Author: Kevin Murray

Hey Y’all, Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear, Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair, Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t fuzzy, was he? Have you ever heard that one? When I was a kid in kindergarten, a speech therapist taught me this tongue twister. From my speech therapist’s point of view, this little play of words was supposed to “twist” my tongue so I could better produce sounds the English language required for comprehensibility. However, for my little kindergarten brain, I wanted to make sense of this nonsensical little poem.

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart…my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” The word “yoke” is the Greek word zugos, referring to a wooden crosspiece fastened over the necks of two animals (usually oxen) and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull, so they could combine their strength to pull a load that would have been too much for one animal to pull alone. The

Hey Y'all! When I was in 2nd grade, my teacher entered each of her student's classroom art project into the ceramics competition of the Missouri State Fair. It was the late 1960s - 1969 or so. I was 7 or 8. My art project was a molded ceramic hippopotamus. I painted the open-mouthed hippo a vivid blue with flowers around its neck - because it was a 'flower child' hippy sort of hippo. Very timely. Very H.R. Pufnstuf. (If you don't

This past week I was on vacation in New Jersey to celebrate my cousin's wedding and again to visit an Atlantic City casino with my dad. Then, I was in Albany, New York to spend Father's Day with my brother and my dad, and I flew home this past Wednesday. I definitely feel like I need a vacation from my vacation! The calendar was also busy this week. Monday, was “Juneteenth." On Wednesday, we marked the Summer Solstice - the

Dear Parishioners and Visitors,   Hey Y’all!   I am grateful for the lovely celebration that happened last Saturday for the occasion of the 25th anniversary of my priestly ordination!  The Mass was moving – Bishop Freyer preached- the music was glorious – the incense was lit, giving an odor of joyful holiness.  Best of all, we prayed and worshipped together.  Then the Holy Smokes Meat Ministry fed those who came to the beautifully decorated Hall after Mass.  Thank you smokers!!! You fed the

Hey everybody! Today our Church calendar shows that we are celebrating the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity!  Now if you’re an old timey Catholic, in both the past and even now in the present we might sing the lyrics of this hymn on this occasion. Holy God, we praise thy name. God of all, we bow before thee. All on earth your scepter claim; all in heav’n above adore thee. Infinite thy vast domain, everlasting is they reign. Hark, the loud celestial hymn, angel

For fifty days we have been celebrating the incomparable joy of the Resurrection. Today, Pentecost Sunday, we close the Easter Season by gratefully acknowledging the magnificent and mysterious work of the Holy Spirit. As we hear in the first reading, it is a day when very ordinary men were transformed by the Spirit and began the challenging process of founding the Church. These are the same men who ran away when Jesus was arrested and then, as we hear in