Donate
Appleton, WI

Aug 29 Homily Connect: Tradition

Scripture: Dt 4:1-2, 6-8 Jas 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27 Mk 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23 A Husband and Wife Wife cut off both sides of the ham – Husband asked, “Why?” Wife responded that was what her mom and grandma did. Wife called grandpa to ask “Why?” Grandpa responded: “So the ham would fit in the baking […]

Aug 22 Homily Connect: Words Matter

Scripture: Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b Eph 5:21-31 Jn 6:60-69 Words Have Power Pastors, teachers, counselors and elected officials should know Words matter Audrey and Edward Audrey a college music teacher in Moorpark, CA Edward a sad, tall student – never participated – poor test grades – ate lunch alone Audrey would seek him out – […]

Aug 15 Homily Connect: Mary, Our Perfect Christ Bearer

Scripture: Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a; 10ab 1Cor 15:20-27 Lk 1:39-59 Fr. Henry Nouwen – Life of a Friend and Follower of Jesus Christianity is lived when you look into the eyes of another person and see Jesus there; and she, or he, looks into your eyes and sees Jesus. We the friends and followers of Jesus […]

August 7/8: Day by Day with Father Bill – Weekend Edition

With guest columnist Tracy Turba, St. Mary Minister of Young Disciples Hello! I am Tracy Turba, the new Minister of Young Disciples here at St. Mary. I am full of joy to be in this position, get to know our parish families, and walk together in our relationship with the Lord. I have been a […]

Aug 8 Homily Connect: I Am!

Scripture: 1Kgs 19:4-8 Eph 4:30-5:2 Jn 6:41-51 The Story of Jessica Long – A Toyota Ad – Start your impossible Adopted from an orphanage in Siberia She has a rare disease – both her legs would need to be removed New mother announces – “She will not have an easy life but will have an […]

August 6: Day by Day with Father Bill

FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD   The 43rd Anniversary of the Death of Saint Pope Paul VI The 76th Anniversary of the Nuclear Bombing of Hiroshima, Japan   -from Saint Pope John Paul’s homily on the 21st anniversary of the death of Saint Pope Paul VI   We, pilgrims on earth, are granted […]

August 5: Day by Day with Father Bill

THURSDAY OF THE EIGHTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME   And That is Why by Adam Zagajewski   And that is why I paced the corridors Of those great museums Gazing at paintings of a world In which David is blameless as a boy scout Goliath earns his shameful death While eternal twilight dims Rembrandt’s canvases The twilight […]

August 4: Day by Day with Father Bill

MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOHN VIANNEY, PRIEST -from a Letter by Pope Benedict XVI proclaiming a Year for Priests on the 150th anniversary of the birth of Saint Father John Vianney Father John Vianney arrived in Ars, a village of 230 souls, warned by his bishop beforehand that there he would find religious practice in a […]

August 3: Day by Day with Father Bill

TUESDAY OF THE EIGHTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME -from Father Richard Rohr, OFM, and the Center for Contemplation and Action I am grateful that my spiritual father, St Francis of Assisi, took the Sermon on the Mount seriously and spent his life trying to imitate Jesus. Likewise, Francis’ followers, especially in the beginning, tried to […]

August 2: Day by Day with Father Bill

MONDAY OF THE EIGHTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME   A Dervish of Leaves by Ted Kooser   Sometimes when I’m sad, the dead leaves in the bed of my pickup truck get  up on their own and start dancing. I’ll be driving along, glance up at the mirror and there they’ll be, swirling and bowing, their […]