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To inaugurate the Holy Year of Mercy, Bishop Robert P. Deeley opened the fourth and final holy door in the Diocese of Portland when he celebrated Mass at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Lewiston on the fourth Sunday of Advent, December 20

Good morning! Alleluia! He is risen! Happy Easter! I begin my homily today with an interview.

Last week, we saw how the ministry of angels can help us have a new mind and a new heart. Today, in the opening prayer, we started out by asking God for new “Spiritual Sight”- a new mind and a new heart. In our Gospel, Jesus gives Peter, James, and John Spiritual sight-a glimpse into who He really is and what He does for us.

This Lent, I am giving another homily series entitled “A New Mind and a New Heart.” We hear about this idea from the prophet Jeremiah who speaks of a new covenant with God-a covenant that will require a new heart in order to become disciples of Jesus.

“Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart.” You and I are here because at least a portion of our heart is for the Lord. But the Lord doesn’t want just one piece of our heart-he wants all of it. “Return to me with your whole heart.”

Last Thursday, Christmas Day, I focused on the miracles that God wants to work in our lives. This Thursday, we consider another miracle, the gift of Mary, Mother of God and our Mother.

Many of you probably heard the story about Pope Francis consoling a young boy whose dog had died. According to the New York Times, the Pope declared that all pets go to heaven. It turns out that this was just an urban legend created by an over eager media, but it still raises a question that I would like to address today: do animals go to heaven?

Welcome and Merry Christmas! Perhaps you caught the ceremonial lighting of the National Christmas Tree. This is what the president said about Christmas: "It's the story of hope –- the birth of a singular child into the simplest of circumstances – a child who would grow up to live a life of humility, and kindness, and compassion; who traveled with a message of empathy and understanding; who taught us to care for the poor, and the marginalized, and those who are different from ourselves. And more than two millennia later, the way he lived still compels us to do our best to build a more just and tolerant and decent world."

Today we have all four candles lit on our Advent wreath. We celebrate the final Sunday before Christmas and with the Homily, I conclude our series on preparing our hearts for Jesus.

Today, I would like to talk about giving our hearts and lives to Jesus. It is easy for us to drift about aimlessly. Some of you may remember the old 1960’s song “Sha la la la live for today, and don’t worry about tomorrow.” It is easy for us to give in to that type of thinking and forget that there is indeed something else beyond earthly life.

The phone rings every day at the St. Martin de Porres Residence, a homeless shelter run by a Catholic brother. Homeless people need a place to sleep, house attendant Bob Coffey said. Some have just been released from prison or from mental health or addiction programs. Others simply don't have the means to pay rent. They are poor, down and out with no place to go.

We have our second homily on preparing our Hearts. What are we preparing our hearts for? Jesus. Last week, we learned three important things. First, “heart” refers to the inner-core part of us that good people really like! Second, we learned the purpose of our time here on earth is to prepare our hearts for Christ.

Hello, everyone! Welcome to Advent. This week, I begin a new homily series, Preparing Our Hearts. For what are we preparing our hearts? The coming of Jesus, of course. Let us begin with a question: what is the heart? Its’ more than just a muscle that pumps blood through the body. Indeed, the heart is the “inner core” of the body. Let me give you an example. This comes from an exchange of letters during the civil war.

Today, we celebrate a beautiful national holiday, Thanksgiving day! In this way, the US is unique, in that, as far I as I know, we were the first country to set aside a holiday to give thanks to God. It is a day about gratitude itself.

Today is the Feast of Christ the King, and the final Sunday of the Liturgical year. Next Sunday, we begin a new liturgical year with the First Sunday of Advent.

Today we have the third homily in my series on Solidarity. So far, I have talked about two aspects of solidarity: prayer and financial resources. Today, I would like to focus on a third aspect: solidarity of talents. We all have God-given talents, and we are called to recognize and develop those talents.

Last week, I began a new homily series entitled Solidarity. I began by talking about solidarity in prayer. This week, I would like to focus on something that flows from prayer: solidarity of material goods: financial resources.

Friends, God has you right where you need to be. Right here. Right now. He has a plan, and that plan involves Solidarity- fellowship with other believers here on Earth, the saints in heaven, and the faithful departed who are on their way to heaven. In fact Solidarity is the theme for the next series of homilies.

A large American flag, held in place atop ladder trucks provided by the Auburn and Lewiston Fire Departments, waved in the breeze as the Maine Public Safety Pipe and Drum Corps filled the air with a stirring performance of “Amazing Grace.” The indelible scene welcomed hundreds of local, state, and federal law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency personnel to the 2014 Blue Mass, celebrated by Bishop Robert P. Deeley, at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Lewiston on Sunday morning, September 14.

On Saturday, June 28, over 200 people gathered as the pipe organ originally housed in Notre Dame de Lourdes Church in Saco was blessed and dedicated at its new home in the crypt chapel of the Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul in Lewiston during a 4 p.m. Mass conducted entirely in the French language. Monsignor Marc Caron, pastor of Prince of Peace Parish in Lewiston, served as the main celebrant with Monsignor René Mathieu, pastor of Good Shepherd Parish in Saco, concelebrating.