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Hope In the Pews

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We find ourselves living in a time characterized by profound political, cultural and ecclesial fragmentation. In recent decades, the deepening divisions have permeated nearly every aspect of human life, creating a landscape of discord that is hard to navigate. Our nation has become increasingly polarized — politically, socially and morally. Conversations that once thrived on Read More

Media Savvy

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How does your parish or ministry communicate, not only to parishioners, but far beyond? Digital media is local and global. Some Catholic influencers, including priests, have seemingly vast social media presences, which might make digital communications seem intimidating or difficult to parish or ministry leaders. Who has the time and resources for that? Most do Read More

Creation Care in Microcosm

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Whenever I’m asked, “What is the best way to organize and mobilize the U.S. Catholic community on climate change and creation care issues?”, without hesitancy I tell people, “Start or join a Creation Care Team in your parish, school, diocese, workplace or religious community.” Why am I so convinced that CCTs are the best path Read More

Preacher Prep

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On a few occasions over the years I have talked with priests or deacons who revealed to me that they did not set aside time to prepare to preach on Sunday at all — they just “let the Spirit guide me in the moment.” Typically, my interior reaction to this is along the lines of, Read More

Virtuous Reality

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What does it mean to preach with hope? Popular uses of the term hope complicate this question. Americans tend to view hope as a synonym for optimism. I hope that I win the lottery. I hope that my team wins the national championship. I hope that I’ll be able to get a job that allows Read More

Liberty for Captives

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An evening redness pierces the sky, the last rays of the sun stretching out into the already blackened east. I’m used to passing through the gates of Santa Rosa Correctional Institution in Milton, Florida, under the day’s sun. But tonight I am late, and I’m let in past 6 p.m. There’s a hushed quiet descending Read More

A Spirituality of Interruption

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St. Thérèse of Lisieux recounts how once she was trying to write about charity, and one sister or another would interrupt what she was doing. She realized that she had to be very careful to be patient, or else she would be contradicting the very virtue about which she was trying to write. It would Read More

Tending the Shepherd

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“Are you exercising the care of souls? Do not thereby neglect yourself. Do not give yourself to others to such an extent that nothing is left of yourself for yourself. You should certainly keep in mind the souls whose pastor you are, but without forgetting yourself.” — St. Charles Borromeo, Acta Ecclesiae Mediolanensis, 1599 We Read More

Priestly Virtues for Our Time

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Pursuing virtue is an ancient and enduring quest that has guided humanity toward a life of freedom and purpose since the dawn of civilization. Over millennia, the wisdom of Catholic philosophers and theologians has distilled these virtues into foundational categories: the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance, and the theological virtues of faith, Read More

Noticed, Named and Known

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In the ever-changing climate of today’s Church, youth ministry can seem like an overwhelming challenge for priests, especially in parishes with limited budgets or small staffs. One of the most profound resources, however, is the giftedness of parishioners. As St. Paul shares with the people in Corinth, there is one body but many parts (1 Read More