We’ve had a lot of difficult news to absorb these last few weeks. It would be easy to look at the Church’s current situation and wonder if we’re not splitting apart at the seams. Some have called this the US Church’s worst crisis in history (see interview below). So before sharing my thoughts on… [Read More]
Susan Conroy, author of “Praying with Mother Teresa” May 20
Are you ready for one of the most profound, meaningful experiences of your life? Susan Conroy, author of Praying with Mother Teresa, will present a collection of prayers, insights, and wisdom from the inimitable Mother Teresa of Calcutta, one of heaven’s newest saints. Saturday, May 20, 2017 St. John Neumann Holy Family Center 10:00 am–1:00… [Read More]
Go to Joseph (Gen. 41:55)
On March 4, 2004 in my sixth year of law enforcement, I was involved in a car chase that spanned four counties and ended in a shoot-out with a man carrying drugs worth half a million dollars. Traveling at 100 mph in my police vehicle a tire blew out. The night before, I had… [Read More]
“Everything is Connected” – The Ecological Spirituality of Laudato Si
“Everything is connected.” This phrase of Pope Francis could be the link that ties the whole of “Laudato Si” together and also communicates the core of his message. “Everything is connected,” he says, in such a way that as humans and the earth are a part of the same ecological fabric, our actions in one part of… [Read More]
The Catholic Roots of Halloween
Every year the questions about the acceptability of celebrating Halloween arise in Catholic and Christian circles: Can my family to celebrate Halloween? Is it okay for my child to dress up and trick-or-treat? Is Halloween a pagan, satanic or secular holiday? These, and a myriad of other questions about Halloween haunt the consciousness of Catholics… [Read More]
Meet a Saint: St. Brother André
St. Brother André Bessette, C.S.C. was a pretty amazing man who is the first saint from the Congregation of Holy Cross. He lived a life of humility, prayer, devotion to St. Joseph and comforting the sick. Through his intercessory prayers to St. Joseph, many people have received healing. Born in Quebec in 1845 as Alfred Bessette, he… [Read More]
The Organic Saint!
Here is something that I find heartening, and very telling, about the whole organic food movement. It seems to me that the organic food movement is a secular, concrete and very natural manifestation for our modern society’s hunger for harmony. We’re waking up to the damage we’ve done to our bodies and our social fabric… [Read More]
Pentecost is Coming! How to Have a Better Relationship with the Holy Spirit
Pentecost is coming and though it’s a couple of weeks away, I’m already thinking about it, preparing for it and praying towards it. I began cultivating my relationship with the Holy Spirit in Middle School and I’ve been blessed because of it. But it hasn’t always been easy, because the Holy Spirit is intangible and… [Read More]
Beauty of Truth Podcast – Ep 4 Why are the saints important?
Ep 4 Why are the saints important? Questions What is a saint? Do Catholics worship them? If they all point to Jesus, then why pay any attention to them now that they’re dead? Catechetical Moment CCC #828 Living the Truth Can I really become a saint? Hosted by Casey Truelove and Cristobal Almanza Feedback Line Number: (512)… [Read More]
For Greater Glory: A Movie Review, y aún más
After experiencing the movie “For Greater Glory” last weekend, I was compelled to write. I hope this serves as a useful movie review, and then some (y aún más) – for I knew upon leaving the theatre that the experience demanded reflection. Practical bits first. This movie is rated R for a reason – the… [Read More]
The Silence of St. Joseph
I have a friend who does quite a bit of public speaking about marriage. Having heard him a number of times, I can usually anticipate his jokes long before he makes them. He pokes fun at the quirks that enter marital relationships and the way that our culture views marriages. “I might be the one… [Read More]
Spending Our Best Gifts First!
Halloween is coming! As a child, I loved to trick or treat. My efficiency-minded personality really shone in my Halloween planning – I made sure to use a strong pillowcase because they were bigger and stronger than plastic bags or bucket, and I strategically picked which streets I’d frequent based on the number of decorated… [Read More]
