Bishop Hicks' Column

While standing in Saint Peter’s Basilica on June 29, 2015, Cardinal Blase Cupich turned to me and asked, “Have you ever met the Pope?” When I replied, “No,” he immediately grasped my arm and said with a smile, “well, now is your chance.”

The Catholic Church is about to name the first saint who was a "Millennial!" And he is making a big splash! In an era where young people are often seen as distant from faith, Carlo Acutis gives us an example of a new path to reality and holiness in this digital world.

The title of this article, “If,” is so short that it’s easy to overlook — yet few words carry so much weight in the Catholic imagination. These two simple letters hold the potential to launch beautiful dreams or plant seeds of destructive doubt.

Whenever I fly, I frequently do three things. First, I always pray a rosary—that’s a given! Then, I catch up on some work or necessary reading. Finally, I relax a bit and watch a movie.

A year ago, we launched the 75th Jubilee for the Diocese of Joliet. Gallantly, we announced we did not want this milestone to be a “one and done” event. Instead, we committed ourselves to a yearlong commemoration to remember our past, celebrate our present, and look to the future with hope.

Have you ever made or wanted to make a pilgrimage to a holy site? Before answering that, let’s establish the difference between a vacation and a pilgrimage. A vacation is a leisure trip for a “getaway,” usually focused on relaxation, entertainment, and exploration. A Catholic pilgrimage, on the other hand, is a spiritual journey to a sacred site with the purpose of deepening one's faith, seeking divine grace, or fulfilling a religious vow.

During our year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Joliet in Illinois, we have emphasized that we are “Founded in Faith, Called to Witness, Sent Forth to Serve.” During the month of October, we decided to focus on the last four words, “Sent Forth to Serve.”

Sometimes I get the impression that many people view the Diocese of Joliet as a "small" diocese. Perhaps this is because we border the mammoth Archdiocese of Chicago. However, to refer to us as "small" is rather misleading and inaccurate.

“I don’t have time for this!” These were the words that were on replay in my head as I drove from Joliet to Mundelein Seminary a few weeks ago. I was headed to a 3-1/2 day regional retreat for all the bishops from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. In my justified view, my saturated work schedule simply did not leave any room for this spiritual “indulgence.” Yet, motivated mostly by duty, I checked into my room and asked the Lord to help me check my bad attitude at the door.

Disneyland has used its original tagline, “The Happiest Place on Earth,” since 1955. This summer, I traveled to a place where I experienced a few days of refreshing and true happiness.