Blog Archives - Articulating Hope

Giving a Tour of the Church

2/28/2019

It was my pleasure to give the third graders of St. Francis Catholic School a tour of the church today. Their inquisitive minds reminded me of the importance of understanding the symbolism within our rituals. It is easy for me to get complacent and start taking these things for granted because I am so immersed in those details on a regular basis. The enthusiasm of the young people to learn these things was truly refreshing.

When was the last time you took a tour of your local parish church? Do you understand the symbols?

1. Why is there frequently an odd number of steps leading into the sanctuary?
2. Do you know the difference between the narthex and the nave of the church?
3. What does the hexagon base of a chalice represent?
4. Why do we use votive candles?
5. Why do we use incense?
6. What is the difference between a chasuble and a dalmatic?
7. When do we use a cope?
8. When do we use a humeral veil?
9. What is an icon?
10. What is a pyx?

Those were just a few of the things I covered in the tour today and in some discussions for the preparation of the Paschal Triduum. There is so much more to tackle.

How well versed are you on the faith? Is there room to grow? Do you have the desire to pursue learning? Lent is a good time to embark on such an endeavor.

As we draw ever nearer to the season of Lent, please take some time to establish your plan of action for this holy season. Keep in mind the three areas of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as you make your plans:

1. How will you pray during your Lenten journey? Will you pray with more frequency, fervor, etc.? Will you combine fasting with your prayer?
2. What will you study? What do you want to learn? (Would fasting from TV or the internet help in this endeavor?)
3. How will you serve others? How will you give of your time, talent, and treasure to build up the Kingdom of God? (Almsgiving)

Blessings and peace as you prepare for this holy season!

Gearing Up For Lent--Who Is With Me?

2/26/2019

Get ready for a vibrant morning of prayer and reflection. I love the season of Lent, and spending time pondering things such as prayer, fasting, almsgiving, hardness of heart, conversion, love of enemies, beginning anew, and our call to holiness is truly exciting. Lent is always the right time for an annual spiritual checkup.

There is no cost to attend this morning of reflection. However, registration is required to enable proper planning. Registration forms will be available beginning this weekend in the narthex of the church. I will post a copy below as a sample. I want to thank the Women of St. Francis for hosting this event.

"From the Fullness of the Heart the Mouth Speaks"

2/25/2019

I am scheduled to preach this coming weekend. Thus, I have been reading, studying, and praying with the Sacred Scriptures in preparation for developing my homily. After reviewing the Scripture readings I cannot seem to shake the last line of the Gospel. "A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks."

Our words matter. The first reading from the Old Testament Book of Sirach also brings home that point. "Praise no one before he speaks, for it is then that people are tested."

How much sin do we commit with the use of our speech? Do we lie? Do we slander? Do we curse? Do we gossip? I would invite you to read the Scripture readings for this Sunday and prayerfully meditate upon the messages contained therein all throughout the week. Then let God's grace flow through you this Sunday when those same readings are proclaimed.

"Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another."
~Napoleon Hill

Pep Rally--You Can Feel The Energy

2/22/2019

It was my privilege to join the students, staff, and coaches at St. Francis Catholic School for a pep rally today as they prepared to depart for the Diocesan Basketball Tournament. My role was to offer a prayer of blessing for them, especially for safe travels.

The energy in the gymnasium today reminded me of the days of my youth. When I first started playing basketball in elementary school, we did not have a gymnasium. We practiced outside on a blacktop court. Sometimes it was so cold we had to put the basketballs inside a car with the heater on to keep the balls from deflating. (Or did we have a future New England Patriots player in our midst?)

Obviously, we had no home games since we did not have a gym, but that opportunity to play still served as a foundation to build my skills. Eventually, I played in high school. I was not always receiving a lot of playing time, but growing three inches per year in high school helped that process along. Finally, I was blessed with a full ride scholarship to play at the collegiate level. Being 6'8" tall does have some advantages.

A lot of emphasis is placed on sports in modern society. Are there excesses at times? Of course there are, just like with almost everything else. However, I hope we never lose sight of the good that is also attained through participating in sports--especially team sports. The ability to work together toward a common goal comes in handy throughout life.

To all of the coaches who give generously of their time and talent to help young people develop life skills through the avenue of sports, thank you.

And now for a brief trip down memory lane--oh, to be young again!

Northeast Missouri State University at the University of Missouri St. Louis (1982-1983 seasons)

I am grateful to the coaches who taught me the value of being able to use my right hand or left hand.

Media Publicity Photo Northeast Missouri State University 1982-1983 Season

I am grateful to God for the many opportunities and blessings that have come my way through the years. My skills in basketball and baseball came because people were willing to teach me. That resulted in playing both sports at the collegiate level. Traveling to many different colleges and universities to play was an experience in and of itself. I have many fond memories of those days. It is my hope that the young people playing sports today make some wonderful memories as well.

To whom do you owe a debt of gratitude? Reach out and let someone know how they positively impacted your life. It doesn't have to be a coach or a teacher, but it certainly could be. Simply tell them, "Thank you!"

Lent Begins In Less Than Two Weeks

2/21/2019

My family went to the dock this evening to watch the sunset. The sun finally arrived late this afternoon and bumped the temperature up to 70 degrees. It was a great evening to just take in all that nature had to offer.

As I scanned the water looking for the dolphins, I began pondering the arrival of Lent. There have been too many years in the past when I did not plan well for the season of Lent. Subsequently, I would find myself half-way through the season and realize I had done very little to open myself to God's grace during this holy journey. I try not to let this happen any more. I do not want to miss all the opportunities that Lent provides to grow in holiness.

Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are central themes of Lent. How will these things factor into our personal journey?

On Ash Wednesday we are reminded that we are dust and unto dust we shall return. How does this annual ritual impact us? Does it have a long-lasting effect or does it simply fade away as soon as we wash the ashes off of our foreheads? When was the last time we seriously reflected upon the four last things--death, judgment, heaven, and hell?

The sunset of our life here on earth will eventually arrive for each of us. Will we be found ready to meet the King of kings and Lord of lords? St. Alphonsus Liguori reminded us that the time of death is not the time to start preparing. The time of death is the time to find ourselves already prepared. The season of Lent is a good reminder of that reality.

My dear friends, do not let this holy season pass you by without notice. Make the time now to start preparing. How will you pray? How will you fast? How will you serve others with your time, your talent, and your treasure? How will you grow in virtue?

President's Day

2/18/2019

I have been running a similar message for many years on President's Day. Unfortunately, it seems like it becomes more and more pertinent with each passing year. Please continue to pray for our nation.

As we celebrate “President’s Day” today I can’t help but wonder what President Washington, President Lincoln, and all of our Founding Fathers would think about the current state of affairs in our country. It is evident that Christianity in Colonial America served as the foundation of everything the early settlers set out to do. The collapse of Christian virtues and values in our modern culture shows just how far we have strayed from the original intent of our country’s founding.

The Rhode Island Charter of 1683 begins, “We submit our person, lives, and estates unto our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, and to all those perfect and most absolute laws of His given us in His Holy Word.”  Fast forward nearly 100 years to 1779 and look at what Samuel Adams wrote in a letter to James Warren. “A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue, they will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader. How necessary then is it for those who are determined to transmit the blessings of liberty as a fair inheritance to posterity, to associate on public principles in support of public virtue.”  It seems that Samuel Adams had in mind in 1779 what we would witness in our current generation.

Noah Webster (1758-1843) published a textbook in 1832 entitled, History of the United States. In this book he speaks at length about the value of religion, the Bible, and Christian principles. One line serves as a prominent reminder to all public servants today. “Almost all the civil liberty now enjoyed in the world owes its origins to the principles of the Christian religion.”  Compare that statement to the reality of today in which there appears to be an all-out assault on Christianity from the powers that be. How did we as a nation allow ourselves to be led astray from such convictions?

The moral decline of our nation is evident. The refusal to believe in Eternal Truth has brought about rampant relativism in which each individual creates his/her own truth. The consequences of such a belief system seems to become more and more obvious with each passing day. We have been legally killing unborn children for 46 years; there are times when this includes infanticide as depicted in testimony at the trial of Dr. Gosnell. The state of New York recently celebrated the legalization of infanticide in a way that should make everyone's stomach churn.

Physician- assisted suicide and euthanasia clearly establish that the value of life is determined by functionality. Brittany Maynard may have considered it to be "Death With Dignity," but a close examination of this type of process reveals some major flaws in that way of reasoning. The dignity and sanctity of human life is ignored in each of these actions, and yet, it has become accepted and even welcomed in contemporary culture. Brittany Maynard has put the discussion front and center once again. It will simply be a matter of time before more and more states welcome this practice into their boundaries.

The attack on Christianity is to be expected. People with religious convictions who are guided by the grace of Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the power and communion of the Holy Spirit in their day-to-day lives are a roadblock to those with an evil agenda. The tyranny that erupted at various times in history provides us with some insight as to what is happening today. If we are prudent we will all become students of history to get a glimpse at our future. The removal of God from our public institutions, the indoctrination of students from preschool through the ultra-liberal university years, the control of the press from graduates of these liberal universities, and big time financial donors promoting their aggressive agenda paints a picture that is not too bright for Christians who value the liberty provided by God and reinforced by the Constitution of the United States of America.

The Catholic Church is a significant roadblock to those who pursue a culture of death. A book entitled, They Fired the First Shot 2012, spells it out quite clearly beginning on page 562 where the author says:

“If you study communist takeovers and dictatorships, you will see we are on this road. Mexico’s history in the early part of the last century is proof. As in Mexico, the Catholic bishops, priests and religious in the United States will be among the first to be imprisoned or killed. Others will follow. The healthcare mandate first attacks the Catholic Church. Bishops, as the enemy sees them, are generals to be eradicated to scatter the flock and are the first that must be taken down. Don’t want to believe it? Study history. Look at the French Revolution. The guillotines ran non-stop. Not possible in the United States? If there is not a radical stand now, “the guillotines,” whatever that might be in the USA, will run non-stop."

The author is adamant that the Catholic Church has to be firm in standing up against attacks on our religious liberty. The writer goes on to elaborate that, “twenty-five percent of all medical health related care, totaling $100 billion, is under the spiritual authority and protection of the Catholic Church. This in itself is authority not to bargain with, but to mandate; not to request with, but to state: ‘Our goal is we will not shut down. We will not relinquish our authority to the state. We will not go to jail.’”

It appears that people of faith will need to follow the example of repentance as demonstrated by the people of Nineveh to bring our nation back to God. Prayer and fasting are key elements that the people of God have used in the past and they are certainly pertinent for our needs today. May each of us truly turn our hearts and minds to God!

The words attributed to Patrick Henry so long ago may resonate once more with Americans, “Give me liberty, or give me death.”

Are You "Three Feet From Gold"?

2/17/2019

This was my reading for the weekend. Once I started on it Friday night I could not put it down. It has been quite a few years since I read Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich. This book, Three Feet from Gold, was a good reminder of the gems contained in that book. I have learned a great deal from the experience of Napoleon Hill.

I have read Law of Success a couple of times and have referred back to it numerous times. Although it is 1,035 pages long, it is worth taking the time to digest the wealth of information contained in those pages. Hill's reminder to have "singleness of purpose" has been extremely helpful in my own spiritual journey. Do I have singleness of purpose in everything that I do to grow in holiness and in union with the Lord? It isn't just about becoming rich, successful, and famous. It is about living a good life and adding value to others. Although I don't recall seeing the words in the book, it always makes me think about "servant leadership."

The challenges we face in life are real. How do we respond to those challenges? Do we quit or find the strength to continue onward? Have we missed striking gold by three feet because we quit digging too early?

The gratitude I feel toward all those who have helped me in life is immense. It is amazing how certain people come along at the right time due to particular circumstances. I am grateful for a greater awareness of these blessings. In addition to everything I learned as a child, teen, and young adult by playing team athletics, my adult life has also been filled with opportunities to learn.

When I was playing basketball in college I had lost my confidence in making free throws. There were times I shot a higher percentage from the field than I did from the free throw line. How could I miss an easy shot so frequently with no one guarding me? After hours and hours of shooting free throws in practice, and more hours visualizing myself shooting free throws in game situations, I finally was able to make free throws my senior year in college. I no longer feared walking up to the free throw line. I welcomed it, especially in close games. This was a life lesson for me.

I was given a set of cassette tapes by Dr. Denis Waitley entitled, The Psychology of Winning. (Yes, it was a long time ago because it was a cassette tape set.) This started my adult journey toward understanding winning, success, goal-setting, and being a leader. I wish I would have had access to that information while I was playing competitive sports, but it was still a good starting point in my adult journey toward living a positive life.

Many years later I went through a video tape training series by John C. Maxwell entitled, Developing the Leader Within You. I have since devoured the many books written by John Maxwell. If you want to be a successful leader in the Church, his works are extremely helpful.

Other authors and leaders such as Og Mandino, Zig Ziglar, Dale Carnegie, Charles "Tremendous" Jones, Harvey Mackay, Jim Collins, Norman Vincent Peale, Dr. Wayne Dyer, and many more have impacted my life by their writings. In my quest to understand life more fully from all aspects, these varying perspectives have helped me to become a better minister. It is important for Church leaders to be just that--"LEADERS." Why? One line from the book Three Feet from Gold sums it up quite well on page 192. "A true leader will take others where they would not have gone by themselves."

I have been sharing these blog posts recently about what I am reading to encourage you to read as well. We experience growth in our lives through reading. I have just started reading The Seven Minute Difference. On page 57 it shares some statistics. I did not verify these stats through any other source, but I am trusting that they are accurate. It says:

* 58% of American adults never read a book after high school; and
* 42% of university graduates never read another book after graduation.

Obviously, we need to be picking up the Bible and reading the Sacred Scriptures on a regular basis in addition to the other reading that we do. The less time I spend watching television the better off I am. This is especially true when I use that time to be productive instead. My time spent reading and praying is definitely productive time.

After completing Three Feet from Gold earlier today, I am excited about the blessings which may be just around the corner in my life. Whatever your life circumstances are right now, don't give up. Keep moving toward your purpose in life with energy and zeal. You may be closer to the "gold" than you think.

Happy Valentine's Day

2/14/2019

I walked out of the house this morning just as daylight was dawning. I was thinking about Valentine's Day and realized that this is the first time I have ever had flowers blooming in my yard on Valentine's Day. Living in the south has some unique qualities such as that. While it was only 40 degrees, the beauty of the flowers remained.

It was 32 years ago on this date that Margaret and I went on our first date. (I figured I could remember that particular anniversary if I made it on Valentine's Day.) The storms of life have struck a time or two during those years, but I find great comfort in the words of Jesus: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5) As I looked at the petals on the ground in the above photo, it made me think of how we have felt battered and torn from time to time. Through it all we kept clinging to the Vine.

Romantic dinners, boxes of candy, poetic greeting cards, beautiful flower arrangements, jewelry, and other gestures of love will be in the air today. I am going to bump up my game a little bit today too. Instead of McDonald's, I am going to treat my bride to Kentucky Fried Chicken. (It will have to do since we don't have any White Castles in the area.)

In all seriousness, the Sacrament of Matrimony is under duress in many different ways in modern culture. If you are blessed to be in a marital relationship, please take the necessary time to nurture that relationship. It may not always be easy, but it is worth it. For better or for worse, in sickness and in health--yes, that is quite a commitment. If we stay attached to the VINE, God's grace will always be sufficient for our needs.

Look at the close-up details of the beauty of God's creation.

For those of you experiencing grief on this Valentine's Day, please know of my prayers for you. Whether it is due to death, divorce, or some other situation, the grief we experience during a time of loss can be a heavy burden. This is sometimes made worse on days like Valentine's Day. Hang in there. Brighter days will come.

Finally, for those of you waiting for that special someone to come into your life, keep praying for that individual. You never know when that person will arrive on the scene. Margaret and I met in a hospital of all places. I would have never expected that turn of events. When you finally meet that someone, you will feel like the bud just waiting to burst into full bloom.

May God bless each of you abundantly on this Valentine's Day!

How Do You Persevere When The Going Gets Tough?

2/13/2019

Since yesterday's post was a bit on the lengthy side, I'll make it short and sweet today with three recommendations.
1. Don't get discouraged.
2. Keep the faith.
3. Be a person of prayer.

Catholic Schools Need Effective & Faithful Leadership

2/12/2019

"Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the Lord shines, and over you appears his glory. Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance."

Those were the words we heard on January 6, 2019 from the prophet Isaiah in the first reading on Epiphany Sunday. I recalled these same words recently while reading an article about the Archdiocese of New York preparing to close seven Catholic schools at the end of the academic year. How do we as Church repeatedly find ourselves in such disheartening positions? Why does it seem that we are experiencing darkness covering the earth and thick clouds covering the peoples more frequently than experiencing the light of the Lord? Why are we a Church in decline?

Obviously, the answers to these questions are numerous. Extensive research has resulted in volumes of documents detailing the statistical evidence about the decline taking place within the Church. Organizations such as the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) and the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) have provided essential information to help us understand more fully the demographic shifts in our parishes as well as the trends in enrollment at our Catholic schools.

The part I want to touch on today is probably a bit more subjective, but also relevant if we are going to honestly look at the challenges facing Catholic education. How have Catholic schools been impacted by the following?

1. The sex abuse scandal and cover-up
2. Lack of solid leadership from the clergy
3. Watering down of Church teaching so as not to offend
4. The loss of Catholic identity

The enrollment challenges for Catholic schools were already in existence prior to the sex abuse scandal coming on the scene in full force. However, that is now a huge part of the gigantic puzzle when looking at a Church in decline. The consequences attached to the abuse scandal are legion--lack of moral credibility, anger, financial payouts, loss of faith, fear, suspicion, and the list could go on and on. Actions have consequences. The ripple effect unfortunately is far-reaching and painful.

The abuse scandal has fueled suspicion and distrust. That certainly does not help enrollment efforts in our Catholic schools. Furthermore, the money paid out for lawyers and settlements during the last two decades is money that cannot be used for ministry. This directly impacts all ministries of the parish, including the Catholic school.

Yes, it is expensive to run a school. However, the generosity of God's people has allowed us to do amazing things in Catholic education. How do we continue this vital ministry under current circumstances?

People want to know that they can trust that their sacrifices of time and financial resources will be used for the building up of the kingdom of God, not subsidizing lawyers. That is a fair expectation to have. If we are going to be forthright, we will readily admit that the sex abuse scandal and subsequent cover-up has done immense harm to recruitment efforts in our Catholic schools. It is way past time to begin doing the right things and regaining the trust of the people. Our schools and our parishes need to be places where holiness is sincerely desired. This, in turn, results in the pursuit of excellence in our other endeavors stemming from our faith in Jesus Christ.

Some parishes have experienced a decline in volunteers. It is more difficult to recruit people for a variety of ministries due to all of the requirements for background checks and safe environment classes. Many of the laity feel that the clergy were the culprits, and yet, it is the laity which suffers the consequences. That is a valid point, and I can sympathize with the feelings of the laity in this regard. Their frustration with the whole situation is understandable. With that being said, I am grateful for the safeguards in place to protect our children. Diligence from all of us may keep us from experiencing these dark times again in the future.

There are instances in which the leadership of our clergy has been lacking in regard to Catholic schools. Some priests feel that a Catholic school is a financial drain on the parish. Subsequently, many priests welcome an assignment to a parish where there is no Catholic school. I understand that having a Catholic school means more work, more headaches, and possibly greater financial challenges for a pastor running a parish. The challenges of leading a Catholic school are many, but the rewards are also great. Handing on the faith to the next generation is no small matter.

Complaints from parishioners about a lack of presence of clergy and religious in our Catholic schools has been a constant refrain through recent years. It is true that we have far fewer clergy and religious teaching in our schools than in past decades. Subsequently, some people make the claim that the students lack a true knowledge of the faith when they graduate. Also, a significant number of young people stop practicing the faith after getting out of school, or even before they graduate. The resulting conclusion by some is that the laity teaching in our schools are ill-equipped to teach the faith. There may be some validity in that observation in certain circumstances, but I don't think it is a complete and accurate picture of the disturbing trend. Many of the laity now teaching in our Catholic schools hold advanced theological degrees and are well-equipped to teach. The scenario is much more complex than that one ingredient.

There are a multiplicity of factors which come into play when evaluating the success, or lack thereof, of passing on the faith. As I look back on my own childhood, the support systems in place were many. If I went to a friend's house, his parents kept an eye on me. If I misbehaved, they corrected me and would also inform my parents. If I got into trouble at school, I got in twice as much trouble at home.

Life in our rural community centered around the Church. Many of us lived on farms and worked hard in addition to going to school. We were taught the values of living a good and decent life. Our Catholic school was a tremendous blessing to our town, but the even greater blessing were the many stable families that made up the close-knit community. Christian love was demonstrated by marriages that endured. Living a faith-filled life was not just preached by the clergy; it was modeled by our elders and taught by our parents.

We can have the best educational system and faith formation processes and still experience mediocre results. Why? The parents are the first and primary teachers of their children in the faith. The Catholic school and the parish religious education program can only support the work of the parents.
For instance, the school or parish can't force the students to go to Mass on Sunday. That responsibility rests with the parents. A commitment to the faith is essential if true formation has any real opportunity of happening. Sadly, our contemporary culture has done a good job of convincing people that there are many other priorities which should take precedence over antiquated religious practices. Our society is now reaping what has been sown.

What role does the liturgy play in helping us grow spiritually? The Sacred liturgy and the Sacraments are key elements of our faith. Praying fervently and faithfully changes us. A reverent and vibrant Eucharistic liturgy is vital for our spiritual well-being, because it is the source and summit of our faith journey. Everything flows from the Eucharist and everything flows back to the Eucharist.

Preaching is only one part of the Catholic liturgy. However, it is an important component. Are the homilies at Mass inspiring, motivating, and faithful to Church teaching? Do parishioners come to know God more fully through the homily? I realize that a homily is not a catechetical lesson. However, a homily can certainly contain some catechesis while breaking open the Sacred Scriptures. Consider the homily as a little window into the soul of the parish.

Ponder this:

Can you tell what the priorities of the parish are after attending Mass for a couple of months?

What did you hear in the homilies?
What did the music convey?
What did you see in regard to reverence of the Eucharist?
What did you see in the bulletin?
What message does the parish website convey?

Why do I bring these things up about Mass when the focus of this article is on Catholic schools? The answer is simple. The way we pray influences the vibrancy of our Catholic schools. Our Catholic schools do not exist in isolation. They are part of the larger community.

Thus, all facets of parish life need to be assessed and evaluated. What is the scope and nature of adult religious education in the parish? What opportunities for prayer and service are made available to the adults? The level of priority placed on the Sunday homily, and adult formation overall, will reflect the overall vitality of the parish, including the parish school. If the parish is on solid theological ground and effectively forming adults as mature Christians, it is likely that the parish school will also be on solid ground. Are we proclaiming the Gospel message well across the age spectrum? Are we forming disciples?

The success of any institution or organization rises and falls based upon the leadership. If the pastor is a good leader, the odds are that good people will be hired for leadership positions in the parish and the school. Then the place flourishes.

On the other hand, if the pastor is not a great leader, it becomes even more important for the other leaders to bump up their game. This is especially important for the Catholic school leaders. Regardless of the title--president, executive director, headmaster, principal--the leader of the school is the face of the Church in many different settings. The head of the school models Christ-like behavior, motivates, inspires, nurtures, guides, communicates effectively, and spiritually leads the school community so that the students are formed completely--mentally, emotionally, physically, and of course, spiritually.

This style of leadership is easier to attain if there is good leadership from the person in the role of pastor. However, if there is ineffective leadership from the pastor, the school leader needs to pray and work even more fervently. The spiritual well-being of those entrusted to our care demands that we give our very best and pour ourselves out for them.

Watering down the faith to be more "inclusive" may seem merciful, but it usually leads to confusion and heartache in the long run. There is a difference between being pastoral in our approach to difficult circumstances and simply ignoring the teachings of the Church. We are called to holiness and faithfulness. It is our responsibility, and our privilege, to invite others to share in the tremendous blessing of understanding the fullness of the faith.

Will there be times when people are offended by our stance on certain situations? Absolutely. A clear example is when we choose to stand up for the right to life of the unborn child. The reaction by many members of congress during the State of the Union speech recently demonstrated the level of acceptance of infanticide. We cannot give up our fight to protect the unborn simply because it isn't popular. Church teaching is clear. "Thou shall not kill." Every person is made in the image and likeness of God. We cannot water down the teaching simply to be more inclusive of those who have opposing viewpoints. Relativism is not an option.

In our Catholic schools, we must teach the fullness of the faith.

The loss of Catholic identity in some of our schools is problematic. Being in a Catholic school is about more than having a religion class as part of the curriculum. Our faith is woven into the fabric of everything that we do. We have the Ten Commandments to guide our behavior. We have the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy to prompt us to be "doers of the Word and not hearers only." We pray for an outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit so that our lives will bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit. We have the Sacramental Life of the Church to nurture and nourish us on the journey to sanctity. We seek God's grace and a deepening of the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. The treasures of the Church are immense. Our Catholic identity in the school should shine brightly because we understand the value of being a child of God.

I am not familiar with the New York area and have no knowledge of the situations surrounding the schools that are set to close. All I know is that once these institutions are gone, it is not likely that they will ever come back. My heart breaks for the people. St. Brigid School was founded in 1856 according to the article I read. That is a lot of history. The grief will certainly be intense for the people of that local community.

Unfortunately, a multitude of other Catholic schools throughout the nation are struggling to survive as well. The challenges facing many of our Catholic schools are quite daunting. The world is full of adversity, but it is also full of people overcoming adversity. It is time for effective leaders to step forward and bring vibrancy and hope back to our struggling institutions. Is God calling you for such a role?

I give thanks and praise to God for all of our pastors and priests who take up the mantle of leadership. Your task is not an easy one. Please know that God's people faithfully pray for you.

I give thanks and praise to God for all of the people serving in our Catholic schools--administrators, teachers, and support staff. Your dedication and commitment is truly noble. Please know of my prayers for all of you.

I am especially grateful for my childhood school--Immaculate Conception School in Old Monroe, Missouri. This beautiful parish and school gave me a wonderful foundation in faith.

I am grateful for the privilege to have taught at Valle Catholic High School in Sainte Genevieve, Missouri.

I am grateful for the privilege of having served as the principal of Assumption Catholic School in O'Fallon, Missouri

I am grateful for the eight years of serving as the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming.

To the people of New York impacted by the announcement of these school closings, please know of my prayers for you. I know the grief that you are experiencing is overwhelming. I am truly sorry for your loss.

My dear readers, continue to pray for the Church. The glory of the Lord shines upon us, but due to our own shortcomings and failures we sometimes immerse ourselves under a thick cloud of darkness. Our Catholic parishes and schools should be beacons of light. Let us continue to work diligently to keep the light of faith burning brightly in our individual lives, our parishes, and our Catholic schools. Remember, "The glory of the Lord shines upon you."