Category Archives: Marriage and Family

Deacon Bob’s Homily for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Posted on October 5, 2024 by Deacon Bob

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B October 5/6, 2024 Gen 2:18-24; Heb 2:9-11; Mk 10:2-16     It was April of 1977, and I was sitting at the reception desk at Kelly Hall at what was then St. Mary’s College, … Continue reading →

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Deacon Bob‘s homily for the Solemnity of the Holy Family

Posted on December 27, 2021 by Deacon Bob

Solemnity of the Holy Family December 26, 2021 Many beautiful and holy things are said of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. They were a family no doubt unique in human history. A perfect mother, a perfect son, and a husband and … Continue reading →

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Holy Father’s Catechesis on Marriage

Posted on May 9, 2015 by Deacon Bob

Pope Francis offered us a beautiful catechesis on marriage in last Wednesday’s General Audience. I am going to incorporate it into the homily I give in weddings. Here it is. The original is Italian. The English translation is from the … Continue reading →

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Catholics and Evangelicals Together in Defending Marriage

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Deacon Bob

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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Pope Francis Defends Family and Marriage

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Deacon Bob

Our Holy Father today spoke in his usual pastoral and eloquent manner in defense of marriage and family. He did so in the Phillipines, where he is making an apostolic visit. The quote below is taken from the blog Whispers … Continue reading →

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Synod Fathers Message to Families

Posted on October 19, 2014 by Deacon Bob

At the conclusion of the Extra-ordinary Synod on the Family  the Synod Fathers issued this message to the world’s families. I will let it speak for itself. Taken from Radio Vaticana. III EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS … Continue reading →

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Fr. Robert Barron on the Synod’s Relatio

Posted on October 14, 2014 by Deacon Bob

Fr Robert Barron had a few brief but interesting comments on the recent release of the Synod’s Relatio, comments which reflect and express my own assessment and understanding. I have the link here for you to read. As usual, he … Continue reading →

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Beware of Greed and Aware of the Holy Spirit

Posted on October 5, 2014 by Deacon Bob

Below is the Vatican’s translation of the Holy Father’s homily for the opening Mass of the Extrordinary Synod on the Family. He warns the Synod Fathers against greed and encourages openess to God’s “dream”, the People of God. HOLY MASS … Continue reading →

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Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Deacon Bob

Yesterday, the Synod of Bishops released its working document on the pastoral challenges of families in today’s world. This Instrumentum Laboris is the next step in Pope Francis’ call for this synod to grapple with the  realities of family life … Continue reading →

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Same-sex relationships and Marriage

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Deacon Bob

I ran across this video clip that appears to me to have been the most civil debate I have encountered on the definition of marriage. I found it over at First Thoughts . The current efforts in culture to deny the … Continue reading →

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Chastity Wonderfully Conveyed

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Deacon Bob

I ran across this YouTube video of a young couple speaking to a high school about chastity. From what I saw, no one has ever presented this with such clarity and in a manner so convincing. http://youtu.be/o34t3tdWrFo  

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Celibacy and Marriage in the Clerical State

Posted on March 13, 2014 by Deacon Bob

http://youtu.be/i61kl3YY9sE I ran across this video in which seminarians from the North American College speak of celibacy. I am curious what other married deacons and priests think of the points made in the video. As a married deacon, I find that … Continue reading →

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Pope Francis’ Letter to Families; What About the Deacons of the Church?

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Deacon Bob

Recently, the Holy Father issued a letter addressed to all families in the world. In it, he speaks of the upcoming Synod of Bishops which is being convened to discuss the theme “pastoral challenges to the family in the context … Continue reading →

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The Politics of Muddy Thinking

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Deacon Bob

One of my fellow bloggers, Deacon Scott Dodge in Salt Lake City, has written a wonderful post www.scottdodge.blogspot.com on the same-sex marriage issue that is threatening to engulf us all. I encourage you to link over and read it. Deacon Dodge … Continue reading →

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The Supreme Court Speaks, Errantly

Posted on June 26, 2013 by Deacon Bob

As you no doubt know by now, the United States Supreme Court today issued its ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), striking it down and essentially equating same-sex relationships with marriage between a man and a woman. A … Continue reading →

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