Today’s Gospel speaks of the necessity to deny self in the fashion of Jesus. (Luke 9:22-25) Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” Read more
Ash Wednesday Homily – 2026 I recently came across a quote from Flannery O’Connor that seems especially fitting as we begin our Lenten journey this Ash Wednesday. She wrote: “All human nature vigorously resists grace, because grace changes us—and the change is painful.”As we begin Lent, I recognize the truth Read more
Most bishops today get plenty of mail from parishioners – much of which asks or demands that we respond to the latest issue of their concern. Very often in today’s world those issues are directly related to politics and how one political parties’ efforts to enforce or promote their agenda Read more
Last Saturday we celebrated the graduation of several lay men and women from our Christifidelis Formation program. Those pictured above are enrolled in our Masters in Theological Studies. The program also offers certificates for ministry. Those honored Saturday included one group who received certificates for Youth and Young Adult Ministry Read more
SEATTLE—Wednesday, January 21, 2026—The Partnership for a World without Nuclear Weapons released a statement in recognition of the fifth anniversary of the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons: We hope for its further expansion through additional ratifications, now that a majority of the world’s Read more
There are many aspects of today’s readings that peak our interest, such as: John’s baptism was for the specific purpose of revealing Jesus when he came:“the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known”.OrThe title John uses when he points out Jesus: “Behold, the Lamb Read more
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Like many of you, I take time at the start of the new year to reflect on the previous year and pray about priorities for the future — not just for myself as your archbishop, but for the archdiocese as well. I take my Read more
On this Feast of Epiphany we read from St. Matthew’s Gospel we hear how the Magi, ‘overjoyed at seeing the star” finally reached their true destination – the birthplace of the new-born king. Matthew goes on to proclaim: and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his Read more
As we celebrate this year’s feast of the Holy Family, we also bring to a close the Holy Year of Hope. As this Holy Year began, Pope Francis reminded us that hope “dwells in every human heart” and that the Jubilee was meant to open doors—especially for the forgotten and Read more
Christmas Homily 2025 St. James Cathedral, Seattle Opening Peace and Merry Christmas! Tonight, we gather in joy to celebrate the birth of our Savior. As always our celebration provides some instruction for living our faith. Listen again to the greeting of the angel to the shepherds: “Do not be afraid; Read more