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October Is Respect Life Month

9/30/2015

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The United States Bishops decided in 1972 to set aside the month of October as Respect Life Month.  The first Sunday of October is Respect Life Sunday. As you are probably aware, it was in January of 1973 that the U.S. Supreme Court decision of Roe versus Wade legalized abortion in our country.  Since then, nearly 60 million lives have been taken through a procedure referred to as healthcare.  It was almost as if the bishops could read the writing on the wall in 1972 as to what would follow the next year.  We are a nation that should weep.

The impact of abortion has been immense.  In addition to all of the children who won't see the light of day, think about how many moms, dads, and grandparents have suffered from these decisions for many years after the fact. I have met with some of them.  Their pain is real and deep.  Thankfully, healing and forgiveness can be found in Christ Jesus.  The mercy and love of our Savior knows no bounds.  If you have been touched by abortion in any way, please know of God's healing touch.  Seek help if you are struggling to overcome the pain and grief.

The fall campaign of 40 Days for Life is going on right now.  Life Chain also takes place this Sunday.  These are ways we raise awareness and also pray that all may recognize the sanctity of each human life.  I hope you will consider getting involved.

The "Respect Life" umbrella is a huge one.  Obviously, 60 million deaths since 1973 through abortion puts that issue in the forefront.  It will be difficult to get the other issues right until we protect the most helpless and vulnerable among us.  Let's take a look at some of the other issues.

The sale of fetal body parts has been in the news since the release of the undercover videos from the Center for Medical Progress.  Embryonic stem cell research, reproductive technologies, and surrogate pregnancies also add some moral dilemmas to the mix.  

Child abuse and child neglect are huge areas of concern in the United States. Some statistics show that a report of child abuse comes through about every 10 seconds.  Over three million reports per year in the United States involving over six million children demonstrate a real problem in our country.

Education and formation may not seem like a life issue at first glance, but it is. Indoctrination can be very much a part of the educational system.  What is being presented to our children, adolescents, and young adults in regard to the formation of their value system?  As a parent, do you approve?  Did you pay thousands of dollars for a college education for your child only to see him/her completely abandon the value system you had tried to instill as a parent?  How was that for a return on your investment of tuition dollars?

Poverty, shelter, food, healthcare, and the other basic necessities of life are not as accessible to all as we would like.  How do we as Christians respond to these needs?  What role does the Church have in meeting these needs?  Is this only a problem for the government?

Environmental stewardship has been thrust in the limelight with Pope Francis' On Care For Our Common Home.  Are we being good stewards of what God has entrusted to our care?

Labor rights have been in the spotlight recently as well.  Just wages and safe working conditions are essential.  Does this mean that a $15.00 per hour minimum wage is the answer?  What is the role of the Church in this issue? What is the role of the government?

Immigration issues are in the news daily.  At first it centered on our southern border.  Now, the Syrian and Middle East refugee crisis will impact our nation.  How do we as Church respond?

Human trafficking continues to be a major issue although it doesn't get as much media coverage as other issues.  How can we as Church better protect the vulnerable among us to keep them from being enslaved?

Violent crime and juvenile delinquency are social problems that never go away.  The frightening component is the decreasing age of the perpetrators committing heinous crimes.  How can young children commit such horrendous acts of violence as has been depicted on the news?

Imprisonment issues and the death penalty have been discussed for years. Since 1976, there have been 1,415 executions in the United States.

Mental health issues and the rights of persons with disabilities needs to be kept in mind as well.  Mental health issues impact many people in a way that leads to homelessness, addictions, and other difficulties.  How can we as Church better serve those in need of our loving attention?

End of life issues are growing more prevalent with each passing year.  The killing of nonfunctional individuals is a growing concern.  They may call it "mercy" killing, but euthanasia does not serve society well.  Likewise, physician-assisted suicide may have been made popular by Brittany Maynard, but it is a slippery slope that will also not serve society well.

As clergy members prepare to preach this Sunday on the issues of life, they also prepare for the criticisms and push-back they will receive because of it. Some people feel like the preacher enters into the realm of politics when these issues are addressed.  Please recognize that these issues are first and foremost MORAL issues.  They are politicized to be sure.  However, regardless of what the culture and society would have us believe, they are essentially moral issues.  Our politics simply reflect our culture.  At this point in time we are obviously a society geared toward a culture of death.

My prayer for each of us is that we recognize our intrinsic value in the eyes of God.  In Jeremiah chapter one we read, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."    In 1 Corinthians 3: 16-17 we read, "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's spirit dwells in you?  If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him.  For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."


My encouragement to you today is simple.  Be grateful for the gift of your own life.  Thank God for the many blessings you have received.  Life may not have always been easy, but it has been blessed by God's grace.  Secondly, help others understand the sacred value and dignity of each human life.  We are each a temple of the Holy Spirit.  How differently would our world look if we each understood that a little more fully.

Finally, keep in mind the Scripture verse we see touted at the football games. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
​John 3: 16
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Ignorance Of Scripture Is Ignorance Of Christ

9/30/2015

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Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church.  His comment about ignorance of Scripture still resonates with us almost sixteen hundred years later.  Are we reading the Bible and studying what it contains?  Are we praying with the Sacred Scriptures?  Is our life being impacted in a positive way because we are growing in our knowledge of the Scriptures, and subsequently, our knowledge of Christ?  If we need a boost in our Scripture study, today would be a good day to start.

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You Are Responsible For Maintaining Your Joy

9/29/2015

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What fills you with energy in your faith journey?  What inspires you to keep going on a daily basis?  Has participating in the life of the local church community become drudgery for you?  If so, how do you regain your joy?

We belong to Christ.  Subsequently, we are people of hope.  People of hope have every reason for joy.  Is that reflected in your day-to-day demeanor?  If not, today is the day I invite you to experience a renewed sense of hope and joy in the Lord!

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Have You Ever Sought A Glimmer Of Hope?

9/28/2015

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I figured enough people would get photos of the eclipse yesterday evening so I took my picture earlier in the day.  I was able to capture this moment of the sunlight streaming through the clouds.  The beauty of God's creation never ceases to amaze me.

As I looked at the clouds yesterday I could not help but think about all who are carrying heavy burdens.  Social media provides an avenue for sharing information--sometimes too much information.  However, it is also a mechanism in which people are able to ask for prayers as they experience a difficulty or hardship in life.  I try to pay attention to those requests.  There are quite a number of you who are dealing with a serious illness.  Some of you are recuperating from surgeries and enduring physical therapy.  Others are battling depression.  Some of you are seeking work after having spent many years at the same company only to get laid off.  Others are relocating due to finding new work and are struggling to cope with the stress of leaving family and friends behind.  Some of you are dealing with heartache because of broken promises and shattered relationships.  Others are grieving the loss of a loved one after many years of marriage.  The light shining through the clouds is for each of you.  Although the clouds may remain for a time, the light of Christ's love will flood through.

If you are hurting in any way today, please know of my prayers for you.  I spent part of my lunch time sitting in church lifting you up to our dear Lord.  I am confident that God will meet you at the point of your need.  There is much more than a glimmer of hope.  It is the all-out brightness of the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion, fellowship, and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in you.  You may want to get your sunglasses as the magnificence of God's love completely envelops you! 
 
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St. Vincent de Paul Feast Day

9/27/2015

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                    St. Vincent de Paul Statue in St. Vincent de Paul Church--Cape Girardeau, Missouri
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                               St. Vincent de Paul Statue at Assumption Parish in O'Fallon, Missouri

St. Vincent de Paul has long been one of my favorite saints.  I am a little biased because his feast day falls on a very important date in my life.  However, his life story and the works he accomplished are amazing.  Many Vincentian priests have had a significant influence in my life as well, and I am grateful for their faithful witness.  I have also learned much from a couple of Vincentian brothers and a number of sisters who are Daughters of Charity.  Their service to the poor and marginalized members of society is phenomenal.

The official name of the Vincentian Order is Congregation of the Mission. Thus, you will see the letters C.M. after the name of a Vincentian priest.  I encourage you to learn more about their work.  You can visit their website for details.

http://www.vincentian.org

You can learn more about the work of the Daughters of Charity at:

www.daughtersofcharity.com

If you ever have the opportunity to attend a parish mission offered by one of the Vincentians I would strongly encourage you to attend.  I have heard several of them on multiple occasions throughout the years and they are terrific.  Fr. Richard Gielow C.M. is the Director of the Mission Team and is a talented preacher.  His brother, Fr. Robert Gielow C.M., is also a wonderful preacher.  They have each impacted many lives with their dynamic parish missions.  You can learn more about their ministry at:

​www.vpmc.org

I extend my gratitude to all of the Vincentians and Daughters of Charity today.  I hope you have a wonderful feast day celebration.  To all of the parishes and parishoners bearing the name of St. Vincent de Paul or St. Louise de Marillac, I pray you have a very blessed day.

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=196 
St. Louise de Marillac biography

​As a side note--since I was just at St. Vincent de Paul Paish in Cape Girardeau, Missouri last weekend--I have the inside information that they are going to have turtle races as part of their celebration today.  How cool is that!



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Are There Obstacles To Overcome In Your Life?

9/26/2015

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Are you seeking a spiritual "Break Through" in your life?  Have you consistently been troubled by a particular sin?  Do you find it difficult to pray? Are you struggling to keep hope in the midst of the strife?  Even in those darkest moments the light of Christ is able to break through.

The American culture, especially in the west, has a "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps" mentality.  We are told to "Cowboy Up!"  The power of the horse and the tenacity of the cowboy (cowgirl) can break through any barrier. While I am a strong proponent of developing rigorous discipline and fitness in one's life, the reality is that more is needed.  Scripture even tells us in Psalm 33:17, "A horse is a vain hope for deliverance."  Proverbs 21:31 tells us that a horse is prepared for the day of battle but victory comes from the Lord.  Do we recognize that our strength comes from the Lord?

I encourage you today to take your struggles to the Lord.  Lay your problems at the foot of the cross and seek God's grace, mercy, and wisdom.  Pray for strength and perseverance.  Ask for clarity and correct discernment.  God loves us and desires to be in right relationship with us.  Why do we so frequently turn away?  Have you truly yearned to be with Jesus?  Picture yourself watching Joseph and Mary as they sought Jesus when he was left behind in Jerusalem.  They looked for him for three days.  Can you imagine the intensity of the search by the third day?  Have you longed for Jesus with that kind of desire and passion?

With God all things are possible.  Ask for an increase of faith, hope, and love frequently.  The "break through" for which you are hoping may be closer than you realize!

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Sometimes Even Geese Are Out Of Formation

9/25/2015

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The geese were in a beautiful formation just before I snapped the picture. Based upon how chaotic things look in the photo I must have caught them just as they were rotating positions in the formation.  Sometimes life just isn't as neat and tidy as we may like it to be.

Reading news reports and opinion columns about Pope Francis during the last few days certainly paints a picture of a flock not totally in formation.  The usual rants about Catholics idolizing a man are to be expected, but the divide appears to go much broader than the usual anti-Catholic crowd.  Catholics are holding quite diverse viewpoints on a number of issues within their own denomination.  Once again, the liberal versus conservative viewpoint seems to take center stage.  It doesn't appear that we can simply be Roman Catholic.  We are American Catholics.  Subsequently, are you a Democrat Catholic or a Republican Catholic?  Cafeteria Catholic?  What does it look like to be a "faithful" Catholic?

What did Pope Francis say?  What didn't he say?  The interpretations and analysis of his words and actions have been interesting to watch play out.  Is the pope playing into the Democratic party's hands.  He visited the Little Sisters of the Poor, but why didn't he blast the president for his overbearing HHS Mandate?  He mentioned the death penalty but not abortion.  The accusations have been harsh.  "He is a Marxist.  He is a false prophet."  On and on the media spins.

Our world is backwards in so many ways.  Culture wants us to view our faith through the lens of politics.  The reality is just the opposite.  Our politics should be viewed through the lens of faith.  When a nation strives to squelch the voice of the Church the moral compass is certain to spin out of control. Sin and evil will be accepted and celebrated.  Good will be ridiculed and mocked.  We have certainly witnessed a glimpse into that reality this week during the visit of Pope Francis.

The pope has a daunting task, and the Church needs to keep lifting him up in prayer.  Pope Francis has provided all of us an with an opportunity to look at life through the lens of the Gospel.  It is my hope and prayer that we don't get lost in the politics of it all.  May we accept the invitation to encounter Christ!
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Happy Birthday Dad!

9/24/2015

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When I was young I constantly looked forward to being older.  I wanted to get out of elementary school so I could go to high school.  In high school I looked forward to anything that wasn't high school.  In college I looked forward to graduation so I could get out and earn some money.  I was tired of being broke.  As I started working I looked forward to those two weeks out of the year called VACATION.  Getting older now makes me look back and simply shake my head.  What was I thinking?

After being back in Missouri last weekend leading the deacon retreat in Cape Girardeau, my wife and I had the opportunity to spend a little time visiting with family before heading back to Cheyenne.  One of the places we spent a fair amount of time was with my brother-in-law Bob who was in his last days of life on this earth.  He was called home late Tuesday evening.  The sadness of parting gives an indication of the amount of love experienced while alive.

Bob's death on Tuesday and my dad's birthday today has made me pause for a little reflection.  My dad would be 98 today if he were still alive.  It is hard to believe he has been gone from our midst for over 21 years already.  Where do the years go?  While I was in St. Louis last week I snapped the above picture--mainly for the Cardinals logo and not the beer logo--because my dad enjoyed watching and listening to the Cardinals games especially in September and October.  I am grateful that he also had the opportunity to make a couple of trips to Florida in his retirement to enjoy some Spring Training games as well.

What does all of this have to do with anything?  Well, it reminds me to have a heart filled with gratitude.  Life can be quite difficult at times and it is easy to grow cynical.  Serious illness, the death of a loved one, broken relationships, loss of a job and income, and a litany of other problems can take a toll on us. The pain and suffering caused by such life events can be immense.  Are we able to see God's love in the midst of the challenges or do we blame God for the bad things happening in our lives?  What is our perception of the reality surrounding us?

I invite you today to show gratitude in a very specific way for the blessings in your life.  Hug your children or grandchildren a little tighter.  Do something nice for your spouse.  Write a note to someone you haven't seen in years.  Say an extra prayer for someone.  There are many ways to show gratitude.  Be creative and do something that works for you!
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September Institute 2015 Revisited

9/23/2015

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    His Eminence, Edwin Cardinal O'Brien and Bishop Paul Etienne preparing for the Eucharistic Liturgy.
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The annual September Institute is a gathering of all of the clergy of the diocese and many of those in lay leadership positions as well.  Nearly 150 people gathered in Laramie, Wyoming from September 15--17, 2015 to learn more about how to bring solid family ministry into local parish communities. It was a time of significant learning, vibrant worship, and joyful fellowship.
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                                                       The Diocese of Cheyenne Clergy
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         Students from St. Laurence O'Toole School were able to join us for Mass
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40 Days For Life Begins Today--September 23

9/23/2015

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"Today is the first day of the 17th coordinated international 40 Days for Life campaign ... as  40 days of prayer and fasting … peaceful vigil … and community outreach begins in 307 locations. "  Will you be getting involved?  This is your opportunity to stand up for the sanctity of life.  Don't miss the chance!


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    This is my personal blog.  The opinions expressed are those of Deacon Vernon and the blog's readers.  This site operates independently and is not affiliated with any other entity. The information I provide is on an "as-is" basis. I make no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information on this blog. I will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information. Furthermore, I will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its use.

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