Throughout March, myriad celebrations of “Women’s History Month” unfolded. I understand the sentiment behind this and see the great value in recognizing the contributions that so many of my sisters, past and present, have made to building our society.
Thoughts come to my mind: Why do young people and children have to live this experience? Why are they forced to spend their mornings and days in Lviv at the Catholic University of Ukraine?
For all Ukrainians, February 24 became the starting point of the inevitable way to the victory of good over evil.
Would you text your friends all throughout the week but not show up to share a meal with them? Would you promise a dear friend who falls ill that you’re praying for them but then not visit them in person when you had the chance? Why then do we think that we really don’t need to be together in person for Mass on Sunday?
Through Catholic Extension I spent three days on an immersion experience in Texas and Mexico where I witnessed this prayer brought to life in the ministry of extraordinary members of our church.
For me, this story begins in the fall of 1988. I was a new parish representative selected to the Office of Black Ministry in those days. The scene was the monthly Parish Liaison meetings for the OBM.
When we think of consecrated life, most of us think of the familiar and traditional forms of religious life: sisters, brothers, and religious order priests. The presence and influence of these religious may be the reason that many of us are practicing our faith in the Church today.
Considering the heightened risks of COVID-19, isolation under quarantine, and thousands of nursing home deaths in 2020, the elderly were hit hard during this pandemic — and still are.
In a culture where we are conditioned to speak of the unborn human being as a “fetus,” a “clump of cells,” or a “choice,” it is important to not disguise what abortion really is — gruesome, inhumane, violent, horrific, and terribly damaging not only to the unborn person but to mothers, fathers, community, society, nation.
The spring 2022 semester at St. John’s University will be another opportunity to introduce my students to the patron saint of journalism, St. Francis De Sales, whose feast day is Jan. 24, and my ongoing goal to make this 17th century Bishop relatable to 21st century students.
