Fr. Dennis Gallagher, A.A.

Our Jubilee got run over by a pandemic. Well, yes and no. Already, several of the events that were to highlight the 175th anniversary of our founding have been cancelled, and a number of others in the summer will likely suffer the same fate. More than the events themselves, the anxieties and preoccupations… Read More »The best laid plans…

As the curtain rises on this famous Gospel scene, we find Cleopas and the other unnamed disciple walking away from Jerusalem in something of a daze. They’re unfocused, literally disoriented – walking away from the East, away from Jerusalem, away from the Resurrection. Another component of their darkness is that… Read More »On the road to Emmaus

Eugène Burnand,The Disciples Peter and John Running to the Sepulchre on the Morning of the Resurrection Happy Easter! Chances are the feelings that we associate with Easter this year are not the same as usual –  and there’s something unsettling about that. I’ve always been struck by the joy of Easter morning and how it insinuates… Read More »Easter Sunday, April 12th

“Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image!” The following excerpt is froman ancient homily for Holy Saturday Something strange is happening—there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The… Read More »Holy Saturday, April 11th

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. We would like to share with the followers of Provincial Posts a Way of the Cross Meditation, composed by Brother Blair Nuyda, A.A. and Father Bernard Holzer, A.A. Feature image from… Read More »The Way of the Cross with the Assumptionists

Photo by Josh Applegate Such enormous, inexplicable pain in the world. Looking back at Good Fridays over the years, there’s always something: a Marathon bombing, a school shooting, a deranged pilot to graphically illustrate the point. This year we’ve gone global, with the whole world sheltered in place, while the “invisible enemy” takes its… Read More »Good Friday, April 10th

Do this in remembrance of me Each of our liturgical readings tonight ends with a command, an exhortation, or simply a statement of fact, all of which are intended to take an historical event and make it present for future generations. About the Passover meal: this is a memorial feast for you… Read More »Holy Thursday, April 9th

“Surely it is not I, Lord?” Valentin de Boulogne, Last Supper The early Christian community was deeply shaken by what Judas had done. That one of the inner circle, to whom he had confided so much, could have betrayed him, was shocking. That comes through in today’s Gospel when, after telling… Read More »Wednesday, April 8th

The impetuous one goes to school Gerard Seghers – Repentance of St Peter I’m drawn to the apostle Peter on this Tuesday of Holy Week. Peter, the impetuous one. “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”  We can call this another moment in the… Read More »Tuesday, April 7th

Letting her hair down. We’ve taken to responding “perfect” these days to texts and emails making arrangements of one sort or another. It’s so common that, however reassuring, my contrarian self usually avoids it. Not so with what Mary does in today’s Gospel: anointing the feet of Jesus with a large quantity… Read More »Monday, April 6th