Archbishop Robert Carlson

Michael Benz

Age: 48

Home Parish: Holy Trinity in St. Ann

Transitional diaconate service: St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in Oakville

Degrees: Bachelor's in English from University of Missouri-St. Louis, master's in English from Ohio State University, and bachelor's in philosophy, master's in theology and master's in divinity from Kenrick-Glennon Seminary

Ray Buehler

Age: 32

Home Parish: Curé of Ars in Shrewsbury

Transitional diaconate service: Ascension in Chesterfield

The concept of the new evangelization was introduced years before their entrance into the seminary. But six men to be ordained this week are living in the heart of the new evangelization -- which, put simply, calls on Catholics to reinvigorate those who have fallen away from their faith.

You'll recall that last fall, as part of our observance of the Year of Faith, I wrote a series of articles based on the Apostles' Creed. In Lent, I reflected on the sacraments. During the next two months, I'd like to offer practical reflections on what has come to be known as Catholic social teaching.

Following an outline recommended by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, I'll organize my articles based on the following themes:

This is a special time in the Church's year of grace -- the time between Easter and Pentecost. During these weeks, we celebrate with joy our Lord's Resurrection from the dead. We also anticipate that truly momentous occasion when Christ sent the Holy Spirit to enflame the hearts of His disciples and to send them out to the whole world to evangelize and to carry on His work of healing and bringing hope to all.

Robert F. Morneau is the auxiliary bishop of Green Bay, Wis. He is a full-time pastor, a poet and a very popular speaker. In 1999, St. Anthony Messenger Press published a little book by Bishop Morneau called "A Retreat with C.S. Lewis." The first chapter of this book, which corresponds to the first day of the retreat, is called, "The Great Surprise: Joy."

During this Easter season, I am writing about joy. As we hear repeatedly in the readings from the Acts of the Apostles, the disciples' initial fear was transformed by God's grace into great courage and the boldness of faith. Their experience of utter aloneness became intimate communion with Him and with each other through the gift of Christ's presence-with-us in the Eucharist, in Sacred Scripture and in the ministries we carry out in Jesus' name.