As summer quickly comes to an end on this Labor Day weekend, I hope you have all had time for some rest and relaxation.  Now, it’s time to begin thinking of returning to full swing!  Our school begins this Wednesday, 3 September, PREP begins on Monday, 15 September, and all the other parish organizations resume their full fall schedule over the next few weeks.  It will be great to have the parish facilities become fully alive again!

Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)

As fall activities resume, I would […]

CARLO ACUTIS AND PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI

 On 7 September, Pope Leo XIV will preside over the canonization of two young saints, Pier Giorgio Frassati from the early twentieth century and Carlo Acutis, the first twenty-first century saint.  As you may recall, Carlo Acutis’ canonization was originally scheduled for 27 April, to coincide with the Jubilee of Teenagers, and Pier Frassati’s canonization was set for 3 August, the culmination of the Jubilee for Youth.  Both canonizations were postponed due to Pope Francis’ death on 21 April.

The declaration that both of […]

CATHOLIC CHARITIES APPEAL UPDATE

 Every year, you are invited and encouraged to join with all of the parishes throughout our archdiocese in participating in the annual Catholic Charities Appeal and every year you respond with great generosity!  To date for this year, your contributions to CCA total $95,095.  We’re ahead of last year at this time when contributions totaled $84,854.  But, the need throughout the archdiocese continues to increase as the cost of almost everything, including the daily essentials of food and housing, continues to rise.  Your contribution helps thousands of […]

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 […]

As if the three-year war between Russia and Ukraine and the almost three-year war between the Hamas and Israel weren’t enough, Israel is now embroiled in a serious conflict with Iran and we are becoming ever more entangled in it ourselves.  At the same time, we read about the natural disasters around the world – ongoing wild fires in Canada, floods here in our country and, indeed, around the world, deadly heat waves – and our hearts go out to the millions of people who are suffering and struggling to […]

“Jesus said to the crowds: ‘I am the living bread come down from heaven.  Whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.’” (Jn. 6:51).  Last week, we explored the central mystery of the Church as we celebrated the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.  Today, we celebrate another important mystery of our faith: the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy […]

“In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  This is how we Christians begin all our prayers because we believe in and worship a triune God.  But, what do we actually mean when we say that God is a Trinity?  As we celebrate Trinity Sunday, allow me to offer some reflections on this very important mystery of our faith.

First of all, it is important to realize we are dealing with a mystery, a reality that is well beyond our total understanding, just as […]