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Experiencing God’s Beauty Cross-Country

Posted on August 01, 2024 in: Reflections

Editors note: Mary-Jo McLaughlin, Catholic Family Services Coordinator for the Diocese, and her husband, Pat are on a cross-country camping trip this summer. Here she shares some of the beauty and experiences the couple has encountered thus far. Greetings from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula alo...

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Into the Silence: Spiritual Retreats

Posted on July 24, 2024 in: Reflections

The Latin word retiro exemplifies what a spiritual retreat should be, it means “I withdraw.” A spiritual retreat is a period of time spent dedicated to prayer and penance, with the aim of drawing closer to God and striving for Christian perfection. This practice dates back to the earl...

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Bishop's Column: Finding Joy and Balance in Leisure

Posted on July 21, 2024 in: Reflections

July/August 2024 Four County Catholic “Through leisure, man rediscovers himself and finds again his true face, his true self, created in the image and likeness of God.” – Pope John Paul II, Laborem Exercens, 1981 My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, As...

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Summer Sanctuaries: Faith and Fun at Home

Posted on July 08, 2024 in: Reflections

Summer break: a time of sunlit days, endless play, and, inevitably, the echo of “I’m bored!” resounding through many homes. As Catholic parents, this season presents a beautiful opportunity to blend fun with faith, nurturing both the spirits and the imaginations of your children. H...

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Faith and Freedom: Reflections on Independence Day

Posted on June 27, 2024 in: Reflections

As the night sky explodes with vibrant fireworks and the tantalizing scents of barbecues drift through the air, Americans from every corner of the nation unite in celebration of the Fourth of July. For us, as Catholics, this day isn't just about national pride; it's a profound moment to d...

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Summer Sabbatical: Finding God in Rest

Posted on June 18, 2024 in: Reflections

As the days grow longer and the warmth of summer envelops us, many look forward to a well-deserved break from the routines and demands of everyday life. Vacations, leisurely activities, and time with family and friends become the highlights of the season. For Catholics, this season offers ...

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A Prayer for Father's Day

Posted on June 13, 2024 in: Reflections

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Embracing the Extraordinary in Ordinary Time

Posted on June 12, 2024 in: Reflections

In the rhythm of the liturgical calendar, Ordinary Time often goes unnoticed. At first glance, it may seem mundane, a simple filler in the spiritual calendar. However, a closer look reveals that Ordinary Time is anything but ordinary; it’s a profound opportunity for spiritual growth and deepen...

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Discovering the Joy of Christ: Delving into the Humor of the Divine

Posted on June 05, 2024 in: Reflections

My spiritual journey has taken many twists and turns over the years. Last year, when I was asked by my friend Mary Ellen Mahoney, the Annual Catholic Appeal director, to speak to the Christopher Society at their annual dinner on behalf of the diocesan Communications Office and the Four County Cat...

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Transforming Tragedy into Triumph: A Journey to Forgiveness

Posted on May 26, 2024 in: Reflections

In the spring of 1994, I was thinking about all the typical teenage things any junior in high school is consumed with: my driver’s license, grades, girls, a new job at Burger King. I was vaguely aware of talk of a problem in a faraway land called Rwanda, but my young mind was too focused on my...

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A Prayer for Father's Day

Posted on June 12, 2025 in: Reflections

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Dear God, Thank you for loving us with your perfect heart of a father. We ask you this Father's Day and always to guide and protect the hearts of all men in fatherly roles who are striving to love with your heart and do your work. Give them pure, chaste, courageous, and creative hearts like Saint Joseph. Give them hearts that never tire of serving those they are called to love. Give them hearts that seek out their loved ones and gently turn their gaze to see You, who is Love. And we ask you, Father, to bless them abundantly today....

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Bishop Reidy's Pastoral on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Posted on June 18, 2025 in: Reflections

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Bishop Reidy's Pastoral on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

June 16, 2025 My dear friends in Christ, This weekend we observe the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). This day reminds us in a particular way of the great gift of the Holy Eucharist. The Eucharist has been called God’s gift par excellence because it is the gift of Jesus Himself and of His saving work. Jesus is present to us in many ways---- in the Scriptures, in all the sacraments, in the assembly of the faithful gathered to pray at Mass, and in the prie...

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