Fr. Patrick Gonyeau C.PP.S.

In St. Paul's Letter to the Romans, we read "we know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose" and that "those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son."  We look into these words now, guided by the Church, to further understand how we deal with the problem of evil, understand predestination, and seek to listen to...

In the famous parable of The Sower, Jesus describes four responses to His gospel.  In the parable, Jesus is the sower and the seeds are His words.  In the great love letter with a heartbeat, the bible, we have a treasure chest of God's living Word just waiting for us!   Considering the simple and effective WRAP method of Lectio Divina (divine reading), Pope Benedict's "secret" to the springtime of...

Jesus said, "come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Mt 11:30).   The offer stands...

After calling the 12 Apostles to himself, Jesus sent them out to preach, letting them know quite clearly they would experience persecution.  Nevertheless, Jesus told them to fear no one, for God cares intimately for them and us (knowing even the number of hairs on our heard.)  In the midst of challenge, temptations to fear and anxiety, the apostles lived with hope and courage, the Lord invites us...

A sacrament is a sign that points to something else, making present what it points to and thereby communicating the grace of the reality that it points to and makes present.  In the gift of the Eucharist, we receive the gift of Jesus body and blood, the gift of Jesus himself who comes to give himself freely to us, as he gave himself freely for us on Calvary.  Recognizing, revering and responding t...

When Jesus said, "for God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son"  He revealed that God the Father longs, out of magnificent love, to draw the world into His embrace.  God is in love with His creation and desires to conquer sin, darkness and separation one soul at a time.  Will we enjoy His embrace?  Will we share His desire?

The Ascension of Jesus Christ, body and soul into heaven, marks a definitive turn in the story of salvation history, leading to the outpouring of the Spirit that brings us to a new level of intimacy with God.  In this intimate union, we are equipped and empowered by the Spirit to do what He said...."Go and make disciples!"

In Chapter 14 of John's gospel, Jesus teaches us that if we love Him, and keep his commandments, that He & the Father will come and make their dwelling in us (Jn14:23).  As disciples of Jesus, He calls us to walk in the power of the Spirit and expect to both see and work signs and wonders in His name...

Motherhood:  God's Amazing Design 5th Sunday of Easter, Year A In the gospel of John we hear Jesus tell the apostles, and the world, that "I am the way the truth and the life".  On Mother's day we consider the unique gift of motherhood and the critical role mothers have in both showing, and teaching, their children the way, truth and life of Jesus.

Living Joyfully in God's Love 4th Sunday of Easter, Year A The Good Shepherd brings us into intimate communion with God and desires to lead us in a life lived in the depths of God's love!

Hearing Jesus Third Sunday of Easter, Year A As with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, Jesus walks with us.  As we journey with the Lord, learning to hear his voice makes all the difference.  

His Ocean of Mercy Through the revelations given to St. Faustina, Jesus invites us into the depths of complete trust in His mercy, where love, joy, peace, healing and freedom abound.  Drinking deeply of His Merciful love, we become living springs of His love to the parched world all around...

Homily on Easter Sunday of Year A   The tomb is empty and the risen one awaits with an offer that changes everything...

Homily for the 4th Sunday of Lent, Year A   The unexpected visit of six non-Catholic children from the inner city neighborhood of St. Moses the Black prompted a spontaneous homily directed toward the hearts of the special visitors.  Additionally, the moving story about a Christian recognizing a blind spot in her faith that, once noticed, changed her life and the lives of people around her.

Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Lent, Year A   As we look with faith anew at the encounter between Jesus and the woman at the well, we realize God is drawing us to drink ever more deeply of the life-giving living water that He gives.

Does it ever seem like your life is just the same old thing day after day?  Jesus is the way out of the monotony.  He invites us to experience daily transformation in Him that awakens us to the adventure of life with Him!

Homily for The First Sunday of Lent, Year A Do you understand the root sin in your life and how to conquer it? In the story of The Fall (Original Sin), God reveals the root to us, and in the desert, Jesus shows us how to conquer temptation.   Daily Readings GN 2:7-9; 3:1-7 ROM 5:12-19 MT 4:1-11

Homily for The Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A On the day of baby Philomena's baptism at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit, the question "what is baptism?"  The God-given, true reality of baptism is nothing short of magnificent.     Daily Reading Is 49:14-15 1 Cor 4:1-5 Mt 6:24-34

  Homily for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Turn the other cheek? Love your enemies? Pray for those who persecute you?! Where do we find the strength to have the freedom to love as Jesus demands? Abba.   The Father so loved the world, so loved you, that He sent His only begotten Son…   Daily Readings LV 19:1-2, 17-18   1 COR 3:16-23 MT 5:38-48

Inspired by both the call to use new methods of spreading the gospel the New Evangelization, and the powerful encounter with a man from Pennsylvania whose reversion to Catholicism came from listening to homilies on the radio, Fr. Patrick offers a greeting and introduction to this podcast.  If you'd like to check out Fr. Patrick's free Christian folk albums, visit  https://frpatrick.bandcamp.com

Homliy for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Why does God give us commandments?  When Jesus said He didn't come to abolish the laws, but to fulfill it, what did He mean?  One look at a crucifix reminds us that Jesus is the king of passionate love, and in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us that God's commandments are an affair of the heart between God & His beloved people.   Daily Read...

02/05/17 - Homily for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells His disciples that "you are the light of the world".  In Jesus time, to have light, you needed fire.  When it comes to the kind of light Jesus is talking about His disciples shining forth in the world, it's the same in our time as well.  We need the fire of His love.     Daily Readings IS 58:7-1...

Daily Readings ZEP 2:3; 3:12-13 1 COR 1:26-31 MT 5:1-12A

Daily Readings IS 8:23—9:3 1 COR 1:10-13, 17 MT 4:12-23