Fr. Paul Castelli (Episcopal Campus Ministry at West Virginia University)

A sermon preached on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost at the student service for the St. Thomas Aquinas Episcopal Campus Ministry at West Virginia University Focus Texts: Luke 18:9-14 There are basically two kinds of people: those who know they’re dead and those who don’t. Today’s parable shows us this dichotomy illustrated by the Pharisee, a man who does not know he is dead, and the tax colle...

A sermon preached in the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost at the student service for the St. Thomas Aquinas Episcopal Campus Ministry at West Virginia University Focus Texts: Genesis 32:22-31; Luke 18:1-8 Many people get this idea in their heads that they shouldn’t bother God with their problems or that other people’s prayer needs are more important than their own. But this scarcity mindset doesn...

A sermon preached for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost preached at the campus ministry service for the St. Thomas Aquinas Episcopal Campus Ministry at West Virginia University Focus Texts: 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c; Luke 17:11-19 “Your faith has made you well." What does it mean to be made well by faith in Jesus Christ? Our readings included two different stories of Lepers being miraculously heale...

A sermon preached at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in St. Alban’s, West Virginia on the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost Focus Text: Luke 17:5-10 (specifically vv. 5-6) Just before this passage, Jesus is instructing his apostles on sin, faith, and duty. Particularly important is what Jesus says about offering forgiveness to those who repent of their sin against you: as many as seven times in a day...

A sermon for the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost preached at the campus ministry service for the St. Thomas Aquinas Episcopal Campus Ministry at West Virginia University Focus Text: Luke 16:19-31; 1 Timothy 6:6-19 “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40) “If you cannot recognize Christ in the beggar, you will...

A sermon for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost preached at the campus ministry service for the St. Thomas Aquinas Episcopal Campus Ministry at West Virginia University Focus Text: Luke 16:1-13 The Parable of the Shrewd Manager (or is it the dishonest steward or the unjust steward?) is considered among the most perplexing of Jesus’ parables. Many preachers grumble and groan when it comes up once...

A sermon for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost preached at the campus ministry service for the St. Thomas Aquinas Episcopal Campus Ministry at West Virginia University Focus Texts: Luke 15:1-10; Exodus 32:7-14 Jesus chooses to claim tax collectors and sinners as his people when he dines with them. Some Pharisees who witness this public acceptance are scandalized and ridicule him. Enter the par...

Sermon preached Sunday evening on September 7th for the St. Thomas Aquinas Episcopal Campus Ministry at West Virginia University Focus texts — Luke 14:25-33 and Philemon Jesus isn’t really telling us to hate people, is he? I’ve got good news and bad news (that’s still actually good news). The word in the original text (μισέω) translates better into English as something along the lines of love less...

A sermon preached at Trinity Episcopal Church in Morgantown, WV on Sunday, August 31, 2025 Focus Texts: Jeremiah 2:4-13*; Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16; Luke 14:1, 7-14 *Isiah mentioned in the sermon by mistake In the wake of another school shooting, this time in Minneapolis, what is the value of the “thoughts and prayers” always invoked by some and criticized by others? Who is right, the person who stand...

Sermon preached at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Kingwood, WV on Sunday, August 24, 2025. Focus text: Luke 13:10-17

Sermon for the Episcopal Campus Ministry at West Virginia University on Sunday, August 17, 2025 Jeremiah 23:23-29 Psalm 82 Hebrews 11:29-12:2 Luke 12:49-56

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