Invested: The Return

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Advent

2nd Sunday of Advent

Investing means we’re putting something down in hopes that the return will be worth the investment.  So what’s the return of investing your time, attention and energy in Mass?  That God wants to speak a word to you that will empower you to engage all of next week with strength, confidence and faith (instead of being tired out and worn down come Tuesday evening).  The Mass is heaven come down to earth and God has something special to say just to you.  The more you invest, the louder His voice will sound.

Invested: Where Are You At?

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Advent

1st Week of Advent

This is the first of a 4-part Advent homily series on the Mass.  The title of this series is “Invested”.  Nothing in our lives can grow unless we are invested in it.  Investing in what is important to us takes many different forms: time, energy, effort, attention, money, care, thoughtfulness (to name a few).  The more we invest, the more we see results.  Our participation in and experience of the Mass is no different: the more we invest, the more we see results.  As we begin this Advent journey, I invite you to take an honest look at how invested you are in the Mass on a typical weekend.  Mark it down as a starting point, so that come Christmas you will be able to look back and count some ways you’ve grown in your investment in the Mass.

Gone for 2 Weeks

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Uncategorized

I will be gone the next 2 weekends recovering from an upcoming surgery on my nose: septoplasty.  The doctor said I must have gotten a pretty hard knock sometime in my life to cause a deviated septum.  I said I couldn’t remember anything in particular, but asked if I could just blame it on my older brother…he said that would be fine.  Doctor’s orders – it’s all Patrick’s fault!  If you miss me too much, I uploaded an hour long talk last week; just play that on repeat until I’m back in good health.  I will be praying for you all during my recovery, please keep me in your prayers.

Living for the Life to Come

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Ordinary Time

32nd Sunday in ordinary time

The martyrs in our first reading were living for the life to come.  And in our Gospel Jesus gives us a glimpse into this life: a life of such deep and fulfilling relationship with God that earthly marriages are only a shadow of what’s coming.  This week we are challenged: Are you intentionally living for the life to come?  Are you intentionally encouraging others to live for the life to come?  Priesthood and celibacy only make sense if we’re looking toward the next life.  If young men are going to become priests, it’s our job to inspire them by living our lives for the life to come.

Talk: Saints & Souls, Ghosts & Goblins, Angels Witches & Demons

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Uncategorized

What does the Church believe about life beyond death?  How might that existence interact with life before death?  Join me for this 1 hour presentation on death, judgment, heaven, hell, saints, souls, purgatory, ghosts, angels and demons.  We have an amazingly beautiful and powerful faith that answers questions both in this life and beyond.

God THEN Change

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Ordinary Time

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus invites Himself into the home of a sinner – Zacchaeus the tax collector…and THEN Zacchaeus has a change of heart.  Change doesn’t come first; first comes God, then comes change.  Jesus invites Himself into our “house” at every Mass each time we come forward for Communion.  Jesus wants to be received into your heart and into your house in a new and deeper way than ever before.  Don’t say, “But I’m not ready!  I still need to change!”  We make it a lot easier on ourselves if we just let Him in – then God will do the hard work for us.  First comes God, then comes change.

Honest and Real Prayer

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Ordinary Time

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Like last weekend, this weekend’s readings center on prayer.  They show us that God loves real, honest, raw prayer!  God wants you to tell Him what’s going on inside of you, even if you don’t think it’s “holy” or “godly” or whatever – God wants your prayer to be REAL.  Like the tax collector in the Temple, we go home justified (and fulfilled…and fed…and blessed) when we are utterly honest with the Lord.  So try it this week: 10 minutes of prayer each morning, walk through your day with Him before it happens, asking Him for strength, and then tell God what’s really on your mind, what’s really preoccupying you these days.  God loves that kind of prayer!

Pray Always

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Ordinary Time

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus humorously encourages us today to be like a nagging, old woman when we come to prayer – that means to pray always, again and again, bother the Father!  God wants us to come to Him time and again not because He forgets or is unaware of our needs, but because the more face time we have with Him, the deeper our relationship grows.  3 practices that will make “pray always” a reality: spend the first 10 minutes of each day with the Lord, offer different hours during the day for others (like Moses, your prayers will help someone win battles in their life), and find a good friend to share how your resolutions are affecting your life, and vice-versa.

Joyful Stewardship

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Ordinary Time

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

This weekend our parish is celebrating Stewardship Weekend.  Thank you, fellow Christian, for all that you have done with the gifts God has entrusted to you.  Thank you for those ways that you have been a good steward.  Gratitude for what God has given us leads to generosity.  And generosity leads to a joyful heart.  In our Gospel Jesus heals 10 lepers…only 1 comes back to thank Him.  Be the one to come back and thank Jesus; count your blessings – then you’ll find yourself wanting to give more.  And as you give, your heart will grow, and you will be filled with a joy that no one can take from you!

No Homily This Weekend

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Uncategorized

This weekend, in place of the homily, our parishes will be viewing our annual diocesan Catholic Services Appeal video.  The Catholic Services Appeal supports the operational costs of the diocese, over 30 faith building programs (especially for the youth), and the education and formation of seminarians.  In light of last week’s Gospel, please be generous with what God has entrusted to you.  And if you don’t belong to the Diocese of Superior, please be generous in supporting those programs in your area that contribute to the building up and spreading of our amazing Catholic faith!