Bishop Donald DeGrood Homilies

Do you know the symbolism of the Sacred Heart of Jesus? In this homily, Bishop DeGrood explains what each part of the image means, and encourages us to allow the Sacred Heart to purify us.

Do you struggle to say "no" to sin and temptation? In this homily, Bishop DeGrood encourages us to stand up against evil and temptation like Christ did, and to grow in virtue and faithfulness to the Gospel.

How do we make ourselves worthy and let God live within us? In this homily, Bishop DeGrood reminds us that we must continually pray and ask God for the graces we need, and how it is God who makes us worthy.

Mothers have a special and privileged role in bringing new life into the world. In this homily, Bishop DeGrood reflects on the beauty of motherhood and how mothers and mother figures enrich the lives of those around them.

Does everything going on in the world have you feeling unsettled and disturbed? In this homily, Bishop DeGrood reminds us God has everything in his control, and encourages us to stay informed, but to not let the things that are happening consume us and lead us away from God.

We have entered into the holiest week of the year. In this homily, Bishop DeGrood encourages us to enter into the mystery of Christ's Passion and draw from the well of grace and strength this Holy Week, and enter into the passion God has for our own lives.

At the moment of your baptism, you were infused with graces. Not only were you infused with graces, but God also took you unto himself. In this homily, Bishop explains the reality of what happens to the soul at Baptism and when a baby is consecrated in oil, and how, through the waters of Baptism and holy oils, God pours himself into the heart and soul of the newly baptized.

Do you struggle with Lent? Do you tend to mumble and grumble when being tested or when God is asking you to grow? As human beings, it's our tendency because of Original Sin to resist growing in our spiritual lives. In this homily, Bishop encourages us to seek the Lord and allow him to fill us with his grace.

Do you struggle with the season of Lent? Bishop DeGrood did too as a child. In this homily, Bishop reflects on his childhood experiences, how the struggles he experienced back then now reveal the pathway for grace in his life, and he offers his encouragement this first week of Lent.

Do you know someone who embodies the humility of Jesus? In this homily, Bishop DeGrood reflects on the virtue of humility as the foundation of the spiritual life and how we need God to help us become humble like Christ was humble. Bishop reminds us that those who are humble are the most authentic. Do you want to be humble and authentic like Jesus?

When God's grace moves deeply within a soul, one can recognize it is of God. Even when we do not realize it, the heart yearns for deep connection with the Lord. In this homily, Bishop DeGrood reflects on the power of Christ's light and the power it has to draw any heart to himself.

Do you wish you had the courage to share your faith with a random person you encounter, or with your loved ones? In this homily, Bishop DeGrood explains why you can have the confidence to share the Good News with the people around you.

The baptism of Jesus is a profound mystery. Yet we do know Christ's baptism, and our own, opened the door to God's grace for us. In this homily, Bishop DeGrood reflects on the mystery and the extraordinary gift of the Sacrament of Baptism.

Is the joy and presence of God alive in your heart? In this homily, Bishop DeGrood explains how it is possible to be filled with the joy of the Lord even in the midst of hardship and reminds us that we are called to rejoice at all times and entrust ourselves to God and to live in union with him.

In an unjust world, we can take confidence in our Lord who is perfectly just. In this homily, Bishop DeGrood reminds us of God's justice and encourages us to grow in the cardinal virtue of justice so we may treat those around us with the love of God, and rid our hearts of anything preventing us from loving others as God loves us.

On this first weekend of November where we remember the faithful departed, especially the souls in purgatory, Bishop reminds us that we are always in need of purification in this life and that we are not ready for heaven... yet.

The Lord hears the cry of the poor. He hears the cry of those living in poverty, and of those who are poor in spirit. This weekend in his homily, Bishop reflected on how we are called to hear the cry of the poor and to be the hands and feet of Jesus to them, but we are also to remember our own poverty and need for the Lord.

There is an ongoing battle raging for life. A battle over the protection or destruction of life. This weekend in his homily, Bishop reflected on the ways life is under attack, from the unborn, sick and the elderly. But we are not without hope! Bishop also reminds us that the people of God are called to be like Aaron and Hur, who held up the arms of Moses, and support and stand beside our leaders f...

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...