A little creativity with Lego pieces by John and Holly Ostermeier’s six children has yielded a re-creation of the family’s parish church, St. Pius X in Appleton, right down to the altar, candle bank, piano and priest celebrating Mass.
Art
Brooklyn ‘State of Mind’ Infuses Writer’s Urban Fiction
Images of backyard shrines to the Blessed Virgin adorn the pages of many Catholic novelists. They are a place-setting device authors use to plant familiar images in the mind of the reader.
When The Irish Rovers Found ‘The Unicorn’ for St. Pat’s Classic
A magical thing happened in 1968 when The Irish Rovers made the pop chart Top 10 with their recording of “The Unicorn.” And how that came to be is truly a wondrous story.
The Beauty of a Heroic Story Offers Redemption
During the last few weeks, writing this series of columns about how we, along with God, freely create our life stories, has helped me understand my own history better.
Missouri Bishop Uses Social Media Outlets to Highlight Sacred Works of Art
In conjunction with the yearlong renovation and beautification of the Jefferson City Diocese’s Cathedral of St. Joseph, Bishop W. Shawn McKnight is adorning his social media spaces throughout 2022 with “111 Sacred Works of Art.”
Tributes Mark Life, Legacy of Late Catholic Philosopher, Professor, Author
When Alice von Hildebrand wasn’t promoting her late husband’s work, the Catholic philosopher, professor and author spent most of her life “reminding women of the privilege of femininity and the gift of motherhood,” said Rachel Bulman, a blogger and popular speaker.
Artist Deepens Faith by Painting Portraits for Those Suffering Sudden Loss
D. Anne Jones knew she wanted to use her gift of painting portraits to help others in some way. Losing her daughter in 2019, becoming guardian of her granddaughter and moving to a new part of Indiana in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic proved only to strengthen Jones’ faith and her calling.
Pope Francis’ Music Library Contains Nearly 2,000 CDs, Includes Elvis
Pope Francis’ music library contains nearly 2,000 CDs and 19 vinyl records, according to the Vatican cardinal who is curating the collection.
Nicholas Sparks not shy About Using Catholic Influences in Romance Novels
In a recent interview with Catholic News Service, Nicholas Sparks discussed not only his approach to romance-focused storytelling, but also the Catholic influence that informs, even subtly, his body of work.
Documentary On Louisiana Priests’ Path To Sainthood Bound For Cannes
Last January, when Chris Charles Scott directed a documentary about five French priests who cared for the sick during the 1873 yellow fever epidemic in Shreveport, Louisiana, he never expected it would land in this year’s Cannes World Film Festival.