Dear Friends,

A week ago some of our Parish and school staff members surprised me with a humbling Birthday celebration and cake. As I later sat and reflected on this event, I recalled a song we once sang as novices: "What a wonder to be in the Vineyard of the Lord God. He is calling us to become witnesses. Forever, and to teach his word to all nations, here on earth, yes, until the end of time!"

Dear Friends,

The month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. And this year on June 11th, Most of our Bishops, members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), will consecrate the United States of America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The Heart, as many of us may know or have used and/or read, represents Love. My first tee shirt had the inscription, I ❤ You" on it. I understood it as "I heart you!" until my maternal Aunt Rita corrected my limited childhood knowledge. She told me that the red heart symbolizes Love, and so my T-shirt was an expression of I LOVE YOU.

Dear friends,

In the recent Annual Priests' retreat at Picture Rocks Redemptorist Spiritual Center, we read, reflected, and shared from the Book, "The Priest: Mystery of Love" by Luis M. Martinez. The place of Love dominated the Spiritual journey. Everything from the Pope, the Bishops, the Priesthood, and indeed the life of every Christian is the fruit of Love. The Love between God the Father and the Son in communion with the Holy Spirit. God is Love.

Dear friends,

One of the greatest joys of standing at the gate of our school each morning for me, apart from welcoming their cheerful faces, is hearing the wonderful questions children often ask me or just letting me know it is their birthday. Recently two of our little first graders, Caleb and Annet, at different times stopped me with questions that have challenged human minds for centuries. "Who made God?" Caleb asked. Then a few minutes later Annet asked, "What is the difference between God and Jesus?"

Dear friends,

Last week, as I made my way from the airport to a funeral Mass for a dear friend in Dallas, I had an encounter that has stayed with me in a quiet but powerful way. My Uber driver, named Duncan, handed me a simple wristband. On it were the words: "God is big enough." At the time, I received it politely, but it did not resonate immediately with me as my mind was focused on the funeral Mass I was heading to celebrate.

Dear friends,

As we journey through the Sixth Sunday of Easter, the Church draws us ever closer to the great celebrations of the Ascension and Pentecost. These coming feasts remind us that Christ does not abandon His people but continues to guide and strengthen us through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Dear friends,

In this weekend's Gospel from the Farewell Discourse, Jesus speaks words of comfort to his disciples as he prepares for his arrest and crucifixion. He invites them to trust in God and to look forward with hope to their reunion in the Father's house. In the ancient world, when travelers needed lodging, one of them would go ahead to prepare a place. Jesus uses this familiar image—but what he promises is far greater than a temporary shelter. He offers an eternal dwelling in the Father's house.