Youth ministry began at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Reading in the fall of 1998, and, soon afterwards, we began seeking opportunities for the compulsory “mission trip.” We didn’t have to look far. At the same time, our Parish Mission Commission was filing the paperwork to recognize a small

I went to church and grade school across the street from a third-trimester abortion center. Back then, the pro-life movement was more angry than merciful, and, as a small child, I saw protesters on the sidewalk holding up graphic posters of aborted babies. I heard them yelling horrible accusations at

The 1973 short story, The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, tells of a utopia complete with green fields, blue skies, shimmering buildings and happy people. But the city is built on a dark truth. In the bowels of the city, in the basement of a building, there exists a

A long time ago, as a young person, I played with tarot cards and a Ouija board. These always seemed to me to be just entertainment, but now I understand the Church believes these can be dangerous. Why is this? In an increasingly secular society, we can easily fail to

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati, with great joy and gratitude, will celebrate the elevation of St. Peter in Chains Cathedral to the rank of minor basilica with a special Mass on Sat., Nov. 7, the 175th anniversary of its dedication. As we approach the bicentennial of our archdiocese next year, this

La Arquidiócesis de Cincinnati, con gran alegría y gratitud, celebrará la elevación de la Catedral de San Pedro en Cadenas al rango de basílica menor con una Misa especial el sábado 7 de noviembre, el 175 aniversario de su dedicación. A medida que nos acercamos al bicentenario de nuestra arquidiócesis

In August, I had to take my 6-year-old to Children’s Hospital. While we attempted to navigate the sprawling campus in Northern Cincinnati, we crossed paths with many other parents and children – children who looked and acted differently than my daughter is accustomed to. When a boy with Down’s Syndrome

This October the Church celebrates Respect Life Month on the brink of a presidential election that presents a difficult choice for conscientious Catholics. The Church does not endorse political candidates, nor does she suggest which candidate better exemplifies a commitment to life issues. But the Church does provide clear teaching,

Growing up in Guatemala, I went to a Catholic School, celebrated our Catholic faith – Catholicism was all I knew. Guatemala, at the time, was probably 99 percent Catholic. Moving to the U.S. was a big change in every way. When I moved here, directly from Guatemala to Ohio, I

Death creates a tension within us. We know that it is inevitable, yet we also have a strong desire to prolong our lives. Dr. Ernest Becker, father of Terror Management Theory, says that we develop various phobias in order to cope with this tension. If you’re afraid of heights, it’s