Identity: Sometimes we can think that our identity is what we look like, what we have accomplished, and the people we know. Also, we can think that our mistakes, regrets and sins define our identity as well. The truth is that our identity comes from the fact that we are beloved sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. This weekend we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus. A voice calls out from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” When we are baptized, the same voice says this about us.
Mission: After his baptism, Jesus went on mission to bring the greatest of news. We, too, are called to be on mission to bring his life to others. Together, let us be disciples of Jesus on mission.
SEEK: I attended the SEEK conference in Denver from January 1-4 with about 5,000 college students and others (there were two other SEEK conferences going on at the same time in Fort Worth and Columbus, Ohio). It’s wonderful to see the faith of our young people. They are SEEKing God. And then they realize that God is actually seeking them.
Prayer: The Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication has launched a new prayer campaign in which Pope Leo XIV invites Catholics to pray with him for the great challenges facing the world. The “Pray with the Pope” initiative is part of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network. The campaign can be followed on thepope’s prayer website in several languages, and will also be available in audio format through Vatican Radio and partner platforms such as Pray as You Go, RezandoVoy, and Hallow.
Stats: Respect Life Day is January 22. Recently the Kansas Department of Health and Environment released data on abortions in 2024. Key takeaways from the report include:
• A record number of abortions, totaling 19,811.
• About 76% of women were from out of state.
• There was a 47% increase in abortions on minors.
• Approximately 54 abortions happened each day in Kansas
Spiritual Thoughts: I stumbled upon some spiritual stories from newsletters that I receive in the mail that I would like to share with you.
Recently, the Holy Father met with his Cardinals and the focus was on making sure we “care for others.” The following reflection from Dorothy Day seems to summarize this. Day was the co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement with Peter Maurin, combining social justice advocacy with Catholic faith.
The Final Word is Love:
We were just sitting there talking when Peter Maurin came in.
We were just sitting there talking when lines of people began to form, saying, “We need bread.” We could not say, “Go, be thou filled.” If there were six small loaves and a few fishes, we had to divide them. There was always bread.
We were just sitting there talking and people moved in on us. Let those who can take it, take it. Some moved out and that made room for more. And somehow the walls expanded.
We were just sitting there talking and someone said, “Let’s all go live on a farm.”
It was as casual as all that, I often think. It just came about. It just happened.
I found myself, a barren woman, the joyful mother of children. It is not always easy to be joyful, to keep in mind the duty of delight.
The most significant thing about The Catholic Worker is poverty, some say.
The most significant thing is community, others say. We are not alone anymore.
But the final word is love. At times it has been, in the words of Father Zossima, a harsh and dreadful thing, and our very faith in love has been tried through fire.
We cannot love God unless we love each other, and to love we must know each other. We know him in the breaking of bread, and we are not alone any more. Heaven is a banquet and life is a banquet, too, even with a crust, where there is companionship.
We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community.
It all happened while we sat there talking, and it is still going on.
~ Dorothy Day
The second reflection comes from Pope Leo XXIII (not our current Holy Father), who was the pope from 1878 – 1903. The thing that struck me is that more than 100 years ago the pope was concerned with all the distractions that could easily lead us away from the faith. They didn’t even have cell phones or television back then!
In his Encyclical Magnae Dei Matris, he wrote: God gave us a most precious blessing when He gave us faith. By this gift we are not only raised above the level of human things, to contemplate and share in the divine nature, but are also furnished with the means of meriting the rewards of heaven; and therefore the hope is encouraged and strengthened that we shall one day look upon God, not in the shadowy images of His creatures, but in the fullest light, and shall enjoy Him forever as the Supreme Goodness. But the Christian is kept so busy by the various affairs of life and wanders so easily into matters of little importance, that unless he be helped with frequent reminders, the truths which are of first importance and necessity are little by little forgotten; and then faith begins to grow weak and may even perish. (MDM 15)
Rescued: Lent will be here before we know it, and many of us are already praying about how the Lord is inviting us to grow closer to Him during this time. As you pray and think about what you want to do for Lent, consider forming or joining a small group to experience The Rescue Project. Small groups are a simple but powerful way to encounter Jesus, build real community, and talk honestly about the deeper questions of life. Even two or three people meeting in a home or classroom can make a meaningful difference. All videos, guides, and easy-to-use materials will be available on our diocesan website here https://salinadiocese.org/office/the-rescue-project/.
Latin America: The US Conference of Bishops work in solidarity with other countries who need help. This month we highlight the collection for the Church in Latin America, with the Church from Mexico to the Caribbean, all the way to the southern tip of South America. If you feel compelled to help the poor in Latin America, please send a check to:
Church in Latin America
USCCB Office of National Collections
P. O. Box 96278
Washington DC 20090-6278
With my love and prayers,
Bishop Vincke