Theology, Apologetics & Evangelization

These channels focus on explaining and defending the Catholic faith, often engaging with modern culture and other viewpoints.

• Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire): One of the most influential voices in the Church, offering cultural commentary, movie reviews, and deep theological deep-dives.
• Ascension Presents: A powerhouse channel featuring popular figures like Fr. Mike Schmitz (known for the “Bible in a Year” and “Catechism in a Year” podcasts) and Fr. Josh Johnson, offering accessible videos on faith and life.
• Catholic Answers: The premier channel for Catholic apologetics, featuring live Q&A shows where apologists answer tough questions from callers.
• Pints with Aquinas (Matt Fradd): Long-form interviews and discussions on theology, philosophy, and culture, often over a drink.
• The Counsel of Trent (Trent Horn): Trent Horn, a Catholic Answers apologist, provides rebuttals to atheist and Protestant arguments, as well as commentary on current events.
• Jimmy Akin: A senior apologist at Catholic Answers known for his fairness and deep knowledge, covering everything from bizarre questions to deep theology.
• Breaking In The Habit (Fr. Casey Cole, OFM): A young Franciscan friar who offers fresh, accessible reflections on faith, vocations, and everyday life.
• Thomistic Institute: Excellent, high-quality animated videos and lectures explaining the philosophy and theology of St. Thomas Aquinas.

HIGH RESOLUTION .PNG FILE

TWTW Lenten 2026 bulletin series was inspired by a 2020 homily given by Br Samuel Burke, O.P., Battle Ready. It was created with Gemini 3 using Nano Banana.

Holy Week: The Final Assault

Theme: Victory through Surrender

“Victory is promised… to anyone who would fight sin, carry their cross, and follow Jesus.”

• Palm Sunday: Read the Passion narrative. Place yourself in the crowd.
• Monday: Clean House. Prepare your home and heart for Easter.
• Tuesday: Forgiveness. Is there anyone left you haven’t forgiven? Release the grudge today.
• Wednesday: The Betrayal. Reflect on the times you have betrayed Jesus for “silver” (comfort, money, approval).
• Holy Thursday: The Last Supper. Attend Mass/Service. Focus on the Eucharist as your sustenance.
• Good Friday: The Victory. Veneration of the Cross. Fast and abstain. Stand at the foot of the Cross in spirit.
• Holy Saturday: The Tomb. Wait in silence and hope.

Bishop Barron on Palm Sunday

---

Holy Week

---

Drive Thru History

---

St. Christopher’s Window Series #7: Jesus’ Triumphant Entry Into Jerusalem

---

Holy Week Traditions for Catholics

---

Meditations on the Way of the Cross

---

Arts and Faith: Fifth Sunday of Lent, Cycle A

Holy Week begins with a paradox: the shouts of “Hosanna” at the city gate quickly fade, replaced by the narrative of betrayal, suffering and surrender. We have moved from the “King” to the “Servant,” from the triumphal procession to the Passion. 

The second reading for this Mass gives us the key: Christ “emptied himself (kenosis), taking the form of a servant… he humbled himself and became obedient unto death—even death on a cross.” (Phil.2:7-8) 

This kenosis is the ultimate diakonia. Jesus’s entire passion is the definitive act of service, a complete self-emptying for the sake of the world. For the deacon, who is configured by ordination to Christ the Servant, Holy Week is not just a remembrance. It is the master class, the blueprint of his vocation. 

1. The Ministry of the Towel and the Cross (At the Altar) 

The deacon’s liturgical roles during the Triduum are a profound immersion in Christ’s diakonia.

• The Washing of the Feet (Holy Thursday): This is the deacon’s liturgy. Jesus, the Master, performs the quintessential act of a deacon. He strips himself, ties a towel, and washes the feet of his disciples. The deacon, as the primary assistant for this rite, embodies this act. He is the minister of the towel and basin, reminding the entire Church that all authority and all ministry is service. 
• Proclaiming the Passion: The deacon, as a herald of the Word, often gives voice to the Passion narrative. He is not just reading a script; he is proclaiming the Gospel of Service, the story of how God’s love serves, suffers, and surrenders for us. 
• The Veneration of the Cross (Good Friday): The deacon’s service is to assist as the form of a servant, the Cross, is held aloft. He helps the assembly to come forward to venerate the sign of a love so powerful that it “became obedient unto death.” 

2. The Ministry of Obedient Emptying (In the Parish) 

Christ’s self-emptying was an act of profound obedience to the Father’s will. The deacon’s parish ministry is a daily, humble echo of this “yes.” 

• The Kenosis of the Deacon: The deacon’s self-emptying is lived out in his dual vocation. He empties himself of his own time to answer an urgent call to the hospital. He empties himself of his own agenda to be obedient to the needs of the parish and the direction of his pastor. He empties himself of his ego to do the menial jobs – the mundane administration, the committee meetings, and the laborious cleaning – that make the community run. 
• A “Yes” to the Inconvenient: The Passion was not convenient. The deacon’s service, if it is to mirror Christ’s, must be a “yes” to the inconvenient, the difficult and the unseen.  This obedience unto death – death to his own pride and comfort – is the source of his credibility. 

3. The Ministry at the Foot of the Cross (At the Margins) 

The Passion is not a 2,000-year-old event; it is a present reality in the lives of all who suffer. The deacon is ordained to find Christ in His Passion today. 

• Standing with the Suffering Christ: The deacon’s diakonia calls him to stand at the foot of the modern cross. He is the Church’s official presence at the side of the suffering Christ, who today is found in the poor, the lonely, the sick and the broken. 
• Service as Surrender: The deacon’s service is not always about fixing the problem.  Like Mary and John, his ministry is often a courageous presence in the face of suffering that cannot be changed. It’s a surrender to the mystery of the cross, a promise that “you are not alone in your passion.”
• The Power in the Cross: Every act of service, every visit, every meal and every word of comfort, is a small echo of Christ’s great surrender. It is a witness that love’s true power is not found in earthly triumph or self-preservation, but in the vulnerable, self-giving and faithful love of the cross. 

---

Theology, Apologetics & Evangelization

These channels focus on explaining and defending the Catholic faith, often engaging with modern culture and other viewpoints.

• Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire): One of the most influential voices in the Church, offering cultural commentary, movie reviews, and deep theological deep-dives.
• Ascension Presents: A powerhouse channel featuring popular figures like Fr. Mike Schmitz (known for the “Bible in a Year” and “Catechism in a Year” podcasts) and Fr. Josh Johnson, offering accessible videos on faith and life.
• Catholic Answers: The premier channel for Catholic apologetics, featuring live Q&A shows where apologists answer tough questions from callers.
• Pints with Aquinas (Matt Fradd): Long-form interviews and discussions on theology, philosophy, and culture, often over a drink.
• The Counsel of Trent (Trent Horn): Trent Horn, a Catholic Answers apologist, provides rebuttals to atheist and Protestant arguments, as well as commentary on current events.
• Jimmy Akin: A senior apologist at Catholic Answers known for his fairness and deep knowledge, covering everything from bizarre questions to deep theology.
• Breaking In The Habit (Fr. Casey Cole, OFM): A young Franciscan friar who offers fresh, accessible reflections on faith, vocations, and everyday life.
• Thomistic Institute: Excellent, high-quality animated videos and lectures explaining the philosophy and theology of St. Thomas Aquinas.