Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the many ways in which You are actively present in our live, whether we are aware of them or not.

Msgr. Pope on Understanding Dry and Difficult Prayer

"Most who seek the Lord in prayer experience times of dryness and difficulty, times in which it seems to us that the Lord hides His face. We pray; we call out; we seek Him; but He doesn't seem to answer; it almost seems as if He hides from us.

"A well-known atheist was once asked what he would say to God if he were to discover upon his death that God exists. He replied simply, 'I would ask, 'Why did you hide?'' Many of us who do believe might respond, 'He doesn't hide! All creation shouts His presence, shouts, 'I was designed!'' But most believers can sympathize to some extent and say that while we have once experienced God's presence profoundly, there are also times in which we yearn for but cannot find Him, times in which He seems to hide from us.

"So, then, it remains a legitimate concern, even among believers, that at times God mysteriously hides His face. Indeed the Psalms, inspired by God Himself, state clearly, Why do you sleep, O Lord? Awake, do not reject us forever. Why do You hide Your face and forget our affliction and our oppression? For our soul has sunk down into the dust; Our body cleaves to the earth (Ps 44:23-25).

Yes, the conundrum of God hiding His face, and the despair we experience because of it, are constant themes in the spiritual life. . . ."

In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the challenges being faced by Christians who experience dryness, difficulty, and distraction in prayer.

To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:

Community in Mission: How to Understand Dry and Difficult Prayer (28 DEC 15)

Reflection Starter from Pope Francis

"When the world slumbers in comfort and selfishness, our Christian mission is to help it rouse from sleep." - Pope Francis

"Angels from the Realms of Glory"

As this blessed week and our celebration of Christmas draw to a close, I offer this version of "Angels from the Realms of Glory":

National Migration Week

National Migration Week is being observed in dioceses around the U.S. during this week, the week of 3-9 January. This year's theme is "A Stranger and You Welcomed Me."

The celebration of National Migration Week is designed to provide an opportunity to raise awareness about the hardships faced by migrants, including children, refugees, and victims of human trafficking.

"In the Gospel of Matthew (25:35) Jesus tells his disciples, "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me." The call to welcome the stranger plays an important role in the lives of faithful Christians and has a particularly central place for those of us who work in the migration field. The migrant, who moves from one country to another is truly a stranger in the midst. Often unfamiliar with the local tongue of the new country, not to mention its customs, the migrant needs the support of local communities so that she can better adjust to her new surroundings. National Migration Week 2016 picks up on the theme of welcome and, in doing so, calls on each of us to welcome the stranger among us." - USCCB National Migration Week reflection

The observance of National Migration Week began over 25 years ago by the U.S. bishops to give Catholics an opportunity to take stock of the wide diversity of peoples in the Church and the ministries serving them. The week serves as both a time for prayer and action to try and ease the struggles of immigrants, migrants,  and vulnerable populations coming to America and a time for reflection on the Church's call to "welcome the stranger."
For educational materials and other resources for National Migration Week, please visit:

USCCB: National Migration Week

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the joy of the Christmas season.

Fr. Richard R. DeLillio, OSFS, on Living Our Lives and Becoming a Christian

"It's easy to 'be' called a Christian, but more difficult to 'become' Christian. On the day of our Baptism, the minister baptizes us in blessed waters and immediately our sins are washed away. We shine and sparkle like the newly formed followers of the Lord Jesus that we truly are.  But have we become Christian?

"After our baptism occurs, the difficult part of transforming our lives into dependable disciples of Jesus begins.  When we live our ordinary daily moments with determination, we are doing what the Lord wants us to do. And we are becoming Christian."

In a recent commentary, Father Richard R. DeLillio, OSFS, reflected on some of what we need to do to "become" a Christian as we live our lives.

To access Fr. DeLillio's complete post, please visit:

A Moment From De Sales: Becoming a Christian Doesn’t have to be Difficult (11 DEC 05)

Reflection Starter from Lou Holtz

"For victory in life, we've got to keep focused on the goal, and the goal is Heaven." - Lou Holtz

Vermont Native - First U.S. Woman to Win World Cup in Cross-country Skiing Classic Sprint

"Vermont native Sophie Caldwell won a World Cup in Germany on Tuesday, becoming the first U.S. woman in history to win a World Cup in the cross-country skiing classic sprint.

"Caldwell narowly edged out the other two skiers in the final, and her New England roots might have been the deciding factor in the race.

"Caldwell is used to skiing in less-than-perfect conditions.

"She grew up in Peru, Vermont, in a family that includes a former coach for the U.S. Olympic cross country ski team."

Vermont Public Radio recently reported on Ms. Caldwell's achievement.

To access the complete Vermont Public Radio report, please visit:

Vermont Public Radio: Sophie Caldwell On World Cup Win: Messy Conditions 'A Lot Like What I Grew Up' On (8 JAN 16)

On Stepping Away from the Inbox

"The man who sent the first email is not overwhelmed by email.

"In our culture, it seems, this is unusual. While everyone else is lifehacking, streamlining, Slacking, and marking-as-read - all with the goal of destroying the very thing their inbox was set up to receive - Raymond Tomlinson isn't sweating email at all.

"Tomlinson, the principal scientist at BBN Technologies, is widely credited with having sent the first email across the ARPANET back in 1971. Today, he says he checks his inbox 'fairly frequently,' but only if he's not focused on something else. 'I can go a whole day without checking it,' he told me. 'I occasionally go a whole weekend without checking my email. . . .

"And besides, he points out, email as an item on a person's to-do list is now joined by any number of buzzing, dinging, distracting messages that pop up on mobile devices: texts, Facebook mentions, tweets, news alerts, and whatever other push notifications a person has enabled."

A recent Wired Workplace article, Mr. Tomlinson reflected that "[i]f you answer email within five minutes of receiving it, people start expecting that. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy."

To access the complete Wired Workplacereport, please visit:

Nextgov: Wired Workplace: Advice From the Man Who Sent the First Email: Step Away from the Inbox (7 JAN 16)

Pentatonix: "The Little Drummer Boy"

As our Christmas celebration continues, I offer this version of Pentatonix presenting "The Little Drummer Boy":

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessings You give through those who faithfully carry out their stewardship.