Parents and school staffers are sometimes surprised—and relieved—on graduation day By George Valadie Since we’ve retired, the concept of time has taken on an odd sensation. Random days are crazy busy. But others—when there’s not as much to do—feel like they crawl by, hours barely creeping along if they move …
Easter healing
Even in the season of joy, we must still love those suffering By Claire Collins Easter, the Church’s great season of joy, is here. The Gloria has returned, our homes are decorated with plastic eggs, and bright floral colors decorate the pews of our churches. For my family, the joy …
A plea for mercy
God has given us through St. Faustina a most powerful weapon—the Chaplet of Divine Mercy By Bishop Richard F. Stika “O give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.” — Psalm 136:1 Twenty-two years ago, on April 30, 2000, St. John Paul II canonized …
Getting ready for ‘Tornado Season 2022’
Does God get a good laugh watching us prepare our lives for an eternity we know is coming? By George Valadie An-ni-ver-sa-ry plural: anniversaries—1. The annual recurrence of a date marking a notable event, e.g., a wedding anniversary. Happily, that’s most often the context in which we use the word, …
We have reason to sing our ‘Alleluias’
What an outrageous idea: that we, as Christians, should dare to have joy in this world By Bob Hunt “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.”—1 Peter 3:15 “We are an Easter people, and ‘Alleluia’ is our song!”—St. Augustine …
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God’s ‘peace plan’
In a time of global crisis, our consecration to Our Lady of Fatima and St. Joseph are needed more than ever By Bishop Richard F. Stika “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not …
Who am I?
The question Jesus asks all of us is the key to knowing our true identity and purpose in life By Bishop Richard F. Stika “Today, I must stay at your house.” — Luke 19:5 Welcoming Christ. It is generally considered rude to invite oneself to another’s house. But in the …
‘What are you waiting for?’
FOCUS missionaries are changing lives by bringing the Catholic faith to university students By Claire Collins My sophomore year of college at the University of Tennessee, I was getting closer and closer to leaving the Catholic Church. While my Dominican Catholic education had convinced me of Jesus’ presence in the …
A teleological question: Why do we exist?
Lent is a good time to reflect on the mystery of the meaning of our lives, our telos By Bob Hunt The Greek telos, from which is derived “teleology,” is a word packed with meaning. It is used to signify the end goal or purpose of something, an action or …
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Remembering ‘James, the French fry guy’
He served meals to students with a smile, never revealing what he was feeling inside By George Valadie Not too long ago, Nancy and I had the opportunity to return to Memphis, where we had spent 14 wonderful years of our lives. There, I had the privilege of serving as …
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God as the eternal watchmaker or violinist
St. Thomas Aquinas and philosopher William Paley offer different proofs for the existence of God By Bob Hunt Recently, I had the honor of leading a Communion service at my parish on the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, where I offered a reflection on St. Thomas. It seemed to go …
A retiree enjoys volunteering at the hospital
Driving patients to and from their cars leads to laughter and learning about ‘bonus days’ By George Valadie It’s becoming one of the most enjoyable days of my week: Tuesdays—the day I volunteer at the hospital. Long before I’d ever officially announced my leaving, I knew I had no intention …