September 11, 2022 As a younger child, I used to go to “confession” every Saturday night, and I repeated the same sins of fighting with my brothers and sister and disobeying my parents – for years. I did not substitute a molten calf for Jesus in the blessed sacrament. I was not a “stiff neckedContinue reading “24th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Tame our ego, look for the truth, have some personal discipline and invite God to help”
Tag Archives: Richard
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Reflections on Hospitality
July 17, 2022 Last year, the US hospitality industry generated 206 billion dollars. The industry provides lodging, food, and entertainment. The word “hospitality” means to “serve a guest,” and we do this by being hospitable and gracious. We can do it in love and with grace. Our scriptures today want us to understand the importanceContinue reading “16th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Reflections on Hospitality“
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Jesus frees us to be our best self
June 26, 2022 (First homily before Supreme Court Decision) Have you heard the expression: “You said a mouthful?” It refers to someone who speaks an obvious and worthwhile truth – like the Scripture we have heard today. So, let’s review each passage. First reading: 1 Kings 19 The prophets Elijah and Elisha. Neither wanted GodContinue reading “13th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Jesus frees us to be our best self“
Fifth Sunday of Lent: “Dying once is sufficient…”
April 3, 2022 This is where we begin, this earth; but this is not where we end. While Jesus resuscitates Lazarus for a time, Lazarus will die. The gospels make no mention of Lazarus again. The very first words of Jesus today are: “This illness is not to end in death, but is for theContinue reading “Fifth Sunday of Lent: “Dying once is sufficient…”“
St. Ignatius Church Penance Service: “Help us to love, O God, as you love”
(Editor’s note: This is pure Father Richard Mangini. This is why he is so beloved. Love over fear, every time.) April 2022 I am not a great fan of whipping ourselves to death because we are human beings that fail. I believe that God is always present to us in our lives, in our hearts,Continue reading “St. Ignatius Church Penance Service: “Help us to love, O God, as you love”“
5th Ordinary Sunday: “You will be catching people for God.”
February 6, 2022 We grow up in a certain life setting, determined by place, by others, by culture and by language, by our parents’ circumstances. One reality is for sure, that we can feel love; its lack diminishes us; its presence enables us to grow and to be secure and to dream our future. InContinue reading “5th Ordinary Sunday: “You will be catching people for God.”“
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: “Do whatever he tells you”
January 16, 2022 So now what is Jesus supposed to be and to do? Last Sunday, God spoke: “You are my beloved Son, Jesus; with you I am well pleased.” So now what? What is Jesus supposed to do next? Start talking! Start doing! The human part of Jesus is not sure what his nextContinue reading “Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: “Do whatever he tells you””
The Baptism of the Lord: Version 2
January 9, 2022 Yesterday, at St. Mary’s Church in Walnut Creek, I baptized Luca Slovik. I baptized Luca’s mother and I married her to his father. I baptized his grandmother and married her to her husband Jay. When you are a priest for 55 years, you are not only a priest but a grandfather priestContinue reading “The Baptism of the Lord: Version 2“
The Baptism of the Lord: “The purpose of Baptism is to share with us who we are really and to encourage us”
January 9, 2022 (Version 1: This is Father Mangini’s first version that he delivered at mass) Today (yesterday) at St. Mary’s Church in Walnut Creek, I baptized Luca Slovik. Thirty years ago, I baptized his mother Veronica. I married his parents a few years ago. I even married his grandparents. When you are a priestContinue reading “The Baptism of the Lord: “The purpose of Baptism is to share with us who we are really and to encourage us”“
Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God
January 1, 2022 Growing up in the early 1940s, we were taught more about Mary and devotions to her than we were taught about Jesus – in my catechism classes at least. Over the centuries, our Catholic Church created a goddess-like cult for Mary. She was much more approachable than Jesus, it seemed, and equallyContinue reading “Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God“
Harvest and Hope 