Más de ciento cincuenta sacerdotes, religiosas, trabajadores parroquiales, empleados diocesanos y laicos comprometidos se reunieron en Warner Robins el 12 de agosto para un Encuentro sobre el Ministerio Hispano. Fue un momento para reunirnos como diócesis para contemplar y hablar de la necesidad de estirar el brazo a nuestros hermanos inmigrantes católicos que viven en nuestras comunidades.  En sus comentarios, el obispo Hartmayer señaló que el Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) estima que 80.122 católicos hispanos viven... Read more

At least one time each year, the Scripture readings of Mass present a fundamental principle of the Gospel: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is universal.  Jesus offers salvation to all peoples with absolutely no exceptions.  Nationality, ethnicity, race, legal status, intelligence, wealth and so many other elements which often create divisions in society do not matter to the eyes of God when it comes to offering His salvation. At the time of Jesus, salvation from God to all peoples was... Read more

I gave this homily at the Hispanic Ministry Encounter in Warner Robins last week.  Over one hundred fifty priests, religious sisters, parish staff, diocesan employees and lay people gathered to contemplate and discuss the necessity of reaching out to fellow immigrant Catholic brothers and sisters living in our communities.  In his remarks, Bishop Hartmayer pointed out that the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) estimates that 80,122 Hispanic Catholics live within our diocese while the 2012 diocesan pew... Read more

  Hace unas semanas celebré Misa en la parroquia de Darien, la segunda ciudad más antigua de Georgia y el sitio donde se construyó el primer fuerte británico en lo que hoy es Georgia. Fundada en 1736, la ciudad de Darién fue construida donde en 1721 soldados británicos de Port Royal, Carolina del Sur, construyeron el Fuerte King George en la desembocadura del Río Altamaha, invadiendo territorios reclamados por España y Francia.  Las condiciones de vida en este fuerte que... Read more

Yesterday I celebrated a Mass at Our Lady of the Americas Mission in Atlanta commemorating Peru’s 193th year of independence.  For the past four years the Peruvian Consulate in Atlanta has invited me to take part in the celebration. Every year a man does the Danza de las Tijeras or Scissors Dance which is a traditional dance from communities in the south-central Andes of Peru.  The dancers hold a pair of polished iron rods which look like scissors, striking them... Read more

  Temprano una mañana abordé el Euskotren en San Sebastián.  Deteniéndose a menudo, el tren lentamente bordeaba la hermosa costa norte del País Vasco de España. El mar azul profundo hacia contraste con la costa escabrosa. Siendo para mi imposible comprender el misterioso idioma vasco, viajé sentado en silencio admirando la vista. Bajé del tren en el puerto de Zumaia y parado esperé el autobús. Mi abrigo, bufanda y guantes no proporcionaron defensa suficiente para evitar que la brisa helada... Read more

Early in the morning I boarded the commuter Euskotren at San Sebastian.  Stopping often, the train slowly wound down the beautiful northern coast of Spain’s Basque Country.  The deep blue sea contrasted with the rugged coast.  Unable to begin grasping the Basque’s mysterious language, I sat quietly admiring the view. I got off the train at the industrial port city of Zumaia and waited for a bus.  My heavy coat, scarf and gloves did not provide a strong enough defense... Read more

  Last Saturday I celebrated Mass at Nativity of Our Lady Catholic Church in Darien, Georgia, the second oldest city of the state and site of the first British fort in present-day Georgia. Founded in 1736, Darien was built where British colonists from South Carolina had in 1721 built Fort King George to guard the mouth of the Altamaha River, encroaching into territory claimed by Spain.  The fort was abandoned in 1727 and only six years later James Oglethorpe founded... Read more

The brief note below and its title are taken from Cardinal Dolan’s blog A week or so ago, I watched with shame as an angry mob in southern California surrounded buses filled with frightened, hungry, homeless immigrants, shaking fists, and shouting for them to “get out!” It was un-American; it was un-biblical; it was inhumane.  It worked, as the scared drivers turned the buses around and sought sanctuary elsewhere. The incendiary scene reminded me of Nativist mobs in the 1840’s, Know-Nothing... Read more

As I looked over today’s readings, more specifically as I read the first reading, a drop of water fell on my hand. I would’ve thought nothing of it had I been sitting on a park bench in the city, or had I been sitting by a pool somewhere where I could’ve been splashed.  But I was sitting indoors, at a table.  I immediately looked up and saw there was water dripping from the air conditioning vent on top of me.... Read more