Homily for 29th Sunday of Ordinal Time Oct. 19 2014

Posted by Fr. Eugene Vavrick on 10/21/14

Some important questions are raised in today's liturgy:

To whom shall we pledge our allegiance? To Caesar, to the state? Or to God, to our faith? The Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus, to get him to say something that he’d later regret. But Jesus didn’t fall for it ... Read More »

FDLC National Meeting 2014

Posted by Fr. Eugene Vavrick on 10/06/14

Last week, I was in Chicago for the annual National Meeting of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions.  This year's topic was a consultation on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.  The FDLC, in conjunction with the Bishop's Committee on Divine Worship of the NCCB, was asked to ... Read More »

Get ready for next Saturday!

Posted by Fr. Eugene Vavrick on 9/07/14

Next Saturday looks like this:

5:30 PM  Mass

6:30 PM  Parish Potluck Supper

8:30 PM  Bonfire Mass

Folks are welcome to campout on the parish grounds overnight.

Sad News from our friends in Point Pleasant

Posted by Fr. Eugene Vavrick on 8/22/14

We just got an urgent email from Bishop O'Connell informing us of the arrest of Father Nilo Apura, the pastor of St. Martha parish in Point Pleasant.  There has been a credible accusation of sexual abuse of a minor, so the prosecutor from Mercer County had issued an arrest ... Read More »

August 15th, Feast of the Assumption of Mary

Posted by Fr. Eugene Vavrick on 8/13/14

On Friday, August 15, at 9:00 A.M. we will celebrate Mass for the Feast of the Assumption of Mary.  We invite all parishioners to bring the "fruits of the earth" (flowers, vegetables, etc.) from your home gardens to help decorate the church for this feast.  Below is an image ... Read More »

Seminarian returns to School

Posted by Fr. Eugene Vavrick on 8/09/14

This weekend, August 9/10, our friend Nick Petrillo will be at all of the Masses to say goodbye before he returns to St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore.  Nick has completed his Bachelor's Degree, and in a few days will start working on his Masters level theological studies.  Let's continue ... Read More »

Homily for August 3, 2014

Posted by Fr. Eugene Vavrick on 8/02/14

Homily for 18th Sun. Ordinary Time A

Some time ago, a priest friend from seminary days, 

his name is Chris, was working in Latin America.  He’d gone into the city for a meeting and afterwards stopped to have lunch, taking a seat at an outdoor table in front ... Read More »

Homily for 17 Sunday of Ordinal Time (Cycle A)

Posted by Fr. Eugene Vavrick on 7/26/14

How many people here want to go to heaven when they die? Anybody here want to go anywhere else when they die? I thought not. So, these two parables should be of interest to anyone who wants to go to heaven.If that’s really what we want. And the scriptures today are all about what we really want.

In the first lesson the Lord said to Solomon,  “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.” What if the Lord came to you or me in a dream at night and said, “Tell me what you want - it’ll be yours!” What would you ask for? What would I ask for? Would the Lord give us what we asked for? The Lord gave Solomon the “understanding heart” he asked for but also told him, “You’re getting this because your request wasn’t selfish, or frivolous, or material or ... Read More »

Come to Me, all you who labor, and I will give you rest.

Posted by Fr. Eugene Vavrick on 7/05/14

Homily for  14th Sunday of Ordinary Time, July 6, 2014

Inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty are these familiar words:

Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,I lift my ... Read More »

A story for Trinity Sunday

Posted by Fr. Eugene Vavrick on 6/17/14

There's a story that may give us some insight into this weekend's  celebration of the Most Holy Trinity.

It seems that there was an elderly Bishop  who was celebrating the sacrament of Confirmation in a parish in his diocese.  The Bishop knew that he was losing his hearing, ... Read More »