As we approach the summer vacation season, I wanted to catch you up on several things that have been on my mind!

1.  Congratulations to John Woods and the entire staff of Catholic New York (CNY)!  At last week’s Catholic Press Association convention, CNY once again walked off with an armful of awards, including the coveted General Excellence Award for the second year in a row, plus first-place honors for stories that they did on last year’s papal transition, and the Year of Faith!  I am honored that my own column was given a first place award…

In this week’s Catholic New York column, I wrote about the rosary, a wonderful prayer and an effective means of evangelization.  I thought you might want to read it.

Here is an excerpt:

Pope Francis has radiantly reminded us of this, hasn’t he? It’s not helpful to start with what the Church is against; it’s not productive to begin with what’s right or wrong. We’ll get to that eventually. No, we start with the Person, the invitation, the message of Jesus! Then, everything else flows from this saving proclamation!

My friend, Father Bob Barron, one of the nation’s premier evangelists today, puts it like this:…

In this week’s Catholic New York column, I wrote a special letter on the pastoral planning process, Making All Things New.  I thought you might want to see it.

Here is an excerpt:

As I am confident you have heard, since we have been preparing for this the last five years, the Archdiocese of New York is now formally embarking on our pastoral planning process, Making All Things New, and we approach this process in a spirit of faith, hope, and love. I have great faith in God, and in all God’s people throughout the 10 counties and 368 parishes of this archdiocese. I have deep hopein what…

My greatest joy as your archbishop is visiting our parishes! In my recent Catholic New York column, I wrote about my visits to some of the parishes in the last few weeks. Let me share an excerpt with you:

The colorful priest-sociologist, Father Andrew Greeley, used to comment that the Catholic Church was the most “grassroots organization in the history of the world.” He went on to explain that the heart of Catholic infrastructure was the parish, which was about as close to the people as you can get.

He’s right. When I arrived here as your archbishop a little over three…

In my recent Catholic New York column, I wrote about why religious freedom is worth protecting. Let me share an excerpt with you:

Maybe some folks are a little tired of hearing or talking about it, but our priests who are there “on the ground” tell me I should not flag in presenting and explaining the Church’s high profile posture in our defense of religious freedom.

We’ve prayed about it—and will intensify our prayers during the upcoming Fortnight for Freedom—written about it, spoken of it, given endless interviews on it, and brought our case to the White…

Written 17 years ago by one of my predecessors, John Cardinal O’Connor, this column reminded us then what we must remember now — Haiti needs our help and prayers.  As the Cardinal said, Pierre Toussaint (now declared “Venerable” — another step on the road to possible beatification and canonization) is the “perfect mediator” for “those looking for peace in Haiti.”

In the Cathedral Crypt, A Prayer for Haiti

John Cardinal O’Connor, Catholic New York

October 21, 1993

It’s time to take Pierre Toussaint seriously. The situation in Haiti is a mess. The relationship between…

We are just about half-way through Lent, making this the perfect time to recommit ourselves to a real spirit of prayer, fasting, and charity.  My column this week in Catholic New York, the Archdiocesan newspaper, is all about Lenten Penance.  Here’s an excerpt:

Jesus doesn’t really tell us what we should exactly do for penance—although He does extol fasting, cutting down seriously on food—but He sure insists that we undergo some   self-sacrifice.

Yes, it may be eating less, giving up certain foods, or doing laudable acts we find tough.

All you need to…