Standing at the threshold of a memorable year
As we conclude the first week of the new liturgical year, it already has become clear that the coming 12 months will be memorable for a number of reasons. Let’s look at a few of them. In just a few days, on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis will begin the Extraordinary...Read full story »
Thursday, December 03, 2015
Mercy walks among us
Back in September, Pope Francis wrote about the upcoming Jubilee Year of Mercy in a letter to Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization. “I have asked the Church in this Jubilee Year to rediscover the richness encompasse...Read full story »
Monday, November 02, 2015
A perfect time for a great prayer habit
Now … a month removed from our Holy Father’s apostolic visit to America … is a perfect time for all of us to begin a great prayer habit. Let’s all commit to praying daily – with and for Pope Francis. The Apostleship of Prayer can and will help us. Based i...Read full story »
Monday, October 19, 2015
'His Holiness' moves America and the world
“His Holiness.” In my opinion, no pope in my lifetime has worn that title as well – or deserved it as much – as Pope Francis. I was blessed to experience that first-hand throughout his stop in Washington, D.C., during the historic papal visit to Cuba and Americ...Read full story »
Thursday, October 01, 2015
Knee-deep in a stream of Catholic Social Teaching
More than 35 years ago, some friends and I – all of us trout fishermen – journeyed hours from our homes on a regular basis to work together – knee-deep in a stream of Catholic Social Teaching. At the time, we never realized that’s what we were doing. Our work i...Read full story »
Thursday, September 17, 2015
' … it will never be the same again'
Fourteen years ago, this day of this month started out like most others. It was a Tuesday that year. Up early; took care of the dog; shaved, showered, dressed, made some breakfast; got out the door and made the 20-minute drive to work at a daily newspaper – The Dominion Post in...Read full story »
Thursday, September 10, 2015
More on the 'treasure' of Catholic education
I guess this is my “Proud Papa” column for 2015. Students across our 28 Catholic schools proved again this year that their education might be priceless. Without question, it is proving as valuable as any other treasure they will encounter in their lives. Treasure? D...Read full story »
Monday, June 08, 2015
The little flame with the big message
In less than 10 days, parishes across our diocese will celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi with processions through their towns. Annually, this is one of the most visible signs to those outside our Church that we believe in the Real Presence – that during the Consecration, the bread...Read full story »
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Perspective comes through a metaphor from God
When God offers a metaphor, it’s always very powerful. He offered one April 18 as I zipped west through Ohio on I-70. Clearly visible along the north side of the bustling interstate, U.S. 40 – the “National Road” – parallels its four-lane, limited-access success...Read full story »
Monday, April 27, 2015
Catholic education impacts us every day
I had another column all ready to go for this issue of The Message. After reading a Catholic News Service story about the keynote address Carolyn Woo delivered at the National Catholic Education Association meeting, I decided that column could wait. Woo’s remarks moved me becaus...Read full story »
Monday, April 13, 2015
