Almsgiving takes many forms and happens daily around us
As you read this, less than two weeks remain in our 2015 Lenten journey. Many times since Feb. 18 – Ash Wednesday – we have heard the phrase that defines these 40 days of preparation … prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We can do each daily, year-round. And it has occur...Read full story »
Monday, March 23, 2015
A look at 'the state of being poor'
Webster defines poverty succinctly: “The state of being poor.” As part of this special issue of The Message, we share with you a pastoral letter on poverty issued by Indiana’s five bishops. Please spend some time in that special section, and please keep it for future refere...Read full story »
Monday, March 09, 2015
With apologies to Bobby McFerrin….
One major branch of my extended-family tree has deep roots in the outdoor industry – boating, camping, fishing, hunting, shooting and all that goes with them. I spent more than 30 years writing newspaper columns and magazine features on those things; and God blessed me with the chance...Read full story »
Monday, March 02, 2015
I really don't like the word 'apologetics'
Let me apologize now if the rest of this column offends you. Truly, I don’t believe it will. But I make that statement more as a way of getting to the heart of this piece. If you visit the dictionary.com website and look up apologize, you’ll get two definitions. The...Read full story »
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Delving into 'the foolishness of faith'
Recently, The Message reader Mary Jo Bennett shared a “Justice Prayer.” I want to focus on its last sentence: “And may you be blessed with the foolishness to think that you can make a difference in the world, so you will do things which others say cannot be done.R...Read full story »
Monday, February 02, 2015
Your Catholic community continues to evolve
What’s that old cliché … “Change is the only constant?” It’s something like that. Take The Message as a perfect example. With this issue, we mark the first anniversary of full-on launch of our digital edition. Many readers are embracing it, and we ho...Read full story »
Monday, January 19, 2015
A wish you for you and a resolution for me
On my way to church for the New Year’s Eve Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, this column preoccupied my thoughts. Over and over, my thoughts went all over the place before returning to one of my favorite Bible passages – and I decided to make it the focus of thi...Read full story »
Monday, January 05, 2015
Smiles really DO beget smiles!
Most of last week (i.e. Dec. 8-11), smiles begot smiles in the gymnasium of our Catholic Center. Fortunate to be an observer of what played out there, I expected some of them; others made me thank God. During those four days, the Catholic Center gym hosted the 2014 edition of Catholic...Read full story »
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Papa is all about our Mother
I get it; about Pope Francis, that is. Do you? New Chicago Archbishop Blase J. Cupich does. Sister Mary Ann Walsh included the following quote from Archbishop Cupich in a Nov. 16 “America” magazine blog entry called, “A close look at the new Archbishop of Chic...Read full story »
Monday, December 01, 2014
Giving thanks for proof of God's existence
Yes indeed … proof of God’s existence … that’s the collective term I use for everything that comes to mind this time of year, when all of us take a moment to reflect on what we’re grateful for. Seriously; blessings prove God’s existence. What did I do to d...Read full story »
Monday, November 17, 2014
