Bishop Brennan Honors His Ancestors-He's A Gift To Ohio

Bishop Robert Brennan, the newly installed bishop of Columbus, Ohio will be missed on Long Island where he's from. His family still lives here so it is with a sacrificial attitude that he goes to Ohio, but the Catholics from Columbus are the lucky ones.
Since I live within the Diocese of Rockville Centre, on Long Island, where Bishop Brennan most recently served as an Auxiliary Bishop, I know firsthand he was very well liked and the few times I attended special events or Mass and heard him speak, I came away thinking he was a special priest. He's also kind. The people, schoolchildren, clergy and interfaith community there will soon find that out for themselves.
Thanks to the wonder of Catholic television I was able to watch the installation Mass on the Catholic Faith Network of Rockville Centre. Bishop Brennan's homily was great. I loved how he explained what his episcopal motto, "Thy will be done." meant to him and his family. That biblical phrase (and verse from the Our Father prayer) is etched on the tombstones of his grandfather and great-grandfather. His grandfather also had a prayer card he carried with him with that phrase. It seems God's will was to bring honor to the Brennan family for their faithfulness.  Bishop Brennan is 56 years old, fairly young for a bishop. He brings goodness, vitality and prayerfulness to his role as bishop.
Ohio doesn't have great weather in the winter, but they now have a rising star with their new bishop of Columbus.
NJA

Evil and Violence in Places of Worship

There are no words and much sadness when thinking of innocent people worshipping God in a house of worship being murdered. It's despicable. The latest atrocity that occurred in New Zealand of the massacre of innocents at two mosques makes me believe that God must be very sad with aspects of humanity. God certainly weeps. At this late stage of human existence, some sick people are so filled with hate that they would murder, even children in a religious, sacred space. It is just sickening.
But this happens in other places, to other religions. Christians are murdered in churches, in some parts of the world, Jewish people were murdered in their synagogue not too long ago in Pittsburgh and Muslims trying to pray and give honor and praise to God are gunned down in New Zealand.
Because we live in a fallen world, where evil exists and sometimes seems to rule the day, more precautions must be taken to protect worshippers.
There should be protection, someone in charge and given the responsibility of protecting people at prayer, against sick and evil people who wish to harm.
Something has to be done. Good and holy people trying to praise God should not have to fear in a place of worship.
Also religious tolereance and respect for all religions should be taught in schools, throughout the world. This madness has to stop.
NJA

Lent- 2019- Striving for Goodness and Holiness Again

It's Lent once more. Here we go again, striving to be better, to get it right, to grow closer to God and more like Jesus.  I went to Mass on Ash Wednesday in Southwest Florida and the parish I attended had many changes since last Lent. A beautiful new parish center and gym was built and opened which includes a restaurant and beautiful meeting rooms. There is also beautiful outdoor space. It's called the the Pulte Family Life Center, and as you can tell from the name, Mr. Pulte, the builder, gave a very large donation to help build the center. He was a very generous man, who died last year.
What was sad about the whole thing was not only did Mr. Pulte not live to see the building come to life and be completed but the pastor whose vision it was, mysteriously left the priesthood before he had a chance to see the building finished and dedicated. To say the parish family was shocked is an understatement. He had just celebrated 20 years as a priest the year before and now he is seeking laicization.
Since the pastor (who I will leave unnamed) is leaving the priesthood and disappointing thousands of parishioners, as he was greatly loved, one wonders where all this chaos in the church is going.
It's not easy to live the Christian life to its fullest. It's not easy to grow in holiness and find out what God's will is for your life.  Of course holiness is attainable and we've seen many examples of holy lives in our lifetime. I think of St. Mother Teresa,   Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Francis.
We all know what to do by now, and between religious books, the lives of the saints, Catholic television shows, bible study classes, parish retreats and programs and religious you tube videos and DVD's and all the devotions Catholics have at their disposal, and Mass, if you give enough time to spiritual growth, you can absolutely grow in holiness.
 I heard Fr. Donald Haggerty, a priest of the Archdiocese of NY, who was interviewed on EWTN recently, say that just visiting a Church everyday, even for 10  minutes, (if you can't attend daily Mass), when its quiet and still inside is a good and simple way to grow in holiness. I've done that often, during the week and I would agree. But its a good suggestion so I'll do it more.
There are so many distractions in the modern world, so many things pulling us away from what's really important. It takes discipline to stay the course, to keep focused on Jesus.  I hope you have a good and holy Lent.
Amen to that.
NJA