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Columns

Growing up in the diocese

By Sarah Richardson
A cradle Catholic from a large family, I grew up in St. Michael Parish in Annandale and attended Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria. From my first diocesan WorkCamp I was hooked, and three decades later, I still describe it as my favorite week of the year. It reinforced for me what I’d learned from […]
9/21/23
Reading Time 2 min

Praying for Jimmy Buffett

By Mary Beth Bonacci
I loved Jimmy Buffett. Loved his music, loved the easygoing island life he sang about. And I loved his persona, his apparent perpetual cheerfulness. He seemed like a guy I would enjoy drinking a margarita with. Of course, I never did. The closest I ever got to him was a concert back in 1994. It […]
9/21/23
Reading Time 4 min

Noticing ordinary times

By Lucia A. Silecchia
For more than 30 years, I have been a very frequent traveler on the train between New York City and Washington. In the beginning, it was an adventure.  Yet, as the decades passed, it became a mundane journey during which I stopped noticing the scenery pass by and distracted myself with reading, videos and, best […]
9/21/23
Reading Time 3 min

Forgiveness changes lives

By Elizabeth Foss
Do you know what the most liberating, transformative, kind thing you can do for yourself is? Forgive. Get very still and very quiet and ask yourself what grudges and hurts you’re holding onto today. Whether it is someone else or ourselves, there is always someone we need to forgive. Forgiveness is a glorious self-care tool. […]
9/21/23
Reading Time 3 min

Diocesan pilgrimage to Emmitsburg

By Ann M. Augherton
As part of the Marian-themed second year of preparation for the 2024 Diocesan Golden Jubilee, a diocesan pilgrimage to the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in Emmitsburg, Md., will be held Oct. 7, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Bishop Michael […]
9/19/23
Reading Time 5 min

Seventy-seven times?

By Fr. Steven Oetjen
Sept. 17 Mt 18:21-35 The Incarnate Lord has just taught his disciples how to deal with the kind of serious sin that causes grave harm in the Christian community. This is what we heard in last week’s Gospel (Mt 18:15–20). First, Christ said, approach the offender yourself. Then, bring one or two others along. If […]
9/16/23
Reading Time 3 min

Addressing offense

By Fr. Jack Peterson, YA
Sept. 10 Mt 18:15-20 St. Paul, following closely in the footsteps of Jesus, proclaims to the church in Rome the primacy of charity in the life of the Christian. “Brothers and sisters: Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” He proceeds to name […]
9/9/23
Reading Time 3 min

Fostering racial harmony

By Christian Bentley
In August 2020, when Bishop Michael F. Burbidge announced his intention to create the Advisory Council on Racism, I was encouraged by his clear and loving message that we are all God’s children. I was further convinced that he wanted to put in the work by his response to the listening sessions held that acknowledged […]
9/7/23
Reading Time 3 min

The sign of the cross

By Msgr. Charles M. Mangan
“We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.” Catholics pray these words, especially during the Stations of the Cross. The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Sept. 14 offers us another golden opportunity to ponder this stirring truth: the Son of God […]
9/7/23
Reading Time 3 min

Protect your sabbatical

By Soren Johnson
Bill, an Anglican friend of mine, recently returned from a self-described three-month “sabbatical.” The board of directors of the ministry he leads had proposed it to the father of four who had been hustling to serve others for over three decades — and he accepted. While it wasn’t a “shmita” or full sabbatical year — […]
9/7/23
Reading Time 3 min

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