The Paschal hope
A number of springs ago, I came to the Easter Vigil Mass with the joyous anticipation of Easter muted a bit. That year, my Dad was journeying through what I knew -- but did not want to believe -- were ...
The reality before us, the greater beauty
Due to a happy confluence of events, I recently found myself in Rome for both work and pleasure -- along with thousands of other visitors who, as always, filled the lively streets of this ancient city. My ...
St. Joseph as a father
Not long ago, I was sorting through some of my Dad's old papers and I came across a candy wrapper and a Father's Day card tucked into an envelope that bore a March 2001 postmark from Rome. As ...
Opposing views of compassion
Two days in early February, one beautiful and one tragic, forced me to think deeply on the meaning and nature of compassion. First, the beautiful. Feb. 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, was also ...
Surrendering fears to God
These past weeks, along with millions of others, my days have been lived in the grip of a cold and icy northeast with no sign of warmth coming soon. At the cold spell began and the icy snow first fell, ...
Love of neighbor
Recently, my neighbor died. When I was at the funeral home and when I arrived at work late after his funeral, I was asked how I knew the gentleman who passed away. It was almost sheepishly, or with ...
A 'hopeful new year'
On the feast of the Epiphany, the 2025 Jubilee Year came to a close as the Holy Doors in Rome were sealed once again. I am sorry to see the Jubilee Year come to an end. I did not visit Rome this year. ...
A joyful anticipation
If there is ever a time when the difference in perspective between children and adults is stunningly clear, it is during the four weeks of Advent. As Advent begins and its weeks stretch ahead, children ...
