Sparing Others
David
Wisconsin, United States

I was involved with a woman who was separated from her husband while in the Navy. I grew up with an alcoholic father and a mother who never hugged me as a child - so I was very confused between sex and love.

Shamefully, I knew I would never marry the woman who I would encourage to abort my children. I wanted to be a good father (unlike my drunk father) but just not at that time or with that woman - I had a lot of living to do. I was so selfish, knowing in my heart it was wrong, but telling myself it was legal. I convinced her to do something she didn't want to do and will forever be sorry to her as well. She came to me sometime later and simply asked for money to pay for a 2nd abortion - the quicker we took care of it the less we would think about it, I told myself.

Dearest Zackary
Paul
California, United States

Dearest Zackary,

This year would have been your 25th birthday. I apologize and ask for your forgiveness for the “would have been” in that statement. I know you have forgiven me, and I know you are in the presence of Jesus, who has also forgiven me. I ask for strength from Jesus to find a way to forgive myself.

You are probably asking why it has taken me 25 years to write you a letter. I have no excuse. From the beginning, out of convenience, I just put you out of my mind and deep into my unconscious. Out of convenience I didn’t put up a fight for you. As you know, as you look at my heart, it is no longer convenient. You have seen me and your mother struggling both consciously and unconsciously over killing you out of convenience.

They Have the Right to Live
Rosa
Rhode Island, United States

My name is Rosa Rivas, I want to thank God for his love and mercy because without Him I would not have a testimony.

Until two years ago I was living in darkness and in sin. At age 17, I started using drugs, alcohol and was promiscuous; everything revolved around my addiction. I did not care about anything or anyone. I currently have two living children, both with special needs. Even though God sent me these two children who needed all my love and attention, I kept living in my world of darkness and sin and, without measuring the consequences, at age 25, I had two abortions. Since I did not want to sacrifice my addictions I preferred to sacrifice my babies.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

60 million. That’s an unbelievably high number. And it’s an approximate number of human beings who have been lost to abortion in the 44 years since the infamous Roe v. Wade decision (January 22, 1973) that legalized abortion. That also means that 30 million mothers and have fathers have carried grief over the loss of child, sometimes without being able to identify what is causing so much pain in their lives. As a pastor, I find this to be heartbreaking.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. As we begin this new calendar year, we are reminded of God’s amazing love for us today. God calls us His adopted sons and daughters and Mary is our true mother. What does it mean to be called God’s adopted children? Why is Mary our true mother?

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I am so grateful today. I am filled with gratitude for the great blessing that is our common faith. I am thankful for Our Savior Jesus Christ, born in the radical simplicity of a cave in the little town of Bethlehem 2000 years ago. I am grateful for the hundreds of Catholics who are worshiping with us this weekend and receiving our Eucharistic King in Holy Communion.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

A friend recently shared a song about the absurdity of the busy, secular Christmases. It’s called,
“I need a Silent Night.” The lyrics of the first verse and refrain are:
I've made the same mistake before--
too many malls, too many stores.
December traffic, Christmas rush
It breaks me till I push and shove.

Children are crying while mothers are trying to photograph Santa and sleigh.
The shopping and buying and standing forever in line. What can I say?

I need a silent night, a holy night.
to hear an angel’s voice through the chaos and the noise. I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here to end this crazy day with a silent night.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near!

I have a good friend who is a priest and lives in Indiana. He is about six and a half feet tall! He tends to stand out in a crowd… especially when he wears his clerics. He usually comes to visit once a year or so. While in town, we often go hiking because we do have some amazing trails. So to get a little exercise, I decided it would be good to try climbing Camelback Mountain. If you have never hiked this mountain, I have to say it is a difficult climb. My friend let me know that it is especially difficult for a guy with size 15 shoes! Hiking with skis for feet is hard enough but my friend is not all that coordinated either - as he reminded me all the way up the mountain! Actually, I was nervous for him! There were lots of obstacles along the path and crevices and sheer cliffs. He kept reminding me that there was a shortage of priests and perhaps we should turn back!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On the weekend of December 10/11, 2016, our parishes will be taking up the annual collection for the Retirement Fund for Priests and Religious. This is an opportunity to honor and thank the thousands of senior Catholic sisters, bothers, religious order priests, and our own senior diocesan priests who responded to God's call in their youth and who, now in their retirement years, need our help so that they can live in dignity, free of anxiety about their means of support.

Queridos Hermanos y Hermanas en Cristo,

Durante el fin de semana del 10 y 11 de diciembre de 2016, nuestras parroquias estarán llevando a cabo la colecta anual nombrada el Fondo de Retiro para Sacerdotes y Religiosos/as. Esta Oportunidad se presenta para dar honor y agradecer a los miles de hermanas religiousas de la tercera edad, igual que a los hermanos religiousos, sacerdotes de órdenes religiousas y nuestros propios sacerdotes diocesanos de la tercera edad. Estos siervos han respondido al llamado de Dios desde su juventud y ahora, jubilados, necesitan nuestra ayuda para que vivan con dignidad y libres de ansiedad sobre su sostenimiento.

Read Complete Letter Here

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The word Advent means coming, and the season prepares us to celebrate the coming of Our Blessed Savior. Advent is the beginning of a new liturgical year for the Roman Catholic Church. On the first day of Advent, which begins this year on November 27, the Church celebrates its New Year's Day. The date for the beginning of Advent falls each year on the Sunday closest to November 30th - the feast day of Saint Andrew the Apostle.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As the Jubilee Year of Mercy ends on the feast of Christ the King, we are reminded to become what we celebrate in this year of mercy. We are called to share the loving mercy that God has for us. God is merciful to all who seek Him with a sincere and repentant heart. Our response to God's loving mercy towards us is to act in that same way to all those we meet. The Holy Father reminds us: "Mercy is the very foundation of the Church's life. All of her pastoral activity should be caught up in the tenderness she makes present to believers; nothing in her preaching and in her witness to the world can be lacking in mercy. The Church's very credibility is seen in how she shows merciful and compassionate love" (MV,10). As members of the Body and Christ, our lives should reflect this witness of mercy to those we meet on a daily basis.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

A few parishioners recently asked me if the Catholic Church had changed its teaching on cremation. Since November is typically the month we pray for our beloved deceased, I thought it would be appropriate to once again reflect on the official teachings of the Church on cremation. First, I want to offer a little history lesson on cremation and the Church’s official teaching. Secondly, I want to address some issues concerning cremation that I have seen by Catholics.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Over the last four weeks, we have provided you with the AZ Voter Guide in our narthex as well as Bishop Olmsted’s booklet, “Catholics in the Public Square.” You can also read “Forming Consciences For Faithful Citizenship” by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. I hope you find these helpful as you prepare to go into the voting booth to do your civic and religious duty. The Catholic guides are also posted on our website for your review.