Browsing Thoughts from Fr. Bob
Lost Sheep
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 9/18/19
Today’s gospel, the 15th chapter of St. Luke’s gospels, is one of my favorites! It speaks of God’s great mercy, compassion, and forgiveness. And who is not in need of that? Who is not a sinner? We can speak about degrees, serious matter kind, and frequency of sins, but ... Read More »
A new school year has just begun
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 9/05/19
A new school year has just begun. What an appropriate time to act as a student, eager to learn what it takes to follow the Lord. What does it take to be a disciple of Jesus? A couple of weeks ago, we learned it takes discipline, a word derived ... Read More »
Labor Day
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 9/05/19
We gather around the table of the Lord on this Labor Day weekend to share a meal. Everyone is invited, regardless of race, gender, culture, background, class identity, income or any other unnecessary source of division. We join together to celebrate the Eucharistic banquet. As we listen to Jesus ... Read More »
“Are only a few people going to be saved?”
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 8/20/19
Our Gospel today asks a very important question that is probably on all our minds. “Are only a few people going to be saved?” And better yet, “am I going to be saved?” When the people who asked the question, it would certainly be on the assumption that the ... Read More »
Fire
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 8/20/19
As some of you may know I was a firefighter for the City of St. Francis for four years while I was in the seminary. After I was ordained a priest, I was the chaplain for the Milwaukee Fire Department for 27 years. So when I hear our Lord ... Read More »
Santisimo Sacramento
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 8/20/19
This weekend we welcome Fr. Joe Uhen to our parish. He, of course, is the pastor of our sister parish, Santisimo Sacramento in Piura, Peru. For four years now, we have had a twinning relationship with his parishioners. This is a wonderful practice of our Catholic faith because too ... Read More »
Wow, what a busy weekend
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 8/01/19
Wow, what a busy weekend we had last week. Oshkosh experimental aircraft meeting, the Brewers playing the Chicago Cubs (2 out of 3, not bad), air and water show here, German Fest, county fairs, as well as parish festivals. If you were bored, it was your own fault. But ... Read More »
“are you willing to drink of Christ’s chalice”?
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 7/31/19
Prior to our Gospel reading for the feast of St. James, our Lord spoke of the prediction of His passion and death. Despite hearing Jesus’ remarks, the disciples still did not understand his message about the kingdom of God. It was not to be an earthly kingdom of power, ... Read More »
Treat strangers kindly
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 7/15/19
It is the kind of story that everyone loves to hear: An ordinary person treats a stranger kindly and the stranger turns out to be a famous person. A waitress receives a $1,000 tip from an ordinary customer, an Uber driver helps a stranger whose car is broken down ... Read More »
Good Samaritan
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 7/15/19
If someone were to call you a “good Samaritan” you should take that as a great compliment. That name has been synonymous with being kind, generous, and going out of your way to help others. This parable of the good Samaritan answers the question “who is my neighbor?” The ... Read More »