Fred grew up in a small coastal New England town. Like most other New Englanders, Fred loved sea food. Though there were many sea food restaurants in his small town, from the time he had his first taste of Cod, he and his family were devoted customers of Abrezzi’s Fish & Chips! Occasionally they might eat somewhere else, if invited by a friend who was buying, but otherwise, it was always and only Abrezzi’s.  And, of course, they would never even set foot in Petra’s Fish & Chips! Fred didn’t really know why—he grew up hearing lots of despicable rumors.… Continue reading

The First Reading for Friday’s Mass is far more significant than the attention, I fear, it too seldom receives. And even if it receives any mention in what are usually short Friday homilies, its true significance can be missed if not seen within its larger context within the entire Letter to the Hebrews. And besides, what does the message from a debated, seemingly obscure New Testament book have to say to us mature, modern Christians living nearly two thousand years later in this increasingly woke digital Age? Well, there’s far from enough space in this short article to give justice… Continue reading

I’ve been hesitant to jump back into blogging. Since I’m essentially retiring from active ministry, I just wasn’t sure what my first step back into the fray ought to be. Long ago, I posted above my desk St. Paul’s commitment from 1 Corinthians 9:16, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” This has been my commitment for the past 45+ years. So what now? Then this morning I read the following article in the Wall Street Journal: FDA Increasingly Halting Human Trials as Companies Pursue Risky, Cutting-Edge Drugs: Agency places more holds on trials to protect patients,… Continue reading