5th Sunday of Lent, Cycle A, 25 Mar 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (15 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Jesus weeps with Martha and Mary, then after praying to the Father calls Lazarus out of the tomb, from Death to Life! We must learn to weep over the darkness and loss in the world, then pray to the Father and with God's Word of life, Jesus call others from their tombs of depression, loss, addiction, sin and shame. Jesus calls each of us to help untie those he has called from darkness to light, from death to life. Role away the stone!

Readings: Ezekiel 37:12-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45

Chrism Mass, 29 Mar 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (22 minutes) given by Bishop Burns at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Downtown Juneau, Alaska. Bishop Burns preaches to the Priests of the Diocese of Juneau and all of us. We must stay firm in the faith and do what the Lord asks us to do in faithfulness no matter what the world throws at us. Please pray for your priests and be assured that they are praying for you.

Readings: Isaiah 61:1-3, 6, 8-9; Psalm 89; Revelation 1:5-8; Luke 4:16-21

Fourth Sunday of Lent, Cycle B, 18 Mar 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (14 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Lent is a time to look at our faith in High Definition. Jesus explains salvation to Nicodemus. Listen in on their conversation.

Readings: 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23; Psalm 137; Ephesians 2:4-10; John 3:14-21

Saturday of the 3rd Week in Lent, 17 Mar 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (9 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena in Petersburg, Alaska. Let us learn how to pray like the tax collector, "O God, be merciful to me a sinner." Putting aside the conviction of our own righteousness: instead humbling ourself and seeking the Lord's mercy. St Patrick is a great witness to this working for 30 years for the salvation of the people who had taken him from his home in Britain as a child slave for six years. His spiritual conquest of Ireland followed the prior victory of love over the anger and bitterness in his own heart. Love and Mercy always wins.

Readings: Hosea 6:1-6; Psalm 51; Luke 18:9-14

Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent, 16 Mar 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (8 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Jesus teaches, "Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."

Readings: Hosea 14:2-10; Psalm 81; Mark 12:28-34

Lenten Reconciliation Service, 15 Mar 2012

Click here to download and listen to this lenten reconciliation service (17 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Today we celebrate the tremendous mercy God has shown us in sending Jesus to die for each of us that our sins would be forgiven. We must learn to forgive others their sins against us just as our heavenly Father has forgiven our sins.

Readings: Matthew 18:21-35

Thursday of the 3rd Week of Lent, 15 Mar 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (9 minutes) given by Fr Patrick Casey, OMI at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Jesus heals the mute man of his lack of speech. Teaching, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. ... Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." Let us work this lent to be with Jesus.

Readings: Jeremiah 7:23-28; Psalm 95; Luke 11:14-23

Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Lent, 14 Mar 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (12 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Jesus meets the women at the well. How often do we settle for less than the Living Water that only Jesus can give? How often do we fill up with our own will instead of being nourished like Jesus by doing the Father's will?

Optional Readings: Exodus 17:3-7; Psalm 95; John 4:5-42

Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Lent, 13 Mar 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (9 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. Jesus teaches us that because God has forgiven us a huge amount we are required to forgive others.

Readings: Daniel 3:25, 34-43; Psalm 17; Matthew 18:21-35

Monday of the 3rd Week of Lent, 12 Mar 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (11 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. Jesus is not welcome in his home town of Nazareth. How often do we discount the possibility of the Holy Spirit working through us or through those we know to bring us to the truth?


Readings: 2 Kings 5:1-15b; Psalm 42; Luke 4:24-30

Third Sunday in Lent, Cycle B, 11 Mar 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (26 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. In Exodus 20, God gives us the rules for playing the game of life--the Ten Commandments. Jesus cleanses the temple showing his zeal for the Lord's house. May we develop that same zeal for keeping the Ten Commandments.

Homily a bit long (even for me) yet only 2 minutes per commandment.

Readings: Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1:22-25; John 2:13-25

Saturday of the 2nd Week of Lent, 10 Mar 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (12 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Jesus tells us about His father in the parable of the Prodigal Father.

Readings: Micah 7:14-15, 18-20; Psalm 103; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Thursday of the 2nd Week of Lent, 8 Mar 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (12 minutes) given by Bishop Edward Burns of Juneau at the all Alaska priest convocation in Anchorage. Jesus teaches us that our salvation depends on us learning to take care of the Lazarus' at our door.

Readings: Jeremiah 17:5-10; Psalm 1; Luke 16:19-31

Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Lent, 7 Mar 2012

Click here to down load and listen to this homily (9 minutes) given by Archbishop Roger Schwietz, of Anchorage at Our Lady of Guadalupe parish. Jesus teaches us that true leadership is that which serves others, "Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." Let us learn to do the same this lent.

Readings: Jeremiah 18:18-20; Psalm 31; Matthew 20:17-28

Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Lent, 6 Mar 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (6 Minutes) given by Bishop Donald Kettler of Fairbanks, Alaska at the all Alaska priest convocation. Today we are called to listen more deeply to the Word of God: not on the shelf but alive in our hearts.

Readings: Isaiah 1:10, 16-20; Psalm 50; Matthew 23:1-12

Monday of the 2nd Week of Lent, 5 March 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (6 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima in Wrangell, Alaska. Today Jesus teaches us the importance of being "merciful, just as your Father is merciful." Let us learn this heavenly economy of mercy, forgiveness, and love.


Readings: Daniel 9:4b-10; Psalm 79; Luke 6:36-38

Second Sunday of Lent, Cycle B, 4 Mar 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (12 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Lent can be considered a spiritual "speed bump" slowing us down from our routine of busyness. The readings this weekend point to slowing down in order to be able to hear the still small whispering voice of God. So this week waste some time learning to discern God's voice from all the those other voices clamoring for our attention.

Readings: Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Psalm 116; Romans 8:31b-34; Mark 9:2-10

Saturday of the 1st Week of Lent, 3 Mar 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (10 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Jesus teaches us today, "Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you." How well are we doing?

Readings: Deuteronomy 26:16-19; Psalm 119; Matthew 5:43-48

Friday of the 1st Week of Lent, 2 Mar 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (8 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Jesus raises the scope of the fifth commandment, "Do Not Kill," when he says, "Whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment." (Matthew 5:22) With the help of the Holy Spirit we can fast from murderous anger.

Readings: Ezekiel 18:21-28; Psalm 130; Matthew 5:20-26

Thursday of the 1st Week of Lent, 1 Mar 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (10 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Jesus teaches us that we are to Ask, Seek, and Knock because our Heavenly Father want to take care of us. Thank God for answered prayers.

Readings: Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25; Psalm 138; Matthew 7:7-12