William Bence of WCRA asks what I have learned in these past four years as the Parochial Vicar of St. Anthony of Padua Parish.

The introductory and concluding music, "Pastime with Good Company," is performed by the Quincy Early Music Consort and taken from their CD, "Pastime" ((c) 1997).  Used with permission.  For more information, contact Dancingman Productions, 7 Deer Ridge South, Quincy, Illinois 62301.

The Lord has promised to give us shepherds after his own heart.

This homily was preached at AnnunciationParish in Shumway, Illinois.

The text of the homily, with notations, is available here.

The introductory and concluding music, "Pastime with Good Company," is performed by the Quincy Early Music Consort and taken from their CD, "Pastime" ((c) 1997).  Used with permission.  For more information, contact Dancingman Productions, 7 Deer Ridge South, Quincy, Illinois 62301.

There can be only two responses to the love of Jesus Christ: love or rejection.

This homily was preached at AnnunciationParish in Shumway, Illinois.

The text of the homily, with notations, is available here.

The introductory and concluding music, "Pastime with Good Company," is performed by the Quincy Early Music Consort and taken from their CD, "Pastime" ((c) 1997).  Used with permission.  For more information, contact Dancingman Productions, 7 Deer Ridge South, Quincy, Illinois 62301.

Is it possible to sing a song to the Lord when we have hung up our harps?

This homily was preached at AnnunciationParish in Shumway, Illinois.

The text of the homily, with notations, is available here.

The introductory and concluding music, "Pastime with Good Company," is performed by the Quincy Early Music Consort and taken from their CD, "Pastime" ((c) 1997).  Used with permission.  For more information, contact Dancingman Productions, 7 Deer Ridge South, Quincy, Illinois 62301.

Let us meet the Lord in confession to be enlightened and renewed.

This homily was preached at Sacred Heart Parish in Effingham, Illinois.

The text of the homily, with notations, is available here.

The introductory and concluding music, "Pastime with Good Company," is performed by the Quincy Early Music Consort and taken from their CD, "Pastime" ((c) 1997).  Used with permission.  For more information, contact Dancingman Productions, 7 Deer Ridge South, Quincy, Illinois 62301.

Let us take up the Lenten discipline that we might learn from the Lord and remember always the covenant he has made.

This homily was preached at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Effingham, Illinois.

The text of the homily, with notations, is available here.

The introductory and concluding music, "Pastime with Good Company," is performed by the Quincy Early Music Consort and taken from their CD, "Pastime" ((c) 1997).  Used with permission.  For more information, contact Dancingman Productions, 7 Deer Ridge South, Quincy, Illinois 62301.

The ashes serve to remind us of our frail humanity and the somber and joyous tone of the days of Lent.

This homily was preached at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Effingham, Illinois.

The text of the homily, with notations, is available here.

The introductory and concluding music, "Pastime with Good Company," is performed by the Quincy Early Music Consort and taken from their CD, "Pastime" ((c) 1997).  Used with permission.  For more information, contact Dancingman Productions, 7 Deer Ridge South, Quincy, Illinois 62301.

Like Damien of Molokai, let us bring to the Lord the poor and the lowly that he might deliver us.

This homily was preached at Annunciation Parish in Shumway, Illinois.

The text of the homily, with notations, is available here.

The introductory and concluding music, "Pastime with Good Company," is performed by the Quincy Early Music Consort and taken from their CD, "Pastime" ((c) 1997).  Used with permission.  For more information, contact Dancingman Productions, 7 Deer Ridge South, Quincy, Illinois 62301.

If we seek a life free from anxieties, we must listen to the voice of the Lord and obey his will for us.

This homily was preached at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Effingham, Illinois.

The text of the homily, with notations, is available here.

The introductory and concluding music, "Pastime with Good Company," is performed by the Quincy Early Music Consort and taken from their CD, "Pastime" ((c) 1997).  Used with permission.  For more information, contact Dancingman Productions, 7 Deer Ridge South, Quincy, Illinois 62301.

The Apostle Paul never wavered from the proclamation of the Gospel.  Neither should we.

This homily was preached at Annunciation (St. Mary's) Parish in Shumway, Illinois.

The text of the homily, with notations, is available here.

The introductory and concluding music, "Pastime with Good Company," is performed by the Quincy Early Music Consort and taken from their CD, "Pastime" ((c) 1997).  Used with permission.  For more information, contact Dancingman Productions, 7 Deer Ridge South, Quincy, Illinois 62301.

This is the homily I preached at St. Anthony of Padua Parish for the Second Sunday of the Year.

The introductory and concluding music, "Pastime with Good Company," is performed by the Quincy Early Music Consort and taken from their CD, Pastime ((c) 1997).   Used with permission.  For more information, contact Dancingman Productions, 7 Deer Ridge South, Quincy, Illinois 62301.

Last Week I spoke to the RCIA class, giving an overview of the Sacraments in general, and the Sacraments of Baptism or Confirmation, in particular.

The introductory and concluding music, "Pastime with Good Company," is performed by the Quincy Early Music Consort and taken from their CD, Pastime ((c) 1997).   Used with permission.  For more information, contact Dancingman Productions, 7 Deer Ridge South, Quincy, Illinois 62301.

Bishop Lucas invited his Diocese to participate in the Why Catholic? program as a way of deepening our faith.  The response here at the parish has been very good has surfaced a number of questions among the parishioners.

To help answer these questions, I hosted a Q&A session last Sunday afternoon.  I recorded the session and am presenting it to, in an edited form, in this podcast.

The introductory and concluding music, "Pastime with Good Company," is performed by the Quincy Early Music Consort and taken from their CD, Pastime ((c) 1997).   Used with permission.  For more information, contact Dancingman Productions, 7 Deer Ridge South, Quincy, Illinois 62301.

Every family is called to be a holy family modeled after the Holy Family of Nazareth.  If we look to Jesus, Mary and Joseph our families, too, can be families filled with joy, peace and happiness.

This homily was preached at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Effingham, Illinois.

The text of the homily, with notations, is available here.

The introductory and concluding music, "Pastime with Good Company," is performed by the Quincy Early Music Consort and taken from their CD, "Pastime" ((c) 1997).  Used with permission.  For more information, contact Dancingman Productions, 7 Deer Ridge South, Quincy, Illinois 62301.

The Christ Child comes to those who are clean of heart and reaches his hand out to grasp their hand and lead them.

This homily was preached at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Effingham, Illinois during the Mass of Christmas Day.

The text of the homily, with citations, is available here.

The introductory and concluding music, "Pastime with Good Company," is performed by the Quincy Early Music Consort and taken from their CD, "Pastime" ((c) 1997).  Used with permission.  For more information, contact Dancingman Productions, 7 Deer Ridge South, Quincy, Illinois 62301.

The silence of Saint Joseph is a model for us as we approach the manger of Bethlehem and await the birth of Christ.

This homily was preached at Annunciation Church in Shumway, Illinois during the Vigil Mass of Christmas.

The text of the homily, with citations, is available here.

The introductory and concluding music, "Pastime with Good Company," is performed by the Quincy Early Music Consort and taken from their CD, "Pastime" ((c) 1997).  Used with permission.  For more information, contact Dancingman Productions, 7 Deer Ridge South, Quincy, Illinois 62301.

This is the homily I preached this weekend at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Effingham, Illinois for the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

The text of the homily, with citations, is available here.

The introductory and concluding music, "Pastime with Good Company," is performed by the Quincy Early Music Consort and taken from their CD, "Pastime" ((c) 1997).  Used with permission.  For more information, contact Dancingman Productions, 7 Deer Ridge South, Quincy, Illinois 62301.

I preached this homily to the high school students before their homecoming dance last evening at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Effingham, Illinois for the Third Sunday of Advent.

The text of the homily, with citations, is available here.

The introductory and concluding music, "Pastime with Good Company," is performed by the Quincy Early Music Consort and taken from their CD, "Pastime" ((c) 1997).  Used with permission.  For more information, contact Dancingman Productions, 7 Deer Ridge South, Quincy, Illinois 62301.

This is the homily I preached this weekend at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Effingham, Illinois for the First Sunday of Advent.

The text of the homily, with citations, is available <a href="http://www.servantandsteward.org/files/Advent_Sunday_1_2008_.pdf">here</a>

The introductory and concluding music, "Pastime with Good Company," is performed by the Quincy Early Music Consort and taken from their CD, "Pastime" ((c) 1997).  Used with permission.  For more information, contact Dancingman Productions, 7 Deer Ridge South, Quincy, Illinois 62301.

This is the homily I preached this weekend for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King.

A quotation within the homily is taken from Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger's The Spirit of the Liturgy.

The text of the homily is available here.

The introductory and concluding music, "Pastime with Good Company," is performed by the Quincy Early Music Consort and taken from their CD, "Pastime" ((c) 1997).  Used with permission.  For more information, contact Dancingman Productions, 7 Deer Ridge South, Quincy, Illinois 62301.

Here is the homily I preached this weekend for the Thirty-third Sunday of the Year (A) at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Effingham, Illinois on the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30).

Quotations within the homily are taken from Pope Benedict XVI's Wednesday Audience Address of 12 November 2008 and his Encyclical, Spe Salvi (2), as well as from the Rite of Baptism of One Child (100).

The text of the homily, with citations, is available here.

The introductory music, "Pastime with Good Company," is performed by the Quincy Early Music Consort and taken from their CD, "Pastime" ((c) 1997).  Used with permission.  For more information, contact Dancingman Productions, 7 Deer Ridge South, Quincy, Illinois 62301.