The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.’” Luke 17: 5-10 Faith is a gracious gift from God. It can neither be earned nor bought,but only responded to with acts of […]

One of the first things I learned in Catholic school back in the Bronx was that I am made in the image and likeness of God. In my child-mind, I originally took this to mean that God had eyes, ears, a nose, and possibly wore glasses. But as I grew and matured in my faith, […]

“Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.” Psalm 34:8 A number of years ago I was home for several weeks recovering from surgery. I took the opportunity to work on a family project I had wanted to do for a very long time. I selected the best photographs from 65 albums of family pictures […]

One of the nicest things that anyone has ever done for me happened about forty-two years ago high above the Atlantic Ocean. I had been working for a pharmaceutical company in international information systems; and on one of my many trips to Europe, my boss decided to make the trip with me. Because of his […]

“What if God was one of us? Just a slob like one of us? Just a stranger on the bus? Trying to make his way home.” 1  One of my favorite Christmas songs isn’t really a Christmas holiday song at all. It’s a song called, “One of Us”. Composed in 1995 by Eric Bazilian and […]

Everyone Is Welcome (There Are No Exceptions) The Roman Catholic Church is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the Permanent Diaconate. There are over 17,000 permanent deacons in the United States and over 42,000 worldwide. I have been proud to be one of them since my ordination in 1992.After marrying my sweetheart, Wanda, […]

‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.’ Jesus gave us a wonderful gift: he brought God into the center of our lives and taught us that he is like a loving father. Today is Fathers Day. It is a good time to remember that each and every one of us — male […]

Just to Follow My Friend (Reflection by Deacon Lex at 25th Ordination Anniversary Mass) There’s a song by Christopher Walker that Peter Coll, our Music Director, often plays during Mass. The song is entitled, “Because the Lord is My Shepherd” and its refrain sums up why I became a deacon: Lord, you are my Shepherd, […]

If God really loves us so much why does he allow bad things to happen? Before retiring, I worked for many years at Hackensack University Medical Center. At least once each day I would ride the elevator in The Tomorrows Children Building. Frequently I would share that elevator with young children who were very, very […]

Jesus said, “All that you see here – the day will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone.” Will you and I be ready to face that day when it comes? On November 20th we will celebrate the feast of Christ the King. It is the last Sunday in the […]