Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 9, 2026 Bulletin Column Father De Celles
MOTHER’S DAY. Today is Mother’s Day. We all have a natural inclination toward a deep affection for their own mothers. But in the last few decades our culture has been gradually degrading the dignity of mothers, discouraging motherhood by pushing contraception, sterilization and, of course, abortion, and stressing “careers” over maternity. And now we have the new efforts of gay and transgender activists challenging the very notion and dignity of womanhood, and therefore motherhood.
Against all this stands the Catholic Church, which recognizes motherhood as a holy vocation, and mothers as the heart of the family. Even before their first tiny baby rests in their wombs, women are created with this great gift written into their nature, with this tremendous capacity and potentiality to give life and love not only to their children and families, but to the world itself.
Furthermore, the Church sees in motherhood the model for her own relationship with God’s children: “she” is the bride of Christ, and “Holy Mother Church.”
And finally, the Church recognizes that one of the greatest gifts Our Lord Jesus has given to us is His own Blessed Mother, Mary, to be our Mother.
God bless all our mothers, alive or deceased!
The Ascension. Next Sunday is the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. Most of the Church throughout the world celebrates this feast on Thursday as a Holy Day of Obligation— “Ascension Thursday”—in accordance with Scripture. However, since many Catholics are unable to attend Mass in the middle of the week, our Bishop, and the Bishops of the neighboring Dioceses, think it best to move the celebration of the Solemnity/feast to Sunday so that all Catholics would be more able to celebrate this very important mystery of our Faith. So, this Thursday is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation.
SYNOD REPORT. You probably recall that I am very “skeptical” of so-called “synodality.” I have lots of objections to it, including 1) there is no clear definition of its meaning, 2) it uses those “listening sessions” as a cover for promoting the opinions of a few dissident Catholics, 3) it claims new inspirations of the Holy Spirit to reject the teachings of Christ and His Church, and 4) it promotes a false understanding of Vatican Council II.
I was hoping that Pope Leo XIV would take a different approach, but apparently he has not. Here is an excerpt from an excellent article from Diane Montagna, a leading Vatican reporter, published this last week on her “Substack””
“On Tuesday, the Vatican published the Final Report of the Synod on Synodality’s study group on “controversial doctrinal, pastoral and ethical questions,” prominently featuring two anonymous testimonies from openly homosexual men in “same-sex marriages.”
“The decision was immediately praised by Fr. James Martin, SJ, as “a significant step forward in the Church’s relationship with the LGBTQ community.
“Study Group No. 9 was tasked with examining “theological criteria and synodal methodologies for shared discernment of controversial doctrinal, pastoral, and ethical issues” ….
“The seven-member group included figures such ….Italian moral theologian Father Maurizio Chiodi… Fr. Chiodi has argued that sexual acts within a homosexual relationship can be good in certain circumstances. He has also contended…that responsible parenthood can obligate a married couple to use artificial birth control….
“Part I proposes a ‘paradigm shift’ in how the Church approaches its most difficult doctrinal, pastoral and ethical questions. This shift is described as part of a ‘process initiated by Vatican II that challenges the models that have been prevalent in ecclesial life over the past centuries.’
“Part II introduces what it calls the ‘principle of pastorality’ as the key for ‘implementing the paradigm shift currently underway.’ …..’
“The report emphasizes the ‘indispensable value’ of ‘conversation in the Spirit’ for fostering an ‘ecclesial culture of synodality,’ and proposes a method centered on ‘listening to one another, paying attention to reality, and bringing together different fields of expertise’ in order to ‘serve the discernment’ of emerging issues and encourage the ‘active participation’ of those ‘directly involved.’
“Having outlined this approach, Part III applies it to two emerging issues …: ‘the experience of homosexual persons who are believers, and the experience of active non-violence.’
“The authors make clear that the document is not intended as an exercise of authority, but as the fruit of work entrusted to a Study Group.….
“Acknowledging the potential ‘tension’ between ‘pastoral practices’ and the Church’s teaching on homosexuality, the report seeks to ‘move beyond the impasse’ by offering ‘possible pathways and questions for synodal discernment.’
“….In line with this approach, the Final Report includes (in Annex A, 1 and 2) two personal testimonies, one from Portugal and the other from the United States. Each account is written by an openly ‘gay’ man who describes being in a committed same-sex ‘marriage’ and speaks of his ‘husband’ as central to his personal, relational and spiritual life….
“Testimony 2 begins: ‘My sexuality isn’t a perversion, disorder, or cross; it’s a gift from God. I have a happy, healthy marriage and am flourishing as an openly gay Catholic.’
“The author continues: ‘I entered my first same-sex relationship when I was 28 years old. The relationship was rocky at times, but I grew. I learned to be less selfish and give up control and realized that I am more the person God is calling me to be inside of a relationship than I am outside of a relationship. Today I thank God for my husband, whom I met five years ago. …..’
“While both testimonies criticize ‘conversion therapies,’ Testimony 2 specifically disparages those involved with the Catholic apostolate ‘Courage.’ The author writes:
“‘My first exposure to groups in the church that deal with homosexuality began when I was a closeted master’s student at the University of Notre Dame. …I was wracked with guilt over my same-sex attraction. I joined Courage, an apostolate that works with those who ‘suffer from same-sex attraction.’ The group came at the suggestion of a conversion therapist I met to deal with my ‘condition.’…The people I met were lonely, hopeless, and often depressed.’
“The author then speaks of the ‘breath of fresh air’ he experienced when he learned ‘new forms of theology’ and began to ‘read the Bible in context’ at the Jesuit-run Fordham University in New York City:
“‘….I learned new forms of theology that helped me accept myself as a gay man created in God’s image. Reading the Bible in context made me realize that traditionalist interpretations have little to say about contemporary, life-giving same-sex relationships. I began to take my experience, and the experiences of other LGBTQ people, seriously as the sight of God’s unfolding work…
“[The report] raises serious questions. ….Can its Final Report be regarded as anything more than propaganda undermining Catholic doctrine on homosexuality? And is ‘synodality’ a means to support and defend Catholic teaching, or an instrument to change it?”
I hope you know that all this is contrary to Catholic teaching, and supports my “skepticism” of “synodality.” You can read the entire article here, where you will find a link to the full report: https://dianemontagna.substack.com.
Oremus pro invicem, Fr. De Celles