Articulating Hope

Author: Vernon Dobelmann

  • Suffering Tells a Story

    I was in Cancun last December and had the opportunity to take a boat ride to a nearby island (Isla Mujeres). I only had 90 minutes to explore the island on foot, and I ended up spending most of my time at this church. It was well worth it just to see the Stations of the Cross.

    I have had a bit of suffering in my own life, and I am only now beginning to truly grasp the level of suffering my mom endured through the years. My mom had numerous physical health challenges throughout her life. However, the suffering I couldn’t see is what impacts me now.

    I have an older brother that I never met. He only lived seven days. Sadly, he also died on mom’s birthday (January 28). Mom was not even able to go to the funeral due to still being in the hospital from complications from the birth. Since this all happened before my arrival to earth, it did not impact me in a monumental way. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 25 that I started to grasp the level of grief from both mom and dad.

    As the chemo treatments ravaged my body and I looked more and more like death warmed over, the look on my parents’ faces told the story of suffering. Would they soon be burying another one of their children?

    What story does your suffering tell? How has God’s grace impacted you?

    We are just three weeks away from Ash Wednesday. I simply share these Stations of the Cross now as a precursor to this upcoming holy season. Let the story of salvation unfold before you in these 14 Stations of the Cross. How has the suffering of Jesus, depicted in these unique Stations of the Cross, shaped who you are as a person?

    1. Jesus is condemned to death. 2. Jesus takes up his cross.
    Jesus Falls the First Time
    Jesus Meets His Sorrowful Mother
    Simon Helps Jesus to Carry the Cross
    Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
    Jesus Falls the Second Time
    The Women of Jerusalem Weep Over Jesus
    Jesus Falls the Third Time
    Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
    Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
    Jesus Dies on the Cross
    Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
    Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

  • Saint Joseph Parish Mission

    Saint Joseph Parish Mission in Fort Collins, Colorado March 23, 24, and 25, 2026

    It is with great joy that I will be sharing part of the Lenten journey with the folks at Saint Joseph Parish in Fort Collins, Colorado. I will preach at all five Masses on the weekend of March 21 and March 22.

    This will be followed up with a one-hour presentation each evening on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday beginning at 6:30 pm. We will have refreshments and fellowship after the gatherings on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, there will be an opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Penance at the conclusion of the Parish Mission.

    This will be a powerful way to prepare for entering into Holy Week the following week. I have been preaching parish missions for many years. It never ceases to amaze me at how God moves so powerfully among His people during these days of prayer, reflection, and learning.

    If you live anywhere in the Fort Collins region, I invite you to join us and take advantage of this time where we will experience an outpouring of God’s grace and love. You will experience renewal and a fresh dose of healing and hope.

    Saint Joseph Parish celebrates a milestone as their parish school celebrates 100 years of ministry. What a tremendous gift to northern Colorado! Saint Joseph Catholic School has been educating and forming students in the faith for 100 years. That is no small feat. I am grateful to be just a small part of the 100-year celebration as I preach this Lenten Parish Mission at Saint Joseph.

    Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Fort Collins, Colorado
    Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Fort Collins, Colorado

  • Knights of Columbus Day of Reflection

    2026 Day of Spiritual Reflection for Men in Fort Collins, Colorado

    It is my pleasure to be the closing speaker for the second year in a row at the Knights of Columbus Lenten Day of Spiritual Reflection for Men. I will never take for granted these invitations to speak to groups and parishes as they pursue a life of holiness. It is indeed sacred ground upon which we enter.

    I look forward to seeing men from all four parishes across Fort Collins, Colorado on Saturday, February 21.

  • St. Stephen–First Martyr

    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.

  • Men’s Morning of Hope–Wentzville, MO

    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 10-25-2025
    Saint Patrick Parish in Wentzville, Missouri 10-25-2025

  • Our Lady of the Rosary

    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.

    Our Lady of the Rosary–pray for us!

  • The Most Reverend Steven R. Biegler, DD, STL

    It has been a full three days.  Evening prayer on Sunday, ordination and installation on Monday, first Mass as bishop this morning, and now it is time for an attempt to get back into some kind of routine.  I want to welcome our new shepherd, Bishop Steven R. Biegler, DD, STL.  I am looking forward to getting to know him better and working closely with him.

    I had only been in the diocese for six weeks back in 2009 when we received a new bishop to shepherd the Diocese of Cheyenne at that time.  After having served with Bishop Paul Etienne for the last seven years, it is much easier for me to be of assistance to our new bishop.  I now have eighteen years of experience as a deacon, with eight of those being closely involved with liturgies at a cathedral with a bishop as the celebrant. (Cheyenne, Wyoming & Pueblo, Colorado) It took a long time to develop a comfort level with assisting a bishop at liturgy, but I am grateful to have reached that point.  I have learned more about liturgical rites in the last eighteen years than I had ever imagined. 

    The crosier, mitre, and bishop’s ring (pictured above) have significant meaning.  Our former bishop, now archbishop, explains the symbolism quite well in his recent blog.  I encourage you to read Archbishop Paul Etienne’s blog to learn the historical significance of each of these items.
    archbishopetienne.com/significance-of-bishops-insignia

    It was a wonderful privilege to be part of the planning for these days and to have a role in each of the liturgical celebrations.  Enjoy the photos below.

    Rehearsal is a key part of any major liturgical celebration.

    Picture
    Picture

    The appointment is verified in this official document.

    Picture

    Archbishop Aquila was the primary consecrating bishop.

    Picture
    Picture

    It was good to see Archbishop Etienne again.

  • Be Sealed With The Gift Of The Holy Spirit

    The beginning of the month of June brings thoughts of summer to my mind.  Lounging around in the sun certainly appeals to some animals as well as humans.  However, it isn’t quite time yet to take advantage of the warmer temperatures and slower pace. The ordination and installation of our new bishop on Monday still requires some preparation time.   The remainder of the month still finds my calendar with more than a few obligations on the agenda.

    We celebrate the Memorial of St. Justin, Martyr today.  If you have a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, I would encourage you to read paragraph 1345 to see a letter written by St. Justin somewhere around the year 155.  (You can also find the catechism on the internet if you don’t have a hard copy in your possession.)  If you want to know why we celebrate the Eucharist the way we do, you can see that it was already being done in a similar way at the time of St. Justin.

    Enjoy some leisure time this summer, but please do not take a vacation from practicing your faith.  After you read St. Justin’s writing, pick up the Bible and read chapter 6 of John’s Gospel.  Get your heart, mind, and soul ready for a fresh release of the Holy Spirit on this upcoming Pentecost Sunday!  Be SEALED with the Gift of the Holy Spirit!

  • Memorial Day and the Gift of Fortitude

    The Unites States of America celebrates Memorial Day today.  We remember all those who have given their lives in the defense of our freedom.  We especially remember them in our prayers.  “Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.  May they rest in peace. Amen.”

    The particular set of prayers that I am using for my Holy Spirit novena during these days between the Solemnity of the Ascension and the Solemnity of Pentecost focused my attention on the gift of fortitude today.  As I sat quietly reflecting upon this gift, I could not help but think of all the times I have failed to persevere in my journey toward holiness.  Fortitude is essential if we are going to unite ourselves completely to Christ.  Are we able to keep moving toward Christ especially when the cross shows up?

    I am grateful for the upbringing I received as a child, and I am blessed to have had years of continuing faith formation in my adult life.  This is something I cannot take for granted.  Not everyone has had the opportunities to be formed in the faith in such a magnificent way.  I was reminded of this while sitting at my computer writing this blog.  In an attempt to multi-task, I was flipping channels on the television to catch up on the latest news stories.  Sadly, I came across, The View.  High quality programming–right?  Why did I even pause before moving onto the next channel?

    Whoopi Goldberg asked a question about whether it is right or not to have an atheist as a godparent at a baptism.  Are you kidding me?  Why would that even be a question?  After listening to the gibberish offered up as answers, it was easy to see how it could be a question.  Wow!  Thankfully, Sunny Hostin was able to give a correct definition of the difference between a sponsor and a witness at a Catholic baptism.  I did not know who Sunny was, but the world of the internet informed me about her.  At least one person on the show made some sense. 

    Although I wanted to get an update on the shooting rampage in Mississippi, this brief encounter with The View coaxed me into simply shutting off the TV without getting to the news.  The gift of fortitude can help me stop wasting time watching TV.  The gift of wisdom would clue me in to just get rid of the televisions from our house.  Now that is something to seriously consider. 

  • Pray a Novena Between the Ascension and Pentecost

    The wait begins.  I can only imagine the various emotions the apostles must have felt after the ascension of the Lord.  He was crucified on the cross, buried, rose from the dead, and now He was gone again.  As they waited for the “Spirit of Truth” they must have surely been a bit worn out by the previous 43 days.

    Do you ever feel worn out spiritually?  You pray.  Life still does not go well. You are kind to others, and you still get mistreated yourself.  St. Teresa of Avila is often quoted as having said, “Dear Lord, if this is how You treat Your friends, it is no wonder You have so few.”  Have you ever felt that way?

    Today is the first day of the novena between the Ascension of the Lord and Pentecost.  Although most regions of the United States have moved the Solemnity of the Ascension to this coming Sunday rather than having celebrated it yesterday, please don’t miss this opportunity to pray during these nine days leading up to Pentecost.  Ask for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your life.

    If you need access to particular prayers for this novena, I would suggest the prayers from the EWTN website as a starter.

    www.ewtn.com/devotionals/pentecost/seven.htm

    Enjoy these days between the Ascension and Pentecost.  Be filled with the Holy Spirit!