I Have Seen the Lord!

Easter Sunday
April 1, 2018 – Year B
Readings: Acts 10:34A, 37-43 / Ps 118 / Col 3:1-4 / Jn 20:1-9
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

It has been said that the greatest honor that others can give you is to imitate what you are doing and choose to believe what you believe.  Last night during the Easter Vigil, our family here at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church received the honor of welcoming five new members into our church as they received the Sacrament of Initiation.  It was a glorious night, even attended by Christians from other traditions.  All the angels and saints were certainly rejoicing, but Satan was not. (more…)

Hope for the Living Dead

Fifth Sunday of Lent
March 18, 2018 – Year A Readings
Readings: Ez 37:12-14 / Ps 130 / Rom 8:8-11 / Jn 11:1-45
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

The Spring 2018 issue of Discover Smith Mountain Lake magazine has an article titled “Taking the Sting Out of Death.” (The article is posted on the parish bulletin board, and the magazine is available for free at the Bedford Welcome Center.) It is good reading during the season of Lent.

The writer, Kate Hofstetter, interviewed two men of God, as she put it, about their experience ministering to the dying. Both of these clergy said that a strong faith in God and the spiritual support of their loved ones takes the sting out of death for those who are about to be born into life eternal. (more…)

Die to Live

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 2, 2017 – 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 Anonuevo, Pastor

A story is told about a very wealthy man from India, who used to go to Africa to hunt rare wild animals. During one of his hunting trips, he went to a remote African jungle where he found a sanctuary of birds, of a rare species. The birds not only had beautiful feathers, but for some reason they could talk. He captured one of the birds, put it in a cage, and brought it back with him to India. Once home, he took good care of the bird. He talked to him every day and gave him all the food he wanted. (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…)

Put Your Hope in Jesus Now

Fifth Sunday of Lent
April 2, 2017 – Year A
Readings: Ez 37:12-14 / Ps 130 / Rom 8:8-11 / Jn 11:1-45
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor 

A story is told of a devout old woman who, knowing she was about to die, asked her pastor to give her the last sacraments.  After being anointed, she said, “Soon I’ll be rocking in the bosom of Moses.”  (more…)

The Resurrection of the Body

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
November 6, 2016 – Year C
Readings: 2 Mc 7:1-2, 9-14 / Psalm 17 / 2 Thes 2:16-3:5 / Lk 20:27-38
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

In case you haven’t noticed, the year is coming to an end. While 2016 is indeed coming to an end, our church year ends before then. The liturgical year will end at the completion of the second period of Ordinary Time, and a new liturgical year will begin with the first Sunday of Advent. Additionally, the year is broken up into seasons and there is a 3 year cycle of readings – A, B and C. In 2016 we have been reading from cycle C which focuses on the Gospel of Luke. When we begin the next year we will read cycle A, which focuses on Matthew. (more…)