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Hope

Road Work Ahead

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Forty years ago, Robert Fulghum published his classic book, “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” reflecting on timeless lessons like, “Be kind to one another,” “Clean up after yourself,” and “Share.” Learning does not stop in kindergarten, though. Ten years later, those 6-year-olds are teenagers learning another set of rules: the Read More

Agents of Hope

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The Jubilee Year continues to unfold. During this grace-filled time, Pope Francis invited us to be “pilgrims of hope.” Hopefully, excuse the pun, we are aspiring every day to exude a hope that does not disappoint. For us priests, it is not just a matter of being “pilgrims” in this movement of hope, but also Read More

Expect Conversion

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I was recently working with a room full of priests regarding plans for outreach and evangelization in their diocese. As we looked at maps and statistics that the chancery had prepared, I approached one table, where a few of the priests questioned why we were planning to evangelize that part of the diocese. “There are Read More

Hope Eternal

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Grace, reconciliation, mercy and hope stand apart among the many virtues, as they have the honor of being the themes of the last four quarter-century jubilee years. Pope Pius XII called for a Year of Grace in 1950, Pope St. Paul VI proclaimed a Year of Reconciliation and Renewal in 1975, Pope St. John Paul Read More

Journey to the Center of the Heart

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Through conversations with pastors and priest friends, I hear that it is often challenging to respond to parishioners seeking spiritual direction. These priests, of course, answer warmly and pastorally, but, citing the time to make that commitment in an otherwise full schedule, they also seek other sources for such ministry, either among other priests or Read More
St. Stephen Cathedral

Where Did It All Go?

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During the coronation of King Charles III of England in May 2023, it was striking that the entire ceremony was done in the context of a eucharistic celebration. In retrospect, this was not so unusual as every major British royal celebration such as weddings, funerals and anniversaries would take place in a liturgical service of Read More
St. Jude Thaddeus

Sharing Hope with the Hopeless

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Perhaps this scene is familiar to you: It’s Christmas Eve and, looking out into a packed assembly, you recognize many faces but several that are unknown to you. Perhaps they are family members of active parishioners in town for the holidays. However, more often than not, they are either Catholics on the parish registration list Read More
Holy Door

Becoming Pilgrims of Hope

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Some biographers of Pope St. John Paul II have said he was a pessimist by nature and temperament. If true, we’d be hard-pressed to find any indications of such pessimism in the life and pastoral ministry of the saintly pope. He often spoke of “a new springtime” of the Church and lived in constant hope Read More