April 2017
Welcoming the Stranger
In 2008, I visited St. Gerard Majella Church in the Diocese of Brooklyn in New York. The greeter warmly welcomed me and I took a seat. The bulletin had an entire column devoted to welcoming the newcomer and contained a coupon to fill out if one wanted more information about church membership.
Psalm 22: ‘My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?’
Each year during Holy Week we Christians stand once again near the cross and hear Jesus’ cry anew. Unlike those described in the Gospel, though, we know exactly what he said and we recognize it as the opening verse of Psalm 22.
Darkness & Light: A Good Friday Reflection
Christ died on the cross so we may have help carrying our own.
Paulina Cerrilla: Rising Star
Paulina Cerrilla captured the nation’s attention four years ago with her appearance on The Voice, a television show that features top-notch talent competing for a recording contract.
Homily? Eulogy?
Some dioceses allow eulogies at funerals, and others do not. Why is this?
This question arises frequently. According to the 1989 Order of Christian Funerals (the ritual book used by Catholics in the United States), “A brief homily is given after the Gospel reading ” (#166).
Help for Nurturing a Franciscan Spirituality
I need some practical advice for how to live and grow in Franciscan spirituality as a layperson. Because I am not close to a Secular Franciscan group, I need to do this on my own.
