St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Those who have grown up in the Catholic faith have always understood Mary, the Mother of Jesus, to be our Blessed Mother. Today's Gospel highlights when Jesus proclaimed her the Mother of the Church.…

Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Pentecost, a day when God sent His Spirit to dwell in the hearts and souls of the Apostles and commissioned them to share that Spirit with others.

The ar…

After Jesus was arrested, Peter denied Him three times. However, after the Resurrection, Jesus appeared to Peter and asked him three times, "Do you love me?" This question focused not on Peter's past…

The Resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of Christianity. If He truly rose from the dead, we can believe in all that He said and did. However, as Saint Paul reminds us, if He did not rise, our fa…

Jesus has always been a guide and protector for His disciples. In today's Gospel, He continues to care for them through His intercessory prayer. This prayer is a natural extension of the many ways He…

Today's Scripture readings convey some "famous last words" from St. Paul and Jesus. Each expresses the idea that most of their work has been completed. St. Paul prepares to go to Jerusalem, praying t…

Jesus invites us to turn away from sin and believe in the Good News. Doing this means continually renewing our repentance and commitment to Jesus throughout our lives. John the Baptist baptized peopl…

The Gospel passage we just heard tells of the final segment of Jesus' prayer to His Father. He prays for the oneness of all believers—those from the past, present, and future. He longs for us to be u…

Part of Elizabeth's greeting to Mary, which we hear in today's Gospel passage, has become a part of the Hail Mary: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb." Elizabeth proc…

In today's Gospel passage, Jesus, knowing the grief and sadness His disciples would experience after His departure, offered them a promise of lasting joy. He assured them that their current sorrow wo…

As we celebrate today, the Solemnity of our Lord’s Ascension into Heaven, we might wonder why this event ever took place. Would it not have been better for Jesus to stay around, continue to preach, w…

Learning life’s profound truths is a gradual process. Faith is not an instant revelation; rather, it is a journey that unfolds over time. In today’s Gospel, Jesus acknowledges He has many things He w…

Authentic openness to the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, reveals misunderstandings about sin and judgment. Those in favor of Jesus' crucifixion believed that He must have been a sinner to suffer and die …

For many, Memorial Day Weekend is more than just a three-day break; it marks the unofficial start of summer and serves as a time for solemn commemoration. For those who have lost family members in ou…

Fr. Stephen Verbest tells a story about a four-year-old girl who heard that Jesus lives in the hearts of those who love Him. Struggling to grasp what this could mean, she climbed into her mother's la…

Jesus predicted many things, including the world's animosity toward Him and His followers. All four Gospels emphasize that Jesus understood the hostility He and His disciples would encounter.

He said…

When I was a kid, my family lived in a neighborhood filled with a diverse mix of people, including several families with kids. Our next-door neighbors, Mike and Jean, had five children. Over the year…

The Scriptures are filled with passages about joy and rejoicing. St. Paul teaches that joy is a fruit of the Spirit. In the Gospel, Jesus expresses His desire for His joy to be within us. At the hear…

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus describes Himself and His followers using the metaphor of the vine and its branches. He speaks about pruning away the branches that do not bear fruit. This pruning ca…

In today's Gospel passage, Jesus offers comfort and courage to His disciples, who are anxious about His impending death. He tells them, "Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid," a message that …