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Bishop David J. Bonnar

The Power Given Us

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When I look back at 36 years of priesthood, I can honestly say that I have been abundantly blessed. Time and again, I have been the recipient of so many gifts. Unfortunately, I am embarrassed to say that I have not always used them. The busyness of life, coupled with the demands of ministry, has Read More

Baptism

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New Year! There is something about this time, at least where I live, in this portion of the Lord’s vineyard, in which the ice and snow engender thoughts about summer with green grass, radiant sun and refreshing waters. I am reminded of the first, and probably last, time I went kayaking. As a novice, I Read More
simple life

Simplifying Our Lives

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I once lived with a priest who was very intentional about his clothing. For example, when he purchased a new shirt or a new pair of trousers, he would always remove an older shirt or pair of slacks from his collection and place it in the St. Vincent de Paul box. He did this not Read More
prayer

Giving Thanks and Remembering

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If your upbringing was anything like mine, then perhaps you have memories of attending Sunday Mass as a family and coming home to enjoy a big breakfast with loved ones. The meal would often exceed the time frame of all other weekly meals because there was always good conversation. In my family, there was more Read More
encounters

Encounters that Tug at the Heart

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Have you ever considered just how many encounters you have in one day? Whether in person, on the phone, on Zoom, through text or email, our life is filled with conversations. Many of these moments are benign and mundane, centering on the weather or what might be next on our calendar. But then there are Read More
Catholic Mass

Gathering in Community

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In “The Joy of the Gospel” Pope Francis speaks about what he calls “the informal preaching which takes place in the middle of a conversation, something along the lines of what a missionary does when visiting a home” (No. 127). Inside every conversation, there is the opportunity to proclaim the Gospel and to teach as Read More
Mass

To Preside and Celebrate Mass

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On July 24, 1988, I was blessed to celebrate my first Mass of Thanksgiving as a priest of Jesus Christ in my home parish church. I remember being so excited and ever so nervous. I must confess that after all these years there is a part of me that still becomes anxious at holy Mass Read More
pilgrims

‘Pilgrims of Hope’

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I have always enjoyed a good quote. As someone on the forensics team in high school and as a preacher of over 35 years, I have come to appreciate the power and provocation of quotes. For example, one of my favorite quotes comes from the famous poet T.S. Eliot. He once said, “We had the Read More
Ecology

Caring for Our Common Home

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Embedded in the Book of Ezekiel is an interesting passage about how the prophet is to be a watchman: “The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, speak to your people and tell them: When I bring the sword against a land, if the people of that land select one of their Read More
priests

Called ‘Father’

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Do you remember the first time someone called you “Father”? How did that make you feel? That moment, no doubt, occurred on ordination day. Perhaps it was not as riveting, given all that happened on that day, as well as the following day with the first Mass of Thanksgiving. But in the days after, especially Read More