New York, Feast of Padre Pio. This morning the city awoke to a chill, clear autumn day; the storms of yesterday have passed. The promise of a glorious fall is in the air. And today’s first reading, from Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, seems right on cue.

There is indeed a time for all things, and through all those things, the good and the bad, there is one constant: Jesus, the eternal lover. He is always there, always present, even when we are unaware of him, ignoring him, sinning against him, running from him, even hiding from him. And yes, even when we are touring around New York on holiday, or rushing by St. Patrick’s Cathedral on our way for our “much deserved” Friday night cocktail after a long week getting our heads beat in in the markets. Through all that, He is always with us.

Today, over two dozen of His missionaries will encamp in the highways and byways of “America’s parish church”, St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Along with a full complement of eight of His priests, and a Cardinal to boot, we will follow the lead of the great confessor, Padre Pio, and remind every soul that is passing through that He is present with them, that He loves them, that He is waiting patiently for them to come home. We will gather them in.

See you at the Cathedral.

A missionary