“It makes the whole ordination liturgy even more powerful when you know that your own is now likely so close,” writes Mr. Jarrod Waugh, C.S.C., in reflecting on the Ordination of Fr. Matt Kuczora, C.S.C. “This allowed me to see the whole thing with new eyes, even though I have witnessed several Holy Cross Ordinations before.” Read More

“To scatter the seed of God’s Word; to dispense his mercy; to nourish the faithful with Christ’s Body and Blood – these are three aspects of the priestly mission that I wish to reflect on with you in this homily,” preached Most Rev. Kevin C. Rhoades, the Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend, at the Ordination of Fr. Matt Kuczora, C.S.C. Read More

“In our abundantly consumerist society in which many spend for themselves, a priest is invited to spend himself for others,” writes Fr. John Britto, C.S.C., as he reflects on his first year as a priest. “This year provided me ample opportunities every day to think of the ways in which I have been a blessing to many. In the wake of this reality, the most dominant feeling was the unfailing recognition of my unworthiness in the face of such an awesome grace lavished upon me. … What a blessing it is to be a blessing!” Read More

“Father, I hear you’re a real hard guy in the classroom. Now, when you’re in the dorms or just around campus, everybody says there isn’t a nicer, friendlier, priest at UP.”  Regardless of the reputation’s validity, I began to reflect that maybe this combination of toughness in public settings and gentleness in more personal ones isn’t actually such a bad reputations for a minster in the Church. Read More

 “Father, can you hear my confession?”  Fr. Andrew writes that although all priests are accustomed to hearing those words, “they are not the words I usually expect to hear shouted at me from across the quad. And yet that is just what happened to me this past football Saturday at Notre Dame.” Read More

Thanks to the generosity of the Most Rev. Kevin C. Rhoades, Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, who presided at Rev. Mr. Matt Kuczora, C.S.C., Ordination to the Diaconate this past Sunday, we are able to share with you all on Spes Unica the amazing homily that Bishop Rhoades gave at the Mass. It is a powerful reflection on the ministry and service of a deacon. A huge thanks to Bishop Rhoades for sharing it us so we could share it with you. Read More

Back from World Youth Day in Madrid, Fr. Drew Gawrych, C.S.C., filed the following reflection on con-celebrating the closing Mass at Cautro Vientos with the Holy Father.  Read More

He's back!  Yes, we are very happy that Fr. Charlie McCoy, C.S.C., Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Portland, has signed up for another year.  (To read some of Fr. Charlie's insightful past post, look under the "Education" label.)  With his first post of this new year, Fr. Charlie picks up right where he left off -- leading us on deep reflections about what it means to be a priest, religious, and professor.  Enjoy! Read More

Basically every summer, all Holy Cross priests in the United States who have been ordained for five years or less gather for the Early Years Workshop. These days of prayer, faith sharing, and fellowship at our Holy Cross Center in La Porte, IN, offer a wonderful opportunity for our young priests to reconnect with their peers in the community as well as to continue growing in their priestly ministry and identity. The only catch is that none of our young priests refer to the event as the “Early Years Workshop”; they all affectionately refer to it as “Baby Priest Camp.” Read More