Archbishop's Column

On Sunday, you may have noticed that the priest at your parish was not wearing green, the liturgical color prescribed for Ordinary Time. He was wearing white for the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran.

The liturgical calendar is the Church’s schedule of feasts and seasons that mark the rhythm of our life of faith. The cornerstone of the liturgical year is Sunday, the Lord’s Day, which is always a “little Easter.” We also have seasons such as Ordinary Time and days such as Ash Wednesday, which begins the penitential season of Lent. We have Advent and the Christmas season, and the feasts of the various saints we venerate.

On Oct. 22, we will celebrate the feast of Saint John Paul II. Many who are reading this column will have personal memories of his life, ministry and heroic witness.

It should not come as a surprise that priests need time away from their ministry to recharge from time to time. We see this even in the life of Jesus, who “went up on the mountain by himself to pray” (Mt 14:23) and who “spent the night in prayer to God” (Lk 6:12) after times of intense teaching and ministry.

In this Jubilee year, we are called to be “Pilgrims of Hope.” In the spirit of the great Jubilee tradition, we are invited to live this sacred time not merely as an anniversary to be observed, but as a season of grace – a time to restore what has been lost, to heal what is broken and to bear Christ’s light into a dark world that longs for his peace.

Pope Francis has invited the entire Church to celebrate a Year of Jubilee. For all of 2025 we have been promised a unique outpouring of God’s goodness and grace, a wealth of blessings.

The theme of Jubilee Year 2025 – “Pilgrims of Hope” – summons each of us and the whole Church to renew our commitment to Jesus Christ and to one another. We are pilgrims together.

People choose Catholic education for many reasons. Some families choose it for excellence in academic instruction. Some choose it for the tight-knit community. Some choose it so their children will be taught according to a moral compass with an emphasis on virtue.

One of the central mysteries of our faith is the Incarnation, which the Church celebrates most solemnly at Christmas.

In a few short weeks, 2024 will come to an end. Our well-planned Christmas celebrations will bleed into our anticipation of a new year, which offers a new beginning. But, 2025 won’t be just any new year. This new year is a Jubilee year!

As Thanksgiving Day draws near, many of us may recall the story of that first Thanksgiving in America.

When I travel around the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, I have the joy of celebrating Mass with many of our young disciples. I love meeting these students, perhaps during a school visit or a Confirmation.

Every four years we are presented with the prospect of the “most important election of our lifetime.” Perhaps this admonition is accurate.

In every Catholic diocese, the cathedral stands not merely as a building of brick and mortar, but a profound symbol of faith and communion.

Even though the global COVID-19 pandemic is a few years behind us, recalling those strange and challenging times can still stir up strong emotional responses.

When the U.S. bishops initiated the Eucharistic Revival more than two years ago, we wanted to spark a new awareness and appreciation of the great gift of the Eucharist throughout our nation.

When we celebrate the Eucharist, every element is important. The Church’s liturgy is the result of centuries of development, enabling us to worship the Father in Spirit and in truth by drawing us into Jesus’ own perfect sacrifice on the cross.

The National Eucharistic Congress

The history of salvation began the moment our first parents rebelled against God’s commandment in Eden.

In Oklahoma, summertime means heat. But, for many people summertime also is when we look forward to a much-anticipated vacation.