Do you love me: In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus will ask Peter three times if he loves him. This, of course, reminds us of Peter denying Jesus three times. Where are we in our love for Jesus?
267: Who will be next? There have been 266 popes in the history of the Catholic Church, starting with Peter. Please pray for the conclave beginning on May 7. How long will the conclave last? It took the conclave one day and five ballots to elect Pope Francis. The two previous popes, Benedict XVI and John Paul II, took two days to be elected. Back in the 13th century, it took three years (I don’t see that happening).
Special: May is Mary’s month and a special time for our mothers. We reflect with gratitude on all our mothers, living and deceased.
Graduations: Congratulations to all the high school and college graduates. May the Holy Spirit guide them in all their decisions and endeavors and may they remain close to Jesus and Mary.
Knights: I am looking forward to being at the Knights of Columbus State Convention in Wichita this evening and tomorrow. The Knights of Columbus is considered the world’s largest fraternal service organization. Their charitable giving and volunteerism are remarkable. I am very grateful for them.
Cinco: Happy 5th of May to our Hispanic communities throughout the diocese as they celebrate Cinco De Mayo.
Religious: I am looking forward to celebrating Mass for the Religious Women in our diocese on May 8 at the 12:10 pm Mass at the Cathedral. All are welcome to attend.
Date Night: Our diocese has been involved with a marriage program called “Ever More in Love.” They are inviting married couples to join them in a Date Night Zoom sessions on the Joy of the Gospel through the beauty of marriage. The dates are May 14, June 18, July 16, August 13, September 17, and October 15 at 7 pm. You can register HERE. Hope you can attend!
Visitation: The Feast of the Visitation on May 31 is one of my favorite feasts. It will be more special this year as we are blessed with three priesthood ordinations that day. We are grateful for their “yes” to God and serving the people of God.
Conference: I know it’s several months away, but I hope you can register for our Eucharistic Conference on August 9 – 10.Register HERE. Fr. John Ricardo is the Featured Speaker. Fr. John was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1996. In 2019, after 23 years in parish ministry, he founded Acts XXIX to proclaim the gospel in an attractive and compelling way and to equip clergy and lay leaders for the age in which God has chosen us to live. Fr. John is a graduate of the University of Michigan, the Gregorian University, and the Pope John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family.
Rain: A lot of our diocese seems to have been blessed with rain here and there. There are many parish communities that pray for rain. The feast day of farmers, St. Isidore, is May 15. Please join in the online Rural Life Rosary Novena every evening from May 6 – 14 at 7 pm using the zoom link below: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84157545427?pwd=EDbT7BGg0cA0gRHM03ldbS26RtkSwS.1
Thank you: I appreciate all of you who are participating in Eucharistic Adoration in our diocese. Thank you for praying for peace in our world, in our parishes, in our families and in our hearts. This evening, the Comeau Catholic Campus Center at Fort Hays State is having Adoration under the Stars at the TMP-Marian grotto in Hays beginning at 8 pm. If you are in the area drop in and pray a while.
With my love and prayers during this season of Easter,
Bishop Vincke
As we pray for the election of a new Holy Father, I am reminded of this quote from St. John Chrysostom:
“He (Jesus) passed over his (Peter) fall and appointed him first of the Apostles. God allowed him to fall, because He meant to make him ruler over the whole world, that, remembering his own fall, he might forgive those who should slip in the future.”
~ Saint John Chrysostom (c. 387)
A special quote on the beauty of mothers:
“The loveliest masterpiece of the heart of God is the heart of a mother.”
~ St. Therese of Lisieux