Joe Fessenden www.joefessenden.com

Will you preach the Transfiguration or this rotting flesh?

I preached this homily at Saint Rose of Lima Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on Sunday, August 6, 2017. I know the intro still says Deacon Joe, but I was ordained a few weeks ago, so I am now celebrating Mass as Father Joe. The website will catch up soon, I promise. Setting the stage I would like you to put yourself into this story for just a moment. You are there watching (I don’t know – maybe…

The Woman at the Well

I preached this homily on the Sunday, March 19, 2017, the 3rd Sunday of Lent, at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Gospel was John 4:4-42, the story of the Samaritan Woman at the Well. Who is this woman? Why were the disciples amazed? The easy answers always come to mind. She’s a woman who’s not his wife. She’s a Samaritan woman, so a Jew can’t talk to her. She’s a…

With Lazarus, once a poor man, may you have eternal rest

I preached this homily at St. Rita Parish, New Orleans, Louisiana on March 16, 2017. The Gospel was the well known story of The Rich Man and Lazarus. When you are called home, will your soul be light because you emptied yourself out, or will you be weighed down by taking and taking until you have everything? Pop Culture I am a big fan of finding the truths of the faith reflected in pop culture,…

Don’t worry. Be happy.

I preached this homily at the Church of the Assumption in Nashville, Tennessee on February 26, 2017. The readings for that Sunday are: First Reading Isaiah 49:14–15 Response Psalm 62:6a Psalm Psalm 62:2–3, 6–9 Second Reading 1 Corinthians 4:1–5 Gospel Acclamation Hebrews 4:12 Gospel Matthew 6:24–34 In 1988, one of the great poets of the twentieth century wrote these words: Here’s a little song I…

I have come to fulfill the Law

I preached this homily on Sunday, February 12, 2017 at Our Lady of the Rosary parish in New Orleans, Louisiana. The readings are Sirach 15:15–20, 1 Corinthians 2:6–10, and Matthew 5:17–37. To Fulfill the Law The Law (Commandments) are the bare minimum. The Beatitudes, which we heard a few weeks ago, represent approaches to the world. Here, Christ outlines the perfection to which the Law pointed…

Ephphatha: How are they they hear the Gospel?

I preached this homily at Notre Dame Seminary on Friday, February 10, 2017. I am preaching on Mark 7:31-37. I would like to focus for a few minutes on the deaf man. I want to present him as a type of baptism. Notice he did not come to Jesus on his own. He was brought. His deafness was to the Word of God, so he could neither hear nor speak God’s word. Why? He did not know it. He is a type of the…

History and Theology of the Mass

Over the last four weeks here at Saint Edward, I taught a 4-part class on the Mass for any interested adults in the parish. I figured I’d share them here. Here is the handout I created for the class: Mass Class Handout Lecture 1: Catholic Rites and Liturgical HistoryLecture 2: Vestments, Vessels, and TheologyLecture 3: Liturgy of the WordLecture 4: Liturgy of the Eucharist

We must put the same effort into our spiritual lives

I preached this Homily on Sunday, September 18, 2016, at Saint Edward Church in Nashville, Tennessee. The nature of parables This is a difficult passage since it sounds like Jesus is applauding this steward for lying and stealing from his boss. We need to remember the purpose of parables. The precise details of the parable are less important than the meaning behind them. So what’s the message…

From the day you were born

I preached this homily to the entire school (Kindergarten through eighth grade) at St. Edward School in Nashville, Tennessee. This is the Gospel for the day: This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling…