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Have you paid attention to the man behind the curtain? In the famous movie, “The Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy, her friends and her dog Toto journey through the magical land of Oz to reach the wizard, the only person who can send her back home to Kansas. When the group travels to the wizard’s inner […]
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By Mary Stachyra Lopez
More than three decades ago, the members of the Ladies’ Guild at Epiphany Byzantine Catholic Church in Annandale began serving up meatless dinners on Friday nights during Lent. The pirohis, haluski, nut rolls and other traditional Ukranian fare grew more and more popular, until one year, there simply weren’t enough cooks to keep up with […]
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There was a time in medieval history and in some places even later when believers would use extreme methods of self-discipline or self-punishment during Lent as a penance for sin. We’re most familiar with these practices from movies we’ve seen or, in my case, the historical novels I enjoy reading. Hair shirts that bit at […]
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Given by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde at the annual Diocesan Men’s Conference at Foxchase Manor in Manassas. It has been so good to be here, deepening our faith together, and encouraging one another in our walk with Christ within His Church. Throughout the day I have seen several father-son combinations here. In fact, I […]
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By Dave Borowski
When Deacon Albert A. Anderson Jr. started to preach at St. Joseph Church in Alexandria March 16, people sat quietly in the pews. This was the first of three nights of Lenten Revival Services at the Old Town church, and part of the ongoing centennial celebration. Deacon Anderson wanted people up on their feet. “We’re […]
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The life-changing encounter between the angel Gabriel and Our Lady, which is recorded in Luke’s Gospel (Lk 1:26-38) and is especially remembered on March 25 – the Solemnity of the Annunciation – was the shortest job interview in history. When Mary was informed that her unexpected maternity would not alter what many scholars have understood […]
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By Christine Stoddard
Often there’s an assumption that all or most Catholic immigrants in the United States hail from Latin America and speak Spanish. But that does a disservice to other immigrant groups whose struggle to assimilate and observe their faith in a new land may be misunderstood or even go unnoticed, explained William Dinges, a professor of […]
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By Fr. William P. Saunders
Q: In light of the President’s recent remarks at the Prayer Breakfast referencing ISIS to the Crusades as if the beheadings, burnings, etc. throughout the ages had already happened in the “name of Jesus,” I would like to know a little history of the Crusades/Inquisition. – A reader in Woodstock A: In the last “Straight […]
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By Briana Florez
The Lady Panthers of Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax won their second consecutive WCAC championship and their ninth straight VISAA championship in late February. Senior forward Kendall Hunter was named to the VISAA Division I First Team All State and also was honored as Player of the Year. As she prepares to graduate […]



Drawn to Christ on the cross