Dec 20, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, “ . . . You will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (Lk 2:12). During the Christmas season and the days that follow many of us will visit the manger in our parish church. Looking at the infant, we...
Dec 13, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
Advent is passing quickly! This is often the case, but this year the four weeks of Advent are actually three weeks plus one day with the fourth Sunday of Advent coming on Christmas Eve. I always find the Scripture readings during this sacred time rich and beautiful....
Dec 6, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, a rainy and dreary day, I was driving home from Buffalo. I had spent Thanksgiving and the day after with family and friends in the Buffalo area. As I approached Batavia on the Thruway, I thought of the Trappist Abbey, Our Lady of...
Nov 29, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
“Overcome by darkness.” This phrase came to mind as I started to think about this week’s article for the Catholic Sun. I am sure you have noticed that December days are shorter and the hours of darkness are longer. Moreover, other forms of darkness permeate our...
Nov 15, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
The Cure of the Ten Lepers is the Gospel reading for Thanksgiving. I am sure you are familiar with the story. Ten lepers approach Jesus and ask for His mercy. Jesus directs them to go to the priest and on the way they are cured. Only one leper returns to thank Jesus....
Nov 9, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
The Church celebrates National Vocation Awareness Week November 5-11. This annual celebration is dedicated to the promotion of vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life through prayer and education. This year’s celebration gives me an opportunity to...
Nov 1, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
The annual Women’s Conference was held at the Oncenter on Saturday, October 28. Since its inception eight years ago women from our diocese and surrounding dioceses have gathered to be enriched by the presentations of guest speakers, the availability of the Sacrament...
Oct 25, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
On Monday, Oct. 23, I celebrated the traditional Red Mass for judges, attorneys, law professors, and government officials at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. This annual celebration invokes God’s blessing and the guidance of the Holy Spirit on those...
Oct 11, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
As I sit at my desk thinking about my Catholic Sun article, I admit that I am a bit distracted. Tomorrow twenty-seven of us set out on the Pilgrimage to Ireland. Packing is always a challenge for me. Inevitably, I pack too much and upon arrival discover I left...
Oct 4, 2017 | 2017, 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun, Sun Articles, Sun October 5
The Respect Life Program, sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, started in 1972 and begins anew each October. While the first Sunday of October is designated as Respect Life Sunday, the program extends throughout the year until the following...
Sep 27, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
On Thursday, September 21, the Feast of St. Matthew, I celebrated Mass at St. Matthew’s in East Syracuse on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the rebuilding of the church. The readings for the feast direct our attention not only to Matthew’s call but to ours as...
Sep 20, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
By Bishop Robert J. Cunningham As much as I enjoy writing my weekly column for the Catholic Sun there are times when it is difficult to get started. This is one of those times. When I think of celebrations and festivals, the theme for this week’s edition, the first...
Sep 13, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
A new school year is upon us! On August 31, school administrators, faculty and staff gathered for Mass at Holy Cross Church in DeWitt to mark the beginning of the school year. This annual gathering gives me the opportunity to comment on the particular character of a...
Sep 5, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
“Shout joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; worship the Lord with cries of gladness . . . . Enter the temple gates with praise, its courts with thanksgiving” (Ps 100:1, 4). Joy, praise, and thanksgiving – these are the sentiments that fill my heart as we prepare to...
Aug 23, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
Know, live, and share the faith. Do these words sound familiar? I hope so. Beginning with the Year of Faith in 2013, we have used them to give direction and focus in our efforts to receive the gift of faith gratefully, live it joyfully, and share it enthusiastically...
Aug 10, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God” (Ps 84:2). This verse from the psalm at Mass on Thursday of this week is a fitting introduction to my Catholic Sun article. Last week I visited two beautiful cathedrals. Although God’s dwelling is not confined to...
Jul 26, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
It is Monday evening and I am beginning to think about my Catholic Sun column. Sometimes ideas and a topic come easily. Sometimes they do not. This evening ideas are not coming easily. Eventually, however, two topics came to mind. The past two Sundays and again next...
Jul 12, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
Recently, we have welcomed some relief from the rain and enjoyed beautiful summer days. On one of those lovely days, I took a drive. I enjoy the opportunity to see the countryside, the fields and hills and lakes and towns that are part of our diocese. Before I knew...
Jun 28, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
During the past few weeks, the Catholic Sun has announced changes in the assignment of our priests. Some, due to advanced age, were asked to step down from parish administration. Others, having reached their 75th birthday and following the directives of Canon Law,...
Jun 14, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
On Father’s Day, June 18, we celebrate fatherhood, parental bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. I must admit that as I prepared to write this article I discovered I did not know much about the origin of this special day. This prompted me to do a little...
Jun 7, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
Saturday, June 3, was a joyous day for our diocese. I ordained Matthew Lyons to the priesthood at Holy Cross Church in DeWitt. Please join me in praying for Father Lyons that he may be a faithful servant, tending God’s people with love and mercy. We pray also for our...
May 31, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
In a few days, we will turn a page on the calendar. I find myself thinking, “Where does the time go?” It really does not seem possible that June is just a few days away or, by the time you read this article, already here. As we move through the calendar year, the...
May 17, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
On Friday, May 5, I celebrated a Farewell Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Binghamton remembering the compassionate care the Daughters of Charity have provided at Lourdes Hospital. In its 92-year history, 365 Daughters have served at Lourdes. They truly have been...
May 10, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
When I turn my calendar to the month of May, I am reminded about the Marian traditions that are associated with May. In my family home and during my Catholic school years, May was Mary’s month. At home and school, we decorated May Altars in honor of our Blessed...
May 3, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
“Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into the harvest” (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). The World Day of Prayer for Vocations will be observed on Sunday, May 7. While appreciating all vocations, on this day of prayer the Church concentrates its attention on the ordained...
Apr 26, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
As I prepare to write this week’s article, we are nearing the end of the Easter Octave. For eight days, we have heard the beautiful Gospel accounts of the risen Jesus’ encounters with His companions. We have heard how their fear, sadness, confusion, disbelief, and...
Apr 19, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
On Saturday, April 15, I celebrated the Easter Vigil at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. This night is the most blessed of all nights “when Christ broke the prison bars of death and rose victorious from the underworld” (Exsultet). The homily I preached on...
Apr 12, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
An Easter message from Bishop Robert J. Cunningham Dear Friends in Christ, “Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her, ablaze with light from her eternal King, let all corners of the earth be glad, knowing an end to gloom and darkness” (The Exsultet). This...
Apr 6, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun
The Prodigal Son is one of the most familiar Gospel parables. The younger of two sons collects his inheritance from his father and leaves home to make his way in the world. Perhaps the popular adage about “the grass being greener” beyond the confines of the familiar...
Mar 29, 2017 | 2017 Archives, Bishop Cunningham, My Place in the Sun, Uncategorized
On Saturday March 25, more than 800 men from our diocese attended the ninth annual IGNITE Conference at the SRC Arena. It was a fine day that nourished the hearts and minds of the dedicated, faith-filled men who participated. The homily I preached on that occasion is...
