For God and Country

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, In his farewell to the Nation, President George Washington reminded our fledgling country, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” As we celebrated the Fourth of July, it is good to reflect on the words of our […]

The Blessings of Ordination Day

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, This year on the Feast of SS. Peter and Paul, June 29, in the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens, I will ordain eight men to the priesthood. The ordination of priests has been one of the great joys of my Episcopal ministry, and I have had the […]

Upsetting Our Equilibrium

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, In one of my courses in social work administration, my professor gave a short line which was meant to guide us in our administration. He said, “Administration is a series of interruptions.” How often I remember these words of Dr. Mickey Liebowitz when in the course of […]

The Forgiving Father

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, As we celebrate Father’s Day this Sunday, our knowledge of human fatherhood must take its understanding from our knowledge of God’s paternity. Perhaps one Gospel parable that best explains the Father’s love is Jesus’ story of the Prodigal Son, or as it is sometimes called The Forgiving […]

Caring for the Least Among Us

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, I had the privilege to participate in the Plenary Meeting of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People held in Rome. The Council is responsible for the Church’s work in the field of migration and refugee protection. I have served on the […]

New Co-Cathedral Is a Sign of Hope

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, Just under a year ago, I petitioned the Holy See to name St. Joseph Church in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn as our Co-Cathedral. Some have asked me why do we need a new Co-Cathedral? Is not the Cathedral-Basilica of St. James suitable? Would we be […]

Immigration System Needs Repairs

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, The issue of immigration reform has surfaced now in the 113th Congress as a priority of both President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner. It is important that we understand this issue from a Catholic perspective. The interest of the Church in the issue of immigration is […]

Communicating the Truth

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, This week, as the Diocese celebrates its 22nd annual World Communications Day Conference, let me briefly reflect on the Second Vatican Council’s “The Decree on the Media of Social Communications.” The Latin title for this document, Inter Mirifica, means “Among the Wonderful.” It is one of the […]

Immigration System Needs Repairs

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, The issue of immigration reform has surfaced now in the 113th Congress as a priority of both President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner. It is important that we understand this issue from a Catholic perspective. The interest of the Church in the issue of immigration is […]

All Faces. Everyday Understanding.

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, St. John recounts a beautiful story of Our Lord and His dialogue with a woman drawing water from a well. The scene is remarkable because it seems to be a breach of the ancient code of conduct between men and women, as well as an affront to […]