We are entering the season of Advent. Did you have any Advent traditions in your own family growing up? Yes, we always had an Advent wreath in our home. I would encourage families to consider incorporating the Advent wreath into a time of prayer before supper or before bed. It only takes about five minutes, but it’s a time when a family can gather and share their faith, talk and pray.

Outlined below is a summary of the November 2018 meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). This is not an official summary but from my personal notes. At the end of the summary is the statement from Cardinal Daniel DiNardo summarizing our two-day deliberations.

We will celebrate Thanksgiving next Thursday. Can you give a sketch of the origins of the national holiday? I came across a fascinating story written last year by Joseph Kelly, a professor-emeritus at John Carroll University in Ohio. Contrary to popular opinion, the first Thanksgiving at Plymouth, Massachusetts, was not observed in 1621 – the year after the colony was established in 1620 – but in 1623.

You have decided to release the names of priests who over the years have been removed from ministry for the sexual abuse of a minor. What led you to make this decision? I received many phone calls and emails from people asking me to release the names, and many phone calls and emails from people asking me not to release the names. After much prayer, I believe the just thing is to release the names. I was very much concerned that we would be able to do this accurately and completely. In prayer, it became very clear to me that this is the right thing to do in a spirit of justice and transparency.

Pope Francis has convened a Synod of Bishops in Rome to discuss the church’s ministry and outreach to young people. What are your thoughts on the synod? The Holy Father is very sincere and intentional in that he wants to listen directly to the youth – to listen to where they are in their daily lives, where they are in their lives of faith, what they think about the church, how they relate to God and also how they can be encouraged in their spiritual life and in their discerning what God is calling them to do in terms of a vocation to marriage and family life, to religious life and, perhaps, to the single way of life. Pope Francis is also wants to know how the church can help young people discern their professions – choosing a profession where they can make a difference.

El Papa Francisco, convocó un Sínodo de los Obispos en Roma, para discutir el ministerio de la Iglesia y el alcance a los jóvenes. ¿Qué piensa del sínodo? El Santo Padre es muy sincero e intencional, ya que quiere escuchar directamente a los jóvenes, escuchar dónde están en sus vidas diarias, dónde están en sus vidas de fe, qué piensan de la Iglesia, cómo se relacionan con Dios, y también, cómo pueden ser alentados en su vida espiritual y su discernimiento de que Dios les está llamando a hacer en términos de una vocación al matrimonio y a la vida familiar, a la vida religiosa, y tal vez, a una forma sencilla de vida. El Papa Francisco también quiere saber cómo la Iglesia puede ayudar a los jóvenes a discernir en sus profesiones, eligiendo una profesión donde puedan marcar la diferencia.

You and your brother bishops across the country have been deeply affected by the reports of clergy sexual abuse. Two weeks ago you talked about this with your priests. What did you tell them?

We all continue to experience sadness as we remember our sisters and brothers who became victims and survivors of sexual abuse by clergy. Once again, I ask you to join me in lifting them to the Lord, that they may know his healing. 

The Catholic Church recently celebrated Catechetical Sunday in dioceses throughout the United States. What does that mean to you? Catechetical Sunday is an opportunity to express gratitude to the hundreds of people in our archdiocese – the catechetical leaders, catechists and teachers in parishes and schools – for all that they do to hand on the Gospel message and form the young in the ways of faith.

How important is it for parishioners and priests to welcome young families with small children to Mass each weekend? It’s almost impossible to overstate how respectfully and lovingly the parish faith community should treat a young family that has made the effort to come to Mass with small children.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond delivered the following homily at a Mass for Forgiveness and Healing Aug. 28 at St. Joseph Church in New Orleans.

One of the issues brought forward in recent sex abuse stories was that of priestly formation in our seminaries. Throughout the years, I have been involved in seminary formation, and I consider it of utmost importance to ascertain that the formation is balanced and spiritually grounded and also prepares seminarians to be good shepherds, as we see modeled in the life of Christ.

We are still hurting from the recent accusations against a local deacon, a cardinal and the information in the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report. Our feelings of anger and disappointment are appropriate.  The very first step in moving forward is to seek forgiveness. On behalf of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, I sincerely and humbly apologize for any wrongdoing by the church or its leadership.

It is important that we as a church – the people of God – pray for those in leadership that they will be people of integrity and faithful to the promises they have made to Christ and to the church.

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ: It is important that we as a church – the people of God – pray for those in leadership that they will be people of integrity and faithful to the promises they have made to Christ and to the church.

How impressed were you with the National Diaconate Congress last week? It was amazing to see so many permanent deacons from across the United States – along with their wives and children – attending the conference. Deacon Ray Duplechain, who is the director of our Office of the Permanent Diaconate, did a wonderful job with other deacons in organizing this event, which had not been held in many years. There were a total of 1,300 permanent deacons who attended, and when you put that number together with their wives and children, the conference was attended by over 2,800 people. When Deacon Ray first began planning for the congress, the opening Mass was scheduled for St. Louis Cathedral because we weren’t expecting that many people to come. But as the numbers grew, we knew there was no way to fit nearly 3,000 people into the cathedral, so the all of the Masses were celebrated in a huge ballroom at the New Orleans Marriott. The deacons were all here to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the renewal of the permanent diaconate, and there was a great spirit during our five days together. I was also pleased there was a large contingent of deacons not only from the Archdiocese of New Orleans but also from the other dioceses in Louisiana. We had deacons from 18 foreign countries who attended.

On Saturday, June 23, at St. Louis Cathedral, you are ordaining 22 men as permanent deacons for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Can you talk about the gift the permanent diaconate has been to the church? I feel very positive about the permanent diaconate. It is a great blessing of the Second Vatican Council, and it was officially promulgated for the universal church in 1968.

Summer is here, which in New Orleans usually means dressing down even more casually than we do at other times of year. I know the issue of church attire is a sensitive one – especially in an area where it’s hot nine months out of the year. What’s your perspective on how people should dress for Mass? I have a variety of feelings about this. There’s a part of me that remains grateful to God that a person is in church, regardless of how he or she is dressed.

We celebrate one of those “hidden” holidays of the year on May 28 – Memorial Day. Why do you think Memorial Day does not get as much attention as other national holidays? If my memory is correct, as a kid, it was not even celebrated as a holiday from work, and I don’t really know why.

For the next month, you will be celebrating three ordination Masses – one for transitional deacons, one for priests and one for permanent deacons – so this must be a very happy and exciting time for you. Can you explain what will be happening over the next month?