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Fr. John Sassani & Msgr. Dennis Sheehan:
Printed January 16, 2022: Second Sunday in Ordinary Time by Msgr. Dennis Sheehan
Homilies given in past years
Note for January 9, 2022: A reflection from Fr. John Connelly was printed instead of a homily
Printed January 2, 2022: Epiphany by Fr. John Sassani
Printed December 25, 2021: Christmas by Msgr. Dennis Sheehan
Printed December 19, 2021: Fourth Sunday of Advent by Fr. John Sassani
Printed December 12, 2021: Third Sunday of Advent by Fr. John Sassani
Note for December 5, 2021: A reflection from Fr. John Connelly was printed instead of a homily
Printed November 28, 2021: First Sunday of Advent by Msgr. Dennis Sheehan
Looking for older homilies? See our Archive. -
Looking to learn more about Sunday Mass?
Start with the text of our Explanation Mass, which uses 10 one-minute explanations throughout the Mass - why do we do what we do when we do it? Find out here!
Church Life Journal is also great resource for learning more about liturgy! Here you will find articles about different aspects of the Mass and how to be a Catholic in the 21st Century.
We've shared a few of their articles on "The Mass for Millennials" here on this page, but for more please click this link.
The Mass for Millennials: Entrance Song, written by Jim Corcoran
The people have already come into the church (well, most of them have arrived). Individual practices are everywhere. Some genuflect before taking their pew. Some bow solemnly before the altar, then sit. Others wave to friends and family and start to make small talk while mindlessly half-genuflecting and then sitting to make a cursory prayer. In just a few moments, however, these people will be receiving one of the greatest gifts given to humanity. The Eucharist. These people will remain in their chosen pew until the time comes for them to process up to the altar of God to receive a tiny piece of what was once bread and a little sip of what was once wine that will transform their hearts and minds.
For more click here
The Mass for Millennials: Sign of the Cross, written by Grace Agolia
“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.”
We begin and conclude Mass with this simple and profound prayer. But have we really thought about what it means to make the “sign of the cross”?
Let’s start with the obvious. The “sign of the cross” is made by saying the Trinitarian invocation while touching one’s right hand to the forehead first (Father), then to the lower chest or stomach (Son), then to the left shoulder and the right shoulder (Holy Spirit), and closing with both our hands together for assent (Amen). Are these physical actions just arbitrarily chosen, or do they signify something? Why do we touch the forehead when we mean God the Father? Why do we touch our chest when mean God the Son? And why do we touch our shoulders when we mean the God the Holy Spirit?
For more click here
The Mass for Millennials: Penitential Act, written by Rose Urankar
Silence is not a common feature in my life. As a musician I am rarely without a song in my head, and this song can find its way out of my mind even with the slightest prompting—if a word, phrase, or chord progression resembles something in a song I love, I begin a full rendition. I’ve been known to accidentally hum in class absentmindedly, much to the dismay of my teachers. Heck, I even talk in my sleep.
For more click here
The Mass for Millennials: Glory to God, written by Carolyn Pirtle
In the celebration of the liturgy, the Glory to God occupies a unique place. On the one hand, it is a response: we have just participated in the Penitential Act by recalling and confessing our sinfulness as individuals and as a worshiping community, and we have just heard the priest pronounce the concluding blessing “in which the forgiveness of sins is given.” The only response that makes any sense in the face of such a gift is to cry out “Glory to God in the highest.”
For more click here