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Homilies

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The Necessity of Ongoing Formation in Preaching

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On Jan. 24, 2023, I sat down at my computer to begin writing this article concerning the necessity for ongoing formation in preaching. Within an hour, three people emailed me a copy of the Jan. 20, 2023, address of Pope Francis to participants in the course “Living Liturgical Action Fully.” Pope Francis emphasizes a very Read More
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An Alliterative Guide to Helpful Homilies

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For decades, it has been common knowledge at all levels of the Church that preaching and formation are lacking. Many congregants and ex-Catholics complain about not being fed, which is an article in itself. While we all are impoverished by substandard homilies and formation or hurt, and offended by uncharitable and insensitive actions (unfortunately, a Read More
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The Fundamentals of Better Catholic Preaching

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The Homiletic Directory (2017) articulated a clear vision as to what the Church calls the preacher to do in his preaching and, just as important, what not to do. Preachers naturally look for concrete methods for preparing and delivering homilies as envisioned by the directory. That practical advice is valuable, but at the same time Read More

Preaching the Same Homily in Multiple Parishes

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Ask five deacons what their preaching schedules are like and the answers will fluctuate widely. After my ordination in 1994, I typically preached once a month at one Mass. Occasionally, I preached at two Masses on a specific Sunday. It was rare to be scheduled to deliver the homily on two different weekends in any Read More

Preaching too Much?

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Not long ago, a priest decided to stir the pot on social media by reminding his readers that deacons may preach, but they don’t have a right to preach. Say what? Canon law explains: “Bishops have the right to preach the word of God everywhere … unless the local bishop has expressly forbidden it in Read More