That time Fr. Michael was mistaken for a Bishop – Fr. Michael Video Homily

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Evangelize Seekers. Inspire Believers. Foster Disciples. Homily Intro Watch as Fr. Michael weaves a tale of two Jesuits who came together in prayer at St. Mary Major in Rome, 500 years apart. Spoiler, he’s not one of them… Click the image to play Luke 11:27-28 SHARE INSTAGRAM YOUTUBE HTOH.US Fr. Michael’s Public Schedule 8:15 AM Mass – Most Wednesdays @ St. Anne’s in Barrington September 18 – 20, 2026 Charismatic Retreat: A New Heart September 25 – 27, 2026 Kinship, Courage and Hope Sunday,…

The Rock | Talk 3, part 2 – A Retreat with Peter: Growing from Sinner to Saint

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The Rock: Who Do You Say I Am? In part 2 of “The Rock: Who Do You Say I Am?” based on Matthew 16, Fr. Michael examines the state of the Church, our own personal commitment to it and what is truly at the center of our lives, Jesus. Sharing with a friend? Invite them to join at shop.htoh.us! Missed a Talk? Talk 1, The Call: Part 1, Part 2 Talk 2, The Water Walk: Part 1, Part 2 Talk 3, The Rock: Part 1 He denied Jesus three times — and became the rock the Church was built on. Join Fr. Michael for A…

The Rock | Talk 3, part 1 – A Retreat with Peter: Growing from Sinner to Saint

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The Rock: Who Do You Say I Am? In “The Rock: Who Do You Say I Am?” based on Matthew 16, Jesus challenges the disciples to identify who he is, and when Peter acknowledges that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus names him petras, the rock, the foundation of the church. Sharing with a friend? Invite them to join at shop.htoh.us! Missed a Talk? Talk 1, The Call: Part 1, Part 2 Talk 2, The Water Walk: Part 1, Part 2 He denied Jesus three times — and became the rock the Church was built on. Join Fr. Michael…

Be Made Clean – Fr. Michael Video Homily

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Evangelize Seekers. Inspire Believers. Foster Disciples. Homily Intro Who are the least in our community that need the most? Fr. Michael relays this challenge from Jesus, to us. Matthew 8:1-4 SHARE INSTAGRAM YOUTUBE HTOH.US Fr. Michael’s Public Schedule 8:15 AM Mass – Most Wednesdays @ St. Anne’s in Barrington September 18 – 20, 2026 Charismatic Retreat: A New Heart Sunday, October 25, 2026 Veterans “Coming Home” Retreat Tuesday, December 15, 2026A Fresh Cup of Christmas Tea: Fr. Michael’s…

The Water Walk | Talk 2, part 2 – A Retreat with Peter: Growing from Sinner to Saint

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The Water Walk: Why Did You Doubt? In part 2 of The Water Walk: Why Did You Doubt? Fr. Michael continues the familiar story of Jesus walking towards the disciples in a boat amidst the storm and concludes with a guided meditation that places us into the midst of the storm… Sharing with a friend? Invite them to join at shop.htoh.us! He denied Jesus three times — and became the rock the Church was built on. Join Fr. Michael for A Retreat with St. Peter: Growing from Sinner to Saint, a 6-week audio…

The Water Walk | Talk 2, part 1 – A Retreat with Peter: Growing from Sinner to Saint

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The Water Walk: Why Did You Doubt? In part 1 of The Water Walk: Why Did You Doubt? Fr. Michael sets up the familiar story of Jesus walking towards the disciples in a boat amidst the storm and the initial strength of Peter’s faith to leave the boat… Sharing with a friend? Invite them to join at shop.htoh.us! He denied Jesus three times — and became the rock the Church was built on. Join Fr. Michael for A Retreat with St. Peter: Growing from Sinner to Saint, a 6-week audio retreat (talks released…

Prayed for by Mary – Fr. Michael Video Homily

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Evangelize Seekers. Inspire Believers. Foster Disciples. Homily Intro Live without fear. That is one of the many take aways from this favorite Gospel of Fr. Michael’s where Jesus reminds his disciples that they are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:26-33 SHARE INSTAGRAM YOUTUBE HTOH.US Fr. Michael’s Public Schedule 8:15 AM Mass – Most Wednesdays @ St. Anne’s in Barrington September 18 – 20, 2026 Charismatic Retreat: A New Heart Sunday, October 25, 2026 Veterans “Coming Home” Retreat…

The Call, Talk 1 (part 2) – A Retreat with Peter: Growing from Sinner to Saint

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The Call: For What are YOU Fishing? In part 2 of The Call: For What Are YOU Fishing? Fr. Michael goes deeper into St. Peter the proud fisherman and an imaginative story of humility before Jesus and Peter’s fishing community in John Shea’s Goin’ Fishin’. Sharing with a friend? Invite them to join at shop.htoh.us! He denied Jesus three times — and became the rock the Church was built on. Join Fr. Michael for A Retreat with St. Peter: Growing from Sinner to Saint, a 6-week audio retreat (talks…

The Call, Talk 1 (part 1) – A Retreat with Peter: Growing from Sinner to Saint

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The Call He denied Jesus three times — and became the rock the Church was built on. Join Fr. Michael for A Retreat with St. Peter: Growing from Sinner to Saint, a 6-week audio retreat (talks released Tue and Thu) tracing six unforgettable moments in Peter’s journey, and discover that God isn’t waiting for you to be perfect — he’s already in your boat. In part 1 of talk 1, The Call, Fr. Michael weaves together the miraculous catch of fish (Luke 5), the cannonball that shattered St. Ignatius’s…

Pillars of the Early Church – Fr. Michael’s New Video Homily

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Evangelize Seekers. Inspire Believers. Foster Disciples. Homily Intro Reflecting on the early Church through the work of Saints Peter & Paul, Fr. Michael explores the challenges they faced with different ideas about how to build God’s Church on Earth and how we continue to struggle with the same challenges today. Matthew 16:13-19 SHARE INSTAGRAM YOUTUBE HTOH.US Fr. Michael’s Public Schedule 8:15 AM Mass – Most Wednesdays @ St. Anne’s in Barrington September 18 – 20, 2026 Charismatic Retreat:…

The Chosen 12 – Fr. Michael’s New Video Homily

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Evangelize Seekers. Inspire Believers. Foster Disciples. The Chosen 12 We also are the chosen of God, even if no longer among the original twelve. Fr. Michael also reminds us to use our gifts, talents and skills for what we can do, rather than trying to accomplish the impossible. Matthew 10:1-7 SHARE INSTAGRAM YOUTUBE HTOH.US Fr. Michael’s Public Schedule 8:15 AM Mass – Most Wednesdays @ St. Anne’s in Barrington September 18 – 20, 2026 Charismatic Retreat: A New Heart Sunday, October 25, 2026…

Progress Report & Graduation | Lessons for the School of Suffering – Chapter 10 plus Epilogue

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Chapter 10 – Progress Report Suffering and fatigue have been my constant companions for quite some time now. They are unwelcome guests and just when I think I am going to get rid of them, they move back in with a more forceful presence than before. Epilogue – Graduation (by Tammy Bundy) “Some things we will never understand, this side of heaven.” ~Fr. Jim In case you missed them The Introduction Chapter 1 – The First Day of School Chapter 2 – The Student Body Chapter 3 – Homework & Tests…

Classmates | Lessons for the School of Suffering – Chapter 9

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Chapter 9 – Classmates One of the harshest realities about suffering is that it can close us off from people—even people we are close to. In case you missed them The Introduction Chapter 1 – The First Day of School Chapter 2 – The Student Body Chapter 3 – Homework & Tests Chapter 4 – Prayer in [the] School [of Suffering] Chapter 5 – Guidance and Peer Counseling Chapter 6 – Required Texts Chapter 7 – Examination Week Chapter 8 – Being Held Back Suffering with Grace, 25th Anniversary Edition If…

Independence Day Hope – Fr. Michael’s New Video Homily

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Evangelize Seekers. Inspire Believers. Foster Disciples. Independence Day Hope As we in the United States prepare to celebrate our 250 years of political independence, Fr. Michael reminds us that we remain spiritually dependent and that if we have lost hope in our world, the hope offered by Jesus never fails. Matthew 8:28-34 SHARE INSTAGRAM YOUTUBE HTOH.US Fr. Michael’s Public Schedule 8:15 AM Mass – Most Wednesdays @ St. Anne’s in Barrington September 18 – 20, 2026 Charismatic Retreat: A New…

Being Held Back | Lessons for the School of Suffering – Chapter 8

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Chapter 8 – Being Held Back It’s easy to fall into the trap of discouragement. In this chapter Fr. Jim teaches the ways he dealt with that downward spiral. In case you missed them The Introduction Chapter 1 – The First Day of School Chapter 2 – The Student Body Chapter 3 – Homework & Tests Chapter 4 – Prayer in [the] School [of Suffering] Chapter 5 – Guidance and Peer Counseling Chapter 6 – Required Texts Chapter 7 – Examination Week Suffering with Grace, 25th Anniversary Edition If you would…

Examination Week | Lessons for the School of Suffering – Chapter 7

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Chapter 7 – Examination Week …when we face the reality of our death, we begin to understand the greater reality of eternal life and how this life is simply a preparation for everlasting life. But still, it’s very hard to let go of this life. In case you missed them The Introduction Chapter 1 – The First Day of School Chapter 2 – The Student Body Chapter 3 – Homework & Tests Chapter 4 – Prayer in [the] School [of Suffering] Chapter 5 – Guidance and Peer Counseling Chapter 6 – Required Texts…

Vulnerable Christ – Fr. Michael’s New Video Homily

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Evangelize Seekers. Inspire Believers. Foster Disciples. Vulnerable Christ Jesus came into this world as a vulnerable infant and left in a position of ultimate vulnerability on the cross. Given on the confluence of feasts and memories for the Church and his dear Fr. Fr. Jim Willig, Fr. Michael delivers a powerful homily on becoming vulnerable for Jesus. PLEASE NOTE: There were several sections of distorted audio in this homily. For the most part the distortion is gone but some sections Fr….

Required Text | Lessons for the School of Suffering – Chapter 6

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Chapter 6 – Required Text Even a priest didn’t think to turn to his Bible first, even though that’s exactly what he needed the most. In case you missed them The Introduction Chapter 1 – The First Day of School Chapter 2 – The Student Body Chapter 3 – Homework & Tests Chapter 4 – Prayer in [the] School [of Suffering] Chapter 5 – Guidance and Peer Counseling Suffering with Grace, 25th Anniversary Edition If you would like a physical copy of Fr. Jim’s book for yourself or to give someone else,…

[Watch] Suffering with Grace | Fr. Jim’s 25th Anniversary

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click to watch the video Suffering with Grace – 25th Anniversary Transformed into a “Living Saint” Fr. Jim’s story is told by him, his family and friends in this video released shortly after his death. This version, converted from DVD, includes a new introduction by Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ, Heart to Heart President and best friend of Fr. Jim. Opt Out of Receiving Fr. Jim Anniversary Emails CLICK HERE if you don’t want to receive these Lessons from the School of Suffering emails.

Guidance & Peer Counseling | Lessons for the School of Suffering – Chapter 5

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Chapter 5 – Guidance & Peer Counseling Coming to terms with losing control of one’s own life and direction. In case you missed them The Introduction Chapter 1 – The First Day of School Chapter 2 – The Student Body Chapter 3 – Homework & Tests Chapter 4 – Prayer in [the] School [of Suffering] If you would like a physical copy of Fr. Jim’s book for yourself or to give someone else, you can find it on our website: shop.htoh.us/shop. Opt Out of Receiving Lessons Emails CLICK HERE if you don’t want to…