I've never understood those commercials that always pop-up around this time of year showing parents rejoicing as they send kids back-to-school . Of course, by the end of summer, I'm completely exhausted, but I never feel ecstatic about the start of a new school...
It’s not an unusual situation (though I wish it were) that many young people today (mostly when they go to college), motivated by different reasons, abandon their Catholic faith. The causes range from the influence of friends and fashions, to intense rationalism in...
Disclaimer: This post is not meant to be a formula for raising Catholic kids; it's simply one family's experience of how the witness of parents shaped children who became faithful Catholic adults. Each of my siblings and I got to a point in life where we had to choose...
God's plan for the family is to be a model of the love of the Holy Trinity. "The Christian family is a communion of persons, a sign and image of the communion of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit. In the procreation and education of children it reflects the...
This viral video of a young girl's poetry performance in her school classroom makes for powerful and somewhat painful viewing. She is a 7th-grade student, only twelve or thirteen years old. In watching it, my heart went out to her, because I understood her struggles....
I'm sure you can recall a time when someone's words caused you deep hurt and pain. What that person said to you cut you to the heart and many times those horrible words that you've tried so hard to forget seem to be stuck on repeat in your mind. The words of...
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...
Most nights, although I'm exhausted at the end of the day, before I can fall asleep I stay awake thinking of all the things that I could have done differently as a mom. I replay the day in my head and inevitably hear the harsh sound of my own voice reprimanding...
I can almost feel the disapproving glares of the parishioners behind me burning holes in the back of my head, but I don’t dare turn and look. I am sitting on the floor at the front of the adoration chapel with my three energetic children, making a desperate attempt at...
I did not fully understand the significance of the Sacrament when I received my Confirmation. While I’m certain my teachers did a wonderful job preparing me in an academic sense, my mind and heart were just not completely open to the transforming power of the Holy...
Of course, there is no question that the spiritual benefits far outweigh any practical benefits that children may receive when they attend Mass and that the reason we attend Mass is to be with and worship Our Lord, but we’ve already written about that in a few other...
When Disney's Beauty and the Beast was released in theaters it broke many records with a $170 million opening, but it was not without controversy. As you have probably heard by now, there is a gay character that has caused some Christians to encourage a boycott...
Sometimes the choir sounds so beautiful at Mass that it's tempting to not join in singing. You're inclined to just sit back, relax and enjoy the show. But, that's just it. This isn't a show. This is Mass. This is our highest form of worship and prayer and it is...
I'm hoping that I have at least a few years until my kids enter the world of dating. My older boys (thankfully!) still turn shades of red at the thought of liking a girl, but my first grader is a self-proclaimed "ladies' man." Though they are young, it is not too...
This is Us, a hit television series, has a unique comedy-drama story line that has captured the hearts of millions of viewers. I'm not typically one who gets drawn into television shows, but something about this one has captivated me. Because of its popularity, it can...
Events like World Youth Day or a young saint's canonization (recently, Saint José Sanchez del Río), tend to spawn a boom in vocations to the consecrated life like fungi after a storm. It’s only logical. These celebratory events in the Church can be very moving and...
It doesn’t take long for us parents to realize that our children absorb everything we do and say. I remember the first time I heard my two year old let out a long sigh and say “Oh, my gosh. I can’t even.” Her tone and expression were exactly like mine. Sometimes you...
Being parents makes us responsible not only for taking care of our children, but also for the spiritual education we give them from the moment they are conceived. For this reason, I want to share with you 10 simple ways to help our children grow closer to God. “Do we...
Being a single mother is one of the most difficult challenges that a woman can ever face. And I know, I am part of the club. It might be because you made the choice – perhaps the man by your side wouldn't be a good example for your children, or because of divorce,...
When people think of "good manners" they tend to envision a butler named Jeeves, and a family like those on the popular TV series Downton Abbey (OK, maybe that's my vision). And while good manners in some instances may be little more than affectation, there is another...
Worried about going to a university and forgetting your Catholic roots? Choosing a school can be a nightmare, especially when you have no idea about the college lifestyle. Many Universities claim to be Catholic, yet the types of programs, speakers, and groups they...
I recently went to see Bad Moms and, yes, I should probably make plans to go to Confession at some point this week after watching it. The Catholic News Service rated the movie as an "O - morally offensive" and that rating is definitely accurate. The film is morally...
These days, the most popular movies often involve superheroes (Ironman, Captain America, etc.). They show us a series of admirable values such as nobility, courage, and integrity. We watch as hundreds of thousands of children fill the movie theaters to watch their...
In the United States, the number of single dads continues to increase. In the 1960's there were just 300,000 households led by single fathers, but in the most recent survey by Pew Research that number rose to 2.6 million. As a Catholic faith community, we must show...
It's the time of year when many families decide to take a vacation and get away from the daily grind and busyness of life. It's important to remember that we should include God in our plans even while we are away. Today we present a list of vacation ideas for...