As disciples of Jesus Christ, we must work to eradicate violence against all human persons, no matter what age they are, no matter what is their ethnicity, no matter whether already born or still in their mother’s wombs.  Just as we rush to aid those poor people in war-torn countries, we must also rush to aid mothers in crisis pregnancies and in difficult life situations.

It is no wonder that at this time of such suffering for the people of Ukraine in particular, and the people of the whole world, that Pope Francis would respond to the request of the Church in Ukraine and choose the Solemnity of the Annunciation to consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

​​​​​​​As we look forward to the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, perhaps we should not put all the emphasis on parties, parades and festivities. I think St. Patrick himself would give us different counsel. That great Apostle of Ireland would say to us, “Go to Mass on my feast day and receive the Body of Christ. Take out the rosary and ask the Mother of God to bring peace to all people."

I believe that Ukrainian Latin Bishops have followed the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in requesting the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by Our Holy Father. It is a strategy born of faith and the wisdom to remember our history. It is a confident turning to the ways of God and the power of grace. It is a clear recognition that God Our Father has sent His Son Jesus who saved us by His Death on the Cross.

I believe that in the midst of the tremendous suffering unfolding in Ukraine, God is sending us a message—we might say a “Memo.” I think that through this “Memo,” God is crying out to us of His closeness to us and His unfailing love for us and the Ukrainian people.

The smile of Our Lady healed little Thérèse and drew her ever closer to Jesus. This has made me think of the power of a smile to heal the hearts of those who are far from God, far from the Church, not coming to Mass or the Sacraments.

I believe that the Holy Spirit is powerfully at work in the Catholic Church in our nation today. At their meeting in November of 2021 the bishops of the United States overwhelmingly approved efforts to be implemented in every diocese of our country that will unleash the powerful movement of the National Eucharistic Revival.

For me, to kneel at that spot where Bernadette knelt before the grotto where heaven touched earth was a moment of pure grace. I go back there every day. Every one of us can. You and I can find ourselves before that grotto in spirit and prayer anytime we so desire. All we need do is pick up our rosary and pray.

"Every time we come into His temple to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass we, as God’s holy people, as members of His Body the Church, find ourselves in the best of company. At our encounter with Him we are surrounded by a 'great cloud of witnesses' (Heb 12:1), the saints in heaven and the angelic hosts. Here we are in the company of Mary and Joseph."

I requested some months ago a first class relic of a young Italian man who died at the age of 15 on October 12, 2006. He was beatified in 2020 by Pope Francis. That young man is Blessed Carlo Acutis.  But why are relics important for Catholics?  And why is his relic such a gift to us here in our diocese?

In the midst of the sorrow and pain that abortion inflicts on so many of our sisters, brothers, and children, we should never forget the icon of God’s love that is a mother cradling her child. This icon wonderfully shines forth in so many beautiful images of the Virgin Mother Mary and the Infant Jesus. These images inspire us to do exactly what changes minds and hearts—that is, pray. We know the power of prayer coming from a loving Mother’s Heart can and does change the world

The sacramental world view shows us that just as Jesus descended into the waters of the Jordan, He also comes into our world, and sanctifies it by His very Presence. He comes into our soul, our heart, our life, our family, our world, and puts everything in right order by the power of His love and mercy.

When we are tempted in this new year to lose hope and become despondent, we should remember to whom 2022 belongs and to whom we belong. It is the Lord who is the Master of history and the King who rules over us. When we are thinking that we cannot make a difference in our own life and in the lives of others, it is then that we turn to Jesus and His Mother in prayer.

The gift most desired is the gift of our heart. The One who so greatly desires this gift is the Infant who is laid in the manger bed of Bethlehem. By coming into the world as one of us while remaining most high God, He has already given us His Heart, small in size yet infinitely large with His unfailing love for us. He so desires us to come to Him and give our heart as a gift to Him. When we give over our heart to Him, we give our all, our sorrows and joys, our successes and failures, our strengths and weaknesses.

At a time when God’s help is needed to draw souls to Christ, to bolster and revive a culture that is often divided, confused and hostile to the Gospel, we should look to the “Holy Virgin Mary, the Mother of the True God, the Woman who stamps out the stone serpent” for her help and protection

So, why is the Immaculate Conception so important for Catholics?  What is the big deal? Let’s try to unpack what it is all about.

On the First Sunday of Advent each one of us is called by God to begin a pilgrimage of hope. We begin from wherever we are in life. Our destination is the stable in Bethlehem, where we will kneel in adoration before God, born as a tiny Child of the Virgin Mary.

This time of year can become a whirlwind of frantic activity pushed along by a wind of noise. Preparation for family dinners, gifts, travel and guests can prevent us from doing the most needed preparation—that of making our hearts ready for the coming of the King of heaven and earth. That is why we so need Advent—a time to see and hear anew.

Blessed Miguel teaches us by his devotion to Christ and His Church that no worldly power can give us what the Lord alone can give us—eternal life and perfect fulfillment in His Kingdom. Ideas, political parties, governments and ideologies rise and fall.  Jesus’ love for us manifested on the Cross shows us that union with Him and communion with each other awaits us in His Kingdom. Nothing else will satisfy the human heart.

During this time of the year when the days grow shorter and shorter as the encroaching darkness seems to overtake the light, we are provided with an opportunity to reflect on the struggle between the power of good and the power of evil that rages all around us.