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If evidence is needed how wrong some media commentators can get a story, look no further than the coverage of Pope Francis’ recent action of witnessing the marriages of 20 couples, some of whom had lived together or had children together prior to marriage.

As a priest I have frequently seen the beauty and effectiveness of the sacrament of reconciliation, or, if you prefer, confession. So convinced am I of its efficacy, indeed its necessity for saving souls that I frequently speak about it as a regular topic of catechesis when I travel throughout the diocese.

Here is the homily of Bishop Robert F. Vasa for today’s Mass: St. Bernard was a great preacher and teacher on the love of God, and particularly the love of God in our favor. And perhaps if he was living today he would be a great advocate and proponent of that message of mercy so frequently proclaimed by Pope Francis and made doctrinal by Pope John Paul II and initiated by St. Faustina.

Our reading and response are certainly not the cheeriest messages in the world. And it’s complimented by St. John Eudes, whose feast day we celebrate today who, writing to his confreres, would say, “Apart from the Lord, there is only death and destruction.” Yet another cheery note.

In today’s first reading, “Ezekiel does something unusual … when his wife dies. He does not go into the usual” ways of mourning that people would have expected from him. He did not even weep.

This week’s liturgical observance of the memorial of St. John Vianney, patron saint of parish priests, on August 4 offered the opportunity to once again encourage prayer and even sacrifice for our clergy.

“Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls like a roaring lion seeking some one to devour. Resist him… ” (1 Pet 5:8-9)

SANTA ROSA—Bishop Robert F. Vasa, bishop of the Diocese of Santa Rosa issued the following statement in support of the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone’s participation yesterday in the March for Marriage in Washington, DC.

Since becoming the ordinary for the Diocese of Santa Rosa, I have done a fair bit of driving along our roads, and I am continually amazed at the rugged beauty of the countryside.

Our gathering together is an occasion of joyful expectation, not only because it is the Mass at which the sacred oils are blessed, but most especially because it is the Mass of our anniversary, the day we as priests celebrate, together, as companions that unique and wonderful priesthood which we are privileged to share.

Lent, the ashes-to-ashes time of the liturgical year. Penance, mortification, purple vestments, prayer, fasting, abstinence, deprivation, desolation, abnegation, purification, sackcloth and ashes. Ah yes, ashes. Remember Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, the ashes, the dry dirt feeling of them, their grittiness: remember. “Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you will return.”

Everyone is familiar with the adage, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” When I was bishop in Baker, Oregon, there was a time during the summer of 2001 when one would been well advised to reverse the phrase, for it was obvious that, “Where there’s fire, there’s smoke.” The frequent haziness masking the mountains and reddening the sun was a constant reminder of the existence of numerous fires.

In response to questions posed by a student journalist at Cardinal Newman High School, I began a dialogue to address a vision of what this Diocese can become.  In coming weeks I hope to share some of these thoughts with readers, as a context for our future and our direction.