Grateful Living, Joyful Giving

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 22, 2017 – Year A
Readings: Is 45:1, 4-6 / Ps 96 / 1 Thes 1:1-5B / Mt 22:15-21
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

When I was still in the seminary, I was asked by our Rector to give an invocation to a retirement party, because he wasn’t feeling well, and none of the seminary priests was available. So I went to a gathering where no one had invited me or expected me. (more…)

Mary Knows the Way

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 1, 2017 – Year A
Readings: Ez 18:25-28 / Ps 25 / Phil 2:1-11 / Mt 21:28-32
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Today is the first day of October, the month of the Holy Rosary. In just two months and twenty-four days, we will be celebrating Christmas 2017. But this month we will first celebrate the feast of the Holy Rosary, this coming Saturday, then we will be joining more than 1.2 billion Christian Catholics all over the world on October 13 in celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of the Blessed Mother’s last apparition at Fatima. (more…)

Training for Mercy

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 17, 2017 – Year A
Readings: Sir 27:30 – 28:7 / Ps 103 / Rom 14:7-9 / Mt 18:21-35
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

Wow. That’s some pretty intense stuff. I’m not sure what I think about those readings. I think it is worth recapping the important points. In the first reading we have,“The vengeful will suffer the Lord’s vengeance, for He remembers their sins in detail.” In the gospel, “The master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will My Heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives from your heart.” (more…)

Get Out of the Boat

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 13, 2017 – Year A
Readings: 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a / Psalm 85 / Rom 9:1-5 / Mt 14:22-33
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

When I looked at the readings for today, I was excited because this Old Testament reading happens to be my favorite one. There are many good stories in the Old Testament, but this is my favorite.

It will help to understand how great this reading is if you know some of the backstory. (more…)

What We Know for Sure

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
June 18, 2017 – Year A
Readings: Dt 8:2-3, 14b-16a / Psalm 147 / 1 Cor 10:16-17 / Jn 6:51-58
by Rev. Paul O’Donnell-Duggan, Guest Celebrant

Can you imagine Oprah Winfrey being stuck for a word? She said it happened once when she was being interviewed by Gene Siskel, the Chicago Sun Times film critic, in an interview before he died. He asked her a question that stumped her, “Tell me, Oprah, what do you know for sure?” That’s a great question, and she said, “Um, uh, I know for sure . . . actually, Gene, I need more time. I can’t answer that question right now.” (more…)

Loving His Way

Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 21, 2017 – Year A
Readings: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 / Ps 66 / 1 Pt 3:15-18 / Jn 14:15-21
by Rev. Paul O’Donnell Duggan, Guest Celebrant

I’ve always been impressed by the quality of the hospitality of Filipino families. I have spent almost fifty years in New Jersey, and in every parish I was in, we always had Filipino families.

There was one in particular that would call at least once a month, sometimes twice, “Father Paul, can you come over?” It’s 8 o’clock at night or 9 o’clock, and I say “Oh, I’d love to, certainly.” At that hour, I’ve already had my dinner. When I go over, there is a huge dinner waiting. (more…)

Full of Grace

Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 14, 2017 – Year A
Readings: Acts 6:1-7 / Ps 33 / 1 Pt 2:4-9 / Jn 14:1-12
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Today, Mother’s Day, we honor all of our mothers, including the Blessed Mother, whose first apparition at Fatima occurred one hundred years ago. Yesterday, on the actual anniversary of her first apparition in Fatima, the whole Catholic world rejoiced upon the canonization of Saint Jacinta and Saint Francisco, two of the children shepherds who witnessed the apparition. (more…)

Mary’s Intercession Brings Miracles

3rd Sunday of Lent
March 19, 2017 – Year A
Readings: Ex 17:3-7 / Psalm 95 / Rom 5:1-2, 5-8 / Jn 4:5-42
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

The wonderful things that have been happening here in Holy Name of Mary Parish since Friday are all manifestations of the Blessed Mother’s love for us. For instance, although the pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima was scheduled to leave yesterday at 5 pm, by some miraculous events she has remained here overnight in our sanctuary. This is now the second Mass we are celebrating in the presence of the miraculous pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima. (more…)

The Right Path

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 12, 2017 – Year A
Readings: Sir 15:15-20 / Psalm 119 / 1 Cor 2:6-10 / Mt 5:17-37
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

Today’s Gospel is one of the first sections of the New Testament that I ever came across that caused me great concern. I don’t recall when I first read it, but it was probably on a Sunday morning reading the pew Bible instead of listening to the preacher. (Don’t do that, kids! Listen to Father Sal!) (more…)

Us and Them

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 25, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Am 6:1A, 4-7 / Psalm 146 / 1 Tm 6:11-16 / Lk 16:19-31
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

At first glance, our Gospel today seems pretty straightforward. The question is: Why did the rich man go to Hell? The obvious answer is: Because he did not feed the poor. (more…)