When I was introduced as the new Coadjutor Archbishop of Seattle, one of the Auxiliary Bishops gave me a book to read titled The Boys In The Boat, by Daniel James Brown. The book is about the young men who made up the rowing team for the University of Washington Read more…
Recently, I have been rereading some documents from the Second Vatican Council. These documents speak just as prophetically to our present situation today as they did over 50 years ago. As part of our strategic planning and because of some of the challenges we face today, I wanted to take Read more…
In some ways, our earthquake, ‘end of times’ experience yesterday, and the aftershocks through the night, were too graphic of an ‘ending’ to this liturgical year. Though it felt somewhat ‘like the end’ several times yesterday, here is a reflection to begin the new liturgical year and Advent. May this Read more…
Happy Easter! I hope and pray your Lenten journey was fruitful and your Easter celebration is one of even greater appreciation for the love of God who sent his only Son into the world and for Jesus Christ who coming into the world took on our human condition, walked among Read more…
Today, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Fatih released a document entitled Placuit Deo, On Certain Aspects of Christian Salvation. The focus is on the gift of Salvation that is ours through Jesus Christ. Likewise, the document draws attention to some of the errors in today’s concept of the Read more…
Several years ago, while I was still a pastor of a parish, I felt that some parishioners were beginning to treat their religion as one more item to be consumed. Their consumer practices and attitudes were corrupting their understanding of what it means to be a member of the Body Read more…
On this 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time, we hear of the Providential Goodness of God. He is like the landowner who planted a vineyard. He chose a fertile hillside, prepared the soil, planted the choicest vines, put a hedge around it, hewed out a wine press, built a watchtower, and Read more…
The mission of the Church is to proclaim Christ to the world. The world has always needed this proclamation, and it is no different today. Our best, most credible proclamation of Christ comes in the form of witness, by the way we live, as much as by the creed we Read more…
During the June Pilgrimage to Rome, I was aware of many graces, not the least of which is the unity that we share as one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. This truth was represented in a small way by the group that travelled with me, from the various places of Read more…
“The Church draws her life from the Eucharist.” With these words, St. Pope John Paul II began his last Encyclical on the Life of the Eucharist in Relationship to the Church. This simple statement has so many implications for our lives. To fully understand this teaching, we must begin with Read more…