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BELLEVILLE, Ill. – The bishop of Belleville, under pressure from his diocesan finance council over some expenditures, issued an apology Jan. 22 and said the costs being questioned would be covered by an anonymous donor.

Father Chris Carney died earlier this month. While Father Carney had been a Christian Brother prior to ordination, Chris and I were in the same ordination class of 1971. Time has taken its toll on our class. In addition to Father Carney, Fathers Don McMaster, Joe Kaiser, Blair Raum and John Delclos have all gone to God. Life is indeed humbling on this planet. Here we truly have ‘no lasting city.’ But we also are comforted by knowing that we do have an eternal lasting city in another place beyond time and space.

Last week as I reflected on how every day can be Christmas, I shared the line from a Christmas carol that I have turned into a prayer that I say each day: “Cast out my sin, Lord, enter in. Be born in me today.”

A year ago I was named by the Holy Father a member of the Congregation for Catholic Education (and Seminaries), surely an honor and a privilege.

My first Baltimore Christmas has been delightful, days of prayer and celebrations – overflowing congregations at the Basilica of the Assumption for the Christmas Vigil Mass and the Midnight Mass at our Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. Monsignors Hobbs and Armstrong and their staffs offered us all glowing examples of what solemn liturgies can do for the heart and soul.

Pope Benedict XVI won’t be drawn into American politics when he comes to the U.S. in April in the middle of a heated presidential race. That’s what the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, told an Italian Catholic magazine, and I’m glad to hear it.

The MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships took place on Jan. 18 at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex, Landover. The date was different, the head coach was new, but the end result was the same with another Mount St. Joseph High School walk-away title championship.