Bison Break

I’ve just returned from the third of five deanery priests gatherings.  In an effort to better know the priests and their concerns, as well as allow them the opportunity to better know me, I am meeting with the priests on a deanery basis beginning around 2:00pm and going until lunch Read more…

Final Weeks & Feasts

How I love these final weeks of Ordinary Time and the Feast Days that fall within them.  The readings of these days give us such practical reminders of the “passing nature” of this world and re-orient us to our proper end, The Kingdom of God.  Today’s Feast of the Guardian Read more…

Challenge of the Gospel

Monday, the Board of Directors for the Wyoming Catholic College met. As many of you know, the College recently received Pre-Accreditation Status.  Click here to read more.   Sunday evening, a few of the board members gathered for a home-cooked Italian meal at one of the board member’s home.  It was Read more…

Eternity

Today’s Gospel and readings speak to certain realities. We are called to show compassion and mercy in this life. We are called to pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness…and to lay hold of eternal life.  (First Timothy 6:11-12)  In similar fashion, the Prophet Amos warns against complacency.  (Amos Read more…

Timeless

There is a line in today’s first reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes 3:1-11: I have considered the task that God has appointed for the sons of men to be busied about.  He has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts,… This is Read more…

Strategic Pastoral Plan

It is official. With the presentation of my Vision Statement to the clergy of the diocese this week, our strategic pastoral planning process is underway.  To read the Vision Statement, click here. With this Vision Statement, I set forth what I believe are our priorities.  This is our starting point.  Read more…

Week’s Events

After a very brief day of rest, I hit the road again on Monday.  The Casper Catholic Community is celebrating the completion of a beautiful, new Catholic School these days.  Monday evening, a very joyous crowd gathered to dedicate the chapel.  For several years, a dedicated group of visionaries and Read more…

Rome Update IV

As most of this readership still sleeps, we are wrapping up our time in Rome.  One more session this early afternoon, then the American Bishops will go to the North Amercian College for a welcome from the priests and seminarians there.  Most of us will depart Rome to return to our Read more…

Rome Update III

At this point, most of us new bishops are on overload with the amount of information received.  Overall, the presentations are quite insightful and quite helpful.  The real challenge of the week is the jet-lag complimented by the endless challenge of functioning in various languages.  As in the days of Read more…

Interior Life

This past week, Luke’s Gospel spoke of the importance of the ¨heart¨, or the interior life.  Luke, following his sermon on the mount, continues to instruct that “a good tree cannot bear rotten fruit no more than a bad tree can bear good fruit.”  (cf Luke 6:43-45)  He goes on Read more…