Bishop Donald DeGrood Homilies

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.

Do you try to run away from or avoid the crosses the Lord gives you? This weekend in his homily, Bishop explained the importance of embracing our crosses, dying to ourselves, remaining on our cross with Christ and allow him to come alive within us.

Did it seem like your parents were always telling you no? Why wouldn't they let you do what you wanted? This weekend in his homily, Bishop reflected on the tough love of his parents, how their "no" prepared him for growing in virtue, and how growing in virtue brought greater happiness.

Can you recall a time where you felt guilt, regret and shame? This is often our response when we do something wrong. This weekend in his homily, Bishop encouraged us to stand strong against temptation, to protect those around us, and to live in the fullness of life and love.

Did you know the Holy Spirit infuses you with graces particular to your state in life and vocation? This weekend in his homily, Bishop explained how the Holy Spirit gives us graces, strength and consolations that are particular to the life God has called us to. We are reminded that the Holy Spirit does not only work through those with power and influence, but often times, in the most ordinary peop...

What does it mean to have the Holy Spirit residing within us? This weekend in his homily, Bishop explained the consolation we receive when the Holy Spirit resides within us. We are encouraged to draw close to the Lord and ask him for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit so God may dwell within us.

Do you struggle with doubt? Do you doubt God's love and presence, or that he could forgive you of your mistakes and sins? Maybe you struggle to let yourself be free from the guilt and burdens of your mistakes. This weekend in his homily, Bishop acknowledged the spiritual difficulties of doubt, and encouraged us to have trust and faith in God's divine love and mercy. Run to the Lord, and receive hi...

Our world is filled with idolatry: the love of self and making oneself their own God. This weekend in his homily, Bishop explained why idolatry is dangerous and destructive to our faith, our lives and to society. The good news is that Christ conquered sin and death and is now risen. May Christ rise in our hearts so we may live as God intended us to.