Fr. Charles Bouchard, OP

Fr. Charles Bouchard, OP, S.T.D., is senior director, theology and sponsorship at the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA). He counsels and assists sponsors and members of Catholic healthcare organizations in carrying out their canonical responsibilities for the health ministry of the Catholic Church and provides guidance for CEOs and boards regarding the distinctive roles of sponsorship and governance. He also works with Church leaders and bishops at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and at the Holy See on a range of issues involving health care, social justice, public policy and the Church.

Videos

10 Nov • Every good deed matters

Today we hear of the woman who gave two small coins for poor, which was everything she had. Jesus noticed her generosity and pointed it out to others. Perhaps he was even moved to be more generous himself. So let us together do all we can, encouraging one another to be more generous.

9 Nov • We are temples of God

Today we celebrate the oldest church in Christianity, the Basilica of St. John Lateran. But our readings remind us that however important buildings are, when Jesus walked the earth he was God's temple. Now it is we, the baptised, who are God's true temples, called to be living stones, active in the world.

The Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fr. Charlie Bouchard, OP unpacks the readings for the Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time during this election season. As Jesus asks James and John if they can drink from the that he drinks from, we are asked the same question—can we drink from the cup of compassion, having compassion for sinners as Jesus did? Can we drink from the cup of solidarity with immigrants and the poor? Can we drink from the cup of justice and truth, acknowledging that the deeper truth and the fuller justice lies far beyond simple black and white characterizations.

Readings: Isaiah 53:10–11; Hebrews 4:14–16; Mark 10:35–45

2 Oct • God has many ways to protect us

Guardian Angels represent God's particular love and care for each one of us, as our needs differ one from another and over the course of our lives. So don't be afraid to ask God for what you need today, know that God has all sorts of ways to provide for you, including Guardian Angels.

1 Oct • The Little Flower

On this memorial of St. Theresa, the Little Flower, we remember her "little way," doing little things with great faith, and how it helped her to overcome adversity, loss, and sickness to becomes a model of faith and grace. All of us get beset by troubles from time to time, and that is when we can remember St. Theresa and her "little way" and ask God's grace to invade our lives.

5 Sept • Lift your expectations of God and yourself

After a long night of catching nothing, Jesus miraculously provided his new disciples with a miraculous catch of fish. Sometimes we can be discouraged by low expectations for ourselves and for the world, but we are encouraged to trust that God's expectations for us are high, and that our expectations of ourselves and God should be even higher.