| 4th of July: Hope you have a joyful, peaceful and safe weekend. Our Creator: When Pope Francis visited the US, he said “The Declaration of Independence stated that all men and women are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, and that governments exist to protect and defend those rights. Those ringing words continue to inspire us today, even as they have inspired peoples throughout the world to fight for the freedom to live in accordance with their dignity.” Heart: This weekend, we will hear Jesus saying to each one of us, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” Jesus’ heart longs to console us and to be a presence with us always. Changes: This weekend also marks the new assignments for some of our priests. Please pray for them and your parish communities. Seminarians: Thank you for all your support for our seminarians. The RSVP due date is coming up on July 13th for the two Seminarian Dinners this year on July 29 in Salina and July 30 in Colby. Purchase your tickets by clicking the links above. Hope to see you there! Conference: I hope you will be able to attend our 3rd annual Eucharistic Conference on July 31 – August 1 in Hays. We have some great speakers who are presenting. I hope to see you there. Communications: Congrats to our Communications team which received several awards at the Catholic Media Awards events. Thanks for all your support in our communications efforts to bring the greatest of all news to others. Voting: We, as citizens of the United States, have the gift of being able to vote. Although this year is not a presidential election, there are many important state and local elections and ballot measures. Voting is an important part of our moral and civic duty as Catholics. One of the most fascinating topics on the August 4 ballot is how we select Justices of the Kansas Supreme Court. I found the Kansas Information Network website (kansasinformationnetwork.com) helpful in understanding the proposed Kansas Constitutional Amendment. Grandparents: On July 26, we celebrate the Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of Mary and grandparents of Jesus. Family life today is under a lot of stress. The example of these two saints inspires us to value our family relationships and to make our homes true domestic churches where everyone can learn to give and receive love. Family: Speaking of family, each year the Diocese of Salina presents the Msgr. John George Weber Century Farm Awards and Half-Century Business Awards at the Annual Rural Life Day celebration. Any Diocese Family operating or owning a 100-year farm or 50-year business can complete the official award application on the Salina Diocese Rural Life office web site page, https://salinadiocese.org/office/rural-life/rural-life-day-century-farm-award/. Applications are due August 1, and the Awards will be presented at the Annual Rural Life Day, Sunday August 16, 3 pm, at St. John the Baptist Church, Beloit, Kansas. Rain: Our state has been blessed with some wonderful rain. I don’t know how much of an impact the rain had on the wheat, but hopefully it will continue to bring blessings to the corn, milo and soybeans—and our gardens too. Tree: I think most people heard about the 113 mph winds that knocked down a lot of trees in Salina in early June. This past Monday, a huge tree next to the driveway at the bishop’s residence fell on the house next to it. It was windy that day too! Guest: Last week, I had a guest visit for a couple of days. I met Jeff when we were both interns in the front office for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team 40 years ago—with manager Whitey Herzog and players such as Ozzie Smith, Jack Clark, Willie McGee, Vince Coleman, etc. We reminisced about how during the games we would sit in one of the empty press boxes and pretend we were the announcers for the game. Sitting in the empty press box beside us was a teenager doing the same thing as we were. His name was Joe Buck. We joked that they picked the wrong guy to be a national sports announcer! My love and prayers for a happy and safe 4th of July weekend! Bishop Vincke |
| Inspiration from the Saints: One of my favorite saints is St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits whose feast day is July 31. Just a few of the many great things he had to say…”Our only desire and our one choice should be this: I want and I choose what better leads to God’s deepening life in me.” “Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve you as you deserve; to give, and not to count the cost, to fight, and not to heed the wounds, to toil, and not to seek for rest, to labor, and not to ask for reward, except that of knowing that we are doing your will.” “He who goes about to reform the world must begin with himself, or he loses his labor.” “Take, Lord, receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, my whole will, all that I have and all that I possess. You gave it all to me, Lord; I give it all back to you. Do with it as you will, according to your good pleasure. Give me your love and your grace; for with this I have all that I need.” (The “Suscipe” prayer) |
Bishop Vincke’s E-News to the Faithful | July 2, 2026
Bishop's Office
