Nov 10, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
As I write this column, we are in the midst of National Vocation Awareness Week. It is a yearly, week-long celebration of the vocations of the priesthood, the diaconate and the consecrated life. We celebrate through prayer and education, along with each of us being...
Oct 27, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
We are already into the last week of October and soon what I consider the precious month of November will be upon us. As we prepare to enter into the season of saints and souls directing us in expectation of Christ’s coming again as victor over sin and death; and in a...
Oct 20, 2021 | Bishop Lucia, Synod
Editor’s note: This is the Bishop’s homily delivered at the Sunday, Oct. 17, Mass celebrating the opening of the Syracuse Diocesan Synod. The leader of a certain Indian tribe encamped at the base of a mountain was dying. The chief summoned his three sons and said, “I...
Nov 3, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
This week as we enter the penultimate month of the year and its focus on the “next to last,” it helps direct us to our ultimate goal in life—to be a saint—to live with God for all eternity in our heavenly home. Like the month of November itself, these days are an...
Oct 13, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
The following homily was delivered by Bishop Douglas J. Lucia at the Formation for Ministry Commissioning on Sunday, Sept. 26, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse: Dear Candidates for Commissioning today, it is wonderful to be with you! I have to...
Oct 7, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
Dear Diocesan Family, This weekend, October 9 & 10, in Rome, Pope Francis will convoke the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops that will run from October 2021 to October 2023 with the theme “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and...
Sep 30, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
It is hard to believe, but here comes the month of October! We already finished with the first month of the new school year! For me, October has always been a special month because it was the month of my mother’s birthday and my parents’ wedding anniversary. It is...
Sep 22, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
Following is the homily that Bishop Douglas J. Lucia preached at the Sept. 19 Centennial Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church in Syracuse. It is indeed a pleasure to be with you all this afternoon as together we offer this Mass of thanksgiving. As we reflect today on the...
Sep 22, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
What is a catechism? A catechism is a compendium, that is, a collection of the doctrine or official teaching concerning faith and morals. For Catholics such a collection is known as the Catechism of the Catholic Church in which we find the compiling of a reference...
Sep 8, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
Dear Friends in Christ, In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus proclaims: “You are the salt of the earth” (Mt. 5:13). Many have reflected on the meaning of this Scripture passage including Pope Francis, who said, “God gave each person faith, gifts and talents so that they...
Sep 1, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
It is hard to believe that when this column appears we will be in the month of September! Yikes! Where does time go? I must admit I like the Fall season that is just weeks away, but with its arrival I do dread the fact it is the harbinger of what I consider a long...
Aug 18, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
Well, I am back at my desk and have hit the ground running coming in from my retreat. The retreat itself was a beautiful experience. It was a week of no phone, no internet, and no talking — only voices raised in prayer. I want to thank the Sisters at the Bethlehem...
Aug 4, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
This Sunday, August 8, I will mark my second anniversary of ordination as a bishop and my installation as the 11th bishop of Syracuse. As I look back over the two years, I wonder where time has gone; but on the other hand, they have been a full and eventful two years....
Jul 21, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
This Sunday, July 25, will be the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the “B” Cycle of the Sunday Lectionary, we will read the “Bread of Life” Discourses, the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, over the next five Sundays. What an excellent opportunity to reflect in a...
Jul 7, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
It’s the Fourth of July and I decided to stop in the office to make sure my column is done for this week’s edition of the Catholic Sun. I have always loved this particular national holiday and growing up it usually meant some type of family get-together, even if it...
Jun 22, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
This weekend many of our local high schools will be hosting commencement exercises, if they have not done so already. On Friday evening, I will offer the Baccalaureate Mass for Seton Catholic Central in Binghamton and also participate in the graduation ceremony. I am...
Jun 16, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
In the Collect (Opening Prayer) of the Mass texts for the 11th Week in Ordinary Time, the Church prays, “that in following your commands we may please you by our resolve and deeds” (Roman Missal). As I was reminded by the Gospel reading at our recent Ordination...
Jun 9, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
Editor’s note: Bishop Douglas J. Lucia ordained Fathers Daniel Caughey, Brendan Foley, John Leo Oduor, and Dennis Walker to the priesthood June 5 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The prepared text of the homily he preached that day is below. A few weeks...
Jun 3, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
This week is a momentous one for our diocese for three particular reasons: (1) On Friday, I will observe the second anniversary of the announcement of my appointment as the 11th Bishop of Syracuse; (2) on Saturday, I will have the privilege to ordain our four deacons...
May 26, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
Editor’s note: The prepared text of the homily Bishop Douglas J. Lucia preached for Pentecost Sunday, May 23, follows. On this Pentecost Sunday, in our Gospel reading we find that the disciples of Jesus are still in hiding. They are hiding in fear behind closed and...
May 19, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
As I have been administering the Sacrament of Confirmation this spring, I have been talking to young people about the importance of “plugging into God” to receive the POWER they need in life. Of course, the POWER is none other than the Holy Spirit — the very presence...
May 12, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
This week, on Thursday or Sunday — dependent on where one is in the world — the Western Church will celebrate the Ascension of the Lord into heaven some 40 days after the Easter event of Jesus’ resurrection. On this occasion, the Risen Lord Jesus takes his place at...
May 6, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
In last week’s column, I wrote about my great admiration for St. Catherine of Siena and for the role she played in the Church and society of her day. This week as we prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day and indeed the “motherhood” of all women in various ways — including...
Apr 28, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
A saint I greatly admire, and whose Memorial is April 29, is St. Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church. St. Catherine is known particularly for her tenacity in addressing the societal ills of her day and her forthrightness in challenging the Church...
Apr 21, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
This coming Sunday, on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, the Church universal observes the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. In his message for this 58th annual Day of Prayer, Pope Francis writes, “The Lord’s call is not an intrusion of God in our freedom; it is not a...
Apr 7, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
The Second Sunday of Easter was designated “Divine Mercy Sunday” by St. John Paul II on April 30, 2000. On that day he canonized the Polish nun Sister Mary Faustina Kowalska, who had received from Christ the amazing revelations of the Divine Mercy in the early years...
Mar 31, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
Editor’s note: Bishop Douglas J. Lucia celebrated the annual Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception March 30. During the Mass, the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of Catechumens were blessed and the Sacred Chrism consecrated; priests of the diocese also...
Mar 24, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
The Catholic Sun this week is marking a year of pandemic and as it does so, I shudder to think what things were like at this time last year. In reviewing letters to our diocesan family and newspaper columns from that time period, I realize we were trying to address...
Mar 17, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
I want to begin my column this week by expressing my deep gratitude, and that of my father and family, to all who have been carrying us in prayer these past few weeks. Your prayerful expressions of support for my mom and dad, along with the rest of our family, have...
Mar 10, 2021 | Bishop Lucia
At sporting events, every so often, a person might see a banner with John 3:16 written on it unfurled in the bleachers. Of course, it is a reference to the Gospel passage that we will hear this coming weekend as the Church celebrates the Fourth Sunday of Lent. This...
