wpadmin - Bishop emeritus

TV Mass Homily 04/07/2019

TV Mass Homily

Apr 06, 2019 by wpadmin

When I was growing up there was a retort: ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.’ I remember defending myself with it after being called a shrimp for being short and four eyes for wearing glasses. The fact is that the statement is not really true. Names can hurt. Sticks and stones can hurt physically for a while, but names, words used hurtfully or carelessly, insults, put downs, bullying sting inwardly and we remember them for a long time. For some reason we tend to retain the negative people say about or to us more than the encouraging words. Words nowadays have become weapons, our stones. It has lessened civility in our government and weakened respect in personal relationships. People earn good livings attacking…

TV Mass Homily 03/31/2019

TV Mass Homily

Mar 30, 2019 by wpadmin

Today is Laetare Sunday, Rejoice Sunday. In anticipation of the joy of Easter and Christ’s victory over sin and death, we wear rose vestments, a sign of life. Yet Lent is not yet over and the penitential call to conversion continues in our readings. Their joyful theme is God’s invitation to forgiveness to which we are called to answer. In the first reading, the Lord said to Joshua: “Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.” God’s mercy was theirs. St. Paul in the 2nd reading teaches that “God has reconciled us in Christ, not counting our transgressions.” The psalm response catches the invitation: “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.” There is much about which we can rejoice today but we must first decide to taste…

TV Mass Homily 03/24/2019

TV Mass Homily

Mar 23, 2019 by wpadmin

There is reassurance in the truth of our psalm response: ‘the Lord is kind and merciful.’ That reassurance ought to encourage us as we continue our Lenten journey to live more fruitful lives. The fruits we ought to seek are those twelve fruits of the Holy Spirits: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control and chastity. How much better would our lives and that of society be if these were the goals we sought to live every day. These are not easy to live which is why the truth that the Lord is kind and merciful is so encouraging. The parable of the fig tree in today’s gospel is one that is easy to understand. Scholars tell us that when a fig tree is planted it…

Publication of Names of Priests Found to have Sexually Abused Minors

Statements and Documents

Mar 21, 2019 by wpadmin

Today I am releasing the names of those priests of the Diocese of Sioux Falls who have had substantiated allegations of child sexual abuse made against them. It is my prayer that this will encourage any victim harmed by any on this list or any other person serving in ministry in the Church to come forward to law enforcement or to the diocese so that appropriate assistance might be offered and justice accomplished. To all who choose to come forward, please be assured that your confidentiality will be respected. Our diocese has been blessed by the presence of priests from many religious orders over the years. Any allegations against any of them must be forwarded to their superiors who have direct oversight over them. For this reason, religious order priests…

TV Mass Homily 03/03/2019

TV Mass Homily

Mar 02, 2019 by wpadmin

Have you ever said something and then regretted it, been embarrassed even ashamed? I have. As the founding father Benjamin Franklin once said, ‘From the slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over.’ On the other hand has someone ever said something to you which so moved you, uplifted you and encouraged you because it was so sensitive and caring? I have experienced that as well. We reveal so much about ourselves and others reveal so much about themselves by not only what we do or not do, but by what we say and do not say. Sirach in our first reading states it clearly: ‘Praise no one before he speaks, for it is then that people are tested.’…

TV Mass Homily 02/24/2019

TV Mass Homily

Feb 23, 2019 by wpadmin

This Gospel from the Sermon on the Plain and its message are just that – plain, direct, clear. ‘Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you; turn the other cheek; be merciful, stop judging, give, forgive. Do to others as you would have them do to you’. All of these are good guides for all of us whatever our vocations or stage in life. The seriousness of Jesus’ teaching is reflected in the fearsome reminder: ‘for the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you’. That ought to give us all pause. Scholars tell us that a measure was used to parcel out grain; those who Jesus was speaking to would have understood the…

TV Mass Homily 02/03/2017

TV Mass Homily

Feb 02, 2019 by wpadmin

“All spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came out of his mouth.” So the people of Nazareth first responded to Jesus in his hometown synagogue. Then suddenly they turned on him. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” They even tried to throw him off the hill. Why this sudden change? Perhaps when Jesus read the words of Scripture with such authority their vision soared beyond themselves and their everyday world. But when they looked upon Jesus simply as a home town boy putting on airs their vision narrowed. Many of us have had times when we have been so spiritually moved that we were lifted above the weariness of the moment and we feel close to God. There also are times when uncertainty, anxiety…

TV Mass Homily 01/27/2019

TV Mass Homily

Jan 26, 2019 by wpadmin

“This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad,” the psalmist sang. One of the wisest founders of the United States Benjamin Franklin wrote, “The morning hour has gold in its hand.” It was a way of saying that this day the Lord has made is a gift to be used well. The gift of today is an important note from our readings. In the first reading from the Book of Nehemiah, the people were rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem after returning from captivity in Babylon. Ezra the priest reads to them from the rediscovered scroll of the law which many had never known about before. Hearing the word of God the people weep, perhaps because they were ashamed that they had not been…

TV Mass Homily 01/20/2019

TV Mass Homily

Jan 19, 2019 by wpadmin

Do you believe in miracles? The dictionary defines a miracle as a ”transgression of a law of nature by a particular volition of the deity or by the imposition of some invisible agent.” Nowadays miracles by the volition of the deity, by God, are viewed by many as absurd because God does not exist for so many. They believe that eventually science will reveal all the invisible agents that produce mysterious happenings. A man with little faith was lost in the desert. He told his friends that he was in such despair that he knelt down and cried out to God for help. Did God answer he was asked. ‘Oh no.’ He said. ‘Before he could a man appeared and showed me the way out.’ Was that coincidence or a…

Sunday TV Mass 12/30/2018

TV Mass Homily

Dec 29, 2018 by wpadmin

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Our Gospel reading gives us a glimpse of the Holy Family as a very human family. Anyone who has cared for children can appreciate the fear, the anxiety Mary and Joseph must have felt on discovering that Jesus was not with them. The journey from Jerusalem to Nazareth was a long walk on hilly roads. Historians tell us that the men and women often traveled in separate groups at differing paces. They would meet at an appointed place for the night. Children might travel in either group. So Joseph could have thought that Jesus was with Mary and Mary thought that he was with Joseph. When they discovered otherwise, anxiously they returned in search. Can you…

Author: wpadmin