SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

These readings address so many themes like equity and conversion of heart, but they are fundamentally about the end of life. For the past few years, my husband and I have been caring for a family member with dementia. on the hardest days, we have turned to each other and asked, “what is dignified about this?” At other times, we have been able to share in tiny moments of recognition and gratitude. Last week, he asked me, “do you think we remember all this after we die?” It is

Deny yourself. Take up your cross. Follow me. In today’s Gospel from Matthew, after his epic admonition to Peter (“Get behind me, Satan!”), Jesus defines discipleship. A relatively straightforward reading of Matthew 16 has gifted me with experiences and relationships that have enlivened my world. My earnest desire to follow Jesus has influenced every step of my vocation in ministry, service, and justice work. It has shaped my relationships (in all their imperfections) to mone

In today’s second reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, he marvels at the depth of the wisdom and knowledge of God. His words invite us into wonder before a mystery that can never be exhausted. I find myself returning to this passage, especially on days when the weight of the world feels especially heavy and difficult to carry. It brings me consolation to remember Paul's words: "For from him and through him and for him are all things." There is always more unfolding t

During my undergraduate years, I had truly formative opportunities to get involved in social justice education and advocacy. Specifically, as a student at a Jesuit institution (Canisius College – now University), I attended several teach-ins coordinated by the Ignatian Solidarity Network (ISN). Between 2005 and 2009, I made my way, more than once, to Columbus, Georgia for the annual ISN teach-in. While the lessons were expansive, we learned, in particular, about U.S. militar

I read today’s readings at the end of a long summer week entertaining my two and five-year-old sons at home. I had just put the younger one down for a nap and my older one was doing his “quiet time” of self-play. I sat down at my favorite spot in our house – our screened in porch – which is surrounded by greenery and the sounds of birds. Peace, at last. As an introvert and internal processor, the constant noise of two small children can be overwhelming. So today’s first read

Praying for Those Who Thirst and HungerI became a runner quite by accident. After finishing my first half marathon in 2015, I decided to try my feet at running a full marathon. In 2019 and 2021, I ran the Detroit Marathon. In my training leading up to race days, I always had to consider the importance of hydration. When you start to feel thirsty, your body is already dehydrated. The effects of that can be felt more when doing such exertion like running a marathon. The importa

For the third week in a row, we are hearing a Gospel Reading from Matthew’s very long Chapter 13. Parable after parable. When I was younger, I must confess that I tuned out much of these “stories”. I didn’t get the point of them. I lacked imagination, but otherwise, I was not the root of the problem. Why didn’t our Lord just TELL us what he was trying to teach us rather than giving us these unwieldy puzzles?! The riddles? Drawn perhaps from the ancient Hebrew life as a teach

It is just over 100 days since Easter Sunday and the end of our Lenten journeys, a time characterized by our fasting and repentance. I am bringing this forward to you for reflection as we consider our repenting. Is this still a part of our practice now? As our first reading from Wisdom highlights, God gave us “good ground for hope.” The cause of that good ground? That God would permit repentance for our sins. As we look further into the Gospel, we reflect on what this good

We always talk about the dirt, but I think we miss one of the most important lessons from the Parable of the Sower. Recently I have spent quite a bit of time reflecting on things like the dignity of work, co-creation with God, and other facets of Catholic Social Doctrine. Pope Leo reminded us in his most recent encyclical that our work is part of our call, our vocation, and not just a way to pay our bills (ideally). It is a way we co-create with God and build the culture and

One of my favorite things to do at the airport when traveling is people watching. The hustle and bustle of people sauntering through the airport or those who are hustling to their gate. The warm, happy reunions at baggage claim. A person reading a book or in deep thought. A group of friends laughing over drinks at a bar. An airport is an opportunity to be amid the full diversity of humans from all walks of life from all corners of the globe. As I watch all the people coming

From childhood through my mid 20s, I was consistently in environments that nurtured and supported my faith. I am long-time Catholic school educated. As a teenager, I became involved in my diocese’s youth department, attending formative programs, conferences, and retreats. I attended a small, Jesuit college and did my best to do all things campus ministry. Retreats. Small faith sharing groups. Service trips. Vibrant mass. Then, I spent two years in the Jesuit Volunteer Cor

The Holy Spirit moves. The Spirit is action, feeling, inspiration, breath, motivation, love. Love requires choice; it requires us to move from a disposition of the self to a disposition for others. The Spirit, as God, as Love, embodies the movement of God and presents God to us in many different ways. When we refer to the Holy Spirit in this way, it feels abstract. It can be difficult to grasp the enormity of what it means to say we have the Holy Spirit within us. It can be c

Teaching the idea of “choice” to anyone can be a daunting task. Ignatian discernment, St. Ignatius of Loyola’s idea of using facts, prayer, and reflection as to whether a choice can bring you closer or farther from God, can be an extremely useful tool. It leads to action. Ideally, it can propel you through the “gate” from being stuck in the “thoughts and prayers” phase to informed, reflective choices that include God’s active presence. All of the readings today allude to the

There are many stories about appearances of the Resurrected Christ following his persecution, crucifixion, and burial. In the Gospel of John, St. Mary Magdalene meets the Risen Jesus at the tomb. St. Thomas the Apostle touches the hand, feet, and side wounds inflicted by the Crucifixion. Jesus enters the locked room where the Apostles were hiding. While fishing on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus greets the Apostles on the shore and invites them to breakfast. Each of these accounts

Happy Palm Sunday! Easter is fast approaching, but before we enter the Triduum, we hear the full passion readings today. When I was younger, I was so excited as the crowds finally acknowledged Jesus for who He is, and I got a toy with the palm branches. As I have grown up, I silently keep the hope that comes with shouting “Hosanna,” which translates to “Save Us,” as I wave my palm. The beauty of the Catholic faith is that we are indeed being saved! We are saved by the self-e

Happy 5 th Sunday of Lent. At this point in our Lenten journey if you are feeling like you are sitting in the middle of desert like Jesus might have felt, remember Resurrection Sunday is coming! On this Fifth Sunday of Lent, the readings confront us with a striking image: graves opening. In the book of Ezekiel, God promises, “I will open your graves and have you rise from them.” And in the Gospel of John, Jesus stands before the tomb of Lazarus and calls him back to life. At

Psychologists and social scientists talk about the importance of constant, positive reinforcement for children. It creates safety and builds trust for the child with its caregivers. From the time I was a little girl, one of the most consistent messages from my mom was that I could tell her and my dad anything. I heard it many times in different ways over the years. Patty, you can tell dad and me anything. You don’t have to hide anything from us. Nothing is too big for dad a

This Sunday’s readings speak tenderly and powerfully to women of faith and service—those of us who lead, teach, accompany, organize, counsel, and quietly sustain the life of the Church. They call us back to the heart of our vocation: the daily choice to live and serve from within God’s wisdom. Sirach reminds us: “If you choose, you can keep the commandments… Before you are life and death, good and evil.” These words are both empowering and grounding. A life of faith and serv

This past Friday, the 2026 Winter Olympic games commenced in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo; central, of course, to the Olympic games, aside from the pomp and circumstance of the opening ceremony, the vibrant expression of national pride, and the world-class, elite athleticism on display, is the Olympic flame. The flame was lit on November 26 th in ancient Olympia, and has traveled throughout Italy for the past two months on its way to Milan. One quick look through the @milanoc

Today the psalm response gives us the Gospel in a single line: Blessed are the poor in spirit, the kingdom of heaven is theirs! (Psalm 145) Jesus leaves the crowds behind and teaches the disciples eight key phrases that we know today as the Beatitudes. Today’s selected text only includes the Beatitudes themselves, though astute readers will remember that the Beatitudes begin the Sermon on the Mount in chapter 5 of Matthew’s Gospel. Today, however, our attention is draw to th