The Holy Family is a blessing to all families as we contemplate their loving relationship and complete obedience to the will of the Almighty Father

Reflections on the readings for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (December 26, 2021): SIR 3:2-6,12-14; PS 128:1-2,3,4-5; COL 3:12-21;LK 2:41-52

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

The Gospel reading today tells the only incident we know about Christ on the verge of becoming a young man. It was Passover and the family in company with relatives, friends, and neighbors went to Jerusalem...      

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“Sing praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song." (Psalm 98:5)

Reflections on the readings for the Nativity of the Lord – Mass during the Day (December 25, 2021): IS 52:7-10; PS 98:1,2-3,3-4,5-6;HEB 1:1-6; JN 1:1-18

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

Light and Word, grace and truth were made flesh in Mary’s womb by the power of the Holy Spirit.     

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It’s time to start celebrating the birth of the Child in Bethlehem

Reflections on the readings for the Vigil of the Nativity of the Lord (December 24, 2021): IS 62:1-5; PS 89:4-5,16-17,27,29; ACTS 13:16-17,22-25; MT 1:1-25

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

It’s a time of joy that extends from the long past to today and into eternity.     

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“O Shepherd of Israel, hearken, from Your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth. Rouse Your power, and come to save us.” (Psalm 80:2-3)

Reflections on the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 19, 2021): MI 5:1-4; PS 80:2-3,15-16,18-19; HEB 10:5-10; LK 1:39-45

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

As we enter the final days of Advent, we anticipate the celebration of our Lord’s nativity.      

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“The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior;...” (Zephaniah 3:17)  

Reflections on the readings for the Third Sunday of Advent (December 12, 2021): ZEP 3:14-18; IS 12:2-3,4,5-6; PHIL 4:4-7; LK 3:10-18 

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

The closer we grow to Jesus and the more we embrace His call, the more joy will become a genuine part of our lives.      

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On this day we celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary who was conceived free from any trace of the original sin 

Reflections on the readings for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (December 8, 2021): GN 3:9-15,20; PS 98:1,2-3,3-4; EPH 1:3-6,11-12; LK 1:26-38

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

The complete cooperation of our Blessed Mother with the Divine Will allowed the gift of salvation to come into the world.    

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As we begin this second week of the Advent season we hear from St. John the Baptist 

Reflections on the readings for the Second Sunday of Advent (December 5, 2021): BAR 5:1-9; PS 126:1-2,2-3,4-5,6; PHIL 1:4-6,8-11; LK 3:1-6

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

Our Lord would be revealed after His death and resurrection as the Son of God. Let us, too, use this Advent season to pay attention to His message, miracles, and mercy.   

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St. Francis Xavier, the great 16th-century missionary 

Reflections on the readings for the Memorial of St. Francis Xavier (December 3, 2021): IS 29:17-24; PS 27:1,4,13-14; MT 9:27-31

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

We now honor St. Francis Xavier as patron of missions, a title granted to him in 1925.  

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“The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah." (Jeremiah 33:14)

Reflections on the readings for the First Sunday of Advent (November 28, 2021): JER 33:14-16; PS 25:4-5,8-9,10,14; I THES 3:12—4:2; LK 21:25-28,34-36

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is faithful. Time and eternity belong to God and we humans can never really understand anything except as He reveals it to us.  

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We continue to express our gratitude to God and to our neighbors

Reflections on the readings for Thanksgiving Day (November 25, 2021): SIR 50:22-24; PS 145:2-3,4-5,6-7,8-9,10-11; 1 COR 1:3-9; LK 17:11-19

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days. 

The liturgy for today’s Mass reminds us to focus on the gratitude that we owe to Almighty God. “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness..."  

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