NB: This was my bulletin article two weeks ago.  I post it here with the hopes that it might be helpful to some. “I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.  “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” This past Easter Monday, I decided that I just needed a day for myself.  I hadn’t taken a day off since the public Masses were suspended (truthfully, I don’t always take my day off, but I don’t normally go that long without one), and it wa ..read more

Father Acervo’s Corner: January 28, 2018 1. This week is our annual celebration of Catholic Schools Week. Since 1974, Catholic Schools Week has been observed as the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States.  Through the various activities both at the local and diocesan level, we are given the opportunity to reflect on the potential value that Catholic education can provide to young people as well as our schools’ contributions to the parish and our local communities. It’s also an opportunity to remind ourselves of the importance of teaching the truth of the Catholic fa ..read more

St. Edward on the Lake, Lakeport, MI | DOWNLOAD AUDIO January 21, 2018 Jon 3:1-5, 10; 1 Cor 7:29-31; Mk 1:14-20 What does it mean to be successful? If you ask 100 people that question, you’ll probably get 100 different answers.  For many, success is thought of in terms of worldly prosperity: degree, job, money, bigger house, etc.  For many, success is rooted in “things”.  The more I have of these things, the more “successful” I am.  Now these things aren’t necessarily bad – we need them to some extent.  But St. Paul in the Second Reading says that “the world in its pre ..read more

St. Edward on the Lake, Lakeport, MI | DOWNLOAD AUDIO January 21, 2018 Rom 12:16-21; Matt 8:1-13 In the first part of the Gospel, Jesus encounters a leper.  Leprosy was a severe and contagious skin disease that slowly ate away the flesh until it rotted.  Lepers were not to approach anybody, but were instead cut off from the community.  But upon seeing the Lord, he kneels before Him and begs for healing.  Even though the leper was not supposed to do this, Jesus has pity on him and heals him because of his faith.  Yet Jesus has respect for the Law.  He tells the lep ..read more

Father Acervo’s Corner: January 21, 2018 One could say that 1968 was a memorable year (I say this as one who had not been born yet).  Locally, it was the year that the Tigers beat the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games to win the World Series.  This might be a nice memory to hold on to during what could be a tough season for our baseball club!  In the Church, 1968 was the year that Pope Paul VI wrote his Encyclical Letter Humanae Vitae (“Of Human Life”).  This letter sent shockwaves in the Church throughout the world and continues to do so fifty years later.  From the ..read more

St. Edward on the Lake, Lakeport, MI | DOWNLOAD AUDIO January 14, 2018 Rom 12:6-16; Jn 2:1-11 Today’s Gospel is one of my favorites for a number of reasons.  First, the Wedding Feast of Cana reminds us of the confidence that we must have in the Mother of God.  Those who are not Catholic often wonder why we as Catholics pray to Mary.  They think that we worship her.  Worship, of course, is reserved only for God.  We know that.  But Mary holds a very important place for us.  To her, we owe her honor because she is the Mother of God.  But not just honor.&nb ..read more

Father Acervo’s Corner: January 14, 2018 “Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 2258; Donum Vitae).  “Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be ..read more

NB: Yes, I’m blogging again.  At least for now.  I’ve been so busy that I haven’t been able to keep up.  Thanks for your patience. St. Edward on the Lake, Lakeport, MI | DOWNLOAD AUDIO January 14, 2018 1 Sam 3:3b-10, 19; 1 Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20 I want to focus on the Second Reading today.  It’s from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians.  It’s an important passage because it combats the popular philosophies of our modern culture – a culture that Pope St. John Paul II referred to as a “culture of death” – and it’s important that we understand what St. Paul was talki ..read more

Father Acervo’s Corner: July 2, 2017 1. The month of July is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus. The Fathers of the Church say that the Church was born from the pierced side of Christ, and that the sacraments were brought forth through His Blood. Christ poured out His Blood for the salvation of the world, and it is said that even one drop of the Precious Blood would have been enough to redeem the world. And yet, by pouring out His Blood completely, He shows that He spared nothing in order to save us. The chalice that we receive IS the Blood of Christ.  It’s important that we be care ..read more

St. Edward on the Lake, Lakeport, MI | DOWNLOAD AUDIO June 18, 2017 Dt 8:2-3, 14b-16a; 1 Cor 10:16-17; Jn 6:51-58 After the Israelites were liberated from the slavery of the Egyptians, they spent forty years wandering in the desert.  It was a difficult time and a difficult journey, and many of them complained even to the point of saying that it would have been better to have stayed in Egypt quickly forgetting how bad slavery was.  Moses had the task of shepherding the people through the desert, dealing with complaints, and reminding the people to be thankful to God for having freed t ..read more