• Home
  • Diocese
  • Bishop Burns
  • Synod
  • Columnists
  • Revista Catolica
  • Vatican
  • Subscribe
The Texas Catholic
The Texas Catholic

Dallas, Texas

Today is Tuesday, May 30, 2023
  • Home
  • Diocese
  • Bishop Burns
  • Synod
  • Columnists
  • Revista Catolica
  • Vatican
  • Subscribe
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
    • Instagram
Home
Father Timothy Gollob

Gollob: Pope leads others by example

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Pope Francis is greeted by priests of the Diocese of Rome during his visit to the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome Sept. 16. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters)

By Father Timothy Gollob
Special to The Texas Catholic

I have to admit that the current pope has done some impressive things during this first year of his leadership. It seems that nearly every day some article or some photo shows up in the news which brings gasps of admiration (or dismay) from the world.

He made his first trip outside the Vatican to visit migrants in Lampedusa. His homily asked the question of Genesis posed to Cain, “Where is your brother?” He asked a further question of who was grieving for the persons, Muslim and Christian, who had perished on the journey  seeking a more dignified life for themselves and their families.

When Pope Francis was at the World Youth  Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, he addressed the bishops assembled there and told them that the results of all pastoral efforts do not depend on a wealth of resources, but rather on the creativity of love. That creativity is evident in all that Pope Francis says and does.

For example just recently he took the crisis of the Middle East into mind and called for a Day of Fasting and Prayer for Peace in Syria, the Middle East, and the world to be held on Sept. 7, 2013, the vigil of the birth of Mary, Queen of Peace. The Holy Father reminds us that “peace is a precious gift, which must be promoted and protected” and that “all men and women of good will are bound by the task of pursuing peace.”

Prayer always has to be the greatest of our resources. It has to be used daily and for immediate action on pressing needs. We cannot stand idle in the midst of evil, but our prayers have to be mingled with others of good will for the rule of God to prevail over all evil.

Two impressive photos came out of the World Youth Day. One was an aerial panorama of the 3 million people attending the Papal Mass at the Copacabana beach at the closing of the event. Giant screens and first-aid tents and humans packed together on the sand and in the water dominated the picture. This pope can draw a  multitude to the seashore much like Jesus did many years ago.

But equally or more impressive for me was the photo of Pope Francis sitting in a portable confessional absolving the sins of some young pilgrims on July 26. I know he had 3,000 other priests helping with the load of penitents, but he can come and help out with confessions at Holy Cross any time he is in town.

Father Timothy Gollob is the pastor of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Oak Cliff.

  • Tags
  • Catholic Diocese of Dallas
  • Dallas Catholic Diocese
  • Father Timothy Gollob
  • Pope Francis
Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest
Next article Diocese’s economic impact far and wide
Previous article Roch: 'Blessed are the pure of heart'

Related Posts

Father Dankasa: Pleasure in need of temperance Columnists
Friday, May 19, 2023

Father Dankasa: Pleasure in need of temperance

Father Cargo: Make May the month of Mary Columnists
Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Father Cargo: Make May the month of Mary

Father Esposito: The privilege of being a priest Columnists
Friday, May 5, 2023

Father Esposito: The privilege of being a priest

Texas Catholic Classics

A look at the five Dallas law enforcement officers who gave their lives while protecting citizens during a mass shooting in downtown Dallas in July 2016.

 

How a child with special needs inspired a high school volleyball team, community and a family who heeded God’s call to protect life.

 

After a young runner collapsed at a Dallas marathon, grace and providence unfolded for those involved in the valiant effort to help her.

   

In the summer of 2016, 50 students and 25 chaperones from Dallas Catholic high schools traveled to Nicaragua for a 10-day mission trip.

 

Early on a November morning, Kenndrick Mendieta bounded from the gym at Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep toward the campus’ athletic fields as clouds lifted on a fresh new day.

 

Subscribe

Get the award-winning Texas Catholic delivered to your door. Use the menu below to subscribe now.


Subscription length




 

Photo Gallery

Click here to find your favorite Texas Catholic photographs.

The Texas Catholic Newspaper

Catholic Diocese of Dallas
Michael Gresham, Editor

3725 Blackburn Street
Dallas, Texas 75219
(214) 379-2800

Our Affiliated Sites

Texas Catholic Youth

Revista Católica

Legal and Other

Contact us

Terms of service

Privacy policy

Site map

Site powered by TexasCatholicMedia

© 2013-2019 The Texas Catholic Publishing Company. All rights reserved.