Living the Triduum

Holy Thursday
March 29, 2018 – Year B
Readings: Ex 12:1-8, 11-14 / Ps 116 / 1 Cor 11:23-26 / Jn 13:1-15
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

Welcome to the start of the Holy Triduum. The Holy Triduum is three nights: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and it ends with the Easter Vigil on Saturday night. If you pay attention, you’ll notice that it really is one whole long liturgy strung together. Tonight will not end like a Mass normally ends. Tomorrow night won’t start like it normally does and also, tomorrow night the ending will be a little bit different. Then, if you come to all three liturgies, you will notice that the Easter Vigil does not start normally either. This is a solemn time. (more…)

Seeing With the Eyes of Faith

Fourth Sunday of Lent
March 11, 2018 – Year A Readings
Readings: 1 Sm 16:1B, 6-7, 1-13A / Ps 23 / Eph 5:8-14 / Jn 9:1-41
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

Good morning and welcome to Laetare Sunday. Laetare is Latin for YAY! Laetare means rejoice. It is good to see everyone here so bright-eyed, more or less. It’s almost as though everyone is missing an hour of sleep.

I want to see a show of hands. How many people have missals with them today? How many of you read the readings today before you came to Mass? Good job! Now some of you may be thinking, “Wait a minute – we just heard the wrong readings! Aren’t we in Year B?” (more…)

Thirst for Living Water

Third Sunday of Lent
March 4, 2018 – Year A Readings
Readings: Ez 17:3-7 / Ps 95 / Rom 5:1-2, 5-8 / Jn 4:5-42
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of the season of Lent, which is also the first scrutiny for our four catechumens here at Holy Name, who will be receiving the sacrament of Baptism at the Easter Vigil. We also have catechumens in our sister parish, and this is the first time that both parishes will be welcoming new members to the Church. For those of you using your own missal, we use the readings for Year A when we have scrutinies for the catechumens. (more…)

Our Journey Home

Third Sunday of Easter
April 30, 2017 – Year A
Readings: Acts 2:14, 22-33 / Ps 16 / 1 Pt 1:17-21 / Lk 24:13-35
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor 

At some time in the past, many of us have experienced the feeling of arriving home with our hearts heavy and our heads down.  It could have been the time when our favorite sports team lost a championship game, or a loved one was diagnosed with a serious illness, or we were returning from a friend’s funeral.  Whatever the reason, we probably felt that only those who had been through the same type of sadness would be able to empathize with us.    (more…)

Hope, Not Fear

The Resurrection of the Lord
April 16, 2017 – Year A
Readings: Acts 10:34A, 37-43 / Ps 118 / Col 3:1-4 / Jn 20:1-9
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon 

If you’ve spent any time on the internet looking at social media, you have encountered a “meme.”  Even if you don’t know the word “meme,” you probably do know what I’m talking about.  I had been seeing these things for a long time and had no clue what they were called until one day my teenagers informed me of the proper term for these things.  (more…)

We Are Never Alone

Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 1, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 / Ps 67 / Rev 21:10-14, 22-23 / Jn 14:23-29
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

A story is told about a grandfather who, one sunny Sunday afternoon, went to visit his daughter and her family.  As soon as he went in their door, he saw his little grandson, Timmy, crying inside the playpen.  When the little boy saw him, he lit up and cried:  “Grandpa!  Take me out of here!”  Is there a grandfather who can refuse that plea from his grandson? (more…)

To Boldly Go…

Easter Sunday
March 27, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Acts 10:34a, 37-43 / Psalm 118 / Col 3:1-4 / Jn 20:1-9
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

When Father Sal told me he wanted me to preach this morning, my first thought was, “What do I say?” After all, today is THE day, the pinnacle of days. Today we celebrate the triumphal conclusion of Christ’s Paschal Mystery; His suffering, death and His glorious resurrection. What can be said except, “Jesus Christ is Risen, Alleluia, Alleluia!” Amen!

That was my first thought, but then I remembered my number one obligation is to preach the Gospel; the Good News of Jesus Christ. I can sum up this Gospel with three words: God loves us. God loves us and I can even prove it. (more…)

A Mother’s Love

Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 10, 2015 – Year B
Readings: Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 / 1 Jn 4:7-10 / Jn 15:9-17
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

As you all know, today in the United States is Mother’s Day. It’s a special day when we’re supposed to thank and celebrate our mothers. But I’ve heard people make the accusation that Mother’s Day is really just a Hallmark holiday and was created by greeting card companies to sell more products.

I’ve also heard it said that, really, shouldn’t we thank and be grateful to our mothers every day? Yes, this is true. We should. But it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of that, even if it’s just once a week. I mean, a month. I mean, a year. You should do it every day. (more…)

Wireless Connection

Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 3, 2015 – Year B
Readings: Acts 9:26-31 / 1 Jn 3:18-24 / Jn 15:1-8
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

As we all know, we are living in a wireless world. Everything seems to be wireless. This microphone on the lectern is not wireless, but even if I step away from that microphone, you can still hear me, because I am using a wireless microphone on my neck. Even the microphone that Phil [choir member] is using is wireless, so he can go around the church and you can still hear him. (more…)

World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 26, 2015 – Year B
Readings: Acts 4:8-12 / 1 Jn 3:1-2 / Jn 10:11-18
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

Today, as you can probably guess from the readings and from the prayers, is Good Shepherd Sunday.  I got an early start on preparing for the homily today. Normally, I wait until a couple days beforehand, but I actually read the readings several weeks ago and started studying them and started doing my exegesis on them: reading all the notes in the Bible and so forth.   Nothing was coming to me. (more…)