Several years ago, when I attended an orientation for students who were beginning their doctoral studies, the director of graduate studies recommended a book written by William Bridges called Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes(Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., Reading, MA: 1980).  Because everyone at the orientation was transitioning from lives committed to God, family, work, and community to lives committed to God, family, work, community, and graduate studies, the recommendation was appropriate and certainly appreciated. One particular passage in the book caught my attention then and … [Read more...] about Transitions (Fr. Bob reflection)

In today’s Gospel, Jesus returns home and teaches in the synagogue. His neighbors and friends knew him as the son of Mary and had heard about his teachings and the miracles he had performed. They understood the truth of Jesus’ words and they acknowledged what he had done. But there were those who had never left home. They had stayed and had worked hard to gain recognition, status, power, and control in their own community and place of worship. Their response to whatever the words Jesus spoke reflects a combination of belief and disbelief. They seem to believe that what he said was of divine … [Read more...] about My Experience (Fr. Bob reflection)

Read a newspaper, watch the news on television, or listen to a talk show on your car radio and you will hear stories about young people.  Some of the stories describe pre-teens and teens who have volunteered their time, broadened their education, and responded to an emergency situation. Other stories describe pre-teens and teens who have disappeared on class trips, who are using drugs, or who have thought out plans to take their own lives or the lives of classmates and people in authority. It seems to me that whenever we hear a story about young people, be it good or be it bad, we hear only a … [Read more...] about Giving Life! (Fr. Bob reflection)

When I made profession in the Order of Preachers back in 1992, I was fortunate to have a classmate in the novitiate who was a classical guitarist and song writer. With his training in music, Marty Gleeson, OP joined with two other Dominican friars to write and perform religious songs. One of the songs Marty wrote and sang is called “DON’T PUT GOD IN A BOX.”  Here are the lyrics: Is your God a HE? Does his beard flow full and free? Does he have a big ole scepter in his hand? Does he help you win your war? Help Notre Dame run up the score? Do you swear he votes the same as you and … [Read more...] about Don’t Put God in a Box! (Fr. Bob reflection)

June 3, 2018 - Body and Blood of Christ By Ted Wolgamot In 1594, an Italian Renaissance artist named Tintoretto completed a masterpiece named “The Last Supper.” One of the many remarkable qualities of this painting is that it does not present this most memorable scene as many others have typically depicted it. It does not have a dark, hushed, awe-inspiring atmosphere with 12 apostles totally focused on Jesus amid a silent sense of wonder and amazement. Instead, what is most notable about this rendition of this famous supper scene is all the activity going on in the room: serving people … [Read more...] about The Body and Blood of Christ (reflection)

I have come to believe that the Feast of the Holy Trinity is one of the most important celebrations in our church year. In a world where we are encouraged to begin new relationships, struggle with existing relationships, warned against harmful relationships, expected to understand our relationships, and have relationships on social networks like Facebook and Twitter, we are given an opportunity to reflect and to celebrate our relationship with the three persons in one God.          During my life there were different ways that people tried to explain to me the relationship between the three … [Read more...] about The Mystery of Relationships (Fr. Bob reflection)