Father Mark Hellinger

Columnist

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Prepare for the Second Coming of Christ

For most of us, the beginning of Advent brings on all sorts of memories and excitement – mostly directed at the celebration of Christmas. Even for the most staunched “delayers,” […]

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We Must Not Only Accept God’s Commands, We Must Love Them

The turn of the liturgical year into its “home stretch” is a turn toward a focus on the Last Things – heaven, hell, death, and judgment. As we move into […]

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The Height of God’s Power is Shown Best in His Mercy

This Sunday’s collect prayer happened to strike me as I was looking through the Roman Missal to explore the prayers for Mass. For the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we […]

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New Beginnings, and Looking Forward to the End

Going around the classrooms on the first day of school provided many entertaining moments, as the joy (mostly for the younger grades) and the mild dread (mainly in the older […]

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Happiness, Joy, and the Glimpse of Our Eternal Destiny

I recently had the great joy of attending three ordinations of close friends to the priesthood (including here in our own diocese). The last of these ordinations, in the Diocese […]

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The Joys and Challenges of Conforming to the Priesthood

In the early part of June, we often have the joy of celebrating priestly ordinations. This year is no different, as on Saturday, June 1, at the Cathedral of the […]

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Finding God in Our Mundane, Majestic Daily Lives

As we take a turn at the end of April and beginning of May, for many of us who are attached to the flow of the school year (students, teachers, […]

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May We Never Forget: We Are an Easter People

“But now we know the praises of this pillar, which glowing fire ignites for God’s honor, a fire into many flames divided, yet never dimmed by sharing of its light, […]

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Lent Has Led Us to the Joy and Agony of the Cross

“Through the Passion of Your Only Begotten Son, O Lord, may our reconciliation with You be near at hand, so that, though we do not merit it by our own […]

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The Mission of Lent: Running Toward Love Himself

“By your help, we beseech you, Lord our God, may we walk eagerly in that same charity with which, out of love for the world, Your Son handed Himself over […]

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May We Not Be Blind, but See God’s Beatific Vision

“The Lord anointed my eyes: I went, I washed, I saw, and I believed in God.” The Communion antiphon for this Fourth Sunday of Lent, which shares the Gospel passage […]

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Diocese

Contemplate Rebirth Through Christ’s Living Water This Lent

“When I prove my holiness among you, I will gather you from all the foreign lands; and I will pour clean water upon you and cleanse you from all your […]