Despite the angel’s assurance of God’s favor, Our Blessed Mother experienced worry and fear. As we listen to the Gospel accounts, we are moved by the courage and faith that Mary showed in those early years: traveling to Bethlehem, fleeing to Egypt, looking for Jesus when he remained in the temple. Following a federal appeals [...]
Last week's feast of the Queenship of Mary reminded us of our mission to follow Christ in working for justice and peace. Plans to allow oil and gas leasing programs to operate in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, home to wolves, caribou, and other wildlife. The drilling also threatens the culture and livelihood of the [...]
The Feast of the Assumption of Mary holds both joy and promise for us. We rejoice in the honor given Mary and we see in her the promise of our own future. Because of the ongoing pandemic, much of our immediate future can seem beyond our control, but our individual actions matter. In this, too, we [...]
The Corona virus has left no segment of our society untouched, but the immigrant community has faced particular challenges, some of which were caused by government regulations. Prospective immigrants have long been required to prove, generally through sponsorship by employers or relatives, that they would not become “public charges.” However, as noted in previous blogs, [...]
Tired of long shutdowns, we no longer use the word novel to describe COVID-19, but as cases surge throughout much of the nation we are still discovering new information about the virus. In a divisive political climate, evolving advice can be interpreted and discredited as evidence of fake news. Widespread protests demanding reform in our [...]
The icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help shows Mary looking at us as she holds and comforts the infant Christ, who has been frightened by the sight of the instruments of the Passion which angels hold. The much-revered icon reminds us of Mary's ongoing maternal care for us and our ongoing need to be [...]
It's all about relationships, this Christian life of ours. At baptism we were welcomed into intimate relationship with the Trinity-- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. From the cross, Jesus gave us his mother. How, then, can we be so divided that one police officer could keep his knee on George Floyd’s neck [...]
As parts of the United States are beginning to ease the long isolation of the pandemic, there is much discussion of lessons learned. Meant to encourage sheltering in place and social distancing, the slogan “Alone Together” can also be said of the world, each country struggling with life and death. We have witnessed the enormous [...]
As May flowers remind us of Mary’s title as the new Eve, Mother of the Living. we mark the fifth anniversary of Laudato Si Pope Francis’ encyclical on care of the earth. Challenging us to consider what sort of world we wanted to leave our children, Pope Francis called for reflection and action to preserve [...]
As COVID-19 spread rapidly and was declared a pandemic, the world united in tracking both the disease’s course and international, national, and regional efforts to control the spread and mitigate its effects. The number of fatalities was and continues to be overwhelming. The individual stories of people dying, the numbers of people dying after caring [...]
