During the past few weeks, it is clear that our country is grappling with many complex moral and political issues that unfortunately at times reveal bitter disagreements among a wide range of viewpoints and opinions. Among these has been the difficult issue of immigration and refugees, particularly in light of the recent Executive Orders of President Donald Trump.

Over Christmas, two of my family members were talking about a mutual friend who, though chronically ill, routinely does acts of kindness for others. Though they get exasperated with her when she overextends herself, they realize that caring for others is what makes life meaningful. I thanked God that these women are kind enough to support their friend through both good times and bad, helping her to live a full life.

Thanks be to God. This is a common phrase people use, but one cannot help but think that on many occasions it is said out of habit and without really thinking about how much we really have to be thankful for to God.

On Dec. 16, Msgr. Louis F. Kihneman III was named Bishop-designate of the Diocese of Biloxi in Mississippi. Bishop Kihneman has served our diocese for 40-years as a priest and for the last six and one half years as Vicar General. In addition, for the past three years he has also served as pastor of St. Philip the Apostle parish in Corpus Christi.

I want to wish a very blessed Advent and happy and holy Christmas to all of you. Over the past few years, and certainly over the past few months, we have witnessed a political, social phenomenon that has caused an unparalleled division among us as Americans—within families, communities, schools and yes even within the Church. At the end of Election Day last month I asked myself what effect this has had among children and young people in our country; what are they thinking? How will the behavior exhibited by adults affect them in the future as leaders in our communities?

Twelve months ago, on Dec. 8, 2015, we—together with the entire Church—began an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. We have both celebrated and lived God's mercy. I hope that throughout this year, we have celebrated God's mercy through the profound experience of the Sacrament of Penance.

In the next few weeks, citizens of our country will participate in the important civic duty of choosing those who will lead and represent us. As is common during an election year, but particularly over the past few months, Catholics ask "how should I vote, for whom?" Though every election cycle brings its own set of challenges and opportunities. Our current political climate seems to bring unique, difficult questions to be discerned by voters who are committed not only to the well-being of our social and political life and to living out the Gospel in all aspects of life (cf. Mk 16:15).

Recent papal teaching has identified four major principles of Catholic social teaching…These four principles can provide a moral framework for decisions in public life.

Politics is a noble mission to promote the common good. As such, it is about ethics and principles as well as issues, candidates and officeholders. To engage in “politics,” then, is more than getting involved in current polemics and debates; it is about acting with others and through institutions for the benefit of all.

We continue our reflection on faithful citizenship by turning this month to an important bedrock principle of Catholic social teaching that guides our social and political interaction—that of solidarity. The principle of solidarity is the notion that because we all share in the same human nature created in the image and likeness of God, we all share a common humanity and thus have a responsibility for one another. The entire human society, as individuals and all together, has the duty to assist those who are in need, beginning first with those who are closest to us.

As we continue to move more deeply into this election year, it is hard not to notice that there are bitter divides among many. It is precisely in these difficult times in our country’s political and social history that the presence of faithful, informed and discerning Catholic Christians engaged in the political process is most needed.

The Catholic bishops of the United States are pleased to offer once again to the Catholic faithful Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, our teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics. This statement represents our guidance for Catholics in the exercise of their rights and duties as participants in our democracy.

Every four years, our country embarks on the election of a new president. The process by which a country chooses its leader is a solemn and noble task. At times, in the relatively young history of our country, this process has unfortunately become combative and contentious. Currently, there is no doubt that we are witnessing how disagreeable and oftentimes uncivil we can be to one another throughout this process.

The first Sunday of Advent 2014, 14 months ago, we began a journey of reflection on the lives of consecrated women and men. As the Universal Church we have rejoiced with them and have shown our gratitude for their call to follow Jesus Christ in service to his Body, the Church.

A few weeks ago, I received a New Year’s card that read, “This will be the best year yet.” We Little Sisters of the Poor are fervently praying that 2016 will be remembered as the year we were able to return to our quiet lives at the service of the elderly after a happy resolution to our long legal struggle over the HHS Contraceptive Mandate.

The Holy Father, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, has called for an Extraordinary Year of Mercy. It is extraordinary because it is out of sync with the normal 25-five year intervals for holy years, but also because of the EXTRA-ordinary theme of Mercy. We hear the word mercy in the first part of our Liturgy repeated many, many times. "Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy." "May almighty God have mercy on us."

As the Year of Mercy began last month, I initiated the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy with some of the inmates at the McConnell Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Beeville.  Every year, together with a group of priests, I go to the prison to celebrate an Advent Mass with them during which I baptize, confirm and give First Communion to those among them who have embraced or have re-embraced our Catholic Faith.  Every year this is an unbelievably uplifting experience, but in this Year of Mercy it was so in a particular way.  

In October 2015, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals issued a stay for the execution of Julius Murphy. The Court cited concerns about the possibility of prosecutors coercing statements from witnesses that implicated Murphy in a 1997 murder. This case, which also includes issues related to intellectual disability and racial bias, raises questions about the fair use of capital punishment in Texas.

This month, beginning on Dec. 8 we joyfully enter the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy called by Pope Francis. With a heart full of enthusiasm, I join my voice with that of the Holy Father and the bishops of the world in proclaiming that a tremendous moment of grace is upon us! During this Holy Year, the Church calls us to enter deeply into the mercy of God and to express this mercy to others in sincere and profound ways.

Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy.” With these words Pope Francis opened his Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, which will begin on Dec. 8 on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the 50th anniversary of the close of the Second Vatican Council. The Holy Father is calling the faithful to be “merciful like the Father.”