I attended a workshop on preaching this morning by Rev. Msgr. Jim Telthorst. I have known Jim for 35 years and he has been a great mentor of mine in the field of liturgy. He is pastor in St. Louis. We shared a two-hour lunch and ran into another great mentor of mine, Fred Moleck from Pittsburgh. He has edited the GIA Quarterly for 26 years. I have written several articles for the publication throughout the years. Fred was also the musician at St. Joseph Church in South Bend, Indiana. These two men are true giants in the field of liturgy in the United States. So good to be with them again after many years. I owe a great deal of my education and perspective in the field of pastoral liturgy to both of them.

I am speaking at the National Association of Pastoral Musicians convention in Saint Louis this week. I will be presenting two workshops for clergy on preaching and presiding.

Sue Gerlach is our music director at Sacred Heart parish in Colorado Springs. Mark Williams was music director at Saint Andre Bessette Church ( Downtown Chapel) in Portland, OR. Mark and I worked together for about five years. So good to see so many people from across the country that I have known through the years.

Lift High the Cross

I arrived at Sacred Heart Church in Colorado Springs last summer in 2013 to become pastor of the Tri-Community in Colorado. I served in that community previously in 1984-87, shortly after my ordination, but had not returned to the parish in over 25 years. As I walked into the simple, Spanish-style church again after all those years, I noticed first the very large, realistic crucifix. Continue reading →

Three priests of the Congregation of Holy Cross have received Catholic Press Association Awards for 2014. I was part of a group of writers from US Catholic reflecting on homelessness and poverty. Ave Maria Press also received several awards. Click here to read the article that the Congregation of Holy Cross sent out today.

M10: BEST SPECIAL ISSUE, SECTION, OR SUPPLEMENT

First Place

America Magazine, New York, NY, “Pope Francis — The Exclusive Interview” by Antonio Spadaro

Second Place

One Magazine, New York, NY, “Summer Issue — Spotlight: Children in Need” by Staff

Third Place

U.S. Catholic, Chicago, IL, “Special Issue on Homelessness and Poverty” by Paula Lomazzi, Meghan Murphy-Gill, Laura Fletcher, Roberto Goizueta, Ronald Raab, C.S.C., U.S. Catholic Editors

Honorable Mention

FAITH Lansing, Lansing, MI, “Teen Issue” by Staff

Check out the article from the Congregation of Holy Cross about the 30th anniversary of our service in the Tri-Community in Colorado Springs, CO. Click here to read.