In May 2019, Pope Francis released his apostolic letter, “Vos estis lux mundi” (“You are the light of the world”) to address the issue of sexual abuse and bishop accountability in the global Catholic Church. “Vos estis” calls upon the metropolitan archbishops to undertake the responsibilities for receiving and assessing reports involving bishops that pertain…
Around the Diocese
Mandates From Bishop Medley
A few hours ago, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in order to free up federal resources to combat coronavirus, and this morning Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear recommended that senior centers temporarily discontinue all in-person activities. This is a constantly evolving situation and the concerns across our diocese are very real. Therefore, as of…
Statement Regarding Suspension of Mass
All of us at the Diocese of Owensboro are very concerned about the health and safety of our parishioners and the broader community in light of the outbreak of COVID19 in the Commonwealth. We have communicated with pastors and those who assist them about our liturgical practices, including options for the sign of peace, hygiene…
Statement Regarding Coronavirus Disease 2019
Amid concerns of the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Diocese of Owensboro would like to take this time to share some information with our priests, parishioners, students, and staff. The diocese is closely monitoring information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Kentucky…
Diocese of Owensboro’s list of 2020 parish picnics now available online
BY WKC STAFF Parish picnics and cooking teams are a longstanding tradition in the Diocese of Owensboro. Parishioners and non-parishioners alike gather to celebrate great food, fun games and lively fellowship during the warmest months of the year. The Diocese of Owensboro parish picnics list is available in The Western Kentucky Catholic each year, and…
more: Diocese of Owensboro’s list of 2020 parish picnics now available online
Bishop Medley felt ‘the grace of the moment’ throughout his pastoral visit to India and Myanmar
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC After returning from his Jan. 24-Feb. 13, 2020 pastoral visit to India and Myanmar (also known as Burma) with Fr. John Thomas, Bishop William F. Medley said the journey “gave me hope that the Gospel and the Church are thriving.”
Multilingual prayers, songs at vespers celebrating bishop’s 10th episcopal anniversary
Says he has seen diocese blessed by ‘continuing influx of new peoples’ BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC First sung by the cantor, and then repeated by the congregation, the refrain “Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, yesterday, today and forever,” flowed through St. Stephen Cathedral during the vespers (evening prayer) service on Feb. 17,…
more: Multilingual prayers, songs at vespers celebrating bishop’s 10th episcopal anniversary
A Word From Bishop Medley: Can it be that God dwells on Earth?
Editor’s note: On Feb. 17, 2020, the Diocese of Owensboro gathered at St. Stephen Cathedral for a vespers service in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Bishop Medley’s episcopal ordination. The bishop’s homily, which he gave at the service, is reprinted below. “Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above…
more: A Word From Bishop Medley: Can it be that God dwells on Earth?
Parish music directors plan for ‘reverent, meaningful’ Triduum liturgies
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC While Easter won’t arrive until April 12 this year, parish music directors are already preparing for what one music director calls “the most important week in the life of the Church” – the Triduum, which comprises Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
St. Joseph Monastery hosts relic, icon for Passionist tri-centennial
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC An icon commissioned by the Passionist Fathers – along with a first-class relic of their founder, St. Paul of the Cross – has been traveling on pilgrimage around the world for the occasion of the Passionist congregation’s 300th anniversary.
2020 Fish Fry Dates in the Diocese of Owensboro
Editor’s note: Canons 1250 and 1251 state that all Fridays are days of penance in the Catholic Church.
It always ‘comes back to the Gospel’
Reaching 10th episcopal ordination anniversary, bishop sees community, evangelization, as ‘core’ to Church’s identity BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC When Bishop William F. Medley was a pastor serving in the Archdiocese of Louisville many years ago, he never “concretely thought of ever being anything but a parish priest,” said the bishop in…
‘We stand for the dignity of life,’ says bishop at Jan. 22 respect life Mass
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC As he presided at the Jan. 22, 2020 Mass commemorating the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, Bishop William F. Medley stated that those gathered in St. Stephen Cathedral that day “stand for life – we stand for the dignity of life.”
A Word From Bishop Medley: Promoting a Church and World for All
Editor’s note: On Jan. 4, 2020, Bishop Medley presided at the opening Mass for National Migration Week at St. Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro. The text below is based on his notes from his homily, which was given in Spanish and in English. From January 5-11, 2020 the Catholic Church of the United States celebrates National…
more: A Word From Bishop Medley: Promoting a Church and World for All
Bishop Medley visits the Vatican’s ‘100 cribs’ exhibit
BY WKC STAFF Besides his ad limina obligations, Bishop William F. Medley had the opportunity to visit the Vatican’s annual exhibit of nativity scenes, known as the 100 Presepi (or “cribs,” translated from Italian).
Vocations Column: An invitation to pray for vocations
By Fr. Jason McClure, Office of Vocations “One of the reasons we have a shortage of vocations is we have stopped believing that priesthood is for real. It’s worth fighting for. It’s worth sacrificing for… I am not a dreamer. I am a man of faith.”
‘It makes you feel more united’ – The man who named ‘The Western Kentucky Catholic’ looks back on 35 years of his diocese’s paper
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC Thirty-five years after giving The Western Kentucky Catholic its name in 1985, Robert “Bob” Devine has kept up with the diocesan newspaper, and says “it’s really been good.”
A Word From Bishop Medley: Like biblical writers, modern communicators seek to preach the Good News
Though the Diocese of Owensboro was established by a decree of Pope Pius XI in 1937, it was not until 1985 that a diocesan newspaper was created.
Celebrating 35 years of The Western Kentucky Catholic, continuing the legacy of diocesan communications in 2020
In January 1985, the Diocese of Owensboro published the inaugural issue of the newspaper you are reading right now. While a newsletter had been printed since 1974, founding editor, Mel Howard, and Bishop John J. McRaith, determined that the diocese needed to take the next step and have its own newspaper. On page 2 of…
‘We’re all working together in this’ – Bishop Medley feels blessed to meet with pope, Vatican offices
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC When Bishop William F. Medley was in Rome for his ad limina Apostolorum visit from Dec. 1-8, his favorite part was getting to be in the presence of Pope Francis – the successor of St. Peter.