I was reflecting this past week about how grateful I am for the blessing of these days with you. Whether it’s praying together at Mass, ministering with one another, or just spending time together, I hope you can see this time we're in with all its ups and downs as a gift from the Lord.

The next three Sundays of Lent we will hear from the "Scrutiny" Gospels. These readings help us 'scrutinize' our lives in the light of God's redeeming love. While God's love is always merciful and tender, it is also challenging as it calls us to give up old sinful ways and enter into newness of life.

The Gospel for this Second Sunday of Lent brings us to Mount Tabor for the Transfiguration of Christ. The Father speaks of Jesus to the disciples, "This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him." Our heavenly Father reveals that Jesus has much to say to us if we are willing to listen to Him.

Blessings to you as we begin this first week of Lent. How has the Lord called you to practice the Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving this year? All three disciplines work together like three wheels on a tricycle.

This weekend we celebrate World Marriage Day as a nation and World Day of the Sick as the Church. Marriage is the foundation of the family, and family life is where the call to holiness is formed and the self-gift of love matures.

Our Scriptures today look at the suffering inherent in our human condition, the Gospel call to be near those who suffer, and the healing and freedom Jesus brings.

Happy Catholic Schools Week! As we celebrate the blessing of our Catholic schools, especially St. Mary School in Chardon, we can be thankful for the gift of a well-rounded Catholic education for our students, the treasure of our teachers and their daily sacrifices, and the commitment of our families to raise their children in the faith of Christ.

This Monday, January 22 is the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. Based on the Judeo-Christian values of the dignity of the human person, the Church firmly, consistently, and insistently teaches that all people have the right to life from conception to natural death.

On December 18, the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith published the Declaration Fiducia Supplicans (FS), "On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings." There’s been confusion both inside and outside the Church about what this document says and means that I’d like to address in my column today.

This Sunday's Feast of the Epiphany celebrates the revelation of God's glory shown in the face of Jesus Christ. The word epiphany simply means appearance or revelation in the sense of an "Aha!" moment where something was made present and apparent that was formerly unknown.

Happy New Year! May the Lord be with you as we bring 2023 to a grateful conclusion, and begin 2024 with joyful hope. We continue to celebrate our Christmas season this weekend with the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

Merry Christmas! It's a joy for our parish community, staff, and clergy to celebrate Jesus' birthday with you and your family. Did you know that the meaning of Christmas can be found in its two words, "Christ's Mass."

"Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks." These timeless instructions from St. Paul are the ingredients to a joy-filled life in Christ in this life and in the life to come.

We can receive great consolation from the readings this Second Sunday of Advent. The Lord gives comfort to His people, speaking tenderly to them, being patient with them as they prepare the way of the Lord.

Happy Advent! We enter into this new liturgical season with Jesus telling us to "Be watchful! Be alert!" Advent is a time of active waiting, staying attentive not only to the movements of God's grace at work in our midst, but also remaining watchful and on guard from the snares of the enemy.

This weekend we begin the last week of Ordinary Time with the celebration of Christ the King of the Universe. To name Christ as King means that He is Lord of all and, consequently, we are not.

Happy Thanksgiving! We are in the season of gratitude where we become thankful for all the blessings God has given us, even the challenging ones that cause us to grow spiritually in our relationship with Christ and others. In a special way, I am grateful for your generosity and the stewardship of so many parishioners who call our parish home.

We celebrate the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick at Mass this weekend. Along with the Sacrament of Confession (also called Penance or Reconciliation), the Sacrament of Anointing is one of the two Sacraments of Healing of the Church.

You can't beat God when it comes to humility! When Jesus teaches, "The greatest among you must be your servant" we must ask the follow-up question: "Who, then, is greater than God?" If God is greatest, then He is calling Himself our servant.

Today we celebrate Priesthood Sunday and reflect on the blessing of the priesthood in our lives. I know I would not be a priest today if it weren't for the incredible witness of pastoral charity shown by priests who have been good shepherds and fathers to me in my life. Father Bednar's Parents Matter: Part 3 is also included.