Much of the business appears to be routine, though the bishops as a body have been vocal in recent months about a range of political and social issues, as well as internal church politics, that are sure to come up during the meeting.

This week, your faithful hosts are in the hot seat.

In my lifetime, I do not recall having so many reasons to cry and send up my sighs to Mary for help and hope.

After the mass shooting at First Baptist Church, the town turned to the only other civic institution here capable of handling it all — another Baptist church.

In Iraq, I witnessed death and tragedy, and without faith, I had no way to process it.