Solemnity of the Ascension

Introduction Today, dear friends, we celebrate the mystery of the Lord’s Ascension into heaven. The Ascension is an article of faith that we proclaim every Sunday in the Nicene Creed when we say, “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.” When we profess this article of the Faith...
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Baccalaureate Mass at St. Mary’s High School, Annapolis

Introduction: At Commencement Father Tizio and Brother Priests, Dr. Morgan, Mr. Reinhart, members of the faculty, honored guests, dear parents and grandparents, and today, especially, dear graduates: It is a joy for me to celebrate this Baccalaureate Mass with and for you in this special place which has become for you a second home, and...
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Catholic Review Column: The Joy of the Gospel, Part 7 of 9

Not long ago, I visited with a fellow bishop who oversees a very large diocese. By all appearances it is bustling. It has many parishes, schools, social service agencies and hospitals. Vocations to the priesthood are on the uptick. Fundraising is at record levels. But that bishop is not content. “This is mission territory,” he...
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Ordination of Deacons

Introduction Brother Bishops, Priests and Deacons, dear Religious, Seminarians of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond, families and friends of our candidates for Ordination, and especially you who are so soon to be ordained: Christopher, William, Joshua, and Francis: The Lord Jesus, in the Gospel, says to us, and to you, today: “The Son of...
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4th Sunday of Easter A – St. William of York

Introduction I am delighted to be with you this afternoon. For one thing, I’ve served in three dioceses but only the Archdiocese of Baltimore has a parish named for my patron saint, St. William of York! I had hoped to take part in the 100th anniversary on Pentecost Sunday; unfortunately a sudden change of schedule...
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Catholic Review Column: The Joy of the Gospel, Part 6 of 9

In our daily work, we all face temptations. Sometimes it’s the temptation to get ahead at any cost. At other times, there are temptations to take short cuts. Then there is the temptation to give in to discouragement when things don’t go as they should. In the second part of his exhortation, “Evangelii Gaudium” (The...
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Dedication of St. Joseph-on-Carrollton Manor Parish Church

Introduction Let me begin with words of appreciation for the leadership, participation & generosity of you, the lay faithful, of this parish of St. Joseph-on-Carrollton Manor. What a day of joy as we bless and dedicate this beautiful new home for a growing family of faith! How grateful we are to the planners, architects, &...
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Catholic Review Column: The Spiritual Fatherhood of St. John Paul II

Years ago, while serving as Cardinal James A. Hickey’s priest-secretary in the Archdiocese of Washington, I had the privilege of joining a small number of priests who concelebrated an early morning Mass in Pope John Paul II’s private chapel. Afterward, the Holy Father greeted each of us as our picture was taken. Of all the...
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Easter Sunday 2014

Introduction: Is There Anything New Under the Sun? Soon after Christmas, I came across a well-known passage from the Old Testament. It is found in the Book of Ecclesiastes and it goes this way: “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!” (Ecclesiastes, 1:2) This passage goes on to say: “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes...
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Easter Vigil 2014

Introduction As a very young priest, I served under a good pastor. Yet in his kindness, he made a serious mistake. He allowed me to plan and celebrate the Easter Vigil when I had been a priest less than a year. It turned out to be a rainy evening but I was undeterred. I gathered...
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Good Friday 2014

A Unique Day There is no other day like this in the Church’s year of faith. This is the only day in the liturgical year when Mass is not celebrated. It is a uniquely somber day that Saint Ambrose once called “a day of bitterness”. Yet we call this day, at least in English, “Good...
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Holy Thursday 2014

The Gap between Belief and Action Whenever I preach, I am conscious of my unworthiness, for the words that I preach are not my own. No, they are words of Christ and thus reflect a matchless degree of holiness. The same is true for anyone who bears witness to Christ; if our testimony to Christ...
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