Fr. Ambrose, Director of the Norbertine Father's Novices, has witnessed several young men hear and answer the call to a priestly vocation with the Norbertines. Currently, there are thirty-eight seminarians living at St. Michael's Abbey with two more on the waiting...
This week we talked about how it feels like we are a remnant of the church, growing up in the 90s and straying and returning we feel we are the products of an insufficient catholic teaching. We reflected on the progress of the New Evangelisation, and how there are so...
What is servant leadership? As leaders, we should be oriented towards service, self gift. It's a simple principle, but it has to be renewed constantly. We also have to take care of ourselves in order to be able to give of ourselves to others. In this week's Catholic...
Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt isn't in it for the fame, but it sure is coming her way. Not only has she won the hearts of many across the United States, but the basketball team that she has cheered on and prayed with for years has just won a game that will put them into...
Think science and faith are incompatible? It's a common myth that science and faith contradict each other. These 15 people prove that Catholics can make great scientists. Not only have they upheld the teachings of the Church, but they have also made incredible...
If you attend a parish blessed with a Knights of Columbus council, you have probably tasted their delicious pancakes. You may have even had a Tootsie Roll they sell to raise money for charity. But, do you think that’s all they do? Just pancakes and Tootsie Rolls? Who...
Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa has traditionally been known as the second oldest Catholic college west of the Mississippi River and for its legacy of successful, community-driven leaders. This fall, Loras College hopes to become known for their newest endeavor as...
I want to develop the theme of unity of body and soul, introduced at the end of my last article on God and the Gym. Here’s what the Catechism has to say about it: Man, though made of body and soul, is a unity. … For this reason, man may not despise his bodily life....
Father Ian VanHeusen presents a Gospel reflection and spiritual exercise for the Feast of Christ the King, Matthew 25:31-46, where Jesus tells His disciples. As adopted children of God, we actually participate in God's Authority. When we celebrate the authority of...
“Good reason still existed; but it was kept concealed, for fear of the popular reason." - Manzoni Fear of change, of responsibility, of failure, always seeks a justification. Just like Father Abbondio before Cardinal Borromeo in the famous Italian novel, The...
“This is the end which befalls evildoers. And in this life scoundrels always receive their just deserts!” - Don Giovanni, Mozart If Don Giovanni had paused for just a moment during his quest for pleasure and realized how empty his life was, he would have had no choice...
Is your authority building up, or tearing down? Presenting five things that Jesus teaches about leadership, used as an examination of conscience. We invite you to watch Father's video, then prayerfully read the Gospel and reflection. We pray that this might help you...
I have a pastor who is "in his natural habitat" at the altar and at the pulpit. His ars celebrandi (manner of saying the Mass) is so careful and reverent. He has a beautiful and clear voice for speaking and singing various parts of the Liturgy. His homilies are often...
Over the next five articles, we will embark on a brief exploration of the complex and often overlooked topic of being male. The articles will be reflective and open to discussion, so please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below. Be mindful...
This story from the life of St. Clare not only reveals to us her incredible devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and her deep trust in the Lord's protection, but it also demonstrates the power of the Holy Eucharist. Though she was feeble and sick, St.Clare turned away an...
St. Teresa Benedicta. Do you know her? You ought to. Edith Stein was born in 1891 in Germany, the youngest of 11 children. She was raised Jewish but fell away from the faith and all belief in God as a teen. Highly gifted, Stein grew up to obtain her doctorate in...
The celebration of Pentecost reminds us of our need for the Holy Spirit. How often do you pray to and invite the Holy Spirit into your life? Jesus left us with the Advocate to help us grow in holiness, but many of us don't understand how to incorporate this aspect of...
Have you ever wondered why the Catholic Church is structured in a hierarchical form? Or, what makes the difference between a deacon and a priest? Or how our local parishes fit into the global relationship of the Church? Each member of the Church has an equally...
The Pope Francis TED talk is trending all over the news today. Filmed at the Vatican, the talk debuted during TED's international conference in Vancouver on Tuesday night. It was a surprise for all who attended. Media coverage from CNN to the Huffington Post has been...
The Gospel of Matthew gives emphasis to St. Joseph, for it is through him that the legal, filial line passed from King David to Jesus. The following are virtues we all stand to learn from St. Joseph. St. Joseph's Silence If we look at Sacred Scripture, there is not...
I am obviously not a father, and not a son. I have a father, and I have a Father, but - as a woman - I will never fully grasp the beautiful mystery that is the relationship between fathers and sons. On that matter, this little moment simply speaks for itself....
Men, Manhood & Masculinity Over the next five articles, we will embark on a brief exploration of the complex and often overlooked topic of being male. The articles will be reflective and open to discussion, so please share your thoughts and experiences in the...
It’s been my word - my word all year’s been LOVE. Last week, Alabama and Clemson squared off in the National College Football Championship, in front of an estimated television audience of over 26 Million viewers. Amidst a dramatic finish and an “underdog” subplot,...
I write this article on the first anniversary of my father´s death and first year in heaven. And it is not presumption or bragging: my father died one Saturday morning, wearing the Scapular of Our Lady of the Mount Carmel and with the final Sacraments administered by...
“There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven.” Ecc. 3:1 For the Chicago Cubs, it is the season for rejoicing. A historical moment occurred as the World Series entered the 10th inning of the deciding game that began on November 2, 2016....