Thlipsis theology: A Lenten journey

By |2016-04-02T00:58:23-05:00Apr 7, 2011|Bishop Richard J. Sklba|

sklbaThe story was a very dramatic one. After the apostle Paul had been driven out of the city of Lystra in what is now central Turkey, he was stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19). When his grieving disciples and colleagues gathered around, he revived, caught his breath and (much to my shock, I must admit) resolutely went back into the same town to continue proclaiming the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection.

There he attracted a considerable number of disciples before retracing his steps back to his home base of Antioch. The witness of his ability to welcome hardship apparently made a difference.

“… A hope which does not disappoint …”

By |2016-04-02T00:58:34-05:00Dec 22, 2010|Bishop Richard J. Sklba|

sklbaFor many years I have been privileged to be a member of the writing team which has contributed to this column, always under the banner headline of “Herald of Hope.”

The “heralds” are in fact many within our Catholic community of southeastern Wisconsin, certainly far more numerous than the few authors of this weekly column in our Catholic Herald over the years! Every one of us as members of Christ’s Body, the church, is a herald of hope.

The mystery of purgation: Gift, grace and challenge

By |2010-11-13T15:52:36-06:00Nov 13, 2010|Bishop Richard J. Sklba|

sklbaFor Catholics the month of November has traditionally been a time to remember the poor souls. It is the season to realize that in Christ we are destined for life with God forever, that virtually every human being requires some purification in order to be fully embraced by God’s loving mercy and that we are bound together in Christ by the mystery we call the “Communion of Saints.”

Four events experienced recently have highlighted this wonderful mystery of our faith in a new way for me this year.

The great 1910 Missionary Congress of Edinburgh revisited

By |2016-04-02T00:59:24-05:00Sep 22, 2010|Bishop Richard J. Sklba|

sklbaWe often say that the modern ecumenical movement began with the historic 1910 missionary congress of Edinburgh when various Protestant missionary groups gathered to face the serious challenges of that day.

Historians tell us that the impetus for that Congress came from the missionary countries of Asia, Africa and even America which had become frustrated with European religious attitudes long frozen in the debates of the 16th century and perpetuated in colonialism. A curiosity, at least to modern eyes, is the fact that discussion of doctrine was not allowed, only conversation about respect and toleration for diversity. It almost seems as if simply “playing together nicely in the sandbox” was their original primary motive.

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