From the Pastor: 5.20.12

I recently had occasion to see that old chestnut, “The Music Man.”  A friend’s son was appearing in the show which was being staged as his high school’s “9th-grade musical.”  I went mainly to bolster the young man’s personal cheering section; I will confess that I had some apprehension about how the show would hold up when performed entirely by 14- and 15-year olds.  I am grateful to report that, on the whole, it came off rather well. Let me back up and say that I haven’t always liked “The Music Man.”   Or, more precisely, I haven’t always liked...

From the Pastor: May 13, 2012

As I think many of you know, I walk with a friend for an hour or so several mornings a week.  An all-around good and useful habit, it provides regular aerobic exercise to keep me healthy; and it also provides a chance for my friend and me to “solve the world’s problems.”  Lately, though, we have been noticing the intrusion of one of those problems into our walks themselves.  I refer to what I will call “noise pollution”…  As much as I enjoy living in center city – and I do enjoy it a great deal – there is no getting away from the fact that ambient noise...

320 Walnut St & Parking Lot Sold!

We received word from the Archdiocese that as of Tuesday, May 1, the building at 320 Walnut, along with “our” parking lot, are no longer the property of the Archdiocese. We were told to expect a call in the near future from Greg Webster on behalf of the developers who now own the property. We will apparently retain use of a few spaces. Timetables have yet to be clarified, as does the impact of pending renovation and construction work. We will keep you posted as we hear more. Meanwhile, ideas and suggestions for future parking solutions are welcome — feel...

From the Pastor: 5.6.12

With the trial of Msgr. Lynn figuring prominently in the “Inquirer” on a daily basis, and with news of the Vatican’s recent rebuke of American women religious, it is a difficult time to be a priest and pastor in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.  Over recent weeks, I have had painful conversations with a number of agonized parishioners (and other Catholic friends) who are searching their souls about whether or not they can remain formally affiliated with the Catholic Church as an institution while still preserving some sense of their own integrity.  I have had no...

Homily: 4th Sunday in Easter

Jesus had a pretty good track record when it comes to universal symbols and images.  Two millennia later, and half a world away from Israel, we still eat bread and we still drink wine.  And when he talks about salt and light, we still have no trouble following him.  But this shepherd thing – an occupation which, the people of Jesus’ time and place would have found as familiar as we do that of police officer or bus driver or teacher – is a bit of a reach for us modern big city dwellers. So let me start by saying that today’s Gospel reading – like every Gospel...