Bishop O’Connell reflects on the Christmas Season’s Feasts and Solemnities December 28, 2021The “Christmas Season” in the Catholic Church lasts from Christmas Eve until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord and includes Christmas; the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (December 26, 2021); the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God[…]
Christmas: Make it last A Christmas message from Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. Wouldn’t it be great if we could hold on to our youthful Christmas excitement and enthusiasm for our whole lives? Remember what it was like when you were younger, how you waited with such expectation and joy for Christmas Day to arrive?[…]
On Dec. 17, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., issued “Advent and the surprise of Christmas,” a message for the fourth Sunday of Advent. An excerpt follows: The four weeks of Advent, which will soon draw to a close, are like a snapshot, a miniature, a glimpse of the whole of salvation history. The themes of[…]
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., shared a reflection Dec. 10 for the third Sunday of Advent: ‘I say it again: Rejoice!’ For most of us, the idea of “going home” brings eagerness, comfort and joy, whether it be simply after a long day at work or, in some cases, a much longer period of separation.[…]
In his reflection for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 2021, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., shares “Nothing is impossible with God” NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD Never had our world heard better news than that spoken by the Angel Gabriel to an innocent Jewish maiden, barely a teenager, in today’s Gospel[…]
A Voice Cries Out: Prepare His Way A reflection by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. In this Sunday’s passage from Luke’s Gospel (3:1-6), St. John the Baptist features prominently, proclaiming a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” The sacred author reminds us of the words of the prophet Isaiah which he uses to[…]
