Bishop Kevin Farrell

The Chief Shepherd of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Search

Orlando – the worst mass shooting in the history of our country

June 12, 2016 By Bishop Kevin J. Farrell

Orlando shooting

Once again, we are attempting to understand an incredible act of savagery that destroyed the lives of 50 human beings and maimed more than 50 others. How could one warped individual inflict so much death and suffering?

Our heart goes out to the families of those who died so violently and to those whose lives have been forever changed. Their suffering is ours.

As we try to wrap our minds around this tragedy, now officially designated the worst mass shooting in the history of our country, we also mourn the ever increasing physical and verbal violence that has permeated our culture. We must ask where and when will it end? As followers of Jesus, we cannot accept it as inevitable and irreversible.

Please join me in praying for the victims of the Orlando massacre and their families, and for the end of violence and the restoration 0f peace in our nation.

—

Image Credit: @OrlandoPolice on Twitter

Filed Under: In the News Tagged With: Gun violence

Who wants to be holy?

June 7, 2016 By Bishop Kevin J. Farrell

20160607-holy

Interesting question! It might be understood as asking for all those who would like to be holy to hold up their hands; or it could be a disparaging rhetorical question implying that only a fool would want to be holy. Our individual replies will depend upon our understanding of holiness; desirable or repugnant.

I suspect that lots of people are afraid of holiness, largely because they see it as an extreme lifestyle, like that of a hermit, a mystic or an ancient stylite sitting on a pillar. There were, of course, holy men and women among the hermits, mystics and the stylites. They included people like Saint Romuald, St. Catherine of Siena and St. Simeon. But, that is not the holiness to which most us are called.

We, for the most part, are called to a quotidian holiness, a holiness that is lived out every day, not in a monastery, or a hermitage or on top of a pillar, but in our home, our office, our school, our market, in our neighborhood, and with our families.

Holiness is not spectacular. Pope Francis says it is often anonymous. It is not a performance in a public square but more often a hidden victory in our heart. Holiness is a journey.  For most of us it is a slow labyrinthine trek through the vagaries of life.

In the words of Pope Francis, “Holiness is a journey; holiness cannot be bought. It can’t be sold. It cannot be given away. Holiness is a journey to God’s presence that I must make: no one else can do it in my name. I can pray for someone to be holy, but he’s the one who has to work towards [holiness], not me. Walk in God’s presence, in an impeccable way.”

I call holiness quotidian because it is composed of the little things of daily life. In the Holy Father’s words, “If you’re able to not speak ill of another, you’re on the right path to becoming saintly. Little things … ‘I want to criticize a neighbor, a workmate’: bite your tongue. The tongue will swell a bit, but your spirit will be holier on this journey. Nothing grand, mortification: no, it’s simple. The path to holiness is simple. Do not go back, but always moving forward, right? And with fortitude.”

Now! Who wants to be holy?

Filed Under: Being Catholic

A prayer for Memorial Day 2016

May 30, 2016 By Bishop Kevin J. Farrell

Memorial Day 2016

The first official Memorial Day, on May 30, 1868 at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., was celebrated by the placement of flowers on the graves of war veterans as a remembrance of the ultimate sacrifice made for their country. Today, we again remember and honor those whose lives were lost in service to our nation.

Prayer for Memorial Day

God of power and mercy,
you destroy war and put down earthly pride.
Banish violence from our midst and wipe away our tears,
that we may all deserve to be called your sons and daughters.

Keep in your mercy those men and women
who have died in the cause of freedom
and bring them safely into your kingdom of justice and peace.
We ask this though Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer from Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers
Image Credit: IIP Photo Archive on Flickr

Originally published May 24, 2014

Filed Under: Being Catholic

Spreading hate in the name of defending the faith

May 23, 2016 By Bishop Kevin J. Farrell

Spreading hate in the name of defending the faith

Pope Francis “has changed the image of the church so much that prestigious graduate schools of business and management are now using him as a case study in rebranding.” That’s according to Father Thomas Rosica, the priest who assists the Vatican Press Office with English-speaking media.  Father Rosica added that “Many of my non-Christian and non-believing friends have remarked to me that we ‘Catholics’ have turned the Internet into a cesspool of hatred, venom and vitriol, all in the name of defending the faith!”

Speaking at the Diocese of Brooklyn’s observance of World Communications Day on May 11, Father Rosica noted, “The character assassination on the Internet by those claiming to be Catholic and Christian has turned it into a graveyard of corpses strewn all around.” He observed that, “If we judged our identity based on certain ‘Catholic’ websites and blogs, we would be known as the people who are against everyone and everything!” He went on to say that “If anything, we should be known as the people who are for something, something positive that can transform lives and engage and impact the culture.”

Referring to the change wrought in the public image of the Church by the Pope, Father Rosica recalled that “Prior to Pope Francis, when many people on the street were asked: ‘What is the Catholic Church all about? What does the pope stand for?’, the response would often be, ‘Catholics, well they are against abortion, gay marriage and birth control … they are known for the sex abuse crisis that has terribly marred and weakened their moral authority and credibility,’” he said.

What do they say about us now, he asked? “People are speaking about our leader who is unafraid to confront the sins and evils that have marred us.” He said, “We have a pope who is concerned about the environment, about mercy, compassion and love, and a deep passion, care and concern for the poor and for displaced peoples roaming the face of this earth.”

Father Rosica observed that “Often times the obsessed, scrupulous, self-appointed, nostalgia-hankering virtual guardians of faith or of liturgical practices are very disturbed, broken and angry individuals, who never found a platform or pulpit in real life and so resort to the Internet and become trolling pontiffs and holy executioners! In reality they are deeply troubled, sad and angry people.” He concluded by stressing that “We must pray for them, for their healing and conversion!”

Father Rosica’s words are a good reminder of the Gospel message: Your every act should be done with love. (1 Cor. 16:14) And this includes dissent.

Filed Under: Being Catholic

Priestly ordinations – May 21, 2016

May 20, 2016 By Bishop Kevin J. Farrell

Priestly ordinations May 21

The Diocese of Dallas is blessed to have four transitional deacons who will be ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe on Saturday, May 21.

Although the day of ordination to the priesthood marks the end of many long years of preparation, it is really not the end that we celebrate but the beginning of a new priestly ministry, a life of service to Jesus through his Church and His people. Like many of life’s passages, it is both a death and a resurrection, beginning a new life. Our four priestly ordinands are:

Deacon Paul Bechter, a native of Houston, the son of Allan and Patricia Bechter. Deacon Bechter is studying Sacred Scripture in Rome at the Pontifical Biblical Institute and will return to Rome after his ordination to complete his studies effective June 1, 2016

Deacon Emmett Hall, a native of the Dallas area, and the son of Michael and Nancy Hall. Deacon Hall is currently studying Canon Law in Rome at the Gregorian University and will return to Rome after his ordination to continue his studies effective June 1, 2016.

Deacon Ignacio Olvera, a native of Ocampo, Mexico, the son of Juan (deceased) and Maria G. Olvera. Deacon Olvera is completing his studies at St. Mary Seminary in Houston, and after ordination will be assigned as parochial vicar at St.Thomas Aquinas Parish in Dallas, effective, June 15, 2016.

Deacon Daniel Rendon, a native of San Antonio, Texas, the son of Manuel and Maria Rendon, is completing his studies at Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Denver, Colorado, and after ordination will be assigned as parochial vicar at Mary Immaculate Parish in Farmers Branch, effective, June 15, 2016.

Vocations to the priesthood are the result of the prayers of the community and the nurturing environment of Catholic homes. I thank you all for your continuing prayers for vocations and I thank especially the parents of our four ordinands for the gift of their sons.

Please join me in praying that they be blessed with long and fruitful ministries.

Filed Under: Being Catholic Tagged With: priestly ordinations

Congratulations to the graduates of 2016

May 18, 2016 By Bishop Kevin J. Farrell

Congratulations to the graduates of 2016

Once again we are approaching the time of beginnings and endings that marks the end of the academic year. Doors close on times of joy and sometimes frustration that mark our various journeys from pre-school through the university. Doors close, but memories remain forever – recollections of adventures, ball games, classmates, teachers and … of course, exams.

Farewells are the sad part along with the knowledge that after graduation these people, whose lives have been so intertwined, will probably never be all together again. On the other hand, there is the promise and challenge of a new beginning … a new school, a new career, and a new blank slate upon which to make your mark. It is a time to look forward to new experiences and new friends in your journey to God.

And of course, that is our journey; that is our goal. We know not what the future will hold for us and do not know who will join us on the road ahead. Each of us is shaped by so many with whom we share the journey for a short time; parents, family, teachers, friends, children. The journey is ours alone, but we will never be alone. There will always be those who help us carry our load and those whose load we share. It is frightening, yet, it is exhilarating.

I congratulate all of our graduates and bid them to go with God. I ask His blessing upon all graduates and those who have journeyed with them thus far, and those who will join them on the road ahead. I particularly thank the parents who are called to let their children go. I thank them for their love and their preparation of their children for the journey.

—

Image credit: Bairn Hanif on Unsplash

Filed Under: Being Catholic Tagged With: Graduation

Faith beyond belief

May 12, 2016 By Bishop Kevin J. Farrell

Faith beyond belief

What gets us through the really rotten moments of life is the confidence that no matter how hopeless a situation seems, God will give us the strength to hang on. That confidence is the fruit of faith.  It is trust in God’s promise that he will not abandon us.

Faith is more than belief in God, it is confidence in his promises. Belief and faith are not synonymous. The Epistle of James reminds us that the demons in hell believe. In addition to belief, faith must include trust in God.

Mary’s response to the incredible message of the angel Gabriel was: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, May it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38) Abraham had such confidence in God that in his old age he uprooted his wife and household and began a perilous journey to a distant and unknown land because God had told him to do so. (Gen 12:1-4)

Faith is habitual. It is a way of life not a Band Aid that is put on when we hurt. If our life is not grounded in faith, we are not likely to discover it in life’s darker moments. It has been said that there are no atheists in foxholes. Foxhole religion is fear not faith. It flows from fear of eternal punishment not from trust in God.

A firm, confident Christian faith gives us a tranquility and stability during the difficult times as well as the good ones.

We learn faith in community. Pope Francis wrote: “Faith is not a private matter, a completely individualistic notion or a personal opinion: it comes from hearing, and it is meant to find expression in words and to be proclaimed.” For “How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? [Rom 10:14]” (Lumen Fidei #22)

Faith comes to us through community and it cannot be hoarded, it must be shared. The Church must be more than a community of believers; it is called to be a community of faith.

Filed Under: Being Catholic Tagged With: Faith

Pope Francis: Dear mothers, thank you!

May 7, 2016 By Bishop Kevin J. Farrell

20160505-mothers-1200x630

Nestled deep within Pope Francis’ marvelous Apostolic Exhortation, The Joy of Love, is a paean to motherhood. I can think of no greater tribute to those who bore us and nurtured us in unconditional love, than the words of our Holy Father.

Dear mothers: thank you!  Thank you for what you are in your family and for what you give to the Church and the world. A society without mothers would be dehumanized, for mothers are always, even in the worst of times, witnesses to tenderness, dedication and moral strength.

Mothers often communicate the deepest meaning of religious practice in the first prayers and acts of devotion that their children learn. Without mothers, not only would there be no new faithful, but the faith itself would lose a good part of its simple and profound warmth.

A mother who watches over her child with tenderness and compassion helps him or her to grow in confidence and to experience that the world is a good and welcoming place.  This helps the child to grow in self-esteem and, in turn, to develop a capacity for intimacy and empathy.

Mothers are the strongest antidote to the spread of self-centered individualism. It is they who testify to the beauty of life.

AL 174-5

May God bless our mothers and mothers-to-be with the wisdom, courage and faith needed to fulfill their preeminent role in shaping the future.

Filed Under: Being Catholic Tagged With: Mothers Day

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • …
  • 79
  • Next Page »

Bishop Farrell on Twitter

Follow @Bishop_Farrell

About Bishop Farrell

Bishop Kevin Joseph Farrell was appointed Seventh Bishop of Dallas on March 6, 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI.
   
MORE ON BISHOP FARRELL

Recent Posts

  • Bishop Farrell’s homily for Mass of Thanksgiving
  • Prefect of the new Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life
  • Simple acts of kindness
  • Prayer does not need words, it only needs faith
  • Baton Rouge

Bishop's Favorite Sites

  • Bishop Farrell Invitational
  • Bishop's Annual Appeal
  • Catholic Charities of Dallas
  • Catholic Diocese of Dallas
  • Catholic News Service
  • Catholic Pro-Life Committee
  • Catholic Schools of Dallas
  • Our Faith Our Future
  • The Catholic Foundation
  • The Vatican
  • USCCB

Sitius favoritos del Obispo

  • Campaña Anual del Obispo
  • Comité Católico Pro-Vida
  • El Vaticano