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In the Absence Of
I often wake up thick in the dream fog of my parents still being alive. The confusion of it is difficult to shake as the vividness of morning dreams […]
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On Pentecost, We Celebrate Our Unity as the Body of Christ
Pentecost, the feast celebrated this weekend, is the greatest day of the Church’s year, save for Easter and Christmas. It is interesting in this sense. It is the only […]
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The Church Brings Us to Jesus — and Jesus to Us
Many dioceses in the United States this weekend liturgically celebrate the feast of the Ascension of the Lord. Other dioceses observe this weekend as the Seventh Sunday of Easter. […]
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The Little Rose Shop: Beauty that Forms
I work with people who are exceptionally astute both theologically and pastorally — people who build programs, teach the teachers and form leaders in evangelization. My colleagues speak and […]
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‘Grandpa Core’ and the Lost Art of Playing Cards
As a native Michigander, I am familiar with the stereotype that everyone from Michigan plays Euchre. I see your stereotype and raise you, because not only do I play […]
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Are We Willing to Live According to God’s Plan for Salvation?
The Acts of the Apostles once again this Easter season furnishes the first reading. In the readings of the weekends earlier in this season, the identity of the apostles […]
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In the Darkness of the Garden, He Calls Our Name
It was a little past 5 in the morning when I was jarred awake by a wet tongue licking my nose. We were dog-sitting our daughter’s pit bull, and […]
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Interrupting Death
“Christ is risen! Alleluia!” We’ll be saying (and singing) that refrain and others like it until Pentecost, which, this year, isn’t until the end of May. And well we […]
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Popes vs. Presidents
“War is not always inevitable. It is always a defeat for humanity. International law, honest dialogue, solidarity between states, the noble exercise of diplomacy: These are methods worthy of […]
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The Church Today is Called to Mirror the Early Christian Community in Acts
Once again, this season, the Acts of the Apostles provides the first reading. The early chapters of Acts graphically reveal to us the lives led by the early Christians. […]
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What the Easter Scriptures Teach Us About How to Live as Family
Family life is hard. In case no one has affirmed that for you lately, let me be the one. Whether you’re in the stage of diapers and bottles, wiping […]
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Seagull on the Sistine: The Rare Gift of Shared Delight
In the end, after two days of breathless anticipation, the white smoke shared the stage with a seagull. The whole world was abuzz. An American pope! A seagull! With […]