News - December 2023 RSS Feed

I wake up very early most days. I rarely, if ever, have to set my alarm clock. I love the early morning when everything is peaceful and quiet. And in the silence of those first moments of the day, it seems that God and I have some of our best conversations. My mind is not cluttered with schedules and busyness. The crush of meetings, travel and the day’s activities appear far distant at that time, even though they are only a couple of hours away. I watch the dark of night slowly give way to the light of another day.

I wake up very early most days. I rarely, if ever, have to set my alarm clock. I love the early morning when everything is peaceful and quiet. And in the silence of those first moments of the day, it seems that God and I have some of our best conversations.

The themes of the past four weeks like watch and pray … prepare the way of the Lord... God our Savior and Messiah is at hand ... Emmanuel, God with us … all alert us to the primary event in human history: the Word became Flesh – Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Son of Mary – dwelt among us and we have seen his glory again and again.

The themes of the past four weeks like watch and pray … prepare the way of the Lord... God our Savior and Messiah is at hand ... Emmanuel, God with us … all alert us to the primary event in human history: the Word became Flesh – Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Son of Mary – dwelt among us and we have seen his glory again and again.

For most of us, the idea of “going home” brings eagerness, comfort and joy, whether it be simply after a long day at work or, in some cases, following a much longer period of separation. It's good to be home. When we walk up to the door of our home, we anticipate the good things behind it: family and loved ones waiting for us; things familiar to us; a place where we can be most truly ourselves, most truly “at home.”

For most of us, the idea of “going home” brings eagerness, comfort and joy, whether it be simply after a long day at work or, in some cases, following a much longer period of separation. It's good to be home. When we walk up to the door of our home, we anticipate the good things behind it: family and loved ones waiting for us; things familiar to us; a place where we can be most truly ourselves, most truly “at home.”

In December 2018, I had the privilege of leading priests and lay faithful on a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico.  It was an awesome and deeply moving experience, along with my fellow pilgrims, to kneel and pray in that beautiful church dedicated to the patroness of all the Americas.  We watched as thousands of people, many who had traveled on foot from their homes throughout Mexico, bring their prayers and needs to our Lord through his Blessed Mother’s intercession.

In December 2018, I had the privilege of leading priests and lay faithful on a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico.  It was an awesome and deeply moving experience, along with my fellow pilgrims, to kneel and pray in that beautiful church dedicated to the patroness of all the Americas.  We watched as thousands of people, many who had traveled on foot from their homes throughout Mexico, bring their prayers and needs to our Lord through his Blessed Mother’s intercession.

John the Baptist is truly a remarkably important figure in the story of Advent and beyond. As a prophet and preacher, he is the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New.

John the Baptist is truly a remarkably important figure in the story of Advent and beyond. As a prophet and preacher, he is the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New.

We have heard St. Luke’s narrative of the Annunciation so often in the Church’s celebrations of Mary, the Mother of God. Today that Word is proclaimed once more as the Church throughout the world celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day of obligation for all Catholics.

We have heard St. Luke’s narrative of the Annunciation so often in the Church’s celebrations of Mary, the Mother of God. Today that Word is proclaimed once more as the Church throughout the world celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day of obligation for all Catholics.

The secular world rushes to Christmas, a race that begins in stores even before Halloween!  The Season of Advent attempts to “put the breaks on,” so to speak, to allow people of faith to slow down in the midst of all “the glitter and the glow” to reflect upon the meaning of this time of year.

The secular world rushes to Christmas, a race that begins in stores even before Halloween!  The Season of Advent attempts to “put the breaks on,” so to speak, to allow people of faith to slow down in the midst of all “the glitter and the glow” to reflect upon the meaning of this time of year.