Browsing Reflections from Fr. Jasper
A Twisted Lenten Challenge
Posted by Peg O'Donnell
February 18, 2024
I loved Fridays in Lent as a kid: the peanut butter sandwiches at lunch and fish sticks and mac-and-cheese for dinner; Stations of the Cross in the afternoon at school; the Rice Bowl collection box we were given to save-up our quarters for the foreign ... Read More »
Time of the Season
Posted by Peg O'Donnell
February 11, 2024
The season of Lent begins this coming week, and to be quite honest, the thought of it both excites and intimidates me.
I love knowing that God can use these next 40 days to spiritually “clean house,” so to speak, if I open-up my heart and ... Read More »
An Irish Welcome
Posted by Peg O'Donnell
February 4, 2024
A good friend recently returned from a trip to Ireland,where she encountered a welcome message hanging onthe wall of the local parish church in a rural part of Dublin.Because it so beautifully captures the ImmaculateConception Parish and St. Jude mission spirit, I wantedto share it ... Read More »
Blaise of Glory
Posted by Peg O'Donnell
January 28, 2024
Next weekend, after the Saturday morning and Sunday Masses on 2/3 and 2/4, parishioners will have the opportunity to have their throats blessed through the intercession of St. Blaise, a bishop and martyr of the early Church who, according to pious legend, healed a child ... Read More »
Beatitudes for Life
Posted by Peg O'Donnell
January 21, 2024
This Monday, January 22nd, the Church asks us to make the day one of prayer and sacrifice for the legal protection of unborn children in our nation and throughout the world. Although there have been some victories in recent years in our efforts to protect ... Read More »
That All May Be One
Posted by Peg O'Donnell
January 14, 2024
Beginning this coming Thursday January 18, the Church takes eight days to pray with other Christian denominations for the gift of true and lasting unity, which Christ spoke of to his disciples at the Last Supper when he said, “… that they may be one ... Read More »
Restless Hearts and Little Things
Posted by Peg O'Donnell
January 7, 2024
As the proud product of an Augustinian Catholic education both in high school and for a portion of my priestly formation, many of the saintly bishop’s quotes have become ingrained in my mind throughout the years, most especially: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in ... Read More »
We Are Family
Posted by Peg O'Donnell
December 31, 2023
I remember watching a TV sketch-comedy show in which two parents are found sitting on their living room sofa, sharing a glass of wine and reminiscing about how perfect Christmas Day was with their children and invited guests. Except it wasn’t perfect – not really. ... Read More »
Let There Be Light
Posted by Peg O'Donnell
December 24, 2023
Two of my childhood Advent-and-Christmas memories revolve around light: one involved a rather large home in the neighboring parish bedecked from rooftop to shrub with hundreds of multi-colored bulbs, the old-fashioned kind made of glass that would break easily and would have to be ... Read More »
Joy on Route 213 …
Posted by Peg O'Donnell
December 17, 2023
The first day I arrived as administrator of Immaculate Conception Parish and St. Jude mission, I came across the tracks on Bridge Street (aptly named) into Elkton Heights. As I crossed the 213 bridge that humid summer afternoon, an older African American gentleman stood on ... Read More »