Bishop Donald DeGrood Homilies

Are you struggling in your faith? Does it feel like the fire for your faith has started to go out? This weekend in his homily, Bishop reminds us that sometimes God challenges us in ways that require us to stir the fire of our faith so it can grow into an ever stronger passion and steadfast faith.

Are you disheartened by all the evil in the world? This weekend in his homily, Bishop reminded us that evil is overcome by good, and how humility and putting others before oneself combats evil. Never forget God will triumph in the end.

Do you wonder if you will make it through the narrow gate to heaven? Do you wonder how to make it through the narrow gate? This weekend in his homily, Bishop explained how choosing to follow Jesus and have a personal relationship with him will lead us to heaven.

Do you feel like you're in a deep cistern and not sure how things will get better? This weekend in his homily, Bishop reflected on the difficulties and uncertainties of life and the importance of keeping our eyes on Jesus in the midst of struggles. In this homily, Bishop also reminds us that when we keep our eyes on Jesus he will give us everything we need, even in the darkest and most difficult s...

As human beings, we love pleasure and hate pain. We also love to have power over things and others, and we wonder why God doesn't think like we do and do things the way we want. Does any of this sound familiar? This weekend in his homily, Bishop explains where these desires come from, and why we should humble ourselves like Jesus and surrender our desires to God.

Has your understanding of justice changed over your life? Did you once see justice as others owing you everything, or doing what you want? This weekend in his homily, Bishop reminds us that justice is a gift that is to be given what is owed to another. For example, it is just and right for us to give God his due honor, glory and praise at the Mass each Sunday, and to allow God's justice to flow th...

Are you afraid to place your hope and trust in the Lord? Maybe you feel like the hope you have is running out. This weekend in his homily, Bishop reminds us that God is hope, and that hope does not disappoint. But hope requires us to stretch and reach for God, like roots in a tree yearning for water. It is in going beyond ourselves and our trusting the Lord that we will be led to the source of lif...

Do you struggle to ignore the voice inside you telling you that you aren't capable or aren't good enough to share your faith, teach religious education or have a holy marriage? This weekend in his homily, Bishop explained how spiritual inadequacy is a barrier to us growing in holiness and allowing God to fill us with the graces we need. Rather than allowing the devil to affirm our inadequacies, Bi...

As citizens of heaven, we are endowed with graces given to us at our baptism to receive and treat others with respect and dignity. This weekend in his homily, Bishop explained how justice and mercy are guiding virtues for enacting policies regarding illegal immigration.

Who is Jesus really? Through the process of conversion and understanding, we can understand who he is and be sanctified through the sacraments of his Church.

We are God's beloved. Unlike every other creature, we as human beings are made in the image and likeness of God. This weekend in his homily, Bishop explained how blessed we are to be made in God's image, and that Jesus willingly died for us.

Do you struggle to rejoice in the Lord despite the struggles of life? It can be difficult to rejoice in the Lord in hard times, but it is possible. This weekend in his homily, Bishop explained how God wants us to be filled with joy, even in the midst of the hardships, difficulties and disappointments of life.

Do you have a place in your heart for Jesus to settle into? This weekend in his homily, Bishop reminds us how Advent is a time to prepare a space in our hearts for Jesus, and to be vigilant and diligent for the coming of our savior.

Are you ready to stand before the Lord? As our liturgical year comes to a close, we hear about the end of time. Are we ready? This weekend in his homily, Bishop reminds us of the importance of preparing our souls for death and purifying our souls, looking to the example of the saints who have gone before us. May we put aside the things of this world, and pursue the Lord and allow him to purify and...

God dwells in sacred spaces. In our beautiful cathedral and in the temple of our hearts. This weekend in his homily, Bishop explained the importance of giving to God out of our poverty, and allowing him to work and dwell within our heart so that we may receive God's grace. Will you give God your poverty and trust that he will provide?

Do you struggle to be steadfast in your faith? This weekend in his homily, Bishop shared how an unexpected conversation inspired him in this man's steadfastness in faith. Still inspired, Bishop encouraged us to be steadfast in our faith and in doing what is right no matter how difficult it may be.

Did you know God wants to fill you with spiritual graces? Being filled with these graces will allow you to live a happy, healthy and holy life. This weekend in his homily, Bishop explained how the virtues of wisdom and prudence call for good things, and allow us to see and know what is good. When we have these virtues, we are able to go out into the world as ambassadors of God to promote the good...

What does it mean to have a happy, healthy and holy marriage? This weekend in his homily, Bishop explained how pouring one's self out for the good of the other, and receiving that same self-sacrificing love from your spouse, is what marital love looks like. But in order to give self sacrificing love, one must receive charity, or God's love. We are reminded that until we receive God's love, we cann...

As a baptized Catholic, your prayers and sacrifices have spiritual power. You have the spirit of God alive within you, which gives you the grace to teach and share the Good News of God. And because you have been baptized in Christ you have the power to govern, to govern your life and advocate for others. Through your baptism you are a priest, prophet and king. This weekend in his homily, Bishop ex...

Are you free? Have you opened yourself to God's grace and the freedom that comes only from his grace? This weekend in his homily, Bishop reflected on the freedom that comes from complete and total surrender to God, and how he was reminded of this gift from an unlikely source.

As a child, did you like to pick and choose what you wanted to eat? Looking back can you see how your parents knew better than you did? This weekend in his homily, Bishop explained how we tend to pick and choose what we believe in our faith and sometimes oppose our heavenly Father who knows best. To help us better understand the Church's teaching on hard issues, Bishop encourages us all to cling t...

Have you opened your heart to God? Do you allow him to fill your heart with overflowing graces? This weekend in his homily, Bishop explained how allowing God to move within our hearts allows us to know we are loved by God, fall more deeply in love with God and to love more fully the people in our lives.

Have you ever thought of the Eucharist as the love feast of heaven? This weekend in his homily, Bishop explained how adoring our Lord in the Eucharist satisfies the deepest parts of our hearts and gives us a foretaste of heaven.

Our world is starving for the truth. This weekend in his homily, Bishop explained the importance of sharing the truth. Not only is our world starving to hear the truth, people are asking to be told the truth, even about difficult issues on faith and morals. Bishop also reminded us that true love is charity, and love speaks the truth. Go out into the world and share the truth in love.

Do you celebrate your citizenship in God like you celebrate your citizenship as an American? This past weekend Bishop reminded us of the incredible gift we have in the inheritance of heaven as baptized sons and daughters of God. And as baptized Christians, we are called to share the Good News with others so that souls searching for true freedom may find it in the Lord.