What exactly is the purpose of a parish mission statement? Well, if you ask an expert (i.e., any member of your local parish council) it’s meant to provide a concise expression of a parish’s purpose for existence. If you ask me, however, I …
In this Year of Faith marking the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II, there’s no shortage of articles featuring quotes from those surviving bishops, priests and others who were present in Rome for some, or all, of the Council sessions. “A …
Speaking at a recent fundraising event to benefit the John Paul II Life Center in Austin, TX, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo shared one of his favorite stories: Shortly after his episcopal ordination in 1988, the newly named Bishop of Sioux City, IA found himself …
November 25th (on the new liturgical calendar) was the Solemnity of Christ the King Now, tell me, aside from the observance of this annual solemnity, can you point to any clear and consistent exhortations coming from the Holy See (or any of the …
CONVERT. That’s right. Convert. Over the last four or five decades, Catholics from all walks of life – clergy, laity and religious alike – have expended way too much time and energy practicing feel-good ecumenism while making far too little effort (if any) …
Here we go again. The enlightened cognoscenti of the psychiatric community are lowering the bar once more in redefining the new “normal.” According to the NY Times, “The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (due out in 2013, …
Have you ever seen those bumper stickers that say VISUALIZE WORLD PEACE? For some reason, they often seem to be plastered right next to some kind of MOTHER EARTH sticker. Maybe they’re sold in pairs. I don’t know. At any rate, when I …
I recently had the great pleasure of presenting a Harvesting the Fruit of Vatican II Workshop for the Archdiocese of Denver, as well as addressing the 14th Call to Holiness Conference in Detroit, MI. If your diocese, parish or organization is interested in …
As I write, my beloved uncle, who has been suffering for the past several years from a parasitic infection that has weakened him significantly, is undergoing a life-saving heart operation. The procedure is complicated and is expected to last upwards of 18 hours. …
“These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you,” says the LORD… “He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. He will take the tenth of your grain …
