Essays and Messages

Every generation has the obligation and responsibility to educate the next generation. That involves the teaching of subjects like math and science, language and literature, history and health, among others.

Mindful of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) urgent declaration in 2023 that abortion would remain "a preeminent priority" for the Catholic Church in our country, I invite all the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Trenton to join together prayerfully on this national "Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children."

In Harper Lee’s 1960 novel “To Kill A Mockingbird,” Atticus Finch is appointed as defense lawyer for Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of raping a young white girl in Depression-Era Alabama. Toward the end of Chapter Three, Finch shares his uncompromisingly noble moral philosophy regarding racism and its attendant stereotyping with his six-year-old daughter, Scout. “You never really understand a person,” Atticus tells her, “Until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”

With the Christmas Season behind us, Catholics now enter into a period referred to as “Ordinary Time” in the Church’s liturgy. In our vernacular usage, the word "ordinary" describes what is commonplace, "everyday" or without uniqueness or special distinction.

In anticipation of the ordinary Holy Year that the Church will begin celebrating at Christmas this year, our Holy Father has chosen as its theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” In his 2022 letter announcing the 2025 Holy Year, Pope Francis wrote: “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision. The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire.”

The word “advent” comes from the Latin term adventus, literally meaning “coming to.” The four weeks of the season of Advent before Christmas create a unique season of hope-filled preparation for all of us in the Catholic Christian community — although it can easily be missed by society at large as simply an extended, early celebration of Christmas. True enough, Christ has come, and we should rejoice in his Incarnation every day of our lives. But Advent gives us all time for a prayerful “retelling” of the story of the “Hope of Israel.”

Today, the Third Sunday of Advent, is traditionally called “Gaudete Sunday,” a Latin word from the ancient prayers that begin this day’s Mass telling us “To rejoice.” Advent is the doorway to the joys of Christmas when Jesus came to dwell with us, the joys of encounter with Christ!

The word “advent” comes from the Latin term adventus, literally meaning “coming to.” The four weeks of the season of Advent before Christmas create a unique season of hope-filled preparation for all of us in the Catholic Christian community — although it can easily be missed by society at large as simply an extended, early celebration of Christmas. True enough, Christ has come, and we should rejoice in his Incarnation every day of our lives. But Advent gives us all time for a prayerful “retelling” of the story of the “Hope of Israel.” We prepare ourselves for the commemoration of Christ’s coming in history in Bethlehem, his coming in mystery each day in the Church and the sacraments, and his coming in majesty at the end of time.

St. Vincent de Paul (1581-1660), the founder of the religious congregation to which I belong, often spoke to his priests and brothers about gratitude as the “most important virtue.” He observed, “We should spend as much time in thanking God for his benefits as we do in asking him for them.”

Our Holy Father Pope Francis has given the youth and young adults of the Church two great gifts for the upcoming Holy Year: the canonizations of Blessed Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, two young Catholics who were recognized during their lifetimes for extraordinary faith and holiness.