I ended last week's bulletin saying that I would soon be on vacation; maybe you're surprised to hear from me again. Since our bulletin deadline is Monday, I'm writing this before actually leaving, and I really am not here as you read this today! Fr. Jeremy is now home from his retreat (and trying to hide his halo from you.) He will take care of the weekly bulletin column until I return.
The new encyclical letter, Laudato Si has been out for over a week, and the reaction from Catholics and other commentators is wide and varied. If you have followed the news from the encyclical, you are aware that Pope Francis took its title from a beautiful poem written by St. Francis of Assisi, The Canticle to Brother Sun.
Franciscans are familiar with the special consideration that St. Francis had for God's creation, and we tend to be partial to concerns about the environment. I will be reading Laudato Si during my vacation and will share my thoughts with you in a future column. Please find a copy and read it. We live in a wonderful age which puts at our fingertips so much useful (and sometimes useless) information. The most fruitful response that a thoughtful Catholic can make is to read it for oneself!