As we begin the holiday season, it is important to remember that we are entering into a holy time in the life of the Church. Thanksgiving is a day in which we thank God for all the goodness and blessings in our lives that only come from him. We also call to mind that the Eucharist means “thanksgiving” and at every Mass we give thanks to the Father for sending his Son to save us. We then begin the holy season of Advent when we prepare our hearts to celebrate the Incarnation of Jesus at Christmas. Through his Incarnation, Jesus “has truly been made one of us, like us in all things except sin.” (Vatican II, Gaudium et spes, 22) By shattering the darkness of sin and death, Jesus restores in us our great dignity as sons and daughters of God created in his image and likeness. My prayer is that this holiday season is an opportunity for all of us to grow closer to Jesus and become more like him so that he can use us to accomplish his holy will in our families, our parishes, and in our diocese.

Happy Fall! As we move out of summer and into the Fall season, it is time for back to school and back into our routines and daily rhythm of life. It is also important that we maintain a rhythm and routine when it comes to prayer and our spiritual life. Often, when life gets busy and hectic, the habit of prayer is easy to let go. We are always going to be busy, but we need to remember that we need to be inspired by Mary in the Gospel who sat at the feet of Jesus and had “chosen the better part” (Luke 10:42) and set time aside every day to encounter Jesus so that he is always the center of our lives. 

As we begin the month of July, we are at the halfway point of the Jubilee Year of Hope.  I have been very encouraged by seeing many signs of renewal and hope throughout the diocese, and the Jubilee Year has already been a great moment of grace for our local Church.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) 

These final words of Jesus before he ascended into heaven are not only fulfilled when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Church on Pentecost but are also fulfilled in every baptized and confirmed Christian who is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

I was very saddened to hear of the passing of Pope Francis on the morning of April 21. He was the vicar of Christ on earth for 12 years and challenged us in many ways, especially to be joyful witnesses of the Gospel and calling the Church to go out to the peripheries to bring the mercy and love of Christ to those who need it the most.