About our Pastor:
Father Anthony “Tony” Fortman, C.PP.S., grew up in Ottawa, Ohio. Father Tony graduated from Ottawa-Glandorf High School and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Bluffton College. After attending Catholic Theological Union in Chicago for Seminary, he served as Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Cleveland for 3 years, followed by vocational work, and then served as Associate Pastor at the St. Henry Cluster in Mercer County for the next 5 years. He became pastor of St. Gaspar Family of Parishes after a 13-year assignment as Pastor at St. John the Baptist in Glandorf, Ohio. Learn more about our Pastor.
July 26, 2026
In the Gospel today, Jesus says, “Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” Jesus does mention the end of the age or his Second Coming. Jesus will come again and he will judge us according to our life on earth. Jesus also talks about separating wicked people from righteous people. He talks about hell, the fiery furnace. This is where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. This is not a pretty picture for those who deny Christ and do not want to listen to him. Hell is a place. Heaven is a place also. We know that in heaven, there are two bodies, Jesus‘s body and the Blessed Virgin Mary’s body. Jesus ascended into heaven, body and soul. Mary was assumed into heaven, body and soul. So heaven is a place where a body can dwell.
Some of us may say, “ Why do I need to worry about heaven, purgatory, or hell right now? I’ve got enough to keep me busy here on this earth.” That is true that we have a lot to keep us busy here on this earth. It is not easy to be a good citizen and a good Catholic at the same time. There are unforeseen obstacles and crosses that we have but God still wants us to keep heaven in sight at all times. Scripture tells us that our citizenship is in heaven and from it, we await a Savior.
It’s hard to think about that when you are struggling on earth. But God never gives us permission to ignore heaven and the next life. Even though we have struggles on this earth, we are still called to pray and serve God and serve others. Being a Christian isn’t easy. That is why some choose to ignore God‘s word and his expectations. Christianity is the narrow path to heaven. That is why many people do not take it because it is difficult. Many people take the wide path. But that path leads to destruction and it does not bear fruit for Christ and his kingdom. Let us encourage people to take the narrow path. It can be done. If it couldn’t be done, why would Christ encourage us to do it?
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
July 19, 2026
Today we hear from Matthew’s gospel. Jesus says, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil.
The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
It is very evident that we are to hear the word of God and put into practice what we hear from God. God‘s word is very available to us in scripture. Many of us have the ability to read God‘s word every day. You can do this on your iPhone. God‘s word changes us and makes us into Christ’s image.
God‘s word is like a blueprint on how to enter the day. God‘s word keeps us out of traps. God‘s word motivates us and challenges us. Why wouldn’t we want to hear God‘s word every day? It is a challenge to make God a part of our lives. It is hard to trust someone you don’t talk to. If we Don’t talk to God then it will be hard for us to trust him when things get tough.
In the Gospel, Jesus does talk about his second coming and the end of time. We do not know when that will take place. All we have to know is that we are prepared for Jesus’s second coming.
In Scripture, it even says that Jesus doesn’t know when he’s coming to earth the second time. Only God the Father knows when Jesus is coming to earth the second time. So let us be ready by spending time with God in scripture, prayer, going to mass, praying the rosary, and serving others.
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
July 12, 2026
In the Gospel today, we see Jesus saying, “But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
How blessed were Jesus‘s disciples and apostles. Many of the Jewish people were waiting for centuries for the coming of the Messiah. Now Jesus is standing in their midst. Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophets. Jesus fulfills all the requirements of a Messiah. Everything the prophets spoke about in regards to the Messiah, Jesus fulfills. It could’ve been hard to believe that the Christ was actually in their midst, that Jesus was alive and walking in Israel and Egypt.
You and I could think the same thing. We may think at times, “There are no words that can console me or help me in this life.” But Jesus‘s words bring life and Jesus‘s words change our life for the better. You and I may settle for the world instead of Christ. But why would we settle for porridge when we can have filet mignon? Jesus‘s words are so much better than anything this world can provide. He has the words of everlasting life. The ways of the world and the flesh only bring disappointment. They may satisfy you for a time. The ways of the world may fulfill your pleasures. But the ways of the world lead to destruction. You and I are so blessed to receive God‘s word on our iPhones. We can hear God‘s word anytime we want. That was not always so. Let us take advantage of the blessings we have and let us turn to God‘s word for instruction.
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
July 5, 2026
In Mathew’s gospel, “Jesus said to his apostles:
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.”
It is very clear that our hearts have to belong to Jesus. Our parents sacrifice for us and give us their love. Our parents want the best for us. But Jesus even wants more for us. We have to love Jesus more than we love our parents. We have to love Jesus more than we love our children. We have to be willing to take up our crosses every day if we are to be numbered among Christ’s disciples.
We spend time with people to show them that we love them. Jesus also wants us to spend time with him and his word. This shows Jesus that we are willing to sacrifice our time for him. What are we going to sacrifice for Christ? Love comes at a price.
You give your time and energy and money to your wife and family. This shows your loyalty and love to them. We always think that we can give God our second best. That will not work. God wants our best and he wants our time. Why is God treated any different than any other human being?
I believe that prayer is difficult because people think that they are going to be missing out on something if they spend 15 minutes in prayer. The 15 minutes you give to the Lord, he will reward you a hundredfold. God is in control of your future. Trust him.
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
June 28, 2026
Today we hear Paul speaking to the Romans. “Consequently, brothers and sisters, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
Paul is telling us not to live according to the ways of this world. We don’t have to be people of the world. We can trust God at all times. The other day I ran across a pretty nifty saying: “You don’t trust those you don’t spend time with. You won’t trust God unless you spend time with him.” If we spend our time trusting the ways of the world, then we will trust the ways of the world over God and his demands.
You cannot serve both God and mammon. It is one or the other. Television networks and movies are often inundated with much worldly pictures and unclean pictures. This is what sells. But Christians are not of the world and we are not to buy into the temptations of the flesh. Please spend time with the Lord this summer. You can do that by reading the scriptures and praying the rosary or going to weekday mass.
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
June 21, 2026
In today’s first reading, Jeremiah speaks of those who want to trap him and destroy him. Jeremiah is a suffering prophet. God will not want him to get married and he will endure much suffering in order to convince a king of Israel to surrender to the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar.
Israel‘s king will not surrender to Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah will go into Babylon and go into exile with the people of Israel. This is why Jeremiah is seen as the suffering prophet. Listen to Jeremiah speak: “Jeremiah said: ‘I hear the whisperings of many: “Terror on every side! Denounce! Let us denounce him!” All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine. “Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail, and take our vengeance on him.” But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph. In their failure they will be put to utter shame, to lasting, unforgettable confusion.’”
It is not easy being God‘s prophet. Many times we are outnumbered and suffering accompanies our decision-making. Some may say that we are not a team player. Sometimes you are lonely or alone when you speak for the Lord.
In the gospel of Matthew, “Jesus said to the Twelve: “Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy
both soul and body in Gehenna.”
You and I are called to be a light to the world. This means that we have to speak up and not be afraid of others. God commissions us to be his mouth and to proclaim his word in the world.
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
June 14, 2026
In today’s first reading from the book of Exodus, we see God speaking to Moses. “Then the LORD called to him and said, ‘Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob; tell the Israelites: You have seen for yourselves how I treated the Egyptians and how I bore you up on eagle wings and brought you here to myself. Therefore, if you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my special possession, dearer to me than all other people, though all the earth is mine. You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.’”
God has expectations for his people. They must listen to God‘s voice and keep his covenant. They must love him and others and obey his commandments. This is a reminder to us that God loves us, but he also has expectations for us. We cannot go around, assuming that God loves us so we can do anything we want.
In the Gospel, we see Jesus speaking to his 12 apostles. Jesus has commands for his 12 apostles also. They must go into the whole world and proclaim the kingdom of God and cure the sick and cast out demons. This is an expectation that Jesus has for his apostles. Being a disciple of Christ means that God has duties for us that must be accomplished. The Church teaches us how we are to live in the world as God‘s disciples. That is why the Church is so important and the has the authority to teach us. Just because we have a masters degree from a university does not mean that the church cannot teach us. We all need to be taught in the ways of God and his Church even at the age of 99 years old.
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
June 7, 2026
Today we celebrate The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. We are so blessed to receive the body and blood of Christ each Sunday and at Mass every day. We not only receive God‘s word but his true flesh. You and I are sitting on Fort Knox. Father Seraphine, Fr. Makala, Fr. Angelo, Fr. Ken, and I belong to the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. We know how powerful the blood of Christ is. It is the life giving sustenance in our walk with other Christians.
I can say that I truly became a priest because I wanted to receive God‘s body and blood each day. You can call that selfishness. But I am being very truthful. I realize how the body and blood of Christ changes my days for the better.
When much is given, much is expected. When I receive Jesus‘s body and blood each day, I also realize that God will put me in positions that are difficult. In positions where I need to be Jesus‘s presence in the world. That’s the price tag of communion. Many Christians believe that communion is a symbol and not truly God‘s presence. That is why they do not have tabernacles in their churches.
As Catholics, we believe in the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist. So much so that we are willing to spend time in front of the tabernacle or the monstrance in adoration of Christ in the Eucharist. We know that God is present in these vessels.
The next time you receive communion at Mass, kneel at the pew and give thanks for what God is giving you. You can just be quiet and realize that God is in you. You hit the jackpot. Your week will be better because you received God‘s word and his body and blood.
When we miss Mass, we are depriving ourselves of Christ. Why would somebody want to do that? Maybe because they have better plans for the day? We should always give God the first fruits of the day. When we make a promise to God, we have to keep it. If we promise to go to mass every Sunday, then we have to make good on our promise. Give God what is his.
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
May 31, 2026
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. We believe that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three in one.
In today’s second reading, Paul tells the Corinthians, “Brothers and sisters, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.” As followers of Christ, we are to build people up and not tear them down. We are to encourage each other and live at peace with each other. It is easy to tear down. It doesn’t take long to tear down buildings and even relationships. It takes a long time to build up. This is how the world will know that we are followers of Christ. We witness to the people.
Paul learned a lesson when he was in Athens. He would not speak about the crucified Christ to the Athenians. He did not get many converts. He wanted to appease the Athenians and their philosophy. So he would not speak about the Crucifixion. Particularly when he was speaking about the altar of the unknown God, which would be Jesus Christ. But when Paul goes into Corinth, he learned from his time in Athens. In Corinth, he speaks about Christ crucified. He gains many Converts.
In the Gospel, we see that if we do not believe in Christ, we are condemned. Christ is everything for us. Without him, we can do nothing. Jesus will judge us at the end of our lives. Jesus is all in all. I know there are many religions in the world, but you and I know that Jesus is the way and the truth and the life. You and I cannot act naïve. Let us recommit ourselves to Christ and his teachings. Let us spread his word throughout the land.
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
May 24, 2026
Today we celebrate Pentecost Sunday. We are mindful of the Holy Spirit coming down upon the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Apostles in tongues of fire. Pentecost is also a reminder to us of our confirmation. At confirmation, we receive the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. We receive wisdom, understanding, knowledge, courage, right judgment, piety, and fortitude. These gifts will help us in our walk with Christ. These gifts are also necessary to be Jesus‘s disciples in the world. These gifts will help us bring Christ to the world. Without Jesus, we can do nothing.
We all have different gifts, but these seven gifts enhance our talents that God has given us. I can remember my confirmation at Saint Peter and Paul Parish in Ottawa, Ohio. I was in eighth grade. I remember wearing a red tie, which represented the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit works with Christ in changing the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. The priest asks the Holy Spirit to come down upon the gifts at the altar. The Holy Spirit works in all the sacraments. Some of us may not think much of the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit is what gives us life and changes us for the better.
I am reminded of the third glorious mystery. It is the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Mary and the Apostles. During mass, I say to myself and to God, “Come Holy Spirit.” I really do believe it changes people’s hearts in the congregation. It changes my heart. Please call on the Holy Spirit.
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
May 17, 2026
When we speak of the Ascension of the Lord, we are speaking of Jesus ascending into heaven, body and soul. This is sometimes confused with Mary’s assumption into heaven, when Mary was assumed into heaven, body and soul. But today we’re speaking of Jesus ascending into heaven. The Ascension of the Lord happens 40 days after Easter Sunday. The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Apostles were present when Jesus ascended into heaven.
You and I also hope that someday our souls will be in heaven. Heaven doesn’t come cheap. You and I will be tested by Jesus in our allegiance to Christ. Jesus tells us, “If you are not with me, you are against me. If you are not gathering people for Christ, you are scattering.”
There is no middle ground in being a follower of Christ. Jesus said that I wish that you would either be cold or hot. Either be far away from Christ or close to Christ in his Church. But those who are lukewarm, he will spew out of his mouth. Where do you stand in your allegiance with Christ? Where do you stand in your allegiance with the Catholic Church? Remember that Jesus is the head and his body is the Church. Jesus is the bridegroom and his Church is his bride. Somebody may say that I’m OK with Jesus, but I don’t like his Church. That is like saying that I’m OK with you, Jesus, as the king, but I don’t want any part of your kingdom. If you accept the king, you must accept his kingdom, the Catholic Church.
There is no middle ground here.
Jesus’s ascension into heaven gives us hope. After we travel this valley of tears, we will have our everlasting resting place with Christ.
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
May 10, 2026
In today’s gospel reading, “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him.’” If we love Jesus, then we have to keep God‘s commandments. We have to love God and love others. There is no way out of this. To love God means to love others.
It is hard to love human beings at times. But God gives us the ability to do this. He gives us the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Those gifts involve wisdom, understanding, right judgment, knowledge, courage, fortitude, and piety. These gifts enable us to do extraordinary things in this world. We are given those gifts at confirmation. If God expects us to be extraordinary, then he will give us the tools to do that. We can be his presence in the world only if we have his spirit. We are also given the gift of the Eucharist. This strengthens our souls. God will never leave us forsaken. We just have to stick really close to him.
The world does not know God because it chooses its own selfish path. You and I have to fight each day not to be of the world. It is not easy, but through prayer and perseverance we can win people for Christ.
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
May 3, 2026
Today in the gospel, Jesus tells us: “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.” Jesus tells us today about heaven. That there are many dwelling places there. It is a wonderful place.
It is a place because two bodies dwell there. Jesus‘s body and Mary’s body. Jesus ascended into heaven, body and soul. Mary was assumed into heaven, body and soul. Scripture tells us that eye has not seen and ear has not heard what God has ready for those who love him. We also are reminded that in Jesus’s second coming, heaven and earth will be connected. The earth will undergo a transformation in Jesus‘s second coming. It will be made new like our bodies. God made our wonderful bodies and he made the world. It is my belief that he will use our bodies again and our world again. But he will make them new. I believe that heaven will introduce new types of colors, maybe plants, and maybe animals.
The dwelling place God has for us will be a beautiful natural place. It will be a place where we have peace. It will be more than we can imagine. There may be even new sounds in heaven. I wake up to birds in the morning and it is wonderful to my ears. There is so much waiting for us in the next life. Don’t spoil the opportunities that are ahead of you.
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
April 19, 2026
In today’s gospel, we see Jesus encountering two of his disciples on the way to Emmaus. They did not recognize Jesus in his resurrected body. These two disciples hearts were burning within them as Jesus discussed the Scripture with them.
Then, when Jesus went inside the house with the two disciples, they recognized Jesus when he broke bread with them. He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. With that they recognized Jesus. Then another miracle happened. Jesus vanished from their sight. After the Resurrection, Jesus is appearing and disappearing in the midst of his disciples. Jesus is not a magician, but he’s God. Jesus really can do great things.
Jesus‘s word and his body and blood are what we reverence at the Mass. God‘s word and his body and blood strengthen us on our journey through this life. Can you imagine what life would be like if we didn’t have the Bible and the Eucharist? We would be really lost. We would really be hungry for God.
Sometimes I believe we take this for granted. We can hear God‘s word whenever we want if we have our iPhone out. There are masses every day in Dayton and in our family of parishes. Yet at times, we do not appreciate these gifts.
I believe the most important thing that we can do is repent. John the Baptist and Jesus often say this to their followers. Repentance is needed because if we do not repent, then we think that we are just fine the way we are. Why would we ever need God‘s word or his sacraments? I believe that is the big problem we’re dealing with today. At times we refuse to repent. Scripture tells us that the just man sins seven times a day. We all need to repent throughout the day.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
April 12, 2026
Today we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. We are very mindful of how much we need God‘s mercy each day. It is only through God‘s mercy that we are able to obtain the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life in heaven. You and I do some good things here on earth, but we also do some bad things or we don’t do anything at all at times.
The Divine Mercy Chaplet is very popular in our day. This chaplet is our communication with God the Father. There are two popular prayers that we can say as Catholics: the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. It seems like wherever I go, I see that image of the two rays of blood and water coming from the heart of Christ. I see it on billboards when I’m driving down the road and in many of our churches.
The Precious Blood of Jesus is the ultimate payment for our sins. God is very merciful to us, and we in turn are to be merciful to others. What holds us back from being merciful to others? Is it pride, arrogance, privilege, or just being spoiled? When God forgives us immensely, we have that obligation to be merciful to others. Jesus said, “When much is given, much is expected.” You and I know how good it feels to have our sins forgiven in the sacrament of reconciliation. We in turn should be God‘s mercy in the world.
Much of what we have is because of God‘s mercy to us. You and I do not deserve the goodness that God gives us. God is very extravagant in his love for us. So let us be thankful for the sacrament of reconciliation and the Eucharist.
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
April 5, 2026
Today is Easter Sunday of the resurrection of the Lord. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! We can now say that. We have not said that during Lent. Without the Resurrection, our Christian faith does not make sense. Jesus‘s resurrection from the dead is the greatest miracle of all. God the Father raises his Son. After the resurrection, Jesus will appear to his apostles and to those who were close to him.
Whatever happens to Jesus, will happen to us. There will be suffering and death, but there will also be resurrection for those who believe in Christ.
Easter Sunday is also a time to rejoice. As Christians we need to rejoice. In this life, there is suffering, but there needs to be rejoicing also. If every day is Good Friday, then there is something wrong with our faith. There has to be an Easter Sunday eventually.
I believe that when we suffer, we should spend time in prayer. We should intentionally thank God for all that he gives us. Even if we think that we do not have much to be thankful for, we should give thanks for what we do have. By doing this, our attitude changes. We should also ask God for miracles to happen in our lives. We may think that we are not worthy of a miracle, but it is God who chooses for us. Just ask Jesus for what you need. It won’t hurt anything. I believe God wants to show us miracles in our own day. Maybe we have been accustomed to Good Friday every day of our lives. Maybe we would not know how to act if there was an Easter Sunday. Maybe we would rather stay in the pain and suffering because that is all we know. Give God a chance and ask him to heal you and your family.
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
March 29, 2026
Today we celebrate the Passion of the Lord, Palm Sunday. We remember how Christ died for us and gave us eternal life. During these past couple weeks of Lent, we have focused on the passion of the Lord and his suffering. God wants us to do that each day. Because when we do that, we realize how much God loves us, cares for us, and is willing to lay his life down for us. Jesus went through a lot. The spitting, the scourging, the crowning of thorns, the nailing to the cross, and his death. Jesus bled like a real man. He could’ve bypassed the cross, but he didn’t. He knew that in order for something to live, something has to die.
Most of the Pharisees and the Scribes really wanted to get rid of Jesus. He was a stumbling block and they did not want their Hebrew faith to be compromised. The Pharisees also realized that Rome would not put up with both Jesus’s mission and the Hebrew mission. Rome did not want to be the referee between Jesus and the Pharisees. Rome, Caesar, and Pontius Pilate just wanted to deal with one religious group at a time.
So we come to the cross and Jesus‘s death. As we enter into Holy week, please take part in all the opportunities of prayer and worship. If you haven’t gone to confession, please make that a priority. When we get rid of sin, our souls can begin to live and praise God. Remember: no deposit, no return. If we don’t make time for prayer then Easter Sunday will mean nothing to us. Easter Sunday will just be another ordinary day. Prayer and loving others prepares us for the Easter joy.
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
March 22, 2026
We need the Holy Spirit. In today’s second reading Paul tells the Romans, “Brothers and sisters: Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” Even King David pleads to the Lord and asks the Lord not to take the spirit away from him. David says this after he committed adultery with Bathsheba.
We are helpless without God‘s spirit. We may think that we accomplish many tasks on our own, but we are wrong in saying that. You would be surprised how much God is holding your hand. You would be surprised how many obstacles God is helping you with.
In the gospel, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. Jesus can do all things. He does all things well. Have you ever taken the time to think about how loving and powerful Jesus is? It is very important for you to do this. Stop what you are doing and slow down. It is Sunday. You have God‘s permission to slow down. Just think about
what Jesus has done on this earth and what he will do for you in the future. Christ is a miracle worker. There is no stopping him. He loves you, but he will not be handicapped by your sins or your wants. Jesus will change your mindset. You will not change his mindset. You must learn from him. This is what it means to be docile. A willingness to be taught.
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
March 15, 2026
In today’s first reading from Samuel, we see God telling Samuel, “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.” God looks further and deeper into people’s hearts. He sees things that we cannot see.
He knows what can happen if we do not trust him. This is why we have to trust him. Even when things seem odd or out of place, we have to trust his plans for us.
In the gospel Jesus tells us, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Jesus is that light that cannot be extinguished. Darkness cannot overcome him. Evil cannot overcome him. This is why we have to be on his side all the time. What does Jesus want? Not what I want. This also means that we have to make a conscious decision to be his disciple and serve him in loyalty. We have to put all of our eggs in Jesus‘s basket and sell out for him. Have you made that decision yet?
It has been proven time and again that Jesus has the words of eternal life and he is the one who brings healing to our bodies and minds. This is why we must trust him with everything we have. Hold nothing back from him.
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
March 8, 2026
In today’s first reading from Exodus, we see the people grumbling to God and to Moses. The Hebrew people want water consistently. God is really teaching the Hebrew people to trust in Him. But the people are complaining against God, saying that God has brought them out of Egypt to die in the desert. This is a big test for the Hebrew people to see if they can trust God.
I know that I complain sometimes, but the very thing I need to do is pray instead of complain. I believe this is what God is teaching the Hebrew people, to ask for their needs before they start complaining.
We see Moses getting very upset. God tells Moses to strike the rock once, but out of anger he strikes the rock twice. In his doing this, he will not enter into the land of milk and honey. He will see it from a distance. Moses will be buried in the promised land, but he will not step foot into the land while he is alive. Joshua will lead the people into the promised land. Many times we are tested by God. This does not mean that God is mean, but he needs to see if we are able to be committed to him even when we do not see what is in store for the future.
Little baby birds need to find a way to get out of the egg. The struggling of the baby bird and getting out of the egg will strengthen the baby bird. It is shown that baby birds that do not crack themselves out of the egg die soon. Our struggle strengthens us during this life.
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
February 22, 2026
Today we begin the first Sunday of Lent. We see Jesus driven into the desert by the Holy Spirit. Right away, Satan is coming after him. Remember “HALT.” Whenever you are hungry, angry, lonely, and tired, Satan will come after you. He will come after you because you are weak and because Satan is a cheap shot. He will take every chance he can to stab you in the back. He is the father of lies. He is not on your side. After Satan coerces you, he will accuse you in the next moment.
Satan tells Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” Jesus says in reply, “It is written: One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”
He tells Jesus, “If you are the Son of God…” Jesus has nothing to prove to Satan. You could say Satan is trying to get Jesus to doubt himself. Jesus doesn’t need Satan’s approval.
In this passage, we see one does not live only on the physical aspects of life. We need the divine aspects of life also. Like God’s word. Food and drink only last for a while. But God‘s word is eternal. That is why Jesus is the Eternal Word. God‘s words will never end. During this time of Lent, let us focus on what will last forever. That will either be heaven or hell. Let us control our bodies and not let our bodies control us.
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
February 15, 2026
Today we hear from Sirach:
“If you choose you can keep the commandments,
they will save you;
if you trust in God, you too shall live.
He has set before you fire and water;
to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand.
Before man are life and death, good and evil,
whichever he chooses shall be given him.
Immense is the wisdom of the Lord;
he is mighty in power, and all-seeing.
The eyes of God are on those who fear him;
he understands man’s every deed.
No one does he command to act unjustly,
to none does he give license to sin.”
I had to print the whole reading— it is so good. Basically, God gives you a choice. You can choose good or evil. But whatever you choose will be yours. Thank God He gives us a chance to repent. It is very clear that God does not want us to sin. He does not give us a license to sin.
I would say that each one of us has to put up a fight against sin. Paul tells us that, “Some of us have not resisted temptation to the point of bloodshed.” This means that we have to put up a fight against temptation and sin.
God‘s power always overrides Satan‘s power. So we know we have the ability to let go of certain sinful inclinations. But we can’t do it by ourselves. This is why prayer is so important. This is why the Rosary is so important. The Blessed Virgin Mary told Saint Dominic, “Whatever you ask through the Rosary shall be
granted.” Don’t go into a fight without having a weapon. Saint JosemarÍa Escrivá says, “The Rosary is your weapon against evil.”
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony
February 8, 2026
In today’s first reading from Isaiah, we hear,
“Thus says the LORD:
Share your bread with the hungry,
shelter the oppressed and the homeless;
clothe the naked when you see them,
and do not turn your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed.”
We have a tremendous St. Vincent de Paul community with our parish family. Think of all the people who are fed, the clothes given away, and the furniture that is given to the needy. Scripture tells us that when we take care of the needs of others, God will heal our wounds and our health. So the act of taking care of another will actually take care of us.
In today’s gospel, we see Jesus telling us, “Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” When we give to others, there is a light that shines around us. Our active giving makes our lives beautiful. Continue to give of yourself the best way you can. Some of us can’t give much, but what little we do give makes a difference for others.
God bless you all,
Fr. Tony