NATIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
National Catholic Schools Week is an annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. Now entering its 50th anniversary year, it is an opportunity for us to recognize the importance of Catholic education and formation and to celebrate our school that has instructed and formed our children for over 100 years. Our school has enjoyed a strong reputation as an outstanding Catholic elementary school ever since it opened in 1916. It was originally founded to ensure that the Catholic children in this area would receive both an excellent education […]
REFLECTIONS ON RECENT VATICAN DECLARATION – Part 2
REFLECTIONS ON RECENT VATICAN DECLARATION
Part 2
Last week, I provided you with a summary of the recent Vatican declaration entitled Fiducia Supplicans in response to questions that had been raised over the past several years regarding same-sex couples. As you read this summary, you will recall that it ended with: “beyond the guidance provided above, no further responses should be expected about possible ways to regulate details or practicalities regarding blessings of this type.” It sounded as if the Vatican’s Office for the Doctrine of the Faith expected that it had […]
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Boy, how time flies. It seems that we have just finished the Christmas Season and celebrated the New Year and already, Lent is looming. Ash Wednesday and Lent begin in just four weeks from this coming Wednesday. January is almost half over; tomorrow is the 15th of January – can you believe it!?! As we return to Ordinary Time over these next few weeks, we are reminded that God has ordered time for our salvation. Our lives have a purpose – each of us has a sacred calling from God […]
REFLECTIONS ON RECENT PAPAL DECLARATION
As you probably know, the Vatican Office for the Doctrine of the Faith recently issued a declaration entitled Fiducia Supplicans in response to questions that had been raised over the past several years regarding same-sex couples. You may also have read about the controversy that this declaration has raised throughout the Church around the world. In case you haven’t read it, I would like to offer a summary of this declaration and some reflections about it.
The document begins with an introductory Presentation that offers the context for this declaration. It […]
EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
An epiphany is an event where something hidden is revealed. Most of us experienced this recently as we opened our Christmas gifts. In our family, we gather around the Christmas tree that is surrounded by countless gifts for all. The youngest children who are able to do so take turns finding a gift for everyone in the room and then we open them together. Of course, we old folks wait as the children open their gifts because we don’t want to miss the excitement as they tear away the wrapping […]
THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, with time to celebrate with family and friends. As usual, I joined my brother, Will, and his family for Christmas and, like Simeon who took Jesus into his arms, I was blessed to hold my latest great niece, Whitney, once again. It was so precious to see her, now two months old. I’ll be baptizing her here next Saturday; what a privilege that will be! This is a very sacred time of the year as we reflect on the great mystery of […]