He is near – An Advent retreat with Monsignor Lavalley at the Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Morrisville (VT). First conference. “We are broken and we are weak. And we are a broken church, and we are weak. We do not save ourselves. Jesus does.”

Father Yvon’s remarks on the 4th Sunday of Advent include an examination of conscience, an aid to preparing for Confession, as we journey toward Christmas.

Father Yvon continues his reflection on Advent, the season of waiting, the season of Jesus longing to come in to our hearts.

Today, we celebrate the feast of Our Lady’s Immaculate Conception. And I want to put the emphasis right here on Jesus himself to explain the Immaculate Conception. Because Jesus was the cause of the Immaculate Conception, the reason for the Immaculate Conception, and the fruit of the Immaculate Conception.

Pray for the grace of humility. Place your hand in God's. Let him lead - and trust him.

Join us this Advent, Father Royer invites. Climb the Lord's Mountain

Advent is the season of the seed. Not of the harvest. Not of the planting. Not of the harvesting. The season of the seed. Join Mary in the watching and waitng.

Monsignor Lavalley inquires, "How do we look at Purgatory, and what do we really know about it?" "I believe in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sin, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting."

Father Yvon concludes his series on the Rosary with a meditation on the Joyful Mysteries. He begins with Mary saying, "Yes," to her calling to become the mother of God.

No one sees Jesus alone. We all have "branches" - people, places, books, things - that help us see Jesus. Monsignor Lavalley shares some of the branches in his life.

This week, Father Yvon offers reflections on the Sorrowful Mysteries. This is the third of four homilies he will give on the Rosary.

Monsignor Lavalley comments on the readings for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Father Yvon continues his reflections on the rosary, focusing on the Luminous Mysteries (sometimes called the Mysteries of Light), instituted by Pope John Paul II in 2002.

In the first of four reflections, Father Yvon introduces the rosary. He frankly admits that, like many of us, he wasn't fond saying the rosary as a child. But praying the rosary - as a mature believer - makes all the difference. This homily focuses on the Glorious Mysteries.

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Archangels. "Angels are real. Maybe that's the most important thing to say on this feast. Angels are real, Jesus talks about them, He wouldn't lie." May the angels watch over us, and when we die, may they lead us into paradise.

"I walked by the chapel; it was night and I looked in. And there was one light on over at the side. And Charlie was praying there. ... He was looking at the tabernacle. He looked like a man in love."

"The only way we're going to understand today's Gospel is by seeing Our Lady not just as the Immaculate Conception but as a very human mother because that's what she is."

We do not bring out a crucifix on Good Friday. It's the cross itself. So intimate was our Lord's connection with his cross that we celebrate a feast in honor of an object made of wood.