Fr. John Riccardo's Podcasts

Fr. Riccardo tells the congregation that Jesus was sent to fight for us because we matter to God in this Christmas homily from the Midnight Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. Fr. John describes scenes from the critically acclaimed movie Hacksaw Ridge while letting the congregants know that the Lord has come to pick us up and carry us to safety. He encourages the congregants to go out and get those who do not see.

Fr. Riccardo discusses the importance of prayer to our growth as mature disciples of Christ in this homily from the noon Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. Fr. John encourages the congregants to get into the habit of praying daily. He remarks that for a mature relationship with God we need to listen, ask, repent, thank, and praise Him. Fr. John suggests beginning and ending each day in prayer using the psalms to praise God for who He is.

Fr. Riccardo discusses the Rerouting series that will begin at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church beginning in January. In this homily for the Feast to the Immaculate Conception, Fr. John examines the importance of understanding scripture in a new way, particularly Genesis 1 to 3. By learning to read the scriptures properly, we can find the answers to the questions in our lives that ultimately matter.

Fr. Riccardo discusses why bearing witness to Christ is so important and urgent in this homily from Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. Fr. John looks at the witness given by Fr. Sixtus O'Connor to imprisoned Nazis awaiting trial at Nuremberg after World War II while remarking that our personal witness can lead to the salvation of others. Fr. John points out that, "Only Jesus can turn hostility and disunity and enmity to unity and brotherhood and family."

This is Fr. Riccardo's homily from the evening Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church for The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed.

While celebrating Mass for the Solemnity of All Saints, Fr. Riccardo encourages the congregants to learn about particular heroic men and women in the history of the church, and to tell their stories to our children and grandchildren so that we all can be  roused to be great.

Fr. Riccardo discusses his recent pilgrimage to Poland, abortion, and the upcoming presidential election in this homily from the Wednesday evening Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church.

Fr. Riccardo preached at all of the weekend Masses this past weekend as the parish pastoral staff continued a series of reflections to lay the groundwork for the building of a missionary parish. This week, Fr. John looked at faith as a building block while asking what it means to believe.

This is Fr. Riccardo's homily from the Mass of the Holy Spirit celebrated at the start of the new school year.

Fr. Riccardo looks at the challenging words of Jesus from today's gospel (LK 14:25-33) while discussing the requirements of discipleship. Fr. John asks the congregants, "Do we live for ourselves or for Him first?"