Father Brian Isenbarger

Columnist

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Diocese

Seeking Eternity: The Value of Catholic Education

I should begin this essay with a word of gratitude to my parents. Mom and Dad, thank you for the gift of a Catholic education. Through your years of sacrifice, […]

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Perspective

Fire in the Darkness

When I began this column a year ago, I dubbed it “Two Cracked Ribs” as a reference to the fire of joy that filled the heart of St. Philip Neri […]

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Perspective

‘I Believe in the Communion of Saints’

Every time we profess the Apostles Creed, we say these words: “I believe in the Communion of Saints.” It’s a short little phrase that we can seemingly pass through rather […]

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Perspective

Finding Victory in the Rosary

Let’s be honest: prayer can be hard! In fact, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “Prayer is both a gift of grace and a determined response on our part. […]

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Perspective

Joy in Transition

As the folks of our diocese know, a few months back there were a number of priests who were recently transferred to new assignments and parishes. It was my first […]

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Perspective

Is the Eucharistic Revival Working?

Recently, I had the opportunity to go to the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. It was the first time our nation has hosted a national Eucharistic congress in more than […]

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Perspective

A Pilgrimage to Where Beauty Lies: The Eucharist

I recently returned from a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi with a wonderful group of folks from the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne. Several students, staff, and three […]

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Perspective

To Meet Jesus in Heaven, We Must Meet Him Now

It’s that time of year when everything seems to be in transition. The weather is moving from spring into summer. The flowers and trees are back to life. Graduations are […]

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Perspective

During the Easter Season and Beyond, Stay Oily!

Oil is a funny thing. We use it for so many different purposes – both inside and outside of our bodies. Externally, we use oil to moisturize our skin but […]

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Perspective

Our Call to a Cheerful Lent

If you are like me, perhaps Lent takes some getting used to. On the surface, it doesn’t seem like a season filled with much joy. The notion of giving up […]

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Perspective

The Thin Line Between Joy and Sorrow Amidst Loss

St. Philip Neri is widely known as “the joyful saint.” Famously, he encouraged joy as the way of Christian perfection, saying, “A joyful heart is more easily made perfect than […]

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Perspective

Living the Joy like St. Philip Neri

It was just before Pentecost in 1544, and a young man named Philip was praying in the catacombs of the Church of St. Sebastian in Rome. As he immersed himself […]