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On Dec. 24, 1914, small Christmas trees and lanterns appeared on the parapets of the muddy Ger-man trenches of the western front. In the darkness, voices of scared and homesick young men joined in … more
I pray that this Christmas season is a time of peace and joy for you, as we celebrate the birth of our Savior — when the light of God’s grace shone brightly on the human family. As St. … more
It is an Advent story, though I didn’t realize it at the time. At first, I thought it was just about a man who had every reason to wonder what God was thinking. He was a Black man, born … more
Thanksgiving is a busy day. Hours in the kitchen preparing those favorite foods. Travel to make it home for that big meal, or multiple meals for many. There’s setting tables, doing … more
The day began with heavy clouds lingering after the night’s rain. I had a text from a friend whose husband has just begun hospice. She would let us know when they completed their visit, and … more
In honor of National Vocation Awareness Week (Nov. 6-12), the following priests submitted reflections on recognizing and answering their call to Holy Orders. The series was featured throughout … more
“What is the purpose of belief if even God can’t put the world back the way you worshipped it?” This is the question a character in Shubangi Swarup’s novel Latitudes of … more
CLICK HERE to read a related article. CLICK HERE to read this article in Spanish. I believe every Catholic in our diocese deserves to belong to a thriving parish — and we are beginning … more
Considero que todos los católicos de nuestra diócesis merecen pertenecer a una parroquia floreciente, y estamos comenzando un nuevo esfuerzo para que eso sea posible. El 18 de … more
It was early when I came downstairs. Just before I reached for the switch, something across the room caught my eye. There was a single patch of light. At first, I thought it was a message alert on … more
Ten years ago, I bought an Eastern Hemlock and planted it at the edge of a wooded ravine in my backyard. I knew I was tempting fate. Tsuga canadensis is an important species in New England and the … more
Years ago, a friend gave me a copy of a lithograph of St. Lazarus — the one held in the bosom of Abraham, not the Lazarus awakened by Jesus from a four-day death nap. There’s a church … more
If you find yourself in a group of inmates and the conversation starts to lag, ask them about their grandmothers. I’ve seen hardened men come to tears talking about their grandmas, many of … more
For three years in the mid-1970s, my wife and I were Catholic volunteers in a program called VIDA, a peace corps-type program run by the diocese of Pueblo, Colorado. In the summer of 1977, one of … more
There is an old story in the Jewish Hasidic tradition of the Rabbi Eizik, son of Yekel. He was a poor rabbi who lived in Cracow. One night, Rabbi Eizik had a dream. In this dream, he was led to … more
I have a friend who could have been a great pastor, but he spent his professional life as a machinist instead. He never went to seminary, barely made it through high school. The Navy was going … more
Every era faces challenges adapting to the vagaries of weather and climate change. Today, the challenge is global warming, but in the 17th century, the challenge was a global cool-down, a period … more
My second-grade teacher taught us a simple morning offering: “My God, I give You, this day, all that I think and do and say.” It didn’t take me long to see how fraught with peril … more
“Can the sister get an Amen?” She’d get it, too, from little Black kids to aging white bishops. A Franciscan whose death at 52 cheated the Church, Sister Thea Bowman spoke in a … more
My second-grade teacher taught us a simple morning offering: “My God, I give You, this day, all that I think and do and say.” It didn’t take me long to see how fraught with peril … more
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