One of the most difficult things to do, both in one’s professional life and in personal relationships, is to disagree pointedly with a big plan that someone important has. If the boss comes in and is extremely excited about a course of action that literally everyone else on his or her staff can plainly see is not only going to fail, but is going to fail spectacularly, it puts everyone in a tough spot. What is the prudent thing to do? Let it play out and have them learn the lesson the hard way? Or speak up to prevent a catastrophe and risk being labeled as a naysayer? Either way, one thing is certain: it’s always easier to speak up and voice one’s opinion if there is a foundation of trust. Perhaps that trust is why families are much more free and open in telling one another when their plans are just plain dumb. Click on title for full article.

Sister Community Fundraising Dinner Supporting El Salvadoran Community Jardines de Colon Scholarship and Leadership Mission Making a difference by funding education! Sister Community - since 1995 Click title for full article.

Very often it happens that a Gospel comes up in the lectionary rotation that proves difficult to preach on in a way that is both true to the text and also reasonably easy for us to accept. Even more rare are the times when a difficult Gospel actually coincides with a difficult lesson we need to learn. I always seem to get terrible combinations like a 50th wedding anniversary blessing falling on the Sunday when Jesus tells his disciples that there is no marriage in Heaven. But this week’s Gospel happens to coincide with something that the staff has been working towards for some time now, and it’s an opportunity for us to confront a challenge head on. Click title for full column.

There are a great many warnings about the danger of meeting one’s heroes. So many, in fact, that I suspect I could fill this entire column with them without ever getting to the point I wish to make. But instead of ruminating on the time a friend of mine was brushed aside by Joe Buck in an elevator, or the immense amount of research I did to make sure Paul Simon was still worth seeing before going to his farewell tour, I’ll get right down to a lesson learned from a great man I had the pleasure of knowing at least briefly. Click on title for full column.

A message from the clergy of the Winton Wyoming Pastoral Region. In light of the deeply disturbing sexual abuse revelations of the last couple of months, our Pastoral Region will host a Day of Prayer for the Church and Victims of Abuse on Friday, September 13 at Our Lady of the Rosary. The day of prayer will begin with Mass at 8:30 am and includes Scripture readings, group prayer, intercessory prayer and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the day.    The Day of Prayer will conclude with Benediction and Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 7:30 pm.   We ask that you all prayerfully consider joining us at some point during this day as we pray for the healing of all victims of the grave sin of sexual abuse and for the Church.  Click on title for schedule of day of prayer

The WWPR Labor Day Mass is 9:00 am, Monday, September 2, at St. James of the Valley Click on title.

Just two weeks ago I sat here, writing an exhortation to my flock to not despair, and to always maintain faith in the Church even as her frail, weak, sometimes abominable human ministers and leaders offered us the gravest causes for scandal, seemingly week in and week out. Once again, here I sit, having to take a dose of my own medicine (one of my least favorite things to do, by the way), striving to sift through the gathering cloud of darkness that once again obscures the goodness of Christ’s bride, the Church. Click title for full column.