St. Katharine Drexel Parish of Chicago

Rooted in Faith. Strengthened by Love.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit!

Pentecost Sunday!

Empowered By The Holy Spirit!

The promise of Jesus, to send the Holy Spirit, is fulfilled today, on this day we call Pentecost.

The sending of the Spirit upon the followers of Jesus so changed them and their focus that we now call this day the Birthday of the Church!

They were empowered with the gifts of the Spirit and began to spread the Good News, a Good News that broke through language and culture. The mission is now ours — with the Holy Spirit, to renew the face of the earth!

I Am With You Always

Feast of the Ascension of the Lord

I Am With You Always!

Transformation! What “transformative” moments do you remember in your life? The first day of School? First Communion or Confirmation? Graduation? Your first job? Moving out on your own? Wedding Day? Your first child? The death of a parent or sibling? The list is long for most of us!

This Ascension Day is a transformative moment for the disciples of Jesus, and for all of us who aspire to follow in their footsteps! They had already experienced the “whirlwind” of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. When they meet Him on the mountain, they worship him, but still have lingering doubts.

Now, just as the reality of his resurrected presence has begun to sink in, he is lifted up before their eyes. He charges them to go out and make disciples of all nations. His assurance to them: I am with you always, until the end of the age. He is still with us in this age!

A New Commandment: Love One Another

Sixth Sunday of Easter

A New Commandment: Love One Another!

How should you Love? Who is your model? How do you really learn to love?

Jesus gives us the answer to these questions in today’s Gospel: “A New Commandment: Love One Another!”

His instruction from the Last Supper discourse has much more to say to us: “As the Father has loved me, so I also have loved you. Remain in my love. I have told you this do that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.”

“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain… This I command you: love one another.”

I Am the Vine and You are the Branches

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Remain in Me and Bear Fruit!

Connected! It’s important to be connected. What connections do you have? Who are you connected to?!

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us: “I AM THE TRUE VINE!” Through Jesus, we are connected to the Father and Divine Life. He is the vine, we are the branches. Without him, we can do nothing. Connected to him, we will bear much fruit?!This experience of being connected happens within the family of the Church, where we are connected to God and to one another, like branches to the vine!!

Together, we will bear much fruit!!

You Are Witnesses of These Things

Third Sunday of Easter

Lord, You Know That I Love You!

Where do you expect to find Jesus? Where and to whom does he appear?

We continue to hear today from the “Resurrection Stories,” the scriptural accounts of the appearances of the Risen Christ. He continues to surprise his followers, appearing sometimes when they least expect him. “It is the Lord!”

Today’s passage from John tells the story of Jesus preparing breakfast for his followers on the shore. It includes a miraculous catch of fish, which they can barely haul ashore. The passage concludes with the encounter between Peter and Jesus: “Peter, do you love me more than these?” He is asked three times, and three times responds, “Lord, you know that I love you.” And Jesus challenged him to “feed my Sheep!” We are asked the same question and given the same challenge as Peter: “Follow me!”

Blessed Are Those Who Have Not Seen But Believe

Second Sunday of Easter

Christ Is Risen!

Rise from the Dead! What does it really mean to RISE FROM THE DEAD?

While the answer seems so obvious, the reality is almost beyond belief! Many times when Jesus would predict his passion and death, AND RISING FROM THE DEAD, his disciples would wonder and discuss among themselves what this might mean.

We profess to believe in the RESSURECTION FROM THE DEAD, arising to a new and never-ending life with a perfect body that is beyond all imagining! As the Gospel Resurrection stories attest, it would take awhile before his followers would grasp the reality of the Resurrection and allow it to change their lives. Once it did, they lost fear and began to go out to spread the Good News of Jesus!

Have we yet grasped what the Resurrection fully means? Once we do, we too will be able to lose our fear to go out and Spread the Good News of Jesus! This is what New Life and Easter Joy are all about! 

Christ Is Risen!

Easter Sunday

Rise from the Dead! What does it really mean to RISE FROM THE DEAD?

While the answer seems so obvious, the reality is almost beyond belief! Many times when Jesus would predict his passion and death, AND RISING FROM THE DEAD, his disciples would wonder and discuss among themselves what this might mean.

We profess to believe in the RESSURECTION FROM THE DEAD, a rising to a new and never-ending life with a perfect body that is beyond all imagining! As the Gospel Resurrection stories attest, it would take awhile before his followers would grasp the reality of the Resurrection and allow it to change their lives. Once it did, they lost fear and began to go out to spread the Good News of Jesus!

Have we yet grasped what the Resurrection fully means? Once we do, we too will be able to lose our fear to go out and Spread the Good News of Jesus! This is what New Life and Easter Joy are all about! 

The Road to Glory!

Palm Sunday

The Road To Glory! Glory! Glory! Where do you find the Road to Glory? What does it cost to travel it?

We begin a Journey today whose destination is GLORY, for Jesus, God’s Son, won for us that we might share in that same Glory!

The journey begins today with an exuberant, anticipation and joy. We re-enact it with our own Procession of Palms into the Church. Suddenly, before we know what has happened, there is talk of suffering and death! What happened? Did we take a wrong turn?

We have heard the story before and know the outcome. But what does it say to our life’s journey today, here and now? Jesus overcame sin and death by giving himself completely for us. By giving ourselves completely to God and one another, we too shall achieve GLORY!

Be Untied and Go Free!

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Be Untied and Go Free! Have you ever seen anyone come back to life? “Not since Jesus was around!” you might answer.

The amazing story of the Resurrection of Lazarus which we hear today captivates our imagination and gets us thinking about life and death and life after death. That’s what the story should do. The story points to the power of Jesus as God’s Son. It displays his compassion for those who suffer the loss of loved ones. It also points to the hardness of heart who refuse to see and accept Jesus for who he is! We are reminded through this story of the transforming of transforming and life-changing power of Jesus in our midst through this church. What has us battered down and tied up?

Seeing and Believing

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Who is Without Sin?

Have you ever met anyone who is perfect? And when you have met someone who acted as if they were, you were probably tempted to “put them in their place!”

A “big sinner” is dragged in front of Jesus in today’s Gospel  the Woman caught in the act of adultery. The scribes and Pharisees feel fully justified, quoting Mosaic law. This is a perfect opportunity to trap Jesus. What will he say? What will he do?Jesus says: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” What does he do? He begins writing on the ground with his finger, and little by little, one by one, the accusers fade away.Jesus is left alone with the woman accused and reached out to her with the gift of healing: “Go, and from now on, sin no more.”

These same powerful words are spoken to us as we continue our Lenten journey to new life!

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