One of the favorite images seen all through the Scriptures is the feast, the sumptuous banquet overflowing, as Isaiah pictures it, with “juicy, rich food and choice wines.”

by Tom McKenna, CM | March 22, 2023 | Formation, Reflections | 1 Comment
One of the heaviest of feelings is the one of being alone. You hear it in the cry of an infant, and more generally you catch it in the forlorn look of any lonely person.
by Tom McKenna, CM | March 8, 2023 | Formation, Reflections | 6 Comments
How many times have you heard people use the phrase, “I finally woke up?”
by Tom McKenna, CM | February 22, 2023 | Formation, Reflections | 0 Comments
Some of the traits which come out in the Samaritan woman as she interacts with Jesus at the noonday well could paint her as a hard-hearted and difficult lady.
by Tom McKenna, CM | February 8, 2023 | Formation, Reflections | 0 Comments
There’s a phrase from the sports world, “setting a high bar.” It means raising the height of the jump just beyond the mark the athlete think he can clear.
by Tom McKenna, CM | Oct 21, 2020 | Formation, Reflections
One of the favorite images seen all through the Scriptures is the feast, the sumptuous banquet overflowing, as Isaiah pictures it, with “juicy, rich food and choice wines.”
by Tom McKenna, CM | Oct 7, 2020 | Formation, Reflections
Certainly the words and actions of such groups are meant to proclaim God’s Kingdom, but their very collaboration is itself an announcement of the Message.
by Tom McKenna, CM | Sep 23, 2020 | Formation, Reflections
There is the Jesuit one-word motto, “magis,” the Latin for “more,” meant to remind them that God is always “more than,” always greater. But greater than what?
by Tom McKenna, CM | Feb 17, 2016 | Formation, Reflections
One of the famous Gospel characters is the publican, the tax collector in the back of the room. Jesus portrays him as the ideal worshipper, the best kind of pray-er. He knows how to come before God; he does it right. Not full of himself, not holding up accomplishments...
by Michael Whalen, CM | Feb 14, 2016 | Formation, Reflections
Facing Mercy: In the Reign of God’s Mercy There Are No Anonymous Faces in Crowds Writers often acknowledge the importance of opening words and lines. Images grab; words beckon; tones compel; and even official church documents capitalize on this dynamic. Church...
by Tom McKenna, CM | Feb 10, 2016 | Formation, Reflections
Hearing The Word in Pressured Times (Lk. 5:1-11) Here are some things to note in this Gospel about Jesus getting himself involved in a fishing expedition with Peter and his friends. For one thing, there’s Peter’s state of mind. He’s exhausted. All night on the...
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jan 23, 2016 | Formation, Reflections
Father Tom McKenna offers the following reflection Getting “In the Spirit” (Samuel 18; Romans 8) The story of David and Goliath is set inside a larger narrative about the fall of Saul and the rise of David. And the difference between these two is that one, Saul,...
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jan 19, 2016 | Formation, Reflections
Fr. Tom Mckenna offers this reflection on Hannah’s Prayer (I Samuel 1:9-20) In a talk on the spirituality of the Twelve Steps, the speaker told a story of a woman who was being swept along in a powerful ocean current. She was a swimmer and so at first wasn’t...
by John Freund, CM | Aug 6, 2015 | Formation, Spirituality and Spiritual Practice
5 Faces of St. Vincent de Paul - which one do you know best? Missionary… witness… formator… inventive… contemplative… active… prayerful… gentle… compassionate… these are some of the words used to describe St. Vincent de Paul.Fr. Maloney writes... Vincent de Paul lived...
by John Freund, CM | Jun 7, 2015 | Formation, Spirituality and Spiritual Practice
“(Vincent) often spoke of the mystery of the Trinity to the Vincentians and Daughters. In an article “As friends who love one another deeply – reflections on community living yesterday and today” Father Robert Maloney shares his reflections.
by John Freund, CM | Apr 3, 2015 | News, Spirituality and Spiritual Practice
Maloney – The Cross in Vincentian Spirituality
by John Freund, CM | Apr 2, 2015 | Spirituality and Spiritual Practice, Vincentian Family
“The Eucharist in the Vincentian Tradition – Love is Creative unto Infinity”