Kevin Wondrash

On September 11, James Pouillon was shot multiple times and killed while protesting abortion outside a high school in Owosso, Mich.

According to reports, the suspect in custody, Harlan James Drake, admitted to police that he had also killed Mike Fuoss earlier that morning and that he had intended to murder a third man against whom he held a grudge, but was arrested before he reached his last victim.

The violence didn’t end with his arrest. The Associated Press reports that Mr. Drake was hospitalized Saturday night after an attempt on his own life in the county jail. Nor is that the end of it. Some angry people are already calling for the death penalty, yet another act of violence.

On September 24, 2009May 19, 2021

Kevin Wondrash

Good news in the Year for Priests

Median age? Currently 66. Transitions out of active service? Currently 1500 with 400 to replace them annually.

You guessed it. These are priest statistics in our country.

On September 24, 2009May 20, 2021

Kevin Wondrash

The ethics of ‘correcting’ mitochondrial disease

Mitochondria are small, elongated structures in a cell that produce energy. These “cellular batteries” contain their own small piece of DNA, separate from the rest of the cell’s DNA found in the nucleus.

When defects or mutations occur in this mitochondrial DNA, it can result in a number of diseases. In severe cases, children can be born blind, epileptic, unable to crawl, and may manifest severe neurological delay and die at an early age. No real therapies exist for most mitochondrial diseases beyond treating the symptoms.

On September 24, 2009May 10, 2021

Kevin Wondrash

Thirty-five years a priest, 10 years a bishop

Dear Friends,

2009 is a very special year for me personally, as, on June 1st I celebrated 35 years as a priest and, just this week, on September 21, I celebrate 10 years as a bishop. I was ordained the Bishop of Helena, Montana, in the Cathedral Church of St. Helena on September 21, 1999, the Feast of St. Matthew.

On September 17, 2009May 10, 2021

Kevin Wondrash

Speaking, hearing truth in health care reform

Dear Friends,

Two weeks ago I was very fortunate to be back on campus at the University of Notre Dame. Once and a while I take advantage of returning to that campus, where I spent a few years teaching philosophy and serving on the staff at Moreau Seminary (I always recall so very fondly the 11 years I spent on the college campuses, at Notre Dame and elsewhere.)

The following are the words I chose for the occasion, in celebrating the 10 a.m. Liturgy at the Sacred Heart Basilica on campus:

On September 17, 2009May 20, 2021

Kevin Wondrash

When modern ‘miracles’ lose their luster

I was visiting the other day in the world’s most popular senior club, the doctor’s office, watching as she consulted her computer to check my X-rays from the week before.

I was just relishing the wonders of this technology that allows doctors to view any kind of health record or test results by a click of the mouse. Then I noticed her drumming her fingers in annoyance that she had to wait nearly a minute to get my record on the screen. I laughed.

On September 10, 2009May 19, 2021

Kevin Wondrash

Enjoy a great page-turning mystery

Dive into a great mystery is the invitation. The mystery of our faith is the story.

Summer is usually a special time to get in a little extra reading, but the season is already appearing in the rear view mirror. Both a page turner and a good read, it cannot wait. This mystery is all about the fact that Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

On September 10, 2009May 19, 2021

Kevin Wondrash

Who are you? What is your purpose?

Editor’s note: This is the first in a new periodic column in the Catholic Herald for young adults.

Hello to all! My name is Jon Leonetti. For this first column I have decided to give you a short biography of who I am, allowing readers to know a little bit more about me.

So here it goes . . .

The United States spans some 3,500 miles from coast to coast, and by August 2009, I will have walked it.

On September 3, 2009May 10, 2021

Kevin Wondrash

God’s mercy and Senator Edward Kennedy

Dear Friends,

As I complete my time of rest and recuperation, I found myself unpredictably (at least had I been able to predict six months ago) with time available to me to watch on the television most of the events surrounding the funeral and burial of Senator Edward Moore Kennedy. For myself, the time was prayerful and well spent because I knew a lot about Senator Kennedy when he was still fairly young and, of course, I was younger still.

Senator Kennedy and I, many years ago, were, according to the common understanding, not quite ready to get in line to go and meet our Judge. There was plenty of time available, we presumed, to prepare ourselves to take our place in that line, and to welcome that part of our humanity which is experiencing the mystery of suffering and death.

On August 27, 2009May 10, 2021

Kevin Wondrash

Seeking ethical health care reform

Dear Friends,

Bishop Walker Nickless of Sioux City, Iowa, has expressed very clearly our Church’s teaching on health care reform — his observations are offered below. It is urgent that you read this, remembering that no single proposed Bill from the U.S. Congress exists as yet.