The way you parent affects everyone—not just your kids Parents are called to bless not only the lives of their children, but also the lives of their teachers, bus drivers, nurses, babysitters, coaches, and friends. When I was in college, I was late to the game in applying for campus work study positions, so I […]
True stories of refugees should rouse Catholics into action Catholics cannot ignore the need for immigration reform, says lawyer Linda Dakin-Grimm. What wound do you think needs healing in the Catholic Church? This is the question that Jeannie Gaffigan, writer and executive producer of The Jim Gaffigan Show, and Mike Lewis, editor of the website Where Peter […]
How can preachers break through the noise of today’s world? Readers weigh in on the homilies that inspire them—and the ones that put them to sleep. A preacher’s job is harder in the 21st-century United States than in many other places and times. Imagine attending a liturgy and hearing the gospel preached in the Romanesque […]
Learn to take your troubles to the Black Madonna The Black Madonna stays present with us through times of distress. In 2003, when I was 33 years old, my mother died. Her body became overwhelmed quite suddenly by infection because of years of use of prednisone to treat the terrible pain and disability her rheumatoid […]
Jesus let his mind wander. Why can’t we? Quiet external noise and focus on inner musings—it’s what Jesus would do. Until a few months ago, a tidal wave of noise flooded my apartment most evenings. NPR’s talking heads spouted off as I made dinner. A rotation of comedians-turned-podcasters bantered back and forth as I ate […]
Among the Yup’ik people, a priest finds a new kind of faith In rural Alaska, Catholic Extension’s Lumen Christi award recipient Father Stan Jaszek dedicates his ministry to Indigenous Alaskans. The Indigenous Alaskan Yup’ik people have 30 terms to describe the color of snow. When Father Stan Jaszek began ministering to them, he only knew […]
Read More
Examine your conscience to become a better parent Are you guilty of any of these 7 “daddly” sins? If you’re anything like me, your time spent in the confessional often features more than a little sinful déjà vu. No matter how frequently or infrequently I find myself making use of the sacrament, many sins for […]
How the church can build better relationships with Gen Z Young people haven’t given up on life’s big questions, says this researcher. The Springtide Research Institute has spent the past few years studying the religious inclinations and spiritual yearnings of what sociologists call Generation Z, young people born between 1996 and 2008. Many in this […]
Crossing the generational divide can bring change To deepen our vocation to family life, we must acknowledge the constant push and pull between new and old. Old is good. If you’ve ever had a tattered shirt you can’t throw out because of all the good times and happy memories rubbed into it, you’re a fan […]