Father Joe thinks being a child is often not easy and believes all children need someone who can meet them where they are. By choosing circumstances and situations familiar to children, he hopes not only to meet children but also to help lead the youngsters deeper into God’s love and presence. He emphasizes, “We also need to nurture that which is already in children. I’m convinced children already have a relationship with God—and sometimes they teach us!”

Since the early days of his priestly ministry, Father Joe says that one of his primary responsibilities, preaching a homily each weekend, remains “an exciting…and terrifying challenge for me. In those ten or maybe twelve minutes on Sunday, I have a chance to do the most good of almost anything I do.” His video work has long been and continues to be an extension of that responsibility. Yet this media-savvy pastor reports, “My parishioners, especially younger ones, have pulled me kicking and screaming into the twenty-first century.”

Each weekend, Father Joe’s homily and his two-minute encounter with Big Al are taped. Within an hour after the conclusion of the noon liturgy, the homilies are posted on the parish Web site (www.assumptionbvm.org). This was originally conceived as a way for homebound parishioners to experience an even greater connection to their parish. But others watch the homilies too, including those who have been away on vacation and college students.

Although furry Big Al tries very hard to be good, he is like many people. Sometimes he’s confused and unsure what to do. However, he’s as technologically savvy as most young people in today’s culture—he has his very own interactive Web site!

Popular features of www.welovebigal.com include a message to parents from Father Joe and downloadable coloring pages and desktop wallpaper. Visitors can also submit a prayer request to Big Al. Jeannette Hamann, assistant lay pastoral associate at Assumption Parish, says that each prayer request generates an automatic e-mail response acknowledging the request has been received. More important, she says all requests are distributed to those who have agreed to pray for the petitions.

Since 1995, according to its criteria, Aquinas Institute of Theology has sought to recognize with its Great Preacher Award those whose “compelling and imaginative preaching” has “powerfully engaged listeners with the Word of God.” Three bishops, including a cardinal, are among those who have been so honored: Bishop Paul A. Zipfel of Bismarck, North Dakota; Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory of Atlanta, Georgia; and the late Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, archbishop of Chicago, Illinois, at the time of his death.

Father Joe and Big Al, though an unlikely pair, have joined this illustrious group. One could wonder how effective each would be alone. But just as the Body of Christ depends on and uses the many gifts of its members, so Father Joe and Big Al complement each other. In doing so, they have powerfully engaged countless listeners to respond to the “beautiful, challenging, and life-giving message” of God.

Barbara T. McElroy is a freelance writer from St. Louis, Missouri, and a former editor with Liguorian.