Happy Sunday! Happy Labor Day Weekend to everyone! I pray everyone is staying safe and enjoying a restful weekend. This weekend's first reading comes from the book of Sirach. Sirach belongs to the Wisdom literature of the Bible. The author offers the listener simple and important advice. "My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.

Happy Sunday!

This week we celebrate a number of wonderful saints. Monday the 25th is the feast of St. Louis the King and St. Joseph Calasanz. Wednesday is the feast of St. Monica, followed by her son, St. Augustine on Thursday. Finally, on Friday, we celebrate the Beheading of St. John the Baptist. While there is plenty to say about these wonderful days, I would like to draw our attention to the Office of Readings for St. Louis. This reading comes from a spiritual testament he wrote to his son.

Happy Sunday!

I hope everyone has had a great week. For the past month and half or so we have been doing donuts and coffee outside on Sunday mornings. I am grateful to our Knights of Columbus and the various ministries that have helped coordinate this. It's great to be able to step outside and enjoy fellowship before heading home on Sundays.

There was a young mother in my parish community who was depressed due to financial strain. She prayed for help. One morning before Mass, she placed on the counter a zip-lock bag filled with jewelry and old coins. Smiling, she explained she had been fixing an old cabinet and found the items hidden deep within the walls of her home. One particular coin could be worth as much as $900,000. The contents of the bag-previously unknown to them-were now their prized possession. Their plans changed that week. They had to learn how much it was worth.

Happy Sunday!

It's great to be back in Flagstaff. I had a nice few weeks travelling, attending a conference on Catholic Education, baptizing my nephew, presiding at a wedding, and seeing some extended family. While it's always nice to have time away, I am grateful to be back!