My mission is to share the wisdom and experiences gained over a lifetime dedicated to faith, service, and personal growth. In my retirement, I will use this platform to offer reflections, insights, and stories from my 80 years of life, 54 years as a priest, and 13 years as a bishop. Through openness and humility, I aim to inspire, educate, and resonate with readers, seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance in all that I write. May this endeavor bring glory to God and foster a sense of shared journey and mutual understanding among all who read.
Bishop Ray’s Blog
Finding Meaning in Each Day
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Friends Who Became Family – A host of good people!
Read more: Friends Who Became Family – A host of good people!I have been blessed with a good family – from childhood until now – they always make me feel supported, loved, and treasured! As we get older, though distance separates us geographically, it still does not weaken the bonds forged at an early age and maintained through adulthood. There is that famous saying, “you can’t choose your family, but you can choose your friends.” While that saying is true from a biological viewpoint, my life experience has definitely taught me that friends can become like family! What a gift that can be when it happens! In the parishes in which I…
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God put my where He wanted/needed me to be – Looking back!
Read more: God put my where He wanted/needed me to be – Looking back!Giving the Sacrament of Annointing of the Sick, May 7, 2024 When I look back on my ministerial assignments, the first thought I have is gratitude! I give God a great deal of thanks for allowing me the privilege to serve Him and His people as a priest and bishop these many years. Since ordination as a priest in 1971, I have lived/served in ten different assignments. (Some of my priest friends jokingly say that I couldn’t hold down a job.) But each assignment was unique and special. God let me meet wonderful people in each parish, and I…
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My need to learn Italian – How I did it!
Read more: My need to learn Italian – How I did it!Having a surname that is Italian put pressure on me – after my priesthood ordination in 1971 – to learn the Italian language – a beautiful language that should sound like music to the ear. As children, we never spoke Italian at home. My mother would speak it when visitors would come to the house who needed her consolation in their own mother tongue. She also used it when she spoke to my father – when she didn’t want us to know how much something cost. My dad only knew the numerals so she could communicate – simply and…
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We all became teachers – All 5 of us!
Read more: We all became teachers – All 5 of us!Teaching is a wonderful profession – it is a special vocation given to those who are willing to devote their lives to learning, not only about their subject but also to learning from their students. It has often been said that learning is a lifelong process. Good teachers never tire of developing their talents, honing their skills, and instilling their knowledge into their students. We can all remember one or two teachers we have had – on various levels – who made an impression on us, whose names we can still remember – and whose classes we enjoyed. My family…
Bishop Ray's Blog 