Bishop Ray’s Blog
Finding Meaning in Each Day
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Summer Trips Down Memory Lane – A Review of God’s Grace at Work
Read more: Summer Trips Down Memory Lane – A Review of God’s Grace at WorkI’m not sure exactly when the idea came to me, but I had been thinking about it for a number of years: to visit each parish where I had been stationed, not only to see the church once again but also to review the Baptism and Marriage Registers. I have often wondered how many baptisms I celebrated and how many marriages I witnessed? I never kept a record of these events, as some priests actually do. There was only one way to find out: ask the current pastors of my former priestly assignments to allow me to go search for…
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The Papal Transition- A Beautiful Ending and A Bright Future
Read more: The Papal Transition- A Beautiful Ending and A Bright FutureCNS photo / Lola Gomez, May 2025 During the Jubilee Year of Hope, we watched Pope Francis struggle with significant health issues. After an extended hospital stay, he returned to the Vatican for a continued period of rest and recovery. Of course, Pope Francis pushed himself to keep up with his apostolic ministry, meeting with world leaders, and presiding at liturgies. He struggled on Easter Sunday to bestow his special Easter blessing on the city and the world from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. The next morning, the world was informed that the Lord called him home, and the…
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Anthony D’Ambrosio-Three Unforgettable Experiences
Read more: Anthony D’Ambrosio-Three Unforgettable ExperiencesSt. Kevin Roman Catholic Church, Flushing, New York There are some people we meet in this life who make a lasting impression on us! The ‘larger than life’ personality of Anthony (Tony) D’Ambrosio, who came into my life in 1989, was this type of person. It began as a business relationship but eventually evolved into a wonderful friendship. Tony was the founder of D’Ambrosio Ecclesial Art Studio (a company that does church renovations), based in Mt Kisco, NY, where he lived with his wife, Marian, and his family. I once visited them in their home for dinner and a…
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The ORDO – A Daily Remembrance
Read more: The ORDO – A Daily RemembranceThe Ordo is a book found in almost every church sacristy to help the celebrant of the Mass in two ways. Upon entering the sacristy, it is checked for the order of the celebration: color of vestments, type of feast, scripture readings for the Mass, and some brief information about the saint if a saint’s feast is being celebrated that day. So, the Ordo provides any and all liturgical information to make things run smoothly at the altar and in the ambo (pulpit). But there is also another important and most useful reason to consult the Ordo: it also contains…
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