The Stars Tell the Story

Christ speaks to us of the greatest commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.” What motivates us to do that? We are in the time of year when seasons change and we witness the dynamic of creation....

There is Life in the Blood

A message on the anniversary of C.PP.S. founding from our Provincial Director Fr. Jeffrey Kirch, C.PP.S. As we mark another year of life in our Congregation—208 years now since our founding in 1815 by St. Gaspar del Bufalo—my thoughts turn to his thoughts in those...

Precious Blood Scholarship Application Deadline Extended

The deadline has been extended until August 15 for the United States Province’s scholarship program, which aids students who wish to attend Catholic schools. Members and Companions are invited nominate a young person who wishes to attend a Catholic primary or high...

Fr. James McCabe, 65 Years

The Missionaries of the Precious Blood announce the 65th anniversary of the ordination of Fr. James McCabe, C.PP.S. Fr. McCabe, 91, a native of Newcastle, Neb., entered the Congregation in 1945 at Brunnerdale, the Missionaries’ former high school seminary near Canton,...

Fr. Donald Thieman Celebrates 70 years

The Missionaries of the Precious Blood announce the 70th anniversary of the ordination of Fr. Donald Thieman, C.PP.S. Fr. Thieman, who at 96 is the oldest living Missionary of the Precious Blood, is a native of Coldwater, Ohio. He entered the Congregation in 1941 at...

In the Realm of Miracles

By Fr. Tony Fortman, C.PP.S. Today we celebrate the ascension of the Lord. Jesus ascended into heaven body and soul in the presence of the Blessed Virgin Mary and his apostles. This is not the first time Jesus was suspended in the air. If we go back to the...

A Powerful Passage

By Fr. Jeffrey Kirch, C.PP.S.   The “Journey to Emmaus” is one of the most well-known stories in the New Testament. It is a vivid story that we can truly connect with. Two downtrodden disciples leaving Jerusalem…an encounter with a stranger to whom the disciples tell...

Volunteers Serve in Many Ways

By Tim Deveney A few years ago, I had the pleasure of hearing Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ, speak at the Ignatian Solidarity Network’s Teach-in for Social Justice. Fr. Boyle said we need to not “settle for just shaking your fist, roll up your sleeves to create the place where...

Mercy, Wrapped in Mercy

By Fr. Bill Nordenbrock, C.PP.S. The first time that I preached on the Gospel account of the appearances of the Resurrected Christ to the disciples was the day after my ordination. As I reflected on this narrative then, what caught my attention was that Jesus needed...

Fr. Edgar Jutte, C.PP.S., 1935-2023

Fr. Edgar Jutte, C.PP.S., 88, died at 12:30 a.m. on Monday, April 10, 2023, at St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lima, Ohio, where he had been a patient for several days. He died of complications following a fall at St. Charles Center, Carthagena, Ohio, where he made his...

Out of the Ashes, New Hope Rises

By Fr. Joe Nassal, C.PP.S. Growing up on a farm, CP Estes knew her family had burned the land from time to time because “the ash made tired ground more fertile again.” But after one such burning, she asked her uncle what he would plant in the field and was surprised...

Remember Your Mercies, O Lord

Brother Tom Bohman, C.PP.S. Life is not fair. Among my favorite Ohio professional sport teams, I note that there are many rocky roads. We wish that we would always be on the winning side but as in life, we find that we are tested in our loyalties. It seems that faith...

Fr. Leon Flaherty, C.PP.S. 1935-2023

Fr. Leon Flaherty, C.PP.S. 1935-2023

Fr. Leon Flaherty, C.PP.S., 88, died on September 29, 2023, at 10:20 a.m., in the infirmary of St. Charles Center, Carthagena, Ohio. He had been in failing health. He was born on July 10, 1935, in Superior, Wisc., to Michael and Emily (Jaques) Flaherty. He entered the...

From Grumbling to Gratitude

By Fr. Ben Berinti, C.PP.S. Arriving at Brunnerdale High School Seminary at the tender age of 14, I entered a vast ocean of experiences, sometimes the waves throwing me onto the shore, and sometimes dragging me out into the deep. Trying to fight the onset of...

Are We Forgiving Each Other?

By Brother Brian Boyle, C.PP.S. The three readings touch on forgiveness and compassion for one another. I want to focus on the interconnectedness of the human family and the implications of that. The Sirach reading gives practical guidance on forgiving others who have...

What If We Lived Up to Our Words?

By Fr. Ben Berinti, C.PP.S.              When you live in and pastor a beachside parish as I do here in Melbourne Beach, Fla., people are constantly coming and going. There are weekend sand and surf warriors, winter residents, accidental tourists and then regular...

Understanding the Will of God

The heart itself is but a small vessel, yet there are dragons and there are lions; there are poisonous beasts and all the treasures of evil. And there are rough and uneven roads; there are precipices. But there is also God, also the angels, the life and the kingdom,...

Fr. James McCabe, C.PP.S., 1931 – 2023

Fr. James McCabe, C.PP.S. December 6, 1931–August 27, 2023 Fr. James McCabe, C.PP.S., 91, died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday morning, August 27, in the infirmary of St. Charles Center, Carthagena, Ohio. He had been in failing health. Fr. McCabe was born in...

A New Way To Look at Keys

By Fr. Tim McFarland, C.PP.S. Many times, we hear people having an identity crisis or perhaps we have experienced that in our lives. Today’s Gospel introduces us to ways in which people were discovering and growing in their understanding of Jesus. This can also speak...

A Lesson in Showing Up

By Vicky Otto The older I get, the more I admire the women we read about in the Gospels. Each, in their way, has taught me essential life lessons. Mary taught me the importance of saying yes to God. The women who stood at the crucifix demonstrated the importance of...

There is Life in the Blood

A message on the anniversary of C.PP.S. founding from our Provincial Director Fr. Jeffrey Kirch, C.PP.S. As we mark another year of life in our Congregation—208 years now since our founding in 1815 by St. Gaspar del Bufalo—my thoughts turn to his thoughts in those...

Get Out of the Boat

By Fr. Tony Fortman, C.PP.S. Today, we see Jesus walking on the water, a miracle indeed. This is a violation of a natural occurrence. Peter also walks on the water until he takes his eyes off Jesus. I can remember my first swimming lesson at Spring Lake in Pandora,...