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Here is the second part of my homily from the Respect Life Convention. A few years later, my own grandmother would begin to suffer more and more from dementia and Alzheimer.  It was very painful to watch this once independent woman suffer the way she did.  During this time my mother did her best to take care of her and my mother would ask me from time to time to come over and stay with her for an hour so that my mother could get out of the house . 

Last October, I had the privilege of preaching at the Respect Life Convention.  For my spiritual ponderings today, I would like to share with you that homily.   I was ordained to the priesthood on Memorial Day weekend, but I would not begin my first assignment as a priest to nearly a month later.  I arrived at my first assignment full of excitement and energy.  My pastor handed me the keys to the parish and then began his month long vacation.  I remember praying before I went to sleep that night hoping that the “emergency line”, a special extension set up in order to get in touch with a priest after office hours, would not ring.  Around two o’clock in the morning the phone rang and I answered it.  As I answered the phone, I remember simultaneously praying and hoping that the phone call was not about a sick child.  Once again though God did not answer my prayer for it was about a one-year-old who was dying of cancer.  She was not expected to make it through the night. 

As we dive deeper into the issue of illegal immigration and how to reform the system, I would like to present to you today the Catholic Church’s five point program.  I think you will discover that there are many things you will agree with and many things that you will find challenging.  This is to be expected though because we Christians are called to move from our earthly mindsets and to think in more Christ like way.  (Quotes from the Bishop Program will be in bold and my commentary will be in normal font). 

“Migrants trust that they will encounter acceptance, solidarity, and help, that they will meet people who will sympathize with the distress and tragedy experienced by others, recognize the values and resources the latter have to offer, and are open to sharing humanly and materially with the needy and disadvantaged.” Pope Francis

“Migrants trust that they will encounter acceptance, solidarity, and help, that they will meet people who will sympathize with the distress and tragedy experienced by others, recognize the values and resources the latter have to offer, and are open to sharing humanly and materially with the needy and disadvantaged.” Pope Francis

“Migrants trust that they will encounter acceptance, solidarity, and help, that they will meet people who will sympathize with the distress and tragedy experienced by others, recognize the values and resources the latter have to offer, and are open to sharing humanly and materially with the needy and disadvantaged.” Pope Francis  

Let us continue to look deeper at the Apostles.

I am constantly amazed at how God speaks to us through the Sacred Scripture.  His Word is old and yet new all at the same time.  It is meant for all to read and hear and yet through prayer, it can speak to me and to the challenges of my life.  With all of this in mind and with an appreciation for the evangelists who wrote the Scripture and awe for God the divine author of the same words, I would like to share with you how the Apostles help influence my life as a Christian and in my pursuit of holiness.

Let us once again learn more about God through learning about the person He chose to be the Mother of His Son.   St. John Vianney:  “It is impossible to meditate with devotion upon the Mysteries of the Rosary and live in a state of sin.”

Let us continue to develop our relationship with the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Let us continue our efforts to deepen our relationship with the Blessed Virgin Mary.