Early in my life as a teenager, I learned the wisdom of living the Gospel in the present moment through my involvement in the Focolare Movement, founded by the Italian teacher and author Chiara Lubich in 1942. The movement aims to proclaim the Word of Life (the Gospel) to all people, inspiring them to put…
“Be strong, fear not! Here is your God; he comes with vindication; with divine recompense, he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing.” (Isaiah 35:4-6) We all…
“Why have Americans become so mean?” This is a question that David Brooks posed and explored in his recent article in The Atlantic entitled How America Got Mean. He presented several reasons that people and social observers might suggest: 1. The technology story: Social media is driving us all crazy. 2. The sociology story: We’ve…
Lately, I have been exercising a “softening” of myself as I confront anxieties to achieve peace of mind and heart. What do I mean by “softening” myself? It refers to not being “hard” on myself while striving to meet the high expectations of myself and others. It involves being kind and compassionate towards myself, acknowledging…
The affirming words of Rev. Nicky Gumbel, the developer of Alpha, a basic introduction to Christianity, during the last session of Alpha in our parish last week, still resonate in my mind, offering me a fresh perspective on who we should be as a Church. In simple yet profound terms, he shared in the Alpha…
Transitioning through various stages in life presents a multitude of challenges. Whether it involves moving to college, embarking on a new career, navigating middle age, or transitioning into retirement, it invariably brings about stress, worry, anxiety, and the need for painful adaptation. I vividly recall a significant transitional period I encountered in my own life….
