Saving the Lost

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 30, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Wis 11:22-12:2 / Psalm 145 / 2 Thes 1:11-2:2 / Lk 19:1-10
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Each and every one of us, who is old enough to have a life history, must have experienced being lost sometime in the past, either literally or figuratively. On a dark, winter night a few years ago, I was on my way to attend the priest gathering at the rectory of Fr. Dan Kelly in Nelson County. (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…)

Seeing God’s Presence

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
January 31, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Jer 1:4-5, 17-19 / Ps 71 / 1 Cor 12:31-13:13 / Lk 4:21-30
by Rev. Louis Benoit, Guest Celebrant

Jesus goes to his hometown and proclaims the Good News of healing and liberation, and the people are impressed.  But then they begin to say, “Wait a minute!  Isn’t this Joseph’s son?  Isn’t he the carpenter’s boy? Where did he get all this?  We know where he comes from.”  They begin to question.  Jesus points out to them that sometimes people outside Judaism have greater faith than these people inside Judaism.  And this really gets the people riled up!  They want to throw him over the edge of the hill where the town is built, but he goes through their midst and is gone…

Of course, the tragedy is that Jesus, God incarnate in a human person, is among them and they don’t see it.  Their vision is too narrow, and they miss it. (more…)

Showing Small Mercies

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
January 17, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Is 62:1-5 / Ps 96 / 1 Cor 12:4-11 / Jn 2:1-11
by Rev. David Hyman, Guest Celebrant

Today’s gospel is the story of Jesus’ first miracle of changing water into wine at a wedding feast in Cana.  This story was depicted on Facebook recently with a picture of a store window.  At the top of the window was the word “WATER” and below it was displayed a row of wine bottles.  Below the wine were the words, “JESUS WAS HERE”.

I like to begin my homily with a commentary like this as a springboard to the real story.  I want to share some of the points of this story I find interesting and important.

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Eyes of Faith

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 25, 2015 – Year B
Readings: Jer 31:7-9 / Psalm 126 / Heb 5:1-6 / Mk 10:46-52
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

All of us rejoice, because we are alive. This is the first day of the rest of our lives, not only in this world, but the life that will never end.

We know that we are all blessed to live in the Blue Ridge Mountains area. The leaves in this part of the world, during the season of Fall, remind us of the beauty and wonder of God’s creation. But we also know that this beautiful scenery around us means nothing, if we don’t have the sense of sight. Our ability to see is indeed something that we should be grateful for, every single day of our lives. It should remind us how good and gracious is our God. (more…)

Service and Greatness

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 18, 2015 – Year B
Readings:  Is 53:10-11 / Psalm 33 / Heb 4:14-16 / Mk 10:35-45
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Not too long ago, I had an enlightening experience while at a car rental office in New York. It was a busy morning there, and all the rental associates were attending to customers when I arrived. After several minutes of waiting, a man, whom I saw earlier parking one of the rental cars outside the building, came into the lobby. Noticing how busy the place was, he asked if I had been taken care of. When I told him that I was just waiting for my turn, he said that he would help me. I felt comfortable with him because listening to the way he spoke – he was pretty much like me. English definitely was not his first language. (more…)

Holy Indifference

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 11, 2015 – Year B
Readings: Wis 7:7-11 / Psalm 90 / Heb 4:12-13 / Mk 10:17-30
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

The older I get, the more it astonishes me how wisdom can often be found in the strangest places. Even if you’ve never watched it, I’m sure most of you are aware of the cartoon that comes on by the name of The Simpsons. (more…)

Francis Effect

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 4, 2015 – Year B
Readings: Gn 2:18-24 / Psalm 128 / Heb 2:9-11 / Mk 10:2-16
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

For the past 7 days, up until yesterday, whenever I’ve turned on the radio in my car, talk radio hosts have still been talking about Pope Francis. Usually, they are discussing the so-called “Francis Effect.” Maria Shriver wrote that covering Pope Francis’ visit to America has got to be the highlight of her career as a journalist. She said, “I didn’t get to interview Pope Francis; I didn’t even get to meet him. But it didn’t actually matter because his words met my heart and ignited my spirit. I felt them deep in my soul.” (more…)

Being Great

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 20, 2015 – Year B
Readings: Wis 2:12, 17-20 / Psalm 54/ Jas 3:16-4:3 / Mk 9:30-37
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Last Thursday after we celebrated the funeral Mass for our brother in Christ, Tom Gilsinan, one of his friends described him as a great man. Those of who knew Tom would surely agree. He was great not because he had extraordinary achievements in life that should be recorded in history books or featured in national media, but because he was a man who was always willing to serve. He was the type who always showed up to be of assistance whenever help was needed. (more…)

Star of the Sea

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Parish Feast Day
September 13, 2015 – Year B
Readings: Is 50:5-9A / Psalm 116 / Jas 2:14-18 / Mk 8:27-35
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

It’s encouraging to know that someone of St. Peter’s stature and importance in the early Church could walk the walk so well – with his foot in his mouth. But what we have to remember is that, just like all of us, St. Peter was human. Even the greatest of humans makes mistakes. (more…)