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“Who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand” (1 Chronicles 29:14).    Toddlers learn to delineate their territories very quickly. They declare emphatically, “Mine!” Somehow this is one of the first words they learn. But this is more than just a word, it is an attitude, the attitude that what another has belongs to them. We learn at a very early age to grasp for things and to claim them as our own. This lesson then continues through life as we chase stuff. Sometimes it seems as though our whole existence is about the pursuit of more...

In Deuteronomy chapter 16, God admonished the people of Israel concerning freewill offering. This was to be freely determined, but proportionate to the blessing they had received from God. They were to bring their offerings into the place of worship with rejoicing. In verse 16 God says, “No one should appear before the Lord empty-handed.” God did not want anyone to be left out in this act of giving on the pretext that they possessed nothing to give. Everyone was to bring in their offerings that were commensurate with what they had first received.

Last week I posed a question for our collective reflection: “Is St. Therese, Little Flower my parish or a parish I go to?” I am aware that the majority of those who read my letters are registered parishioners at our parish, but there are some who are not registered yet or still on the fence about committing to our parish. We also have people from other parishes who participate at our parish events and mostly worship with us but are still discerning whether to become members at Little Flower. We would love to have you all register. But whatever your status, I think we can all pray about this question and ask what the Lord is calling us to, or asking of us, in relation to the parish. [Click to read more]

When you hear the word “stewardship” what readily comes to your mind? Let me guess: money? You are correct. Like many of you, I strongly believe the church has not done a great job in explaining the biblical concept of stewardship. And because people often learn by association, and we only talk about stewardship when there is a capital campaign, people tend to understand stewardship as only having to do with money. Whereas stewardship includes money, it is more than that. It is where the concepts of faith, work and economics intersect. There is therefore the need for a proper understanding of stewardship as a biblical concept - one that God commands, one that God expects from all of us, and one that God rewards.

Last Saturday, thirteen new priests were ordained for my home diocese in Nigeria. During his homily, the Archbishop urged them to always remember that they are fools for Christ.

On August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I marked the 14th anniversary of my ordination to the sacred priesthood. I cannot sufficiently express in words my gratitude to God for calling me to share in the priesthood, which is rightfully Christ’s, despite my obvious unworthiness. I am also grateful for the many good people the Lord has put in my life, who have truly been a blessing to me and help me be a better human and a good priest. The occasion offered me the opportunity to once again reflect on how I am stewarding the ministry that has been entrusted to me. I took time to repent for past sins and wrongs and to rededicate myself to the service of God and of his people. [Click to continue reading]

Fr. William reflects on the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Dear parishioners,  Thank you for your patience with me and for your understanding as I exercised my teaching ministry on the subject of music in our liturgy. I took the time to address some of the major issues because I thought it was a subject too important to be rushed. As everything that has a beginning must come to an end, I would like to bring this series to an end. This does not suggest that I exhausted all the Church teaches on the subject matter. Our parish will continue to apply the learnings from the richness of the Church’s repertoire to our practice here at St. Thérèse, Little Flower, taking into account our context and circumstances. This week I want to address the question of musical instruments for the liturgy. [Click to read more]

During his speech at the opening ceremony of World Youth Day 2023, Pope Francis reminded us that there is room for everyone in the Church. The Church belongs to everyone called by God through baptism. According to him, Jesus made this point very clearly in the parables in the gospel, that "all are called."

It is the vision of the church, from her history, to have the major parts of the Mass sung. The Second Vatican Council assigns a position of pride to the Gregorian chant as the normative form of singing in the Roman liturgy. Traditionally, masses derived their names from the words of the entrance antiphons chants. [Click to read more]

Since I began addressing the subject of music in our liturgy, I have received some feedback from parishioners and staff. As I mentioned in a previous letter, my intention at the moment is to instruct. Decisions on the future course of our music will be a product of prayer, consultation and thorough discernment. And it would largely be determined by what the Church teaches and what is pastorally feasible, given our context. I appreciate your comments, they tell me you are reading my letter and are interested in the subject matter as I am. This week I want to address the reason we sing the Mass. [Click to read more]

One stereotype in thinking is that the younger generation of Catholics tend to prefer more contemporary and modern music, while older generations would rather have the more traditional and old music. From my experience, this is not the case; at least, not everywhere. Father Jan Michael Joncas writes, "Age by itself does not seem to determine one’s ability to appreciate a particular musical style: senior citizens may enjoy a Beatles tune while twenty-somethings may powerfully respond to chant" (From Sacred Song to Ritual Music, 1997). [Click to read more]

Praise be Jesus Christ now and forever! As I continue this catechesis on music in our liturgy, there is the need to address some topics of interest, and that are foundational to discerning what the role of music in our liturgy ought to be. This week, I will address the subject of our uniqueness as a parish in South Bend, Indiana. 

Having set the groundwork for what I undertake in my bulletin column for the coming weeks, and explaining the term “liturgy” as the work of Jesus, the head, in union with the his body, the Church, I now turn to some concepts that have acquired multiple interpretations in order to clarify what the church teaches concerning them and how they apply to our liturgies.

Last week I began a series on music in our liturgy to address some concerns that have been raised by parishioners, and also to chart a path for music at our parish. It is the duty of a Pastor to sanctify, instruct and govern the people of God entrusted to his pastoral care. My intention here is to instruct on what the Church teaches concerning music in the liturgy, and at the same time call everyone to embrace it as a way of realizing that universal call to holiness to which all the baptized are called.

Three Sundays ago, the Knights of Columbus sold tickets for chicken dinner in support of Gibault Children's service. The response from parishioners was overwhelming. Many people paid more than the 12 dollars that was requested per dinner!

Fr. Julius begins a multi-part letter on the role of music in our liturgy.

Last Sunday, I attended Mass with the Filipino community in Tel Aviv, Israel. It was the closest catholic parish, per Google. Eric, a fellow Ph.D. student at Notre Dame, and I took Bus 5. We alighted at the bus stop nearest the parish, walking the remaining distance to the small albeit beautiful church called Our Lady of Valor...

I like to think of myself as adventurous when it comes to food. Some of my friends can attest to the fact that I don’t have a favorite dish but enjoy any and every good food. Whereas some people might be comfortable eating only particular foods they like, I like to try out new things,  even at the same restaurants. My philosophy in this matter is that the world has so much to offer, why limit myself to only a few options? [Click to read more]