Church of St. Anselm Music Ministry

06/13/2026

No matter where you go, there you are. So what are you going to do about it?

A homily for the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, June 14, 2026 Exodus 19:2-6a, Romans 5:6-11, Matthew 9:36—10:8 The other day, a motorcyclist was doing laps around a traffic circle on an older highway that crosses New Jersey's waist like a belt. He -- of course it was a he -- zipped around the r...

06/06/2026

A powerful feast.

A homily for The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), June 7, 2026 Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a, 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, John 6:51-58 We are tactile people. When we say, "I'll believe it when I see it," whatever "it" turns out to be, what we really mean is we'll use al...

05/25/2026

Right now, over 1,000 people are detained at Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark — our friends, neighbors, and community members who have been taken by ICE and face deportation. In detention, men and women often purchase their own toiletries due to the poor quality of what they are given, along with staples like rice, noodles and sausage to make up for the frequently inedible food served.

Help someone detained afford basic food and necessities they are being denied

05/23/2026

Breathe deeply.

A homily for Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 2026 Readings for the Mass During the Day Acts 2:1-11, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13, John 20:19-23 Just for a moment, let's imagine that today is the first Pentecost, and we are Christ's disciples, all gathered together. Which we are. The Holy Spirit descends o...

05/16/2026

You say goodbye, and I say hello.

A homily for the Ascension of the Lord, May 17, 2026 Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:17-23, Matthew 28:16-20 When we think about any of our favorite character-driven movies, we realize the endings are almost always the same: The hero or heroine leaves, or dies, after transforming the lives of the people th...

05/10/2026

I had the honor of assisting at First Communion Masses today, and had a few other duties around the parish. The online homily had to wait. Thank you for your forbearance.

A brief homily for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 10, 2026 Acts 8:5-8, 14-17, 1 Peter 3:15-18, John 14:15-21 Important stuff first: Happy Mother's Day to all mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, and everyone who cares for people the way a mother does. I send you joy and deepest thanks, especially as....

05/02/2026

No tipping, please.

A homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 3, 2026 Acts 6:1-7, 1 Peter 2:4-9, John 14:1-12 In early June 1973, barely 12 hours after flinging a mortarboard into the air on the lawn at CBA, I was about to wade into a newly dumped pile of steaming asphalt. "All right, men, let's git...

04/25/2026

I hope this is worth the wait.

A homily for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 26, 2026 Acts 2:14a, 36-41, 1 Peter 2:20b-25, John 10:1-10 About 15 years ago, our front lawn was green and lush. For about three weeks. A legitimate showpiece, just begging for us to walk barefoot and let the silky blades tickle our toes. Woohoo! We e...

04/25/2026

04/18/2026

How diligently are we looking?

A homily for the Third Sunday of Easter, April 19, 2026 Acts 2:14, 22-33, 1 Peter 1:17-21, Luke 24:13-35 Let's start with my edited version of some familiar song lyrics: On a clear day Rise and look around you On a clear day How it will astound you You can hear from far and near...