General information from the Loretto Community.
In today’s Gospel, John gives us enough material to reflect on for the rest of the week. Most of us, however, like homilies that are short and to the point, so let’s not get too excited about boring homilies. I’ll…
Today’s readings tell the story of Easter according to John and how it unfolded. The story seems to indicate that the disciples of Jesus needed each other to understand what was happening. In the days after the crucifixion and before…
Our Jewish kin celebrate Passover this week. Around family tables they are passing on the stories of their ancestors, the story of themselves as a people. We have just read the same Scriptures that we recognize as our heritage, the…
Dietrich Bonhoeffer 4/30/1944: “You would be surprised, and perhaps even worried, by my theological thoughts and the conclusions they lead to; and this is where I miss you most of all, because I don’t know anyone else with whom I…
John 11:1-45 We just heard a tender story about Martha, Mary, Lazarus and Jesus. The evangelist, John, has Jesus saying that he, Jesus, is the resurrection and the life. John has Jesus saying further, “Whoever believes in me, even if she…
Today’s Gospel follows a theme of light and darkness that is spread throughout John’s writings beginning with the prologue where light shines through the darkness. It also follows several previous unpleasant encounters between Jesus and the religious leaders. They are…
Loretto wishes to share with you the research of the congregation’s study of the history of Native Boarding schools operated by the Sisters of Loretto. Why We Study the Native Boarding School Era In 2012 the Loretto Community was dismayed…
Since the Gospel today is so long, I have selected specific phrases to reflect on, rather than weaving a coherent homily. The story of the “Woman at the Well” is found only in the Gospel of John. Yet, it is…
Last Sunday we followed Jesus into the desert. Jesus was at the beginning of this work he sensed himself called to do. We were reading from the fourth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, toward the beginning of Jesus’ public life. Jesus had just been…
Genesis 2:7… 3:7 Romans 5:12, 17-19 Matthew 3:13, 16-17; 4:1-11 This morning we have in the Genesis and Matthew readings very familiar and similar stories of how…
If the book of Leviticus was written during the time the Israelites were in exile, it is interesting to hypothesize about all of the rulemaking in the book of Leviticus. In a time of fear and uncertainty, did rules give…
Most of us here have experienced the Catholic Church as it was before Vatican II and after it. Think about the focus on externals before the council. Rituals were very important, and they were governed by specific rules – Mass…