It has not been surprising to see how much coverage secular news and social media have given to the passing of Pope Francis and the transition to a papal conclave.

In his book “Jesus of Nazareth,” Pope Benedict XVI addressed the reality of healing as a central aspect of the Christian faith. “Healing is an essential dimension of the apostolic mission and of Christianity.

Advent has come quickly this year, riding the tails of Thanksgiving. After a busy week with the kids home from school, deer rifle season and resting up, it wasn’t until late in the evening that we talked with the kids about it being Advent and what that means.

Whether or not your desired candidates will be sworn into office, the one thing we all seem to agree on is that we’re exhausted and “over” this election! Accusatory ads, divisive campaign rhetoric and polarized partisan dynamics have put the worst of human behavior on display these last months, and we’re ready to move on.

During the Mass for the Solemnity of Pentecost this [...]

It can seem like the transition from Lent to Easter is more relief than rejoicing. After sticking with, or starting over and over, our Lenten asceticism, we shift to singing “alleluias” without deeper awareness. Glad the 40 days of sacrifice is over, I think we often forget that the church calls us to 50 days of Easter celebration.

The lack of snow on the ground has made it challenging for my family to feel that pure and fluffy holiday spirit this Advent. It’s been a bit easier for me as I can recall Decembers I lived in both Ireland and Mexico, neither of which have snow in the winter with any regularity.

On Sept. 30, the eve of the General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality, Pope Francis addressed 15,000 pilgrims during an ecumenical prayer service in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. Those gathered, which included heads of many Christian churches of various denominations, gathered to call on the guidance of the Holy Spirit during the synodal proceedings.

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of covering a story with ties closer to home. Every year we try to include something about the summer youth events – Extreme Faith Camp and Totus Tuus – that take place in the diocese.

One Saturday morning last fall, I randomly – and providentially – discovered a renowned Catholic poet with ties to Cumberland while visiting the city’s historic library. Little did I know then just who Sr. Madeleva Wolff was, nor the impact she would have on my life and the potential impact I might have on continuing her work of promulgating creative writing, especially the art of poetry, as the spiritual tool she believed it to be.