Posted by Fr Dennis Wieland
The great Native American leader, Black Elk (1863-1950), said a very wise thing: “It is hard to follow one great vision in this world of darkness and changing shadows. Among those shadows people get lost.” Yet this is precisely what the Magi did. They set out in pursuit of ... Read More »
Posted by Fr Dennis Wieland
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. In our first reading we hear about Samuel. Hannah saw him as a gift from God, a sign of God’s favor to her. It is not surprising then that she dedicated him to the Lord. In due time Samuel made ... Read More »
Posted by Fr Dennis Wieland
On this, the fourth and final Sunday of Advent, we have the Gospel account of Mary visiting Elizabeth. Upon her arrival, Elizabeth proclaims, “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
The theme of the blessedness of those who believe ... Read More »
Posted by Fr Dennis Wieland
It is obvious from today’s Gospel account that John the Baptist was a very practical man. Christianity is a very practical and social religion. It is not just a matter of God and me, but of God, me, and others.
There is a story about a cobbler by the ... Read More »
Posted by Fr Dennis Wieland
There was a famous preacher who Sunday after Sunday faced a large, attentive congregation. One Sunday as he approached the pulpit the worlds of the Gospel were ringing in his ears: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” A thought suddenly struck him: It’s not the ... Read More »
Posted by Fr Dennis Wieland
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, Happy New Year! That’s right — for us Christians, the First Sunday of Advent is the beginning of a new liturgical year. As Christians, we are called to live in cyclical, not linear time. That being, we celebrate the truth,.because of the dying ... Read More »
Posted by Fr Dennis Wieland
We bestow many titles on Jesus but that of “king” seems to be one that is inappropriate. It smacks of the kind of things that Jesus rejected. When we think of a king we think of a throne, a crown, a palace, great wealth, power, prestige, servants and an ... Read More »
Posted by Fr Dennis Wieland
A woman was hurrying home from work. This was her night to play bingo. Suddenly she noticed a young man standing on the edge of the pavement holding a sign which read; THE END OF THE WORLD IS NEAR. She went up to him and said, “You say the ... Read More »
Posted by Fr Dennis Wieland
On October 17-19, three staff members and I attended the Amazing Parish Conference. We were blessed to have one of our parishioners on the coaching team. It was exciting three days, as we were being challenged to move our parishes from “maintenance” mode to “mission” mode. That being: from ... Read More »
Posted by Fr Dennis Wieland
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
Our Gospel account today has Jesus laying out before us the two Great Commandments: Love God above all things and love one’s neighbor as one love’s oneself. All of life is based on living out these two commandments.
We live in an age ... Read More »