News - Put Out Into the Deep RSS Feed

The miracle of Archbishop Fulton Sheen Sixteen years ago, on Sept. 16, 2010, in Peoria, Illinois, a baby boy was stillborn with no measurable heartbeat or breathing.

We celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross each year on Sept. 14. While it commemorates the recovery of the True Cross by Saint Helen in the 4th century, it is a feast that invites us to direct our eyes to the salvation won by Jesus Christ on the cross.

On a December visit to the parish of Saint James the Apostle in Santiago Atitlán last winter, Stanley Rother’s presence loomed large everywhere I ventured, including the surrounding countryside.

Each year on Aug. 10, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Saint Lawrence, one of the most beloved martyrs of the early Church.

This month, our nation celebrates 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence: a milestone anniversary for a nation forged in the fires of revolution and tested in its resolve to uphold the promise of freedom and opportunity.

One of the ways we Catholics punctuate our lives and mark time with our faith is through liturgical seasons and feasts. In addition to seasons such as Lent and Easter, Advent and Christmas, we also dedicate certain months to fostering various devotions that further integrate our lives with the practice of our faith.

“The almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name” (Luke 1:49). With these words, Mary praises God for the gift of salvation that he offers in her Son, Jesus Christ. The “Magnificat” as we have come to know it, is a canticle prayed by Our Lady when she visits Elizabeth, an event that we commemorate in the liturgy of the Church every year on May 31, the last day of the month dedicated to Mary.

The month of May has been observed as Mental Health Month in the United States since 1949. While this is a secular observance, caring for our mental health is certainly an integral element in living our Catholic faith. It is perhaps a happy coincidence that Mental Health Month coincides with the Easter Season in the life of the Catholic Church.

Anniversaries of notable events such as births, weddings and ordinations are important. A first anniversary holds special significance as we look to the recent past and especially toward the future.

Each year, the Catholic Church celebrates Good Shepherd Sunday on the fourth Sunday of Easter. The Gospel reading for that day always turns our attention to Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd.

A few weeks ago, on the Third Sunday of Lent, we heard the story of the Samaritan woman at the well asking Jesus, “Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?”

This week, the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. On March 25, the liturgy commemorates the momentous event when the Archangel Gabriel visits the Blessed Virgin Mary and announces that God has chosen her to fulfill the unique role in God’s salvific plan of being the mother of his Son.

Since my installation as archbishop 15 years ago, I have not ceased praying for a new Pentecost leading to a New Evangelization in Oklahoma, a renewal that would stir in hearts a deeper encounter with the Word made flesh and a conscious decision to follow Jesus Christ.

As a young person growing up in the Catholic faith, confession was something I usually dreaded. Through high school and into college I would put it off for months at a time. As a young adult, and certainly through my priestly ministry, I have come to recognize confession as a great gift.

We have begun our Lenten journey toward Easter. Since it’s a spiritual journey – a journey of faith – the destination is not a physical one. We won’t notice a change in geography or location when we arrive, but the journey is no less real. If we persevere in the journey, we will move from an old way of relating to God to a renewed one.

During Catholic Schools Week from Jan. 25 to 31, we have an opportunity to reflect on and express our gratitude for the blessings of our Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we may find ourselves somewhat conflicted at this time of year. We are in the final days of Advent and stand at the threshold of the Christmas season, which begins with the Solemnity of the Lord’s Nativity.

Even in new USCCB role, ‘I am committed to serving you loyally as your shepherd’

In October, I had the joy of leading our Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma pilgrimage to France and accompanying our 22 pilgrims. Pilgrimages are the occasion for a renewal of faith and a strengthening of hope. Hope is very much at the heart of this Jubilee year with is themed “Pilgrims of Hope.”

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.