My dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

Monday, June 22, marked the fifth anniversary of my installation as the ninth Bishop of Springfield in Illinois. Anytime we look back at a period of time in our lives, it is natural to look for highlights and accomplishments, as well as to take note of things that did not go as well as anticipated. Starting with the latter, it was a real disappointment that the civil unions act was passed and signed into law during my first year as Bishop in Springfield, resulting in the state of Illinois canceling our contract for foster care and adoption services because we would not place children with couples living contrary to the teachings of our faith. This misfortune was exacerbated in 2013 with the State attempting to redefine marriage to include same-sex couples. I say "attempt" because the State has no moral authority to change a natural institution created by God. It certainly has the legal power in civil law to coerce its definition, but that does not make it morally valid in the higher realm of supernatural realities.

Out of this cloud of disappointment, however, have emerged some silver linings. Our Catholic Charities has become less dependent on government funding while continuing to thrive throughout our diocese by focusing on other programs as well as new opportunities to help the poor, including Catholic Charities Legal Services and our Mobile Food Pantry program.

Chief among the highlights of the past five years for me has been visiting all of our parishes and meeting our priests and parishioners in their local settings. The parish is the primary place where the people of God receive the sacraments, celebrate the Eucharist, learn about the faith, and experience the spiritual bonds that unite and strengthen us as a community of brothers and sisters in Christ.

In my homily at the Masses welcoming me in each of our seven deaneries in September 2010, I laid out my vision as the bishop of this diocese. I said that I see a local church where Catholics take their faith seriously, seek to grow in virtue and holiness, go to Mass every Sunday and participate regularly and actively in the sacramental life of the church and the activities of their parishes; love God with all their heart and mind and soul and love their neighbor as themselves; bear witness to Christ in their daily lives; and promote respect for all human life from conception to natural death. I see a diocese where there is an abundance of vocations of young people willing to answer God's call to follow him and dedicate their lives to carrying out his mission in the world; where there are sufficient priests to staff our parishes and serve their parishioners with virtuous commitment and impeccable integrity; devoted deacons, nuns and religious brothers dedicated to teaching the faith and caring for the sick, the poor, and the dying. I see communities where family life is valued, homes with a mother and a father who love their children and whose children love them; parents who educate and form their children and themselves in the Catholic faith. In short, I see a glimpse of God's Kingdom already foreshadowed in the life of the church and a foretaste of the heavenly banquet in the Eucharistic feast.

So, are we there yet? Obviously, not quite. I noted in 2010 and repeat now that the only real obstacle that prevents this vision from becoming reality in fact is sin. While Christ's death and resurrection have restored the gifts of heavenly treasures for us, we also have to recognize that the devil, Satan, is real, and he will do everything in his power to deflect us from our goal, which is eternal life on high with Christ in his kingdom.

This reality should neither frighten us nor lead us to despair, for Christ is more powerful than Satan. Christ indeed has conquered sin and death. Out of this conviction grew our devotion to St. Michael in this diocese and the practice in most of our parishes of voluntarily praying the Prayer of St. Michael after every Mass.

In my homily in our Cathedral at the Mass of Installation on June 22, 2010, I said that my primary task as bishop is to love you, more precisely, to radiate Christ's love with the help of God's grace and that the second major task that I see for a Catholic bishop is to be the center of unity for the Christian community. As I look to the next five years and beyond, please know that I love you. Please pray that we may all be united in our faith and grow in our conviction that Jesus loves us and thirsts for our love in return.

May God give us this grace. Amen.