On May 24th, 2008, I had the priviledge to participate in the Corpus Domini processions of Oriveto and Bolsena, Italy. These cities are the genesis of this great feast of the Church’s calendar. During the summer of 1263, Peter of Prague traveled to Rome on a pilgrimage to pray at the tomb of Saint Peter bringing with him many doubts about his faith and his vocation as a priest. After spending some time there, he began his journey home and... Read more

The new Georgia Immigration Law was signed by the governor a few weeks ago but it has not taken effect yet. One of the many claims which helped this bill pass is that illegal immigrants take away jobs from legal immigrants and US citizens. The effects of this upcoming law can already be felt. At my community there has been a mass exodus which has led to a Mass exodus. Immigrants are leaving Georgia very quickly to other states or... Read more

Some years ago I took an online quiz to “find my spot.” The website asked several questions about your preferred city characteristics and at the end provided your best matches. I was living in Greenville, South Carolina at that time. Surprisingly, out of all cities in the US, Greenville was my second best match. Tulsa, Oklahoma was number one. When I saw the results I said to myself, no wonder I like living here. Since I left Greenville in 2002,... Read more

Two years ago this morning I was entering the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Savannah to be ordained. It was an amazing day, but not quite as amazing as the two years that have followed. This morning I came across a short write up I wrote for the diocese in 2007 as I prepared for my diaconate ordination in Rome. After reading it I searched for an article the vocations office prepared after interviewing me a few months... Read more

I spent two years (2000 to 2002) at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. Founded in 1826, Furman is recognized as one of the top liberal arts schools in the country and one of the most beautiful college campuses in the world. I enjoy visiting Furman because I have many vivid and happy memories from the time I spent there. Along with the demanding academics, life was simple and carefree. I made great friends I still see and keep in... Read more

Growing up in Augusta, Georgia, I always found it strange that the Sacred Heart Cultural Center downtown was originally a Catholic Church. I even fainted in there once when I was eleven (but because I locked my knees during choir rehearsal, not due to my shock that the beautiful structure no longer was a Catholic Church). I would wonder, how can a Catholic Church shut down? How can a building built as a church now be used for receptions, concerts... Read more

The opening lines of the Acts of the Apostles summarizes the last few weeks Jesus spent on Earth from the resurrection to his ascension into heaven. The book narrates the exact moment Jesus had prepared his disciples for – the moment they would have to let go of him. Sad and confused, they must have found hope in the words of the two men dressed in white, “This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return... Read more

Today’s Feast recalls Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth to assist her in her need. Her openness to the Holy Spirit which led her to say ‘yes’ to the message of the angel gave her the strength to travel through the Judean countryside in haste to help her pregnant cousin. We read in Scripture: During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah... Read more

A few years ago I heard a story that went like this: When a young girl turned 12 years old, her dad gave her a beautiful gift, a pearl necklace. These pearls weren’t real ones though, they were cheap imitation pearls. The young girl loved the gift so much she would put on the necklace every single night before going to bed, so when her dad came by to say goodnight, she always looked like a princess. This continued for... Read more

[This post is about the meaning of the word many. Seems trivial? It’s very important, especially if you’re Catholic!] If I had a group of three brown and three red m&ms;, would you say I have many m&ms;? Probably not. You would say I have a few. If I had a group of 1000 brown and three red m&ms;, would you say I have many m&ms;? You would probably say yes. I would not be able to say ‘I have... Read more