From the Archbishop

This past January, I was blessed to participate in Project Homeless Connect. I was present, not only to support our own Catholic Social Services, but also to become more aware of other resources provided to assist the homeless.

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.

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.

“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.”