Permit me to share with you the homily I preached at my father’s funeral this morning: Holy Mother Church has been blessed with the example of Pope Francis these last three or so years. He has reminded us to never forget the downtrodden and especially the poor. Mother Theresa was famous for using her five fingers to remind us that whatsoever you do for the least of these brothers and sister of mine “you did it to me”. I was... Read more

This week, the Church celebrates National Vocation Awareness week*. Here below is a post written by Louis Cona, a Pre-Theologian for the Diocese of Rockville Centre. “I saw and realized that love sets off the bounds of all vocations, that love is everything, that this same love embraces every time and every place. In one word, that love is everlasting.”- Saint Thérèse of Lisieux Our vocations are about only one thing: love. Vocation, which comes from the Latin word “vocare,”... Read more

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Friends, don’t miss this remarkable video “Pope Francis – The Man” with Cardinal Dolan and Fr. Matt Malone from America Media.  It’s a tremendous way to get hyped and prepared for the visit of the Holy Father to our country! Read more

Permit me to share with you the statement released by my own bishop, Bishop William Murphy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre: Today’s wrongly decided decision by the United States Supreme Court does nothing to alter the truth on the meaning of Holy Matrimony, a sacrament given to us by Jesus Christ. Holy Matrimony is a Sacrament, a covenant by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life. It is clear that the... Read more

This was a glorious weekend.  On Saturday, my diocese saw five men ordained to the priesthood! My good friend, Fr. Andrew Garnett asked me to preach the homily at his first Mass.  It was a tremendous honor and privilege. Here below is the homily as prepared for delivery. The readings can be found here. Your Excellency,  Father Kevin, Father Garnett, Brother priests, Dear family of Fr. Garnett, Friends all, It’s a remarkable thing.  That an ordinary man would be chosen... Read more

  Friends, I’ve been following along as two priests and three seminarians travel from St. Augustine Florida to Rockville Centre, New York raising awareness for vocations to the priesthood.  They’ve been doing a fantastic job – check out their progress at http://biking4vocations.org and make sure to pray for them.  Any one that has been to one of my Masses knows that I always add a special intention for an increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life.  We can’t have... Read more

I strongly believe that the best thing the Catholic Church has is the Holy Eucharist.  That Jesus Christ would leave behind himself for each and everyone of us continues to amaze me.  It is was drew me to the priesthood.  It is what continues to nourish me as a priest. A few weeks ago my pastor and I started to think that we should offer Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament more frequently in our parish.  While the Church is too... Read more

I walked into the church at ten to three and already fifty people were waiting.  I went into the priest’s sacristy, took my coat off and put on my surplice and violet stole.  Walking into the church I could feel the eyes of everyone in the church looking at me, wondering where I would go to begin hearing confessions and offering absolution.  First though, I had to turn the lights on then the sound system so the gregorian chant could... Read more

Permit me to introduce you to one of the priests that has had the greatest influence in my life.  This great man eats, lives, and breathes the priesthood.  He was influential in helping me to accept my vocation to the priesthood, mostly because of his own zeal for souls.  These videos are brief, but they are incredibly powerful.  Take some time to watch Msgr. James McDonald, an incredible pastor with never ending zeal for souls and a man with the... Read more