St Ursula Roman Catholic Parish

05/30/2026

Praise the Holy Trinity,
and Undivided Unity!

This weekend the
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity is a challenging one to celebrate because the Trinity is a mystery that is so hard to understand. However, the Catechism teaches that the Holy Trinity is “the source of all other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them” (CCC 234). How can the most confusing tenant of our faith, this idea of three Persons in one God, be the source of everything else in our faith?

The answer is love. The Holy Trinity is the source of all love and unity. Their relationships with one another; that is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is the most perfect expression of love and unity. From this perfect love, all other sources of love and unity flow, including the Church. We too participate in that love, that love between the Trinity and the body of believers which we in turn share with one another. On the contrary, the presence of the evil one brings hate and division, so often present in these days.

In the Gospel, Christ exhorts the Apostles to spread the Good News and to baptize in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. This is the most perfect expression of love with the Trinity. Once we are filled with their love, we in turn need to spread it to one another, and unity will drive away divisiveness.

In this year of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, we recall that the entire Trinity is present in the Sacred Host since the Persons of the Trinity cannot be divided from themselves. This strengthens us to commit ourselves to sharing that deep love the Holy Trinity has for each one of us to everyone we meet.

As always, know of our daily prayers before the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist.

05/26/2026

05/23/2026

Pentecost-----
Come Back to Life

As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ. (1 Corinthians 12: 12)

In fear, the followers of Jesus hid behind locked doors. The air did not stir and the walls closed in like a tomb. The trauma of recent days silenced them. They had lost their way. In dread they awaited cries for more bloodshed. In guilt they felt they had failed him. But it was a playful breeze that slipped under the door and swept over them. How could a wind trick its way through these thick walls? The crushing weight lifted and breath returned. Like dry branches, their spirits ignited. They laughed and embraced. Amazing words poured forth. Fear fell away like the shells of locusts. Once again new life came forth.

In desolation we drop like bones into a ditch. Rigid and alone. By reaching out to another, the spirit can find us. One person finds the words and the other listens. In one simple gift of compassion, the breath of life returns. Jesus’ companions did not scatter, each seeking safety on his own. In misery, they clung to each other. God’s spirit made them one body and they roared back to life together.

Intent on being self-sufficient, I can distance myself from the sources of life. Without deeper connections to others, God’s spirit does not find me. Our world separates us in many ways: each absorbed with her own career, schooling, house, car, disappointments, plans… This ardent individualism can chip away. In friendship, prayer, conversation, struggles for justice, and service, the odd notion that we are all one body begins to ring true. As we come to stand together, the spirit of unity surprises us.

Veni Sancte Spiritus. The lush gifts of the Holy Spirit sound like paradise: “rest most sweet; grateful coolness in the heat.” Jesus greets his exhausted companions with “peace be with you.” We are not alone. No walls are too thick for God’s spirit.

05/22/2026

Editor’s note: This is the fourth of several historical articles that were published in the April 16 issue of the AD Times in a special section for the 65th Anniversary of the Diocese of Allentown. To see the special section, click on AD Times at the top of AD Today, then Editions at right, then 0...