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51: Bishop Kevin responds to new email and social media comments · Beyond The Beacon

• 0:07
  SPEAKER_02: Welcome to Beyond the Weekend with Bishop Kevin Sweeney, a podcast of the Diocese of Patterson, New Jersey.
• 0:13
  SPEAKER_02: Join us for weekly conversations about our Catholic faith, and together let's strive to live a life of faith, hope, and love.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_02: I'm Jay Agnish.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_02: With me is Cecile Pagliarullo and, of course, Bishop Kevin Sweeney.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_02: Hello.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_02: How are you?
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_02: Good.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_02: Good morning to you both.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_02: Good morning, good morning.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_02: How's it going?
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_02: Um So what's what's going on, Bishop?
• 0:33
  SPEAKER_01: Well, first thing today is uh April 18th.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_01: Um and it is Bishop Saratelli's 80th birthday.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_01: And she did a great job at the Beacon J.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you well.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_01: If you have to do it credit to my staff.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_01: Um uh teamwork, beautiful pictures, and uh I'm looking forward to reading his column from the year in the year of the Eucharist, I think in 2004.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_01: 2004.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_01: Wow, which would have been when he just arrived in the diocese.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_01: I think he arrived in 04.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_01: Uh okay.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_01: So um happy birthday, Bishop Saratelli.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_01: And uh we're praying for you.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_01: He's had some health issues recently, but I think on the mend and uh we look forward to celebrating his birthday and uh many, many more years of health and happiness.
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_01: Uh keep as active as you are.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_01: He's great, he's always doing confirmations and giving retreats and celebrating masses and helping the sisters, and uh it's it's great to see him as active as he is.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_01: So um friend to many, is right Mike wrote in.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: He actually officiated my wedding.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_00: Is that right?
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_01: Wow, wow.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_01: Uh what year was that?
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_00: 2016.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_01: 2016, wonderful.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_01: Uh and so you've known him a long time.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, I actually know him from uh uh he served in my parish.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_00: He was a weekend assistant.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_00: Uh this is when he was still in Newark.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_00: And uh so we have many wonderful memories, and um, my best memories with him was at World Youth Day in 2005 when we went to Rome and Cologne.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_00: And it was great to have him as a quote unquote tour guide uh taking us around Rome because I know he studied there in seminary.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_01: And I've also heard he's one of the best people in the world to go to the uh Holy Land with um he was actually scheduled to go to a his trip was scheduled to leave um, I believe, on October 8th.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_01: Uh the um the fighting started on the seventh.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_01: And they canceled their I think that was Saturday, was the Saturday.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_02: That's right, yeah.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_02: We had an ad in the in the beacon for his pilgrimage.
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_01: So um we certainly pray for peace as well in the Middle East, um, in Ukraine and Nicaragua and Taiwan.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_01: Um this beautiful Easter season, uh we celebrate the joy and peace we hear Jesus say again and again in the gospel, peace be with you.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so we pray for that peace uh as we do at each mass and as um our world needs, certainly at the moment.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_02: And um And we're gonna need prayers for this episode because it's we have all kinds of great comments and questions from our listeners.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, of course.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_02: And some are not the easiest.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_01: So it's uh so we'll have to uh I've found now in my fourth year uh this time of year, I get to spend a lot of quality time with the Holy Spirit because celebrating confirmation is that wonderful moment, uh calling down the Holy Spirit uh upon the candidates.
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_01: And um, as I've said a few times recently, each year in this Easter season, we 50 days, seven weeks, um remembering Jesus' 40 days on earth after his resurrection, leading to his ascension into heaven, and then 10 days later, the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_01: Um and uh we're gonna have a big Pentecost vigil with our Spanish charismatic renewal uh in an armory in Morristown.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_01: So um we'll have more information on that to come.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_01: But um in this past week I've said a few times that uh we didn't have to necessarily wait for Pentecost uh because when confirmation is celebrated, the Holy Spirit, same Holy Spirit comes down upon those candidates and they're fully initiated.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_01: So um, but uh we pray for those gifts of wisdom and understanding, counsel and fortitude, knowledge, piety, fear of the Lord.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so uh so let's uh let's open with a prayer in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_01: Amen.
• 4:23
  SPEAKER_01: Remembering that Jesus has told us wherever two or three are gathered together in his name, he's there in the midst of them.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_01: We gather now in the name of Jesus.
• 4:31
  SPEAKER_01: We thank him for the gift of his presence, for the gifts and blessings that God gives to each of us each day.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_01: We pray for our church in a special way in this Easter season as the gospel continues to be preached and the sacraments celebrated for the vibrancy of our church here in our parishes, in our diocese, the universal church.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_01: And asking the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we pray, Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_01: Send forth your spirit, and we shall be recreated, and thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_01: O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us in that same spirit to be truly wise and always rejoice in your consolation through Christ our Lord.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_01: Amen.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_01: Our Lady's seat of wisdom, pray for us, pray for us, Saint Joseph, pray for us, Saint John the Baptist, pray for us, all holy men and women, pray for us, pray for us.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_01: And Lord, please we ask you to bless Bishop Saritelli in a special way on his birthday.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_01: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_01: Amen.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_02: So we uh we had talked about, we would love to get Bishop Territelli on.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, we were talking about.
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_02: We were talking about maybe maybe this episode, but unfortunately didn't it didn't work out.
• 5:49
  SPEAKER_02: So maybe uh hopefully he'll take a rain check on that and come on.
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_02: But so we kind of last minute, we decided to pivot and uh make today's episode all about social media comments that we get and uh questions that we get from our listeners, viewers, also some that come in through the the beacon and and our general uh info at pattersondioces.org inbox, which I monitor.
• 6:12
  SPEAKER_02: So um the email to please send questions in through is uh beyond at pattersondioces.org.
• 6:20
  SPEAKER_02: And I know, Bishop, you get lots of email as well.
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_02: You have the the Shepherd account, Shepherd at Pattersondioces.org if you want to email him the bishop directly.
• 6:29
  SPEAKER_01: And uh what I can't reply to all the emails, but I do read them.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_01: So uh yes, that's shepherd at pattersondioces.org.
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_02: Yep.
• 6:39
  SPEAKER_01: And beyond B-E-Y-O-N-D at Patterson Diocese.org.
• 6:45
  SPEAKER_01: And I think our listeners and viewers know, but not everyone is aware that Patterson has one T, right?
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_01: Not two.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_01: Um Patterson, I like to say.
• 6:54
  SPEAKER_01: P-A-T-E-R-S-O-N, and all one word, Patterson Diocese, D-I-O-C-E-S-E.org.
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_01: But you'll put that up, right?
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_01: Perfect.
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, we'll have an image on it.
• 7:05
  SPEAKER_01: Um and maybe just before we get to the questions, uh, those who follow the church closely might be thinking um or wondering about uh the uh teaching document that the Holy Father issued, I believe, last week.
• 7:19
  SPEAKER_01: Dignitas infinita, dignitas infinita.
• 7:23
  SPEAKER_01: And uh we will speak more about that maybe in the coming weeks.
• 7:28
  SPEAKER_01: Um but for those who are looking maybe for some feedback or um conversational reflection, um I've shared that uh we're f we're we're fans of uh um uh Jesuitical, right?
• 7:41
  SPEAKER_01: And uh a kind of a sister podcast through American Media is inside the Vatican.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_01: And they've had a couple of um episodes recently, including a round table on um this interesting five years in the making the document.
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_01: And while it touches um some of the hot button issues of of transgender and gender so-called ideology and um uh and some of the issues that people are dealing with, and I think we always need to remember that uh sometimes in some of our more ideological um uh uh expressions, we can talk about this today, um uh strong opinions, um, yes, which are important, and this church needs to teach the truth, but I think we just have to always remember um we need to see our Lord, the presence of God in each of our sisters and brothers, that each person is a child of God, and and there are people who struggle with ideology on different levels um and identity, and um uh so just to always have that compassion, the truth with love, yes.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and and there needs to be that balance.
• 8:45
  SPEAKER_01: Um but uh I think wonderful the way, you know, I haven't had the chance to read the full document yet, but um but uh the Holy Father speaks about a list of things that go against the dignity of the human person, okay.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_01: Uh whether that be from the beginning of life, the end of life, um uh poverty, um uh other types of war violence.
• 9:08
  SPEAKER_01: Um so uh he I think puts it in a great context.
• 9:12
  SPEAKER_01: And yeah, as was been said, I don't think there's a whole lot of new teaching in this document, but it uh the St.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_01: John Paul II's The Gospel of Life, he reiterates a lot of those teachings, and I think just kind of gives a little refresher and summary of what we believe about the dignity of the human person.
• 9:27
  SPEAKER_01: So dignitas infinita, you can find it online.
• 9:31
  SPEAKER_02: Awesome.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_01: And one other I mentioned uh um oh Bishop Burbich, uh Walk Humbly.
• 9:37
  SPEAKER_01: He also makes some comments on it.
• 9:38
  SPEAKER_01: So I think uh Bishop Burbitch, Walk Humbly, you can get some feedback from from his podcast as well.
• 9:45
  SPEAKER_02: And you had mentioned um Well, I getting so to kind of set this episode uh up, we were talking beforehand, I you know I get we get a ton of impassioned, but also opinion-filled email questions.
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_02: I get it's funny.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_02: You ask for questions from from readers and our dear readers and listeners, and it it's not just a question, it's usually uh an opinion or a statement or a comment.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
• 10:10
  SPEAKER_02: Cecile reads a lot of the comments, right?
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_02: So and it's a reflection on I think um on who we are.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, uh you know, if we didn't have these impassioned opinions and perspectives, then uh, you know, that might not be a good thing.
• 10:23
  SPEAKER_02: But um so Cecile, do you want to do you want to kick it off with uh a social media comment?
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_00: Um I I guess just to say is that we do welcome the comments.
• 10:33
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, we do.
• 10:34
  SPEAKER_00: That doesn't necessarily mean we endorse them, or maybe we do, and um and I think it's important, and this is something we kind of brought up with the last podcast about friendship is uh just because we don't always agree doesn't mean that uh we should be enemies, but it it's important that we have conversations uh whether we agree or disagree, and I think that helps us grow as a church.
• 10:57
  SPEAKER_00: And uh just um one of the most impassioned, I guess, conversations we had was about the washing of feet um that you've done with the from Morris County jail.
• 11:09
  SPEAKER_00: I know it was a very spirited com conversation, and I just want to um say from a lot of our our commenters kind of uh they they I guess I don't want to say put their two cents in, but they kind of responded to two people who thought that this was uh um not a good idea.
• 11:29
  SPEAKER_00: Right, not a good idea, and I think it says a lot about people that follow us or that they too felt like this was something very beautiful.
• 11:37
  SPEAKER_00: And um and I I think we have to just remember a lot uh that the catechism, this was something that yeah, in the catechism of the church, that uh the Jesus said.
• 11:51
  SPEAKER_00: What did he say now?
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_01: Uh it's in uh Matthew, Matthew 25, uh, and and emphasized uh in in the catechism, but um we Jesus calls us to see what reminds us, teaches us what we do or fail to do for the least of our sisters and brothers, we do or fail to do for him.
• 12:07
  SPEAKER_01: And one of them including feeding the hungry, I was hungry, you gave me food, I was thirsty, you gave me uh drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.
• 12:15
  SPEAKER_01: One of them is I was sick and you visited me, one of them is I was in prison and you visited me.
• 12:20
  SPEAKER_01: So uh Jesus encourages us to see those who are imprisoned, whether innocent or guilty, uh, to they're still our brothers and sisters, and uh and and visiting someone who may not get any other visits uh is uh an important thing to do.
• 12:37
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, I do that once a year.
• 12:40
  SPEAKER_01: I I would try to do it more often, but uh but there's a ministry, uh the the Order of Malta, Father Owen Moran, Father Alex Nevitt, um Father Philip Michael Tangor, I think is helping now, uh, where there's a regular presence in what's really the largest jail in our diocese, the Morris County uh I think the technical facility facility.
• 12:59
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so uh Bible study, um mass, um uh accompaniment, uh just a friendly visit uh is um is is something that's important for us to do.
• 13:10
  SPEAKER_02: And so um, yeah, imagine not having Easter holy some kind of mass on Holy Week if you're an inmate in a jail and you're kinda waiting for your trial to come up.
• 13:20
  SPEAKER_02: I mean these aren't even necessarily prisoners in the U.S.
• 13:23
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, if uh we're gonna be compassionate and try to be understanding and listening, which is so important, um even the couple of people who you know expressed that they didn't think this was a good idea because um uh they talked about I think the the twelve apostles being the ones that Jesus was gonna send send out, and um and and so um but um he he teaches us to wash.
• 13:49
  SPEAKER_01: I've washed your feet, now you go and do it for one another.
• 13:52
  SPEAKER_01: So it's that to be humble servants, we we're supposed to do that.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_01: For those who are upset about it, um we we welcome your comments and we try to answer as as best we can.
• 14:04
  SPEAKER_01: And hopefully sometimes our first reaction isn't always um sometimes it comes out of an emotion or a strong feeling.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_01: And then if we think about it a little bit, we can say, well, and then even if you still still remain in that opinion, at least we've had the opportunity to say, this is uh definitely how I feel.
• 14:23
  SPEAKER_01: And I think sometimes in humility we have to uh be willing to listen to the church and to one another.
• 14:28
  SPEAKER_01: And so um uh uh the internet is uh an interesting place.
• 14:35
  SPEAKER_01: Um to say the least.
• 14:37
  SPEAKER_00: There's a there's this comment like uh you're tough on the internet, but not on the streets, or something like that.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, right, right, right.
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_01: Anonymous and you can say whatever you want, and there's no accountability.
• 14:48
  SPEAKER_01: And um for those who read the beacon, or I think it's I I posted it as well.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, you know, this is a common topic with Bishop Barron, and um he's just I think so good, and he's so present.
• 14:58
  SPEAKER_01: Uh for full disclosure, uh I'm I'm working on my uh uh thanks to Cecile and Jay, who I think we're we have a decent presence on social media, but my own personal engagement is not what it maybe could be.
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know whether it's what it should be, but I think again, personally, we we're in different pla we can all be in different places there.
• 15:19
  SPEAKER_01: But listening to Bishop Barron, who's very present online, and he really um cautions against that kind of that vitriol or meanness that sometimes can come out.
• 15:29
  SPEAKER_01: And again, I hope I trust it's not intentional for any of ours, those who comment towards um uh towards us, and not that we're uh uh against, you know, I shared in our previous discussion uh the rector had one of the rectors I had in the seminary used to say, you can be critical without being negative.
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_01: Um so um we welcome criticism.
• 15:53
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, like how is that possible?
• 15:56
  SPEAKER_01: I think um Jesus um talks not only about what we do, but how we do it.
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_01: The spirit with which we do things.
• 16:04
  SPEAKER_01: Um and again, I think just to check ourselves with emotions, strong feelings which are good.
• 16:09
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, we want to defend our faith, we want to um we believe in it it's it's it's everything for us.
• 16:15
  SPEAKER_01: And so that yes leads to strong emotions.
• 16:18
  SPEAKER_01: Um and we live in a a culture that so often goes against or is even um aga you know negative towards who we are as a church and believers.
• 16:28
  SPEAKER_01: Um but our response has to have the there's got to be some love there uh in in hearing it and and responding.
• 16:36
  SPEAKER_01: And so um um so somebody can be think that my going to wash the feet of prison people in in prison is is not a good idea.
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_01: And and that will make me think twice.
• 16:50
  SPEAKER_01: Is that is that could that be the case?
• 16:52
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so I'm open to that, you know, and I think we should be open to um those who would dis and then be ready to say, well, this is why I think it is a good thing to do.
• 17:02
  SPEAKER_01: Um but um uh we can do that in a in a in a Christian way, in a uh a compassionate way, in an understanding, patient way, um, and just um that hopefully daily examiner conscience, we say, maybe I that was a little stronger, maybe I reacted too quickly.
• 17:22
  SPEAKER_01: Uh some of the other lots more to get to.
• 17:26
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm gonna I'm gonna give you uh an email question that that came in.
• 17:30
  SPEAKER_02: So we're gonna we're gonna alternate.
• 17:31
  SPEAKER_02: So I'll I'll give you some emails, Cecile will give you some social media comments.
• 17:34
  SPEAKER_02: So we have uh someone who wrote in and they were really excited about the Mother Cabrini movie, which I know you uh s saw the the movie and you wrote about it, and and Bishop uh Saratelli has a has a connection to Mother Cabrini that we that was been documented in the beacon and in a column that he wrote.
• 17:56
  SPEAKER_02: Um but anyway, so this person writes, um, is it possible we are overlooking a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the parish priest could promote the movie at every mass?
• 18:06
  SPEAKER_01: Uh again, thank you for the comment.
• 18:09
  SPEAKER_01: And um you never know when something like that is gonna say, oh, maybe that's something that we should do.
• 18:15
  SPEAKER_01: Um but I think if we uh did everything that sometimes is suggested that we should do this at every mass, we should do that at every mass, we should promote this at every mass, we should make this prayer at every um uh I know there are still some who think that the mass is a little too long as it is.
• 18:34
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so uh if we were to I think uh promote it everything that's suggested at every mass, I hope I think that we've promoted the Cabrini movie pretty well fairly well.
• 18:46
  SPEAKER_02: Uh we've certainly done our part here in social media and you've written about it.
• 18:50
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 18:50
  SPEAKER_01: And I believe it's been uh I think pastors have preached about it and I think parishes have promoted it.
• 18:56
  SPEAKER_01: So um uh so um so I think we we strike we try to strike a balance there.
• 19:03
  SPEAKER_01: Cecile?
• 19:05
  SPEAKER_00: Uh talking about that too with the Cabrini movie, I I I thought of Song of Bernadette, didn't that come it was her feast day the other day?
• 19:12
  SPEAKER_00: Right?
• 19:12
  SPEAKER_01: Was it?
• 19:13
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I think so.
• 19:14
  SPEAKER_00: So it was like her feast day two days ago.
• 19:16
  SPEAKER_00: And I I think maybe because of the hype with the Crini movie is just because it's something that's new, but there's Hollywood's been doing back in the day, especially movies about Saints, and Song of Bernadette is one.
• 19:28
  SPEAKER_01: But uh I love the Song of Bernadette.
• 19:30
  SPEAKER_01: It's a beautiful movie if you haven't seen it, yes.
• 19:32
  SPEAKER_01: And uh I'll be uh there for the first time in my life uh in in two weeks, I guess.
• 19:37
  SPEAKER_01: Uh going to Lord's.
• 19:39
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, right.
• 19:39
  SPEAKER_00: So um Ferrero Rocher, the candy.
• 19:42
  SPEAKER_00: Oh yes.
• 19:42
  SPEAKER_01: I just recently uh shared that with me, and I saw it then on Catholic News Agency, the connection between those are they French or Italian chocolates?
• 19:51
  SPEAKER_01: I wonder.
• 19:52
  SPEAKER_01: I thought they were anyway, they're the Lord's connection.
• 19:55
  SPEAKER_01: They must be French.
• 19:56
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 19:56
  SPEAKER_01: Um the owner has a devotion to a lady of Louis.
• 20:01
  SPEAKER_03: Okay, okay.
• 20:02
  SPEAKER_00: The only reason why I brought up that movie is because I uh with that comment is I there are movies about saints already out there.
• 20:08
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I guess just because it's more new.
• 20:10
  SPEAKER_01: Well, it's good to have a that there's there's one in 2024, is uh is a is a great thing.
• 20:15
  SPEAKER_00: Right, right.
• 20:16
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, so here is you're talking about engagement and um Bishop Barron, but you did um get personal when you shared a childhood picture on National Siblings Day.
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_00: And I thought we got a really nice comment.
• 20:30
  SPEAKER_02: Which came from a family member of yours, and it was a very good idea.
• 20:32
  SPEAKER_02: It was your sister.
• 20:33
  SPEAKER_00: She posted it um last year for National Siblings Day, so now we I guess posted it back.
• 20:39
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 20:41
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 20:42
  SPEAKER_00: But we did get a nice comment from um someone that said uh I guess they like seeing that human side because you never know if the next kid that you're next to is the next priest or you know that's on the playground.
• 20:56
  SPEAKER_00: And uh I mean, is there anything you would like to say about that?
• 20:59
  SPEAKER_01: Aaron Ross Powell Well, uh interesting.
• 21:01
  SPEAKER_01: Um I shared when I celebrated Mass in the fall with our Catholic school teachers.
• 21:06
  SPEAKER_01: Um I shared a book about uh Carlo Acudis, blessed Carlo Acudis, and uh, you know, he was kind of this precocious young kid, especially in in things of faith, wanting to be a church, wanting to be at Mass, doing good works.
• 21:19
  SPEAKER_01: And uh uh his his parents hadn't been uh necessarily practicing, and uh his enthusiasm for the faith led to his m his mom kind of going for classes and maybe even receiving a confirmation, certainly becoming a catechist so that he could so that little Carlos could be her assistant catechist.
• 21:37
  SPEAKER_01: And um I said to the Catholic school teachers and certainly c all c any catechists, or even parents, you know, that you never know who's in your classroom or who's in your family.
• 21:47
  SPEAKER_01: And uh uh so we should have that uh realization that, you know, we're all called to be saints, and um so yes, uh um what happens, you know, the influences on us when we're young.
• 21:59
  SPEAKER_01: Uh make a big difference.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_01: I always uh usually a confirmation mention Sister Margaret Mary, one of my seventh grade teacher who talked about yeah well said think about what you want to be when you grow up think about what Jesus wants you to be so um so that helped me to first think about oh I wonder if Jesus is calling me to be a priest.
• 22:17
  SPEAKER_01: So um so yes those uh uh it's important to to realize that God works in mysterious ways starting from when we're very young.
• 22:26
  SPEAKER_00: Very nice I'm sorry.
• 22:29
  SPEAKER_00: Oh no something just really fun fact about Carlos Acudis.
• 22:32
  SPEAKER_00: He was wear I think he's wearing jeans in the uh tracksuit I think uh soccer unit I mean that really does humanize the experience too because when you picture saints you you maybe think of them in the frolic of us.
• 23:23
  SPEAKER_01: And he's off his picture with a backpack right he really liked to travel he went to places where he asked his parents to take him to places where there were Eucharistic miracles so he's from Assisi right Assisi uh he they ended up moving near Assisi because he had such a love for um for Saint Francis and he's buried in Assisi.
• 23:40
  SPEAKER_01: Right yeah have you been to Assisi?
• 23:43
  SPEAKER_01: I was yes um well twice nineteen eighty nine I think and um like two thousand eight or something like that.
• 23:53
  SPEAKER_02: So yeah it's been a while I'd love to get back to you all right so I have an email question for you Bishop uh this person said they found our email address on our diocesan website where where it asks for comments, suggestions and corrections.
• 24:09
  SPEAKER_02: As a member of a local church here in our diocese uh her ch her child uh currently attends eighth grade and attending faith formation.
• 24:18
  SPEAKER_02: She was surprised to find out that the sac sacrament of uh confirmation wouldn't be until the eleventh grade um when some of her cousins in other parts of New Jersey, friends in Connecticut and herself when she was younger received the sacraments in seventh or eighth grade.
• 24:34
  SPEAKER_02: So and and I th I think this is something common people um sometimes struggle with when you know the timing and so she says uh my comment or suggestion would be to allow children in the diocese to also receive the sacrament of confirmation earlier.
• 24:50
  SPEAKER_02: So any comments or feedback on that?
• 24:52
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you thank you for that question.
• 24:53
  SPEAKER_01: Yes it's an ongoing conversation to say the least uh and um one thing that makes me I was actually listening this morning to Coffee with Kupke our sister podcast here on the diocese uh along with the Paul Street Journal.
• 25:06
  SPEAKER_01: But um Monsignor Kupke and Father Paul Manning were talking about uh there he is uh um uh the papal uh uh uh uh uh decision that um first communion would be moved to the age of reason I think it was in the 30s maybe um uh coffee and cup you'll get all the details but uh uh so uh they were talking about first communion used to be received somewhere between fourteen and sixteen depending on when the bishop would show up before this document right and then then it was moved to the age of reason which in the United States was identified as seven seven years old in second grade.
• 25:45
  SPEAKER_01: So we've been pretty consistent with that uh uh in um in in recent decades so but um confirmation yes uh uh I often uh sell celebrating confirmation ask if people remember their confirmation most people do remember their confirmation they may remember different things but uh I mean people before my time often received confirmation fourth or fifth grade uh there definitely was a move to say uh and and there's you know as a pastor and a parish priest um um the uh the opportunity to uh keep young people in religious education whether it be to eighth grade or into high school um is is a good thing.
• 26:27
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know if we want to hold the sacrament as kind of uh uh that uh um bar that you know thing that has to be reached has to be attained or you gotta stay until you but uh but uh somewhere um I'd say under Bishop Rhodeimer um in his long tire time in between 1978 and 2004 his 26 years as bishop wow uh I think I want to say in the 80s there was definitely a move that um confirmation should be a mature decision by the young person because yes they're choosing to be fully initiated as a member of the church.
• 27:05
  SPEAKER_01: So um and it's interesting when celebrating confirmation when the candidates are in 10th or 11th grade you can see the difference between those who are in eighth grade.
• 27:15
  SPEAKER_01: Right now in the diocese um the parish and pastor can make the decision.
• 27:20
  SPEAKER_01: For a long time here in the diocese it was established that tenth grade was the lowest.
• 27:26
  SPEAKER_01: Oh okay you had to be in tenth grade.
• 27:28
  SPEAKER_01: I was a little surprised by that uh it wasn't the case where I was from in Brooklyn where it had been moved I think Bishop Demarzio said you have to be at least in eighth grade.
• 27:36
  SPEAKER_01: It's not that long ago that it was still in seventh grade in many parishes in Brooklyn Queens.
• 27:41
  SPEAKER_01: But um so there's been this ongoing conversation and uh and so when I arrived uh many people one of the first questions I was asked is Bishop what does the age of confirmation was because uh a few pastors had reached out I think to Bishop Saratelli and said we have a loved neighboring diocese whether it be in the Archdiocese of Newark or Metutcheon or Pennsylvania or New York that border us on the west and the and the north and people parishors were saying we're going over the border into the next diocese next parish where they did confirmation at eighth grade because uh there's it was a long discussion but parents some parents feel it's much better to for the child to receive the sacrament in eighth grade so then whatever activities they have in high school there's I think good arguments on both sides.
• 28:24
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 28:24
  SPEAKER_01: But um so the few years I the uh I don't know was four or five or of the last years of Bishop Saratelli's um time as bishop uh he did allow some exceptions.
• 28:36
  SPEAKER_01: He I think made the stipulation that if you were going to have confirmation in eighth grade you had to have a good active youth program.
• 28:42
  SPEAKER_01: So the idea that the young people stay active in the parish um and and Cecil can has a lot of experience with this to finish um uh so then when I arrived it it really took two years to think about what's the best way and uh uh I think two years after um I I had arrived we said okay you can have it at eighth grade again you should have youth ministry um or you can keep it at 10th or 11th grade and many parishes have done that and they feel it works.
• 29:13
  SPEAKER_01: So um I know some might say it should be one or the other.
• 29:18
  SPEAKER_01: I think that we're doing okay with parishes.
• 29:22
  SPEAKER_01: Many moved from 10 thro11th to eighth grade.
• 29:24
  SPEAKER_01: Okay but many have kept it at 10th or 11th grade.
• 29:28
  SPEAKER_00: So um I remember my wife was working as as a uh faith formation uh director at at a parish and I I remember we were having a discussion about this so yes very both as a um catechist and as a youth minister right uh don't come at me because I have very strong opinion about this but I I think uh uh maturity um I've seen differences between high school students and and eighth graders and and and there is a difference I think it's uh something our youth minister says it's it's it's not something you earn it's not a graduation day but it's something you should desire in your heart and I feel like maybe eighth graders they're not there yet and you could and I even know for me when I received confirmation I didn't appreciate it until after I received my confirmation believe it or not and that was when because I was able to go to a more retreat and I think that this is to any parent again um it's your decision or what or what you decide but I really think that young people should understand what they're receiving and and because because it is a gift and uh I see just the difference between because we have both in our parish belief and and uh high school just because I I guess every church is different.
• 30:43
  SPEAKER_00: Um I think with our with the demographic of our parish a lot of parents don't realize that they uh could get their child confirmed at a certain age but so we have both at St.
• 30:56
  SPEAKER_01: Anthony's in Passaic and I've seen the difference and so both like you like an optional pastor where I was parish excuse me the pastor was I was parish let's try that again the parish where I was pastor in Brooklyn um you could receive confirmation in eighth grade.
• 31:13
  SPEAKER_01: But we had a really good high school religious ed program and I think as Cecile said depending on the community um sometimes parents are busy with things they didn't realize oh yeah and uh and so um we ended up with a mix usually each year of eighth graders and ninth tenth and eleventh graders and yeah and uh and that was that was I think a good experience.
• 31:36
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah um sorry to tell you folks we're not gonna come up with the we're not gonna solve this problem again.
• 31:42
  SPEAKER_00: I mean I really think we're working on it we are and forgive me for saying this too like demographically oh people are worried about like their neighboring I I mean I I think you have to do really what's best for your family and what and what your young person what your teenager junior high school insane.
• 31:57
  SPEAKER_01: And and and be part of your parish faith community.
• 32:00
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 32:01
  SPEAKER_01: And and I would say if you're part of your parish faith community stick with your parish faith community and um yes parents can make the decision you know encourage the child should be part of that decision and confirmation.
• 32:13
  SPEAKER_01: It's a great actually opportunity for that uh communication about making that decision together.
• 32:19
  SPEAKER_01: I often say a confirmation maybe I know not every young person is super excited about always coming to religion class but there's parents who sometimes say you've got to make a confirmation and I say be grateful for that encouragement.
• 32:30
  SPEAKER_01: So but um so keep having the conversations but um being part of an active parish faith community as a family is so important.
• 32:40
  SPEAKER_01: And thankfully I think many of our parishes are actually moving in the direction of a more family-based faith formation program which um which which is something really exciting I think that's happening.
• 32:50
  SPEAKER_02: Okay, great.
• 32:50
  SPEAKER_01: So we're gonna move we can do an episode on confirmation today.
• 32:55
  SPEAKER_01: Cecil what do you got next?
• 32:57
  SPEAKER_00: Well back to Brooklyn we get so many comments from uh people from Brooklyn I guess because you were their parish priest and a lot of love there and I guess they know you in a different way than we at Patterson know you.
• 33:10
  SPEAKER_00: Uh they'll just say oh God bless you Bishop uh well father Kevin or Bishop Kevin and they and um I I mean what would you say to all those um oh my goodness uh Brooklyn fans your fans yeah I like to say um the church is God's family uh that's one way to understand the church a parish is a family of families and a lot of times I'm saying that because of the experience my first parish St.
• 33:34
  SPEAKER_01: Nicholas of Tallentheim my second parish are our Lady of Sorrows in Corona but um ten years as pastor of St.
• 33:40
  SPEAKER_01: Michael's in Sunset Park at Brooklyn it that parish is a family of faith and they received me into their family and um we walked that journey of faith together for 10 years and um I have great affection always will for them and uh and it's one always wonderful to hear their kindness uh um on social media so thank you gracias uh mis amigos y hermanos y hermanos in in San Miguel um uh that wonderful community there yeah yeah that's um why don't you go again and then I'll we'll come back to me with an email question.
• 34:13
  SPEAKER_01: Okay an another uh interesting um uh Michael Wojak who is our beacon uh uh news editor he had wrote a story about um the diaconate uh permanent diaconate and we got a lot uh we got one that uh commenter that wrote the permanent diaconate is the greatest success of Vatican II I mean that's a huge endorsement uh for that and I mean any thoughts well I think there are a lot of successes thanks be to God and blessings that have come to us from Vatican II but they have a you can make that argument I think uh um uh and uh again learning the history of the diocese of our diocese here in Patterson I think uh actually the the deaconate permanent deaconate is celebrating its 50th year um the first um right um was I don't know whether it was uh 1973 or 74 probably 74 I guess that the first deacons were ordained and I I'm hoping actually to be at the anniversary of a couple of those um uh first deacons um uh so um yes uh the deacons are a wonderful blessing uh I had the opportunity now twice um uh there were deacons who were going to be ordained in May of 2020 and like other things in 2020 got delayed and so after ordaining five priests just a month after I was a bishop um those five priests on May on August 1st uh then three weeks later on August 22nd I think it was ten deacons that I had the privilege of ordaining again um where others uh have planted uh others come along and reap and uh um uh bishop Saratelli and and the church here sowed those seeds of those vocations and I just was privileged to uh be the bishop who ordained them but um but getting to know those those um those deacons and then this past year ordaining another class uh and that sticks out to me because I think at that celebration where so many of them their their wives and their families and the cathedral was out the doors full oh yeah um standing room only I mean it took two hours to get out of the parking lot it was um was it really yeah wow uh so um that was a feeling of okay we've finally passed the pandemic and uh just interesting to hear also um um comments about Easter this past year and Holy Week the attendance at mass so many said we're back we're back we're we're uh you know um the the crowds are great so um so that's a really really good really good thing to hear but yes thanks to to our deacons and we're we're continued deacon peter cestaro does a great job uh running the program Father Paul Manning Father Garcia um uh we're working on um a uh uh uh to offer um formation and classes in Spanish as well which had been in the past and for certain reasons it was uh the uh the academic standards were um were raised so that they could get a I believe a master's degree um so um we're we're continuing to work on it and now we're gonna be having information sessions for new candidates.
• 37:09
  SPEAKER_01: So permanent deacon it great great blessing.
• 37:13
  SPEAKER_02: And I wonder if one day we'll have uh women who are our deacons right are these still questions and and conversations that are happening at our synod meetings?
• 37:22
  SPEAKER_01: You know that was one of the bigger topics and questions I know the Pope is uh interesting uh in the synthesis report the one of the 20 topics was on the diaconate um and uh I think there's about 10 of the topics that discussed the need for further study and uh just a few weeks ago the Holy Father I think appointed like 10 commissions that are going to do study that's gonna go beyond the next Synodal Assembly meeting in General Assembly in October.
• 37:51
  SPEAKER_01: I think they're gonna make a report in in June of 25.
• 37:54
  SPEAKER_01: So um uh but if for those who haven't had the chance just read the synthesis report if you're interested in in in the the Akinid and role of women in church um um there's some interesting comments there that came out of those synodal conversations and our and our report for our most recent interim listening sessions is now available online on our website and I'm gonna publish it in its entirety in the in the beacon the week after next.
• 38:22
  SPEAKER_02: Great so um kinda in that uh theme or of the uh of the Synod on Synodality one of the things that I know came up in the uh the synopsis from that came out of Rome the for the for the first meeting um was some discussion about the uh importance of parish councils the importance of even even the the the the bishop uh possibly developing um you know I'm a big fan of parish councils uh maybe going back to St.
• 38:53
  SPEAKER_01: Michael's we had a good experience there and I can see in parishes um here in our diocese that have an active parish council it's a it's a really uh and it's a reminder something Cardinal Dolan in in in New York likes to say that you know the church has been synodal really since the acts of the apostles.
• 39:09
  SPEAKER_01: We've emphasized it maybe at some points more than others but certainly since the Second Vatican Council as well um that role of the of the call to holiness from baptism that we all share and that each of us has a role to play and the so-called empowering the laity which um um maybe power is not the best word but um but uh but calling forth the gifts um and and involving our lay uh sisters and brothers in in leadership decision making um you know they share their gifts right yeah exactly in a collaborative effort a conversational and that synodal style of listening so that's been going on in a particular way since the Second Vatican Council um and um again it's maybe gone up and down even over the last sixty or plus years but um the canon law requires that every parish have a finance committee council uh committee and uh the there may be a suggestion about but there's not a requirement but it's not mandated.
• 40:08
  SPEAKER_01: Right yeah now some of the conversation from the Synod on Synodality is that there may even be potentially a change in canon law to say that every parish needs to have a a a parish pastoral council.
• 40:22
  SPEAKER_01: So um Sister Teresa Lee is our delegate for religious and chancellor she um helps to organize our Diocin Pastoral Council which a wonderful group of people that I meet meet with four times a year.
• 40:33
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 40:33
  SPEAKER_01: That um so they would be if the parish council is for the parish the diocesan pastoral council would be yeah for myself and and representative of of all the deaneries um uh so you get feedback from the parish right right and ask for the help as well and communication so um yeah so you have advisors and uh that's a good point uh uh this coming Monday I'm gonna be meeting with our deans again which I think we we meet five or six times a year um and uh the dean would be um the pastor in a local geographical area I think we have about eleven or twelve deaneries maybe fourteen um amongst the 108 parishes I should do this yes so um uh so this coming Monday we'll be meeting to discuss some topics and I look for their feedback.
• 41:19
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 41:19
  SPEAKER_01: Um uh mayor Koch in New York maybe not many would remember him but he used to always say how am I doing?
• 41:25
  SPEAKER_01: How am I doing?
• 41:26
  SPEAKER_01: So I'm as bishop I'm glad to ask how am I doing and you can uh be um critical without being negative if possible that'd be good.
• 41:36
  SPEAKER_01: But uh can you can you give us a a sneak peek into some of maybe one topic that come up came up at a recent dean's meeting that um uh well I can make me mention uh closer to the top of my mind is some of the things we're gonna be talking about this coming um uh meeting and this goes back to recent meetings as well um uh the I think there's an ongoing question of of priest morale we want to make sure our priests are healthy and happy and uh and able to you know give as much as possible.
• 42:08
  SPEAKER_01: Um and so uh we have a priestly life activity priest priestly life committee that um organizes retreats and days of prayer and uh our every three years we go away for a few days together for a convocation.
• 42:22
  SPEAKER_01: So um in some of the deaneries there was some uh also um you know something we have to get to uh the USCCB especially under Bishop Barron is um encouraging bishops and dioceses um to um address and or or look for resources in terms of the so-called mental health crisis which I think is is real um in recent episode of Word on Fire podcast they discussed this topic and you know that there's a relationship to the amount of screen time and and and depression uh so um so um you know we Jesus told the apostles the last supper um uh or even praying to his father for them um uh uh I I I've called them not out of the world I'm not taking them out of the world they're in the world but not of the world we need to be in the world but not of but being in the world we're we have to deal with uh the some of the things that are not gonna help us uh to grow closer to the Lord or be healthy and physically emotionally spiritually so um that's a topic that we'll discuss with the deans um and then um let's see there's a couple of other um items we're gonna the um the USCCB also recently last year endorsed a a pastoral plan for hispanic ministry in uh the country and uh the um uh if you're familiar with bishops conferences in uh Ceelam they call it uh C-E-L-A-M-E-L-A-M Conferencia Episcopal Latina America the Latin American um uh Pope Francis when he was Archbishop in Argentina was very involved in Ceylon and uh they're great at pastoral planning they're uh diocese par pastoral plan pastoral plan so um we're gonna uh have a presenter come to speak with our diocesan leaders and a meeting for our priests and deacons about uh what has come out of that uh pastoral plan for Hispanic ministry but what how are we doing with pastoral planning in in general and is it something maybe we can look at a little more closely so that's great thanks for sharing that uh and Father Manning and Maria Moncaliano will also be reporting back on the Cinder listening sessions and the report.
• 44:28
  SPEAKER_02: So I got a quick quick easy question for you I think um and then we can go back to Cecile before we kind of wrap up um this person Camille is run wondering what What parishes do with uh previous year's chrism oils uh once the new oils are blessed?
• 44:45
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so the directive is when we light the Easter fire, I was talking to a pastor yesterday um and remembering that the uh the it seemed that rain came just as the Easter fire was being lit in many of our uh parishes.
• 45:00
  SPEAKER_01: Uh but I think everybody did okay.
• 45:02
  SPEAKER_01: Um yes.
• 45:03
  SPEAKER_01: Uh and uh um but um uh one you can pour the oils into the Easter fire, the oils from last year.
• 45:11
  SPEAKER_01: After the chrismass, we have new oils of the infirm, of the catechumen and and uh and chrism oil.
• 45:16
  SPEAKER_01: Um so the oils that were left over, let's say from last year, you could pour into the Easter fire.
• 45:22
  SPEAKER_01: That's the best way to Okay.
• 45:23
  SPEAKER_02: Um the same Easter fire that lights the candle.
• 45:28
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 45:28
  SPEAKER_02: Awesome.
• 45:29
  SPEAKER_02: Cecile?
• 45:30
  SPEAKER_00: Well, uh a lot of great response for our Holy Week, speaking of which, and chrism mass.
• 45:35
  SPEAKER_00: Uh we we got a comment that they are thankful it was open to the public, but the chrisomass has always been open to I've thought that uh um at Brooklyn and other diocese, I think sometimes they they ask for two people from each parish.
• 45:52
  SPEAKER_01: I don't think we do that um specifically, but yes, it is open and and maybe in the coming year we'll try to uh expand that invitation just so everyone knows that um that that um um it's open.
• 46:03
  SPEAKER_01: Yep.
• 46:04
  SPEAKER_01: And what would live stream?
• 46:05
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, but and also what would be the significance of having it open to all in the diocese, I guess.
• 46:11
  SPEAKER_01: Uh well it represents the Church of the Diocese, the Church of the Diocese coming together.
• 46:15
  SPEAKER_01: Um and um and so maybe we need to get the word out a little bit more, but yes, it's uh it's open to all.
• 46:23
  SPEAKER_02: All right.
• 46:24
  SPEAKER_02: So what else, Bishop?
• 46:26
  SPEAKER_01: What do you you get?
• 46:28
  SPEAKER_01: Uh this is the Easter season, confirmation season.
• 46:33
  SPEAKER_01: It's also this time of um assignments for priests and sometimes changes of assignments.
• 46:40
  SPEAKER_01: And I've gotten some emails uh recently, and I know you've as well.
• 46:43
  SPEAKER_01: And yeah, um as hard as it is um when uh a pastor has served well for many years and is beloved by his parish uh and parishioners, and they hear that he's moving, um uh I can understand those who have written uh that uh that's not an easy experience, I know, but um we need to take the needs of the whole diocese into concern.
• 47:08
  SPEAKER_01: We have a a process, uh Monsignor Hart, and we have a uh an assignment board that that looks at uh we have a few pastors who have retired and we need to find a good replacement.
• 47:20
  SPEAKER_01: And sometimes uh depending on the parish, um everybody needs to start somewhere.
• 47:25
  SPEAKER_01: So some parishes it's we can send a uh a pastor who's gonna be an administrator first for usually for a year and then become pastor that first time of kind of being in charge of the parish.
• 47:35
  SPEAKER_01: But then other parishes, I think you need a more experienced um pastor to come in if it's large, complex.
• 47:42
  SPEAKER_01: Um so um that necessate necessitates some changes and um and so for those whose pastor might be moving, uh sorry uh if you're upset with me for making that decision.
• 47:57
  SPEAKER_01: But uh it's it's not done alone, it's not done lightly, it's done in conversation, it's done similarly, I think, with listening.
• 48:03
  SPEAKER_01: And uh but I hear you as well.
• 48:05
  SPEAKER_01: Um and and it's hard, again, it's very hard, I know, but it's it's wonderful to hear when a pastor is beloved by his parishioners and um and they feel it um when he may when he's gonna be moving on.
• 48:17
  SPEAKER_01: So um so let's we try to hang in there together and and keep it in prayer.
• 48:21
  SPEAKER_01: Really do keep those uh decisions in in our priests and our prayers, and um and and we have to do it together as as God's family as a church.
• 48:29
  SPEAKER_00: I f I feel like that's just part of being part of the Catholic Church because I mean I've experienced that too, where pastor it just seems like it's part of being a Catholic.
• 48:39
  SPEAKER_00: Right, right.
• 48:40
  SPEAKER_01: And there are times when usually um a pastor is assigned for a six-year term with the opportunity to renew for an additional six years.
• 48:48
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 48:49
  SPEAKER_01: There's some dioceses where once the pastor has been in a parish for twelve years, they have to move.
• 48:54
  SPEAKER_01: There's no um other times, uh you know, Dean McNulty, coffee with cup giggle here was, I think, pastor in like 50 years in the cathedral.
• 49:01
  SPEAKER_01: And we have some pastors recently and still currently who have been pastor 20, 25 years, maybe even 30 in the same parish.
• 49:11
  SPEAKER_01: Unusual.
• 49:12
  SPEAKER_01: Uh uh someone recently shared a comment with me that uh if it's not broke, don't fix it.
• 49:18
  SPEAKER_01: Uh and so there is something to that.
• 49:20
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but um change can be good for everyone, it can be difficult, and sometimes that kind of newness that comes with change is a is a good thing for everyone involved.
• 49:31
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so it's uh it's a balancing act, and um, well, maybe even more, it's it's it's discerning what God is asking of us and hello how the Holy Spirit is guiding us.
• 49:41
  SPEAKER_01: So so yeah, please uh keep those decisions in your prayers and and and and uh understand that we're we're trying to seek what what God wants and and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
• 49:53
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 49:54
  SPEAKER_02: Well, on that note, uh is it okay if we we wrap, Bishop?
• 49:57
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 49:58
  SPEAKER_01: And uh if you like the questions, if we missed your question, let us know in a few weeks we can have a um another similar episode.
• 50:06
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, uh if we get your questions, uh if we get your feedback.
• 50:09
  SPEAKER_02: Beyond at pattersondioces.org.
• 50:12
  SPEAKER_02: And of course, you welcome to comment on any of our social media posts or direct message Cecile through our social media.
• 50:19
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you for joining us.
• 50:20
  SPEAKER_02: Please subscribe, comment, and leave a positive rating.
• 50:24
  SPEAKER_02: Get to know us better by following Beyond the Beacon on Facebook or Instagram.
• 50:28
  SPEAKER_02: Email questions and podcast topic ideas to beyond at patterson diocese.org.
• 50:34
  SPEAKER_02: Discover our other podcasts, Coffee with Cupkey and the Paul Street Journal.
• 50:38
  SPEAKER_02: God bless.
• 50:39
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you, everybody.
• 50:40
  SPEAKER_02: God bless you.
• 50:42
  SPEAKER_01: Thanks, Cecile.
• 50:43
  SPEAKER_01: Thanks, Jay.
• 50:44
  SPEAKER_01: Of course.