February 8 marks the memorial of St. Josephine Bakhita. This is also the annual day of prayer and awareness against human trafficking. When we hear St. Josephine Bakhita’s story, we realize that this is not a coincidence. As a young…
When you enter the Church of Santa Maria del Puopolo in Rome, you walk down the central aisle toward the ornate altar. We glance to the left to see a chapel which is dominated by three large masterpieces painted around…
Today’s feast day is special for all writers and journalists. While some persons do earn their living in these particular professions, we are all writers. Even those who limit their written communications to text messages and emojis are writers. All…
In this season of Advent, when we wait in joyful hope, we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. She shines here as she does throughout history bringing mercy and hope to all. The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe…
My father died recently. He was 94, of sound mind, and had what is euphemistically known as “a good death”: in his sleep, in his own home, with family members there. One of the most touching moments in our family’s…
What the world needs now is deep compassion. Religious faith is too often used to condemn, harm and judge others. In the name of faith, families exclude and cause great harm to members who identify as sexually or gender non-conforming.…
St. Francis of Assisi is one of my favorite saints. The example of his very simple, humble and generous life leads us straight back to what is essential in the Gospel: to trust in God’s providence, praise him for his…
Today, we celebrate the feast day of the man affectionately known as Padre Pio. We ponder the gifts, graces and lessons his life might offer. Well known for carrying the stigmata – bearing visible wounds similar to the excruciatingly painful…
When you enter into a church off the Piazza Navona in Rome called San Luigi dei Francesi, a series of chapels culminate with the Contarelli Chapel which holds three huge depictions of key moments in Matthew’s life: the calling, the…
What is a Doctor of the Church, really? And how does someone become one? For St. Augustine of Hippo, whose feast we celebrate August 28, his elevation to one of the highest honours bestowed by the Catholic Church was anything…