Readings: Baruch 5:1-9; Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11; Luke 3:1-6 Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Gloria Ulterino It was another Advent, quite a few years ago now. But the words were the same: pulsing with joy, extravagant promises, and tender intimacy, yet all the while prodding the conscience. How is it possible to preach those words, to… read more →
Readings: Isaiah 35:4-7A; James 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-37 Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Gloria Ulterino It’s that time of the year. Young people are headed back to school. Some, like my beloved grandson, are off to a whole new world as college freshmen. Eager to explore and discover, yet filled with questions. Maybe even apprehensions. In… read more →
Readings: Amos 7: 12-15; Ephesians 1:3-14, or, 1: 3-10; Mark 6: 7-13 Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Gloria Ulterino Snapshots! So many snapshots these days of weddings … graduations from what has been … commencement promises of what is yet to be. Just recently my daughter had snapshots of her son, from infancy to graduation.… read more →
Readings: Acts 4: 32-35; 1 John 5: 1-6; John 20: 19-31 Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Gloria Ulterino Our daughter Noelle must have been about 6. We were on vacation, near a lovely, small, pristine lake. There was a dock and diving board not far from the shore, where kids would jump with abandon into… read more →
Readings: Isaiah 60: 1-6; Ephesians 3: 2-3A, 5-6; Matthew 2: 1-12 Click here to download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Gloria Ulterino Catherine was her name. You could easily spot her in church—tall, stately, usually wearing a stylish hat. A professional woman, of friendly demeanor, she always accompanied her husband and his disabled daughter. Her husband,Tom, was one of… read more →
Readings: Readings: Isaiah 5:1-7; Philippians 4: 6-9; Matthew 21:33-43 Download a PDF of this homily. Preacher: Gloria Ulterino Violence, mayhem and murder! What a tough Gospel! To say nothing of Isaiah’s judgment! Are we to be forever stuck with a god who seemingly hurls thunder bolts? Who seemingly indicts and punishes? Or, is something far greater at work… read more →
Readings: Wisdom 12:13, 16-19; Romans 8:26-27; Matthew 13:24-30. Preacher: Gloria Ulterino I’ve spent time in prison. For a number of years I would go to one of the two prisons in town and lead Communion services once a month. I never knew who would cross my path. On one occasion I encountered a talented artist, who brought some of his… read more →
Readings: Acts 2: 14A, 36-41; 1 Peter 2: 20B-25; John 10: 1-10 Preacher: Gloria Ulterino I don’t know a thing about sheep and shepherds. How about you? But we do know about Voice. We know that there are all kinds of voices in our lives and in our heads. Like destructive ones, left over from past hurt. The voices of… read more →
Readings: Joel 2: 12-18; 2 Corinthians 5: 20-6:2; Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18 Preacher: Gloria Ulterino It was Ash Wednesday… almost 30 years ago now. I was at work in the parish office, and the phone rang. “Hi, Mom! I just wanted you to know I went to church today!” Her chipper voice conveyed the good news as much as the… read more →
Readings: Numbers 6:22-27; Galatians 4: 4-7; Luke 2:16-21 Preacher: Gloria Ulterino At the waters of Baptism I was given the name Gloria O’Toole. As a really young child I vividly remember going to Mass, and saying to myself, “What is that gibberish I keep hearing?” (It was Latin, of course.) But then, invariably, the priest would proclaim, loud and clear,… read more →