Four years ago, Pope Francis inaugurated the “World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.” He proposed that this day would be observed each year on the Sunday closest to the July 26 celebration of Christ’s grandparents, Ss. Joachim and Anne.

“Dad, I’m sorry I haven’t been in better touch.” We were sitting on the porch late at night, two blocks from the beach, with the waves and sounds of the boardwalk within earshot.

After participating in the launch of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage in New Haven, Connecticut, I had the grace of rejoining it in New York.

I miss landlines. Certainly, I like the convenience of being able to reach friends and family quickly and appreciate being able to receive phone calls away from home or office.

What started as a day when Sr. Julia Walsh planned to revisit some favorite childhood memories ended with her in an emergency room due to traumatic injuries sustained in a fall that could have killed her. As with many instances of suffering, this one led Sr. Julia to reflect on her life and faith. She shares her story in the memoir, “For Love of the Broken Body,” and we discussed it recently on “Christopher Closeup.”

In the afterglow of Easter joy, parish bulletins now burst with joyful announcements that spring Baptisms, First Communions, and Confirmations are being celebrated on grace-filled days in churches near and far.

The Gospel for Easter Sunday is from St. John’s account of Easter morning (John 20:1–9). We are told that Mary Magdalene arrives at the tomb very early in the morning while it is still dark.

Several years ago, The Christophers published a News Note entitled “Become a Model of Christlike Mercy.” Since this is the weekend of Divine Mercy Sunday, it seems appropriate to share some excerpts from that reflection.

This is the final article in a series on the Eucharistic Revival taking place across the nation. The initiative culminates in a National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis this summer.