I know that the prayers of today’s Solemnity are theologically correct about stains and blemishes and cleansing souls from sin, but that kind of language really doesn’t help me enter into this great feast. Nor does it help me appreciate the immense gift God gave to this daughter of Adam and Eve. I note that […]

Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-9; Matthew 3:1-12 I know you don’t need me to tell you that everything about John the Baptist seems extreme: his appearance, his clothing, his diet–certainly the way he speaks. His urgency spills out in violent judgment; he’s explosive. But have you ever considered this? People are drawn to him. He […]

This post is a mere announcement to be followed by further posts, in depth, considering the impact of Conservation Easement. As readers of this website probably realize, Holy Cross Abbey had put some 200 acres of the northwest end of the property into Conservation Easement through Clarke County channels and the agency of her officials. […]

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception will be celebrated this year of Monday, 9 December. Because of the importance of the Advent Season the Solemnity is transferred to Monday so the Second Sunday of Advent may be celebrated in its integrity. The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Abbot Robert Barnes presiding and […]

The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. James Presiding and preaching.

This Sunday begins the new liturgical Year and we begin the Sunday Readings of Year A and the Weekday Mass Readings of Year 2. The Sunday Readings give a priority to the Gospel of St. Matthew. The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Vincent Collins presiding and preaching. It is the First […]

Thanksgiving Day is a long honored tradition in our American History. The first national celebration of an annual day of public Thanksgiving to God was decreed by Abraham Lincoln in 1863, one hundred and fifty years ago this very month. We were in the midst of our grievous War between the States; Lincoln had just […]

Bakery Manager  Ernie Polanskas is once again putting out the call for styrofoam “peanuts”. Styrofoam is one of the worst things you can put into land fill, so if you have any of those pesky packers, please contact Ernie. He’d be glad to re-use them to pack parcels from the Bakery for the holiday mailings. […]

When I did fund raising for a living I made sure to invite friends and donors of my organization to make a year end gift.  This, of course, meant the calendar year.  These were really important gifts because traditionally it is the end of the year, beginning of the next, where nonprofits need the money […]

Readings: 2 Samuel 5:1-3; Colossians 1:12-20; Luke 23:35-43 In Catholic grammar school I had been taught in American History that democracy was the best form of government and that we earned the right to govern ourselves by overthrowing the tyranny of monarchy. Yet in the same school in Religion Class, and taught by the same […]