Dear Parishioners,

As previously mentioned in last week’s Pastor’s Column, I would be (was) in attendance at the Good News Conference in Orlando, FL the weekend before Thanksgiving. Provided below are the names of the presenters themselves in case you are interested in researching some their work for yourself if you're not already familiar.

      Q&A with Bishop Robert Barron:

Understanding ‘the reality and importance of God’

Article by America Magazine | November 10, 2023

What is an event from your childhood that helped you understand who God is?

When I was 5 or 6 years old, I saw my father, whom I considered the most powerful force in the world, kneeling in devout prayer, invoking someone that he considered more powerful than himself. That moment permanently shaped my sense of the reality and importance of God.

What is your favorite movie/book/play/musical/art/sport/ etc. right now?

“Mrs. Davis” is an impossibly quirky and theologically very questionable show, but I absolutely love the idea of a committed nun, who regularly communes with Jesus, taking on the soulless A.I. algorithm to which the whole world has surrendered. Everyone refers to Mrs. Davis as “she,” but Sister Simone knows that the correct term is “it.”

What’s something that people might not know about you?

When I was a doctoral student in Paris, I used to give tours every Wednesday at noon at Notre Dame Cathedral.

If you had not become a priest, what other job/vocation/ career could you see yourself in?

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a professional baseball player. When I was in high school, I thought I would be a lawyer/politician.

What’s a lesson you’ve learned from the life of your favorite saint that is most applicable to your life today?

My favorite saint is Thomas Aquinas. He’s a touchstone figure for me, both intellectually and spiritually. The most important lesson I’ve learned from him is to make a prayerful relationship with Jesus the foundation for everything I do or say.

Visit institute.wordonfire.org to Pray, Learn & Evangelize