Thank you for your prayers last weekend as I brought not 10 but 11 young men on a college seminary visit to Winona.  It was a great opportunity for these young men to see the life of a seminarian and be inspired by how these seminarians are listening for God’s call in very intentional ways.  We were able to join in prayer, sports, classes and fun.  Our high school men walked away with a deeper desire to follow Jesus Christ in whatever path HE might lead them.  Thanks again for your prayers and support, and please continue to pray that all of our youth might hunger to know Jesus Christ more deeply in their lives each day.  And my homily for this weekend:

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

“But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”  Strong words from Jesus in our Gospel today – very strong words.  Repentance is turning toward God and admitting our sins…and it’s not easy for us as humans.  We’re sinners.  That’s not meant to be depressing, but freeing.  We are sinners, we’ve messed up, and Jesus came to free us from our sins, to take that weight off of our shoulders so that we can get on living.  Jesus tells us today that this path to freedom, however, starts with repentance – turning toward God, admitting our mistakes, and allowing His forgiveness to enter our lives and lift us up.