

Continue reading “Mary, Mother of God – Homily (Fr. Smith)” →
Scriptual Commentary

Epiphany – Making Justice Our Aim

| Fr. William Smith

The Magi Journeying (Les rois mages en voyage), James Tissot, 1886-1894 (Brooklyn Museum)
(About this Image)

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the First Reading
Feast of the Epiphany
Isaiah 60:1–6
January 3, 2021

The first reading for the feast of the Epiphany is standard and doesn’t change every year. You may find previous commentaries for 2019 (Jan. 6, 2019) and 2020 (Jan. 5, 2020). As Isaiah speaks today of light and salvation, it is a perfect selection for Epiphany. It also, as we have seen over the years, contains many images and thoughts which give it a certain complexity. Reviewing it every year reveals what I have learned about the First Testament over the previous year and how it can be applied to our immediate situation.

There are some elements which however are central and constant. Three people used or were given the name Isaiah. A more complete background of the three Isaiahs may be found in the commentary for December 13, 2020. Let us however review the highlights. First Isaiah lived in Jerusalem and was an active prophet between roughly 700 and 695 BC., second Isaiah lived in Babylon after the people had been brought into captivity around 540 BC and third Isaiah had returned to Jerusalem and wrote around 515 BC.

Continue reading “Epiphany – Making Justice Our Aim” →
Events, Videos

Community Mass – Epiphany

| St. Charles Borromeo

Please join us to celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord on Sunday, January 3:

  • 9 AM EST – Morning Mass – In Person at the Church, not live streamed.
  • 11:15 AM EST Community Mass In Person at the Church and also streamed online and available for playback.

    Instructions to view the Mass are available here. You can also watch the video via YouTube Live in the window above.

Today’s readings and hymns are available to download here:

2021-01-03Download

Events, Videos

Community Mass – Mary, Mother of God

| St. Charles Borromeo

Please join us to celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on Friday, January 1:

  • 9 AM EST – Morning Mass – In Person at the Church, not live streamed.
  • 11:15 AM EST Community Mass In Person at the Church and also streamed online and available for playback.

    Instructions to view the Mass are available here. You can also watch the video via YouTube Live in the window above.

Today’s readings and hymns are available to download here:

2021-01-01Download