2nd Sunday Easter 19 April 2009

Click here to download and listen to this homily (17 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise.  Today we celebrate with Thomas who wants to touch Jesus.  We have also been asked by Pope Benedict XVI and the US Catholic Bishops to take a look at the the issue of climate change.  The impact of climate change falls heaviest on the world's poor.  As Catholics, our faith demands prudent action.

Homework: visit www.catholicsandclimatechange.org and learn more about climate change.

Readings:  Acts of the Apostles 4:32-35; Psalm 118; 1 John 5:1-6; John 20:19-31

Easter Sunday 12 April 2009

Click here to download and listen to this homily (8 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise.  Mary of Magdala tells Peter and the beloved disciple about the empty tomb and the race down to see for themselves.  They entered the empty tomb and saw the burial cloths and believed, yet they did not understand the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.  If Peter can have faith and believe in the resurrected Lord and still have questions and not fully understand; this gives me hope.  The resurrected Lord is alive and helping me grow in understanding.

Readings: Acts of the Apostles 10:34a, 37-43; Psalm 118; Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8; John 20:1-9

Easter Sunday 12 April 2009

Click here to download and listen to this homily (17 minutes) given by Bishop Edward Burns.  Easter morning the church is packed and our Bishop's helps us see how the Resurrection of Jesus works today in our lives.

Acts of the Apostles 10:34a, 37-43; Psalm 118; Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8; John 20:1-9

Easter Vigil 11 April 2009

Click here to download and listen to this homily (14 minutes) given by Bishop Edward Burns.  The Easter Vigil begins with the blessing of the new fire outside and the lighting of the Easter Candle.  Then we follow the Light of Christ into the church and light our own candles and hear the Easter  proclamation of the Exultet.   Followed by seven readings from the Old Testament.  Then the lights come on for the singing of the Gloria.  Then the Epistle from Paul's letter to the Romans and the Gospel rounds out the Liturgy of the Word.  The story of salvation is proclaimed at the Vigil.

Readings: Genesis 1:1-2:2; Psalm 104; Genesis 22:1-18; Psalm 16; Exodus 14:15-15:1; Isaiah 54:5-14; Psalm 30; Isaiah 55:1-11; Isaiah 12:2-6; Baruch 3:9-15, 32-4.4; Psalm 19; Ezekiel 36:16-28; Psalm 42; Romans 6:3-11; Mark 16:1-7.

Good Friday 10 April 2009

Click here to download and listen to this homily (2 minutes) given by Bishop Edward Burns.  We are to see ourselves as the unnamed Beloved disciple, always close to Jesus.

Readings: Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 31; Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42

Holy Thursday 9 April 2009

Click here to download and listen to this homily (14 minutes) given by Bishop Edward Burns.  Tonight Jesus washes the feet of the disciples.  In doing so he shows that the Eucharist which he will institute this night is to be at the service of others.

Readings: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; Psalm 116; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion 5 April 2009

Click here to download and listen to this homily (8 minutes) by Fr. Thomas Weise given at the 5:30 Saturday evening Mass.  We stand at the threshold of holy week.  Jesus stands at the threshold of Jerusalem, of the Upper room, of the Garden of Gethsemane, of Calvary, and of the Tomb.  Are we willing to enter deeply into Christ's Passion and Death so that we can also rise with him on Easter?

Click here to download and listen to this homily (6 minutes) by Bishop Edward Burns given at the 11 am Mass.  Are we willing to examine to the duality of "Hosanna to the Son of David--Crucify Him?"  There are time we invite Jesus in and the are time we send him away.

Readings: Mark 11:1-10; Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22; Philippians 2:6-11; Mark 14:1-15:47

Chrism Mass 3 April 2009

Click here to download and listen to this homily (16 minutes) given by Bishop Edward Burns.  At the Chrism Mass priests renew their own dedication to Christ as priests of the new covenant.  The oil of the Sick and of the Catechumens are blessed by the Bishop for uses throughout the Diocese.  The Oil of Chrism is consecrated by the Bishop and the priests gathered we him.

Let us pray for one another.

Readings: Isaiah 61:1-3ab, 6a, 8b-9; Psalm 89; Revelation 1:5-8; Luke 4:16-21

Solemn Vespers 1 April 2009

Click here to download and listen to the Homily (17 minutes) given by Bishop Edward Burns on the eve of his becoming the Fifth Bishop of Juneau.  He gathers with Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Apostolic Nuncio to the USA, brother Bishops of Alaska and the USCCB, representatives from around the diocese, representatives of other religious communities, civic leaders, and the people of God.  Native Alaskans and native americans welcomed Bishop Burns.  The Wooshji.een Dance Group did three dances in honor of the new bishop.

Ephesians 4:32-5:2

5th Week Lent 1 April 2009

Click here to download and listen to this homily (7 minutes) given by Bishop Edward Burns.  He is preaching to brother bishops and the full time ministers of the Diocese of Juneau.  Only Jesus can truly set us free.  To be set free we must let go of our sinfulness that holds us trapped.

Readings: Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95; Daniel 3; John 8:31-42

5th Week Lent 31 March 2009

Click here to download and listen to this homily (10 minutes) by Bishop Edward Burns.  He is preaching to a gathering of full time ministers from around the Diocese of Juneau.

Readings: Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 102; John 8:21-30

5th Sunday Lent Year B 29 March 2009

Click here to download and listen to this homily (15 minutes) given by Fr. Thomas Weise.  Two weeks ago Jesus tells us that we are Temples of the Holy Spirit and not even death can destroy us.  Last week Jesus tells us that just like Moses who lifted up a serpent on a staff so the Son of Man would be lifted up so that all who look upon him would be saved.  By looking at that which most wounds us we can be saved and set free.

Readings: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51; Hebrews 5:7-9; John 12:20-33