In today’s gospel’s first verses (15/16), Luke directs us to reflect on the expectations the people, whom John the Baptist is preaching to, about of the coming Messiah, Jesus. We are told that the Baptist recognizes the people’s eagerness as he speaks to them about “the one who is to come after him” and emphasizes the Messiah’s transformative power. This reflection allows us to consider our own expectations of Christ in our lives—what will He do for me and what does He call me to do and be?

As today’s gospel recounts the journey of the Magi to the birthplace of Jesus, we have a passage that is rich in the themes of revelation, worship, and the recognition of Christ’s significance. The Magi’s journey, guided by a star, signifies the search for truth and meaning in life. Catholics are called to embark on our own journeys of faith, seeking a deeper understanding of God and His Will for us

On this the first Sunday liturgy of 2025, we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord, which is a significant feast in the Roman Catholic Church meant to emphasize the appearance of the Lord to the Gentiles by the visit of Magi (Wise Men or royalty) to infant Jesus. The Epiphany calls us to acknowledge the manifestation of the Christ as the son of God to all the nations. Our Catholic traditions calls us to highlight several leading aspects of this feast:

A blessed thank-you to all our parishioners for your active participation in our Christmas Masses. The 4 pm Vigil on Christmas Eve, the children’s liturgy, was packed and actually was at per-Covid numbers. Amen! To our ushers, lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, altar servers, decorators and more—THANK YOU for all your faith and for all that it leads you to be and do here at St. Catherine of Siena Parish. Amen!

St. Francis Hospital in Hartford is—and must be—a gem in the Crown of the Archdiocese of Hartford—as a Catholic institution was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery in 1897, continuing today the healing ministry of Christ, it is the largest Catholic hospital in New England with 617-acute care beds and 65 bassinets. Today St. Francis Hospital is owned by Trinity Health New England, a Catholic healthcare corporation and still works closely with the archdiocese and the Catholic traditions of caring for everyone.

On the third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin word meaning “Rejoice,” is the first word of the introit of this day’s Mass proclaiming the theme of this weekend, one of hope-filled joy calling us to sing aloud the proclamation of Jesus Christ. The Introit (Introitus) of the Mass is the fragment of a psalm with its antiphon sung while the celebrant and ministers enter the church and approach the altar.

Dear Friends in Christ, In the coming weeks, our parishes will take up the annual collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious. This campaign is crucial, benefiting more than 24,000 elderly sisters, brothers, and religious order priests who have been faithful servants within the Church, devoting their lives to service. Since 1988, the collection has raised over $1 billion. In the Archdiocese of Hartford, five communities totaling 280 women religious benefited from last year’s collection.

The Who and the Why: Once again, our parish will see our Advent Giving Trees in the vestibule and the atrium, complete with white lights and envelopes hanging on the branches. And,once again, we are seeking support for two important and worthwhile charities. The Who: First, our Neighbors in Need Fund (NIN) and The second “who” are the Knights of Malta House of Care

The gospel this weekend is from St. Luke who speaks to us about preparation for the “…day that will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth…be vigilant…” That Last Day, like taxes, will come. Will you and I be prepared, as good Catholics, to meet the Lord and be judged? Will the outcome of eternal life be a real “surprise to me?”

Advent is a liturgical season that lasts four (4) weeks, which also marks the beginning of the Church Year—so Happy New (Church) Year! It is structured as the fourth Sunday before Christmas for its beginning and is a time of preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus on Christmas Day. The predominate color for this liturgical season is purple, symbolizing penance and preparation. However, on the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, Rose is the color of the liturgies (Masses, prayer services, etc.) used to signify Joy and Hope.

This solemnity is celebrated to emphasize the Kingship of Christ and to extol His authority over all creation. It is interesting that we celebrate this solemnity on the last Sunday of Ordinary Time and right before the beginning of the Season of Advent; and immediately after all the hoopla of the US presidential elections. A little perspective here for our human condition

I want to express my sincerest and most appreciative thanks and gratitude to those involved with planning and executing the November 16th 50th Anniversary Gala dinner and celebrations at The Riverview in Weatogue last Saturday night.

Again, this weekend we hear about scribes—last week it was a scribe who came to Jesus and asked Him a question about the key Commandment, which was about coming to know or learn about the essence of our faith so that one might know how to truly live one’s life in faith. This week we hear Jesus warn about the duplicity of the scribes in general: are they religious leaders or courtiers

This Sunday we hear of a blind beggar, Bartimaeus, asking for Jesus’ help based upon his faith, and his request is granted by Jesus. This gospel is unlike Mark’s account last weekend when James and John, the sons of Zebedee, do not realize or understand—nor do they see—for what they were asking. Today’s gospel is significant for a number of reasons:

All Souls Day and Prayers Our Catholic Church celebrates the noble souls of our faithfully departed each November. On Sunday, November 3rd at the 11 a.m. Mass we will recall the names of all those who have died in 2024 and were buried from our parish. The Book of the Dead will be placed before the altar, our cantor will recall the names aloud of our deceased loved ones this year, then a bell shall toll and a moment of silent prayer will be offered as I incense the names inscribed upon our Memorial Book.

It is amazing sometimes how folks will ask a question without giving a thought as to its impact on others—or the demands an answer may place on them. Trial lawyers live by an important rule: “Never ask a question for which you do not know the answer.” James and John should have been better “prepared” to question the Lord in today’s gospel. Jesus’ response “You do not know what you are asking,” put them in their place—or perhaps made them at least think more deeply about the question being asked.

Today our readings are all about the vocation’s journey—a vocation to the priesthood, to religious life or to family and married life. For each of these vocation calls us to empty ourselves individually and seek the “common good,” whether that “good” is for Christ and His Church or for the family-it is a faith-filled and lived journey.

Our first reading this weekend focuses our attention on the universality of God; His universal call to all peoples, all whom He has created and desires to have come home to Him in Eternal Life. The Book of Numbers also directs us to consider the power of God’s Holy Spirit that it is not limited by time and space but rather as is God is semi-eternal

For nearly 5 years now I have had the privilege to work with our Archdiocesan Catholic schools and our parish-based faith formation leaders. I have learned so much from all of these dedicated Catholic workers. I asked Archbishop Coyne if I might now return to parish work fulltime, and he graciously accepted my resignation and provided for my return to fulltime parish ministry effective October 1. It is my “sure and certain hope” that I will not see torches at the rectory after this announcement?!?

This Sunday’s readings prepare us to reflect on Christ’s identity and our own identity as a Catholic as well as on our faith in general and the cost of being a follower (disciple) of Christ in the world around us. Each reading this weekend is replete with symbolism, especially the Gospel, which should help us to dig deeper into the meaning—the why behind the thou shalt nots of our faith.