The prophet Joel gives us our mission for the next 40 days: Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. (Joel 2:12-18) We are called to firmly Read more
We know and believe the Word of God, Sacred Scripture, is inspired by God. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Read more
After spending the weekend at St. Margaret in Riverton, I started making my way home Sunday afternoon. The snow began before I got halfway home. Knowing I needed to be at St. Patrick in Wheatland Monday evening for Confirmation, and hearing for quite a bit of snow, I decided to Read more
As a bishop, I’m often reminded of the element of Apostolic Succession. Indeed, the bishops play a critical role in protecting, nourishing, preaching and handing on the faith. But there is also the critical role played by those to whom the faith is preached. Just as down through the centuries, Read more
Ash Wednesday arrives this week…finally! Across the nation we have experienced a very wintry season, and Lent and Easter are coming about as late as they can in the liturgical calendar this year. Somehow, in the Providence of God, I believe these two events are connected. Winter tends to create Read more
Thursday morning, I was up early to join the priests and seminarians at Bishop Simon Brute College Seminary for 6:45 Mass and Morning Prayer. This college seminary is now in its 7th year, I believe, and have 26 seminarians from several Midwest dioceses, even one from Pueblo, Colorado. It is Read more
Wednesday was an experience somewhat beyond words. Now, nearly fifteen months into this new life as a bishop, I had the wonderful opportunity to return to the Archdiocese of my roots and faith, my priesthood from which I was called to be a bishop. I had the rare opportunity to Read more
The readings this week from the Book of Sirach offer a marvelous teaching on stewardship. (see Sirach 35:1-12) It expresses a “fullness” in the approach of making one’s entire life an offering to God. This, in my estimation, is what a true spirit of stewardship seeks to accomplish and put Read more
This morning I am on my way back to my former Archdiocese of Indianapolis. On Wednesday this week, they will ordain a new auxiliary bishop. The last auxiliary bishop in Indianapolis was ordained in 1933, Bishop Joseph Ritter, who later became Cardinal Archbishop of St. Louis. Bishop Christophe Coyne was Read more
For some reason, the readings this weekend really touched my own experience. Who of us has not experienced moments in our life where we sensed God’s silence, which may have also led us to mutter a word similar to that of the Prophet Isaiah: The Lord has forsaken me; my Read more