Fr. David Hogan

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Our modern culture glorifies being busy, productive, and in control. Additionally, many people carry invisible burdens such as stress, anxiety, grief, family struggles, financial pressures, addictions, and exhaustion. In our Gospel for today Jesus offers us a deeper meaning for the word rest. We are all invited to rest in knowing that we are loved, forgiven, and...

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time   Today we celebrate The Lord's Day and Father's day. Children can learn many things from their fathers such as how to ride a bike, throw a football, work hard, and persevere through difficult times. Unfortunately, father's day can also be a painful reminder of the brokenness of humanity.   Nonetheless, all fathers reflect to some degree the heart of a good father....

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Receiving Holy Communion is not a reward for good people, but food for pilgrims on the journey. Why does it seem like some people are changed and others are not at Mass? One word...receptivity.  When people come to Mass, we can come out of sheer obligation, habit, we can come with distractions, and closed hearts. Yet, in celebrating the great...

Holy Trinity Sunday Pope Leo XIV's prophetic encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, writes about the gift of the human person and the spiritual battles of the interior life and relationships that will continue to arise as a result of the influence of artificial intelligence.  The more artificial the world becomes, the more radiant authentic holiness may appear. Every human heart longs for three things: t...

Pentecost Sunday There are two themes we see in the accounts of the Resurrected Lord: He shows us His wounds while also offering us peace. Depending on how we view our ungodly self-reliance, we have the opportunity to not only experience God's mercy and love, but we are also able to offer the same to others. Shalom...Shalom. Scripture Readings for Sunday May 24 ,2026 Acts 2:1-11 Psalm 104:1, 24, 2...

The Ascension of the Lord In today's Gospel, we hear Jesus' final words before His glorious Ascension into heaven: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations."  Though this was part of God's plan, there is a tempting belief that Jesus has now abandoned us. Think about our prayer lives. The times we are most distracted and experience deafening silence for long periods of time, this lie is re...

Fifth Sunday in Easter God does not work with finished projects. Rather, He builds them. Like a construction site, which is messy, loud, unfinished, yet purposeful. So too, is the Church in the world today. St. Peter reminds you and I that we are living stones being built up into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood.  The only place we find real life is in Jesus Christ. Where are you in this...

Fourth Sunday in Easter As the Church celebrates Good Shepherd Sunday, it is important to take the time to reflect upon your calling or vocation. Vocation (Vocare) means a call or summons. In John 10, Jesus says, " My sheep hear my voice...and they follow me." Life in Christ is not an escape from suffering. It is a transformation of suffering. The easy road avoids suffering whereas the Shepherd le...

Third Sunday in Easter Have you ever walked away from something thinking, "I didn't get anything out of that." Unfortunately, that is how many people experience Mass. "I go...but I do not feel anything." In our Gospel for today, the two disciples leaving Jerusalem felt the same way. They just witnessed the greatest event in history...and walked away empty. The problem is not the Mass. The problem...

The Resurrection of the Lord The Mass of Easter Day On Easter Sunday, we proclaim with joy that Jesus Christ is risen, and death no longer has the final word. The empty tomb is not just an event of the past, but a living invitation to new life here and now. In every place of darkness, sin, or despair, the Resurrection declares that hope is real and victory is possible.  As disciples, we are called...

Palm Sunday When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?” The crowd answered correctly that Jesus is a prophet from Nazareth in Galilee. The crowd, like much of humanity, also got the answer woefully wrong.  The question, who is He, resides in every human heart. In fact, we are still learning how to answer this question today. Ask yourself: not in theory, not in...

Fifth Sunday in Lent Today's Gospel seems to touch on a delicate part of humanity which is that when things get bad God seems to abandons us. Instead, Jesus intentionally waits to visit Martha and Mary at the news of Lazarus' sickness and death so that something greater can take place.  Some of us are not waiting for a miracle...we're hiding in our tombs. Today, Jesus stands before that place in y...

4th Sunday in Lent As a person matures in their faith, one realizes how blind they were prior to seeing more clearly. This is exactly what today's Gospel is about. Many people think they can see clearly. But Jesus shows us that the deepest blindness is spiritual blindness. "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8). Scripture Readings...

Second Sunday in Lent Leading up to the Transfiguration, Jesus predicts his own passion and death. Given the traumatic events that will eventually take place, Jesus knew his most faithful followers' faith will be shaken. St. Leo the Great states, "Christ revealed His glory to strengthen the disciples against the scandal of the Cross." One of the great lessons we learn from our fathers in faith lik...

1st Sunday of Lent The three temptations Christ experienced in the desert by Satan are of similar origin we as human beings face on a daily basis: comfort, spiritual pride, and power.  Temptations do not imply sin as the struggle is part of growing in faith. Remember we are all saints in training. Jesus having passed the test in the desert teaches all people that there is hope in the midst of our...

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Information, knowledge, and wisdom are three ways of knowing. Given what our senses tell us, everything we experience in this life has an expiration date. Yet, "we speak of God's wisdom, mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory, and which none of the rulers of this age knew, for, if they had known it, they would not have crucified the...

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Often times the word blessed means successful, comfortable, and secure. In Jesus' sermon on the eight Beatitudes it seems Jesus speaks of “blessed,” as those who seem… unlucky. It may come as a surprise but Jesus equates blessed to be poor, meek, mourning, and persecuted.  To desire suffering or glory for its own sake is not the point rather faithfulness in following...

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time When John the Baptist called out, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." It is a revelation of who Jesus is. Reflecting more on this title of Christ, we are invited to consider who we are and what is our own mission. As we receive Christ in the Holy Eucharist, we encounter the living God further strengthening us for the work that lies ahead a...

The Epiphany of the Lord The magi, having been filled with joy, dangerous wonder, and obedience, followed the star which ultimately led to the site of our Lord's birth. Throughout this exciting and dangerous adventure, when challenged by God, the magi chose surrender and trust. The magi's journey from beginning to end ought to help shape our spiritual lives in being attuned toward God and His plan...

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph The simple truth is every family is imperfect. Jesus did not come into an ideal and wealthy household from a human standard standpoint, but into a real family with challenges. Jesus grew up learning, obeying, and depending upon Mary and Joseph. Mary trusted God even when she did not fully understand. Joseph quietly protected, provided, and obeyed...

The Nativity of the Lord  Merry Christmas!  Christmas is not just remembering an event that took place over 2,000 years ago. Nor is attending Christmas Mass, simply a tradition, an obligation or family pressure. Christmas is an opportunity for people to encounter the living God in a new way. For Christians, their baptism is their first Christmas. Through the words and actions of the priest or deac...

Fourth Sunday in Advent The fourth and final Sunday of Advent stands close to Christmas. Today’s Gospel centers on St. Joseph, a man faced with an unexpected pregnancy . His response teaches us how God asks us to choose trust over fear, mercy over judgement, and always life, even when the future feels uncertain. Scripture Readings for Sunday December 21, 2025 Isaiah 7:10-14 Psalm 24:1-6 Romans 1:1...

Second Sunday in Advent Advent is certainly a season of waiting and trusting on the Lord, but it is also a reminder that God keeps His promises when we cannot see how.  Advent trust means: Trusting God’s timing—He comes when the moment is right.  Trusting God’s method—He comes humbly, quietly, often unnoticed. Trusting God’s promise—Christ will come again in glory. The opposite of trust is not dou...

First Sunday in Advent The season of advent opens with hope. Not fear but hope that God is coming to save His people. Hope is not passive optimism; but invites total conversion, a new way of thinking, seeing, and living the life of grace.  Spiritual sleep, on the other hand, is associated with set routines void of one's heart being fully engaged, faith void of intrinsically motivated desire for Go...

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Jesus was one of the most misunderstood figures in history. From the beginning of his life, through the grace of the virgin birth until His death, many people, including his own followers found it difficult in understanding his mission and purpose.  Everyday we choose which king we will serve: the false kings of power, pride, ego, and co...