Bishop David J. Bonnar
Our Doxology
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When I was a little boy, I vividly remember attending holy Mass every Sunday as a family. Typically, we sat in the first pew. My parents wanted us to be close to the action. At a very young age, I came to appreciate the beauty and mystery of the Mass. In fact, I was so Read More
Removing the Scales
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When I was a parish priest, I was pretty “religious” about my day off. For example, when my parents were alive, I would do an overnight each week. I always came back to the parish refreshed, renewed and reinvigorated. Mom and Dad have been deceased for 20 years. Thanks to my sisters, I still have Read More
‘Read the Experiences of Life’
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When I was a Catholic high school student, I vividly remember our morality teacher saying, almost like a daily mantra, “Read the experiences of life.” What he was telling us students was to prayerfully take time and consider how God was speaking to us in our everyday lives. The point was that God is always Read More
‘Behold, Your Mother’
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Among the many aspects of the Catholic faith my dear mother imparted to us children was a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mom loved Mary. Mom’s name was Mary Bernadette. Images of Mary abounded in our home. We even had a garden in the backyard with a statue of Mary surrounded by flowers. Read More
The Desert Experience
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When I was a seminarian living at the North American College in Rome, our formators used to speak about priestly formation as a “desert experience.” Even though we were nestled in one of the largest cities in the world with so much noise and traffic, there was something to be said about this imagery. Formation Read More
Making the Most of a Sacred Time
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The holy season of Lent is a dedicated time for personal conversion through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. This sacred time of repentance calls us to turn away from sin and grow more deeply in our relationship with Jesus Christ. How inspiring it is for us priests to witness the uptick in participation by the faithful. Read More
Get to Work
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This month I celebrate my 60th birthday. Tempus Fugit! There was a time when that number seemed so old to me, but not anymore. As I mark this milestone, I am not focusing so much on the number as much as on the experiences of this time. I have experienced so much. I do not Read More
Hitting the Reset Button
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When I was in grade school, my parents signed me up for a bowling league. Every Saturday morning, I would go to the bowling alley and help my team win. I have no idea how this happened as my parents were not bowlers. I think they wanted my older brother and me to learn the Read More