As the bishop of the diocese that has its home in the Olympic City, I was deeply shocked and saddened to witness the blasphemous display during the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Paris.  

In the last month, we have witnessed two very impactful events in our country. On July 13, we witnessed a shocking assassination attempt on a former president.  Days later, we witnessed one of the largest gatherings of  Catholic faithful in recent history at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.

"Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20:23)

In 1922, 48-year-old G.K. Chesterton came into full communion with the Catholic Church.  Fourteen years later, in his autobiography, Chesterton would explain why he became Catholic with this simple, but profound, statement: “To get rid of my sins.”

"And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.” — (Matt 18:6)

As you look at the faces of all the smiling Catholic school graduates pictured in this issue, I hope you will join me in a prayer of thanksgiving for the parents of those graduates.  Those parents chose sacrifice over comfort; they chose their children’s future over their own present.

"B​​​​​​rothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task . . .” (Acts 6:3)

On May 25, our diocese will be blessed by the ordination of 12 men to the permanent diaconate. These men will join 100 brother deacons serving in our diocese, all of whom are configured in the form of Christ the Servant.  In fact, the word “deacon” comes from a Greek word, “diakonos,” which means “servant.” The Church asks deacons to exercise their ministry of service primarily in three parts:  word, altar and charity.