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“Habemus Papam!” I hope that many of you, dear readers had the opportunity to hear and see the announcement on this past Thursday, May 8, a little after 1 p.m. EST, that “We have a (new) Pope.”

“… By his labor and abilities man has always striven to improve the quality of his life. Today, particularly by means of science and technology, he has extended his mastery over almost the whole of nature, and still continues to extend it. ...

“… The resurrection of Jesus is indeed the basis of our hope. For in the light of this event, hope is no longer an illusion. Thanks to Christ — crucified and risen from the dead — hope does not disappoint! Spes non confundit! (cf. Rom 5:5) …”

In February of 2025, the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, wrote to all the Bishops in the Church, asking that they become “persuasive apostles” in support of the annual “Pro Terra Sancta” collection, taken on Good Friday.

Have you heard (or wondered) how Pope Francis is doing, especially since he left the hospital two weeks ago? As I began writing this column on Sunday morning, April 6, I was surprised when I “Googled” Pope Francis to learn that he had made a (surprise) public appearance that same morning at the Vatican, and it was wonderful to see him looking so well.

As we enter into the Fourth Week of Lent, drawing closer to Holy Week and Easter, I wanted to be sure that readers are aware that (Blessed) Carlo Acutis will be canonized on “Divine Mercy Sunday” at the close of the Jubilee of Adolescents on April 27, 2025.

“17. The coming Jubilee Year will also coincide with a significant date for all Christians, namely, the 1700th anniversary of the celebration of the first great Ecumenical Council, that of Nicaea… The Council of Nicaea sought to preserve the Church’s unity, which was seriously threatened by the denial of the full divinity of Jesus Christ and, hence, his consubstantiality with the Father. Some 300 bishops took part, convoked at the behest of the Emperor Constantine; their first meeting took place in the Imperial Palace on 20 May 325.

“When the Eternal Breaks Through” is the title given to Bishop Robert Barron’s homily for the Second Sunday of Lent. On this past weekend, the Second Sunday of Lent, we heard and reflected upon the Gospel of the Transfiguration (Lk. 9:28b-36). Bishop Barron says that The Transfiguration “… opens up something … moments when life, when reality becomes incandescent or transparent to something more …”

I would like to thank our friends at the Jesuitical Podcast for reminding me that this Lenten Season, in addition to being part of the Jubilee of Hope, also marks the 50th anniversary of Operation Rice Bowl, a program sponsored by Catholic Relief Services (CRS).

“Jesus said to His disciples, … When you fast, … When you give alms, … When you pray … And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.” Mt. 6:1–6, 16–18 Each year on Ash Wednesday, at Mass or a Prayer Service, as we begin the Season of Lent, we hear the Gospel quoted above, Matthew 6: 1–6, 16–18, and Jesus speaks to us, His disciples, about fasting, almsgiving, and prayer. As Jesus speaks to us of those spiritual practices, we should “listen very closely” because He is telling us not only “what” we should do but “how” (and why) we should do it.

St. John Henry Newman, the great theologian of the nineteenth century, chose as his motto when appointed a cardinal, “Cor ad cor loquitur” — “Heart speaks to heart.” This is a time in our history, I respectfully suggest, when we need heart speaking to heart.

I offer above the first eight verses of the fifth chapter of St. Paul’s letter to the Romans because, this past week, while on Retreat, I had the opportunity to spend some time in prayer with this and some other Scripture passages that speak about Hope. The opportunity of an annual Retreat is a gift the Church gives to priests, bishops, and those in consecrated life.

A medida que iba creciendo, llegué a entender lo que significaba decir: “Mis padres nacieron en Irlanda”. Ser criado por padres inmigrantes no pareció tener mucho impacto en mí, mi hermana o mi hermano, ya que crecimos en un “vecindario irlandés-italiano” en Queens en las décadas de 1970 y 1980.

As I was growing up, I eventually came to understand what it meant to say, “My parents were born in Ireland.” Being raised by immigrant parents did not seem to have much of an impact on me, my sister, or my brother as we grew up in an “Irish-Italian neighborhood” in Queens in the 1970s and ’80s.

From Sunday, Jan. 26 (the Sunday of the Word of God) through Saturday, Feb. 1, in this Jubilee Year of 2025, we will celebrate “National Catholic Schools Week,” the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. You can learn more about Catholic Schools Week at the “NCEA” (National Catholic Educational Association) website.

Are you as surprised as I am that we are (already) preparing to celebrate the SIXTH “Sunday of the Word of God?” Or, perhaps, are you more surprised that this could be the first time you are hearing about the “Sunday of the Word of God?” For regular readers of this column, I think that I may owe you an apology because I don’t think that I have referenced or written about Pope Francis’ establishment, on Sept. 30, 2019, of an annual “Sunday of the Word of God,” on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time.

If “a picture is worth a thousand words,” what is the value of a really wonderful and inspirational video? During the day on New Year’s Eve, I picked up a book that had been sitting on my bookshelf for some time. The title of the book is Sr. Clare Crockett: Alone with Christ Alone.

The end of one year and the beginning of another is a very appropriate time to “look back” and “look forward.” Here in our diocese, as we come to the close of 2024 and look forward, with the whole Church, to the New (Jubilee) Year of 2025, there is a special reason for us to “look back” with gratitude and “look forward” with great hope.

I wrote my first weekly column in the Beacon in September 2020. Msgr. James Mahoney was Vicar General and an excellent proofreader, editor, and coach, helping me with the column (and so many other “new experiences”) in my first months as Bishop. Msgr. Mahoney retired as Vicar General at the end of September 2020, and Msgr. Mark Condon has been serving in that role ever since. Msgr. Condon has also been a great help to me with my weekly column — and in many other areas.

With these words, “SPES NON CONFUNDIT…,” Pope Francis invites the whole Church to enter into a HOLY YEAR, a great Jubilee. This invitation was offered to us all when Pope Francis published the Bull of Indiction on May 9, 2024. Now (seven months later), the beginning of the Jubilee, which will take place in Rome on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2024, with the opening of the Holy Door, is only two weeks away.