When we hear the word stewardship, it is easy to think it applies only to those with financial abundance or special talents. Stewardship is not reserved for a select few, it is a way of life, and we are all called to be good stewards.

Queridos hermanos y hermanas en Cristo: Recientemente, estuve con mis hermanos obispos en un retiro. En el programa del retiro siempre se reserva un tiempo para celebrar el Sacramento de la Confesión. Uno de los obispos mencionó: «Dejó de acudir al confesionario porque era demasiado duro consigo mismo con sus penitencias». Por supuesto, nosotros, como obispos, no acudimos a nosotros mismos para la celebración del sacramento. Al igual que ustedes, también necesitamos acudir a un obispo o a un sacerdote para celebrar este maravilloso sacramento de amor y misericordia. Aprecio sinceramente la oportunidad de celebrar este sacramento en mi propia vida.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Recently, I was with my brother bishops on retreat. Within the retreat schedule, there is always time set aside to celebrate the Sacrament of Confession. One of the bishops mentioned, “He stopped going in the mirror for confession, because he was far too hard on himself with his penances.” Of course, we as bishops do not go to ourselves for the celebration of the sacrament. We need, like you, to also go to a bishop or a priest to celebrate this wonderous sacrament of love and mercy. I truly appreciate the opportunity to celebrate this sacrament in my own life.

Sr. Mary Eileen Wilhelm, R.S.M., who served in the health care ministry for 35 years—including time as president and CEO of Mercy Medical, Inc.—passed away March 6 at the age of 87.

Don’t fear the confessional this Lent! One of the hardest things to explain to someone who is not Catholic is why we go into a closed room, often with some kind of noise machine after waiting in a line with 10 other people and then spill our secrets to a man with a “purple scarf.”

We have just begun the season of Lent. It is a blessing and at the same time, a bit of a cross to enter into this season of sacrifice. None of us like to deny ourselves things that are not intrinsically bad, we like comfort. Why can’t we just have some more Ordinary Time? We can still get holy, right?

La Iglesia celebra la memoria de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes el 11 de febrero. El papa San Juan Pablo II declaró este día festivo como Día Mundial del Enfermo. Afirmó que este Día Mundial del Enfermo es «un momento especial de oración y de compartir, de ofrecer el propio sufrimiento por el bien de la Iglesia y de recordarnos que debemos ver en nuestros hermanos y hermanas enfermos el rostro de Cristo, quien, al sufrir, morir y resucitar, logró la salvación de la humanidad».

The Church celebrates the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes on Feb. 11. Pope St. John Paul II declared this feast day as World Day of the Sick. He stated that this World Day of the Sick is “a special time of prayers and sharing, of offering one’s suffering for the good of the Church and of reminding us to see in our sick brothers and sisters the face of Christ who, by suffering, dying and rising, achieved the salvation of humankind.”

I was honored to participate in the closing liturgy and ceremony for Sr. Thea Bowman’s Cause for Canonization in the Diocese of Jackson, Miss. on Feb. 9. This was the end of the diocesan phase of collecting the documentation and narrative of the life of the Servant of God, Sr. Thea. The multiple boxes of materials were sealed and are to be sent to Rome, continuing the process of this Servant of God on the path to becoming a canonized saint.

The results are in for the 95th annual Catholic Charities Appeal and what a beautiful witness of faith and love the Archdiocese of Mobile has shown. As of Feb. 27, a total of 6,553 generous donors have pledged $5,061,134.22, surpassing the $4.8 million goal. This outpouring of generosity reflects hearts that truly desire to “Give with Love.”

“Even now says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart” (Joel 2:12). On Ash Wednesday, we will hear this Word of God and His Lenten challenge to each one of us. We are to be intentional in acting upon the daily graces of this sacred season and to live the Lenten challenge, “return to the Lord with your whole heart.”

We are approaching Valentine’s Day, so I thought it would be a good time to talk about love. This celebration of St. Valentine can often be twisted into something that is only a shadow of the reality of love.

February is a month filled with celebrations and meaning. Mardi Gras is upon us and we rejoice in community, tradition and joy before entering the sacred season of Lent. At the same time, we celebrate Valentine’s Day, a beautiful reminder of love, sacrifice and devotion. These moments invite us to reflect on what it truly means to love and how stewardship is one of the most tangible expressions of that love.

La Iglesia celebró el Día Mundial de la Vida Consagrada el 1 de febrero. El Día Mundial de la Vida Consagrada se celebra cerca de la fiesta de la Presentación del Señor, en la que muchos miembros profesos de la vida consagrada renuevan su compromiso de amor consagrado a Jesús al servicio de la Iglesia.

The Church celebrated World Day for Consecrated Life on Feb.1. The World Day for Consecrated Life is celebrated near the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, on which many who are professed members of consecrated life, renew their commitment of consecrated love for Jesus in service to the Church.

JACKSON, Miss. — Servant of God Thea Bowman was a beacon for the Church to embrace more authentically the essence of what it means to be Catholic, Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz told Massgoers at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson.

As Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18 here is information to help make this a meaningful and holy Lent.

Putting on your Sunday best. We grow up being told to wear our “Sunday best,” but let us not forget that as the old saying goes, “you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” Our words, thoughts and actions often play more of a role in the sweetness of our soul than our outward finery.

El mes pasado, tuve la suerte de celebrar una misa en Catholic Social Services. Además de los miembros del personal, también asistieron niños y adultos con discapacidades y sus padres. Estaban pasando un día de retiro y participando en un proyecto de servicio para ayudar a los necesitados.

Last month, I was blessed to celebrate Mass at Catholic Social Services. Besides staff members, children and adults with disabilities and their parents also attended. They were having a retreat day and participating in a service project to help those in need.