On Friday, we will join with the universal Church in celebrating the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, into heaven.   As we continue our celebration of the Jubilee Year with its call for us to be Pilgrims of Hope, allow me to reflect on Mary as the model par excellence of a Pilgrim of Hope.  After all, her deepest hope was realized in her Assumption.

When the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, he made this most startling announcement:

“Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, […]

While I was away on vacation last week, I took the opportunity to read Bishop Robert Barron’s outstanding new book entitled What Christians Believe: Understanding the Nicene Creed.  It’s short – only 139 pages – but filled with deeply insightful reflections on the basic tenets of our faith that we recite every Sunday at Mass.  I strongly recommend it for everyone and offer some reflections on it to whet your appetite.

Bishop Barron begins with an excellent reflection on the very first two words of the Nicene Creed: “I believe.”  Many […]

A Message from the Catholic Episcopal Conferences and Councils of Africa,

Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean

 I think we can all agree that we are experiencing climate change that has seen an increase in temperature fluctuations, more violent storms, floods and droughts.  There is great debate about the role that human activity has played in the dramatic change in climate over the past century and especially in the past few decades but it is evident that we are experiencing an alarming increase in temperature and violent […]