The halfway mark of every Lenten season is a time when the liturgy begins to remind us of the upcoming celebrations of the Lord’s passion, death and resurrection.
My cousin, John Pobuda of Sun City West, Ariz., died this year on his 89th birthday, Valentine’s Day. Our family Marine was very much like a big brother to me. My first memories of John go back to the days of World War II when he was granted a break from action in the Pacific and enjoyed a leave back home with family and friends.
During this Year of the Priest, I have taken advantage of opportunities to write about priests outstanding in their life and ministry whom the church has honored with canonization and/or beatification.
In an Easter homily St. Augustine long ago stated, “Christ has suffered; let us die to sin.” Jesus encourages all of us to fast, to pray, and to give alms, the church’s traditional Lenten disciplines, not because they will make us look good to other people, but rather because they will help us “die to sin” and grow in our relationship with God and one another on our journey of faith.
Last month the United States Postal Service chose to salute the Lunar New Year with a commemorative 12-stamp souvenir sheet. Asian communities across the world continue to share their traditions, culture and heritage wherever they make their homes.
Most folks here in the Archdiocese of Portland are well aware of Mount Angel Seminary, owned and operated by the Benedictine monks of Mount Angel Abbey. The third Archbishop of Portland, The Most Rev. William Gross, asked the monks to establish a seminary for the formation of priests to serve here in the church of the great Northwest.
Earlier this month there was a front page story in our Catholic Sentinel about parish finance councils. There is also an archdiocesan parish council. All pastors, including the bishop, by church law, are expected to work with their finance councils in deliberating matters that pertain to the administration of the parish and its resources.
The new year began, as it has in recent years, with the celebration of Mass at the convent of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon. For many years now New Year’s Day has been designated World Day of Prayer for Peace.
Last year Ed Langlois of the Sentinel wrote a news story about human trafficking here in Oregon. What is it?
The American bishops have chosen the theme “Renewing Hope, Seeking Justice,” for this week’s observance of National Migration Week. Our focus this year is migrant and refugee children. Pope Benedict XVI himself chose the theme, “Minor Migrants and Refugees” for the 2010 World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
