Abortion is surrounded with a cloud of unrealities and untruths. Some of this is because of emotional distress. Some of it is because of omissions and lies. It is an evil that seldom speaks its name. Sometimes it is called “choice.” Sometimes it is called a “procedure.” Sometimes it is called “women’s healthcare rights.”   

First, I want to offer congratulations to the St. Mary’s Cathedral parish on this event of dedicating your new altar. Secondly, I simply draw your attention and ask you to move your eyes to the beautiful marble stone which sits atop this altar.  

One of the more gratifying elements of my introduction to Colorado Springs was to learn of the large permanent diaconate community here as well as its formation program. I would like to share some thoughts with you about this.

When a bishop is ordained, the Church asks him to design a coat of arms.  The coat of arms utilizes symbols to identify the bishop.  One of the symbols that I selected can appear strange at a first glance. On the top right of the coat of arms is an image of a mother pelican bird with her children gathered around her in their nest.    

Recently our Diocesan Office of Stewardship and Development helped me to send a mailing to each family in the diocese. In that mailing, I simply asked you to offer any prayer intentions to me. We then divided up all the families’ intentions into specific days and times during which I would take time to pray for those intentions.

During my life, the notion of “stewardship” has become very important for me. I am not talking about money. Stewardship is about spirituality and how to properly understand our relationship with God. I am talking about the basic and fundamental belief that everything is a gift of God.   

I recently had the opportunity to visit our 14 seminarians who are in formation for priesthood at the college seminary of St. Gregory the Great in Seward, Nebraska (my home state), and at the graduate (or “Theology”) seminary of Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, Maryland.  

Our 15th seminarian is Matt Kane who is currently teaching at St. Paul’s Catholic School in Colorado Springs. Matt is preparing for his ordination to the diaconate this Dec. 22 at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

In some denominations, communicants take Communion, or “take the Sacrament,” instead of receiving it — the latter the expression we Catholics use. And with that word choice, a whole difference of worldview emerges.

Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ. Back in 2019 I planned a pilgrimage to Italy. This was before I had ever heard of COVID (and way before I heard that I was moving to Colorado Springs!). The pilgrimage is planned for this October 12-21. I am surprised and delighted that we can still go.

One of the features at the heart of both Judaism and Christianity is the idea that God wants to have a personal relationship with his people. The Bible calls this relationship the covenant, and both Judaism and Christianity, in their respective ways, are communities of the covenant.

Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ. These first letters which I am addressing to the diocese are a simple attempt to help each of us better prepare for an experience of Communion with our Lord at Mass.

Today I want to say a brief word about the Liturgy of the Word. This is the part of Mass where we are invited to listen with attention and receive God’s word during the readings.

Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ. In my last letter, I proposed that we might take time to better understand what happens at the Mass.

We do not simply “go” to Mass but rather we participate in an event of communion with our Lord. This event of communion has the power to change our very being. Today, I would like to look at how regular experience of the Sacrament of Penance (going to Confession) can help us better be prepared to receive our Lord and to let our Lord receive us.

Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ. I am humbled and overjoyed to be called to serve with you as Bishop. Thank you for the kind welcome and especially for your prayerful support. My first impression of our Diocese of Colorado Springs is that God is clearly at work in many ways. I am grateful for the ministry of so many dedicated priests, deacons and religious. I am perhaps more impressed by the witness and faithful service of so many dedicated and gifted lay persons. Please know that I keep you all in my daily prayers. I honestly cannot wait to see what God has in store for us. Together may we hope and expect that God will accomplish God’s plans if we but trust and allow.