By Brother Matthew Schaefer, C.PP.S. Only two weeks ago, the United States Province of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood was created at our assembly in Indianapolis. Over the last few years, our thoughts, prayers and hopes have been focused on this “new...

By Fr. Tim McFarland, C.PP.S. Years ago, an advertising campaign used the phrase “you are what you eat.” That came to mind today on this Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. In fact, some suggest that this phrase has its origins in early popular Catholic thought...

Fr. Harry Brown, C.PP.S. “In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit”—the sign of the cross—the Holy Trinity. This is probably the first prayer our parents taught us and will probably be the last prayer the priest or deacon will say over us at the...

By Fr. Tony Fortman, C.PP.S. Today we celebrate Pentecost Sunday. The Holy Spirit came upon Mary and the apostles in the form of tongues of fire. Jesus gives his apostles the courage to leave that upper room and go out to proclaim the Gospel. We receive this Holy...

By Fr. Bill Nordenbrock, C.PP.S. The Solemnity of the Ascension is one of the universally recognized Christian Feasts (along with Christmas, Easter and Pentecost). Traditionally, it has been observed 40 days after Easter, although it is an indication of the importance...

By Fr. Dennis Chriszt, C.PP.S.   The apostles in Jerusalem were so convinced that the Holy Spirit was with them that they said so in their message to the Church in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. They knew that the Sprit was at work in their midst, and they had heard...

By Fr. Tim Knepper, C.PP.S. Before today’s Pandora or Spotify playlists, songs on repeat flowed out of the speakers of my dad’s stereo system. The song with the most airplay, and long-term memory storage for me, was “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden” by Lynn...

By Fr. Angelo Anthony, C.PP.S. On this Mother’s Day I would like to celebrate the vocation of motherhood with these pearls of wisdom shared by Moms. “When you can see your heart walking around outside, that’s the day you turn into a mother.” “If you hear the toilet...

By Brother Brian Boyle, C.PP.S. In a class I took 10 years ago, my classmates and I were asked to explain the difference between law and ethics. I responded, “Rosa Parks did the right thing (ethics) by not relinquishing a bus seat to a white passenger. That act broke...

By Fr. Bill Nordenbrock, C.PP.S. Frequently someone has confessed to me, “Father, I know that I am supposed to forgive them, but I just can’t.” In their words I can hear the pain that they still carry. In their words I can hear their need and desire to be healed. Just...

Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, he has been raised. Luke 24:5-6 By Fr. Steve Dos Santos, C.PP.S.   “Christ is risen!” Is the traditional Paschal greeting along with its response, “Christ is risen indeed!” Some add an alleluia for...

By Fr. Dennis Chriszt, C.PP.S. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine! This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine! Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!  Today we celebrate the second scrutiny with those who will receive the Easter sacraments in...

Year C By Fr. Dennis Chriszt, C.PP.S. Our God is an awesome God, who reigns from heaven above, with wisdom power and love, our God is an awesome God! Today’s Gospel contains the third parable in a series, all in answer to the complaint of the Pharisees and scribes...

By Fr. Matthew Keller, C.PP.S. “Leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future” (Luke 13:8–9). Leaving the barren plant for another year may not make the most sense, but I think it says...

By Fr. Harry Brown, C.PP.S. This Sunday’s theme for readings is Lift up your hearts to God in prayer. And yes, today’s readings deal with persons conversing with God. Let’s ask ourselves during Lent: “Do I find prayer really important? When do I pray? How often? Do I...

By Fr. Tony Fortman, C.PP.S.  So here we go! Lent is here. The fish fries, the giving up of candy and pop. These are some common ideas about our Lenten time. But Lent is a time of deep discussion with Jesus. Much of this discussion is on our own with Christ and much...

An Ash Wednesday message from our provincial director, Fr. Jeffrey Kirch, C.PP.S. Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, when as a Church we turn our minds both inward and outward. We go through Lent on at least two levels. We experience it as a private...

By Fr. Bill Nordenbrock, C.PP.S. For the past couple of weeks our Gospel passages has come from a section of Luke’s Gospel referred to as the Sermon on the Plains. Immediately after Luke’s account of the calling of the apostles, Jesus begins to form them and teach...

By Brother Brian Boyle, C.PP.S. I was walking down a street in Des Moines, Iowa, my home for 2 years in the 90’s. A gentlemen on the corner asked for a dollar. What’s a dollar? He needed it more than I do. I gave it to him. He said, “I will have this back to you next...

By Fr. Tim Knepper, C.PP.S. Before their 30 years together on The Tonight Show, Ed McMahon became the announcer for Johnny Carson on a game show called Who Do You Trust? At first it was set up as a husband-wife game show, but then changed to men and women paired...

Fishers of Men (Ravenna)   “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” (Luke 5:8) By Fr. Steve Dos Santos, C.PP.S. When I was ordained a deacon, then Bishop Allen Vigneron began his homily saying, “Steve, it is good that you picked as your first reading the...

By Sister Anita Fearday, ASC St. Maria De Mattias, whose feast day and birthday is February 4, is the foundress of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ. She was born in 1805 in Vallecorsa, a mountainous village about 56 miles southeast of Rome. Fr. Giovanni Merlini, a...

By Fr. Angelo Anthony, C.PP.S.  One day a mom was driving her daughter to school when she began thinking, “I wonder what my daughter will be when she grows up?” Looking over at her daughter she noticed she was playing with her mom’s stethoscope. The mom thought to...

By Brother Matthew Schaefer, C.PP.S. When I was in initial formation with the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, one of my volunteer activities during the first semester was visiting people at Maria Joseph Nursing Center in Dayton. My first visit on my first day was...

By Fr. Angelo Anthony, C.PP.S. Today we move quickly from the story of Christmas to Jesus as a boy of 12. We do not know much about the early years of Jesus’ life, so today’s Gospel gives us an unusual glimpse into his family life. Luke tells us that the Holy Family...