Today is another historic day for the Catholic community of Alaska. At Rome noon today, Pope Francis announced the creation of a new Metropolitan Archdiocese of Anchorage – Juneau. The Holy Father created this new ecclesiastical territory by merging the Archdiocese of Anchorage and the Diocese of Juneau. At the Read more…
I’ve told this story here before. In my grandparents’ backyard was a rather substantial, walk-in, brick grotto to our Blessed Mother. I loved to go there as a kid – not so much to pray, but it just drew me. So, the summer before I entered the seminary, I Read more…
Dear friends, you may have heard that Pope Francis will lead the world in prayer from the basilica of St. Peter this evening at 6:00pm local time. (10:00am Pacific Time) This is an extraordinary moment in our world’s history, thus requiring an equally extraordinary pouring out of prayer. The Holy Read more…
In today’s Gospel from Matthew ( 5:17-37) Jesus is speaking about the law. It is also helpful to note that this passage follows one of Jesus’ greatest ‘homilies’; the beatitudes. Jesus states clearly that he did not come to abolish the law, but rather to fulfill the law. (Matthew 5: Read more…
On this 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Jesus calls his disciples salt and light. (Matthew 5: 13-16) He instructs them and us as well that the way we live in the world as his disciples is important. As his disciples, we are to mirror his way of life. We are Read more…
This Ad Limina visit for the bishops is a moment of renewal in our apostolic ministry and is centered on two of the great witnesses of our faith in Jesus Christ, Sts. Peter and Paul. Another “Peter” and Paul met in Rome yesterday. When I think about being ‘renewed’ in Read more…
Every five years (or so) a bishop travels to Rome to be renewed in the ministry that he shares as a successor to the apostles. The Latin phrase for this visit is ad limina apostolorum – meaning, a visit to the threshold (of the tombs) of the Apostles, Peter and Read more…
Many of you already know that the US Catholic bishops gathered in Baltimore this week for three days of meetings. Upper most in our prayer and hearts, as well as our agenda – taking concrete actions to hold bishops accountable for sexual misconduct and irresponsible governance. Before getting to those Read more…
Vos estis lux mundi: You Are The Light Of The World, is the title of a motu proprio issued today by Pope Francis. With this document, the Holy Father demonstrates that he is taking decisive action to put in place universal norms to address the scourge of sexual abuse of Read more…
As this new day dawns on the Feast of St. Catherine of Siena, I share with you the news that I am in Seattle for the announcement that Pope Francis has named me Coadjutor Archbishop of Seattle. The press conference will be 11:00 PT. While I am excited and surprised Read more…