Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Now is the time for us to dream of something better.

In these trying times, many of us are wondering “When will we ever return to normal?”  However, do we truly want to return to normal, or do we want something better?

We have witnessed bitter divisions and polarization in our society.  Is this the normal we want, or do we want something better?

Pope Francis has pointed out the way to something better.  On Oct. 4, 2020, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, The Holy Father issued a new encyclical titled “Fratelli Tutti,” or On Fraternity and Social Friendship. In it, Pope Francis addresses the global problem of the fragmentation of humanity. This is something not unique to the United States. We are experiencing this around the globe where there is growing polarization, bitter divisions, and ever-growing loneliness.

In a world of growing fragmentation among people, we are invited to gaze into the eyes of our neighbors with a sense of awe and reverence for the dignity of every human person, of each brother and sister. We are invited to examine our conscience in the light of the parable of the Good Samaritan and ask ourselves how we respond to the sufferings and wounds of our neighbors. Do we pass by? Does our aid consist merely in lip service? Do we make a gift of ourselves in friendship and bathe the others’ wounds?

We are invited to a new and deeper collaboration with all people of good will to build the bonds of fraternity that includes every human life from the unborn to the elderly, the refugee and migrant, the poor, abandoned, and wounded, men and women from every race and every land. All people are our brothers and sisters. Let us not leave any member of our family behind.

It is time for us to dream of something better. It is time for us to ask the Lord to fill our hearts and minds with his love and wisdom. It is time for us to ask him to heal our fractured humanity.

Our Holy Father has charted a course of healing of humanity in "Fratelli Tutti" through fraternity and social friendship. In the time to come, I will continue to explore these themes in my column in The U.P. Catholic.

Let us emerge from this time not just returning to normal but going forward to something better. Let us dream of something new.  With the help of God, let us build the bonds of fraternity and social friendship.

With prayers that your hearts be filled with the Joy of the Gospel, I am

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend John F. Doerfler, STD, JCL

Bishop of Marquette

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