Michael Schattle spent his adult life as a missionary — first, in a traditional sense, as a FOCUS Catholic missionary, then, through active involvement in young adult communities. At the age of thirty-three, on December 2, 2024, Michael died unexpectedly. In...
Watching my son arrange dinosaurs during Mass—his way of staying regulated—reminds me how far our Catholic family has come on our autism journey. What once felt impossible has become a chance to witness the Church embracing all her members, including those on the...
I’ve always wondered why in the world God wants us to worship Him. It never quite made sense to me that a loving God would possess an ego so big that He’d ask His kids to fall down at his feet. But then, one day, I heard an analogy that made at least a bit of sense....
When our son Nathan was in the second year at his Lutheran preschool, my wife and I decided that the large classes and busy hallways of public schools weren’t right for him. Nathan was the quiet kid. He’d sit in the corner and play by himself, anxious to learn...
When you think of influential Catholics, you probably immediately think canonized saints. Not only are there more saints in heaven than we would be able to canonized—or even know by name—but there are many influential Catholics from around the world that we might not...
Racism is an ugly stain on society that many courageous people have tried to heal. Like me, you can probably rattle off names like Martin Luther King, Harriet Tubman, or even John Lewis and his statement about getting into “good trouble.” But can you think of any...
“How could God let this happen?” This cry of a grieving heart expresses one of the greatest challenges to belief in a loving and all-powerful God. Suffering. It feels like a betrayal as if God has stopped being what He is supposed to be. And as much as we can observe...
We live in a beautifully convenient technological era, a time of unprecedented comfort and devices that generations before us could never have conceived. With the advance of remote work, ever-present screens, instant streaming, and drone delivery, why bother leaving...
I kept my faith to myself for the first ten years of my marriage. My husband was an atheist, and although he came to Mass with me, he didn’t really get it, nor did he really want it. His questions felt like challenges to my faith, and it saddened me that I couldn’t...
There are times when it may feel like God is against you, by taking away people or things that you love and hold dear. The loss of a family member, a crumbling marriage, or even the loss of a job; these things may make us feel burned by God and make us cry out, “Why?”...
Isn’t it exciting when you discover that not only do you enjoy someone’s work, but they are Catholic, too? That’s how it felt when I read Timothy Larsen's chapter on E. E. Evans-Pritchard in The Slain God: Anthropologists and the Christian Faith. It was like finding a...
As a lifelong Catholic, I've always had a running list of spiritual experiences and goals I hope to achieve before my time on this earth is through. Call it my "Catholic Bucket List" if you will. These are the dreams and aspirations that stir my heart, drawing me...
“Why do you serve the poor?” “Why do you spend time with the poor?” These two questions have been put to me recently, and they’ve gotten me thinking about my current life in inner city Edmonton’s “shelter district.” This is the place I call home,...
In a world obsessed with filters and airbrushed perfection, it's easy to lose sight of what truly makes us beautiful. We chase fleeting trends, compare ourselves to unattainable ideals, and believe our worth hinges on external validation. But what if I told you...
"I'm happy to see godly men come out on top."- Riley Leonard | University of Notre Dame Quarterback Notre Dame didn't win a National Championship in college football this year, but quarterback Riley Leonard still chose to use his platform to share the Gospel in his...
Should Catholics do yoga? This is a hotly debated question that provokes a wide variety of answers, ranging from people who are unconvinced that Christians have any worries whatsoever to those who are concerned that specific movements may open a door to the demonic....
St. Marie Leonie Paradis is one of fourteen saints that Pope Francis canonized on October 20, 2024. What do you need to know about this holy woman of God? 5 Things To Know About St. Marie Leonie Paradis 1.) St. Marie Leonie was just fourteen years old when she entered...
As a Carmelite friar, or a member of the Carmelite order to which St. Thérèse of Lisieux belonged, many times over the last several years a young person has said to me: “St Thérèse is stalking me.” I have to admit, I appreciate their candor, but I want to also say,...
I love to travel, and the more exciting the place, the better. But my experience in Calcutta, India, pushed my limits even as an experienced traveler. And yet, it was there that I discovered Jesus' presence through Adoration and its essential role in serving...
My family recently adopted a golden retriever puppy. We named her Casey, after the Mudville Nine’s cleanup hitter. She’s adorable. If she wasn’t so darn cute we’d have likely returned her by now. Each time I look at my hands and see all the cuts and scratches from her...
I didn’t go looking for the Sacred Heart; the Sacred Heart found me. My mom always had a statue of both the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary that had a special place in the home while I was growing up. In addition, I grew up about five minutes...
My Catholic journey began when I was 8 years old and being raised in a Methodist church. It started with a something of a supernatural experience. There was a voice in my head that head that kept speaking up whenever I was in church. The voice said, “Something is...
In a world overrun with social media and two-second soundbites, it’s often a challenge to know who to trust or what to believe. I should know. I was raised in a Protestant Christian church with Protestant friends. I attended a Protestant school. I read Protestant...
Jane Austen wrote Emma knowing that most people would not like the main character: "I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like." Perhaps you have read the striking story Emma or watched the newest cinematic adaptation. Whether it is an...
First things first. When I embarked on the quest to find Catholic women, who are not saints or blesseds, I was prepared for surprises. Many of us know our holy and inspiring women saints (Saint Catherine of Sienna, Saint Rita, Saint Therese, Saint Edith Stein… I could...