On the day that I decided to sit down and write this column, the Gospel for the weekday Mass was Matthew 13:24-30. It is the story of the man who sowed good seed in a field; but as he slept, an enemy came along and sowed weeds in with the wheat.  When the man’s slaves saw that weeds were...
Read full story »

Have you ever had one of these moments when you were amazed by what you were seeing?  I had this experience just recently as I looked at my phone late one night and saw 12 boys and one adult calmly seated in the depths of a cavern peering into a camera.  It was so exciting, so unexpected...
Read full story »

“As I have done for you, you should also do” ( John 13:15). The scripture passage above finds its way to us during Lent as we hear Jesus’ commands to the 12 apostles during the Last Supper. Discipleship demands participation – ongoing communication with our God through the W...
Read full story »

One hot, muggy summer evening not long ago, I bounded out the front door to retrieve our daily newspaper. As the full-glass storm door closed behind me I heard an odd flopping noise. I turned to see what was wrong with the door and, to my horror, saw a 3-foot snake dangling from the top of the door...
Read full story »

I am a “girly girl.” I like nail polish, smelling nice, clean clothes and the comfort of being inside.  So I find it quite amusing that God asked me to do ministry in a summer camp for a few years and then brought an amazing, big-time camper into my life, who I eventually married.&...
Read full story »

I have spent a lot of my life in reflection. In fact, one of my favorite quotes is from Socrates: “… an unexamined life is not worth living.” Reflection is something that was developed in me early as a child, and I think I came by it honestly. Literally, one of my mom’s cons...
Read full story »

“The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls, looking like hard work.” –Thomas Edison   This quote from Thomas Edison caught my attention because, it seems to me, it is not often that hard work is thought of as an...
Read full story »

My husband and I spent our Memorial Day weekend visiting my sister in Missouri. She and her husband had toured the Missouri State Penitentiary, now closed, at an earlier time and thought we might find it interesting. So on a hot day, we headed to Jefferson City for the tour. I have not been in a pr...
Read full story »

Early one morning a few weeks ago, I took my coffee out to our patio and watched the first beams of sunlight filter through the trees and ripple across the grass in the yard. The air was crystal clear and carried that clean, innocent smell that is exclusive to newborn babies and spring mornings. Th...
Read full story »

There are fundamental questions all human beings ask. Who am I? What is this life all about? Why am I here in this particular place at this particular time? As Catholic Christians, we believe the answers, however incomplete, are given to us through our faith in God and in the revelation of Jesus Ch...
Read full story »