The Catholic Man Show - Complete My Joy: Bishop Thomas Olmsted

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted – Bishop of Phoenix

Complete My Joy

While at the Catholic Men’s Fellowship of Phoenix Conference this past weekend, we were able to sit down with Bishop Olmsted to talk about his new Apostolic Exhortation, “Complete My Joy”.

In 2015, Bishop Olmsted wrote “Into the Breach” an Apostolic Exhortation to Catholic men and masculinity that has been a popular read all across the globe and has now been officially translated in 11 different languages.

The title “Complete My Joy” is taken from Philippians 1:27-2:2:

“Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing. For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well— since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.  If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”  (Philippians 1:27-2:2, RSV)

The document urges fathers and mothers to commit themselves and their families to a deeper relationship with Christ. “Fathers and mothers have the ability and responsibility to lead their families to holiness,” said Bishop Olmsted. “When I consider the blessings that God has bestowed on me in my life, second only to my Baptism into Christ’s family is the blessing of being raised in a faithful and united Catholic family. My parents, Patrick and Helen, committed themselves to God in the vocation to Holy Matrimony, and this provided stability for me to grow as their son and as a son of God.”

Bishop Olmsted released the apostolic exhortation on the Feast of the Holy Family, December 30th, 2018.

We want to thank Bishop Olmsted and the Diocese of Phoenix for the opportunity to discuss, “Complete My Joy,” and hope everyone will take the opportunity to read this gift.