If I may, there is one effort I wish you would consider. People are allowed to receive communion by standing or kneeling. However, most catholic churches, do not offer a kneeler. I ask you, where is our choice if no kneeler is present? I choose to kneel on the floor, and I find it a bit difficult, and I worry about tripping the person behind me by extending one foot in order to kneel on the other. If you my, would you please consider asking each church to “offer” even just one kneeler in one aisle, for those of us who wish to kneel, so that we may do it safely.

I really do appreciate all that you do. You are a truly holy man.
As mother Theresa said, priest don’t even realize their own true value. You do represent Jesus. I have complete reverence and respect for all priest.
Thank you,
Maureen Courtney

It’s so tragic to hear about the situation concerning clergy members. And while it may be hard to hear about, we must remember to pray for all those affected by these situations, including the clergy members themselves.

I hope that you had a nice Holy Week! It truly is a holy time in our church’s calendar. From Palm Sunday to Holy Thursday, we anticipate the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Every year, our school displays the “Living Stations” in our auditorium. We go through the Stations of the Cross and reflect on each one, while the eighth (and this year, seventh) grade acts it out in tableau form.

Thank you for another great blog!

Kate
Grade 8
Saint Paul School

The reenactment of the Stations of the Cross at St. Michael’s sounded amazing. The seventh and eighth graders at my school also performed the Stations of the Cross, which is a long lasting tradition at St. Paul School. Each time I see the performance, I am left with a new meaning of the sacrifice Jesus made made for us, out of love.

Sincerely,
Mariah
Grade 8
Saint Paul School

p.s. happy Easter.

Chirst is risen! (Romanian: Hristos a înviat!)

He has indeed risen! (Adevărat c-a înviat!)

In respect to your comment following your Palm Sunday visit to St. Paul’s, “Father Michael Drea is doing a wonderful job there,” it would be not only interesting but important to know specific events for saying this. Otherwise, it seems like a generic “ata boy” that everyone needs occasionally.

Thanks.

Sincerely,
Emma Hofmann
Saint Paul School
Grade 7

On this Glorious Day of Christ’s resurrection and our redemption it is both heartbreaking and interesting to read of your defense of the Holy Father’s handling of the crimes committed by priests of which he has absolute and unequivocal authority over.

While you make some very true points, what I find most disturbing is the Church’s latest response to revelations about Ireland and reports by the New York Times as mere “petty gossip” and akin to the persecution of the Jews. These statements were not random statements by low ranking members of the clergy but instead made by Cardinal Soldano, Dean of the College of Cardinals, and Father Cantalamessa, the Pope’s personal preacher.

As the head of our Church and successor to St. Peter, it is time for our Holy Father to unequivocally silence such misplaced statements, condemn the guilty and continue his love and support for the victims plus reform the Church and its institutions so that such grievous crimes are never repeated.

Until then, me and many other members of the Archdiocese will keep our checkbooks tightly closed and pray for the future.

Happy Easter!

I liked your greeting to the Brazilian community, even though I could only understand a few words. I enjoyed learning about the Chrism Mass you celebrated and I hope you have a wonder Easter!
Thank You,
-Lindsey
Grade 8
Saint Paul School

Thank you for such a wonderful and informative blog. I very much enjoy following your work and words “from afar”: Portland, Oregon. We, too, are blessed with a great Archbishop, John G. Vlazny!

Happy Easter and my Best Wishes to you and to your priests.

John Clark