Life was not always easy with my father when I was growing up. Let’s just say he made many decisions along the way that led to fear, anger, and sadness for my family and me. Unfortunately, I was the only one in the family that would years later truly forgive him for his actions. My … Continue reading This Day Will Never Come Again
Reconciliation
Live the Image
"Unless we look at a person and see the beauty there is in this person, we can contribute nothing to him. One does not help a person by discerning what is wrong, what is ugly, what is distorted. Christ looked at everyone he met, at the prostitute, at the thief, and saw the beauty hidden … Continue reading Live the Image
Hope in the Midst of Division
a post from MAIN THING BLOG FRIEND, Teresa Keogh Where am I hope in a divided place? Work took me to Cyprus this weekend and I decided to Visit Buyuk Han, an old camel trading post in the city of Nicosia – but on the Turkish side. The Han is now a craft market and … Continue reading Hope in the Midst of Division
Door of Mercy
“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved” – John 10.9 While sitting on my deck, my cat will sometimes put her nose on the glass door asking to come out with me. I’m hesitant to get up and open the door since I know the drill: I walk to … Continue reading Door of Mercy
Open Your Doors and Open Your Hearts
An Everyday Stewardship Reflection for 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2016 I remember driving to work and hearing on the radio about some plane that had crashed into the World Trade Center. I assumed at the time it was some daredevil stunt that had gone wrong. Upon my arrival, I went into the parish center … Continue reading Open Your Doors and Open Your Hearts
Lost
A recent article from a prominent online news source called on Pope Francis to end the practice of praying "Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed" before Holy Communion. The author, a self-described "healed ex-Catholic," called it negative reinforcement … Continue reading Lost
Anything But a Happy Place
I am shocked that the events of the past days have cast a shadow on my recent post on hospitality, where I urged churches to step up their efforts to become places of welcome. My post spoke about the Disney slogan of being "the happiest place on earth," and that truly our parishes where one … Continue reading Anything But a Happy Place
No Rewind; Press Play Now
I post this as I am spending a few days with my two youngest children at the beach. Family is a precious gift. Mercy is a precious gift. Sometimes, when we are open to it, the two come together for something extraordinary. I have heard the saying, "Hold your friends close, and your enemies even … Continue reading No Rewind; Press Play Now
Don’t Be a Sourpuss!
There are many voices out there today that paint a bleak picture of the Church and her ability to overcome secular culture and evangelize a broken world. They keep lamenting, "Look how bad everything is!" The jump from Church scandal to declining priestly vocations to empty pews. Sometimes, there are strong and important points to … Continue reading Don’t Be a Sourpuss!
