Homily given at the 11:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, December 15, 2013, the Third Sunday of Advent, by Fr. Ed Fride, Pastor, Christ the King Catholic Church. On Gaudete Sunday, we are commanded to rejoice. The Church's vision for ecumenism, the last principle in the Christ the King Mission Statement, is one of the reasons we can rejoice. All who are baptized are our brothers and sisters in Christ and so are family to us.

Key words: rejoice, Gaudete Sunday, ecumenism, mission

Homily given at the 8:45 a.m. Mass on Sunday, December 8, 2013, the Second Sunday of Advent, by Fr. Ed Fride, Pastor, Christ the King Catholic Church. This season is about hope, and hope is given to us by the Lord. We need hope, especially when facing difficult situations.

Key words: hope, trust, love, Advent

To wrap up the Life Teen semester on the Church, we briefly surveyed the 2000 year history of the Church, highlighting evidence of the Holy Spirit's guidance and protection, even in the midst of terrible threats to her very existence.  The talk is intended to help the teens develop a deep trust in the Holy Sprirt to make the Church the place to turn to in difficult times, to trust Her guidance, and to help them remember to have hope in the midst of difficulty.  After the talk, the teens went into small groups to discuss practical applications from the talk.

Presentation made by Fr. Carlos Martin of the Companions of the Cross at Christ the King Catholic Church on Sunday, November 24, 2013. For more information about this ministry, go to www.treasuresofthechurch.com.

Key words: relics, saints

Homily given at the 11:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, December 1, 2013, the First Sunday of Advent, by Dcn. Dan Foley, Christ the King Catholic Church. Dcn. Dan reflects on Advent as a season of hope, hope not just in this world, but in the only hope that cannot disappoint us: God alone.

Key words: Advent, hope, conversion

Homily given at the 8:45 a.m. Mass on Sunday, December 1, 2013, the First Sunday of Advent, by Dcn. John Ozog, Christ the King Catholic Church. As we start the new liturgical year, Dcn. John invites us to reflect on what we need to do to prepare for the coming of Jesus, not only at Christmas, but at the end of our lives and the end of time.

Keywords: Advent, Jesus, coming, prepare, Christmas, death, Confession, eternal life

Homily given at the 8:45 a.m. Mass on Sunday, November 24, 2013, the Solemnity of Christ the King, by Fr. Ed Fride, Pastor, Christ the King Catholic Church. Fr. Ed reminds us that this feast is an invitation to us to look at our relationship with Jesus and see if He is reigning as King in our lives. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to live a life surrendered to the Lord Jesus.

Key words: charismatic, Jesus, Christ, King, Lord, Holy Spirit

The seventh and final talk in the Life in the Spirit Seminar, given on Friday, November 22, 2013, at Christ the King Catholic Church as part of the Upper Room Ministry. Jack Lynch, using the words of Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, encourages us to allow the fire of the Holy Spirit to burn deep within our lives, transforming them permanently for God. After reviewing ways to grow in the life in the Spirit, he then speaks on some of the temptations and trials that we will face going forward in our lives with God and encourages everyone to bear fruit through perseverance.

Key words: Holy Spirit, Baptism in the Holy Spirit, Upper Room

Question and answer session held after the fifth and final talk on Sunday morning, Nov. 17, 2013, at the Christ the King 2013 Women's Retreat on "Interior Freedom" by Fr. Jacques Philippe, a priest of the Community of the Beatitudes, an international association of the faithful of Pontifical Right, founded in France in 1973. (Fr. Jacques gave the talks in French. They were translated into English by Sr. Clare, another member of the Community of the Beatitudes.)

Key words: freedom, retreat, Beatitudes, Jacques Philippe

Fifth talk, given on Sunday morning, Nov. 17, 2013, at the Christ the King 2013 Women's Retreat on "Interior Freedom" by Fr. Jacques Philippe, a priest of the Community of the Beatitudes, an international association of the faithful of Pontifical Right, founded in France in 1973. (Fr. Jacques gave the talks in French. They were translated into English by Sr. Clare, another member of the Community of the Beatitudes.)

Key words: freedom, retreat, Beatitudes, Jacques Philippe