Columns 2022

Seven months ago (last November), I wrote about my experience at my first in-person meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and how impressed I was by a particular presentation given by Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, and the chair of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities. Archbishop Nauman offered a presentation and update on a program (initiative) called Walking with Moms in Need.

It will depend on your perspective, whether you would say that 2003 is “recent history” or “a long time ago,” but, in 2003 St. Pope John Paul II (at that time affectionately known as “JP 2” or “the Holy Father”) wrote one of his many Encyclical Letters, entitled Ecclesia De Eucharistia. As we participate in a Diocesan Year of the Eucharist, I have tried to look back at some of Church’s teaching and the writings of the saints on the topic of the Eucharist. It was a wonderful experience to read (again?) St. John Paul’s Ecclesia De Eucharistia. While I remember its publication in 2003, I can’t remember if I read the complete document at that time. During the past week, I had the opportunity to read the letter slowly and prayerfully.

We are currently compiling the responses and input that we received during the diocesan phase of the Synod on Synodality. Father Paul Manning, vicar for evangelization, and Maria Moncaleano, director of our diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry, who serve as the co-chairs of our Diocese’s Synod Steering Committee, are leading the process of organizing the information we have received. By the end of this month, we will have a document summarizing all that we have “heard” during this stage of the Synodal process. We will send that document to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and we will publicize the document to make it accessible to all.

On this past Saturday, I had the great privilege to ordain seven men as priests to serve our diocesan Church. It was a moment of great joy, for the men who were ordained and for their families and friends, for priests, religious and laity, for those who were able to be physically present (and fill the Cathedral), as well as for those who shared in the celebration via livestream. I mentioned in my homily that I believe these men are a “historic” ordination class, because they will be the first newly ordained priests in the 85-year history of our Diocese to celebrate their first Mass on the Solemnity of the Lord’s Ascension.

On this past Friday, May 20, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone issued a letter by which he communicated his decision that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is not to be admitted to Holy Communion. Since the news story broke, I have received a number of emails and messages, mostly encouraging me to support the Arch­bishop’s decision. Two of the emails that I received directed me to (separate) articles referencing nine Bishops who have made public statements in support of Arch­bishop Cordileone’s decision. Here are the links to those two articles: