Browsing Fr. Bona's Reflections and Homilies
The Parish Council
Posted by Gregg Schockman on 10/21/25
The Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) recognized the laity as an integral part of the people of God, and strongly recommended that they participate actively in the affairs of the Church. This recognition and recommendation have been strengthened by the recent teaching of Pope Francis on synodality as the ... Read More »
Come Early for Mass!
Posted by Gregg Schockman on 10/13/25
The advantage of coming early to Mass
For us Christians, particularly Catholics, Sunday is the most important day in the week. It is the Lord’s day. It is the first day of the week. It is the day on which God said, “Let there be light”, and “there was ... Read More »
Prayer to St. Joseph
Posted by Gregg Schockman on 10/09/25
To you, O blessed Joseph,do we come in our tribulation,and having implored the help of your most holy spouse,we confidently invoke your patronage also.Through that charity which bound youto the Immaculate Virgin Mother of Godand through the paternal lovewith which you embraced the Child Jesus,we humbly beg you graciously ... Read More »
The Rosary
Posted by Gregg Schockman on 9/29/25
The rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary is about the most popular of all private devotions and prayers among Catholics. There are non-Catholic Christians who love and pray the rosary. A close look at the rosary and its content discloses that it is truly a comprehensive form of prayer.
... Read More »
Looking Foward to October
Posted by Gregg Schockman on 9/22/25
The month of October is at the doorstep, and we look forward to it for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is a Marian month. The Marian-ness of the month is connected with Fatima. The last apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima in 1917 occurred on October ... Read More »
The Cross and the Crucifix
Posted by Gregg Schockman on 9/16/25
This last weekend, we celebrated the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. After one of the Masses that I celebrated, someone asked me, “Why do we Catholics have images on the crosses and not just the plain crosses like some of the other Churches?” I gave a brief explanation ... Read More »
The Body of Christ
Posted by Gregg Schockman on 9/09/25
The nature of the Church is better described than defined because it is a mystery, and its description is most effectively done through the use of symbols and images. One of the frequently used images of the Church is the Body of Christ. This image is firmly rooted in ... Read More »
Eventful Blessings in September
Posted by Gregg Schockman on 9/01/25
Eventful Blessings in September
September has started as an eventful month for us. It began with the Labor Day which gave us the opportunity to have a break to appreciate the value of work and to thank God, the primordial worker, who created us in his image. Two days ... Read More »
The Harvest is Abundant
Posted by Gregg Schockman on 8/26/25
The Seminarians at St Gregory’s House
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few, so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest”. (Matthew 9:37)
For many years, particularly under the spiritual leadership of the Most Rev Bishop Thomas Olmsted, the people of ... Read More »
Created and Called to Worship
Posted by Gregg Schockman on 8/20/25
We are Created and Called to Worship.
A few weeks ago, we reflected on “the GPS of our parish”, which is, God, People and Service. Our community of faith is constituted and called to service; the service of God and of his people. These two ways of service are ... Read More »