A serious illness is stressful and exhausting for a patient and his or her loved ones, and it can also be a time of deep emotional sadness. The more we ease the burden of those who suffer and those who care for them, the more we are of help.
Guest Columnists
Late Bishop Imesch Was Like Family
Father Eugene Hemrick pays tribute to the late Bishop Joseph L. Imesch, of Joliet, Illinois — a man with the heart of a loving father, who was more concerned about his priests than the exalted title of bishop.
Looking Toward Nov. 8
TO REDEPLOY A phrase from President Gerald Ford, our “long national nightmare” – in this case, the semi-permanent presidential campaign – will be over in 11 months. Here are two suggestions for what Catholics in America might ponder before Nov. 8.
Kindness and Mercy In a Troubled World
It seems as if daily we witness violence, dissension and other social ailments. Father Eugene Hemrick asks how to keep this from overshadowing a hopeful new year.
Inspiration for New Year’s Resolutions
When you begin to think about the new adventures you’ll embark on during this New Year, try to make Jesus Christ the centerpiece.
Immersing Others in A Pool of Love
A wise priest once told me that mercy is where love meets suffering. That’s a pretty profound definition. I’ve pondered it often, even meditated on it, but I’m not sure I really understood it until I recently saw a letter from Calvary Hospital in the Bronx.
Finding Online Connections
Emily Trunko, a 15-year-old from Ohio, created “Dear My Blank” on Tumblr to give people a place to anonymously post letters that they never intend to send. Some messages are simple, others are full of hope and a few are heartbreaking.
Christmas and a World Upside Down
Preachers at Christmas often emphasize the lowliness of the Christ Child’s birth. This pattern of inversion – turning everything upside-down – continues throughout the public ministry of the Lord Jesus and reaches its climax in His death and resurrection.
No One Should Be Alone at Christmas
A British department store is creating a buzz this Christmas after teaming with Age UK, a charity for senior citizens, to raise funds and awareness of the scourge of loneliness among the elderly today.
Recalling Two Great American Bishops
WE AMERICAN CATHOLICS are, in the main, notoriously uninterested in our own history. So it likely escaped the notice of many that Dec. 3 marked the bicentenary of the death of Archbishop John Carroll, one of the greatest who ever lived among us.