Fr. Burke & Fr. Mike Lavan prepare for Palm Sunday Mass at St. Peter's in Rome.
Fr. Burke was born December 17, 1966 and raised in Joliet, IL, the youngest of three sons to Tod and Janet Masters. He was not raised Catholic but attended Providence Catholic High School in order to move closer to his dream of becoming a Major League baseball player. It was at Providence that Fr. Burke fell in love with the Eucharist and the Catholic Church. He became Catholic his senior year in high school.
He went on to play baseball at Mississippi State University, where he played in the College World Series. He was nominated as one of the top student-athletes in the history of Mississippi State University as the SEC celebrated its 75th anniversary. For a commercial narrated by John Grisham about Fr. Burke click http://secsports.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=22&url_subchannel_id=&url_article_id=9256&change_well_id=2
His major league dream did not materialize, so after working as an actuary, and then ticket manager for the Kane County Cougars, Fr. Burke felt the call to become a priest.
He attended Mundelein Seminary from 1997-2002 and was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Joliet in June of 2002. He served for four years as associate pastor at St. Mary’s Parish in West Chicago, IL.
In June of 2006 he became the Vocation Director for the Diocese of Joliet. He now travels around the diocese to encourage young men and women to lay down their lives for the sake of Jesus Christ.
Fr. Burke Masters
Father Burke:
Thank you ever so greatly again and again for everything you’ve given me and feeding my soul with. I thank Our Lord Jesus for your constant gift to everyone and your beautiful gift of ministry to everyone you come in contact with. Your message today is so beautiful and giving and the way you have been opening yourself up with to all of us is just incredible. I finally met you in person a few years ago at the Cathedral when I sang with the Chorale for Bishop Sartain’s installation – I will never forget that day – finally meeting you briefly and singing with all of those priests and deacons walking into the Church.
Please remember if you are downtown, my office is right downtown across from the Daley Center at 171 N. Clark St. 5th Floor – Chicago Title Land Trust. I would really like to have lunch with you if you had the time.
Your dad is going to be in my prayers as I am thinking of you both.
THanks again for your great and powerful gifts not only to me but for everyone you come in contact with!!!
With love in Christ,
Glenn Richter
By: Glenn Richter on February 18, 2009
at 3:21 pm
can you please change my email address to info@hardwoodsofnashville.com
By: harold johnson on April 27, 2010
at 1:34 pm
Harold, I can change your address on the blog. You will have to respond to the email that is sent to you.
God bless,
Fr. Burke
By: frburke23 on April 28, 2010
at 3:33 am
Thank you Fr. Burke. I am a Jesuit seminarian from Kenya and I am always impressed by your reflections. You do a great job and only God through his great mercy can reward you. Keep up
George
By: George on August 16, 2011
at 5:19 pm
Dear Father Burke,
I don’t personally know anyone with a “blog”, so you’re my first!
Just wanted to encourage you in your ministry and vocation. I first heard you speak at my former parish, St. Anne in Oswego, a couple of years ago. We now attend, a little closer to home, the wonderful Holy Spirit-filled parish of Holy Cross in Batavia (I’m sure you know of it and our amazing Monsignor Deutsch).
Back when we originally heard you speak, you really touched my “baseball husband’s heart” with your message. Since then, I have been on your e-mail list and forward MANY of your “thoughts” to family and friends. They have touched so many hearts, Catholic and non-Catholic Christian friends alike; which only goes to prove that “We
Are All 0ne Body”. I hope that they will subscribe to your new website.
Thank you for all you do with a passion for Christ!
Many Prayers in Jesus & Mary,
Rennell
By: Rennell on February 18, 2009
at 7:09 pm
As a 72 yo retired physician I “discovered” you only fairly recently after attending Cursillo. Now you are one of the first Emails I look for and the frequent topic of discussion of our seven man group that meets here every week. I find your “mini homilies” incisive, stimulating and inspirational and a Godsend in my personal life.
Please tell me that you have or soon will publish the complete collection of these reflections. How great it would be to have one to read everyday. Please give serious thought to my request. God bless you!
Ed Anderson
By: Edward E, Anderson M.D. on March 19, 2009
at 6:34 am
Dear Dr. Anderson, thank you so much for your kind message. Are you from the Diocese of Joliet or another diocese? Cursillo had a huge impact on my life. I am in the process of compiling these thoughts into a book. How would you like them organized – by liturgical year, by topic, by day of the year? I would appreciate your input.
God bless,
fr. burke
By: frburke23 on March 19, 2009
at 8:29 pm
Dear Fr. Burke,
Thank you for such a prompt response. I am from St Henry’s parish in the diocese of Nashville. You have a a very large following here — almost exclusively by word of mouth. (Think what a little PR and a good manager could do.)
I share your opinion about Cursillo. Coming from a small southern town where I was the only Catholic in a high school of over 700 students, faith sharing did not come naturally to me. Cusillo changed that and I consider it the most important single event in my Catholic life.
Great! that you are preparing the book — it absolutely has to be done! From my viewpoint it would be nice to have a reading for each day — possibly indexed by subject matter so one could look up something appropriate for an occassion.
My mind is racing !! What a feather in my cap if I can get you down here, not just to speak with our group but to the entire Ultrea group and maybe one or two homilies thrown in for good measure. Trust me, your career is just beginning and you have not heard the last from me.
May God truly bless you!
Ed Anderson
By: Edward E, Anderson M.D. on March 20, 2009
at 3:10 am
Fr. Burke, I’ve never met you in person but your daily emails get me through and have gotten me through some tough times! I am a friend of your cousin Mark Masters! He began forwarding your thoughts and reflections to me before I was on your mailing list. I am not Catholic and I am from the South but I must say that your emails are so appreciated and needed!! I now forward them to one of my best friends who just happens to be Catholic! Last but not least I am a huge follower of SEC football and baseball…my son plays baseball on a scholarship! I must have seen you play…I went to Auburn!Thanks for being who you are! Leigh Taylor
By: Leigh Taylor on July 8, 2009
at 10:28 am
Thanks for your comments Leigh. Yes, I played at Mississippi State from 1987-1990 when Frank Thomas was at Auburn. We had some good games against them. Have a blessed day!
By: frburke23 on July 9, 2009
at 11:06 pm
Dear Fr Burke and Dr. Anderson, What a wonderful idea – a book collecting your reflections would be spiritually enriching as well as nourishing to the soul. Grouped either by topic or daily – either way would work. Like both of you gentlemen, Cursillo was certainly a life-changing event. Look how the Lord is using our “4th Day” to bring us together. Thank you Fr. Burke for sharing your wisdom with us. DeColores, Betsy McNeil, Stewardship Coordinator, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Rogers, AR.
By: Betsy McNeil on July 27, 2009
at 6:02 pm
Betsy, thanks for your encouragement. I’ve had several people recommend this to me so I’m thinking about how to organize them. I think it might be better to organize by topic/theme so people can find something based on what they are dealing with in life. We could also cross reference them by Scripture verse for easy finding…
By: frburke23 on July 30, 2009
at 3:47 am
Dear Father Burke,
A friende of mine sends me your ‘Thought for the Day’ and I would like you to know how much it helps me both bringing me peace, and helping me better understand scripture.
God Bless you and your family always,
Donna
By: Donna Kenwick on August 5, 2009
at 12:28 pm
Thanks Donna! You can actually subscribe on this blog to receive the e-mails directly to your inbox if you’d like. Have a blessed day!
Fr. Burke
By: frburke23 on August 6, 2009
at 2:34 pm
Really nice posts. I will be checking back here regularly.
By: Kelli Garner on October 4, 2009
at 2:21 am
Welcome Kelli!
fr. burke
By: frburke23 on October 5, 2009
at 1:50 am
I didn’t know another way to reach you except this way. My parish priest is leaving on a new assignment he received from the bishop. We will all miss him. Based on your biography, I hope you can help me with something.
My priest is an avid Red Sox fan and from my email you can see I am a Yankee fan. I would like to get him a gag gift which would be a Red Sox jersey, but with a roman collar on it. Do you know if there is someplace to buy such a gag gift.
I know this is strange but I know my priest would love it!
Thanks
By: Jim Geis on October 6, 2009
at 10:07 am
Dear Jim, I would love to help you with this kind of gift, but I don’t know where you can find one. You might just have to get a jersey and then add the collar. Sorry…
fr. burke
By: frburke23 on October 7, 2009
at 4:07 am
Father Burke, It is two weeks ago today that you celebrated the union of my brother, Joe Stoiber to his beautiful bride, Eileen Cleary. I just wanted to extend to you my heartfelt gratitude for sharing that day & weekend with us. Being a friend and schoolmate of Joe’s, it meant everything to him for you to perform the ceremony. I admit, it was a wediing Mass that I don’t think any one of us are likely to forget. I still remember your face when the musical group preformed parts of the Mass, & the look amd smile on your face of the “Great Amen”. It really was the “Great Amen” that we all search for in our lives. I knew you were meant to be there. My mom commented that she really felt they were married after such an extraordinary service. I was touched by our talk in the little Chapel after Mass. We do have so much to be grateful for.
I was very happy to pick you up at the airport, & the time we had before rehearsal. Mon & I enjoyed the ride, talk, & the alone time at the restaurant before the masses arrived!
You are a special Man, and you will now be in my prayers. May God continue to Bless you in your Ministry…God Bless You…Bernie Stoiber
By: Bernie Stoiber on October 17, 2009
at 4:42 pm
Thanks Bernie. It was a pleasure to celebrate this wonderful day with Joe, Eileen and your whole family. We could all feel the Lord’s presence that day among us. It was truly a blessing.
By: frburke23 on October 19, 2009
at 3:01 am
Dr. Father Burke;
need to know how to sign on to your blog and how how to send your message to others.
Grouped in Batavia starting
in 1998
By: Larry Cowdrey on October 21, 2009
at 2:52 pm
Greetings!
This is how to subscribe to my blog to receive the daily email messages:
1. Log on to http://frburke23.wordpress.com
2. On the right hand side of the page click on the tab “Subscribe to Fr. Burke Masters by Email”
3. Follow the instructions by inserting your email address and the code at the bottom.
4. You will then receive an email that you will have to open and click on the link.
5. You should receive a message stating that you are now subscribed.
God bless,
Fr. Burke
By: frburke23 on October 22, 2009
at 10:46 pm
Hi there Father Burke. Reading your reflections nourish me spiritually.
By: Glenn del Rosario on November 5, 2009
at 3:34 am
Thanks Glenn. I appreciate your note. To God be the glory!
peace,
fr. burke
By: frburke23 on November 5, 2009
at 10:57 pm
Let us keep for our prayers, Father Burke… Good luck to your mission. Let the world know the Perfect Words of Real Wisdom. Pls. do pray for me too, for my vocation to priesthood. I hope one day, I will also do the same mission as you and others do. Thanks and God bless…
By: Glenn del Rosario on November 10, 2009
at 5:36 am
I was told about your blog spot some time ago by my mother and her by my Aunt Judy.I am always looking for spiritual nourishment so I happily subscribed. Fr. Burke I cant tell you how many times since I have done that the Lord help me through your thoughts and reflections. Even when I let your blogs build up in my inbasket and it seems obligatory for me to read them (only because I feel the Lord proding me) I am always filled with a sense of peace by your work on this blog. THANK YOU!
Blessings from my wife and myself.
By: Gerald Gerten on December 5, 2009
at 3:05 pm
Dear Gerald, thanks for your kind message. I think your Aunt Judi is my Aunt Judi Masters? She was a Gerten before Masters so that is why I think we are connected through marriage. My Dad and Terry Masters are brothers. Blessings to you and your wife as well. Have a blessed Advent in preparation for Christmas!
peace,
fr. burke
By: frburke23 on December 8, 2009
at 4:57 am
Happy Birthday Father Burke! Like the world when Jesus was born, as with your family, when you were born, and as for my family, when my son Nolan was born in Dec ’89, best Christmas ever! What a gift!
By: Ellen Lee on December 17, 2009
at 12:36 pm
Mark Masterson suggested that I establish contact and get to know you. I hope that will happen. I will be in Naples this winter and will read your ‘THOUGHTS” etc. I pray daily for Catholic religious vocations for men and women. I have been active in the Chicago Archdiocese for many years eg. seminary boards, Big Shoulders, Mercy Home etc. God Bless you.
By: Tony Mandolini on January 2, 2010
at 5:42 pm
Dear Tony, it is nice to hear from you. Yes, I met Mark Masterson on a plane trip to Florida one day. God has a plan for everything. I look forward to communicating with you to see how we can work together to build up God’s Kingdom here on earth…
God bless you and blessings in this new year…
By: frburke23 on January 4, 2010
at 4:47 am
Our prayers will be with you during National Vocation Awareness week, Father Burke.
Kathy Fitch
St. Mary’s Parish, West Chicago
By: axisportals on January 10, 2010
at 8:40 pm
Hi Father Masters:
Just read in yahoo.com news about another baseball player, Grant Desme from California is going to seminary school. God bless him. He was listed as in the top 10 prospects for the Oakland A’s this year.
Corey
By: Corey Holstrom on January 27, 2010
at 6:03 pm
That is a pretty cool story. It sounds like Grant and I would get along well. I will have to meet him some day.
God bless,
Fr. Burke
By: frburke23 on January 28, 2010
at 4:31 am
Peace be with you, Fr. Burke. I just can’t express much how I being guided thoroughly by the daily spiritual reading in this website. It strengthen my heart and my souls as well. This is a great way and also a new form to proclaiming the Good News through media.
Nice and thanks Fr. Burke.
Before I leave, here I need your kind comments:
First of all, I am totally agreed what have posted in Category of Sacrifice. Indeed a self-sacrifice to God is a sincerity and desire from our own heart to giving everything in our life in order to serve God and his people. As we know, to become servant of Christ, we first have to offer ones life to God alone without exception.
But, how about if one’s sacrifice to God being rejected by the close family members? Should the person go ahead into self-surrender to God and put their family aside? What’s is the best way to concur this issue especially for those youth who are seeking into a religious life?
How do we respond this call?
By: Aemy on February 11, 2010
at 6:43 am
Aemy, this is a challenging question. In the Gospels, many people left everything behind, including their family, to follow Jesus. This is not an easy decision. In fact I was in seminary with a couple of men whose parents told them, “It is either the priesthood or your family.” Both men left the seminary because they didn’t want to lose their families.
That was so difficult for me to witness. I was fortunate enough to have a family that supported my decision, even though they were not even Catholic. I would hope that parents see that if this is God’s call for you, that is where you are going to find true fulfillment in life.
By: frburke23 on February 16, 2010
at 5:36 am
It is a small world. I found your website after reading a note on caringbridge.com. Someone had requested your prayers for a sick infant.
I recognized your name because I worked @ Silver Cross Hospital and worked very closely with your mother. She somehow always managed to find me that “extra nurse” when we were short. She was a wonderful person—and she always bragged about her talented son, Burke. I left Silver in 1997—so I never realized that her talented son entered the seminary.
We retired to Hot Springs Village—Bishop Sartain will know where it is.
I truly am inspired by your daily spiritual readings. I think that this was a “God thing” that I found your site.
May the Peace of Christ be with you. I will include in my prayers that many vocations to the priesthood will come from the Joliet Diocese.
By: Pat Widlowski on March 20, 2010
at 4:48 am
Dear Pat, this is a God thing. What a small world. Yes, my mother was a wonderful lady. I know that she was proud of her three sons. Likewise, I have always been proud of her. She was a wonderful person, with a very generous heart, always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone. I hope that I can continue to make her proud. Blessings to you and your family, Pat.
Fr. Burke
By: frburke23 on March 29, 2010
at 3:50 am
Hi VEry nice posts i’sure i’sts nice
By: Helleojagasip on June 17, 2010
at 11:56 pm
how are u Father Burke?Hope you are doing it wonderfully. As for am Wonderful.My full name is TSEGBA BARTHOLOMEW BEM BLAISE.The first my surname,second my baptismal name,third my local name,fourth confirmation name.I am a nigerian from Benue state and i come from the ethnic group called ‘TIV’. I have done this brief introduction because this is the first time i have gain access to one page of a kind.
I so much enjoy reading your inspired written sermon for today and had no choice but to subcribe for a daily posting to my email for my spiritual growth.Thank for this wonderful work your are doing to pass across the message of Christ throgh this medium. in the course of my reading your inspired sermon you will get to hear my view about them. If you wish to call my number is +2347025965156.thank you and bye.
By: Barth. on August 6, 2010
at 1:33 pm
fr. thank u 4 ur inspiring messages. my questionh is that how can one be helped in the vocation to he priesthood?
By: Barth. on August 8, 2010
at 10:55 am
Fr Burke,
You are awesome! I really look forward to your daily meassages which I find to be insightful and very inspirational. You have to be extremely busy so, to take the time to share your thoughts is so unselfish and extremely appreciated by all us readers. We love you and wish you the best!
Peace!
Tim
By: Tim Rogers on November 1, 2010
at 3:39 pm
Tim, thanks for your kind words. It amazes me how the Lord uses these simple words at times to touch peoples’ hearts. I sincerely appreciate your words. Have a blessed day!
Fr. Burke
By: frburke23 on November 1, 2010
at 9:14 pm
Father;
I enjoyed your message. It puts me in the mind to share something that happened a few years back.
I am a stay-at-home father for our five children. At the time we only had four children. We lived in a small rental home. Our fourth child, Michaela, was born with special needs. She looked different. Her airway was to too small. A trach was needed, along with a feeding tube. She was born at six pounds. Feeding her was of the most importance.
Feeding Michaela took an hour. When I was finished she would vomit all over herself, me and the crib that was set up in the living room. Our older children, all under the age of five, ran wild all around us.
One dark winter day she had projectile vomit after I fed her. Her siblings were wild with energy. I picked Michaela up too hard. Instantly, I realized it– putting her back down into the crib of vomit. I went to sit on the edge of the bed to pray. I do not pray as much as my wife does but that day I prayed–for help.
Time passed. We were expecting our fifth child. He, Wyatt, was born a duplicate of Michaela–with all the same needs. For a long while I remembered my prayer. Why had it not been answered? This was not the help I wanted. Now I had two children with special needs.
A resentment had been growing in our home. I was unaware of it. Our older children resented Michaela because I had to spend so much time with her, could not go out with the rest of the family the way I did before she was born. In time I came to realize Wyatt was the answer to my prayer. With his birth the older siblings did not complain with resentment about the time I spent with Michaela. They understood that I had to be home with the babies. The bubble of resentment forming in our home over Michaela had been burst. Michaela had a sibling who was like her. I realized that my prayer had been answered, just not in the way I had hoped that it would be.
Today our family flourishes. Our children are blessed with good health. I know that during my dark time of need I was never alone.
Thank you for the chance to share this experience, Father. I hope through you, as you continue to share your message, that it might help someone else. Have a wonderful day.
Tom Mulroe
By: Tom Mulroe on November 30, 2010
at 6:54 pm
Thanks for sharing your story. I appreciate it very much!
By: frburke23 on December 1, 2010
at 4:12 am
Father Burke,
I would like to wish you a Happy and Blessed Birthday today. I find your words both refreshing and inspiring. Your blog was passed on to me by a friend and I am very grateful for that. This may sound selfish but please keep me in your prayers today as we share the same birthday. Also, I am going through a time of discernment myself and your prayers would be would be greatly appreciated. You will definitely be in mine.
Yours in Christ,
Phil Aguilar
By: Phil Aguilar on December 17, 2010
at 6:23 pm
I’m going to bookmark this as inspiration and refer visitors from my website. I’ve just put up additional new ideas too, so I will put a hypelink to this post (if OK) on my site?
By: lasik on February 3, 2011
at 6:28 pm
Please add me to your readers via email. Thank you.
By: Danny Talarico on February 9, 2011
at 5:13 pm
In order to subscribe to the “Thoughts for the Day” please go to my blog at http://frburke23.wordpress.com and click on the right-hand column “Subscribe to Fr. Burke Masters by Email”.
You will then be asked to give your email address (and verification code).
You will then receive an email from the blog. Open this email and click on the link. You will then receive a message saying that you will begin receiving the “Thoughts for the Day”.
Please let me know if you have any problems…
God bless,
Fr. Burke
By: frburke23 on February 9, 2011
at 10:59 pm
Dear Fr. Burke: I came to your Mission at St. Richard’s in Jackson, MS. Was only able to be there for one night, but thoroughly enjoyed it and hope our paths will cross again one day (maybe a mission at St. Paul’s, Vicksburg??)…..It was wonderful!!
By: Marie Renaud on February 23, 2011
at 3:46 pm
Marie, I too hope our paths will cross. I thoroughly enjoyed being back in MS!
peace,
fr. burke
By: frburke23 on February 25, 2011
at 3:54 am
Marie, may God bless you and all those at St. Paul’s…
By: frburke23 on February 28, 2011
at 5:26 am
Fr. Burke,
I recently met you on a flight from Orlando to Chicago. We both experienced the traumatic incident when a passenger became gravely ill and the flight had to get diverted. I noticed during the tense moments when the flight crew and doctor were working on the passenger that you were obviously deep in prayer for this poor man. I prayed for his recovery as well and hope he is doing well. Our conversations on that prolonged flight prompted me to google you and your life story was very inspirational. I guess the most important message I got out of your story is that despite what we think are our life’s ambitions, professional baseball for you, God knows where we need to take our life if we will simply listen.
God bless you in your vocational work and I wish you the best.
Chris Hanson
By: Chris Hanson on February 25, 2011
at 11:45 pm
Chris, it was nice to sit by you on the plane during that difficult ordeal. I too hope that the man has fully recovered. I was so impressed by the quick response of the flight attendant, the doctor and the nurse. Quite impressive!
Yes, the message that I try to get out to everyone is that God’s will is often different from our will. And it is in following God’s will that we truly find joy in life. I couldn’t be happier being a priest!
Have a blessed day!
Fr. Burke
By: frburke23 on February 28, 2011
at 5:22 am
Dear Father Burke,
Hello….I’m Rhonda, the Mom whom called in about her sons future in baseball, on the program “The inner life” last Friday when you were a guest on the program. In the meantime I have been wondering if I could contact you some how. Typed in your name to google….and the Lord guided me to here. Thank you Lord.
Thank you very much….for all you are doing. It was great to talk with you and Chuck Neff on this program. This field our son is choosing….”pride” can really grab ones soul…..Just wondering in our future if we/or our son have questions can we contact you? Feel really blessed to have crossed paths with you. Any reccommendation you can give will be appriciated.
We were raised in the catholic faith and are becoming stronger in it even more today (Just use to go to church….through a few bad trials have been studying it and learning so much what it really has to offer)…..lots out there today.
The will for his life…..Pondering on how does one know? The sports field from the years we have been in it. All glory goes to one’s/self. Could he be putting him in this field to show others….whom deserves the glory?
Thanks Father Burke….Make it a Blessed Day!!
Rhonda
By: Rhonda Volmering on February 28, 2011
at 5:08 pm
Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Anyway I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.
By: Janae Caballero on March 1, 2011
at 2:17 pm
Hello dear Fr. Burke,
This is Huver Navarro Vigo. I am from Peru. I’ve read your web page and I’d like to thank God for the gift of your priestly life. I keep you in my prayers so that the Lord may continue blessing you in your service as you look for new vocations to serve the Lord.
Dear father, I would like to have the opportunity to follow up a discerniment process to the priesthood with you, with the intention to become a priest in your dioces. I am 30 years old. I’ve just finished my basic formation of phylosophy and theology. I was with the Comboni Missionaries for 110 years. I was in Kenya for 5 years studying theology and there I made a rich experience of apostolate which corfirm my deseire to become a priest. Today, I hear the Lord calling me to the priesthood. Therefore, I would like to be given the opportunity to put my talent and my life to the service of the Lord in your dioces of Joliet.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon.
together in prayer and communion. this is my eamil address. you can write to me here please. huvernavarrovigo@hotmail.com
Huver
By: Huver Navarro Vigo on March 11, 2011
at 11:49 am
Dear Fr. Burke,
Thank you so much for the ever-thoughtful thoughts of the day! Your gentle way of dealing with scripture and applying it to everyday life has helped me more than once in times of weakness and uncertainty. I want you to know that your words don’t go unread nor unheeded!!
Thanks again,
Thomas
By: Thomas Harms on March 20, 2011
at 1:14 pm
Thanks Thomas for your kind words. How are things going in Germany? I saw your parents recently in West Chicago and they told me you were doing well. I am doing well – filling in at a parish in Plainfield while the pastor is on sabbatical and promoting vocations. Life is good…
Talk to you soon…
Fr. Burke
By: frburke23 on March 21, 2011
at 4:16 am
I’m glad to hear things are going well for you! Germany has been an adventure for me. I’ve experienced and learned so much in my short time here, and I can’t wait to get back and share everything with those I meet. I’ll be heading out to the U of I in August, just over a month after I get back. Life just keeps on moving!
Thomas
By: Thomas Harms on April 6, 2011
at 11:23 am
Tom, I’m glad to hear that your experience in Germany is going well. You probably are looking forward to coming home. When you get to the U of I, get involved in the Newman Center – it is great! Have a blessed Easter if I don’t talk to you before then…
peace,
fr. burke
By: frburke23 on April 6, 2011
at 9:31 pm
Thanks, I’ve been looking into the Newman Center, and I would love to have other kids around me interested in their faiths. You have a grace-filled Easter as well!
Thomas
By: Thomas Harms on April 12, 2011
at 7:48 pm
Hi Father,
I clicked on your blog after reading your message this morning. Just want you to know that I think of you often and am always happy to see you at St. Mary’s. Kate is receiving the sacrament of Confirmation this June and as her sponsor, we’ve been attending RCIA together this year. It’s been a great experience and an answer to my prayers.
Hope to see you soon.
Jan
By: Jan Lootens on April 20, 2011
at 11:58 am
Thanks Jan. Have a blessed Holy Week!
fr. burke
By: frburke23 on April 20, 2011
at 8:08 pm
Dear Father,
I live in Goa, India. I am 17 years old. I am joining Carmelite seminary on the 10th of June. I just wanted to thank you for your blog posts. They have been a source of strength and encouragement for me. God bless you always.
Jason
By: Jason Coutinho on June 5, 2011
at 10:09 am
My prayers are with you Jason as you embark on this new journey. May the Lord bless you and the Holy Spirit fill you with peace and joy as you follow Him with all your heart and soul.
peace,
fr. burke
By: frburke23 on June 6, 2011
at 3:16 am
I attend St. xavier currently and I have to admit I find myself disconnected from the church time to time. I suppose it is because I never could really find a connection between the scriptures and life now. Most priests went on during the sermon about loving God and every other thing we ALWAYS here. I’m a 22 year old woman and I’ve heard it all before my whole life. I felt this way until one day I decided to get up and go to mass because it had been some time. To my surprise a young priest was leading the congregation that day. Its so rare to see one that isn’t a senior citizen. during your sermon you talked about a baseball game that went horrible for you while in college and made some jokes but somehow made a connection to the scripture for me. it was like modern day problems meet bible. I was amazed. so i kept going. Recently, you mentioned a book called heaven is for real. I have never read a “spiritual” book for my enjoyment but I picked up a copy and read it. WOW. this book has renewed my fatih and made me realize that yeah, we might get angry with God when something bad happens or even lose our faith but at the end of the day, God is there and listening and still loving us, even after our little temper tantrums. At the end of this long message I just want to say thank you so much Father Burke for coming into my church, into my life, and showing me that the lessons of the scripture do apply to today. Most of all, thank you for bringing back my faith.
By: OnceLostButNowHome on June 23, 2011
at 8:29 pm
Thanks for this note. Praise be to Jesus Christ!
By: frburke23 on June 23, 2011
at 11:01 pm
Hello Father Burke,
My name is Chris Rhodes and I live in Hattiesburg MS. I went to MSU at the same time with you and was a walk on in 87′ “catcher” from Kosciusko MS… you was a freshman as well. I played in 2 spring games before my knee blewout and I left the team and actually didn’t finish my freshman year and returned home, only to go back to State some 8 years later to earn my BS in forestry. Many years have gone by since those wonderful fun filled baseball years!!! Loved it back then, and still Love baseball ( I follow state yearly and Southern). The reason I’m writing is that my family and I currently started RICA at Sacred Heart Church here in Hattiesburg and we have started the conversion into the Catholic faith. This feels like a blind leap of faith for us, which we know its a calling from God and this has been a materializing step for us for 2-3 years, before we actually committed to explorer further.
My question is can you offer some guidance and experience for myself, and my family to help us trust the process completely. We have a wonderful preist here at Sacred Heart (Fr. Ken) and I have a wonderful sponsor, but I have so many questions and I find it hard to be patient and waiting for God to lead the way for us. I want to let go and let God, but my natural instincts and human nature are working against me.
Any advise or guidance which would help me to adjust and settle down would be much appreciated! Maybe a book on Trusting the conversion process?
I know I’m jumping all over the place and probably didn’t make a bit of sense abou tthis all, but I saw your MSU record (Most Games Played) and recalled you was a priest, then I stumbled across your e-mail subscription … so I figured you could help.
I hope alll is well for you and hope to hear from you soon.
By: Chris Rhodes on September 9, 2011
at 8:03 pm
Chris, thanks for your note. What exciting news that you are joining the Church. I am a convert also, from 1985 at the age of 18. My advice would be to read the book “Rome Sweet Home” by Scott and Kimberly Hahn. It is a great book about two extremely bright people who, despite many obstacles, joined the Catholic Church. Now they travel the world speaking about the beauty of the Catholic Church, always with a deep Scriptural basis.
I know as I was joining the Church I had many doubts. I questioned the teachings on confession, Mary and the Eucharist. But as I continued to pray and to study I realized that it all made sense in the Church. So that would be my advice – pray, trust, study and read “Rome Sweet Home”.
peace,
fr. burke
By: frburke23 on September 10, 2011
at 1:17 pm
Am interested in knowing Father personally so i would like your email address.
By: Ssenkasi Denis on February 13, 2012
at 5:42 pm
This is the best way to reach me or you can email me at vocations@dioceseofjoliet.org
peace,
fr. burke
By: frburke23 on February 13, 2012
at 11:21 pm
Dear Fr. Burke,
Thank you so much for your inspiring homilies and your work as vocation director of the diocese of Joliet….May God bless bless you and bless our the diocese of Joliet.
Fr. Ray Bader
By: Fr. Ray Bader on March 12, 2012
at 9:28 am
Thanks Fr. Ray. I hope that your ministry is going well at St. Mary’s…
peace,
fr. burke
By: frburke23 on March 13, 2012
at 9:09 pm