March 19 is the Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of Mary. It is an annual celebration as inconspicuous as the saint himself is. Recently, however, the name of “Joseph,” husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, has been included in all of the Eucharistic Prayers of the Mass as a recognition of his place in the life of the Incarnate Word and Mary.

Now that the excitement of the Christmas season and the glow of the New Year’s celebration has subsided a bit, we find ourselves feeling that life has picked up a rhythm that might be described best by looking at the liturgical calendar: “Ordinary Time.” This might not seem glamorous on its face, but the routine of daily life is a perfect place to find a closer union with Christ.

Every year, Christians across the world gather in prayer during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The week takes place Jan. 18-25. The theme selected by the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches (which includes the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity) is: “Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue” (cf. Deuteronomy 16:20).

I would like to wish a very blessed and holy Advent and Christmas season to all of you reading this and to your families. I am particularly struck this year by the words from I Thessalonians in the second reading from the first Sunday of Advent: “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.” For many, Christmas is traditionally a time spent with family and friends, and these words might pass our ears without really penetrating our hearts. The truth is that many don’t experience good family relationships, and even more have experienced broken relationships and hurt during the past year. 

We are people of faith. The Holy Spirit is guiding us and we must listen to His inspirations and cooperate with His directions. This conviction motivated me to embark on a journey of discernment together with the “many voices” present in the diocese to form a Pastoral Plan for the diocese. 

A disrespect for human life is at the heart of our social and cultural problems today. Our own Church is not immune. The recent scandals painfully remind us of how the continuing abuses by Church personnel have denigrated the human dignity of those entrusted to her maternal care. 

Last month I wrote an article about my own mother in honor of Mother’s Day. It is only fair that I offer some reflections about my father in honor of Father’s Day. I return to the wall in my room with the family pictures on it. There is a photo of my father with his brother sharing a tricycle. What is interesting about the frame that houses it is that there are two pictures, one of my father and his brother and one of my older brother and me. By coincidence more than 20 years later, my brother and I are also sharing a “vehicle”, but it was my walking stroller. And there is no doubt that all four of us are related!

The month of May directs our attention to our mothers, our natural mothers and to Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Church. This article gives me the opportunity to reflect on my own mother and the gift that mothers are to their children.

There is a thought in many sectors today that places an unhealthy emphasis on change. This mentality, more often than not, urges us to chase after the latest fads—whether it be in clothes, electronic or media gadgets, but also in ideology, political correctness or way of life. The allure is to be “with it” and “up with the times.” Everything seems to be about a supposed progress or moving forward as if the more “new” something is, the better it is and the better we are. The ironic thing is that this mentality itself is nothing new. Today’s fads quickly become tomorrow’s out-of-date trends, and we are on to pursue something new.

During the past few weeks, it is clear that our country is grappling with many complex moral and political issues that unfortunately at times reveal bitter disagreements among a wide range of viewpoints and opinions. Among these has been the difficult issue of immigration and refugees, particularly in light of the recent Executive Orders of President Donald Trump.

On Dec. 16, Msgr. Louis F. Kihneman III was named Bishop-designate of the Diocese of Biloxi in Mississippi. Bishop Kihneman has served our diocese for 40-years as a priest and for the last six and one half years as Vicar General. In addition, for the past three years he has also served as pastor of St. Philip the Apostle parish in Corpus Christi.

I want to wish a very blessed Advent and happy and holy Christmas to all of you. Over the past few years, and certainly over the past few months, we have witnessed a political, social phenomenon that has caused an unparalleled division among us as Americans—within families, communities, schools and yes even within the Church. At the end of Election Day last month I asked myself what effect this has had among children and young people in our country; what are they thinking? How will the behavior exhibited by adults affect them in the future as leaders in our communities?

Twelve months ago, on Dec. 8, 2015, we—together with the entire Church—began an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. We have both celebrated and lived God's mercy. I hope that throughout this year, we have celebrated God's mercy through the profound experience of the Sacrament of Penance.

In the next few weeks, citizens of our country will participate in the important civic duty of choosing those who will lead and represent us. As is common during an election year, but particularly over the past few months, Catholics ask "how should I vote, for whom?" Though every election cycle brings its own set of challenges and opportunities. Our current political climate seems to bring unique, difficult questions to be discerned by voters who are committed not only to the well-being of our social and political life and to living out the Gospel in all aspects of life (cf. Mk 16:15).

We continue our reflection on faithful citizenship by turning this month to an important bedrock principle of Catholic social teaching that guides our social and political interaction—that of solidarity. The principle of solidarity is the notion that because we all share in the same human nature created in the image and likeness of God, we all share a common humanity and thus have a responsibility for one another. The entire human society, as individuals and all together, has the duty to assist those who are in need, beginning first with those who are closest to us.

As we continue to move more deeply into this election year, it is hard not to notice that there are bitter divides among many. It is precisely in these difficult times in our country’s political and social history that the presence of faithful, informed and discerning Catholic Christians engaged in the political process is most needed.

Every four years, our country embarks on the election of a new president. The process by which a country chooses its leader is a solemn and noble task. At times, in the relatively young history of our country, this process has unfortunately become combative and contentious. Currently, there is no doubt that we are witnessing how disagreeable and oftentimes uncivil we can be to one another throughout this process.

The first Sunday of Advent 2014, 14 months ago, we began a journey of reflection on the lives of consecrated women and men. As the Universal Church we have rejoiced with them and have shown our gratitude for their call to follow Jesus Christ in service to his Body, the Church.

The Holy Father, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, has called for an Extraordinary Year of Mercy. It is extraordinary because it is out of sync with the normal 25-five year intervals for holy years, but also because of the EXTRA-ordinary theme of Mercy. We hear the word mercy in the first part of our Liturgy repeated many, many times. "Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy." "May almighty God have mercy on us."

As the Year of Mercy began last month, I initiated the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy with some of the inmates at the McConnell Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Beeville.  Every year, together with a group of priests, I go to the prison to celebrate an Advent Mass with them during which I baptize, confirm and give First Communion to those among them who have embraced or have re-embraced our Catholic Faith.  Every year this is an unbelievably uplifting experience, but in this Year of Mercy it was so in a particular way.