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Columns

Mary: gift to God and us

By Fr. Jack Peterson, YA
Jan. 1 Lk 2:16-21 Seven days ago, we celebrated Christmas Day and rejoiced in the greatest gift ever bestowed upon humanity. For eight days, we have continued to celebrate and cherish the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Today’s solemnity concludes the octave of Christmas with the celebration of Mary, the Holy Mother […]
12/31/22
Reading Time 3 min

Looking back, looking forward

By Elizabeth Foss
The days between Christmas and the new year are some of my favorite days every year. There is a hush after the flurry of activity and excitement. The pace slows if I allow it to, and there is time for sitting and pondering, for recollection and quite conversation. I resist the urge to create more […]
12/28/22
Reading Time 3 min

Merry Christmas

By Fr. Joseph M. Rampino
Gospel Commentary Dec. 25, Jn 1:1-18 “Beloved, our Savior was born today, let us be glad, for there is no proper place for sadness when we keep the birthday of Life!” With these words, Pope Leo I begins his most famous Christmas homily, urging his hearers to perfect and total joy. This is certainly a […]
12/24/22
Reading Time 3 min

The first notes

By Christina Capecchi
From the beginning, there was music. It signaled the parade of life — comings and goings, mornings and evenings. The chirping of birds. The clatter of dishes. The croaking of frogs. Guido Monaco, an 11th-century Italian, loved it all — especially the chanting of monks. It confirmed what he had always sensed: Sometimes, music isn’t simply […]
12/24/22
Reading Time 3 min

How to celebrate Christmas

By Russell Shaw
What is the meaning of Christmas? That question may not be quite as simple as it sounds. For many people, Christmas means big, jovial meals with family and friends, singing seasonal hymns in church, exchanging gifts. And for some generous souls, it also means serving meals to the poor or visiting lonely people in hospitals […]
12/23/22
Reading Time 3 min

Approaching the holidays anew

By Michael Horne
It is strange to say that this Christmas may be a return to normal, but for many people this will be the first time since 2019 that families will be able to gather together without restrictions. We can approach this holiday season with an increased awareness of the importance of our friends and family, and […]
12/22/22
Reading Time 2 min

From darkness into light this Advent

By Sr. Constance Veit, LSP
Our motherhouse is located on a large property in a tiny village in rural France. With its old stone buildings, expansive pastures, flower gardens, and shaded pathways, it’s a gorgeously bucolic setting and the most peaceful place I’ve ever been. During the year that I lived there I don’t think I heard a single airplane […]
12/16/22
Reading Time 3 min

Lessons from dress day

By Mary Beth Bonacci
Several weeks ago, I was invited on short notice to help “fill a table” at a benefit dinner. The theme of the evening was the Roaring ‘20s. (The 1920s, not the current decade, which seems to “roar” decidedly less.) So, I hit the interwebs and found a long sparkly gown to rent for the weekend. […]
12/16/22
Reading Time 4 min

Feeling weary

By Elizabeth Foss
Are you weary today? Does it all just feel like too much? Can you rally just a little?  God sees you there, tired and maybe a little lost. He recognizes that you feel alone and abandoned, even if you are actually in the midst of a great number of people. (Moms who are surrounded by […]
12/16/22
Reading Time 3 min

Following St. Joseph

By Fr. Richard Miserendino
GOSPEL COMMENTARY Dec. 18, Mt 1:18-24 Often, our lives have a way of dramatically changing course and plunging us into deep and uncharted waters, leaving us feeling out of our depth and ill-equipped. Such is certainly the case for St. Joseph in our Gospel this Sunday (Mt 1:18-24). After all, in a single paragraph, Joseph […]
12/16/22
Reading Time 3 min

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