Sign me up
“They left everything and followed him” (Lk 5:11) Editor’s note: The following is Bishop Lucia’s Feb. 9 homily from World Marriage Day at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. One Sunday a visiting businessman went to church, and after the service congratulated...
The call to do all ‘In the Name of Jesus’
Dear Diocesan Family, Our gospel reading this past Sunday — dedicated to the Word of God— focused on the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. He used the words of the Prophet Isaiah to describe what he was to be about, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he...
‘Each and every one of us comes from God and belongs to God’
Editor’s note: The following is Bishop Lucia’s homily from the Jan. 18 Mass for Life. Dear sisters and brothers, it is a joy for us to gather here this morning in this Year of Jubilee; this year in which we pray in a particular way for the restoration of rights. If we...
Knock knock
Editor’s note: The following is Bishop Lucia’s homily from the Dec. 29 Jubilee Mass. Years ago, the British journalist and world traveler H. V. Morton wrote a fascinating book called “In the Steps of the Master.” It was an account of a trip he took to the Holy Land...
‘The Lord is born for us’
One of my favorite things to do at Christmas time is to spend time sitting before the Nativity scene. Some are set up in stables, while I have seen others set up in front of altars or just as figurines on a table or a mantelpiece. No matter what the setting, I have enjoyed such “stargazing” (if you can call it that) since I was a little boy. In these moments, I let the figures in front of me tell me the Christmas
‘O Antiphons’ — an Advent event
“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go …” I can still hear Bing Crosby crooning away these lyrics in my childhood days. I am also of the generation that remembers the dulcet tone of Elvis singing, “I will have a blue Christmas without you …”...
Advent: ‘Journey to Bethlehem … and Beyond …’
As I began gearing up for the new liturgical year, which began with the First Sunday of Advent on December 1 and the Advent season, I came across an interesting statement: “The future you envision is the present you will live.” It was accompanied by the illustration...
Advent: ‘Journey to Bethlehem … and Beyond …’
As I began gearing up for the new liturgical year, which begins with the First Sunday of Advent on December 1 and the Advent season, I came across an interesting statement: “The future you envision is the present you will live.” It was accompanied by the illustration...
The importance of gratitude
Since its early days as a republic, the United States of America has observed a National Day of Praise and Thanksgiving. It was Abraham Lincoln who in 1863 established it as a federal holiday to be observed each November. Its date varied a bit, but since 1941, it’s...
Seven tips to help discern a vocational calling
As this column comes to print, it is “National Vocation Awareness Week” (November 3–9, 2024). This annual observance is a weeklong celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States and is dedicated to promoting vocations to the ministerial priesthood, diaconate...
‘God never changes … alone God suffices’
I write this column on the feast day of a saint (October 15) who keeps me calm despite her own fiery nature at the time, St. Teresa of Avila (also known as St. Teresa of Jesus). She wrote these lines in her breviary (her book for the Divine Office or Liturgy of the...
A letter from Bishop Lucia on World Migrant and Refugee Day
Above: Migrants walk along a railroad track in Sayula de Aleman, Mexico, Aug. 22, 2024, during their journey toward the U.S. border. (OSV News photo/Angel Hernandez, Reuters) ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP September 24, 2024 My Dear...
‘To hope and act with creation’
Although I don’t like the thought of the winter season approaching because it can be such a long season, I do enjoy this time of year — here in the Northeastern United States. It surely “tells the glory of God” in the beautiful raiment that covers our countryside and...
Decision time
Editor’s note: This Bishop’s homily from August 25, the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sisters and brothers, whether you or I like it … now that both major political parties have presented their nominees for this year’s presidential election year, we have a decision to make! For some, I am sure the rationale is simply, “What decision? It’s obvious, isn’t it?”
‘How can I be more attentive in my daily living?’
Labor Day for many is a time of adjustment – adjustment to a new daily routine, adjustment to an empty or emptier nest for those with college bound or leave-taking family members, adjustment to retirement for some and adjustment to a change of seasons both in nature...
A message from Cardinal Dolan and the NYS Bishops
Below is a statement from Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York; Most Rev. Edward B. Scharfenberger, Bishop of Albany; Most Rev. Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn; Most Rev. Michael W. Fisher, Bishop of Buffalo; Most Rev. Terry R. LaValley, Bishop...
Five years: ‘this journey involves conversion of heart’
EDITOR’S NOTE: We are breaking format slightly by bringing you Bishop Lucia’s column for the Aug. 15 print edition instead of last week’s column. This is more timely, written with the celebration of his 5th Anniversary as Bishop of Syracuse today, August 8, in mind....
Revival: ‘to heal, renew, unify’
EDITOR”S NOTE: This is Bishop Lucia’s column from our July 18 print edition, prior to his trip to the National Eucharistic Congress. Bishop is back and will write about his Congress experience in his column in the August 1 edition of The Catholic Sun. Just one more...
‘Building hopes and dreams one person at a time’
It is time to celebrate once again our nation’s Independence Day — the Fourth of July! As we do so, I hope we can use it as a time to reflect on the hopes and dreams that have built our country and those that we continue to aspire to! Two hundred and forty-eight...
‘Sharing in the ‘action’ of the Mass’
My calendar in May and June has slots for Masses that I celebrate at only this time of year. They’re given the name “Baccalaureate,” in honor of the graduating classes at Catholic educational institutions or from the local Catholic community. Naturally, they are held...
‘The Joy of the Priesthood’
Editor’s note: this the homily Bishop prepared to deliver at the ordination Mass of Rev. Mr. Benjamin Schrantz and Rev. Mr. Pawel Zmija on June 1. Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Lord … Dear Ben and Pawel, It has been 20 years since one of our own, Msgr. Stephen J....
Shine in my heart
Editor’s note: This is the homily Bishop Lucia delivered at the Religious Jubilee Celebration Mass on May 14 at Immaculate Conception Church in Fayetteville. Sixteen members of various religious orders were celebrated for milestone years of service. Dear Sisters and...
Doers of the Word
Dear brothers and sisters, as we listened to our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles this morning, we heard of the Twelve’s concern that they needed to focus more on prayer and on the ministry of the word. They were admitting that they couldn’t do everything...
There is one sole purpose for the Sacrament of Holy Orders: Service
For the next four weekends on Saturday mornings, I will be in church taking part in four different ordination ceremonies. Two will involve the ordination of deacons and two will be for the ordination of priests. On May 11 at the Cathedral in Syracuse, I will ordain...
Change is not easy but it is necessary
One of the hardest things in life is “change.” As a noun, “change” is defined as “the act or instance of making or becoming different.” In its verb form, it signifies to (1) make someone or something different; alter or modify; or (2) replace something with something...
Anointed-ness
Editor’s note: This is Bishop Lucia’s homily from the Chrism Mass, celebrated the Tuesday of Holy Week at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Holy oils and sacred chrism are blessed for all the diocesan parishes and institutions; all able diocesan-based...
The Empty Tomb
Editor’s note: This is Bishop’s Easter Homily. “Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” (Mk 16:3) When I heard this question in the Easter gospel, it translated in my head to: “Who is going to be there for them now?” It is the...
‘Lectio divina’: Adding scriptural depth to our Lenten journey
It might be hard to believe, but we have passed the midway point of the Lenten season. I am sure for those preparing for the Easter Sacraments, their anticipation grows. For others, there might be a certain dread of, “where has time gone and what have I really done...
Imitators of God
Editor’s note: This was Bishop Lucia’s homily delivered during the World Marriage Day Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Sunday, February 11. I think many in this congregation, if not most, would agree that every marriage has its moments of joy...
