The recent election of Pope Leo XVI has certainly caused a stir within the Church and throughout the world.
Elected to the papacy as the 267th successor of St. Peter on May 8, this Augustinian Friar originally from Chicago, became the first pope from the United States in history.
According to a new study conducted by the Pew Research Center, a multiyear decline in Christianity in the United States seems to have leveled off, but the same survey notes that the Catholic Church is experiencing the greatest net losses of believers compared to other religions.
Our diocesan vocations office reports that at least five young men have applied to enter the seminary this fall and that several young women are in the process of entering Religious Life or seeking to become consecrated virgins.
Several years ago, Bishop Donald J. Hying did something similar when he introduced the “four Holy Habits” to help foster an awareness of God’s presence and encourage us to strive for holiness.
Throughout life, there are few opportunities where one can go from climbing a rock wall to praying in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in a matter of minutes.
In the Gospel of Mark, we hear that Jesus “went up the mountain and summoned those whom He wanted and they came to Him. He appointed 12 [whom He also named apostles] that they might be with Him and He might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons” (Mk 3:13-15).
At the heart of this jubilant time is Easter Sunday, a day brimming with the joy of the Risen Lord, which also begins the Easter Octave — eight days of unbroken celebration, each treated as though they are one and the same day.
As we come to the end of our Lenten journey and enter Holy Week, the readings for Palm Sunday center around the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, reminding us of the transformative power of His sacrificial love.
This week, we are now more than halfway through the season of Lent.
As we continue our Lenten journey into the Fourth Sunday of Lent, our readings for Mass offer lessons about God’s mercy and love which call us to reconcile with Him and with one another.
