I recently had the opportunity to spend some time in Mexico. Unfortunately, being herded like cattle through the airport resulted in picking up a bug on the way home. Today is the first day I have spent more than a couple of hours out of bed in a week. Yes, I missed out on celebrating Christmas. Let’s just say I celebrated a week early with temperatures in the low to mid 80’s, a nice breeze off of the Gulf of America (Mexico), and palm trees as a backdrop to an artificial Christmas tree. What a blessing it was to be there!
December 26 finds us celebrating the life of St. Stephen, the first martyr. Why is that important? It’s simple. He was a deacon. Deacons are always shining examples of how to live the faith. Right? Okay. I am still a work in progress.
We celebrate the Octave of Christmas. Keep celebrating well.
Nearly 60 men attended the Morning of Recollection at Saint Patrick Parish in Wentzville, Missouri on October 25. This was my first time speaking at this parish, and what a blessing it was for me. There are times you walk into a parish and can feel the energy. This was one of those places. Wow!
After hundreds of speaking engagements over the last quarter of a century, I am still amazed at the powerful ways God touches the hearts of His people. The private conversations during the breaks always reveal the various ways God is speaking to His people in the depths of their hearts. It is indeed a beautiful experience.
Many thanks to the Knights of Columbus for organizing a terrific event.
Saint Patrick Parish in Wentzville, Missouri 10-25-2025Saint Patrick Parish in Wentzville, Missouri 10-25-2025
After several years of absence from the blogging world, I have returned once again with a single purpose in mind. I want to be articulating hope.
Our world is hurting in many ways, but the Church can be a beacon of light in the midst of the darkness. It is my desire to encourage you, as well as myself, to keep being faithful witnesses of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
The Lourdes Grotto at Our Lady of the Snows Shrine is a quiet and peaceful place to pray. I did not venture any closer to the shrine so as not to disturb the one individual kneeling in prayer. I can easily see why that person found such solace in this place.
Does our prayer lead to action? How do we reach out and care for those who are hurting due to wars, poverty, injustice, illness, or any other reason? In what ways are we touching suffering humanity?
My time at Our Lady of the Snows Shrine on Divine Mercy Sunday gave me much to appreciate and much to ponder. The question resonating in my mind since leaving there has been a straightforward one. How is my ministry building up the Kingdom of God? That obviously leads to other reflective questions. How is my prayer life? In the call to service as a deacon, how am I personally ministering to the poor and marginalized members of society? Have I grown complacent in my own ministry? These are not questions I can answer in a hurried manner. There needs to be serious thought, prayer, and reflection before arriving at an honest answer.
Looking at the sculpture above certainly has the potential to change a person from a tourist visiting the shrine to a pilgrim on the journey of faith.
Seeing the Annunciation Garden with Angelus Bells and a fountain at Our Lady of the Snows Shrine in Belleville, Illinois made me grateful for our noon time tradition at the Chancery Office in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Our staff gathers together each day at 11:52 A.M. to pray the Angelus for the needs of our diocese and anyone who requests our prayers. It is wonderful to be in solidarity with others as we pray.
This is a close-up of the angel appearing to Mary at the time of the annunciation. This sculpture is located directly behind the angelus bells.
With snow still in the forecast here in Wyoming, I truly enjoyed the 70 degree temperatures and the green vegetation while visiting Missouri and illinois. The grounds at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows were simply gorgeous.
The above photos give you a glance at the beauty of the outdoor shrine.
The season of Lent created a full schedule on my calendar. Thankfully, I stayed healthy throughout the journey. After going nearly eight weeks with only one day off, I finally had a chance to escape for a few days this past weekend.
My wife and I were able to make a quick trip to the St. Louis area to visit her family. On Sunday we made a short trip a little farther east across the Mississippi River into Belleville, Illinois to visit Our Lady of the Snows Shrine for Divine Mercy Sunday. The shrine has long been a favorite of mine during the Advent and Christmas season due to their extravagant Christmas displays. This was my first visit for Divine Mercy Sunday. It was absolutely wonderful.
The grounds of the shrine were beautiful. There are times I really miss the lush green lawns during the early spring. In Wyoming I am just grateful when I am not shoveling snow in April and May.
I will share more pictures in the days/weeks ahead. I hope you are having a blessed Easter Season!
In 2003 I became a theology teacher and campus minister at Valle Catholic High School in Sainte Genevieve, Missouri. I reflect upon those years with great fondness and appreciation. I never realized at the time it was laying the groundwork to eventually become a principal and now a superintendent. God’s plans are quite surprising in many different circumstances.
My thoughts returned to my time at Valle today as I uploaded this photo from an e-mail my daughter had sent to me. As I looked at the photo I was wishing for one more item to be on the sign so that we would have “ten commandments.” Unfortunately, there are only nine prohibitions listed. However, it brought my mind back to a conversation that I had with a student while teaching at Valle. The student commented that the Church specializes in saying, “Thou shalt not…” That is certainly what I thought of when I saw this sign. Are we allowed to do anything?
A moral theologian could explain things in greater detail than what I am able, but I want to take just a moment to reflect upon the beauty of freedom. Can you imagine how “free” we would be if everyone followed the Ten Commandments? We would not need security cameras. We would not need to arrive at the airport two hours in advance to get through security. If we all followed the commandments and loved God with our whole heart. mind, soul, and strength and loved our neighbor as ourselves, we would all experience freedom in ways we may have never imagined.
How much heartache would we be spared if we each treated our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit as we believe they are? How many sexual relationships outside of the marriage bond between a man and a woman have brought serious emotional despair? Is there a valid reason why the Church encourages chastity and purity? How many individuals, and their families, have been devastated by substance abuse? Is there a reason why the Church encourages us to be prudent and temperate?
Life in Christ may require us to skip some things that look appealing on the surface. We seem to understand that concept in the secular aspect of our lives. If we eat nothing but candy day after day the long-term effects on our physical health will probably not be good. It is the same with our interior life. If we consume a steady diet of immorality, lack of charity, and specialize in the seven capital sins, our interior life is going to be in disarray. What will feed your interior life more effectively–television or Scripture reading? Is prayer more life-giving than looking at porn on the internet? It makes a difference how we live.
The Church gives us guidance in the ways to holiness. This leads us to eternal life with Almighty God, and that is our destiny. That is our purpose for being here. What concrete steps are you taking to grow in holiness? Did you begin some good practices during Lent that you can keep going? I want to encourage you to not become complacent. Keep growing.
Do you have plans for a summer reading program? May I suggest one? Read Part III of the Catechism of the Catholic Church entitled, Life in Christ. It may give you a tip or two on how to more fully unite your will to the will of God.
In closing, I simply say thank you to all who have touched my life in a positive way through the years. I am grateful for my time spent in Sainte Genevieve, Missouri, and for the people who entered my life during those years. Although I have been gone from Valle Catholic High School for more than a decade already, I give a “shout-out” to the students, their parents, the faculty, and the staff (and the retired personnel as well). May you be blessed abundantly in these final weeks of the school year!
It was raining this evening as I left for the Bishop’s Guild dinner and meeting. The rain is forecasted to turn to snow overnight. The photo above represents what we could be experiencing if we were living in California or other climate conducive to such growth at this time of year. Regardless of the weather conditions outside, spending time with the ladies of the Bishop’s Guild is always a delight. The dedication and prayerful witness of these women renews my own sense of purpose. The Church is blessed indeed to have such faithful and generous servants caring for God’s people.
The season of Easter reminds us of the power of God. As we continue our trek toward the Solemnity of Pentecost, we are encouraged to live our life in the Spirit. Have we recognized the risen Jesus in the breaking of bread? Do we believe He has sent His Holy Spirit upon us?
What in your life needs attention that you can follow the command of Jesus to cast out into the deep? Just as the ship workers take care of the maintenance needs of the vessel, we too, need to prepare ourselves for the pilgrimage of faith upon which we have embarked. Are you taking care of the temple of the Holy Spirit–which is you? Are you ready, willing, and able to share your faith with others?
Are you participating in the sacraments regularly? Are you praying with frequency and fervor? Are you studying the faith? Are you reading and praying with the Sacred Scriptures? Are you loving God with your whole heart, mind, soul, and strength? Are you loving your neighbor as yourself?
I invite you to read the Acts of the Apostles in the Bible and experience the zeal of the early Church. Let the Word of God penetrate you in a profound manner so that you are filled with the Holy Spirit. This has the potential to motivate and inspire you to action just as it did the apostles. Do you have that burning desire?
My final question is straightforward. Are you equipped and ready to cast your net out into the deep?
