Columns 2025

On Saturday, July 12, I had the privilege of celebrating Mass in our Cathedral for the Installation of Officers and State Deputies of the Knights of Columbusin the State of New Jersey.

As I realized that we were approaching July 26, the Feast of Sts. Joachim and Ann, parents of Mary, our Blessed Mother, grandparents of Jesus, and patron Saints of grandparents, I recalled that, in recent years, Pope Francis had designated a special day for grandparents and the elderly, although I did not recall all the details.

I don’t recall the first time that I heard of “Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati,” but during my years in the seminary and early years as a priest, I would hear his name from time to time. I believe he may have been a “featured Blessed” at one of the World Youth Days I attended.

The first, inaugural episode of The Paul Street Journal podcast was posted a little over two years ago, on May 29, 2023. As you can read in the show notes, “The Paul Street Journal is a podcast all about Catholic social teaching on economics.

Since our new Holy Father has taken the name Pope Leo XIV, there has been a renewed interest in the life and Pontificate of Pope Leo XIII (March 2, 1810 – July 20, 1903).