Dear Friends, I have been trying really hard not to get caught up in Facebook arguments. But the other day I couldn’t help myself. (Surprise?!) Someone had posted a favorable review of Taylor Swift, calling her Christian-like for her many acts of generosity, including the money she donates to food banks at every town where … Read more
I’m sitting here in my apartment in Assisi reading the Scriptures for this coming Sunday. As I read James explaining that all our jealousies and selfish ambitions and conflicts and wars come from our out-of-order passions. We all know that’s true. And election season makes it abundantly clear. Crazed unruly passions seem to dominate. It’s … Read more
Saint Miriam’s Annual Pumpkin Patch will be open from October 10th to October 31st! Pumpkins will be available for sale and proceeds will benefit scholarships for the Saint Miriam School! You are also welcome to take family photos with the whole family including members with paws in our dog-friendly Pumpkin Patch! The Pumpkin Patch will … Read more
Join Saint Miriam This Fall As We Celebrate Joining One Home One Future: We Only Have One Planet One Home One Future, a multi-faith campaign for visible and collective climate action that educates, activates, and supports clergy, congregants, youth and all spiritual people in meaningful and just solutions locally, regionally, and nationally in ways that … Read more
It has been said that Jesus came proclaiming an upside-down kingdom. It’s a catchy way of saying that so much of what Jesus said and taught turns our way of thinking on its’ head. He said things like, if you want to live, you must die; and if you want to save your life, you must … Read more
Uh oh. In today’s gospel, Jesus says his followers must “Take up their cross.” These words always make me nervous—not because they are challenging but because of how often they have been misused to guide people into ways of thinking and acting that have nothing to do with the message of Jesus. Telling someone their cancer is … Read more
Mark’s Gospel this week brings us that denouement moment when Peter says, ‘You are the Christ’! This is known as the Petrine Declaration and is a statement of great clarity, but as clear as it is, Peter remained to a degree ‘outside’ of the mystery of Christ. Yes, Peter himself whom Christ built His church! Peter could … Read more
There have been Twelve major renovations since the initial core of our church building was raised up and the cemetery dedicated back in 1818! They include: 1861 – Church was Remodeled1882 – Renovations Completed1896 – Church was Rebuilt and Updated under renowned Architect Horace Trumbauer and final Cornerstone laid1901 – Bell Tower Completed and new … Read more
Give back where it counts! Buy this $3.00 reuseable bag from our* ACME during the month of September in 2024 and we’ll receive $1 for each bag! *Shop at the ACME at 1640 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown, PA
Now there’s a word. It’s the Greek word Jesus uses in Mark’s gospel when healing the deaf man. It means be opened! Jesus heals the deaf man. He liberates him from his impediment so that he can hear clearly and so act according to what he hears. In doing so, Jesus shows what God desires for … Read more
I have always loved this story in Mark’s Gospel. A deaf-mute man makes his way to Jesus, begging him to lay his hand on him. Jesus takes the man off by himself, away from the crowd where He then put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting into His hand, touches the man’s tongue. … Read more
So, what are the “things that come out from within you”? That’s what Jesus asks this week in Mark’s gospel. As the religious leaders challenge Jesus and his followers for not following the rules, Jesus challenges the self-proclaimed “religious” folk to look within. Following the rules can be ok, Jesus teaches, but it can also … Read more
I’m going to be upfront with you. This Sunday’s Scripture and lesson is for you who take following Jesus seriously, but it isn’t easy or soft. This one might hurt a little! You see, this Sunday we hear the words from Mark’s Gospel reflecting anew the Prophet Isaiah: He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about … Read more
If we take Eternity to mean not Infinite Temporal Duration but timelessness, then Eternal Life belongs to those who live in the Present.” Ludwig Wittgenstein Ah, to live in the Present! It seems we’re always running around doing lots of things, but never really present in the moment. We get things done, mark them off our list, and … Read more
Jesus Is Difficult. Ya, there is no doubt about it. And those teachings of His! Wow! Isn’t their an easier path? Sometimes the difficult way for anything in life seems foolish (outside of maybe seeking out a sense of accomplishment.) Perhaps… Something being difficult doesn’t necessarily make it the better or even wiser choice. Why … Read more
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Over the last few Sundays, our lectionary has taken us on a leisurely journey through John’s Gospel with passages of scripture that are filled with possibility and fraught with danger. The journey started with the famous feeding of the 5000, … Read more
At Saint Miriam School, the region’s only Franciscan S.T.E.A.M.M. school we provide a quality education for every age group within our care, from infants through preschool. Studies prove that reception of concepts and education begins earlier than ever thought. We want to jumpstart every child’s ability to thrive and ensure a brighter future! Why not … Read more
Dear Friends, In a little over a week, I’ll be heading to Italy to participate in a Revolution. I’m very excited to be a part of such a radical movement! Our plans: nothing less than to change the world! Say what? Well, as many of you know, I head to Assisi, Italy at the end … Read more
“The celebration of the Eucharist is incomplete so long as there is hunger in our world.” So said the holy and prophetic Pedro Arrupe, SJ way back in 1976 at the Eucharistic Congress held right here in Philadelphia. His words still stand as a powerful reminder of the social dimension of the Gospel. “We cannot … Read more
“Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother?” Imagine that you were among the four hundred people who lived in Nazareth with Joseph, Mary and Jesus. You have known Jesus since he was a boy learning carpentry and other trades from Joseph and others in the small town, … Read more