Fr. John Riccardo's Podcasts

Fr. Riccardo discusses the reality of evil in this homily from Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. Fr. John looks at: who is the devil, what his names mean, his mode of operation, his goal, his relationship to Jesus, why it may look like he is winning, and what this has to do with us as a parish right now.

On Friday, November 1st, and Saturday, November 2nd, Our Lady of Good Counsel Church hosted retreat sessions for participants in the parish's Alpha course. The retreat sessions focused on the Holy Spirit, and included some personal testimonies. This is Fr. Riccardo's testimony from the Friday session.

Fr. Riccardo discusses the importance of knowing Jesus, encountering Him, and making Him known in this homily from Our Lady of Good Counsel. Fr. John reflects on his own life-changing encounter with Jesus, and the profound way that his life was changed by that encounter. (LK 19:1-10)

Fr. Riccardo discusses the ways in which God guides us in this homily from Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. Fr. John reviews the Alpha topic from week six that seeks to answer the question "How does God guide us?" Fr. John takes a closer look at guidance through the counsel of the saints and reflects on the ways he was guided by the examples of his parents and siblings as an adolescent and young adult.

Fr. Riccardo reflects on the parable of Lazarus and the rich man from today's gospel reading (LK 19:19-31) in this homily from Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. Fr. John tells that congregation that while there are numerous proclamations in scripture that deal with the requirement that people of means share their wealth with those less fortunate, the true message in Luke's gospel today deals with our resistance to fully following Christ.

Fr. Riccardo discusses the recent interview of Pope Francis by Fr. Antonio Spadaro, S.J., for La Civiltà Cattolica, the Italian Jesuit journal, in this homily from Our Lady of Good Counsel. Fr. John explains how the Holy Father's words connect with his goals for the Alpha program currently underway at OLGC. While discussing the proclaimation of the kerygma, Fr. John remarks, "The first experience that we should have in our spiritual life should be the overwhelming experience of knowing God's love."

Fr. Riccardo discusses the parable of the prodigal son (LK 15:1-32) in this homily from Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. Fr. John tells the congregation that Jesus is trying to tell us what the Father is like, and encourages the congregants to live their lives with, "an attitude of graditude for all that God has done for us." Fr. John looks at this parable in greater depth in these podcasts (Father or Adversary, The Father).

While considering the gospel reading from St. Luke (LK 14:25-33), Fr. Riccardo tells the congregation that Jesus is begging us to trust Him, and to surrender our lives to Him. Fr. John reminds the congregation that, "Jesus is the only one who can show us the path that leads to life."

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

On the weekend of August 17 and 18, Our Lady of Good Counsel Church welcomed Fr. Tom Hagan, O.S.F.S of Hands Together. Fr. Hagan preached at all Masses about his missionary work with the poor in the Cite Soleil slum in Haiti. You can learn more about Fr. Tom and Hands Together by visiting the website for the organization.