Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, In an episode of “Parks and Recreation” (a show that belongs in the discussion of best comedies after “The Office”), the town of Pawnee, IN is running a budget youth basketball league. Ron Swanson and Andy Dwyer are tasked with coaching the two teams. Ron’s team is disciplined and coached in the finer points of basketball, running drills while also learning valuable life lessons (explained by the Swanson Pyramid of Greatness). Andy’s team is the exact opposite. Ron teaches the boys how the game works and how to take the game seriously. Andy is…read more

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The patron saint of parish priests, St. John Marie Vianney, summarized the vocation to the priesthood in these words: “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Christ.” In his ministry in the tiny village of Ars, France, he brought the love of the heart of Christ not only to the 230 residents of the town, but also to the countless souls who came through the village eager to see this holy priest. In the last ten years of his four decades serving in Ars, St. John Vianney spent up to 16 hours…read more

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The late Francis Cardinal George once wrote “In the United States, everything is permitted, even encouraged. … But, while practically everything might be permitted, practically nothing is forgiven. By contrast, in the Church much is not permitted. … But while much is not permitted, everything can be forgiven. Our culture pulls us towards vengeance, our faith towards mercy.” On this Divine Mercy Sunday, his words echo powerfully in my heart, for we indeed live in a time when permissiveness is run amok and forgiveness is in short supply. Today it is often referred to…read more

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, In my grandfather’s collection of photographs from his time in the US Army serving in the European Theater during World War II, one in particular captured my attention. Taken from a balcony, the photo shows American GIs kneeling during an Easter Sunday Mass in a makeshift chapel somewhere in Belgium. Shoulder to shoulder, the men kneel together at the moment of consecration. In the midst of wartime combat and chaos, their worship at Mass draws them into the greatest combat that has ever taken place. In the Eucharist, they adore the Risen Lord who…read more