Last Saturday marked the thirtieth anniversary of the dismantling of the Berlin Wall that had separated communist rules East Germany from West Germany. The crowd remembered the joy of freedom and the suffering and death of the many victims who had suffered violence over the decades when the Soviet-backed Stasi controlled East Germany. During the [...]
Last week following the withdrawal of United States troops from northern Syria, images of war and those fleeing from war flashed before us on small and large screens, calling us to stand in solidarity with those who mourn and suffer. While no one would argue against President Trump's stated goal of not engaging in "endless [...]
This month calls us to remember the communion we share with all the living and the deceased to mourn the dead and reflect on the meaning of life. Last Sunday two events converged, reminding us of the fragility of life, the threat of terrorism and the need to be peacemakers. The first anniversary of the [...]
Mary is a model of strength and humility. While the mission and grace given Our Lady are extraordinary, we all have a mission to carry out in response to the life and gifts given us by God. Following his death last week, Representative Elijah Cummings was remembered the son of a sharecropper who made a [...]
Model disciple and Mother of God, Mary is, indeed, "blessed among women” and a blessing for women. Unfortunately, women are often targets of social and domestic violence. September 13th marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, which has been credited for reducing domestic violence through a series of measures ranging from education [...]
Summer's end signals the beginning of a new school year and the harvest of autumnal crops. Unfortunately, for some children, farm work proves a considerable and often insurmountable obstacle to achieving academic and career goals. Labor laws allow children as young as 12 to work on farms with their parents or with parental [...]
Last week we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the moon landing which gave us new insights into the solar system and a new perspective on our fragile earth. The fragility of our nation and challenge of our times became apparent when in a July 14th tweet, President Trump suggested that four freshman Congresswomen [...]
Last week's feast of Pentecost reminds us of the history of our church and of our current obligations to care for those in need. A walk through most neighborhoods or a glimpse of the evening news will reveal many needy people, but perhaps among the most compelling stories have been those of unaccompanied minors [...]
Last Friday on the Feast of the Visitation, we remembered how after the annunciation Mary hastened to help her older cousin Elizabeth through her pregnancy. In contrast to Mary's outreach, Friday's news announced President Trump's intention to put new tariffs on Mexico unless Mexico stems immigrant migration. Likely to face legal challenges and delays, the [...]
Established by the UN General Assembly in 1993, the May 3rd observance of World Press Freedom Day reminded us of threats to reporters, including the targeted killing of five Capital Gazette employees in Annapolis, Maryland, last June and the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia this past October. According to recent [...]
