Dear Brothers and Sisters,

One of my favorite places on all of planet earth is Lourdes in France. There are many reasons I enjoy this holy place. The peace, the prayerfulness, the faith, the candlelight processions, the healings, the beautiful liturgies, and adoration of Our Lord, are just a few ways I have encountered God’s goodness there. Many people who have been to Lourdes have shared with me similar experiences. While making a trip to Lourdes is a blessing, it is not always possible. So, after many months of planning and waiting for the city to grant us the permits to build, we are finally able to begin construction our new grotto right here in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

When I was a kid, I always enjoyed this time of year. Going back to school was sort of exciting– call me weird. I liked seeing my classmates and hanging out with friends. I even looked forward to my first day of Kindergarten – just ask my mom. Recently, I have been thinking about education and religious education in particular. Today, I want to reflect on the role of parents as educators of our children in the faith of Our Lord Jesus.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On December 7, 1941, the United States was attacked at Pearl Harbor. This attack eventually led to World War II. I have met veterans who had once been young and patriotically idealistic and had responded to Japanese aggression, altering their whole life for the good of our country. After what they had been through and what they had lost, including many of their peers, one can understand how they would not want us to forget the pain of their past and the military heroes of World War II.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This past week my family celebrated my sister’s birthday at Lake Pleasant. If you are familiar with that area, you know that there is minimal, if any, cell phone reception. Whenever that happens, I realize how dependent I have become on my phone. It also reminded me that from time to time, I need to be less connected to my email, text messages and the phone that seem to keep my priestly duties front and center.