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Author Archives: Fr. Tony Schuerger
An Advent Reminder: 1 Corinthians 13 – Christmas Style
Recently, a Byzantine (Greek) Catholic priest friend sent me a very large file of “Christmas resources.” It contains a wealth of information about celebrating the Christmas liturgies in the Eastern rites (Catholic and Orthodox), an incredible compilation of commentaries, reflections and preaching from the Fathers of the Church (especially the Eastern Fathers), reflections on Christmas Read more ..
The Sex Abuse Crisis: Signs of Hope
During the past few weeks, the Catholic Church has published two significant documents addressing the sex abuse crisis in the Catholic Church. In the United States, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) published The Causes and Context of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests in the United States, 1950-2010 prepared by the Read more ..
Posted in Fr. Tony's Blog Tagged hope, John Jay report, sex abuse crisis, U.S. Catholic Bishops Leave a comment
Osama bin Laden and believing in the resurrection
It is the Easter season; Christians everywhere celebrate the resurrection of Jesus for fifty days. Jesus’ resurrection is the center of Christian faith. Within 30 years of his resurrection, St. Paul already was able to emphasize that the resurrection was central to Christian faith: For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been Read more ..
Preparing for the New Roman Missal: How do you sign “incarnate?”
This year on November 27, 2011, the First Sunday of Advent, Catholics in the English-speaking world (13 countries, including the U.S. and Canada) will begin using a completely new translation of the Mass. The wording of almost all the Mass prayers will change for both priest and people. A few prayers, like the Our Father, Read more ..
Posted in Fr. Tony's Blog Tagged Catholic Mass, Deaf, Eucharist, new Mass translation, prayer, Roman Missal, sign language Leave a comment
Where was God When the Earthquake and Tsunami Hit?
We have seen the images from Japan: shaking and collapsing walls and buildings as the 9.0 earthquake hit, the wall of water from the tsunami crushing and sweeping away anything in its path, highways buckled and broken, boats swept onto and into buildings, fire shooting into the sky from damaged nuclear power plants. We have Read more ..
Preparing for/Beginning Lent
Mardi Gras and Carnival are reaching their climax. The French Quarter in New Orleans and the streets and ballrooms of Rio de Janeiro are packed with revelers in spectacular costumes. Then, suddenly, it will all be over. Lent will have arrived. Ash Wednesday is as serious as Mardi Gras and Carnival are wildly celebratory. For Read more ..
Priorities
Observed from life: Someone sitting in a restaurant sharing a meal with a friend. The cellphone rings and the person takes the call/email/tweet (and responds); the friend sits and waits. An individual plans the weekend schedule carefully; participation at Mass is a non-negotiable every week. Which day, which church, which Mass time all depends on Read more ..
Posted in Fr. Tony's Blog Tagged cell phones, community, Mass, setting priorities, too busy Leave a comment
Thinking about the Christmas Story: How We Think It Happened (Incorrectly) and the Story Luke Really Tells
When someone says “the Christmas story,” almost always the person means the account of the birth of Jesus found at the beginning of the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke. This is the text: In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the Read more ..
Blessing for the New Year