For Christians in areas of conflict Let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation, and hope.

Advent is a season of hope. It is the beginning of the liturgical year, and a time for us to reflect on the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, as well as the long centuries of yearning by the Israelite people for the Messiah promised by God. During the …

Falling in love, getting engaged, and going through marriage preparation should be a beautiful, enriching experience. But ask Catholic couples married 25 years or longer about their marriage preparation, and many will respond that they met with their parish priest, completed a questionnaire, and attended a marriage preparation retreat; in …

Dear Lord, Today we honor our veterans, worthy men and women who gave their best when they were called upon to serve and protect their country. We pray that you will bless them, Lord, for their unselfish service in the continual struggle to preserve our freedoms, our safety, and our …

For the prevention of suicide Let us pray that those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts might find the support, care, and love they need in their community, and be open to the beauty of life.

In a visually saturated world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and become desensitized to beauty. Visio Divina, Latin for “divine seeing,” encourages us to slow down and engage in visual contemplation, using art as a profound tool for connecting with the Divine. A Guide to Visio Divina Begin by making …

“The men we want to become priests aren’t coming to us. We have to go out and find them.” I first heard these words three years ago, and the Holy Spirit has never let me forget them. They were shared by a friend, a former vocations director, expressing how hard …

Reverend John Robert Jack passed away on October 28, 2025, in Norwood, Ohio. He was born on January 24, 1965, in Middletown, Ohio and was baptized at St. John the Baptist Parish, Middletown. He received a B.A. from the Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, a M. Div. from Mount St. Mary’s …

For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Mt. 16:25) “Your life is not about you,” our pastor said with a chuckle as he began his homily. “Sorry to disappoint.” I nodded in solemn understanding from the vestibule. …

For several years, many of us Catholics in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati have been including in Mass a prayer for vocations, written by Archbishop Emeritus Dennis M. Schnurr shortly after his move to Cincinnati. I must confess that, initially, I mildly resisted the general theme of this prayer. This is …