The Seven Gifts Depicted In Stained Glass at St. Mary on the Hill Church: Part 6 – Piety

“Unless you renounce all that you have, you cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). Charles Borromeo was born in 1538 and happened to live during the time of the Protestant Reformation. Borromeo was known in his life as a reformer in the Catholic Church.  Belonging to Milanese nobility, and related to the powerful Medici family, […]

The Seven Gifts Depicted in Stained Glass at St. Mary on the Hill Church: Part 5 – Knowledge

“God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I am has sent me to you’” (Exodus 3:14). Last week, we experienced the untimely passing of a gifted priest, Fr. Michael Hull. While I didn’t know him personally, I was blessed to hear many of […]

The Seven Gifts Depicted in Stained Glass at St. Mary on the Hill Church: Part 4 – Fortitude

“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?” (Matthew 13: 55) The gift of fortitude is depicted in stained glass at St. Mary’s Church and attributed to St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. While much is written about Our Lady and the birth of Jesus, little is recorded about Joseph. We know that the news of […]

The Seven Gifts Depicted in Stained Glass at St. Mary on the Hill Church: Part 3 – Counsel

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel” (Proverbs 12:15). Watching the Presidential debates last week, where candidates in a crowded field sought ways to stand out, offering solutions to improve access to healthcare, higher paying jobs, and enhancing our standing abroad, […]

The Seven Gifts Depicted in Stained Glass at St. Mary on the Hill Church: Part 2 – Understanding

“If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, that man will save it.” (See Luke 9: 18-24) I was saddened […]

Understanding the Seven Gifts Depicted in Stained Glass at St. Mary on the Hill Church

My connection to St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church in Augusta goes back many years, starting when Stephanie and I had our wedding there a few decades back, having received permission from my then pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish, Fr. Andrew Doris. In those days, you had to get written permission from the pastor […]

Unleash the Power of the Holy Spirit

“And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you, but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (From Luke 24: 46-55) The “promise” that Jesus spoke of, before He ascended to His heavenly Father, was the sending of the advocate, the consoler, the enabler, who is […]

Is this Heaven, or St. Simon’s Island?

“Welcome to St. Simon’s, which I like to call ‘the best view of heaven’” – a greeting to visitors offered at this morning’s Mass by Msgr. John Kenneally, Pastor of St. William Catholic Church on St. Simon’s Island, GA On this holiday weekend, we’re spending a couple of days at St. Simon’s Island. Among so […]

Learning to Be Content with God’s Blessings

My father Cliff came from a humble start in life, growing up in an orphanage, then transitioning to the US Army. In his early 20’s, Dad experienced World War II, and like many veterans of his generation, he never told us the whole story around what he witnessed. He married Mom as the post-war boom […]

A Mother’s Day Tribute

When we consider all the influencers in our lives, mothers unquestionably play a dominant role. My mom, Audrey, was no exception. Her life, cut short by cancer at age 56, was so impactful, particularly to my brother, two sisters, and me. Audrey Murray was born in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Her family struggled during the […]