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Bulletin Q&A Article; Published 4-7-24: On Palm Sunday we had the reading of the Passion from the Gospel of St. Mark. It talked about a young man running away naked. What’s up with that? What’s up indeed? The passage referred to is: “Now a young man followed him wearing nothing but a linen cloth about… Continue reading The Naked Young Man

Homily, 3-25-24; Monday of the 6th Week in Lent: Jesus reminds Judas: “You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” Jesus cares for the poor, but He didn’t come to earth to solve the issue of material poverty. He came because of spiritual poverty which He cares about even… Continue reading Our Light and our Salvation

Bulletin Q&A Article; Published 3-24-24: I came across a prayer to St. Raphael that stated: “I humbly pray you to heal …” and “ask of you the great grace of purity …” Should we be asking this directly or asking for the intercession of saints for our healing and graces? Can saints heal and give… Continue reading St. Raphael Prayer

Bulletin Q&A Article; Published 3-17-24: What is the proper procedure if a host is dropped? Someone I know was told by a Eucharistic Minister that they should not touch it, only the EM could and she was required to consume it. Before I address the question, let me start by dealing with the term Eucharistic… Continue reading Dropped Host; EMHC

Homily, 3-11-24; Monday of the 4th Week in Lent Through the prophet Isaiah, we hear God speak of a new heaven and a new earth. And it sounds very similar to what we hear in the Book of Revelation about the new heaven and the new earth that will occur at the end of time… Continue reading A New Heaven and a New Earth

Bulletin Q&A Article; Published 3-10-24: I would like to know if the deceased in Purgatory can pray for us. I know that we can assist them with prayer, and that they cannot pray for themselves. But can those reaching Purgatory pray for us on earth? When I went online to research this topic, I found… Continue reading Can Souls in Purgatory Pray for Us?

Homily, 3-4-24; Monday of the 3rd Week in Lent: Jesus came to his own people, but His own people rejected Him. They had a lack of faith. In the verse prior to the passage we heard in our first reading, Jesus says: “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself’”. And it reminded… Continue reading Blessed You Will Be

Homily, 2-26-24; Monday of the 2nd Week in Lent: “For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” When Jenni and I go out to eat, our beverage of choice is usually a glass of wine. The official serving size for wine is five ounces. But five ounces in… Continue reading A Good Pour

Homily, 2-25-24; Sunday of the 2nd Week in Lent, Cycle B:  “Today if you hear the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts.” This is one of the antiphons we use during Lent to start our Liturgy of the Hours, our daily Christian prayer. It’s taken from the psalms and I think it sums… Continue reading The Faith of Abraham

Bulletin Q&A Article; Published 2-25-24: Is there a reference to Purgatory in the Bible? Or in Jesus’ teachings? Could you state the passages? Purgatory is the most common of all question topics that I receive in the “Ask Deacon Joe” box or through emails. This particular question struck a chord with me when I received… Continue reading Purgatory in the Bible