Official Diocesan Blog

It is hard to think of anything that is more contrary to the message and ministry of Jesus Christ than domestic abuse. It is not limited to any particular socio-economic or educational level. As stress and the pressures of isolation grow, abuse is becoming increasingly prevalent. If we are to be faithful to the Gospel, we cannot ignore it.

As you gather with friends and family this coming Thanksgiving Day, I urge you to take time and be deliberate in your thanks to Almighty God for his abundant provision. As you do so, remember those who are lacking in what we consider basic necessities and, as you are able, provide for them.

Deaths of Despair are an increasing problem in the United States and abroad. Too many choose to end their life when they feel the weight of the world closing in around them. So, how are we to deal with this phenomenon as the Church? How do we meet this despair with the love of God?

"Good preaching starts on our knees as we listen to the Spirit of God. This leads us, through our study, to a confident proclamation of the Word of God, with the sure expectation that God will speak through that proclamation to the hearts and minds of those present – beginning with the preacher! Preaching is a holy moment and deserves our very best effort and most fervent prayers."

Miracles are often something we associate with the past, but God is still active today, making the impossible possible in our lives.

Halloween has become an increasingly strong cultural force in American culture. So, how should we as the Church respond?

The role of grandparent continues to play an important part of our family cultures and human development. An while we here in America might not revere our elders as much as other cultures around the globe, almost all of us have stories to tell about the impact that our grandparents had on our life.

No-one is meant to be hidden in the kingdom of God. Each and every person is valuable, and we have a responsibility to see them.

Mother Teresa doubted. Martin Luther doubted. C. S. Lewis doubted. These are not lightweights. These are giants of faith worth following. They made their doubt work for them. They integrated doubt into their faith, and their uncertainty about God and the future deepened their faith over time. This encourages me. I hope it encourages you. If God did not want us to ever doubt, he could have ripped the book of Psalms right out of the Bible. God is much bigger than our doubts. It is possible to have great doubt and great faith at the same time. The two are not mutually exclusive. In Mother Teresa, in Luther, and in Lewis we see that great men and women of faith can also be great men and women of doubt. In faith, there is room for doubt.