In the past few weeks I’ve been asked to speak about loneliness in the elderly on numerous occasions. I was even quoted in a recent article by Catholic journalist Mary Rezac, entitled Our Elders Are Lonely — Do We Care? As we look forward to Christmas, let’s hope we can all say, “Of course we do!”

Each October we observe Respect Life Month in dioceses throughout the United States. Although ending abortion remains a priority of the utmost importance, threats to the disabled and those at the end of life deserve our attention as well. The legalization of medically assisted suicide in Canada in June should serve as a wake-up call compelling us to reach out in solidarity to our most vulnerable brothers and sisters.

We Little Sisters spend our lives caring for the elderly, but I try to keep up with young people as much as I can. Last week I read a blog for young women about the impact of our throw-away culture on the quality of personal relationships. The more we move around, according to a recent study, the more likely we are to develop attitudes of disposability toward our material possessions — and we also come to perceive relationships in the same way.

As a pastor in Madison County, I am edified by the wonderful Catholic parishes that serve our communities. Along with great parishes come 11 outstanding Catholic schools. Our county and deanery have the largest active number of Catholics in our diocese, according to the recent October count, and they are great stewards of God's gifts in their support of the Catholic life and ministries offered to our people.

On July 19-21, I was blessed to be a delegate from the Springfield diocese to the National Black Catholic Congress which was held at the Marriott Hotel in Indianapolis.

In November 2005, the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) published the fruits of their discussion about how we acknowledge the presence of those lay members who wish to bring forth their giftedness to the church. Done in collaboration with many lay members, the U.S. bishops released an astoundingly hopeful document called Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord. In doing so, the bishops set forth a formalized blueprint for the development and formation of committed lay people who wanted to bring their gifts to the service of the church in a way that allows them to journey alongside those who are ordained as well as all religious brothers and sisters.

God is a giver of gifts! To many he appears insane in his generosity. I have come over the years to believe that, in nearly every situation in life God is attempting to give us a gift.

“Remember, man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.”

As I celebrate the Easter Season and reflect on this past Lenten season, these words have a special meaning for me. In Genesis, Scripture tells how God created the earth, and springing forth from the earth, every kind of grass and seed bearing plant and fruit. From the earth God created all the animals, fish and birds of the sky. God also created from the earth man and woman and gave them dominion over all things of the earth.

Holy Week is a time when Catholics worldwide feel the pain of dying in Christ.

It came this year as media reports brought up heartrending, often previously published, stories with a new twist — how the Vatican handled clergy sexual abuse cases. Efforts to link stories to culpable inaction by Pope Benedict XVI cause reasonable people anguish given all that the pope has tried to do to address this crisis.

As the old year passes into the rearview mirror and the new one lies ahead it is a natural time for reflection. We review what has been and we look forward to tomorrow. Whatever has been, we cannot change. We can however make wiser choices in the New Year.

There is something magic about Christmas!

Each year as the season approaches it begins to cast its spell on our hearts. Perhaps it is that first Christmas carol we hear, the smell of fresh-cut pine, or smoke from a neighbor’s chimney. Or maybe it is the sight of holiday lights trimming a tree. Sometimes the aroma of holiday treats cooking in the kitchen, or the crisp air on a December evening brings us into the magic of the season.

Do you want to make the world a better place, to be a peacemaker?

Most people would say “yes,” and indeed many well-intentioned persons give generously of their time in public service and volunteer work, serving causes that they believe in, and trying to make the world a better place. They accomplish much good!

The clock radio on my bedside stand clicked on the morning of Sept. 29, 1978.  Piercing the quiet of my bedroom, the news announcer’s words shocked me out of a very deep sleep. “The pope is dead,” the announcer reported. “Pope John Paul I died in his sleep last night.”

I sprang out of bed, ran into our den where my mother was drinking her first cup of coffee and frantically announced, “Mom, the pope died! The pope is dead!”

Everyone loves to celebrate! We, as Franciscan Brothers of the Holy Cross, are no exception. This year, we have three reasons to celebrate. We celebrate 40 years of living religious life, 80 years of our community's presence in Springfield, and 95 years of life as a child of God. These each were years of the Lord's guidance and protection. Who could have pre-knowledge of the experiences, pitfalls, successes and triumphs that would pack these years?