Sunday, March 22, 2026 – The Fifth Sunday in Lent
As I announced a few weeks ago, I traveled to Cleveland for the funeral of a well-respected parishioner from St. Aloysius Parish and a civic leader in the Cleveland area. I had a very peaceful drive up I-71 the day I journeyed north. As I entered the city and viewed the Cleveland skyline with the Terminal Tower, the Key Bank Tower, a view of Cleveland State University, and Lake Erie, I felt like I had come home. Now, knowing I grew up here in the Greater Cincinnati area and being very happy here at St. Francis de Sales Parish, I found that feeling intriguing. At the same time, I realize my two stays at St. Aloysius Church, spanning nineteen-years and covering my initial years in the Society of Mary had a great impact on me. The parishioners at St. Al’s taught me much about ministering in a parish setting. In considering this, it helped me normalize this warm feeling of being home in Cleveland. They were good years.
I believe many of us can relate to experiences like mine when you revisit an important place from your life’s history. And related, many of us of a given age may long for a simpler time from the past; a time when there was more unity, less violence, past friends and family to relate with, and other areas of our lives we would love to return to. We say only if “I could go back to ‘X’ and the good old days—that would feel like going home.” I share these same thoughts.
But, as we know, the above is not possible; we need to accept our current time and place and move forward. As one of my Marianist brothers once said at a gathering of Marianist brothers and priests: “This is the time we have been called to [by God.”] So, what is our creative response to move forward and create bright futures.
In faith, we believe that God will be our driving force and guide us to great tomorrows— honoring our pasts but opening our eyes to new possibilities. In thinking about this moving forward in hope, I recalled the lyrics of an old song by Seals and Crofts, We May Never Pass Over This Way Again:
Like Columbus in the olden days, we must gather all our courage.
Sail our ships out on the open seas, cast away our fears and the years come and go. Take us up, always up!!!
We may never pass this way again.
In two weeks we will conclude the Lenten Season and celebrate the great Solemnity of Easter and the resurrection of Jesus. It is the grand feast of new beginnings and new hope that all things are possible. We celebrate that life wins over death and ruin. As we await this celebration which is so significant to our faith, may we embrace what it means for us in our current time and moving forward.