Homily for November 22 2015

Posted by Fr. Eugene Vavrick on 11/22/15

Homily for Christ the King, 2015

We Americans are a people whose nation was born in response to, and as a rejection of, not only a particular king but of monarchy in general as a way of governing people. We are citizens of our country, not subjects of our ... Read More »

Some thoughts on the weekend of October 10/11 2015

Posted by Fr. Eugene Vavrick on 10/11/15

I was not here at Saint Anselm this weekend.  However, I'm very aware that this week we have begun our immediate preparations for the conferral of the Sacrament of Confirmation.  The process is open to all in grade 9 or above.  It will focus on weekly Sunday Mass attendance, ... Read More »

Homily of Pope Francis in Philadelphia Saturday, Sept. 26 2015

Posted by Fr. Eugene Vavrick on 9/26/15

This morning I learned something about the history of this beautiful Cathedral: the story behind its high walls and windows. I would like to think, though, that the history of the Church in this city and state is really a story not about building walls, but about breaking them ... Read More »

Pope Francis at Ground Zero

Posted by Fr. Eugene Vavrick on 9/26/15

Pope's prayer at Ground Zero   Pope Francis at Ground Zero Pope Francis' prayer at the 9/11 MemorialO God of love, compassion, and healing,look on us, people of many different faithsand religious traditions,who gather today on this hallowed ground,the scene of unspeakable violence and pain. We ask you in ... Read More »

Homily from June 21, 2015

Posted by Fr. Eugene Vavrick on 6/24/15

 Homily, June 21 2015

So, suppose you’re at the check-out at the supermarket

and you look up and see that the guy bagging your groceries

is none other than - Pope Francis.

- and he’s asking you, “Paper or plastic?”

Which would you choose?

Well, we found out ... Read More »

Christmas Homily 2014

Posted by Fr. Eugene Vavrick on 12/24/14

Christmas Eve 2014 Homily

A few years ago you may remember a protest movement called

Occupy Wall Street; there was also Occupy Seattle; Occupy Boston; Occupy London; Occupy Sao Paulo… Whatever your political take on this movement, it’s likely that the verb OCCUPY is a word you’ll remember ... Read More »

The Living Manger

Posted by Fr. Eugene Vavrick on 12/22/14

Today, the sheep and the goats arrived in our living manger.  Many thanks to the folks who helped to organize the visit of our animal friends to our manger scene.  Also, many thanks to all of the families who have volunteered to help feed, water, and clean up the ... Read More »

The Fourth Sunday of Advent-HELP NEEDED!

Posted by Fr. Eugene Vavrick on 12/16/14

This coming weekend, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, our parish community will be commissioning all of our Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist at all of the Masses.  These dedicated men and women have been trained, and formed in their faith, and are faithful ministers of Holy Communion at our ... Read More »

Third Sunday of Advent/Collection for Retired Religious

Posted by Fr. Eugene Vavrick on 12/06/14

On the Third Sunday of Advent, each year, we do something special in the life of St. Anselm parish....we take up a special collection.  You know that as part of our Stewardship Practices that we don't usually take up second or "special" collections.  However, each year we have a ... Read More »

Stewardship Homily

Posted by Fr. Eugene Vavrick on 11/17/14

We last heard this parable in November of 2011.So each of us has had three years to consider its simple message:God gives, we receive, God watches --to see what we do with what we’ve been given.(And woe to those who fail to work with what they’ve received:only weeping and ... Read More »