Author Archives: Deacon Bob

About Deacon Bob

Moderator: Deacon Bob Yerhot of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota.

Random Thoughts

It has been a long while since I have sat down at this keyboard and tapped out a post other than sharing with you things I have read and found worthy of bringing to your attention. Life has been indeed … Continue reading

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Deacon Bob’s Homily for Thursday, Octave of Easter

Here is my homily from this Thursday’s early morning Mass. God bless you! One of the things people in my profession have come to understand in recent decades is the impact trauma has upon individuals and communities. We know that … Continue reading

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Pope Francis’ Easter Vigil Homily 2015

HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS Vatican Basilica Holy Saturday, 4 April 2015 Tonight is a night of vigil. The Lord is not sleeping; the Watchman is watching over his people (cf. Ps 121:4), to bring them out of slavery … Continue reading

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Pope Francis’ Urbi et Orbi Message

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Happy Easter! Jesus Christ is risen! Love has triumphed over hatred, life has conquered death, light has dispelled the darkness! Out of love for us, Jesus Christ stripped himself of his divine glorified by, emptied himself, … Continue reading

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To all priests and deacons: Are you weary?

The Holy Father in his homily for the Chrism Mass in Rome asked his clergy whether they were weary, and he spoke of the various ways in which that weariness can penetrate a priest (and I believe) a deacon. Take … Continue reading

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The Holy Stairs in Rome

I have provided you a link (see below) of a video clip on the Scala Santa, the Holy Stairs, in Rome. They are located near St. John Lateran. Perhaps some of you have been there and maybe even scaled those … Continue reading

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Deacon Bob’s Homily for Wednesday of Holy Week, 2015

Here is my homily from last night’s Mass. God bless each of you! Our Gospel yesterday, if you recall, was John’s account of the betrayal of Jesus by Judas. In that account, we heard that Judas took the morsel, and … Continue reading

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Homily for Thursday, 5th Week of Lent, 2015

Here is my homily from this morning’s early Mass. God bless each of you! Today’s Gospel from John is a stunning account of Jesus’ encounter with the Jews. It is an account of contrasts, i.e., Jesus and the Jews, Jesus and … Continue reading

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Deacon Bob’s Homily for Saturday, Fourth Week of Lent, 2015

Here is the homily I gave to the deacons and their wives from the Diocese of Winona at a workshop addressing widowhood and celibacy in the diaconate. I hope all of you are blessed richly in the Lord!   Saturday, … Continue reading

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Catholics and Evangelicals Together in Defending Marriage

I read with interest an article this morning co-authored by a large group of Catholic and Evangelicals on the sanctity of marriage and our need to defend it. It is a splendid piece of writing that says so much to … Continue reading

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Memorial of Perpetua and Felicity and Contemporary Christian Martyrdom

Today is the commemoration of Saints Perpetua and Felicity, both of whom were martyred under the persecution of the Emperor Septimus Severus in the early third century. Perpetua was a noblewoman and Felicity was her slave. They, along with others, … Continue reading

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Deacon Bob’s Homily for 3rd Sunday of Lent, Cycle B, 2015

Here is my homily for this weekend. God bless each of you! Third Sunday of Lent, Cycle B, 2015 Ex 20: 1-17; 1Cor 1: 22-25; John 2: 13-25 March 7/8, 2015   “We proclaim Christ crucified; a stumbling block and … Continue reading

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Deacon Bob’s Homily for Thursday, Second Week of Lent, 2015

Here is my homily from this morning. God bless! There are a lot of Lazaruses in our lives. Lots of people whom we pass by, unaware of their presence and their needs. There are a lot of  people we exclude from our … Continue reading

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Homily for Thursday, First Week of Lent 2015

Here is my homily from yesterday morning’s Mass. Sorry it took me so long to post it. May God bless each of you! May  I suggest something? If you have not yet decided on what to do for Lent, or if you … Continue reading

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Attention All Deacons and Priests! Why Deacons Chant the Exultet

I have provided below a link to a blog post by Deacon Bill Ditewig in which he describes some of the history and theology of the deacon’s presence and function during the Easter Vigil. It speaks of the “why” a … Continue reading

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