Modern Catholicism has roots all the way back to when Jesus Christ was alive, but the ideas and values of Catholicism originated long before Jesus himself. Plato, one of the first Greek philosophers, believed in two separate worlds known as the world of being and the world of becoming. The world of becoming is where… [Read More]
Okay Jesus, are you a Democrat or a Republican?
I have spent a lot of time in my life following politics. I was a rare 12-year old when I started reading newspapers, watching TV newscasts and listening to radio news. After getting a degree in broadcast journalism, I became a news reporter. And working at a radio station in Austin, Texas the late 1990s… [Read More]
Catholic Life Online Today Panel
This audio is from the second panel at the ATX Catholic Day of Reflection 2016 at Our Lady of Schoenstatt Shrine in Austin, TX on April 30, 2016. Moderator: Brandon Kraft Panelist: Laura Gonzales, Cristina Almanza, and Steve Scott Panel 2 – Catholic Life Online Today St. John Paul II called us to propose anew the same… [Read More]
The Fine Line Between Sin and Virtue
40 miles per hour is the speed limit on University Drive going towards Highway 6. When I drive through that zone, I try to go exactly 45 miles per hour. Why? Because I can get where I’m going faster than if I drive 40, and few police officers aren’t going to pull someone over for only going 5… [Read More]
Reflections of a Catholic Mom on her Daughter’s 1st Birthday
1 year ago, I was laying in a hospital room wondering what just happened. My daughter had been born just hours before, but wasn’t with me. Being 5 weeks early, she was whisked away to NICU to be hooked up to monitors, a heating pad, and oxygen. I, on the other hand, was whisked out… [Read More]
Walk It Out (God’s Will)
I used to spend too much of my time stressing about my future and what I was supposed to do with it. What brought me peace in that anxiety was the book of Deuteronomy. I love that book. Through it the Holy Spirit revealed so much to me about following God’s will. A few months after learning from it… [Read More]
No One is Rich with Time
There are some mornings that I find it incredibly difficult to get out a bed. In the fogginess of one early morning, lyrics from Bono singing Beautiful Day on the alarm clock unexpectedly struck my heart. “It’s a beautiful day, don’t let it get away.” – U2 I instantly thought of the countless moments I… [Read More]
Ways to Find Value in Your Work as a Young Adult
Most young adults aren’t working their dream jobs, and it commonly leads to a lingering restlessness. Few people grow up wanting to have a desk job or work in service, and most of us never considered the amount of monotonous tasks required in the daily routine in regular jobs. When we search our hearts, we all want… [Read More]
When the Time Comes: Accepting Death Together
The room smelled like essential oils– the ones Peter brought to help Bob breath and to help with pain and anxiety: Eucalyptus, frankincense, myrrh, Inspiration (a blend), myrtle, peppermint. Every nurse who walked in commented on how good it smelled. I had continued the routine of rubbing them on Bob’s chest every 20 minutes or… [Read More]
Slow Down, It’s a Priest!
Priests and police officers have a lot in common, and it isn’t just the spiffy uniform. Think about this: You’re cruising down I-35 or MoPac, when traffic isn’t bumper to bumper if that’s possible, and in your mirror you notice a police car behind you. The officer isn’t after you — no lights and siren… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – April 6, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflections
Sunday April 6, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflection Fifth Sunday of Lent Lectionary: 34 This is Fifth Sunday of Lent, the last purple Sunday of this liturgical year. We are now only a week away from Holy Week, and the anticipation is growing. Reading 1 Ezekiel 37:12-14 This week’s first reading from the prophet Ezekiel… [Read More]
Playing Dr. Frankenstein Again (Review: “UnWholly”)
I was in middle school when I discovered Harry Potter. I got into it because I heard it was popular in the U.S. (Living in Europe, I didn’t really know much about its actual popularity at the time.) It only took a few chapters before I was hooked. Occasionally I stumble across a book that… [Read More]
Knowing Your Testimony
Evangelization Tool #1 is to learn how to share your testimony, to describe how you have encountered Jesus. It is important to learn how to communicate your story because that is one of the only ways others will be open to receive the good news that you are about to share. The truth is, we… [Read More]
Hole-y Hearts: A Testimony to Ritual
Three days ago I moved into my apartment at Texas A&M. The good-bye to my family was sad, and although I could see how hot some of their eyes were getting, they held it together, which meant that I could hold it together. I love my family dearly and it was painful to see them… [Read More]
Four Keys to Setting Our Families Ablaze – Part 2 of 5 – Faith
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen … And without faith it is impossible to please Him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:1,6) If our families are to be set… [Read More]
Confirmation is NOT Graduation: Seeing Sacraments as More Than Goals
In our lives it’s hard to measure success, or even know if we’re moving forward and growing without goals, markers and signs. In school we learned material, took a test to make sure we had comprehended and studied that material and received a grade for our efforts. As adults, we earn raises or reprimands based… [Read More]
My Top 5 Reasons to be Married
No One Wants to Get Married Anymore. Look at what our culture sees as entertaining. I know for women, it seems fun to buy clothes from certain stores, not being anchored down by a man, and having the freedom to see whoever you would like. Being independent and successful are also factors that rate a… [Read More]
A How-to Guide For Those Who Wonder How (Review: “The Jesuit Guide to [Almost] Everything”)
At work this year, I have been slowly training our student leaders on aspects of leadership. The framework I’m using is the six aspects of campus ministry, so last month, I spoke about appropriating the faith. That was fun, because who doesn’t love appropriating (i.e. getting stuff)? It was also fun because I was able… [Read More]
Yeah, I Was SO Drunk. It Was Awesome!
“Yeah, I was so drunk…” I cringe whenever I hear that phrase. Drunkenness. It’s something I’ve never been comfortable hearing about, and definitely don’t like witnessing… Person 1: “So I was at this party, and everyone there was drinking like crazy and by the end of the night I was so drunk… it was awesome.”… [Read More]
Even Jesus Took Vacation!
As summer starts, we all begin to make summer plans. Much of what we decide to do will likely be local, and simple enough to do on a weekend or during the day/evening, such as a swim at the local swimming pool (if you’re in Austin, Barton Springs and Hamilton Pool are top choices), grabbing… [Read More]
God Has a Problem: It’s You (Review: “Sinner”)
I struggle a lot with my faith life. Many people think that I am somehow better or holier because I work for the Church. Correction: I am not. If anything, being so closely connected to the inner workings of my sort-of parish makes me more aware of how much of a mess I am (and… [Read More]
Priorities and Me
“Hold your eyes on God and leave the doing to him. That is all the doing you have to worry about.” -St. Jeanne de Chantal Ever have those times in your life when you are overwhelmingly busy with work, home life, friends and just don’t seem to have enough time or energy? Yup, that’s been… [Read More]
The Harvest Is Abundant But The Laborers Are Few…Or Are They?
It’s not so much that the laborers are few. It’s that they are all too busy working on their own crap… Years ago God placed it in my heart to be in media. The funny thing is, as is in most cases, I took something that God had put in my heart and instead of… [Read More]
