Echoes - A forum of Catholic thought. The Opinion section of thebostonpilot.com

September 13, 2024Faith

Growing up in Cleveland, I experienced "lake effect" snow dumps. Spending most of my adult life around Boston meant winters punctuated by the whipping winds and ice of classic New England nor'easters. ...

Culture & Events

Evaluating medical marijuana use during pregnancyFather Tadeusz Pacholczyk

In 2020, Amanda Aguilar was arrested after using marijuana while pregnant, and, after her son tested positive for marijuana at birth, was charged with child neglect. She fought the charge, arguing that ...

Faith & Family

The beginning of the school year: Making all things newBishop Robert Reed

It's that time of year, again, when the waking air has a chill crispness to it, and the hallways are lined with bookbags full of fresh spiral notebooks, binders still blank of the doodles of midwinter ...

Faith & Family

Learning from Heaven's HeroesMaureen Crowley Heil

One of my favorite books is called 365 Saints a Year. It's a daily reflection on different saints, some popular, some lesser known. I used to read it to my children at breakfast, hoping the story ...

Faith & Family

Following the MessiahScott Hahn

In today's Gospel, we reach a pivotal moment in our walk with the Lord. After weeks of listening to His words and witnessing His deeds, along with the disciples, we're asked to decide who Jesus ...

Faith & Family

Ministers of musicFather Robert M. O'Grady

It was the sainted Pope Pius X who, at the beginning of the 20th century, initiated some reforms of the church's liturgy. One that affected most Catholics was the lowering of the age of First Holy ...

Culture & Events

Why we give thanks for priestsCourtney O’Brien

Each September, the Clergy Trust invites parishes, donors, and anyone else who is interested to #GiveThanksForPriests. This annual campaign offers us the chance to reflect on the priesthood and the priests ...

Faith & Family

Who can wear a clerical collar?Jenna Marie Cooper

Q: What is the criteria determining who can wear a "clerical collar"? I'm not sure if it varies from one seminary/diocese to another, but I'm curious why seminary students would wear a collar since they ...

Faith & Family

The big lesson of the Revival: Treating God as GodFather Roger J. Landry

Since the end of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and the National Eucharistic Congress, I have done several interviews in which the hosts have asked, in one way or another, "What is the single most ...