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Columns

Journey to the Supreme Court

By Sr. Constance Veit, L.s.p.
Early in our community’s history, a group of townspeople who witnessed the Sisters’ humble charity toward the elderly dubbed them the “Little” Sisters of the Poor. The name stuck. Recently, however, we have become known to some as “the HHS Sisters” due to our lawsuit against the federal government over the contraceptive mandate. This issue […]
9/2/15
Reading Time 3 min

A prayer for vocations

By Russell Shaw
In the prayer of the faithful said at Mass in my parish day after day we regularly ask God for “an increase of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.” Sometimes “lay ministry” gets added to the list. When we pray for these things, I’m happy to join in the response – “Lord, hear our […]
9/2/15
Reading Time 3 min

Far more than just a ‘visit’

By Soren Johnson
As Pope Francis’ historic six-day apostolic visit nears, consider what you could say as he departs for the Vatican Sept. 27: “The papal visit raised my level of confidence as a Catholic. Doors opened to share my faith, and I walked through them.” The following six-point plan (in honor of his six days with us) […]
9/2/15
Reading Time 3 min

Allow Him to take us away

By Fr. Matthew H. Zuberbueler
A certain lesser known country music song suggests we can learn to listen for the sound of the breeze dying down and, even better, for the sound of the sun going down. In hectic Northern Virginia, the conditions for such listening can seem scarce. Still, the refinement within ourselves of an attentive listening spirit can […]
9/2/15
Reading Time 3 min

Consenting to the unconscionable

By Father Tad Pacholczyk
In recent years, scientists in industry and academia have come to rely on freshly obtained human tissue specimens for certain types of research and experimentation. Sometimes these tissues and organs can be obtained after routine surgeries like gall bladder removal from adults or foreskin removal during the circumcision of newborns. The use of such tissues […]
8/26/15
Reading Time 3 min

Carried on the crest of the waves

By Elizabeth Foss
On a recent vacation to the beach, my youngest child did her very best to gather up every seashell on the shore. One after another, she’d bring them to me, marveling over their intricate beauty. Sitting on a quilt on a small piece of the edge of the continent, looking over the vast expanse of […]
8/26/15
Reading Time 3 min

Waiting for a husband, keeping the faith

By Christina Capecchi
Arleen Spenceley can’t remember the last time she went on a date. It must’ve been 2014, she says without a trace of panic. Even though she’s in the thick of wedding season and nearing her 30th birthday, the fact that she’s still single doesn’t seem to bother Arleen. She’s not freaking out. She’s not losing […]
8/21/15
Reading Time 3 min

When it’s hard to follow Jesus

By Fr. Robert J. Wagner
Over the past month, the Sunday Gospels have recounted the “Bread of Life Discourse” from the sixth chapter of St. John’s Gospel where Jesus revealed that He offers His Body and Blood – the Bread of Life – to His church, that all who believe in Him and eat His flesh might have eternal life. […]
8/19/15
Reading Time 3 min

The amazing, and now venerable, Fr. Al

By George Weigel
At an inch or so over five feet and weighing, I would guess, something on the underside of 100 pounds, Sister Winnie, a soft spoken Filipina, is not your typical dinner speaker. Yet a few weeks ago she held a room full of Washingtonians spellbound with her story — which is also the story of […]
8/13/15
Reading Time 3 min

What’s wrong with us?

By Mary Beth Bonacci
I realize that, in polite society, it is considered hyperbolic and disrespectful and just downright bad form to compare any of our current social evils to the atrocities of Nazi Germany. Whatever misdeeds we in America may commit, they cannot possibly compare to the horrifying evil that Hitler and his minions inflicted on Europe before […]
8/12/15
Reading Time 4 min

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