Bishop Robert Vasa’s blog

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.

For instance, one Australian paper said it was the Pope making good “on his insistence that the Catholic Church welcome all faithful — not just those who obey church teaching perfectly.” Other outlets such as the New York Times had the same sort of observation.

 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.

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.
Perhaps his not weeping at the death of his bride especially surprised the people. But, Bishop Vasa paraphrases Ezekiel’s response to them, “You do not weep at the death of your reverence to the Lord. They are amazed at his lack of grief” over his wife’s passing, “but they are not amazed at their own lack of grief.”

Bishop’s Homily for the Mass of 19 August 2014. Readings: Ezek 28:1-10; Psalm: Deut 32:26-27ab, 27cd-28, 30, 35cd-36ab; Matt 19:23-30

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.

Recapturing the spirit of St. John Vianney in a “sinless” age

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.

Bishop Vasa Issues Statement Announcing Abuse Settlement

Bishop Vasa Issues Statement Supporting San Francisco’s Archbishop Cordileone

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.

Our Area’s Beauty

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.

Bishop’s Homily for the Mass of Chrism, 10 April 2014

My brothers, as we renew our Priestly Promises today, it is important that we truly listen to the request made of us by the Church for the sake of our people and genuinely resolve, again, to strive to make these promises ever, increasingly effective in our lives. The People of God have a right to experience and sense our zeal and love for souls.