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The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
December 25, 2021 — Year C
Readings: Is 52:7-10 / Ps 98 / Heb 1:1-6 / Jn 1:1-18
by Rev. Nixon Negparanon, Pastor
I’ve always had a special feeling for Christmas, because Christmas is one of the best memories I have of my childhood. I remember that in the Philippines, every Christmas after we attended Midnight Mass, my parents and siblings gathered together to watch the fireworks. After that, we prayed together and had our meal.
This is what Christmas is: It is fathers, mothers, children. It is learning how to love. It is learning how to care. It is learning how to be the people that we really want to be and know we can be, if we have enough faith in ourselves and in the people around us. (more…)
KEEP READINGTwenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 17, 2021 — Year B
Readings: Is 53:10-11 / Ps 33 / Heb 4:14-16 / Mk 10:35-45
by Rev. Nixon Negparanon, Pastor
There is a story about three sons, who left home, went out on their own, and prospered. Later, when they were reunited, they discussed the gifts they had been able to give to their elderly mother.
The first one said, “I built a big house for our mother.”
The second one said, “I sent her a Mercedes with a driver.”
The third smiled and said, “I’ve got you both bested. Remember how Mom enjoyed reading the Bible? You know she can’t see very well, so I sent her a remarkable parrot that recites the entire Bible. It took elders in the church twelve years to teach him. He is one of a kind. Mom just has to name chapter and verse, and the parrot recites it.” (more…)
KEEP READINGTwenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 10, 2021 – Year B
Readings: Wis 7:7-11 / Ps 90 / Heb 4:12-13 / Mk 10:17-30
by Deacon Barry Welch, Guest Homilist
Today’s gospel acclamation, the part within the Alleluia, is this: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
What does it mean to be “poor in spirit”? It means that we understand a fundamental truth: that none of us is responsible for our own existence, nor are we responsible for our continued existence. Someone else is responsible for that, and we know who that is: God. We need Him. He didn’t need us, and yet out of love, He created the whole world, and out of love, He put us in it. And remember, “It was good.” (more…)
KEEP READINGTwenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 19, 2021 — Year B
Readings: Wis 2:12, 17-20 / Ps 54 / Jas 3:16-4:3 / Mk 9:30-37
by Rev. Nixon Negparanon, Pastor
Who is above all of us? Who is the most powerful? Who is the most respected? In today’s gospel, this is what the apostles were arguing about. As Jesus spoke of His coming pain, the disciples insisted on exaggerating themselves.
Our gospel today reminds me of a beautiful story that moved me. It is about a wealthy man and his son, who loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They often would sit together at night and admire the great works of art. (more…)
KEEP READINGThe Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
December 27, 2020 — Year B
Readings: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 / Ps 128 / Col 3:12-21 / Lk 2:22-40
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon
Today is a feast that is particularly close to my heart. It is the Feast of the Holy Family. I have been particularly drawn to this feast because I am married and have children of my own. Of the members of the Holy Family – Jesus, Mary and Joseph – I am particularly fond of St. Joseph, possibly because I have always wanted to be like Joseph – a husband and father. It is particularly appropriate that we reflect on the life of St. Joseph today. (more…)
KEEP READINGFirst Sunday of Advent
November 29, 2020 — Year B
Readings: Is 63:16B-17, 19B; 64:2-7 / Ps 80 / 1 Cor 1:3-9 / Mk 13:33-37
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor
Not too long ago, Bristol Street Motors conducted a study to find out how many motorists actually read the owners’ manual before driving their car. They found out that sixty percent don’t bother to read it, and I understand why. Reading the car manual is about as exciting as cleaning your oven or watching paint dry. (more…)
KEEP READINGThe Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
November 22, 2020 — Year A
Readings: Ez 34:11-12, 15-17 / Ps 23 / 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28 / Mt 25:31-46
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon
Welcome to Holy Name of Mary on this last Sunday of the liturgical year. We don’t wait until the end of December. We just wrap things up now, and roll into the new year.
I’ve always felt that the Church year parallels salvation history. To my knowledge, this is not some official teaching of the Church; it’s just a personal way that I orient myself. I like to think I came up with this idea, but I really doubt it. I’ve heard Scott Hahn say that every time he thinks he came up with something new, he discovers some writing on the topic by a desert father, written in the 200s. (more…)
KEEP READINGThirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 28, 2020 – Year A
Readings: 2 Kgs 4:8-11, 14-16A / Ps 89 / Rom 6:3-4, 8-11 / Mt 10:37-42
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor
Life since the beginning of this pandemic has been far from normal. We have had to make sacrifices to help prevent the spread of the virus, and some of us are feeling that our freedom to do what we want to do has been curtailed, while others see it as just a reflection of our imperfect lives and the world we live in. We all have to do some things that we may not want to do, but we have to do them. That’s just what life in this world is all about. (more…)
KEEP READINGThe Epiphany of the Lord
January 5, 2020 – Year A
Readings: Is 60:1-6 / Ps 72 / Eph 3:2-3A, 5-6 / Mt 2:1-12
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor
Each of us would like to experience peace and joy in this life. We all have different sources of happiness. One person may get it by traveling, others by dancing or running or simply by eating his/her favorite food. Some may even get it by bungee jumping – something I can’t understand.
Because of our individual differences, something that will give joy to one person could be a source of misery for another. Going to a party, for example: It has been said that telling an introvert to go to a party is like telling a saint to go to hell! So if you have a friend who is an introvert, don’t ask them to go to a party! (more…)
KEEP READINGThe Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
December 29, 2019 – Year A
Readings: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 / Ps 128 / Col 3:12-21 / Mt 2:13-15, 19-23
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor
Today is a special day. Not only are we still within the octave of Christmas, but we are celebrating a big feast, one that each and every one of us is a part of.
Children are God’s gifts. Those of you who have lived in this world long enough may say that there are even greater gifts, and they are grandchildren. It is beyond doubt that, for grandchildren, their grandparents are the greatest and the most wonderful people in the whole world. This is usually their first experience of an extended family. (more…)
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