2019 archive of From the Desk of Fr. Mike
God's Love for Us
Posted by Anne Serwe on 7/01/19
Harley and Carlotta Flor told me that last Sunday was their 68th wedding anniversary. In making an announcement to the community about this wonderful event I transposed the numbers and told everyone that it was their 86 wedding anniversary. Deacon Tom leaned into me and said that he did ... Read More »
Eucharist is a Gift
Posted by Anne Serwe on 6/26/19
The Eucharist is such an amazing gift to us. It is Jesus’ way of being with us always. It is such a simple gift; bread transformed into his body; wine become his blood. At the same time it is beyond human comprehension to understand how the God who created ... Read More »
Being Prepared
Posted by Anne Serwe on 6/17/19
It seems that the majority of mass shootings occur either in schools or churches. Most schools have adjusted their security styles to limit access into the school and to protect their students throughout the day. They have fire as well as shooter drills to practice what happens in those ... Read More »
The Holy Spirit is Active in our Lives
Posted by Anne Serwe on 6/13/19
I was confirmed in fourth grade. The teaching of the time was with the onset of the Holy Spirit I would become a soldier for Christ. To punctuate this idea first the bishop would anoint me with Chrism Oil and then he would tap me on my cheek as ... Read More »
Take Time to Slow Down
Posted by Anne Serwe on 6/03/19
A few years ago I began to confront the manic interiority that I was raised in. Growing up I was always be busy doing something. If I had a break in the action, my mother or father would find something for me to do. This led to a certain ... Read More »
Appreciating Wisdom
Posted by Anne Serwe on 5/28/19
Tuesday is the 36 year anniversary of my ordination to priesthood. When I was a younger priest I never really appreciated the collected wisdom that comes with the years of experience. Now I find myself enjoying the fruits of these many years of living as a priest. I used ... Read More »
Accepting Others as They Are
Posted by Anne Serwe on 5/20/19
My mother was a back seat driver of the highest proportion. At almost every intersection she would gasp as she waited for the impact of the on-coming car, even if there were no cars at the intersection. Driving faster than 30 miles an hour was incredibly risky calling for short ... Read More »
Celebration of Life
Posted by Anne Serwe on 5/13/19
I have noticed when the cremation society advertises its services on TV they have survivors talking about the “celebration of life” of the deceased person. One woman says that when she dies she doesn’t want anyone standing over her coffin crying; instead she wants a celebration of her life. ... Read More »
Bringing People closer to Jesus
Posted by Anne Serwe on 5/06/19
What a huge week we have had between the Easter Vigil, Confirmation and First Communions we have brought over one hundred people into a closer contact with Jesus and His body here on earth. When you multiply those initiations by all the dioceses throughout the United States alone the ... Read More »
Congratulations!
Posted by Anne Serwe on 4/29/19
Jesus has risen and is alive today, not as a character from the past found in history books but in day-to-day life, Pope Francis said Saturday as he celebrated the Easter Vigil Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.
“To return to a lively love of the Lord is essential,” Francis ... Read More »