Juneteenth!

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On June 19, 1865, a Union Major General, by the name of Gordon Granger, ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation. In took place in the then Confederate state of Texas. The Union forces, under General Granger, were occupying the state. The Civil War was beginning to draw to a close.

In the southern states, former Confederate states, the day was an occasion of celebration, amongst the former slaves of the South. Special events were held in Black churches, and in fields or community parks.

The day and the celebration of it, became a national holiday in 2021. President Biden signed order establishing “Juneteenth National Independence Day.”

The celebration of the freedom of the African American community, is a joyous occasion. It is also a somber occasion, because the promise of freedom for all is still unfulfilled in this country. We need only read about the persecution of Black Americans during the years following the Civil War. They did not enjoy the full freedom that was promised. In many areas, they still suffer from discrimination, prejudice, and violence. The work, the promise of freedom for all is still left unfulfilled.

It is time to take action, whether in big efforts, or small. But something was be done, so that “Juneteenth” will have real meaning for all of us!

Time to Start Again!

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Statue of Saint Francis of Assisi, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Carver MA!

It has been a looong time since I have written in this blog. And I apologize to those readers who have taken a peek, hoping for something new. As I take up the keyboard again, I hope I will recover readers, and maybe get some new ones.

And there has definitely been some changes, both in the life of the Church, the Franciscan community, the civil society, and yes, politics. We are seeing political activities that are leading to a deeply divided electorate. We are seeing deep conflicts among politicians, and members of political parties, and just regular folks.

On the ecclesial front, we are seeing things happening that in all my years, I never expected to see.

As I read of, and reflect on these events, it causes me to ponder, and to fire me up.

So we will see what happens.

Homily – Fifth Sunday of Easter – 2024

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Saint Peter’s Church, Mary Queen of Martyrs Parish, Plymouth MA

“I am the vine, you are the branches, whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me,you can do nothing.”

Most of my childhood was spent on a property that once was a farm. In our backyard was an apple tree; a very old, very big apple tree! It was never pruned, and it would only produced very small apples. These apples did not taste good, and most of them rotted on the ground.


In today’s Gospel, Jesus is comparing His relationship with His disciples to that of a vine and its branches, and with the vine grower, the Father. Jesus is calling on us to maintain a close, a deep personal relationship with Him, as He maintains a close relationship with the Father. The effects of this relationship with the Lord is that we will produce good fruit, fruit that strengthen us, fruit that will transform us, our families, our communities.


Jesus is, in one sense challenging His disciples, and in a sense, challenging all of us here, to go out into this world we are living on, and by word, by example, show to our families, our friends, our neighbors, our communities, what it means to live the Gospel, and what it means help bring about change, light, joy, hope in a world in such times we are experiencing right now.
“Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.”

We are currently in times that, to quote the American Revolutionary, Thomas Paine “try men’s souls.” It is in such moments, in such challenging situations, that Christ calls on us to go, and in small ways or large, share the fruit that is within us. Opportunities may present themselves to us, to take on acts of charity, to share with others the love and the peace we ourselves experience when we open ourselves to the love of God, through Jesus. And as we have received much fruit from our loving Savior, so we are encouraged to share that fruit, that joy, that healing with everyone we come in contact with.


To achieve this, means deepening our relationship with Jesus. It means trying to enter daily into moments of prayer, moments of reflecting on Scripture, and especially in our participation in the Eucharist, where we. receive the Body of Christ, open ourselves to His Presence. United with Him, we find the strength, the encouragement, to go out from here, to reach out to those in need, spiritually and physically, family member, friend or stranger. We go out and share the fruit we received through our union with Jesus.


“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

Happy Easter to All!!

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Saint Peter’s Church, Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish, Plymouth MA

“Christ is Risen!!”

“He is Risen indeed!!!”

The traditional Easter Sunday greeting, shared among Eastern Rite Christians around the world.

May this be a blessed day for all!!

Palm Sunday Homily – 2024

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Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Church, Plymouth, MA

“Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every other name.”

This weekend, we are entering a time of holiness, a time of both remembering and reflecting on the events that lead up to the death and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.


Now, out there, in our communities, our towns and cities; Easter time has already taken hold. Bright colors, sweets, pastries and fancy meals are already popping up all over; enticing us, tempting us.

But here, in this church and in all other churches, other places of worship; the somber color of purple reigns. Especially in this moment, when we read, when we hear the Gospels that proclaim the story of the Passion of Our Lord. We are called to reflect more deeply on what Jesus went through for us, to save us finally from the grip that Original Sin had over us, and to give us new hope for the future.

We, in turn, are called to proclaim that Good News, by our words and deeds, to everyone we come in contact with.
As Holy Week begins, let us focus more deeply on what we entering into, let the Holy Spirit in and let it transform us. And on Easter morn, let us sing out with joy.

New Auxiliary Bishop for Boston

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Yesterday, February 3, 2024, Reverend Cristiano Barbosa, native of Brazil, was ordained an Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Boston, MA. In that capacity, he will be assisting the Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFMCap.

I was able to attend the ceremony as a Deacon. The day of ordination, I made it into Boston, in what I thought was plenty of time to vest and take up a position for the procession. Only I had the schedule mixed up, and I was just made into the deacon’s procession line by the skin of my teeth.

Now I have attended several ordinations in the Cathedral in my life as a Deacon. All were orderly, all liturgically beautiful. Yesterday was a new experience for me. As we processed into the Cathedral, we saw a congregation that was large, loud and joyful. People were crowded in the benches, the aisles, and any open spaces in the wings of the sanctuary. Brazilian Portuguese filled the air!

Now among some of my Anglo brethren, this may have been too much, not respecting the solemnity of the ceremony. The crowds did quiet down as Mass began, and when the ordination ceremony began. The energy, the excitement picked up again as the newly ordained Bishop walked around the cathedral, blessing the people.

Yes, these was a new experience for me, but I accepted it. I joined in the celebration in the way I knew, rejoicing in their celebration.

Ad Multos Annos, Bishop Cristiano Barbosa!

Third Sunday Ordinary Time – Homily

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Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Carver, MA

“Moses spoke to all the people, saying ‘A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, will raise up for you from among your own kin; to him you shall listen.”


The Hebrew people were about to enter the promised land, Moses would not be entering the land with them. Up to that moment, it was he who passed on the words that God spoke for them, because the people could not bear hearing the voice of God. Now Moses declared that the Lord would raise up prophets who will speak to them, and share the word of the Lord. The Old Testament speaks of these prophets, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others who faithfully proclaimed the word of God to the people.


Then, the time came, when God wished to speak directly to His people, and to the all persons on earth. It is now that Jesus, the living “Word” of God, makes His appearance. He brought the Word of God directly to the people, changing the relationship humanity had with the Father. By his death and Resurrection, he freed us from the hold sin and death had over us, he showed us how we can draw closer to the Father, to share in the joy and peace such an encounter with our living God can provide.

Through Jesus, we have a closer relationship with the Father, in that relationship, we find ourselves encouraged to change, to be converted into more loving persons, to be drawn closer together as brothers and sisters in Christ. In our experience of God’s love for us, we are all also being called to share in the work of Christ, to proclaim the Good News, to work towards a world that can be transformed into a more loving and peaceful place for all people. We do this by both our words and our deeds. Together or individually, we reach out to the poor, the wounded, the isolated, the desolate. It can be through our acts of charity, large or small. Or it can be by just giving a smile to a stranger, a warm handshake, a gentle embrace. There are so many ways that we can share with the world the joy we all have felt when we experience the love of God.


I would like to close with these words I came across in my reading. It is a quote from the writings of St. Oscar Romero, assassinated Archbishop of San Salvador:


“To know Christ is to know God. Christ is the homily that keeps explaining to continually that God is love, that God is power, that the Spirit of the Lord is upon Jesus Christ, that he is the divine Word, God’s presence among us.”

Feast of the Holy Innocents

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“The innocents were slaughtered as infants for Christ; spotless, they follow the Lamb and sing forever: Glory to you, O Lord. Entrance Antiphon for the Mass of The Holy Innocents

On this December morning, we remember the. innocent baby boys who were slaughtered by the soldiers of King Herod of ancient Judea. He had been told that a young baby boy had been born in Bethlehem, who would be proclaimed “King of Jews.” Herod would not tolerate any challenger to his rule.

Today, in my morning prayers, I remember the children of Israel and Gaza. The new innocents who are being slaughtered, whether intentionally or not. Their surviving parents and siblings cry out in pain and loss.

I remember this quote from the BBC tv series “Doctor Who,” about the effects of war; “How many hearts will be broken? How many lives shattered? How much blood will spill until everybody does what they’ve always going to have to do from the very beginning…sit down and talk!”

I pray that the Holy Spirit will influence all leaders to “sit down and talk!” There has been too much blood, too much pain! In the name of the Prince of Peace; for the innocents who have died…TALK!!!

“Behold, Your Savior Comes!”

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Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you righteous;
for praise is fitting for the upright.
Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp;
with a ten-stringed lute sing songs to God.
O sing a song that is new; 
play skillfully, with shouts of joy.

For the word of the Lord is upright,
and all God’s works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justices and right; 
God’s faithful love fills the earth.

Psalm 33