Advent: Light and Hope

December 8, 2014 Dear Friends and Family of the Diocese of Eau Claire, Advent and Lent are penitential seasons. They both call for introspection and prayer. Each season progresses but in opposite directions. Lent descends downward. It is a time in when I ponder what the world would be like without God. The natural conclusion…

» Read More

Advent and Ferguson, Missouri

December 1, 2014 Dear Friends and Family of the Diocese of Eau Claire, Like you I have been following the events in Ferguson, Missouri. Was the grand jury right in not indicting the police officer? Several bishops, including the Presiding Bishop, believe it is necessary to speak out or write about the injustice of this.…

» Read More

Happy Thanksgiving

November 24, 2014 Dear Friends and Family of the Diocese of Eau Claire, Of all the holidays we observe in our nation, Thanksgiving is my favorite. It is a day that defies commercialization. After all, you can only eat so much, and grocery stores aren’t interested in making a big deal (but maybe a good…

» Read More

On Sabbaticals

November 17, 2014 Dear Friends and Family of the Diocese of Eau Claire, The Sabbatical is a common practice in both academia and in the Church. Sometime around the seventh year of service a professor or priest takes time away from normal teaching or work. In the Church priests are expected to make time for…

» Read More

The Great Awakening

November 10, 2014 Dear Friends and Family of the Diocese of Eau Claire, In my address to the 86th Convention of the Diocese of Eau Claire on Saturday, I mentioned the Great Awakening. The Great Awakening was a pouring out of the Holy Spirit that took place primarily in the 1730’s and 40’s. It began…

» Read More

The Beauty of Doves

November 3, 2014 Dear Friends and Family of the Diocese of Eau Claire, Yesterday I was at St. Katharine’s Church in Owen and had the privilege of blessing and helping to release three white homing doves to commemorate the three people who were confirmed or received into the Church. The doves flew about two hours…

» Read More