A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to chat with Sister Eileen Reckelhoff, a member of the Benedictine community of Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand. During the course of our conversation Sister Eileen mentioned how her family life at home very much mirrored life in the monastic...
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Perhaps you didn’t realize it, but June 2nd was National Doughnut Day!  We may find it funny to celebrate such a thing, but now really, who doesn’t enjoy a good doughnut!  I came across an interesting story of a tradition that began in Chicago in 1938 to finance the Salvation...
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One of my most beloved scripture passages is John 14:2, where Jesus says, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.”  When I was a child and I tried to imagine what that dwelling place would...
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“Let the children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs” (Mark 10:14).   Two weeks ago our neighbors extended an invitation to my husband and me to attend a Kentucky Derby party. We were excited to attend, especially since we have...
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A few weeks ago a friend and former co-worker passed away. As those of us who knew “Toots” Kunkler reminisced about her life, one subject dominated our conversation—her wonderful sense of humor. As we shared stories of how she sometimes made us laugh until our stomachs hurt, I rem...
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Baseball season in the community has begun, and we have two grandsons playing in the T-ball league this year.  We attended “Opening Day” on a recent Saturday; it was a bit chilly, but that didn’t seem to  keep these young athletes from the excitement of the activities. &...
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Summer is often a time when catechists and parish catechetical leaders plan for the upcoming school year. As this planning process unfolds, I would like to encourage those involved in religious education to spend some time reflecting on their own spiritual journeys for inspiration.  Some of my...
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I have a memory from long ago of being next to my mother in the water at the beach on the south shore of Boston. The mothers would stand together knee-deep discussing whatever it is that mothers discuss in the early years of motherhood. I had an inflatable swimming ring on and suddenly found myself...
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One of the fondest memories I have as a mom is curling up with my daughter in the evening before bed and reading to her. I was quickly reminded of this practice/ritual as I attempted to organize our attic and was pleasantly surprised to find an endless array of books that spanned at least the first...
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Several years ago I was required to be trained on – and received a license to operate –  a work assist vehicle. The vehicle’s purpose is to help access material in racks that cannot be reached from the floor. The WAV allows just enough room for the operator to stand on a smal...
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