St. Ann DC Podcast

Msgr Watkins connects his personal experience of his father leaving often for the Navy, with Jesus discussing his ascension and his disciples having to understand and come to peace with Jesus returning to heaven. Jesus asked his disciples to let him go as a testament of their love for each other.

This week, 48 missionaries with the St. John Society travel to Belize on a mission trip. Listen to learn more and support them with your prayers.

Hear what our pastor had to share with our teens: Here's what the Sacrament of Confirmation is all about!

Why does Jesus call us his sheep? Find out this week in Father Ivan's homily.

Msgr. Watkins addresses St. Ann's 2025 First Communion Class on Mother's Day and discusses Christ's inheritance of his human nature from his mother the Blessed Virgin Mary and the meaning of the Eucharist.

Have you ever wondered how the conclave works? Peter's redemption, from denying Jesus to being asked to lead his sheep, his Church on earth, connects to the papal election and the responsibility the Pope bears, no longer acting as an individual but as a representative of God.

We wish you a blessed Divine Mercy Sunday. Here is the background of this most special devotion.

Fr. Maximo Stock explains the forgiveness at the center of Jesus' Passion and death. Although many of the figures at the center of the story understand who Jesus is, they do not understand what He has come to do.

We are judged with the justice and mercy of God. Indulgences help take away the punishments associated with our sin.

Msgr. Watkins reflects on Christ's successful defense of an adulterous woman from a crowd wishing to stone her and shares a meditation from St. Mother Theresa on Jesus' patience in waiting for us to invite him into our lives.

Do you identify with more with the younger brother or with the older brother? Do you fall more into legalism or worldliness?

Repent! And remember. This is a call to all of us, not just some, this Lent.

At the 7:00pm Mass Sundays, we continue our series on hope this Jubilee Year concentrating on the virtue of hope that is essential to Christians, a community of hope.

Msgr. Watkins urges us to focus on the purpose of Lent, rather than the shortcomings and trivial complaints. He reminds us that the substance and true purpose of our 40 day 40 night preparation is an act of love for Jesus and his sacrifice.

Fr. Maximo Stock Homily - Ash Wednesday - Live at St. Ann DC

Here is how to make fully trained disciples.

Here's how to deal with conflict.

Would you rather be poor with Christ than rich without Him?

During communion, the celebrant says, "Pray my brothers and sisters that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to the Lord our God." Sacrifice is essential to our participation in celebrating the life and death of Christ. One way to fulfill our part of the sacrifice is to contribute to the annual appeal, which helps Catholic charities across DC.

This is why we can trust God when our life leads us "into the deep end."

Fr. Ivan emphasizes the significance of the Word of God and how we can better incorporate His Word into our lives and hear God's voice.

Meditate with us on Jesus' first miracle.

Msgr. Watkins reflects on the Church's role over 2,000 years in helping the faithful to understand what the Apostles witnessed in the time of Christ.

In this week's homily, meditate with us on God's words to His beloved Son Jesus: "You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

What does the Baptism of the Lord mean to us?

Sometimes we imagine the Holy Family to have never suffered anxiety or problems - but that's simply impossible. They faced trials most of us will never face: Here's how they dealt with it.

What does Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer have to do with Jesus?

This Sunday, Monsignor Watkins reminds us to remember that Christmas is the celebration of Christ's birthday. We should celebrate the HOLY-day the way Christ would want; and give Him the gifts He would like to receive: for us to know Him, love Him, and Serve him.

This Sunday, Monsignor reflects on how blessed we are that our God humbles himself to become man so man may share in the divinity of God.

Fr. Ivan Pertine speaks about the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in the hearts of the holy, the Catholic Church, and the greater world on the Solemnity of Christ the King.

Fr. Maximo Stock describes how Jesus's teachings about the end of the world should bring with them a greater amount of seriousness in our lives.

This Sunday, Monsignor James Watkins reflects on beginnings and ends. He discusses the end of the liturgical year and the tendency of people to focus heavily on endings and beginnings. He remembers the departed souls and commemorates their life and new life in heaven.

In this week's homily, Fr. Maximo challenges us: No one is so poor that they have nothing to give. God will be generous with you.

This Sunday, Monsignor James Watkins invites us to reflect and be grateful towards those who have and continue to be incredibly generous towards us with their time, talent, and treasure; and invites us to find ways to bestow onto others the generosity we have received from Christ.

Fr. Ivan Pertine discusses what it takes to love the Lord with your whole heart, intellectual capacity, and personal will—wow!

Today Fr. Ivan Pertine speaks with us about learning from the saints and responding to Christ's call to holiness.

Miracles can happen! Hear a powerful testimony from longtime parishioner John Piunno on his healing journey from lymphatic cancer.

The month of October is dedicated to evangelizing in the Catholic Church. We are called to continue this vital mission of the Holy Spirit. Sooner or later, we are confronted with one obstacle: Is Christianity actually Good News, especially those who are doing well in this life, or for the young rich man in last weekend's Gospel? Yes, and here's why.

Why evangelize the young, rich man? Let's find out in this week's homily with Fr. Maximo Stock.

Fr. Ivàn Pertiné explores the good news about Jesus's teaching on matrimony and how to be open about it in the modern world.

Msgr. Watkins talks about how God's love is absolute, and how that is demonstrated through the unity of the Holy Trinity. He also discusses how marriage unifies 2 people into one body who exemplify God's love for humanity.

Jesus has different messages for outsiders and His disciples. Disciples are called fight harder against sin because they have received the fullness of the Gospels.

Just how important is memory?

Msgr. Watkins discusses the importance of not keeping focus on the substance of faith, even when when our attention may be drawn elsewhere.

Although some listeners thought Jesus was speaking metaphorically, He makes clear that His followers will literally eat his flesh and drink his blood. When we consistently do so, we become part of His sacrifice.

Sacrifices for atonement are universal throughout history and the world, but in Christ that sacrifice is made in its most perfect form.

Jesus wanted to give us the perfect gift. So He gave us Himself.

Jesus' miracles point the crowds to his identity as the Son of God. We must interpret Jesus' signs through faith, or we will not understand them.

Jesus is the one who can ultimately satisfy our desires, even as the world promises to feed us in other ways. As the world mocks the Christian faith, we are called to prayer and renewal.

What do we ultimately want? To be known and loved by God.

An attempt to find balance can prevent us from truly living in the way God calls us to. Jesus and the saints did not live with balance, but with radical love, passion, and ambition.