Sunday Homilies
Sunday Homilies
ABOUT
Welcome
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Hello, my name is Fr. Don, and I am a Roman Catholic Priest. Due to a disability and health issues, I have transitioned from active parish ministry to focusing my efforts on the development and maintenance of TheWordThisWeek.NET website, a site that began in 2014, and has undergone several reiterations. The website can also be accessed using sundayprep.net
Section Updates
New pages to sections of this website, targeting the Sunday following the next upcoming Sunday, are created according to the following schedule:
MONDAY
CATCH UP DAY, or
GET AHEAD DAY, or
DAY OFF
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
Homilies
Papal Homilies
FRIDAY
Fr. Tony’s Homilies
Bulletin Inserts
SATURDAY
Children
Deacon’s Digest
By curating hundreds of links and valuable content from reputable sources each week, I am privileged to support and serve the Catholic community in a meaningful way. Designed to cater to the needs of priests, deacons, musicians, catechists, lectors, and anyone seeking to prepare for Sunday Mass, this platform has been a genuine labor of love.
MISSION STATEMENT
TheWordThisWeek.NET serves the Catholic community by providing a wealth of resources, insights, and connections that enhance Mass participation, homily preparation, and spiritual growth.
Though the website is not directly associated with any particular diocese, parish, or religious community, it consistently shares useful links and resources that can greatly benefit those who serve within these communities. With a wealth of information available, this site aims to support priests and religious in delivering impactful sermons, catechists in enhancing their teaching methods, and all individuals in enriching their Sunday Mass experience.
Whether you’re seeking inspiration for homilies, music suggestions for liturgy, or guidance for religious education, the TheWordThisWeek.NET website is an invaluable resource that offers something for everyone. Its commitment to serving the Catholic community makes it a go-to platform for those looking to deepen their understanding of the faith and enhance their spiritual journey.
AI Generated Infographics
TWTW offers FREE downloadable PDF’s which non-profits have permission to use in bulletins, class handouts, bible study, etc. Related infographics and powerpoint slides are also available. Hundreds of infographics related to the Sunday readings are added every week.
The TWTW uses AI Gemini generated images (which is a lot more extensive and time consuming than one may think.) These images have been created according to Google’s Terms of Service, including the Prohibited Use Policy. Google has given TWTW permission to use these images in its projects, marketing, and websites.
The Word
This Week
How to Support This Website
Established with the goal of providing valuable resources to the Catholic community without subscription fees or advertising, TheWordThisWeek.NET website stands as a distinct online resource that remains entirely FREE for its users. Staying faithful to its founders’ vision, the website continues to offer an accessible and beneficial platform for those seeking spiritual guidance and growth.
While the dedication of time and resources has been significant, the website receives no form of payment from advertisements, contributions, or any other sources. While the website itself does not seek financial support, we do encourage you to consider donating to those who contribute to the website. Your generosity will help sustain their efforts to create and share valuable content.
That being said, there are three ways you can directly support Fr. Don’s ministry and this website.
1. Pray for Fr. Don: By including him in your intentions, you contribute to the spiritual foundation that sustains his mission and efforts to provide tens of thousands of visitors each month with resources for the Catholic community.
2. Spread the word: You can help the website reach even more individuals by sharing information about the website with your friends, parish pastor, and other diocesan personnel. Your recommendation can help grow our community and extend the reach of our materials to a wider audience.
3. Share on social media: Social media platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and others are excellent tools for sharing our content with a broader network. By sharing THE WORD THIS WEEK posts, links, and resources, you can help increase the visibility to the website.
Your support in these ways contributes to Fr. Don’s ongoing efforts to curate and share valuable content for priests, deacons, musicians, catechists, lectors, and anyone preparing for Sunday Mass.
NO DONATIONS ACCEPTED
The Word
This Week
Permissions
Limited by its primary role as a platform for sharing and promoting resources from multiple contributors, this website cannot grant permission for the utilization of materials in print publications or on other websites, unless otherwise specified. Users are encouraged to respect copyright and ownership guidelines when engaging with the content available here.
To ensure that proper credit is given and permissions are obtained, please contact the individual contributors directly regarding the use of their materials. By reaching out to the content creators, you can discuss and secure the necessary authorizations for your specific needs while respecting their intellectual property rights. We value and appreciate the hard work and dedication of our contributors in providing high-quality resources for our Catholic community.
TheWordThisWeek.NET abides by YouTube Terms of Service and Google’s privacy policy.
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This Week
Disclaimers
Level-headed in its approach, TheWordThisWeek.NET carefully curates content that steers clear of radical viewpoints from either side of the political and religious spectrum. Fr. Don recognizes that varied perspectives can enrich one’s comprehension of faith; however, he does prioritize adherence to the teachings of Christ and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church in all that is presented.
The opinions and views stated on this website by its contributors, as well as the content displayed, may express different ideas that do not necessarily reflect the perspectives of other writers or the site’s overall views. Pages linked to can can also be updated without our knowledge, making their content change or inactive. This website has no control over other websites and are not responsible for the content that they post.
The primary aim of the website is to provide a diverse range of resources and insights that enrich the spiritual lives of our users.
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This Week
Testimonials
Overwhelmed with gratitude, I cannot overstate the value THE WORD THIS WEEK has brought to my role as a catechist. The diverse viewpoints and rich materials have enabled me to craft captivating, discussion-sparking lessons for my students. I particularly enjoy the CLOW videos.”
– Sister Jospehine, Catechist
“I stumbled upon THE WORD THIS WEEK when searching for homily inspiration, and it has quickly become my go-to resource for preparing my weekly sermons. The variety of content and videos foster a sense of unity. Trust me, it is a lot safer than trying to find videos on YouTube where I have to wade through a lot of Catholic haters and other distractions.”
– Father Michael S.
“I’ve been a long-time user of THE WORD THIS WEEK, and it never ceases to amaze me with its high-quality content and user-friendly interface. The website has become an integral part of my weekly Mass preparation, helping me and my children to reflect more deeply on the Sunday readings and connect with my faith on a more profound level.”
– Theresa M., Parishioner
“As a deacon, I’m always seeking new ways to engage and create meaningful worship experiences. THE WORD THIS WEEK has been a reliable source of inspiration and guidance, helping me write petitions each week for the Prayers of the Faithful. With over 70 petitions on a variety of topics to choose from each week, I have no problems finding the write ones”
– Deacon John
Artificial
Intelligence
Our Catholic Assistant
Chatbots (may not be for everyone and therfore if you choose to ignore it, that’s okay). We call it the “Catholic assistant.” It has been specifically created to interact with visitors to the website who want to make their time on the site more engaging and informative.
What sets the chatbot apart is its deep grounding in Catholic teaching and scriptural interpretation. It has been carefully trained with reliable sources and expert guidance to ensure its responses are as accurate as possible.
However, no AI bot is entirely immune to errors. That’s why we’ve made it easy for you to let Fr. Don know when you spot an issue. Simply click the thumbs-down button to alert him to any inaccuracies, and he will take prompt action. Your input helps him continue to improve the chatbot and provide an even better experience for all visitors.
Sample Queries
Apart from copying/pasting text and hitting the submit button for more information, users can ask the chatbot various questions about Sunday preaching on the readings. Here’s a list of sample queries for reference.. Feel free to copy/paste (one at a time) into the chat box at the bottom right corner of the page.
- What are the main themes in this Sunday’s readings?
- How can I connect the first reading to the Gospel message?
- Are there any significant symbols or metaphors in the readings that I should highlight?
- What is the historical context of the readings, and how can I make them relevant to today’s world?
- Are there any particular verses in the readings that could be emphasized for a powerful message?
- How can I relate the readings to current events or issues faced by my parishioners?
- What are some insights from Church Fathers, saints, or theologians on these readings?
- How can I make the readings more engaging and relatable for younger audiences?
- Can you provide some examples of how the readings might inspire personal reflection or spiritual growth?
- Are there any prayers, hymns, or spiritual practices that can be incorporated into the homily based on the readings?
- How can I encourage my parishioners to apply the teachings from the readings in their daily lives?
- Are there any connections between the readings and the liturgical season or feast day?
NOTE: This is only a small sample of the type of questions you can ask. There is no limit to the number of queries.
However, be advised that CURRENTLY, we are limiting ONLY TWENTY QUERIES PER HOUR.
A.I. Disclaimers
Technology continues to advance rapidly with artificial intelligence (AI). Therefore, it’s vital that we recognize and address potential limitations and ethical concerns that accompany these advancements.
For starters, NO HOMILY should ever be writen entirely by artificial intelligence. When a preacher’s heart and soul are taken out of the equation, it’s no longer a homily. At best, perhaps, an essay. It’s like having artificial flowers in the sanctuary.
Note that the weekly “AI Pulpit Homily” on this website is not entirely generated by artificial intelligence. Rather, these homilies were originally delivered by Fr. Don between 2009-2012. Multiple commentaries, books and homily helps were used. Since these sources were not individually cited, and to ensure ethical integrity, artificial intelligence was used to adept the content while preserving the orginal message and spirit of the homilies.
Here are several other disclaimers to consider:
- Accuracy Disclaimer: While THE WORD THIS WEEK Catholic Assistant A.I. bot strives to provide accurate and reliable information, we cannot guarantee the correctness or completeness of the AI bot’s responses. Depending on the use case, you may want to consult additional resources to verify information.
- Privacy Disclaimer: Your privacy is important to us. We do not collect or store any personally identifiable information during your interactions with our AI chatbot.
- Content Disclaimer: Our AI chatbot is designed to provide general information about the Sunday Scriptures and Catholic teaching while engaging in conversation. Since it is not intended to provide other kinds of advice, in most cases, it will politely tell you it cannot answer your questions.
THE WORD THIS WEEK reserve the right to update, modify, or discontinue its AI chatbot, just like any other feature on the website) without prior notice.
The Word
This Week
Contributors
CONTACT
FR. DON
