Blog Archives - Articulating Hope

All Saints Day--Choices have Consequences

10/31/2016

All Saints Catholic Church in St. Peters, Missouri

I realize that it is not Ash Wednesday. However, as we approach All Saints Day I think it is good to keep the symbolism of the ashes front and center in our minds. When we are marked with the ashes each year we are reminded, "Remember that you are dust and unto dust you shall return." Are we living our day-to-day lives with that realization firmly etched in our minds? Have we turned away from sin? Are we being faithful to the Gospel?

I am amazed at the number of Catholic funerals that I have attended in which the priest who is presiding attempts to give a homily but instead eulogizes the deceased. While I firmly believe in the mercy of God, and I pray for an outpouring of that mercy regularly, I also recognize that we each have free will. There are times when we make choices that are not holy. Those choices have consequences. What happens if we die in a state of mortal (serious) sin?

Some people prefer to believe that hell does not exist. That is contrary to what the Church has always taught. If we make the choice to separate ourselves from God while on earth, why would we be expecting to be united with God forever in heaven? That makes no sense. We must desire God's mercy now. We must repent of our sinful ways. Our choices have consequences.

I would recommend that you read paragraphs 1033 through 1037 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to see what the Church teaches about hell. I would recommend that you read paragraphs 946 through 972 to learn about The Communion of Saints. If you do not have a copy of the Catechism you can find the pertinent paragraphs here:
www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a12.htm#IV (Hell)

www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p5.htm (Communion of Saints)

God chose us in Christ before the world began to be holy and blameless in His sight. (See Ephesians 1:4) We are each called to be saints. Do we believe that? If not, why not? If so, does our life reflect that awesome calling? Can people see Jesus Christ in us and through us? Do we pray with intensity and fervor? Do we truly desire God's grace to work within us so we can be great saints?

Choices have consequences. Make the choice today to be a great saint!

A Year Has Already Gone By Since Mom's Death

10/30/2016

I am grateful that I had numerous opportunities to see my mom during the summer of 2015. This picture was taken in July of 2015 just a few months before her death on October 30, 2015. I had no idea that when I visited her again in September it would be the last time I would see her.

In October of 2014 mom and I made a trip to Irondale, Alabama to visit the EWTN studios with a stop at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Alabama. She handled the trip very well for being ninety years of age at the time. We had beautiful weather and a memorable trip.

One of the staff members at the nursing home took this picture of mom just days before her death. I remember being concerned when I received the picture as I noticed the continued swelling and redness in her ankle. The antibiotics did not win the battle against the infection and mom died on October 30. Her funeral took place on November 2, 2015--All Souls Day.

I generally made five to six trips each year back to Missouri since moving to Wyoming in 2009. Some years there were even more. Since leaving the funeral on November 2, 2015 and returning to Wyoming I have only been back to Missouri once to attend a wedding and preside over a graveside service. I do not miss doing the nearly 900 mile trip on a regular basis. I have seen the state of Nebraska along Interstate 80 frequently enough to hold me over for this lifetime. However, I am thankful I made regular visits back to see mom during all those years. I cherish those memories.

Life is ever changing. God's love is constant. Embrace that love and generously share it with others.

Saying Farewell Brings Many Emotions

10/28/2016

Priests, deacons, and lay faithful gathered from across the diocese to celebrate the Eucharist one last time with Archbishop-elect Etienne. It was a beautiful and emotional celebration. Our prayers and best wishes travel with him to Anchorage, Alaska.

Looking Back Over The Last Seven Years With Joy

10/27/2016

As our diocese prepares to say farewell to our bishop, I have been spending some time looking back over these last seven years. There have been many great memories created during these years. One of the most meaningful aspects of my position has been to share in numerous liturgical celebrations with Bishop Etienne presiding. Many of these celebrations have taken place at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Cheyenne, but there have been other occasions all across the diocese.

The picture above was special for a couple of reasons. It was a beautiful day in Powell, Wyoming where St. Barbara's Parish was celebrating its 100th anniversary. I had gone to Northwest College in Powell back in 1979 and attended Mass at St. Barbara's Parish while there. Coming back to celebrate 100 years of faith in 2010 was a wonderful treat. Being the deacon to assist the bishop was icing on the cake.

I pulled out a few other photos from 2010 to the present. Celebrating the Sacred Triduum each year at the Cathedral has been beautiful. My thanks to Matt Potter for being present at these celebrations through the years to capture some of these moments.

The annual September Institute included Cardinal O'Brien in 2015.

The formal farewell for our bishop will be at a celebration of the Eucharist on Friday (tomorrow) October 28, 2016 at 6:00 P.M. at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Cheyenne. A reception will follow Mass in Hartmann Hall and all are invited. I want to encourage everyone in the Cheyenne area (and beyond) to come to this celebration as we wish Archbishop-elect Etienne well in Anchorage, Alaska.

Discernment of God's Will--Courage To Follow It

10/27/2016

Do you ever struggle with discerning God's will in your life? When you reach a fork in the river of life and you are forced to make a decision, do you simply flip a coin and go with that game of chance? How frequently do you pray that God will equip you well for the plan He has in mind? Are you wandering through life with no real conviction?

As I grow older I sometimes wonder how many times I have missed God's guidance in my life. Did I not catch the signs? Did I see the signs and ignore them? Did I see the signs and simply choose to go the other direction? How has my life and ministry been enhanced when I saw the sign, followed it, and asked God's blessing upon it during the whole time? What a difference it makes when we walk humbly with our God!

We are preparing for a major transition in our office as the bishop will be leaving to become the Archbishop of Anchorage on November 9. How will this impact the flow of things in our office? How long will we be under the guidance of an administrator before getting a new bishop appointed? Who will the administrator be? Who will the new bishop be? What changes will take place when the new bishop arrives?

Change always brings a little bit of uneasiness and discomfort. However, we continue to walk in faith through all the ups and downs of life. God has a plan and I simply want to fulfill my role in that plan as best as I am able. I want to be faithful to God's call in my life. It isn't always easy, but I know that I can trust in God's providential care.

Let us join together in prayer today. Let us pray that we each can correctly discern God's will in our lives. Let us pray that we will then have the courage to allow God to equip us for the journey. Let us pray that at the end of our pilgrimage on this earth we will hear those beautiful words, "Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master."

"Therefore, Do Not Continue In Ignorance..."

10/26/2016

The orderliness of creation is truly magnificent. My wife sent the above photo to me from St. Charles, Missouri of this morning's sunrise. The Missouri River flows serenely in the foreground. I reminded her that it was not yet 6:30 A.M. Mountain Time so it was still dark in Wyoming. She simply said, "I know, but you are usually always up by now." I had to wait nearly an hour but I returned the favor by sending her a picture of the sunrise in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

The beauty of God's handiwork is phenomenal. The cycle of life with each passing day is well-ordered and is indeed "good". The natural law provides a keen insight into the creative energy of God. When man attempts to disorder what God has created in perfect order we see the chaos present in modern society.

I encourage you to read the story of creation in the book of Genesis (first book of the Bible). Read chapter one in its entirety with special attention given to verses 27 and 28. Then turn to St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians and read chapter five in its entirety with special attention given to verses 31, 32, and 33 in connection with what you read in Genesis.

Chapter five in St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians emphasizes the need for us to "live as children of light." In verse 17 he says, "Therefore, do not continue in ignorance..." We each have a responsibility to know what the Church teaches and then do our best to model our behavior based upon these teachings. The teachings of the Church are not created in a vacuum. They come to us from the Sacred Scriptures and the magisterial teaching authority of the Church. They are provided for our sanctification.

We have one mission in life--to be holy and blameless in the Lord's sight.
(See Ephesians chapter 1 verse 4)

"What good is it to gain the whole world and lose your own soul?"
(See Mark 8:36.)
(See Matthew 16:26)
(See Luke 9:25)

God blesses us with each new day as an opportunity to grow in holiness. We are called to be saints. Let us honor that calling by being faithful to Christ in all that we think, say, and do.

Come Away And Rest A While

10/25/2016

The autumn season has been very nice in southeastern Wyoming. I am grateful that we did not move from summer directly into winter as we have some years in the past. Traveling across the state in dry and warm conditions reduces my stress. I know the snow will fly soon enough, but for now I will enjoy each mild day with a calm heart.

My schedule has been full over the last four weeks and time off has been limited. I don't seem to do very well at taking a day off during the week when I work all weekend, but there are times when my body lets me know that I need to "come away and rest a while." I am getting better at heeding those signs and I try to at least shorten some of the work days.

The difficulty for me is the sense of urgency that I feel in regard to proclaiming the Good news of the Kingdom. As I watch our society drift further and further away from God it seems to me that time is of the essence. Do we really believe that hell exists? Do we believe that people go there if they reject the love of Christ? If so, what are we doing to help lost souls? Can we afford to approach this crisis in faith casually?

I would encourage each of you to read slowly the Nicene Creed or the Apostles' Creed. Prayerfully meditate on the truths contained in either one of these creeds. How are these words impacting the way you live? Is the love of God BURNING within you? Do you truly THIRST for God?

My dear people of faith, there is no time to be lukewarm. (Read Revelation chapter 3 verses 15 and 16. That is the last book of the Bible.) Our world needs faithful witnesses. Study your faith. Pray. Ask for a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your life. Fulfill God's plan for your life with zeal and fervor. Be a saint!

"Ride for the Brand" Youth Retreat Was Awesome

10/24/2016

I had the privilege of spending the weekend with some amazing members of our dear young Church, as Pope St. John Paul II referred to our youth. We had attendees from all across the great state of Wyoming join us in Casper. Doug Tooke from Helena, Montana served as the keynote speaker and he was dynamic with a very substantive message.

The praise and worship music was uplifting. I am grateful to C.J. and the rest of the group for taking the time to spend the weekend with us.

In the midst of packing and getting ready to leave for Anchorage, Alaska, it was wonderful to see Archbishop-elect Etienne take the time to drive to Casper and join us for Mass on Sunday. The young people appreciated having one last opportunity to celebrate the liturgy with their bishop before he moves on as Archbishop of Anchorage.

I had the opportunity to give a reflection during Eucharistic Adoration on Saturday evening in preparation for celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The movement of the Holy Spirit was evident as we experienced forgiveness and healing in a profound manner.

Our young people face some difficult challenges as our culture does everything in its power to lead them astray from the path of God. It was good to see this group come together for the common purpose of growing in faith and in love for Jesus Christ and His Church. I was blessed to be part of this powerful experience of god's grace!

Happy Anniversary--28 Years and Counting

10/21/2016

My wife and I are celebrating twenty-eight years of marriage today. How are we celebrating this special day? We are spending it 900 miles apart from each other; I think I found the secret to marital bliss. (Just joking!)

Life has certainly had its twists and turns through the years. I never imagined we would end up living in Wyoming, and I know Margaret certainly never dreamed of that either. However, I have been in the Diocese of Cheyenne for seven years now (on November 1) and time continues to march onward. As the photograph above shows the trail curving off into the trees, there are times in life when we can't see what is around the corner. That is what keeps life interesting.

Happy Anniversary, Margaret. Enjoy the time with your family. I am guessing a trip to Fast Eddie's Bon Air in Alton, Illinois will be on the agenda while you are there. Maybe I will celebrate by driving to Steak 'n Shake in Greeley, Colorado. Do we know how to live or what?

What are some of the exciting, or not so exciting ways, you have celebrated wedding anniversaries?

Our Lady of the Mountains Parish Retreat

10/20/2016

We are only two weeks away from the parish retreat in Jackson. It has been a couple of years since my last visit to Jackson and I am looking forward to being in this beautiful setting again with the wonderful parishioners of Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church. The retreat will take place in the parish hall and is free to attend and open to all. I hope to see you there.