Corpus Christi Blog

Do You Have a Loved One Away from the Faith?

09-25-2016Weekly ReflectionFr. Chad King

A convicting message for all of us to reflect on, since we should all care for one another:

"Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves! Should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep? You have fed off their milk, worn their wool, and slaughtered the fatlings, but the sheep you have not pastured. You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured. You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost, but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered and wandered over all the mountains and high hills; my sheep were scattered over the whole earth, with no one to look after them or to search for them.

Ezekiel 34:1-6
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Now is the Time

09-25-2016HomiliesFr. Chad King

Today we are given quite convicting readings.  I ask each of you to take a moment to pray, and allow the Holy Spirit to touch and convict your heart during this homily and Mass.

In our Gospel Jesus gives us a story of a rich man who dressed in fine and expensive clothes, who dined sumptuously every day.  A man who had everything he wanted and was enjoying his life doing whatever he wanted to do.  At his doorstep was a poor man, named Lazarus, a man who was covered with sores and didn’t have anything to eat.  The rich man didn’t even open his front door and give Lazarus anything, not even scraps of food.  The rich man who was living for himself and only looking out for his own desires, probably stepped over Lazarus every day without a second thought. 

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Voting as a Catholic American

09-18-2016Weekly ReflectionFr. Chad King

Beginning this Sunday, Sept 17th, I encourage everyone to join me in praying for the Presidential election coming in November. Perhaps you would like to begin a 54-day rosary novena, which if begun today would end near Election day. Or if you prefer a shorter prayer — the Our Lady Un-Doer of Knots novena is a powerful prayer for this nation. I have also provided the Election Prayer for Life so you can pray this prayer as often as you can.

As Catholic Americans, not only should we vote, but we have an obligation to vote. And not only to vote, but we have the obligation (not just the encouragement) of our faith to influence how we vote. The United Conference of Catholic Bishops present it this way, we have dual heritage "as both faithful Catholics and American citizens with rights and duties as participants in the civil order...It is as citizens faithful to the Lord Jesus that we contribute most effectively to the civil order." If we really believe that the Church has what the world needs, we must reflect that in how we vote.

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Generosity on Earth leads to Heaven

09-18-2016HomiliesFr. Chad King

In today ‘s Gospel we have one of the more confusing parables, with a strange twist; and although it might be difficult to understand, it really is a pretty simple straight-forward message, but still a message that is difficult to live.  So let us jump right into it to try and understand the parable and then appreciate the message Jesus is giving us and how to implement it into our lives.

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The Merciful Love of God

09-11-2016HomiliesDeacon Chris Kellogg

Our readings this week speak of the merciful love God has for each one of us. No matter how sinful we have been, no matter how far we have strayed from the flock, God searches for us to bring us home.  Within this message is a call to each of us to be evangelizers, that is to share our love for Christ with others so that they will come to experience the living Christ and become themselves true disciples and followers of Jesus.

Before exploring this further, St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in New York has a cemetery.  During the summer they borrow three sheep to feed on the grass and thus maintain the lawn. This year they named the sheep faith, hope and charity.  Six parishioners have been trained as volunteer shepherds to care for the sheep. Their main responsibility is to gather the sheep into a shed at night.  To help protect the sheep from intruders the shed is secured with an alarm. The cemetery grounds are under 24/7 video surveillance and the pastor and shepherds can monitor the sheep with their smart phones, tablets or computers. I am happy to say as of this time there are no reports of lost sheep.  Faith, Hope and Charity are alive and well at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral. If you would like to help care for the sheep you can visit the iphone app Soho sheep to make a donation.

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The Parish Library

09-11-2016Weekly ReflectionFr. Chad King

Did you know that we have a parish library?! Located in the Parish Office, it is usually open whenever the office is open. If you are interested in reading more to enhance your spiritual life, come check out some books! We have nearly a thousand books on a variety of topics. If you don't have a lot of time to read, but spend a lot of time in the car, we have CDs that can be checked out as well. The last time I went on a little vacation, I checked out St. Therese's Story of a Soul and St. Francis de Sales' Introduction to the Devout Life. Also, there is a Best of Catholic Answers Live CD set. Additionally, for those of you interested in our Called and Gifted workshop, we have two CD sets that are essential for you to be ready for the workshop, which starts in two weeks.

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A Just King Rules the Earth

09-04-2016Weekly ReflectionFr. Chad King

From a spiritual testament of Saint Louis to his son

I read this as the homily on Thursday, August 25th, for the feast of Saint Louis, King of France. What an inspiring witness he is of putting Christ first in his life, being a parent to children, and a true leader in the position God put him in. May he inspire you too.

My dearest son, my first instruction is that you should love the Lord your God with allyour heart and all your strength. Without this there is no salvation. Keep yourself, my son,from everything that you know displeases God, that is to say, from every mortal sin. You shouldpermit yourself to be tormented by every kind of martyrdom before you would allow yourself tocommit a mortal sin.

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