When we suffer, God is very near to us, drawing purpose out of our pain and transforming it into his own beautiful goodness.

Most importantly, we should ask ourselves “who.” Who am I seeking? 

This Labor Day, let’s take some time to be re-created with God’s own rest and playfulness. That way, whatever we face the next day, we can begin again with all the zest and zeal of God himself.

In reality, true greatness lies in loving obedience to God’s will, no matter how mundane it might seem at the time.

The joy our servers experienced on Monday was the fruit of their giving something, indeed, giving themselves, over to Jesus. The prospect of holding nothing back from our good Lord is often intimidating. But if we begin by committing ourselves to the little sacrifices that love demands of us on a daily basis, we will find our fears melting away and the impossible acts of love become not only possible, but desirable.

… (O)ur diverse ways of addressing Mary all point to the one mystery that the Son of God “came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit, was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.” Nevertheless, taking time to admire this “icon not made by hands” in her different aspects only inspires us to greater love for her and the child she carries into the world.

Every day, we can follow the example of one Lydia or the other. We can pursue our own selfish ends, thereby slamming doors on others who need our thoughtfulness to flourish. Or we can pursue the good of others, thereby opening those doors farther and wider than anyone dreamed possible.

I’m humbled by the opportunity to represent OLMC at such a meaningful gathering of Catholic leaders, and I’m gratified to report back that the work we’re doing as a parish and school is an inspiration to others near and far. 

We share the faith with our children because it’s who we are: because we invest so much of ourselves into it, and because it has served us well and allows us to serve others well.

Saint Paul teaches us that the mystery of God is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27).

Our patronal Feast is only one week away, and there is much to celebrate!

Jesus didn’t shed his precious blood for us because we’re worthy of the sacrifice. He shed it for us because we aren’t. 

[E]very atom is subject to the love made manifest by Jesus’s death and resurrection. Because of his sacrifice, nothing can stand between God and his beloved creation.

As St. Vincent DePaul said, a man of prayer is capable of everything; in other words, divine assistance is readily available to all who tap into it.

Education is a team sport, and I stand in awe of the unflagging dedication of our administration, faculty, and staff. It is a privilege to stand shoulder to shoulder with you as we take on the magnificent work of preparing children for lives of eternal meaning and unceasing joy.

Love can’t stop the calendar pages from turning. But the more we love, the more we can be at peace with the passage of time, knowing we’ve made the most of every moment

Jesus speaks of another kind of peace. A peace that comes not from the world’s giving or our own willing, but from communion.

But in one sense, the face of the foe doesn’t matter, because the path to victory remains the same. Whether it’s the Arian heresy in 526 A.D., or the culture of death and neglect in 2025 A.D., we know what we have to do.

If a baby is God’s opinion that the world should go on, a mother is God’s promise that the world will go on.

By now you’ve no doubt seen many advertisements for our annual Golf Classic and Parish Dinner on May 19th. Today I’d like to issue my own invitation to each and every one of you. Whether you can join us for the whole day or just for the cocktail party and dinner, it would be great to celebrate with you. 

In particular, it is mercy - that is, love encountering evil and overcoming it, not by force but by redemption.

The resurrection is not the happy ending to a tragic story - it’s the launching of God's new creation. Easter is not about escaping the world; it’s about God’s plan to renew it, to raise it to new life.

The reality is that as long as we’re on this Earth, there is no real neutral. We’re always headed in one direction or another: either towards God or away from him. As I said in my Ash Wednesday letter, Lent is a time to develop a firm disposition to go towards him.

NourishNJ provides more than just meals; it offers essential resources such as groceries, access to community programs, and a compassionate environment where clients can regain stability. Its job readiness and financial assistance programs contribute to the overall health and well-being of those who are struggling, ensuring they have the support they need to thrive. 

The Lenten discipline of almsgiving is one small step in his direction. By giving away our money and time in a season that’s already marked by other sacrifice, we become a little more like him every day.

Saint Ambrose once said that “no one heals himself by wounding another.”

Prayer is essential if our lives are to have any meaning and purpose. Regularity, in turn, is essential for a fruitful prayer life. 

I pray this Lent will be a season of genuine refocus. Come Easter, may each of us be a testament to the unflagging vitality and unstoppable power of a truly God-centered life.

It can be debated how faithful Americans have been to President Washington’s vision, but in any event it should be noted that the virtues he outlined aren’t good and necessary because they’re American; Washington extolled them as American ideals because they were first good and necessary. Indeed, truth, justice, peace, and harmony transcend not only the United States, but humanity itself. They are attributes of God himself.