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What then are we called to do in this post Roe vs. Wade world? We are called to protect the lives of unborn children and to come to the aid of mothers, especially those in trying and painful situations. Salvation came into the world because the Virgin Mother accepted the life of her Divine Child. We must shoulder the responsibility of promoting a culture of life and love.

We often hear the plea, “Have a heart!” when someone is in need of compassion or in a tight spot looking for some support. For Catholics this plea can have an even more profound significance, especially in June. We remember that June is the Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

We take Jesus Himself in the Blessed Sacrament into our streets to express our deep and abiding faith in Him truly, sacramentally present in our midst, so that a world that desperately needs love and healing may experience His merciful Presence.

There is a miracle that happens in Catholic Churches every day. It occurs on the altar during the celebration of the Sacrifice of the Mass.

The Solemnity of Corpus Christi on June 19, 2022 marks the beginning of the Eucharistic Revival here in the Diocese of Pittsburgh and across our nation. This great feast reminds us of the awesome truth about the Holy Eucharist that the Church taught from the beginning – It is the Lord!

Pope St. John Paul II said while on a pilgrimage to Fatima, “In God’s Providence, there are no coincidences.” Thirty-three years ago, as a seminarian studying for the priesthood in Rome, I went on a trip to Poland for Holy Week. I had never been to Poland before and didn’t know what to expect.

I can tell you that we all need a lifeline. You know what I mean. Especially on those days when we feel as though we were adrift on a stormy sea, and we are desperately seeking someone who can bring us to safe harbor. We all need that lifeline.

The story of Our Lady’s apparitions at Fatima from May to October of 1917 are well known. She came to a world embroiled in the First World War and provided a message of hope to people who were suffering greatly. To those three little children, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta, she offered the perfect remedy to the ills afflicting humanity.

The month of May has arrived again. Perhaps spring and rebirth may not be central in our lives. It may be that the winter of fear, worry and confusion still weighs heavily upon us. I encourage each one of us to consider the words that Our Lady spoke to Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta at Fatima, “My Immaculate Heart will be a refuge for you and the way to God.”

The Bishops of the United States know that and are presenting a Eucharistic Revival that will bring more and more Catholics back to Mass and a deeper, transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. So buckle up and get ready!

Who doesn’t need His Divine Mercy that heals, restores and gives hope? We all need it, and He pours it out upon us and on the whole world.

“He is not here, for He is risen, as He said!” (Mt 28:6). This beautiful proclamation from St. Matthew’s Gospel reminds me of a story I heard many years ago from a priest friend. He shared with me a homily that an elderly pastor had preached one Easter Sunday morning.

“By His wounds you have been healed.” These words must echo in our minds and hearts during these last days of Lent. They remind us of the reality of the healing that Jesus accomplishes for us each day.  As we enter into the sacred days of Holy Week, when we experience the Mystery of Our Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection, we should hold the wounds of Our Lord in prayer and contemplation.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we must work to eradicate violence against all human persons, no matter what age they are, no matter what is their ethnicity, no matter whether already born or still in their mother’s wombs.  Just as we rush to aid those poor people in war-torn countries, we must also rush to aid mothers in crisis pregnancies and in difficult life situations.

It is no wonder that at this time of such suffering for the people of Ukraine in particular, and the people of the whole world, that Pope Francis would respond to the request of the Church in Ukraine and choose the Solemnity of the Annunciation to consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

​​​​​​​As we look forward to the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, perhaps we should not put all the emphasis on parties, parades and festivities. I think St. Patrick himself would give us different counsel. That great Apostle of Ireland would say to us, “Go to Mass on my feast day and receive the Body of Christ. Take out the rosary and ask the Mother of God to bring peace to all people."

I believe that Ukrainian Latin Bishops have followed the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in requesting the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by Our Holy Father. It is a strategy born of faith and the wisdom to remember our history. It is a confident turning to the ways of God and the power of grace. It is a clear recognition that God Our Father has sent His Son Jesus who saved us by His Death on the Cross.

I believe that in the midst of the tremendous suffering unfolding in Ukraine, God is sending us a message—we might say a “Memo.” I think that through this “Memo,” God is crying out to us of His closeness to us and His unfailing love for us and the Ukrainian people.

The smile of Our Lady healed little Thérèse and drew her ever closer to Jesus. This has made me think of the power of a smile to heal the hearts of those who are far from God, far from the Church, not coming to Mass or the Sacraments.

I believe that the Holy Spirit is powerfully at work in the Catholic Church in our nation today. At their meeting in November of 2021 the bishops of the United States overwhelmingly approved efforts to be implemented in every diocese of our country that will unleash the powerful movement of the National Eucharistic Revival.