From The Bishop

Thanksgiving is a time when we pause to give thanks to God for our many blessings. As the first anniversary of my appointment as bishop of St. Catharines approaches, I too wish to pause and give thanks to almighty God. In my homily for the Mass of Installation I asked that you please pray that I will come to know and love our diocese. After 11 months I can honestly say that I now I have a greater understanding and a deeper love for all of you. This is due, in no small measure, to what I have seen and heard among you. I have experienced a diocese blessed with natural beauty, diverse agriculture, vibrant cities and towns, abundant resources and wonderful people. The faith and goodness of so many parishioners and the dedication of the priests, deacons, and those in consecrated life, has been a source of inspiration. I have also encountered those who suffer and experience hardships in life due to illness, broken relationships, unemployment, homelessness and poverty. The courage of these people in the face of adversity is a testament to their goodness and faith. I have heard and seen the many things that make this diocese great and also the things that continue to challenge us. These challenges create important questions. How do we find new ways of proclaiming Jesus Christ in a complex world that is becoming more secular in practice and indifferent to God, life issues, and to those in need? How can we rekindle the faith of all Catholics especially those who are disillusioned with the church or no longer practice the faith? It is my hope and prayer that as a diocese we can begin to develop strategies that can help to answer these questions as we draw from our spiritual resources. One important resource is what both Blessed Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI call the ‘new evangelization'. Pope Benedict has created a new Vatican office called the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization. He has also chosen this topic for the next Synod of Bishops which will be held in Rome in 2012. The role of the ‘new evangelization' is to help Catholics live out their baptismal vocation through lives of service in a missionary spirit. It is founded on a fundamental principle that we all share in the mission of Christ and his Church. As an initial step in developing this rich resource, the priests and deacons of the diocese will be considering the ‘new evangelization' at the annual clergy study days in November. Please pray that we will be inspirited by the Holy Spirit during these days of prayer and study. I know that I have only begun to journey with you and that there are still many people to meet and experiences to be lived. I am most grateful for the privilege of being your bishop and I look to the future with hope and joyful anticipation. With grateful hearts, inspired by what we have seen and heard, let us continue to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ our Lord in parishes, homes, schools, and the greater community. May God bless you.