Easter is the greatest and oldest Christian feast that celebrates the Resurrection from the dead of our Lord Jesus Christ. God’s gift to humanity is life, but when we decided to separate ourselves from God by choosing to do “our will”, we brought death into the world and into our lives.

One morning on my way to work I met a fuel truck pulling out of my neighbor’s driveway. This was one of those really cold, -30 degree kind of days. I couldn’t help but think about the family and if they had run out of fuel. I also wondered about their ability to pay for…

This year’s Lenten luncheon on Wednesday, March 18 promises to be exceptional! We will be honoring Fr. James Kurzynski and the Roncalli Newman Parish with the “In My Name Award”. For many years, Fr. Kurzynski has been an advocate of social justice issues based on the Gospel’s principle of “Love Your Neighbor”. In Eau Claire,…

The Second reading for the Second Sunday of Lent asks us, “If God is for us, who can be against us? If it is God who acquits us, who will condemn?” (Rom 8:31). It is clearly helpful to have God “for us”. It definitely beats the alternative. However, I wonder, what does it mean to…

The Lenten season has begun for 2015. Many people are setting their goals and figuring out what they need to “give up” for the next 40 days. For some, the thought has crossed their mind, but nothing has been established.

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “Lent is the primary penitential season in the Church’s liturgical year, reflecting the forty days Jesus spent in the desert in fasting and prayer”. By fasting, Jesus shows his humanity and teaches us the importance of sacrifice, self-denial and bringing our human basic needs under the control of our will. But He also tells…

When I woke up this morning it was cold, really cold. The morning wasn’t a record breaker but five below zero is cold. That kind of cold grabs the attention in a way that an afternoon in May simply never does. I started thinking about other places that were probably colder and places that never get this cold and…

Matthew 25:35-40 — For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him,…

St. Luke’s Gospel tells us that the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a virgin named Mary and said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you”. But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for…