This morning I preached this homily at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Savannah.  Part of the homily came from an article I wrote about one year ago about my two priest friends from Aleppo, Father Michel Kayal and Father Antoine Tahan.  When Mass ended, an elderly man dressed as a priest approached me and began thanking me for this homily.  He was a retired Syriac Orthodox Bishop.  It confirmed to me that this homily needed to be... Read more

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to visit the National Reserve of Paracas in Peru.  A breathtaking, arid peninsula jets out into the Pacific Ocean bringing together one of the driest places on earth with the mighty Pacific Ocean.  Rich in wildlife and inspiring landscapes, I had a blast driving through the reserve where at times I had to make my own way through the desert.  Time was against us, I was afraid night would fall and we would... Read more

I wrote this article on immigration almost three years ago.  I answer the question many people keep asking today as presidential hopefuls start campaigning: why don’t immigrants come here legally?  As you will see, the paths to come into the US legally are extremely limited.  Today’s immigration system is not the same system that allowed millions to enter the US decades ago by simply showing up at Ellis Island and not having a serious illness.  Enjoy. Last week I heard... Read more

Estas últimas semanas hemos venido escuchando del evangelio de San Juan.  Escuchamos como hace 2,000 años Jesús enseñó a quienes lo seguían poco a poco sobre el gran regalo que él les dejaría.  ¿Qué regalo?  El regalo de Sí mismo, el gran regalo de su propio cuerpo y su propia sangre. ¡Con que claridad nos habla Jesús en el evangelio de hoy! “Mi carne es verdadera comida, y mi sangre es verdadera bebida. El que come mi carne y bebe... Read more

  I journeyed to the Monastery of La Encarnacion on a cool September morning.  I had arrived to the beautiful city of Avila the night before by bus, and had the opportunity to admire its fairy-tale massive walls that circle the whole old town.  Saint Teresa entered this monastery as a young woman, and after many years there, abandoned it to reform the Carmelite Order.  In this monastery, Saint Teresa met with Saint John of the Cross.  It was here... Read more

Hace unos días vi a un joven llorar en público en la Calle Calhoun. Lo vi antes de poder escucharlo ya que yo estaba al otro lado de la calle. Lloraba desconsoladamente, con su cintura ligeramente doblada para que sus brazos puedan asentarse sobre la valla temporalmente colocada para mantener a la gente sobre la acera. Con la cabeza inclinada hacia abajo, podía ver sus ojos llenos de lágrimas cada vez que levantaba su mirada como para respirar aire fresco.... Read more

A few nights ago, I saw a young man crying in public on the side of Calhoun Street.  I saw him before I could hear him since I was standing across the street from him.  He wept inconsolably, sobbing with his waist slightly bent over so his arms could rest on the temporary fence placed there to keep people off the street.  With his head tilted down and facing the ground, I could see his tear-filled eyes every time he... Read more

Several flights of stairs like this one took me a little closer to heaven.  Just a few days ago I had the opportunity to go up one of the bell towers of the beautiful Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Savannah. Even though I only climbed about two-thirds of the tower, the views were amazing. View of Harris Street south of the cathedral View east of the cathedral With seminarian Solomon   View of the cathedral from the choir... Read more

Un reto que se presenta al vivir en una diócesis rural donde sólo el tres por ciento de la población es católica y donde la mayoría de las parroquias son pequeñas y distantes, es el desarrollar el concepto que como católicos pertenecemos a una Iglesia mucho más grande que nuestra simple parroquia. Es fácil permanecer con una visión parroquial de la Iglesia, perdiendo de vista el alcance de la Iglesia católica en el mundo y en la historia. Click here... Read more

A challenge of living in a rural diocese where only three percent of the population is Catholic and where most parishes are small and distant from each other is developing an understanding that as Catholics we belong to a Church much greater than our local parish.  It is easy to keep a very local or parochial view of the Church, losing sight of the extent of the Catholic Church not only in the world, but also in history. Every year... Read more