What fills you with energy in your faith journey? What inspires you to keep going on a daily basis? Has participating in the life of the local church community become drudgery for you? If so, how do you regain your joy?
We belong to Christ. Subsequently, we are people of hope. People of hope have every reason for joy. Is that reflected in your day-to-day demeanor? If not, today is the day I invite you to experience a renewed sense of hope and joy in the Lord!
I figured enough people would get photos of the eclipse yesterday evening so I took my picture earlier in the day. I was able to capture this moment of the sunlight streaming through the clouds. The beauty of God’s creation never ceases to amaze me.
As I looked at the clouds yesterday I could not help but think about all who are carrying heavy burdens. Social media provides an avenue for sharing information–sometimes too much information. However, it is also a mechanism in which people are able to ask for prayers as they experience a difficulty or hardship in life. I try to pay attention to those requests. There are quite a number of you who are dealing with a serious illness. Some of you are recuperating from surgeries and enduring physical therapy. Others are battling depression. Some of you are seeking work after having spent many years at the same company only to get laid off. Others are relocating due to finding new work and are struggling to cope with the stress of leaving family and friends behind. Some of you are dealing with heartache because of broken promises and shattered relationships. Others are grieving the loss of a loved one after many years of marriage. The light shining through the clouds is for each of you. Although the clouds may remain for a time, the light of Christ’s love will flood through.
If you are hurting in any way today, please know of my prayers for you. I spent part of my lunch time sitting in church lifting you up to our dear Lord. I am confident that God will meet you at the point of your need. There is much more than a glimmer of hope. It is the all-out brightness of the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion, fellowship, and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in you. You may want to get your sunglasses as the magnificence of God’s love completely envelops you!
St. Vincent de Paul has long been one of my favorite saints. I am a little biased because his feast day falls on a very important date in my life. However, his life story and the works he accomplished are amazing. Many Vincentian priests have had a significant influence in my life as well, and I am grateful for their faithful witness. I have also learned much from a couple of Vincentian brothers and a number of sisters who are Daughters of Charity. Their service to the poor and marginalized members of society is phenomenal.
The official name of the Vincentian Order is Congregation of the Mission. Thus, you will see the letters C.M. after the name of a Vincentian priest. I encourage you to learn more about their work. You can visit their website for details.
You can learn more about the work of the Daughters of Charity at:
If you ever have the opportunity to attend a parish mission offered by one of the Vincentians I would strongly encourage you to attend. I have heard several of them on multiple occasions throughout the years and they are terrific. Fr. Richard Gielow C.M. is the Director of the Mission Team and is a talented preacher. His brother, Fr. Robert Gielow C.M., is also a wonderful preacher. They have each impacted many lives with their dynamic parish missions. You can learn more about their ministry at:
I extend my gratitude to all of the Vincentians and Daughters of Charity today. I hope you have a wonderful feast day celebration. To all of the parishes and parishoners bearing the name of St. Vincent de Paul or St. Louise de Marillac, I pray you have a very blessed day.
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=196
St. Louise de Marillac biography
As a side note–since I was just at St. Vincent de Paul Paish in Cape Girardeau, Missouri last weekend–I have the inside information that they are going to have turtle races as part of their celebration today. How cool is that!
Are you seeking a spiritual “Break Through” in your life? Have you consistently been troubled by a particular sin? Do you find it difficult to pray? Are you struggling to keep hope in the midst of the strife? Even in those darkest moments the light of Christ is able to break through.
The American culture, especially in the west, has a “pull yourself up by your own bootstraps” mentality. We are told to “Cowboy Up!” The power of the horse and the tenacity of the cowboy (cowgirl) can break through any barrier. While I am a strong proponent of developing rigorous discipline and fitness in one’s life, the reality is that more is needed. Scripture even tells us in Psalm 33:17, “A horse is a vain hope for deliverance.” Proverbs 21:31 tells us that a horse is prepared for the day of battle but victory comes from the Lord. Do we recognize that our strength comes from the Lord?
I encourage you today to take your struggles to the Lord. Lay your problems at the foot of the cross and seek God’s grace, mercy, and wisdom. Pray for strength and perseverance. Ask for clarity and correct discernment. God loves us and desires to be in right relationship with us. Why do we so frequently turn away? Have you truly yearned to be with Jesus? Picture yourself watching Joseph and Mary as they sought Jesus when he was left behind in Jerusalem. They looked for him for three days. Can you imagine the intensity of the search by the third day? Have you longed for Jesus with that kind of desire and passion?
With God all things are possible. Ask for an increase of faith, hope, and love frequently. The “break through” for which you are hoping may be closer than you realize!
The geese were in a beautiful formation just before I snapped the picture. Based upon how chaotic things look in the photo I must have caught them just as they were rotating positions in the formation. Sometimes life just isn’t as neat and tidy as we may like it to be.
Reading news reports and opinion columns about Pope Francis during the last few days certainly paints a picture of a flock not totally in formation. The usual rants about Catholics idolizing a man are to be expected, but the divide appears to go much broader than the usual anti-Catholic crowd. Catholics are holding quite diverse viewpoints on a number of issues within their own denomination. Once again, the liberal versus conservative viewpoint seems to take center stage. It doesn’t appear that we can simply be Roman Catholic. We are American Catholics. Subsequently, are you a Democrat Catholic or a Republican Catholic? Cafeteria Catholic? What does it look like to be a “faithful” Catholic?
What did Pope Francis say? What didn’t he say? The interpretations and analysis of his words and actions have been interesting to watch play out. Is the pope playing into the Democratic party’s hands. He visited the Little Sisters of the Poor, but why didn’t he blast the president for his overbearing HHS Mandate? He mentioned the death penalty but not abortion. The accusations have been harsh. “He is a Marxist. He is a false prophet.” On and on the media spins.
Our world is backwards in so many ways. Culture wants us to view our faith through the lens of politics. The reality is just the opposite. Our politics should be viewed through the lens of faith. When a nation strives to squelch the voice of the Church the moral compass is certain to spin out of control. Sin and evil will be accepted and celebrated. Good will be ridiculed and mocked. We have certainly witnessed a glimpse into that reality this week during the visit of Pope Francis.
The pope has a daunting task, and the Church needs to keep lifting him up in prayer. Pope Francis has provided all of us an with an opportunity to look at life through the lens of the Gospel. It is my hope and prayer that we don’t get lost in the politics of it all. May we accept the invitation to encounter Christ!
When I was young I constantly looked forward to being older. I wanted to get out of elementary school so I could go to high school. In high school I looked forward to anything that wasn’t high school. In college I looked forward to graduation so I could get out and earn some money. I was tired of being broke. As I started working I looked forward to those two weeks out of the year called VACATION. Getting older now makes me look back and simply shake my head. What was I thinking?
After being back in Missouri last weekend leading the deacon retreat in Cape Girardeau, my wife and I had the opportunity to spend a little time visiting with family before heading back to Cheyenne. One of the places we spent a fair amount of time was with my brother-in-law Bob who was in his last days of life on this earth. He was called home late Tuesday evening. The sadness of parting gives an indication of the amount of love experienced while alive.
Bob’s death on Tuesday and my dad’s birthday today has made me pause for a little reflection. My dad would be 98 today if he were still alive. It is hard to believe he has been gone from our midst for over 21 years already. Where do the years go? While I was in St. Louis last week I snapped the above picture–mainly for the Cardinals logo and not the beer logo–because my dad enjoyed watching and listening to the Cardinals games especially in September and October. I am grateful that he also had the opportunity to make a couple of trips to Florida in his retirement to enjoy some Spring Training games as well.
What does all of this have to do with anything? Well, it reminds me to have a heart filled with gratitude. Life can be quite difficult at times and it is easy to grow cynical. Serious illness, the death of a loved one, broken relationships, loss of a job and income, and a litany of other problems can take a toll on us. The pain and suffering caused by such life events can be immense. Are we able to see God’s love in the midst of the challenges or do we blame God for the bad things happening in our lives? What is our perception of the reality surrounding us?
I invite you today to show gratitude in a very specific way for the blessings in your life. Hug your children or grandchildren a little tighter. Do something nice for your spouse. Write a note to someone you haven’t seen in years. Say an extra prayer for someone. There are many ways to show gratitude. Be creative and do something that works for you!
“Today is the first day of the 17th coordinated international 40 Days for Life campaign … as 40 days of prayer and fasting … peaceful vigil … and community outreach begins in 307 locations. ” Will you be getting involved? This is your opportunity to stand up for the sanctity of life. Don’t miss the chance!
His Eminence, Edwin Cardinal O’Brien and Bishop Paul Etienne preparing for the Eucharistic Liturgy.
The annual September Institute is a gathering of all of the clergy of the diocese and many of those in lay leadership positions as well. Nearly 150 people gathered in Laramie, Wyoming from September 15–17, 2015 to learn more about how to bring solid family ministry into local parish communities. It was a time of significant learning, vibrant worship, and joyful fellowship.
The Diocese of Cheyenne Clergy
Students from St. Laurence O’Toole School were able to join us for Mass
My wife received a phone call on Wednesday morning informing her that her brother had taken a turn for the worse. He had suffered a stroke a few days prior and things weren’t looking good for him. We hastily packed and made the 850 mile trek to go see him. A lot of things run through your mind during a 14 hour car ride through the night. Obviously, the big question was whether or not we would make it in time to see him.
We arrived at the hospital just after 5:00 A.M. on Thursday. Although he was asleep my wife did not hesitate to wake him up and let him know we were there. To our pleasant surprise he smiled and called us by name. (He didn’t even complain that we woke him up.) There are some gifts of grace present even in the most difficult circumstances. We are wise not to take those moments for granted.
Although my wife’s brother stabilized prior to our arrival at the hospital, he and his family still face a long uphill road in the recovery process. None of us know what the future holds. However, in the midst of suffering, trials, and tribulations, it is good to know that we are loved. If there is anything my wife’s family can hold on to in the midst of a major struggle, it is love. If being overwhelmed with people in your hospital room causes you to improve in your condition, it is no wonder why my brother-in-law saw such a dramatic improvement. (Either that, or he was hoping we would all leave if he showed signs of improvement.)
Our culture frequently diminishes the value of family. We are a mobile society and many times we are separated by distance. Please realize that distance does not mean that we are unable to remain close in our relationships. It is definitely easier to physically see one another when we live in close proximity, but that is still not a guarantee of closeness. It is also possible to live close together and make the choice not to see each other.
One day just after parking in the hospital garage, I heard my name called from behind. I turned around to see someone I had known my whole life. As a matter of fact her daughter and I went to grade school together and also ended up at the same university many years later. She informed me that her daughter had suffered bleeding on the brain. It was so sad to hear this because her daughter had suffered immensely even back in elementary school. My prayers are being lifted up for her recovery and for her whole family. This is another family that understands the bond of love.
Finally, my nephew and his wife became parents for the second time while I was in town as well. They were in the same hospital as my brother-in-law so I got to see Addison the morning after she was born. What a gorgeous baby who is sure to bring much joy into this world! Congratulations to her mom and dad. I am happy for the two of you.
The ups and downs of life seem to be the consistent factor for most of us. I pray for all who are suffering and struggling in any way. May you find strength, healing, and peace through the difficulties. I pray in thanksgiving for all who are experiencing profound joys and happiness in life. These blessings are not to be taken lightly. My prayer for all of us is that we encounter the living God in all aspects of our lives–in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health!
