Religious Education - Children
Catechist BlogParish Voter Registration Drive – 2021
Calling all Faithful Citizens! New to Virginia and haven’t had time to register? Moved within Virginia and need to update your voter registration address? Turning 18 on or before November 2, 2021? St. Francis VOICE will be holding a non-partisan voter registration...
Gratitude not Jealousy
One year, when Valentine’s Day fell on a Sunday, the pastor of a small parish had an idea to mark the occasion. As couples came into church, ushers would present each wife with a rose. During Mass, a special intention for couples would be included as part of the...
COVID Vaccine
I received a number of positive comments on my recent article in the weekly parish newsletter, challenging the thinking of those who refuse to receive a COVID vaccine, based on the argument that “the government cannot tell me what to do with my body”. I also received...
Eye of the Needle
In today’s Gospel we have the famous expression: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again, I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of...
What must I do?
The question of the young man in today’s Gospel is a question, I am sure, all of us have asked at one time or another: “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” Jesus gives what seems to be a simple and direct answer: “Keep the commandments.” The young man...
The Assumption
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven is the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her earthly life. This belief is part of the treasury of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and parts of...
The God of Mercy
Today’s Responsorial Psalm has the refrain, “His mercy endures forever.” It is an important refrain that we need to keep repeating because as we pray these words, we are not only talking to God but God is talking to us, telling us what kind of a God He is. He is a...
Forgiven
When was the last time you made a dumb, embarrassing, costly mistake and you were not only forgiven but helped to make things right? Was there a time when your frustration caused you to lash out, when the expectations overwhelmed you and you responded with anger, yet...
The Feast of St. Clare of Assisi
Today across the Church universal and especially among the Franciscan communities, we celebrate the Feast of St. Clare of Assisi. It is a very appropriate Gospel chosen for the feast day. In the Gospel we hear: “Peter said to Jesus, ‘We have given up everything and...
Love and Hate
“Whoever loves their life loses it, and whoever hates their life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.” Hate yourself! At first this seems to be what Jesus is demanding in today’s Gospel: hate your life to preserve it. But we must be careful how we...