I had the wonderful pleasure of attending the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering on February 7-10, 2015 in Washington, D.C. There were several things I liked about the conference that proved beneficial to my growth spiritually and professionally…
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For a long time, I admit, my ideas of conscience had something to do with a “little voice” in my head, or that nagging gut feeling of guilt...
Read More“So, why can’t I receive communion?”
It was a sunny Wednesday afternoon during my freshman year of college and I was walking to class with one of my good friends…
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For many, college invokes the promise of a fresh start. New beginnings can bring growth, and there is no better way to grow than in your faith. Formation of the Christian community is vital to the growth of the Church and the spiritual growth of the individuals themselves…
Read MoreFamilies have been receiving a lot of attention recently. In his encyclical, Laudato Si’, Pope Francis teaches that of all the groups that play a role in the welfare of society and help ensure respect for human dignity, “outstanding among [them] is the family, as the basic cell of society” (no. 157)…
Read MoreAppropriating our faith is vital, even without some sort of title
We own and we possess, We know when to digress
As we speak gently and respectfully to each other…
As we make our way through Lent, we remember that Jesus calls us to see God in the face of others, especially the poor, to be compassionate, to respect human life and to be forgiving, chaste and loving…
Read Moren Part One we learned that our conscience resides at the juncture where heart and mind meet. Our conscience serves to help us make the appropriate judgments at appropriate times so as to act accordingly in choosing good and avoiding evil…
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We’ve all seen the cartoon or movie wherein a character stands smack dab in the midst of some momentary moral conundrum, suddenly the “devil” appears on one shoulder and an “angel” on the other – each entity trying their hardest to sway the will of the poor creature in the decision to be made…
Read MoreDuring my 19th summer, I went on a retreat in Washington D. C. with my college friends. The retreat itself was not memorable, but my encounter with Christ was something I can never forget…
Read MoreThose of us who are privileged to serve young Catholics on a college campus know that one of our first responsibilities is to catechize our students. Throughout my ministry I have learned that while sharing knowledge of the faith is central to anyone engaged in catechesis, our primary work is forming disciples…
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Above my desk is an old bulletin board completely covered with notes, pictures, icons, prayers, and quotes. I often find students studying it, reading the quotes and notes with interest…
Read MoreThis is my second year working in campus ministry at the University of Texas at Austin. I am an alumnus of this great university and will speak from the heart. I did not want to attend the orientation program for campus ministers in the first place…
Read MoreEven as a Catholic new to taking my faith seriously, I’ve heard this passage used again and again, imploring us to serve the poor, or donate to a visiting missionary in my local parish, or volunteering at the local food pantry. That is not to make light of or dismiss this passage…
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It’s early in the new semester of fall 2014. I walked into our campus bookstore the other day and found the usual line which forms at the beginning of a new school year...
Read MoreThe high unemployment rate of young adults, both in the United States and around the world, is the focus of the 2014 Labor Day Statement from the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami…
Read MoreIn college, discernment was easy. “Discernment” meant prayer and discussing possible vocations with friends and spiritual guides…
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I carry wounds. I carry scars. I carry pains. I carry all of these pieces of sadness, loneliness, challenge, and despair inside me. Some wounds are visible and others are buried deep inside my heart…
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