I love the Advent Season. I love it not just for what it leads to – the joyful celebration of Christ’s birth at Bethlehem. I love Advent for itself: a season of longing, expectation, and hope. I think that, in a way, the entirety of life is like Advent. There is, deep within us, a lon...

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, Catholic Schools Week is a celebration which began in 1974. This is a yearly celebration of Catholic Education throughout the United States. The theme for National Catholic Schools Week for 2026 is: “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community.&rdq...

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As November brings us closer to Veterans Day, it offers a poignant reminder of the men and women who have answered the call to serve— a call that demanded courage, resilience, and sacrifice. Veterans Day is more than just a date on the calendar; it is a sacred invitation to pause, to honor,...

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The Quiet Beauty of November November begins with a quiet beauty. The air cools, the leaves fall, and nature itself seems to pause, reminding us that all things, even life, pass through seasons. It is fitting, then, that the Church dedicates this month to remembering the faithful departed, those ...

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As fall is now upon us, the days grow cooler, and the scent of kitchens fills the air. It is a season that draws us back to family tables, to recipes passed down through generations, and to the warmth that food and fellowship bring. Cooking becomes more than a task; it becomes a way of remembering, ...

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I recently returned from two weeks in Rome where, with about two hundred other recently appointed bishops from around the world, we attended a school for new bishops. We were hosted at the College of Saint Paul the Apostle, a seminary where missionary priests are trained. Presentations were made by ...

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Originally published in the Winter 2023 issue of the Four County Catholic, this is an oldie but a goodie worth revisiting. It began with a misplaced homily—one that unexpectedly set ripples of grace into motion, reaching farther than anyone could have foreseen. The story that follows is a remi...

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On October 1, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, affectionately known as the Little Flower. She is remembered for her radiant trust in God and her “little way” of love. But behind her childlike faith was a life marked by deep suffering. Thérèse lost her mother ...

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Editor's note: The following article was originally published Sept. 10, 2023. It is republished to mark the 24th anniversary of 9/11. It highlights the very best of our shared humanity—the kindness, compassion, and generosity that transcend boundaries of faith, culture, and nationalit...

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After days of vacation this summer, many people have returned to their usual routines, leaving behind long, peaceful days and that feeling of freedom from schedules or obligations. The return to school, the early-morning rush, and the many responsibilities of work and family life can sometimes le...

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