Conflict in the Holy Land
This post was originally printed in the Dec. 9 parish bulletin I thought you might be interested to know that last week I closed out the First Sunday of Advent by doing something that I hadn’t done in 25 years: I went to a roller skating rink. I am not [...]
A History of Advent
This post originally appeared in the parish bulletin on Dec. 2, 2012 Advent is my favorite season of the liturgical year. Today begins this holy time that is so hard to keep well when all around us advertising, the streetscape, and even the sounds around us are proclaiming that Christmas [...]
What Is It We Are Thankful For?
This post is reprinted from the Nov. 25 parish bulletin On Thursday we celebrated Thanksgiving Day, and this holiday reminds us that we have a need to give thanks. It’s fitting to ask the question, “To whom should we give thanks?” When people speak in public about the holiday we [...]
The New Evangelization: Reflections on the Archbishop’s Pastoral Letter
The following originally appeared in the Nov. 18, 2012 parish bulletin Last week I began to describe Archbishop Nienstedt’s letter to us about an important topic. “I Believed Therefore I Spoke”: A Pastoral Letter on the New Evangelization in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. This letter sets out [...]
Evangelization and Faith
This post is reprinted from the Nov. 11 parish bulletin I sit writing at that peculiar moment in history at which the polls are starting to close on election night, and yet the results remain unknown. Therefore my topic will be about something other than the election – but maybe [...]
All Saints Day Masses and the Rediscover Initiative
This post is reprinted from the Oct. 28 parish bulletin It is only a few days before a holy day of obligation. In our day, most people – especially children – know the eve of this holy day much better than the holy day itself. It is All Saints Day [...]
Answers about the Parish Budget & Protecting Religious Liberty
This post is reprinted from the Oct. 21 Parish Bulletin I enjoyed being able to speak to all of you at Mass last week about the important days that lie ahead, as we launch our debt reduction campaign. In early September, at the four presentation/dialogue meetings we held, the planning [...]
Fall Festival Summary, New Altar Servers, and Plenary Indulgences for the Year of Faith
This article is reprinted from the Oct. 14 Parish Bulletin I would like to begin by thanking everyone who played a role in planning and carrying out our fall festival! I am so grateful to all of you for the ideas you brought forward and the decisions you made over [...]
The Beginning of The Year of Faith
This Thursday, October 11, will mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, known to most people as Vatican II. It was the most important religious event of the 20th Century: it drew the attention of the world’s media and it led to sweeping changes [...]
Protecting Religious Liberty
T oday I would like to bring up a topic I have left unaddressed for too long a time: religious liberty. It was on January 20 that the Department of Health and Human Services of the federal government issued a mandate which requires almost all employers to offer their employees [...]
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