Author Archives: Rev. Joe Jagodensky, SDS.

Close enough. Close enough. In the hospital, after opening up your heart, the heart surgeon says to you in the recovery room, “Close enough,” as you choke on your tiny ice cubes. “Close enough.” Never said out loud, but it … Continue reading →

These are the things I learned in kindergarten: Share everything. Play fair. Don’t hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don’t take things that aren’t yours. The Savior “shall proclaim peace to the … Continue reading →

One of my favorite words that I use at funerals for an energetic person is indefatigable. I love to say it, and I love its meaning. Another gem of a word to both pronounce and to know and feel its … Continue reading →

How can any of us aspire, pray, and work toward perfection while remaining, always and anywhere, imperfect? It’s a perfectly solid question with a perfectly perfect, imperfect answer. Let’s take the precision of perfection first. Music is the epitome of … Continue reading →

The website for my car has the top banner words “navigate, connect, and discover.” I would add a fourth word, but that’s at the end of my little ditty. Truer words could not describe not only that thing in my … Continue reading →

Looking out my kitchen window, I see her … resting on a telephone wire. It’s been a long time watching her, for a bird, and she’s still there … probably absorbing and observing all that moves and lives and moves … Continue reading →

A Salvatorian priest attends an important meeting in Washington, D.C. He drives from Milwaukee, attends the meetings, and arrives back home. Upon his return, he’s asked, “Where’s the car?” He flew back. True story. That’s what Lent is all about. … Continue reading →

View – SeeHear – ListenTouch – GraspTravel – WalkTravel – JourneyTaste – SavorSip – SwallowGrin – SmileVenial or Mortal Sin? – Judge YourselfDistractions – Focus24/7 News – DiscernmentNap – Never a ChairShrinking – GrowingFoggy Secular Thoughts – GoodQuick Meal – … Continue reading →

A Catholic hymn sings, “We return in love what love has made.” Very easy funeral sermon to preach. If there is such a thing, a “Happy Death” is attributed to St. Joseph’s demise. Why? Because he had the Blessed Mother … Continue reading →

We say, “I will,” to some upcoming fun event. We say, “I could,” to something doubtful. We also say, “I won’t,” about a transition or change. This is an English lesson, folks, so you may wish to take notes. We … Continue reading →