Father Chris Looby

  At the beginning of his new autobiography, Hope, Pope Francis shares a fascinating insight: the Spanish word esperar means both "to hope" and "to wait."  Now, if you're like me, that second meaning might make you cringe a bit. We don’t like to wait, do we? Waiting is hard. In our world of instant gratification, patience often feels like a lost virtue. Think about it. Have you ever stood in line behind someone with 50 coupons at the grocery store? Or sat in traffic when you're already late?  I don’t know about you, but I start praying, "Lord, please part the Red Sea—just give me one more lane!"  And don't even get me started on waiting for a slow Wi-Fi connection. We live in a 'next-day shipping' world, but God doesn’t operate on Amazon Prime! In today’s first reading, the prophet Jeremiah challenges us to think about where we place our trust.  He describes two types of people: those who trust in human strength and those who trust in G...

In recent years, some have argued that Pope Francis should stay out of politics, particularly when it comes to the American immigration crisis.  Recently, President Trump's U.S. "border czar" Tom Homan lashed out at Pope Francis after the leader of the Catholic Church strongly criticized the mass deportation of migrants that Mr. Trump has initiated in his second term. When asked Tuesday by a Fox News reporter to comment on the pope's "harsh words," Homan replied: "I've got harsh words for the pope: I say this as a lifelong Catholic. He ought to focus on his work and leave enforcement to us. He's got a wall around the Vatican, does he not?" Yet, such critiques fail to grasp the Pope's fundamental role, not only as the leader of the Catholic Church but as a baptized Christian who, like all of us, shares in the mission of Christ as priest, prophet, and king. His words and actions in addressing the plight of migrants and refugees are not p...

  Critics of Pope Francis' teachings on migration and specifically his stance on building walls to keep migrants out of the country say that he is hypocritical because the Vatican has walls built to keep people out. Is that a valid criticism? That criticism is often raised, but it oversimplifies the historical and practical realities of the Vatican’s walls and misrepresents Pope Francis' teachings on migration. 1. The Purpose of the Vatican’s Walls The walls surrounding Vatican City were built primarily in the 9th century by Pope Leo IV as a defense against invading forces, particularly Saracen raiders. They were not constructed to prevent peaceful migrants or asylum seekers from entering, but rather to protect the city from violent attacks. Over the centuries, the Vatican has remained open to pilgrims, visitors, and refugees. Today, the Vatican’s walls do not serve as a border barrier in the way that national security walls do. There are multiple open entrances, and thousands ...

  "I told you so!" Have you ever had someone say that to you? Or maybe you’ve said it to someone else?  It’s not exactly our favorite thing to hear because it reminds us that we thought we knew better—but we didn’t. Now imagine this: you’re a professional fisherman. You’ve been on the water your entire life. You know the best techniques, the right times, and the perfect spots to catch fish.  And here comes a carpenter—a man who works with wood, not nets—telling you how to fish. That’s exactly what happens in today’s Gospel. After a long, frustrating night of catching nothing, Peter is tired, discouraged, and ready to call it a day. And then Jesus, a carpenter, tells him to try again. Now at first Peter seems a little annoyed with Jesus and he says, “Master, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing!” In other words, “With all due respect, Jesus, you’re a great teacher, and you’re even a great carpenter, but leave the fishing to me!” But then he gives in and says: ...

  A parishioner recently wrote to me with a heartfelt concern.  They expressed disappointment, feeling that we do not pray for peace often enough in our Masses and that I, as your pastor, could speak more about the need for peace in our world.  Their words struck me deeply, and today, I want to address their concern and reflect on the peace we so desperately need, both in our hearts and in the world. This weekend’s feast of the Presentation marks a profound moment: Mary and Joseph bringing the infant Jesus to the temple to present Him to the Lord.  This act is rich in symbolism, offering us a glimpse of Jesus as the Light of the World—the one who brings salvation and peace to all people.  It is a moment that invites us to reflect on our role as bearers of that light and instruments of God’s peace. In our Gospel, we meet two extraordinary figures: Simeon and Anna. Simeon, a righteous and devout man, takes the child Jesus in his arms and proclaims:  “Now, Mas...