BEND — The week’s travels covered more miles than usual and more days than usual but fewer miles on any given day than most weekends. The travel began with a trip to Hood River for the missioning ceremony of the CEO of Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital.

BEND — The confirmation travel season has begun. From now until the end of May nearly every weekend will involve some kind of travel to a parish for the conferral of confirmation. This past weekend involved a trip to Milton-Freewater. There, besides conferring the sacrament of confirmation on 40 young people, I had the opportunity to see and bless the newly completed parish hall.

BEND — Lent is a graced season. Lent is a penitential season. Lent is a reflective season. Lent is a hopeful season. Lent is a preparatory season. Lent is linked to repentance. The Ash Wednesday application of ashes is accompanied by the sobering phrase: Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return.

BEND — In the course of the past several weeks I have focused on what it means for individuals and institutions to be Catholic. I have done this, in part, because of a concern about Catholic colleges and hospitals in general but also, in part, because of very specific discussions I have been having with the administration of St.

BEND — Even though we are still very much in the throes of winter, one of the first harbingers of Spring will soon be upon us. I speak of the holy and graced season of Lent. Signed with Ashes on the Wednesday identified by this liturgical action we recall that we are sinful sons and daughters of Adam and Eve very much in need of repentance.

BEND — A murder trial took place in Kansas. It was the kind of murder trial over which editors of newspapers salivate. It is the case of a man accused of shooting and killing a well-known late term abortionist. It is most important, at the outset, for me to strongly condemn the action of the man accused of taking the abortionist’s life.

BEND — In recent weeks an article in America Magazine titled, “Why Not Wait?” has received a bit of national attention.

BEND — There has been a bit of jubilation over the claim that the Health Care Reform Bill would not use federal dollars to pay for abortion except in those very rare cases of a pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or when the life of the mother is in danger. Whether abortion funding will be limited to these remains to be seen.

BEND — The ongoing discussion surrounding health care in America has caused me once again to reflect on what it means to be a Catholic health care facility. This is an important question for its answer may be the same as the answer to the question about what constitutes a Catholic school, college or university.

BEND — During the course of this past year there have been a number of occasions when bishops have hinted to laity that being Catholic involves a bit more than claiming the title. This has been done, in particular, with regard to politicians who may, in their own way, love Jesus, who may attend Sunday Mass and who do identify themselves as “faithful” Catholics.