Blog - May 2019 RSS Feed

On this week’s Conversation with Cardinal Dolan , I discussed my weekend including ordaining six new priests and my trip to the Diocese of Syracuse to celebrate Bishop Robert Cunningham’s 50 th priestly ordination anniversary.

On today’s Conversation with Cardinal Dolan , I discussed my busy weekend including the ordination of a Paulist priest and the Dominican College graduation. Father Dave Dwyer and I also discussed current events including the passing of abortion restriction legislation in Alabama and Missouri.

Here’s my homily from this morning. Today is the Feast of Saint Christopher Magallanes and his companions, martyrs. Martyrdom has always been with the Church as we see in today’s reading. We will never accept it and always defend those who are being persecuted.

Here’s my homily from this morning. Today is the Feast of Saint Bernardine of Siena. He reminds us that just saying the name of Jesus with reverence is an act of faith. That name is a powerful prayer.

On today’s Conversation with Cardinal Dolan, Father Dave Dwyer and I talked about my recent pilgrimage to Lourdes with the Order of Malta and my trip to St. Louis for Mother’s Day.

Here’s my homily from this morning. The work of Jesus is continued in and through the Church as we see in the Gospel readings. Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Matthias, who the apostles chose to be the 12th after Judas.

Here’s my homily from this morning. Yesterday was Good Shepherd Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Easter. This morning’s Gospel elaborates on that theme. Today is also the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Our Blessed Mother is a valuable part of the ministry of Jesus.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 9, 2019 In his new Motu Proprio, Vos estis lux mundi (“You are the light of the world”), our Holy Father, Pope Francis, once again displays his deep pastoral concern that the evil scourge of sexual abuse must be dealt with swiftly and seriously, and shows that he has listened intently to the voices of his people around the world — not just bishops and priests, but, importantly and appropriately, the laity, including especially victim-survivors and their families.

Here’s my homily from this morning. Jesus warned us that as they persecuted Him, they will persecute the Church. It’s not surprising that persecution goes on today, but we can never be passive. Our duty today is to speak up in defense of those being persecuted for their faith throughout the world.

Here is my homily from Sunday’s Mass in Lourdes. One of the many graces of the Easter season is to hear the episodes of our Lord’s visits with His disciples. Jesus eats with His disciples as He did at the Last Supper.

On this week’s Conversation with Cardinal Dolan , I talk with my brother and sister pilgrims from the Order of Malta in Lourdes, as well as the Malades – those who go to seek healing – about their experiences during this year’s pilgrimage.

We’re heading back home, but thank you for following along with us on our pilgrimage to Lourdes. I’m bringing back a lot more than water from the Grotto and holy cards. Wherever we are we have Jesus, Mary, one another, and the Church.

A pilgrimage is a walk in faith. We walked in procession at the Blessing of the Sick and in the candlelight walk as we prayed the rosary. We’re on a journey — we come from God, and we go back to Him for all eternity.

Here’s my homily from yesterday at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. As we see in the Gospel, the disciples were fearful that their boat would sink in a storm. Jesus said “Be not afraid.” We’re afraid, as were the apostles, that we’re going to sink.

Day 3 of our pilgrimage. We’re at the heart of Lourdes — the Grotto. Mary appeared to Bernadette here in 1858. At the time it was a garbage dump. Isn’t that still the case today in a way? People leave their “garbage” — their pain and sins — with Mary and she never lets us down.

Today we remember that Lourdes is a sanctuary of healing. Some sick people need miracles, but we ALL need healing. A popular agent of healing in the Bible is water – think of baptism, think of miracles.

We celebrated the official start of our pilgrimage in Lourdes with a special Mass. I’m reflecting on the significance with my brother and sister pilgrims. Why is it different here? https://vimeo.com/334019497

We’re back in Lourdes. I’m here in France with the the Order of Malta. I look forward to being in your company as we spiritually take you with us on our pilgrimage. I’ll be posting videos every day, so follow along with me.

Thanks for the invitation to return here to the Metropolitan Club and speak with you once again. After giving a talk anywhere, I always say, “Hey, invite me back!”  Usually they don’t. You did! Thanks!

Communists dubbed May 1 “Workers Day” because they wanted the world to believe they were the only ones lifting up working people. But in 1955, Pope Pius XII showed God was way ahead of the Communists – making May 1 the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker.