Small but Mighty
Paul Senz Comments Off on Small but Mighty
Small group ministry is becoming more popular in parishes across the United States, as it provides the faithful with an opporunity to deepen their sense of community within a parish and to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ. And while the details vary from diocese to diocese and even parish to parish, the concept remains Read More
Money Matters
Charles E. Zech and Deacon Alvin Clay III Comments Off on Money Matters
Understanding basic finances is important for Catholic priests, both in carrying out their governance as pastors and administrators and in dealing with their own personal finances. Managing a parish’s finances can be challenging. According to a recent study as many as a quarter of all parishes operate at a loss and 8 percent require a Read More
Taking Mary as Our Mother
Edward Sri Comments Off on Taking Mary as Our Mother
There is an intimate connection between Mary and priests — one that deeply can enrich one’s priesthood. But is there any scriptural support for this connection? Might the Bible offer any practical insights for priests on how to live their priesthood more in union with Our Lady? When considering this question in the 2009 Year Read More
Lessons from St. Thomas Aquinas
Father Douglas J. Milewski Comments Off on Lessons from St. Thomas Aquinas
Entering the theological world of St. Thomas Aquinas can be like stepping into a dauntingly vast and variegated universe, not unlike how meeting St. Augustine, Dante or Shakespeare can be. Certainly St. Thomas presents unique challenges, being one of history’s greatest geniuses, who also was given to mystical experiences. Then there is the matter of Read More
The Gift of Gratitude
Susan Muto Comments Off on The Gift of Gratitude
If the joy of the Gospel is like a majestic river flowing through the Church, then its main tributary is gratitude. Gratefulness is the habit of a grace-filled life. A grateful priest is a joyful priest, and these two virtues are inseparable. From them emerges an atmosphere of appreciation for all that is and for Read More
Friends in High Places
Michael R. Heinlein Comments Off on Friends in High Places
It is not uncommon to find friendships within the Communion of Saints. There are stories of saintly siblings like Sts. Benedict and Scholastica, who spent the night before the latter’s death engaged in a conversation of the heart about the things of faith. Or others come to mind, like the spiritual friendship of immigrant American Read More
St. John of the Cross
Father Terence P. Curley Comments Off on St. John of the Cross
In our secular society spirituality is often overlooked or not given its just due especially when we experience the loss of loved ones. From the faith perspective we need to help the bereaved to place their loss into the context of faith. By so doing we can help the grief-stricken to move forward and grow Read More
Advent Is Important
Msgr. Owen Campion Comments Off on Advent Is Important
Every December, we priests fight the good fight. We try to guide our people toward an observance of Advent. The liturgical season has a certain starkness about it, and this is fitting. It is the time when the Church calls us to prayer and penance in preparation, not simply for the coming of Dec. 25 Read More