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Columns

The seven stations of a parent’s fire watch

By Soren Johnson
My wife will never forget her dad’s nightly walk through the house, checking on doors, windows, heaters … you name it. His unfailing fire watch gave her and her siblings a visceral sense of being loved, protected and cared for. While my father-in-law is not a fireman, he might just as well have read the […]
5/6/22
Reading Time 3 min

Euphemisms for abortion

By Russell Shaw
The abortion-friendly Washington Post recently provided a revealing look into a debate taking place in the world of abortion advocacy. The issue, in short, is whether to call abortion “abortion” or call it something else. According to the Post’s Caroline Kitchener, the argument has heated up in response to legislative activity looking to a Supreme […]
5/6/22
Reading Time 3 min

‘My sheep hear my voice’

By Fr. Richard Miserendino
GOSPEL COMMENTARY may 8, Jn 10:27-30 It’s a safe bet that most Catholics in Northern Virginia are not overly familiar with sheep. For most folks in our area, our principal experience of sheep probably comes from either our wool sweaters or references in the Gospels themselves. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, we are the sheep […]
5/6/22
Reading Time 3 min

Speaking of resurrection

By Laura Kelly Fanucci
We don’t talk enough about resurrection. How a marriage can be resurrected: How what felt dead and gone, ready to be buried in the dark earth forever, is not always dead and gone. How a friendship can be resurrected: How speaking hard words can breathe new life into brittle bones. How relationships can come back […]
5/3/22
Reading Time 3 min

‘You know that I love you’

By Fr. Steven Oetjen
David once prayed, “Judge me, Lord, for I have walked in my innocence; and hoping in the Lord, I will not be put to shame. Test me, Lord, and try me; burn pure my reins and my heart” (Ps 26:1-2). Perhaps it’s hard for us to pray this, or even to imagine wanting to pray […]
4/29/22
Reading Time 3 min

Protecting kids online

By Michael Horne
As parents, we are painfully aware of the many dangers facing children in our world. And while we don’t want to live in fear, or seek to wrap our kids in bubble wrap, unintentionally stifling their maturation, we need to recognize that not all risks are immediately visible. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and […]
4/22/22
Reading Time 2 min

Question Corner: Purgatory and the good thief

By Fr. Kenneth Doyle
Difference between priest and monsignor Q. Could you explain for me the difference (if any) between “priest” and “monsignor?” Under what circumstances is a priest given the title of “monsignor”? (Burke, Va.) A. “Monsignor” is a title bestowed on a priest who has distinguished himself by exceptional service to the church. It is a title […]
4/22/22
Reading Time 5 min

Why we value our volunteers

By Debra Beard
When word got out last August that Catholic Charities was resettling Afghan refugees, our phone began ringing off the hook. We received generous offers from parishioners and community members all over the diocese who wanted to help. As a result, we were able to serve more than 800 refugees in the first six months, supporting […]
4/22/22
Reading Time 3 min

Divine Mercy Sunday

By Fr. Jack Peterson, YA
Jesus’ resurrection from the dead opened the floodgates and unleashed a torrent of healing grace and wondrous deeds. Our precious Lord appeared to his disciples, healed them from sin and doubt, and sent them to every corner of the world to carry on his mission. Immediately upon bursting out of the tomb on Easter Sunday, […]
4/22/22
Reading Time 3 min

War is Christ’s passion

By Russell Shaw
Holy Week, the week of Christ’s suffering and death, has a special name this year — Ukraine. Let Caryll Houselander explain why that’s so: “For us, this war is the passion of Christ. There is no need now to dwell on its cruelty… . To the natural eye it seems that out of this war […]
4/22/22
Reading Time 3 min

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