One of my great consolations as a pastor is not having to make up my own vision for the parish. Sure, on the one hand there are many responsibilities, decisions to be made, and Lord knows there are a thousand mistakes lurking around any given corner. If I ever go a week without doing something stupid, I will be sure to throw a little party for myself. But in the broadest sense of the term, the vision of the Church has been set since the very beginning. The very last thing that Our Lord told His disciples before going to sit at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us was to “go forth and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I have commanded you.” It’s about as straight forward a vision as one could have, and it should still drive us the same as it did two-thousand years ago. Click on title for full column.

Christ is risen! He is truly risen! From the clergy and staff of the region, I would like to wish you and your families a Happy Easter and a fruitful celebration of Our Lord’s Resurrection. These past six weeks of Lent and the last few days of celebrating the Triduum have brought us to the principal feast of the Church, and now ashes and penance give way to life and celebration. Click on title for full column.

WWPR Holy Week Schedule Click title for full schedule.

Today’s celebration of Palm Sunday marks our annual remembrance of Jesus’ Passion and the Church’s entry into the solemnities of Holy Week. It provides us with the opportunity to reflect on the incredible love that moved God Himself to take up a cross that was not His responsibility and bear the weight of our sins. This is also a time to reflect on how Jesus’ suffering gives meaning to our own. Click on title for full column.

Holy Week Holy Thursday, April 18: 7:00-8:00 am, St. James 11:00-Noon, St. Matthias 5:30-6:30 pm, OLR.

Good Friday, April 19: One hour after each of the Good Friday services at OLR and St. James.

Holy Saturday, April 20: 8:30-9:30, St. Matthias 10:00-11:00, OLR 2:00-3:00 at St. James.
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One of the joys of the Catholic faith, at least from my perspective, is the incongruity of universality in the midst of obvious differences. By that I mean that one can attend Mass anywhere in the world, in virtually any language, and still follow what’s going on. Whether you’re at your home parish, on vacation, or at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, you can still worship God in the way He has prescribed for us. Click title for full column.

Fatima Holy Hour at Our Lady of the Rosary Thursday, April 4, 6:00 pm Click title for full article.