Fr. John Riccardo's Podcasts

Fr. Riccardo reflects on his recent vacation in Utah while discussing the importance of changing the routines in our lives. Fr. John encourages the congregants to spend time reading the word of God while letting Him knead His truth, love and mercy in our minds, hearts and wills. Whoever has ears ought to hear (MT 13:43).

This is Fr. Riccardo's homily from the school Mass concluding the 2016-17 school year.

Fr. Riccardo addresses the eighth grade graduating class of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish School in this homily from the 2017 Graduation Mass while honoring Principal Czaplicki and Fr. John Simoneau.

Fr. Riccardo preached at the 4 PM Mass honoring parish members completing their high school or college studies. Fr. John tells the graduates that happiness is only found through friendship with God and with each other. He encourages them to pray for great friends. He remarks that the foundational source of security is knowledge that God is good and that he will give what is needed. Fr. John concludes by tell the graduates that the commandments of God are not arbitrary, but were given out of love. He encourages the graduates to use their minds when their faith is under attack.

Fr. Riccardo presided at the Vigil Mass for the Feast of Pentecost at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. Fr. John uses an image of Mary from the Announciation to encourage us to be receptive to the Holy Spirit. He invites the congregation to read Unleash the Gospel, a pastoral letter from Archbishop Allen Vigneron detailing the roadmap for the future of the Archdiocese of Detroit. Fr. Riccardo tells the congregants that our community of Plymouth can be changed if we are receptive to the Holy Spirit.

Fr. John Simoneau preached at all of the Masses at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church this past weekend. Fr. John discusses the five building blocks of the Holy Spirit in this homily from the 5 PM Mass. Fr. John looks at Mary as our ideal set before us by God to guide us to the Father.

Fr. Riccardo preached at all of the masses this weekend at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. In this homily from the 10 AM Mass, Fr. John tells the congregation that God is an architect with a blueprint for our lives and for our parish. While reflecting on the readings of this day (ACTS 6:1-7, 1 PT 2:4-9, JN 14:1-12) and on St. Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth (1 COR 3:9-10) Fr. John discusses the role of the laity as living stones in the spiritual house that is our parish.

Deacon Chris Stark, Executive Director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, preached at all of the Masses this past weekend at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. Deacon Chris described the founding of the society by Blessed Frederic Ozanam nearly 200 years ago, and the many ways that the society serves people in need locally and around the world. Deacon Chris encourages the congregants to bring gently used clothing to OLGC on the weekend of May 13 & 14 to support the society with their bundle drive. Monetary donations to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul-Detroit may be made using this link.

Fr. Prentice Tipton preached at all of the Masses this past weekend at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. In this homily from the 5 PM Mass, Fr. Prentice looks at the remarkable transformation of the apostles from Jesus' crucifixion to Pentecost. Fr. Prentice tells the congregants that the sins of our present and of our past cannot disqualify us from one day becoming holy, and that the Church is the place where every sinner has a future.

This is Fr. Prentice Tipton's homily from the 8 AM Easter Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. Fr. Prentice concludes his homily for the Rerouting series by asking, "What have we done with our freedom?" After reflecting on the baptisms he witnessed during the Easter Vigil Mass the previous evening, Fr. Prentice reminds the congregants that the shackles of sin are broken through the power of Christ's resurrection.