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...

Hail the New

A New Year's message from our Provincial Director Fr. Jeffrey Kirch, C.PP.S. 2024 appears before us, shiny and new, rolling out its endless possibilities. In the words of the Christmas carol “Deck the Halls” (the fa-la-la-la-la’s are implied), Fast away the old year...

The Shepherds’ POV

A Christmas message from our Provincial Director Fr. Jeffrey Kirch, C.PP.S. Christmas, its images and celebrations, all have the newborn Jesus at the center. The light of the world radiates out from a tiny infant. But there are many humans in the account of Jesus’...

The Light Will Lead Us Home

By Fr.  Joe Nassal, C.PP.S. Advent is an adventure into the very mysteries of life. Though we associate Advent as a season of new beginnings, since 2010, I also identify Advent with endings. My younger sister, Mary, died on the first Sunday of Advent in 2010 at the...

Be the Voice of Peace

By Fr. Angelo Anthony, C.PP.S. When we were children, waiting for Christmas was marked with hope and great anticipation for Santa’s arrival and the gifts he would bring. As adults our waiting for Christmas takes on a different meaning. Like our ancestors of old we...

Victory for our God

By Fr. Dennis Chriszt, C.PP.S. This is the feast of victory for our God! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!   Today, the Church throughout the world celebrates the great feast of Christ the King. We rejoice that the promise made by the prophet Ezekiel has been...

Thankful for the Micro and the Macro

A Thanksgiving message from our Provincial Director Fr. Jeffrey Kirch, C.PP.S. Each day brings us both a broad and a close-up view of life. We are usually struggling to understand some big issue (the conflict in the Middle East comes to mind) and also dealing with...

Do We Bury Our Wounded?

By Fr. Tim Knepper, C.PP.S. A while back, I went to my local barber for a haircut. He knew I was a Catholic priest, and so religious and theological topics came up all the time. He attended a non-denominational Protestant church, and so this was my small part in...

Mother and Child Reunion

By Fr. Bill Nordenbrock, C.PP.S. Praying with the scriptures today has missionary images dancing and intermingling in my heart and mind. The first image St Paul gives us: A missionary is a mother who gives life to another and nurtures that life. The mother nursing her...

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....

St. Gaspar Remained True to his Mission

Solemnity of Saint Gaspar By the V. Rev. Jeffrey Kirch, C.PP.S. This time each year, Missionaries of the Precious Blood around the world celebrate our founder, St. Gaspar del Bufalo, whose feast day falls on October 21. The Solemnity of St. Gaspar may be moved to the...

Growing Up Gaspar

Exploring the early years of our founder, St. Gaspar, whose feast day is October 21. If you’ve ever seen an episode of “Downton Abbey,” or watched Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” you know that there’s a lively and bustling milieu going on behind the scenes at a...

Becoming Messengers of the Good News

By Fr. Joe Uecker, C.PP.S. To better understand our readings for today, we ought to go back a few weeks. Three weeks ago, you recall Jesus telling the story of the workers hired at various hours, but all receiving the same pay. The leaders of Israel do not understand....