On the way home from school, my children and I were talking about the demographic crisis many countries face, and I was outlining potential reasons why the birth rate was so low in so many countries—from economic pressures to cultural pessimism to changing values and norms, particularly where religious practice is declining. They started out… Read More Why Have Children?

Several years ago, Fr. Dan Leary preached a wonderful homily on Pentecost at our parish. He challenged us each to pray to the Holy Spirit as part of our daily lives. After mass, I got to work in the backyard of our new house. I was determined to clear out some of the area around… Read More Come, Holy Spirit

Imagine sitting in mass surrounded by hundreds of people that you love. It is hard to convey the deep sense of communion that I have felt in these moments at the high school where I have taught for the last six years. For tens of millions of Americans, such experiences are quite rare or even… Read More How Can We Rebuild Community in an Era of Extreme Individualism?

I miss Pope Francis. Although he had been seriously ill for several months, his death on Easter Monday was a shock and made it hard for me to savor the joy of the Easter Season. Pope Francis had a gift for reaching people on an affective level. A lot can be said about Francis and… Read More “Authority is Service”: Grateful for Francis, Hopeful for Leo XIV

In our Gospel today, Jesus tells his disciples: “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” What does this really mean—“As I have loved you?” How did he love them? He called them. He listened to them. He healed them. He fed them. He led them. He taught them. He trusted… Read More Love is Fundamental

The culture of encounter, resisting the throwaway culture, mercy + tenderness, the importance of witness + living the faith 24/7, a poor church for the poor, his whole life approach, living joyfully, a more inclusive, participatory Church… Pope Francis gave us so much. pic.twitter.com/FMDSYqPm7l — Robert Christian (@RGC3) April 21, 2025 My reflection during a… Read More Millennial Catholics on Pope Francis’ Leadership and Legacy

Pope Francis: “Charity helps us to know the truth and truth calls for acts of kindness.” Pope Francis: “Joy multiplies when you share it!” Pope Francis: “Only in the silence of prayer can you learn to listen to the voice of God.” Pope Francis: “The Lord is close to all those who are victims of… Read More 100 Quotes from Pope Francis