The “baby boomers” is the name given to people born between 1946-1964. According to the PEW research group, 10,000 people a day are turning 65, and it will be that way for the next 16 years. How is the Church meeting the spiritual needs of this fastest growing segment of the population?

Early last month three pictures came across my laptop screen on the same day. One was a picture of 11 young Afghani children who had been killed in a NATO raid on a Taliban leader’s house. The second was a photo of a Planned Parenthood executive who, while testifying to the Florida Legislature, could not bring herself to condemn killing babies who had survived a botched abortion. 

“Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary, the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son.’ Then said to His disciple, ‘Behold your mother,’” (John 19:25-27a). 

While many parishes and Catholic institutions now utilize at least one social media platform, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or a blog for example, the question must be asked: are we effectively using these powerful tools to proclaim the “Good News” of Jesus Christ?

In a recent entry to his blog, “The Gospel in the Digital Age,” Cardinal Timothy Dolan came out strongly in favor of gun control, both on the national level and on the state level as well. The cardinal recounted that while he was watching President Obama’s State of the Union address, during which the president called for “common sense” reform of gun regulations, he found himself “nodding in agreement.” The cardinal also mentioned his support for the recently-enacted gun control law in New York state.

Parishes have shown a strong enthusiasm as they have embraced the opportunity the Year of Faith has offered as it reaches its midway point.

Once I heard the news that we have a pope, I got excited and nervous at the same time. In 2005, I was praying that the College of Cardinals would choose a person from Africa or Latin America and so when I heard it was not, I was a little disappointed but I trusted in the decision of the Holy Spirit in Pope Benedict XVI. This time around I did not expect it, so I almost fell off my chair and I started stomping my feet, jumping and dancing for joy at the first pope from Latin America. 

In my years as bishop of Portland in Maine, I had the privilege of participating in three World Youth Days, those electrifying encounters of young people from around the world with the Holy Father. I traveled with groups of young adults and teens from Maine to Cologne, Germany, Sydney, Australia, and Madrid, Spain.

Abortion is a hot topic at the New York State Capitol these days, which is curious for a couple of reasons. First, the procedure was legalized here in 1970, three years before Roe v. Wade. And while the abortion lobby is declaring the need “to protect women’s freedom to choose,” no one can point to any evidence that the abortion choice is at risk. Quite simply, it’s not.

What do we need to do so that we are well prepared for the feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ? We began our Lenten journey on Ash Wednesday by coming to the Church and receiving ashes on our foreheads as a reminder that we are dust and to dust we will return. It is a reminder that we are to turn our hearts back to the Lord and repent our sinful ways, and embrace the ways of the Lord.