Catholic Cardinal Reflections

March 22, 2015 - Do we dream of a love that never dies? God has an undying love for us, and he wants us to pour out our love for others, as Jesus did when he died on the cross for us.

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

March 15, 2015 - In the Gospel today, Jesus cures the blind man, and as the Pharisees question him, his faith gradually grows. He starts with "I do not know how he cured me", to "He is from God". God sees us through our heart, not by outward appearances. If we see but do not love God, we too are blind. Let us see the goodness in our days and thank God for these many graces.

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

March 8, 2015 - The readings today are all about thirst and yearning.The woman at the well represents all of us. Do we seek the living water that Jesus offers, or are we looking for self-esteem, financial net worth, social status? Let us draw from the well that will not make us thirst again.

Preacher: Rev. John Kerrigan, Deacon of the Catholic Community

March 1, 2015 - In biblical times, sacrificial offerings for religious purposes were common; thus God's test of Abraham was not outlandish. This Genesis story is a metaphor for God the Father offering his Son to redeem the world, through Christ's death. Grace Chiarella also shared her experience as a mentor.

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

February 24, 2015 -

Are religion and science irreconcilable enemies? For example, what do we in the Catholic Church teach about Evolution? Professor John Haught addresses this issue here. A prolific author (Making Sense of Evolution, Deeper Than Darwin: The Prospect for Religion in the Age of Evolution), engaging speaker, and highly respected scholar (Senior Fellow Emeritus, Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University), Professor Haught discusses some of the thorny issues surrounding the topic of evolution and religion.

February 22, 015 - The readings are all about water today, which reminds us of our Baptism and God's promise to be with us. Do we accept that promise with prayer and repentnce this lent? After Jesus was baptised, he was driven into the desert and beset with demons and thirst. We too are under pressure from many 'deserts', but know that the angels of God are always with us if we only seek God.

Preachers: Fr. Daniel Roland, OP and Teresa Pleins, Catholic Community at Stanford

February 21, 2015 - This symposium addresses Christian values and the common good in response to Cardinal Marx's Lecture. There are four parts, presented in 2 podcast segments. Part 1: Keynotee address by Robert W. McElroy, Auxialiary Bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco- Themes from Pope Francis on the international Common Good. Part 2: Panel 1- Theologians Respond, Profs. David DeCosse, Kristin Heyer, William O'Neil. Part 3: Panel 2- The Economists Respond, Profs. Alain Enthoven, John Taylor, Jerry Porras. Part 4: Panel 3- How do we respond? Rev. John Kerrigan, Kevin Hartigan, Rosie La Puma, Lauve Gladstone.

This is Segment 1: Bishop McElroy and Panel 1.

February 21, 2015 - This symposium addresses Christian values and the common good in response to Cardinal Marx's Lecture. There are four parts, presented in 2 podcast segments. Part 1: Keynotee address by Robert W. McElroy, Auxialiary Bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco- Themes from Pope Francis on the international Common Good. Part 2: Panel 1-Theologians Respond, Profs. David DeCosse, Kristin Heyer, William O'Neil. Part 3: Panel 2- The Economists Respond, Profs. Alain Enthoven, John Taylor, Jerry Porras. Part 4: Panel 3- How do we respond? Rev. John Kerrigan, Kevin Hartigan, Rosie La Puma, Lauve Gladstone.

This is Segment 2: Panels 2 and 3.

February 18, 2015 - We receive ashes on this, the first day of Lent. They remind us that we are nothing without God, and we must undergo prayer, almsgiving, and fasting as penance for our sins. It is a time of renewal for us, a time to make changes in our lives.

Preacher: Fr. Daniel Roland, OP, Parochial Vicar and Associate Director of the Catholic Community

February 15, 2015 - The readings remind us that lepers in Christ's time were made to feel unclean and treated as outcasts, yet Jesus chose to touch them and make them well. How do we need to be made clean? By serving others we respond to God's call to fellowship with each other. We can make that choice this Lent!

Preacher: Fr. Danial Rolland, OP, Parochial Vicar and Associate Director of the Catholic Community at Stanford