Saint Clement Shrine Podcast

The post Gospel-Homily for Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

If I ever meet St. Peter after I die, I want to ask him a question. “What was it like to walk on water? Is it like walking on jello, or do you feel like a buoy marker? What is it like to walk on water during a storm with waves? What do you do?... The post Gospel-Homily for Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Before I was ordained, I made a retreat. Let me introduce you to the staff. The first priest was a recovering alcoholic. They didn’t know what to do with him so they stuck him in the retreat house. The second priest on staff suffered burnout from years of ministry. All he wanted to do was... The post Gospel-Homily for Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

We All Have Pearls, But Do We Have One of Great Value? My mother has been gone for over 15 years. I wonder what it would be like if I could have her back for a whole day. I would show her all my pearls. I would take out my I-phone and show her all... The post Gospel-Homily for Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Good line to remember during hard times: “I’m Sticking with It.” During the Boston sports championship run, I approached one of our seminarians from New York and asked him how the Knicks were doing. He let out a painful moan. Then I asked about the New York Giants. He told me that they only won... The post Gospel-Homily for Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

I have a modest vegetable garden in pots on the roof, including seven tomato plants, some parsley, basil, and peppers. The plants talk to me. Not with words, of course, but by revealing their struggles to me. When I see a few yellow leaves at the bottom of the plant, it tells me it needs... The post Gospel-Homily for Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

“Yard By Yard, Life Is Hard. Inch By Inch, Life’s A Cinch” My cousin and I were on a roof job together. My uncle, who was on top of the roof, yelled down for us to start bringing up the roof shingles. I reached down and shouldered an 80lb bundle and started up the two-storied... The post Gospel-Homily for Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

The Magic of the Heart. A doctor told the parents that their child would be born with permanent defects and recommended termination. The parents came to me for advice. I told them that there would be sacrifices. Yet, I am not sure how or why it works, but when you open your home and heart... The post Gospel-Homily for Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Our family cat was the most cantankerous pet I ever saw. I would try to get its attention and say, “Here, kitty, kitty, just want to say hi,” and it would bolt. I think I know where she got her bad disposition. My mother used to pick up the cat, give it a bear hug,... The post Gospel-Homily for Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Election. Check it out–no money, no training, and no degree from Harvard Medical School, and the 12 Apostles are to go out and cure the sick. How is that possible? They were elected–chosen by the Lord. Let’s say you were elected to be the mayor of the city. Immediately, you will have an office, a... The post Gospel-Homily for Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Annuals or perennials: that is the question. I always planted annuals because they are beautiful and they flower all summer. The problem with them is that they die at the end of the season, so you have to go to Home Depot or a nursery to buy a whole new batch and replant them. It... The post Gospel-Homily for Solemnity of The Body and Blood of Christ (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

A young man living in Nigeria applied to the United States government for a green card, and he got it. Do you know how hard it is to be a Nigerian and get a green card from the United States government? It is easier for you or me to walk across the street to the... The post Gospel-Homily for Solemnity of The Holy Trinity (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

How Do You Know.  In the early hours on a Pentecost morning, one of the Boston hospitals called me to anoint a man named Tony. When I arrived, the patient’s wife was in the room. Just after I anointed Tony, he took his last breath and passed away. When I was leaving the hospital, I... The post Gospel-Homily for Pentecost Sunday (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

The post Gospel-Homily for Seventh Sunday of Easter (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

The post Gospel-Homily for Solemnity of the Ascension (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

A Gift We Can All Use. Jesus wants to give us his divine spirit. Sounds good, but do we have any idea what that really means for us? Allow me to illustrate. I was invited to fish at a private fly-fishing trout club. I got to the clubhouse, and I met Jerry, one of the members,... The post Gospel-Homily for Sixth Sunday of Easter (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Reach for the Light. I ordered Hosta from the Holland bulb company. The box arrived with a sign on the front that said, “Open Immediately.” Inside were instructions to remove the roots from the plastic bag and plant them immediately. I cut an opening in the bag and pulled out what looked like a small bundle... The post Gospel-Homily for Fifth Sunday of Easter (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

All the Doubts Go Away. I went to the post office to renew my passport. The woman took my old passport, looked at my photo from the 90s, and said, “Oh my, you used to be cute.” So, my question is this. What happened? I will tell you what happened. When I was cute, I... The post Gospel-Homily for Fourth Sunday of Easter (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

When Life Takes a Turn. Dave’s drains. Did you ever hear about them? No? Never had I. Then last Sunday morning, before the Masses, I saw a pool of water coming from the restroom. Apparently, someone thought it was a great idea to flush hand-i-wipes down the toilet. And that was how I came to know Dave’s drains. Funny how life... The post Gospel-Homily for Third Sunday of Easter (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Fixing the Flaws. My brother gained a lot of weight over the years. The reason is because his daughter is a fantastic baker. My brother was the official taste-tester, and he paid a price. When I went home to see the family, between the Easter Masses, I opened the door, and my brother greeted me,... The post Gospel-Homily for Divine Mercy Sunday (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Check it out. The disciple entered the tomb, and he saw and believed. That means believing is an experience of something amazing. If that is what belief feels like, then how can we believe all the time? Here is how. Believing is enjoying life with this one detail: five minutes at a time. Once when I... The post Gospel-Homily for Easter Sunday (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

The post Gospel-Homily for Easter Vigil (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

The post Gospel-Homily for Good Friday (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

The post Gospel-Homily for Holy Thursday (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Like your Friends. What are some of the perks that God enjoys? What are the advantages of being divine? The first thing that comes to mind is death. God can never die. God lives forever. I also note that God does not suffer. Every day in eternity, God basks in glory and joy. He experiences... The post Gospel-Homily for Palm Sunday (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Show the Tears. I grew up with four brothers, no sisters. I worked for my father in his construction company, no girls. I now belong to a religious congregation, all guys. In my personal journey with the boys, I learned one thing. Guys like to hide their tears. I learned this early on playing in... The post Gospel-Homily for Fifth Sunday of Lent (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Great Endings. How do you create a great ending? You need a horrible story. At the end of my first year in the seminary, I went to the Rector’s office for my evaluation. It didn’t go very well. He said my grades were low, and the staff didn’t think I could cut it as a... The post Gospel-Homily for Fourth Sunday of Lent (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Play the Hand. I was at a priest convention, and after the conferences, the leader said, “Let’s have a poker tournament tonight for fun. We divided ourselves into tables of five. They handed out the cards. My hand consisted of a 2, a 4, a 7, a 9, and a jack. I do not play poker,... The post Gospel-Homily for Third Sunday of Lent (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

The post Gospel-Homily for Second Sunday of Lent (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

A Kindred Spirit. The first time I told my father that I was training to run a marathon, he enthusiastically responded, “Are you out of your mind?” I ran the marathon and experienced something for the first time in my life: the wall. The best way to describe the wall is that sometime between mile 20... The post Gospel-Homily for First Sunday of Lent (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

The post Gospel-Homily for Ash Wednesday (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

The Best Advertisement Is a Happy Customer. People often ask me, “How do I get my husband to go back to church?” or “What do I say to the grandkids to make them want to pray. I always tell them the best advertisement is a happy customer. If you are following all of Christ’s instructions,... The post Gospel-Homily for Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Salt of the Earth. There was a cooking competition on the Food Network. A woman chief was standing calmly in front of the oven, stirring a pot, while the guy chief was running back and forth frantically from the pantry. He was chopping, mixing, and putting things in the oven. After he plated, I thought he... The post Gospel-Homily for Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

The Only Road. Outsiders looking inside were perplexed and confused as to why Christians worship a man who died on a cross. “Why are you worshiping a loser. Why not someone who is far more successful and has made an impact on the world such as the Roman emperor, who built roads all over the... The post Gospel-Homily for Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

The post Gospel-Homily for Third Sunday of Ordinary Time (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Baptized by water and the Holy Spirit. We all know that baptism by water is an initiation. Everyone likes a new start and a fresh beginning. Who does not enjoy a clean slate? That is why we love the Red Sox on opening day. We are excited to start a new job with higher pay... The post Gospel-Homily for Second Sunday of Ordinary Time (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Listen to Him. I had a top hat, and I used it when I gave confirmation or at high school retreats. I would tell them, “This ridiculously looking hat is magic and when I put it on my head, I have special knowledge. Just pick someone from the group and I will know who it... The post Gospel-Homily for The Baptism of Jesus (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

A soccer player had a penalty kick. I think his name was Renaldo. The opposing team formed a human line between the ball and the goal so that if you hit the ball toward the net, it would bounce off the wall. The striker hit the ball with the side of his foot, and it curved like... The post Gospel-Homily for The Epiphany (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

The post Gospel-Homily for Solemnity of Mary, The Mother of God (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

God’s Story. I work in a church that is over 100 years old. Almost every day, I get a surprise, and it is usually not good. So I guess I can say that I am pretty good at managing difficulties, setbacks, and problems. When I look at the early years of Joseph and Mary, I... The post Gospel-Homily for Feast of The Holy Family (2025) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

The post Gospel-Homily for Vigil of Christmas (2025) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Missing the Bullseye No More. In the ancient world, archery was very popular. They set up targets and bull’s-eyes to measure the accuracy of a shot. Let’s say you pull back on the bow. Just as you release the arrow, you have a hiccup. The arrow will probably leave the path leading to the bull’s-eye’s... The post Gospel-Homily for Fourth Sunday of Advent (2025) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Raising the Bar. Elijah was a hairy man with a leather belt around his waist, hanging around the Jordan River, when a chariot picked him up and brought him to heaven. After that happened, many people scratched their heads in confusion. “Why does he get a chariot ride to heaven? How come he did have... The post Gospel-Homily for Third Sunday of Advent (2025) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Rootball. Every spring, people ask me, “What beautiful tulips, there are so many of them. Did you just plant them? I tell them, “No! I plant the bulbs in the fall. During the winter, they do their magic. You just can’t see them.” They respond, “Ohhh.” City people! Kobe Bryant was seen as one of... The post Gospel-Homily for Second Sunday of Advent (2025) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

There Is a Catch. One day, God appeared to Moses and declared, “I want to be your God. What do you think?” And Moses replied. “What can you do for us”? And God answered, “You and your nation are all slaves. I can persuade the Egyptians to give you your freedom papers. Next, I will... The post Gospel-Homily for First Sunday of Advent (2025) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Know Your King. Have you ever stood on your own grave? I have. Dad just informed me that he bought four plots at the cemetery, and one of them was for me. I was waiting for my father to return with the water for the flowers around my mother’s headstone when I realized I was... The post Gospel-Homily for Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (2025) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Pocking the Bee’s Hive. I go to church meetings often. I sit in a cushy chair in front of a large desk, surrounded by water bottles and a variety of snacks. The meeting begins, and someone in the group has an idea. Then everyone at the meeting thinks it is a great idea, and I... The post Gospel-Homily for Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (2025) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

Build to Last. My father is a builder. All my uncles are builders. My cousins are builders. Their kids are all builders, and my brothers are builders. So, I know something about building. I often tinker around the shrine, and one day I discovered that the foundation is three and a half feet wide. If you... The post Gospel-Homily for Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica (2025) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

The Greatest Inheritance. We know that when we die, we can’t take it with us. Thus, the inheritance was invented. When my mother died, I got an inheritance: A pillow. Two years before, I was in Kohl’s department store. It was buy-one-get-one-free Monday. That means you pay a ridiculously high price for an item, and you... The post Gospel-Homily for All Souls Day (2025) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.

A Reason to Need Him. I did not see that coming. I thought Jesus would have picked the Pharisee. Pharisees obey the commandments. They will not rip off your grandmother as a tax collector would. So why the Pharisee over the tax collector? The Pharisee did not give God a reason to need Him. The... The post Gospel-Homily for Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (2025) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.