I wanted to share a program that I had the great privilege of being on last week called Notes from Above. It’s a production of Ave Maria Radio and is a weekly conversation about faith and music. In this week’s episode, I got to sit down with Deacon Tom and Sister Sarah as they explored the joyful mysteries of the rosary in honor of Our Lady whose motherhood of the church is particularly honored in the month of May. In... Read more
Like many, the election of Pope Leo XIV has been a joyous surprise for me. I did not expect an American Pope, and as an American myself, I was deeply moved by the thought of a Pope who has lived in places I also have lived in —Chicago and Michigan. In a certain sense, it makes the papacy feel more tangible and connected to my own life, a sentiment reinforced by the Pope’s first sermon at the Mass with the... Read more
I wanted to share a reflection on the life of Pope Francis, as well as a significant personal update. After a wonderful Easter, I woke this morning to the news that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, had passed away. I immediately went to tell my wife, Joan, just as I had twelve years ago when Pope Benedict XVI resigned. But this time, I found myself weeping. Pope Francis was the only pope I had ever known as a Catholic. I... Read more
It seems that everywhere I go these days, there is a palpable sense of anxiety about the direction of our nation here in the United States. Not everyone has the same set of fears or concerns, but nearly everyone feels some level of anxiety. I’ve seen it manifest in my own life in many small ways: The students who don’t show up for confirmation or religious education classes at my parish because their parents are worried about deportation. The neighbor... Read more
I recently had the chance to sit down with JonMarc Grodi of the Coming Home Network and discuss a bit of my own journey of faith, looking at how I began as a Protestant Christian and stumbled my way into the Catholic Church nearly 12 years ago. Today they released a bit of our conversation and if you’re interested in listening to it, I wanted to post a link to it. This is the fourth time I’ve had a chance... Read more
Consider the Ravens Some years ago, I got a tattoo of a raven on my chest. This was to remind me each day that I am not to worry, that God takes care of the ravens, that God takes care of the sparrows, He clothes the lilies, and cares so much, much more for me than these things. Yet in spite of the visible reminder each day, I find I am constantly struggling with worry about the future. Sometimes in... Read more
There is something about St. Augustine that I have always loved. His writings come alive in a way few other father’s of the Church are able to do. This came home to me this week as I was praying the Office of Readings on both his own feast day and that of his Mother’s, Monica, that proceeds it. In both offices the second reading is taken from Augustine’s Confessions. The readings are alive with their author. The candidness and personal... Read more
Some things I am grateful for: I am trying to find a place for a wonderful gift my wife recently bought me in celebration of our 15 years of marriage. It’s a print of St. Drogo who is patron of Coffee and because of that has been near and dear to me for many years. My own efforts to incorporate my own spirituality with the drink has been a labor of great love for the past 2 decades and St.... Read more
This week, I embark on a new endeavor—a weekly series where I share glimpses of my life, work, and prayer. In this humble space, I hope to connect with you, dear reader, and perhaps learn from your own experiences. As of right now, I hope that I will be able to put a weekly round-up together each Friday. Here are the key elements I plan on including: Gratitude: Each week, I will pause to reflect on the blessings that surround... Read more
One of the key lessons I learned growing up was that making time of prayer a daily habit is essential for developing a spiritual life. I grew up in a family where prayer was very much a part of the daily fabric of life. This is perhaps the aspect of my life of prayer that I didn’t fully appreciate until I was much older. My parents both modeled and invited prayer into every aspect of our life as a family.... Read more
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