News - February 2016 RSS Feed

Losing things is the occupational hazard of getting older.  I know!  I can’t tell you how many times each week I misplace my keys or wallet or cellphone, even important papers.  It drives me crazy.  I mean, I’ll have something in my hands one minute and the very next minute, I’ve lost it.  Did you ever have that experience? 

The bishop is the chief steward of the mysteries of God and the overseer of all liturgical life in the Church entrusted to his care.  That’s who I am and why I am here with you today in the Cathedral, the Mother Church of our entire Diocese and all its members, the bishop’s Church.  The statement that I have just made is derived from the documents of the Second Vatican Council (CD, no. 15) and has its roots in the ancient words of St. Ignatius of Antioch: “It is not permitted to baptize without the authorization of the bishop (Ad Smyrnaeous, 8, 2).”

Born in Trenton and baptized in our Diocesan Cathedral, Antonin Scalia, currently the longest serving Justice on the United States Supreme Court, has passed away unexpectedly at the age of 79. A devout Catholic and father of a priest of the Diocese of Arlington, Justice Scalia was widely regarded as one of the brightest American legal minds in recent decades. Having had the privilege of knowing him and enjoying his company on numerous occasions, I did not want to miss the opportunity to add my voice to the chorus of those who mourn the passing of this native son of the Diocese.

Ashes are an ancient symbol, cultural and biblical, for showing grief. In the Old Testament, for example, we read about many occasions when ashes were used for this purpose: the Books of Numbers, Samuel, Esther; the writings of the prophets Job, Jonah, Jeremiah and Daniel; the Book of Maccabees all contain descriptions of ashes being used to show sorrow for any number of sad reasons.

I want to talk to you today about three words: crisis; sickness; professional.  I chose to speak about those three words in three contexts: Healthcare; Mass; the Year of Mercy.  I do this in my three roles: human being who faced a life threatening illness; person of faith; shepherd.  Obviously, I like the number three.

No serious study of English Literature can be complete without consideration of the works of William Shakespeare.  One of his classic comedies, “Much Ado about Nothing,” presents a tale of love and deception in a humorous way with characters caught up in its unfolding drama.