I am fully aware of my own need for healing – something I cannot give myself – but only comes from God through Jesus Christ. Jesus numerous times refers to himself as the bridegroom. In Mark’s Gospel (2:18-22) he makes reference to this loving presence of God in the midst Read more
My life experience has taught me – according to the creed of our Catholic faith – that all life begins in the Lord, finds its ultimate fulfillment in him in this life, and returns to him at the end of this worldly life. Equally true is that while my heart Read more
Merry Christmas everyone! Please know of my prayers for all of you, your loved ones and friends. I pray this Christmas give each and all of us the grace to recognize and receive Christ into our lives and bring him and his peace into our world. May your Christmas Day Read more
Here is an article I wrote for our Northwest Catholic Magazine which appeared yesterday, giving an early reflection on my experience at the Synod this recent October. Note: The Synod on Synodality began two years ago when Pope Francis requested the consultation of all the baptized. Beginning at the Read more
Dear Friends, I’m happy to share with you a letter, approved yesterday by the Synod Delegates. In these last days of our work, we are finalizing the synthesis document of all that we have experienced and discussed during these past weeks. We hope this will also be available soon to Read more
Yesterday, the synod delegates formed into our third of four small groups. Today marks the halfway point of our gathering and work. In October of 1962, Pope John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Council. Days later the world watched nervously as the Cuban Missile Crisis unfolded between the two nuclear Read more
Greetings from Rome! I arrived here a little over a week ago to participate in the Synod on Synodality. Last Saturday, everything began with an ecumenical prayer service in St. Peter’s Square. Prayer is at the very core of our work during this synod. (Please keep that in mind.) In Read more
The Synod on Synodality draws closer and closer and the delegates are beginning to gather in Rome. I arrived yesterday morning, September 28 in order to have a few days to adjust to the new time zone before we officially begin our time together with the prayer service in St. Read more
In May of 2015, Pope Francis penned an Encyclical Letter about the necessity to care for creation, which he calls our common home. The Letter is entitled Laudato Si’ taken from a the canticle to creation by St. Francis of Assisi. Next week, on the Feast of St. Francis, October Read more
As the clock winds down before departing for Rome, there are a number of activities I wish to share with you. Perhaps one of the most exciting ministries presently underway is something we call Welcome Circles. After the war broke out in Ukraine, there was a tremendous need to receive Read more