Blog Archives - Articulating Hope

Twenty-Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time--Complacency

9/29/2019

The homily at Mass frequently focuses on the Gospel reading of the day. I was not preaching today, but when I heard the second reading proclaimed this morning my attention was captured. St. Paul's letter to Timothy hit me right between the eyes.

But you, man of God, pursue righteousness,
devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith.

My initial reaction when I heard these words was one of sorrow. I know I fall far short in pursuing righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Do I compete well for the faith, or am I simply going with the flow in a lackluster manner? The words from Revelation 3: 15-16 hit home once again. Am I hot, cold, or lukewarm?

When I arrived home after Mass this morning, I pulled out the Scripture readings to read them again. I saw something immediately that I did not hear at Mass. The very first line of the first reading reinforced what did capture my attention in the second reading.

Thus says the LORD the God of hosts:
Woe to the complacent in Zion!

Thankfully, God's grace and mercy always calls us deeper into relationship. We are not doing this pilgrimage on our own. We can experience great consolation in the celebration of the sacraments, and these outward signs instituted by Christ open up for us magnificent avenues of grace. Knowing this should fill us with renewed hope and fervor.

There was plenty to reflect upon in today's Gospel as well. However, I personally needed the message in the first two readings to give me that nudge out of complacency. Whether you call it apathy, indifference, complacency, or simply stuck in a rut, today's readings reminded us to seek the Lord with zeal and fervor. "Compete well for the faith."

Spirit Catholic Radio--Tour of the Studio in Omaha

9/28/2019

A trip across the river to Omaha was on the agenda this morning. Margaret and I went to visit Spirit Catholic Radio for an open house during their "Fall Care-A-Thon 2019" fundraising endeavor. It is a beautiful facility serving a specific purpose. "Together On A Journey To Sainthood" is the tagline on their website and it is an accurate description of what is taking place.

We met many of the staff members while we were there. I especially enjoyed spending time with the executive director, Jim Carroll, and hearing about the long range vision of this apostolate. One point really attracted my attention. He would like to expand into Cheyenne, Wyoming. If a station could reach Cheyenne, Laramie, and Pine Bluffs residents, a significant portion of southeast Wyoming would have access to Catholic radio.

We looked at the possibility of bringing Catholic radio to southeast Wyoming about seven or eight years ago when I was serving as the Director of Pastoral Ministries for the Diocese of Cheyenne. While I was unsuccessful in making it happen at that time, maybe now is the time to accomplish that endeavor. Is there anyone in Cheyenne willing to help me make it a reality? Please contact me via email at [email protected] if this idea appeals to you. The expertise of the staff at Spirit Catholic Radio can truly make this a reality for southeast Wyoming. Let's make it happen.

Finally, I am looking forward to being on the air this Tuesday morning at 7:10 A.M. with Jen Brown and Bruce McGregor on Spirit Mornings.

This beautiful chapel is in their building. It is evident that the radio ministry is wrapped in prayer. Margaret and I made a financial pledge while we were on site. I encourage you to support Catholic radio with your time, talent, or financial resources as well. It is an effective ministry reaching many people.

Catholic School Administrators Retreat

9/27/2019

By the time I wrap things up today (Friday), I will have put in at least 70 hours since last Saturday. (I am optimistic about leaving promptly this afternoon.) It has been a good week, but it has contained a lot of meetings and other commitments.

The Catholic School Administrators Retreat for the Diocese of Des Moines was held yesterday in Panora, Iowa. I arrived at St. Albert at 6:00 A.M. This gave me an opportunity to walk the campus prior to leaving for the retreat. The Child Care Center was up and running, milk deliveries were already being made to the cafeteria, and volleyball practice had just begun. That was quite a bit of activity for 6:00 A.M.

The other administrators from the school joined me as we prepared to leave just before sunrise. We arrived in Panora at 8:30 A.M. and were ready to go. Mr. Tom Quinlan from the St. Joseph Educational Center served as our retreat leader. While it was difficult to quiet myself for the day and truly leave work behind, I was successful up to a point. (I only checked my phone a few times while there.)

It is a blessing during my twenty years of ministry to have opportunities for prayer, reflection, and professional development. I never want to take these gifts for granted. Please know that the readers of this page were in my prayers while I was on retreat.

The Diocese of Des Moines will get a new bishop this afternoon. Please pray for Bishop-Elect William Joensen. There is a lot of responsibility connected with that calling.

Happy Feast Day to all of the Vincentians. St. Vincent de Paul, pray for us!

Ambassadors at Saint Albert Catholic Schools

9/25/2019

The Ambassadors of Saint Albert Catholic Schools gathered yesterday evening for their annual potluck dinner. The leadership team of the school and numerous school board members also joined in for the event. The entertainment for the evening was provided by several students from the choral department at the school.

The Ambassadors gave a report of their volunteer hours from September 10, 2018 through September 9, 2019. They volunteered 861.75 hours. Utilizing a dollar value of $25.43 per hour, the Ambassadors donated a total value of volunteer time worth $21,914.30 to the school. We are grateful for their generosity.

Wake Up With Spirit! That Is A Good Plan Every Day!

9/24/2019

Spirit Catholic Radio is a tremendous blessing to our local community and beyond. It reaches nearly 2 million people across Nebraska and surrounding areas. That is what I call utilizing the airwaves in a positive way to evangelize and teach the faith.

I am thrilled to be part of this outreach for a brief moment on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at 7:10 A.M. I will be crossing the river over to Omaha to join Bruce McGregor and Jen Brown in studio for a short interview about my new role as executive director of St. Albert Catholic Schools in Council Bluffs, Iowa. If you listen locally (Council Bluffs/Omaha) you can hear it at 102.7 FM.

Looking Ahead:

I will be speaking to the Serra Club members on Thursday, October 10.

I will be preaching at all of the weekend Masses at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Council Bluffs on the weekend of October 12 and 13.

"Do Not Grow Weary Doing What Is Right"

9/23/2019

I had the pleasure of attending a pro-life banquet last year at this time at the Sea Pines Country Club in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The deacons and our wives from St. Francis by the Sea had a table. It was a fun night and we were helping a good cause in the process. The funds generated at the gala supported the work of the Pregnancy Center and Clinic of the Low Country.

As I was driving into work this morning I was listening to Spirit Catholic Radio. A Scripture reading was read and I heard the line, "Never grow weary of doing what is right." I looked it up when I got to the office and found that it was from Galatians 6:9. I realize that there are times when we can grow weary from the many demands of daily life. It is important that we remain people of prayer to keep it all in proper perspective and stay faithful to the calling of the Lord? The grace of God will sustain us.

The pro-life battle has been going on since the dawn of time. (Remember the story of Cain and Abel.) The sacred dignity and value of each human life has been challenged all throughout history in one way or another. Things obviously took a turn for the worse in our country when the U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1973 allowed legalized abortion. We have since went down the slippery slope from abortions being "safe, legal, and rare" to "abortion on demand and without apology." Although we have been engaged in the battle for more than 45 years and may feel a little weary, we must continue to stand firm in protecting the most vulnerable among us--the unborn child in the womb.

The next 40 Days for Life Campaign begins on Wednesday, September 25. I invite you to get involved in your local community. Yes, we are making a difference. Our perseverance is bearing abundant fruit. Please look at the 40 Days website and study the statistics. Our presence matters.

www.40daysforlife.com/

Homecoming Game Tied At Zero At The Half

9/20/2019

I slipped out of the football game after half time to head over to where the Foundation party will be held. Before leaving, I thought I would drop in a few more photos from today. It has been a great week here at St. Albert.

As I write this we still have the second half of the football game remaining, the Foundation party after the game, and then the Homecoming dance tomorrow evening. While the week is not yet complete, I want to once again thank everyone who has made Homecoming Week spectacular.

Making Homecoming Special In So Many Ways

9/20/2019

As I get older, I become more and more aware of the sacrifices people make to help others have a good experience. This is especially true when it comes to our young people. Teachers and coaches go above and beyond the call of duty time and time again to help their students and athletes grow and improve. However, It does not end there. There are a lot of others who contribute to these successful endeavors as well.

Let's focus on Homecoming for a minute. A lot of work goes into setting up for Mass here at school. People can assume it all just happens magically, but there is a lot of planning and preparation behind the scenes. This is especially important when we are trying to transform a gymnasium or auditorium into a sacred worship space.

Pep rallies don't just happen. People plan them extensively. Bands practice. Cheerleaders practice. It is a joint effort among many to create a positive spirit within the school.

The maintenance crews and volunteers make sure the field is in top notch condition, bleachers are safe and clean, public address system is working, concession stand is stocked, and the Spirit Store is ready to go for game day.

Finally, the kitchen staff deserves a "shout-out" today for going above and beyond the call of duty to offer a "cook-out" for lunch at school. It is difficult enough to provide hundreds of meals each day for the students, but our staff was willing to go the extra mile today to make Homecoming lunch extra special for the students. We are blessed indeed.

Thanks to everyone who sacrifices time, talent, and financial resources to help our school. The impact of what you do goes far beyond these walls at our school. We are making a difference in the world.

The line formed quickly when classes let out for lunch.

Homecoming Day--Getting It Started Right

9/20/2019

The elementary school celebrated Mass this morning to kick off the day for Homecoming. Fr. James got their blood flowing with some lively music. It was great to see such immense joy in the faces of both the children and the adults as we gave glory and praise to God. (The high school will have Mass this afternoon before the pep rally.)

The traditions at St. Albert Catholic Schools are building up the Kingdom of God in a powerful way!

Sheryl K. Johnson Child Care Center--A Blessing

9/19/2019

We were very happy to see Jacqueline (Jackie) Johnson today at the Sheryl K. Johnson Child Care Center. It was a true joy to give her a tour and let her see the great work taking place at the center which bears her child's name.

St. Albert Catholic Schools really is an institution that serves children from cradle to college. Once again, we are thankful for all of the people who make that possible. Today, I simply want to say thank you to Jackie. Your kindness and generosity is a blessing to many, many families. We are grateful to you!