There are moments in life when loss arrives quietly and seems to dissolve into the folds of ordinary days, leaving behind a hollow ache and the sense that something precious slipped through your hands before the world ever had the chance to know it. Grief like this settles in the hidden places of th...

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My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, During the ordination of a bishop, two deacons hold an open Gospel book over the head of the new bishop as the Ordination prayer is read. By tradition, the new bishop picks a Gospel passage to which the book is opened. I chose, "... Do not be afraid;...

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On December 8, we celebrate one of the most beautiful truths of our faith: the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast invites us to pause in the midst of Advent and reflect not only on who Mary is, but also on what God is continually doing in the quiet of human history and with...

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Lord God, on this day of Thanksgiving, we ask your blessings on our family, our friends, our home, our health and on the food we are about to eat. We thank you for this time together and the many gifts that you have given us. Help us to remember in this time of bounty those less fortunate. An...

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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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