Bishop Hicks' Column

When I arrived as your bishop five years ago, I laid out a vision of catechesis, evangelization, and faith into action, emphasizing that a thriving Church is one where we truly know, love, and serve God. The big question remains: how do we actually do that? How do we move from just having a vision to putting it into real practice?

In the world of leadership, there is a common practice: after the first one hundred days in office, we pause to reflect. What direction is this new leader taking us in? What tone has been set? Where might we be headed? In these early months, we are beginning to see the kind of shepherd God has given us. The “Leo Effect,” as I like to call it, is the fruit of his presence. It is the blessings, the new stirrings, and the hopeful signs already emerging in our Church and in our world.

“We are going to sell out all the tickets instantly!” That was my spontaneous reaction when I first heard the news: Father Mike Schmitz had agreed to be our keynote speaker for our 2025 Youth Conference in the Diocese of Joliet. If you do not know who Father Mike Schmitz is, it likely means you do not spend much time online or listening to Catholic podcasts. A priest of the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota, Father Schmitz has become one of the most recognizable Catholic voices in the digital world. His Bible in a Year and Catechism in a Year podcasts have touched millions of lives. With a rare mix of clarity, humor, and conviction, he brings the Faith alive to all generations.

“Please don’t let this be a one and done!” That was the heartfelt plea voiced by many who attended the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis last summer. For five days, more than 60,000 Catholics from across the country gathered to adore Jesus in the Eucharist, to receive His Word, to be nourished by His grace, and to be sent out on mission. It was not simply a conference; it was a mountaintop moment—a deeply spiritual encounter that ignited hearts with a renewed love for Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.

On May 9, 2025, I was traveling from Omaha back to the Diocese of Joliet after attending the installation of my classmate and friend as the new Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Omaha. I was glued to my phone, watching as white smoke billowed from the chimney at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

While standing in Saint Peter’s Basilica on June 29, 2015, Cardinal Blase Cupich turned to me and asked, “Have you ever met the Pope?” When I replied, “No,” he immediately grasped my arm and said with a smile, “well, now is your chance.”

The Catholic Church is about to name the first saint who was a "Millennial!" And he is making a big splash! In an era where young people are often seen as distant from faith, Carlo Acutis gives us an example of a new path to reality and holiness in this digital world.

The title of this article, “If,” is so short that it’s easy to overlook — yet few words carry so much weight in the Catholic imagination. These two simple letters hold the potential to launch beautiful dreams or plant seeds of destructive doubt.

Whenever I fly, I frequently do three things. First, I always pray a rosary—that’s a given! Then, I catch up on some work or necessary reading. Finally, I relax a bit and watch a movie.

A year ago, we launched the 75th Jubilee for the Diocese of Joliet. Gallantly, we announced we did not want this milestone to be a “one and done” event. Instead, we committed ourselves to a yearlong commemoration to remember our past, celebrate our present, and look to the future with hope.