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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. (Eph 1: 3)These words of St. Paul to the Ephesians encourage us, too, to be …
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11/28/19
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Two recent experiences illustrate the power of words.
The first. While walking through the church after a Funeral Mass a lady stopped me to ask: “Bishop, are you feeling okay?” “Yep, I’m …
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11/21/19
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Q. Who made you? A. God made me.
Q. Why did God make you? A. God made me to know him, love him and serve him in this world and to be happy with him forever in the next.
Many readers will …
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11/14/19
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You’ve probably heard about the fitness regimen that challenges you to walk 10,000 steps each and every day. The practice is the key to better health and a long life, the experts …
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11/7/19
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In the fall, we celebrate the harvest of the summer season, but we also begin moving toward that season of dying. The plants give up their abundant life. The days grow shorter, and it is a time of …
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10/31/19
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My little dog Annie is a great companion and a constant source of joy. And she’s always very happy to see me. When I return home from the office or from running some errands, she’s always at the …
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10/24/19
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While watching TV these days I’m often bemused by some of the ads for new medical treatments intended to treat a variety of conditions and illnesses. While describing the benefits of these wonder …
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10/17/19
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A relatively new phrase making the rounds these days is “forever home.” It refers to a new permanent home that is provided for a pet, usually a cat or dog, which has been rescued from a shelter …
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10/10/19
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St. Teresa of Avila, whose feast day is October 15, was a Spanish nun who lived from 1515 to 1582. She is a truly heroic figure in the history of the Church, a famous mystic known for her personal …
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10/3/19
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Of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest after the sacraments, the one dearest to God and the one most helpful to us. (St. Alphonsus Liguori)One of the …
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9/26/19
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Mrs. Catherine Cooper was my great-great-grandmother on my father’s side. She lived from 1810 to 1901 spending all of her life in and around the little town of Loretto in the Allegheny Mountains of …
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9/19/19
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A while back I was caught in a major traffic jam on my way to work when a humongous truck, an eighteen-wheeler, was trying to merge into traffic from the entrance ramp. The behemoth was right next to …
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9/12/19
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In one of his daily homilies at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis said that “There is no humility without humiliation. If you are not able to put up with some humiliations in your life, you are not …
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9/5/19
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Jesus said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” So they went off in a boat by themselves to a deserted place. (Mk 6: 31-32)Without a doubt, summer is …
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6/27/19
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“Keep me in your prayers.” Those are words my mom used all the time, especially as she got older, at the end of one of our visits, or in the cards and notes she sent to me. In fact, they are the …
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6/20/19
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The month of June is traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the highest human expression of divine love. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is the ultimate symbol of God’s mercy. (Pope …
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6/13/19
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Recently I celebrated Mass with the religious jubilarians of the Diocese – sisters, brothers and priests – who are celebrating special anniversaries of their religious professions this year. …
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6/6/19
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Recently someone asked me if I ever get tired doing Confirmations. The question came up in a conversation about my Confirmation schedule, and the observation that in my 26 years as a bishop I’ve …
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5/30/19
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So, one evening not too long ago, I was driving along the Wampanoag Trail when I noticed the cars ahead of me, rounding a curve, tapping their brakes and slowing down. I soon knew why. There was a …
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5/23/19
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“The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.”
(Mt 28: 16-17)
For a good while now I’ve …
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5/16/19
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