Parenthood Parents, you are indispensable in the life of your child. You as mother or father have a God-given authority and duty to your child. The Fourth Commandment states: “Honor your father and mother (cf. Deut. 5:16; Mk. 7:10).” After God Himself, in the family,...
As the Church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, the Body of Christ is invited to not only reflect on the event of Jesus’ Baptism, but also to reflect on the mystery of our own Baptism. The beginning of Jesus’ public ministry is marked by His baptism....
A book with all the milestones you’d want as a Catholic parents? Impossible, you say… But, it does exist, thanks to Kate from Thy Olive Tree! It can be overwhelming how many milestones, photos, and memories you want to record for your children. You could fill in a...
Outside the Church There is No Salvation Can non-Catholics be saved? It is a big question, with a nuanced answer. Let us begin in 3rd Century Carthage. St. Cyprian coined the following perennial adage of the Church: “extra Ecclesiam nulla salus” which means “outside...
What is RCIA? What are the Steps? For the past few decades, the normal way for an unbaptized non-Catholic to enter the Catholic Church is the RCIA process. This stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. There is an entire book of the Church (aptly named...
Dear Child, My parents baptized me three months after I was born. I don’t remember it. I wasn’t asked if I wanted to be baptized or not, nor would I have been able to understand or respond. And, I’m grateful that they did. We decided to do the same for you. We...
Mario Lopez, former star of Saved By the Bell and current host of "Extra," has spent the last week in the Holy Land. He has shared several video highlights from his trip on social media, but the video that has gone viral is of his baptism in the Jordan River....
In the spirit of spontaneity and pure wanderlust, my closest girls and I decided to check out the new Harry Potter world and return to a place of nostalgia - Universal Studios. We made our way down to LA and entered into the world of movies. We started with Harry...
“This fear of death is like a constant winter.” ~ St. Augustine Last week, in order to make the most out of the Christmas break, I went on a trip to Naples with friends from the parish where I assist on the weekends and where my close friend is the parish priest....
Don't know how to start explaining the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church to your son or daughter? Are you lacking material for your church’s catechesis program? Is it sometimes a bit complicated for you? Don’t worry. Through this article, we’ll help you...
So you’re a godparent? Congratulations! But, your beloved godchild lives miles away… how will you ever have a strong spiritual mentorship to him or her? Well, God, the Father lives in Heaven and His love still surrounds us constantly. Through Him all things are truly...
Why is it so important to get your baby baptized? From the moment of conception, parents begin to experience all of the emotions that come with welcoming a new life into this world. Though there is plenty of joy and excitement, there can also be feelings of...
This is the time of year in which many of us run ragged trying to find the “perfect” gift for everyone on our list. If you’re buying for a Catholic or looking for an opportunity to witness to the faith, we have done the work...
When we are baptized, a special pair of adults are chosen in addition to our parents to be our spiritual guides. Personally, my godparents go above and beyond the call in their commitment to this vital role in a child's life. I’ve watched how they love...
Catholic-link.com - Slick cinematic craftsmanship, rapid fire inside-jokes and witty storytelling capture our eyes and imaginations in Follow The Frog. A self-congratulating, sarcastically humorous tone addresses the savvy consumer as a co-conspirator. The ad is so...
Outside da Box is an apostolate dedicated to bringing Jesus Christ to the young church through digital media. In addition to the quality of the videos, it is immensely encouraging for me to witness a group of Catholics who are taking digital evangelization seriously....
Our baptismal promises – promises that were made at one particular and special moment in our lives, yet through this sacrament’s indelible spiritual mark, do and must continue to shape our life. As Catholics, by way of reminder, we situate our reflection on the...
This six-minute video that comes as part of the Sacraments 101 Series by Busted Halo excellently presents a basic catechesis on the Sacrament of Baptism. During my transitional diaconate, I had the wonderful opportunity to serve the Filipino Community in Rome at Santa...