Dear brothers and sisters, rejoice!
In sadness we have come upon the tomb, only to find that the Lord has risen.
Category: Bishop
A blessed Easter
Dear Friends,
This last week, on Palm Sunday, we were presented with the “icon,” the image, of Jesus arriving in Jerusalem on a donkey, to hear the praises of the people, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the Highest!”
Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the personal representative of our Holy Father, in his first address to the bishops of the United States, said to us, “Always remember that you are nothing but a donkey. But, it was the donkey who carried the Messiah toward his destiny.” This was reminiscent of the words of St. Josemaria. As we enter into Easter, through the very special celebrations of Holy Week, let us commit ourselves to be nothing but donkeys, bearing on our shoulders the Messiah of the Lord — not only at Easter time, but every blessed day.
Responding, like Mary, to God’s will for us
Dear Friends,
Each year on March 25th, we celebrate the great Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. We celebrate that day when the Archangel Gabriel came and said to Mary, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you . . .Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus,” to which Mary replied, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your Word.” Mary was presented with God’s will for her, and she offered her profound “yes!”
Addressing the ‘credibility crisis’
Dear friends,
As we come to the midpoint of Lent, it is a good time for us to remember to look ahead and to mark down in our calendars the many celebrations and commemorations of Holy Week, and especially the great Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night — the most important liturgy of the Church year.
We continue to pray for those women and men, and boys and girls, who will enter our Church at Easter, that they might continue to have a grace-filled time of preparation.
Let us all look forward to the Easter Vigil, that we might celebrate with joy, and faith, and a good deal of enthusiasm!
It is a temptation for us, during Lent and even otherwise, to fall short in that enthusiasm which should be ours as Catholics. There is a temptation to get caught up in the comings and goings of our everyday lives, and to get caught up in the politics of our day and age and to forget that which is really most important, that is Jesus Christ crucified and risen from the dead.
Catholic Relief Services Collection
Dear Friends in Christ,
The theme of Jesus in disguise reminds us that Christ is present in those who suffer — and in those who respond compassionately to their needs. The Catholic Relief Services Collection supports important Catholic organizations that carry out God’s work around the world — providing refugee resettlement, HIV/AIDS and international poverty relief, legal aid for poor immigrants, emergency and disaster relief, and advocacy for the promotion of global peace and justice. Remembering these humanitarian obligations is part of our role as Catholics, being leaven in the world.
Reflections on Lent
Dear Friends,
We once again find ourselves in the holy season of Lent. And each year, we are all reminded of our need for increased prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during this penitential time. We will, no doubt, make the Sacrament of Confession a priority and avail ourselves of Lenten activities in our parishes. Fish fries, simpler meals, giving as a family to Operation Rice Bowl, and other sacrifices will become part of our routine for the next 40 days.
Bishop Morlino comments on appointment
Bishop Robert C. Morlino of the Diocese of Madison issued the following statement February 23 on the appointment of Archbishop Timothy Dolan as archbishop of New York:
Appointments (February 19, 2009 edition)
Msgr. Daniel T. Ganshert, vicar general of the Diocese of Madison, announces the following appointment made by Bishop Robert C. Morlino, effective February 21, 2009:
Bishop Morlino’s statement to UW Hospitals Authority Board
Editor’s note: The following is Bishop Robert C. Morlino’s statement to the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority Board meeting of Wednesday, Feb. 4, at which they were to discuss the topic of providing, along with the UW Medical Foundation and Meriter Hospital, second term abortions at the Madison Surgery Center. The statement was to be read by Msgr. Daniel Ganshert, vicar general for the Diocese of Madison, as the bishop was unable to leave the National Catholic Bioethics Center meeting in time for the meeting.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen of the UW Hospitals and Clinics Authority Board,
Thank you for affording me the opportunity to offer a few words in regard to your discussion on whether to allow for second term abortions at the Madison Surgery Center. I am sorry that I am unable to be here in person, as I am currently concluding a meeting of the National Catholic Bioethics Center, of whose board I am chair.
Reflections on inauguration and theme of hope
Dear Friends,
Like many of you, I’m certain, I’ve watched, with interest, the events which occurred just over one week ago. Our country has witnessed a tremendously historic event with the inauguration of President Barack Obama — an event which speaks to the tremendous strides our country has made, even in my lifetime, in terms of racial equality. Though it has become cliché to say over recent weeks, there were times when no one in my generation could have dreamed that we would “see the day.”