From the Desk of Fr. Mike
The Promise of Baptism
Posted by Anne Serwe on 1/14/19
In the earliest years of Christianity the moment one was baptized they became “children of God”. They would then be justified by Jesus’ work and live in the expectation of eternal life (Titus). It did not take long before this idyllic vision was marred. The Romans became uncomfortable with ... Read More »
The Quest to Discover Jesus
Posted by Anne Serwe on 1/07/19
The Magi arrive in search of the new born king of the Jews and make the inquiry with King Herod. Herod is disturbed and with him all of Jerusalem. Herod summons all of the chief priests and scribes of the people and asks them where to search. They reply: ... Read More »
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Posted by Anne Serwe on 12/31/18
From Fr. Mike and all of the staff here at St. Joseph of the Lakes we hope you and your family had a very Merry Christmas and blessings for your New Year!
Christmas and TV Ads?
Posted by Anne Serwe on 12/10/18
The Advent/Christmas season confuses me more and more as I get older. There has been a great working to secularize our nation, and for the most part I have not minded the effort. As long as there is religious liberty it makes sense to me that no one religion ... Read More »
We enter the Church's New Year
Posted by Anne Serwe on 12/03/18
It has been a very pleasant first month in my new residence. I have pretty much moved in though I have not hung any pictures or unpacked the boxes that were packed away a year ago. I am still waiting for a built in bookshelf and some window treatments ... Read More »
In Appreciation of the Human Spirit
Posted by Anne Serwe on 11/12/18
When I was in my second year of theology (2nd post college year) I had my first experience of abject poverty. I had been sent to the Archdiocesan mission in Venezuela for the month of January. In the last week of the visit we traveled to Caracas (the capital ... Read More »
Great Hope in the Midst of Darkness
Posted by Anne Serwe on 11/04/18
We have entered into the season of the dead. This past week we celebrated both All Saints day and All Souls’ Day. Our scriptures in the last weeks of the church year will be reflecting the end of time and the final judgement. The physical darkness of the onrushing ... Read More »
Driven by Faith
Posted by Anne Serwe on 10/29/18
In several stories of Jesus’ life, he heals blind men. Today’s story of Bartimaeus is rather straight forward. Bartimaeus knows that Jesus can heal him, so as he becomes aware that Jesus is near he begins calling out to him: “Son of David have pity on me”. Jesus summons ... Read More »
Meet People Where They Are
Posted by Anne Serwe on 10/08/18
I received an anonymous note in such a manner that the writer would not even spend money on a postage stamp. The note was basically an article cut out of a paper in which the writer (Fr. Michael Miller) answers the question “ when does Mass begin and end”. ... Read More »
Celebrate Diversity with the Roman Catholic Church
Posted by Anne Serwe on 10/01/18
I am probably going to be read as a heretic by a few as they read this but the scandal of Christian separation weighs heavily upon me. The Protestant reforms of Christianity begin with the Roman Catholic Church not serving her members very well. The arrogance of the hierarchy ... Read More »