Catholic Cardinal Reflections

May 17, 2015 - Luke decribes the ascension of Jesus in two very different ways- in today's gospel bystanders are simply dumbfounded and unable to do anything but stare, while in the Acts, the observers are ready to go and evangelize, acting out their belief in Christ. How do we resond? Are we ready to feed on the joy of the Risen Presence?

Today, we also celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for Davide Candes, MinHee Chung, Katherine Kane, Jorge Pleins, Ben Scheve and Maddie Wachhorst.

Preacher: Fr. Xavier Lavagetto, OP, Pastor/Director of the Catholic Community at Stanford

May 10, 2015 - The theme of this mass is simple- God is love. He sent his only Son to expiate our sins. He loves us, and unless we love God we are nothing. On this Mother's day Teresa reminds us that love may not be simple, but it must be kind, patient and given freely.

Preachers: Fr. Xavier Lavagetto, OP, Pastor/Director and Teresa Pleins, Chaplain of the CCAS

April 30, 2015 - Sixty years after the death of the great Jesuit paleontologist and theologian Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, ProfessorUrsula Kingpresents an examination of his mysticism based on science and the spiritual richness of evolution and modern cosmology.

Ursula King, STL (Paris), MA (Delhi), PhD (London), FRSA, is Professor Emerita of Theology and Religious Studies and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Bristol. She has published numerous books and articles, especially on gender issues in religions; method and theory; modern Hinduism; interfaith dialogue; spirituality; and the thought of Teilhard de Chardin.

April 25, 2015 - The Good Shepard has our back. Just as Jesus loved his flock, the sinners, the lowly, those unloved by society, we must love all our brothers and sisters. God loves us unconditionally, and since Christ is in us in the bread and wine, we can not help but be shepards to others.

Preacher: Fr. Xavier Lavagetto, OP, Pastor/Director of the Catholic Community

April 19, 2015 - Why did Jesus have to die and suffer so deeply? He poured his life into suffering in order to show us how very much God loves us, and to give us new life in that love. If we truly believed how much God loves us, wouldn't it change our perception of suffering, with God looking over our shoulder?

Preacher: Fr. Xavier Lavagetto, OP, Pastor/Director of the Catholic Community

April 1, 2015 - This liturgy (the Octave of Easter) is devoted to the theme of mercy, and is called Divine Mercy Sunday, after Christ appeared to Sr. Faustina in 1935 to promise God's infinite mercy on all sinners. We are enjoined to share that mercy with others in our community.

Preacher: Deacon John Kerrigan.

April 5, 2015 - When you love someone, you want to share the good news! That is the message of the resurrection- your love of God compels you to share the news that death has been overcome by Jesus' rising from the dead. Go forth and share your Good News with those around you.

Preacher: Fr. Daniel Rolland, OP, Parochial Vicar/Associate Director, CCAS.

April 4, 2015 - Our job, simply put, is to share the good news of the resurrection. Make God visible to others.

Preacher: Fr. Xavier Lavagetto, OP, Pastor/Director of the CCaS.

April 3, 2015 - Have we become jaded by all the terrible news covered in the media? Do we no longer grieve when we hear of someone's death? Everyone is special, created in the likeness of God, whom Christ loves even unto dying himself, willingly, to save us from our sins. We must learn to love again, and treat all as though they are deserving of our love, because they are.

Preacher: Fr. Daniel Rolland, OP, Parochial Vicar/Associate Director of the Catholic Community

April 2, 2015 - Jesus gave his body and blood to all, even to the one whom He knew would betray him, and shocked people by eating with sinners and others. When he washed his disciples' feet, this symbol was recognized as a demeaning act, and so this process of touching another on his knees was a deep expression of Christ's love for everyone, and an example for us we can't ignore.

Preacher: Fr. Xavier Lavagetto, OP, Pastor/Director of the Catholic Community at Stanford